Impact of Missouri's E10 Standard on Consumer Fuel Usage, Public Health, & the Environment*

On January 1, 2008, the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act (RFSA) became effective; mandating that all gasoline sold in the state contain 10% ethanol. The fuel with 90% gas and 10% ethanol is commonly referred to as "10."Proponents of the law claim that "Missouri's [RFSA] benefits consumers, our economy, the environment, and Missouri farmers." Others celebrate the new standard for reducing Missouri's dependence on foreign oil, developing a new production industry, and providing greater demand for locally grown crops. Some consumers however believe that E10 noticeably decreases their fuel-economy. In a Columbia newspaper article, one man said, "I think it's idiotic, my car runs worse with it. I don't like [E10]. It's not nearly as good." Regardless of one's viewpoint, it is important to evaluate Missouri RFSA's impacts on consumers, the environment and the economy.Includes bibliographical reference

Economic Impacts of US Ethanol Mandates and Their Implications for Missourians

On January 1, 2008, the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act (MO RFSA) became effective; mandating that all gasoline sold in the state contain 10% ethanol. The fuel with 90% conventional gasoline and 10% ethanol is commonly referred to as “E10.” Proponents of the law believe that “Missouri's [RFSA] benefits consumers, our economy, the environment, and Missouri farmers.” Others celebrate the new standard for reducing Missouri's dependence on foreign oil, developing a new in state production industry, and providing greater demand for locally grown crops.Includes bibliographical reference

Adenine nucleotide levels and adenylate energy charge in Zostera marina (eelgrass): determination and application

An analytical technique was developed to measure adenine nucleotide levels (ATP, ADP, AMP) and adenylate energy charge (EC) in Zostera marina (eelgrass), a submerged marine angiosperm. A tissue comparison and seasonal survey provide baseline information on natural adenylate variability. The methodology developed can be suitably adapted to other macrophyte species as well. Plants were frozen, lyophilized, scraped free of epiphytes, and homogenized. Adenylates were extracted with boiling 1 mM EDTA + 5% (w/v) PVPP (pH 7.6), and assayed by enzymic conversion of AMP and ADP to ATP, followed by quantitative analysis of ATP via the firefly bioluminescent reaction. ATP, ADP, total adenylates (AT), and EC were highest in leaf tissue (photophosphorylating source), while all adenylates were lowest in root plus rhizome. Monthly time series with aboveground tissue show ATP concentration highest in August and lowest in April, corresponding to periods of senescence (decreased ATP utilization) and growth (increased ATP utilization), respectively. Response of adenine nucleotides and EC in Z. marina to nutrient enrichment, light reduction, and herbicide (atrazine) exposure was evaluated as a monitor of metabolic state. Nutrient enrichment over 2 weeks increased epiphyte colonization, which in turn, appeared to negatively impact Z. marina adenylate content, net productivity, and growth. Z. marina ATP, AT, and EC were weakly and positively correlated with nutrients and light, but decreased over time. Short-term (6 hr) atrazine stress reduced ATP and AT at both 10 and 100 ppb, but EC remained constant. Net productivity decreased at 100, but not at 10 ppb atrazine over 6 hrs. Long-term (21 day) atrazine stress was evident from growth inhibition and 50% mortality near 100 ppb. EC was reduced at 0.1, 1.0, and 10 ppb atrazine, but ATP and EC increased with physiological adaptation to severe stress (100 ppb) after 21 days. Apparently, ATP and AT decrease over the short-term but rebound over the long-term with severe atrazine stress, increasing beyond control levels before plant death results. Supplementing adenine nucleotide and EC results with more conventional quantitative analyses would afford greater knowledge of physiological response to environmental variation

Investigating gender differences in student preferences for and achievement with educational games

The purpose of this study was to investigate the choice behavior and achievement of male and female high school students who are given an option of taking a 36 week American History course in either a game-based format or a web-based format. It was hypothesized that (a) males would enroll more frequently in the game-based course than females, (b) there would be no significant difference in achievement between males and females in the game-based course or across course formats, and (c) there would be no significant interaction between gender and the selection of course format. The study consisted of a sample of 7,962 11th grade students who enrolled in American History during the 2009/2010 school year at the Florida Virtual School (FLVS). Students planning to take 11th grade American History at FLVS were given the choice of enrolling in a game-based class format or a standard web-based online class format. A chi-square test of independence was used to analyze enrollment rates. An independent t test was used to analyze achievement based on gender in the game-based course. A two-way factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze achievement data based on gender across course formats, enrollment, and the interaction of gender and enrollment. The chi-square results indicated that there is a relationship between gender and enrollment. Males chose to enroll in the game-based format of the course more frequently than females and females chose to enroll in the web-based format of the course more frequently than males. The independent t test results indicated that there is no significant difference in achievement based on gender in the game-based course. The ANOVA results indicated that there are significant differences in achievement based on gender as well as enrollment, but there are no significant differences in achievement based on the interaction of gender and enrollment. Implications for researchers, teachers, administrators, game developers, and funders are provided

Magnesium oxide doping reduces acoustic wave attenuation in lithium metatantalate and lithium metaniobate crystals

Single crystals of lithium metatantalate and lithium metaniobate, grown from melts having different stoichiometries and different amounts of magnesium oxide, show that doping lowers temperature-independent portion of attenuation of acoustic waves. Doped crystals possess optical properties well suited for electro-optical and photoelastic applications

Land Management Decisions and Agricultural Productivity in the Hillsides of Honduras

Increasing land degradation and concomitant low agricultural productivity are important determinants of rural poverty in the hillside areas of Honduras. Using data at the levels of the farm household, parcel and plot, we develop an econometric modeling framework to analyze land management decisions and their impact on crop productivity. Our econometric model allows for endogenous household decisions regarding livelihood strategy choice, use of labor and external inputs, and participation in organizations. We found support for the inverse farm size-land productivity relationship which suggests that improved land access could increase total crop production. Land tenure has no impact on crop productivity, but adoption of soil conservation practices is higher on owner-operated than leased plots. Ownership of machinery and equipment and livestock ownership both positively influence crop productivity. Education positively affects perennial crop productivity. The gender of the household head has no significant effect on crop productivity, but does influence some land management and input use decisions. Even though household participation in training programs and organizations has only limited effects on crop productivity, agricultural extension plays a key role in promoting adoption of soil conservation practices. Location assets have limited impacts on crop productivity but do influence land management decisions. Road density and better market access have a positive effect on perennial crop productivity. Population density has limited direct impact on crop productivity, though it may have indirect effects by affecting farm size and livelihood strategies.agricultural productivity, hillsides, Honduras, land management, soil conservation, Land Economics/Use, Productivity Analysis,