Forestry Club-The Year in Review

Looking back at the past year for the Forestry Club, I can be truly pleased with the level of activity and participation by the members. We were able to bring back some old traditions as well as try some new things. All in all, it was an enjoyable year

A risk science perspective on liability/guilt and uncertainty judgements in courts

This article aims to provide new insights about risk and uncertainty in law contexts, by incorporating ideas and principles of contemporary risk science. The main focus is on one particular aspect of the law: its operation in courts where a defendant has been charged with a violation of civil or criminal law. Judgements about risk and uncertainty—typically using the probability concept—and how these relate to the evidence play a central role in such situations. The decision on whether the defendant is liable/guilty or not may strongly depend on how these concepts are understood and communicated. Considerable work has been conducted to provide theoretical and practical foundations for the risk and uncertainty characterizations in these contexts. Yet, it can be argued that a proper foundation for linking the evidence and the uncertainty (probability) judgements is lacking, the result being poor communication in courts about risk and uncertainties. The present article seeks to clarify what the problems are and provide guidance on how to rectify them.publishedVersio

Assessing Results of 4-H Mentoring with Native American First-Generation 4-H Youths

To reach first-generation Extension families and combat barriers faced by Native American youths, North Dakota State University Extension has been involved in the national mentoring program 4-H Youth and Families with Promise (YFP). In the program’s fourth year, we conducted ripple effect mapping to explore changes in the schools and communities where YFP was being implemented. Our findings indicate that as a result of relationships with mentors, youths gained positive life skills and critical workforce expertise that will assist them in attaining their education goals and securing career opportunities. Implications for Extension programming include the recommendation to conduct programs featuring opportunities for youth entrepreneurship and community involvement that reflect a community’s culture

Valence band study of thermoelectric Zintl-phase SrZn_2Sb_2 and YbZn_2Sb_2: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory

The electronic structure of SrZn_2Sb_2 and YbZn_2Sb_2 is investigated using density functional theory and high-resolution x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Both traditional Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof and state-of-the-art hybrid Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof functionals have been employed to highlight the importance of proper treatment of exchange-dependent Zn  3d states, Yb 4f states, and band gaps. The role of spin-orbit corrections in light of first-principles transport calculations are discussed and previous claims of Yb^(3+) valence are investigated with the assistance of photoelectron as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Reduction of lattice thermal conductivity from planar faults in the layered Zintl compound SrZnSb_2

The layered Zintl compound SrZnSb_2 is investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to understand the low lattice thermal conductivity. The material displays out-of-phase boundaries with a spacing from 100 down to 2 nm. Density functional theory calculations confirm that the TEM-derived defect structure is energetically reasonable. The impact of these defects on phonon scattering is analyzed within the Debye–Callaway model, which reveals a significant reduction in the acoustic phonon mean free path. This enhancement in phonon scattering leads to an ~30% reduction in lattice thermal conductivity at 300 K

Ca_3AlSb_3: an inexpensive, non-toxic thermoelectric material for waste heat recovery

Thermoelectric materials directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy, offering a promising solid-state solution for waste heat recovery. For thermoelectric devices to make a significant impact on energy and the environment the major impediments are the efficiency, availability and toxicity of current thermoelectric materials. Typically, efficient thermoelectric materials contain heavy elements such as lead and tellurium that are toxic and not earth abundant. Many materials with unusual structures containing abundant and benign elements are known, but remain unexplored for thermoelectric applications. In this paper we demonstrate, with the discovery of high thermoelectric efficiency in Ca_3AlSb_3, the use of elementary solid-state chemistry and physics to guide the search and optimization of such materials

Extending and improving current frameworks for risk management and decision-making: A new approach for incorporating dynamic aspects of risk and uncertainty

In recent decades, there has been a growing recognition of the importance of risk-informed decision-making, and the use of risk assessments to support decisions is a core principle in current frameworks and standards for risk management and decision-making. While considerable efforts have been directed towards clarifying the role of risk assessment as input to decision-making, less attention has been paid to the follow-up of the risk assessment once a decision has been made. However, new knowledge, as well as changes in systems, phenomena or values, could alter the underlying premises of the initial risk assessment. Many of the current frameworks for risk management and decision-making lack suitable approaches for reflecting these issues, leaving important aspects of risk unaddressed. In this paper, we present an adjusted approach to risk management and decision-making in which the need for new risk assessments is evaluated, focusing on three main criteria: i) the introduction of new decision alternatives, ii) changes in risk, and iii) changes in context/values. Acknowledging the challenge of determining the appropriate timing for the evaluation, we emphasize that striking a balance between remaining responsive to challenging circumstances and avoiding the use of unnecessary resources on excessive evaluations, is a key task. By providing the basis for a more dynamic approach to risk assessment and risk management, the paper aims to strengthen the foundation for risk-informed decision-making.publishedVersio