Turbidity Effects on Solar Radiation Attenuation and Reflection

Limited water resources in Southern Utah with the competing interests of humans and native fishes require careful management. High instream temperatures resulting from low flows are a consideration in managing the Virgin River for two endangered fish species. Throughout these periods, fish behavior changes have been observed during those high turbidity. One hypothesis was that high turbidity decreased the amount of solar radiation in the water column due to increased reflection at the water surface resulting in reduced instream temperatures. To quantify the extent of changes in incoming energy to the river, a water tank was constructed to measure the effects of turbidity on solar radiation reflection off the water surface and attenuation with depth. We found that increases in turbidity led to a linear increase in solar radiation reflection for specific turbidity ranges. We also found that attenuation of solar radiation increased linearly as turbidity increased for specific turbidity ranges. The effects of turbidity on solar radiation behavior were translated into changes in instream temperatures through the use of an instream temperature model. The results indicated during summer low flow conditions that turbidity increases from 30-500 NTU decreased instream temperatures 1 degree Celcius on average with maximum increases of 2 degrees Celcius

Joep Franssens\u27 Harmony of the Spheres: a conductor\u27s analysis

Harmony of the Spheres is Dutch composer Joep Franssens’ most extensive choral work to date, exhibiting a substantial possibility to enter the international repertoire as a complete work; however, several of the movements can stand alone effectively. Presented in five symmetrically conceived movements, Franssens scores the piece for SSAATTBB chorus with only the addition of full string orchestra for Movement III. The composition seeks to explore profound connections between science, music, philosophy, religion, and human relationships, intertwining excerpts from Benedict de Spinoza’s magnum opus, Ethica, allusions to the ancient idea of the music of the spheres, and European minimalism. Franssens considers himself part of a movement amongst Dutch composers known as “New Spirituality” in the Netherlands. The research is divided into three chapters. The first chapter offers a brief background of the composer and describes the compositional history behind Harmony of the Spheres. Chapter Two, titled “Spheres of Influence,” explores the diverse influences on the composer and the work: Spinoza and Ethica, the ancient concept of the music of the spheres, American and “Holy” minimalisms, and the compositional philosophies of the Franssens and J. S. Bach. These critical underpinnings enlighten much of the compositional strategy and style employed by the composer. The final chapter presents an analytical overview of the work, informed by the varying influences described in Chapter 2 as well as representing a conductor’s perspective in relating the intriguing stylistic traits and challenges of the work

Using QUAL2Kw as a Decision Support Tool: Considerations for Data Collection, Calibration, and Numeric Nutrient Criteria

The in-stream water quality model, QUAL2Kw, can provide guidance in watershed management decisions by linking changes in nutrient loads to responses in water quality. This model is particularly useful for determining wasteload allocations, aiding in total maximum daily load analyses, and developing numeric nutrient criteria. Unfortunately, states struggle to balance the data collection and modeling requirements to accomplish many of these water quality management tasks due to limited resources. This commonly results in routine data collection and monitoring efforts that do not satisfy the data requirements for modeling. To address this disconnect, this study presents a data collection and parameter calibration methodology suited to meet general QUAL2Kw modeling requirements. Then, with the goal of identifying a range of numeric nitrogen and phosphorus criteria, this general data collection and modeling strategy was applied to sites throughout Utah. To help automate and test scenarios targeted at tracking effects of loading and response combinations, a nutrient criteria tool was also developed to interface with these QUAL2Kw models. By implementing the tool on these models, input concentrations of ammonium (NH4+) ranging from 10 to 101 µg/L and inorganic phosphorus (PO4-) ranging from 1 to 14 µg/L were found to exceed thresholds of bottom algae, gross primary productivity, and ecosystem respiration. Conversely, NH4+ concentrations above 3,500 µg/L and PO4- above 490 µg/L exceeded dissolved oxygen thresholds of 5-6 mg/L in some applications. Some limitations of using mechanistic models in this manner were identified, including model capabilities (e.g., steady-state versus dynamic), inclusion of appropriate processes, uncertainty in calibrated parameters, and site-specific conditions. Although many problems will require more complex modeling efforts with significantly larger data collection efforts, this approach provides an initial framework that aids in the judicial use of resources to aid in watershed management decisions

Supporting and inhibiting the well-being of early career secondary school teachers: extending self-determination theory

This article reports an original examination of the well-being of early career secondary school teachers in England, which extends the evidence bases relating to early career teachers’ working lives, teacher well-being, self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000), and performativity (Ball, 2003), respectively. Drawing on a secondary analysis of qualitative data generated for four separate empirical studies between 2005 and 2013, in a context in which teachers’ work was subject to unparalleled external regulation, the authors examine the extent to which the well-being of early career teachers can be explained by self-determination theory, which posits that well-being is enhanced when innate psychological needs for competence, relatedness and autonomy are satisfied. The findings suggest that satisfaction of these three basic psychological needs is a necessary but not sufficient condition for optimising the well-being of early career teachers, which is dependent upon the interaction of a wider range of individual, relational and micro-, meso- and macro-environmental factors. Amongst the recommendations for policy and practice, policymakers and school leaders are urged to uphold their duty of care to newly and recently qualified teachers by doing their utmost to create conditions for the optimisation of their well-being. Several specific means of bringing this about are proposed, together with a checklist for those concerned to support early career teachers’ well-being. Keywords: teacher well-being; early career teachers; self-determination theory; performativit

CH₄ and N₂O from waste composting

This research programme aimed to investigate methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20) emissions from large-scale composting facilities, with particular emphasis on advanced and newly emerging composting technologies. The atmospheric concentrations of CH4 and N20 are increasing, and they are respectively the second and third largest contributors to the global greenhouse effect after carbon dioxide. During field trials at large-scale composting facilities and in laboratory studies, the generation of CH4 and N20 was detected from a range of composting processes. Gaseous emissions from composting result from the interaction of a complex combination of controlling factors influencing the microbial production of CH4 and N20. Waste biodegradability in particular was shown to have significant influence on emission of CH4 and N20. Compliance with the EU landfill directive will result in the composting of wastes of varying biodegradability, the effect of this compliance on emission of CH4 and N20 from composting requires further investigation. Emissions of CH4 and N20 during composting have not been adequately quantified in the UK. A future projection of the contribution of composting to the UK greenhouse gas inventory was an estimated 24.6 Kt CH4 year-1 and 2.5 Kt N20 year-1 from open windrows, which currently account for 80% of the composting systems employed. There is urgent need for further study into the emission of CH4 and N20 from the UK composting sector as the Kyoto protocol requires emissions from all sources to be accounted for. While significant emission of CH4 and N20 was recorded for open air mechanically turned windrow systems, the level of emissions from in-vessel composting facilities was more difficult to determine. The combination of in-vessel composting and open air windrow composting would appear to greatly mitigate emissions compared to windrow systems alone, but more research into the environmental benefits of combining composting systems is required

Modeling of Cell Nuclear Mechanics: Classes, Components, and Applications

Cell nuclei are paramount for both cellular function and mechanical stability. These two roles of nuclei are intertwined as altered mechanical properties of nuclei are associated with altered cell behavior and disease. To further understand the mechanical properties of cell nuclei and guide future experiments, many investigators have turned to mechanical modeling. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of mechanical modeling of cell nuclei with an emphasis on the role of the nuclear lamina in hopes of spurring future growth of this field. The goal of this review is to provide an introduction to mechanical modeling techniques, highlight current applications to nuclear mechanics, and give insight into future directions of mechanical modeling. There are three main classes of mechanical models—schematic, continuum mechanics, and molecular dynamics—which provide unique advantages and limitations. Current experimental understanding of the roles of the cytoskeleton, the nuclear lamina, and the chromatin in nuclear mechanics provide the basis for how each component is subsequently treated in mechanical models. Modeling allows us to interpret assay-specific experimental results for key parameters and quantitatively predict emergent behaviors. This is specifically powerful when emergent phenomena, such as lamin-based strain stiffening, can be deduced from complimentary experimental techniques. Modeling differences in force application, geometry, or composition can additionally clarify seemingly conflicting experimental results. Using these approaches, mechanical models have informed our understanding of relevant biological processes such as migration, nuclear blebbing, nuclear rupture, and cell spreading and detachment. There remain many aspects of nuclear mechanics for which additional mechanical modeling could provide immediate insight. Although mechanical modeling of cell nuclei has been employed for over a decade, there are still relatively few models for any given biological phenomenon. This implies that an influx of research into this realm of the field has the potential to dramatically shape both future experiments and our current understanding of nuclear mechanics, function, and disease