The Impact of China’s Investment in Nuclear Energy on the Reputation of Nuclear Power and the World’s Energy Supply

Over the past ten years, China’s involvement in nuclear power has increased dramatically. The country has seemingly unlimited resources to build nuclear power centers and has no qualms about using these resources. Because of this, China is the world’s fastest growing nuclear-energy competitor, with 20 reactors in operation and 28 currently under construction and they plan to build even more. While some countries are spurning nuclear energy for the currently low-priced natural gas, China is proceeding full force with the building of nuclear power plants, proclaiming that this is the solution to the widespread problem of pollution that exists in most of the country. Truly learning from the West, China has become completely self-sufficient in nuclear reactor design and construction, and is even able to vastly improve upon the current reactor plans. This heavy investment in nuclear power can be used as an example for the rest of the world to step away from dependence on fossil fuels as an energy source. Also, this increased involvement in the safe use of nuclear energy can help remove the bad reputation of this specific energy source

Abundance of Insects Inhabiting the Male Strobili of Red Pine

(excerpt) Southwood (1973) concluded that pollen feeding was probably the first step in the development of the phytophagous habit in insects, because pollen, compared with plant foliage, is rich in nutrients and low in sewndary defense substances. Surprisingly, little is known about insects that feed mainly on pollen. For example, in a bibliography of insects that feed on reproductive structures of North American conifers (Barcia and Merkel, 1972), less than three per cent of 719 references pertained to pollen feeders. This note reports on the kinds and abundance of insects found inhabiting clusters of fresh staminate or male strobili (MS) of 60- to 65-year-old red pine trees in two seed production areas (SPAs) in northern Minnesota

Interview with Karl Mattson, August 10, 2011

Karl Mattson was interviewed on August 10, 2011 by Michael Birkner about his life starting with his earliest memories. This interview is part 1 of a 2 part interview. Length of Interview: 46 minutes Collection Note: This oral history was selected from the Oral History Collection maintained by Special Collections & College Archives. Transcripts are available for browsing in the Special Collections Reading Room, 4th floor, Musselman Library. GettDigital contains the complete listing of oral histories done from 1978 to the present. To view this list and to access selected digital versions please visit -- http://gettysburg.cdmhost.com/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16274coll

An Emergence Trap for Aquatic Insects

Excerpt: The identification of organisms is a prerequisite to developing water quality criteria for aquatic life. Identification is necessary because differences in water quality requirements are specific and may be different for closely allied species. The taxonomy of various species, particularly those associated with the aquatic environment, is much more detailed and better known for adults than for immature instars. To facilitate correlation of adult and larval forms, a trap was needed to collect the emerging adults from the various streams

Improved method for cladding the inside of metal tubes

Creep characteristics of molybdenum at high temperature and stress are utilized to compress tungsten foil liner against inner surface of tantalum alloy cylinder to form bond at interface. Temperature and pressure can be accurately controlled and size of workpiece is limited only by furnace size

On the Road to Self-Sufficiency after Welfare Reform: An Assessment of the Impact of Changes in Welfare Asset Limits on Auto- Ownership Rates and Employment

In this paper, we assess the impact of the easing of vehicle exemption limits and asset restrictions after the passage of welfare reform legislation on the rates of car-ownership observed among female headed households with children. Prior to the passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) in 1996, nearly all states exempted only $1,500 of vehicle equity from the minimum assets test and assets were limited to$1000 in most states. Post-welfare reform, however, nearly all states increased the vehicle exemption limit, with twenty-five states exempting the entire value of a single vehicle. In addition, the overall asset test rose in most states. In this paper, we use micro-level data from the 1993 and 1996 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) from the years 1994 to 1999 to examine 1) how changes in state-level welfare rules over this time period affected auto ownership rates among those most likely at risk of receiving welfare and 2) how the resulting change in auto ownership rates affected the probability of being employed for these individuals. To identify the effect of the redefined benefit eligibility rules on auto-ownership rates, we exploit inter-state differences and changes over time in welfare eligibility rules. Once we control for individual level demographics and state-level economic conditions, our results suggest that the probability of owning a car is greater for those who reside in states with higher overall asset limits and in states with exemptions for multiple vehicles. When we look at the sample of female heads with children relative to a control group of male and female household heads without children, we also find that assessing the value of the vehicle on an equity basis (rather than fair market basis) is associated with higher rates of car ownership. Using a two stage least squares approach (2SLS) that instruments car ownership with benefit eligibility rules, we find some evidence that asset-related rules have an effect on employment outcomes via car ownership. Thus, our results shed light on the role of the changes to eligibility rules on the transition from welfare to work.

CANADIAN EXPORTS OF WHEAT AND BARLEY TO THE UNITED STATES AND ITS IMPACTS ON U.S. DOMESTIC PRICES

Canadian exports of wheat and barley to the United States have increased significantly since the late 1980s. The objectives of this study are to determine the factors that affect trade flows of hard red spring wheat, durum wheat, malting barley, and feed barley from Canada to the United States and to evaluate the impacts of Canadian wheat and barley exports on the U.S. domestic prices of these commodities. Major factors affecting trade flows of these commodities from Canada to the United States include the exchange rate, quality differences, differences in market size, the U.S. Export Enhancement Program, the elimination of Canadian rail subsidies, and trade liberalization under the Canada - United States Free Trade Agreement of 1989 (CUSTA). These factors have positively influenced Canadian exports, resulting in major increases in Canadian exports of agricultural commodities to the United States. The increased Canadian exports have resulted in reduced U.S. domestic prices of wheat.bilateral trade, free trade agreement, wheat, barley, farm price, International Relations/Trade,

Is Sex Like Driving? Risk Compensation Associated with Male Circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya

Mass adult male circumcision campaigns for HIV prevention are underway across much of Sub-Saharan Africa. However, concern remains about risk compensation associated with the reduction in the probability of HIV transmission per risky act. This paper examines the be- havioral response to male circumcision in Kisumu, Kenya. Contrary to the presumption of risk compensation, we find that the response due to the perceived reduction in HIV transmission appears to have been a reduction in risky sexual behavior. We suggest a mechanism for this finding: circumcision reduces fatalism about acquiring HIV/AIDS and increases the salience of the tradeoff between engaging in additional risky behavior and avoiding acquiring HIV. We also find what appears to be a competing effect that does not operate through the circumcision recipient's belief about the reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV.HIV/AIDS, male circumcision, risk compensation, beliefs, Kenya