Parent Organizing as a Strategy for Sustainable Policy Change

In this issue of Making the Link, Ada Sanchez and Ron White of the Peppercorn Foundation discuss parent organizing as a strategy for sustainable policy change and recommend steps funders can take to learn more and take effective action to nurture and support parent organizing on the local, state and national level

Ab-initio electron scattering cross-sections and transport in liquid xenon

Ab-initio electron - liquid phase xenon fully differential cross-sections for electrons scattering in liquid xenon are developed from a solution of the Dirac-Fock scattering equations, using a recently developed framework [1] which considers multipole polarizabilities, a non-local treatment of exchange, and screening and coherent scattering effects. A multi-term solution of Boltzmann's equation accounting for the full anisotropic nature of the differential cross-section is used to calculate transport properties of excess electrons in liquid xenon. The results were found to agree to within 25% of the measured mobilities and characteristic energies over the reduced field range of 10^{-4} to 1 Td. The accuracies are comparable to those achieved in the gas phase. A simple model, informed by highly accurate gas-phase cross-sections, is presented to transform highly accurate gas-phase cross-sections to improve the liquid cross-sections, which was found to enhance the accuracy of the transport coefficient calculations.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1503.0037

2009 Custom Rates for Farm Services in Missouri

The rates reported in this guide are based on a statewide survey conducted by mail in the summer of 2009. Farmers, agribusiness firms, aerial applicators and land improvement contractors responded to questions concerning rates they were charging in 2009 for custom services, excluding the cost of materials being applied.6 pagesDownloaded from MU Extension website.New 10/65; Revised 12/09/2M

Paper_CAPPING & CLOSURE FOR TWO PENNSYLVANIA LANDFILLS SUBJECT TO U.S. EPA’S CCR RULE PROMULGATED UNDER 40 CFR 257 SUBPART D

This project consisted of capping two coal combustion residuals (CCR) landfills with geosynthetic capping systems consisting of 24-inches of final cover soil over eight ounce per square yard filter/separation geotextile over Super Gripnet geomembrane with drainage studs along top and friction spikes along the bottom over a prepared subgrade consisting of in-place cover soil. Approximately 20 acres were capped at each landfill in 2023. Closure plans addressing CCR Rule requirements were prepared and posted to the stations’ CCR Rule websites. Per those plans, the stations intend to cease coal combustion and residual waste disposal by year-end 2028. To comply with Title 25, Pennsylvania Code §288.234(d), requiring closure within one year after cessation of waste placement, approximately 30 acres of each 200-acre site must be capped yearly between 2023 and 2029. This presentation will review the cap system alternatives investigated, cap system selection per site conditions, cap system design, permitting, pre-construction test pads for rock sizes above and below cap system geosynthetics, construction issues and mitigation solutions, stormwater control during construction, and termination details along both the toe of the landfill and adjacent future capping phases as well as permit revisions to reduce cover soil thickness along benches and slopes

Robust approximation rules for critical electric field of dielectric gas mixtures

A semi-analytic method for quickly approximating the density-reduced critical electric field for arbitrary mixtures of gases is proposed and validated. Determination of this critical electric field is crucial for designing and testing alternatives to SF$_6$ for insulating high voltage electrical equipment. We outline the theoretical basis of the approximation formula from electron fluid conservation equations, and demonstrate how for binary mixtures the critical electric field can be computed from the transport data of electrons in the pure gases. We demonstrate validity of the method in mixtures of N$_2$ and O$_2$, and SF$_6$ and O$_2$. We conclude with an application of the method to approximate the critical electric field for mixtures of SF$_6$ and HFO1234ze(E), which is a high interest mixture being actively studied for high voltage insulation applications

Charting the future of Accounting Information Systems (AIS) courses

The accounting information systems (AIS) course is a key part of the undergraduate preparation for professional accountants. Additionally, many Masters of Accountancy programs offer advanced AIS coursework. Information systems educators bring strengths to how these courses are developed, executed, assessed, and adjusted for the future of the accounting profession. There is debate over what the content, structure, and conduct of this course should be among traditionally-prepared accounting educators and practitioners, and this debate is extended when the information systems perspective is included. Some advocate a “skills orientation” that focuses on the use of software (e.g., QuickBooks or Excel). Others call for project-based work, emulating engagement management in public accounting and small-business situations. Still others emphasize concepts and/or advanced technology experiences such as XBRL or SAP. The purpose of the panel will be to discuss the differences in course design, and to propose ideas for future course designs that will meet future needs of the accounting profession

The Application of Near Infrared Spectroscopy for the Assessment of Avocado Quality Attributes

[Extract] Quality and safety evaluation of agricultural products has become an increasingly important consideration in market/commercial viability and systems for such evaluations are now demanded by customers, including distributors and retailers. Unfortunately, most horticultural products struggle with delivering adequate and consistent quality to the consumer. Removing inconsistencies and providing what the consumer expects is a key factor for retaining and expanding both domestic and international markets. Most commercial quality classification systems for fruit and vegetables are based on external features of the product, for example: shape, colour, size, weight and blemishes. However, the external appearance of most fruit is generally not an accurate guide to the internal or eating quality of the fruit. Internal quality of fruit is currently subjectively judged on attributes such as volatiles, firmness, and appearance. Destructive subjective measures such as internal flesh colour, or objective measures such as extraction of juice to measure sweetness (°Brix) or assessment of dry matter (DM) content are also used, although obviously not for every fruit – just a sample to represent the whole consignment