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

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

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

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.

ECONOMICS OF DETECTION AND CONTROL OF INVASIVE SPECIES: WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS

Invasive species are species that are not native to an ecosystem, and when introduced into the new ecosystem, they cause economic or environmental damage. Trade is one way in which these species are introduced into new regions, and as trade increases, the introduction of invasive species also rises. The Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies, North Dakota State University, held a workshop on April 30, 2004 in Fargo, ND, titled ?Economics of Detection and Control of Invasive Species? to address these issues. The purpose of this workshop was to present current findings on the subject of invasive species in agricultural trade and to structure the model for an in-depth research project examining this issue. Speakers included experts from the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service and the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, as well as professors of economics from North Dakota State University and other academic institutions. Discussion included the impact of invasive species on agricultural production and trade, the tools used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Customs and Border patrol to detect and control incoming species, and the creation of econometric models to capture and explain these processes and to analyze policy issues. This report contains abstracts from the presentations given at the workshop.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

U.S. AGRICULTURAL TRADE WITH WESTERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES AND THE EFFECT OF THE FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS

Negotiations to create the largest single market in the world, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), are in progress. Such an agreement could have significant effects on U.S. agriculture; it could create an opportunity to increase U.S. exports of agricultural commodities and products, and could also lead to an increase in imports. The objective of this study is to analyze U.S. agricultural trade with Western Hemisphere countries and to determine the effects of hemisphere-wide trade liberalization. The Western Hemisphere contains important sources for U.S. agricultural imports and important markets for U.S. agricultural exports, though the hemisphere has been more important as a source for imports than as a market for exports. Results suggest that U.S. agricultural exports within the hemisphere are positively influenced by real GDP in the importing country and negatively influenced by the strength of the U.S. dollar and tariffs in importing countries. U.S. agricultural imports are positively affected by the strength of the U.S. dollar and negatively affected by U.S. tariffs. A reduction in tariffs under the FTAA would have a greater effect on U.S. agricultural exports than it would on U.S. agricultural imports because tariffs are generally larger in other countries and food consumption is more price sensitive in other countries.Free Trade Area of the Americas, trade liberalization, Western Hemisphere, agricultural trade., International Relations/Trade,