Can Dispersed Biomass Processing Protect the Environment and Cover the Bottom Line for Biofuel?

This paper compares environmental and profitability outcomes for a centralized biorefinery for cellulosic ethanol that does all processing versus a biorefinery linked to a decentralized array of local depots that pretreat biomass into concentrated briquettes. The analysis uses a spatial bioeconomic model that maximizes predicted profit from crop and energy products, subject to the requirement that the biorefinery must be operated at full capacity. The model draws upon biophysical crop input-output coefficients simulated with the EPIC model, as well as input and output prices, spatial transportation costs, ethanol yields from biomass, and biorefinery capital and operational costs. The model was applied to 82 cropping systems simulated across 37 sub-watersheds in a 9-county region of southern Michigan in response to ethanol prices simulated to rise from $1.78 to$3.36 per gallon. Results show that the decentralized local biomass processing depots lead to lower profitability but better environmental performance, due to more reliance on perennial grasses than the centralized biorefinery. Simulated technological improvement that reduces the processing cost and increases the ethanol yield of switchgrass by 17% could cause a shift to more processing of switchgrass, with increased profitability and environmental benefits.Biomass production, bioenergy supply, cellulosic ethanol, environmental trade-off analysis, bioeconomic modeling, EPIC, spatial configuration, local biomass processing, Crop Production/Industries, Environmental Economics and Policy, Production Economics, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, Q16, Q15, Q57, Q18,

Shift of percolation thresholds for epidemic spread between static and dynamic small-world networks

The aim of the study was to compare the epidemic spread on static and dynamic small-world networks. The network was constructed as a 2-dimensional Watts-Strogatz model (500x500 square lattice with additional shortcuts), and the dynamics involved rewiring shortcuts in every time step of the epidemic spread. The model of the epidemic is SIR with latency time of 3 time steps. The behaviour of the epidemic was checked over the range of shortcut probability per underlying bond 0-0.5. The quantity of interest was percolation threshold for the epidemic spread, for which numerical results were checked against an approximate analytical model. We find a significant lowering of percolation thresholds for the dynamic network in the parameter range given. The result shows that the behaviour of the epidemic on dynamic network is that of a static small world with the number of shortcuts increased by 20.7 +/- 1.4%, while the overall qualitative behaviour stays the same. We derive corrections to the analytical model which account for the effect. For both dynamic and static small-world we observe suppression of the average epidemic size dependence on network size in comparison with finite-size scaling known for regular lattice. We also study the effect of dynamics for several rewiring rates relative to latency time of the disease.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Disease prevention versus data privacy : using landcover maps to inform spatial epidemic models

The availability of epidemiological data in the early stages of an outbreak of an infectious disease is vital for modelers to make accurate predictions regarding the likely spread of disease and preferred intervention strategies. However, in some countries, the necessary demographic data are only available at an aggregate scale. We investigated the ability of models of livestock infectious diseases to predict epidemic spread and obtain optimal control policies in the event of imperfect, aggregated data. Taking a geographic information approach, we used land cover data to predict UK farm locations and investigated the influence of using these synthetic location data sets upon epidemiological predictions in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. When broadly classified land cover data were used to create synthetic farm locations, model predictions deviated significantly from those simulated on true data. However, when more resolved subclass land use data were used, moderate to highly accurate predictions of epidemic size, duration and optimal vaccination and ring culling strategies were obtained. This suggests that a geographic information approach may be useful where individual farm-level data are not available, to allow predictive analyses to be carried out regarding the likely spread of disease. This method can also be used for contingency planning in collaboration with policy makers to determine preferred control strategies in the event of a future outbreak of infectious disease in livestock

The Ursinus Weekly, April 13, 1959

Pearson crowned queen; Cub & Key taps four men • Meistersingers to present concert this Thurs. evening • APO invites students to hike on Saturday • Stars & Players meeting; Officers to be nominated • Slate announced for organization elections on 21st • Paris visits U.C. as Cafe Boheme opens Sat. night • Gundersheimer speaks to group on growth of early Christian art • Intercollegiate panel to discuss customs Wed. • Beneath the sea is May Day theme with novel dances • National Library Week to be observed by U.C. • Editorial: The Christian college • Easy access? • Racketmen ready for Swarthmore • Varsity badminton triumphs 3rd year with 5-0 season • Albright nine defeats UC team; Dietzel pitches • Spring sports begin; Girls\u27 teams look good • Vache addresses WAA on lacrosse • Opening day • Brownback-Anders meets Thurs. to hear Bennett • Student opinionhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1382/thumbnail.jp

Per-protocol investigation of a best practice exercise referral scheme.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of an exercise referral scheme (ERS) aligned to the UK best practice guidelines on a range of outcomes including those associated with key health concerns of the Scottish population. Study design A longitudinal design with data collection at three time points (baseline, midway and post) during a 12-week ERS intervention was employed. Methods: Health-related physical fitness was assessed through measurement of resting heart rate, blood pressure, FEV1:FEV6 (ratio of forced expiratory volume over one [FEV1] and six [FEV6] seconds), body mass and peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak), whilst functional capacity was assessed through the five times sit to stand test. Psychosocial well-being and quality of life were measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Profile of Mood State questionnaires. Growth curve analyses were used to model each outcome variable across the three time periods. Results: A range of effects were obtained with significant linear improvements in physical performance tests (P < 0.001) and psychosocial assessments (P ≤ 0.002). Additionally, significant quadratic effects of time were obtained for body composition variables and physical activity levels (P < 0.001) with the greatest improvements obtained between baseline and midway assessments. Conclusions: An ERS aligned to the UK best practice guidelines can positively influence a range of health outcomes including those associated with lung function and cardiovascular fitness which are prevalent medical conditions in Scotland. In addition, results indicate that ERS can positively affect outcomes related to functional capacity as well as mental well-being and perceptions of health. The findings of the study identify the need for further investigation including consideration of the initial health status of referred clients

Research to develop Spiritual Pedagogy, Awareness and Change

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in British Journal of Guidance and Counselling on 21-4-16, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1174976A co-operative inquiry group consisting of 8 counsellors met for 11 months to explore their experience of spirituality in their counselling training and in their work with clients (Swinton, 2010; 2015). The aim was to explore whether spirituality was absent from the process of counselling training, specifically to discover (1) how counsellors perceived and described their experience of spirituality in their training and (2) with a view to developing spiritual pedagogy; how spirituality could be incorporated into the training process of practitioner

Neutron Scattering in Normal and Deuterated Polyethylene

The one‐ and two‐phonon amplitude‐weighted directional frequency functions are calculated for normal and deuterated crystalline polyethylene. These results are compared to previously measured frequency spectra for stretch‐oriented normal polyethylene and to new measurements on deuterated polyethylene. In addition, the Debye‐Waller factors are calculated for oriented polyethylene and compared with elastic‐scattering data.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70915/2/JCPSA6-48-2-912-1.pd

Time-course analysis following initial warm-up to inform pre-pitch entry preparations of soccer substitutes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the time-course of decrements in physical performance following a pre-match warm-up in soccer players. Knowledge of this information could be used to inform re-warm-ups and pre-pitch entry practices of soccer substitutes. Data were collected over five sessions with 12 male youth professionals (15-17 yrs). Across the five sessions each player performed countermovement jumps (CMJ) and drop jumps (30 and 40 cm), pre-warm-up, immediately post-warm-up, and following 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-minutes of inactivity. Physical performance was assessed by jump height and calculation of reactive strength index (RSI). Hierarchical generalized linear models (HGLMs) were fitted within a Bayesian framework to identify plausible time to achieve 10 to 50% decrements of the initial pre to post warm-up improvement. Mean improvements of 5.4 cm (95%CrI: 4.8 to 6.0), 0.24 ms-1 (95%CrI: 0.19 to 0.29), and 0.32 ms-1 (0.27 to 0.36) were obtained for the CMJ, and RSI measured from the 30 and 45 cm box, respectively. Decrements for all assessments were non-linear with the steepest rates of decline measured in the initial periods following warm-up. High probabilities were calculated (p ≥ 0.979) that up to 50% of the initial warm-up improvement for the CMJ would be lost between 20 and 30 minutes. The results of this study provide a guide for future research and practitioners managing the pre-pitch entry of soccer substitutes. It is suggested that practitioners consider and assess the effectiveness of exposing players to a re-warm-up between 20- and 30-minutes prior to pitch entry to maintain performance capabilities

The impact of a self-regulated pneumatic resistance intervention on variables related to balance, gait and lower extremity muscle function in community dwelling older adults.

To evaluate the impact of self-regulated pneumatic resistance exercise on variables related to balance, gait and lower extremity muscle function in community dwelling older adults. Materials and methods: Thirty-six older adults, aged ?65 years completed the testing procedure as either the 10 week control (n=18) or intervention (n=18) group. Outcome measures included spatiotemporal gait variables, double leg standing balance assessment (with eyes open and closed), and the five times sit-to-stand measurement. Results were analysed using ANCOVA tests, with baseline values included as a covariate. Results: No change to balance or gait was identified in either group. Participants within the intervention group significantly decreased time taken to complete the five times sit-to-stand test (p=0.006, 2=.218), while no change was reported within the control group. Conclusion: Positive findings of increased lower extremity muscle function indicate that self-regulated pneumatic resistance may represent an appropriate exercise intervention for use in older adults, although the lack of improvement to balance and gait parameters suggest that further research is required to develop delivery modalities for optimum effectiveness in this population

The Ursinus Weekly, November 24, 1958

Y holds seminar Nov. 19; Marriage problem is topic • Fireside chats to be held Dec. 3 at prof\u27s home • C. Carpenter has poem published in anthology • Administrative regulation • Mayes, Francis \u2762 representatives to MSGA • New pledges announced by Alpha Psi Omega • De Gaulle and France topic at second Forum of Fall semester • Who\u27s who honors 12 leading Ursinus seniors • Senior Ball to be held at Sunnybrook Dec. 5 • W.S.G.A. presents plaque to winning frosh team • Editorial: Thanksgiving • Letters to the editor • Review: Joan of Lorraine • Slightly allegorical • U.C. soccermen lose last three games; Finish 2-6-1 • Prospects for U.C. basketball team looking up • Varsity hockey finishes with 4-2-1; J.V. is 6-0-1 • Football squad drops two games 12-0, 34-6 • Sorority bids • American hist. students begin tour program • Fine art of datinghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1372/thumbnail.jp