Tokyo International Conference on the Forest Governance Initiative (Tokyo, October 24-26, 2017):
Improving Forest Governance Using Forest Early Warning Systems and Satellite Technologies
First International Conference on the Forest Governance Initiative
In cooperation with the Forestry Agency of Japan and the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), JICA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) co-organized the Tokyo International Conference on the Forest Governance Initiative that was held in Tokyo from October 24 to 26, 2017. The conference was composed of two days of sessions (Oct. 24-25) and a one-day visit for overseas participants to the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (Oct. 26). The conference was attended by 144 participants from 24 countries representing our partner countries, international and regional organizations (including COMIFAC, FAO, IUFRO, NASA, UNFCCC, UNFF, and WRI), development partners, the private sector and civil society.
Opening Session with High-level Representatives
The following individuals made speeches or key presentations at the Opening Session: H.E. Dr. Amy Ambatobe Nyongolo, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of the Congo; H.E. Dr. Rosalie Matondo, Minister for Forest Economy, Republic of Congo (represented by Mr. Etienne Yoyo, Director General of Forest Economy); Dr. Gerhard Dieterle, Executive Director, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO); Mr. Koji Makimoto, Deputy Director-General, Forestry Agency of Japan; Ms. Noriko Suzuki, Senior Vice President, JICA; and Prof. Teruyuki Nakajima, Director, Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), JAXA.
Conference Key Question: How can countries use satellite technologies to promote forest management effectively?
Forests - particularly tropical ones - are directly and indirectly contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and they are also critical for economic development, biodiversity conservation, and climate change measures. However, monitoring and managing forests sustainably is not an easy task - especially for developing countries -- due to factors such as their huge area, accessibility, insufficient resources and capacity. Given this, satellite technologies are indispensable in the monitoring and managing of forests these days.
In light of this, the conference was held with the aim of providing participants with opportunities to exchange views on the following: 1) how developing countries can promote forest management effectively, including by means such as tackling illegal deforestation activities, using JJ-FAST and other forest early warning systems and satellite technologies and implementing the necessary policy measures; and 2) how development partners can support a country's efforts. The sessions focused on two different aspects of the issue: governance and satellite technologies.
Discussion: Satellite technologies present many opportunities to address forest-related challenges, but good governance is indispensable
During the conference, the challenges faced by our partner countries and the international community in terms of improving forest governance by using the tools of forest monitoring and forest management were discussed. The participants recognized that the effective use of satellite technologies, such as JJ-FAST and other satellite-based systems, present many opportunities to address these challenges. The participants pointed out the need for these satellite-based systems to meet the needs and circumstances of the relevant developing countries and stakeholders and for them to be user-friendly solutions that require fewer resources and technical inputs. They also pointed out that several satellite-based systems are now available - including JJ-FAST, Global Forest Watch, SEPAL, and GLAD - and that they each have different advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, these systems should be used in a complementary and comprehensive manner. Furthermore, the participants shared a common understanding that technologies or systems cannot provide a single solution for all forest-related challenges and that effective solutions require good forest governance, such as strong political will, effective policies, law enforcement, anti-corruption measures, capacity building, and effective coordination among stakeholders.
Discussion: JJ-FAST can be an effective tool for forest management, and further upgrading of its functions is expected
The participants expressed great interest in JJ-FAST and had high expectations that it would prove to be an effective tool for forest monitoring and management through its incorporation in national forest monitoring systems and management plans based on their needs and objectives. Further study would be beneficial in seeking an effective means of utilizing JJ-FAST in the enforcement of regulations designed to address illegal deforestation activities, the tracking of legally harvested wood and wood products, the conducting of appropriate concession management and the implementation of other measures. The functionality of JJ-FAST can be enhanced to allow it to be used more effectively by developing countries and all stakeholders in conjunction with other available systems and tools both complimentarily and comprehensively. At the same time, participants pointed out that JJ-FAST, which is still a new system, has room for improvement in terms of matters such as the size of objects that can be detected and accuracy (e.g., through the use of dual polarization and time series data on multiple data items). The JJ-FAST Development Team requested participant feedback from the field as it would help them to improve their algorithms and data accuracy.
The output from each session was summarized by the moderators and shared with the participants. At the end of the conference, the co-organizers issued the "Statement on the Tokyo International Conference on the Forest Governance Initiative," which incorporated the findings from the various sessions and called for further partnerships among the stakeholders.
Visit to JAXA Tsukuba Space Center
On October 26, overseas participants visited the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (TKSC) to learn about JAXA's mission and its space activities.
|I. Details of the Conference
|II. Details of the Sessions
|Day 1 (October 24)
|Session I Opening Session
|Session II Sustainable Forest Management Using Forest Early Warning Systems and Satellite technology
|Day 2 (October 25)
|Group 1 (Governance Session): Improving forest governance using the JJ-FAST and satellite technologies along with policy measures
|Group 2 (Technical Session): Strengthening national forest monitoring based on the JJ-FAST and satellite technologies
|Visit to JAXA Tsukuba Space Center (Day 3, October 26)


by Marina Villeneuve and Michael Casey, AP News
Soon after taking office, Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills announced renovation plans for the governor’s mansion. She wanted to add solar panels.
The move was seen as a rebuke to her predecessor, Republican Gov. Paul LePage, whose administration put a moratorium on new wind turbines and enacted policies that critics say stymied solar energy in the state.
Mills has moved quickly to scrap the turbine moratorium and signed a bill that would eliminate a LePage-era policy that put a fee on power generated by residential solar panels.
Maine is among 11 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, that either flipped the governor’s seat from Republican to Democrat or saw Democrats win newfound control over the Legislature in the 2018 elections. All have passed or are weighing legislation that would expand renewables in their states, The Associated Press found.


Waldo Canyon Fire
Uploaded by: apphotos
Sunday June 24, 2012
Caption: Leaping flames race across a ridge as the Waldo Canyon Fire burned 2500 acres west of Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, June 23, 2012 making the evening sky glow. The fire is zero percent contained. Voluntary and mandatory evacuations were taking place across the west side of Colorado Springs. Tankers were dropping fire retardant in front of the advancing flames. ( AP Photo/Bryan Oller)
This image does not contain EXIF data.


Climate change, the role of financing
Many in the EU consider gas to be one of the ‘solutions’ to the climate crisis and plan huge investments in gas infrastructure. But we disagree. Fossil gas is a false solution to dangerous climate change: fossil gas is a fuel with substantial CO2 and methane emissions, contributing to the climate problem and its catastrophic impacts.
In 2014-16 the EU provided up to €4bn in support to fossil fuels, most of which went to gas infrastructure. And the subsidies might keep coming.
The EU has committed multiple times to the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies.
Will the EU budget follow suit?
The European Commission has proposed to continue to subsidise more fossil fuels well into the next decade through the next long-term EU budget (Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027). And attempts by the European Commission to exclude fossil fuels from some EU funds are challenged by some Member States and by some EU Parliamentarians.
The plans and legislations are not final yet since the budget files are still under negotiations: now it’s time for the European Parliament and the EU governments to make the next EU budget fully climate-friendly and 100% free from fossil fuels!


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Optima Battery Cutaway
Batteries are the most vital power supply in this technology-based era, consisting of cell phones, laptop computers, vehicles, power devices, as well as more. Usually, most people toss batteries when they died and purchase new ones. In this manner, utilized batteries are damaging the atmosphere and shed your cash. It would certainly have been terrific to know a process to utilize the batteries much longer, which might conserve hundreds of bucks every year.
You can conserve your cash in the EZ Battery Reconditioning training course, which can help you utilize your batteries for a longer time. Let’s dive into the information through this EZ Battery Reconditioning testimonial. Optima Battery Cutaway
What is EZ Battery Reconditioning?Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning is an approach or procedure to give your old batteries a new life. It doesn’t take a substantial time to make your made use of or dead batteries working once again. It simply takes 10-20 minutes with the use of some tools.Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning book offers a thorough standard to reconditioning 10 battery types. After looking at EZ Battery Reconditioning publication pdf viewers can boost the life period of some batteries, consisting of a medical home battery or golf cart, batteries of the typical car. Nevertheless, you do not require to be an electronics guru to initiate the process as well as offer a new life to the batteries.Optima Battery Cutaway
Usually, golf carts, cars and trucks, and various other battery-based tools work on lead-acid and wet cell batteries. And more than likely, the plates of these cells or lead absorb sulfuric acid. Therefore, it creates electrical power. As the battery gets utilized, the performance lowered and also passed away at the end. The new battery obtains replaced with the old one, as well as you finish up paying hundreds of dollars yearly.Optima Battery Cutaway
Thinking about the price, if you might locate a means to utilize the old one over and over, you could conserve hundreds of dollars. This is where EZ Battery Reconditioning directions can be found in convenient, where you can replace the utilized batteries for future usage.Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning program pdf is available for download online, so it is not offered in the shops.
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About the EZ Battery Reconditioning Program Creator EZ Battery Reconditioning is created by Tom Ericson with the co-author Frank Thompson. Tom is a married man who resides in South Carolina with his better half as well as children. Nonetheless, they were having financial issues when the auto battery was dead. So, he had 2 options to invest his leftover cash on. Alternative one was food for the children, and also the various other one was buying an auto battery. So, Ericson winds up getting food as well as could not pay the auto mechanic. Later, he computed how much his family members invested in batteries, as well as the result was surprising. Tom started looking into to find a method to minimize investing on batteries.Optima Battery Cutaway
During that time, Tom was collaborating with a golf business where he met Frank Thompson, called “The Battery Man.” Thompson utilized to find to Tom’s business to collect dead batteries, who after that sold those as reconditioned. Tom later on encouraged Thompson to share the secrets of refurbishing the batteries.Optima Battery Cutaway
After paying attention to the process, they developed the EZ Battery Reconditioning program pdf book.
EZ Battery Reconditioning Program Inside EZ Battery Reconditioning directions are marketed as a digital book. Because it is offered on the internet and also can be reviewed by means of your COMPUTER, Phones, or tablet computers, you will not discover it in standard shops. As soon as you buy the book, you can access it right away. Furthermore, you will certainly get lifetime access to any type of future updates of the book via the participant website created by Frank and also Tom. As innovation is always advancing, the new procedure could emerge also for brand-new battery types. With life time gain access to, you can get all the upgraded process.
You will obtain three even more bonus products as well when you purchase EZ Battery Reconditioning. The bonuses are-.
Dual your user batteries’ lifespan: It will take you via the actions you need to double the battery life before they are dead. The book will obtain you some pointers and also methods to use a battery meticulously.
The process to start a Battery Business: With the EZ Battery guideline, you can start a battery business from house. The Franks explained this process, which has actually been doing battery company for more than 5 years. Right here he discussed the things and also intended to replicate his service.
Lifetime gain access to on future updates: Tom and also Frank made an internet site for the participants, which work as an EZ Battery Reconditioning forum, where members can talk about as well as share their suggestions. Course creators sign up with the conversation also and provide a service if there are any kind of grievances.
On top of these perks, the book consists of all the recommendations concerning the required devices and also chemicals. So, EZ Battery Reconditioning will not let you down as you will get everything you needed to give your made use of battery 2nd life.
Does EZ Battery Reconditioning Work?Optima Battery Cutaway
Yes, it functions like magic. We have actually examined the evaluation of EZ Battery Reconditioning from the actual individuals. And we come to know that all the individuals obtained a satisfying outcome after using the book’s standards. The EZ battery replacing digital book provides detailed reconditioning of 10 sorts of batteries from house batteries to auto batteries.Optima Battery Cutaway
Customers are currently saving numerous bucks annually as they do not need to get brand-new batteries anytime quickly. However, the only point they have to get is a device required to refurbish the battery.Optima Battery Cutaway
Do this to Bring Old Batteries Back To Life Again – Just Like New.
Exactly How Does EZ Battery Reconditioning Work?Optima Battery Cutaway
You already recognize that the EZ Battery Reconditioning guide works completely for all. However, you might question how does recondition work! Well, it is not brain surgery. You might look into as well as discover the methods too as it doesn’t require any kind of skills. Allow’s see a glimpse of the actions.Optima Battery Cutaway
Step 1 You need to eliminate the battery initially from the desired electronic tools or vehicle. However, ensure that you use safety gloves in addition to goggles to secure your eyes. You can decrease the possibilities of any unusual crash due to coming in call with the acid discharged from the battery. Furthermore, you have to separate any kind of linked cables to the battery, additionally disconnect the power. These will certainly ensure security and stay clear of shocks.Optima Battery Cutaway
Action 2 After getting rid of the battery from its location, you will have to clean it up. You can utilize it via a cloth, you may require to make use of a rough brush or steel wool to get rid of residues if you see any corrosion. After that you can utilize the cloth again to clean the rusts appropriately.Optima Battery Cutaway
Step 3 In this step, you will need a multi-meter to establish the battery’s scenario and whether it is possible to refurbish. Nonetheless, not all batteries stay in a refurbishing circumstance. A multi-meter enables you to examine that. You will certainly likewise need a hydrometer as well. Multi-meter as well as hydrometer can assist you in recognizing the ideal condition of the battery. You will certainly obtain comprehensive steps on exactly how to check the batteries on the EZ Battery Reconditioning guide pdf.Optima Battery Cutaway
Tip 4 If the battery passed the previous action, you might proceed with the replacing making use of 2 techniques discussed in guide. The first technique is equalization, as well as the following one is eliminating sulfation with the chemical additive. Generally, sulfation happens from the reaction between lead and also sulfuric acid. Both techniques are made use of to eliminate the sulfation. You will certainly understand a lot more about EZ Battery Reconditioning chemicals exactly how to do it in detail in the book.Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning technique is a cutting edge standard that supplies a various standard for various kinds of batteries.
Where to Buy EZ Battery Reconditioning?Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning secret books can be purchased from the official internet site. Nonetheless, you might find other websites selling the PDF at a low-cost cost or could be totally free to download. Those are really marketing the customized publication, or they rip-off individuals.Optima Battery Cutaway
So, before acquiring, make certain you get on the main web site. Furthermore, you might locate some websites that supply EZ Battery Reconditioning program testimonials, and you can purchase from those websites if you believe them trustworthy. Typically, those kinds of review websites redirect you to the book’s initial site, and also you are in fact purchasing from the main website. The acquiring procedure concludes a guideline, which is always purchasing from the official site.Optima Battery Cutaway
How Much Does EZ Battery Reconditioning Cost?Optima Battery Cutaway
If you calculate your battery spending, you might assume that the EZ Battery Reconditioning cost will be high. Tom as well as Frank’s objective is to make the publication available to every home in America as well as various other countries. Keeping that in mind, they valued it fairly, price simply $47, and also obtain the lifetime accessibility to and also future enhancements.Optima Battery Cutaway
This is an one-time payment, as well as there disappear membership fees for future updates or bonuses. Along with that, you will certainly get a 60-day money-back assurance too. So, if you do not like the book, you can get a full refund. We are confident that you will not ask for a refund as you will love the EZ Battery Reconditioning.Optima Battery Cutaway
Advantages and disadvantages of EZ Battery Reconditioning No products are best in this globe, so does the EZ Battery Reconditioning procedure. They have some disadvantages also. All the disadvantages would outweigh the few disadvantages. Let’s see the Pros and Cons.Optima Battery Cutaway
It uses an easy-to-understand language with detailed pictures to ensure that anyone can check out as well as comprehend easily.Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning detailed overviews are very easy to follow.
Refurbishing a battery can conserve your cash, and also it benefits the environment too.
By using the exact same battery for many years, you are really earning back the acquisition price.Optima Battery Cutaway
Obtain instant access, and you don’t need to await days to get provided.
It has some cons also. Allow’s enter it.
You will certainly need to buy some devices to use the methods advised by Tom and also Frank, which could be additional costs for you.
You can not recondition all the batteries with the standard as some batteries obtain damaged and no other way to get them recuperated.
These two cons do not really scale down guide as these are not straight related to guide.
EZ Battery Reconditioning Real Customer Reviews From our in-detail study, we have actually discovered that EZ Battery Reconditioning issues are very little. However, it has an enormous quantity of favorable reviews, that makes it worth trying. Numerous clients are conserving hundreds of bucks. Mostly all the users got a proven result.
One client had a recurring issue with his auto battery, which gradually loses power. Even acquiring a new battery won’t last long. He tried the EZ battery fixing procedure and also ultimately made use of the same battery twice. Like that, there are several favorable reviews which will certainly urge anybody to buy it.Optima Battery Cutaway
Is EZ Battery Reconditioning Legit Course?Optima Battery Cutaway
Far, no scam records are recommended, so we can clearly state that EZ Battery Reconditioning is legit. Furthermore, hundreds of positive reviews from genuine consumers additionally support its authenticity. The testimonies from genuine clients also reveal that the EZ Battery Reconditioning is legitimate. You would not understand it until you use it for on your own. You can attempt to examine that out by yourself, and you can get a refund if you do not like it. There is absolutely nothing to shed on your component.Optima Battery Cutaway
EZ Battery Reconditioning Reviews- Final Words Batteries have actually become a crucial part of our life. As well as we can forecast that the future will certainly be entirely based upon batteries. The arising electrical auto will boost the battery need, and the typical cost will certainly be higher. So, in the future, you can make use of the EZ Battery Reconditioning technique to make your battery life expectancy much longer.Optima Battery Cutaway
You may have the option to purchase new or reuse batteries. Utilizing the old battery will certainly be smart since it is atmosphere pleasant as well as has the cost-cutting function. So, it is far better to discover battery bring back from the EZ Battery Reconditioning DIY book, which will certainly work for every day life and the future The FAQS EZ Battery Reconditioning Q. What is the EZ battery reconditioning approach?Optima Battery Cutaway
It is a procedure to recycle the old batteries again when it is dead. It offers 10 battery types, including phone, laptop, automobile, golf cart, rechargeable, lengthy life, and also different power system batteries.Optima Battery Cutaway
Q. How Long Does It Take to Replace a Battery?Optima Battery Cutaway
Generally, refurbishing a battery takes about four hours. You might not obtain success in the initial effort, so you can repeat the procedure up until the battery refurbished completely as well as get back to its original condition. Yet you will need to keep perseverance.Optima Battery Cutaway
Q. Are Reconditioned Batteries Great?Optima Battery Cutaway
Comparing to a brand-new battery, reconditioned batteries might give you a bit less performance. Yet the condition of a refurbished battery suffices to get your job done. Numerous auto proprietors choose to have refurbished batteries as the brand-new ones are costly. New battery and also reconditioned battery offer you the same efficiency.Optima Battery Cutaway
Battery reconditioner as well as desulfator.
Increase the lifespan of your batteries: lead sulphate is eliminated by the electrical high-frequency pulsation process of the battery reconditioner.Optima Battery Cutaway
BMS-system: wireless discovery of poor cells.
Battery Monitoring System: execute private voltage dimensions of all cells during a complete discharge as well as get a best battery evaluation as well as a clear introduction of the performance of each cell!


Three Plane Stupid activists – the Tunnel Trio – sentenced to £305 fines each for blocking Heathrow tunnel in November
On 26th November 2015, on the day Parliament discussed airport expansion, three activists from Plane Stupid parked a vehicle across both lanes of the entrance tunnel and locked themselves to it, unfurling a banner quoting David Cameron’s election promise in 2010: “No Ifs, No Buts: No Third Runway”. The tunnel was finally cleared after 3 – 4 hours. The activists pleaded guilty, and have now been sentenced – by Judge Deborah Wright – to fines of £200 each, increased to £305 each with the addition of court and CPS costs. The three protestors are: Esme Waldron, 23, a student from Brighton; Alistair Cannell, 26, a bar worker, from Brighton; and William Pettifer, 27, a worker on an organic farm in Somerset. The Judge reduced the sentence from the original level of £300 each, as they pleaded guilty and had been careful to avoid any danger to the public. She acknowledged the good record of each defendant, and their sincerity in their belief of the harm that would be done by a 3rd Heathrow runway. However, she felt they had been inconsiderate of the travelling public in causing around 75 to miss flights, and more to have problems with reaching the airport or parking. The fines were low, as the incomes of all three are low. A lively crowd, including some of the Heathrow 13, assembled before the hearing, to support the activists.
Three Plane Stupid activists – the Tunnel Trio – sentenced to £305 fines each
3 arrests after Plane Stupid block Heathrow tunnel for 3 hours using a van + activists locked onto it
The main road entrance tunnel to Heathrow’s Terminals 1 and 2 was blocked by climate change activists from Plane Stupid, for about 3 hours, from 7.40 this morning. Three activists parked a vehicle across both lanes of the entrance tunnel and locked themselves to it, unfurling a banner quoting David Cameron’s election promise in 2010: “No Ifs, No Buts: No Third Runway”. Three people were arrested, and the tunnel was finally cleared. Some travellers may have been delayed or could have missed flights. Local resident Neil Keveren, a builder from Harmondsworth, whose house would be bulldozed for the 3rd runway, was fined after blocking the same tunnel with his van for half an hour on 2nd July, the day after the Airports Commission announcement. Neil said: “No one wants to do this. They feel they have to. People feel they have no choice. After we campaigned for years, David Cameron was elected promising ‘no ifs, no buts: no third runway’. …. We have tried every other option. We have been forced to be disobedient just to be heard. To save our homes and our planet.” There is already airport capacity for families taking a couple of trips per year, or wealthy foreign visitors to the UK, but a new runway would be for the most wealthy to take multiple leisure trips each year. Plane Stupid apologised for causing inconvenience, but believe the strong arguments against a Heathrow runway must be heard.
Activists who blocked Heathrow tunnel plead not guilty – [further hearing April 2016]
On 23rd December, there was a brief court hearing for the 3 activists who blocked a main Heathrow entrance tunnel on 26th November. The hearing was at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, and they pleaded not guilty. Another hearing will therefore be arranged in 2016. Many supporters of the activists attended the hearing and gathered outside the court beforehand. After the court hearing, a large group Heathrow-3rd-Runway-opponents including many local residents who face destruction of their homes and communities if a runway is built, met outside the Magistrates court. Wearing Santa hats, they sang a few Christmas carols and jingles (with two or three accompanying policemen) before dispersing.
The last time the tunnel was blocked:
Protester whose Harmondsworth home would be destroyed by 3rd runway, blocks Heathrow tunnel for half an hour
A blockade of Heathrow’s road access tunnel to Terminals 2 and 3 brought traffic to a halt for more than half an hour at 12.45pm today. The protest follows yesterday’s announcement that the Airports Commission report recommends the building of 3rd runway at Heathrow. This would require the destruction of over 1,000 homes in Harmondsworth, Longford and Sipson with a further 3,000 homes made uninhabitable due to excessive noise and pollution. Neil Keveren, a Harmondsworth resident, used a large white van to block both lanes to incoming traffic. He then unfurled a banner that covered the side of his vehicle to face the stationary traffic saying, “Residents Against Expansion – No ifs, no buts, no third runway”. The banner refers to David Cameron’s pledge prior to the 2010 election. His entirely peaceful protest was only ever intended to last 20 minutes, to avoid disruption to the airport. His co-operation enabled the police to avoid an evacuation procedure that would have caused further disruption to traffic. Neil Keveren made it clear his action was a personal protest, and was not part of his role as Chair of the Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE) campaign group. However, his action were supported by many local residents and the local MP, John McDonnell.
Full story at https://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2015/07/26823/


HMN- Industrial fire at 124-year-old facility,”First responders noted seeing smoke and fire inside the idustrial building, which houses steel and fiber drums, plastic barrels and a variety of other totes used by oil and chemical companies.” according to mlive.com
MARNE, MI — Officials from numerous fire departments were dispatched Friday morning to an industrial fire in northeast Ottawa County.
The fire, along with a possible explosion, was reported around 6:40 a.m. at DeWitt Barrels, 1125 Comstock St. in Marne.
First responders noted seeing smoke and fire inside the building, which houses steel and fiber drums, plastic barrels and a variety of other totes used by oil and chemical companies.
Employees were evacuated from the building, and no injuries were reported.
Ottawa County and Marne emergency crews on scene requested assistance from departments including Walker, Allendale and Alpine, according to dispatch recordings.
Police also shut down Comstock Street between 8th Avenue and 16th Avenue.
By 7:20 a.m., crews reported the fire was out. Remaining on scene were firefighters from a handful of departments, along with personnel from Kent County Hazmat and Consumers Energy.
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BRIEF from the Environment and Energy Working Group of the G7 Global Task Force
June 4, 2018
In this document we outline the importance of just transition, building on the work of unions and labour organizations around the world, as a priority for G7 countries to discuss in this year’s Summit.
As seven of the most advanced economies discuss how to face current and future global challenges, it’s incumbent for these nations to work together and share experiences on their role in ensuring full decarbonization of the global economy by 2050, and addressing the implications of decarbonisation for workers, communities, women and Indigenous Peoples. This work should be down with the acknowledgement that decarbonization and climate action are only a small part of the larger disruption happening in workforces around the world thanks to trends such as automation.
2018 will be a crucial year for the global community to demonstrate its determination to limit the increase in global temperature well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Stepping-up efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C requires integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. It also requires the understanding that a sustainable and just future is only possible if all sectors of society engage actively to develop new ways of working that protect the environment for present and future generations, and that promote justice and the creation of decent working opportunities for all, all along the supply chain. The Paris Agreement references just transition in its preamble, along with the importance of creating decent quality jobs aligned with nationally development priorities.
In accordance to SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 10 (reducing inequalities), SDG 1 (no poverty), and SDG 13 (climate action), the G7 must promote sustainable development, that encourages new technologies, sustainable consumptions, and a just transition for workers, communities, and Indigenous Peoples around the world. Just transition in a world’s growing population, means building a low-carbon future that recognizes three main defining challenges for our century: decent work, poverty eradication and environmental sustainability. We encourage the G7 to also think about the challenges of a just transition such as: the restructuring of different sectors of the economy which could lead to displacement of workers and job losses; the impacts of climate change on assets, infrastructure and livelihoods,; the impact of increasing energy demand and prices specifically on the poor, and; the impacts of climate change on women, and Indigenous communities around the world.
G7 leaders can use this summit to promote the exchange of experiences, build momentum around just transition, and create an ongoing dialogue on this specific topic. These leading economies must agree on the overarching goal of the Paris Agreement decarbonization pathways, and the importance of promoting the creation of an international agenda around just transition that promotes, and realizes fundamental principles such as the right of decent work in a decarbonizing world. A specific focus on Indigenous communities is essential in ensuring just transition policies are aligned with the United Nations Declaration of the Right of Indigenous Peoples.
The G7 must encourage large, medium and small enterprises, investors and consumers to embrace transition towards inclusive economies around all sectors of the economy.
Finally, Canada, as President of the G7, and building on the work of the Task Force on the Just Transition for Canadian Coal-Power Workers and Communities has the opportunity to elevate this discussion, and promote mainstreaming of just transition principles across all G7 priorities and discussions for the upcoming years. Canada shall encourage all G7 members to include principles of just transition as part of their new nationally determined contributions.
The climate and energy working group of the G7 global task force is a broad coalition of over 40 civil society organisations from G7 countries and around the world that has come together to deliver expectations from civil society as the world’s wealthiest industrialized nations meet June 8-9 for the G7 Head of States Summit and G7 Energy, Environment, and Oceans Ministers prepare to meet in the fall. CAN-Rac will convene the working group for the length of Canada’s G7 presidency.


Browsing Theses and Dissertations - Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry by Title
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ItemAcetic Anhydride(University of Alabama Libraries, 1929) Hanna, Carl; University of Alabama TuscaloosaAcetic anhydride is a colourless, volatile liquid having an odor like that of glacial acetic acid, but stronger. It is very corrosive and its vapors are extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs. Care should therefore be exercised in working with it, and any spilled upon the hands should be immediately washed off. It is a condensation of two molecules of acetic acid with elimination of water. The reaction, however, is reversible, and there is always present some acetic acid due to action of water. ItemAir-stable palladium(II) precatalysts: synthesis, properties, and applications in cross-coupling reactions(University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Barnett, Kerry Lynn; Shaughnessy, Kevin H.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaPalladium catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are a versatile tool in organic chemistry to produce small molecules. Current research interests involve the development of new catalyst systems for various palladium catalyzed reactions. Previous work has suggested the active species for palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to be a mono-ligated palladium(0) species when sterically demanding ligands are used. Therefore, the my work focused on the synthesis of precatalysts with an established 1:1 L:Pd. Specifically, we were focused on the synthesis of mono-ligated palladium(II) precatalysts of general formula [(R_3P)PdCl_2]_2, using di-tert-butylneopentylphosphine (DTBNpP), tert-butyldineopentylphosphine (TBDNpP), and trineopentylphosphine (TNpP) as ligands. Under optimized conditions, both [(DTBNpP)PdCl_2]_2 and [(TNpP)PdCl_2]_2 were effective precatalysts for the Suzuki cross-coupling of a wide range of aryl bromides. Comparison studies with the air-stable precatalysts versus the in-situ generated catalyst showed the precatalysts to have improved conversions and higher rates of reaction under both inert and ambient atmospheres. The precatalyst activation pathways were investigated by 31P NMR spectroscopy. The spectra obtained from 31P NMR experiments revealed a side reaction resulting in a catalytically inactive palladacycle species. The results obtained from the mechanistic investigations led to further optimization of reaction conditions to decrease the amounts of catalytically inactive side products formed. ItemAnionic polymerization of activated aziridines(University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Mbarushimana, Pierre Canisius C.; Rupar, Paul A.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaPolyethyleneimine, also referred to as polyaziridine, is a polymer that has a repeat unit of (-CH2CH2NH-). Due to its high amine density, PEI finds application in several domains including gene transfection, antimicrobial/antibacterial medicine, CO2 capture, thin film metal deposition, industrial wastewater treatments, and more. Commercially, PEI is obtained via the uncontrolled polymerization of aziridine and the cationic ring opening polymerization (CROP) of oxazolines. However, the available cationic polymerization techniques of aziridines are poorly controlled. In order to synthesize well-defined PEIs, recent literature approaches have used the anionic ring opening polymerization (AROP) of various N-substituted aziridines. The present research, done at The University of Alabama, has focused on the synthesis and AROP of N-substituted aziridines, without the substitution at the 2-position of the aziridine ring. The studied monomers include three tert-butylcarboxy-protected aziridine monomers, specifically tert-butyl aziridine-1-carboxylate, tert-butyl 2-methylaziridine-1-carboxylate, tert-butyl 2-decylaziridine, and six 1-(alkylsulfonylsulfonyl) aziridine monomers, i.e. 1-(methylsulfonyl)aziridine, 1-(toluenesulfonyl)aziridine, 1-(octylsulfonyl)aziridine, 1-(sec-butylsulfonyl)aziridine, 1-((2-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl)aziridine, and 1-((4-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl)aziridine. After characterization, the synthesized monomers were homopolymerized by AROP using various nucleophilic initiators. Except for BOCDecAz, all the synthesized monomers were successfully converted into the corresponding polymers. However, only short oligomers of the resulting homopolymers were formed, as high molecular weight polymer chains were insoluble. The synthesized polymers can potentially be used as precursor to pure linear polyamines A single sulfonyl aziridine, namely1-((ortho-nitrophenyl)sulfonyl)aziridine (oNsAz) was found to produce high molecular weight poly(oNsAz) that was soluble in DMF and DMSO. This is significant as it is the first example of a soluble poly(1-sulfonylaziridine) homopolymer; prior examples were limited to random copolymer. The deprotection of poly(oNsAz) was also attempted in effort to synthesize linear PEI. Although evidence was found for the formation of linear PEI, satisfactory purification of the linear PEI was not achievable. ItemThe anionic ring-opening polymerization of cyclic imines(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Reisman, Louis; Rupar, Paul A.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaOne important class of polymers is polyimines. Polyimines have a wide range of applications such as CO2 capture and non-viral gene-transfection. Despite their many applications, the use of these polymers is limited due to difficulties in controlling the polymerization. To increase the feasibility of polyimines in the aforementioned high-value applications, the research in this dissertation focuses on controlled routes to produce linear polyimines using living anionic ring-opening polymerization (AROP). The early work of this dissertation focuses on an AROP route to linear polyethylenimine (LPEI). Due to the insolubility of p(N-sulfonylaziridine)s (i.e. non-2-substituted) in all common solvents, this was achieved using a copolymerization strategy. Utilizing two N-sulfonylaziridines, N-(methanesulfonyl)aziridine (MsAz) and N-(sec-butylsulfonyl)aziridine (sBsAz), with similar reactivities, a soluble random copolymer with narrow molecular weight distributions is produced. Removal of the sulfonyl groups of p(MsAz-r-sBsAz) affords the first example of LPEI by living, controlled AROP. The later work in this dissertation focuses on the AROP of N-sulfonylazetidines in route to linear poly(trimethylenimine) (LPTMI). Initially, the polymerization of N-(methanesulfonyl)azetidine (MsAzet) was investigated. The kinetics of this polymerization were studied, and the reaction found to be first order with respect to monomer and the number of active chain ends remains constant throughout the polymerization. Interestingly, activation occurs at the methanesulfonyl group, leading to polymer branching. This branching precludes p(MsAzet) from being a precursor to LPTMI. By more judicial selection of N-sulfonylazetidine monomers, a living, controlled AROP approach to LPTMI was achieved by copolymerizing two similar N-sulfonylazetidines, N-(p-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine (pTsAzet) and N-(o-tolylsulfonyl)azetidine (oTsAzet), to produce a statistical copolymer. Copolymerization was required as the homopolymers resulting from these monomers were insoluble in all common solvents. The copolymerization is living and controlled, producing polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. The kinetics of the copolymerization, and the reactivity ratios of the two monomers, were studied and the sulfonyl groups of the polymer were removed to provide the first example of LPTMI by living, controlled AROP. Finally, the high barrier to polymerization of N-sulfonylazetidines was utilized to produce block copolymers, containing no homopolymer impurities, in a closed system in which all monomers are present in solution at the time of initiation. ItemApplication of hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry in protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions(University of Alabama Libraries, 2016) Guan, Siqi; Frantom, Patrick A.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaProteins are not static objects. They have a great variety of internal motions with different amplitudes and different timescales. These internal motions play an important role in catalytic processes. Therefore, the existence of an intimate relationship between protein dynamics and protein function is widely accepted. Due to the significance of protein dynamics, techniques have been developed to study protein dynamics including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry (MS). Compared with NMR and EPR spectroscopy, MS has less stringent sample requirements, including protein concentration and protein size. Moreover, the mass accuracy, sensitivity, and faster data analysis also have contributed to the rapid growth of MS based techniques. Hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), a combination of HPLC and MS, has become a common and sensitive tool to probe protein structural flexibility and solution dynamics. In this dissertation, HDX-MS was applied to study dynamic changes of proteins due to substrate binding and protein-protein interactions. The GT-A glycosyltransferase glucosyl-3-phosphoglycerate synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtGpgS) catalyzes the first step of biosynthesis of 6-O-methylglucose lipopolysaccharides (MGLPs), which are essential to growth and existence of mycobacterium. The HDX-MS data revealed that the two substrates UDP-glucose (UDPG) and 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA) can bind to MtGpgS independently, disagreeing with the previous proposal that 3PGA can only bind to MtGpgS after UDPG. Moreover, 3PGA was found to bind to or allosterically affect the UDPG binding site. Furthermore, the HDX-MS data revealed that MtGpgS may provide a necessary conformation for UDPG binding, while it goes through a large conformational change on 3PGA binding. The GT-B glycosyltransferase MshA from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgMshA) catalyzes the initial step of mycothiol biosynthesis. A large conformational change was observed in CgMshA on nucleotide binding by superimposing APO structure of CgMshA and complex structure with UDP. HDX-MS was utilized to study conformational changes of CgMshA on substrate binding from the aspect of dynamics, providing a complementary to static structures. The HDX-MS data showed that both substrates uridine diphosphate glucose-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) and 1-L-myo-inositol-1-phosphate (I1P) can bind to CgMshA independently, but the I1P binding is not productive since it binds to an uncorrect site. Moreover, the I1P binding can lead to dynamic changes of CgMshA, while only UDP-GlcNAc can induce the major conformational change of CgMshA. Furthermore, the 3PGA binding cannot induce further dynamic changes of CgMshA in the presence of UDP. HDX-MS was also employed to study dynamic changes of protein complex SufBC2D from Escherichia coli on ADP/Mg2+ binding. This complex is responsible for Fe-S cluster assembly under oxidative stress. The crystal structure of SufBC2D complex has been determined, while little dynamic information is known. So HDX-MS was applied to study dynamic changes of the SufBC2D complex. The HDX-MS data revealed that SufC has a significant conformational change, which may be required by ATP binding and hydrolysis. Moreover, SufB and SufD are detected to have dynamic changes due to SufC conformational changes. These dynamic changes suggest that SufB-SufD protomer may have a conformational change in order to provide a suitable conformation for Fe-S cluster assembly. This work demonstrates that HDX-MS can be effectively used to study protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions, as well as the accompanying changes in structural dynamics. HDX-MS data detects substrate binding mechanism and conformational changes that are not available through x-ray crystallography. With these advantages, HDX-MS has been applied in study of protein structure and dynamics, studying protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions, protein folding, as well as protein therapeutics discovery and development. ItemApplications of polyamidoamine dendrimers in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(University of Alabama Libraries, 2009) Zhu, Huizhen; Thrasher, Joseph S.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaDendrimers are highly branched macromolecules with well-ordered three- dimensional architectures. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM), the most common class of dendrimers, have been widely studied due primarily to the following three features: 1) the interior amine and amide groups that can interact with ionic metal precursors through ligand exchange reactions; 2) the presence of an interior void space in the higher generation dendrimers; and 3) the exterior primary amine groups that permit further functionaliztion. These unique structural features have inspired many potential applications. This dissertation describes two applications of PAMAM dendrimers in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). First, in an effort to improve the utility of Pt in PEMFCs, PAMAM G4 was used as both a template and a stabilizer to synthesize dendrimer encapsulated Pt nanoparticles (Pt DENs) by photoreduction. These nanoparticles are highly monodisperse, exhibit high specific activity for the oxygen reduction reaction, and are inert to methanol oxidation, showing great potential for application in PEMFCs. Then, a simplified membrane electrode assembly (MEA) has been fabricated by the electrostatic self-assembly between Nafion® and Pt DENs and characterized. Two methods were proposed to increase Pt loading: layer-by-layer self-assembly and immobilization of Pt DENs and carbon powder on carbon fibers. Approximately 80 layers were proposed to reach the required loading using a dipping machine. Immobilization of Pt DENs and carbon powder simultaneously on carbon fibers can easily be achieved by electrochemical coupling, which is promising for replacing the conventional method of electrode fabrication. Secondly, in order to reduce the methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), PAMAM G0 doped Nafion® membranes were prepared. Direct TEM imaging of the Naifon® embedded with nanoparticles demonstrates that PAMAM G0 can penetrate into the bulk of Nafion® through cluster channels to re-organize the distribution of sulfonate clusters by interacting with the sulfonic acid groups in different clusters. The presence of PAMAM G0 in the Nafion® membrane causes reduction of both methanol permeability and proton conductivity, but a very beneficial trade off can be reached when a doping concentration of 10⁻⁴ M PAMAM G0 is used. The fuel cell performance is much improved When Nafion® was treated with 10⁻⁴ M PAMAM G0. ItemApproaches to the Synthesis of Qinghaosu(University of Alabama Libraries, 1984) Muse, David Earl; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe object of this research was to develop new syntheses of bicyclic peroxides and to apply these new methods to the total synthesis of qinghaosu (Arteannuin A), a previously reported anti-malarial compound. 4 Qinghaosu has shown clinical activity in humans against chloroquineresistant strains of malaria. The most challenging feature of qinghaosu, and the biologically active portion of the compound was the peroxide bridge. ItemAzobenzene and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone donor-acceptor complexation and analysis of the magnetic anisotropy of the nitroso substituent in aromatic systems(University of Alabama Libraries, 2015) Reach, Savannah; Blackstock, Silas C.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe first part of this thesis describes the evaluation of a new electron donor-acceptor (DA) bond between azobenzene (AB) with the electron deficient quinone 2,3-dichloro-4,5-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ), the former acting as an electron-donor and the latter as an electron acceptor. A novel feature of AB is that it may exist in one of two interconvertable isomer forms, cis-AB (contracted structure) and trans-AB (extended structure). Since both of these isomers have different shapes and electronic properties, my research is designed to test the binding of the cis/trans AB isomers to DDQ in solution. Another goal is to grow cocrystals of the AB isomers with DDQ for imaging these molecular aggregates in the cocrystal state by X-ray diffraction analysis. AB/DDQ association in solution is observed optically for the trans-isomer as newly formed red complexes. Concentration of the red solutions results in trans-AB/DDQ cocrystals whose X-ray diffraction structure has been determined. Attempts to cocrystallize cis-AB/DDQ complexes have been attempted, so far without success. The second part of this thesis involves experimental and computational studies of nitrosobenzenes to evaluate the dramatic anisotropic magnetic shielding effects of the nitroso group on the NMR chemical shifts of nearby nuclei. The large magnetic anisotropy gives a ∆∂ of 3.5 ppm for the syn and anti ortho 1H NMR signals and a ∆∂ of 34 ppm for the syn and anti ortho 13C NMR signals. Fifty-six proton chemical shifts in 14 nitrosobenzene structures have been calculated using B3LYP density functional theory with several different basis sets and correlated with experimental values. In addition, forty-four proton chemical shifts from a series of simple aromatic structures lacking the nitroso group (e.g. styrene, benzaldehyde, benzonitrile, and anilines) have been added to the correlation for comparison. The best linear fit of the calculated shifts to experimental values for 1H-NMR is obtained for B3LYP/6-31G*, with an rms deviation of 0.074 ppm for 1H NMR. For 13C NMR, the best linear fit is for B3LYP/DZVP2//TZVP, with an rms deviation of 3.140 ppm. By modeling NMR shifts of nitrosobenzene, we aim to better understand the basis of the large magnetic anisotropy observed for the nitroso group. ItemBenzoic acid (C₆H₆COOH)(University of Alabama Libraries, 1920) Hood, Edward P.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe acid juice of apples and various other fruits was employed for preparing different medicines before any attempt was made to isolate the acid itself. Free benzoic acid, however, obtained by subliming benzoin, was discovered and minutely discussed by the French physician, Blaise de Vigenial (1522-96) toward the end of the sixteenth century. Benzoic acid was discovered in gum benzoin in 1608 and prepared from urine by Sholle in 1785. Its composition was established by Liebig and Wohler's classical research in 1832. In 1832 Wohler discovered the relationship between benzoic acid and hippuric acid, and in 1832, Liebig and Wohler determined the true composition of benzoic acid and established its relation to the other benzoyl compounds. ItemBorafluorenes and polyborafluorenes boron doped varients of fluorene(University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Adams, Ian; Rupar, Paul A.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaA series of novel boron containing variants of fluorene were synthesized. Boron was incorporated synthetically via lithium halogen exchange and Grignard reaction pathways. Once incorporated, the borafluorene could be polymerized or undergo further functionalization via Yamamoto and Stille coupling reactions. This incorporation of boron into a conjugated system imparted Lewis acidic and electron deficient properties into a conjugated system. It is our hope that this will dope fluorene and create novel n-type semiconductors. A novel polymer of borafluorene, poly(9-borafluorene) (P9BF) was synthesized. HOMO and LUMO levels of P9BF were estimated by cyclic voltammetry. As predicted in prior DFT studies, P9BF has a reduced band gap and a lower lying LUMO compared with polyfluorene. To examine how the HOMO and LUMO levels of borafluorene systems could be tuned, copolymers of 9-borafluorene were synthesized. Four of the copolymers were a series of donor-acceptor (DA) type copolymers. A borafluorene-fluorene (P9BF-OF) copolymer and borafluorene-diketopyrrolopyrrole (P9BF-DPP), as an acceptor-acceptor (AA) copolymer were also synthesized. The series of DA copolymers showed higher energy HOMO and LUMO levels in correlation with the relative donating ability of the donor monomer. P9BF-OF has a reduced LUMO level in comparison with P9BF. P9BF-DPP has a very low band gap (1.8eV), with absorption well into the near-IR region. To examine ways to make borafluorene more air stable, a series of borafluorenes bearing bismethylmethoxyphenyl (BMMP) ligands were investigated. Interestingly, ii bismethylmethoxyphenyl-borafluorene (BMMP-BF) exhibits an exceptionally large Stokes shift of 16000 cm-1. To extend the conjugation and change the Stokes shift, thiophene containing derivatives BMMP-BF-T, BMMP-BF-2T, and BMMP-BF-3T were synthesized. These thiophene containing compounds exhibited anomalous two wavelength fluorescence. During our fluoride titration experiments, we noticed spectral impurities when using tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) as our fluoride source. Examining this more closely, we found that commercial samples of TBAF were found to absorb light at 295 and 370 nm and fluoresce as 435 nm. This was not expected for analytically pure TBAF, so we concluded that there must be an impurity present in commercial TBAF. The source of this impurity was found to be I3- which occurs from the oxidation of I-. ItemCarbohydrate sensing using boronic acid modified polymers(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Liang, Xiaoli; Bonizzoni, Marco; University of Alabama TuscaloosaPolyelectrolytes have attained a more prominent role in the design of supramolecular systems in recent years. In particular, commercially available poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers have been widely used because they have high loading capacities and good solubility in water. We focus here on using optical spectroscopy to investigate the application of PAMAM dendrimer derivatives as receptors in carbohydrate sensing, and to study the multivalent behavior of receptors covalently appended to the surface of these macromolecules. We then extended the design principles obtained from this work to linear water-soluble anionic polyelectrolytes developed in collaboration with the Kharlampieva group at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), using polymethacrylate-acrylamide co-polymers synthesized by their group. In chapters 2 and 3, we describe a carbohydrate sensing system that can operate in neutral water, using covalently modified polyelectrolytes as receptors, and common commercially available dyes as optical signaling units. Particularly, in chapter 2, boronic acid modified PAMAM dendrimers were used as receptors to differentiate common monosaccharides in water at millimolar concentration. This is a significant improvement in affinity and sensitivity over simple boronic acid receptors, particularly for work in aqueous environment, which is considered a challenging medium for carbohydrate detection. In chapter 3, these design concepts were also extended to using boronic acid modified polymethacrylate-acrylamide copolymers synthesized at UAB. Binding affinity trends of carbohydrates to boronic acid moieties were then investigated from a fundamental perspective. In chapter 4, the multivalent behavior of boronic acid moieties on surface-modified PAMAM dendrimers was characterized in detail to determine the factors influencing the onset of multivalent behavior, including the surface density of receptor sites and the overall size of the polymeric scaffold. ItemCatalytic small molecule reduction using late transition metal complexes of carbon and nitrogen donor chelates(University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Siek, Sopheavy; Papish, Elizabeth T.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaHydrogenation reactions can be used to store energy in chemical bonds, and if these reactions are reversible that energy can be released on demand. A new bidentate chelating ligand was designed and synthesized for this project, using an N-heterocyclic carbene ring bound directly to a pyridinol ring (NHC-pyOR). This new ligand was used to make iridium complexes that were studied as catalysts for the hydrogenation of CO2 and dehydrogenation of formic acid. For comparison, analogous bipy derived iridium and ruthenium complexes were also tested. In general, the NHC-pyOR complexes demonstrated modest activity, where hydroxyl-pyridines found in the bipy derived systems are more active for CO2 hydrogenation under basic conditions. However, the trends were quite different for formic acid dehydrogenation reaction which will be discussed in Chapter 2. Other ruthenium (II) and iridium (III) complexes of the NHC-pyOR ligand with difference counter anions from above complexes were also synthesized. The ruthenium complexes were tested for their ability to accelerate CO2 (de)hydrogenation, but our studies show that these complexes all undergo transformations in solution and thus they are not true catalysts, but rather pre-catalysts. The use of new tridentate pincer ligands derived from NHC and pyridinol is also described. A new ligand containing (NHC-pyOR-NHC) rings binding to a metal with the pyridinol derivative were synthesized. A series of metal complexes of the type LnM were synthesized (n = 1 and 2; M = Fe2+, Co3+, and Ru2+). Preliminary results of photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO show that ruthenium complexes are the most active catalysts followed by cobalt and iron, respectively. The activation of carbon dioxide and nitrite utilizing bio-inspired and proton responsive catalysts were also studied with tris(triazolyl)hydroborate (Ttz) complexes of zinc(II) and copper(II). For the biomimetic zinc complexes for CO2 activation, the synthetic result was found to be greatly depend on the steric bulk of Ttz ligand which will be discussed in detail in Chapter 6. Moreover, the electrochemical reduction of Ttz-Cu(II) complexes in the presence and absence of a proton source shows processes that are relevant to enzymatic nitrite reduction which also will be studied in Chapter 7. ItemCharacterization and catalytic applications of silver nanoparticles supported on hierarchically porous SiO_2 and Co_3O_4 monoliths(University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Yildirim, Yasemin; Bakker, Martin G.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaHierarchically porous materials are of great interest in such applications as catalysis, drug delivery, chromatography, and electrochemical sensor arrays due to properties such as high surface area, large void volume, and tunable surface chemistry. In this study, we give the detailed report of the synthesis of supported Ag nanoparticles by nanocasting on to hierarchically porous SiO2 (silica) and Co3O4 (cobalt oxide) monoliths, as well as the use of these materials as heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrogenation and oxidation reactions. In the preliminary work, we investigated the synthesis of Ag supported on hierarchically porous SiO2 and Co3O4 monoliths, and the catalytic activity of these monoliths for the hydrogenation of MB (methylene blue) and MO (methyl orange) dyes in the presence of NaBH4 (sodium borohydride). The SiO2 monoliths were synthesized using a sol-gel technique. The Co3O4 monoliths were prepared by nanocasting, using the SiO2 monoliths as a template. The loading of Ag nanoparticles on the SiO2 and Co3O4 monoliths was done by a solution infiltration method using aqueous AgNO3 (silver nitrate) solution followed by reduction with ethylene glycol and hydrazine hydrate. Such monoliths also were used as continuous flow monolithic microreactors for the catalytic activity and stability studies for the hydrogenation of EO (eosin-Y) dye in the presence of NaBH4. Finally, the use of these monoliths for the oxidation of cyclohexene was investigated including the effects of temperature, oxidant, catalyst loading, and substrate to oxidant ratio. All these studies are presented in different sections depending on the different synthesis, procedures, and catalytic activity occurring in each heterogeneous catalyst. ItemCharacterization and thermoelectric performance of polymer/inorganic hybrid films using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques(University of Alabama Libraries, 2019) Sutch, Tabitha Patricia; Szulczewski, Greg J.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaThe main goal of this dissertation was to investigate the thermoelectric performance of films of silver telluride (Ag2Te), bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) and bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) nanowires (NWs) dispersed in P(NDI2OD-T2). We hypothesize that the electrical properties of the films made with Ag2Te, Bi2S3, and Bi2Te3 will be n-type and behave like composite materials. Ag2Te was synthesized to make three different lengths of NWs. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed that β-Ag2Te was synthesized with the anticipated stoichiometry. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of Ag2Te NWs in P(NDI2OD-T2) revealed that the longest Ag2Te NWs produced homogeneous composites whereas the shorter Ag2Te NWs phase-separated. Electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficients for each composite film were determined and theoretical models were used to investigate charge-transport behavior. Seebeck coefficients confirmed that all composites were n-type. The longest Ag2Te NWs produced the highest electrical conductivities with parallel transport behavior and are promising to the field of thermoelectrics. Bi2S3 and Bi2Te3 NWs were synthesized, and their stoichiometry and structures were confirmed using XRD and EDS. SEM images of the NW/P(NDI2OD-T2) films revealed that both Bi2S3 and Bi2Te3 phase-separated. The electrical conductivity for each composite film was determined and theoretical models were applied. The electrical conductivity of the Bi2S3 and Bi2Te3 composites were slightly higher than pristine P(NDI2OD-T2), further indicating that the NWs phase-separated. Seebeck coefficients for both systems confirmed that the composites were n-type. Despite the various strategies for improving the film morphology, composites made with Bi2Te3 and Bi2S3 NWs did not produce promising results. The spin-dynamics of P(NDI2OD-T2) doped with cobaltocene were studied with continuous-wave electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Additionally, the electrical conductivity of cobaltocene doped P(NDI2OD-T2) films increased several orders of magnitude compared to pristine P(NDI2OD-T2). A sputter depth profile in conjunction with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to analyze how the dopant dispersed in the polymer matrix. Temperature-dependent pulsed EPR of two different doping concentrations suggested two different relaxation rates. Overall, this study investigated the temperature-dependent spin dynamics of cobaltocene doped P(NDI2OD-T2) films and lays the foundation for further investigations on n-doped polymer system. ItemCharacterization of the carotenoid cis-bixin(University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Tay-Agbozo, Sefadzi; Street, Shane C.; Bowman, Michael K.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaBixin, a carotenoid found in annatto, Bixa orellana, is unique among natural carotenoids by being sparingly water-soluble. Bixin free radicals have been stabilized on the surface of silica alumina and TiO2 and characterized by pulsed electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR). Least-square fitting of experimental ENDOR spectra calculated from density functional theory (DFT) calculations hyperfine couplings characterized the radicals trapped on silica alumina and TiO2. DFT predicts that the trans bixin radical cation is more stable than the cis bixin radical cation by 1.26 kcal/mol. While this small energy difference is consistent with the 26% trans and 23% cis radical cations in the ENDOR spectrum for silica alumina, the TiO2 spectrum could not be fitted due to poor signal. The ENDOR spectrum for silica alumina shows several neutral radicals formed by loss of a H+ ion from the 9, 9′, 13, or 13′ methyl group, a common occurrence in all water-insoluble carotenoids studied in literature. In addition, the continuous wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy signal of bixin on silica alumina was intense prior to irradiation. Upon irradiation, the intensity is reduced 4-fold. On the other hand, unlike on TiO2 there was no signal prior to irradiation but signal was observed upon irradiation. The extinction coefficient bixin in chloroform is determined to be 1.1 x 105 ± 0.49 and 1.0 x 105 M-1cm-1 ±0.05 at 472 and 503 nm, respectively, while the redox potential in THF is found to be 0.94 ± 0.01V by cyclic voltammogram (CV) measurements. Based on the irreversibility of the CV, the bixin radical cation is estimated to have a short lifetime and decay rapidly at ambient temperature. ItemThe Chemical Refining of Natural Graphite(University of Alabama Libraries, 1930) Anderson, Ross Eugene; University of Alabama TuscaloosaIt is the purpose of this paper to present some of the more important aspects of the graphite industry, such as countries producing graphite, economic conditions, uses of graphite, and the nature of graphite deposits; and it is the special purpose of this paper to present the experimental efforts and results of the writer to chemically purify natural Alabama graphite, along the general lines of the Lloyd-Kennedy Process. *NOTE: This is the best available copy.* ItemChemistry of Butenolides Derived from D-Ribonolactone(University of Alabama Libraries, 1988) Blazis, Vincent Joseph; University of Alabama TuscaloosaAcetomycin was first reported by Prelog and coworkers as an antibacterial agent isolated from Streptomyces ramulosus, strain ETH 17633. This natural product has been subsequently found in culture of Streptomyces ramulosus Tue-32. The stereochemistry and absolute configuration of acetomycin was established by X-ray crystallography carried out in our laboratories on the antibiotic itself and elsewhere on a bromo derivative. ItemChromium, question of essentiality for mammals: its subcellular mechanism, toxicity, uses as a probe for DNA binding(University of Alabama Libraries, 2011) Rhodes, Nicholas Ryan; Vincent, John B.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaChromium was proposed to be an essential trace element over 50 years ago and was accepted as an essential element for over thirty years. Several studies were performed to address the question of essentiality. Male Zucker lean rats were housed in specially designed metal-free cages for six months and fed the purified AIN-93G diet with no added chromium in the mineral mix component of the diet, the standard purified AIN-93G diet, the standard purified AIN-93G diet supplemented with 200 Μg Cr/kg, or the standard purified AIN-93G diet supplemented with 1000 Μg Cr/kg. This study revealed that a diet with as little chromium as reasonably possible had no effect on body composition or glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity compared to a chromium "sufficient" diet. The diets supplemented with Cr had beneficial effects on the rats; the effects at these doses are pharmacological effects, the mechanism of which requires further research. Zucker obese and Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats were used to establish whether rats under stress (diabetes and obesity associated insulin resistance) have altered levels of chromium absorption compared to Zucker lean rats. If these conditions lead to increases in chromium absorption, then increased urinary Cr losses resulting from the conditions are unlikely to lead to chromium deficiency. The study revealed that increases in urinary Cr loss associated with insulin resistance or diabetes are offset by increased absorption. Together with the results of other recent studies, these results clearly indicate that chromium can no longer be considered an essential element. Chromium(III) picolinate, [Cr(pic)_3 ], is a commonly used nutritional supplement in humans, that has also been approved for use in animals. Health concerns have arisen over the use of [Cr(pic)_3 ] in high doses. Male CD-1 mice were used to further assess the potential for reproductive or developmental toxicity at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day [Cr(pic)_3 ]. The results suggest that paternal dietary exposure to [Cr(pic)_3 ] has little potential for adverse reproductive effects. Studies with chromium nicotinate and chromium basic carboxylate complexes containing trifluoroacetate, 3-fluoropyridine, 3-trifluoromethylpyridine, and 4-trifluoromethylpyridine are described. ItemChromium: binding studies with transferrin and peptide eeeegdd and its effect on colorectal cancer(University of Alabama Libraries, 2016) Deng, Ge; Vincent, John B.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaChromium as the trivalent ion has been proposed as an essential element for decades. Although that status has recently been discredited, doses of Cr3+ have been shown to generate improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood cholesterol levels in animals that have problems with their glucose and lipid metabolism systems, especially in type 2 diabetic rodent models. The mechanism for these effects at a molecular level is unknown. Transferrins are a class of protein that can reversibly bind 2 equivalents of metal ions. Biologically, transferrins are the main iron transport proteins in plasma. A role for transferrin in the delivery Cr3+ from plasma to tissues has been proposed. Studies have shown that Cr3+ readily binds to the two metal-binding sites in the two lobes of apotransferrin. The Cr3+ binding is accompanied by intense changes in the transferrin’s ultraviolet spectrum. This intense changes arises from chromic ion binding to two tyrosine residues in the two iron-binding sites of transferrin and allow the binding of Cr3+ to transferrin to be monitored. The rate at which Cr3+ binds to transferrin and the stability of Cr-transferrin recently has received considerable attention. In vitro spectroscopic studies previously found that the generation of Cr2-transferrin needs two weeks to guarantee a stoichiometric amount of Cr3+ binding. However, this study indicates that in the presence of 25 mM (bi)carbonate, the concentration in human blood, two Cr3+ ions bind rapidly and tightly to apotransferrin. Glycation of transferrin alters how tightly the protein binds iron and may alter the conformation of diferric transferrin, presumably changing its ability to deliver the iron to tissues. Given that Cr3+ complexes has been proposed as nutritional supplements to improve symptoms of type 2 diabetic subjects, understanding the ability of glycated transferrin to bind and transport Cr is significant, especially for determining the appropriate dose of Cr. This study examined the binding ability of Cr3+ to glycated serum transferrin and the transport of Cr in vivo by glycated transferrin. The results suggest that glycation of transferrin in subjects with elevated blood glucose levels should lower the ability of Cr from pharmacological agents to enter tissues. Additionally, these studies with glycated transferrin also indicate that heat treatment of transferrin makes dramatic change on its conformation and Cr binding ability. ItemComparative Reactivities of Axial and Equatorial Carbinol Derivatives(University of Alabama Libraries, 1961) Williams, George C.; University of Alabama TuscaloosaIn an earlier work, rates of reaction of iodide ion with cyclopentylmethyl bromide and cyclohexylmethyl bromide in dry acetone were determined. These two compounds reacted at about the same rate, but there were differences in the entropies of activation and in the energies of activation. Cyclopentylmethyl bromide was found to have the lower entropy of activation. This lower value suggests that it is more difficult for the cyclopentylmethyl bromide molecule to assume the transition state. Since the favorable conformation for the bromomethyl group in cyclohexylmethyl bromide is the equatorial one, and since the bromomethyl group of cyclopentylmethyl bromide is similarly oriented, it was decided to study bromides in which the bromomethyl group is rigidly held in the axial or in the equatorial position. Then, by determining rates of reaction of iodide ion with these bromides, the effects of the different conformations would be apparent.


Evaluation Product : Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI)
The Multispectral Thermal Imager is a space-based research and development project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nonproliferation and National Security. MTI's primary objective is to demonstrate advanced multispectral and thermal imaging, image processing, and associated technologies that could be used in future systems for detecting and characterizing facilities producing weapons of mass destruction. However, ARM and the MTI have an arrangement that allows ARM to receive MTI images.
The MTI system consists of a single satellite in polar orbit (580 km) carrying an advanced multispectral and thermal imaging sensor. MTI's 15 spectral bands are selected to collect data needed to derive a broad range of information on facilities and activities, including surface temperatures, materials, water quality, and vegetation health. To enhance accuracy, additional bands provide simultaneous information on atmospheric water vapor, aerosol content, and sub-visual cloud presence.
Brookhaven National Laboratory
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|Resource(s)|| Data Directory
|Content Time Range||2000.10.01 — 2003.05.02|


The aim of the Adaptation Support Tool is to assist users in developing climate change adaptation policies by providing guidance, links to relevant sources and dedicated tools.
The European Commission's EU strategy on adaptation to climate change includes a Staff Working Document that provides guidelines on developing adaptation strategies. For developers of physical assets and infrastructure specific guidelines are available on how to incorporate resilience to current climate variability and future climate change within their projects.
The tool is based on the policy cycle, which highlights that climate change adaptation is an iterative process that will help ensuring decisions are based on up-to-date data and knowledge. This iterative process will be supported by monitoring and timely assessment of measures. In its design the Adaptation Support Tool borrows from the UKCIP Adaptation Wizard and various risk assessment frameworks.


Venetischer Aristotelismus im Ende der aristotelischen Welt: Aspekte der Welt und des Denkens des Cesare Cremonini (1550-1631).
Cesare Cremonini (1550-1631) enjoys today the dubious distinction of having declined to look through Galileo's telescope because he already knew from Aristotle everything that could be known about the heavens. Galileo clearly had him in mind when drawing his portrait of Simplicio, the Aristotelian stalking horse in his two great dialogues. Yet at the time, Cremonini was considered one the greatest philosophers of the age, commanding a salary at the University of Padua double that offered to Galileo after his spectacular telescopic discoveries. In this book - originally a dissertation - Heinrich Kuhn attempts to reconcile Cremonini's two reputations and to give him a place not merely in the history of ideas as the opponent of Galileo and of the new philosophy, but more importantly in the history of philosophy itself. Unfortunately, as Kuhn notes, Cremonini never articulated a comprehensive rebuttal of the new philosophy, or even a systematic account of his own Aristotelianism. Instead, both in his independent works and in the commentaries on Aristotle required for his teaching - beyond the exposition of the text - he confined himself to particular topics of controversy within natural philosophy.
After a thorough account of his life and circumstances of his career teaching natural philosophy at the University of Padua, Kuhn describes Cremonini's contributions to a number of these controversies, documenting them with working editions of extracts from his unpublished works. The occasion of many of these controversies turns out to have been Cremonini's opposition not to the new philosophy of Galileo and others, but to Galenic medicine when it disagreed with Aristotelian natural philosophy. The points of conflict included the perennial controversy over the human intellect and the roles of the agent and possible intellects, Galen's ascription of materialist causes to the soul and its dispositions, the origin of body heat, and whether the nerves originate in the brain (as Galen taught) or in the heart (as Aristotle taught). Galileo would later use Cremonini's stand on this last as an example of slavish adherence to Aristotle in the teeth of the dearest evidence of the senses. As documentation, Kuhn has edited extracts from the commentary on Aristotle's De generatione animalium 2. 3, parts of the commentary on Aristotle's De anima 3, and the entire Question on Whether the Soul} Character Follows the Temperament of the Body (Quaestio utrum animi mores sequantur corporis temperamentum).
In astronomy, Cremonini repudiated not only Copernicus, but all mathematical innovations since Aristotle, rejecting even the epicycles and deferents of Ptolemy in favor of Aristotle's simple cosmology of homocentric spheres. For him, Aristotle's cosmology and his natural philosophy in general were not necessarily true (since other explanations were possible), but they were true nonetheless since they best explained the phenomena. For Cremonini, then, their truth rests not so much on Aristotle's authority as on reason itself.
Ironically, it was this intransigent Aristotelianism that brought Cremonini to the attention of the Inquisition. Called up to answer for his teachings on the eternity of the world, the souls of the celestial spheres, the essential unity of the human mind and body, and on the merely possible immortality of the human soul, Cremonini refused to bring Aristotle into conformity with orthodoxy. He successfully defended himself as simply interpreting Aristotle correctly, which was exactly what the University paid him to do. Nevertheless, he claimed that his own religious views were entirely orthodox. According to Kuhn, Cremonini was neither merely a paper philosopher nor a closet atheist, but a philosopher who recognized the limits of both natural philosophy and theology.
The Inquisition was likely more sympathetic to Cremonini's debunking of astrology. In arguing against astrological influences, Cremonini credited the heavenly bodies with only two forms of influence here below - light and movement - and relegated all the rest to superstition. Shrewdly, he suggested that astrology arose as a form of political control by the few of the credulous many. Kuhn edits excerpts from his commentary on Aristotle's Meteora 1 to document these views.
Finally, Kuhn has also edited here the inventory of Cremonini's books and the Paduan arts rotulus for 1628-1629, and compiled a complete catalogue of Cremonini's works.
This is a book of considerable scholarship: thoroughly researched, exhaustively presented, and fully documented, it contains the definitive materials for all future work on Cremonini. That said, there is much here that I could do without, including the ruminations on scientific revolutions, paradigm shifts, and overlapping domains of knowledge - all illustrated with puzzling diagrams - and the discussion of Hegel's history of philosophy and whether Cremonini fits into it. In general, the book is rebarbative: it bristles with intrusive and digressive footnotes, it constantly harangues with bold-face, italics, underlining, and quotation marks, and its tone throughout is excitable and disputatious. If this dissertation had been thoroughly and ruthlessly edited, we would now have the definitive book on Cremonini.
W. R. LAIRD Carleton University
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Sclerochronology (from the Greek sklero, meaning 'hard', and chronos, meaning 'time') is the study of periodicities stored in accreted hard parts and skeletons of various extant and extinct organisms.
This project was archived in December of 2014.
The Integrated Marine Protected Area Climate Tools (IMPACT) project. Building upon existing partnerships, NOAA will develop a comprehensive set of climate products, including climatologies, for MPAs through a pilot project at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS).
In the last decade, progress has been made in reducing the uncertainty associated with global climate models; however uncertainty remains about climate changes at finer geographic scales. Entrusted with the stewardship of many of the most ecologically, economically and socially important marine resources in U.S. waters, managers at NOAA’s Sanctuaries need accurate and timely decision-making tools to take proactive steps in facing the threat climate change poses to the resources.
Basic climate information must be readily available to inform managers of current and expected climatic conditions in their specific region. Like their Marine Protected Area (MPA) colleagues at the local, state and regional level, sanctuary managers are generally ill-equipped to analyze raw climate data on their own. Rather, sanctuary managers require tailored products at scales appropriate to informing them of the status and trends of resources and the changes they should expect both locally and regionally as a result of a changing climate.
For more info, please visit the IMPACT Overview page.


Accueil » Amazon cuts back on private label offerings due to pressure from competition regulators Amazon cuts back on private label offerings due to pressure from competition regulators Faced with competition infringements, Amazon makes commitments to Brussels and reduces private label offers in the U.S.A. Through Sophie Baqué. Published on 01 August 2022 à 10h55 - Update on 21 October 2022 à 21h42 Resources … In the U.S.A., Amazon (retail sales: US$374 billion in 2021, up 17%, out of a total of US$470 billion) represents 8% to 10% of the retail market, equivalent to Walmart. According to the WSJ, since January 2022, Amazon reduced private label items (the item shows more than 50% off) and reduced orders for large quantities.… This article is for subscribers only Already have an account? Log in You are not registered yet ? Sign up for a free trialfree for 1 month Online services : studies, analyses, databases and much more Daily Briefing : latest news digest Weekly letters Last name First name Email address Sophie Baqué Essentials Synthèse et historique de tous les contenus sur une thématique suivie en détails par la rédaction Les dernières publications Pre-orders, on-demand manufacturing, planning are all innovations in a supply chain Quick commerce and new online players. What is a value proposition and challenges for brands? Analyzes Synthèse et historique de tous les contenus sur une thématique suivie en détails par la rédaction Les dernières publications Ads.txt: which advertising providers do retailers work with?


Download 2016 Karikuy PDF Guide
The 2016 edition of our Karikuy Guide is free to download. This small guide gives you valuable trip information and recommendations.
Karikuy Humanitarian Program
In the highlands of Peru children are dying due to the extreme cold weather. Watch a video of our recent visit to donate winter jackets, wool hats and blankets to the local children.
Karikuy Peru Blog
Check out our Peru blog for more in depth content and exclusive articles regarding news and events within Peru and the Karikuy Organization..


Phase change in subducted lithosphere, impulse, and quantizing Earth surface deformations
C. O. Bowin et al.
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
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- RC C423: 'Review of "Quantizing Earth Surface Deformations" by Bowin et al.', Anonymous Referee #1, 14 Apr 2015
- RC C584: 'Interactive comment on "Quantizing Earth surface deformations" by C.O. Bowin et al.', Anonymous Referee #2, 04 May 2015
- EC C613: 'Quantizing Earth Surface Deformations', Juan Carlos Afonso, 07 May 2015
- AC C716: 'Author's reply comments', Carl Bowin, 02 Jun 2015


Use the filter menu and interactive map to explore the past competitions offered and grants awarded through the Environmental Literacy Program.
To learn more about project findings and outcomes, view the summaries of our grantees’ summative evaluation reports.
Sailing Elementary Teachers Towards Ocean Literacy Using Familiar Water Resources
This project plans to increase elementary and undergraduate ocean science and related Great Lakes science literacy that aligns with the Michigan Curriculum, the national science standards, and the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts. We will 1) develop an elementary storybook and other elementary classroom materials that support ocean and Great Lakes literacy, 2) train pre-service elementary teachers to use this Storybook, 3) develop undergraduate activities that support the NOAA Education Plan and Ocean Literacy in teacher education courses at Eastern Michigan University (EMU), and 4) train teachers in Detroit and Dexter (MI) and Golden (CO) to use an elementary storybook and related activities that support Ocean Literacy. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and oceanographic experts at EMU and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) will partner with us to develop the elementary storybook. This elementary resource will be freely available to all teachers, via the internet (see http://www.windows2universe.org/teacher_resources/ocean_education/curre…). Our second objective is that teachers will relate ocean and Great Lakes science to theirs and their students' lives. We will accomplish this by 1) producing teacher-friendly web resources that make Great Lakes data from GLERL accessible for use by elementary teachers and 2) teaching pre-service teachers to interpret these data during undergraduate, inquiry activities at EMU. Our third objective is to measure environmental, ocean and Great Lakes literacy among pre-service teachers and their students before and after implementation of targeted instruction. We will accomplish this via 1) assessing pre- and in-service teachers' content knowledge and ability to apply content knowledge in ocean and Great Lakes science, 2) assessing elementary children for content knowledge and ability to apply content knowledge in ocean and Great Lakes science, 3) performance assessments of pre- and in-service teachers' abilities to interpret environmental data, 4) standardized tests of Earth Science content knowledge, and 5) surveys of pre- and in-service teachers' attitudes towards ocean literacy and supporting materials.
Resilience from the Youth Up
As climate impacts ratchet up across the United States, the Great Lakes region tends to fly under the national radar. While the Great Lakes do not experience hurricanes, rising sea levels, or large-scale wildfires, the local climate has become increasingly erratic in recent years. The region, however, is one of the most unprepared in the country to cope with these impacts. A recent Grosvenor report (2014) on climate resilience among 50 global cities ranked Detroit last among 11 U.S. cities for adaptability and only better than three cities for overall resilience, which incorporates both climate vulnerability and adaptability factors. Of U.S. cities with more than 100,000 residents, Detroit has the highest percentage of African-American residents (80.7%, U.S. Census 2016). Still recovering from bankruptcy, the city also has a 39% poverty rate, which impacts over 56% of children (ibid). These socio-economic factors, coupled with other environmental justice concerns, such as a centrally located incinerator and an asthma rate of 15.5% among adults resulting in over 3,000 hospitalizations annually, make Detroit residents particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. This project will address the urgent need to increase resilience by working with high school students and teachers in Detroit and southeast Michigan to increase their awareness of climate change and develop projects that help their schools and neighborhoods become resilient to increased occurrence and intensity of heat waves, storm events, and flooding. Using NOAA assets, including GLISA localized climate data and Sea Grant outreach and education expertise, high school students and teachers will partner with climate scientists to explore local climate impacts firsthand and to develop resilience strategies and projects that protect vulnerable households and neighborhoods and contribute to broader sustainability initiatives. The City of Detroit seeks this involvement as it ramps up a new Office of Sustainability and seeks proposals to develop the city's first Sustainability Framework. The effort is a partnership with EcoWorks, Great Lakes Integrated Sciences + Assessments (GLISA), Michigan Sea Grant (MISG), Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS), Eastern Michigan University, Civic Research Services, Inc., and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In each of the next three years, 200 students from various high schools in the Detroit and Ypsilanti areas will participate in weekly activities related to the grant. The four primary objectives of the program include: 1) Engage students in assessing and quantifying climate vulnerabilities of their schools, neighborhoods, and surrounding community. 2) Using a place-based education (PBE) model, prepare educators to engage students in creating plans and completing projects that increase community resilience. 3) Empower high school students to teach residents about local climate impacts and increase understanding of resilience strategies to mitigate extreme weather events or other environmental hazards. 4) Contribute to the completion and implementation of local sustainability and climate action plans in Southeast Michigan.
The Global Decision Room: An Interactive Science-on-a-Sphere Installation
The Orlando Science Center has assembled a project team to create a unique environmental science learning tool: THE GLOBAL DECISION ROOM. Founded on, and enhancing, the Science On a Sphere (SOS) digital globe, the Global Decision Room is an interactive theatre that puts visitors in the role of being decision makers on behalf of the behavior of large populations on the planet. The results of global decisions relating to the environment are seen played out on SOS. The interactive strategy that is created for the Global Decision Room will be flexible and well integrated into the SOS software platform, making it possible to design other educational story scenarios that can use the same system. The Global Decision Room is designed as a multi-use, high impact, exciting content delivery platform. This proposal is based on a well developed initial educational premise, but the resulting construction of the Global Decision Room will be the perfect environment for other educational topics of interest to NOAA's outreach strategy. As new datasets become available in the future, new interactive stories will be developed for the Global Decision Room. The Orlando project brings with it significant additional funding from the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, the Orlando Utilities Commission, and the Florida Hydrogen Initiative, which will greatly leverage the funding from NOAA. Partners in the project include a strong technical team from the University of Central Florida and the Florida Solar Energy Center, interactive digital media experts from the Institute for Simulation and Training, the creative design team "i.d.e.a.s." located at Disney-MGM Studios, and the XhibitNet interactive multimedia design team.