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Perennial crops, like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), are important for bioenergy production and long-term carbon sequestration. Biochar, a byproduct of certain bioenergy production processes, is also identified as a potential tool for carbon sequestration and soil quality improvements, especially in marginal soils. Despite the focus on switchgrass, soil health characteristics under switchgrass production for biomass are unclear. This study focused on identifying the effects of four N rates (0, 17, 34, and 67 kg N ha−1) and biochar application (0 and 9 Mg ha−1) in a 3-year switchgrass field study on a silt loam soil. Soil active carbon (AC) and wet aggregate stability (WAS) were the indicators used to assess soil health. Our results indicated a decline in both AC and WAS over the study period, similar to other studies. Wet aggregate stability declined from 32% in 2018 to 15% in 2019. There were some significant differences between treatments, but no defined trends were observed. A decline in AC from 301 mg C kg soil−1 to 267 mg C kg soil−1 was also observed over the three-year period. Nitrogen rate also affected AC in the last year of study. Several possible explanations for the observed changes are proposed, however, a definitive mechanism is still unknown, thus future research is essential to improve our understanding and provide wider acceptance.

Research and/or Engineering Questions/Objective: One of the key technologies used in electrified vehicles is regenerative braking, which allows recovering energy during braking phases by using the electric motor as a generator. In this function mode, energy is transferred from the motion of the wheels to an energy storage device such as a battery and hence the vehicle is decelerated. Regenerative braking has notoriously changed the design, integration and testing of braking systems. The development and integration of new testing tools oriented towards the new technology trends emerging is key. Methodology: The main objective of this project is the development of a control module to simulate hybrid braking on a brake dynamometer. This control module must provide the core functionalities that allow performing brake applications containing regenerative component. To achieve the main objective of this project, several specific objectives need to be accomplished: Regenerative Braking Capabilities: adapt the Inertia Simulation module to simulate hybrid braking on brake dynamometer. - Vehicle Testing: obtain relevant regenerative braking data from vehicle testing. - Validation Tests: validate the developed modules throughout the usage of the data obtained from vehicle testing. All the stated developments are to be integrated into Applus+ IDIADA's dbDyno brake dynamometer control system. 7">The regenerative braking concept to be implemented in brake is based in importing vehicle data and using it as a demand for the brake dynamometers. Additionally, artificial manually generated profiles can also be used. Having previously developed the Inertia Simulation module simplifies the task of implementing the regenerative capabilities concept. In order to implement regenerative braking capabilities into dbDyno - Control System it is necessary to perform the following steps: - Integrate Inertia Simulation and Regenerative Braking functionalities within Labview software architecture of dbDyno control system.

Infestation patterns of the sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis from 44 salmon farms in the Hardangerfjord on the south-west coast of Norway over the period 2004 to 2007 were assimilated to create 20-month production cycle profiles for spring and autumn stocked generations. The timing and frequency of in-feed and bath treatments to control sea lice associated with these profiles was considered. Spring and autumn stocked farms were observed to have different patterns of sea lice counts on salmon during the first and second years of production. Spring stocked sites experienced increasing infestation toward the end of the first year and on average counts remained elevated thereafter, whereas autumn stocked sites averaged lower sea lice counts throughout most of the production cycle until the latter part of the second year when these escalated rapidly. In-feed treatments were the predominant form of sea lice control in the first half of the production cycle on spring stocked farms, whereas bath treatments were used exclusively in the second half of the production cycle; a very similar pattern of therapeutant use was observed on autumn stocked farms. Results using the SLiDESim (Sea Lice Difference Equation Simulation) infection model and a range of biological and production parameters showed that modelling resulted in a better fit to the mobile lice profiles for autumn stocked farms compared to spring stocked farms. Some features of the mobile lice profiles were not captured by the infection model such as the oscillation of the population between months 11 and 18 of the production cycle on spring stocked farms, and a large peak observed in month 19 on autumn stocked farms. Before modelling can be used to evaluate optimal treatment strategies or other management interventions there remains a need to more clearly understand the underlying biological processes associated with the dynamics of sea lice infestations in the Hardangerfjord.

Purpose: Ultraviolet phototherapy is a widely used treatment which has exceptional success with a variety of skin conditions. Over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can however be detrimental and cause side effects such as erythema, photokeratisis, and even skin cancer. Quantifying patient dose is therefore imperative to ensure biologically effective treatment while minimizing negative repercussions. A dosemodel for treatment would be valuable in achieving these ends. Methods: Prior work by the authors concentrated on modeling the output of the lamps used in treatment and it was found a line source model described the output from the sources to a high degree. In practice, these lamps are surrounded by reflective anodized aluminum in patient treatment cabins and this work extends the model to quantify specular reflections from these planes on patient dose. Results: The extension of the model to allow for reflected images in addition to tube output shows a remarkably good fit to the actual data measured. Conclusions: The reflection model yields impressive accuracy and is a good basis for full UVR cabin modeling.

Purpose: Ultraviolet phototherapy is widely used in the treatment of numerous skin conditions. This treatment is well established and largely beneficial to patients on both physical and psychological levels; however, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can have detrimental effects, such as erythemal responses and ocular damage in addition to the potentially carcinogenic nature of UVR. For these reasons, it is essential to control and quantify the radiationdose incident upon the patient to ensure that it is both biologically effective and has the minimal possible impact on the surrounding unaffected tissue. Methods: To date, there has been little work on dose modeling, and the output of artificial UVR sources is an area where research has been recommended. This work characterizes these sources by formalizing an approach from first principles and experimentally examining this model. Results: An implementation of a line source model is found to give impressive accuracy and quantifies the output radiation well. Conclusions: This method could potentially serve as a basis for a full computational dose model for quantifying patient dose.

At a time when sea lice control is a major issue for salmon aquaculture worldwide it has become imperative that scant veterinary medicinal resources for the treatment of fish on farms should be conserved and used effectively. This communication reports the use of the mathematical simulation model SLiDESim to investigate how best to administer cypermethrin bath treatments on Scottish salmon (Salmon salar L.) farms to control the challenge from lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) during a two-year production cycle. It was found that these topical treatments are most effective when administered in pairs approximately six weeks apart. Timing of treatment is critical and depends on the number of treatments administered over the production cycle. For 4, 5 or 6 treatments during a two-year production cycle, SLiDESim indicated that the first pair of treatments is best initiated in autumn of the first year of production with the second pair starting between 13 and 18 weeks later. This strategy can produce considerable gains in the predicted reduction of sea lice levels when compared with those historically observed when using cypermethrin on Scottish farms. The effects of altered efficacy were also explored using the model and indicate that even a moderate reduction in treatment efficacy can have considerable impacts on lice control over a production cycle. The SLiDESim computer model provides a framework to explore the more efficient use of veterinary treatments for the control of sea lice on salmon farms.

Sea lice are a persistent problem for farmed and wild salmonid populations. Control can be achieved through the use of veterinary medicines. A model was developed to describe the patterns of sea lice infection on salmon farms in Scotland and to predict the likely effect of various treatment strategies. This model takes into account development rates and mortality using compartments representing life history stages and external infection pressure. The national sea lice infection pattern was described using parameters representing stage survival, background infection levels and egg viability rates. The patterns observed across farms varied greatly and the model gave broad agreement to observed trends with different parameters being required in the model for sites using hydrogen peroxide and cypermethrin treatments. The parameter estimates suggest that the background infection pressure on sites where cypermethrin was administered was higher than for those using hydrogen peroxide. Both models had comparable magnitudes of sensitivity with survival from one stage to another being the most sensitive parameter, followed by feedback rates at which gravid females produce eggs, with background infection levels the least sensitive. The effect of different cypermethrin treatment strategies was assessed using the model. Increasing treatments in a production cycle gave more effective control. However, the model showed that timing of treatments is most important if sea lice are to be effectively controlled.

This article discusses an annual survey, conducted by an independent national pharmacy benefit consultancy, that identifies trends and perspectives regarding the rising cost of pharmaceutical benefits, potential solutions for the cost increases, and the viability of available solutions. The 2003 Prescription Benefit Research Survey examined the perceptions of health care benefit thought leaders_those individuals managing programs for large corporations. Specifically, the survey sought to understand how these leaders view current trends and how they plan to promote the design of high-quality, cost-effective pharmacy benefit programs. The article provides an overview of the 2003 survey findings, including topics such as the anticipated increases in the cost of pharmacy benefit programs, possible reasons for cost increases, potential solutions to slow the increases, and whether the government should be involved in efforts to control costs.

An inventory modelling and impact assessment system to investigate the potential effects of partitioning and transmutation is proposed. It is founded on a mass based inventory analysis using the principles of basic nuclear physics and the international standards for assessing radiological health effects. It is specific to the back-end of the nuclear fuel cycle and is applied to four alternative spent fuel management strategies. The system accounts for the dynamic nature of post-irradiation scenarios and is being used to develop software for use within the nuclear power industry. Four example waste-disposal options are considered using the method. Impact assessments and parameter sensitivity analyses are presented.

A method of sensitivity analysis is proposed and used to investigate the performance of a transmutation system operating in the fast neutron spectrum. Based on the principles of factorial experimental design, the sensitivity analysis considers the impact of neutron flux, minor actinide content and dwell time on the quantity of plutonium that can be loaded to, and destroyed by, a transmutation system. The analysis also considers the potential environmental hazard associated with transmutation systems by investigating the corresponding integrated toxic potential of the final disposal inventory.

Ultraviolet phototherapy is a widely used treatment which has exceptional success with a variety of skin conditions. Over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can however be detrimental and cause side effects such as erythema, photokeratisis, and even skin cancer. Quantifying patient dose is therefore imperative to ensure biologically effective treatment while minimizing negative repercussions. A dose model for treatment would be valuable in achieving these ends.Prior work by the authors concentrated on modeling the output of the lamps used in treatment and it was found a line source model described the output from the sources to a high degree. In practice, these lamps are surrounded by reflective anodized aluminum in patient treatment cabins and this work extends the model to quantify specular reflections from these planes on patient dose.The extension of the model to allow for reflected images in addition to tube output shows a remarkably good fit to the actual data measured.The reflection model yields impressive accuracy and is a good basis for full UVR cabin modeling.

Ultraviolet phototherapy is widely used in the treatment of numerous skin conditions. This treatment is well established and largely beneficial to patients on both physical and psychological levels; however, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can have detrimental effects, such as erythemal responses and ocular damage in addition to the potentially carcinogenic nature of UVR. For these reasons, it is essential to control and quantify the radiation dose incident upon the patient to ensure that it is both biologically effective and has the minimal possible impact on the surrounding unaffected tissue.To date, there has been little work on dose modeling, and the output of artificial UVR sources is an area where research has been recommended. This work characterizes these sources by formalizing an approach from first principles and experimentally examining this model.An implementation of a line source model is found to give impressive accuracy and quantifies the output radiation well.This method could potentially serve as a basis for a full computational dose model for quantifying patient dose.