Digital Commons Network^™

Intellectual Property And Biofuels: The Energy Crisis, Food Security, And Climate Change, Matthew Rimmer, Griffith Hack

Matthew Rimmer

In light of larger public policy debates over intellectual property and climate change, this article considers patent practice, law, and policy in respect of biofuels. This debate has significant implications for public policy discussions in respect of energy independence, food security, and climate change. The first section of the paper provides a network analysis of patents in respect of biofuels across the three generations. It provides empirical research in respect of patent subject matter, ownership, and strategy in respect of biofuels. The second section provides a case study of significant patent litigation over biofuels. There is an examination of the …

Energetika V Prezidentských Kampaních Baracka Obamy, Monique Pilařová

Bahram Kazemian

This thesis provides a comprehensive insight into Barack Obama’s energy vision as it was presented in his speeches during both presidential campaigns. In every period the ratio of energy references was first observed and compared to other topics. Subsequently the energy issues and sources of energy that Obama favoured in his speeches were determined. This work uses a variety of methods associated with content analysis: qualitative content analysis, quantitative content analysis and network analysis. Using these methods a comprehensive analysis of Obama's election speeches was achieved and is now presented in this work. Continuity or difference between presidential elections in …

Evaluating The Optical Properties Of Tio2 Nanofluid For A Direct Absorption Solar Collector

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

Recent studies specify that designated nanofluids may increase the proficiency of direct absorption solar thermal collectors. To determine the efficiency of nanofluids in solar applications, their capability to change light energy to thermal energy must be identified (i.e., the absorption spectrum of the solar material). In view of that, this study compares model predictions to spectroscopic measurements of extinction coefficients over wavelengths that are important for solar energy (200- 1100nm). In the first decade of nanofluid research, most of the focus was on measuring and modeling the fundamental thermophysical properties of nanofluids (i.e., thermal conductivity, density, viscosity, and convection coefficients). …

A Review Of Life Cycle Assessment Method For Building Industry

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

A recent study suggested that buildings globally consume up to 40% of energy and responsible for half of world greenhouse gas emission. Introducing life cycle assessment (LCA) to the building industry is important because it can measure every environmental impact involved in every process from cradle to grave systematically. Within the last decade, research on LCA has increased covering from construction process to manufacturing of building materials. The methods to assess buildings are diverse as buildings have different functions, materials, sizes and locations. The aim of this article is to review the LCA methods and to distinguish phases and materials …

An Experimental Investigation On A Single Tubular Sofc For Renewable Energy Based Cogeneration System

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

Having negative impacts on environment and the scarcity of resources of conventional fossil fuels, fuel cell technology draws more attention as an alternative for providing the electrical energy in parallel with thermal energy. In this study, a single tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with an electrolyte of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia 8 mol% ceramic powder was experimentally investigated. The investigation illustrated the effects of three different fuel flow-rates (175 ml/min, 250 ml/min and 325 ml/min) and two operating temperatures (650 degrees C and 750 degrees C) on the output electrical and thermal powers. The highest electrical voltage (open circuit) and overall …

Assessment Of Ghg Emission Reduction Potential From Source-Separated Organic Waste (Sow) Management: Case Study In A Higher Educational Institution In Malaysia

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

In Malaysia, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions reduction via composting of source-separated organic waste (SOW) in municipal solid waste (MSW) has not been assessed. Assessment of GHG emissions reduction via composting of SOW is important as environmental impacts from waste management are waste-specific and local-specific. The study presents the case study for potential carbon reduction via composting of SOW in University of Malaya (UM). In this study, a series of calculations were used to evaluate the GHG emission of different SOW management scenarios. The calculations based on IPCC calculation methods (AM0025) include GHGs emissions from landfilling, fuel consumption in transportation …

Maintenance Energy Requirements Of Odor Detection, Explosive Detection And Human Detection Working Dogs, Rebecca A. Mullis, Angela L. Witzel, Joshua Price

Angela L Witzel (Lusby) DVM, PhD, DACVN

Despite their important role in security, little is known about the energy requirements of working dogs such as odor, explosive and human detection dogs. Previous researchers have evaluated the energy requirements of individual canine breeds as well as dogs in exercise roles such as sprint racing. This study is the first to evaluate the energy requirements of working dogs trained in odor, explosive and human detection. This retrospective study evaluated twenty adult dogs who maintained consistent body weights over a six month period. During this time, the average energy consumption was [Formula: see text] or two times the calculated resting …

Varieties Of Resource Nationalism In Sub-Saharan Africa's Energy And Minerals Markets, Stefan Andreasson

Stefan Andreasson

This article examines resource nationalism in sub-Saharan Africa’s energy and minerals markets. It does so by exploring economic and political developments in three cases: Nigeria as an example of a petro-state established by means of expropriation in the wake of decolonisation; South Africa, a mature mining industry shaped by its settler colonial history; and Mozambique, a new and therefore highly-dependent entrant into the league of significant natural gas producers. Extractive industries have played a controversial role in sub-Saharan Africa due in particular to the prevalence of the resource curse. Nevertheless, energy exports will continue to play an important role in …

Design And Biomechanical Performance Analysis Of A User-Friendly Orthotic Device

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

Material selection and proper design are essential for developing a new product, especially biomedical devices. Stance-control-orthosis (SCO) are walking assistive device for the patients with weak quadriceps. This manuscript presents the development of a prefabricated SCO with suitable material and design. It is 45% lighter than commercially available prefabricated device. It contains some adjustable features to make it competent for wide range of patients in terms of height (153-183 cm) and weight. Finite element analysis (FEA) was used for selecting the best material and optimizing weight of different components of this device. Basic structures the device were made of aluminum …

Q-Switched Erbium Doped Fiber Laser Based On Single And Multiple Walled Carbon Nanotubes Embedded In Polyethylene Oxide Film As Saturable Absorber

Faculty of Engineering University of Malaya

A passive, stable and low cost Q-switched Erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) is demonstrated using both single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), which are embedded in polyethylene oxide (PEO) film as a saturable absorber (SA). The film is sandwiched between two FC/PC fiber connectors and integrated into the laser cavity for Q-switching pulse generation operating at wavelength of 1533.6 am. With SWCNTs, the laser produces a stable pulse train with repetition rate and pulse width ranging from 9.52 to 33.33 kHz and 16.8 to 8.0 is while varying the 980 am pump power from 48.5 mW to 100.4 …

Global Grid – Harnessing Green Power Round The Clock, Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan

Hippu Salk Kristle Nathan

Energy interdependence, not independence will lead to increased cooperation and amity among nations. The article argues there is sufficient reason to strive towards the goal for having a global grid compatible with renewable sources.

Facts, Fiction, And Perception In Hydraulic Fracturing: Illuminating Act 13 And Robinson Township V. Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, Joshua P. Fershee

Joshua P Fershee

Hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas is perhaps the most polarizing energy issue in the United States and around the world, and Pennsylvania has emerged as an example of passionate views both for and against hydraulic fracturing for shale gas. To limit local government restrictions on gas drilling, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 13 in September 2012, and the Act largely eliminated the ability of local governments to restrict oil and gas operations through zoning. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Act 13 in December 2013.

This Article reviews how Act 13 came to be, highlights the key provisions of …

Forest Biomass Supply Chains In Ireland: A Life Cycle Assessment Of Ghg Emissions And Primary Energy Balances, Fionnuala Murphy

Fionnuala Murphy

The demand for wood for energy production in Ireland is predicted to double from 1.5 million m3 over bark (OB) in 2011 to 3 million m3 OB by 2020. There is a large potential for additional biomass recovery for energetic purposes from both thinning forest stands and by harvesting of tops and branches, and stumps. This study builds on research within the wood-for-energy concept in Ireland by analysing the energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions associated with thinning, residue bundling and stump removal for energy purposes. To date there have been no studies on harvesting of residues and stumps in …

A Study On Correlation Between Consciousness Level And Performance Of The Worker, Devendra Kumar Chaturvedi Dr., Manish Kumar Arya

Manish Kumar Arya

Consciousness is significantly related to workplace performance among managers and workers. A considerable amount of research indicates that consciousness is one of the best predictors of performance in the workplace. Conscious employees are generally more reliable, more motivated, and harder working. They have also lower rate of absenteeism and counterproductive work behaviours such as stealing and fighting with other employees. Furthermore, consciousness is the only personality trait that correlates with performance across all categories of jobs. This is a pilot study to determine the workers performance related with consciousness. The consciousness will be experimentally measured using the self developed sensor …

Smart Incentives For The Smart Grid, Roberta F. Mann

Roberta F Mann

Clean, renewable energy from the sun and wind—the green revolution is supposed to change the world. Since 2005, the United States has increased government investment in renewable energy generation, both from direct subsidies and indirectly through tax subsidies. Many other countries also provide incentives for producing electricity from renewable sources. But before renewable energy can change the world, it has to get to the customers who use it. Thomas Edison did change the world when he developed the first working electric power system. Unfortunately, the system for transmitting electrical power throughout the United States (the “grid”) has not changed much …

Biogas As A Sustainable Alternative For Current Energy Need Of India., Gauri P. Minde, Sandip S. Magdum, Kalyanraman V.

Sandip S. Magdum

Per capita energy consumption of India is declining with increasing its population, which has direct impact on national economy. Biogas technology seems promising to attain sustainable energy yields without damaging the environment. Waste management, manure creation, health care and employment foundation are the benefits of biogas system. Use of biogas assures renewable energy supply and balance of green house gases. India is traditionally using biogas since long time but there is need to improve the technology, applications and deployment strategies. Bioenergy centralization in urban and decentralization in rural can help government to minimize both the import of fuel derivatives and …

A Spatial Approach To Energy Economics, Juan B. Moreno-Cruz, M Scott Taylor

Juan B. Moreno-Cruz

We develop a spatial model of energy exploitation where energy sources are differentiated by their geographic location and energy density. The spatial setting creates a scaling law that magnifies the importance of differences across energy sources. As a result, renewable sources twice as dense, provide eight times the supply; and all new non-renewable resource plays must first boom and then bust. For both renewable and non-renewable energy sources we link the size of exploitation zones and energy supplies to energy density, and provide empirical measures of key model attributes using data on solar, wind, biomass, and fossil fuel energy sources. …

Students Talk About Energy In Project- Based Inquiry Science, Benedikt W. Harrer, Virginia J. Flood, Michael C. Wittmann

Benedikt W. Harrer

We examine the types of emergent language eighth grade students in rural Maine middle schools use when they discuss energy in their first experiences with Project-Based Inquiry Science: Energy, a research-based curriculum that uses a specific language for talking about energy. By comparative analysis of the language used by the curriculum materials to students’ language, we find that students’ talk is at times more aligned with a Stores and Transfer model of energy than the Forms model supported by the curriculum.

The Legal Profession’S Critical Role In Systems-Level Bioenergy Decision-Making, Jody M. Endres

Jody M. Endres

Mounting resource scarcity confronts policymakers to make decisions based on predictions of complex system behavior under conditions of great uncertainty. Nowhere is this more evident than in bioenergy policy, which relies heavily on modeling to determine biofuels’ effects on complex climate, food and natural systems. This article provides a primer on models’ inner workings to facilitate engagement by the legal field so critical in building and applying models, and remedying them when they fail. Any conceptual model cannot predict future reality with accuracy absent accounting for regulatory and litigatory scenarios that only the legal discipline can assess fully. Administrative law …

Raising Cane: Sugar Sugarcane Ethanol’S Economic And Environmental Effects On The United States, Jonathan M. Specht

Jonathan M Specht

In the coming decades the United States will need to change its energy policy to face two enormous challenges: adjusting to peak oil (declining petroleum production output), and halting the advance of climate change. Liquid biofuels — made from renewable, biologically-based sources of energy, rather than finite and climate change-inducing fossil fuels — will be an important component of any strategy to deal with the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change. While the United States has encouraged the production of biofuels in recent decades, the domestic ethanol industry, which is almost entirely corn-based, has a number of major …

Takings And Transmission, Alexandra B. Klass

Alexandra B. Klass

Ever since the Supreme Court’s controversial 2005 decision in Kelo v. City of New London, courts, state legislatures, and the public have scrutinized eminent domain actions like never before. Such scrutiny has focused, for the most part, on the now-controversial “economic development” or “public purpose” takings involved in the Kelo case itself, where government takes private property to convey it to another private party who promises to develop the property in a way that will increase the tax base, create new jobs, assist in urban renewal, or otherwise provide economic or social benefits to the public. By contrast, until recently, …

Synergistic Green Networks To Transform Lonsdale Suburbia, Archana Sharma

Archana Sharma

No abstract provided.

Ripening On The Vine: North Carolina's Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard Should Be Left Unchanged Ahead Of 2012 Compliance Deadline, Patrick Thomas Buffkin, Bob W. Kaylor

Patrick Thomas Buffkin

This article focuses on North Carolina’s renewable energy and energy efficiency portfolio standard (REPS) statute. The REPS statute stands out as the first enacted by a Southeastern state. Moreover, the implementation of the REPS statute in North Carolina presents an opportunity for understanding energy policy in a state that grew by 18.5% from 2000-2010 to become the 10th most populous in the nation. This article examines the development and implementation of the REPS as the first important compliance deadline approaches in 2012. First, the article provides a case study of the legislative process to inform state and federal policy-makers of …

State Of The Art / Novel Rotary-Turbo-Inflow Tech / Featured Development - Gearturbine Project - Atypical Motor Engine Type, Carlos Barrera

Carlos Barrera

GEARTURBINE PROJECT Atypical InFlow Thermodynamic Technology Proposal Submission Novel Fueled Motor Engine Type

*State of the art Innovative concept Top system Higher efficient percent. Have similar system of the Aeolipile Heron Steam device from Alexandria 10-70 AD. -New Form-Function Motor-Engine Device. Next Step, Epic Design Change, Broken-Seal Revelation. -Desirable Power-Plant Innovation.

YouTube; * Atypical New • GEARTURBINE / Retrodynamic = DextroRPM VS LevoInFlow + Ying Yang Thrust Way Type - Non Waste Looses

-This innovative concept consists of hull and core where are held all 8 bteps of the work-flow which make the concept functional. The core has several gears …

Yeni Enerji Jeopolitiğinde Nato'nun Enerji Güvenliğinde Tamamlayıcı Rolü Ve Türkiye'nin Potansiyel Katkıları (Nato's Complimentary Role In Energy Security And Turkey's Potential Contributions At The New Energy Geopolitics ), Emre Iseri, Oguz Dilek

Emre Iseri

Energy-related issues gained a prominent place within the NATO’s new strategic concept declared during the Lisbon Summit (November 20, 2010). This final strategic concept is to address two new sources of threat within the new energy geopolitics - ‘resource nationalism’ and ‘energy terrorism’ - which deeply concern those NATO members that require imported energy resources to meet their soaring domestic demand. Lisbon Summit to remove, if not alleviate, these security challenges tasked NATO with a set of specific roles. As a melting pot of the said two energy related risks, Turkey with its pledge to become the fourth energy artery …

Energy (In)Efficiency In The Local Food Movement: Food For Thought, Lauren B. Kaplin

Lauren Kaplin

“Eating local” is a growing trend in the American food system, with environmentalists and foodies alike advocating for shorter food transportation distances from farm to table (the average in the United States is about 1,500 miles ). Not only have local food systems gained followers through farmer’s markets, locally sourced restaurants, and community supported agriculture (“CSA”) enterprises, but the locavore trend has begun to gain momentum on Capitol Hill as well: various federal and state programs support local food initiatives, the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”) has published materials considering the impact of going local, and the Obamas …

Creative Intelligence And Its Application To, Murray Hunter

Murray Hunter

This paper begins with a review of major issues facing society today, observing how difficult they are to solve. After a review of the nature of the environment, introducing the concepts of relatedness and influence of time and space on innovation, thinking, cognition, intelligence, and creativity, the metaphoric concept of creative intelligence is postulated. The elements of creative intelligence are described along with other supporting elements like prior knowledge, imagination, energy, and awareness. The role of creative intelligence in developing entrepreneurial opportunities and solving ethical problems is then discussed.

Promoting An All Of The Above Approach Or Pushing (Oil) Addiction And Abuse?: The Curious Role Of Energy Subsidies And Mandates In U.S. Energy Policy, Joshua P. Fershee

Joshua P Fershee

President Bush declared America “addicted to oil” in his fifth State of the Union address, uttering what is now a common refrain used to urge the development of alternative fuel sources. Before progress can be made to modernize the U.S. fuel mix, though, it is important to consider how and why the current fuel mix came to be. To do so, this article first considers whether the United States is, in fact, addicted to oil. The article looks to the medical definitions of addiction and analyzes the U.S. relationship with oil to assist in analyzing the potential effectiveness of U.S. …

A New And Improved Energy Reality—It's No Pipedream, Daniel Hare

Daniel Hare

In this paper, I propose an original policy solution to the complicated issue of permitting and regulatory review for cross-border natural resource projects to allow for a smoother, quicker approval process for certain types of projects. I have specifically designed this new procedure so as to focus on political compromise and minimize political partisanship, while instead concentrating on achieving results. By modifying the current regulatory standard to a more streamlined model, deserving cross-border natural resource projects can swiftly gain approval, yet environmental, economic, foreign policy, national security, and other significant concerns will still receive the attention and thorough evaluation they …

Elements Of Proximal Formative Assessment In Learners’ Discourse About Energy, Benedikt W. Harrer, Rachel E. Scherr, Michael C. Wittmann, Hunter G. Close, Brian W. Frank

Benedikt W. Harrer

Proximal formative assessment, the just-in-time elicitation of students' ideas that informs ongoing instruction, is usually associated with the instructor in a formal classroom setting. However, the elicitation, assessment, and subsequent instruction that characterize proximal formative assessment are also seen in discourse among peers. We present a case in which secondary teachers in a professional development course at SPU are discussing energy flow in refrigerators. In this episode, a peer is invited to share her thinking (elicitation). Her idea that refrigerators move heat from a relatively cold compartment to a hotter environment is inappropriately judged as incorrect (assessment). The "instruction" (peer …