Resource Type

Chapter 2: Sustainable and Unsustainable Developments in the U.S. Energy System (open access)

Chapter 2: Sustainable and Unsustainable Developments in the U.S. Energy System

Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the United States developed a wealthy society on the basis of cheap and abundant fossil fuel energy. As fossil fuels have become ecologically and economically expensive in the twenty-first century, America has shown mixed progress in transitioning to a more sustainable energy system. From 2000 to 2006, energy and carbon intensity of GDP continued favorable long-term trends of decline. Energy end-use efficiency also continued to improve; for example, per-capita electricity use was 12.76 MWh per person per year in 2000 and again in 2006, despite 16 percent GDP growth over that period. Environmental costs of U.S. energy production and consumption have also been reduced, as illustrated in air quality improvements. However, increased fossil fuel consumption, stagnant efficiency standards, and expanding corn-based ethanol production have moved the energy system in the opposite direction, toward a less sustainable energy system. This chapter reviews energy system developments between 2000 and 2006 and presents policy recommendations to move the United States toward a more sustainable energy system.
Date: May 1, 2008
Creator: Levine, Mark; Levine, Mark D. & Aden, Nathaniel T.
System: The UNT Digital Library
State Depository Handbook (open access)

State Depository Handbook

This document provides information about the requirements,application process, and frequently asked questions that are associated with becoming a State Depository in Texas.
Date: May 2001
Creator: Texas. Comptroller's Office.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Soil Survey of Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: Special Report (open access)

Soil Survey of Padre Island National Seashore, Texas: Special Report

Text describes the area, climate, agricultural history and statistics, soil-survey methods and definitions, soils and crops, land uses and agricultural methods, irrigation, and morphology and genesis of soils of Padre Island National Seashore, Texas.
Date: May 2007
Creator: Brezina, Dennis N.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Wind Power Today: Wind Energy Program Highlights 2001 (open access)

Wind Power Today: Wind Energy Program Highlights 2001

Wind Power Today is an annual publication that provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Program accomplishments for the previous year. The purpose of Wind Power Today is to show how DOE's Wind Energy Program supports wind turbine research and deployment in hopes of furthering the advancement of wind technologies that produce clean, low-cost, reliable energy. Content objectives include: educate readers about the advantages and potential for widespread deployment of wind energy; explain the program's objectives and goals; describe the program's accomplishments in research and application; examine the barriers to widespread deployment; describe the benefits of continued research and development; facilitate technology transfer; and attract cooperative wind energy projects with industry. This 2001 edition of Wind Power Today also includes discussions about wind industry growth in 2001, how DOE is taking advantage of low wind speed regions through advancing technology, and distributed applications for small wind turbines.
Date: May 1, 2002
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
Benefits of Parallel I/O in Ab Initio Nuclear Physics Calculations, ICCS 2009 Proceedings (open access)

Benefits of Parallel I/O in Ab Initio Nuclear Physics Calculations, ICCS 2009 Proceedings

Many modern scientific applications rely on highly parallel calculations, which scale to 10's of thousands processors. However, most applications do not concentrate on parallelizing input/output operations. In particular, sequential I/O has been identified as a bottleneck for the highly scalable MFDn (Many Fermion Dynamics for nuclear structure) code performing ab initio nuclear structure calculations. In this paper, we develop interfaces and parallel I/O procedures to use a well-known parallel I/O library in MFDn. As a result, we gain efficient input/output of large datasets along with their portability and ease of use in the downstream processing.
Date: May 20, 2009
Creator: Laghave, Nikhil; Sosonkina, Masha; Maris, Pieter & Vary, James P.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Electronic Structure Calculations and Adaptation Scheme in Multi-core Computing Environments (open access)

Electronic Structure Calculations and Adaptation Scheme in Multi-core Computing Environments

Multi-core processing environments have become the norm in the generic computing environment and are being considered for adding an extra dimension to the execution of any application. The T2 Niagara processor is a very unique environment where it consists of eight cores having a capability of running eight threads simultaneously in each of the cores. Applications like General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure (GAMESS), used for ab-initio molecular quantum chemistry calculations, can be good indicators of the performance of such machines and would be a guideline for both hardware designers and application programmers. In this paper we try to benchmark the GAMESS performance on a T2 Niagara processor for a couple of molecules. We also show the suitability of using a middleware based adaptation algorithm on GAMESS on such a multi-core environment.
Date: May 20, 2009
Creator: Seshagiri, Lakshminarasimhan; Sosonkina, Masha & Zhang, Zhao
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hadron Production in Heavy Ion Collisions (open access)

Hadron Production in Heavy Ion Collisions

Heavy ion collisions are an ideal tool to explore the QCD phase diagram. The goal is to study the equation of state (EOS) and to search for possible in-medium modifications of hadrons. By varying the collision energy a variety of regimes with their specific physics interest can be studied. At energies of a few GeV per nucleon, the regime where experiments were performed first at the Berkeley Bevalac and later at the Schwer-Ionen-Synchrotron (SIS) at GSI in Darmstadt, we study the equation of state of dense nuclear matter and try to identify in-medium modifications of hadrons. Towards higher energies, the regime of the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the Super-Proton Synchrotron (SPS) at CERN, and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at BNL, we expect to produce a new state of matter, the Quark-Gluon Plasma (QGP). The physics goal is to identify the QGP and to study its properties. By varying the energy, different forms of matter are produced. At low energies we study dense nuclear matter, similar to the type of matter neutron stars are made of. As the energy is increased the main constituents of the matter will change. Baryon excitations will become …
Date: May 19, 2009
Creator: Ritter, Hans Georg & Xu, Nu
System: The UNT Digital Library
System Performance Characterization (open access)

System Performance Characterization

Characterizing an adaptive optics (AO) system refers to understanding its performance and limitations. The goal of an AO system is to correct wavefront aberrations. The uncorrected aberrations, called the residual errors and referred to in what follows simply as the errors, degrade the image quality in the science camera. Understanding the source of these errors is a great aid in designing an AO system and optimizing its performance. This chapter explains how to estimate the wavefront error terms and the relationship between the wavefront error and the degradation of the image. The analysis deals with the particular case of a HartmannShack wavefront sensor (WFS) and a continuous deformable mirror (DM), although the principles involved can be applied to any AO system.
Date: May 26, 2004
Creator: van Dam, M. A.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Development and Application of Compatible Discretizations of Maxwell's Equations (open access)

Development and Application of Compatible Discretizations of Maxwell's Equations

We present the development and application of compatible finite element discretizations of electromagnetics problems derived from the time dependent, full wave Maxwell equations. We review the H(curl)-conforming finite element method, using the concepts and notations of differential forms as a theoretical framework. We chose this approach because it can handle complex geometries, it is free of spurious modes, it is numerically stable without the need for filtering or artificial diffusion, it correctly models the discontinuity of fields across material boundaries, and it can be very high order. Higher-order H(curl) and H(div) conforming basis functions are not unique and we have designed an extensible C++ framework that supports a variety of specific instantiations of these such as standard interpolatory bases, spectral bases, hierarchical bases, and semi-orthogonal bases. Virtually any electromagnetics problem that can be cast in the language of differential forms can be solved using our framework. For time dependent problems a method-of-lines scheme is used where the Galerkin method reduces the PDE to a semi-discrete system of ODE's, which are then integrated in time using finite difference methods. For time integration of wave equations we employ the unconditionally stable implicit Newmark-Beta method, as well as the high order energy conserving …
Date: May 27, 2005
Creator: White, D.; Koning, J. & Rieben, R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Modelling the Madden Julian Oscillation (open access)

Modelling the Madden Julian Oscillation

The MJO has long been an aspect of the global climate that has provided a tough test for the climate modelling community. Since the 1980s there have been numerous studies of the simulation of the MJO in atmospheric general circulation models (GCMs), ranging from Hayashi and Golder (1986, 1988) and Lau and Lau (1986), through to more recent studies such as Wang and Schlesinger (1999) and Wu et al. (2002). Of course, attempts to reproduce the MJO in climate models have proceeded in parallel with developments in our understanding of what the MJO is and what drives it. In fact, many advances in understanding the MJO have come through modeling studies. In particular, failure of climate models to simulate various aspects of the MJO has prompted investigations into the mechanisms that are important to its initiation and maintenance, leading to improvements both in our understanding of, and ability to simulate, the MJO. The initial focus of this chapter will be on modeling the MJO during northern winter, when it is characterized as a predominantly eastward propagating mode and is most readily seen in observations. Aspects of the simulation of the MJO will be discussed in the context of its sensitivity …
Date: May 21, 2004
Creator: Slingo, J. M.; Inness, P. M. & Sperber, K. R.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Atomic lifetime measurements of highly charged ions (open access)

Atomic lifetime measurements of highly charged ions

None
Date: May 21, 2008
Creator: Trabert, E.
System: The UNT Digital Library
High Pressure Materials Research: Novel Extended Phases of Molecular Triatomics (open access)

High Pressure Materials Research: Novel Extended Phases of Molecular Triatomics

Application of high pressure significantly alters the interatomic distance and thus the nature of intermolecular interaction, chemical bonding, molecular configuration, crystal structure, and stability of solid [1]. With modern advances in high-pressure technologies [2], it is feasible to achieve a large (often up to a several-fold) compression of lattice, at which condition material can be easily forced into a new physical and chemical configuration [3]. The high-pressure thus offers enhanced opportunities to discover new phases, both stable and metastable ones, and to tune exotic properties in a wide-range of atomistic length scale, substantially greater than (often being several orders of) those achieved by other thermal (varying temperatures) and chemical (varying composition or making alloys) means. Simple molecular solids like H{sub 2}, C, CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, O{sub 2}, H{sub 2}O, CO, NH{sub 3}, and CH{sub 4} are bounded by strong covalent intramolecular bonds, yet relatively weak intermolecular bonds of van der Waals and/or hydrogen bonds. The weak intermolecular bonds make these solids highly compressible (i.e., low bulk moduli typically less than 10 GPa), while the strong covalent bonds make them chemically inert at least initially at low pressures. Carbon-carbon single bonds, carbon-oxygen double bonds and nitrogen-nitrogen triple bonds, for example, …
Date: May 26, 2004
Creator: Yoo, C.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tribal Identifier Data Standard (open access)

Tribal Identifier Data Standard

This standard specifies the set of tribal names and codes necessary to constitute consistent and unambiguous identification of federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native entities.
Date: May 28, 2008
Creator: Exchange Network Leadership Council
System: The UNT Digital Library
Hyperspectral Geobotanical Remote Sensing for CO2 Storage Monitoring (open access)

Hyperspectral Geobotanical Remote Sensing for CO2 Storage Monitoring

This project's goal is to develop remote sensing methods for early detection and spatial mapping, over whole regions simultaneously, of any surface areas under which there are significant CO2 leaks from deep underground storage formations. If large amounts of CO2 gas percolated up from a storage formation below to within plant root depth of the surface, the CO2 soil concentrations near the surface would become elevated and would affect individual plants and their local plant ecologies. Excessive soil CO2 concentrations are observed to significantly affect local plant and animal ecologies in our geothermal exploration, remote sensing research program at Mammoth Mountain CA USA. We also know from our geothermal exploration remote sensing programs, that we can map subtle hidden faults by spatial signatures of altered minerals and of plant species and health distributions. Mapping hidden faults is important because in our experience these highly localized (one to several centimeters) spatial pathways are good candidates for potentially significant CO2 leaks from deep underground formations. The detection and discrimination method we are developing uses primarily airborne hyperspectral, high spatial (3 meter) with 128 band wavelength resolution, visible and near infrared reflected light imagery. We also are using the newly available ''Quickbird'' satellite …
Date: May 14, 2004
Creator: Pickles, W & Cover, W
System: The UNT Digital Library
Texas License Plates, 2005 (open access)

Texas License Plates, 2005

Book containing pictures and descriptions of Texas license plates, their descriptions and requirements for use.
Date: May 2005
Creator: Texas. Vehicle Titles and Registration Division.
System: The Portal to Texas History
Using Distributed Energy Resources, A How-To Guide for Federal Facility Managers (open access)

Using Distributed Energy Resources, A How-To Guide for Federal Facility Managers

The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) established the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Program to assist Federal agencies in implementing DER projects at their facilities. FEMP prepared this How-To Guide to assist facility managers in evaluating potential applications and benefits. It provides step-by-step advice on how to carry out a Federal DER project. It also describes and explains DER applications and potential benefits in Federal facilities; DER technologies and how to match them to applications; a step-by-step approach to implementing projects; potential barriers and how to overcome them; and resources to assist you in implementing new DER projects.
Date: May 1, 2002
Creator: Distributed Utility Associates
System: The UNT Digital Library
Geothermal Today: 2003 Geothermal Technologies Program Highlights (Revised) (open access)

Geothermal Today: 2003 Geothermal Technologies Program Highlights (Revised)

This outreach publication highlights milestones and accomplishments of the DOE Geothermal Technologies Program for 2003. Included in this publication are discussions of geothermal fundamentals, enhanced geothermal systems, direct-use applications, geothermal potential in Idaho, coating technology, energy conversion R&D, and the GeoPowering the West initiative.
Date: May 1, 2004
Creator: unknown
System: The UNT Digital Library
International Conference on Solar Concentrators for the Generation of Electricity or Hydrogen: Book of Abstracts (open access)

International Conference on Solar Concentrators for the Generation of Electricity or Hydrogen: Book of Abstracts

The International Conference on Solar Concentrators for the Generation of Electricity or Hydrogen provides an opportunity to learn about current significant research on solar concentrators for generating electricity or hydrogen. The conference will emphasize in-depth technical discussions of recent achievements in technologies that convert concentrated solar radiation to electricity or hydrogen, with primary emphasis on photovoltaic (PV) technologies. Very high-efficiency solar cells--above 37%--were recently developed, and are now widely used for powering satellites. This development demands that we take a fresh look at the potential of solar concentrators for generating low-cost electricity or hydrogen. Solar electric concentrators could dramatically overtake other PV technologies in the electric utility marketplace because of the low capital cost of concentrator manufacturing facilities and the larger module size of concentrators. Concentrating solar energy also has advantages for th e solar generation of hydrogen. Around the world, researchers and engineers are developing solar concentrator technologies for entry into the electricity generation market and several have explored the use of concentrators for hydrogen production. The last conference on the subject of solar electric concentrators was held in November of 2003 and proved to be an important opportunity for researchers and developers to share new and crucial information …
Date: May 1, 2005
Creator: McConnell, R.; Symko-Davies, M. & Hayden, H.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Yang-Mills Fields and the Lattice. (open access)

Yang-Mills Fields and the Lattice.

The Yang-Mills theory lies at the heart of our understanding of elementary particle interactions. For the strong nuclear forces, we must understand this theory in the strong coupling regime. The primary technique for this is the lattice. While basically an ultraviolet regulator, the lattice avoids the use of a perturbative expansion. I discuss some of the historical circumstances that drove us to this approach, which has had immense success, convincingly demonstrating quark confinement and obtaining crucial properties of the strong interactions from first principles.
Date: May 18, 2004
Creator: Creutz, M.
System: The UNT Digital Library
Citizen Handbook on Superfund in Texas (open access)

Citizen Handbook on Superfund in Texas

Handbook on the Superfund program in Texas, cleanup procedures, health effects, and information on how to get involved.
Date: May 2003
Creator: Hoffman, Margaret
System: The Portal to Texas History
BRAC 2005 DoD Report Volume I (open access)

BRAC 2005 DoD Report Volume I

This report is about the 2005 BRAC Commission
Date: May 25, 2005
Creator: United States. Department of Defense.
System: The UNT Digital Library
2005 Report to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission: Air Force Justification Book (open access)

2005 Report to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission: Air Force Justification Book

Capital AGS, IL and Hulman Regional APT AGS, IN: Mil Value and Capacity Supporting Information USAF(Disregard Restriction Header and Footer)
Date: May 26, 2005
Creator: United States. Department of Defense.
System: The UNT Digital Library
BRAC 2005 DoD Report, Army Justification Book (Ft. Bragg, NC) SCENARIO #105 TITLE: USA-0040 REALIGN BRAGG TO EGLIN (open access)

BRAC 2005 DoD Report, Army Justification Book (Ft. Bragg, NC) SCENARIO #105 TITLE: USA-0040 REALIGN BRAGG TO EGLIN

DISREGARD RESTRICTION HEADER AND FOOTER, SUMMARY OF SCENARIO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS [TABS FINAL DRAFT] SCENARIO #105 TITLE: USA-0040 REALIGN BRAGG TO EGLIN GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Realigns Fort Bragg, NC by relocating the 7th Special Forces Group to Eglin AFB, FL Summary of Scenario Environmental Impacts
Date: May 26, 2005
Creator: United States. Department of Defense.
System: The UNT Digital Library
BRAC 2005 DoD Report, Army Justification Book (Ft. Bragg, NC) Economic Impact Report (open access)

BRAC 2005 DoD Report, Army Justification Book (Ft. Bragg, NC) Economic Impact Report

DISREGARD RESTRICTION HEADER AND FOOTER, Economic Impact Report, This report depicts the economic impact of the following Scenarios: USA-0040: 7th SFG from FT Bragg (Eglin AFB) The data in this report is rolled up by Region of Influence
Date: May 26, 2005
Creator: United States. Department of Defense.
System: The UNT Digital Library