Solar-Powered Aeration Boosts Developing World

Solar-Powered Aeration Boosts Developing World Solar-Powered Aeration Boosts Developing World Solar-Powered Aeration Boosts Developing WorldA low-cost solar fish pond aerator could boost yields in most of the worlds aquaculture operations. Most artificial ponds worldwide are on family farms and other small-scale operations in developing countries. There, traditional aerators that require electricity can be costly and impractical.The new passive device, created by a research team at the University of Toronto in Ontario, mixes pond water using heat from the sun. Its design sets it apart from traditional aerators as it requires no electricity, has no moving parts, and can be manufactured and maintained locally from readily available parts.What happens in these ponds is you end up with lots of dissolved oxygen in the top layer of the pond, but sunlight doesnt penetrate deep enough to get oxygen into the rest of the pond. Our device circulates those layers, said Amy Bilton, the principal investigator at the University of Torontos Water and Energy Research Lab, who is leading the work.The dicke bretter bohren mssen with artificial fish ponds is that the fish die off if the waters oxygen levels are too low. Fish can even get sick if there is too much oxygen. The ponds have natural oxygen generators in the form of phytoplankton at the waters surface. These photosynthetic plants produce oxygen that dissolves in the water around them.Schematic of the solar updraft aeration system for aquaculture. Image University of TorontoBut in the still fish ponds, no currents mix the upper and lower layers of water. That sets up a thin band of safe water for the fish and a fragile environment for their survival. The water near the top of the pond can become supersaturated with oxygen so that it releases the gas into the atmosphere. That high concentration can be toxic to the fish, while deeper down, oxygen levels are too low for their survival.The Solar Updraft Aeration system, as th e new aerator is called, sets up a convection current. As the sun strikes a plate on the waters surface, the device channels its energy downward to heat the walls of a vertical metal tube and a flared kusine on the bottom of the pond. The water under the base and inside the tube becomes warm and expands, forcing it upward through the tube and out holes in the tube just under the ponds surface.Prototypes for the device have entered field tests in partnership with researchers at BRAC University in Bangladesh. With funding from USAID, the researchers are building at least 80 aerators. Studies so far suggest the devices could finally put aeration in reach for impoverished farmers. That could translate into more fish.Modeled simulations suggest that performance is surprisingly good. Aerators built with a vertical tube height of 0.51 meter, and a base flare length of 0.81.2 meters, could lift more than 1,500 liters of water per hour.Real-world measurements of a pond that is two meters dee p found that the bottom layer maintains an oxygen level of 23 milligrams per liter, while the topmost layer fluctuates between 4 mg/lat night, when the phytoplankton are not producing oxygen, up to 12 mg/lduring the day.Laboratory models based on those measurements suggest that the new aerator can raise dissolved oxygen in the lowest layer so that it fluctuates between 6 mg/l at night to nearly 14 mg/lduring the day. If that is borne out in the real world, it may mean that aerators can mix the water sufficiently to create top-layer conditions throughout the entire depth of the pond.Were always looking at how to do things better, Bilton said. Since the pilot, weve made some substantial changes to them. They keep getting more efficient and effective. Rob Goodier is the editor of Engineering for Change. For Further Discussion What happens in these ponds is you end up with lots of dissolved oxygen in the top layer of the pond, but sunlight doesnt penetrate deep enough. Our device circul ates those layers. Prof. Amy Bilton, University of Torontos Water and Energy Research Lab

WeWork is collecting data on people including cell phone use

WeWork is collecting data on people including cell phone useWeWork is collecting data on people including cell phone useData is the future for WeWork. Last February, the office-rental giant purchased Euclid, a service that tracks smartphones in retail spaces, according to Bloomberg. Besides purchasing a company that collects users phone information over WiFi, WeWork is also testing thermal and motion detectors, as well as Bluetooth check-ins.All of this helps WeWork keep track of how people intend to use a space versus how they actually use it, according to Shiva Rajaraman, WeWorks chief product officer, in Bloomberg.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTechcrunch explained how Euclid worked in a postTraditionally, retailers have used everything from basic door clickers to optical solutions like beams above a door or video cameras to track their customers comings and goings. But Eucl id had a different idea it could passively detect customers smartphones with Wi-Fienabled and collect their phones MAC addresses This allows the geschftliches miteinander to track how many people walk by a store, enter, how long they stay, and more. Weve been very focused on providing Google Analytics for the real world, where instead of the clickstream, you get the footstream, says Euclid CEO Will Smith.For now, the company is testing these tools not at their coworking spaces but on their own employees.The thermal sensors, for example, could be used to help a company gauge whether or not they need extra conference space or not based on how full existing conference space is.Of course, with all that data in the hands of one company, privacy advocates are concerned. And Euclid, the new smartphone-tracking service WeWork purchased, has run into privacy problems in the past. At least one business has stopped using it after customers claimed it was invasive like Philz Coffee in San Fra ncisco did five years ago.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010

Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 Looking Forward to More Federal Jobs for First-Timers in 2010 By Kathryn Troutman, Author, Ten Steps to a Federal Job, 2nd ed.. President, www.resume-place.com, Federal Career and Federal Resume  Writing Services, Established 1973 Lots of people have friends and relatives who have safe, wonderful jobs in the government. Most of these jobseekers are currently out of work, or almost out of work. Everybody knows that the application process for a federal job is complex, difficult, daunting, burdensome and every agency has their own way of applying. BUT THE GOVERNMENT JOBS ARE AMAZINGLY GOOD. So, I predict the following changes in attitude (acceptance), writing and application strategies toward finding and landing a federal job by first-timers who REALLY NEED A GOOD, STABLE JOB! 1. Jobseekers will accept the complex announcements and become federal job announcement interpreters and background researchers. In order to understand a federal job announcement, a federal jobseeker must look up an agency or office mission to read a job announcement in context. Heres my advice: If you find an announcement that seems right for your qualifications, do some background study on the announcement or office. Interpret the words in the job announcements, so they can apply for the job successfully. As an example, for the Contact Representative job announcement, many agencies need Contact Representatives to talk by phone to the American Public who need help with Medicare, Taxes, Financial Aide, Passports, Immigration, and other government services. The Contact Representative job is a very good entry-level position and is quite similar to a Customer Services Representative for a corporation or business. Here is a complicated duty statement and specialized experience for the Contact Representative: The incumbent will provide technical assistance to individuals and/or businesses primarily through telephone interaction in a dynamic call center environment, and/or face-to-face contact. My interpretation of this duty: You will talk on the phone or see people in person; answer questions and be very busy. Your federal resume could include description similar to this one if you want to provide that you have this specialized experience: Communicate daily by phone or in-person with more than xx customers who inquire about products, services and problem. Listen to the information provided, research their inquiry in our databases, interpret rules and regulations as needed, and resolve problems. Refer some problems as needed to supervisors efficiently. Ensure customer satisfaction and attention to detail. Recognize priority and critical situations and use diplomacy to resolve complex problems. 2. Jobseekers can learn how to apply by practicing applying for federal jobs. It just takes practice to get good at anything sports, cooking, computer skills. Same with applying for federal jobs. It takes practice and learning the hard way. Heres my advice for practicing: Practice applying for federal jobs. Practice applying for jobs that are NOT perfect for you, or maybe they are perfect, but expect to make mistakes in applying. This way you will be ready to apply correctly for the perfect job. Or apply for a job in a state where you dont want to live. And if you are referred to the position, you can wait and see what happens. If you do get an interview (amazing), you can decide what to do then. 3. Write your federal resume with federal job announcement keywords and learn how to paraphrase an announcement. First-timers cant believe that the federal resume is on average two times the length of a private industry resume. An average federal resume IS 4 pages.  The reason the federal resume is longer, is that the resume needs to show that you have the skills for the position in writing! That means, more words, more descriptions in your federal resume. Heres my advice for changing your language and writing style for your federal resume: Select your best vacancy announcement from USAJOBS. Go to the Duties section. Read the first 5 sentences and select 5 keywords that are nouns or verbs. Add these words to your resume if they are true and you can add them.   The language of federal jobs is different than private industry job descriptions. In order to successfully go federal, you have to interpret your skills into federal language. The USAJOBS announcement for a Program Assistant includes this set of duties:   The incumbent will research, gather, assemble, analyze and consolidate program information to support organizational goals; analyze documents to ensure distribution, consolidation of comments, and needed follow-up action. Your private industry resume might include this sentence: Research information and analyze documents for projects; compile information for comments. Your federal resume should include a more detailed sentence, paraphrasing the announcement: Gather, analyze and research data for project review. Organize information to support project objectives. Prepare documents for distribution and final comments. Follow-up and handle details for project completion.