This article focuses on the finite element modeling of toroidal microinductors, employing first-of-its-kind nanocomposite magnetic core material and superparamagnetic iron nanoparticles covalently cross-linked in an epoxy network. Energy loss mechanisms in existing inductor core materials are covered as well as discussions on how this novel core material eliminates them providing a path toward realizing these low form factor devices. Designs for both a 2 μH output and a 500 nH input microinductor are created via the model for a high-performance buck converter. Both modeled inductors have 50 wire turns, less than 1 cm3 form factors, less than 1 Ω AC resistance, and quality factors, Q’s, of 27 at 1 MHz. In addition, the output microinductor is calculated to have an average output power of 7 W and a power density of 3.9 kW/in3 by modeling with the 1st generation iron nanocomposite core material.

The beneficial reuse of environmentally contaminated properties in Rhode Island remains a vast opportunity for practitioners to consider grant applications, creative financing, transactional cleanups, and/or Court-supervised cleanups. There are hundreds of re-developed, formerly contaminated sites all over the state of Rhode Island, which can be remediated under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Brownfields program. In September of 2015, the RIDEM’s Brownfields program was significantly enhanced by state administration, providing for grants to conduct investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites. Funds are and will be available for pre-development planning, remedial investigation, redevelopment and marketing plans, remedial design, construction of remedies, and associated work. The trigger for any Brownfields remediation, and in turn, eligibility for funding, continues to be notification of a release of hazardous materials. Once under RIDEM’s jurisdiction, any responsible party must adhere to the site remediation site management process.

The grant money may be applied to investigation of soil, groundwater, soil gas, indoor air and infrastructure/building materials. Funds are also available for site assessment, remediation, hazardous material abatement, waste disposal, long term monitoring, institutional controls, environmental consulting costs, and marketing. The Brownfields grant program provides new and diverse opportunities for environmental professionals to assist their clients in the Brownfields process.

Environmental Practice 18: 267–269 (2016)

China has agreed to the fundamental principles for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) with its principal trading partners. The United States and the European Union have, over a period of months, completed the arduous negotiations to conclude these agreements. These two major agreements are very close in content and will become the blueprint for China's accession in 2001.

This paper, a study of the career of Yii Chi (1272–1348), explores the nature of Chinese literati support of Mongol rulers during the Yiian period. Yii Chi served as the leading apologist for the usurper Tugh Temiir (Wen-tsung, r. 1328 and 1329–1332). The most prominent court scholar of his time, Yii Chi devoted himself to the enhancement of Tugh Temiir's prestige, authority, and legitimacy. The paper explores Yii's activities in detail and speculates on his motivations in serving his Mongol emperor. In particular, it suggests that Yii Chi's ultimate aim in bolstering the usurper's claims to the throne, as well as in encouraging imperial support of Chinese cultural symbols and values, was to make Mongol rule more predictable and stable and thus to benefit the Mongols' Chinese subjects.