Network-Induced Oscillatory Behavior in Material Flow Networks

Network theory is rapidly changing our understanding of complex systems, but the relevance of topological features for the dynamic behavior of metabolic networks, food webs, production systems, information networks, or cascade failures of power grids remains to be explored. Based on a simple model of supply networks, we offer an interpretation of instabilities and oscillations observed in biological, ecological, economic, and engineering systems. We find that most supply networks display damped oscillations, even when their units - and linear chains of these units - behave in a non-oscillatory way. Moreover, networks of damped oscillators tend to produce growing oscillations. This surprising behavior offers, for example, a new interpretation of business cycles and of oscillating or pulsating processes. The network structure of material flows itself turns out to be a source of instability, and cyclical variations are an inherent feature of decentralized adjustments.Comment: For related work see http://www.helbing.or

NIMBY To NOPE—Or YESS?

On December 12, 2015, 195 governments around the world agreed to the COP21 commitments to combat climate change. Pivotal to the success of these goals is a shift from fossil-fuel energy generation to renewable resources. Wind power is one of the largest renewable energy generation sources in the United States and has the greatest potential for future development. While wind energy generation has enjoyed some of the most impressive gains in development of new capacity, reaching future goals will face more challenges. In addition to resource potential, wind development is also confined to locations that meet the sweet spot of being located near transmission lines and consumer load. As the number of favorable locations diminishes, the regulatory regimes for wind become increasingly important. This article is the result of NSF research to carefully catalog and categorize wind siting regulation across the United States. It goes beyond previous efforts in this regard because it further examines the effectiveness of various regulatory regimes in the context of litigation that has resulted from one method in contrast to another. Based on this review, a statewide siting regime for wind appears to be the best solution for counteracting NIMBY reactions to wind development and avoiding a NOPE result that could seriously thwart the COP 21 goals

Article Holland Emigrants from the Christian Intelligencer

An article, entitled, Holland Emigrants, by the Rev. Thomas De Witt, which appeared in the Christian Intelligencer, p. 62. The main part of De Witt\u27s report is on H. P. Scholte\u27s colony at Pella, Iowa. He also reports that he heard in a recent letter from Albertus Van Raalte who said that about 1700 persons were now in the Holland Colony in three villages. The new sawmill has been erected and Van Raalte said that sufficient shelter would be provided by the coming winter. Another colony of emigrants who arrived in New York planned to settle in Wisconsin. De Witt claimed that most of the emigrants are pious.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1840s/1270/thumbnail.jp

Article Published in the Christian Intelligencer and Republished in the New York Observer and Chronicle

On this date there appeared in an issue of the New York Observer and Chronicle a copy of the article on the Holland Colony written by Rev. Thomas De Witt and published in the Christian Intellingencer.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1850s/1444/thumbnail.jp

Letter from Thomas De Witt to Albertus C. Van Raalte

A letter from Rev. Thomas De Witt to Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte concerning a financial matter. The handwriting is difficult to decipher. Albert Hyma gives a full transcription of the letter on page 206 of his Van Raalte biography.https://digitalcommons.hope.edu/vrp_1840s/1207/thumbnail.jp