What is Influencing Renewable Energy Infrastructure Deployment? A Multi-State Study of U.S. Wind Generation Deployment Efforts

Recent research has determined what influences the adoption of state renewable energy policy instruments. At present, nearly all of the U.S. states have deployed or have begun to deploy infrastructure that derives energy from renewable resources. This multiple U.S. State study represents an effort to determine the factors that are influencing the wind renewable energy infrastructure deployment efforts in thirty-eight U.S. states that have widely varying wind power potential capacities, different capacities of wind generation infrastructure deployed and varying Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) policy goals. This study utilizes the internal determinants and regional diffusion theoretical models of government policy innovation to determine the ability of each model to explain variation in state renewable infrastructure deployment efforts. The fraction of each state’s total deployed wind energy capacity as a function of its total wind potential capacity was used as the dependent variable and state economic factors, geographic and electric system factors and political and ideological factors were used as independent variables representing internal determinants. The effect of regional diffusion was determined by examining the potential wind capacities and actual deployment levels of wind infrastructure in each state’s neighbor states. Preliminary results indicate that the internal determinants model was a better predictor of current state renewable energy deployment efforts than the regional diffusion model. In particular, the density of high-voltage transmission lines (circuit miles/square mile) was a very strong predictor of state deployment success. If this is the case, it may be necessary for states who wish increase their levels of renewable wind energy capacity to place a greater focus on the amount of available transmission infrastructure and factor this into the design of their RPS policy instruments

Examining the Target Levels of State Renewable Portfolio Standards

At present 37 US states have passed Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) or have a legislative driven goal that supports investment in renewable energy (RE) technologies. Previous research has identified economic, governmental, ideological and infrastructural characteristics as key predictors of policy adoption and renewable energy deployment efforts (Carley, 2009; Davis & Davis, 2009; Bohn & Lant, 2009; Lyon & Yin, 2010). To date, only a few studies have investigated the target levels of renewable portfolio standards. Carley & Miller (2012) found that policies of differing stringencies were motivated by systematically different factors that included governmental ideology. The purpose of this study was to replicate and expand upon earlier models that predicted RPS policy adoption and RE deployment efforts by adding regulatory, infrastructural and spatial characteristics to predict RPS target levels. Hypotheses were tested using three alternative measurements of RPS target level strength to determine to what extent a combination of explanatory variables explain variation in policy target levels. Multivariate linear regression and global spatial autocorrelation results indicated that multiple state internal determinants influenced RPS target level including average electricity price, state government ideology and to a lesser extent actual RE potential capacity. In addition, a strong regional diffusion effect was found to exist that indicated that states are setting their RPS target levels lower than their neighboring states and a local geo-spatial clustering effect was observed in the target levels for a grouping of northeastern states

Mercury in Fish from Northeastern Minnesota Lakes: Historical Trends, Environmental Correlates, and Potential Sources

ABSTRACT-High mercury concentrations in fish of some Minnesota lakes and rivers were first noted in 1971. Major anthropogenic sources of mercury to Minnesota rivers generally have been identified and controlled, but it has been difficult to identify mercury sources to remote northeastern Minnesota lakes containing fish with elevated mercury levels. Analysis of sediments from these lakes suggests that mercury deposition has increased by a factor of about 3.5 since white settlement in the state. Because the increase is spatially constant across northeastern Minnesota, atmospheric pollution appears to be responsible for the increase. Given that fish mercury varies considerably among lakes, local environmental processes apparently control the conversion of inorganic mercury into the methylmercury found in fish. Mercury levels in Minnesota fish are related to wa~er chemistry, which in turn is influenced by watershed geology. Fish from lakes in limestonerich watersheds are less likely to have high mercury levels than lakes in low-alkalinity regions. lakes with colored water are more likely to contain fish with high mercury levels. Trend analysis shows that mercury levels in fish increased significantly between the 1930s and 1980s (comparison between museum specimens and recent samples) and between the 1970s and 1980s. Rates of increase are highest in low-alkalinity lakes

Greater belief in science predicts mask-wearing behavior during COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacted both the physical and psychological aspects of people\u27s lives. Personality traits are one of the factors that explain the diverse responses to stressful situations. This study aimed to investigate whether five-factor and maladaptive personality traits are associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide risk, self-reported COVID-19 symptoms, and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic, comprehensively

Improving Corn Production in Southeast Kansas

Corn performance and yield varies as a function of the growing environment and soil properties. Components contributing to yield in corn were examined through on-farm measurements of soil properties in southeast Kansas. Environmental variability between the 2013, 2014, and 2015 growing seasons contributed to changes in yield. Management can also impact the amount of harvested yield

“Harry Potter and the Multitudinous Maladies”: a retrospective population-based observational study of morbidity and mortality among witches and wizards

OBJECTIVES To describe the prevalence of maladies and deaths among witches and wizards in the Harry Potter world, their causes, and associated therapies. DESIGN Retrospective population-based observational study (report analysis) undertaken 10 February - 19 March 2022. SETTING All locations described in the Harry Potter books, predominantly Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but also selected locations, including Privet Drive No 4, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and The Burrow. PARTICIPANTS All witches and wizards mentioned at least once in any of the seven Harry Potter books. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Overall numbers of maladies and deaths. Secondary outcomes were changes in morbidity and mortality over time, causes of morbidity and mortality, and treatments. RESULTS A total of 603 wizards or witches named in the Potter books experienced 1541 maladies and injuries (1410 non-fatal) and 131 deaths. Overall morbidity incidence was 471 events per 1000 individuals, and mortality, after adjustment for Lord Voldemort's multi-mortality, was 20.6%. The most frequent causes of morbidity were traumatic injuries during duels or fights (553 cases, 39.2%), magical objects, potions, plants, or creatures (345, 24.5%), and non-combative trauma (221, 15.7%). Most deaths were related to wizarding duels (101 of 131, 77.1%). Treatments were rarely described; the most frequent were jinxes (274, 19.4%) and potions (136, 9.6%). Hospital stays were shorter than a week for almost all non-fatal maladies (1397 of 1410, 99.1%). CONCLUSIONS Morbidity and, in particular, mortality were very high and predominantly caused by magical means. Further investigation into the safety at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is warranted. The few treatments used had high success rates; rapid recovery was the rule, and hospital stays generally brief. Efforts should be undertaken to identify the magical therapies and interventions used and to introduce these novel remedies into Muggle medicine

Harry Potter and the Multitudinous Maladies: a retrospective population-based observational study of morbidity and mortality among witches and wizards

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of maladies and deaths among witches and wizards in the Harry Potter world, their causes, and associated therapies. Design: Retrospective population-based observational study (report analysis) undertaken 10 February - 19 March 2022. Setting: All locations described in the Harry Potter books, predominantly Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but also selected locations, including Privet Drive No 4, Diagon Alley, the Ministry of Magic, and The Burrow. Participants: All witches and wizards mentioned at least once in any of the seven Harry Potter books. Main outcome measures: Overall numbers of maladies and deaths. Secondary outcomes were changes in morbidity and mortality over time, causes of morbidity and mortality, and treatments. Results: A total of 603 wizards or witches named in the Potter books experienced 1541 maladies and injuries (1410 non-fatal) and 131 deaths. Overall morbidity incidence was 471 events per 1000 individuals, and mortality, after adjustment for Lord Voldemort's multi-mortality, was 20.6%. The most frequent causes of morbidity were traumatic injuries during duels or fights (553 cases, 39.2%), magical objects, potions, plants, or creatures (345, 24.5%), and non-combative trauma (221, 15.7%). Most deaths were related to wizarding duels (101 of 131, 77.1%). Treatments were rarely described;the most frequent were jinxes (274, 19.4%) and potions (136, 9.6%). Hospital stays were shorter than a week for almost all non-fatal maladies (1397 of 1410, 99.1%). Conclusions: Morbidity and, in particular, mortality were very high and predominantly caused by magical means. Further investigation into the safety at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is warranted. The few treatments used had high success rates;rapid recovery was the rule, and hospital stays generally brief. Efforts should be undertaken to identify the magical therapies and interventions used and to introduce these novel remedies into Muggle medicine

Nitrogen Fertilization and Harvest Management Improve Forage and Crude Protein Content in Crabgrass

Crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) is an annual summer grass that can provide high-quality forage, but optimal management strategies are unclear. Our objective was to compare the yield and quality of crabgrass (Mojo and Quick-N-Big) under different nitrogen rates and harvest management. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with five treatments and three replications for each crabgrass variety, totaling fifteen experimental units for both Mojo and Quick-N-Big, in adjacent sites. Treatments were nitrogen rates (0, 100, and 200 lb N/acre) and harvest management (cut once or twice per year) for two growing seasons (2020 and 2021). Total forage accumulation (TFA) increased with nitrogen fertilization for both cultivars. Mojo had the highest TFA in the first year (7000 lb DM/a/yr) while Quick-N-Big TFA was the highest in the second year (7635 lb DM/a/yr). The highest crude protein (CP) content was obtained with the highest N dose, ranging from 10.5 to 13% for both cultivars. Based on these results, N fertilization and harvest management can contribute to improving forage yield and crude protein of crabgrass varieties during the growing season in forage systems

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