The application of wind power in various fields of energy requirements has been examined. Specific applications of the three broad classes of wind machines - Small, Intermediate and Large-scale, have been evaluated. Two methodologies were developed which could compute the amount of wind power required of existing Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) when placed in two sites in Virginia. The impacts of placing multiple WTG's in clusters to get higher power levels have been examined in details. A wake interference model has been included to calculate the amount of power reductions in downwind WTG rows. The advantages evolving out of site dispersal were also investigated. In general terms, arrays of wind farms produce some firm capacity because of the diversity of wind at the dispersed sites. Mostly, arrays of multiple sites tend to fill up the low power output levels of an individual site during the day. Besides, the output from an array consisting of a total of N wind machines, will be more than the output from an identical number of machines in a single site. These aspects of site dispersal have been discussed. The studies of Clusters and Arrays have been extended to utility interface. Two separate models - an Individual Site model and a Dispersed Site model have been considered for integration. Capacity credit earned for each case was investigated in details using a Reliability model. Wind power was also looked at from the competition against conventional expansion plants point of view. The economics of wind power in terms of capacity and operational cost savings were also examined. The problems arising out of a possible integration of wind machines have been pointed out and some solutions have been suggested. Computational results are presented in details from the major studies and recommendations for further work have been discussed. / M.S.

Prices paid for yearling rams were influenced (P < .001) by TSC, BT, YW and FW. The importance of YW increased with time, while the role of TSC declined in later time periods, suggesting that buyers were willing to pay more for superior performance and less for subjective conformation and type in later years than when the test began. A larger ram with an equivalent performance record was worth more than a smaller ram. The relative importance of FW and YW in defining price changed. In early years superiority in both traits was worth approximately the same, while in later years a higher YW brought about 2 1/2 times the premium of the same increase in FW. Prices paid for ram lambs were affected by TSC, BT, DG and FW, but the time period involved was too short to draw conclusions concerning changes in their relative importance. Phenotypic trends for yearling rams' WW, FW, YW and DG were positive (P < .001), and rates of increase were different for breeds (P < . 001). The decrease in mean age of tested rams and the increase in DG contributed to a quadratic trend in YW and supported adjustment of the data for age. Environmental trends, analyzed by a within-sire analysis of 1885 progeny of 4:30 sires, were not significant. Estimated genetic gains due to sires were: 1.06 ± .30 kg/yr for FW, 1.16 ± .32 kg/yr for YW, .36 ± .18 kg/yr for WW and .0037 ± .0021 kg/d/yr for DG. Phenotypic trends for the ram lambs were: .906 ± .198 kg/yr for FW, .00956 ± .000880 for WDA and .00212 ± .00228 kg/d/yr for DG. Yearling rams' OW and FW were correlated (P < .001), as were the same traits for ram lambs. The yearling correlation was much lower than that of the lambs, however (r = .89 vs r = .66). The correlation (P < .001) of OW and DG was .22 and -.20 for yearlings and ram lambs, respectively. Age and DG were correlated (P < .001) with a coefficient of -.20 for both yearlings and ram lambs. Yearling rams' SHT, HHT and BLGTH were highly correlated ( P < . 001), and cannon length was moderately correlated (P < .005) to SHT and HHT. Suffolks were taller than Hampshires and Dorsets. All three breeds made similar gains in SHT within the same year. SC generally increased over the course of the test. The SC of the black-faced breeds sometimes regressed from April to May, but showed gains from 0 to 2.15 ± .24 cm for the overall measurement interval. Dorset SC always increased the most with gains ranging from 2.08 ± .93 cm to 3. 88 ± 1.10 cm. Suffolk ram lambs were tallest in the first 2 yr and were similar to Hampshires in the third. Gains in ram lamb SHT over short intervals were negated by the shearing which took place before the second measurement. Mean gains over the lengthened 1982 test period ranged from 6. 04 ± .68 cm for Hampshires to 7.37 ± .36 for Suffolks. SHT was correlated ( P < .001) with weight, generally moderately correlated (P < .05) with DG and not usually correlated with age. Only the Suffolk lamb SC consistently increased from July to August. The SC of all breeds increased from May to August, Suffolks by the greatest amount. SC was correlated (P < .05) with SHT and generally was correlated (P < .005) with weight. Only the final SC was correlated ( P < . 005) with DG, and SC and age were not usually correlated. / M.S.

External responsiveness to food and non-food cues was studied among 306 obese and nonobese boys and girls ranging in age from 42 to 156 months. These subjects viewed 5 food and 5 non-food items and stated a preference between an immediate smaller and a delayed larger choice. When presented with food items, obese subjects were less able than the nonobese to delay an immediate smaller gratification to maximize reward magnitude. No significant differences were found between obese and nonobese children regarding nonfood delay choices. These findings are discussed in terms of ontogeny of externality, the cause of some forms of obesity. A significant age difference indicated that preschool children preferred more immediate gratification than did school children. This age difference is consistent with research on delay of gratification using a choice paradigm. / M.S.

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A low-speed single-stage axial-flow compressor rig was configured for tests with variable-length upstream casing struts. Two axial strut lengths were tested for their effect on the inlet flow field and stalling characteristics of the compressor under clean and distorted inlet conditions. Data were obtained from one stationary and six blade-mounted high-response pressure transducers, and from a circumferentially- traversed directional probe. The distorted inlet flow field was changed significantly by the longer struts, which effectively sectored the inlet. Deep stall was not observed for this configuration. Rather, the stalling characteristic was changed to what is termed progressive rotating stall, in which six stable stall cells and significant increases in static pressure rise were noted. A new technique for determining the number of rotating stall cells from the frequency content of stationary and rotating reference frame signals is presented. Blade pressure response as a function of aerodynamic loading is detailed. / M.S.

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The development of three colonies of Bombus fervidus (Fabricius) and two of Bombus pennsylvanicus (Degeer) was studied. Population levels and the production of males and young queens varied among colonies and between years. Mean longevity of worker bees decreased significantly toward the end of the season. Mean size of emerging worker bees increased significantly with time. The decreased survivorship may be related to the seasonal size increase of the workers, which would result in an increased proportion of foragers. Age-specific life tables and survivorship curves were developed for workers within colonies, and for workers in cohorts based on emergence date. An increase in brood developmental times occurred near the end of the colony cycle. In the two B. pennsylvanicus colonies, oviposition of fertilized eggs decreased during the transition period from worker to queen production, and large numbers of male-producing eggs were laid. At the time of queen production a sudden increase in size of emerging females occurred. Neither a gradual nor a sudden change in larva/worker ratio appears sufficient to explain caste determination. Rates of parasitization of bumble bee queens at three sites in Southwestern Virginia were studied. Endoparasites of spring queens included Locustacarus buchneri (Stammer) (Acarina: Podapolipidae), a mite infesting the abdominal air sacs; the nematode Sphaerularia bombi Dufour (Tylenchida: Nematoda), and gregarious braconid larvae, probably Syntretus sp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Ectoparasites included hypopi of the mite Kuzinia americana Delfinado and Baker (Acari: Acaridae) and Parasitus spp. mites (Acari: Parasitidae). / M.S.

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