The expected technical lifetime for a wind turbine is 20-25 years (Wizelius, 2007). In the process of planning a wind farm on a site an estimation of the average wind speed and the energy yield is required from the site. Due to large fluctuations in wind velocity from one year to another it is, from a climatologically point of view, not sufficient to measure the wind for a short period of time, e.g. one year. The year measured may have uncommonly high or uncommonly low winds and thereby generate an average not representative of the wind climate on the site. In the same time it is neither practical nor economically desirable to measure for a longer time period. Instead the measured data collected for a short period of time is scaled into a normal year before it is used to calculate the energy content. This normal year correction can be preformed using different methods. Principally, the methods relate the short time series, measured on the site, to one or more variables of a long time reference series. As a long time reference series the geostrophic wind on the site or a series of measured wind nearby can be used. If the correlation between the two series is sufficiently high a normal year correction may be done using the relation. Normal year correction has foremost been done using the relation between the velocities of the measured wind and a reference wind. The purpose in this study is to evaluate and implement a part of an algorithm for normal year correction considering additional variables besides wind velocity. The relationships studied are between measured wind speed and geostrophic wind speed, geostrophic wind direction and time of the year. For the purpose of evaluating the algorithm two wind data series from Näsudden, on the Swedish island of Gotland, for a period of 15 years has been used. Measured wind on 75 meters and geostrophic wind on 850hPa. Where the geostrophic wind has been used as a long time reference and the measured wind for one year at the time has been related to this reference. The relation has then been used together with the geostrophic wind data to create an estimation of the wind climate on Näsudden in three steps. Step one establishes the estimation due to the relation of geostrophic wind speed. Step two corrects the estimation due to the relation of geostrophic wind direction and step three corrects the estimation due to the relation of time of year. The conclusions from this study showed that with the method used for implementing the algorithm the normal year correction using only the relation between the velocities of the measured wind and the geostrophic wind gives the best estimation of the climatically mean wind speed. The standard deviation gives a 5 % risk for more than 0.436 m/s error for estimation of the mean wind on the site, which is comparable to earlier studies. The introduction of the wind direction dependence overestimates the mean wind on the site and amplifies the error. The introduction of the season dependence amplifies the error further and overestimates the mean wind additionally. / En vindturbin har en planerad livslängd på 20-25 år (Wizelius, 2007). Vid planering av en vindkraftspark behöver en estimering av medelvinden och energiutvinningen utföras för platsen man är intresserad av. På grund av stora fluktuationer av vindhastighet från år till år är det ur klimatologisk synpunkt inte tillräckligt att mäta under en kort period, exempelvis ett år. Det år man mäter kan ha ovanligt starka eller ovanligt svaga vindar och ge en icke representativ bild av vindklimatet på platsen. Samtidigt är det inte praktiskt eller ekonomiskt önskvärt att mäta under en längre tidsperiod. Istället kan den korta mätserie som insamlats korrigeras till ett normalår med hjälp av en långtidsreferens innan den används för att beräkna energiinnehållet. I princip går normalårskorrigering ut på att relatera den korta mätserien till en eller flera variabler i långtidsreferensen. Som långtidsreferensdata kan den geostrofiska vinden på platsen eller en lång mätserie från en närliggande plats användas. Om korrelationen mellan de två serierna är tillräckligt hög kan en normalårskorrigering göras med hjälp av relationen. Tidigare har man vid normalårskorrigering främst sett till relationen mellan vindhastigheterna för den uppmätta vinden och en referensvind. Syftet i detta arbete är att utvärdera en del av en algoritm för normalårskorrigering där hänsyn tas till fler variabler än endast vindhastighet. Samband som studeras är mellan uppmätt vindhastighet och geostrofisk vindhastighet, geostrofisk vindriktning och tid på året. För utvärderingen av algoritmen har två vinddataserier från Näsudden på Gotland använts för en period av 15 år med uppmätt vind på 75m och geostrofisk vind på 850hPa. Där den geostrofiska vinden fått representera långtidsreferensen och den uppmätta vinden för ett år i taget har relaterats till denna. Efter normalårskorrigeringen har den uppmätta vinden för 15 år fått representera vindklimatet på platsen som jämförelse. Enligt algoritmen har uppskattning av vindklimatet på Näsudden skapats i tre steg. Steg 1 är en uppskattning av vinden från sambandet för geostrofisk vindhastighet. Steg 2 är en korrektion av uppskattningen genom sambandet till geostrofisk vindriktning och steg 3 en korrektion av uppskattningen genom sambandet till tid på året. Efter vart steg skickas det aktuella estimatet vidare till nästa steg där det korrigeras med avseende på nästa samband. Slutsatserna från undersökningen visade att med den metod som använts ger normalårskorrigeringen med enbart sambandet till hastighet bäst uppskattning av den klimatologiska medelvinden. Standardavvikelsen för estimatet ger 5 % risk för mer än 0,436 m/s fel vid uppskattning av klimatologisk medelvind vilket är jämförbart med tidigare studier. Vidare överskattar införandet av vindriktningsberoendet den uppskattade medelvindhastigheten samt ökar osäkerheten. Även införandet av säsongsberoendet överskattar medelvindhastigheten ytterligare samt även osäkerheten.

No description available.

The relative age effect (RAE) is associated with (dis)advantages in competitive sports. While the RAE in elite male soccer reveals a skewed birthdate distribution in relation to a certain cut-off date, research of RAE in elite female soccer is affected by small number of samples and conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the RAE in elite adult German soccer regarding gender and competition level. The sample comprised 680 female and 1,083 male players of the two top German leagues during the 2019/20 season and German national teams (A-Team to Under 19). Differences between the observed and expected birthdate distributions were analyzed using chisquare statistics and effect sizes followed by calculating odds ratios. Results showed a statistically significant RAE with small effect size across all players included for both genders (female players: P < 0.001, W = 0.16, male players: P < 0.001, W = 0.23). The identified RAE was based on an over-representation of players born at the beginning of the year. According to gender and competition level, RAEs were more pronounced in German male soccer. While significant RAEs were found among males in the first two leagues (first league: P < 0.001, W = 0.19, second league: P < 0.001, W = 0.26), the RAE of females was more pronounced in the second league (first league: P = 0.080, W = 0.16, second league: P = 0.002, W = 0.20). The analysis of RAE regarding the national teams revealed a statistically significant RAE with large effect size for only the youngest investigated age group of male players (Under 19: P = 0.022, W = 0.52). Our data show an RAE in female and male German adult soccer, which could be accompanied by a loss of valuable elite players during the youth phase of the career. Consequently, the pool of talented players at the adult level would be limited.

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] is a warm season, perennial grass native to the Great Plains from southern Canada to Mexico (Beetle, 1950). This newly developed, low input, turf-type grass is recommended for use on low maintenance sites (Falkenberg-Borland and Butler, 1982; Pozarnsky, 1983; Wu and Harivandi, 1989; Shearman et al., 2005). Recently, the use of buffalograss as a turfgrass has increased due to its drought tolerance, low nutrient requirements, and low growing height (Harivandi and Wu, 1995; Frank et al., 2004). It is an excellent choice in California where water use is limited. Unsightly winter dormancy of buffalograss can be overcome by growing mixtures of buffalograss and fine fescue (Festuca spp.). Overtime species composition can be overtaken by the fine fescue, unintentionally converting the mixed turfgrass stand to a fine fescue monostand (Severmutlu, et al., 2005). Research on buffalograss establishment in fine leaved fescues from seed or by vegetative methods was completed from 2007 to 2009 at the California Polytechnic State University Horticulture Unit in San Luis Obispo, California. Comparisons were made between mixtures of eight cultivars of buffalograss (Prairie, Prestige, UC Verde, 609, Bowie, Cody, Texoka, and Bison) and three fine leaved fescue species [hard fescue (Festuca trachyphylla Thuill.), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L), and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.)] to determine which combination and establishment strategy provides the highest quality turf for the California central coast region. Evaluations made on buffalograss establishment and competitive ability when grown in pre-existing fine fescue turfgrasses showed seeded cultivars (Bowie, Cody, Texoka, and Bison) were unsuccessfully established (zero percent coverage in two growing seasons), and vegetative cultivar (Prairie, Prestige, 609 and UC Verde) establishment was greatly dependent on the type of cultivar planted. After two growing seasons, buffalograss cultivar UC Verde had the highest establishment rate (38.6 percent living ground cover) and Prestige had the lowest (11.4 percent living ground cover). Results from this study do not recommend establishing seeded buffalograss cultivars into pre-existing fine leaved fescue turfgrass stands. Vegetative buffalograss cultivars can be established into pre-existing fine leaved fescue turfgrass stands; however, this process is too slow for most turfgrass practitioners and is quite unsightly in winter dormancy during the establishment process.

Water quality is an essential component of vibrant societies and ecosystems. For decades, researchers, managers, and policymakers around the world have struggled to accelerate societal progress while preserving and enhancing water quality and human health. This thesis consists of two studies that I hope will contribute to better understanding, policy, and management. In the first study, I evaluated spatial and temporal patterns in global water quality and their relationship to gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, as a metric of socioeconomic development status. Using global water quality datasets containing over 2.7 million observations, I tested the Environmental Kuznet Curve (EKC) hypothesis, which predicts that environmental degradation is highest at intermediate levels of socioeconomic development. I found that 46% of pollutants persisted at elevated concentrations despite GDP per capita. Because of this, high income countries experience a false sense of water security as water regulation violations are common on a global scale. In the second study, I measured waterborne pathogens in Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. With a population of over 3 million and distinct hydrology from monsoonal rains and estuarine flooding, the Guayaquil metropolitan area faces drinking water and sanitation challenges similar to much of the developing world. I found that 100% of the samples we collected had unsafe total coliform counts. Water pollution is widespread and is a result of careless action. Moving forward, chronic pollution can be prevented with proper legislation that holds governments, companies, and individuals accountable.

No description available.

The occasional failure of glyphosate to control all weeds throughout the entire growing season has prompted growers to sometimes use herbicides other than glyphosate on glyphosate-tolerant soybean. Field studies were conducted in 1999 and 2000 to investigate potential crop injury from several herbicides on glyphosate-tolerant soybean, and to determine the relationship between soybean maturity, planting date, and herbicide treatment on soybean injury, leaf area index (LAI), and yield. Three glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars representing maturity groups III, IV and V were planted at dates representing the full-season and double-crop soybean production systems used in Virginia. Within each cultivar and planting date, 15 herbicide treatments, in addition to a control receiving only metolachlor preemergence, were applied to cause multiple levels of crop injury. Results of this study indicate that glyphosate-tolerant soybean generally recovered from early-season herbicide injury and LAI reductions; however, reduced yield occurred with some treatments. Yield reductions were more common in double-crop soybean than in full-season soybean. In full-season soybean, most yield reductions occurred only in the early maturing RT-386 cultivar. These yield reductions may be attributed to the reduced developmental periods associated with early maturing cultivars and double-crop soybean that often lead to reduced vegetative growth and limited LAI. Additional reductions of LAI by some herbicide treatments on these soybean may have coincided with yield reductions; however, reduced LAI did not occur with all yield reducing treatments. Therefore, soybean LAI response to herbicide treatments does not always accurately indicate the potential detrimental effects of herbicides on soybean yield. Further, yield reductions associated with herbicide applications occurred, although soybean sometimes produced leaf area exceeding the critical LAI level of 3.5 to 4.0 which is the minimum LAI needed for soybean to achieve maximum yield. / Master of Science

Sustainable weed control in managed agricultural systems requires the judicious use of multiple weed control tactics and prevents over-reliance on any one tactic. In this context, sustainable weed management plays a critical role in the mitigation of one of agriculture's most pressing problems- herbicide resistance. Research conducted in Virginia sought to explore the effects of integrating multiple weed management tactics in corn and cool-season turfgrass. Additionally, research was conducted to confirm nicosulfuron and glyphosate herbicide resistance in Virginia johnsongrass and elucidate the molecular mechanisms conferring those resistances. Rye and hairy vetch cover crop residues, combined with reduced rates of preemergence herbicide and postemergence glyphosate applications, were shown to provide sufficient weed control and corn yield. Cover crop type or residue level did not augment weed control in corn production systems, but the use of glyphosate was essential for late-season weed control. Rye and vetch biculture as a cover crop increased corn yield compared to rye cover crop alone. In cool-season turfgrass, the addition of reduced preemergence herbicide rates to corn gluten meal, an organic herbicide product, reduced crabgrass 25%. Moreover, control was dependent on herbicide choice. Herbicides applied at half of recommended labeled rates or less did not control crabgrass at a commercially-acceptable level, regardless of corn gluten meal addition. In field experiments, Virginia johnsongrass expressed resistance to nicosulfuron and glyphosate. Glyphosate at 0.88 kg ae ha-1 controlled johnsongrass 65%. Nicosulfuron at 0.14 kg ai ha-1 controlled the same population 10%. Greenhouse experiments confirmed differential sensitivity of putative herbicide-resistant johnsongrass seedlings to nicosulfuron and glyphosate when compared to a susceptible population. Herbicide resistance was not conferred via target-site mutation. Five ALS-gene site mutations were confirmed absent in Virginia johnsongrass, while three others were located in coding regions that could not be elucidated in johnsongrass. Further investigations showed glyphosate resistance was not conferred via reduction in herbicide absorption or translocation. The susceptible johnsongrass caused an increase in a polar metabolite at Rf = 0.17 with concomitant reduction in glyphosate over time. Although the mechanism is not clear, these data suggests that glyphosate resistance in johnsongrass may be associated with differential metabolism. / Ph. D.

Large carnivores play many vital biological, economic, and conservation roles, however, their biological traits (low population densities, cryptic behavior) make them difficult to monitor. Pumas have been particularly difficult to study because the lack of distinctive markings on their coats prevents individual identification, precluding mark-recapture and other similar analyses. Further, compared to temperate areas, research on the interspecific interactions of Central American felids is particularly lacking. I used single- and multi-season, single-species occupancy models and two-species co-occurrence models to analyze camera trapping and habitat data collected at eight study sites across Belize. Puma occupancy was positively influenced by jaguar trap success, understory density, canopy cover, and human trap success, and negatively influenced by stream density. Jaguar trap success was the best predictor of where pumas occurred, while prey species were not found to influence puma occupancy. Mean occupancy was 0.740 (0.013) and ranged from 0.587 (0.042) to 0.924 (0.030). Over time, puma occupancy rates were generally high (> 0.90) and stable. Puma occupancy was higher in logged areas, suggesting that current levels of natural resource extraction at those sites were not detrimental to the species. Co-occurrence modeling showed little evidence for interactions between the carnivores, suggesting that jaguars may be acting as an umbrella species and that conservation efforts directed at jaguars are likely to benefit the other carnivores, including pumas. Overall, these findings are positive for puma conservation, but human-induced land use change is expanding and further monitoring will give us insight into how pumas respond to human encroachment. / Master of Science / Large carnivores play many vital biological, economic, and conservation roles, however, their biological traits (low population densities, cryptic behavior) make them difficult to monitor. Pumas have been particularly difficult to study because they lack distinctive markings on their coats, making it difficult to identify individuals. Further, compared to temperate areas, there is little research on how cat species in Central American interact. To learn more about the habitat that pumas prefer and how they interact with other carnivores, I used single- and multi-season, single-species occupancy models and two-species co-occurrence models to analyze camera trapping and habitat data collected at eight study sites over multiple years across Belize. Puma distribution across the landscape was positively influenced by jaguar activity levels, understory density, canopy cover, and human activity levels, and negatively influenced by how wet sites were. Jaguar activity level was the best predictor of where pumas occurred, while prey species did not influence puma occupancy. Over time, these puma occupancy rates were generally high and stable. Puma occurrence was higher in logged areas, suggesting that current levels of natural resource extraction at those sites were not detrimental to the species. There was little evidence of interactions between the carnivores, suggesting that jaguars could act as an umbrella species and that conservation efforts directed at jaguars are also likely to benefit pumas. Overall, these findings are good news for puma conservation, but human-induced land use change is expanding and further monitoring will give us insight into how pumas respond to human encroachment.

No / Red deer stags produce an androgen-dependent mane of long hairs only in the breeding season; in the non-breeding season, when circulating androgen levels are low, the neck hair resembles the rest of the coat. This study was designed to determine whether androgen receptors are present in deer follicles throughout the year or only in the mane (neck) follicles when circulating testosterone levels are high in the breeding season. Although androgens regulate much human hair growth the mechanisms are not well understood; they are believed to act on the hair follicle epithelium via the mesenchyme-derived dermal papilla. The location of androgen receptors in the follicle was investigated by immunohistochemistry and androgen binding was measured biochemically in cultured dermal papilla cells derived from mane and flank follicles during the breeding season and from neck follicles during the non-breeding season. Immunohistochemistry of frozen skin sections using a polyclonal antibody to the androgen receptor localised nuclear staining only in the dermal papilla cells of mane follicles. Saturation analysis assays of 14 primary dermal papilla cell lines using [(3)H]-mibolerone demonstrated high-affinity, low-capacity androgen receptors were present only in mane (breeding season neck) cells; competition studies with other steroids confirmed the specificity of the receptors. Androgen receptors were not detectable in cells from either the breeding season flank nor the non-breeding season neck follicles. The unusual biological model offered by red deer of androgen-dependent hair being produced on the neck in the breeding, but not the non-breeding season, has allowed confirmation that androgen receptors are required in follicle dermal papilla cells for an androgen response; this concurs with previous human studies. In addition, the absence of receptors in the non-breeding season follicles demonstrates that receptors are not expressed unless the follicle is responding to androgens. Androgen receptors may be induced in mane follicles by seasonal changes in circulating hormone(s).