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Assessment of Economic Viability of Direct Current Fast Charging Infrastructure Investments for Electric Vehicles in the United States
Get PDFAs the global transportation sector increasingly adopts electric vehicles, the demand for advanced and accessible charging infrastructure is rising. In addition to at-home electric vehicle (EV) charging, there is a growing need for the swift development of commercial direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations to meet on-the-go EV charging demands. While government funds are available to support the expansion of the EV charging network in the United States, the establishment of a robust nationwide EV charging infrastructure requires significant private sector investment. This study was conducted to assess the economic feasibility of various business models for fast charging stations in the U.S. using two case studies and exploring different operational strategies including sole ownership and collaborative ventures with public and private entities. The results indicate that based on the current adoption and utilization rates in the U.S., the business model involving an owner-operator collaborating with a public partner ensures profitability and protects the investment in DCFC stations from financial losses. The study also highlights that demand charges and electricity retail prices are the factors that affect the profitability of a DCFC station
An Exploratory Examination of Delay Discounting in Women and Girls Diagnosed With an Eating Disorder
Get PDFThose with eating disorders (ED) characterized by purging behaviors tend to show more impulsivity than those diagnosed with restrictive eating, who tend to show more compulsivity. Impulsive choice (i.e., a type of impulsivity) is a common factor among eating disorders that is less understood. Delay discounting is a measure of choice impulsivity, examining the decrease in value of delayed outcomes. In this exploratory study, we examined associations between eating disorder type, age and delay discounting among patients at a residential ED treatment center (N = 178). Our findings showed that those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa had higher delay discounting (i.e., more impulsivity) at intake compared to anorexia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other eating types but there were no significant differences. Those diagnosed with bulimia nervosa, as well as those with ARFID and unspecified ED showed a preference for delayed rewards at discharge, but there were no significant differences among ED types. Moderation analyses showed that age, ED type, nor the interaction did not significantly predict delay discounting at intake or discharge. To conclude, those with bulimia nervosa demonstrate less impulsive choice at discharge from a residential ED treatment center. However, additional research is needed given the variability of sample sizes in this study
Intermountain West Florist Local Cut Flower Sourcing Preferences
Get PDFThis fact sheet, the second in a two-part series, outlines a study conducted in January 2024 with florists operating in the Intermountain West. It provides local cut flower growers with pertinent information on florist preferences for sourcing flowers locally. An online Qualtrics survey was conducted in January 2024 with florists in six Intermountain states, including Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana. A total of 1,412 florists were invited by email to complete the survey. A total of 205 florists responded to the survey, with 170 valid responses. The survey questions centered on various aspects of florist businesses, including their experience sourcing local flowers from growers and cooperatives, perceived barriers to local sourcing, and their current and projected local flower purchases. Additionally, florists were asked about their current preferences and needs for local cut flowers, including pricing, quantity, variety, and delivery preferences
Cap-and-Trade Carbon Pricing in Utah: Challenges and Potential Impact
Get PDFCap-and-trade programs are a market-based form of carbon pricing that allows companies to trade with each other using carbon credits. Carbon credits function as permission slips to emit a certain amount of carbon. The “cap” establishes the number of carbon credits an industry or region has available for trading. Companies are incentivized to emit less because they can sell their excess carbon credits to other companies. Several cap-and-trade programs exist in the United States, and these programs are effectively reducing carbon emissions while creating net economic benefits for their regions. A cap-and-trade program could help Utah reduce carbon emissions in the state while also improving air quality
Impact of a Narrative Language Intervention on Language, Behavior, and Self-Concept among Bilingual Children with Developmental Language Disorder
Get PDFThe growing research on narrative interventions is promising but has gaps regarding cultural/linguistic diversity and outcomes beyond language. We evaluated whether a structured, oral narrative intervention affects narrative language, problem behaviors, and self-concept in a diverse group of children with developmental language disorder. A 10-session intervention was implemented within routine care. Baseline and follow-up data included: (a) Narrative recordings—coded by therapists using the CUBED Narrative Language Measure, (b) Child Behavior Checklist—a parent-reported behavioral assessment, and (c) the Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale. Among the sample’s n = 33 children, aged 6-16, 55.6% were bilingual. Post intervention, participants’ narrative language scores improved across all domains and showed moderate to large effect sizes, with 3 out of 4 categories attaining statistical significance. Total and social competence scores on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) also increased (
Flammulated Owl Distribution and Habitat Associations During the Breeding Season in the Western United States
No full textThe flammulated owl is a small insectivorous owl that occupies forests in western North America during the spring and summer breeding season. The species has not been extensively studied across its range but is considered sensitive or at risk by many states, provinces, and forest management agencies. We implemented the largest survey ever performed for this species across multiple western states to assess its distribution and habitat associations. We completed one to three survey visits at 3137 points from 2009 – 2021 and detected flammulated owls at 309 (9.8%) survey points. We used machine-learning occurrence modeling to estimate habitat associations. We found flammulated owl presence to be most strongly associated with a specific climate envelope, potentially putting them at increasing risk from climate change. Flammulated owls in our study had a positive association with aspen, Douglas-fir, and to a lesser degree, ponderosa pine forests, and a negative association with lodgepole pine. They occupied sites (100-ha areas centered on the survey point) with higher canopy cover, moderate slope and roughness, located closer to ridgetops, and with higher probability of wildfire. Forests at over 15% of our sampled points have burned in the time since they were surveyed. In addition, our finding of a weak association with ponderosa pine forest may reflect changes due to fire suppression that in many areas may have degraded habitat quality of those forests for flammulated owls. We suggest that maps of the range and distribution for the species be updated to reflect our findings, specifically in western Wyoming, south-central Idaho, and southern California, which may impact planning for forest management in some areas. Furthermore, forest management actions to promote aspen restoration and regeneration, and to restore ponderosa pine stands to their historical structure and condition, may help this sensitive species adapt to impacts of climate change. Lastly, while this study covered a broad portion of the western United States, it did not cover several areas where flammulated owls are known to exist – Montana, Oregon, southern Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico; we encourage further research in these areas
Aspen Recovery in Northern Yellowstone: A Comment on Brice et al. (2021)
Get PDFAspen sapling recruitment increased as browsing by elk decreased, following the 1995–96 reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park. We address claims by Brice et al. (2021) that previous studies exaggerated recent aspen recovery. We conclude that their results actually supported previous work showing a trophic cascade benefiting aspen
Assessing Factors of Adherence and Efficacy: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Fully Automated Self-Help A-EBT Website
No full textTreatment for trichotillomania is notably limited, preventing suffering individuals from having access to treatment. To address this need, researchers have developed and tested asynchronous online interventions for adults with trichotillomania. A factor that may impact the efficacy of these programs is the use of phone check-ins (or similar coaching support) to improve treatment adherence in website treatment delivery. In the current study we evaluated the role of check-ins on treatment adherence and efficacy of a website delivering acceptance and commitment therapy-enhanced behavior therapy (A-EBT). A sample of 101 adults with trichotillomania were randomly assigned to an A-EBT web-based intervention with or without phone check-in support. Adherence to the web-based program was not significantly improved by check-ins and treatment outcomes did not vary by condition (with or without check-ins). However, adherence to the program across conditions, did predict treatment outcomes. The program was found to be effective at decreasing trichotillomania symptom severity and improving trichotillomania specific psychological inflexibility over time across check-in conditions. Our findings suggest that check-ins did not improve adherence to or efficacy of the program, thus supporting recent literature suggesting that check-ins do not necessarily improve program adherence
Differences in Debt Holdings and Financial Satisfaction Across Age During COVID
Get PDFAccess to credit has allowed many individuals to reach their own version of the American dream as credit offers them resources to improve quality of life by buying homes, purchasing automobiles, funding higher education, and financing everyday needs. However, accumulating debt may have negative impacts on their financial satisfaction. Since the 2021 wave of the National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) was collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic, this study was able to look at how financial stressors (e.g., unexpected income drops, being laid-off, difficulty paying on-going bills), financial anxiety, and financial literacy variables (e.g., subjective financial knowledge, objective financial knowledge, perceived financial capability) during COVID were associated with debt holdings and financial satisfaction. This study further investigated how holding different debt types was associated with financial satisfaction and how these associations vary across three age groups.
Results of the study show that individuals who experienced financial stressors and higher levels of financial anxiety during COVID had higher levels of debt holdings than those who did not have such experiences. In contrast, there was a negative association between financial literacy and debt holdings, suggesting that as objective financial knowledge and perceived financial capability increased, the number of debt types held decreased. Additionally, when considering age differences, individuals in the young (e.g., MZ generation) and middle (e.g., Gen-Xer) age groups reported holding more debt types than those in the older (e.g., Boomer/silent generation) age group.
Results of the study also revealed that credit card debt, automobile debt, and medical debt were negatively associated with financial satisfaction, whereas mortgage and student loan debt were positively associated with financial satisfaction. This study further found that, compared to those in the older age group, individuals in the young age group had higher levels of financial satisfaction, while individuals in the middle age group had lower levels of financial satisfaction. Importantly, the findings of this thesis can add to the current literature regarding what role age plays in the type of debt utilized at different periods of the life cycle to inform new financial and debt management programs for financial practitioners aimed at increasing financial satisfaction
