41 research outputs found
The Demand for Forest Sector Products
In this paper the issue of demand analysis for the forest sector product is analyzed from a theoretical and an econometric points of view. An intermediary demand approach is advocated and applied. For the econometric estimates presented a database for Canada is used. The results indicate that the dual (cost) procedure to intermediate demand function estimation is preferable to the use of production functions to generate demand equations
Derived Demand and Substitution for Forest Products Based on Cobb-Douglas and CES Production Functions
Standard production theory with Cobb-Douglas and CES production functions is applied to derive demand functions for forest products. Time-series data for 1961-1978 from Canadian construction sector is employed for estimation, and sensitivity of the demand forecast is tested with respect to the choice of the production function
On the local structure of Lorentzian Einstein manifolds with parallel distribution of null lines
We study transformations of coordinates on a Lorentzian Einstein manifold
with a parallel distribution of null lines and show that the general Walker
coordinates can be simplified. In these coordinates, the full Lorentzian
Einstein equation is reduced to equations on a family of Einstein Riemannian
metrics.Comment: Dedicated to Dmitri Vladimirovich Alekseevsky on his 70th birthda
Holonomy of Einstein Lorentzian manifolds
The classification of all possible holonomy algebras of Einstein and vacuum
Einstein Lorentzian manifolds is obtained. It is shown that each such algebra
appears as the holonomy algebra of an Einstein (resp., vacuum Einstein)
Lorentzian manifold, the direct constructions are given. Also the holonomy
algebras of totally Ricci-isotropic Lorentzian manifolds are classified. The
classification of the holonomy algebras of Lorentzian manifolds is reviewed and
a complete description of the spaces of curvature tensors for these holonomies
is given.Comment: Dedicated to to Mark Volfovich Losik on his 75th birthday. This
version is an extended part of the previous version; another part of the
previous version is extended and submitted as arXiv:1001.444
Mapping trait versus species turnover reveals spatiotemporal variation in functional redundancy and network robustness in a plant-pollinator community
Functional overlap among species (redundancy) is considered important in shaping competitive and mutualistic interactions that determine how communities respond to environmental change. Most studies view functional redundancy as static, yet traits within species—which ultimately shape functional redundancy—can vary over seasonal or spatial gradients. We therefore have limited understanding of how trait turnover within and between species could lead to changes in functional redundancy or how loss of traits could differentially impact mutualistic interactions depending on where and when the interactions occur in space and time. Using an Arctic bumblebee community as a case study, and 1277 individual measures from 14 species over three annual seasons, we quantified how inter- and intraspecific body-size turnover compared to species turnover with elevation and over the season. Coupling every individual and their trait with a plant visitation, we investigated how grouping individuals by a morphological trait or by species identity altered our assessment of network structure and how this differed in space and time. Finally, we tested how the sensitivity of the network in space and time differed when simulating extinction of nodes representing either morphological trait similarity or traditional species groups. This allowed us to explore the degree to which trait-based groups increase or decrease interaction redundancy relative to species-based nodes. We found that (i) groups of taxonomically and morphologically similar bees turn over in space and time independently from each other, with trait turnover being larger over the season; (ii) networks composed of nodes representing species versus morphologically similar bees were structured differently; and (iii) simulated loss of bee trait groups caused faster coextinction of bumblebee species and flowering plants than when bee taxonomic groups were lost. Crucially, the magnitude of these effects varied in space and time, highlighting the importance of considering spatiotemporal context when studying the relative importance of taxonomic and trait contributions to interaction network architecture. Our finding that functional redundancy varies spatiotemporally demonstrates how considering the traits of individuals within networks is needed to understand the impacts of environmental variation and extinction on ecosystem functioning and resilience
Phase-space and Black Hole Entropy of Higher Genus Horizons in Loop Quantum Gravity
In the context of loop quantum gravity, we construct the phase-space of
isolated horizons with genus greater than 0. Within the loop quantum gravity
framework, these horizons are described by genus g surfaces with N punctures
and the dimension of the corresponding phase-space is calculated including the
genus cycles as degrees of freedom. From this, the black hole entropy can be
calculated by counting the microstates which correspond to a black hole of
fixed area. We find that the leading term agrees with the A/4 law and that the
sub-leading contribution is modified by the genus cycles.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. References updated. Minor changes to match
version to appear in Class. Quant. Gra
Beyond energy efficiency in evaluating sustainable development in planning and the built environment
The EU has set the policy target of reducing energy use by 20% by the year 2020. Therefore, a substantial consumption decrease is needed in the built environment sector. Despite the great energy efficiency improvements in households, recent energy consumption data analyses show that these targets will unlikely be reached. The general aim of this study is to point out the need to define new indicators and evaluation approaches in urban planning and the built environment which are based on the concept of ‘energy subsidiarity', focusing on local renewable resources rather than on current approaches based on energy efficiency. This concept correlates energy consumption with the energy supply from local renewable resources and is here proposed as the new urban planning evaluation approach toward a sustainable built environment. In the paper, the ‘Jevons Paradox' concept and the ‘energy rebound effect' phenomenon are used to demonstrate how current approaches based on energy efficiency, alone, cannot lead to a remarkable reduction of energy consumption. This is also supported by data on European energy consumption and European energy efficiency in the built environment. Finally, a number of well-known European ecological districts (‘eco-districts') are analysed in terms of sustainable energy strategy as well as energy efficiency and energy balance. This study shows that there is a contradiction between the purpose of some of the eco-districts to be low consumption (or low impacts), and the district renewable energy balance. Only a few of the analysed eco-districts are able to cover energy needs by using renewable energy obtained in the surrounding area. In most of the cases, the focus of the districts' activities is on energy efficiency. According to the ‘Jevons Paradox' and ‘energy rebound effect' paradigm, energy efficiency alone will unlikely lead to an effective reduction in resources' consumption. These results point out the need for a radical shift toward the development of new approaches in the assessment and management of the built environment for sustainabilit
A Note on the Symmetry Reduction of SU(2) on Horizons of Various Topologies
It is known that the SU(2) degrees of freedom manifest in the description of
the gravitational field in loop quantum gravity are generally reduced to U(1)
degrees of freedom on an isolated horizon. General relativity also allows
black holes with planar, toroidal, or higher genus topology for their horizons.
These solutions also meet the criteria for an isolated horizon, save for the
topological criterion, which is not crucial. We discuss the relevant
corresponding symmetry reduction for black holes of various topologies (genus 0
and ) here and discuss its ramifications to black hole entropy within
the loop quantum gravity paradigm. Quantities relevant to the horizon theory
are calculated explicitly using a generalized ansatz for the connection and
densitized triad, as well as utilizing a general metric admitting hyperbolic
sub-spaces. In all scenarios, the internal symmetry may be reduced to
combinations of U(1).Comment: 13 pages, two figures. Version 2 has several references updated and
added, as well as some minor changes to the text. Accepted for publication in
Class. Quant. Gra