TESTING FOR CHANGES IN THE PRICE ELASTICITY OF RESIDENTIAL ELECTRICITY DEMAND

The demand for electricity in the residential sector is estimated to have become less elastic for the recent period of rising real prices as compared to earlier periods of stable or falling real price. Several possible reasons for this are investigated and we conclude that demand appears to be asymmetric with respect to price in both the short and long run. We then examine whether or not this is an important factor for forecast accuracy and public policy.Demand and Price Analysis, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Fuzzy ARTMAP, Slow Learning and Probability Estimation

A nonparametric probability estimation procedure using the fuzzy ARTMAP neural network is here described. Because the procedure does not make a priori assumptions about underlying probability distributions, it yields accurate estimates on a wide variety of prediction tasks. Fuzzy ARTMAP is used to perform probability estimation in two different modes. In a 'slow-learning' mode, input-output associations change slowly, with the strength of each association computing a conditional probability estimate. In 'max-nodes' mode, a fixed number of categories are coded during an initial fast learning interval, and weights are then tuned by slow learning. Simulations illustrate system performance on tasks in which various numbers of clusters in the set of input vectors mapped to a given class.British Petroleum (89-A-1204); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (AFOSR-90-0083, ONR-N00014-92-J-4015); National Science Foundation (IRI-90-00530); Office of Naval Research (N00014-91-J-4100); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-1075

Seed particle formation for silicate dust condensation by SiO nucleation

Clustering of the abundant SiO molecules has been discussed as a possible mechanism of seed particle formation for silicate dust in stellar outflows with an oxygen rich element mixture. Previous results indicated that condensation temperatures based on this mechanism are significant lower than what is really observed. This negative result strongly rests on experimental data on vapour pressure of SiO. New determinations show the older data to be seriously in error. Here we aim to check with improved data the possibility that SiO nucleation triggers the cosmic silicate dust formation. First we present results of our measurements of vapour pressure of solid SiO. Second, we use the improved vapour pressure data to re-calibrate existing experimental data on SiO nucleation from the literature. Third, we use the re-calibrated data on SiO nucleation in a simple model for dust-driven winds to determine the condensation temperature of silicate in stellar outflows from AGB stars. We show that onset of nucleation under circumstellar conditions commences at higher temperature than was previously found. Calculated condensation temperatures are still by about 100 K lower than observed ones, but this may be due to the greenhouse effect of silicate dust temperatures. The assumption that the onset of silicate dust formation in late-type M stars is triggered by cluster formation of SiO is compatible with dust condensation temperatures derived from IR observations.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figure

Early Thermal Evolution of Planetesimals and its Impact on Processing and Dating of Meteoritic Material

Radioisotopic ages for meteorites and their components provide constraints on the evolution of small bodies: timescales of accretion, thermal and aqueous metamorphism, differentiation, cooling and impact metamorphism. Realising that the decay heat of short-lived nuclides (e.g. 26Al, 60Fe), was the main heat source driving differentiation and metamorphism, thermal modeling of small bodies is of utmost importance to set individual meteorite age data into the general context of the thermal evolution of their parent bodies, and to derive general conclusions about the nature of planetary building blocks in the early solar system. As a general result, modelling easily explains that iron meteorites are older than chondrites, as early formed planetesimals experienced a higher concentration of short-lived nuclides and more severe heating. However, core formation processes may also extend to 10 Ma after formation of Calcium-Aluminum-rich inclusions (CAIs). A general effect of the porous nature of the starting material is that relatively small bodies (< few km) will also differentiate if they form within 2 Ma after CAIs. A particular interesting feature to be explored is the possibility that some chondrites may derive from the outer undifferentiated layers of asteroids that are differentiated in their interiors. This could explain the presence of remnant magnetization in some chondrites due to a planetary magnetic field.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication as a chapter in Protostars and Planets VI, University of Arizona Press (2014), eds. H. Beuther, R. Klessen, C. Dullemond, Th. Hennin

Structural Elements and Neotectonics of Prince Edward County, Southern Ontario

The seismically active Clarendon-Linden Fault of western New York State appears to connect with the Salmon River Fault and possibly with the Picton Fault, both of which cut through Prince Edward County, southern Ontario. Bedrock exposures display a variety of structural features including faults, fractures, and pop-ups which indicate that the region has been subjected to repeated tectonism since the Middle Ordovician. Thus, despite the general perception that Prince Edward County and the rest of the Lake Ontario region is one of low seismic potential, geological and geophysical data suggest otherwise.La faille sismiquement active de Clarendon-Linden dans l'ouest de l'État de New York semble être reliée à la faille de Salmon River et probablement à la faille de Picton, qui traversent toutes deux le comté de Prince Edward. Les affleurements laissent voir une variété de formes structurales, comprenant des failles, des fractures et des soulèvements qui démontrent que la région à été tectonisée depuis l'Ordovicien moyen. Ainsi, même si l'on croit généralement que le comté de Prince Edward et l'ensemble de la région du lac Ontario est une zone de faible sismicité, les données géologiques et géophysiques donnent des indications contraires.Die seis-misch aktive Clarendon-Linden-Verwerfung im Westen des Staates New York scheint mit der Salmon River-Verwerfung und môglicherweise mit der Picton-Verwerfung, die beide den Prince Edward-Bezirk durchqueren, verbunden zu sein. Die Aufschlùsse anstehenden Gesteins bestehen aus einer Vielfalt struktureller Formen wie Verwerfungen, Bruche und Hebungen, welche zeigen, dafi die Region seit dem mittleren Ordovicium wiederholter Tektonik ausgesetzt war. Trotz der allgemeinen Annahme, daB der Prince Edward-Bezirk und der Rest der Ontario-See-Region ein niedriges seis-misches Potential hat, belegen so geologische und geophysikalische Daten das Gegenteil

Relationship Between School Climate and Student Achievement

Increasingly public schools in the United States are finding that factors beyond curriculum and instruction impact student achievement. Much research has been conducted on the relationship between school climate and student achievement (Cohen, McCabe, Michelli, & Pickeral, 2009; Guo & Higgins-D’Alessandro, 2011). This study set out to determine if there was a correlation between school climate and student achievement in middle schools in the Central Savannah River Area Regional Educational Service Agency region in the state of Georgia. Findings from this quantitative study indicated that there is a statistically significant, positive relationship between school climate and student achievement in middle schools in this region. Discussion and implications of the findings suggest practical recommendations for schools to implement changes were needed. Recommendations for future research include expanding the research to elementary and high schools as well as other regions of Georgia

Alice Parker: American Choral Composer, Arranger, and Educator

This investigation is an in-depth examination of Alice Parker\u27s philosophy of music in relation to choral teaching, arranging, and composing. The researcher proposes that within the context of multi-cultural American music, Alice Parker\u27s unique approach to music making and how it is manifested within her choral compositions, arrangements, and teaching techniques is a significant and valuable area of study for music educators and students. Further, it is beneficial to administrators and the general public, as well. Within the literature review, Alice Parker\u27s unique and effective approach to music making is related to the need for a philosophy of music, educational philosophies in general, the history of music education in American public education, and current trends in choral education, arranging, and composing. The scope of the study includes a detailed analysis and explanation of Alice Parker\u27s philosophy of music, a process that begins with the text and the melody, within three of her diverse choral compositions and arrangements. Her unique method of song leading, known as a SING, is thoroughly examined, utilizing the April 6, 2004, SING, hosted by the researcher, as an example. In addition to positive feedback from participants in Alice Parker\u27s workshops and SINGs, the constructive results of the researcher\u27s own implementation of Ms. Parker\u27s teaching techniques are scrutinized. The appendices include a complete \u27annotated works\u27 list of Alice Parker\u27s choral arrangements and compositions, two CDs of an interview with Ms. Parker, conducted by the researcher, and a DVD of one of her SINGs. The research concludes with a discussion of the significance of Alice Parker\u27s theory of text and melody as the basis for successful music making and how music arranging, composing and teaching can be interwoven within the process. The researcher suggests that Ms. Parker\u27s multi-faceted approach to music making prompts questions for further research into more comprehensive-based, rather than strictly performance-oriented, music education programs