Measures of Gasoline Price Change

[Excerpt] No prices are more visible to the public than gasoline prices. Even for people who don’t have to fill up a tank on a regular basis, gasoline prices are likely to be in their view, posted every day. In addition, no prices have more of an impact on short-run movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Gasoline prices are so much more volatile than other CPI components that, even though gasoline makes up less than 6 percent of the CPI, it is often the main source of monthly price movements in the all items index. Moreover, because they are so visible and gasoline is purchased so frequently, gasoline prices have a major impact on the perception of prices. Constantly seeing prices at the pump creep ever higher will often create a perception of broader inflation—and, of course, higher gasoline prices are likely to eventually have an impact on other prices as transportation costs increase. So, it is particularly important that gasoline price changes be measured accurately and reliably. Fortunately, gasoline is one of the few consumer goods for which there are many sources of price data. In fact, the ease of price collection makes it feasible for other government agencies and even private sources to create reliable measures. On the government side, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes extensive gasoline price data. Among private sources are the American Automobile Association, the Oil Price Information Service, and the Lundberg Survey. Furthermore, gasoline is one of the few nonfood items for which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes an average price series as well as an index; the fact that gasoline is a relatively homogenous product makes meaningful average price data possible. This article examines three measures of gasoline prices: the BLS Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) U.S. city average for all types of gasoline, the BLS CPI average price series for all types of gasoline, and the EIA Weekly Retail Gasoline and Diesel Prices for all grades of gasoline. The purpose of the article is to identify how these measures have behaved over the 10-year period from December 2002 to December 2012

Outlier Detection in Energy Datasets

In the past decade, numerous datasets have been released with the explicit goal of furthering non-intrusive load monitoring research (NILM). NILM is an energy measurement strategy that seeks to disaggregate building-scale loads. Disaggregation attempts to turn the energy consumption of a building into its constituent appliances. NILM algorithms require representative real-world measurements which has led institutions to publish and share their own datasets. NILM algorithms are designed, trained, and tested using the data presented in a small number of these NILM datasets. Many of the datasets contain arbitrarily selected devices. Likewise, the datasets themselves report aggregate load information from building(s) which are similarly selected arbitrarily. This raises the question of the representativeness of the datasets themselves as well as the algorithms based on their reports. One way to judge the representativeness of NILM datasets is to look for the presence of outliers in these datasets. This paper presents a novel method of identifying outlier devices from NILM datasets. With this identification process, it becomes possible to mitigate and measure the impact of outliers. This represents an important consideration to the long-term deployment of NILM algorithms

Fluvial and hillslope geomorphology of Hoseanna Creek Watershed, central Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1995Hoseanna Creek Watershed is rapidly eroding and provides excellent opportunities to describe and quantify hillslope and fluvial processes in the subarctic and in discontinuous permafrost terrain. High landslide and badland densities occur due to asymmetric geologic structure and weakly consolidated lithologies. Late Quaternary regional glaciofluvial processes and tectonism have changed local base level at least 100 m, inducing headward incision through weak lithologies and yielding high rates of sediment production. Earthflows, translational blocks, rotational blocks, lateral spreads or complex landslide types form in coal-bearing formations in response to lateral corrasion of toes by avulsing streams or to undermining of foot areas by headward incising streams. Slides undergo episodic resurgent activity when new lithostatic or hydrostatic thresholds are reached. Average horizontal displacement rates of seven slides monitored between 8/85 and 9/88 ranged from 0.2 m/yr in rotational blocks to 48 m/yr in the earthflows. Although unique sliding mechanisms are not apparent, permafrost and subarctic climate generate delays or catalysts for failure atypical of warmer climates. Freezing/thawing fronts affect soil strength and permeability; break-up/freeze-up processes affect the timing of water supply to the slide mass and affect development of aufeis-related ground-water pore pressures. Aspectual and lithologic variations combine to yield three geohydrologic subbasin types which govern discharge ranges. Regressions were performed on multiple sets of sediment-discharge (Ts-Q) data. Regression variance (r\sp2) was found to have a maximum natural threshold indicative of intrinsic variability. Wide ranges in Q (0.001 to 2350 cfs) and Ts (0.005 to 1600 g/l) necessitated log-log scales and power functions. Each geohydrologic subbasin has a unique Ts-Q relationship termed here the mean sediment concentration potential Cp. Systematic differences in regression parameters indicate that variations in spatial conditions define Cp, while systematic changes in Ts-Q regression residuals R (termed here the maintenance rate R\sp*) describe the temporal variability of Ts through time with respect to Cp. 50-95% of the annual sediment load is transferred during less than 3% of the year. Erosion rate indexes were established from peak load estimates; Nenana Gravel basins are eroding 260 times faster than schistose basins and ten times coal-bearing basins

A Case Study of the History, Impact, and Political Reforms of the HOPE Scholarship in Georgia

The qualitative bounded case study examined the HOPE Scholarship including the policy changes it went through since its inception and the impact HOPE has made on postsecondary education in Georgia. HOPE is the largest merit-based scholarship in the United States and is facing issues with funding for future scholars. This dissertation addressed its inception by Governor Zell Miller, the changes that it went through as issues arose, and the impact it has made on postsecondary education since 1993. The problem addressed by this dissertation was there was a lack of longitudinal research data on the topics addressed in this dissertation. Nine different archival documents were chosen to not only extract data from, but to tell the narrative of this enormous merit-based scholarship. A document content analysis was conducted on each document to answer the research questions. Future recommendations for research were also proposed

Cranial magnetic resonance imaging in eclampsia.

Journal ArticleAlthough the precise neuropathologic basis for eclamptic convulsions remains unclear, intracranial hemorrhage is frequently associated with fatal cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a recently developed neuroimaging technique that appears superior to other processes for defining intracranial anatomy and pathophysiology. This technique has not yet been reported in eclampsia. The authors performed serial MRIs on an eclamptic woman, with findings compatible with previously described neuropathologic changes

Trade and the Wage Structure: The Case of Manufacturing

This paper considers the relationship between international competitiveness and labour market outcomes in New Zealand manufacturing over a twenty-one-year period from 1978 through 1998. Regression evidence suggests increased globalisation has had important and significant impacts on labour demand, particular in the heavily trade-impacted manufacturing sector of the New Zealand economy. The analysis presented suggests foreign competitors are able to capture rents that would othe1wise accrue to domestic producers. In particular entry of international competitors into domestic markets decreases demand f01· (domestic) labour in those industries. In terms of the New Zealand economy, this is manifest, not through lower wages, but through lower employment levels in those markets most affected by imports. Exports, on the other hand, appear to have a positive effect on both wages and employment, although all of the former and much of the latter effect were offset by effects of the Employment Contracts Act (ECA) in the 1990s

Towards measures of longitudinal learning gain in UK higher education: the challenge of meaningful engagement

Learning gain is considered to be the distance travelled by students in terms of skills, competencies, content knowledge and personal development. This article discusses the administration experience and tests results from a first year cohort of 675 students at the University of Lincoln who undertook a self-assessment and standardised psychometric test as part of a project to develop measures of learning gain in UK higher education. The tests themselves are shown to be potentially suitable for this purpose however the biggest challenge was student participation and engagement. Various approaches to improve engagement were trialled. Whilst some of these approaches are shown to increase the number of responses, there is no evidence that they increase meaningful task engagement, leading to the conclusion that until this challenge is addressed the validity of learning gain data from bespoke tests is potentially questionable and the value of participation to students as individuals is limited

Thinking about Developing Business Leadership for the Post-COVID World

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of a successful model on how to prepare business students to be successful in a new, post-pandemic world that faces enormous social challenges. Design/methodology/approach– The article discusses the current business and social movements that suggest the relevance of social entrepreneurship and explain the pedagogical model developed at the Center for Nonprofits at Sacred Heart University. Findings– The article suggests how this pedagogical model may provide students with the skills, attitudes and values required for successful social entrepreneurship processes. Research limitations/implications– The article presents the current picture which will undoubtedly changes over time. Thus the context is time constrained. The article presents one model to develop leaders\u27 skills. There are many other models and experiences that should be considered and evaluated. Practical implications– The case explains a key initiative that can help universities improve pedagogical tools on building students’ social entrepreneurship skills and extend this impact to their success in the postpandemic environment and impact on surrounding communities. Social implications– There is a growing need for business leaders to have sophisticated business skills and purpose beyond financial profit. The article looks at the dual roles of social entrepreneurs as a model for the leaders and the Nonprofit Center at Sacred Heart University to develop the skills of the future leaders. Originality/value– The article presents a new vision of the skills necessary for a leader in today’s environment. It draws from the literature on social entrepreneurship. It also presents one model that has been successful for 15 years and the pedagogical underpinnings of that model