341 research outputs found
Determinants of residential water demand in Germany
In this paper we econometrically analyze the impact of several economic, environmental and social determinants for the average per capita demand for water and sewage in about 600 water supply areas in Germany. Besides prices, income and household size, we also consider the effects of population age, the share of wells, and rainfall and temperature during the summer months on water demand. We also attempt to explain regional differences in per capita residential water consumption, which is currently about 30 % lower in the new federal states than in the old states. Our estimate for the price elasticity of -0.229 suggests that the response of residential water demand in Germany is rather inelastic, but no significant difference could be found between both regions. In contrast, the income elasticity in the new states is found to be 0.685 which is more than double that of the old states. Differences in prices and income alone explain the largest part of the current gap in residential water use between the two regions. Our results further suggest that household size, the share of wells and summer rainfall have a negative impact on water demand. In contrast, higher age appears to be associated with higher water use. We also find (weak) evidence for an impact of rainfall but not of temperature on residential water use. Our findings imply that future research should include analyses of household- level data to further explore the effects of socio-economic determinants, and analyses of panel data to adequately study the effects of climate change on residential water use. --
Estimating the privacy of quantum-random numbers
We analyze the information an attacker can obtain on the numbers generated by
a user by measurements on a subsystem of a system consisting of two entangled
two-level systems. The attacker and the user make measurements on their
respective subsystems, only. Already the knowledge of the density matrix of the
subsystem of the user completely determines the upper bound on the information
accessible to the attacker. We compare and contrast this information to the
appropriate bounds provided by quantum state discrimination.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figure
An investigation of the development of immediacy patterns in a dyadic mediated interview situation as affected by feedback.
Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1975 .S36. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 40-07, page: . Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1975
Perfect imaging with positive refraction in three dimensions
Maxwell's fish eye has been known to be a perfect lens within the validity
range of ray optics since 1854. Solving Maxwell's equations we show that the
fish-eye lens in three dimensions has unlimited resolution for electromagnetic
waves
Making the Implicit Explicit: A Look Inside the Implicit Discount Rate
International audienceImplicit discount rates (IDRs) are employed in energy models to capture household investment decisions, yet the factors behind the IDR and their respective implications for policy-making usually remain blurred and fractional. The proposed comprehensive framework distinguishes three broad categories of factors underlying the IDR for household adoption of energy-efficient technologies (EETs): preferences (notably over time, risk, loss, debt, and the environment), predictable (ir)rational behavior (bounded rationality, rational inattention, behavioral biases), and external barriers to energy efficiency. Existing empirical findings suggest that the factors underlying the IDRs that differ across household characteristics and technologies should be accounted for in energy models. Furthermore, the framework allows for a fresh look at the interplay of IDRs and policies. We argue that a simple observation of high IDRs (or observing correlations between IDRs and socio-economic characteristics) does not provide guidance for policy-making since the underlying sources cannot be identified. Instead, we propose that some of the factors underlying the IDR - notably external barriers - can be changed (through directed policy interventions) whereas other factors - notably preferences and predictable (ir)rational behavior - are innate and can only be taken into account (through reactive policy interventions)
Cosine and Sine Operators Related with Orthogonal Polynomial Sets on the Intervall [-1,1]
The quantization of phase is still an open problem. In the approach of
Susskind and Glogower so called cosine and sine operators play a fundamental
role. Their eigenstates in the Fock representation are related with the
Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. Here we introduce more general cosine
and sine operators whose eigenfunctions in the Fock basis are related in a
similar way with arbitrary orthogonal polynomial sets on the intervall [-1,1].
To each polynomial set defined in terms of a weight function there corresponds
a pair of cosine and sine operators. Depending on the symmetry of the weight
function we distinguish generalized or extended operators. Their eigenstates
are used to define cosine and sine representations and probability
distributions. We consider also the inverse arccosine and arcsine operators and
use their eigenstates to define cosine-phase and sine-phase distributions,
respectively. Specific, numerical and graphical results are given for the
classical orthogonal polynomials and for particular Fock and coherent states.Comment: 1 tex-file (24 pages), 11 figure
Action plan for deriving dynamic RES-E policies
The core objective of this project is to facilitate a continuous and significant increase in the share of RESE with minimal costs to European citizen. To identify the most important strategies (e.g. Tradable Green Certificates, Feed-In Tariffs, Investment Subsidies, Emissions Trading, CO2-taxes) in a dynamic way the computer-based toolbox Green-X has been developed. Although within the scope of this project it has not been feasible to investigate all possible issues within this field, the cases analysed cover not only the needs and opportunities at the level of the national Member States, but also those at the level ofthe EU. However, the most important ones have been treated thoroughly. This report, which is the final outcome from the Green-X project (Contract No: ENG2-CT-2002- 00607), with funding from the European Commission, DG Research, provides recommendations on the way forward for the promotion of renewable energy for electricity generation in the EU. It is addressed primarily to energy policy maker, as well as to other people interested in renewable energy and energy policy
Generisches Framework fĂĽr akustische Methoden zur Ăśberwachung industrieller Fertigungsprozesse
General Relativity in Electrical Engineering
In electrical engineering metamaterials have been developed that offer
unprecedented control over electromagnetic fields. Here we show that general
relativity lends the theoretical tools for designing devices made of such
versatile materials. Given a desired device function, the theory describes the
electromagnetic properties that turn this function into fact. We consider media
that facilitate space-time transformations and include negative refraction. Our
theory unifies the concepts operating behind the scenes of perfect invisibility
devices, perfect lenses, the optical Aharonov-Bohm effect and electromagnetic
analogs of the event horizon, and may lead to further applications
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