Global Impact of Energy Use in Middle East Oil Economies: A Modeling Framework for Analyzing Technology-Energy-Environment-Economy Chain

To explore choices of improving energy efficiency in energy-rich countries of the Middle East, this study lays out an integrated modeling framework for analyzing the technology-energy-environment-economy chain for the case of an energy exporting country. This framework consists of an input output process-flow model (IOPM) and a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model. The former investigates the micro-level production processes and sectoral interdependencies to show how alternative technologies affect the energy intensity of the economy (Lin, Polenske 1998 and Polenske, McMichael 2002). The latter belongs to the optimal depletion category of CGE models that analyzes energy economy interaction; it is an optimization model that solves the inter-temporal resource depletion problem subject to the workings of a multi-sector market economy, where relative prices play a crucial role (Ghadimi 1995, 2006). Such a formulation provides a systematic framework for analyzing the technology-energy-environment-economy chain in resource-rich developing countries. The main focus of this paper is to describe the theoretical structure of the class of CGE model proposed for this modeling framework

Energy in a Resource-based Regional Economy: A Dynamic General Equilibrium Analysis

States and even local governments are increasingly realizing the need for long-term sustainable energy-environment planning as an integral part of their economic development program. These sub-national units are progressively playing a more active role in advancing policies for the reliability, environmental sustainability, and exploring the economic development impact of their energy resources and supplies. This article outlines a modeling framework for an integrated analysis of the energy-environment-economy system in an energy resource-based region within a developed economy. The theoretical structure and mathematical skeletal of this dynamic optimal depletion computable general equilibrium model as the core of this modeling framework is presented in this paper. This model can be used to analyze complex economic development issues arising from energy-environment-economy interactions in regions enjoying an abundance of exhaustible fossil fuel resources

The calculation of single-nucleon energies of nuclei by considering two-body effective interaction, n(k,rho), and a Hartree-Fock inspired scheme

The nucleon single-particle energies (SPEs) of the selected nuclei, that is, 16O, 40Ca, and 56Ni, are obtained by using the diagonal matrix elements of two-body effective interaction, which generated through the lowest order constrained variational (LOCV) calculations for the symmetric nuclear matter with the AV18 phenomenological nucleon-nucleon potential. The SPEs at the major levels of nuclei are calculated by employing a Hartree-Fock inspired scheme in the spherical harmonic oscillator basis. In the scheme, the correlation influences are taken into account by imposing the nucleon effective mass factor on the radial wave functions of the major levels. Replacing the density-dependent one-body momentum distribution functions of nucleons, n(k,rho), with the Heaviside functions, the role of n(k,rho) on the nucleon SPEs at the major levels of the selected closed shell nuclei, is investigated. The best fit of spin-orbit splitting is taken into account when correcting the major levels of the nuclei by using the parameterized Wood-Saxon potential and the AV18 density-dependent mean field potential which is constructed by the LOCV method. Considering the point-like protons in the spherical Coulomb potential well, the single-proton energies are corrected. The results show the importance of including n(k,rho), instead of the Heaviside functions, in the calculation of nucleon SPEs at the different levels, particularly the valence levels, of the closed shell nuclei.Comment: 17 pages, 4 table

Thin-Film AlN-on-Silicon Resonant Gyroscopes: Design, Fabrication, and Eigenmode Operation

Resonant MEMS gyroscopes have been rapidly adopted in various consumer, industrial, and automotive applications thanks to the significant improvements in their performance over the past decade. The current efforts in enhancing the performance of high-precision resonant gyroscopes are mainly focused on two seemingly contradictory metrics, larger bandwidth and lower noise level, to push the technology towards navigation applications. The key enabling factor for the realization of low-noise high-bandwidth resonant gyroscopes is the utilization of a strong electromechanical transducer at high frequencies. Thin-film piezoelectric-on-silicon technology provides a very efficient transduction mechanism suitable for implementation of bulk-mode resonant gyroscopes without the need for submicron capacitive gaps or large DC polarization voltages. More importantly, in-air operation of piezoelectric devices at moderate Q values allows for the cointegration of mode-matched gyroscopes and accelerometers on a common substrate for inertial measurement units. This work presents the design, fabrication, characterization, and method of mode matching of piezoelectric-on-silicon resonant gyroscopes. The degenerate in-plane flexural vibration mode shapes of the resonating structure are demonstrated to have a strong gyroscopic coupling as well as a large piezoelectric transduction coefficient. Eigenmode operation of resonant gyroscopes is introduced as the modal alignment technique for the piezoelectric devices independently of the transduction mechanism. Controlled displacement feedback is also employed as the frequency matching technique to accomplish complete mode matching of the piezoelectric gyroscopes.Ph.D