Modelling residential water demand with fixed volumetric charging in a large urban municipality: The case of Brisbane, Australia

This paper uses household level data to model residential water demand in Brisbane, Australia from 1998 to 2004. In this system, residential consumption is charged using a fixed annual service fee with no free entitlement and a fixed volumetric charge per kilolitre. Water demand is specified as quarterly household water consumption and demand characteristics include the contemporaneous and lagged marginal price of water, household income and size, and the number of rainy (with at least some precipitation) and warm (greater than 19.5°C) days. The findings not only confirm residential water as price and income inelastic, but also that the price and income elasticity of demand in owner-occupied households is higher than in renter households. However, the results also show that weather, especially the number of warm days, is likely to exert a much greater influence on residential water consumption than any factors subject to the usual demand management strategies.Residential water demand, two-part tariffs, fixed volumetric charge, demand management strategies

Spectral Properties of H-Reflex Recordings After an Acute Bout of Whole-Body Vibration

Although research supports the use of whole-body vibration (WBV) to improve neuromuscular performance, the mechanisms for these improvements remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect ofWBV on the spectral properties of electrically evoked H-reflex recordings in the soleus (SOL) muscle. The H-reflex recordings were measured in the SOL muscle of 20 participants before and after a bout of WBV. The H-reflexes were evoked every 15 seconds for 150 seconds after WBV. A wavelet procedure was used to extract spectral data, which were then quantified with a principle components analysis. Resultant principle component scores were used for statistical analysis. The analysis extracted 1 principle component associated with the intensity of the myoelectric spectra and 1 principle component associated with the frequency. The scores of the principle component that were related to the myoelectric intensity were smaller at 30 and 60 milliseconds after WBV than before WBV. The WBV transiently decreased the intensity of myoelectric spectra during electrically evoked contractions, but it did not influence the frequency of the spectra. The decrease in intensity likely indicates a smaller electrically evoked muscle twitch response, whereas the lack of change in frequency would indicate a similar recruitment pattern of motor units before and after WBV

Visualization of highly graded oxygen vacancy profiles in lead-zirconate-titanate by spectrally resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy

The ultraviolet and visible cathodoluminescence (CL) emitted at room temperature from bulk hard lead-zirconate-titanate polycrystalline perovskite has been systematically collected before and after an annealing cycle conducted in a reducing atmosphere. Spectroscopic assessments have been made of the in-depth stoichiometric profile developed upon annealing from the sample surface toward the subsurface. Trapping of electronic charge and local atomic scale distortions in the perovskite oxygen octahedron influences the variation observed in visible CL emission, while lattice distortions upon annealing directly arise from the formation of oxygen vacancies

A Study of Some Petrologic and Structural Aspects of the East Dover Ultramafic Bodies, South Central Vermont

INTRODUCTION (pp.1-4) Mineralogical, textural and chemical changes of ultramafic rocks in response to regional deformation and metamorphism are, at best, imperfectly known (Miyashiro, 1973, p. 30). In Vermont, which has an extremely prominent and well-exposed belt of ultramafics (fig. 1), investigation of these rocks has largely been directed toward such processes as serpentinization, steatitization, and the formation of metasomatic zones at the contacts with country rocks. With few exceptions, there is a lack of detailed descriptions of regional metamorphic textures, mineralogy, and structures developed in the Vermont ultramafic rocks. It is the main purpose of this thesis to describe the mineralogical and textural changes that accompany regional metamorphism and deformation in the large ultramafic body at East Dover, Vermont. Serpentinization processes or the effects of hydrothermal alteration are not dealt with in detail, although some observations are made on these topics. Two field seasons (1973-1974) were spent in an area approximately 6 x 3 km in and around East Dover, Vermont. When existing geologic maps of the area (Skehan, 1961; Vermont State Geologic map, 1961) were found to lack sufficient detail for these studies, field mapping was initiated to help correlate the petrology and structure of the body. Indeed, as mapping continued it became evident that complete analysis of the structural complexities of the body was far beyond the scope of this research. However, mapping of different rock types, measurement and description of the most prominent-foliations, and a preliminary analysis of folding in the body were carried out to provide basic structural data. Structures in the country rocks at or near the contacts were studied to gain a better idea of the relationships of the ultramafic body to the country rocks. A preliminary comparison of structural elements in the ultramafic and country rocks was also attempted. Only cursory petrographic examination of the country rocks was undertaken, mainly to determine the metamorphic grade and general rock types that surround the ultramafic body. The textures and mineralogy of the ultramafic rocks were studied in detail to provide information essential to interpreting the metamorphic and deformational history of the body. In this regard, previous petrographic work on these rocks was found to be inadequate and inaccurate. Concluding Remarks: (pp.98-99) In summary, the following can be said about the petrology of the East Dover ultramafic rocks: 1. The distribution of olivine textural and chemical variations, and chrome spinel textural. variations can be attributed to differing intensities of recrystallization. 2. Serpentinization is uniform over large areas of the ultramafic bodies but must be described as randomly developed with respect to the margins. 3. The only pyroxene now observed is metamorphic in origin (but may be pseudomorphic). 4. The distribution of magnetite is not simply related to the development of serpentine, as a simple serpentinization process would imply. It may, rather, be a function of removal of the iron component from olivine during recrystallization, or differing partial pressures of oxygen during serpentinization. 5. A stage of tremolite development (uralitization) occurred at a different time than the development of T2 olivine and diopside

Decreasing the Costs of Jurisdictional Gridlock: Merger of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Jurisdictional conflict exists between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), primarily due to the language of the 1974 CFTC Act. This Act grants the CFTC exclusive jurisdiction to regulate certain financial instruments which, given the increasing complexity and hybrid nature of such instruments, might simultaneously be subject to SEC regulation. This Note first explores the history of the two agencies and the statutory language giving rise to the jurisdictional conflict. This Note then examines several instances of jurisdictional conflict that resulted in extensive costs for the respective agencies and the United States\u27 financial markets. Specifically, this Note addresses the impact of jurisdictional conflict in terms of litigation costs, lost financial innovation, offshore migration of financial instruments, and the corresponding decrease of the United States\u27 share in the global financial marketplace. This Note further examines several other issues posed by interagency conflict and suggests that the solution to these real and potential costs is a merger of the CFTC into the larger, more experienced SEC. Finally, this Note suggests that the current political atmosphere presents the most favorable opportunity to merge the agencies that has existed since the creation of the CFTC. While a merger of the two agencies may not eliminate all of the inefficiencies of the current system, a single regulator could provide a lower-cost alternative to the present, anachronistic, dual regulatory system which is faced with problems of increasingly complex financial instruments and expanding global competition