An Explicit Distribution to Model the Proportion of Heating Degree Day and Cooling Degree Day

With a view to estimating the energy consumption, we derive the explicit distribution of the proportion X/(X + Y) when X and Y follow the new Bivariate Affine-Linear Exponential distribution. An application of this distribution to model the proportion of heating using the heating degree day and the cooling degree day data in the State of Alabama for Appalachian Mountain is provided. Using intensive computations based on R-program, tabulation of some quantiles associated with this particular distribution of proportion is also provided, which is quite useful in estimating the proportion of energy required to heat a building.     

Containment im Coaching

The psychodynamic concept of containment in coaching describes a process where the coach takes on, digests and returns emotional tension, unresolved conflicts und unconscious acting out of the coachee. Using two case studies the article develops the basic elements of containment in coaching. In addition to this interpersonal dimension of containment the article also highlights the structural dimension of containment — to provide sufficient space and conditions for thinking and processing emotional turmoil.     

INCOME INEQUALITY: THE IMPLICATIONS OF ECONOMIC STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS

During the past few decades income inequality has been increasing in the United States and other developed nations, and is having major social consequences. In this study county-level data for the United States was analyzed to test the relative importance of three alternative approaches for explaining increased levels of inequality. These three approaches include economic structure, social conditions, and a model that maintains that both social conditions and inequality are a function of economic structure. The results revealed that social conditions were much more strongly related to inequality than economic structure and little support was found for the theoretical model. The two social conditions most strongly related to inequality included female employment and the percent of female-headed households. Counties with high levels of female employment tended to have low levels of inequality, while counties with high proportions of female-headed households tend to have high levels of inequality. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Whose voice is heard in online deliberation?: A study of participation and representation in political debates on the internet

One of the core elements of the vision of 'electronic democracy' is the hope that the Internet permits free and equal access to political debates. However, experiences with online discourse challenge this view. The digital divide being one obstacle to participation, even more interesting is the fact that online communication is constrained in ways similar to the offline world. This paper attempts to reassess the question of whether the Internet makes political debate more open to voices that are normally not heard in the political field. Based on empirical evidence from a large-scale online deliberation, it analyses who participates in political debates on the Internet and whose views are represented. The results challenge both the optimistic and the sceptical view on electronic democracy. A theoretical model is developed that is able to explain the results. It extends current research by including the cultural practices of technology use and the specific effects of large-scale communication in the analysis. Though preliminary this model can help to inform the designers of online deliberations to make the most of their democratic potential.     

A new bivariate exponential distribution for modeling moderately negative dependence

This paper introduces a new bivariate exponential distribution, called the Bivariate Affine-Linear Exponential distribution, to model moderately negative dependent data. The construction and characteristics of the proposed bivariate distribution are presented along with estimation procedures for the model parameters based on maximum likelihood and objective Bayesian analysis. We derive Jeffreys prior and discuss its frequentist properties based on a simulation study and MCMC sampling techniques. A real data set of mercury concentration in largemouth bass from Florida lakes is used to illustrate the methodology.     

Constraints to the fulfillment of residential preferences among Texas homebuyers

A 1983 survey of Texas homebuyers reveals a high degree of mismatch between their preferred and actual residences. Analysis indicates that the logit of fulfilling residential preference is largely determined by the type of area preferred and the occupation and age of the homebuyer. Mismatch is most common among homebuyers preferring a suburban location, less so for those preferring nonmetropolitan residences, and lowest among people preferring central cities. Occupation as a social structural variable also affects homebuyers ’ chance of fulfilling residential preference. Professionals are more likely to fulfill their residential preferences than persons in other occupations. Finally, younger persons suffer a higher degree of residential mismatch than older persons.