Projecting the regional economic impacts of energy development
Changes in Federal energy policy create incidental economic impacts that affect output, income, employment, and other macro-economic variables which are largely ignored. A methodology for analyzing incidental multi-regional impacts uses the National Regional Impact Evaluation System (NRIES), which integrates 51 state econometric models into a national five-to-ten year framework to determine the implications of expanded coal use. The NRIES model simulates two advanced production scenarios at a single state (Montana) and a multiregional/national level. The effects of policy change appear as political and economic disruptions that cannot be contained within a single region. 14 references, 2 figures, 7 tables. (DCK)
National and Regional Energy Models
A review of large-scale energy models, most of which have been started during the 1970s and are still under development, uses a methodological approach to assess the use of econometric techniques to organize coherent information for decision makers. Basic similarities and differences are noted for a range of energy model systems, such as the Project Independence Evaluation System (PIES). The models described analyze both energy and macroeconomy and the energy sector alone. While no single approach is found to be best, cost and ease of use varied. Linkage of models is promising, but more documentation of performance testing is needed before they can be fully effective. Gary J. Koehler comments that the paper is more taxonomical and descriptive than methodological.
Percussion marks on bone surfaces as a new diagnostic of hominid behaviour
Since stone tool cut marks and carnivore tooth marks were first described systematically on Plio-Pleistocene archaeological bone1,2, bone surface modification has played a prominent role in interpreting early archaeological site formation and hominid behaviour3–15. Here we introduce a new class of bone surface modification, which we call percussion marks. Percussion marks were produced during experimental breakage of marrow bones, and occur as pits or grooves impressed on a bone's surface by natural protrusions on the granitic hammerstone and anvil used. Although percussion marks can superficially mimic carnivore tooth marks, they nonetheless are closely associated with hammerstone impact notches and show consistent micromorphological features which distinguish them from tooth marks and other classes of bone surface modification. Given indications of prehistoric hammer-stone breakage of marrow bones1,7, an awareness of percussion marks is critical for accurately identifying the biological agents of bone modification at archaeological sites and provides a new diagnostic of carcass processing by hominids.