UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE'S ADOPTION OF INDIVIDUAL-USE RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

This thesis attempts to understand why people adopt or reject individual-use renewable energy technologies (IURET). I used factors from Everett Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory to understand how people's perceptions towards the characteristics of a given IURET (such as price, compatibility, complexity, etc.), the characteristics of the individual adopter (such as innovativeness and environmental awareness), and the communication network (inter-personal communications and mass media) can influence adoption. An online questionnaire was sent to 101randomly selected Michigan households (using random digit dialing) to ask people whether or not they had adopted at least one IURET and to assess the above-mentioned factors from Rogers' theory. Data analysis was then conducted in SPSS using Chi-squared and binary logistic regression to determine the relationship between adoption behaviors (the dependent variable) and the factors from Rogers' theory (the independent variables) while controlling for education. The results show that Rogers' factors of price and observability and the control variable of education were all significant in explaining adoption but the other factors of Rogers' theory were not. For example, if individuals perceive the price of IURET to be reasonable or if they observe their neighbors using these technologies, then they are more likely to adopt. These results indicate that, if we want to promote greater adoption of IURET, we should focus our efforts on making the price of IURET more affordable through incentives and other mechanisms. Adopters should also be given some form of reward if they provide free demonstrations of their IURET in use to their neighbors to take advantage of the observability effects.

Exploiting Runtime Information in the IDE

Developers rely on the mechanisms provided by their IDE to browse and navigate a large software system. These mechanisms are usually based purely on a system's static source code. The static perspective, however, is not enough to understand an object-oriented program's behavior, in particular if implemented in a dynamic language. We propose to enhance IDEs with a program's runtime information (eg. message sends and type information) to support program comprehension through precise navigation and informative browsing. To precisely specify the type and amount of runtime data to gather about a system under development, dynamically and on demand, we adopt a technique known as partial behavioral reflection. We implemented navigation and browsing enhancements to an IDE that exploit this runtime information in a prototype called Hermion. We present preliminary validation of our experimental enhanced IDE by asking developers to assess its usefulness to understand an unfamiliar software system.

Integration of Pasturing Systems for Cattle Finishing Programs

A 3-year study, using 84 fall-born and 28 spring-born calves of similar genotypes, was conducted to integrate pasturing systems with drylot feeding systems. Calves were started on test following weaning in May and October. Seven treatments were imposed: 1) fall-born calves directly into feedlot; 2 and 3) fall-born calves put on pasture with or without ionophore and moved to the feedlot at the end of July; 4 and 5) fall-born calves put on pasture with or without ionophore and moved to the feedlot at the end of October; 6 and 7) spring-born calves put on pasture with or without ionophore and moved to the feedlot at the end of October. A bromegrass pasture consisting of 16 paddocks, each 1.7 acre in size, was available. Each treatment group had access to 1 paddock at a time and was rotated at approximately 3-day intervals. In the feedlot, steers were provided an 82% concentrate diet containing whole-shelled corn, ground alfalfa hay, and a protein, vitamin and mineral supplement containing ionophore and molasses. As pens of cattle reached about 1150 lb. average live weight, they were processed and carcass traits were evaluated. Pasture daily gains were highest for cattle on pasture for the longest duration (P < .03), and overall daily gains were highest for drylot cattle (P < .01) and decreased with increased time spent on pasture. Although differences among treatments existed in numerical scores for yield and quality grades (P < .05 and P < .03, respectively), all treatments provided average yield grade scores of 2 and quality grades of low Choice or higher. Use of four production costs and pricing scenarios revealed that fall-born calves placed on pasture for varying lengths of time were the most profitable (P < .04) among the treatments. Furthermore, employing a 5% price sensitivity analysis, indicated that fed-cattle selling price had great impact on profit potential and was followed in importance by feeder purchase price and corn grain price. Overall, these findings should provide significant production alternatives for some segments of the cattle feeding industry and also lend substantial credence to the concept of sustainable agriculture.

Randomized comparisons among health informatics students identify hypertutorial features as improving web-based instruction.

Hypertutorials optimize five features - presentation, learner control, practice, feedback, and elaborative learning resources. Previous research showed graduate students significantly and overwhelmingly preferred Web-based hypertutorials to conventional "Book-on-the-Web" statistics or research design lessons. The current report shows that the source of hypertutorials' superiority in student evaluations of instruction lies in their hypertutorial features. Randomized comparisons between the two methodologies were conducted in two successive iterations of a graduate level health informatics research design and evaluation course. The two versions contained the same text and graphics, but differed in the presence or absence of hypertutorial features: Elaborative learning resources, practice, feedback, and amount of learner control. Students gave high evaluations to both Web-based methodologies, but consistently rated the hypertutorial lessons as superior. Significant differences localized in the hypertutorial subscale that measured student responses to hypertutorial features.

Calcification of a collagen-liposome complex

The purpose of the study was to evaluate in vitro calcification potential among liposomes composed of phospholipids with variations in fatty acid chains and polar head groups. The liposome was also modified by utilizing mixed phospholipids, incorporation of different types of protein to the liposome, or complexing with various collagen preparations. The samples were then incubated in a metastable calcium phosphate solution for the proposed time period. Calcium and phosphate uptake were measured. Resulting precipitates were processed for x-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. Acidic phospholipid, Dioleoylphosphatidic acid and mixed phospholipids, Dioleoylphosphatidic acid/Dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine liposomes calcified at a faster rate and to a greater degree than other phospholipids tested. The incorporation of polylysine, fibronectin, bone protein, or the complexing with collagen decreased the rate and amount of calcification. Electron microscopy demonstrated the similarity of the calcified collagen-liposome complex to the natural calcification matrix. These preparations may be used as a model to study the role of membrane lipids and collagen-phospholipid during the process of calcification.^ The in vivo study was designed to determine whether the potential existed for the promotion of bone healing by the synthetic liposome-collagen complex. The implant materials were modified to provide decreased antigenicity, biocompatability while maintaining their bone conduction properties. The samples were placed subcutaneously and/or subperiosteally and/or in 8 mm calvarium defects of adult rats. Histological and immunological studies demonstrated that the implant itself retained minimal antigenicity and did not inhibit bone formation. However, modification of the implant may contain the bone induction property and be utilized to stimulate bony healing. ^

Apoptosis of ligamentous cells of the cranial cruciate ligament from stable stifle joints of dogs with partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture

OBJECTIVE To describe the presence and amount of apoptotic ligamentous cells in different areas of partially ruptured canine cranial cruciate ligaments (prCCLs) and to compare these findings with apoptosis of ligamentous cells in totally ruptured cranial cruciate ligaments (trCCLs). ANIMALS 20 dogs with prCCLs and 14 dogs with trCCLs. PROCEDURES Dogs with prCCLs or trCCLs were admitted to the veterinary hospital for stifle joint treatment. Biopsy specimens of the intact area of prCCLs (group A) and the ruptured area of prCCLs (group B) as well as specimens from trCCLs (group C) were harvested during arthroscopy. Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) detection were used to detect apoptotic ligamentous cells by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS No difference was found in the degree of synovitis or osteophytosis between prCCLs and trCCLs. No difference was found in degenerative changes in ligaments between groups A and B. A substantial amount of apoptotic cells could be found in > 90% of all stained slides. A correlation (r(s) = 0.71) was found between the number of caspase-3-and PARP-positive cells. No significant difference was found in the amount of apoptotic cells among the 3 groups. No significant correlation could be detected between the degree of synovitis and apoptotic cells or osteophyte production and apoptotic cells. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The lack of difference between the 3 groups indicates that apoptosis could be a factor in the internal disease process leading to CCL rupture and is not primarily a consequence of the acute rupture of the ligament.

Percutaneous closure of the patent foramen ovale, easy does it.

Closure of the patent foramen ovale does not benefit from echocardiographic guidance in the majority of cases. Guiding these procedures with fluoroscopy only reduces procedure time, radiation exposure, and amount of contrast medium. There is a clear trend to abandon echocardiographic guidance for this procedure over time and with growing experience.

What drives European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) mortality after forest fires of varying severity?

Predicting the timing and amount of tree mortality after a forest fire is of paramount importance for post-fire management decisions, such as salvage logging or reforestation. Such knowledge is particularly needed in mountainous regions where forest stands often serve as protection against natural hazards (e.g., snow avalanches, rockfalls, landslides). In this paper, we focus on the drivers and timing of mortality in fire-injured beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) in mountain regions. We studied beech forests in the southwestern European Alps, which burned between 1970 and 2012. The results show that beech trees, which lack fire-resistance traits, experience increased mortality within the first two decades post-fire with a timing and amount strongly related to the burn severity. Beech mortality is fast and ubiquitous in high severity sites, whereas small- (DBH <12 cm) and intermediate-diameter (DBH 12–36 cm) trees face a higher risk to die in moderate-severity sites. Large-diameter trees mostly survive, representing a crucial ecological legacy for beech regeneration. Mortality remains low and at a level similar to unburnt beech forests for low burn severity sites. Beech trees diameter, the presence of fungal infestation and elevation are the most significant drivers of mortality. The risk of beech to die increases toward higher elevation and is higher for small-diameter than for large-diameter trees. In case of secondary fungi infestation beech faces generally a higher risk to die. Interestingly, fungi that initiate post-fire tree mortality differ from fungi occurring after mechanical injury. From a management point of view, the insights about the controls of post-fire mortality provided by this study should help in planning post-fire silvicultural measures in montane beech forests.

The Aggregate Demand for Private Health Insurance Coverage in the U.S.

This paper estimates the aggregate demand for private health insurance coverage in the U.S. using an error-correction model and by recognizing that people are without private health insurance for voluntary, structural, frictional, and cyclical reasons and because of public alternatives. Insurance coverage is measured both by the percentage of the population enrolled in private health insurance plans and the completeness of the insurance coverage. Annual data for the period 1966-1999 are used and both short and long run price and income elasticities of demand are estimated. The empirical findings indicate that both private insurance enrollment and completeness are relatively inelastic with respect to changes in price and income in the short and long run. Moreover, private health insurance enrollment is found to be inversely related to the poverty rate, particularly in the short-run. Finally, our results suggest that an increase in the number cyclically uninsured generates less of a welfare loss than an increase in the structurally uninsured.

Risk factors for developing complications while awaiting a cholecystectomy

Background. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is the gold standard for patients who are diagnosed with biliary colic (NIH, 1993). It has been demonstrated that individuals who wait a longer time between diagnosis and treatment are at increased risk of having complications (Rutledge et al., 2000; Contini et al., 2004; Eldar et al., 1999). County hospitals, such as Ben Taub General Hospital (BTGH), have a particularly high population of uninsured patients and consequently long surgical wait periods due to limited resources. This study evaluates patients the risk factors involved in their progression to complications from gallstones in a county hospital environment. ^ Methods. A case-control study using medical records was performed on all patients who underwent a cholecystectomy for gallstone disease at BTGH during the year of 2005 (n=414). The risk factors included in the study are obesity, gender, age, race, diabetes, and amount of time from diagnosis to surgery. Multivariate analysis and logistical regression were used to assess factors that potentially lead to the development of complications. ^ Results. There were a total of 414 patients at BTGH who underwent a cholecystectomy for gallstone disease during 2005. The majority of patients were female, 84.3% (n=349) and Hispanic, 79.7% (n=330). The median wait time from diagnosis to surgery was 1.43 weeks (range: 0-184.71). The majority of patients presented with complications 72.5% (n=112). The two factors that impacted development of complications in our study population were Hispanic race (OR=1.81; CI 1.02, 3.23; p=0.04) and time from diagnosis to surgery (OR=0.98; CI 0.97, 0.99; p<0.01). Obesity, gender, age, and diabetes were not predictive of development of complications. ^ Conclusions. An individual's socioeconomic status potentially influences all aspects of their health and subsequent health care. The patient population of BTGH is largely uninsured and therefore less likely to seek care at an early stage in their disease process. In order to decrease the rate of complications, there needs to be a system that increases patient access to primary care clinics. Until the problem of access to care is solved, those who are uninsured will likely suffer more severe complications and society will bear the cost. ^

HEALTH CARE COST INCREASES IN METROPOLITAN AREAS

The research project is an extension of the economic theory to the health care field and health care research projects evaluating the influence of demand and supply variables upon medical care inflation. The research tests a model linking the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the population, its community case mix, and technology, the prices of goods and services other than medical care, the way its medical services are delivered and the health care resources available to its population to different utilization patterns which, consequently, lead to variations in health care prices among metropolitan areas. The research considers the relationship of changes in community characteristics and resources and medical care inflation.^ The rapidly increasing costs of medical care have been of great concern to the general public, medical profession, and political bodies. Research and analysis of the main factors responsible for the rate of increase of medical care prices is necessary in order to devise appropriate solutions to cope with the problem. An understanding of the community characteristics and resources-medical care costs relationships in the metropolitan areas potentially offers guidance in individual plan and national policy development.^ The research considers 145 factors measuring community milieu (demographic, social, educational, economic, illness level, prices of goods and services other than medical care, hospital supply, physicians resources and techological factors). Through bivariate correlation analysis, the number of variables was reduced to a set of 1 to 4 variables for each cost equation. Two approaches were identified to track inflation in the health care industry. One approach measures costs of production which accounts for price and volume increases. The other approach measures price increases. One general and four specific measures were developed to represent each of the major approaches. The general measure considers the increase on medical care prices as a whole and the specific measures deal with hospital costs and physician's fees. The relationships among changes in community characteristics and resources and health care inflation were analyzed using bivariate correlation and regression analysis methods. It has been concluded that changes in community characteristics and resources are predictive of hospital costs and physician's fees inflation, but are not predictive of increases in medical care prices. These findings provide guidance in the formulation of public policy which could alter the trend of medical care inflation and in the allocation of limited Federal funds.^

(Table 1) Paleomagnetic of ODP Leg 126 sites

A paleomagnetic study was made on the deep-marine sediments and volcanic rocks drilled by Ocean Drilling Program Leg 126 in the Izu-Bonin forearc region (Sites 787, 792, and 793). This study evaluates the sense and amount of the tectonic drift and rotation associated with the evolution of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Izu-Bonin Arc. Alternating-field and thermal demagnetization experiments show that most of the samples have stable remanence and are suitable for paleomagnetic studies. Paleomagnetic declinations were recovered by two methods of core orientation, one of which uses a secondary viscous magnetization vector of each specimen as an orientation standard, and the other of which is based on the data of downhole microresistivity measurement obtained by using a formation microscanner. Oligocene to early Miocene samples show 10° to 14° shallower paleolatitudes than those of the present. Middle Miocene to early Oligocene samples show progressive clockwise deflections (up to ~80°) in declination with time. These results suggest large northward drift and clockwise rotation of the Izu-Bonin forearc region since early Oligocene time. Considering previous paleomagnetic results from the other regions in the Philippine Sea, this motion may reflect large clockwise rotation of the whole Philippine Sea Plate over the past 40 m.y.

Caracterización de diferentes homologaciones axiológicas vigentes en los dibujos animados para televisión

Los dibujos animados norteamericanos, sigilosamente, han ido ocupando un lugar cada vez más relevante en la industria cultural. Tanto es así, que hoy se pueden discriminar canales específicamente destinados a la animación y, a su vez, series de animaciones producidas para diversos públicos: niños, adolescentes y adultos. Frente a esta gran cantidad y diversidad de textos llama especialmente mi atención la convivencia de contrapuestos sistemas de valor. Numerosas tiras de dibujos animados, dirigidos especialmente a los niños, ayudan a conformar el gusto infantil contemporáneo (en el sentido de Calabrese) que no responde a un único sistema unificador de valores. Es decir, lo feo o lindo, lo malo o bueno, lo conforme o informe, lo disfórico o eufórico no está dictaminado hoy por un solo discurso axiológico imperante. En este escrito pretendo describir, desde una perspectiva semiótica, las particularidades que resultan de la coexistencia de morfologías, éticas y tímicas distintas. Para ello, me detendré en un grupo de cartoons que se presentan como las antípodas de los tradicionales y conocidos textos audiovisuales de Disney y de las clásicas y exitosas series animadas de la Warner Bross o la Metro Goldywn Mayer. Estas creaciones buscaron exhibir, desde su nacimiento, estabilidad en las formas, armonía cromática y uniformidad de comportamientos. Contrariamente, los mundos posibles que hoy también integran el universo de dibujos animados, evidencian lo que Calabrese denomina el placer de lo impreciso, lo indefinido, lo vago y lo ambiguo. Estas representaciones sincréticas exaltan notorias diferencias en sus homologaciones axiológicas liberándose de las pretensiones de perfección, tanto de sus escenarios como de sus actores figurativos: seres híbridos, animales aversivos, niños nefastos, criaturas deformes y escenarios difusos son algunas de las características que definen a los últimas producciones animadas para televisión.

Vinos de Mendoza : relación precio en góndola versus calidad en degustación a ciegas

Cuando un posible consumidor de vinos decide su compra, lo hace influenciado por factores relacionados no sólo con la calidad del producto sino también con el conocimiento que tiene de la marca. Esta investigación se inició con un mapeo de vinos ofrecidos en puntos de venta minorista del Gran Mendoza, para luego realizar una degustación a ciegas con panelistas de la provincia de Mendoza, de sectores de ingresos medios, cuya única condición era la de ser consumidor de vinos. Los vinos elegidos para degustar fueron los que tenían presencia importante en los lugares de venta. Además se realizó una selección en góndola simulada, con vinos presentados con sus precios y packaging. La apreciación sensorial se complementó con el precio que el consumidor pagaría por lo que estaba degustando. En la selección en góndola el panelista no eligió el envase tetrabrik aunque después, al degustar a ciegas el producto, había predisposición a pagar mayor precio que el de mercado. La explicación de tal comportamiento podría encontrarse en que el envase tetrabrik podría asociarse a una clase social baja, mientras que la botella a las clases sociales de mayor ingreso. El análisis sensorial (sentidos: visual, olfativo, gustativo y equilibrio) permitió observar que los panelistas otorgan puntuaciones superiores a la media del rango especificado, en los precios más bajos. El consumidor tiene disposición a pagar precios menores a medida que los precios en góndola son más altos.

Aceptación de aceite transgénico de distinto país de origen en la Región de La Araucanía, Chile

Considerando el rechazo de los consumidores hacia alimentos genéticamente modificados y que el país de origen es usado como indicador de calidad, se estudió la importancia relativa de la existencia de modificación genética (MG), origen y precio en la compra de aceite de girasol en Temuco, Chile, junto con la identificación y la caracterización de diferentes segmentos de mercado, mediante una encuesta a 400 personas. Utilizando análisis conjunto se determinó que la existencia de MG (36,0%) fue levemente más importante que el origen (33,3%) y el precio (30,7%) en la muestra total, con preferencia hacia el producto sin MG, de origen chileno y al menor precio. Mediante análisis de conglomerados jerárquicos se diferenciaron tres segmentos: el mayoritario (45,5%) dio elevada importancia a la existencia de MG y presentó un alto rechazo hacia el aceite transgénico; el segundo grupo (29,7%) asignó mayor relevancia al precio y acepta aceite argentino; el grupo minoritario (24,8%) otorgó mayor importancia al origen y acepta aceite español. Independientemente de lo anterior, los grupos mostraron mayor preferencia por el aceite chileno. La ausencia de MG en aceite es una condición deseable para una importante proporción de consumidores (45,5%), pero el resto se muestra relativamente indiferente hacia la existencia o ausencia de manipulación genética en este producto.