Household financial choice : three essays

"July 2011"Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on May 17, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: Dr. John Howe.Vita.This dissertation examines household characteristics the impact financial decision making. The first essay explores the role of cognitive ability in numeracy, risk tolerance, credit decisions, wealth and retirement savings and asset allocation and finds that cognitive ability is an important predictor of financial decisions. The second essay develops a new instrument to measure time discounting and models asset accumulation and asset allocation and finds that a factor score of intertemporal behaviors is significantly related to both asset accumulation and asset allocation. The third essay documents the decline in basic financial knowledge among households over 60 using a new financial literacy instrument developed to more accurately capture a household's ability to make effective balance sheet, credit, investment, and insurance choices.Includes bibliographical reference

Enhancing the activity of oxygen-evolution and chlorine-evolution electrocatalysts by atomic layer deposition of TiO₂

We report that TiO₂ coatings formed via atomic layer deposition (ALD) may tune the activity of IrO₂, RuO₂, and FTO for the oxygen-evolution and chlorine-evolution reactions (OER and CER). Electrocatalysts exposed to ∼3–30 ALD cycles of TiO₂ exhibited overpotentials at 10 mA cm⁻² of geometric current density that were several hundred millivolts lower than uncoated catalysts, with correspondingly higher specific activities. For example, the deposition of TiO₂ onto IrO₂ yielded a 9-fold increase in the OER-specific activity in 1.0 M H₂SO₄ (0.1 to 0.9 mA cm_(ECSA)⁻² at 350 mV overpotential). The oxidation state of titanium and the potential of zero charge were also a function of the number of ALD cycles, indicating a correlation between oxidation state, potential of zero charge, and activity of the tuned electrocatalysts

Enhancing the activity of oxygen-evolution and chlorine-evolution electrocatalysts by atomic layer deposition of TiO₂

We report that TiO₂ coatings formed via atomic layer deposition (ALD) may tune the activity of IrO₂, RuO₂, and FTO for the oxygen-evolution and chlorine-evolution reactions (OER and CER). Electrocatalysts exposed to ∼3–30 ALD cycles of TiO₂ exhibited overpotentials at 10 mA cm⁻² of geometric current density that were several hundred millivolts lower than uncoated catalysts, with correspondingly higher specific activities. For example, the deposition of TiO₂ onto IrO₂ yielded a 9-fold increase in the OER-specific activity in 1.0 M H₂SO₄ (0.1 to 0.9 mA cm_(ECSA)⁻² at 350 mV overpotential). The oxidation state of titanium and the potential of zero charge were also a function of the number of ALD cycles, indicating a correlation between oxidation state, potential of zero charge, and activity of the tuned electrocatalysts

PENGARUH ATOPI TERHADAP TIMBULNYA DERMATITIS KONTAK PADA MAHASISWIRNPENDIDIKAN DOKTER FAKULTAS KEDOKTERAN UNIVERSITAS SYIAH KUALA RNBANDA ACEH

Dermatitis kontak adalah inflamasi non infeksi pada kulit yang disebabkan karena pemaparan dengan suatu zat tertentu yang dapat mengiritasi kulit atau menyebabkan reaksi alergi. Perempuan lebih sering mengalami dermatitis kontak dibandingkan laki-laki. Atopi merupakan salah satu faktor predisposisi timbulnya dermatitis kontak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh atopi terhadap timbulnya dermatitis kontak pada mahasiswi Pendidikan Dokter Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Syiah Kuala Banda Aceh. Penelitian ini bersifat analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Data yang digunakan adalah data primer yang diperoleh dengan wawancara langsung pada responden. Uji statistik dengan menggunakan Chi Square diperoleh nilai p yang signifikan sebesar 0,00, ini berarti p < 0,05 maka secara statistik didapatkan hubungan antara atopi dengan dermatitis kontak dengan rasio prevalensi 2,17, artinya seseorang yang menderita atopi memiliki peluang sebesar 2,17 kali untuk mengalami dermatitis kontak dibandingkan dengan orang yang tidak menderita atopi. Bahan yang paling sering menyebabkan dermatitis kontak pada mahasiswi adalah deterjen dan kosmetik. Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh ada pengaruh atopi terhadap timbulnya dermatitis kontak pada mahasiswi Pendidikan Dokter FK Unsyiah Banda Aceh, dimana mahasiswi yang menderita atopi cenderung mengalami dermatitis kontak.Kata kunci: Atopi, Dermatitis kontak Alergi, Dermatitis kontak iritanBanda Ace

Harmonization guidelines for HLA-peptide multimer assays derived from results of a large scale international proficiency panel of the Cancer Vaccine Consortium

PURPOSE: The Cancer Vaccine Consortium of the Cancer Research Institute (CVC-CRI) conducted a multicenter HLA-peptide multimer proficiency panel (MPP) with a group of 27 laboratories to assess the performance of the assay. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Participants used commercially available HLA-peptide multimers and a well characterized common source of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The frequency of CD8+ T cells specific for two HLA-A2-restricted model antigens was measured by flow cytometry. The panel design allowed for participants to use their preferred staining reagents and locally established protocols for both cell labeling, data acquisition and analysis. RESULTS: We observed significant differences in both the performance characteristics of the assay and the reported frequencies of specific T cells across laboratories. These results emphasize the need to identify the critical variables important for the observed variability to allow for harmonization of the technique across institutions. CONCLUSIONS: Three key recommendations emerged that would likely reduce assay variability and thus move toward harmonizing of this assay. (1) Use of more than two colors for the staining (2) collect at least 100,000 CD8 T cells, and (3) use of a background control sample to appropriately set the analytical gates. We also provide more insight into the limitations of the assay and identified additional protocol steps that potentially impact the quality of data generated and therefore should serve as primary targets for systematic analysis in future panels. Finally, we propose initial guidelines for harmonizing assay performance which include the introduction of standard operating protocols to allow for adequate training of technical staff and auditing of test analysis procedures

Fermi Large Area Telescope Constraints on the Gamma-ray Opacity of the Universe

The Extragalactic Background Light (EBL) includes photons with wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared, which are effective at attenuating gamma rays with energy above ~10 GeV during propagation from sources at cosmological distances. This results in a redshift- and energy-dependent attenuation of the gamma-ray flux of extragalactic sources such as blazars and Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). The Large Area Telescope onboard Fermi detects a sample of gamma-ray blazars with redshift up to z~3, and GRBs with redshift up to z~4.3. Using photons above 10 GeV collected by Fermi over more than one year of observations for these sources, we investigate the effect of gamma-ray flux attenuation by the EBL. We place upper limits on the gamma-ray opacity of the Universe at various energies and redshifts, and compare this with predictions from well-known EBL models. We find that an EBL intensity in the optical-ultraviolet wavelengths as great as predicted by the "baseline" model of Stecker et al. (2006) can be ruled out with high confidence.Comment: 42 pages, 12 figures, accepted version (24 Aug.2010) for publication in ApJ; Contact authors: A. Bouvier, A. Chen, S. Raino, S. Razzaque, A. Reimer, L.C. Reye

Fornix fractional anisotropy mediates the association between Mediterranean diet adherence and memory four years later in older adults without dementia

Here, we investigated whether fractional anisotropy (FA) of hippocampus-relevant white-matter tracts mediates the association between baseline Mediterranean diet adherence (MeDiAd) and verbal episodic memory over four years. Participants were healthy older adults with and without subjective cognitive decline and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment from the DELCODE cohort study (n = 376; age: 71.47 ± 6.09 years; 48.7 % female). MeDiAd and diffusion data were obtained at baseline. Verbal episodic memory was assessed at baseline and four yearly follow-ups. The associations between baseline MeDiAd and white matter, and verbal episodic memory's mean and rate of change over four years were tested with latent growth curve modeling. Baseline MeDiAd was associated with verbal episodic memory four years later (95 % confidence interval, CI [0.01, 0.32]) but not with its rate of change over this period. Baseline Fornix FA mediated - and, thus, explained - that association (95 % CI [0.002, 0.09]). Fornix FA may be an appropriate response biomarker of Mediterranean diet interventions on verbal memory in older adults.</p

Multiband Observations of the Quasar PKS 2326-502 during Active and Quiescent Gamma-Ray States in 2010-2012

Quasi-simultaneous observations of the Flat Spectrum Radio Quasar PKS 2326-502 were carried out in the γ-ray, X-ray, UV, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands. Using these observations, we are able to characterize the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the source during two flaring and one quiescent γ-ray states. These data were used to constrain one-zone leptonic models of the SEDs of each flare and investigate the physical conditions giving rise to them. While modeling one flare required only changes in the electron spectrum compared to the quiescent state, modeling the other flare required changes in both the electron spectrum and the size of the emitting region. These results are consistent with an emerging pattern of two broad classes of flaring states seen in blazars. Type 1 flares are explained by changes solely in the electron distribution, whereas type 2 flares require a change in an additional parameter. This suggests that different flares, even in the same source, may result from different physical conditions or different regions in the jet

Eaten out of house and home:impacts of grazing on ground-dwelling reptiles in Australian grasslands and grassy woodlands

Large mammalian grazers can alter the biotic and abiotic features of their environment through their impacts on vegetation. Grazing at moderate intensity has been recommended for biodiversity conservation. Few studies, however, have empirically tested the benefits of moderate grazing intensity in systems dominated by native grazers. Here we investigated the relationship between (1) density of native eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus giganteus, and grass structure, and (2) grass structure and reptiles (i.e. abundance, richness, diversity and occurrence) across 18 grassland and grassy Eucalyptus woodland properties in south-eastern Australia. There was a strong negative relationship between kangaroo density and grass structure after controlling for tree canopy cover. We therefore used grass structure as a surrogate for grazing intensity. Changes in grazing intensity (i.e. grass structure) significantly affected reptile abundance, reptile species richness, reptile species diversity, and the occurrence of several ground-dwelling reptiles. Reptile abundance, species richness and diversity were highest where grazing intensity was low. Importantly, no species of reptile was more likely to occur at high grazing intensities. Legless lizards (Delma impar, D. inornata) were more likely to be detected in areas subject to moderate grazing intensity, whereas one species (Hemiergis talbingoensis) was less likely to be detected in areas subject to intense grazing and three species (Menetia greyii, Morethia boulengeri, and Lampropholis delicata) did not appear to be affected by grazing intensity. Our data indicate that to maximize reptile abundance, species richness, species diversity, and occurrence of several individual species of reptile, managers will need to subject different areas of the landscape to moderate and low grazing intensities and limit the occurrence and extent of high grazing