An Investigation of Social Class as a Criterion for Deriving Market Segments Among an Elderly Population

The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of social class as a basis for deriving target markets among elderly consumers. Using the retirement communities of Bella Vista and Hillcrest in Bentonville and Fayetteville, Arkansas, respectively, four social class groupings were derived. The social class groupings were obtained via the Hollingshead Three-Item Index of Social Position. Three of the hypotheses were developed in a manner to assess buyer behavior for prepurchase information acquisition, purchase decision choice criteria, and post-purchase degree of satisfaction for limited problem-solving types of purchases. In all instances the null hypotheses could not be rejected. The remaining hypotheses dealt with the variety of transportation modes employed, shopping distances for routinized trips, frequency of shopping trips, and number of merchant trade areas shopped. In all instances the null hypotheses were rejected. The uppermiddle and middle-middle (classes II and III on the Hollingshead ISP) were the most likely to demonstrate variety in modes of transportation, travel further to shop, even to distant merchant trade areas, and make such trips more frequently than the upper and lower class groupings in the sample. The implication to marketers is that where communities of middle- to upper-middle elderly consumers reside nearby they represent potential target markets who possess not only the financial ability to buy but the propensity to shop

Arctic daily temperature and precipitation extremes: Observed and simulated physical behavior

ARCTIC DAILY TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION EXTREMES: OBSERVED AND SIMULATED PHYSICAL BEHAVIOR Justin M. Glisan Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa ABSTRACT Simulations using a six-member ensemble of Pan-Arctic WRF (PAW) were produced on two Arctic domains with 50-km resolution to analyze precipitation and temperature extremes for various periods. The first study used a domain developed for the Regional Arctic Climate Model (RACM). Initial simulations revealed deep atmospheric circulation biases over the northern Pacific Ocean, manifested in pressure, geopotential height, and temperature fields. Possible remedies to correct these large biases, such as modifying the physical domain or using different initial/boundary conditions, were unsuccessful. Spectral (interior) nudging was introduced as a way of constraining the model to be more consistent with observed behavior. However, such control over numerical model behavior raises concerns over how much nudging may affect unforced variability and extremes. Strong nudging may reduce or filter out extreme events, since the nudging pushes the model toward a relatively smooth, large-scale state. The question then becomes - what is the minimum spectral nudging needed to correct biases while not limiting the simulation of extreme events? To determine this, we use varying degrees of spectral nudging, using WRF\u27s standard nudging as a reference point during January and July 2007. Results suggest that there is a marked lack of sensitivity to varying degrees of nudging. Moreover, given that nudging is an artificial forcing applied in the model, an important outcome of this work is that nudging strength apparently can be considerably smaller than WRF\u27s standard strength and still produce reliable simulations. In the remaining studies, we used the same PAW setup to analyze daily precipitation extremes simulated over a 19-year period on the CORDEX Arctic domain for winter and summer. We defined these seasons as the three-month period leading up to and including the climatological sea ice maximum and minimum, respectively. Analysis focused on four North American regions defined using climatological records, regional weather patterns, and geographical/topographical features. We compared simulated extremes with those occurring at corresponding observing stations in the U.S. National Climate Data Center\u27s (NCDC\u27s) Global Summary of the Day. Our analysis focused on variations in features of the extremes such as magnitudes, spatial scales, and temporal regimes. Using composites of extreme events, we also analyzed the processes producing these extremes, comparing circulation, pressure, temperature and humidity fields from the ERA-Interim reanalysis and the model output. The analysis revealed the importance of atmospheric convection in the Arctic for some extreme precipitation events and the overall importance of topographic precipitation. The analysis established the physical credibility of the simulations for extreme behavior, laying a foundation for examining projected changes in extreme precipitation. It also highlighted the utility of the model for extracting behavior that one cannot discern directly from the observations, such as summer convective precipitation

White students\u27 racial attitudes and racial identity development in a liberal arts environment

The purpose of this study was to document the racial attitudes and racial identity development scores of White students in a liberal arts environment. of particular interest was gender differences, classification differences, and Greek/nonGreek affiliation differences. Furthermore, an effort was made to predict the racial attitude and racial identity development scores using self-report biographical variables.;The College of William and Mary, a public liberal arts university was the institution studied for this project. A stratified random sample was obtained of all White students attending the College. Participants completed the White Racial Identity Attitude Survey (WRIAS), the Racial Attitude and Opinion Scale (ATTW), and a personal data sheet.;It was hypothesized that there would be a significant difference in scores between those with a Greek affiliation and those without a Greek affiliation, males and females, and freshmen and seniors. More specifically, Greeks, males and freshmen would score higher on the ATTW and lower on the WRIAS than would nonGreeks, females, and seniors, respectively. This would signify more negative attitudes toward Blacks and a less healthy racial identity.;The results indicated five of the six hypothesis to be supported to a certain extent. Even though the total population reported positive racial attitudes, Greek males and freshmen may need to be provided with additional educational opportunities concerning race to bring them closer to the same level as the other groups.;It was also concluded that colleges need to address the issue of race and racism. High scores on the lowest stage of the racial identity development model indicated that respondents were naive about the topic of race in general

Wernicke Encephalopathy Following Gastric Bypass: A Case Report

Bariatric surgery is used as a treatment for morbid obesity and often results in rapid weight loss. This procedure has been associated with postoperative nutritional deficiencies. Neurological complications due to nutritional deficiencies include Wernicke encephalopathy, a disorder that affects the central and peripheral nervous system due to thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Wernicke encephalopathy can lead to irreversible consequences if not treated early. Here, we present a case of a 40-year-old woman that developed Wernicke encephalopathy two months after gastric bypass surgery, with additional findings of flat affect and concurrent polyradiculopathy. Her diagnosis was delayed due to unique symptoms and an initial workup with negative imaging findings, making the identification of this disorder more complex

Two extreme cases of atmospheric blocking over Europe and North America

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 26, 2008)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Soil and atmospheric sciences.Atmospheric blocking is simply the inhibition, on the synoptic and planetary scale, of the normal mid-latitude progression of migratory cyclones and anticyclones. While the block itself is readily observable as a 500-hPa positive geopotential height anomaly, the dynamical onset of the blocking flow is still not understood. It has been shown through various studies that prolonged or episodic atmospheric blocking can impact the climatological character of the region in which they occur for one to two seasons following the event. Seasonal modifications imposed on a given region by blocking anticyclones not only deprive the area of the typical temperature and precipitation regimes, but also produce climatological extremes that can malignantly affect the land and populations residing in specific areas. In this study, two cases of extreme blocking are analyzed using NCEP-NCAR gridded reanalyses. The first case is the 2003 European heat wave. This event was confined to Western Europe, where the ensuing heat wave produced a death toll on the range of 40,000 over the summer season. The most severe period occurred from 06 - 13 August 2003. The second case is analogous to the 2003 European heat wave in scale and magnitude. The 2004 Gulf of Alaska event, "Baked Alaska", prompted abnormally high temperatures and less-than-normal precipitation (over the period of June through August) that led to anomalous melting over the summer season. It should be noted that the Gulf of Alaska event was not merely one episode, but two distinct events. As with events such as those above, the greatest problem affecting the study of blocking flows is the degree to which this phenomenon can be forecasted numerically. In this investigation, a mathematical entity, known as a Lyapunov exponent is utilized in an effort to determine the fluid stability of the atmosphere within a blocking flow. A better understanding of stability may yield an increase in the forecast lead-time as well as a greater understanding of blocking itself. While Lyapunov exponent analysis delves into the characteristics of flow stability, a more powerful tool emerges in that these exponents can examine the local predictability of the flow itself

Online Community and Connectedness

Do online students feel isolated and alone or does a sense of community and connectedness develop in online class environments? The poster presents the results of a survey that was conducted to determine if online “facelessness” blocks online students’ abilities to connect to their fellow online students and if being disconnected from their fellow students lessens their satisfaction with online courses

Analysis of WRF extreme daily precipitation over Alaska using self-organizing maps

We analyze daily precipitation extremes from simulations of a polar-optimized version of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Simulations cover 19 years and use the Regional Arctic System Model (RASM) domain. We focus on Alaska because of its proximity to the Pacific and Arctic oceans; both provide large moisture fetch inland. Alaska\u27s topography also has important impacts on orographically forced precipitation. We use self-organizing maps (SOMs) to understand circulation characteristics conducive for extreme precipitation events. The SOM algorithm employs an artificial neural network that uses an unsupervised training process, which results in finding general patterns of circulation behavior. The SOM is trained with mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomalies. Widespread extreme events, defined as at least 25 grid points experiencing 99th percentile precipitation, are examined using SOMs. Widespread extreme days are mapped onto the SOM of MSLP anomalies, indicating circulation patterns. SOMs aid in determining high-frequency nodes, and hence, circulations are conducive to extremes. Multiple circulation patterns are responsible for extreme days, which are differentiated by where extreme events occur in Alaska. Additionally, several meteorological fields are composited for nodes accessed by extreme and nonextreme events to determine specific conditions necessary for a widespread extreme event. Individual and adjacent node composites produce more physically reasonable circulations as opposed to composites of all extremes, which include multiple synoptic regimes. Temporal evolution of extreme events is also traced through SOM space. Thus, this analysis lays the groundwork for diagnosing differences in atmospheric circulations and their associated widespread, extreme precipitation events