Exploring the role of messenger effects and feedback frames in promoting uptake of energy-efficient technologies

The persuasive potential for varying messenger types and feedback frames to increase pro-environmental choice was explored in a 2 (feedback frame: financial vs. environmental) × 5 (messenger type: neighbour, government, industry, utilities vs. control) factorial design experiment. Using the context of home heating choice, 493 non-student participants were given information on either the financial or environmental benefits of selecting an energy-efficient heat pump versus a standard boiler, as described by one of four messenger types (versus a no-messenger control). Likelihood of selecting the ‘green’ technology was assessed, as well as any carry-over effects on real-life behavioural intentions. Additionally, we assessed the messenger attributes that appeared to be most important in this context, in terms of whether sources that were perceived to be trustworthy, knowledgeable, or a combination of both dimensions, would hold greater sway over preference formation. Overall, no evidence was found for any impact of messenger type on either preference formation or behavioural intentions. However, message content (i.e. how information on the benefits of pro-environmental choice was framed), was found to have substantial impact on behaviour; with the financial versus environmental decision frame being significantly more likely to encourage uptake of the energy-efficient versus standard technology. We suggest that the level of processing required for the kinds of large-scale purchase decisions we consider here may explain the lack of any messenger effect on choice behaviour. Implications for the development of behaviour change interventions designed to promote consideration of energy-efficient technologies in this context are discussed

Promoting behavioural change to reduce thermal energy demand in households : a review

A reduction in thermal energy consumption in buildings is vital for achieving the reductions in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that are part of EU-2050 targets. A key challenge faced by behavioural scientists is to understand what encourages people to adopt more efficient ways of achieving a satisfactory thermal experience. We review the psychological barriers to reducing thermal energy demand in the context of energy-efficient technology adoption, and discuss ways these barriers may be overcome. The barriers include: demand on cognitive resources due to decision complexity; tendency to procrastinate and discount future consequences; deferral to simplifying strategies including repeating past experience and copying the behaviour of others; the desire to act in ways that maintain a positive self-image; and inertia due to fear of regret that one's decision might be ‘wrong’. We discuss behavioural approaches to overcome these barriers, such as emphasising public choice of “green” technology, reframing of benefits, simplifying and optimising the choice environment, focusing on symbolic attributes of new technologies, and changing the temporal structure of costs and benefits. We provide a framework of suggestions for future research which together constitute an important first step in informing behaviour change efforts designed to reduce thermal energy consumption in households

Thomomys bottae pocket gophers of the central Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico: local differentiation, gene flow, and historical biogeography

Representatives of two strongly differentiated geographic units within Thomomys bottae come in contact along the Rio Grande south of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The two forms share an average genic similarity of only 69%, and differ in karyotype by as much as 17 pairs of uniarmed autosomes. This high level of genic and chromosomal differentiation might suggest extremely limited introgression, or perhaps none at all. However, diagnostic alleles at several strongly differentiated loci were detected in contact zone populations of the opposite group, indicating that some gene flow does oc\u3c;ur. Suitable habitat and available land area are limited in the zone of contact, and these factors, in combination with the structure of local breeding populations of pocket gophers, contribute to restriction of gene flow through the contact zone. The measured width of the contact zone corresponds reasonably well with predictions derived from a neutral diffusion cline model under current estimates of gene flow rates and time of secondary contact

Host-parasite associations of the Cratogeomys fumosus species group and their chewing lice, Geomydoecus

Chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) and the pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) that they inhabit have shared an intimate historical association that has made them a textbook study for cophylogeny. Herein, we examine the chewing lice found on pocket gophers of the Cratogeomys fumosus species group using DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene to determine relationships among lice for comparison to published host phylogeny. Although matrix approaches indicate a correlation between host and parasite genetic distances, cophylogenetic reconstruction methods fail to detect a pattern of widespread cophylogeny. In conclusion, this study provides an exception to the rule of host-parasite cophylogeny that could be the result of the young age of the relationships considered herein and the complex history of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Los piojos masticadores (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae) y las tuzas (Rodentia: Geomyidae) que habitan, han compartido una asociación histórica íntima que los ha convertido en un estudio de libro de texto para la cofilogenia. En el presente estudio, examinamos los piojos masticadores que se encuentran en las tuzas del grupo de especies de Cratogeomys fumosus utilizando los datos de secuencias de ADN del gen mitocondrial Citocromo C Oxidasa subunidad I para determinar las relaciones entre los piojos en comparación con la filogenia publicada del hospedero. Si bien los enfoques matriciales indican una correlación entre las distancias genéticas del hospedero y el parásito, los métodos de reconstrucción cofilogenéticos no detectan un patrón de cofilogenia generalizada. En conclusión, este estudio, proporciona una excepción a la regla de cofilogenia parásito-hospedero que podría ser el resultado de la corta edad de las relaciones consideradas en este documento y la compleja historia del Cinturón Volcánico Trans-Mexicano

Temporal and spatial dynamics of competitive parapatry in chewing lice

We synthesize observations from 1979 to 2016 of a contact zone involving two subspecies of pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae connectens and T. b. opulentus) and their respective chewing lice (Geomydoecus aurei and G. centralis) along the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, U.S.A., to test predictions about the dynamics of the zone. Historically, the natural flood cycle of the Rio Grande prevented contact between the two subspecies of pocket gophers. Flood control measures completed in the 1930s permitted contact, thus establishing the hybrid zone between the pocket gophers and the contact zone between their lice (without hybridization). Since that time, the pocket gopher hybrid zone has stabilized, whereas the northern chewing louse species has replaced the southern louse species at a consistent rate of similar to 150 m/year. The 0.2-0.8 width of the replacement zone has remained constant, reflecting the constant rate of chewing louse species turnover on a single gopher and within a local pocket gopher population. In contrast, the full width of the replacement zone (northernmost G. centralis to southernmost G. aurei) has increased annually. By employing a variety of metrics of the species replacement zone, we are better able to understand the dynamics of interactions between and among the chewing lice and their pocket gopher hosts. This research provides an opportunity to observe active species replacement and resulting distributional shifts in a parasitic organism in its natural setting

Energetics of Hydrogen Chemisorbed on Cu(110): A First Principlies Calculations Study

In the current study we present a potential energy surface (PES)for atomic hydrogen chemisorbed on Cu(110)at Θ=1/8 monolayer ~ML! obtained from a plane-wave, gradient-corrected, density functional calculation. This PES is markedly different from and significantly more complex than that predicted by empirical embedded atom method (EAM) calculations. Our results, for example, suggest strongly that the hollow (HL)site is not the preferred binding site for this system. In our calculations, both the short bridge (SB)and pseudo-threefold sites are energetically more favorable than the hollow (HL)site. Energetically, we find the SB site to be slightly lower (30 meV)than the pseudo-threefold site. We also find, however, that the calculated vibrational frequencies for the pseudo-threefold site agree more closely with experimental electron energy loss data than for the SB site. In view of the relatively flat region between adjacent pseudo-threefold sites along the cross-channel [001]direction, we speculate that the hydrogen atom motion at low coverages may be two-dimensional rather than quasi-one-dimensional in character

Hyb:A bioinformatics pipeline for the analysis of CLASH (crosslinking, ligation and sequencing of hybrids) data

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Polytetrahedral Clusters

By studying the structures of clusters bound by a model potential that favours polytetrahedral order, we find a previously unknown series of `magic numbers' (i.e. sizes of special stability) whose polytetrahedral structures are characterized by disclination networks that are analogous to hydrocarbons.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure