CONSUMERS' WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ECO-CERTIFIED WOOD PRODUCTS

We use Kriström's simple spike model to assess the factors influencing consumers' willingness to pay a premium for a variety of certified wood products. A survey of over 1600 Pennsylvania and Tennessee residents found that approximately 35% were willing to pay some positive "premium" for environmentally certified wood products. For three types of wood products (a $29 shelf, a$200 chair, and a $800 table) we find the estimated market premiums to be 12.9%, 8.5%, and 2.8%, respectively.Consumer/Household Economics,

Revenue Impacts of MPP Branded Funds: A Firm-Level Analysis

The USDA's Market Access Program (formerly Market Promotion Program) recently underwent a major change to redirect all branded products export promotion funds to small domestic firms and cooperatives. The redirection responded to criticisms by the General Accounting Office of past allocations of branded products export promotion funds to large, experienced exporters. This study uses a firm-level analysis to examine whether firm size and export experience matter in how effectively firms use the promotion funds to increase their revenues. The results support neither the GAO criticisms nor the recent program redirection.International Relations/Trade,

REVENUE IMPACTS OF MPP BRANDED FUNDS: A FIRM LEVEL ANALYSIS

The USDA recently redirected the Market Access Program (MAP) to allocate all branded products export promotion funds to small firms and cooperatives. The redirection was, in part, a response to reports by the General Accounting Office that were critical of past allocations of export promotion funds to large, experienced exporters. This study uses a firm level analysis to examine firms' effectiveness in using Market Promotion Program (MPP, which is now the MAP) funds to increase revenues. Whereas point estimates suggested that smaller firms were more effective in translating MPP funds into increased revenue than larger firms, these point estimates for small firms were statistically indistinguishable from zero. In contrast, large firms showed an increase in revenue of greater than one dollar for every dollar of MPP funds. Further, the revenue increase was statistically significant. Thus, the firm level analysis supports neither the GAO hypotheses nor the recent program changes.export promotion programs, export sales, export revenues, Market Promotion Program, firm-level analysis, joint estimation, Financial Economics,

Adoption Behavior in Food Retailers' Decision to Offer Fresh Irradiated Ground Beef

During the 14-month period from May 2002 to June 2003, approximately 10 percent of U.S. supermarkets began to offer fresh irradiated ground beef under the stores' own labels. Using a survey of supermarket store managers from this time period, this paper investigates the factors that influenced stores' adoption of irradiated ground beef. Results from the adoption model show that factors associated with competition, merchandising philosophy, and structure in the food retailing industry play a strong role in the decision. Among other results, we find that variables relating to a competitor's adoption status and proximity can increase the likelihood of a store's adoption decision.Marketing,

CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR ELECTRICITY FROM BIOENERGY AND OTHER RENEWABLES

This study ascertains residential electricity consumers' support and willingness to pay for electricity from renewable sources. Then, willingness to pay for specified renewable energy sources (solar, wind, landfill wastes, bioenergy from fast growing crops, and bioenergy from forest products wastes). Effects of demographics and environmental behaviors are estimated.Institutional and Behavioral Economics,

Follow the Leader: Adoption Behavior in Food Retailers' Decision to Offer Fresh Irradiated Ground Beef

During the 14-month period from May 2002 to June 2003, approximately 10 percent of U.S. supermarkets began to offer fresh irradiated ground beef under the stores' own labels. Using a survey of supermarket store managers from this time period, this paper investigates the factors that influenced new product offerings and adoptions. Results from the adoption model show that factors associated with competition and structure in the food retailing industry play a strong role in the decision. Among other results, we find that variables relating to a competitor's adoption status and proximity significantly affect a store's decision to offer fresh irradiated ground beef.Marketing,

Complex Propagation Patterns Characterize Human Cortical Activity during Slow-Wave Sleep

Cortical electrical activity during nonrapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep is dominated by slow-wave activity (SWA). At larger spatial scales (similar to 2-30 cm), investigated by scalp EEG recordings, SWA has been shown to propagate globally over wide cortical regions as traveling waves, which has been proposed to serve as a temporal framework for neural plasticity. However, whether SWA dynamics at finer spatial scales also reflects the orderly propagation has not previously been investigated in humans. To reveal the local, finer spatial scale (similar to 1-6 cm) patterns of SWA propagation during non-REM sleep, electrocorticographic (ECoG) recordings were conducted from subdurally implanted electrode grids and a nonlinear correlation technique [mutual information (MI)] was implemented. MI analysis revealed spatial maps of correlations between cortical areas demonstrating SWA propagation directions, speed, and association strength. Highest correlations, indicating significant coupling, were detected during the initial positive-going deflection of slow waves. SWA propagated predominantly between adjacent cortical areas, albeit spatial noncontinuities were also frequently observed. MI analysis further uncovered significant convergence and divergence patterns. Areas receiving the most convergent activity were similar to those with high divergence rate, while reciprocal and circular propagation of SWA was also frequent. We hypothesize that SWA is characterized by distinct attributes depending on the spatial scale observed. At larger spatial scales, the orderly SWA propagation dominates; at the finer scale of the ECoG recordings, non-REM sleep is characterized by complex SWA propagation patterns

The 49a,f haplotype 11 is a new marker of the EU19 lineage that traces migrations from northern regions of the Black Sea

Previous studies on human Y-chromosome polymorphisms in the European populations highlighted the high frequency of the 49a,f/TaqI haplotype 11 and of the Eu19 (M17) lineage in Eastern Europe. To better understand the origin and the evolution of the Eu19, and its relationship with 49a,f Ht11, this study surveyed 2,235 individuals (mainly from Europe and the Middle East) for the 49a,f Ht11 and for many biallelic markers defining the Eu19 lineage. As previously described, the highest frequency of Eu19 was found in Eastern Europe. All the Eu19 Y-chromosomes turned out to be 49a,f Ht11 or its derivatives, the distribution of which suggests that the Eu19/49a,f Ht11 emerged in Ukraine, probably in a Palaeolithic population. Thereafter, the spread of this lineage toward Europe, Asia, and India occurred at different waves over a few thousands years. At present this seems to indicate the influence of the Ukraine Palaeolithic groups in the gene pool of modern populations. For the first time it is possible to make inferences about the evolution of some haplotypes of the 49a,f system. In spite of its unknown molecular base, this is one of the first most informative polymorphisms of the Y chromosome

Extremely low frequency magnetic fields emitted by cell phones

Cell phones expose significant parts of the human brain and head to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) classified by the IARC as a 2B carcinogen. ELF MF was measured on the front and back sides of 15 cell phones in standby, speaking, and listening modes for 2G and 3G standards in two frequency bands, LF1: 5 Hz–200 Hz and LF2: 120 Hz—10 kHz. The highest MF value was 70.03 µT (RMS) in LF1 (2G, listening mode, front side) and 12.67 µT (RMS) in LF2 (2G, speaking mode, front side). The 3G cell phones consistently emitted a lower ELF MF compared to the 2G ones. The exposure to ELF MF was also simulated at various locations (head, thorax, pelvis) using the CST Studio Suite. The simulations revealed 8.45 µT, 7.5 µT, and 6.09 µT in the middle of the head (midbrain), 3.89 µT, 3.98 µT, and 2.83 µT for the middle of the thorax (heart), and 2.03 µT, 1.96 µT, and 1.56 µT in the middle of the pelvis (scrotum) for 10 Hz, 50 Hz, and 200 Hz, respectively. These values are comparable to those reported to induce biological and health effects, including those related to carcinogenesis. The results can be used in future studies concerning the ELF exposure or the combined effects of electromagnetic fields of radiofrequency and ELF