A Time Geography Approach to Understanding the Impact of Gasoline Price Changes on Traffic Safety.

The impact of gasoline price changes on traffic safety has received increasing attention in empirical studies. However, this important relationship has not been explained within a conceptual or theoretical framework. In this study, we examine this relationship within a time geography framework in an attempt to understand the effect of time-varying fluctuations in gasoline prices and their relationship to traffic safety in a case study of Mississippi from April 2004 to December 2008. We further extend this work by examining the degree to which this relationship is differential in impact by age, gender, and race. The results suggest that changes in gasoline prices have immediate effects on reducing total traffic crashes and crashes of younger drivers, women, and whites. However, changes in gasoline prices do not affect total crashes of older drivers, men, or blacks. Within the theoretical framework of time geography, we understand gasoline prices as one type of capability constraint of the space-time path and space- time prism. As gasoline prices increase (that is, as the capability constraint becomes stronger), traffic crash rates will decrease. However, the effects vary by age, gender, and race because the capability constraint of gasoline prices differs across demographic groups.gasoline prices, traffic incidents, traffic safety, age, gender

The relationship between political cynicism and right-wing authoritarianism : a study of the Louisville-Jefferson County merger.

The government\u27s ability to gain and hold a high proportion of citizens\u27 trust is essential to the functioning of an efficient and successful administration at the federal, state, and local levels. This thesis is a quantitative study aimed at finding possible explanations for differences in levels of political cynicism. One possible explanation, right-wing authoritarianism (RWA), is the subject of this study. Furthermore, the study aims to link the variables to the 2000 Louisville-Jefferson County merger. The data for this study were collected from 802 respondents residing in the Metro Louisville area using a random technique via the 2004 Louisville Metro Survey. Analyses of the data were done both statistically and spatially in order to determine significant relationships and the possible existence of residential segregation. The findings show that there is a relationship between the variables, which allows for the conclusion that RWA levels are a reliable predictor of political cynicism

Cure Violence: A Public Health Model to Reduce Gun Violence

Scholars and practitioners alike in recent years have suggested that real and lasting progress in the fight against gun violence requires changing the social norms and attitudes that perpetuate violence and the use of guns. The Cure Violence model is a public health approach to gun violence reduction that seeks to change individual and community attitudes and norms about gun violence. It considers gun violence to be analogous to a communicable disease that passes from person to person when left untreated. Cure Violence operates independently of, while hopefully not undermining, law enforcement. In this article, we describe the theoretical basis for the program, review existing program evaluations, identify several challenges facing evaluators, and offer directions for future research

Improved Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Method for Detection of Bacteria from Activated Sludge and River Water by Using DNA Molecular Beacons and Flow Cytometry �

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) remains a key technique in microbial ecology. Molecular beacons (MBs) are self-reporting probes that have potential advantages over linear probes for FISH. MB-FISH strategies have been described using both DNA-based and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based approaches. Although recent reports have suggested that PNA MBs are superior, DNA MBs have some advantages, most notably cost. The data presented here demonstrate that DNA MBs are suitable for at least some FISH applications in complex samples, providing superior discriminatory power compared to that of corresponding linear DNA-FISH probes. The use of DNA MBs for flow cytometric detection of Pseudomonas putida resulted in approximately double the signal-to-noise ratio of standard linear DNA probes when using laboratory-grown cultures and yielded improved discrimination of target cells in spiked environmental samples, without a need for separate washing steps. DNA MBs were also effective for the detection and cell sorting of both spiked and indigenous P. putida from activated sludge and river water samples. The use of DNA MB-FISH presents another increase in sensitivity, allowing the detection of bacteria in environmental samples without the expense of PNA MBs or multilaser flow cytometry. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted probes is a widely used technique (1, 3, 7) that enable

On the Diversity of Friendship and Network Ties: A Comparison of Religious Versus Nonreligious Group Membership in the Rural American South

Social science has long been interested in the effects and predictors of community participation, especially regarding voluntary membership or civic participation. Likewise, the role of social institutions has been given much attention in understanding their possible effect as an outlet for both individual desires to become civically engaged as well the institution’s ability to shelter an individual and surround them with others like themselves. We use data from the 2000 Social Capital Benchmark Survey to examine the effect of group membership on the overall diversity of friendships. The diversity of friendships gives us a good proxy to the degree of the closure created by existing in-group dynamics. Furthermore, the effect of membership is comparatively examined between religious group membership and the degree of nonreligious group membership. Our findings indicate differing effects based on the type of membership on the diversity of friendships at the individual level

Structural Materials and Fuels for Space Power Plants

A fission reactor combined with Stirling convertor power generation is one promising candidate in on-going Fission Surface Power (FSP) studies for future lunar and Martian bases. There are many challenges for designing and qualifying space-rated nuclear power plants. In order to have an affordable and sustainable program, NASA and DOE designers want to build upon the extensive foundation in nuclear fuels and structural materials. This talk will outline the current Fission Surface Power program and outline baseline design options for a lunar power plant with an emphasis on materials challenges. NASA first organized an Affordable Fission Surface Power System Study Team to establish a reference design that could be scrutinized for technical and fiscal feasibility. Previous papers and presentations have discussed this study process in detail. Considerations for the reference design included that no significant nuclear technology, fuels, or material development were required for near term use. The desire was to build upon terrestrial-derived reactor technology including conventional fuels and materials. Here we will present an overview of the reference design, Figure 1, and examine the materials choices. The system definition included analysis and recommendations for power level and life, plant configuration, shielding approach, reactor type, and power conversion type. It is important to note that this is just one concept undergoing refinement. The design team, however, understands that materials selection and improvement must be an integral part of the system development

The Nonvariability of the Progenitor of Supernova 1993J in M81

An archive of images taken in the early 1980s exists for a field which includes the progenitor of supernova 1993J in M81. Fifty-four CCD frames in V, and several in other colors from this set taken in 1984 are analyzed to demonstrate that the progenitor of supernova 1993J was not variable to within a limit of 0.2 mag. The frames analyzed cover a time span of 150 days. The colors of the M81 SN progenitor are consistent with those of a late G supergiant

Integration of Environmental Information Systems

2008 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Addressing Water Challenges Facing the State and Regio

The Carolinas Coastal Ocean Observing and Prediction System: An Infrastructure for Communications and Data Management for Real-Time Environmental Monitoring

2008 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Addressing Water Challenges Facing the State and Regio

Making the most of Information from Environmental Monitoring Systems

2010 S.C. Water Resources Conferences - Science and Policy Challenges for a Sustainable Futur