Estimating Brand Level Demand Elasticities and Measuring Market Power for Regular Carbonated Soft Drinks

This paper reports econometric estimation of brand level demand (AIDS) elasticities for regular carbonated soft drinks using Information Resources, Inc. panel data. Own and cross price elasticities are used to measure actual and hypothetical market power that would arise from potential mergers or collusive pricing arrangements.Demand and Price Analysis, Marketing,

Use of Standardized Assessments and Online Resources in Stroke Rehabilitation

Background: The extent to which movement-related standardized assessments and online resources are used in stroke rehabilitation is unclear in the United States. Method: The researchers used a cross-sectional descriptive survey that examined (a) therapists use of movement-related standardized assessments, (b) factors influencing learning of new assessments, and (c) use of frequency of online resources by occupational therapists and physical therapists in the United States. Results: Of 151 respondents (46.4% occupational therapists, 53.6% physical therapists), the most frequently used movement-related assessments by occupational and physical therapists were the Berg and Fugl-Meyer Assessment, respectively. More physical therapists use motor-related standardized assessments regularly than occupational therapists, and physical therapists showed more consensus among standardized assessments. Both professions cited quality of patient care for motivating them to integrate outcome measures into practice. Most therapists in stroke rehabilitation used online resources to access movement-related standardized assessment content at least 25% of the time. The Rehabilitation Measures Database was the most frequently used website. Conclusion: Both occupational and physical therapists use online resources for movement-related standardized assessments on a regular basis. However, occupational therapists do not use standardized assessments as frequently as physical therapists. A systematic study of factors that impact the integration of standardized assessments is needed to further identify barriers and inform clinical practice change

Comparison between seasonal pumped-storage and conventional reservoir dams from the water, energy and land nexus perspective

Renewable sources of energy are providing an increasing share of the electricity generation mix, but their intermittency drives a need for energy storage. At the same time, water resources are increasingly scarce due to changes in demand, such as from population growth, supply side pressures such as climate change and governance challenges relating to poor management. Large storage reservoirs are used for water management and for energy storage. However, some existing and proposed hydropower reservoirs require vast areas of land and have considerable social and environmental impacts. Growing concerns on water and energy storage from a water-energy-land nexus approach motivated this study. Our objective is to compare how energy and water storage services, such as hydropower generation, electricity grid and water management, are provided with Seasonal Pumped-Storage (SPS) and Conventional Reservoir Dams (CRD) plants. Our case study region is Brazil, a country with extensive hydropower capacity and development plans, for which we compare the cost, land requirement and social impacts between CRD and potential SPS plants. Whilst seasonal pumped-storage have higher capital costs than conventional reservoir dams, given the much lower land requirements and evaporative losses, they are a valuable water and energy storage alternative especially in locations with plain topography and high evaporation. Results show that if Sobradinho CRD was built today it would result in a $USD 1.46 billion loss, on the other hand, Muquém SPS plant would result in a$USD 0.67b revenue

Building Bridges: Restructuring Online Library Tutorials to Span the Generation Gap and Meet the Needs of Millennial Students

This session will discuss the learning characteristics of Millennial students, and how online library tutorials can produce successful information literacy learning outcomes for this unique generation. In 2009, we transformed Searchpath , the 2003 PRIMO award-winning online library tutorial, into ResearchPath, a dynamic audio, visual and kinesthetic experience with the Millennial user in mind. We will share the results of the research we conducted at Western Michigan University Libraries to measure the success of our intended learning outcomes, as well as the qualitative user feedback which we gathered. We will recommend strategies for others interested in developing online tutorials geared towards building bridges to the unique learning styles of Millennial learners

Perforated Webs Subjected to End-one-flange Loading

A study of structural behavior was conducted and a design equation was developed that accounts for the degradation in web crippling capacity caused by web openings for unreinforced single web cold-formed steel flexural members subjected to the End-One-Flange (EOF) loading condition. The research findings enable the current EOF design provisions for sections without web openings to be modified by a reduction factor equation to obtain the web crippling capacity for sections with web openings. The modified capacity is considered for the web crippling capacity in the absence of bending moment for the same cross section and load bearing length

Structural behavior of perforated web elements of cold-formed steel flexural members subjected to web crippling and a combination of web crippling and bending

PREFACE A study of structural behavior was conducted and design equations were developed that account for the degradation in web crippling capacity caused by web openings for single web cold-formed steel flexural members. The sections were subjected to a concentrated load applied to one flange. The load application satisfied the AISI definition for either End-One-Flange or Interior-One-Flange loading. The research findings enable the current design provisions for sections without web openings to be modified by a reduction factor equation to obtain the web crippling capacity for sections with web openings. The modified capacity is considered for the web crippling capacity in the absence of bending moment. For situations of combined bending and web crippling, the current AISI provisions for interaction are used based on the web opening modified bending moment and web crippling capacities. Simple and practical web reinforcement configurations using material from the same cross section as the member are provided. Use of the web reinforcement configurations, for single web members having web openings, will ensure that the web crippling strength for the same cross section without web openings is obtained for the same key parameters defining the design situation. This report is based on the dissertation of the same title presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering. This investigation was sponsored by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the Metal Lath/Steel Framing Association (MLjSFA) Division of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM). Technical guidance was provided by the ML/SFA-AISI Joint Task Force: J.E. Sullivan (chairman), C. Bissey, R.L. Brockenbrough, C.R. Clauer, E.R. diGirolamo, S.J. Errera, E.R. Estes, Jr., L. Hernandez, A.L. Johnson, K.H. Klippstein, J.P. Matsen, W.R. Midgley, T.B. Pekoz, N. Peterson, G.S. Ralph, R.M. Schuster, T.W. Trestain, and R.A. LaBoube. Thanks are also extended to R.B. Haws, K.L. Cole, AISI staff, and A.L. Sisco, NAAMM staff, for their assistance

A practical guide for the study of human and murine sebaceous glands in situ

The skin of most mammals is characterised by the presence of sebaceous glands (SGs), whose predominant constituent cell population is sebocytes, that is, lipid-producing epithelial cells, which develop from the hair follicle. Besides holocrine sebum production (which contributes 90% of skin surface lipids), multiple additional SG functions have emerged. These range from antimicrobial peptide production and immunomodulation, via lipid and hormone synthesis/metabolism, to the provision of an epithelial progenitor cell reservoir. Therefore, in addition to its involvement in common skin diseases (e.g. acne vulgaris), the unfolding diversity of SG functions, both in skin health and disease, has raised interest in this integral component of the pilosebaceous unit. This practical guide provides an introduction to SG biology and to relevant SG histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques, with emphasis placed on in situ evaluation methods that can be easily employed. We propose a range of simple, established markers, which are particularly instructive when addressing specific SG research questions in the two most commonly investigated species in SG research, humans and mice. To facilitate the development of reproducible analysis techniques for the in situ evaluation of SGs, this methods review concludes by suggesting quantitative (immuno-)histomorphometric methods for standardised SG evaluation