Socioeconomic status and cigarette expenditure among US households: results from 2010 to 2015 Consumer Expenditure Survey

Objectives To examine (1) the association between household socioeconomic status (SES) and whether a household spends money on cigarettes and (2) socioeconomic variations in proportion of total household expenditure spent on cigarettes among smoking households. Methods We pooled data from six consecutive years, 2010–2015, of the Consumer Expenditure Interview Survey. The interviews involved a structured questionnaire about household income, demographics and expenditures including expenditure on cigarettes. Households that reported cigarette expenditure in the previous 3 months were distinguished as smoking households. SES indicators were household poverty status, education and occupation of the head of household. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of household smoking status with SES. Fractional logistic regression was used to assess the association of cigarette expenditure as a proportion of total household expenditure with SES. The analysis sample size was 39 218. Results The probability of spending money on cigarettes was higher among lower SES households. Households in poverty compared with those above 300% of poverty threshold had 1.86 (95% CI 1.61 to 2.16), households headed by a person with less than high school education compared with those headed by a person with at least a bachelor’s degree had 3.37 (95% CI 2.92 to 3.89) and households headed by a blue-collar work compared with those headed by a person in a managerial occupation had 1.45 (95% CI 1.26 to 1.66) higher odds of spending money on cigarettes. Similarly, the proportion of total household expenditure spent on cigarettes was higher among lower SES smoking households. Conclusion Lower SES households are more likely to spend money on cigarettes and spend a larger proportion of their total expenditure on cigarettes. We recommend strategies effective in reducing smoking among low SES smokers

The Impact of Body Mass Index and Sociodemographic Factors on Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors of Women With Young Children: A Cross-Sectional Examination

OBJECTIVES: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity provides multiple benefits to women after childbirth. To achieve these benefits, the recommendation that adults obtain, 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week and reduce sedentary behaviors, also applies to women in the post-partum phase of the life span. However, research examining the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviors of women with young children (0-2 years) is limited. A greater understanding of these behaviors from a nationally representative sample is needed. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to determine the levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behaviors of a nationally representative sample of women with young children within the United States. A secondary objective was to examine the influence of body mass index and sociodemographic factors on these behaviors. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from four cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014) were used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were calculated and a generalized linear model was used to investigate associations between mean minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, sedentary activity, body mass index, and sociodemographic variables. DISCUSSION: Women with young children (n = 477) obtained 634 min in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week and this was positively associated with having a higher income (p \u3c 0.001) and the number of children in the home (p \u3c 0.001). In total, 62% of women were meeting the World Health Organization guidelines for aerobic activity. Lower odds of achieving guidelines was associated with being Black (p = 0.004), Mexican American (p = 0.009), or married (p = 0.042) compared with being White or not married. Finally, women accumulated ~5 h of sedentary activity per day, with higher levels associated with race (p = 0.005), education (p = 0.022), and number of children within the home (p \u3c 0.001). Research efforts should continue to focus on strategies to help non-adhering women with young children achieve the physical activity recommendations and reduce time spent in sedentary behaviors

Análise técnica e econômica do equipamento Stump Harvester

Orientador: Prof. Dr. Ricardo Anselmo MalinovskiMonografia (graduação) - Universidade Federal do Paraná,Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Curso de Engenharia Florestal.Resumo: As atividades de colheita florestal comumente geram uma grande quantidade de resíduos em plantios florestais de Pinus spp. e Eucalyptus spp, prejudicando as operações silviculturais. Dentre todos os tipos de resíduos florestais, os tocos constituem um grande dificultador das operações de implantação florestal como subsolagem, fertilização, plantio e manutenção. A redução da qualidade das operações pode levar à uma redução na área de efetivo plantio, reduzindo o número de árvores plantadas por hectare e subutilizando o sítio. Diante disso, buscam-se alternativas para remoção e aproveitamento de resíduos florestais. Quanto a remoção de tocos, uma alternativa atual é o equipamento stump harvester que consiste em um implemento específico para a remoção de tocos montado em uma escavadeira hidráulica. Diante disso, o presente trabalho avaliou técnica e economicamente o equipamento stump harvester para a reforma e realinhamento de plantios de Pinus taeda e Eucalyptus dunnii em uma empresa florestal do norte de Santa Catarina. Foram avaliados a produtividade, custos, receitas e indicadores econômicos no intuito de avaliar a viabilidade do investimento no equipamento. Como resultado de produtividade obteve-se uma média de 3,88 e 3,19 tocos/min para o Pinus taeda e Eucalyptus dunnii, respectivamente. O custo de remoção foi calculado em 1.521,47 R$/ha para o Pinus taeda e 1.778,72 R$/ha para o Eucalyptus dunnii. Foram estimadas diversas situações de aumento de receitas com a utilização do equipamento. Quando utilizado somente para fins de reforma e realinhamento o uso do equipamento é inviável a uma taxa mínima de atratividade de 10%. Recomenda-se, entretanto, a quantificação e qualificação do material extraído para a produção de biomassa, pois, segundo literatura especializada, existe um grande potencial energético nesse material

Priorities for Investments in Children and Families in Caddo and Bossier Parishes: Application of a Unique Framework for Identifying Priorities

Describes a framework developed to guide the community foundation's investments that combines needs assessment, asset inventory, and best practices. Presents findings on evidence-based strategies that utilize the region's assets in areas of greatest need

DOI:10.1068/p08sp Surface-illuminant ambiguity and color constancy: Effects of scene complexity and depth cues

Abstract. Two experiments were conducted to study how scene complexity and cues to depth affect human color constancy. Specifically, two levels of scene complexity were compared. The low-complexity scene contained two walls with the same surface reflectance and a test patch which provided no information about the illuminant. In addition to the surfaces visible in the low-complexity scene, the high-complexity scene contained two rectangular solid objects and 24 paper samples with diverse surface reflectances. Observers viewed illuminated objects in an experimental chamber and adjusted the test patch until it appeared achromatic. Achromatic settings made under two different illuminants were used to compute an index that quantified the degree of constancy. Two experiments were conducted: one in which observers viewed the stimuli directly, and one in which they viewed the scenes through an optical system that reduced cues to depth. In each experiment, constancy was assessed for two conditions. In the valid-cue condition, many cues provided valid information about the illuminant change. In the invalidcue condition, some image cues provided invalid information. Four broad conclusions are drawn from the data: (a) constancy is generally better in the valid-cue condition than in the invalid-cue condition; (b) for the stimulus configuration used, increasing image complexity has little effect in the valid-cue condition but leads to increased constancy in the invalid-cue condition; (c) for the stimulus configuration used, reducing cues to depth has little effect for either constancy condition; and (d) there is moderate individual variation in the degree of constancy exhibited, particularly in the degree to which the complexity manipulation affects performance.

Bandwagon effects in British general elections, 1885-1910

Author's post-print version. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.comUntil 1918, British general elections were staggered over a fortnight or more. We use the eight general elections between 1885 and 1910 to investigate whether there was a general bandwagon or underdog effect as the election progressed. We find that a typical election featured an initial bandwagon effect which peaked about halfway through the election and then declined. Its decline appears to be due both to declining enthusiasm for the leading party and to later polls occurring in places where voters were less prone to get on a bandwagon in the first place