Federal Reserve Behavior Since 1980: A Financial Markets Perspective

The financial market's understanding of Federal Reserve behavior is used to examine recent changes in monetary policy. Changes in the level of interest rats in response to specific types of economic information are primarily considered. Differences in the volatility of interest rates across period provide additional evidence on changes in monetary policy regimes. The results indicate that monetary policy changed several times since 1980 with respect to either the Federal Reserve's targets, its desire to achieve its targets, or its operating procedures. The different regimes correspond to Federal Reserve statements about changes in policy. In this context, then, the evidence suggests that policy was credible.

THE ECONOMICS OF CARCASS BEEF PRODUCTION: AN APPRAISAL OF FLORIDA'S FEEDLOT POTENTIAL

Livestock Production/Industries,

Bulletin of the University of South Carolina, no. 171

This is the text of an address delivered by William D. Melton to the Abbeville Bible Society on the subject of the genesis of the English Bible

Family Psychoeducation in Clinical High Risk and First- Episode Psychosis

Seventy percent of those who will have an episode of psychosis will have done so by age 25. Data from clinical trials of intervention during the clinical high risk period of psychosis have determined that the mean age is in mid-adolescence, 16-18 years of age. For those reasons, early intervention inherently involves adolescents, and by extension their parents and other family members and supports. Regarding the type of intervention, it is relevant that the current empirically-derived standard of treatment for schizophrenia, as concluded by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research survey of the treatment outcome literature, includes family psychoeducation, supported employment, assertive community treatment and antipsychotic medication,; i.e., a combination of psychosocial and pharmacologic interventions. Combinations of all four of these treatments, as in Family-aided Assertive Community Treatment (FACT), achieve very low rates of relapse, substantial reductions of symptoms and remarkable functional outcomes, particularly in the domain of competitive employment. Furthermore, a large comparative study of outcomes in community settings found that psychoeducational multifamily groups were more effective than single-family psychoeducation specifically in the first episode and in high-risk-for relapse cases, suggesting that particular psychosocial treatments may be especially effective in early phases of illness

Leveraging Technology Through Crowdfunding to Ease Barriers of Entry Into the Marketplace

Small businesses and entrepreneurs face barriers to entering new markets, such as access to capital. Crowdfunding is one method for financing new ventures. The purpose of this article is to explore how crowdfunding can ease barriers of entry into new markets. Drawing from strategic management, planning, marketing, and technology acceptance literature, we present a conceptual model to explain the use of crowdfunding by small businesses and entrepreneurs. Factors that impact individuals’ propensity to utilize crowdfunding as a source of capital include ease of use, intention to use, attitudes toward use, and effectiveness

Situational Leadership in United States Air Force Air Traffic Control Towers

On December 17, 1903, the world as man knew it from the dawn of time changed. Orville Wright broke the bounds of Earth's gravity in controlled flight and in slightly more than a century that singular flight manifested into over 18 million annual worldwide flights. As the skies became more crowded it became necessary to develop a means to maintain safety, and the air traffic control profession was born. Developing into what is often considered one of the most stressful occupations, leadership in air traffic control facilities is critical the safe, orderly, and efficient flow of air traffic. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the preferred leadership style for United States Air Force air traffic control tower watch supervisors. A panel of 10 functional experts completed a 25 question, scenario based survey to establish a baseline for this study's four research questions. A purposeful sample of eight control tower chief controllers representing the eight United States Air Force major commands were interviewed and their responses were compared to the mean of the experts panel. The data from the interviews was analyzed and in addition to the straight forward responses to the research questions two themes emerged: the role of the monitor and apprentice controller's role in emergency situations. The study discovered that United States Air Force control towers are fully implementing the fundamentals of situational leadership. The eight interviewee's responses mirrored the expert panel's answers. The results of this study provide control tower chief controllers, watch supervisors, and future watch supervisors a frame of reference on how situations are handled across the spectrum of facilities.Aviation & Space Scienc

Situational Leadership Styles in United States Air Force Air Traffic Control Towers

Leadership in air traffic control facilities is critical to the safe, orderly, and efficient flow of air traffic. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the preferred leadership style for United States Air Force air traffic control tower watch supervisors. A panel of 10 functional experts completed a 25 question scenario-based survey to establish a baseline for this study’s four research questions. A purposeful sample of eight control tower chief controllers representing the eight United States Air Force major commands were interviewed and their responses were compared to the mean of the experts panel. The data from the interviews was analyzed and in addition to the straight forward responses to the research questions two themes emerged: (1) the role of the monitor and (2) the apprentice controller’s role in emergency situations. The study discovered that United States Air Force control towers are fully implementing the fundamentals of situational leadership. The eight interviewees’ responses mirrored the expert panels’ answers. The results of this study provide control tower chief controllers, watch supervisors, and future watch supervisors a frame of reference on how situations are handled across the spectrum of facilities

Campus Recreation and Fitness Center Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has far reaching effects for college students\u27 health and physical activity behaviors. This analysis focuses on university student fitness center usage pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers hypothesized a reduction in fitness center utilization when comparing Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 utilization rates. Methods Patterns of the recreation center and fitness center utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic are compared to pre-pandemic patterns of a matched time period in the previous academic year in an observational study. Overall utilization was evaluated using secondary data from the university’s recreation center data system. Six weeks of utilization data were pulled for investigation across the two years of interest. Time periods evaluated included Fall semester 2019 (August 19, 2019 - September 29, 2019) and Fall semester 2020 (August 17, 2020 - September 27, 2020). Poisson regression analysis was used where statistical significance levels were set to 0.05. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in recreation center participation from 2019 to 2020 (Mean±SD: 1683.1 ± 888.6 to 726.4 ±339.9). Furthermore, student participation decreased in all areas of the fitness center usage from 2019 to 2020 (cardio deck, machine weights, and free weights Mean±SD: 12.5±8.9 to 5.4±4.2, 17.6±9.5 to 8.9±5.4, 27.7±13.1 to 17.9±8.4). While the overall participation decreased, the proportion of utilization increased in the free weights area (B = 0.2446; 95% CI 0.1604 – 0.3289; p Conclusions This study is one of the first to evaluate the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has on participation in a university recreation center. This study will help generate questions and guide future research analyzing trends of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Campus Recreation and Fitness Center Utilization During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has far reaching effects for college students\u27 health and physical activity behaviors. This analysis focuses on university student fitness center usage pre and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers hypothesized a reduction in fitness center utilization when comparing Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 utilization rates. Methods Patterns of the recreation center and fitness center utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic are compared to pre-pandemic patterns of a matched time period in the previous academic year in an observational study. Overall utilization was evaluated using secondary data from the university’s recreation center data system. Six weeks of utilization data were pulled for investigation across the two years of interest. Time periods evaluated included Fall semester 2019 (August 19, 2019 - September 29, 2019) and Fall semester 2020 (August 17, 2020 - September 27, 2020). Poisson regression analysis was used where statistical significance levels were set to 0.05. Results There was a statistically significant reduction in recreation center participation from 2019 to 2020 (Mean±SD: 1683.1 ± 888.6 to 726.4 ±339.9). Furthermore, student participation decreased in all areas of the fitness center usage from 2019 to 2020 (cardio deck, machine weights, and free weights Mean±SD: 12.5±8.9 to 5.4±4.2, 17.6±9.5 to 8.9±5.4, 27.7±13.1 to 17.9±8.4). While the overall participation decreased, the proportion of utilization increased in the free weights area (B = 0.2446; 95% CI 0.1604 – 0.3289; p Conclusions This study is one of the first to evaluate the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has on participation in a university recreation center. This study will help generate questions and guide future research analyzing trends of physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic