EFFECTS OF SOCIOECONOMIC AND DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS ON CONSUMPTION OF SELECTED FOOD NUTRIENTS

The effects of socioeconomic and demographic factors on the consumption of food energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, and iron are examined. Socioeconomic and demographic factors analyzed are urbanization, region, race, ethnicity, sex, employment status, food stamp participation, household size, weight, height, age, and income. Several of these factors significantly affect consumption of certain nutrients. Income is an important factor affecting the consumption of vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium. Income elasticities are relatively small at low income levels. For example, income elasticities range from 0.016 for calcium to 0.123 for vitamin C at an income level of $20,000.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Direct and alignment-insensitive measurement of cantilever curvature

We analytically derive and experimentally demonstrate a method for the simultaneous measurement of deflection for large arrays of cantilevers. The Fresnel diffraction patterns of a cantilever independently reveals tilt, curvature, cubic and higher order bending of the cantilever. It provides a calibrated absolute measurement of the polynomial coefficients describing the cantilever shape, without careful alignment and could be applied to several cantilevers simultaneously with no added complexity. We show that the method is easily implemented, works in both liquid mediums and in air, for a broad range of displacements and is especially suited to the requirements for multi-marker biosensors.Comment: 5 Pages, 4 figures, letter forma

A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE NEW ZEALAND DAIRY INDUSTRY

Industrial Organization,

Household Fast Food Expenditures and Children's Television Viewing: Can They Really Significantly Influence Children's Dietary Quality?

Previous studies have found a strong relationship between food-away-from-home expenditures and television viewing, and children's diet. This study revisits this issue by examining the impact of household fast food expenditures and children's television viewing on children's dietary quality. Results indicate that both factors have statistically significant and negative effects. However, the elasticities of children's diet quality with respect to both factors are quite inelastic. Results also suggest that the effects of these two factors differ between children younger than 11 years old and children at least 11 years old. Relevant policy implications are discussed.children's diet and health, fast food expenditures, healthy eating index, obesity, television viewing, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

CONSUMPTION OF CONVENIENCE MEAT PRODUCTS: RESULTS FROM AN EXPLORATORY NEW JERSEY SURVEY

This exploratory study examines the effect of various factors on the decision to consume convenience meat products. Factors important to the decision by consumers to try convenience meat products are fat consciousness, number of adults and children in the household, education level, ownership of a microwave oven, average time to cook dinner, age, and to some extent, income.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

DETERMINANTS OF FARMER-TO-CONSUMER DIRECT MARKET VISITS BY TYPE OF FACILITY: A LOGIT ANALYSIS

This study identifies several socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of individuals who visited farmer-to-consumer direct markets in New Jersey. The analysis was performed for each type of direct marketing facility: pick-your-own farms, roadside stands, farmers' markets, and direct farm markets. Logit analysis results indicate that various factors affect visitation to each type of facility. Factors examined include consumers' consumption and variety of fruits and vegetables, price expectation, purpose of buying, age, sex, education, race, income, urbanization, and presence of home garden.Consumer/Household Economics,

Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Animal Welfare Attributes in Dairy Products: Evidence From Experimental Auctions

Consumer/Household Economics, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,