Retailers' perspectives on selling tobacco in a low-income San Francisco neighbourhood after California's $2 tobacco tax increase.

BackgroundCalifornia's tobacco tax increased by $2.00 per pack in 2017. Although such increases are among the most effective tobacco control strategies, little is known about their impact from the perspective of corner store owners in low-income neighbourhoods with high concentrations of tobacco outlets.MethodsWe interviewed 38 corner store owners and managers in San Francisco's Tenderloin, the district with the city's highest tobacco outlet density, 60-90 days following implementation of the tax increase. Questions focused on perceptions of the impact of the higher tobacco tax on their revenues, customers and tobacco company promotions. We used qualitative content analysis to identify, compare and reconcile key themes.ResultsMost retailers reported a decline in cigarette sales, with customers buying fewer cigarettes, switching to cheaper brands or other products like marijuana, or trying to quit smoking. Retailers described challenges associated with running a small business and selling tobacco and concerns about selling a product that is 'bad' for customers' health. Contrary to expectation, tobacco companies appeared to be offering few product promotions in this neighbourhood.ConclusionsSmall, independent retailers' concerns, about selling tobacco and about the health and well-being of customers, suggest that such retailers may be important allies in tobacco control efforts,particularly those focused on the point-of-sale

An Analysis of the Effects of Residential Photovoltaic Energy Systems on Home Sales Prices in California

An increasing number of homes in the U.S. have sold with photovoltaic (PV) energy systems installed at the time of sale, yet relatively little research exists that estimates the marginal impacts of those PV systems on home sale prices. A clearer understanding of these possible impacts might influence the decisions of homeowners considering the installation of a PV system, homebuyers considering the purchase of a home with PV already installed, and new home builders considering including PV as an optional or standard product on their homes. This research analyzes a large dataset of California homes that sold from 2000 through mid-2009 with PV installed. It finds strong evidence that homes with PV systems sold for a premium over comparable homes without PV systems during this time frame. Estimates for this premium expressed in dollars per watt of installed PV range, on average, from roughly $4 to$5.5/watt across a large number of hedonic and repeat sales model specifications and robustness tests. When expressed as a ratio of the sales price premium of PV to estimated annual energy cost savings associated with PV, an average ratio of 14:1 to 19:1 can be calculated; these results are consistent with those of the more-extensive existing literature on the impact of energy efficiency on sales prices. When the data are split among new and existing homes, however, PV system premiums are markedly affected. New homes with PV show premiums of $2.3-2.6/watt, while existing homes with PV show premiums of more than$6/watt. Reasons for this discrepancy are suggested, yet further research is warranted. A number of other areas where future research would be useful are also highlighted

Brass and Percussion Ensembles Concert, Fall 2012

This is the program for the Fall 2012 Brass and Percussion Ensembles concert

Brass and Percussion Ensembles Concert, Fall 2011

This is the program from the Fall 2011 Brass and Percussion Ensembles concert

Do Photovoltaic Energy Systems Effect Residential Selling Prices? Results from a California Statewide Investigation.

An increasing number of homes in the U.S. have sold with photovoltaic (PV) energy systems installed at the time of sale, yet relatively little research exists that provides estimates of the marginal impacts of those PV systems on home sale prices. This research analyzes a large dataset of California homes that sold from 2000 through mid-2009 with PV installed. We find strong evidence that homes with PV systems sold for a premium over comparable homes without PV systems during this time frame. Estimates for this premium expressed in dollars per watt of installed PV range, from roughly $4 to$6.4/watt across the full dataset, to approximately $2.3/watt for new homes, to more than$6/watt for existing homes. A number of ideas for further research are suggested

Mixed Chamber Ensembles

KSU School of Music presents Mixed Chamber Ensembles.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1311/thumbnail.jp

The pseudo-mitochondrial genome influences mistakes in heteroplasmy interpretation

BACKGROUND: Nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts) are a potential source of contamination during mitochondrial DNA PCR amplification. This possibility warrants careful experimental design and cautious interpretation of heteroplasmic results. RESULTS: Here we report the cloning and sequencing of numts loci, amplified from human tissue and rho-zero (ρ(0)) cells (control) with primers known to amplify the mitochondrial genome. This paper is the first to fully sequence 46 paralogous nuclear DNA fragments that represent the entire mitochondrial genome. This is a surprisingly small number due primarily to the primer sets used in this study, because prior to this, BLAST searches have suggested that nuclear DNA harbors between 400 to 1,500 paralogous mitochondrial DNA fragments. Our results indicate that multiple numts were amplified simultaneously with the mitochondrial genome and increased the load of pseudogene signal in PCR reactions. Further, the entire mitochondrial genome was represented by multiple copies of paralogous nuclear sequences. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that mitochondrial genome disease-associated biomarkers must be rigorously authenticated to preclude any affiliation with paralogous nuclear pseudogenes. Importantly, the common perception that mitochondrial template "swamps" numts loci precluding detectable amplification, depends on the region of the mitochondrial genome targeted by the PCR reaction and the number of pseudogene loci that may co-amplify. Cloning and relevant sequencing data will facilitate the correct interpretation. This is the first complete, wet-lab characterization of numts that represent the entire mitochondrial genome

The contribution of coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity on the performance of a dart throwing task under pressure.

The aims of this study were 1) to assess the predictive role of coping related variables (CRV) on cardiac vagal activity (derived from heart rate variability), and 2) to investigate the influence of CRV (including cardiac vagal activity) on a dart throwing task under low pressure (LP) and high pressure (HP) conditions. Participants (n=51) completed trait CRV questionnaires: Decision Specific Reinvestment Scale, Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire. They competed in a dart throwing task under LP and HP conditions. Cardiac vagal activity measurements were taken at resting, task and during recovery for 5min. Self-reported ratings of stress were recorded at three time points via a visual analogue scale. Upon completion of the task, self-report measures of motivation, stress appraisal, attention, perceived pressure and dart throwing experience were completed. Results indicated that resting cardiac vagal activity had no predictors. Task cardiac vagal activity was predicted by resting cardiac vagal activity in both pressure conditions with the addition of a trait CRV in HP. Post task cardiac vagal activity was predicted by resting cardiac vagal activity in both conditions with the addition of a trait CRV in HP. Cardiac vagal reactivity (difference from resting to task) was predicted by a trait CRV in HP conditions. Cardiac vagal recovery (difference from task to post task) was predicted by a state CRV only in LP. Dart throwing task performance was predicted by a combination of both CRV and cardiac vagal activity. The current research suggests that coping related variables and cardiac vagal activity influence dart throwing task performance differently dependent on pressure condition

Implications of extinction due to meteoritic smoke in the upper stratosphere

Recent optical observations of aerosols in the upper stratosphere and mesosphere show significant amounts of extinction at altitudes above about 40 km where the stratospheric sulfate aerosol layer ends. Recent modeling of this region reveals that meteoritic smoke settling from the mesosphere and its interaction with the upper part of the sulfate aerosol layer is the origin of the observed extinction. Extinction in this region has major implications for the interpretation and analysis of several kinds of aerosol data (satellite and lidar). We compare observations from the SAGE II satellite and from NOAA's lidar located at Mauna Loa, Hawaii to extinction profiles derived from the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) coupled with the Community Aerosol and Radiation Model for Atmospheres (CARMA). Our results show that a major source of extinction exists in the region above about 30 km that must be addressed by all remote sensing instruments that have traditionally used the stratosphere above about 30 km as an aerosol free region to estimate the molecular component of their total extinction. It is also shown that meteoritic smoke not only contributes to but also becomes the dominant source of aerosol extinction above 35 km and poleward of 30 degrees in latitude, as well as above 40 km in the tropics. After addressing the concerns described here, current and past observations of this region could be reanalyzed to further our understanding of meteoritic dust in the upper stratosphere