Optimal Institutional Mechanisms for Funding Generic Advertising: An Experimental Analysis

Given the uncertain legal status of generic advertising programs for agricultural commodities, alternative voluntary funding institutions are investigated hat could provide a high level of benefits to producers. This experimental study simulates key economic and psychological factors that affect producer contributions to generic advertising. The results suggests that producer referendum play a critical role in increasing contributions and that producer surplus is maximized by a Provision Point Mechanism instituted by producer referendum with thresholds ranging from 68% to 90%, and expected funding from 47% to 77% of the time, depending on the level of advertising effectiveness.Marketing,

Optimal institutional Mechanisms for Funding Generic Advertising: An Experimental Analysis

NICPRE 04-05; R.B. 2004-12Given the uncertain legal status of generic advertising programs for agricultural commodities, alternative voluntary funding institutions are investigated hat could provide a high level of benefits to producers. This experimental study simulates key economic and psychological factors that affect producer contributions to generic advertising. The results suggests that producer referendum play a critical role in increasing contributions and that producer surplus is maximized by a Provision Point Mechanism instituted by producer referendum with thresholds ranging from 68% to 90%, and expected funding from 47% to 77% of the time, depending on the level of advertising effectiveness

Politically rational foreign policy decision-making

This dissertation is an analysis of how presidents make foreign policy decisions. Rather than explaining foreign policy decisions by focusing on individuals or institutions, I stress the role of political pressures and context faced by presidents. It shows that foreign policy decisions are not merely a reaction to stimulus from the international or domestic arenas but involve political considerations that affect policy choice. The dynamic elements in the argument are political resources and risk. The relationship between the risk propensity of the president and presidential political resources provides an important link to understanding foreign policy decisions. Within the realm of good public policy, a politically rational president can choose to act or respond to foreign policy disputes in various ways, including diplomacy, political coercion, economic coercion, covert action, or military intervention, based on his assessment of the political context and his willingness to accept the associated risks. The level of presidential political resources determines the risk propensity of the president. Presidential foreign policy decisions will vary depending on the quantity of available political resources. Thus, understanding the risk propensity of the president increases our ability to explain foreign policy decisions. The contribution of this research is the identification of a mechanism for understanding how the interaction between the domestic and international political environments, and individual decision-makers influence foreign policy decisions. My research bridges the gap between structural theories, âÂÂtheories that make predictions about foreign policy outcomes without reference to the cognition and actions of the actors themselves,â and decision-making theories that stress the role of the actors (Ikenberry 2002, 5). Although the component parts of the foreign policy decisionmaking system are widely known, we lack theories that tie the pieces together

Determinants of the usage of public computer lab facilities in rural communities

For those without information technology in the household, the importance of public computer lab facilities which can offer access to such technology free of charge is very great. However, the sustainability of such facilities is a difficult challenge for rural communities which do not have a large population to uphold such an endeavour. This research examines those factors influencing the usage of public computer lab facilities in rural communities. This research objective is achieved by examining such a facility located in a small rural community in Nova Scotia. Interviews with various stakeholders indicate that the lack of computer technology within the home, desire for social interaction, desire to increase knowledge of information technology, accessibility of the site, sophistication of the site, services offered, and technical support all influence the perceived usefulness of the facility, which in turn, influences the intention to use the facility and ultimately self-reported system usage

Efficiency in Steel Melting: Ladle Development

Effective ladle design and use is important for steel casting production. In foundry operations, the ladle temperature of the liquid steel is typically 150 to 250°F above the steel\u27s melting point to compensate for the heat losses in small ladles and the associated high cooling rates from the large surface area to volume ratios. Higher superheat is also necessary to provide sufficient steel fluidity to properly fill the mold cavity. In spite of the relatively short time that the steel is in contact with the ladle lining, the huge thermal gradients in the lining drive high values of heat flow through the refractory surface. Heat transfer between the melt and the ladle lining as well as the associated heat losses in foundry linings are analyzed in this paper. Initial information was taken from a survey of steel foundries and from industrial measurements at seven foundries. Temperature measurements were done with thermocouples and infrared cameras. Fluent software was used for modeling unsteady heat transfer in ladles. The influence of the thermal properties of different ceramic materials typically used for steel ladle linings on heat losses during use was analyzed. A novel class of ladle linings being developed at UMR based on porous ceramics has the potential of significantly decreasing the heat losses during use in addition to saving considerable ladle preheat energy. This paper reviews progress in developing and testing these linings

Effect of age and thirty minutes of exercise on prostacyclin/thromboxane A ratios and circulating concentrations of prostacyclin and thromboxane A

The effect thirty minutes of treadmill exercise on prostacyclin/thromboxane A2 (PGI2/TXA2) ratios, plasma PGI2 and TXA2 in young and older men, 27.8 ± 0.8 and 55.4 ± 1.3 years old, respectively, was determined. Exercise intensity was maintained at 70-75% of V02max. Venipuncture samples were taken at rest, immediately after exercise, and at thirty minutes recovery. Total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were determined from a serum sample taken at rest. Plasma 6-ketoprostaglandin F1 and TXB2 (i.e. stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2 respectively) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Plasma PGI2 and TXA2 were corrected for hemoconcentration; TXA2 was corrected for platelet count. Linoleic acid (LLA) intake and polyunsaturated/saturated fat ratios (P/S ratios) were estimated by four-day diet records

Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Promotes Tissue Remodeling, Arteriogenesis, and Perfusion in a Rat Hindlimb Ischemia Model.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine acellular extracellular matrix based hydrogels as potential therapies for treating peripheral artery disease (PAD). We tested the efficacy of using a tissue specific injectable hydrogel, derived from decellularized porcine skeletal muscle (SKM), compared to a new human umbilical cord derived matrix (hUC) hydrogel, which could have greater potential for tissue regeneration because of its young tissue source age.BackgroundThe prevalence of PAD is increasing and can lead to critical limb ischemia (CLI) with potential limb amputation. Currently there are no therapies for PAD that effectively treat all of the underlying pathologies, including reduced tissue perfusion and muscle atrophy.MethodsIn a rodent hindlimb ischemia model both hydrogels were injected 1-week post-surgery and perfusion was regularly monitored with laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) to 35 days post-injection. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to assess neovascularization and muscle health. Whole transcriptome analysis was further conducted on SKM injected animals on 3 and 10 days post-injection.ResultsSignificant improvements in hindlimb tissue perfusion and perfusion kinetics were observed with both biomaterials. End point histology indicated this was a result of arteriogenesis, rather than angiogenesis, and that the materials were biocompatible. Skeletal muscle fiber morphology analysis indicated that the muscle treated with the tissue specific, SKM hydrogel more closely matched healthy tissue morphology. Short term histology also indicated arteriogenesis rather than angiogenesis, as well as improved recruitment of skeletal muscle progenitors. Whole transcriptome analysis indicated that the SKM hydrogel caused a shift in the inflammatory response, decreased cell death, and increased blood vessel and muscle development.ConclusionThese results show the efficacy of an injectable ECM hydrogel alone as a potential therapy for treating patients with PAD. Our results indicate that the SKM hydrogel improved functional outcomes through stimulation of arteriogenesis and muscle progenitor cell recruitment