Experimental Evidence of Risk Aversion in Consumer Markets: The Case of Beef Tenderness

We use an experimental auction market to investigate how inconsistency in tenderness affects consumers' WTP for beef. We find that both the level and the spread of tenderness affect consumers' WTP. Categorization the beef into various classes of tenderness increased the total value of the beef by 8%.Consumer/Household Economics,

Experimental Evidence of Risk Aversion in Consumer Markets: The Case of Beef Tenderness

Consistency of quality is important for brand loyalty and market share in consumer markets. Among consumers of beef, tenderness is the primary quality attribute. We use an experimental auction market to investigate how inconsistency in tenderness affects consumers willingness to pay (WTP) for beef. We find that both the level and the spread of tenderness affect consumers WTP for beef. Categorization the beef into various classes of tenderness increased the total value of the beef by 8%, which suggests that improved tenderness labeling may be a profitable strategy.beef tenderness, consumer demand, experimental auction, marketing, risk aversion, Consumer/Household Economics, C91, D12, D8, Q13,

Investigation of the interaction of remains and textiles in soil graves

University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Science.Textiles are a common source of evidence in forensic scenarios and can provide valuable insight into a crime event. In the past research has focused mainly on the effect of the presence of clothing on the decomposition timeline of the remains used to estimate time since death, rather than how remains affect the textiles. The hypothesis is that the presence of decomposing remains will alter the degradation patterns of textiles. It is therefore suggested that analysing textile samples collected from a crime scene might give further information about the post-mortem or post-burial interval. This is particularly valuable when only clothing is recovered from a scene. In order to investigate textile degradation patterns associated with remains, clothed pigs were either buried or placed directly on the soil surface. Clothing in the absence of remains were also collected and analysed for comparison purposes. The clothing samples were analysed using Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in order to investigate any chemical damages to the textiles, in addition to looking at the presence of decomposition fluid. Samples from certain sampling days were analysed using Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) for the further elucidation of the lipid profile absorbed by the textile samples associated with decaying remains. At the completion of the project it was confirmed both visually and through the chemical analysis that the natural textile degradation in a soil environment was inhibited in the presence of decomposing remains. Principal component analysis of the data obtained for cotton in absence of remains demonstrated a clear separation in the data sets and degraded samples could clearly be distinguished from the non-degraded ones. Seasonal variety was determined to be a factor in the timeline of textile degradation of the natural material. The apparent inhibition of the degradation of natural textiles associated with the decomposing remains is a significant finding. It suggests that the processes leading to the release of decomposition fluid into the environment might play an important role in the textile degradation timeline. Investigating the textile degradation stage as well as analysing the lipid composition will provide invaluable information for the resolution of future cases of clandestine deaths

Language and identity: a study of African American Vernacular English and its status in American society

Master's thesis in Literacy studiesThe present thesis aimed to explore the relationship between language and identity with a particular focus on the status of African American Vernacular English in the American society. The research questions that were addressed in this research study were: 1. «How are Americans’ speaking habits influenced by their ethnicity?» 2. «What are Americans’ perception of African American Vernacular English, and how is this related to their general opinion about the American identity?» 3. «How do Americans react to the more frequent use of African American Vernacular English in today’s society?». In order to address the research questions, this thesis made use of a quantitative methodology. This study was based on the results from an online survey conducted in the USA, consisting of a total of 36 questions. Each question contained a statement that was rated by the from 1 (disagree) to 5 (agree). A total of 173 participants took part in the survey. The data was analyzed according to four social factors: gender, age, ethnicity, and geography. It is difficult to provide a general conclusion on this survey based on the number of participants compared to the overall population in America. However, considering the variety in the demographics of the participants, this thesis could provide an indication based on the results. The overall result from the participants are relatively indecisive, but when looking at the different social factors it shows a more nuanced picture of AAVE in American society. The findings indicated that women tend to use ethnic dialects less than men. The findings also gave an indication that the age group 18-29-year-olds was open to and accepting of AAVE. The 55+ year-olds, on the other hand, were more skeptical of AAVE and its use in contemporary society. African Americans had an ambivalent relation to AAVE. African American participants expressed that the way they speak is part of their identity, and found it offensive that other ethnic groups used features of AAVE. However, 1/4 of the African American stated that they code-switch

Friendgrief: Perspectives on the Loss of a Friend

This purpose of this study was to determine the connection between friendship and grief through interviews with professionals in the grief and loss field. The literature review explored friendship and grief within the framework of adult attachment theory. The two independent topics then merged in a discussion about the concept of Friendgrief, the grief experienced due to the death of a friend. The present qualitative study interviewed five grief and loss professionals working in various settings to discover their perspectives on Friendgrief and its implications on social work practice. The content analysis of the data was accomplished through transcription and coding of the interviews. Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: attachment, friendship, grief, and integration of the loss. The interviewees all emphasized the importance of the depth of attachment and connection within a friendship and put less emphasis on the title of the relationship. The respondents also discussed that grief is an individual experience unique to each person that goes through the process. The last major theme found in this study was the importance of the integration of the loss into one’s life. Surprisingly disenfranchised grief, which was very prominent in the literature review, was only mentioned sparingly throughout the interviews and was not determined to be an overarching theme in this study

Fault core and its geostatistical analysis: Insight into the fault core thickness and fault displacement

Fault core is a high-strain zone of a fault, which accommodate intense deformation. Due to high strain, complex structures and intensely deformed fault rocks form in the fault core, which again affects the geometry and lateral variations in fault core thickness. From a reservoir perspective, the complexity and variations in fault core thickness may affect fluid flow across the faults. The sub-seismic size of the fault core makes it not detectable on seismic data, so a scaling relationship between the core thickness and displacement needs to be investigated, as well as the variations and complexity of the fault core, based on outcrop studies. This Master thesis documents and quantifies the lateral variations in fault core thickness along different levels of the fault height, and examines factors affecting the thickness variations. Measurements of the fault core thickness and displacement have been performed in siliciclastic rocks and carbonates, to study the lithological effects on the fault attributes. The collected dataset have further been univariately analyzed, and exceedence frequency plots have been constructed to recognize the distribution trends. Statistical analysis was then performed to investigate the fault core thickness-displacement relationship and state the scaling relationship between the two fault attributes. The relationship has been examined using measurements of the fault core thickness and displacement from the exact same levels along the fault height, and from average measurements. One of the factors controlling the fault core thickness is lithology and the competency contrasts of the faulted lithologies. The competency contrast leads to significant variations in core thickness, and measurements from this project show that faults juxtaposing heterogeneous sequences display a much wider fault core, compared to faults juxtaposing homogeneous sequences. Another factor affecting the variation in core thickness are the type of fault rocks situated in the fault core. Host rock lenses incorporated in the fault core have been observed and measured to increase the fault core and the internal core complexity. The measurements in this thesis also show that minor faults in carbonates generally exposes a wider fault core, compared to fault cores in siliciclastic rocks. The variations in fault core thickness in different lithologies are controlled by an interplay of factors, such as fault geometry, interactions between the surrounding faults, tectonic regimes and competency contrasts. Analysis of a global dataset, including new data gathered in this thesis and the results from previously published studies, shows that fault core thickness and displacement follow an overall power-law or-log-normal for univariate distribution. Bivariate analysis of the relationship for the global dataset, reveals a strong power-law relationship, with a correlation coefficient of 0.7390. However, when the global dataset is sorted based on the faulted lithology, a stronger relationship (with higher correlation coefficient) can be found. When measurements from this thesis are included in the lithological based dataset, the measurements contributes to a minor increase in the regression value. This suggests that when handling such data, we need to differentiate between rocks of different lithologies.Masteroppgave i geovitenskapMAMN-GEOVGEOV39

Gender differences in Physician Assistant productivity in three specialties

BACKGROUND: The gender wage gap has existed since women started entering the workforce. Once large, the wage gap narrowed significantly in the 1980’s, and plateaued in the 2000s. Proposed rationales for the wage gap include: gender differences in negotiation, unconscious bias or discrimination, and productivity differences between men and women. Productivity is commonly measured in terms of relative value unit (RVU) generation. RVU assignment to non-clinician providers (NPCs) such as PAs and NPs is inaccurate, contributing to a lack of data regarding their productivity. Little is known about PA productivity in general, particularly gender differences. The purpose of this study is to formulate a standardized definition of clinical productivity and to compare mean productivity of male and female PAs in three specialties. LITERATURE REVIEW FINDINGS: Women are assumed to be poorer negotiators. However, when negotiation, a stereotypically “male” act, is framed in a communal way, gender differences vanish and women are as equally successful. Unconscious bias and discrimination against women have detrimental effects on their salary, job satisfaction, and psychological health. The assumption that women are less productive than their male counterparts arises from the belief that women will drop work obligations to care for the family. After controlling for practice, personal, and productivity differences, women continue to earn significantly less than their male counterparts. The persistent, unexplained wage gap suggests that uncontrolled variables, such as bias or discrimination, are the true cause of the wage gap. PROPOSED PROJECT: The proposed project is retrospective cohort study and secondary database analysis obtained from the NCCPA PA Professional Profile. The data will be utilized to determine average, individual productivity for male and female PAs practicing in three specialties. The mean productivity of male and females will be compared using ANOVA. Confounding variables will be analyzed using a multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Social constructs regarding gender contribute to stereotypes influencing the definition a “successful negotiator” and provide the foundation for bias and discrimination. Clinical productivity cannot be altered by these stereotypes. If no gender differences in productivity exist, this proposed cause can no longer be used to justify the wage gap. SIGNIFICANCE: Accurately measuring PA productivity has several implications including proper compensation, determination of PA impact on practice efficiency, and comparison of productivity between PAs by gender and specialty type, aiding in the search for the true cause of the gender wage gap in the PA profession

A Perspective on Ovarian Cancer Biomarkers: Past, Present and Yet-To-Come

The history of biomarkers and ultrasonography dates back over more than 50 years. The present status of biomarkers used in the context of ovarian cancer is addressed. Attention is given to new interpretations of the etiology of ovarian cancer. Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and multivariate index assays (Ova1, Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm, Overa) are biomarker-driven considerations that are presented. Integration of biomarkers into ovarian cancer diagnostics and screening are presented in conjunction with ultrasound. Consideration is given to the serial application of both biomarkers and ultrasound, as well as morphology-based indices. Attempts are made to foresee how individualized molecular signatures may be able to both provide an alert of the potential for ovarian cancer and to provide molecular treatments tailored to a personalized genetic signature. In the future, an annual pelvic ultrasound and a comprehensive serum biomarker screening/diagnostic panel may replace the much maligned bimanual examination as part of the annual gynecologic examination. Taken together, it is likely that a new medical specialty for screening and early diagnostics will emerge for physicians and epidemiologists, a field of study that is independent of patient gender, organ, or the subspecialties of today

Friendgrief: Perspectives on the Loss of a Friend

This purpose of this study was to determine the connection between friendship and grief through interviews with professionals in the grief and loss field. The literature review explored friendship and grief within the framework of adult attachment theory. The two independent topics then merged in a discussion about the concept of Friendgrief, the grief experienced due to the death of a friend. The present qualitative study interviewed five grief and loss professionals working in various settings to discover their perspectives on Friendgrief and its implications on social work practice. The content analysis of the data was accomplished through transcription and coding of the interviews. Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: attachment, friendship, grief, and integration of the loss. The interviewees all emphasized the importance of the depth of attachment and connection within a friendship and put less emphasis on the title of the relationship. The respondents also discussed that grief is an individual experience unique to each person that goes through the process. The last major theme found in this study was the importance of the integration of the loss into one’s life. Surprisingly disenfranchised grief, which was very prominent in the literature review, was only mentioned sparingly throughout the interviews and was not determined to be an overarching theme in this study

High-resolution x-ray diffraction study of the heavy-fermion compound YbBiPt

YbBiPt is a heavy-fermion compound possessing significant short-range antiferromagnetic correlations below a temperature of $T^{\textrm{*}}=0.7$ K, fragile antiferromagnetic order below $T_{\rm{N}}=0.4$ K, a Kondo temperature of $T_{\textrm{K}} \approx1$ K, and crystalline-electric-field splitting on the order of $E/k_{\textrm{B}}=1\,\textrm{-}\,10$ K. Whereas the compound has a face-centered-cubic lattice at ambient temperature, certain experimental data, particularly those from studies aimed at determining its crystalline-electric-field scheme, suggest that the lattice distorts at lower temperature. Here, we present results from high-resolution, high-energy x-ray diffraction experiments which show that, within our experimental resolution of $\approx6\,\textrm{-}\,10\times10^{-5}$ \AA, no structural phase transition occurs between $T=1.5$ and $50$ K. In combination with results from dilatometry measurements, we further show that the compound's thermal expansion has a minimum at $\approx18$ K and a region of negative thermal expansion for $9<T<18$ K. Despite diffraction patterns taken at $1.6$ K which indicate that the lattice is face-centered cubic and that the Yb resides on a crystallographic site with cubic point symmetry, we demonstrate that the linear thermal expansion may be modeled using crystalline-electric-field level schemes appropriate for Yb$^{3+}$ residing on a site with either cubic or less than cubic point symmetry.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.