IMPORT DEMANDS FOR U.S. FRESH GRAPEFRUIT: EFFECT OF U.S. PROMOTION PROGRAMS AND TRADE POLICIES OF IMPORTING NATIONS

This study estimates import demands for U.S. fresh grapefruit in Japan, France, Canada, and the Netherlands. Historically, these nations have imported about 90 percent of U.S. grapefruit exports. Four import demand functions were specified and estimated by joint generalized least squares based on the sample period 1969I to 1988IV. Results show that U.S. FOB price, per capita income of importing countries, exchange rates, price of substitutes, U.S. grapefruit promotion programs, and removal of trade restrictions have had an important effect on U.S. fresh grapefruit exports. Analyses suggest that U.S. producers can effectively promote fresh grapefruit in foreign markets, and that trade concessions have an important influence on grapefruit exports.International Relations/Trade,

More on Estimating Elasticities using Lagged Endogenous Variables

Demand and Price Analysis,

FACTORS AFFECTING FRESH POTATO PRICE IN SELECTED TERMINAL MARKETS

Monthly, quarterly, and annual cross-sectional and time-series data for the period 1982-85 were analyzed to identify factors affecting terminal market price for four types of fresh potatoes. Results indicated that state of origin, terminal market package type, and season of marketing were significant quality variables affecting price. Price differences among potato types because of season of marketing and stocks of fall potatoes were evident. These results suggest that cultivar selection, cultural practices, planting and harvesting schedules, packaging, and market selection – factors which are ultimately controlled by growers and grower/shippers – can be utilized effectively as mechanisms to increase price and expand markets.Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis,

Immigrants in Connecticut: Labor Market Experiences and Health Care Access

This profile of Connecticut's immigrants is intended to help policymakers, state planners, and service providers better understand the size, characteristics, and needs of the state's immigrant population. Beyond the basic demographics of the foreign-born population, the report focuses on immigrants in the labor force and health care access for different immigrant groups

A Profile of Immigrants in Arkansas

Discusses key demographic trends, economic factors, and public policy issues associated with immigrants in Arkansas, which has the fourth-fastest-growing immigrant population in the nation

Partial gravity habitat study: With application to lunar base design

Comprehensive design requirements associated with designing habitats for humans in a partial gravity environment were investigated and then applied to a lunar base design. Other potential sites for application include planetary surfaces such as Mars, variable gravity research facilities, or a rotating spacecraft. Design requirements for partial gravity environments include: (1) locomotion changes in less than normal Earth gravity; (2) facility design issues, such as interior configuration, module diameter and geometry; and (3) volumetric requirements based on the previous as well as psychological issues involved in prolonged isolation. For application to a Lunar Base, it was necessary to study the exterior architecture and configuration to insure optimum circulation patterns while providing dual egress. Radiation protection issues were addressed to provide a safe and healthy environment for the crew, and finally, the overall site was studied to locate all associated facilities in context with the habitat. Mission planning was not the purpose of this study; therefore, a Lockheed scenario was used as an outline for the Lunar Base application, which was then modified to meet the project needs

The Amazon Echo: Usability Evaluation

Background: The Amazon Echo is a home assistant device which allows people to interact verbally with online software tools or smart home devices and electronics. The purpose of this study was to test the usability of the device by conducting a variety of user-centered analyses. Method: Researchers performed a usability heuristics evaluation to gain an understanding of the system’s features and functions from a top-down perspective. An Out of Box Experience (OOBE) was conducted to capture users’ attitude of the device. Next, several tasks were performed which represent users\u27 everyday interactions with these devices. Participants then completed the system usability scale (SUS) to rate their experience. Results: Time on task was measured to analyze quantitative data and participants were asked to rate the difficulty of each task. Preliminary results indicate a setup time of approximately five minutes. Microsoft product reaction cards were used to capture initial and post-trial reactions to the device. Easy to use and efficient are two common terms appearing in the participant\u27s explanation of their feeling towards using the device. Conclusions: By collecting this information, our research team can paint an entire picture explaining benefits and flaws encountered by users and experts alike

Creation of Two Valid Scales: Willingness to Fly in an Aircraft and Willingness to Pilot an Aircraft

The purpose of the current study was to develop two scales that could be used concurrently or independently to measure passenger willingness to fly (WTF), and aviator willingness to pilot (WTP), respectively. This is especially useful to determine challenges involving acceptance of new aviation technology for both pilots and passengers. There were five stages in developing the WTF scale for passengers, following Hinkin’s scale development process. Cronbach’s Alpha and Guttmann’s Split Half tests were used to confirm high internal consistency and reliability, while factor analysis was used to confirm construct validity. The scale was tested in order to confirm sensitivity to differences in actual participant willingness to fly. After developing the WTF scale for passengers, researchers made minor lexical adjustments and created the WTP scale, calculating Cronbach’s Alpha, Guttmann’s Split Half test, and factor analysis; thus, ensuring high internal consistency, reliability and validity. These two scales may help provide researchers with a better applied understanding of applications within the aviation and consumer perceptions literature and also assist with pilot training and acceptance of new aviation technology

Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) Final Report

After takeoff, aircraft must merge into en route (Center) airspace traffic flows that may be subject to constraints that create localized demand/capacity imbalances. When demand exceeds capacity, Traffic Management Coordinators (TMCs) and Frontline Managers (FLMs) often use tactical departure scheduling to manage the flow of departures into the constrained Center traffic flow. Tactical departure scheduling usually involves a Call for Release (CFR) procedure wherein the Tower must call the Center to coordinate a release time prior to allowing the flight to depart. In present-day operations release times are computed by the Center Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) decision support tool, based upon manual estimates of aircraft ready time verbally communicated from the Tower to the Center. The TMA-computed release time is verbally communicated from the Center back to the Tower where it is relayed to the Local controller as a release window that is typically three minutes wide. The Local controller will manage the departure to meet the coordinated release time window. Manual ready time prediction and verbal release time coordination are labor intensive and prone to inaccuracy. Also, use of release time windows adds uncertainty to the tactical departure process. Analysis of more than one million flights from January 2011 indicates that a significant number of tactically scheduled aircraft missed their en route slot due to ready time prediction uncertainty. Uncertainty in ready time estimates may result in missed opportunities to merge into constrained en route flows and lead to lost throughput. Next Generation Air Transportation System plans call for development of Tower automation systems capable of computing surface trajectory-based ready time estimates. NASA has developed the Precision Departure Release Capability (PDRC) concept that improves tactical departure scheduling by automatically communicating surface trajectory-based ready time predictions and departure runway assignments to the Center scheduling tool. The PDRC concept also incorporates earlier NASA and FAA research into automation-assisted CFR coordination. The PDRC concept reduces uncertainty by automatically communicating coordinated release times with seconds-level precision enabling TMCs and FLMs to work with target times rather than windows. NASA has developed a PDRC prototype system that integrates the Center's TMA system with a research prototype Tower decision support tool. A two-phase field evaluation was conducted at NASA's North Texas Research Station in Dallas/Fort Worth. The field evaluation validated the PDRC concept and demonstrated reduced release time uncertainty while being used for tactical departure scheduling of more than 230 operational flights over 29 weeks of operations. This paper presents research results from the PDRC research activity. Companion papers present the Concept of Operations and a Technology Description