SIMULATING THE PERFORMANCE OF A MULTIPLE EXCHANGE MECHANISM MARKET

Industrial Organization,

Some mechanisms for a theory of the reticular formation Final report, 15 Nov. 1965 - 14 Nov. 1966

Nonlinear, probabilistic hybrid computer concepts for specifying operational schemata of central nervous system model

PRACTICES USED BY DAIRY FARMERS TO REDUCE SEASONAL PRODUCTION VARIABILITY

Results of this study further support the effectiveness of the seasonal pricing plan in reducing seasonal production variability. Florida Dairy farmers were able to change factors that affect production in order to take advantage of the seasonal pricing plan and that farmers that chose not to participate were able to affect factors to increase production seasonality.seasonality, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries,

AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FLORIDA COOPERATIVE'S SEASONAL PRICING PLAN ON SEASONAL PRODUCTION VARIABILITY

From 1993 - 1995, Florida dairy cooperatives implemented a seasonal pricing plan in an attempt to decrease the variability in seasonal production. Farmers that participated in the seasonal pricing plan were able to reduce seasonality in each year when compared to 1992 by as much as 20 percent. For farmers that did not participate, seasonality increased in each year by as much as 32 percent. Overall, the seasonal pricing plan was effective in reducing seasonality for those farmers that chose to participate in the plan and that its limited short-run success was the result of seasonality increases by non-participating farms.amplitude, seasonal pricing plan, seasonality, Livestock Production/Industries,

Neurophysiology

Contains reports on two research projects.National Institutes of Health (Grant NB-4897-03)U.S. Air Force (Aerospace Medical Division) under Contract AF33(615)-3885The Teagle Foundation, Inc.Bioscience Division of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Contract NSR 22-009-13

Neurophysiology

Contains reports on four research projects.National Science Foundation (Grant G-16526)National Institutes of Health (Grants MH-04737-03 and NB-04985-01)United States Air Force, Aeronautical Systems Division (Contract AF33(616)-7783)United States Air Force (Contract AF19(604)-6619), administered by Montana State CollegeNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-496)Teagle Foundation, IncorporatedBell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporate

Neurophysiology

Contains reports on eight research projects.Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc.Teagle Foundation, Inc.National Science Foundation (Grant GP-2495)National Institutes of Health (Grants MH-04737-04)National Institutes of Health (NB-04985-01)U. S. Air Force. Aeronautical Systems Division (Contract AF 33(615)-1747)U. S. Air Force. Cambridge Research Laboratories (Contract AF19(628)-3807)U. S. Air Force. Electronic Systems Division (Contract AF19(628)-4147)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-496

Neurophysiology

Contains research objectives and reports on three research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NsG-496)U.S. Air Force (Aeronautical Systems Division) under Contract AF33 (616)-7783The Teagle Foundation, Inc.National Institutes of Health (Grant MH-04737-03)National Institutes of Health (Grant NB-04897-01)National Science Foundation (Grant G-16526)Bell Telephone Laboratories, Inc

Descriptive Drinking Norms: For Whom Does Reference Group Matter?

Objective: Perceived descriptive drinking norms often differ from actual norms and are positively related to personal consumption. However, it is not clear how normative perceptions vary with specificity of the reference group. Are drinking norms more accurate and more closely related to drinking behavior as reference group specificity increases? Do these relationships vary as a function of participant demographics? The present study examined the relationship between perceived descriptive norms and drinking behavior by ethnicity (Asian or White), sex, and fraternity/sorority status. Method: Participants were 2,699 (58% female) White (75%) or Asian (25%) undergraduates from two universities who reported their own alcohol use and perceived descriptive norms for eight reference groups: typical student ; same sex, ethnicity, or fraternity/sorority status; and all combinations of these three factors. Results: Participants generally reported the highest perceived norms for the most distal reference group (typical student), with perceptions becoming more accurate as individuals\u27 similarity to the reference group increased. Despite increased accuracy, participants perceived that all reference groups drank more than was actually the case. Across specific subgroups (fraternity/sorority members and men) different patterns emerged. Fraternity/sorority members reliably reported higher estimates of drinking for reference groups that included fraternity/ sorority status, and, to a lesser extent, men reported higher estimates for reference groups that included men. Conclusions: The results suggest that interventions targeting normative misperceptions may need to provide feedback based on participant demography or group membership. Although reference group-specific feedback may be important for some subgroups, typical student feedback provides the largest normative discrepancy for the majority of students

A feasibility trial to examine the social norms approach for the prevention and reduction of licit and illicit drug use in European University and college students.

Background: Incorrect perceptions of high rates of peer alcohol and tobacco use are predictive of increased personal use in student populations. Correcting misperceptions by providing feedback has been shown to be an effective intervention for reducing licit drug use. It is currently unknown if social norms interventions are effective in preventing and reducing illicit drug use in European students. The purpose of this paper is to describe the design of a multi-site cluster controlled trial of a web-based social norms intervention aimed at reducing licit and preventing illicit drug use in European university students. Methods/Design: An online questionnaire to assess rates of drug use will be developed and translated based on existing social norms surveys. Students from sixteen universities in seven participating European countries will be invited to complete the questionnaire. Both intervention and control sites will be chosen by convenience. In each country, the intervention site will be the university that the local principal investigator is affiliated with. We aim to recruit 1000 students per site (baseline assessment). All participants will complete the online questionnaire at baseline. Baseline data will be used to develop social norms messages that will be included in a web-based intervention. The intervention group will receive individualized social norms feedback. The website will remain online during the following 5 months. After five months, a second survey will be conducted and effects of the intervention on social norms and drug use will be measured in comparison to the control site. Discussion: This project is the first cross-national European collaboration to investigate the feasibility of a social norms intervention to reduce licit and prevent illicit drug use among European university students. Final trial registration number DRKS00004375 on the ‘German Clinical Trials Register’.This study is funded by the European Commission, Directorate General Justice, Freedom and Security (JLS/2009-2010/DPIP/AG