Effects of self-monitoring and feedback on residential electricity consumption

Prior research has indicated that frequent feedback could reduce residential electricity consumption by 10% to 15%. However, because feedback was primarily given in written form, this procedure might not be practical. The present study evaluated a potentially more practical feedback procedure during peak-use periods with high electricity consuming households. The study was conducted during the winter in an upper-middle class neighborhood of almost identical, all-electric townhouses (N = 71) that averaged about 170 KWH per day per household for a monthly bill of over $200. Twelve households received daily written feedback. Sixteen households (self-monitoring) were taught to read their outdoor electricity meter and to record KWH used every day. A comparison group was composed of 14 households that had volunteered to participate and 29 others that had only given permission to have their meters read. During a 1-month period that the procedures were in effect, the feedback group reduced consumption by 13% and the self-monitoring group by about 7%. These reductions, relative to the comparison group, were maintained during an early spring 1-month follow-up period and, to a lesser extent, during a 6-week warm spring period. Self-monitoring participants were highly reliable and persistent meter readers. Reductions in electricity use were reported by households to be largely attributable to lowering of the heat thermostat, and large monetary and KWH savings were found. Techniques to make self-monitoring cost-effective important components of the self-monitoring procedure, methods to apply self-monitoring more broadly, and plans to combine behavioral procedures with physical technology are discussed.     

Parental alcohol consumption and postneonatal mortality

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of maternal and paternal alcohol consumption as independent risk factors in postneonatal mortality. Questions on the frequency and quantity of alcoholic drinks consumed were included in a questionnaire used as part of a case-control study. Over a period of 11 months the families of 157 cases and 468 controls, matched for age and locality, were interviewed. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were obtained by matched univariate analysis and by multiple conditional logistic regression. Maternal consumption during pregnancy, maternal consumption during breastfeeding and maternal consumption in the past year were not risk factors for postneonatal mortality. A multiple matched analysis did not alter these results. Matched univariate analysis of paternal alcohol consumption gave several positive results, including variables pertaining to the father's consumption in a multiple logistic regression model with traditional risk factors, which revealed that the frequency of paternal consumption in the last year, as estimated by the mother, was found to have a significant effect on postneonatal mortality.     

Focusing attention on circular pedaling reduces movement economy in cycling

Previous research has shown that focus of attention affects movement economy in endurance tasks. This experimental study was designed to take a closer look at how focusing attention on special characteristics of endurance cycling actions can influence metabolic energy costs. Twenty-five trained cyclists completed 4 × 6 min time trials at submaximal intensity on a cycling ergometer. For each of the four time trials, they were instructed to adopt a different focus of attention: (1) circular pedaling, (2) force production of quad muscles, (3) head position, (4) stimuli in a cycling video. The order of conditions was counterbalanced. The main dependent measure was movement economy (i.e., oxygen consumption at a given workload). The results show that a focus on the circular pedaling action leads to reduced economy than a focus on the video (p = 0.001). Focusing on smooth and circular pedaling includes a continuous monitoring of the cycling action, which could disturb the rhythmical nature of movement execution, thereby leading to detriments in movement economy.     

《管子》与《蜜蜂的寓言》消费观之比较

在人类消费文化发展史上,有两本书的消费观点格外引人注目。分别是成书于我国先秦时期的《管子》和西方18世纪荷兰经济学家曼得维尔的《蜜蜂的预言》。撇开时间和空间的诸多差异,两书的消费思想竟有惊人的相似之处：它们都在一片尚俭声中主张适度消费,发挥消费对社会生产的积极作用;反对过度节俭,认为奢靡能增加社会财富、提供就业机会;两书虽是它们所处时代论述消费问题的开天辟地之作,却并未受重视,反而对后人产生了深远影响。     

《管子》的生态经济思想论

本文论述了《管子》的生态经济思想：《管子》认为经济系统必须顺应这个生态系统的生态法则：“天时”;《管子》阐述了正确处理人口、生产与资源、环境保护间关系的“务地利”的可持续经济思想;《管子》提出了修德、贫富有度及适度消费的生态经济管理思想。     

都市女性消费心理与行为

探讨女性消费心理与行为的特点,揭示女性消费的热点和趋势。结果表明：（1）都市女性消费具有时尚、理性、注重健康、品牌忠诚度高、注重心理享受等特点;（2）其消费热点和趋势主要体现在：网络消费渐成时尚;发展类消费日益攀升;时尚、品质、品位消费成为亮点;消费时尚的全球化趋势;（3）企业与商家在商业行为中若能合理利用现代都市女性消费的心理特点与规律,合理调整营销策略,必能赢得市场。     

A comparison of two report formats for alcohol and caffeine use

Abstract

The present study compared two different methods of assessing alcohol and caffeine use in a community sample of adults over a one-year period. Daily reporting of beer/wine intake was more stable over time and showed higher correspondence with Quantity-frequency measures than daily reporting of hard liquor use. Coffee and tea use showed high temporal stability and good alternate form reliability, though a tendency to underreport typical use of coffee use was observed. The psychometric properties of substance use measures appear to vary with type of beverage consumed and report format.