The present study investigated the role of differential experience in one’s processing of facial age information. Study 1 examined how differential experience with own- and other-race individuals, as well as differential experience with own- and other-age individuals, influences children’s and adults’ abilities to process facial age information. Study 2 examined how differential sociocultural experiences influence adults’ abilities to process facial age information. The results suggest that the influence of differential experience with own- and other-race faces is most evident when individuals have extremely limited to no experience with other-race faces. There was also a clear other-age effect in young adults’ facial age judgments, presumably due to their extensive experience with own-age peers. However 9- to 10-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds also showed an advantage in processing facial age information for young adult faces relative to child and middle-age adult faces. Thus, the 9- to 10-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds may have also had the most extensive experience with young adult individuals relative to individuals from other age groups. In addition, results suggest that the efficiency with which individuals process facial age information is influenced by differential sociocultural emphases on the need to differentiate between the facial ages of social partners.

The present study investigated the role of differential experience in one’s processing of facial age information. Study 1 examined how differential experience with own- and other-race individuals, as well as differential experience with own- and other-age individuals, influences children’s and adults’ abilities to process facial age information. Study 2 examined how differential sociocultural experiences influence adults’ abilities to process facial age information. The results suggest that the influence of differential experience with own- and other-race faces is most evident when individuals have extremely limited to no experience with other-race faces. There was also a clear other-age effect in young adults’ facial age judgments, presumably due to their extensive experience with own-age peers. However 9- to 10-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds also showed an advantage in processing facial age information for young adult faces relative to child and middle-age adult faces. Thus, the 9- to 10-year-olds and 13- to 14-year-olds may have also had the most extensive experience with young adult individuals relative to individuals from other age groups. In addition, results suggest that the efficiency with which individuals process facial age information is influenced by differential sociocultural emphases on the need to differentiate between the facial ages of social partners.

This dissertation examines the potential for professional/community planning to respond pro-actively and strategically to the impending demographic changes which will be brought about by the aging of the baby boom generation. This multi-phased investigation was designed to explore whether professional planning could uncover models and concepts which can be used to make cities and communities more age-friendly. Several conclusions can be drawn from the study. It was found that planners are not ready for demographic change nor are they prepared for helping create age-friendly cities. This is due to several reasons, including a lack of resources forcing them to concentrate on short-term, immediate issues; lack of power and credibility; and a perception that the elderly are a lower priority in society. For planners to become proactive and strategic in planning for age-friendly cities, they will need to re-examine their tendency to focus mainly on land use planning; focus on the long-term agenda; establish credibility with politicians; develop visionary skills; and become educators and facilitators, engaging key stakeholders and community groups. The data indicated that planners have a limited knowledge of gerontology. However, a high level of congruence was found between the newer planning models and key research dimensions in gerontology. If these two fields were to work closer together, each would become better equipped to produce knowledge which will help society deal with aging demographics. Evidence also showed congruence between the newer planning models, building age-friendly cities and the environmental agenda. Common factors such as urban intensification (particularly in the core), building more compact urban form and increasing multi-modal transportation options (including pedestrianism) help reduce sprawl, congestion and pollution and concomitantly help create an environment which is healthier and friendly to all ages, including seniors. Findings from this research are used to develop a hybrid “Wise Growth” planning model to encourage the development of age-friendly cities.

No description available.

The agnathan hagfish is the plesiomorphic sister group of vertebrates. It is eel-liked, cartilaginous, and has only one semicircular canal. As hagfish have no hard structures that age determination remains unsuccessful. In the present work, we examined the statoconia in the inner ear of the hagfish Paramyxine nelsoni intense to explore it as a useful index in hagfish¡¦s age determination. P. nelsoni is quite abundant at some localities in the southwestern coast of Taiwan. Due to its smaller size, P. nelsoni is not a commercial species in this area. Little information on its populations is available in the literature. Consequently P. nelsoni is a potential model species for fisheries study of hagfish. The statoconia of the P. nelsoni were deciphered from 49 specimens with body length ranging from 10.2cm to 29.5cm. The semicircular canals were examined using scanning electron microscope. Histological sections for the semicircular canals were also made for observation of cytological characters. The masses of statoconia were located on the surface of the macular epithelium. The epithelium of macula was psudostratified columnar type, which was composed of hair cells and supporting cells. Diameters of the statoconia were ranged from 1 &#x00B5;m to 26 &#x00B5;m (3.41¡Ó 0.29 &#x00B5;m). Most of them were distributed in a narrow range from 4 &#x00B5;m to 8 &#x00B5;m. Both small (<4£gm) and large (>8£gm) statoconia were observed in all size of Paramyxine nelsoni. The diameter of statoconia was not correlated with body length. Although the numbers of statoconia were increased with body length, it was not separate clearly between each body size. The shape index (short diameter/long diameter) was decreased when the long diameters of statoconia were larger than 6 &#x00B5;m. This result suggests that statoconia are produced to accumulate from round to ellipse throughout hagfish¡¦s life span. In conclusion, both of the diameters and numbers of statoconia may not be appropriate index in age determination of hagfish.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-67).

Diss.--Basel. / Bibliography: p. 224-228.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Harvard University, 1988. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 240-250).

Thesis ( Ph.D.) -- University of Texas at Arlington, 2008.

Thesis--Lund. / Includes bibliographical references (p. [280]-290) and index.