<div><div><div><p>The purpose of this project was to investigate and propose a solution to gaps identified in existing paradigms for buying and selling secondhand goods online. Through a review of existing literature, the secondhand market was explored together with the variety of reasons for individuals’ participation. Different modes of collaborative consumption and some of the challenges unique to peer-to-peer markets were also examined. A computational approach to identifying items and actions within digital media was reviewed in support of the proposed solution. Research discoveries uncovered through directional surveys, semi-structured interviews, and an analysis of peer products were summarized. These discoveries were consolidated into a list of requirements, including 1) being able to sell many items at once, 2) disbursing items quickly and with minimal effort, 3) making lower value items worth selling, 4) establishing and maintaining trust by designing for safety and encouraging quality, and 5) reducing the need for communication between buyers and sellers by managing the sale, condition, and inventory status. After multiple rounds of concept development, a principal direction based upon the “make me move” concept in the real estate industry was selected. Combined with panoramic images, the resulting solution relied on computer-driven tagging of items for sale. This allowed many items to be listed at once through a single image while making it possible for buyers to find and place offers. Offers were suggested in lieu of bids or an immediate checkout process to avoid some of the negative, bid-related behaviors and minimize the communication required to complete a sale. An interactive prototype was created to evaluate the concept and usability via online user testing, which included surveys and cognitive walkthroughs. The results were analyzed and prioritized to refine the final details of the solution. Overall, I demonstrated a unique concept for buying and selling secondhand goods which supports selling many items, efficiently and safely, while eliminating much of the back and forth communication required to facilitate transactions on many existing platforms.</p></div></div></div>

This study aims to investigate young adults' attitudes towards consumption of second hand clothing, and examine what motivates young adults to increase their consumption of second hand clothing. Furthermore, we want to investigate consumption behaviour of young adults, in order to highlight the behaviour changes that are required to achieve sustainable consumption behaviour. This study is based on a qualitative method in which focus groups interviews were applied. The empirical data has been processed by a thematically analysis based on the themes that constitutes the framework for the study. The result shows that the respondents claim that range of clothing, location, related role models and financial incentives motivates consumption of second hand clothing. However, words and action do not correspond, when the result clearly shows that habits and behaviour patterns are the main barriers to change consumption behaviour. Our study aims to deepen the science affecting young adults' attitudes towards consumption of second hand clothing. / Denna studie syftar till att undersöka unga vuxnas inställning till konsumtion av secondhand-kläder samt undersöka vad som motiverar dem att öka sin konsumtion av secondhand-kläder. Vidare vill vi undersöka konsumtionsbeteendet hos unga vuxna för att synliggöra de beteendeförändringar som krävs för att uppnå ett hållbart konsumtionsbeteende. Denna studie är baserad på en kvalitativ metod där fokusgruppsintervjuer tillämpats. Empirin har sedan bearbetats genom tillämpning av tematisk analys, utifrån de teman som utgör ramverket för studien. Resultatet visar att respondenterna hävdar att utbud av kläder i secondhand-butiker, lokalisering, närstående förebilder samt ekonomiska incitament motiverar till konsumtion av secondhand-kläder. Dock överensstämmer inte ord med handling då resultatet tydligt visar att vanor och invanda beteendemönster är de främsta barriärerna för att förändra ett konsumtionsbeteende. Vår studie ämnar fördjupa kunskapen i området som berör unga vuxnas inställning samt motivation till konsumtion av secondhand-kläder.

BACKGROUND: Results of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in Kerala, India found that 42 % of adults were exposed to second hand smoke (SHS) inside the home. Formative research carried out in rural Kerala suggests that exposure may be much higher. Numerous studies have called for research and intervention on SHS exposure among women and children as an important component of maternal and child health activities. METHODS: Community-based participatory research was carried out in Kerala. First, a survey was conducted to assess prevalence of SHS exposure in households. Next, a proof of concept study was conducted to develop and test the feasibility of a community-wide smoke free homes initiative. Educational materials were developed and pretested in focus groups. After feasibility was established, pilot studies were implemented in two other communities. Post intervention, surveys were conducted as a means of assessing changes in community support. RESULTS: At baseline, between 70 and 80 % of male smokers regularly smoked inside the home. Over 80 % of women had asked their husband not to do so. Most women felt powerless to change their husband's behavior. When women were asked about supporting a smoke free homes intervention, 88 % expressed support for the idea, but many expressed doubt that their husbands would comply. Educational meetings were held to discuss the harms of second hand smoke. Community leaders signed a declaration that their community was part of the smoke free homes initiative. Six months post intervention a survey was conducted in these communities; between 34 and 59 % of men who smoked no longer smoked in their home. CONCLUSIONS: The smoke free homes initiative is based on the principle of collective efficacy. Recognizing the difficulty for individual women to effect change in their household, the movement establishes a smoke free community mandate. Based on evaluation data from two pilot studies, we can project that between a 30 and 60 % reduction of smoking in the home may be achieved, the effect size determined by how well the smoke free home steps are implemented, the characteristics of the community, and the motivation of community level facilitators.

This thesis examines the effects of overconsumption of clothing in the Global North on African textile industries through increased donations to secondhand stores. I begin by explaining how the growth of the fast fashion industry has increased the purchase and production of clothing over the recent decades. As an industry built on trends that quickly go in and out of style, fast fashion has resulted in massive amounts of unworn clothing. Consumers either throw away or donate their clothing, each of which result in either environmental or economic challenges. I explore post-consumer clothing’s donation route. Most donated clothing goes to secondhand stores such as Goodwill and The Salvation Army. However, with increasing amounts of donations going to these stores, they’ve reached a point in which they can no longer sell as quickly as they receive. Leftovers are sent overseas as a philanthropic action, but are met with concern from economists. Foreign aid to developing countries has been a topic of debate, critiqued as a lazy way of providing a short-term benefit with possibly detrimental long-term results. Introducing post-consumer clothing into African clothing markets raises the concern that they will replace local textile industries. I look at existing literature and fieldwork on this issue in order to examine the effects on textile industries in several countries. While the effects vary in differing countries and there are several other variables involved, such as market and political conditions, collective research shows that used-clothing donations account for 40% of the decline in apparel and textile production in an average African country.

Background: Tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) is unequivocally harmful to children's health, yet up to 48% of children who visit the pediatric emergency department (PED) and urgent care setting are exposed to tobacco smoke. The incorporation of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) into the electronic health records (EHR) of PED patients may improve the rates of screening and brief TSE intervention of caregivers and result in decreased TSE in children. Objective: We propose a study that will be the first to develop and evaluate the integration of a CDSS for Registered Nurses (RNs) into the EHR of pediatric patients to facilitate the identification of caregivers who smoke and the delivery of TSE interventions to caregivers in the urgent care setting. Methods: We will conduct a two-phase project to develop, refine, and integrate an evidence-based CDSS into the pediatric urgent care setting. RNs will provide input on program content, function, and design. In Phase I, we will develop a CDSS with prompts to: (1) ASK about child TSE and caregiver smoking, (2) use a software program, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), to ADVISE caregivers to reduce their child's TSE via total smoking home and car bans and quitting smoking, and (3) ASSESS their interest in quitting and ASSIST caregivers to quit by directly connecting them to their choice of free cessation resources (eg, Quitline, SmokefreeTXT, or SmokefreeGOV) during the urgent care visit. We will create reports to provide feedback to RNs on their TSE counseling behaviors. In Phase II, we will conduct a 3-month feasibility trial to test the results of implementing our CDSS on changes in RNs' TSE-related behaviors, and child and caregiver outcomes. Results: This trial is currently underway with funding support from the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. We have completed Phase I. The CDSS has been developed with input from our advisory panel and RNs, and pilot tested. We are nearing completion of Phase II, in which we are conducting the feasibility trial, analyzing data, and disseminating results. Conclusions: This project will develop, iteratively refine, integrate, and pilot test the use of an innovative CDSS to prompt RNs to provide TSE reduction and smoking cessation counseling to caregivers who smoke. If successful, this approach will create a sustainable and disseminable model for prompting pediatric practitioners to apply tobacco-related guideline recommendations. This systems-based approach has the potential to reach at least 12 million smokers a year and significantly reduce TSE-related pediatric illnesses and related costs.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) has been recognized as a significant health risk for adults and children. In adults, ETS exposure has been linked to increased incidences of cardiovascular disease and dementia. In children, exposure has been linked to behavioral and cognitive deficits. Studies on the effects of ETS in the brain have been largely epidemiological, and have lacked a defined explanation of the molecular/biochemical effects of ETS. The present dissertation aims to test whether ETS exposure leads to altered biochemistry in the adult and developing mammalian brain. A rat ETS exposure model was employed to investigate changes at the molecular and cellular level. In an adult ETS exposure study, we focused on markers of astrogliosis , oxidative stress, and cell death. We observed altered GFAP suggestive of reactive astrogliosis. Yet, markers of oxidative and cell stress were unaffected by ETS exposure in the brain regions examined. Increased degradation of αII-spectrin and dephosphorylation of serine116 on PEA-15 indicated greater apoptotic cell death signaling in the brains of ETS exposed animals. β-synuclein was greatly upregulated by ETS, a neuroprotective protein previously reported to exhibit anti-apoptotic and anti-fibrillogenic properties. We next employed a rodent model of postnatal ETS exposure to investigate effects on developing cerebellum using a system biology approach involving mass spectrometry (MS). Proteins at statistically different abundance between groups were correlated with relevant biochemical processes and pathways by bioinformatics. ETS responsive data were enriched in elements associated with all aspects of aerobic respiration. These results were substantiated by orthogonal molecular measures, along with evidence for increase mitochondrial biogenesis/fission. These findings suggest an increase mitochondrial density driven by a demand for ATP. Further exploration of the ETS responsive proteome identified statistically significant associations of the ETS with neuron projections, in particular axon associated proteins and synaptic vesicles. Immunotbloting and microscopy experiments substantiated altered process outgrowth and synaptogenic processes. The presented data depict a striking modulation in cerebellar formation consequent to ETS exposure and the energy source to allow that modulation to occur. Our findings could provide a biochemical and cellular rational for adverse neurological effects observed in ETS exposed children.

No description available.

O início do desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central (SNC) é caracterizado por diversos processos, com períodos críticos, que podem ser influenciados por xenobióticos. Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar os efeitos das diferentes concentrações de nicotina em elementos da transmissão sináptica durante o desenvolvimento de camundongos C57Bl/6. Para tanto, foram utilizados cigarros com duas diferentes concentrações de nicotina, o 3R4F (0,73 mg de nicotina/cigarro) e o 4A1 (0,16 mg de nicotina/cigarro). As exposições ocorreram diariamente a partir do 3&#176; dia de vida (P3) até o 14&#176; dia (P14) por duas horas, e os animais controle foram expostos somente ao ar sintético. Os animais foram eutanasiados em P15, P35 e P65 e avaliamos as seguintes proteínas: sinapsina (SYN1), sinaptotagmina (SYT), sinaptofisina (SYP), sinaptobrevina (SYB), PSD-95 e EGR-1, por Western blotting; o gene Egr-1 por PCR Real Time; MAP-2 e neurofilamentos (Neu) por imunofluorescência no hipocampo, tronco encefálico e cerebelo. Nossos resultados mostraram que na infância (P15) a fumaça do cigarro 3R4F diminuiu SYN1, assim como EGR-1, MAP-2 e Neu no cerebelo. No hipocampo houve aumento de SYN1 e MAP-2, diminuição de PSD-95, Egr-1 e Neu. No tronco encefálico esse cigarro não modificou nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados. Nessa mesma idade, a fumaça do cigarro 4A1 diminuiu MAP-2, Neu e a expressão gênica de Egr-1 no cerebelo; diminuiu MAP-2 e Neu no hipocampo e não promoveu alterações no tronco encefálico. Em P35 (adolescência) o 3R4F manteve reduzido SYN1, EGR-1, MPA-2 and Neu, e também reduziu Egr-1 no cerebelo. A diminuição de SYN1 também foi observada no hipocampo, mas nessa estrutura o 3R4F também aumentou SYT, SYP, MAP-2 and Neu; diminuiu EGR-1 e a expressão de Egr-1. No entanto, no tronco encefálico, foram observados aumento de SYN1 e MAP-2, e uma diminuição de Neu. Em relação à fumaça do 4A1, em P35, nossos resultados mostraram diminuição de SYB, Egr-1, MAP-2 and Neu no cerebelo; aumento de Egr-1, MAP-2 e diminuição de Neu no hipocampo; no tronco encefálico houve aumento de SYB, Egr-1, Neu e diminuição de MAP-2. Na fase adulta (P65) as únicas diferenças estatísticas encontradas foram: no cerebelo: diminuição de SYB pelos cigarros 4A1, aumento de EGR-1 pelo 3R4F e aumento de Egr-1 e MAP-2 por ambos os cigarros; no hipocampo: aumento de Neu por ambos os cigarros; tronco encefálico: aumento de SYB e EGR-1 e diminuição de SYT pelo 4A1, diminuição de SYN1, aumento de EGR-1, Egr-1 e MAP-2 pelo 3R4F. Nossos resultados indicam que a exposição à fumaça do cigarro nos primeiros dias de vida de camundongos, mesmo que em baixas concentrações de nicotina, podem acarretar em alterações em elementos da transmissão sináptica em várias regiões encefálicas durante a infância, adolescência e na fase adulta. / The initial steps of the development of the central nervous system are characterized by several critical processes, which can be affected by xenobiotics. The present study aimed to compare the effect of two different nicotine concentrations in cigarettes on synaptic transmission elements during the development of C57/Bl6 mice. To reach this aim we exposed C57Bl/6 mice to smoke from two different cigarettes - 3R4F (0.73mg of nicotine/cigarette) or 4A1 (0.16mg of nicotine/cigarette), from the third day of life (P3) until the fourteenth (P14) for a period of 1h, twice a day (at 8am and at 3pm). The control animals were exposed only to synthetic air. At P15, P35 and P65, the animals were submitted to euthanasia and different encephalic areas were collected (cerebellum, hippocampus and brainstem); quantification of synapsin (SYN1), synaptotagmin (SYT), synaptophysin (SYP), synaptobrevin (SYB), PSD-95 and EGR1 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting, gene expression of Egr-1 by was assessed by RT-PCR and MAP-2 and neurofilaments (Neu) were assessed by immunofluorescence. Our results showed that exposure to 3R4F smoke decreased the quantification of SYN1 at infancy (P15), as well as EGR-1, MAP-2 and Neu at cerebellum. At hippocampus, there was an increase of SYN1 and MAP-2, decrease of PSD-95, Egr-1 and Neu. At brainstem, 3R4F smoke did not modify any parameter. At the same age, 4A1 smoke decreased the quantification of MAP-2, Neu and the expression of Egr-1, at cerebellum; decreased MAP-2 and Neu at hippocampus and did not alter any parameter at brainstem. At P35 (adolescence) 3R4F smoke still reduced SYN1, EGR-1, MAP-2 and Neu, and reduced Egr-1 at cerebellum. The reduction of SYN1 quantification was also observed at hippocampus, but at this area, 3R4F smoke also increased the quantification of SYT, SYP, MAP-2 and Neu and decreased EGR-1 and the expression of Egr-1. However, at the brainstem, an increased quantification of SYN1 and MAP-2 and a decrease of Neu were observed. Regarding 4A1 smoke, at the same age, our results showed a decreased quantification of SYB, Egr-1, MAP-2 and Neu at cerebellum; increase of Egr-1, MAP-2 and decrease of Neu at hippocampus; and at brainstem, increase of SYB, Egr-1, Neu and decrease of MAP-2. At adulthood (P65) the only statistical differences were: at cerebellum - decreased quantification of SYB by 4A1 cigarette smoke, increase of EGR-1 by 3R4F and increase of Egr-1 and MAP-2 by smoke of both cigarettes; at hippocampus - increase of Neu by smoke of both cigarettes; at brainstem - increase of SYB and EGR-1 and decrease of SYT by 4A1 smoke, decrease of SYN1, increase of EGR-1, Egr-1 and MAP-2 by 3R4F smoke. Thus, we can conclude that exposure to cigarette smoke early in life, even at low nicotine concentrations can modify elements of synaptic transmission, compromising such transmission at several encephalic areas.

To dress in used clothes is no longer considered as unfashionable. The acceptance of thesecond hand market has increased over the years. Vintage clothing has becomefashionable because you get the opportunity to create your own individual style. Vintagehas been given status. It has become a trend. You no longer call second hand clothing“second hand”; people tend to call it vintage even though it’s not.Our aim with this study is to determine whether or not vintage is a brand. We start fromthe consumer’s perspective when we examine the status and image as vintage received byconsumers. Later we compare the image of vintage with theories about brands and brandbuilding. Our aim is to find out if vintage can be named as a brand.Our study is qualitative and we have chosen to conduct qualitative interviews withvintage consumers in the state of New York. The essay has a hermeneutic and ahypothetical deductive research approach. The hypothetical deductive research approachsuited us well because we assumed that vintage is actually a brand name.We found that vintage is actually a brand name. The benefits the consumers consider thatvintage gives them can be compared with the added value a brand gives the consumer. Itis difficult to find a suitable definition of what a brand is. Even with the big marketingauthors disagree. According to Grönroos, Aaker and Kotler et al definition we believethat vintage is a brand and that is also our conclusion. Finally we think that thedefinitions of a brand are outdated and should be updated. This essay is conducted inSwedish. / Program: Textilekonomutbildningen

Au Chun Chung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-85). / List of Figures --- p.iii / List of Symbols and Abbreviations --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter I --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Characteristics of the Monopolistic Durable Market --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Technological Improvement in Production --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Expectation and Commitment Power --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- The Second-Hand Market of Durable Goods --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Trade-In --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6 --- Valuation vs. Willingness-to-Pay --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter II --- An Overview of the Literature --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1 --- Coase Conjecture --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2 --- Dynamic Pricing and Sales Strategy --- p.16 / Chapter 2.3 --- Durability and Planned Obsolescence --- p.19 / Chapter 2.4 --- Models of Second-Hand Market --- p.21 / Chapter 2.5 --- Other Papers of Interest --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter III --- The Models --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Basic Setup and the General Method --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Model 1 - The Basic Model (M,C and NC)" --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- Model 2 - A Model with Second-Hand Market (S) --- p.45 / Chapter 3.4 --- Model 3 - A Model with Trade-In (T) --- p.62 / Chapter Chapter IV --- Conclusions --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1 --- Conclusions --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2 --- Further Research Directions --- p.82 / References --- p.84