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It is important to recognize and treat human immunodeficiency virus-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (HIV-PAH) because of the associated morbidity and mortality. With the introduction of antiretroviral therapies (ART), improved survival has changed the focus of treatment management from immunodeficiency-related opportunistic infections to chronic cardiovascular complications, including HIV-PAH. The 2018 6th World Symposium of Pulmonary Hypertension recommended a revised definition of PAH that might result in a greater number of patients with HIV-PAH; however, the implication of this change is not yet clear. Here, we review the current literature on the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of patients with HIV-PAH.

Currently, there is an ongoing debate about whether ‘in-vitro meat’ (IVM) should be labelled and communicated differently from conventional meat. Naming and labelling IVM\ud can have significant implications and consequences for consumers’ acceptance of this new product as well as for future labelling policies. We provide, for the first time, information on how the use of different terms (i.e., ‘cultured’, ‘lab-grown’ and ‘artificial’) shapes US consumers’ preferences and marginal willingness to pay for IVM. Using a choice experiment involving chicken meat products that vary across four attributes (i.e., production method, carbon trust label, antibiotics use and price), our results show that consumers prefer chicken meat produced through the conventional production method and tend to generally reject IVM. However, the term ‘cultured’ is less disliked than the terms ‘lab-grown’ and ‘artificial’, and ‘artificial’ is less disliked than ‘lab-grown’. Results also indicate that consumers’ valuations are heterogeneous over differing consumer attitudes. Our findings provide insights into the psychology of consumers’ level of acceptance and attitudes, which can be useful in communicating the nature of the IVM to the public. They also have important implications for future labelling policies.

Existing studies have examined the demand elasticities for organic products only in select categories, and their results for consumers' sensitivity to price changes are inconsistent. Evidence regarding the effects of price promotions on the demand for organic foods vs non-organic foods is scarce. This study aims to (1) examine the own-price elasticities of organic foods vs non-organic counterparts both with and without a promotion in a variety of product categories, and (2) investigate how the distinctive promotion effects between organic and non-organic counterparts depend on food category features. Using purchase data for 36 food categories from the 2015 Nielsen Consumer Panel, we find differential own-price elasticities for organic and non-organic foods, regardless of whether the product is purchased with a promotion. When the products are purchased with a promotion, we find stronger price promotion effects of organic virtues than non-organic virtues and weaker price promotion effects of organic vices than conventional vices. Price promotions of organic foods are more likely to induce health-conscious consumers to switch from conventional purchases to organic purchases in virtues.

This artefactual field experiment explores consumers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) price premiums for fish products to avoid the risk and uncertainty of purchasing inauthentic produce. The influence of subjective probabilistic beliefs, risk and ambiguity preferences is investigated. Participants' WTP is elicited using experimental auctions, while behavioural factors are elicited using incentivised and incentive-compatible methods: the quadratic scoring rule and multiple price lists. Results show that consumers are willing to pay a premium to avoid food fraud and purchase an authentic fish product. This premium is higher under uncertainty than risk, likely driven by ambiguity preferences which affect consumers' purchasing under uncertainty., European Review of Agricultural Economics, 49 (4), ISSN:0165-1587, ISSN:1464-3618

The agriculture and food sectors contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. About 15 percent of food-related carbon emissions are channeled through restaurants. Using a contingent valuation (CV) method with double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) questions, this article investigates U.S. consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for an optional restaurant surcharge in support of carbon emission reduction programs. The mean estimated WTP for a surcharge is 6.05 percent of an average restaurant check, while the median WTP is 3.64 percent. Our results show that individuals have a higher WTP when the surcharge is automatically added to restaurant checks. We also find that an information nudge—a short climate change script—significantly increases WTP. Additionally, our results demonstrate that there is heterogeneity in treatment effects across consumers’ age, environmental awareness, and economic views. Our findings suggest that a surcharge program could transfer a meaningful amount of the agricultural carbon reduction burden to consumers that farmers currently shoulder.

Previous research mainly focuses on the impact of locality information/labels on consumer preference as a credence attribute that is not observable even after purchasing the products. We hypothesize that locality information on food may also influence consumer perception of the three types of attributes of food products: search (i.e., color, size, freshness, and shape), experience (i.e., flavor and texture), and other credence attributes (i.e., nutritional value). We conduct an experiment with a total of 100 participants. We combine the consumer sensory analysis with the CVM to determine the impact of locality information on consumers' perception of strawberry search, experience, and credence attributes, and how these three types of attributes affect consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) at different consumption stages. Results show that providing locality information affects the sensory attributes of color perceived by consumers. Color, size, and freshness have a significant impact on consumers' WTP before consumers taste the strawberries, while flavor and texture exhibit an influential impact on consumers' WTP after tasting. Locality information is not a significant factor in determining consumers' WTP before and after they taste the strawberries. However, for some consumers, it significantly affects their WTP if locality is perceived to be associated with improved nutritional quality and food safety comparing to people who perceive local food to be fresher.

The past decades have seen the development of a multitude of sustainability-related food labels aimed at reducing the existing information asymmetry between food practitioners and consumers regarding the sustainability impact on the food supply chain. Sustainability-related food labels can correct market failures and contribute to a more sustainable world. This review discusses the effectiveness of sustainability-related food labels in promoting more sustainable food consumption around the world. We start by discussing the sustainable development goals in the food area and the challenge of defining these labels. We then investigate the demand- and supply-side issues related to the effectiveness of such labels in promoting the sustainable development goals that the labels serve. Finally, we discuss the questions raised by the state of research and their implications for food practitioners, consumers, and policy makers. We then identify future research avenues.

The unique “green food” certification scheme in China, which is aimed to ensure environmental and product safety, has attracted increasing attention. In this study, using 398 household‐level survey data from kiwifruit growers in Xixia county of Henan Province, China, alongside a propensity score matching method, we examined the impact of “green food” certification scheme on economic and environmental effects. Our results showed that: (a) the “green food” certification program did not have significant environmental effect of sustainable production practices because kiwifruit growers did not significantly increase farmyard manure, reduce pesticide and chemical material inputs, except for employed labor inputs; (b) the certification did have significantly economic effect because certified growers received higher sale prices and had reasonable and even higher economic benefits. These findings suggest that the “green food” certification program did not significantly reduce the chemical material inputs, but it helped kiwifruit growers receive higher economic benefits. The “green food” certification program has not achieved its two major goals for kiwifruit production in China [EconLit citations: O13, O44, Q01].

A polygenic inheritance involving high, medium and low penetrance genes has been suggested for melanoma susceptibility in adults, but genetic information is scarce for paediatric patients.We aim to analyse the major high and intermediate melanoma risk genes, CDKN2A, CDK4, POT1, MITF and MC1R, in a large multicentre cohort of Italian children and adolescents in order to explore the genetic context of paediatric melanoma and to reveal potential differences in heritability between children and adolescents.One-hundred-twenty-three patients (21 years) from nine Italian centres were analysed for the CDKN2A, CDK4, POT1, MITF, and MC1R melanoma predisposing genes. The rate of gene variants was compared between sporadic, familial and multiple melanoma patients and between children and adolescents, and their association with clinico-pathological characteristics was evaluated.Most patients carried MC1R variants (67%), while CDKN2A pathogenic variants were found in 9% of the cases, the MITF E318K in 2% of patients and none carried CDK4 or the POT1 S270N pathogenic variant. Sporadic melanoma patients significantly differed from familial and multiple cases for the young age at diagnosis, infrequent red hair colour, low number of nevi, low frequency of CDKN2A pathogenic variants and of the MC1R R160W variant. Melanoma in children (≤12 years) had more frequently spitzoid histotype, were located on the head/neck and upper limbs and had higher Breslow thickness. The MC1R V92M variant was more common in children than in adolescents. CDKN2A common polymorphisms and MC1R variants were associated with a high number of nevi.Our results confirm the scarce involvement of the major high-risk susceptibility genes in paediatric melanoma and suggest the implication of MC1R gene variants especially in the children population.

The present investigation aimed to determine the optimal values of temperature (30-60 ºC) and panela concentration (30-60% w / w), on the osmodehydration kinetics of cubes of yellow variety maca (Lepidium meyenii) assisted by ultrasound. (40 kHz). The response surface methodology was established with a statistical factorial design 2k + 2 (k) + 3 central points was established, subjecting the samples to ultrasound treatment and a control. The results showed a maximum water loss of 53.57 and 24.56% in the treatments with ultrasound and without movement, while the maximum gain in solids was 18.61 and 9.01% respectively. Regarding the diffusivity coefficients, values between 2.51 - 4.74 x 10-10 m2/s were obtained for water and 1.16 - 2.20 x 10-10 m2/s for solids in the ultrasound treatment and between 1.10 - 2.35 x 10-10 m2/s for water and 0.90-1.70 x 10-10 m2/s for solids in the control treatment. The analysis of variance showed a significant effect (p

Recent controversy about the inclusion of hydroponics in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic program has highlighted uncertainty about marketing hydroponic crops. In a controversial vote in November 2017, the National Organic Standards Board chose not to recommend that hydroponic farms be banned from organic certification. It is still unclear, however, how consumers perceive and value hydroponic production. This study used a nonhypothetical choice experiment to estimate consumers’ willingness to pay for hydroponic and traditional lettuce both with and without organic certification. No hydroponic premium was found, but exposing consumers to different kinds of information about hydroponics significantly affected consumers’ preference formation. Findings generally suggest that the National Organic Program should consider ways to ensure the stability of organic premiums as perceptions about hydroponics evolve.

We investigate the effect of residential proximity to recreational trails on childhood body mass index (BMI). We find that children living within 0.5 miles of recreational trails have BMI z-scores that are 0.0412 to 0.0507 standard deviations lower than those who do not live within 0.5 miles of trails. We also find that living nearby trails reduces the probability of becoming obese by 1.6 percentage points. The impact for BMI z-score is larger for children qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and for Hispanic children. These findings suggest that improving neighborhood amenities conducive to physical activity may help reduce disparities in childhood obesity. (JEL I10, R10).

Pulmonary rehabilitation is a core component of management of patients with chronic lung disease that have exercise or functional limitations. Causes of these limitations are manifold but include loss of skeletal muscle mass, power and endurance, diminished respiratory capacity owing to respiratory muscle weakness, inefficient gas exchange, and increased work of breathing, and impaired cardiovascular functioning. Besides physical limitations, patients with chronic lung disease have high rates of depression and anxiety leading to social isolation and increased health care use. Pulmonary rehabilitation uses a comprehensive and holistic approach that has been shown to ameliorate most effects of chronic lung disease.

Retail food environment is increasingly considered in relation to obesity. This study investigates the impacts of access to supermarkets, the primary source of healthy foods in the United States, on the bodyweight of children. Empirical analysis uses individual-level panel data covering health screenings of public schoolchildren from Arkansas with annual georeferenced business lists, and utilizes the variations of supermarket openings and closings. There is little overall impact in either case. However, supermarket openings are found to reduce the BMI z-scores of low-income children by 0.090 to 0.096 standard deviations. Such impact remains in a variety of robustness exercises. Therefore, improvement in healthy food access could at least help reduce childhood obesity rates among certain population groups.

Background: In addition to health problems or increasing the significant risk of health problems, obesity is also negatively associated with several socioeconomic outcomes. Obesity could negatively...

Background Cellular senescence is a key mechanism that drives age-related diseases, but has yet to be targeted therapeutically in humans. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, fatal cellular senescence-associated disease. Selectively ablating senescent cells using dasatinib plus quercetin (DQ) alleviates IPF-related dysfunction in bleomycin-administered mice. Methods A two-center, open-label study of intermittent DQ (D:100 mg/day, Q:1250 mg/day, three-days/week over three-weeks) was conducted in participants with IPF (n = 14) to evaluate feasibility of implementing a senolytic intervention. The primary endpoints were retention rates and completion rates for planned clinical assessments. Secondary endpoints were safety and change in functional and reported health measures. Associations with the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) were explored. Findings Fourteen patients with stable IPF were recruited. The retention rate was 100% with no DQ discontinuation; planned clinical assessments were complete in 13/14 participants. One serious adverse event was reported. Non-serious events were primarily mild-moderate, with respiratory symptoms (n = 16 total events), skin irritation/bruising (n = 14), and gastrointestinal discomfort (n = 12) being most frequent. Physical function evaluated as 6-min walk distance, 4-m gait speed, and chair-stands time was significantly and clinically-meaningfully improved (p

The use of on-farm surface water infrastructure for irrigation is a recommendation by water resource managers to address groundwater overdraft. A contingent valuation question estimates Arkansas producers9 willingness to pay (WTP) to convert farmland into an on-farm reservoir and tail-water recovery system. The estimated mean WTP to convert land into water storage is −US$1,748 ac−1 (−US$4,319 ha−1), but this WTP varies substantially across farms by irrigation practice and perception of water scarcity. Producers who use conservation practices or live in water scarce regions have a mean WTP between US$5,279 to US$21,124 ac−1 (US$13,045 to US$52,198 ha−1) while producers who do not use conservation practices or live in water abundant regions have a mean WTP between −US$7,424 and −US$12,025 ac−1 (−US$18,345 to −US$29,714 ha−1). The significant variation in the WTP suggests that conservation programs would be more cost-effective by tailoring extension activities and government cost-shares to regional- and producer-specific characteristics.

CRISPR gene-editing has major implications for agriculture and food security. However, no studies have evaluated the public acceptance and valuation of CRISPR-produced food. As such, we conducted a multi-country assessment of consumers’ willingness-to-consume (WTC) and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for CRISPR-produced food compared to conventional and genetically modified (GM) foods, respectively. In the USA, Canada, Belgium, France, and Australia, 56, 47, 46, 30, and 51% of respondents, respectively, indicated they would consume both GM and CRISPR food. We also found that biotechnology familiarity and perceptions of safety were the primary drivers for WTC CRISPR and GM food. Moreover, respondents valued CRISPR and GM food similarly – substantially less than conventional food – which could be detrimental for meeting future food demand.

Objetivo La dispersion transmural de la repolarizacion ventricular (DTMRV) es un factor de riesgo para muerte en pacientes con sindrome isquemico coronario agudo (SICA). Con el objetivo de conocer el efecto de la realizacion de angioplastia sobre la DTMRV, se estudio la relacion Tp-f/QTc en pacientes con SICA sometidos a angioplastia. Metodo Se diseno un estudio observacional, retrospectivo y descriptivo. Se incluyeron 150 pacientes (N = 150) con diagnostico de SICA. Se valoro la relacion Tp-f/QTc inicial y se evaluo su acortamiento posangioplastia. Como objetivo secundario, se comparo la asociacion de dichos cambios en la relacion Tp-f/QTc con la mortalidad cardiovascular y los eventos adversos cardiovasculares. Resultados El promedio en la relacion Tp-f/QTc inicial fue de 0.2529, mientras que posangioplastia fue de 0.2397. Por medio de prueba de rangos de Wilcoxon se evidencio un descenso significativo en la relacion Tp-f/QTc posterior a la angioplastia, con un valor Z de -2.051 y una p < 0.04. En el analisis secundario se encontro que una Tp-f/QTc ≥ 0.29 posangioplastia es factor de riesgo para presentacion de los siguientes eventos adversos: muerte intrahospitalaria (7.4 vs 0%; p < 0.003), nuevo SICA en seguimiento a 1 ano (25.9 vs. 18.5%; p < 0.006) y reintervencion en seguimiento a 1 ano (29.6 vs. 15.0%; p < 0.002). Conclusiones Existe un acortamiento significativo en la relacion Tp-f/QTc posangioplastia en pacientes con SICA. Esta medida de la DTMRV puede servir como un predictor de muerte intrahospitalaria, eventos cardiovasculares y reintervencion a 1 ano en pacientes con SICA tratados con angioplastia. Objective Transmural Dispersion of Repolarization (TDR) is a Risk factor for Death in patients with Acute Coronary ­Syndrome (ACS). In order to know the effect of angioplasty on TDR, the Tp-e/QTc ratio was studied in patients with ACS undergoing angioplasty. Method An observational, retrospective and descriptive study was designed. 150 patients (N = 150) with diagnosis of ACS were included. The initial Tp-e/QTc ratio was assessed and then its post-angioplasty shortening was evaluated. As a secondary objective, we compared the association of these Tp-e/QTc ratio changes with cardiovascular mortality and cardiovascular adverse events. Results The average in the initial Tp-e/QTc ratio was 0.2529, while post-angioplasty was 0.2397. Through a Wilcoxon rage test, a significant decrease in the Tp-e/QTc ratio after angioplasty was observed, with a Z value of −2.051 and p < 0.04. In the secondary analysis, it was found that a Tp-e/QTc ≥ 0.29 post-angioplasty is a risk factor for presenting the following adverse events: in-hospital death (7.4 vs. 0%; p < 0.003), new ACS in 1-year follow-up (25.9 vs. 18.5%; p < 0.006), and reintervention in 1-year follow up (29.6 vs. 15%; p < 0.002). Conclusions There is a significant shortening in the Tp-e/QTc ratio post-angioplasty in patients with ACS. This measure of TDR can serve as a predictor of in-hospital death, cardiovascular events and 1-year reintervention in patients with ACS treated initially by angioplasty.

Objective To explore the association between food insecurity and mental health outcomes among low-income Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a survey of 2714 low-income respondents nationwide from June 29, 2020 to July 21, 2020. A proportional odds logit model was employed to estimate the associations between food insecurity and anxiety and between food insecurity and depression. Results Food insecurity is associated with a 257% higher risk of anxiety and a 253% higher risk of depression. Losing a job during the pandemic is associated with a 32% increase in risk for anxiety and a 27% increase in risk for depression. Conclusions Food insecurity caused by the pandemic was associated with increased risk of mental illness. The relative risk of mental illness from being food insecure is almost three-fold that of losing a job during the pandemic. Public health measures should focus on getting direct subsidies of food purchases to poor families, especially families with children. They should also reduce the stigma and shame that is associated with accepting charitable foods.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased food insecurity despite emergency legislation that put more resources into food assistance programs, increased unemployment benefits, and provided stimulus payments. We conducted a survey in the US on food insecurity among low-income Americans during the early months of the pandemic. While we cannot estimate causal effects, we are able to show important associations between food insecurity and nutritional and economic assistance that highlight the need to ensure that those newly at risk for food insecurity are able to connect to resources. For example, our results indicate that those who lost jobs due to the pandemic reported the highest level of food insecurity and also the lowest engagement with food assistance programs. The SNAP expansion appears to be important only among groups with higher levels of income stability including non-minority households and those not experiencing a job loss. Thus, the SNAP expansion may not have had a meaningful impact on those most at risk for food insecurity. Finally, our data highlight the importance of school meal programs during normal times. Those who took advantage of school meals before the outbreak are more likely to have experienced food insecurity during the pandemic-related school closures.

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Given the opioid crisis and emergence of drug-resistant organisms, we sought to examine annual trends in hospitalization rates for IE and potential epidemiologic shift in the causative microorganisms among patients with and without injection drug use (IDU). Methods This was a single-center retrospective cohort study of hospitalized adults with IE. Annual trends in hospitalization rates were calculated (2011-2018), and patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared according to IDU status. Results Our cohort of 244 hospitalized patients with IE had a subset of 112 with IDU. The annual hospitalization rate for IE increased almost four-fold and was most notable among patients with IDU. The highest increase occurred in patients with Staphylococcus aureus-associated IE. Patients with IDU were younger, and more likely to be women with tricuspid valve vegetations and have IE due to methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Patients without IDU were more likely to have central venous catheters with mitral and aortic valve vegetations and have IE due to Streptococcus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species. Patients without IDU had a higher requirement for cardiac surgery and higher 90-day mortality. Age was the only independent variable associated with 90-day mortality. Conclusions The rising incidence of IE in younger and older persons is driven in part by the opioid public health crisis and higher prevalence of indwelling central venous catheters, respectively. Timely treatment of opioid use disorders and stewardship surrounding use of central venous catheters is urgently needed.

The impacts of COVID‐19 on labor in the food supply chain and on workers’ decisions to accept essential jobs are discussed. We then analyze surveys administered to low‐skilled domestic workers before and during the pandemic to assess respondents' attitudes toward food production, guest workers, immigration policy, and the government's response to COVID‐19. Results suggest the outbreak resulted in respondents, on average, shifting their view toward food being a national security issue and a higher degree of empathy for H‐2A workers. Regression analysis shows that gender, current agricultural workers, and information on COVID‐19 and agricultural field workers influenced respondents' answers.

Introduction Childhood obesity continues to be a significant public health issue in the U.S. and is associated with short- and long-term adverse health outcomes. A number of states have implemented school-based BMI screening programs. However, these programs have been criticized for not being effective in improving students’ BMI or reducing childhood obesity. One potential benefit, however, of screening programs is the identification of younger children at risk of obesity as they age. Methods This study used a unique panel data set from the BMI screening program for public school children in the state of Arkansas collected from 2003 to 2004 through the 2018–2019 academic years and analyzed in 2020. Machine learning algorithms were applied to understand the informational value of BMI screening. Specifically, this study evaluated the importance of BMI information during kindergarten to the accurate prediction of childhood obesity by the 4th grade. Results Kindergarten BMI z-score is the most important predictor of obesity by the 4th grade and is much more important to prediction than sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables that would otherwise be available to policymakers in the absence of the screening program. Including the kindergarten BMI z-score of students in the model meaningfully increases the accuracy of the prediction. Conclusions Data from the Arkansas BMI screening program greatly improve the ability to identify children at greatest risk of future obesity to the extent that better prediction can be translated into more effective policy and better health outcomes. This is a heretofore unexamined benefit of school-based BMI screening.

Public efforts to battle COVID-19 have been portrayed as a trade-off between health and the economy. We investigate how the U.S. general public prioritizes the health and the income dimensions amid COVID-19 using an incentivized instrument with real monetary consequences. Specifically, participants have to divide monetary contributions between two charitable organizations representing either the health or the income dimension. An overwhelming majority of participants supports both dimensions, with higher monetary contributions to the health dimension (56%) compared to income (44%), but the difference is not large. Only a small fraction of respondents contributes exclusively to the health (10%) or income (5%) dimensions. This finding is important since the course of COVID-19 will be shaped by the policies governments implement and how the general public reacts to these policies.

Worker shortages in US agricultural field jobs are widespread. Since US domestic workers typically forgo agricultural field jobs, their participation could potentially alleviate the labor shortfalls. We used an attribute-based discrete choice experiment administered before and during COVID-19 to evaluate US domestic workers' willingness to accept agricultural field jobs and determine domestic workers' valuation for non-pecuniary benefits. Results indicate that before the pandemic, domestic workers have an average reservation wage of \$23.57 per hour, which is substantially larger (\$9.58 or 68\%) than the 2019 national average wage rate of \$13.99 for field work, but similar to the national average non-farm wage rate of \$23.51 per hour. This partially explains why a minority of field workers are born in the United States. However, non-pecuniary benefits for insurance, housing, food allowance, and transportation notably increase domestic workers' willingness to accept agricultural field jobs by reducing mean reservation wage. Respondents' willingness to accept agricultural field work increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for respondents with previous field-work experience, those that prefer domestically produced food, and those who believe food is a national security issue. Respondents that lost employment or income due to the pandemic had the lowest mean WTA of \$17.16 and \$18.79 without any additional non-pecuniary benefits. The results generally suggest that the non-pecuniary benefits clearly increase domestic workers willingness to accept agricultural field jobs. Hence, it is possible to entice domestic workers to work in agricultural fields, with a combination of reasonable wages and mix of non-pecuniary benefits.

COVID-19 has overwhelmed healthcare systems across the globe with an unprecedented surge in the demand for hospitalizations. Consequently, many hospitals are facing precarious conditions due to limited capacity, especially in the provision of ventilators. The governing ethical principles of medical practice delineated in (1) favor prioritizing younger patients, largely because of their relatively higher expected life years. We conduct a survey of the general public in the United States to elicit their preferences for the allocation of a limited number of ventilators. The results show that the general public views align with the established ethical principles, which favor younger patients.JEL Classification: C91.

This study examines the effectiveness of green identity labeling and environmental information in nudging consumers toward pro-environmental food choices, using an online discrete choice experiment conducted on US respondents. Results reveal that the green identity labeling in itself is ineffective at increasing consumer valuation for sustainable labels. Nevertheless, the environmental information intervention and its joint use with green identity labels can enhance consumer valuation for already existing pro-environmental foods instead of the novel food products. The policy implications for encouraging sustainable behaviors are discussed in the paper.

Understanding how SNAP participants spend their time in various activities over the benefit cycle can provide insights into ways to improve the effectiveness of the program and reduce the potential unintended negative effects of program participation. Using data from the 2006–2008 and 2014–2016 American Time Use Survey and Eating and Health Module, we revisit the SNAP benefit cycle issue by investigating if SNAP participants spend less time on home-based eating related activities (i.e., primary eating, food preparation, and grocery shopping) towards the end of the benefit cycle than comparable non-participants. We find that SNAP participants spend less time on food production activities in both periods—less time on food preparation in 2006–2008 and less time on shopping for groceries in 2014–2016—relative to comparable non-participants towards the end of the benefit month. Given the importance of time allocation, we then examine how SNAP participants allocate their time across various activities compared to comparable non-participants. We discuss the implications of our results in relation to these time use patterns over the benefit month.

The Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) sustainable seafood ecolabel covers about 10% of total seafood catch globally. Despite its prevalence, consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for MSC-certified imported seafood is not well understood. Using a choice experiment conducted with an American-consumers sample, this study measures the differences in WTP for American, Ecuadorian, and Vietnamese canned tuna. The results noted two things. First, the ecolabel induces country-specific effects, where the marginal WTP for the MSC label is higher for the imported products than for the domestic product; second, consumers prefer domestic products ceteris paribus, nevertheless, the premium of the ecolabel—when attached to the imported products—may partially eclipse preference for domestic products without the ecolabel. The results imply that the MSC ecolabel may generate a more favorable effect when applied to products from developing countries.

Consumers carry a wealth of external knowledge and experience into a study that may affect choices in even the most well-crafted experiment. We derive a conceptual model showing how the level and variability of price perceptions “outside” the task at hand might affect choice behavior, and we conduct an experiment to test the model by manipulating information provided to respondents in a way to alter the “outside the experiment” perceptions. Mixed logit, error component models show that reference-dependent models best describe the choice data, and we find that consumer choice is significantly affected by the experiment manipulations. The predictions of the model are borne out in the data. As expected, price sensitivity is generally higher for price changes above a price reference point than below. Also as predicted, exogenously increasing external reference prices and exogenously reducing the variability in references prices both serve to increase the probability of making a purchase and reduce the probability of choosing “none.” These results have important implications for the design and practice of choice experiments, as they show that consumer choice is affected by perceptions of the level and variability of prices outside the experiment. More generally, the results highlight the need to understand the formation and distribution of reference prices when predicting consumer choice.

To test the market viability of a non-GMO topical RNAi insect control, we conducted a Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) survey in the USA, Canada, Australia, France, and Belgium to elicit whether consumers need a premium or discount for: (1) a hypothetical GMO rice variety using the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene for insect control; and (2) a hypothetical non-GMO rice variety using topical RNAi spray for insect control. The survey was designed based on a Multiple Price List (MPL) format where respondents selected their preferred insect control technology; i.e., conventional, GMO Bt, or non-GMO RNAi, at different prices. Participants' responses were analyzed using an interval regression model to generate WTP premiums and discounts for each country with control variables for demographic influences. Further, we asked consumers their Willingness-To-Consume (WTC) food produced with GM and RNAi technologies respectively and evaluated WTC differences using a McNemar matched pairs test in each country. The results from our study clearly show that: (1) consumers in the USA, Canada, Australia, and France still require a discount for rice produced with topical RNAi compared to conventionally-produced rice (p

We examine the impact of attribute representation format in choice experiments on willingness to pay (WTP), and serial stated attribute non-attendance. Subjects in an online choice experiment were randomly assigned to a Visual or Text Treatment. Participants in both treatments were given the same choice sets but those in the Visual Treatment were shown pictures of the product alternatives in the choice sets as they would appear in a grocery store, while those in the Text Treatment were presented with text descriptions. Results from random parameters logit models accounting for serial stated attribute non-attendance show that more attributes were significant in the Text Treatment than the Visual Treatment, and among variables significant in both treatments, attribute WTP was higher in the Text Treatment than in the Visual Treatment. Hence, the attribute representation format should be considered when designing choice experiments.

A petition to the USDA claims that natural labeling misleads consumers. We investigate this claim using an online choice experiment to determine consumer willingness to pay for steak labeled as natural. Half of the sample was provided with the definition of natural, while half was not. The absence of the definition resulted in consumers placing a premium on “natural” steak, while those provided with the definition were not willing to pay a premium. Similarly, participants who consider themselves familiar with the natural definition did not place a premium on “natural” steak. Results indicate that consumers may misinterpret the natural label.

High profile cases of exploitative labour practices have increased concerns over agricultural working conditions. However, it is unclear to what extent the public is willing to trade-off fair working conditions for higher prices. We implement a large-scale survey to uncover consumer preferences for a food labeling system that certifies fair working conditions for the workers employed in agricultural production. We test for several methodological issues with respect to value elicitation and predictions of reference dependent theory. With our most conservative estimates, we find that consumers are willing to pay an average premium of 53 cents per 500 gr, 95\% CI [43.9, 62.3], for strawberries with fair labour certification.

Background Despite advances in diagnosis and management, infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Given the emergence of drug- resistant organisms, it is unclear whether this has impacted the characteristics and outcomes of IE among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs. Methods We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study. 306 records of hospitalized adults diagnose with IE by ICD-9/ICD-10 codes were identified from 2011 to 2018. 244 patients met criteria. IRB approval was obtained. The baseline demographic, microbiologic, echocardiographic variables and outcomes were extracted from the chart, and compared between IDUs and non-IDUs. Results 112 (45.9%) patients were IDUs and significantly younger (mean age 36 vs. 64, p< 0.001). Both methicillin-sensitive (44.6% vs. 23.5%, p< 0.001) and methicillin-resistant (29.5% vs. 13.6%, p= 0.002) Staphylococcus aureus associated IE were more prevalent in IDUs compared to non-IDUs. Streptococcus species (22.7% vs 11.6%, p=0.02), excluding Enterococcus species, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (12.1% vs 1.8%, p=0.002) were significantly more prevalent in non-IDUs. IE in IDUs were more likely to have tricuspid valve vegetations (56.3% vs. 13.6%, p< 0.001), whereas non-IDUs were more likely to have mitral valve (39.4% vs. 25%, p=0.02) and aortic valve vegetations (46.2% vs. 15.2%, p< 0.001). 19% of patients with IE underwent valve replacement within 6 months, and 17% died within 90 days. A multivariable model that included age, gender, and IDU status, age was the only variable that remained independently associated with 90-day mortality (adjusted OR 1.031; 95% CI 1.006, 1.057; p< 0.01). Conclusion In this single-center experience, we found that methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant organism among IDUs and non-IDUs. We also found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was significantly more prevalent among IDUs with IE. Provably related to an increase prevalence of colonization with resistant organisms in the community. Despite the shift in prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among IDUs, there was no increased 90-day mortality risk after adjustment for age and gender. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Objective The Xavante Longitudinal Health Study was developed to permit granular tracking of contemporary health challenges faced by indigenous communities in Brazil, taking into consideration ongoing historical processes that may be associated with increases in child undernutrition, adult obesity, and cardiovascular disease risks. Methods This was an open‐cohort study with six semiannual data collection waves from 2009 to 2012. The study was undertaken in two Xavante villages, Pimentel Barbosa and Etênhiritipá, State of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. No sampling technique was used. Data collection placed emphasis on growth and nutrition of children under five and nutrition status, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels of adolescents and adults. Results Baseline data collection began in July/August 2009 with a population census (656 individuals). Between the first and final waves, the study population increased by 17%. At baseline, stunting and wasting was elevated for most age groups 17 years, disproportionately affecting females. Anemia was elevated in most age groups, especially among females. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was moderate. The overall prevalence of high blood pressure was relatively low. Conclusions Our findings reveal marked health disparities relative to the Brazilian national population and a complex dietary health epidemiology involving the double burden of malnutrition, rapidly changing nutritional indicators, and elevated metabolic disease risk. The topically broad multidisciplinary focus permitted construction of the richest longitudinal data set of socio‐epidemiological information for an indigenous population in Brazil.

We examine the effect of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on the quality of household food purchases using the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) and propensity score matching. A healthy purchasing index (HPI) is used to measure nutritional quality of household food purchases. WIC foods explain the improvement in quality of food purchases, not self‐selection of more nutrition‐conscious households into the program. The improvement in purchase quality was driven entirely by WIC participating households who redeemed WIC foods during the interview week. There was no significant difference between WIC participants who did not redeem WIC foods and eligible nonparticipants. In this sample, there is no evidence that lack of access to clinics has adverse effects on participation nor is there evidence that HPI depends on supermarket access. A supervised machine learning process supports our main conclusion on the importance of WIC foods.