Brenton J. Dickinson

Time and risk preferences and the use of asthma controller medication.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the role of risk tolerance, time preference, and asthma-specific attitudes in adherence to asthma control medications. METHODS: Students with persistent asthma completed an online survey on asthma beliefs, risk tolerance, and time preference (n = 47). The time preference questions measure the degree to which the individual discounts future outcomes and essentially prefers immediate gratification to delayed gratification. The risk tolerance questions indicate the individual’s dislike of uncertainty about outcomes. We analyzed the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. RESULTS: Feelings of embarrassment and concern about medication, as well as risk tolerance and time preference, were found to be significant predictors of adherence to control medication in the logistic regression. Analysis of probabilities associated with different profiles shows that at high rates of risk tolerance and discounting of future outcomes, the probability of adherence is near 0 regardless of asthma-specific attitudes. Asthma attitudes have a statistically significant effect for individuals with low rates of risk tolerance and time preference. CONCLUSIONS: The risk tolerance and time preferences of the target group should be considered when designing an asthma-intervention program. Individuals who strongly prefer immediate gratification over future benefits and are willing to tolerate uncertain outcomes are unlikely to adhere to controller medication, regardless of their asthma attitudes. In contrast, efforts to affect relevant attitudes will be most fruitful for individuals with low rates of risk tolerance and time preference. However, as we cannot extrapolate these results to a larger population, we must view them with caution.

USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey: national, regional, and state statistics for family forest and woodland ownerships with 10+ acres, 2011-2013

This report summarizes the results from the 2011-2013 National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) conducted by the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis program. The focus of the results reported here is family forest and woodland ownerships with holdings of at least 10 acres. Summaries are based on responses from 8,576 family ownerships with at least 10 acres of forest or woodland across 47 U.S. states. Survey summary tables are available at dx.doi.org/10.2737/NRS-RB-99 and include the 36 states in which the minimum target effective sample size of 100 respondents was obtained plus tables for the nation and four regions (North, South, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast). An additional 11 states (Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington) have sample sizes between 10 and 99 and are included in national and regional summary tables, but state- level survey summary tables are not being published due to small sample sizes. Data for three states (Alaska, Nevada, and Wyoming) are excluded due to the low numbers of respondents (n<10) in each of these states. The survey summary tables provide statistics on general forest ownership patterns, effective sample sizes, and responses to the questions asked on the survey. The 37 survey questions, many with multiple parts, focus on ownership characteristics, land characteristics, reasons for owning land, land ownership history, uses of the forest and woodland, sources of information, concerns, the future of their land, and demographics. For comparison purposes, summary tables from the 2002-2006 iteration of the NWOS are provided along with an additional set of 2011-2013 regional and national summary tables where only states in common with the 2002-2006 iteration are included. In addition, this report includes separate tables with estimated area and estimated number of private, nonindustrial private, and family forest and woodland ownerships by state.

Family Forest Owners' Perceptions of Landowner Assistance programs in the USA: A Qualitative Exploration of Program Impacts on Behaviour

Using data collected from a series of focus groups, this study examines how landowner assistance programs (which may include management plans, cost-share, technical assistance and advice, and education components) affect family forest owner behaviour in the USA. Not surprisingly, most owners who participated in assistance programs had pre-existing management objectives. Participation in the management plan and cost-share components was found to facilitate the stewardship of private forests by assisting and reinforcing the behaviour of those landowners who already intend to manage their land in some pre-conceived manner. Advice and educational components appeared to do more in terms of introducing owners to new ideas. The mix of components offered as part of a landowner assistance program should consider the goals of the program and which components will be most effective in achieving those goals.

Costs of coronary heart disease and mortality associated with near-roadway air pollution

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that the near-roadway air pollution (NRAP) mixture contributes to CHD, yet few studies have evaluated the associated costs. OBJECTIVE We integrated an assessment of NRAP-attributable CHD in Southern California with new methods to value the associated mortality and hospitalizations. METHODS Based on population-weighted residential exposure to NRAP (traffic density, proximity to a major roadway and elemental carbon), we estimated the inflation-adjusted value of NRAP-attributable mortality and costs of hospitalizations that occurred in 2008. We also estimated anticipated costs in 2035 based on projected changes in population and in NRAP exposure associated with Californias plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For comparison, we estimated the value of CHD mortality attributable to PM less than 2.5μm in diameter (PM2.5) in both 2008 and 2035. RESULTS The value of CHD mortality attributable to NRAP in 2008 was between

USDA Forest Service National Woodland Owner Survey, 2011-2013: design, implementation, and estimation methods

3.8 and

Barriers to Massachusetts forest landowner participation in carbon markets

11.5 billion, 23% (major roadway proximity) to 68% (traffic density) of the

Family Forest Ownerships of the United States, 2013: Findings from the USDA Forest Service's National Woodland Owner Survey

16.8 billion attributable to regulated regional PM2.5. NRAP-attributable costs were projected to increase to

Estimated participation in U.S. carbon sequestration programs: A study of NIPF landowners in Massachusetts

10.6 to

Effectiveness of Landowner Assistance Activities: An Examination of the USDA Forest Service's Forest Stewardship Program

22 billion in 2035, depending on the NRAP metric. Cost of NRAP-attributable hospitalizations for CHD in 2008 was

Methods for Estimating Private Forest Ownership Statistics: Revised Methods for the USDA Forest Service's National Woodland Owner Survey

48.6 million and was projected to increase to