Cafe nudge project: choice architecture for eating and nudging healthy behaviors

The objective of the Cafe Nudge Project was to assess the cafeteria environment and the flow of students through the lunch-line to determine characteristics that could be enhanced to encourage healthy food choices in three Appalachian high schools. The Center for Behavioral Economics and Child Nutrition Program (BEN Center) has collectively conducted prior research on this topic and has coined the term Smarter Lunchrooms Movement for improving cafeteria environments. These improvements included increased fresh fruit and vegetable consumption, increased consumption of low-fat white milk, and decreased consumption of high-fat and high-calorie foods. This study was a two-part observation. In the first part, the cafeteria was videotaped to observe how students move through the serving areas. Each site was given three different scores when referring to the video component of the project. In the second part, an assessment tool was created from adapting research from the BEN Center on Smarter Lunchrooms. NudgeSAT (Nudge Student Assessment Tool) was developed and was composed of 6 different scoring categories that according to BEN make up a smarter lunchroom. Eight components using auditor interpretation of the exterior, hot serving area, cold serving area, salad bar, beverage area, payment station, dining area and grab-n-go (only 2 sites had this option) were identified with a score (higher score equals more healthier components offered). High School (HS) #1 earned 73/128 points (57%), High School #2 earned 69/128 points (54%) and High School #3 earned 53/102 (52%). Since High School #3 did not have a grab and go option the final score was out of 102. Each school had a summary report based on recommendations identified for improvement to score higher. HS #1 and HS #2 received low scores in the serving areas of the cafeteria, in the dining area, and the grab and go section. HS #2 also received low scores in the beverage and payment stations. HS #3 received a much lower score compared to HS #1 and HS #2 because it did not have a grab and go section. The NudgeSAT evaluation tool to understand choice architecture is one more novel way to assess the lunchroom environment to encourage smarter lunchroom choices. The long-term impact of adjusting small changes in a cafeteria environment may translate into healthier food choices by students, which leads to improvement in nutritional status and health profiles of students utilizing the National School Lunch Program

Time dependent correlations in marine stratocumulus cloud base height records

The scaling ranges of time correlations in the cloud base height records of marine boundary layer stratocumulus are studied applying the Detrended Fluctuation Analysis statistical method. We have found that time dependent variations in the evolution of the $\alpha$ exponent reflect the diurnal dynamics of cloud base height fluctuations in the marine boundary layer. In general, a more stable structure of the boundary layer corresponds to a lower value of the $\alpha$ - indicator, i.e. larger anti-persistence, thus a set of fluctuations tending to induce a greater stability of the stratocumulus. In contrast, during periods of higher instability in the marine boundary, less anti-persistent (more persistent like) behavior of the system drags it out of equilibrium, corresponding to larger $\alpha$ values. From an analysis of the frequency spectrum, the stratocumulus base height evolution is found to be a non-stationary process with stationary increments. The occurrence of these statistics in cloud base height fluctuations suggests the usefulness of similar studies for the radiation transfer dynamics modeling.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures; to appear in Int. J. Mod. Phys. C, Vol. 13, No. 2 (2002

What World of Warcraft is Teaching Us About Learning.

Ph.D. Thesis. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 2017

Integrating data to facilitate clinical research : a case study

The integration of routine clinical administrative activities into ongoing rigorous clinical research poses challenges for both clinicians and researchers. This case study describes the development of a responsive database system used to facilitate comprehensive longitudinal research into the outcomes of patients waiting for hip and knee replacement surgery in a large public teaching hospital. The initial research procedure was paper-based, with manual patient matching and data entry. This process was time-consuming and associated with substantial risk of error and omissions, necessitating the design of a better system. An integrated database system was designed to receive daily electronic updates of the orthopaedic waiting-list and scheduled clinic and surgery dates. Using readily available software (Microsoft Access), new patients were identified through specifying inclusion and exclusion criteria which allowed rapid and complete recruitment at time of entry to the waiting-list. The integrated system specified the appropriate timing of multiple follow-up assessments, provided prompt information on recruitment for reporting purposes and integrated multiple linked research projects within one database. Seamless exporting of data to statistical programs for analysis was also enabled. This simple integrated approach facilitated efficient execution of a longitudinal study from recruitment to statistical analysis while maximising confidentiality and minimising resources required. This case study describes the development and design of a simple system which could be easily adapted for database management in hospital or clinic-based settings according to local requirements.<br /

Ultra high temperature ceramic composite materials

Ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are materials that have been demonstrated to withstand temperatures up to around 3000°C, thermal fluxes of ~17 MWm-2 and gas velocities of around Mach 0.6. Thus, they offer potential for use in applications such as leading edges and engine parts for hypervelocity vehicles. Under the Domain 8 of the MCM-ITP (Materials and Components for Missiles – Innovation and Technology Partnership) programme, research has been carried out investigating UHTC composites consisting of carbon fibre (Cf) preforms impregnated with HfB2 powders. Whilst the initial impregnation route resulted in preforms with high and uniform powder loadings, this was not true for large samples. As a result, the mechanical properties showed a high degree of scatter. Nevertheless, samples with higher final densities showed higher strengths. Thus a new impregnation route has been developed that results in both higher and more homogeneous powder loading. This has led to higher strengths and even greater temperature and ablation resistance with the only penalty being an increase in component mass. A prototype jet vane has been successfully produced

My Mental Health Rights on Campus [English, Spanish and Vietnamese versions]

Spanish and Vietnamese translations of this publication are available for download under Additional Files below. Tip sheet for youth and young adults with mental health conditions which provides information about mental health rights, rules, and resources for college students. Originally published as: Transitions RTC Tip Sheet 5, Jan. 2012

Can a disease-specific education program augment self-management skills and improve Health-Related Quality of Life in people with hip or knee osteoarthritis?

BACKGROUND: Patient education and self-management programs are offered in many countries to people with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA). The most well-known is the disease-specific Stanford Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP). While Australian and international clinical guidelines promote the concept of self-management for OA, there is currently little evidence to support the use of the ASMP. Several meta-analyses have reported that arthritis self-management programs had minimal or no effect on reducing pain and disability. However, previous studies have had methodological shortcomings including the use of outcome measures which do not accurately reflect program goals. Additionally, limited cost-effectiveness analyses have been undertaken and the cost-utility of the program has not been explored. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy (in terms of Health-Related Quality of Life and self-management skills) and cost-utility of a 6-week group-based Stanford ASMP for people with hip or knee OA. Six hundred participants referred to an orthopaedic surgeon or rheumatologist for hip or knee OA will be recruited from outpatient clinics at 2 public hospitals and community-based private practices within 2 private hospital settings in Victoria, Australia. Participants must be 18 years or over, fluent in English and able to attend ASMP sessions. Exclusion criteria include cognitive dysfunction, previous participation in self-management programs and placement on a waiting list for joint replacement surgery or scheduled joint replacement. Eligible, consenting participants will be randomised to an intervention group (who receive the ASMP and an arthritis self-management book) or a control group (who receive the book only). Follow-up will be at 6 weeks, 3 months and 12 months using standardised self-report measures. The primary outcome is Health-Related Quality of Life at 12 months, measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life instrument. Secondary outcome measures include the Health Education Impact Questionnaire, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (pain subscale and total scores), Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and the Hip and Knee Multi-Attribute Priority Tool. Cost-utility analyses will be undertaken using administrative records and self-report data. A subgroup of 100 participants will undergo qualitative interviews to explore the broader potential impacts of the ASMP. DISCUSSION: Using an innovative design combining both quantitative and qualitative components, this project will provide high quality data to facilitate evidence-based recommendations regarding the ASMP