Optimizing Incentive Plan Design: A Case Study

We study effects of a firm's attempt to optimize an existing incentive scheme to increase sales growth for direct store delivery workers. Before optimization workers reported Ratchet Effects that lowered productivity. The altered incentive plan offered higher compensation for increased sales relative to a sales growth target, and lower compensation for failing to meet the target. We gathered data on performance and attitudes at pilot and control sites before and after the change. Relative to control sites, sales growth increased in the pilot sites by two percent, a meaningful contribution to firm profits. We find no change in distortion of effort or manipulation of the performance measure. Workers did not substantially change number of hours worked, though allocation of time across tasks changed slightly. Despite increased productivity, workers continued to report Ratchet Effects after the change. We also find that an unplanned price increase midway through a fiscal year affected the extent of Ratchet Effects that year.incentives, ratchet effect

Cindy Dvirnak Schultz, George Keck, and Helen Lyon in a Recital

This program is for the joint recital of mezzo-soprano Cindy Dvirnak Schultz, pianist George Keck, and violist Helen Lyon. The recital took place on September 19, 1978, in the Mabee Fine Arts Recital Hall

Image analysis used to count and measure etched tracks from ionizing radiation

We have developed techniques to use digitized scanning electron micrographs and computer image analysis programs to measure track densities in lunar soil grains and plastic dosimeters. Tracks in lunar samples are formed by highly ionizing solar energetic particles and cosmic rays during near surface exposure on the Moon. The track densities are related to the exposure conditions (depth and time). Distributions of the number of grains as a function of their track densities can reveal the modality of soil maturation. We worked on two samples identified for a consortium study of lunar weathering effects, 61221 and 67701. They were prepared by the lunar curator's staff as polished grain mounts that were etched in boiling 1 N NaOH for 6 h to reveal tracks. We determined that backscattered electron images taken at 10 percent contrast and approximately 50 percent brightness produced suitable high contrast images for analysis. We used the NIH Image program to cut out areas that were unsuitable for measurement such as edges, cracks, etc. We ascertained a gray-scale threshold of 25 to separate tracks from background. We used the computer to count everything that was two pixels or greater in size and to measure the area to obtain track densities. We found an excellent correlation with manual measurements for track densities below 1 x 10(exp 8) cm(exp -2). For track densities between 1 x 10(exp 8) cm(exp -2) to 1 x 10(exp 9) cm(exp -2) we found that a regression formula using the percentage area covered by tracks gave good agreement with manual measurements. We determined the track density distributions for 61221 and 67701. Sample 61221 is an immature sample, but not pristine. Sample 67701 is a submature sample that is very close to being fully mature. Because only 10 percent of the grains have track densities less than 10(exp 9) cm(exp -2), it is difficulty to determine whether the sample matured in situ or is a mixture of a mature and a submature soil. Although our analysis of plastic dosimeters is at an early stage of development, results are encouraging. The dosimeter was etched in 6.25 N NaOH at 70 deg C for 16 h. We took 200x secondary electron images of the sample and used the NIH Image software to count and measure major and minor diameters of the etched tracks. We calculated the relative track etch rate from a formula that relates it to the major and minor diameters. We made a histogram of the number of tracks versus their relative etch rate. The relative track etching rate is proportional to the linear energy transfer of the particle. With appropriate calibration experiments, the histogram could be used to calculate the radiation dose

A Performing Arts Class Faculty Recital

This is the program for a Performing Arts Class faculty recital featuring the following faculty artists (in order of performance): trumpet player Craig Hamilton accompanied by pianist George Keck; soprano Cindy Fuller accompanied by pianist Diana Ellis; baritone Charlie Fuller accompanied by Cindy Fuller; soprano Diana Ellis accompanied by Cindy Fuller; and organist Russell Hodges. This recital took place on September 23, 1994, in the Mabee Fine Arts Center Recital Hall

ISBAR+ a communication tool to advocate for patients

IntroductionRecognising the importance of social determinants of health is a key part of the curriculum for health practitioners. The ability to advocate on behalf of patients is a competency that demonstrates enacting this understanding in practice. Communication frameworks are used to structure difficult conversations in multiple settings, notably handover. There is no commonly accepted communication framework to structure a patient advocacy conversation.ApproachWe assembled a team with skills in patient advocacy, healthcare communication, community advocacy, education and business negotiation to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes required and to develop a framework suitable for this purpose. We chose to adapt the ISBAR framework as an existing communication framework commonly used for handover.OutcomesISBAR+ is a framework that is based on a person-centred approach and ‘integrated negotiation’. ‘Intention and Inquiry’ involves a compassionate understanding of the patient’s position. ‘Situation’ is a succinct framing of the problem. ‘Background’ is the information required for the decision-maker to make a person-centred decision. The next step is ‘alignment’ of the priorities of the patient, practitioner and decision-maker. ‘Response’ is the proposed solution, and ‘+’ (‘plus’) is the actions taken for implementation.ConclusionsISBAR+ provides a framework for conversations advocating on behalf of patients that draws from the literature around advocacy inside and outside health. A communication framework allows the development and evaluation of interventions to teach and promote this critical function to promote person-centred care

The nature and extent of trace element contamination associated with fly-ash disposal sites in the Chisman Creek Watershed

This study was conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and the Virginia Associated Research Campus (VARC), both branches of the College of William and Mary, to document the nature, extent, and severity of environmental contamination by trace elements from the landfill disposal of fly-ash within the Chisman Creek watershed. Previous work in the area demonstrated that some metals were apparently mobile in the groundwater, and that two nearby household wells were contaminated (Va. SWCB, 1981). These short term studies were limited to the testing of only a few selected contaminants in wells near the fly-ash pits. The goal of our study was to provide a more comprehensive sampling of the basin to delineate the geographical extent of trace element contamination, and to assess whether the levels found there pose a hazard to man or to the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. An important aspect of the program is the use of an analytical technique which provides simultaneous measurement of a large number of elements, thereby obviating the need to speculate which elements would be found before the field work was begun. Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) is such a technique and provided data on 70 elements from each sample collected during this study

A profile of teen smokers who volunteered to participate in school-based smoking intervention

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Although a number of population-based studies have examined the characteristics of teens who attempt to quit smoking, few have identified the characteristics of youth who participate in structured cessation interventions, particularly those with demonstrated effectiveness. The purpose of the present study is to describe the sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics of teen smokers who participated in the American Lung Association's Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) program, spanning eight years. N-O-T is the most widely used teen smoking cessation program in the nation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Drawn from multiple statewide N-O-T studies, this investigation examined data from 5,892 teen smokers ages 14–19 who enrolled in N-O-T between 1998–2006. We demonstrate similarities and differences between N-O-T findings and existing data from representative samples of US teen smokers where available and relevant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>N-O-T teens started smoking earlier, were more likely to be poly-tobacco users, were more dependent on nicotine, had made more previous attempts to quit, and were more deeply embedded in smoking contexts than comparative samples of teen smokers. Additionally, N-O-T teens were moderately ready to quit smoking, believed important people in their lives would support their quit efforts, yet had deficits in their confidence with quitting.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This profile of N-O-T teens can guide efforts for targeted recruitment strategies to enhance intervention reach for teen smoking cessation. Findings provide guidance for marketing and recruitment efforts of intensive, school-based cessation interventions among established teen smokers, particularly those who want to quit. Study results may shed light upon who is and is not enrolling in N-O-T.</p

Feasibility of Using a Commercial Fitness Tracker as an Adjunct to Family-Based Weight Management Treatment: Pilot Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Fitness trackers can engage users through automated self-monitoring of physical activity. Studies evaluating the utility of fitness trackers are limited among adolescents, who are often difficult to engage in weight management treatment and are heavy technology users. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pilot randomized trial to describe the impact of providing adolescents and caregivers with fitness trackers as an adjunct to treatment in a tertiary care weight management clinic on adolescent fitness tracker satisfaction, fitness tracker utilization patterns, and physical activity levels. METHODS: Adolescents were randomized to 1 of 2 groups (adolescent or dyad) at their initial weight management clinic visit. Adolescents received a fitness tracker and counseling around activity data in addition to standard treatment. A caregiver of adolescents in the dyad group also received a fitness tracker. Satisfaction with the fitness tracker, fitness tracker utilization patterns, and physical activity patterns were evaluated over 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 88 adolescents were enrolled, with 69% (61/88) being female, 36% (32/88) black, 23% (20/88) Hispanic, and 63% (55/88) with severe obesity. Most adolescents reported that the fitness tracker was helping them meet their healthy lifestyle goals (69%) and be more motivated to achieve a healthy weight (66%). Despite this, 68% discontinued use of the fitness tracker by the end of the study. There were no significant differences between the adolescent and the dyad group in outcomes, but adolescents in the dyad group were 12.2 times more likely to discontinue using their fitness tracker if their caregiver also discontinued use of their fitness tracker (95% CI 2.4-61.6). Compared with adolescents who discontinued use of the fitness tracker during the study, adolescents who continued to use the fitness tracker recorded a higher number of daily steps in months 2 and 3 of the study (mean 5760 vs 4148 in month 2, P=.005, and mean 5942 vs 3487 in month 3, P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: Despite high levels of satisfaction with the fitness trackers, fitness tracker discontinuation rates were high, especially among adolescents whose caregivers also discontinued use of their fitness tracker. More studies are needed to determine how to sustain the use of fitness trackers among adolescents with obesity and engage caregivers in adolescent weight management interventions

African Food Security Fellows’ Perceptions of Their Experiences in the United States: Reflective Journaling as a Way to Interpret and Understand an International Experience

The study reports on a reciprocal exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State. It involved 14 Food Security Fellows, including seven each from Kenya and Uganda, who were community leaders, policymakers, and media professionals. The Fellows experienced afive-week training program on issues of food securityand the unique role improved communication networks could play in reducing food insufficiency in their countries. During their exchange, the Fellows were asked to keep reflective journals chronicling their training experiences and interactions with Americans and their culture. The journal entries were transcribedandcoded, and emergent themeswere identified in concert with the study’s purpose and research questions. Established procedures to address researcher reflexivity and enabletransferability of the findings were followed. The data analysis yielded 41 codes from which 11 themeswere derived. The Fellows expressed a more positive attitude about Americans and the United States at the program’s end. They also described an appreciation for the role of youth development in agriculture and the need for extension educators,researchers, and university personnelto work together to ensure a nation’s food security. Future exchanges should provide participants with an internship experience instead of only job shadowing opportunitie

The agreement between fasting glucose and markers of chronic glycaemic exposure in individuals with and without chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background To assess whether the agreement between fasting glucose and glycated proteins is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a community-based sample of 1621 mixed-ancestry South Africans. Methods CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Fasting plasma glucose and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentrations were measured by enzymatic hexokinase method and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively, with fructosamine and glycated albumin measured by immunoturbidimetry and enzymatic method, respectively. Results Of those with CKD (n = 96), 79, 16 and 5% where in stages 3, 4 and 5, respectively. Those with CKD had higher levels of HbA1c (6.2 vs. 5.7%; p < 0.0001), glycated albumin (15.0 vs. 13.0%; p < 0.0001) and fructosamine levels (269.7 vs. 236.4 μmol/l; p < 0.0001), compared to those without CKD. Higher fasting glucose levels were associated with higher HbA1c, glycated albumin and fructosamine, independent of age, gender, and CKD. However, the association with HbA1c and glycated albumin differed by CKD status, at the upper concentrations of the respective markers (interaction term for both: p ≤ 0.095). Conclusion Our results suggest that although HbA1c and glycated albumin perform acceptably under conditions of normoglycaemia, these markers correlate less well with blood glucose levels in people with CKD who are not on dialysis