Characterizing Vegetable Tissue Under Elevated Pressure Using In Situ Electrical Conductivity Measurement and Instrumental Analysis

Poster Division: Engineering, Math, and Physical Sciences: 3rd Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)A study was conducted to investigate the pressure-induced textural changes in selected low acid vegetable samples (carrot, potato, and red radish) using in situ electrical conductivity measurements. In situ electrical conductivity of the vegetable samples, as a function of pressure and holding time at 25ºC, was recorded every 30 s for 10 min under elevated pressures (200, 400, 600 MPa) using a custom made electrical conductivity cell. Pressure treatment increased electrical conductivity values of all the processed samples as a function of target pressure and holding time up to a certain threshold level. Beyond this threshold level, the electrical conductivity values did not change further. The tissue disintegration index (Z) was calculated based on the in situ electrical conductivity data of the vegetable samples under pressure and those of raw samples. Sample hardness and stiffness were evaluated using an instrumental texture analyzer, and then calculated to a crunchiness index (CI). The relationship between Z and CI was investigated with empirical model fitting of the first and second polynomial. Z and CI had an inverse relationship within the range of experimental conditions studied. In situ electrical conductivity measurement was a useful tool to document the extent of vegetable tissue damage during high pressure processing.A one-year embargo was granted for this item

An Analysis of the Performing Arts Consumer: Developing market segments by using CHAID

This study explored how the interaction between performing arts consumers’ characteristics and art-related experiences were associated with out-of-state and/or out-of-country performing arts attendance. A decision tree was developed using Exhaustive CHAID. Data were collected through an online survey of E-club members of the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State University. This study focused on the heavy consumers, who represented approximately 30% of the performing arts market and accounted for over 50% of actual spending on tickets. The results identified important predictors and distinguished viable five segments. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVAs were conducted to examine significant differences among segments. The identified target segments and their profiles will be essential in building effective communication and promotion strategies for various marketing purposes

MOTIVATING BUSINESS MAJOR STUDENTS TO LEARN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING – A CASE STUDY

Learning to program is viewed as difficult by many students. How to motivate and engage business major students to learn programming is challenging. In this paper, we report our attempt to teach business students programming. In our teaching method, first we orient students with the business and managerial aspect of programming by posing six original questions. By discussing these six questions, students gain appreciation of the high level responsibility of participating, contributing, assessing, and managing Information Systems (IS) as business professionals. Second, we adopt a Let Us Do It Together approach to deliver hands on labs to teach the technical aspect of programming. Inspired by the constructivism learning theory and the learning by doing and experimentation idea, our Let Us Do It Together approach mitigates students’ anxiety and fear of programming. Overall, our teaching approach seems to enhance students’ interest in programming

Increased Prevalence of low High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) Levels in Korean Adults: Analysis of the Three Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES 1998–2005)

AbstractObjectivesHigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that has shown a remarkable increase, but little is known about the prevalence of low HDL-C in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate changing trends of low HDL-C prevalence, and indicate other risk factors associated with low HDL-C.MethodsWe selected subjects aged ≥20 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 1998, 2001, and 2005 (n = 7962, 6436, and 6412). The mean level of HDL-C and the prevalence of low HDL-C was calculated, and cardiovascular risk factors associated with low HDL-C, as well as demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, and nutrition factors, were assessed using the KNHANES 2005 data.ResultsMean HDL-C levels in men and women between KNHANES 1998 and 2005 decreased significantly, from 48.1 to 42.3 and from 51.6 to 47.1 mg/dL, respectively (both p < 0.001). The decrease was slightly less for women compared with men for the same period, and women had higher HDL-C levels at all periods. Covariate-adjusted OR revealed that body mass index, waist circumference, and non-alcohol drinker in both men and women were associated with low HDL-C levels by KNHANES 2005, as were employed and light physical activity in men and low fat intake in women.ConclusionThe prevalence of low HDL-C increased significantly from KNHANES 1998 to 2001 and 2005 (p < 0.001) in both men and women. body mass index, waist circumference, and non-alcohol drinker were identified as associated with low HDL-C in Korean adults

Modeling Multilevel Structures of Information Technology Acceptance: An Investigation of Group Level Effects on Individual Usage of Web-Based Systems

Despite the sizable and continually increasing amount of investment in information technology (IT), IT often falls short of realizing its expected benefits due to inadequate user acceptance. Understanding the key factors that facilitate user acceptance of IT is an issue that has considerable practical implications. While much research effort has been directed to investigating the effects of various variables operating at the individual level, little effort has been made to modeling and assessing the effects of group level variables on individual usage behavior. Our study addresses this issue by proposing a multilevel model composed of individual level variables and group level variables, integrating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model with Resource-Based Theory. Research hypotheses derived from this integrative model will be empirically validated in a field study setting involving college students who use a Web-based system over a 12-week period. The proposed model will be tested using a hierarchical linear modeling approach, which is specifically designed to examine multilevel data structures. The findings are expected to provide important insights into the dynamic interplay between individual level variables and group level variables and their joint effects on individual acceptance of IT

A Comparison Model of Residents’ and Tourists’ Attitudes toward Sustainable Tourism Development: A Case of Penghu Island in Taiwan

Two stakeholders, residents and tourists, play critical roles in developing and promoting sustainable tourism planning and development. Little research has been done to investigate simultaneously both residents’ and tourists’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism development. This study was conducted to fill in the gap. Residents who lived in Penghu Island in Taiwan and Taiwanese tourists who visited Penghu were surveyed for the study. Following the web- based online survey, structural equation modeling was carried out to identify the direction and relationships among five sets of tourism development impacts and support for sustainable tourism in Penghu. The results of residents’ and tourists’ attitudes models indicated that positive economic and cultural dimensions greatly influenced their support for sustainable tourism development. Managerial and marketing implications of the findings are discussed