The Obesity of Economics: An Application of the Law of Demand to Obesity Prevalence within the United States

We estimate the demand function for obesity using a panel model across fifty-one U.S. states over the years 2000 to 2010. We study the impact of educational attainment, average commute time to work, relative price, per capita income, and the state unemployment rate on obesity levels, controlling for differences in regional culture. We find that since 2001, obesity is a function of the relative prices of healthy and non-healthy foods across regions, as well as state per capita income and educational attainment. From 2005 to 2010, we find that average commute time to work is a significant factor in the state obesity rate as well. Our results indicate that obesity is an inferior good due to its negative relationship with per capita income. In addition, we find obesity to be very inelastic to changes in the relative price of healthy and non-healthy food over both time periods. For every one percentage increase in the relative price of healthy food, the obesity rate increased by only 0.062 percent. Our findings suggest that in order to most effectively reduce the state obesity rate, public policies should focus on increasing educational attainment rather than lowering the relative price of healthy food. We find regional culture to be the largest indicator of state obesity rate. This suggests that, regardless of the price of food, some people will choose to adopt an unhealthy lifestyle as a result of cultural influence

Design and development of a theory-informed peer-led falls prevention education programme to translate evidence into practice: A systematic approach

Peer-led education has been shown to be an effective approach for raising community-dwelling older adults’ beliefs, knowledge and intention to engage in falls prevention strategies in a recent intervention trial. This article outlines the design and development of the intervention, which was a peer-led falls prevention education programme designed to promote older adult’s motivation to change their behaviour in the area of falls prevention. The elements of the programme that contributed to its efficacy are also described. The programme was designed using a four-step approach and was based on the constructs of a theoretical framework (the COM-B model). Feedback from older adults was also incorporated into the programme development. Programme components developed were a workshop to train older adult peer educators to deliver falls prevention education, a one-hour peer-led falls prevention presentation, and supporting resources to aid programme delivery. A questionnaire measuring older adults’ responses to the presentation was concurrently developed and pilot-tested prior to implementation of the education programme. Finally, resources to monitor and evaluate fidelity at five points in the programme were developed. It was found that seeking older adult consumer involvement, and adopting a theoretical framework-driven approach contributes to effective design and delivery of falls prevention education programmes. This ensured that the programme was acceptable to older adults, feasible to deliver and allowed robust measurement of the effect of the education programme on important behavioural change components

Do peers increase older adults\u27 participation in strength training? Pilot randomized trial

Fewer than 20% of older adults participate in strength training (ST). Barriers to ST participation include not knowing where to go or not having someone to go with. To address these barriers, the authors provided older adults with a peer (older person already participating in ST) to support their engagement. The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine whether older adults who were provided with a peer when participating in ST were more likely to be participating in ST 4 weeks postintervention, compared with those receiving ST alone. Fifty-one ST participants were recruited; 40 completed the intervention and postintervention data collection (78.4%). Providing peer support with ST did not significantly increase ST participation (p = .775). However, both groups made significant improvements over time in lower-limb strength and mobility. Participants in either group who continued the ST program (55%) had made additional significant improvements in lower-limb strength and mobility

GONG p-mode parameters through two solar cycles

We investigate the parameters of global solar p-mode oscillations, namely damping width $\Gamma$, amplitude $A$, mean squared velocity $\langle v^2\rangle$, energy $E$, and energy supply rate $\mathrm{d}E/\mathrm{d} t$, derived from two solar cycles' worth (1996 - 2018) of Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) time series for harmonic degrees $l=0 - 150$. We correct for the effect of fill factor, apparent solar radius, and spurious jumps in the mode amplitudes. We find that the amplitude of the activity related changes of $\Gamma$ and $A$ depends on both frequency and harmonic degree of the modes, with the largest variations of $\Gamma$ for modes with $2400\,\mu\text{Hz}\le \nu \le 3300\,\mu\text{Hz}$ and $31\le l \le 60$ with a min-to-max variation of $26.6\pm0.3\%$ and of $A$ for modes with $2400\,\mu\text{Hz}\le\nu\le 3300\,\mu\text{Hz}$ and $61\le l \le 100$ with a min-to-max variation of $27.4\pm0.4\%$. The level of correlation between the solar radio flux $F_{10.7}$ and mode parameters also depends on mode frequency and harmonic degree. As a function of mode frequency, the mode amplitudes are found to follow an asymmetric Voigt profile with $\nu_{\text{max}}=3073.59\pm0.18\,\mu\text{Hz}$. From the mode parameters, we calculate physical mode quantities and average them over specific mode frequency ranges. This way, we find that the mean squared velocities $\langle v^2\rangle$ and energies $E$ of p modes are anti-correlated with the level of activity, varying by $14.7\pm0.3\%$ and $18.4\pm0.3\%$, respectively, and that the mode energy supply rates show no significant correlation with activity. With this study we expand previously published results on the temporal variation of solar p-mode parameters. Our results will be helpful to future studies of the excitation and damping of p modes, i.e., the interplay between convection, magnetic field, and resonant acoustic oscillations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physics. 33 pages, 16 figures, 5 table

Seasonal Changes in White Adipose Tissue in American Black Bears (Ursus americanus)

American black bears have an intricate seasonal physiology, eating an entire year’s worth of food in 7-9 months, and then losing that weight during hibernation with almost no activity. The black bear thus represents a novel model in which to study seasonal regulation of food intake and metabolism. What controls the seasonal changes in fat deposition and metabolism in bears is unknown. Adipokines, such as leptin, regulate food intake and metabolism, and we hypothesized that these adipokines vary seasonally in bear adipose tissue, in a manner that correlates with fat storage. The study population consisted of wild bears from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) and New Jersey and captive bears from facilities in Tennessee and North Carolina. Blood and subcutaneous fat were collected from all bears, and abdominal fat and liver samples were collected from euthanized bears. Body length and weight were measured and converted into a modified body mass index score. Circulating levels of triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, leptin, and adiponectin were measured to assess lipid and glucose metabolism. A radioimmunoassay was validated for use in bears to measure serum leptin concentrations. Quantitative PCR was used to measure mRNA expression of leptin, adiponectin, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoenzyme 4 (PDK4), and protein kinase, AMP-activated, alpha 1 catalytic subunit (PRKAA1) in the fat samples collected across seasons. Adipocyte size was measured as an additional index of adiposity. There were significant variations in body mass due to sampling lean bears in the GSMNP as compared to obese captive bears. PRKAA1 and adiponectin expression in subcutaneous fat were significantly greater in captive fall bears as compared to captive summer and captive winter bears. Circulating levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate were significantly less in captive bears as compared to wild bears. Circulating levels of leptin and leptin expression in subcutaneous fat did not change by season. Circulating levels of adiponectin were significantly higher in the fall as compared to summer and winter. Analysis of fatty acids revealed that cis-vaccenic, palmitic acid and stearic acids were prevalent in the bear. Correlation analyses identified significant relationships among adipokines, expression of metabolic genes and lipid metabolites

Academic Disciplinary Differences In The Perceived Value Of The Community Of Practice Model

Through a multi-layered review of United States University, a gap in professional development for adjunct faculty was identified. To ensure that students’ are best supported in the online classroom, ensuring that faculty are provided with training around pedagogical and instructional skills aligned with the University mission is essential. The perceived value of the Community of Practice model was assessed to address the gap in faculty development through a mixed-methods convergent design study. The quantitative data and qualitative data were merged under the unidirectional framework for convergent design integration, and presented in a narrative discussion format. Themes which emerged included knowledge sharing, establishment of a community identity, and the preparation for full-time faculty roles. No statistical significant difference was found amongst the three disciplinary groups. The findings support that a Community of Practice model can address the unique professional development needs of an online-based adjunct faculty member

Doping experiments on low-dimensional oxides and a search for unusual magnetic properties of MgAlB14

Doping experiments on La2CuO4, Sr2CuO 3 and SrCu2(BO3)2 were performed with the intent of synthesizing new metallic low-dimensional cuprate oxide compounds. Magnetic susceptibility chi(T) measurements on a polycrystalline La 2CuO4 sample chemically oxidized at room temperature in aqueous NaClO showed superconductivity with a superconducting transition temperature Tc of 42.6 K and a Meissner fraction of 26%. We were unable to electrochemically oxidize La2CuO4 in a nonaqueous solution of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) and methanol. Sr2CuO 3 was found to decompose upon exposure to air and water. Electron paramagnetic resonance, isothermal magnetization M(H) and chi(T) measurements on the primary decomposition product, Sr2Cu(OH)6, were consistent with a nearly isolated, spin S = 1/2, local moment model for the Cu +2 spins. From a fit of chi(T) by the Curie-Weiss law and of the M(H) isotherms by a modified Brillouin function, the weakly antiferromagnetic exchange interaction between adjacent Cu+2 spins in Sr 2Cu(OH)6 was found to be J/kB = 1.06(4) K. Doping studies on SrCu2(BO3)2 were inconclusive. chi(T) measurements on an undoped polycrystalline sample of SrCu2(BO 3)2, a sample treated with distilled water, and a sample treated with aqueous NaClO showed no qualitative differences between the samples.;In addition, chi(T) and M(H, T) studies of the ultra-hard material MgAlB14 were carried out in search of superconductivity or ferromagnetism in this compound. chi(T) measurements on a powder sample revealed temperature-independent diamagnetism from 1.8 K up to room temperature with a Curie-Weiss impurity concentration equivalent to ~1 mol% of spin-1/2 ions. In contrast, M(H, T) data on hot pressed samples showed evidence of ferromagnetic transitions above ~330 K. Scanning electron microscopy and Auger microprobe analysis of the hot pressed samples indicated that the observed ferromagnetism was likely due to Fe impurities