Computational Content Analysis of Negative Tweets for Obesity, Diet, Diabetes, and Exercise

Social media based digital epidemiology has the potential to support faster response and deeper understanding of public health related threats. This study proposes a new framework to analyze unstructured health related textual data via Twitter users' post (tweets) to characterize the negative health sentiments and non-health related concerns in relations to the corpus of negative sentiments, regarding Diet Diabetes Exercise, and Obesity (DDEO). Through the collection of 6 million Tweets for one month, this study identified the prominent topics of users as it relates to the negative sentiments. Our proposed framework uses two text mining methods, sentiment analysis and topic modeling, to discover negative topics. The negative sentiments of Twitter users support the literature narratives and the many morbidity issues that are associated with DDEO and the linkage between obesity and diabetes. The framework offers a potential method to understand the publics' opinions and sentiments regarding DDEO. More importantly, this research provides new opportunities for computational social scientists, medical experts, and public health professionals to collectively address DDEO-related issues.Comment: The 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIST

Computational modelling of some problems of elasticity and viscoelasticity with applications to thermoforming process

Copyright @ 2012 Northwestern Polytechnical University and ISCIThe reliability of computational models of physical processes has received much attention and involves issues such as the validity of the mathematical models being used, the error in any data that the models need, and the accuracy of the numerical schemes being used. These issues are considered in the context of elastic, viscoelastic and hyperelastic deformation, when finite element approximations are applied. Goal oriented techniques using specific quantities of interest (QoI) are described for estimating discretisation and modelling errors in the hyperelastic case. The computational modelling of the rapid large inflation of hyperelastic circular sheets modelled as axisymmetric membranes is then treated, with the aim of estimating engineering QoI and their errors. Fine (involving inertia terms) and coarse (quasi-static) models of the inflation are considered. The techniques are applied to thermoforming processes where sheets are inflated into moulds to form thin-walled structures

Metric half-span model support system

A model support system used to support a model in a wind tunnel test section is described. The model comprises a metric, or measured, half-span supported by a nonmetric, or nonmeasured half-span which is connected to a sting support. Moments and forces acting on the metric half-span are measured without interference from the support system during a wind tunnel test

Optical enhancement of sensitivity in laser Doppler velocity systems

Utilization of optical enhancement techniques prevents loss of light by reflections at the photocathode of a photomultiplier and increases signal detection sensitivity

The Relationship Between Self-Determination Theory And Physical Activity Participation Variables To Exercise Self-Definition Among African American Retirees

This manuscript style dissertation is composed of three chapters. Chapter 1 is an introduction of the research problem and introduces some of the main areas that can impede African Americans from regularly participating in physical activity such as cultural & regional issues, presence of chronic diseases, and other issues. Chapter Two is a literature review on how autonomy support can facilitate self-determined motivation within individuals. It introduces how an individual can receive autonomy support from one source, multiple sources, or from an environment. Chapter Three is an empirical study assessing the relationship between self-determination theory and physical activity participation variables to exercise self-definition. One hundred and forty nine African American retirees who lived independently completed four outcome measures: Exercise Self-Definition (ESD) scale, Behavioral Regulations for Exercise Questionnaire-2/Relative Autonomy Index (BREQ2RAI), Godin Leisure Time Activity Scale (GLTEQ), and Basic Psychological Needs for Exercise Scale (BPNES). The investigator ran a correlation matrix to demonstrate relationships between the variables and a hierarchical linear regression analysis to determine significant predictors of physical activity participation (GLTEQ). The results revealed all the variables had statistically significant correlations, however, GLTEQ had the highest correlation with ESD (0.318). None of the psychological predictors was significant predictors of GLTEQ. In the final model, the ESD was two one-hundredths of a point over the criterion p-value (.05) for showing statistical significance in predicting GLTEQ among African American retirees. For the overall regression model, all factors explained 16.2% of the total model variance

Exploring the Effectiveness of Online Instructional Technology in Higher Education: Professors’ Perspective

Technology has drastically changed the landscape of how, when, and where we can access information. As a result of technological advancements, delivery methods for classroom lectures has also change. In higher education, 21st century technology allows professors to deliver lectures face-to-face or online and synchronous or asynchronous within the online education environment. This pilot study interviewed four faculty members and one instructor at a major university in South Carolina in a one-on-one interview session to explore the effectiveness of online instructional technology. Understanding how open source software help professors make online instructional technology more conducive to the learning and knowledge process, in addition to what factors make online instructional technology within the online educational environment effective, were the focus of this study. Preliminary results from content analysis show more emphasis needs to be placed on the choice of technology for each class taught, every semester. Five themes were identified from this pilot study. The pilot study has shown a need for further investigation in online instructional technology and its effectiveness

Health Benefits and Uncertainty: An Experimental Analysis of the Effects of Risk Presentation on Auction Bids for a Healthful Product

Experimental subjects receive a different presentation of a food product's potential health risk reductions if people habitually eat it, and then asked to bid for the product. Results suggest that the bids vary across the groups that receive differing risk information.Health risks, experimental economics, auctions, uncertainty, Risk and Uncertainty, D81, I12,

Health benefits and uncertainty: an experimental analysis of the effects of risk presentation on auction bids for a healthful product

Experimental subjects receive a different presentation of a food product's potential health risk reductions if eaten regularly. They are then asked to bid for the product. Results suggest that the bids vary across the groups that receive differing risk information.

The Effect of Risk Presentation on Product Valuation: An Experimental Analysis

We examine how people might evaluate a product with novel attribute, given various kinds of risk information. Using a product with healthful benefits, we assess subjects' willingness to pay given various kinds of health risk information conveying reduced health risks, life tradeoffs, and ambiguity. Four treatments in separate non-hypothetical experimental auctions are used to elicit willingness to pay values. Results suggest that willingness to pay vary across the groups that receive differing risk information. Specifically, willingness to pay was higher for the group that was given clear risk information and questions related to life tradeoffs than for the group given ambiguous risk information. Willingness to pay was lowest for the group that was given no risk information at all.Risk and Uncertainty,