Inequality, Physician Distribution, and Health in Illinois Counties: A Three-Stage Least Squares Model

Government health policies often do not succeed as planned, possibly due to income inequality. Its importance is often overlooked when searching for the causes of poor health and when developing strategies to improve the health of Americans. This research uses an advanced statistical technique to study the relationship between income inequality, racial/ethnic, and rural/urban disparities in health for counties in Illinois. Primary care physician to population ratios were also controlled in three-stage least squares econometric models. Mortality data were used as the health measure. Simultaneity between certain variables was accounted for: something not previously studied. Income inequality in the Illinois counties significantly affected mortality: greater inequality yielding greater mortality. Primary care doctors to population had no significant effect on mortality. Higher percent smokers increased mortality. Medicare payments per number of persons 65 years or greater significantly reduced mortality. Per capita government payments had a similar significant effect. Predicting primary care physicians to total population yielded no simultaneity effects from mortality. Medicare and total government payments results indicate that certain aspects of the Illinois/Federal health system are working well. Our Gini income inequality variable shows that higher income inequality increases mortality, something not often found at a lower level of aggregation. Controlling for simultaneity and primary care doctors to population did not eliminate the income inequality effect on mortality. Policy recommendations are that our government should address the findings of this and other studies, and increase the health of our disadvantaged citizens by lessening the level of inequality in our country

Impacts of natural and man-made influences on sediment sources and suspended solids concentrations in the lower Colorado River, Texas

Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

Transform your training: practical approaches to interactive Information Literacy teaching

This article describes how the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Library has integrated interactivity into its information literacy (IL) training. Research has shown that interactivity is an important aspect of enhancing the learning process and this has been recognised in MMU's InfoSkills training programme. This paper will consider the theory behind adult learners and preferred learning styles and will illustrate specific examples of how MMU has included interactivity into its sessions. InfoSkills at MMU is taught through a variety of different methods, for example, lecturing, workshops and hands-on computer work. However, each of these alone is not enough and must be combined with other practical approaches in order to make training truly effective. Regardless of environment or technology available, active participation within MMU's InfoSkills sessions is key to enhancing students' independent learning. Although IL trainers at MMU have access to new technologies, such as interactive whiteboards and voting pods, these are not always accessible in every teaching location and so this article also refers to low-tech alternative methods. This paper hopes to provide practical ideas, for engaging students in interactive IL sessions that may inspire other IL trainers. It also gives information about future developments the InfoSkills team will be making in this area

Are medical educators following General Medical Council guidelines on obesity education: if not why not?

BackgroundAlthough the United Kingdom's (UK's) General Medical Council (GMC) recommends that graduating medical students are competent to discuss obesity and behaviour change with patients, it is difficult to integrate this education into existing curricula, and clinicians report being unprepared to support patients needing obesity management in practice. We therefore aimed to identify factors influencing the integration of obesity management education within medical schools.MethodsTwenty-seven UK and Irish medical school educators participated in semi-structured interviews. Grounded theory principles informed data collection and analysis. Themes emerging directly from the dataset illustrated key challenges for educators and informed several suggested solutions.ResultsFactors influencing obesity management education included: 1) Diverse and opportunistic learning and teaching, 2) Variable support for including obesity education within undergraduate medical programmes, and 3) Student engagement in obesity management education. Findings suggest several practical solutions to identified challenges including clarifying recommended educational agendas; improving access to content-specific guidelines; and implementing student engagement strategies.ConclusionsStudents' educational experiences differ due to diverse interpretations of GMC guidelines, educators' perceptions of available support for, and student interest in obesity management education. Findings inform the development of potential solutions to these challenges which may be tested further empirically

Three Personality Trait Combinations for Agile Employees: The Relationship Between the Big Five and Agile Mindset

Agile IT projects need employees who not only follow agile structures but have a specific attitude called the agile mindset. While the relevance of the agile mindset is clear, findings on when it can be developed, are very limited. Stable personality traits, like the big five, influence attitude. Providing how these traits interact with the agile mindset gives orientation regarding in which cases an agile mindset is more trainable than in other cases. To investigate these relationships, we conducted an online survey with 327 students of a project management lecture. As a result of our SEM and QCA analysis, we found three combinations of personality traits that influence the agile mindset including different extents of conscientiousness, openness, agreeableness and neuroticism. We deepen and extend the theory around the agile mindset and enable practitioners to choose data-driven cases for development activities. Limitations and future research based on these results are given

On the rise: Climate change in New Zealand will cause sperm and blue whales to seek higher latitudes

Climate impacts affect marine ecosystems worldwide with island nations such as New Zealand being extremely vulnerable because of their socio-economic and cultural dependence on the marine and costal environment. Cetaceans are ideal indicator species of ecosystem change and ocean health given their extended life span and cosmopolitan distribution, but limited data availability prevents anticipating change in distribution under future climate changes. We projected the range shifts of a key odontocete and mysticete species (Physeter macrocephalus and Balaenoptera musculus) in 2100 relative to present day in New Zealand waters, using an ensemble modelling approach, under three climate change scenarios of different severity. The results show a latitudinal shift in suitable habitat for both whale species, increasing in magnitude with severity of sea surface temperature warming. The most severe climate change scenario tested generated 56% and 42% loss and decrease of currently suitable habitat for sperm and blue whales, respectively, mostly in New Zealand’s northern waters. These predicted changes will have a strong impact on the ecosystem functioning and services in New Zealand’s northern waters but also in coastal areas (critical for the species’ foraging and survival). Not only do these simulated range shifts help to identify future potential climate refugia to mitigate a global warming, they also generate a range of socioeconomic consequences for island nations relying on wildlife tourism, industry, and environmental protection