The Effect of Obesity on State Health Care Expenditures: An Empirical Analysis

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of obesity rates on per capita state health care expenditures. A two-stage least square regression model is used. In the first stage of the estimation, factors influencing obesity rates are determined. The determinants of obesity rates are outlined throughout the research process. In the second stage, the impact of obesity rates on per capita health expenditures across states is evaluated. The empirical results indicate that obesity rates do indeed have a direct effect on state health care expenditures. After reviewing the project’s results, various solutions are proposed as possible methods to slow and perhaps reverse growing obesity rates with the objective of reducing health care expenditures. The solutions offered may possibly decrease the prevalence of obesity across the nation and in turn lower per capita health care spending

Atmospheric Circulation and Composition of GJ1214b

The exoplanet GJ1214b presents an interesting example of compositional degeneracy for low-mass planets. Its atmosphere may be composed of water, super-solar or solar metallicity material. We present atmospheric circulation models of GJ1214b for these three compositions, with explicit grey radiative transfer and an optional treatment of MHD bottom drag. All models develop strong, superrotating zonal winds (~ 1-2 km/s). The degree of eastward heat advection, which can be inferred from secondary eclipse and thermal phase curve measurements, varies greatly between the models. These differences are understood as resulting from variations in the radiative times at the thermal photosphere, caused by separate molecular weight and opacity effects. Our GJ1214b models illustrate how atmospheric circulation can be used as a probe of composition for similar tidally-locked exoplanets in the mini-Neptune/waterworld class.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ

Book review: activating human rights and peace

Activating Human Rights and Peace is an enlightening collection of well thought through cases aimed at academics and students of human rights, political science, law and justice, peace and conflict studies and sociology. It argues that we need to appreciate that cultivating a human rights and peace consciousness is choice-less: there is a moral imperative to engender and sustain an ethical praxis that is motivated by a concern and commitment for how we live with each other. Kristen Perrin notes that each chapter gives a glimpse into the diverse range of ideas encompassing contemporary human rights issues

Black Hole Accretion in Transient X-Ray Binaries

Recent work on the modes of accretion onto black holes (BHs) in Soft X-Ray Transients (SXTs) is reviewed, with an emphasis on uncertainties affecting models of accretion during quiescence (inner hot flow, outer thin disk). Various interpretations of the quiescent X-ray luminosity difference between systems containing neutron stars (NSs) and systems containing BH candidates are also summarized. A new scenario, which does not require BH candidates to possess an event horizon, is presented here. This scenario may be ruled out in the future, from detailed X-ray spectroscopic diagnostics or from the absence of type I X-ray bursts in systems containing BH candidates.Comment: 15 pages, Proceedings of the 2nd KIAS Astrophysics Workshop "Current High-Energy Emission around Black Holes

Half of Adult Cell Phone Owners Have Apps on Their Phones

Presents survey findings about trends in the use of mobile apps on cell phones, downloaded or preloaded, and tablet computers by demographics, purpose, portion of downloaded apps used, and portion paid for. Compares results with 2009 and 2010 surveys

Disability Insurance Plans: Trends in Employee Access and Employer Costs

[Excerpt] Short- and long-term disability insurance programs replace some of the wages lost by people who cannot work because of a disabling injury or illness that is not work-related. Short-term disability insurance typically covers periods lasting less than 6 months, and long-term disability insurance lasts for the length of the disability or until retirement. Those workers who are unable to work due to injury or illness and who do not have disability insurance coverage through their employers may seek benefits from Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The number of SSDI claimants has grown over the past decade as younger workers and those in relatively low- skill, low-pay jobs have applied for benefits. This has prompted interest in the amount of coverage for workers in employer-provided disability insurance programs. This issue of Beyond the Numbers examines trends in employer- provided disability insurance coverage over time, explains the basic terms of coverage for typical plans, and estimates the costs to private employers

KWL and Homer\u27s Illiad.

As a student teacher I was disappointed at initial confusion by my World Literature students when we began reading Homer’s Iliad. I wanted to probe my students about the fascinating questions the story raises about the Greek culture, the qualities of a hero, and fate and free will. However, it was impossible to discuss themes when my students constantly needed to be reminded who the characters were or what was happening in the story. In this study, I assigned KWL (Know, Want to know, Learned) charts to students to complete while reading Book 22 of the Iliad. Students who completed KWL charts demonstrated better recall of character names and plot points in the story as evident in their scores on a summative assessment of the story. Students who completed KWL charts also asked more complex questions and engaged in higher-level discussion about the story than did students who did not complete KWL charts. The study suggests that using reading strategies such as KWL charts are effective in overcoming comprehension obstacles for average to low- ability students when reading complex literature