Facilitators and barriers to behavior change in overweight and obesity management using the COM-B model

IntroductionIncreasing overweight and obesity rates represent one of the global public health challenges. COM-B is a theoretical model used to identify areas to target to achieve behavior change. It identifies three factors that are needed for any behavior to occur: capability, opportunity, and motivation. We aimed to assess the potential facilitators and barriers to behavior change in weight management using the COM-B.MethodsThe study included 139 people with overweight and obesity (mean age 48.81 ± 14.49 years; 64.5% female; body mass index 32.64 ± 6.51 kg/m2; waist-to-height ratio 0.62 ± 0.10) from primary care settings. All participants completed the Brief Measure of Behavior Change (COM-B), the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSE), and the Overall Evaluation of Health (OEH). Multiple linear regression was performed to analyse the data.ResultsThe associations between sociodemographic and clinical variables and COM-B domains attenuated or were no longer significant when psychological resources were added to the regression models. Self-efficacy was identified as a stronger facilitator of health behavior change (p < 0.001) when compared to self-esteem (p < 0.05). No associations between automatic motivation and psychological resources were identified, however. Automatic motivation was found to be associated with higher age, being in a relationship, and better health.DiscussionBehavioral interventions for weight management should specifically target different components of COM-B. Self-efficacy and self-esteem may play a significant role in individual capabilities, opportunities, and reflective motivation and should be included in tailored public health interventions. Health programs targeting younger and single people, and people with chronic conditions may help to promote sustainable behavior change

Bichir external gills arise via heterochronic shift that accelerates hyoid arch development.

In most vertebrates, pharyngeal arches form in a stereotypic anterior-to-posterior progression. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying evolutionary changes in pharyngeal arch development, here we investigate embryos and larvae of bichirs. Bichirs represent the earliest diverged living group of ray-finned fishes, and possess intriguing traits otherwise typical for lobe-finned fishes such as ventral paired lungs and larval external gills. In bichir embryos, we find that the anteroposterior way of formation of cranial segments is modified by the unique acceleration of the entire hyoid arch segment, with earlier and orchestrated development of the endodermal, mesodermal, and neural crest tissues. This major heterochronic shift in the anteroposterior developmental sequence enables early appearance of the external gills that represent key breathing organs of bichir free-living embryos and early larvae. Bichirs thus stay as unique models for understanding developmental mechanisms facilitating increased breathing capacity

Current use of noninvasive prenatal testing in Europe, Australia and the USA : A graphical presentation

publishersversionPeer reviewe

Toward Male Individualization with Rapidly Mutating Y-Chromosomal Short Tandem Repeats

Peer reviewe

An analysis of the effect of affirmative action enforcement on lender behavior

Historically minority workers have been underrepresented in the higher-skilled, higher-paying occupations. Government mandates, such as affirmative action, can, under some conditions, change that circumstance, but market efficiencies are often sacrificed. Though there are efficiency losses in the labor market because of the government action, other markets where group discrimination exists may be positively affected. Employing a search model, the effect of affirmative action on black employment and the effect of black employment on black mortgage lending are considered. Affirmative action enforcement is found to increase black employment at lenders, and increases in black employment in the higher-skilled occupations are associated with increases in the likelihood of black mortgage loan approval. No association is found, however, between increases in black employment resulting from the government\u27s enforcement of affirmative action and increases in the likelihood of black mortgage loan approval

Slidecasting 2.0 - eLearning im Lichte von Web 2.0 Trends

Zsfassung in engl. SpracheDiese Diplomarbeit behandelt die Entwicklung eines Prototypen für den Bereich E-Learning. Diese Anwendung soll die Prinzipien des Web 2.0, also der »Social Software«, mit der vorherrschenden Massenlehre verbinden, sodass die negativen Effekte der großen Anzahl der Teilnehmer zu einem Vorteil umgekehrt werden. Nach einer kurzen Einleitung möchte ich eine theoretische Einführung in die projektrelevanten Themen und Begriffe, wie Lehrtheorien, E-Learning und Web 2.0 geben und mich anschließend der Entwicklung der Applikation zuzuwenden. Hier beschreibe ich zuerst dasThis masterthesis deals with the topic of developing a prototypical application in the field of eLearning, which tries to combine the principles of Web 2.0 or the so called »Social Software« with the everyday situations of massteaching in a way that the negative effects of the latter are transformed into positive ones. Beginning with a short introduction I want to continue with the definition of some key concepts like teaching theory, eLearning and Web 2.0 thereby laying the theoretical foundation for the next chapters. After that the main part will be concerned with the development phase, commencing with the conception and going on to the first real development step, the experiments, which analyzed some helpful tools and were important for a quick start of the protject, avoiding too much development at the beginning. Thereafter I will describe the development of the prototype as such and the experiences made during the process. Finally I will summarize the results and give s short outlook into the possible future of the prototype.7

Effect of the fiber orientation on the deformation mechanisms of magnesium-alloy based composite

The influence of the orientation of the fiber reinforcement on the deformation mechanisms of Mg–Al–Ca alloy-based composite has been investigated in-situ using acoustic emission and neutron diffraction methods. Results indicate that the twinned volume is the smallest, when the fibers plane is perpendicular to the loading direction. Residual thermal stresses having a tensile character are present in the as-received composites, which gradually vanishing during compressive straining. The load transfer from the matrix to fiber has been found more effective for specimens with fiber planes aligned with the loading direction, which is in agreement with the theoretical shear-lag model.JRC.F.4-Innovative Technologies for Nuclear Reactor Safet

Community pharmacy customer segmentation based on factors influencing their selection of pharmacy and over-the-counter medicines

Background: Within the competitive pharmacy market environment, community pharmacies are required to develop efficient marketing strategies based on contemporary information about consumer behavior in order to attract clients and develop customer loyalty. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the consumers’ preferences concerning the selection of pharmacy and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, and to identify customer segments in relation to these preferences. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and March 2016 on a convenient quota sample of 300 participants recruited in the metropolitan area of Thessaloniki, Greece. The main instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire with close-ended, multiple choice questions. To identify customer segments, Two-Step cluster analysis was conducted. Results: Three distinct pharmacy customer clusters emerged. Customers of the largest cluster (49%; ‘convenience customers’) were mostly younger consumers. They gave moderate to positive ratings to factors affecting the selection of pharmacy and OTCs; convenience, and previous experience and the pharmacist’s opinion, received the highest ratings. Customers of the second cluster (35%; ‘loyal customers’) were mainly retired; most of them reported visiting a single pharmacy. They gave high ratings to all factors that influence pharmacy selection, especially the pharmacy’s staff, and factors influencing the purchase of OTCs, particularly previous experience and the pharmacist’s opinion. Customers of the smallest cluster (16%; ‘convenience and price-sensitive customers’) were mainly retired or unemployed with low to moderate education, and low personal income. They gave the lowest ratings to most of the examined factors; convenience among factors influencing pharmacy selection, whereas previous experience, the pharmacist’s opinion and product price among those affecting the purchase of OTCs, received the highest ratings. Conclusions: The community pharmacy market comprised of distinct customer segments that varied in the consumer preferences concerning the selection of pharmacy and OTCs, the evaluation of pharmaceutical services and products, and demographic characteristics. Keywords: Customer segmentation, Consumer behavior, Pharmacy selection, OTCs’ purchase, Pharmacy customers’ profiles, Cluster analysi