Sketches - Winter Student Dance

Poster for Sketches - Winter Student Dance Concert presented by the Theatre Arts Department December 14-15, 2012 in the Danny Peterson Theatre

Sketches - Winter Dance Concert

Program for Sketches - Winter Student Dance Concert presented by the Theatre Arts Department December 14 & 15, 2012 in the Danny Peterson Theatre

Age differences in the use of serving size information on food labels: numeracy or attention?

ObjectiveThe ability to use serving size information on food labels is important for managing age-related chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and cancer. Past research suggests that older adults are at risk for failing to accurately use this portion of the food label due to numeracy skills. However, the extent to which older adults pay attention to serving size information on packages is unclear. We compared the effects of numeracy and attention on age differences in accurate use of serving size information while individuals evaluated product healthfulness.DesignAccuracy and attention were assessed across two tasks in which participants compared nutrition labels of two products to determine which was more healthful if they were to consume the entire package. Participants' eye movements were monitored as a measure of attention while they compared two products presented side-by-side on a computer screen. Numeracy as well as food label habits and nutrition knowledge were assessed using questionnaires.SettingSacramento area, California, USA, 2013-2014.SubjectsStratified sample of 358 adults, aged 20-78 years.ResultsAccuracy declined with age among those older adults who paid less attention to serving size information. Although numeracy, nutrition knowledge and self-reported food label use supported accuracy, these factors did not influence age differences in accuracy.ConclusionsThe data suggest that older adults are less accurate than younger adults in their use of serving size information. Age differences appear to be more related to lack of attention to serving size information than to numeracy skills

Investigations of an urban area and its locale using ERTS-1 data supported by U-photography

An urban area in central Pennsylvania and the surrounding locality were investigated separately at first by photointerpretation of ERTS-1 imagery and by computer processing of MSS tapes. Next the photointerpretation and processing were coordinated. The results of the cooperative effort of photointerpreters and computer processing analysts were much improved over independent efforts. It was found that single frames of U-2 photography could be projected onto printer output maps with little recognizable distortion in areas 10 to 25 cm square. In this way targets could be identified for use as training areas for computer processed signature identification. In addition, at any stage of category mapping, the level of success in correct classification could be assessed by this method. The results of the classification of the study area are discussed

Diffusive behavior of a greedy traveling salesman

Using Monte Carlo simulations we examine the diffusive properties of the greedy algorithm in the d-dimensional traveling salesman problem. Our results show that for d=3 and 4 the average squared distance from the origin is proportional to the number of steps t. In the d=2 case such a scaling is modified with some logarithmic corrections, which might suggest that d=2 is the critical dimension of the problem. The distribution of lengths also shows marked differences between d=2 and d>2 versions. A simple strategy adopted by the salesman might resemble strategies chosen by some foraging and hunting animals, for which anomalous diffusive behavior has recently been reported and interpreted in terms of Levy flights. Our results suggest that broad and Levy-like distributions in such systems might appear due to dimension-dependent properties of a search space.Comment: accepted in Phys. Rev.

Spectral triangulation molecular contrast optical coherence tomography with indocyanine green as the contrast agent

We report a new molecular contrast optical coherence tomography (MCOCT) implementation that profiles the contrast agent distribution in a sample by measuring the agent's spectral differential absorption. The method, spectra triangulation MCOCT, can effectively suppress contributions from spectrally dependent scatterings from the sample without a priori knowledge of the scattering properties. We demonstrate molecular imaging with this new MCOCT modality by mapping the distribution of indocyanine green, a FDA-approved infrared red dye, within a stage 54 Xenopus laevis

Thermal origin of neutron star magnetic fields

It is proposed that magnetic field arises naturally in neutron stars as a consequence of thermal effects occurring in their outer crusts. The heat flux through the crust, which is carried mainly by degenerate electrons, can give rise to a possible thermoelectric instability in the solid crust which causes horizontal magnetic field components to grow exponentially with time. However, in order for the thermally driven growth to exceed ohmic decay, either the electron collision time must exceed existing estimates by a factor ∼ 3 or the surface layers comprise helium. A second instability is possible if the liquid phase that lies above the solid crust also contains a horizontal magnetic field. The heat flux will drive circulation which should amplify the field strength provided that there is a seed field in excess of ∼ 10^8 G. If either of these two instabilities develops the field will quickly grow to a strength of ∼ 10^(12) G, where the instabilities become non-linear. Further growth will saturate when either the magnetic stress exceeds the lattice yield stress or the temperature perturbations become non-linear, both of which occur at a subsurface field strength of ∼ 10^(14) G; the corresponding surface field strength is ∼ 10^(12) G. Further evolution of the magnetic field should lead to long-range order and yield neutron star magnetic dipole moments ∼ 10^(30) G cm^3, comparable with those observed. Newly-formed neutron stars should be able to develop their dipole moments in a hundred thousand years and maintain them for as long as heat flows through the crust. Thereafter, the dipole moment should decay in several million years, as observed in the case of most radio pulsars. Neutron stars that are formed spinning rapidly, like that in the Crab Nebula, should be able to grow magnetic fields far more rapidly since their rotational energy can also be tapped to drive thermoelectric currents. The interiors of neutron stars in binary systems may be heated by the energy released by accreting matter. The resulting heat flux may cause the production of magnetic fields in these objects. Binary pulsars, with their unusually low and persistent fields, have probably passed through this phase

Misunderstanding of Front-Of-Package Nutrition Information on US Food Products.

Front-of-package nutrition symbols (FOPs) are presumably readily noticeable and require minimal prior nutrition knowledge to use. Although there is evidence to support this notion, few studies have focused on Facts Up Front type symbols which are used in the US. Participants with varying levels of prior knowledge were asked to view two products and decide which was more healthful. FOPs on packages were manipulated so that one product was more healthful, allowing us to assess accuracy. Attention to nutrition information was assessed via eye tracking to determine what if any FOP information was used to make their decisions. Results showed that accuracy was below chance on half of the comparisons despite consulting FOPs. Negative correlations between attention to calories, fat, and sodium and accuracy indicated that consumers over-relied on these nutrients. Although relatively little attention was allocated to fiber and sugar, associations between attention and accuracy were positive. Attention to vitamin D showed no association to accuracy, indicating confusion surrounding what constitutes a meaningful change across products. Greater nutrition knowledge was associated with greater accuracy, even when less attention was paid. Individuals, particularly those with less knowledge, are misled by calorie, sodium, and fat information on FOPs

Relationships among food label use, motivation, and dietary quality.

Nutrition information on packaged foods supplies information that aids consumers in meeting the recommendations put forth in the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans such as reducing intake of solid fats and added sugars. It is important to understand how food label use is related to dietary intake. However, prior work is based only on self-reported use of food labels, making it unclear if subjective assessments are biased toward motivational influences. We assessed food label use using both self-reported and objective measures, the stage of change, and dietary quality in a sample of 392 stratified by income. Self-reported food label use was assessed using a questionnaire. Objective use was assessed using a mock shopping task in which participants viewed food labels and decided which foods to purchase. Eye movements were monitored to assess attention to nutrition information on the food labels. Individuals paid attention to nutrition information when selecting foods to buy. Self-reported and objective measures of label use showed some overlap with each other (r=0.29, p<0.001), and both predicted dietary quality (p<0.001 for both). The stage of change diminished the predictive power of subjective (p<0.09), but not objective (p<0.01), food label use. These data show both self-reported and objective measures of food label use are positively associated with dietary quality. However, self-reported measures appear to capture a greater motivational component of food label use than do more objective measures