Conditional Gaussian mixture modelling for dietary pattern analysis

Summary.  Free-living individuals have multifaceted diets and consume foods in numerous combinations. In epidemiological studies it is desirable to characterize individual diets not only in terms of the quantity of individual dietary components but also in terms of dietary patterns. We describe the conditional Gaussian mixture model for dietary pattern analysis and show how it can be adapted to take account of important characteristics of self-reported dietary data. We illustrate this approach with an analysis of the 2000–2001 National Diet and Nutrition Survey of adults. The results strongly favoured a mixture model solution allowing clusters to vary in shape and size, over the standard approach that has been used previously to find dietary patterns.     

理工院校文科学报的专业化发展之路探析——以四川理工学院学报(社会科学版)为例

随着文化体制改革不断深入,我国理工院校文科学报该如何发展成为需研究的重要课题。《四川理工学院学报(社会科学版)》近来的发展提供了有益的借鉴。文章以从学术分布、对外开放度、学术影响力、专业化发展的制度保障等多个维度对该刊进行文献计量与统计分析发现,该学报在学术分布上形成了专业化发展趋势,学术影响力逐年提高,多项制度确保了专业化发展顺利进行。     

近几年我国宏观经济调控实践的回顾与总结

十六大以来,党中央、国务院非常重视宏观调控的作用。从2003年开始,党中央、国务院见微知著,针对经济生活中一些苗头性、倾向性问题,陆续采取了一系列调控措施。在探索与创新过程中,党和政府积累了丰富的宏观调控的经验,宏观调控能力日益增强。在科学发展观的引领下,我们一定能够战胜各种风险和挑战,使我国宏观经济在良性发展轨道上运行。     

机场融资结构对运营效率影响的实证分析

利用数据包络法分解出Malmquist 生产力指数,对2003—2012年期间国内外9家上市机场公司的运营效率进行比较分析,并应用面板数据回归模型考查了机场融资结构与机场运营效率二者的关系。实证结果表明国内机场的运营效率要好于国外国际机场,而中国香港国际机场的运营效率最高;机场运营效率与债务外源性融资比重存在正相关关系,与股权内源性融资比重存在负相关关系,即机场的债务融资占比的增加可以促进机场运营效率的提高,适度降低股权性融资比重可以提高机场运营效率。     

Student Perceptions of Web-Assisted Teaching Strategies

This study determines which Web-assisted teaching strategies social work students from a single university experience and perceive as valuable. The results demonstrate that most faculty use email, post grades online, and give out student email addresses to the class. Students perceive email communication with the instructor and the online provision of course information as the most valuable strategies. The impact of several student characteristics on value perception is also examined, revealing varying levels of influence. These findings suggest that the strategies students report as the most valuable are not necessarily the strategies most frequently used by faculty.     

The Utility of a Gender-Specific Definition of Binge Drinking on the AUDIT

Abstract

Objective: Although binge drinking is commonly defined as the consumption of at least 5 drinks in 1 sitting for men and 4 for women, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) defines binge drinking as the consumption of 6 or more drinks in 1 sitting for both men and women. This study examined the effect of using gender-specific binge drinking definitions on overall AUDIT scores. Participants: Participants were 331 college men and 1224 college women. Methods: Participants completed a self-report questionnaire, which included the AUDIT. Results: Findings showed that defining binge drinking as 4 or more drinks for women, rather than 6 or more, does impact their AUDIT scores and could affect the percentage of women classified as hazardous users. Among men, AUDIT scores were unaffected by the use of a gender-specific definition of binge drinking. Conclusions: Results suggest that the AUDIT might be underidentifying hazardous users among college women.     

A Survey of 100 Community Colleges on Student Substance Use,Programming, and Collaborations

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to survey community college personnel about student substance use, and infrastructure (staff and funding), programs, and collaborations dedicated to substance use prevention. Participants: The sample included 100 administrators, faculty, and health services staff at 100 community colleges. Methods: Participants completed a Web-based survey. Results: Participants reported a number of alcohol and other drug (AOD) related concerns. Despite limited staff and funding dedicated to AOD, institutions are implementing a number of programs, although many are not implementing some of the programs popular at traditional 4-year colleges. They are also collaborating with a number of on- and off-campus groups. The availability of staff and funding dedicated to AOD, and the presence of residence halls, is associated with health programming and substance abuse collaborations. Conclusions: Results suggest that there is a need for increased research to understand the most effective AOD prevention strategies for community colleges.     

An examination of gender difference in advancement and salary for Marriage and Family Therapy faculty members working in public universities

Evidence for inequitable advancement and salary disparity for women in academia is compelling, but only a marginal amount of research has explored this in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) specifically. Current research provides preliminary evidence that women remain underrepresented at the Full Professor rank and are paid less than men MFT faculty. This study collected publicly available data for MFT faculty in public universities to explore gender differences in advancement between ranks, salary disparity, and the representation of women and men in the highest and lowest paying niches of MFT academia. Results showed that, despite being 60.15% of MFTs in public universities, women were paid an average of $5596.25 less than men. Men were 1.40 times more likely than women to be promoted to Full Professor on time—within 13 years of their terminal degree. Implications for addressing inequitable advancement and salary disparity for women MFT faculty are discussed.