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Using a Body Scanner in Assessing Perceptions of Attractiveness: Cross-Regional Study

  • Aghekyan, Marine;Kim, Dong-Eun;Lichty, Margaret
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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    • v.37 no.6
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    • pp.799-808
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    • 2013
  • Previous research reported that body size measured as Body Mass Index (BMI) and body shape measured as waist-hip-ratio (WHR) are two essential factors that form the perceptions of body attractiveness. However, the debate on the importance of BMI versus WHR is ongoing. In addition, scholarly articles, that focus on the role of geographic and cultural variability on perceptions of attractiveness, report inconsistent results. Some suggested that according to globalization and the rise of mass media, geographic variability of perceptions of attractiveness have been altered, while others believed that it remains. This study cross-regionally investigates the role of body size and body shape on the perceptions of female attractiveness. Samples were composed of 107 female college students in Alabama and 107 female college students in California. Participants viewed 27 three-dimensional body scan images of women in three body shapes (pear, hourglass, and rectangle) and three body sizes (underweight, normal weight, and overweight) and rated their perceptions of attractiveness. Images were shown to students in a random order with an overhead projector and Microsoft Office PowerPoint software. A three-way mixed-ANOVA was conducted to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that some regional differences exist between the two sample groups. However, regardless of the regional difference, hourglass shapes were perceived to be the most attractive shape and underweight sizes were perceived to be the most attractive size for both samples.

Implementing an Application Tool of Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) for Highway Maintenance and Rehabilitation in California, USA

  • Kim, Changmo;Lee, Eul-Bum
    • International conference on construction engineering and project management
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    • 2015.10a
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    • pp.376-380
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    • 2015
  • Life-Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA) for highway projects is known as an effective analytical technique that uses economic principles to evaluate long-term alternative investment options, especially for comparing the values of alternative pavement design structures and construction strategies. In the Unites States, the 2012 Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) amended the United States Code to mandate that the United States Government Accountability Office (GOA) conducts a study of the best practices for calculating life-cycle costs and benefits for the federally funded highway projects in 2013. The RealCost 2.5CA program was developed and adapted as an official LCCA tool to comply with regulatory requirements for California state highway projects in 2013. Utilization of this California-customized LCCA software helps Caltrans to achieve substantial economic benefits (agency cost and road user cost savings) for highway projects. Proper implementation of LCCA for roadway construction and rehabilitation would deliver noticeable savings of agency's roadway maintenance cost especially in developing counties where financial difficulties exist.

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Exploring Occupational and Behavioral Risk Factors for Obesity in Firefighters: A Theoretical Framework and Study Design

  • Choi, Bong-Kyoo;Schnall, Peter;Dobson, Marnie;Israel, Leslie;Landsbergis, Paul;Galassetti, Pietro;Pontello, Andria;Kojaku, Stacey;Baker, Dean
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.2 no.4
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    • pp.301-312
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    • 2011
  • Firefighters and police officers have the third highest prevalence of obesity among 41 male occupational groups in the United States (US). However, few studies have examined the relationship of firefighter working conditions and health behaviors with obesity. This paper presents a theoretical framework describing the relationship between working conditions, health behaviors, and obesity in firefighters. In addition, the paper describes a detailed study plan for exploring the role of occupational and behavioral risk factors in the development of obesity in firefighters enrolled in the Orange County Fire Authority Wellness Fitness Program. The study plan will be described with emphasis on its methodological merits: adopting a participatory action research approach, developing a firefighter-specific work and health questionnaire, conducting both a cross-sectional epidemiological study using the questionnaire and a sub-study to assess the validity of the questionnaire with dietary intake and physical activity measures, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the body mass index as an obesity measure in comparison to skinfold-based percent body fat. The study plan based on a theoretical framework can be an essential first step for establishing effective intervention programs for obesity among professional and voluntary firefighters.

Balancing Water Supply Reliability, Flood Hazard Mitigation and Environmental Resilience in Large River Systems

  • Goodwin, Peter
    • Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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    • 2016.05a
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    • pp.1-1
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    • 2016
  • Many of the world's large ecosystems are severely stressed due to population growth, water quality and quantity problems, vulnerability to flood and drought, and the loss of native species and cultural resources. Consequences of climate change further increase uncertainties about the future. These major societal challenges must be addressed through innovations in governance, policy, and ways of implementing management strategies. Science and engineering play a critical role in helping define possible alternative futures that could be achieved and the possible consequences to economic development, quality of life, and sustainability of ecosystem services. Science has advanced rapidly during the past decade with the emergence of science communities coalescing around 'Grand Challenges' and the maturation of how these communities function has resulted in large interdisciplinary research networks. An example is the River Experiment Center of KICT that engages researchers from throughout Korea and the world. This trend has been complemented by major advances in sensor technologies and data synthesis to accelerate knowledge discovery. These factors combine to allow scientific debate to occur in a more open and transparent manner. The availability of information and improved communication of scientific and engineering issues is raising the level of dialogue at the science-policy interface. However, severe challenges persist since scientific discovery does not occur on the same timeframe as management actions, policy decisions or at the pace sometimes expected by elected officials. Common challenges include the need to make decisions in the face of considerable uncertainty, ensuring research results are actionable and preventing science being used by special interests to delay or obsfucate decisions. These challenges are explored in the context of examples from the United States, including the California Bay-Delta system. California transfers water from the wetter northern part of the state to the drier southern part of the state through the Central Valley Project since 1940 and this was supplemented by the State Water Project in 1973. The scale of these activities is remarkable: approximately two thirds of the population of Californians rely on water from the Delta, these waters also irrigate up to 45% of the fruits & vegetables produced in the US, and about 80% of California's commercial fishery species live in or migrate through the Bay-Delta. This Delta region is a global hotspot for biodiversity that provides habitat for over 700 species, but is also a hotspot for the loss of biodiversity with more than 25 species currently listed by the Endangered Species Act. Understanding the decline of the fragile ecosystem of the Bay-Delta system and the potential consequences to economic growth if water transfers are reduced for the environment, the California State Legislature passed landmark legislation in 2009 (CA Water Code SS 85054) that established "Coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem". The legislation also stated that "The coequal goals shall be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place." The challenges of integrating policy, management and scientific research will be described through this and other international examples.

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