Life Sciences Commons^™

The Common Wall Lizard Podarcis Muralis (Reptilia: Lacertidae) Shows Diverse Food Preferences And Intraspecific Difference: A Study Case From Bulgaria, Emiliya Vacheva, Borislav Naumov

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has the largest range among the genus Podarcis. Although there are a number of studies on its diet, data on regional level remains insufficient, particularly from a purely ecological perspective. We investigated 194 individual faecal samples of P. muralis obtained from two localities in western Bulgaria with the aim of clarifying the composition of the trophic spectrum of the species, as well as the intra-population characteristics in terms of age and sex. In one study site we compared the realized trophic niche (prey items from the faecal pellets) with the fundamental (invertebrates collected via …

Understanding Functional Benefits Of Isoleucine And Arginine On Poultry Performance And Health., Roshan Adhikari, Jason T. Lee, Keith Haydon

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Poultry industry is rapidly moving towards utilizing the best ingredients to precisely feed the birds for better performance, welfare, health, and profitability. One of the practices that evolved over time with research is better optimization of amino acid utilization in the diets thus changing the crude protein landscape. Historically, if we compare the modern diets to diets from 1980, significant changes are visible in the use of unbound or crystalline amino acids leading to reduced levels of CP and reduced unutilized nitrogen in the diets. Multiple feed-grade amino acids are available in a cost-effective manner in poultry diets. Multiple research …

Accepting Educational Responsibility For Social Justice: Homeless Mothers’ And Children’S Need Of Education About Health And Nutrition, Smita Guha

Journal of Vincentian Social Action

The goal is to improve health and nutrition among new mothers and their children who were living in shelters. The mothers received workshops and booklets consisting of information, quick and healthy recipes, and learned how to prepare home-made meals with a low budget. The mothers realized nutritious foods are important for them and their children. They learned how to manage time to make nutritious food at the residence. Children regardless of their background, are our future and we need to pay attention to their needs now so that future problems could be prevented. The significance of this study is immense …

The Impact Of Nutrition On The Mental And Physical Health Of Young Adults, Dareena El-Far

WRIT: Journal of First-Year Writing

Upon close examination by nutritional professionals, concern has arisen regarding the typical contents of a young adult diet. In terms of the rate at which young adults choose to consume nutritionally-dense food items, the rate at which nutrition-deficient junk food items are chosen over the former is significantly higher. Among further examinations of this issue by researchers, it has become evident that the nutritional decisions made by young adults are increasingly associated with several social, commercial, mental, educational, and economic influences. As a consequence of these factors, research has uncovered a connection between the consumption of a poor diet and …

Air Temperature And Diet Are Not Associated With Oxygen Consumption Rate In Banded Crickets, Gryllodes Sigillatus, Nicole Bailey, Connor Oakes, Rachel Sleeth, Mallorie Smith

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

All living organisms acclimate to their environments, with ectothermic species particularly susceptible to environmental change, specifically temperature. Ectothermic insects like crickets directly alter their physiological processes depending on the environment in which they live. Temperature is vital in regulating processes such as metabolism, respiration, and reproduction, among other things. What remains unclear is how a change in the environment, specifically extreme temperature change and dietary alterations, affects physiological processes. In this study, we performed experiments on ectothermic banded crickets to examine the effects of temperature change and the interaction of temperature and diet on oxygen consumption. For both experiments, we …

Assessment Of Living Shorelines For Restoring Fish Habitats: A Case Study From Coastal Alabama, Claire Legaspi, Matheus De Barros, Alexandra Rodriguez, Ronald Baker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Conception, Experience And Enlightenment Of Japan’S Basic Law Of Food Education, Yang Jin-Yu, Li Xu, Zhao Ming-Yang

Food and Machinery

The research focuses on the conception and experience of the Basic Law of Food Education in Japan, analyzes its conception, and draws the experience of the implementation of "food education" in Japan: Focusing on giving justice and responsibility by means of law; Building a multi-subject cooperation system under the leadership of the government; Implementing an all-round "food education" promotion path and emphasizing the dynamic nature of the "food education promotion basic plan" are the practical experience of "food education" of the law. In order to give play to the educational value of "food breeding" in improving the diet of Chinese …

Factors Influencing Motivation To Perform Mental And Physical Tasks During The Initial Lockdown Period Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, Niklas Mckone, Joel R. Martin, Italia Milani, Shantanu Sur, Sumona Mondal, Nelson Cortes, Shane V. Caswell, Ali Boolani

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(5): 1600-1615, 2022. Drastic changes to lifestyles have occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. An unintended consequence of stay at home orders is increased isolation and less social interaction for many people. For overall wellbeing it is important to stay both physically and mentally active; however, for many individual’s motivation may be a barrier. There are non-modifiable (e.g. sex, age, personality, infection rates in the area) and modifiable factors (e.g. physical activity, diet, sleep) that may be associated with motivation to perform physical and mental tasks. We collected data from 794 subjects using an online survey …

Body Image Perception And Its Association With Food Intake Among Undergraduate Students In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Christie Loke Sin Mun, Roslee Rajikan, Hanis Mastura Yahya

Makara Journal of Health Research

Background: Body image dissatisfaction may lead to the practice of imbalanced diet to achieve the desired body weight. This study aimed to determine the association between body image perception and food intake among undergraduate students.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the data of 155 students from three faculties located at National University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Assessments included demographic data, body mass index, Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and 3-day food records.

Results: The majority of the subjects were categorized as normal weight (64.5%), and the remaining were classified as underweight (26.5%), overweight (7.7%), and obese …

Hydroponically Growing A Holistic Superfood Diet For Mars Exploration, Marianna Pezzella, Ruben A. Rosa Polonia

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

In “Hydroponically Growing a Holistic Superfood Diet for Mars Exploration,” Project H.O.M.E. members conducted an experiment to help determine ways to provide future astronauts with a complete, balanced diet on a planet that does not receive as much sunlight as Earth. Sending massive amounts of food into space is incredibly expensive, takes up valuable spacecraft area, and is, overall, not a feasible way to provide astronauts with sustenance. Project H.O.M.E. has thus developed a hydroponic system to evaluate the growth and yield of various superfoods - including Moringa Oleifera, goji berries, and kale - under simulated Mars lighting conditions. Data …

A Test Of Food Partitioning Between The Aquatic Larvae Of Two Parapatric Species Of Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea Bislineata Species Complex) In A Zone Of Sympatric Contact, Carlos D. Camp, S. Michael Owensby, Emily Benfield, Jessica A. Wooten

Georgia Journal of Science

Phylogenetically related species with similar ecologies often partition resources when in sympatry. Food is an important factor in the co-occurrence of sympatric salamanders, and food partitioning occurs in a variety of sympatric, similar species. Several members of the Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) species complex are largely parapatric but co-exist within a narrow zone of sympatric contact. Because larvae of these salamanders frequently occur in very high densities, we tested the hypothesis that larvae of the Blue Ridge Salamander (E. wilderae) and the Southern Two-lined Salamander (E. cirrigera) partition food in sympatry in northeastern Georgia. …

Parameterization Of Food Wastes To Develop An Automatic Recycling System For Livestock And Poultry Feed, Ali Roshanianfard, Samira Nematzadeh, Tarahom Mesri-Gundoshmian

Emirates Journal for Engineering Research

Food wastes are known as one of the big concerns in urban management because of grain consumption gain, environmental pollution, and traditional waste management methods. The reuse of restaurant waste can reduce the cost of producing animal food production. This study attempts to find related parameters to use in the development of an automatic recycling machine and also a suitable method for food waste management (wastes of restaurants in universities and other academic environments) to use in various animal diets. Determination of various parameters including the percentage of dry matter (using a dryer), protein (using Kjeldahl test), fat (using Soxhlet …

The Effect Of Storm Events On Diet Of Adult Mummichogs (Fundulus Heteroclitus), Jessica S. Thompson, Cade P. Cobbs, Emma S. Dryden, Heather D. Harwell

Virginia Journal of Science

More frequent storms due to climate change may impact estuarine species such as the mummichog (Fundulus hetereoclitus), an ecologically important salt marsh fish. This study investigated the effect of storm events and month on consumption of terrestrial insects by mummichogs in Hoffler Creek, Portsmouth, VA, as well as the effect of storms on consumption of major categories of benthic prey. Samples were taken monthly in the summers of 2017 and 2019. Additional paired samples were taken in June and July 2019, with the first collection during dry weather and the second during a subsequent storm. Month had a …

The Gut Microbiome, Lucy Patterson

Osmosis Magazine

The gut microbiome is characterized as living microorganisms, including bacteria and viruses, and genetic material found within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These microorganisms aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients in food, and play an active role in the digestive process. However, recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is not only helpful in the digestion of food, but also could be linked to mental health and personality.

Impact Of A Summer Nutrition And Physical Activity Intervention To Attenuate Obesity In Urban African-American Youth, Jermaine B. Mitchell, Antonio J. Gardner, Zachary Wahl-Alexander, Ben Schwamberger, Douglas Craddock Jr., Carol N. Agomo, Myia C. Lang

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Improved eating behaviors and daily participation in physical activity such as swimming might abate the likelihood of African American youth becoming obese. Yet many African American youth neither consume the recommended daily servings of nutritious foods nor know how to swim. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a culturally tailored multicomponent summer intervention to reduce obesity and unintentional drownings among underserved African American youth. Children (n = 145) participated in a three-hour, community-based intervention for four weeks. Measures of children’s attitudes perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms toward swimming, nutrition, and physical fitness were …

Acetic Acid Supplementation: Effect On Resting And Exercise Energy Expenditure And Substrate Utilization, Kolton M. Cobb, Domenico A. Chavez, Jonathan D. Kenyon, Zachary J. Hutelin, Michael Webster

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 222-229, 2021. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of acetic acid (apple cider vinegar; ACV) supplementation on resting and exercise energy expenditure and substrate utilization. Using a randomized, double blind, crossover design, 16 healthy subjects were supplemented for 4 d with either ACV (30-ml/d) mixed in 1 L of a non-nutritive lemon-flavored drink or a placebo (PLA). They were then assessed via indirect calorimetry for resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate utilization. This was immediately followed by the assessment of steady state cycling exercise energy expenditure at 40 W (EEE-40) …

The Effect Of Whey Protein Supplementation At Breakfast On Tryptophan Levels, Food Intake, And Mood In Postmenopausal Women In A 16-Week Randomized Controlled Trial, Danielle L. Lamont, Jamie I. Baum

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Whey protein isolate supplementation has been recognized as having potential for regulating appetite, thereby potentially improving mood and food intake. The objectives of this project were to 1) analyze the effects of high-quality whey protein intake on overall diet and 2) identify and examine a correlation between tryptophan levels and mood regulation. This research was conducted using a randomized experimental design. A total of 13 postmenopausal women (12+ months after last reported menstrual cycle) were recruited and allocated to one of two dietary intervention (DI) groups: 1) control (maintain current lifestyle; CON; n = 6), and 2) whey protein isolate …

Dried Tomato Pomace In Rabbit Nutrition: Effects On Carcass Characteristics And Meat Quality, Nouha Grioui, Hager Boukhris, Chokri Damergi, Wafa Hajji, Hamadi Riahi, Manef Abderrabba, Taha Najar, Mondher Mejri

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to assess the effect of dried tomato pomace (DTP) feeding on the carcass characteristics and the quality of the meat of growing rabbits. For this purpose, 54 weaned rabbits (40 days old) were divided into three equal groups and fed isoproteic and isoenergetic diets. The first group was the control group (CON), while the other two groups were fed 10 (DTP-10), and 20 (DTP-20) percent DTP for 6 weeks. Eighty-three-day-old rabbits were slaughtered then, the carcass characteristics, mechanical and sensorial tenderness of the meat were determined. Rabbits fed with DTP-10 had the highest final weight at …

Patterns Of Dispersion, Movement And Feeding Of The Sea Urchin Lytechinus Variegatus, And The Potential Implications For Grazing Impact On Live Seagrass, Adrianna Parson, Joseph M. Dirnberger, Troy Mutchler

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus is a known grazer of both living and dead tissue of turtlegrass, Thalassia testudinum, occasionally denuding large areas of seagrass. Field studies have attempted to assess effects of herbivory on seagrass by enclosing urchins at various densities. However, it is unclear how unrestricted urchins affect seagrass at lower densities more typically observed in the field. This study describes movement, feeding, and distribution of L. variegatus within beds of T. testudinum in St. Joseph Bay, Florida (USA) to quantify this urchin’s impact as a seagrass grazer. Urchins were absent from portions of seagrass beds closest to …

A Review Of The Effects Of Dietary Restriction, Dehydration, And Caffeine Withdrawal On Cognition: Implications For A Disabled Submarine Scenario, Sarah Chabal

Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments

In the event that submariners become trapped aboard a disabled submarine (DISSUB), they must perform a multitude of cognitively demanding tasks in order to maximize their likelihood of survival. During this time, submariners will also be forced to endure poor living conditions, including drastic changes to their nutrition. These nutritional changes have the potential to impair submariners’ cognitive functioning and affect operational performance, which could jeopardize survival; however, the effects of DISSUB nutrition on cognitive performance are not well understood. This review first describes the unique nutritional conditions that submariners will experience in a DISSUB scenario, including the change to …

From The Democratic Republic Of The Congo To North Carolina: An Examination Of Chronic Disease Risk, Lauren R. Sastre Dr.

Journal of Refugee & Global Health

Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are one of the largest refugee groups globally and in the US, however, there is limited research with this group. Therefore, objectives of this study were to examine: 1) obesity and hypertension rates, 2) diet and lifestyle behavior changes, and 3) diet, lifestyle and social factors of obesity and hypertension risk of Congolese refugees in the US. This cross-sectional data collection utilized a survey developed specifically for this project. Clinical and anthropometric measures including height, weight and blood pressure were also obtained. Data analysis included descriptive and regression analysis. Participants (n=48, >18 …

The Associations Between Meal Planning And A Healthy Diet For Incoming College Freshmen, Morgan Brower, Lacey Mccormack

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Background: Meal planning has been shown to be positively associated with a more healthful diet among adults; however, there is not much information on how meal planning is associated with young adults, which is why it is important that more research is done on this topic. The goal of this project was to determine the associations between meal planning and a healthy diet for incoming college freshmen at eight universities that participated in the GetFRUVED study.

Results: 1,149 first-year college students passed the initial required criteria to participate in the study. The results from this data collection were analyzed to …

Developing A Web-Based Learning Experience For Nutrition Among Future Health And Sports Science Professionals, Melissa K. Casimir, Sandra Sertile, Emily Breen

Kean Quest

Nutrition education theories support the use of videos to help individuals take steps towards changing their behavior. The purpose of NOURISH (Nutrition Outreach to Undergrads in Sports Science and Health Professions) is to develop a multimedia, theory-based nutrition website for students preparing for careers in medicine and sports science. Research has shown that nutrition knowledge and resources are often limited for students pursuing careers in sports medicine or medicine. NOURISH was a collaboration with Kean University’s graphic design team to develop interactive review questions and a brief video to help students learn about pre-exercise hydration guidelines using the multimedia learning …

Changes In Health Behaviors And Outcomes Following Graduation From Higher Education, Oliver W A Wilson, Peter J. Matthews, Michele Duffey, Zack Papalia, Melissa Bopp

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 13(5): 131-139, 2020. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in health behaviors and outcomes of higher education (college) students following graduation. Undergraduate students (n= 206) enrolled at a large, northeastern United States university in general education health and wellness courses were assessed pre and post-graduation. Participants self-reported their demographics, physical activity behaviors, dietary behaviors, sleep, and stress pre and post-graduation via an online survey. Paired sample t-tests examined changes health behaviors pre and post-graduation. Following graduation, fruit and vegetable consumption increased significantly, moderate physical activity declined significantly, and both vigorous …

Dietary Quality Is Associated With Better Self-Efficacy And Depression In Patients With Fibromyalgia From A Comparative Effectiveness Trial: A Small Pilot Study, Andrew R. Beauchesne, Lori Lyn Price, Chenchen Wang, Mei Chung

Journal of Maine Medical Center

Background: Diet and exercise have been suggested as potentially beneficial for symptom management of fibromyalgia; however, data on the relationship between diet quality and fibromyalgia symptoms are limited.

Objective: To investigate diet quality and its relationship with 1) fibromyalgia impact, and 2) psychological health in patients with fibromyalgia who participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Tai Chi versus aerobic exercise for fibromyalgia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled participants from a RCT. Diet quality and fibromyalgia symptoms were assessed using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) and Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), respectively. Retrospective analyses were …

Effects Of High Fat Diets, Esther Abady

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

With obesity on the rise, and subsequently numerous diseases, many people are looking for newer ways to counter the effects of the influx of fatty, high sugar and unhealthy foods they are consuming. The most common and widely used method is a diet plan. The key to both a healthy and effective diet is knowing what the diet does to the body. There are short term diets which have adverse effects if kept for too long and long-term diets which are aimed for a healthy lifestyle. Every diet is based on the increased and decreased consumption of different macronutrients and …

Prevalence Of Disordered Eating And Muscle Dysmorphia In College Students By Predominant Exercise Type, Taylor E. Lechner, Emily M. Gill, Madeleine J. Drees, Carrie M. Hamady, Mary-Jon Ludy

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(4): 1001-1012, 2019. Many young adults experience distorted body image and decreased body satisfaction. To attain more “ideal” bodies, negative alterations in eating and/or exercise habits are common. This study’s objective was to compare disordered eating and muscle dysmorphia in undergraduates who participate in aerobic-, anaerobic-, or flexibility-predominant exercise; mixed exercise; or no exercise. One hundred twelve undergraduate students (age 21.2 ± 4.8 years; BMI 25.0 ± 4.6 kg/m²) were recruited from the student union and recreation center. The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI), and demographic/exercise questions were administered …

Increasing Low-Income Residents’ Access To Fresh Produce Through A Local Mobile Pantry, Laura E. Wasson, L. Lanier Nalley, Mechelle Bailey, Laura Hill

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Seeds that Feed (STF) is a mobile food pantry located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. STF receives produce from local farmers to distribute to residents in low-income housing sites throughout Northwest Arkansas. According to Feeding America, food insecurity affected 14.3% Washington County, Arkansas’ population in 2016. The purpose of this study was to determine if STF’s model is an effective way to increase individuals’ access to fresh fruits and vegetables and increase their potential to meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Patterns (USDA-FP) for to fruit and vegetable consumption. Twenty-three participants from three sites completed the study. A survey was …

Trophic Analysis And Parasitological Aspects Of Liolaemus Parvus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) In The Central Andes Of Argentina, Gabriel Natalio Castillo, Juan Carlos Acosta, Graciela Mirta Blanco

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The objective of this study was to describe temporal variations in the diet and parasitological aspects in Liolaemus parvus. In order to examine the diet, we determined the volume, numerousness, and frequency of occurrence for each prey item and calculated the relative importance index. We removed nematodes from the stomach and estimated parasitic indicators. Liolaemus parvus presents an active searching mode. It is a predominantly insectivorous species with low intake of plant material and a specialist in feeding on prey items of the family Formicidae, although it also feeds on other arthropods like coleopterans, hemipterans, and spiders. We found temporal …

Population And Ecological Characteristics Of The Dice Snake, Natrix Tessellata(Laurenti, 1768), In Lower Portions Of The Vrbanja River(Republic Of Srpska, Bosnia And Herzegovina), Goran Sukalo, Sonja Nikolic, Dejan Dmitrovic, Ljiljana Tomovic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Despite their comparative richness and accessibility in the Republic of Srpska and in Bosnia and Herzegovina in general, population studies of reptiles have not been performed in Srpska until recently. For example, one of the most common snake species in this area is the dice snake; nevertheless, previous studies have only reported its distribution. The aim of the present study was to analyze characteristics of the dice snake population along the Vrbanja River. Animals were processed during 2011 throughout their activity period. In total, 199 individuals of all ages were collected. We observed substantial differences in numbers of animals captured …