Nutrition Commons^™

Human Trafficking And Nutrition: Assessing The Effects Of U.S. Public Policy On Food Security And The Malnourishment Of Refugees, Moxie R. Mccandless

Honors Projects

This research paper aims to assess the challenges associated with human trafficking within the lived experience of refugees, specifically focusing on food security, and the resulting system shaped by existing United States policies and programs. By examining this complex relationship, the study seeks to shed light on the influence of power dynamics on fulfilling basic human needs and to propose more effective strategies for improving food security among marginalized populations.

A comprehensive literature review is conducted, and a community nutrition needs assessment is performed in King County, Washington. Qualitative interviews are conducted with human trafficked organizations, government officials, and experts …

Cenabis Bene: A Culinary Odyssey Through Apicius, Kathryn Atkinson

Honors Scholar Theses

Apicius is the sole surviving cookbook from classical antiquity; as such it is invaluable for what it tells us about ancient feasting customs. Yet the gluttony typically associated with classical antiquity has no place in Apicius beyond the art that is inherently associated with food; we are not so much given a seat at the cena (dinner) as we are led into the kitchen, handed an apron, and instructed to cook. This critical analysis explores each recipe not only on the surface—i.e., examining the ingredients and recreating selected recipes—but also on a deeper level, lifting food above its concrete reality …

The Last Of Us In Therapy: How Mind-Controlling Fungi And Gut Bacteria Affect Your Mental Health, Anastasia Lyon

Journal of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences

The "psilocybiome" represents the mutually beneficial relationship between ourselves, our bacteria, and psychedelic drugs. This short review briefly discusses the benefits and limitations surrounding the potential for psychedelic therapy to synergize with gut bacteria to help regulate and maintain proper balance in the immune system, diet, and stress levels. Psychedelic therapy is a novel treatment strategy that has the potential to improve patient mental health, and, by identifying the types of gut bacteria present in patients, it can aid in personalizing medicine by determining how well their "psilocybiome" may respond.

Advancing College Food Security: Priority Research Gaps, Matthew J. Landry, Emily Heying, Zubaida Qamar, Rebecca L. Hagedorn-Hatfield, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Cara L. Cuite, Victoria A. Zigmont, Kendra Oonorasak, Susan Chen

Nutrition Faculty Publications

Despite over a decade of both quantitative and qualitative studies, food insecurity among US college/university students remains a pervasive problem within higher education. The purpose of this perspective piece was to highlight research gaps in the area of college food insecurity and provide rationale for the research community to focus on these gaps going forward. A group of food insecurity researchers from a variety of higher education institutions across the United States identified five thematic areas of research gaps: screening and estimates of food insecurity; longitudinal changes in food insecurity; impact of food insecurity on broader health and academic outcomes; …

Genome Mining For Anti-Crispr Operons Using Machine Learning, Bowen Yang, Minal Khatri, Jinfang Zheng, Jitender S. Deogun, Yanbin Yin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Motivation: Encoded by (pro-)viruses, anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins inhibit the CRISPR-Cas immune system of their prokaryotic hosts. As a result, Acr proteins can be employed to develop more controllable CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools. Recent studies revealed that known acr genes often coexist with other acr genes and with phage structural genes within the same operon. For example, we found that 47 of 98 known acr genes (or their homologs) co-exist in the same operons. None of the current Acr prediction tools have considered this important genomic context feature. We have developed a new software tool AOminer to facilitate the improved …

Qualitative Analysis Of The Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program’S 24-Hour Dietary Recall, Serena M. Fuller, Josh A. Phelps, Susan Baker, Jennifer Walsh

The Journal of Extension

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) uses a group 24-hour dietary recall (Gr24HDR) to measure changes in diet quality. Participant perceptions of the tool can guide implementation practices used by EFNEP Extension staff. Focus group (FG) sessions were conducted in five states and transcripts analyzed following a framework analysis approach. According to FG participants, a range of factors, condensed into six themes with potential interactions, influence Gr24HDR including implementation processes and community settings. Findings inform overarching considerations EFNEP staff may take when collecting Gr24HDR data in the field to improve the evaluation process for participants.

(Pro)Renin Receptor And Its Soluble Form In Metabolic Dysfunction: Friend Or Foe?, Gertrude Arthur

Journal of Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences

(Pro)renin receptor is component of the renin angiotensin system which has been shown to be involved in several physiological and pathophysiological processes including blood pressure regulation and hypertension, water and electrolyte balance, kidney injury, obesity, and metabolic dysfunction. Enzymatic cleavage of prorenin receptor produces soluble prorenin receptor which can also activate the renin angiotensin system stimulate similar pathophysiological process like its full form receptor. This review explores findings on the role of prorenin receptor and soluble prorenin receptor in metabolic dysfunction and discusses the conflicting findings on soluble prorenin receptor in metabolic dysfunction.

Learning Documentary Film Production By Doing, Erin Lucille Grasty

Journalism

No abstract provided.

The Management Of Non-Ige-Mediated Allergies In Human Milk-Fed Infants, Sarah Kelly Rowe

Graduate Theses

Background: Non-IgE (immunoglobulin E)-mediated food allergies (FA) present diagnostic and management challenges despite guidelines due to knowledge gaps amongst clinicians. Given that 60% of food protein-induced allergic proctocolitis (FPIAP) cases occur in breast-fed infants, maternal elimination diets are routinely prescribed to manage allergy symptoms. The implications of maternal dietary eliminations extend beyond maternal nutrition to consideration of infant nutrition and feeding skill acquisition.

Methods: A survey-based retrospective, cross-sectional study sought to identify dietary triggers and symptom management techniques practiced by (n=59) lactating mothers of infants with confirmed and suspected cases of non-IgE FA in the United States. Statistical significance was …

Sexual Dimorphism Of Glomerular Capillary Morphology In Rats, Zackarias Coker

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses faster in males than females; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sex differences in glomerular capillary morphology has been hypothesized to contribute, in part, to the increased susceptibility to hypertension-induced renal injury and CKD progression in males, but this has not been investigated. The goal of the present study was to assess glomerular capillary morphology in male vs. female rats with intact kidneys and after uninephrectomy (UNX). We hypothesized that glomerular capillary radii (R_CAP) and length (L_CAP) would be greater in male rats.

Male (n=4) and female (n=4) with intact …

Understanding Eating Behaviors And The Factors That Affect Them In Caucasian And Ethnic Minority College Students, Warrenesha Arnold

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Many studies have shown that college students do not eat well (Huang et al., 1994; Lorenzoni et al., 2021; Majeed, 2015). Research has identified factors that contribute to the reasons students don’t eat well. Factors such as food preferences (Deliens et al., 2014) eating habits before college (El Ansari et al., 2012), stress (Choi, 2020), dietary knowledge (Deliens et al., 2014; Nani, 2016), availability and accessibility of healthy foods (Payne-Sturges, 2017), knowledge of how to cook (Halfacre et al., 2021) and costs of food (Maroto et al., 2014) contributed to reasons students don’t eat nutritious meals. Dhillon et al. (2019) …

Student Preferences On The Development Of A Non-Alcoholic Beverage Product To Alleviate The Negative Impact Of Alcohol On College Campuses, Cecilia Azar

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Alcohol abuse and peer pressure to drink are prominent issues on college campuses across the nation. More than 50 percent of college students aged 18 to 22 consume alcohol monthly and 33 percent consistently engage in binge drinking (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2021a). A non-alcoholic beverage product marketed to students as an alternative to alcohol in social settings could alleviate some of the negative impacts, such as peer pressure and the dangers caused by overconsumption.

Through two phases, this study implements University of Arkansas student preferences and recipe modification in the development of a non-alcoholic beverage product …

Use Of Protective Lactic Acid Bacteria Adjunct Cultures To Decrease The Incidence Of Gas Defects In Cheddar Cheese, Rhees T. Crompton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gas production in cheese making is becoming increasingly prevalent in the dairy industry. This gas is produced by microbes that are naturally found in the cheese, and when they metabolize sugar or other sources of energy, they can produce gas. This gas causes slits and cracks in the cheese, which causes the cheese to be worth less and causes issues during slicing and shredding. There are many microbes that cause unwanted gas in cheese, this research focuses on four know gas producers and five other protective microbes that use the same energy sources or have the ability to inhibit the …

Assessing Athletes’ Risk For Developing The Female Athlete Triad At Two Mississippi Universities, Laura G. Warren

Honors Theses

Despite the health benefits associated with regular exercise, some female athletes experience menstrual dysfunction and low bone mineral density associated with low energy availability as a result of a high volume of exercise and inadequate caloric intake; these three components characterize the female athlete triad (FAT). Prior research explored the severity of the FAT, pre-season screenings, and nutrition intervention methods; however, current research regarding the relationship between the risk for developing the FAT and access to nutrition resources is lacking. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of female athletes at two Mississippi universities for developing the …

The Antioxidant Content Of Wong Lo Kat Tea, Valerie Kwong

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Wong Lo Kat (or Wanglaoji in Mandarin) is a popular soft drink containing herbal tea that is often used as a Chinese folk remedy for mild ailments. The herbs included in the drink are the following: Chinese Mesona, White Frangipani, Microcos, Chrysanthemum, Japanese Honeysuckle, Heal All, and Chinese Licorice. While there is research on the individual plants, there is limited information on the combined mixture of the herbs included in the Wong Lo Kat drink, particularly in published English literature. Antioxidant content for the individual herbs and a combined mixture of equal parts of each herb was tested using the …

Effects Of Time, Temperature, And Cooking Vessel On Antioxidant Potential, Ph, And Degrees Brix In The Processing Of Black Garlic, Victoria Gargano

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Garlic, from the allium family, is known to contain organosulfur compounds. These compounds contain antioxidants, which provide a plethora of potential health benefits. Black garlic is created by processing regular garlic at temperatures ranging between 60-90°C, with high humidity for upwards of one month. The process of making black garlic alters these components, potentially increasing the antioxidant capacity. This end product yields a garlic that is a deep black color with a sweet flavor, pungent aroma, and a soft malleable texture. Black garlic is increasing popularity within the culinary world with more products making it to market shelves. PURPOSE: To …

Engaging Older Adults In Local Nonprofit Nutrition Assistance Programs: Understanding Barriers And Exploring Opportunities For Improved Participation, Amber R. Godinsky

Student Capstone Projects

The rapidly growing population of older adults in the United States is set to require a highly skilled and specialized healthcare response to control the threat of a public health crisis. Research on approaches to mitigation suggests the need for an emphasis on preventative measures such as health promotion and nutrition intervention to be used as vital tools in local communities. This case study on older adults residing within DeKalb County, Illinois offers insight into the accessibility of nonprofit nutritional assistance programs by providing a local snapshot of the barriers to participation in a preventative health resource. Methods of collecting …

Determining The Effects Of Maternal Adiposity On Preterm Neonatal Microbiome And Short Chain Fatty Acid Profiles, Dalton James, William A. Clark Phd, Kristy L. Thomas

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The gut microbiota and its metabolites have vast impacts on the human digestive system, immune system, and health outcomes. Short chain volatile fatty acids (SCVFAs) present in feces can be representative of the interactions of the microbiota present in the gut. Low microbiota diversity in the human gut is highly associated with obesity and adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, the maternal microbiome has a direct impact on neonatal microbiota through various pathways such as environment, skin flora, breast milk composition, and vaginal secretions. This study is aimed to further understand the associations between various factors (maternal adiposity, gestational time, length of …

Role Of Carbohydrate Source As Part Of A Higher Protein Diet On Markers Of Metabolic Syndrome, Ada-Miette Josephine Thomas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Obesity has become a major health crisis in the United States and across the globe [1]. Recent findings suggest that approximately 50% of U.S. adults will have obesity and 25% will have severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 40 kg/m2) by the year 2030 [2]. Obesity-related cardiometabolic dysfunction is a significant public health concern [3, 4]. As rates of obesity increase, so too does prevalence of the metabolic syndrome [5]. In the United States, incidence of Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increasing, with approximately one in three adults qualifying for a diagnosis [6, 7]. MetS is a grouping of cardiometabolic risk factors …

The Influence Of Diet Recommendations On Exercise Performance, Specifically Single And Multi-Nutrient Effects, Samuel Maurer

All Theses

Objectives: The main question in this study was “Do nutrients present within the MyPlate and Paleo dietary patterns affect exercise parameters in a positive way?” An auxiliary question was “Do nutrients present within these two diets reduce comorbidities of chronic diseases?”

Methods: This study analyzed secondary data collected from a previous diet and exercise study. Dietary records were analyzed for correlations between nutrient intake and exercise performance in both diet groups. Further stratification by VO2 peak performance was done to analyze nutrient intake differences between high and low-performing individuals.

Results: The MyPlate eating pattern increased body fat percentage, blood pressure, …

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 …

How Can Consuming A Plant-Based Diet Reduce The Risk Of Cardiovascular Disease In Postmenopausal Women?, Rebecca Stack

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Despite the fact that women suffer higher rates of cardiovascular events after menopause, there exists a significant underrepresentation of women—especially postmenopausal women—in cardiovascular clinical trials to date. Fortunately, current evidence reveals that cardiovascular events in the general population are largely preventable through modifiable lifestyle factors, with dietary intervention being one of the most important (Amiri et al., 2022). As the impact of whole-diet interventions on cardiovascular risk factors is further explored, it has been determined that a plant-based dietary pattern may favorably influence the prevention of cardiovascular events in postmenopausal women (Barańska et al., 2021). Evidence also reveals that certain …

The Effects Of Anchor Schemes On Performance Fatigability, Neuromuscular Responses And The Perceived Sensations That Contributed To Task Termination, Robert Smith, Terry J. Housh, Jocelyn E. Arnett, John Paul V. Anders, Tyler J. Neltner, Dolores G. Ortega, Richard J. Schmidt, Glen O. Johnson

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The present study examined the effect of anchor schemes on the time to task failure (TTF), performance fatigability, neuromuscular responses, and the perceived sensations that contributed to task termination following the sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks. Eight women completed sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to RPE = 8 (RPEFT) and the torque (TRQFT) that corresponded to RPE = 8. The subjects performed pre-test and post-test maximal isometric contractions to quantify performance fatigability and changes in electromyographic amplitude (EMG AMP) and neuromuscular efficiency (NME). In addition, the subjects completed a post-test questionnaire (PTQ) to quantify the contributions of perceived sensations …

Family-Based Interventions Impact On Pediatric Obesity, Renee Camins

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Obesity rates among children in the United States have been on the rise, with 19.7% of children aged 2-19 classified as obese (CDC, 2022). Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for pediatric obesity,Children from low-income households are more likely to be overweight or obese than their peers from higher economic backgrounds. Obesity can lead to serious and chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and breathing difficulties, and is also a risk factor for leading causes of death in adults including stroke, cardiovascular disease, and cancer (CDC, 2022). Educational interventions and access to exercise resources may …

Fatty Acid, Carotenoid And Fat-Soluble Vitamin Composition Of Multispecies Swards Grown In Ireland—Implications For A Sustainable Feed In Dairy Farming, Samuel Rapisarda, Graham O'Neill, Nissreen Abu-Ghannam

Articles

Although traditional ryegrass pastures are still commonly used, they require intense management and input and do not perform well during the summer months. Multispecies systems have been recognised as more sustainable, needing less fertiliser and being tolerant to drought and heat. While data on monoculture system fat composition exist, information for multispecies is scarce. The present study compared the fatty acid (FA), carotenoid and fat-soluble composition of a multispecies system (consisting of perennial ryegrass, timothy, white clover, red clover, chicory and plantain) (MULTI) with two other conventional grazing systems (monoculture perennial ryegrass (PRG) and a binary mixture of perennial ryegrass …

Freestyle: A Guide To Making Swimming Nutrition Simple, Megan Wills

Undergraduate Theses

Nutrition plays a critical role in the performance of an athlete. Although academic research surrounding the topic has increased, there is a disproportionate increase in materials created for the athletes themselves. Regarding competitive swimming, the scope of athlete-friendly instructional materials is even more limited. Therefore, there is an inherent disconnect between the academic research on the topic of competitive swimming nutrition and the athletes who need the information. The purpose of this project is to bridge the gap between the research and the content accessible for athletes themselves. Using an interpretive and simplistic approach, the available academic research was used …

Impact Of Community-Driven Interventions On Dietary And Physical Activity Outcomes Among A Cohort Of Adults In A Rural Appalachian County In Eastern Kentucky, 2019–2022, Heather Norman-Burgdolf, Emily M. Dewitt, Rachel Gillespie, Kathryn Cardarelli, Stacey Slone, Alison Gustafson

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Several environmental level factors exacerbate poor health outcomes in rural populations in the United States, such as lack of access to healthy food and locations to be physically active, which support healthy choices at the individual level. Thus, utilizing innovative place-based approaches in rural locations is essential to improve health outcomes. Leveraging community assets, like Cooperative Extension, is a novel strategy for implementing community-driven interventions. This prospective cohort study (n = 152), recruited in 2019 and surveyed again in 2020 and 2021, examined individual level changes in diet and physical activity in one rural Appalachian county. During this time, multiple …

The Rna Cargo In Small Extracellular Vesicles From Chicken Eggs Is Bioactive In C57bl/6j Mice And Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Ex Vivo, Deborah Fratantonio, Javaria Munir, Jiang Shu, Katherine Howard, Scott R. Baier, Juan Cui, Janos Zempleni

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and their RNA cargo in milk are bioavailable in humans, pigs, and mice, and their dietary depletion and supplementation elicits phenotypes. Little is known about the content and biological activity of sEVs in foods of animal origin other than milk. Here we tested the hypothesis that sEVs in chicken eggs (Gallus gallus) facilitate the transfer of RNA cargo from an avian species to humans and mice, and their dietary depletion elicits phenotypes. sEVs were purified from raw egg yolk by ultracentrifugation and authenticated by transmission electron microscopy, nano-tracking device, and immunoblots. The miRNA profile …

The Effect Of Different Juicing Methods On Fiber Content , Hannah Eddy, Kaylee West, Mj Wayment, Meg Chronister

Student Research Symposium

Dietary fiber is an important component in the world of nutrition. Whole fruits and vegetables are great sources that can be added to add more fiber to one's diet. Many consumers prefer to drink juice rather than add whole fruits and vegetables to their diets. However, fiber is often lost during the juicing process. The purpose of this experiment was to find the best method of juicing for a good balance of dietary fiber and flavor for each fruit or vegetable. The first independent variable was the types of fruits and vegetables being juiced: apple, pomegranate, orange, and carrot. The …

How Registered Dietitians Can Prevent Foodborne Illness In Long Term Care Facilities, Amanda Albright

Undergraduate Research Conference

The role of a Registered Dietitian (RD) in long-term care facilities (LTCF) is to maintain the nutritional status of their patients by building appropriate diets, advocating for the patient with their doctors, ensuring proper caloric intake, and providing patient education on the relationship between a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle (2022, RD Nutrition Consultants, LLC). Before a RD is able to help ensure proper nutrition for the patient they must the make sure the meal was safely prepared as well as obtained and will not cause any unintentional harm to the patient by causing a foodborne illness. Countless hours …