Other Nutrition Commons^™

Method Development For Vitamin C Quantification In Two Complex Matrices, Hannah D. Hutt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The following liquid chromatographic (LC) method developments and applied research studies were done using two complex food matrices, potatoes and elderberries, which are common to the state of Maine. Potatoes are Maine’s largest agricultural crop, a staple food in most U.S. households, and are, from an analytical standpoint, considered a complex matrix due to the high starch content that can be difficult to remove without degrading or removing nutrients in the process. Elderberries are an emerging crop in the U.S. because of their antioxidant and anti-viral properties and are found growing wild, throughout Maine. Elderberries are also considered a complex …

Exploring Connections Between Prenatal Physical Activity And Breastfeeding, Emily Alexandria Tucker

Masters Theses

Women who decide to engage in prenatal physical activity are giving themselves, and their child, an advantage over those who are not physically active during pregnancy; not only are there significant health benefits for mothers, but also there are great benefits for the unborn child. Breastfeeding is another important decision parents make that can impact the future health of their children. There has been extensive research on the benefits of both prenatal physical activity and breastfeeding, but the connection between the two is unclear. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to identify potential connections between factors influencing women’s …

Do Increases In Fruit Intake Lead To Substitutive Eating Patterns And Decreases In Overall Energy Intake In Normal Weight Adults?, Shireen Amanda Sobhani

Masters Theses

Background: It is suggested that increasing intake of fruits and vegetables may lead to decreased energy intake via substitution of higher energy-dense foods, such as snack foods (SF; i.e. candy, chips, cookies). This study investigated the impact of increasing fruit (F; grapes) intake, via increased portion size, on SF (potato chips) intake during a meal and whether increases in F intake affected total meal energy intake, via reducing SF intake (substitutive eating), in normal-weight adults. A secondary objective investigated whether the relative reinforcing value (RRV) of SF was a moderator of the substitutive relationship between F and SF.

Methods: Using …

Nicotinamide Riboside Delivery Generates Nad+ Reserves To Protect Vascular Cells Against Oxidative Damage, Krista M. Hawrylyshyn

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The ability of vascular cells to withstand oxidative insults is critical to vascular health. NAD⁺, which drives poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and sirtuin (SIRT) reactions, can be compromised and strategies for overcoming this limitation in the vasculature do not exist. This study determines if nicotinamide riboside (NR) delivery can augment NAD⁺ stores and fuel resistance to oxidative stress. I established that oxidative-stress insult on vascular cells decreased NAD⁺ levels, accompanied by a striking increase in nuclear PAR-chain accumulation. PARP inhibition abolished PAR-chain formation and preserved NAD⁺ levels, establishing PARP in NAD⁺ consumption in this …

Diabetic Prevention The Hard Way: Modified Diet And Increased Exercise, Torrie Reese St.Julien

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background and Purpose: In the United States, 79 million people are pre-diabetic: most have no symptoms. If left untreated, 37% will develop diabetes within 4 years. Fourteen percent of United States health care expenditures are related to diabetic complications. This Evidenced Based Project (EBP) involved a behavioral lifestyle change with the purpose of 7% weight loss and a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity a week. It was also designed to reduce risk factors and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) levels.

Methods: The interventional approach was modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and Group Lifestyle Balance Program. Participants were …

A Queer Vegan Manifesto, Rasmus R. Simonsen

Rasmus R Simonsen, PhD

What does it mean for a person to declare her or his veganism to the world? How does the transition from one diet to another impact one’s sense of self? Veganism challenges the foundational character of how we “act out” our selves—not least of all in the context of sexuality and gender. In my paper, I am thus interested in the potential of veganism to disrupt the “natural” bond between gender formations and the consumption of animal products, as this relates to social and cultural genealogies. Consequently, I will explore a queer form of veganism that affirms the radical impact …

Fishing For A Sustainable Future: Aquaponics As A Method Of Food Production, Richard Ramsundar

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis compares and explains the advantages aquaponics farming has over modern industrial intensive farming. Through a comparison natural capital usage, conservation, recycling and cost, the thesis advocates for the expansion of aquaponics usage in urban settings. The thesis also explains the history of intensive farming and aquaponics in America, the science of how aquaponics operates, the economic and environmental costs of modern intensive farming versus aquaponics farming, and the social implications of aquaponics. Lastly, I propose a policy that reallocates farm subsidies by modifying the Farm Bill. Then I propose policies that support creating a new standard of farm …

Observations And Conversations: A Mixed Methods Approach To Describing Home-Preparation Of Infant Formula Among A Sample Of Low-Income Mothers, Rebecca Lauren Ellison

Masters Theses

Background: The obesity epidemic in the United States (US) is a well-established public health crisis associated with immense national healthcare expenditures. The first two years of life represent a potentially critical intervention period for attenuation of inappropriate rapid weight gain and risk of subsequent overweight and obesity in childhood. Low-income mothers in the US are at risk for formula-feeding and early introduction of solid foods, which are behaviors that could lead to excessive rapid weight gain during this critical time period. However, little is known about actual, rather than self-reported, maternal infant-feeding behaviors related to proper infant formula preparation.

Objective: …

Food Resource Management Education With Snap Participation Improves Food Security, Lucia Kaiser, Virginia Chaidez, Susan Algert, Marcel Horowitz, Anna Martin, Concepcion Mendoza, Marisa Neelon, David C. Ginsburg

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine the influence of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and participant demographics on nutrition education outcomes.

Methods: At program enrollment (pre) and 1 month later (post), a statewide convenience sample of adults, who participated in the Plan, Shop, Save, and Cook program, completed a 7-item questionnaire to evaluate change in resource management skills (RMS) and running out of food before the end of the month.

Results: Percent of participants (n = 3,744) who reported behavioral improvements in RMS ranged from 38.8%in comparing prices to 54% in reading labels. Female gender and Hispanic ethnicity were positively related to pre–post …

Vegetarianism And Virtue: Does Consequentialism Demand Too Little?, Nathan Nobis

Nathan M. Nobis, PhD

The article discusses the moral aspects of vegetarianism. This will make vegetarians more compassionate and caring for animals and will result in better health and less finances. The virtue theory or the vegetarian justifying principle connotes that one should not support even symbolically bad practices to animals when good alternatives are readily available. Becoming a vegetarian is a way of attesting to the depth and sincerity of one's belief in the wrongness of how we treat animals and its consequence to humans. Consequentialism does not demand too little because it requires that one conforms his behavior to the vegetarian justifying …

The “Babe” Vegetarians: Bioethics, Animal Minds And Moral Methodology, Nathan Nobis

Nathan M. Nobis, PhD

Here I discuss the role the film “Babe” has played in helping people address these challenges and make this moral progress. It is thought that a significant number of young people (mostly girls, now young women) became vegetarians due to their seeing “Babe.” These people are often called “Babe Vegetarians,” influence by what has been called “The Babe Effect.” Many of their stories are found on the internet.

Introduction: A Changing Indonesia, Maribeth Erb, Kathleen M. Adams

Kathleen M. Adams

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Training And Nutrition On The Body Composition Of College Football Players, Lindsey Marie Goderwis

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The body size of American football players has changed over time. The known health implications of overweight and obesity make it important for football players to understand how to increase size without increasing body fat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an increased emphasis on training and nutrition on the body composition of college football players. The sample included 68 football players. Paired t-tests were performed to compare percent fat and body mass index (BMI) at three points in time, all of which were during the off-season. A significant decrease in percent fat and BMI …

Cloning And Expression Of Ebi3 And P28 Subunits Of Human Interleukin 27 In E. Coli, Ameneh Koochaki, Mojgan Bandehpour, Sam Massahi, Mahrou Sadri, Bahram Kazemi

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: Interleukin (IL)-27 is a heterodimeric cytokine belonging to IL-12 and IL-23 families, secreted by antigen presenting cells(APCs). The IL-27 is composed of 2 subunits: Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3 (EBI3) and p28. IL-27 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which has an inhibitory effect on Th17 population and suppress the IL-17 expression. It is suggested that IL-27 could be a potent drug candidate for treating auto immune diseases.

Materials and Methods: The EBI3 and p28 subunits of human interleukin 27 were constructed into plasmid vectors; they sub-cloned into pETDuet-1 expression vector in restriction sites of BamHI, SacI and NotI. Subsequently the …

Reductions In Urinary Collection Frequency For Assessment Of Reproductive Hormones Provide Physiologically Representative Exposure And Mean Concentrations When Compared With Daily Collection, Heather C.M. Allaway, Nancy J. Williams, Rebecca J. Mallinson, Karsten Koehler, Mary Jane De Souza

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objective — To determine if reducing the frequency of urinary sample collection from daily to 5, 3, or 2 days per week during a menstrual cycle or 28-day amenorrheic monitoring period provide accurate representations of the reproductive hormone metabolites estrone- 1-glucuronide (E1G) and pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG) exposure and mean concentrations.

Methods — Exercising women presenting with eumenorrhea or exercise-associated menstrual disturbances collected daily urine samples for the assessment of E1G and PdG concentrations. After enzyme immunoassay analysis of the daily samples, E1G and PdG data were systematically removed from each menstrual cycle or amenorrheic monitoring period to mimic three reduced …

Physiological Responses Underlying The Perception Of Effort During Moderate And Heavy Intensity Cycle Ergometry, Kristen C. Cochrane, Terry J. Housh, Ethan C. Hill, Cory M. Smith, Nathaniel D.M. Jenkins, Joel T. Cramer, Glen O. Johnson, Richard J. Schmidt

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

This study examined patterns of responses for physiological and perceptual variables during cycle ergometry at a constant rate of perceived exertion (RPE) within the moderate and heavy exercise intensity domains. Nineteen (mean age 21.3 ± 0.5 years; 43.4 ± 2.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ VO_2Peak) moderately trained cyclists performed an incremental test to exhaustion and two 60 min constant RPE rides at the RPE corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (RPE_GET) and 15% above the GET (RPE_GET+15%). Oxygen consumption (VO₂), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (V_E), …

Individual Responses For Muscle Activation, Repetitions, And Volume During Three Sets To Failure Of High- (80% 1rm) Versus Low-Load (30% 1rm) Forearm Flexion Resistance Exercise, Nathaniel D.M. Jenkins, Terry J. Housh, Samuel L. Buckner, Haley C. Bergstrom, Kristen C. Cochrane, Cory M. Smith, Ethan C. Hill, Richard J. Schmidt, Joel T. Cramer

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

This study compared electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, the number of repetitions completed, and exercise volume during three sets to failure of high- (80% 1RM) versus low-load (30% 1RM) forearm flexion resistance exercise on a subject-by-subject basis. Fifteen men were familiarized, completed forearm flexion 1RM testing. Forty-eight to 72 h later, the subjects completed three sets to failure of dumbbell forearm flexion resistance exercise with 80% (n = 8) or 30% (n = 7) 1RM. EMG amplitude was calculated for every repetition, and the number of repetitions performed and exercise volume were recorded. During sets 1, 2, and 3, one of eight …

Knowledge, Use And Perceptions Of Probiotics And Prebiotics In Hospitalized Patients, Melanie Betz, Anne Uzueta, Heather Rasmussen, Mary Gregoire, Cassandra Vandrwall, Gretchen Witowich

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Aim: Little is known about inpatient probiotic and prebiotic consumption or beliefs, despite their increase in availability. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to assess inpatient knowledge, use and perceptions of probiotics and prebiotics.

Methods: All subjects were inpatients at two urban medical centers on general medical/surgical floors. Patients were randomly selected to complete a verbally administered questionnaire inquiring about probiotic and prebiotic knowledge, use and perceptions. Patient responses were recorded directly into Survey Monkey (Palo Alto, CA, USA) on a computer.

Results: Patients (n = 200) were 58% were women and 56% were Caucasian with a mean age …

Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, And Behaviors Of Native American Families With Young Children: A Mixed Methods Study, Kara Vlasin-Marty, Paula Ritter-Gooder, Julie A. Albrecht

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Children are at increased risk for foodborne illness due to underdeveloped immune system. Limited research has been reported on food safety knowledge of Native American families with children 10 years of age and younger. This study was conducted to determine the food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of the main food preparer in these families by collecting quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously in a mixed method approach. A food safety knowledge survey created using FightBAC!™ concepts was administered prior to focus groups discussions held in Native American communities using a script based upon the Health Belief Model. Quantitative data were …

Development And Validation Of A Social Cognitive Theory-Based Survey For Elementary Nutrition Education Program, Elisha Hall, Weiwen Chai, Wanda Koszewski, Julie A. Albrecht

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: The Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) is a widely used model for developing elementary nutrition education programs; however, few instruments are available to assess the impact of such programs on the main constructs of the SCT. The purposes of this study were: 1) to develop and validate a SCT-based survey instrument that focuses on knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy for fifth grade students; 2) to assess the relationships between knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy; and 3) to assess knowledge, behavior, and self-efficacy for healthy eating among the fifth grade students.

Methods: A 40-item instrument was developed and validated using content validity …