Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Contributions Of Nutrition Knowledge And Food Skills As Predictors Of Dietary Behavior, Diet Competence, And Diet Autonomy In Pre-Hypertensive Rural And Micropolitan Dwelling African American Adults In Alabama, Mary Catherine Robertson Lawson

All ETDs from UAB

Introduction: African American (AA) adults living in rural, Southeastern communities experience disproportionately high rates of obesity-related chronic diseases. Many factors contributing to this health disparity are related to negative Social Determinants of Health that have individual and community level impacts. Nutrition knowledge (NK) and food skills (FS) are forms of health literacy that have been understudied in rural-dwelling AA adults. Understanding their relationships with self-perceived diet competence, autonomy, motivations, as well as diet behaviors and health outcomes could inform the development of future health research and policy. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to identify key trends and information gaps …

Exploring Nutritional Needs In Spinal Cord Injury: Dietitian Perspectives, Bowel Health, And Dietary Recommendations, Ayse Gul Zengul

All ETDs from UAB

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a global condition affecting millions of people and leading to life-altering health complications. It profoundly alters body composition and metabolic rate, which need to be addressed with SCI-specific nutritional strategies. Muscle atrophy, fat accumulation, and decreased energy expenditure often lead to secondary health complications such as chronic diseases and SCI-related health problems, including pressure injuries and bowel dysfunction. Although nutrition plays a critical role in SCI management, our understanding of specific dietary needs for this population remains incomplete. This dissertation aims to comprehensively investigate the nutritional challenges and needs of individuals with SCI, ultimately developing …

Effects Of Whole-Food, Plant-Centered Diets On Glycemic Control, Medication Use, Ectopic Fat, And Cardiovascular Health In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, Cody Hanick

All ETDs from UAB

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health and economic concern. Safe and effective treatments for T2D, including dietary approaches, are limited. Additionally, it remains unclear whether dietary carbohydrate quality or quantity matters more for managing T2D. Most nutrient-dense carbohydrate quality sources—such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains—come from plant foods and are recommended for people with T2D by the American Diabetes Association. Furthermore, when these food groups are combined into a dietary pattern, a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet is created. However, few studies have tested the effects of a WFPB diet or carbohydrate-rich food groups in people with …

Land-Use Effects On Soil Organic Matter And Related Soil Properties In A Mixed Agricultural–Forest Landscape Of Central Wisconsin, Usa, Kathryn L. Hofmeister, Gwen Feitl, Kaylee Tackett, Leah Fleury, Lucas E. Nave

Michigan Tech Publications

Soil organic matter (SOM) influences a wide range of ecosystem processes, including nutrient cycling, water movement, plant productivity, and biodiversity. In agricultural landscapes, adjacent land uses often differ in SOM contents and related soil properties, such as soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks, but the direction and magnitude of these effects are inconsistent across studies. We assessed how land uses differed in SOM and related properties in a representative US Midwest agricultural–forest landscape to support land-use and management decisions by local landowners and producers. We measured SOM, bulk density (Db), root biomass, and pH, and estimated SOC stocks, in a Typic …

Dietary Program For The Reduction Of Type 2 Diabetes Prevalence In A South Texas Border Region, Siddiqua Noor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Project Abstract

PURPOSE The purpose of this project was to create a culturally sensitive dietary program template to serve as a guide to offer healthier food alternatives to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes while not compromising on their Hispanic heritage.

BACKGROUND This project was implemented in a South Texas border community which has nearly twice the national average of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which presents a significant public health challenge.

METHODOLOGY The project followed the Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle and incorporated the Health Belief Model. A dietary pamphlet featuring local culturally relevant food options was developed. The material was presented at two …

Couple-Based Lifestyle Intervention For Minority Prostate Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Feasibility Trial, Dalnim Cho, Yisheng Li, Karen Basen-Engquist, Chiara Acquati, Nga T T Nguyen, Hilary Ma, Curtis A Pettaway, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Black and Hispanic prostate cancer (PCa) survivors, who face a high burden of comorbid conditions and often engage in low levels of physical activity and healthy eating, remain significantly underrepresented in lifestyle intervention studies.

Purpose: Given the significance of spousal influence, we developed a culturally tailored lifestyle intervention for these survivors and their spouses and assessed its feasibility, acceptability, and impact on behavioral change.

Methods: Survivor-spouse couples were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 22), which received 12 health-coaching calls over 6 months, or a usual-care control group (n = 9). Assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), …

Effects Of Allocation Frequency On Cattle Performance And Forage Utilization When Swath Grazing A Sorghum-Sudangrass Hybrid In Eastern Nebraska, Thomas E. Aquino, Mary E. Drewnoski, Pedro Henrique J. Fernandes

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

A sorghum-sudangrass hybrid was swath grazed by growing steers (529 ± 18 lb) from November 2023 to January 2024. Treatments were offering new forage once (1X) or twice (2X) per week to determine the effect of allocation frequency on animal performance and forage utilization. Average daily gain was not impacted by treatment (1X = 0.45 ± 0.1 lb/day, 2X = 0.45 ± 0.1 lb/day). Pre-and post-graze biomass samples were collected to estimate forage utilization, which was not different between treatments (1X = 57.1 ± 3.6%, 2X = 61.1 ± 3.6%). However, there was a difference in carrying …

Compressive Pantyhose Mitigates Muscle Fatigue In Ballet-Specific Test: A Pilot Study, Gustavo R. Mota, Jeffer Eidi Sasaki, Mirelly Rangel Rocha, Pedro Augusto Bianchi Da Fonseca, Bernardo Ide, Kazushige Goto, Donizete Oliveira, Moacir Marocolo

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 92-106, 2025. Compression garments, utilized in sports and exercise for performance enhancement and recovery, lack sufficient well-controlled studies to overcome any potential placebo effect. Therefore, we tested whether wearing compressive pantyhose (CP) during the Ballet-specific aerobic fitness test (BAFT) would influence performance, recovery, physiological, and perceptual indicators. Additionally, this pilot study tested the feasibility of the research procedures and informed adjustments for the main study. Nine young classical ballerinas attended two sessions on different days: a) wearing CP (pressure of 20-30 mmHg) or b) wearing a placebo pantyhose ([PLA] no compression, containing an illusory …

Development And Characterization Of Sodium Alginate-Based Active Edible Films Functionalized With Olive Mill Wastewater Extract, Nassima Hadri, Mohamed Didi Ould El-Hadj, Zineb Mahcene, Fatih Bozkurt, Rusen Metin Yildirim, Youcef Rahmani, Aicha Tedjani, Muhammet Arici

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater (PCO) of Algerian origin were used to produce sodium alginate-based active films using the casting method. The effects of adding various concentrations of PCO (0%, 0.1%, and 0.2% w/v) were evaluated regarding the molecular, morphological, thermal, physicochemical, optical, barrier, biodegradability, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties of the alginate films. The FTIR and SEM results elucidated the development of a coherent cross-linked structure attributed to hydrogen bonding interactions between PCO and alginate chains. Consequently, the films exhibited enhanced crystallinity and thermal stability, as revealed by DSC analysis. Moreover, PCO addition positively influenced several film properties, including …

The Effects Of Active Substances Of Clinically Important Drugs On The Survival, Development, And Some Adult Traits Of Drosophila Melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Gökçe Üstündağ, Kemal Büyükgüzel, Ender Büyükgüzel

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was used as a model organism and fed on an artificial diet with different clinically important drugs under laboratory conditions. The effects of fluconazole, acyclovir, and piperazine on the survivorship, development, adult longevity, fecundity, and hatching rate of the insect were investigated. The results showed that the highest concentration of fluconazole (1250 mg/L) significantly decreased both the rate of larvae reaching the 3rd instar and the rate of pupation from 93.00 ± 2.95% to 11.00 ± 2.59% (χ2 = 134.696; df = 1; p = 0.0001). The highest concentration of acyclovir (200 mg/L) significantly reduced …

Differentiation Of Mullus Barbatus And Mullus Surmuletus (Perciformes, Mullidae) From Turkish Waters Of The Mediterranean Sea Using Otolith Shape Analyses, Semra Saygin

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and surmullet (Mullus surmuletus) are valuable components of the commercial fishery industry in the Mediterranean Sea in Türkiye. To date, morphological and genetic characteristics have been used to distinguish these species. This study aimed to determine whether it was possible to distinguish between the two species using the morphometric features of their sagittal otoliths. Sagittal otoliths were subjected to elliptic Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis, and analysis of otolith shape indices for 117 specimens from the Mediterranean Sea coast of Türkiye (Mullus barbatus: 53 individuals; Mullus surmuletus: 64 individuals). Overall, canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) demonstrated strong discrimination …

A Flexible Training Approach To Improving Concurrent Training Outcomes In Remote Trainees, Christopher Bonilla, Justin R. Kilian, Robert L. Herron

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 43-55, 2025. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a flexible, trainee-driven training program in improving concurrent training outcomes for individuals training remotely. The study employed a repeated-measures, parallel group design with 18 participants randomized into either a control group with fixed workouts or an experimental group with flexible workout selection based on perceived readiness. Participants were recreationally trained at baseline. Over a 16-week period, both groups completed assessments of strength and endurance, including deadlift, push-ups, and a two-mile run. The results indicated no significant difference in overall fitness improvements between the two …

An Exploratory Study Comparing The Metabolic Responses Between The 12-3-30 Treadmill Workout And Self-Paced Treadmill Running, Michael W.H. Wong, Dustin W. Davis, Olivia R. Perez, Bianca Weyers, Devin Green, Alan Garcia, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 56-64, 2025. The fitness movement in the United States has evolved substantially since its emergence in the late 20th century, with social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok now playing a pivotal role in disseminating fitness programs and associated claims. One program that has gained considerable popularity is the 12-3-30 treadmill workout (12-3-30), which involves walking at a 12% grade at 3 mph for 30 minutes. Despite widespread claims about its effectiveness in burning fat and calories, there is a lack of peer-reviewed scientific studies evaluating these claims. The present study investigated metabolic responses …

The Psychometric Performance Of State Mindfulness Scales Around Sitting And Walking On Desert Trails: A Pilot Study, Dustin W. Davis, Elias M. Malek, Rob Salatto, Marcus M. Lawrence, Jacob W. Manning, Mark Debeliso, Merrill R. Landers, Graham Mcginnis, James W. Navalta

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(4): 27-42, 2025. State mindfulness is a dynamic construct reflecting current mindfulness, or purposeful attention to the present moment with openness, non-judgment, non-reactivity, and acceptance. Despite its popularity and research in psychology and medicine, measuring state mindfulness remains a challenge. Validity and reliability of the State Mindfulness Scale (SMS) and State Mindfulness Scale for Physical Activity (SMS-PA) in applied settings like nature require more data to be established. This pilot study aimed to evaluate these scales and introduce a new, one-item scale, the Visual Analog Scale-Mindfulness (VAS-M), for quicker mindfulness assessment. Participants completed the SMS, …

Evaluating A Pilot Nutrition Education Curriculum For Autistic Young Adults: Rev It Up! For Asd, Samantha Schaap

Health and Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students Plan B Capstone Projects

Objective: People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have poor diet and exercise behaviors, which lead to higher prevalences of overweight/obesity and diet-related diseases. Young adults with ASD are particularly understudied regarding nutrition educational approaches; thus, our study aimed to examine the impact of Rev It Up! for ASD, an adapted Extension nutrition and physical activity curriculum adapted for this population.
Methods: The Rev It Up! curriculum was reviewed by four experts in autistic education to identify adaptations needed for the Rev It Up! for ASD pilot. The intervention was conducted in 10, 90-minute sessions from February-April 2025, where students participated …

Editorial: Frontiers In The Midlands Society Of Physiological Sciences (2023-2024), Sathish Kumar Natarajan, Hong Zheng, Surabhi Chandra, Harold D. Schultz, William C.W. Chen

Journal Articles: Cellular & Integrative Physiology

No abstract provided.

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2025), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Native Plant Initiative on a mission
[Page] 4 Gees give back
[Page] 7 Christensen named assistant dean
[Page] 8 Fennell honored in plant biology
[Page] 9 New ag communication faculty
[Page] 10 SDSU Extension awards
[Page] 12 Veterinary medicine class welcomed
[Page] 13 Coulter honored
[Page] 14 National beef award winners
[Page] 15 Department celebrates 100 years
[Page] 16 Southeast Research Farm growing
[Page] 18 Saving the flock
[Page] 22 Energize conference inspires
[Page] 24 BeefSD helping producers
[Page] 25 SDSU Extension retirements
[Page] 26 New food safety testing service
[Page] 27 Bringing back bison
[Page] 28 Jackrabbits …

Imperfect Access: Structural Barriers And External Threats To Preventative Care, Richard Hughes Iv, Dorit R. Reiss

Annals of Health Law and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Dignity In Detention: Addressing Gynecological Healthcare Needs Of People Detained By U.S. Immigration Authorities, Glykeria Teji, Esq., Shira Wisotsky, Esq.

Annals of Health Law and Life Sciences

People who require gynecological and obstetric care and who are detained by U.S. federal immigration authorities face unique challenges. This article examines how the current legal and administrative landscape fails to hold those responsible for providing healthcare accountable, effectively blocking access to gynecological care, and, assuming no immediate abolition of immigrant detention facilities, how international human law principles can and should guide a reimagining of the system. We also propose interim steps that U.S. authorities can take to protect access to basic and needed gynecological care for the people that they detain. Beginning with an overview of immigration detention as …

Diabetes, Edwin Espinosa Vazquez

CSU Tower Day

1.2 million Americans are affected with diabetes each year.

○ Increase in hospitalizations, emergency room visits

● Diabetes has a higher rate of prevalence among the middle aged, older aged and non- Americans in the US.

● Diabetes presents a high risk of Cardiovascular Disease, Kidney failure, blindness, etc.

● Exercise, dietary changes, and medication can prevent or delay from the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Reproductive Costs In Female, Island-Dwelling Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Adamanteus), Emily R. Gray

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes (Crotalus adamanteus; EDBs) are a declining species endemic to the Southeastern Coastal Plain. Reproduction is costly for females, which are ovoviviparous, slow to mature, reproduce infrequently, and are often emaciated after parturition. Yet, we have a limited understanding of the trade-offs associated with their reproductive biology. Thus, I had three objectives: 1) assess reproduction-associated water stress and determine how female EDBs respond to altered water budgets in situ (Chapter 1), 2) evaluate the interactive effects of body condition and rainfall on female hydration, with a special focus on musculature as a condition index (Chapter 1), …

Which Of The Environmental Aspects Affecting The Gut Microbiome Of The Neonate Has The Largest Lifelong Impact?, Roza Heershzon

The Science Journal of the Lander College of Arts and Sciences

The development of new DNA sequencing techniques has led to new discoveries on the gut microbiome’s critical influence on metabolic processes and immune development. Therefore, understanding the most influential factors in the development of the gut microbiome during early infancy, which impacts the individual’s long-term health, is vital. This paper explores how environmental factors, including delivery method and nutrition, shape the gut microbiome’s devel- opment in early life. In addition, it discusses their long-term health implications. The paper highlights how the mode of delivery significantly affects initial microbial colonization. Vaginal births promote a microbial community that is rich in beneficial …

Perspectives On Using Fats And Oils In Poultry Production, Brian J. Kerr

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

These proceedings describe lipid composition of fats and oils and outline fatty acid quality measurements. In addition, fat and oil energy composition and digestibility are presented. Finally, these proceedings describe ways to enhance lipid digestibility with emulsifiers and preventing lipid peroxidation with antioxidants.

Sustainable And Profitable Broiler Nutrition, Sergio R. Fernandez

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

These proceedings accompany a presentation on optimizing protein nutrition of broilers while minimizing environmental impacts of nitrogen excretion. The continual advancement of muscle development in modern broilers requires constant alignment of amino acid needs. These proceedings outline the importance and progression of feed grade amino acid supplementation in broiler nutrition.

Net Energy: The Precision Path To Sustainability, P. Srichana, A. C. Tay-Zar, M. Wongphatcharachai, C. Chanseyha

Proceedings of the Arkansas Nutrition Conference

Adaptation of the net energy system in broiler diets will increase least cost formulation flexibility. These proceedings outline a net energy system developed and implemented in practice. In addition to lower carbon and nitrogen inputs in dietary formulation, the net energy system reduced feed costs.

Nebline, January/February 2025

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2024 Extension Highlights

4-H Engaged 34,177 Youth

Nebraska Extension’s Strategic Direction

Reflflection, Growth and Whole-Person Wellness for 2025. Emily Gratopp

Recipe of the Month: Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, Emily Gratopp

Extension’s 2025 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Begins Soon

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

ProHort Lawn and Landscape Update

2025 Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Crop Production Clinics

Leaving a Lasting Legacy for Midwestern Farm Women

At Ag Literacy Festival, Students Learn How Agriculture Impacts Their Daily Lives

Managing Hard Water, Becky Schuerman

Don’t Let Fungus Gnats Bug You and Your Plants, Kait Chapman

2025 Lincoln …

The Cdk8 Kinase Module: A Novel Player In The Transcription Of Translation Initiation And Ribosomal Genes, Brittany Friedson, Stephen D Willis, Natalia Shcherbik, Alicia N Campbell, Katrina F Cooper

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Survival following stress is dependent upon reprogramming transcription and translation. Communication between these programs following stress is critical for adaptation but is not clearly understood. The Cdk8 kinase module (CKM) of the Mediator complex modulates the transcriptional response to various stresses. Its involvement in regulating translational machinery has yet to be elucidated, highlighting an existing gap in knowledge. Here, we report that the CKM positively regulates a subset of ribosomal protein (RP) and translation initiation factor (TIF)-encoding genes under physiological conditions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In mouse embryonic fibroblasts and HCT116 cells, the CKM regulates unique sets of RP and TIF …

Evolution Of Chitinases In Amphibians: A Multi-Faceted Group Of Enzymes With Dual Function In Digestion And At The Forefront Against Fungal Infections, Devashri Narayan

Theses and Dissertations

Chitinases are essential enzymes found in living organisms such as amphibians, and they ensure that amphibians survive in their varied ecosystems. They are crucial in the digestion and immunity of most organisms, including plants and animals. Chitinases’ diversity of functions is a testament to their evolutionary adaptability. The primary function of chitinases is the breakdown of chitin, a complex polymer of saccharides often found in the exoskeleton of insects and the walls of fungi. Amphibians that feed on insects make use of chitinases to hydrolyze chitin into simpler sugars that can be easily absorbed to extract the necessary nutrients from …

You Are Eating The Wrong Rainbow: Neurotoxic Effects Of Certain Food Dyes, Sean Ronaldson

Scientific Kenyon: The Neuroscience Edition

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Exosomes In Lead And Lps Induced Inflammation In Microglia, Yitzchak Lax

Theses and Dissertations

Exosomes are membrane bound subcellular vesicles formed through membrane budding of a cell and play important roles in cell-cell communication. Studies have demonstrated inflammatory changes in various cell types depending on the etiology of the exosomes such as exosomes from cancer cells or exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells. The purpose of this study was to determine the inflammatory consequences of exosomes in microglial cells following exposure to lead, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lead+LPS. The cultured mouse microglial cells were treated at 0.01 μM, 0.1 μM and 1 μM of lead,- three environmentally relevant levels and LPS was used at 10 …