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Five A Day, The Rainbow Way: A Nutrition Education Toolkit For Elementary School Aged Children, Sasha Menard

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Learning Outcome: Develop a nutrition educational toolkit based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) for obesity prevention among elementary school-aged children by improving determinants of fruit and vegetable intake.

Background: Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables is a major contributing factor to childhood obesity, increasing the risk for chronic diseases later in life. There is a need for multicomponent nutrition educational tools to influence children to improve their eating behavior by increasing their awareness and self-efficacy. The current project describes the development of a 3-component toolkit for improving participants’ knowledge and values related to fruit and vegetable intake among 6-11-year-olds.

Methods: …

Understanding The Mechanisms Of Bio-Effects Of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials In Planta Using “Omics” Approach, Sajedeh Rezaei Cherati

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) are recognized as versatile and promising nanomaterials for various applications across multiple fields, including medicine, genetic engineering, plant biology, and agriculture. Notably, carbon nanotubes have been identified as effective in regulating plant growth, reducing plant diseases, and facilitating the targeted delivery of molecules such as DNA and proteins into plant cells and tissues. Despite these advancements, the comprehensive understanding of CBNs' biological impacts, particularly their role in enhancing plant growth and stress tolerance, remains incomplete. Moreover, the use of CBNs in agriculture raises concerns regarding the safety of consuming contaminated plant products and the implications of CBNs …

Development Of Pork Meatballs Supplemented With Commercial Soluble Dietary Fibres And Mimic In Vitro Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion, Chonlada Srikamwang, Pirawan Chaiwan, Sarana Rose Sommano, Malaiporn Wongkaew

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

This study investigated the effects of supplementing tapioca starch with commercially soluble dietary powder in meatballs to develop a low-glycaemic index (GI) food for people with high blood sugar levels. This work evaluates the physicochemical characteristics, texture profile analysis (TPA), proximate composition, and digestibility of carbohydrate in meatballs supplemented with commercial soluble dietary powder using 3x3 factorial completely randomised design. The physicochemical characteristics findings indicate that the colour values of GI meatballs, including L*, a*, and b*, ranged from 63.60 to 68.49, 1.52 to 3.05, and 13.86 to 16.56, respectively. The colour difference values of meatballs containing dietary fibre in …

Effect Of Repeated Heating On Chemical Properties Of Selected Edible Plant Oil And Its Health Hazards, J Prarthana, Nischitha Nischitha, Shraddha Shraddha, Ramith Ramu

International Journal of Health and Allied Sciences

Increase in the cost price of edible oil, has forced to reuse the cooking oil especially in frying. Repeated cooking of oil brings about lot of structural changes ideally not suitable for consumption. The present study aims at comparing the structure and chemical changes like acid value, peroxide value, saponification, iodine value of three different commonly used edible oil viz sunflower oil, coconut oil & rice bran oil after successive heating & cooling. Oils were heated four times for 45 minutes, followed by repeated cooling for 2 hours. The results indicates that the acid values of all three oils (0.32- …

The Prevalence Of Stress Fractures And The Associated Leaf-Q Responses, Self-Reported Exercise Volume And Dietary Behaviors In Female Recreational Runners, Malorie Wilwand, Kelly Pritchett, Marissa Miles, Robert Pritchett, Abigail Larson

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(2): 1092-1104, 2024. Previous research suggests a high prevalence of low energy availability (LEA) and stress fractures (SF) among competitive female endurance athletes. However, much less is known about these issues among recreational female runners. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and number of self-reported SF and risk of LEA among noncompetitive, recreationally active female runners, aged 18 – 25 years. Additionally, it compared characteristics between females with a history of multiple SF vs. one or no SF, and between those ‘at risk’ vs. ‘not at risk’ of LEA. Female recreational runners (n=485) completed …

Enhancing Sustainable Cultivation Of Organic Bell Pepper Through Fulvic Acid (Fa) Application: Impact On Phytochemicals And Antioxidant Capacity Under Open-Field Conditions, Pinkky Kanabar, Ying Wu, Dilip Nandwani

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Fulvic acid (FA) is an eco-friendly solution for reducing the reliance on agrochemicals and enhancing crop quality. The study aimed to investigate the impact of soil and foliar application of FA on the phytochemical content and antioxidant properties of organically grown bell peppers at both the green and red stages. Bell pepper cv. Revolution was grown under open-field conditions at the certified organic farm at Tennessee State University, Nashville, with nine treatments and three replications. FA was applied as a soil drench and foliar spray at four different rates (0, 2.3, 5.5, 7.8, 10.9 mL L−1). The fruits were harvested …

Molecular Mechanisms Behind Methionine-Derived Glucosinolate Diversity In Brassica Plants, Vivian Kitainda

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

In Brassica plants, glucosinolates are a diverse class of natural products that serve as plant defense molecules. Their structural diversity comes from the use of amino acids as precursors and elongation of side chains by up to nine carbons, as well as further chemical modifications. Aliphatic methionine-derived glucosinolates are the most abundant form of these compounds. Although both elongation and chemical modification of amino acid sidechains are important for methionine-glucosinolate diversity, its elongation process has not been well described. The chain elongation enzyme methylthioalkylmalate synthase (MAMS) functions as the glucosinolate pathway gatekeeper through its substrate specificity. The x-ray crystal structure …

The Effects Of Simulated Predation And Nursery Structure On Post-Outplant Survival And Growth Of Sexual Juveniles Of Six Caribbean Coral Species, Jarrod Little

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, increasing frequency and severity of direct and indirect anthropogenic stressors have resulted in reef degradation and decreased coral cover and diversity. In South Florida, coral propagation ex situ has gained popularity as a means to restore coral cover. Outplanting sexually propagated corals on the reef is particularly important as it contributes to greater genetic diversity and potentially overall reef resilience. However, these corals typically experience high levels of predation following outplanting, significantly reducing coral survival, and thus constitute a major bottleneck to the success of restoration efforts. This study assessed if simulated predation events on …

Discovering And Characterizing Conserved Anthelmintic Targets In The Early Parasitic Stages Of Gastrointestinal Nematodes, Hyeim Jung

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) collectively infect 1.5 billion people, leading to mortality and various forms of morbidity in humans and hindering normal development in children. GINs also diminish the productivity of food animals, which are crucial for economic and nutritional well-being, particularly in developing countries. Currently, the world still primarily relies on only a few drug classes for global de-worming of GINs in humans and animals. However, the high rate of reinfection, disappointing treatment success rates, and increasing drug resistance make GINs one of the most important contributors to promoting and maintaining global poverty. This highlights the urgent need for more …

The Cadet Athlete Physical Training Intervention (Capti): A 16-Week Periodized Program To Remediate Underdeveloped Tactical Athletes At A Senior Military College, Margaret T. Thornton, Amy S. Welch, Scott Caulfield, Rachele M. Pojednic

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(4): 1083-1091, 2024. Approximately half of military recruits fail the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and 70% of all injuries in the US military are musculoskeletal in nature. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether underdeveloped musculoskeletal and cardiovascular fitness levels and subsequent APFT scores of senior military college cadets could be improved by a novel, evidence-based Cadet Athlete Physical Training Intervention (CAPTI) compared to the current Remedial Physical Training program (RPT). Cadets failing the APFT (total score < 180, or < 60 in scored sit-ups, pushups or run time, respectively) participated in a 16-week remedial training program including either CAPTI (periodized full body calisthenic and varied-technique cardiovascular training, along with mobility training and mental health and wellbeing sessions), or a traditional, event-specific remedial training program (RPT). CAPTI was randomly assigned to one of three battalions, while the others received RPT. One hundred and thirty-eight cadets (n = 70 CAPTI, n = 68 RPT) participated in the study. After training, 82.9% …

Science Of Hemp: Production And Pest Management Meeting Proceedings (2023)

Science of Hemp Annual Meeting

The fourth meeting of the Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management Conference was held on November 13-15, 2023 at Auburn University in Auburn, AL. Agricultural scientists from 13 different universities across the United States attended a series of scientific presentations. Topics included agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and controlled environment production. The abstracts for presentations and posters are included within this publication.

Evaluating The Effect Of Plantlet Age And Trichoderma Spp. Application On Acclimatization Of Boehmeria Nivea L. Gaud, Eva Aprilia, Anne Nuraini, Muhamad Kadapi

Jurnal Kultivasi

One of the crucial stages in the ramie plant (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) tissue culture is the acclimatization phase, which transitions between the in vitro and ex-vitro environments. Determining the appropriate age of plantlets and providing nutrients in the substrate play significant roles in the success of acclimatization. This research is conducted to determine the most suitable age of plantlets for acclimatization and assess the impact of providing nutrients through Trichoderma spp. application on the growth of ramie seedlings during the acclimatization phase. The experiment was conducted between January and March 2023 at the Screenhouse Bale Tatanen, Faculty of Agriculture, …

Influence Of Phosphate And Boron Addition To Mixed Liquid Fertilizer On The Growth And Yield Of Red Chili Cultivated In The Subsoil Layer, Stefina Liana Sari, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Anni Yuniarti

Jurnal Kultivasi

This study assesses the impact of adding phosphate and boron in a mixed liquid fertilizer (MLF) on the growth and yield of red chili plants cultivated in a subsoil environment. The experiment was conducted to comprehend how these nutrients affect the performance of red chili plants, particularly when cultivated in less ideal conditions such as subsoil, a remnant of excavation for brick production. The research was carried out at the Ciparanje Garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Padjadjaran. The research design employed a Randomized Completely Block Design with the following treatments: A = Control (degraded soil without fertilizer), B …

Pkd1 Mutant Clones Within Cirrhotic Livers Inhibit Steatohepatitis Without Promoting Cancer, Min Zhu, Yunguan Wang, Tianshi Lu, Jason Guo, Lin Li, Meng-Hsiung Hsieh, Purva Gopal, Yi Han, Naoto Fujiwara, Darren P Wallace, Alan S L Yu, Xiangyi Fang, Crystal Ransom, Sara Verschleisser, David Hsiehchen, Yujin Hoshida, Amit G Singal, Adam Yopp, Tao Wang, Hao Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Somatic mutations in non-malignant tissues are selected for because they confer increased clonal fitness. However, it is uncertain whether these clones can benefit organ health. Here, ultra-deep targeted sequencing of 150 liver samples from 30 chronic liver disease patients revealed recurrent somatic mutations. PKD1 mutations were observed in 30% of patients, whereas they were only detected in 1.3% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). To interrogate tumor suppressor functionality, we perturbed PKD1 in two HCC cell lines and six in vivo models, in some cases showing that PKD1 loss protected against HCC, but in most cases showing no impact. However, Pkd1 haploinsufficiency …

Friend Social Network Size Moderates The Association Between Age And Physical Activity Across Adulthood, Ashley Kuzmik, Yin Liu, Yendelela Cuffee, Lan Kong, Christopher N. Sciamanna, Liza S. Rovniak

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1068-1082, 2024. Both physical activity and social network size decline as people age. However, limited research has examined if social network size and contact frequency differentially influence physical activity across the adult lifespan. This study aimed to assess if these social network characteristics moderated the relationship between age and physical activity level across adulthood. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine the main-effect association between age, past-week physical activity, and past-year physical activity, as well as the moderating effect of social network characteristics (i.e., friend network size, friend contact frequency, relative network size, and …

Exploring The Interaction Between Klebsiella Pneumoniae And Clostridioides Difficile At The Mucosal Interface, Taylor D. Ticer

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

The gut microbiota plays a major role in human diseases. The impact of these microbes on human health comes not only from individual microbes but also from their interactions with each other. A prime example of this is Clostridioides difficile, an intestinal pathobiont that causes severe gastrointestinal illness. C. difficile works cooperatively with other gut bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae. We hypothesized that K. pneumoniae would work synergistically with C. difficile and promote its pathogenesis. We screened over 40 K. pneumoniae strains to assess their interaction with the intestinal mucus layer, a key colonization site for C. difficile. …

A Qualitative Description Of Graduate Students’ Perceived Decline In Physical Activity From Undergraduate School, Kristin M. Jett, Bryce T. Daniels, Max Brigance, Jessica L. Passarelli, Erin Howie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 17(5): 1038-1055, 2024. Many university students, especially graduate students, are experiencing poor physical and psychological health. Thus, universities are initiating programs like Exercise is Medicine-On Campus (EIM-OC) to promote positive physical activity behavior to improve physical and mental health for primarily undergraduate university students. However, the influences on physical activity when transitioning from an undergraduate to a graduate student are unknown. To explore perceptions of if and how the physical activity levels of graduate students changed from their time as undergraduate students while considering environmental and lifestyle factors. METHODS: Using a qualitative, phenomenological research design, …

A Study On The Promising Ecotypes Of Secale Montaanum Guss., Bahram Peymani-Fard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Secale montamum (mountain rye) has been identified as a well-adapted species for rehabilitation of the substeppic rangelands of Iran. Further investigation on the quality and quantity values of different ecotypes of this species was required. The main objective of this study was to determine phenological stages, herbage yield and protein percentage of the promising native ecotypes of Secale montanum. This research was conducted on 7 ecotypes in which early growth started in late April and heading occurred in late May. Comparison of the 4-year total herbage yield indicated significant differences among the ecotypes, Secale momtanum (10091), which was the previously …

Forage Quality Determinants Of Mott Elephantgrass And Pennisetum Hybrids, L E. Sollenberger, J E. Moore, J A. Flores-C, C J. Chaparro, B Macoon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Daily gains of cattle grazing Mott elephantgrass (MB; Pennisteum purpureIum Schum.) arc approximately twice those obtained on other warm-season perennial grasses grown in Florida, USA, but plant characteristics responsible for the high forage quality of MB have not been identified. Three experiments were conducted during 1987- 1991 to determine factors that explain the high forage quality of MB and to assess the quality potential of P. purpureum x P. glaucum (L.) [R.Br.J x clephantgrass hybrids. Higher organic matter (OM) digestibility and intake of MB than Pensacola bahiagrass (PB; Paspalum nonatum Flugge) were associated with a lesser percentage of sclercnchyma (1.6 …

Determination Of Extractable And Bound Condensed Tannins In Forage Species, G B. Douglas, P Donkers, A G. Foote, T N. Barry

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The levels of condensed tannins (CT) in 12 herbaceous species growing at 2 sites were determined using a recently modified butanol­HCL procedure. The method measured CT extractable in 70:30 acetone: water, and CT bound to protein and fibre, using ground, freeze-dried material. Total plant CT levels ranged from trace to 8% OM, with high concentrations (5-8% DM) being detected in 3 Dorycnium spp. and Lotus pedunculatus. Coronilla varia, Hedysarum coronarium and Lotus corniculatus had CT levels of 2-4% DM which may be appropriate for optimum nutritional value. CT content in ·n. rect11m, D. pe11taphyl/11m and L. pedunculatus was higher …

The Genera Vicia And Lathyrus In Rio Grande Do Sul (Southern Brazil): Cytogenetic And Isozymic Evaluation As Support For Plant Breeding, M T. Schifino-Wittmann, L H. Cardoso De Freitas, A H. Lau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native, naturalized and exotic Vicia and l.atliyrus species of Rio Grande do Sul were studied for chromosome numbers and meiotic behaviour, All species were diploid, with essentially regular meiosis and high pollen stainability. Interspecific differences for chiasma frequencies, chromosome and pollen grain size were detected. Polymorphism for chromosome number was observed in Vicia anguslilolia (2n = 10, 12, 14). Bsterase isozyme patterns are being analysed,

Growth Characteristics Of Hordeum Bulbosum L. And Its Use As Fodder, H Hirota, A Goto

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pot experiments were conducted to evaluate herbage production and feeding value of Hordeum bulbosum L. during 1988-1990. After spring sowing, tiller and leaf number increased remarkably until the autumn of the seeding year. Three cuttings with 2-month intervals from June gave high production. With autumn sowing, 3-4 cuttings in a growing season assured good regrowth and high production during 2 years after sowing. This grass is of high herbage quality except in heading stage.

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Nutrition Of Digitaria Eriantha: Is It Limited By Absorption Capacity Or Rate Of Supply?, M C. Scholes, R J. Scholes, J Retief

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Digitaria eriantha was grown from seed collected from low and high nutrient habitats. The plants were grown with either a high or low nutrient supply for 12 weeks. Rates of nitrogen and phosphorus absorption were measured on excised roots using colorimetric assays. The grasses from the low nutrient areas achieved the same maximum uptake rates regardless of the level of N supplied, This was not so for the grasses from the high nutrient site which increased their uptake rates with increased N supply. Plants from the low nutrient site showed markedly increased P absorption when supplied with high levels of …

Management Strategies To Improve Indigenous Meat Goat Productivity In Semi-Arid Areas Of Southern Africa, L R. Ndlovu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The semi-arid areas of southern Africa are characterised by low and erratic rainfall coupled with sandy soils which result in severe fluctuations in feed quality and quantity. Goats are an important component of farming systems in these areas but their meat production is constrained by shortage of feed in the dry season. Young goats are particularly vulnerable and management systems that prevent weight loss during the dry season are needed. Positive growth rates in kids· aged 8-60 weeks were obtained in response to feeding 200-400 g of Dolichos lablab (a drought-tolerant fodder) or Acacia lorti/is pods (a naturally occurring feed …

Nitrogen Content Of Panicum Maximum When Grown With Stylo And Siratro Under Two Moisture Regimes, U R. Sangakkara, K B. Attanayake

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The impact of 2 popular tropical legumes on the nitrogen (N) content of the rhizosphere and an associated grass (Panicum maximum) in a soil with low N status was evaluated. The effect of 2 soil moisture contents on this process, (a) field capacity - 25% depletion and (b) 50% depletion or below, was also studied. At the high soil moisture level, both legumes increased the N content of soil and Panlcum over the control. The N content of the soil and grass treatments containing stylo was marginally higher than in soils containing siratro. This phenomenon was less marked …

Evaluation Of Setaria Sphacelata Var. Splendida In Mediterranean Irrigated Conditions. I. Effect Of Cutting Frequency On Chemical Composition And Nutritive Value, P C. Tenreiro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Chemical composition and nutritive value of Setaria sphacelata var. splendida were studied under 3 culling frequencies, 14, 28 and 56 days, under mediterranean irrigated conditions. The effect of cutting frequency on chemical composition and nutritive value was evaluated by measuring crude protein, structural and non-structural carbohydrates and dry mailer digestibility. Metabolisable energy was also estimated. Nutritive value was not strongly affected by cutting frequency and acceptable quality was found in the 56 days treatment (60% IVDMD, 8.5 MJ MB/kg OM, 10% CP). The results achieved are similar to those obtained With annual summer forage grasses like Sorghum spp.

Ruminant Animal Production From Forages: Present Position And Future Opportunities, David E. Beever

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The utilisation of forages by ruminants for the synthesis of meat and milk is often below expectations both in terms of the quantity and the composition of the product. Recognising that the nutrition of the ruminant is complicated by the need to meet the requirements of the host animal and its rumen ecosystem, it is now possible to identify the causes of some of these inefficiencies and to develop suitable strntegies to overcome them. This paper attempts, through a review of the mechanisms of carbohydrate and protein utilisation in the rumen and in the animal tissues, and identification of the …

Implications And Improvements In Nutritive Value On Plant Performance And Grassland Management, D Clark, J R. Wilson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lignin modification is one method of improving plant nutritive value and is used to illustrate methods and consequences of plant manipulation. The effect of modifying lignin organ, tissue or enzyme levels on plant performance is inferred from recent scientific work on a range of species. Selection for higher whole plant digestibility is sometimes negatively correlated with plant yield. However, there is sufficient variation in both characters that improvement new not inevitably lead to decreased yield. Cultivars selected for low leaf strength or more digestible stems usually have lesser amounts of sclerenchyma and vascular tissue with less lignin and thinner walls. …

Prediction Of The Digestibility Of Forages At Different Stages Of Maturity By Using Chemical, In Vitro And In Vivo Methods, P C. Gupta, K Pradhan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The chemical composition and in vitro dry matter (DM) and cell wall digestibility of different legumes, i.e, berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum), cowpea (Vigna sineuis),, guara (Cyamopsis tetragonolob), lucerne (Medicago sativa), metha (Trigonalla foeawmgroecun) and white senji (Melillotus alba); and non-legumes, i.e., bajra (Pennlsetum typloides), sorghum (Sorghum vulgare), maize (Zea mays), oat (Avena Sativa), PP grass (Pennisetum pedicellatum), sudan grass (Sorghum sudanese) and teosinte (Euchlaena maxicane) forages were determined. The correlation coefficients between ill vitro digestibility …

Nutritional Quality Of Ryegrass Pastures For Finishing Lambs In Southern Africa, D V. Paulsmeier, J H.F Meyer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A comparison between ryegrass, clover and a ryegrass-clover mixture was made in terms of animal production and possible limitations on intake. The occurrence of bloat on leguminous pastures restricts the use of these species in pasture systems in southern Africa. Highest average daily gains of 215 g were obtained on the clover pastures while average daily gains on ryegrass were I 63 g. Low specific gravity of the rumen content of sheep grazing pure clover, 0.62 kg/I, indicated gas formation in the rumen. On the ryegrass-clover mixture,· the influence of the lower degradability of ryegrass (P= S3.8%) effectively eliminated possible …