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School Gardens: Cultivating A Child’S Nutritional Habits, Environmental Knowledge, And Sustainability Practices, Jeffrey Meltzer

Honors Theses

School gardens have existed since the late nineteenth century and today are becoming increasingly popular in many parts of the world, including where I studied in Maine and Australia (AUS). Multiple organizations support school gardens in Maine, including the Maine School Garden Network, which has over 125 registered school gardens. In AUS, the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation primarily supports the school garden movement and has over 800 registered school gardens. While many researchers have studied school gardens, few have compared two countries, focused on environmental sustainability, or investigated Maine in particular. This thesis combines information from literature reviews, and …

Evaluation Of L-Methionine Bioavailability In Nursery Pigs, Jina Lim

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

DL-Methionine (Met) has been conventionally used in swine diets with assumption of similar bioefficacy with L-Met. However, because L-Met is the form that is utilized by animals for protein synthesis, L-Met could, theoretically, be more available. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate L-Met bioavailability in nursery pigs with 21-day growth trials. A total of 105,105,112 and 84 crossbred pigs were used in Exp. 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Each experiment had a low Met basal diet and 3 levels of the Met sources (DL-Met and L-Met). In addition to the basal diet, supplementation levels were 0.053%, 0.107% and 0.160% …

Mediation And Moderation Analysis Of Nutrition, Inflammatory Biomarkers, And Cognition In Older Adults, Elizabeth Handing

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nutrition can be viewed as a modifiable factor related to maintaining and preserving health in older adults. Previous studies have found that nutritional factors can influence cognitive abilities, however few studies have examined macronutrients and micronutrients as they relate to cognitive functioning. Research has yet to examine the mechanisms related to nutrition, cognition and aging in an older adult population from a holistic and interactive perspective.

This dissertation examined three research questions to better understand the relationship between age, nutrition, cognition, and inflammatory biomarkers. First, is nutrition related to cognition beyond demographic factors? Do individual nutrients serve as mediators? Second, …

Effects Of Post-Hatch Holding Time And Early Nutrition Strategies On Growth Performance, Carcass And Skeletal Characteristics Of Young Chickens, Marquisha A. Paul

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The study objectives of this thesis were to evaluate the effects of delayed feeding and specific aspects of the Programmed Nutrition (PN) feeding strategy (Alltech, Inc.) on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and skeletal characteristics of commercial broiler chicks through market age, as well as investigate the effects of breed and the PN feeding strategy on early growth and development. When commercial broiler chicks were fed reduced nutrient diets, delayed feeding decreased early growth performance and carcass yield (P<0.05), whereas post-hatch PN conditioning for 72 hours improved early growth performance and alleviated the negative effects of delayed feeding on carcass yield (P<0.05). Through market age, delayed feeding improved Gain: Feed (P<0.05), while PN had the opposite effect. Interactive effects and main effects of delayed feeding and PN were observed for tissue mineral concentration (P<0.05). PN lowered bone ash % (P<0.05) and increased meat oxidation of broiler chicks during storage (P<0.05). PN also had negative effects on early growth performance and bone breaking strength (P<0.05) of various meat-type breeds, but especially for non-commercial, moderate-growing or fast-growing breeds. In conclusion, PN may be suitable for commercial broiler chicks that experience delayed feeding and are fed reduced nutrient diets.

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 …

An Investigation Of Alkaline Earth And Rare Earth Elements In Human Bone Following Long-Term Parenteral Nutrition, Aubrey L. Galusha

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This investigation focused on a unique collection of archived human bones obtained post-mortem from 7 patients, who had received long-term parenteral nutrition (PN) for up to 21 years. Parenterals are administered intravenously as a nutritional supplement, and may be contaminated with metals, which are completely absorbed into the blood compartment. Some metal contaminants may be deposited in the body’s reservoir for inorganic elements – bone.

A Retrospective Evaluation Of The Locally Grown Produce Initiative Of New York State's Hunger Prevention And Nutrition Assistance Program, Marie Allsopp

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) is administered by the Bureau of Nutrition Risk Reduction in the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). This program provides state funds to food banks, the United Way of New York City and other organizations within the emergency food network. Those organizations use HPNAP dollars to fund food and other resources for food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters. In 2012, HPNAP received a one-time $2 million funding allocation for a Locally Grown Produce Initiative. This one-time stimulus to increase the proportion of state-grown fresh produce in emergency food relief services …

Out-Of-School Sports Time And Children's Body Weight Status: Evidence From A Longitudinal Study, Juan Du, Qi Zhang, Michael Stallone

Economics Faculty Publications

We used data from the Child Development Supplement (CDS) of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics in 2002 and 2007 to examine the relationship between the specific sport time spent during weekdays or weekends and American children’s body mass index (BMI). Time spent on out-of-school sports was recorded on a randomly selected weekday and a weekend day. Sports were further categorized as formal (organized sports such as sports games or lessons) or casual (any unorganized sports such as sports time in the neighborhood). Child’s height and weight were measured in person by interviewers. Body mass index was used to measure …

Parental Attitudes, Concerns, Health & Knowledge Of Nutrition And Their Relationship To Usage Of Functional Foods In Parental Feeding, Lauren Elizabeth Guy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purchase and consumption of functional foods is one of the fastest growing trends in the food and nutrition industry. Though many studies have suggested reasons why consumers purchase and consume functional foods, there has been limited research to understand what factors, if any, influence the use of functional foods in parental dietary practices. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether parental awareness of functional foods, self-reported knowledge of nutrition, overall health, and concern for their children's diets play a role in the provision of specific categories of functional foods (digestive health, weight management, bone health, cancer …

Desensitization Of Hacat Keratinocytes To Vitamin D3 Occurs Via Loss Of Redd1 Regulation Of The Mtor Pathway, Michelle Leigh Jones

Wayne State University Theses

Vitamin D3 treatment has long been considered in the treatment of cancer due to its well-documented anti-proliferative effects in vitro. While clinical studies have been positive in other cancers, results are inconclusive in cases of basal cell carcinoma. To better understand the reasons underlying this disconnect, this study employs an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) to observe the effects of vitamin D3 treatment on cellular proliferation. The results show that both activate vitamin D3 (calcitriol) and its precursor (cholecalciferol) increase proliferation of these cells. Real-time PCR and western blot data indicate that the mTOR pathway becomes activated despite increased …

Detection Of Beneficial Microbiota In Mouse Colon, Aranya Linpisanl

Wayne State University Theses

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and Bifidobacterium are the most common types of microbes used as probiotics. They are present in the human gastrointestinal tract and have a significant influence on our health and well-being. Microbiota plays an important role in host metabolism and provides a natural defense mechanism against invading pathogens. This experiment was focusing on establish a method to detect the gastrointestinal tract microbiota, either by fecal or colonic tissue DNA extraction.

The experiment comparing 2 types of DNA extraction; ZR Fecal kit and DNAzol direct. DNAzol direct was easy to use but was not suitable for long term …

Delta-Tocotrienol Downregulates Mmp-9 Expression In Nsclc Cells, Rohini Sri Harshini Pindiprolu

Wayne State University Theses

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Unites States. The main types of lung cancer are small cell lung cancer and non small cell lung cancer. NSCLC accounts for about 80% of the cases with less than 15% of patients surviving beyond 5 years. Most common causes of lung cancer are smoking, inhaling asbestos fiber, radon gas, passive smoking, air pollution, familial predisposition, prior history of lung cancer etc. Surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, palliative care are commonly used treatment techniques for lung cancer. Radiation therapy is an important part of lung cancer management. The objective of this …

The Effect Of Dietary Folate On Tissue Folate Status, Ghada Aoun

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FOLATE ON TISSUE FOLATE STATUS.

by

Ghada Aoun

December 2015

Advisor: Dr. Diane Cabelof

Major: Nutrition & Food Science

Degree: Masters of Science

The folates are a family of structurally similar, water soluble, B vitamins that play a crucial role in human health and disease. Folate has an important role in the synthesis of DNA, DNA methylation, and cellular growth. Folate coenzymes function in accepting and donating one-carbon units in the folate metabolic pathway. Folate deficiency impairs DNA synthesis, induces cancer, and causes abnormalities such as neural tube defects and megaloblastic anemia. While scientific research …

Potential Antidiabetic And Antioxidant Activitys Of Selected Medicinal Plants, Paba Surangi Sathsara Saranasingha Edirisuriya

Wayne State University Theses

Explore traditionally used medicinal plants for diabetes mellitus would be beneficial to find an alternative option for controlling global diabetic prevalence. Present study aims to compare and identify potential antidiabetic activity in Tinospora cordifolia, Gymnema sylvestre and Aegle marmelos. Fifty percent acetone and ethyl acetate extracts of each plant were studied for anti-diabetic activity using different assays (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, TPC, α-glucosidase inhibition). Total phenolic content and anti oxidant properties were significantly different among three plants. Tinospora cordifolia ethyl acetate extract possessed significantly higher anti oxidant activity and total phenolic content. DPPH and ABTS results were significantly correlated with each …

Curcumin Attenuates The Effects Of Atherogenic Diet In Aged Male Brown Norway Rats, Vindhyaja Srirajavatsavai

Wayne State University Theses

ABSTRACT

CURCUMIN ATTENUATES THE EFFECTS OF ATHEROGENIC DIET IN AGED MALE BROWN NORWAY RATS

by

VINDHYAJA SRIRAJAVATSAVAI

DECEMBER 2015

Advisor: Dr. Smiti Gupta

Major: Nutrition and Food Science

Degree: Master of Science

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a universal problem in modern society. Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Hyperlipidemia further leads to increased oxidation and inflammation. Curcumin has long been used as a spice and food-coloring agent. In experimental animals, curcumin has shown anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and anti-oxidant properties. In this study, Aged Brown Norway Rats were fed 1 of 3 experimental diets: a …

Sickeningly Sweet: Analysis And Solutions For Adverse Dietary Consequences Of European Agricultural Law, Emilie K. Aguirre

Faculty Scholarship

Sixty-nine percent of adults in the United States, sixty-four percent in the United Kingdom, and over one-third worldwide are overweight or obese. These staggering figures continue to grow, with accompanying emotional, physical, and economic consequences, both for individuals and society as a whole. The role law plays in facilitating this global trend is significant, and yet puzzlingly, little recognized or understood. The current food system is profoundly structurally flawed: it establishes unhealthy dietary behaviors as the default option for consumers. This Article is the first to examine how agricultural law has facilitated these unhealthier diets for the past fifty years, …

Development Of A Nutrition Education Tool To Reduce The Risk Of Childhood Obesity In A Northwest Arkansas Hispanic Population, Katherine Ross, Mallori Sando, Cynthia Moore

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

The goal of this qualitative research project is to create a bilingual education tool to equip the participants of the English as a Second Language (EASL) class at the Elmdale Elementary School, in Springdale, Ark., to reduce the risk of childhood obesity in their children. Adults of Hispanic descent are at a high risk for developing obesity and so are their children. Children who are overweight and/or obese have a high risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health complications. As a side effect of the language barrier some Hispanics experience, it may be difficult for …

Bumpers College Students In Action, Discovery Editors

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

No abstract provided.

Concordance Of Self-Report And Measured Height And Weight Of College Students, Virginia Quick, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Suzanne Shoff, Adrienne A. White, Barbara Lohse, Tanya Horacek, Kendra Kattelmann, Beatrice Phillips, Sharon L Hoerr, Geoffrey Greene

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study examined associations between college students' self-report and measured height and weight.

METHODS: Participants (N = 1,686) were 77% white, 62% female, aged 18-24 years (mean ± SD, 19.1 ± 1.1 years), and enrolled at 8 US universities. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated for self-report (via online survey); trained researchers measured height and weight and categorized them as normal (18.5 to < 25), overweight (25 to < 30), obese (30 to < 35), and morbidly obese (≥ 35).

RESULTS: Concordance of self-report vs objectively measured BMI groups using chi-square revealed that 93% were accurate, 4% were underestimated, and 2.7% were overestimated. Pearson correlations and adjusted linear regression revealed significant associations between self-report and measured …

Developing Microbial Biomarkers To Non-Invasively Assess Health In Wild Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Populations, Samuel B. Pannoni

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The composition of the intestinal bacterial community (intestinal microbiome) of mammals is associated with changes in diet, stress, disease and physical condition of the animal. The relationship between health and the microbiome has been extensively demonstrated in studies of humans and mice; this provides strong support for its potential utility in wildlife. When managing elk (Cervus canadensis), federal and state agencies currently must rely on invasive sampling and coarse demographic data on which to base their decisions. By developing microbiome-based biomarkers that vary as a function of elk body condition and disease (i.e. microbial biomarkers), we hope to …

Zhx2 Regulation Of Lipid Metabolism And The Balance Between Cardiovascular And Hepatic Health, Kate Townsend Creasy

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

The growing obesity epidemic in America carries with it numerous health risks, including diabetes, increased serum lipid levels, and excess fat accumulation in the liver. If these conditions persist or become exacerbated, they may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease, the current leading cause of death among Americans, or to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which can progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Better understanding of the genes involved in these diseases can lead to improved identification of at-risk individuals and treatment strategies.

Our lab previously identified zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) …

Novel Role Of Intestinal Lipid Transport In Food Allergy And Cholesterol Homeostasis, Jianing Li

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

The small intestine is the main organ for food digestion and nutrient absorption. It is constantly exposed to antigen and immunomodulatory agents from diet and commensal microbiota. Thus, the intestine is the largest compartment of the immune system in the body. Peanuts and many other allergen resources contain triglycerides, which may affect the antigen absorption through the intestine, but their effects on sensitization and anaphylaxis are unknown. We found that medium chain triglycerides (MCT) promoted antigen absorption into Peyer’s Patches, rather than into the blood directly. Both gavage and feeding of MCT plus peanut protein induced spontaneous allergic sensitization. MCT-sensitized …

Dietary Habits And Knowledge Of College Age Students, Matthew R. Majors

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

College is a time of emerging identity and habit formation for students. One hundred and sixty-two (162) college students were surveyed via an internet based survey. The survey asked questions regarding dietary habits such as consumption of dairy, vegetables, fruit, and protein. The survey also examined dietary knowledge such as ability to read food labels. The students were divided into two groups for analysis, nutrition majors and non-nutrition majors. The two groups differed in Body Mass Index (BMI) (p=0.004), but not nutrition knowledge (p=0.082). The nutrition students had an average BMI of 22.0+/-2.42 and a nutrition knowledge score of 2.44+/-0.60, …

The Role And Impact Of Cooperative Extension In Diabetes Self-Management Education, Brittany Michelle Murray

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Diabetes is increasing globally and nationally. Diabetes complications and costs can be reduced through modification of lifestyle risks and diabetes self-management education (DSME). The Cooperative Extension System (CES) is uniquely positioned to implement DSME. This study assessed the role and impact of the Cooperative Extension System (CES) in DSME. A survey was sent to CES professionals throughout the U.S. a total of 43 participants provided information on 73 DSME programs. Most participants were from the South (n=22, 51.16%) and Midwest (n=12, 27.91%) and most programs targeted adults with and at risk for type 2 diabetes. Most programs were developed and …

Student Perceptions Of Organic Food In Relation To Health, Environment And Pricing, Stacey Paterson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The organic industry is full of opinions and perceptions, which influence consumer purchasing decisions. A convenience sample of 69 college students between the ages of 19-23 registered in a basic food preparation class participated in this study. A sensory analysis of organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, eggs and dairy measuring categorical taste differences between the two types of food. Student perceptions of organic foods in relation to health, environment and pricing and the likelihood of purchase were also studied. The influence of Diet and Well-being on organic purchases predominantly mattered somewhat to students, while price mattered completely. …

The Relationships Among Bmi, Waist Circumference, Weight Loss And Health Indicators, John R. Rupp

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Current health recommendations encourage weight loss for overweight and obese individuals. However, the importance of weight to health is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of weight loss on overall health in a sample of adults who have completed a 10 or 12 week weight loss intervention. The study sample included males and females (n =99) between the ages of 27 -64 years that had a BMI of 29-45 kg/m². The study design is a secondary data analysis of data from two different behavioral weight loss interventions. Both interventions prescribed a reduced calorie diet, …

Relationships Between The Coordinated School Health Program And Childhood Obesity In Tennessee, Tekeela Shonta Green

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood obesity rates have increased nationwide, but rates of childhood obesity are higher in Tennessee (TN). The Coordinated School Health (CSH) Program is a multicomponent approach designed to improve academics and health in children in Tennessee; however, researchers have not evaluated the 8 components of the plan and the impact it has on weight in children. The purpose of the study was to determine if a relationship existed between the Coordinated School Health Program and obesity in children. The conceptual framework for this study was Bandura's social cognitive theory. One hundred forty CSH coordinators in TN were surveyed and the …

Letter From The Dean, Michael Vayda

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

No abstract provided.

Leadership In Food Policy: Raising A Foodie Part Ii, Ashyln Cook, Amy Moorehead, Kelly A. Way

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

Obesity is experiencing a problematic rise in America. Children develop habits that potentially last a lifetime, which also dictate their medical fate. The focus of this study was to identify and decrease the factors of childhood obesity through education, healthy eating, and changes in food choices through surveys administered by the researchers. Previous research has linked obesity to the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and chronic diseases in children through decreased physical activity and poor diet due to the lack of essential nutrition knowledge. Other factors contributing to childhood obesity include poor food preparation/creation, deceptive advertising, cultural habits, and an …

Maternal Fish Oil Supplementation In Pregnancy: A 12 Year Follow-Up Of A Randomised Controlled Test, Suzanne Meldrum, Janet A. Dunstan, Jonathon K. Foster, Karen Simmer, Susan L. Prescott

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A number of trials have been undertaken to assess whether the intake of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA) during pregnancy can influence the neurological development of the offspring, yet no consensus from these trials has been reached. We aimed to investigate the long-term effects (12 years) of fish oil supplementation in pregnancy on neurodevelopment, including cognition, language and fine motor skills. In a follow up of a previously published randomised controlled trial of 98 pregnant women, their children were assessed at 12 years of age using a battery of neurodevelopmental assessments. Fifty participants were assessed at 12 years, …