Digital Commons Network^™

Creating A Bio-Based Circular Economy From Louisiana Sugarcane Byproducts, G. Aita, D. Bhatnagar, G. O. Bruni, M. Deliberto, G. Eggleston, A. Finger, K. Gravois, M. Isied, W. Judice, K. T. Klasson, I. M. Lima, J. L. Purswell, M. Souliman, E. Terrell, B. S. Tubaña, H. L. Waguespack, J. J. Wang, P. M. White

Faculty Publications

Abstract: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) is Louisiana's number one row crop. Growing and processing sugarcane produces significant amounts of byproducts, including bagasse, crop residue, molasses, filter-press mud, and boiler fly ash. These products represent an important opportunity to generate value-added and specialty products and enhance sugarcane's sustainability by facilitating a circular economy, where agricultural by-products are reused instead of disposing them (linear economy), in order to reduce resource use and energy demand. Examples of value-added products range from biochar, construction materials, animal feed, biofuels, nanoparticles, and fertilizer. Paramount to the success of the bio-based circular economy is creating useful products that …

Management Strategies For Preventing And Recovering From Bermudagrass Winterkill, W. J. Hutchens, T. Q. Carr, A. J. Patton, C. A. Bigelow, E. J. Deboer, J. M. Goatley, D. L. Martin, D. S. Mccall, G. L. Miller, J. S. Powlen, M. D. Richardson, M. Xiang

Faculty Publications

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp. Rich) is a warm-season grass that is widely planted throughout tropical, sub-tropical, and even temperate climates, and it generally requires fewer inputs than most cool-season turfgrasses. In recent years, the area of adaptation for bermudagrass has progressively expanded to cooler climates due to the development of more cold-tolerant cultivars. The expanded area of adaptation as well as the reduced inputs required to maintain healthy turfgrass have made bermudagrass a popular choice in areas of marginal adaptation. In these areas, the greatest threat to bermudagrass health and survivability is winterkill. This management guide seeks to describe winterkill: what …

Integrated Child Nutrition, Parenting, And Health Intervention In Rural Liberia: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study, Sejla Isanovic, Musa Sanoe, Shelbie Wooten, Edward A. Frongillo Ph.D., Aisha K. Yousafzai, Christine E. Blake Ph.D., Rd, Mufaro Kanyangarara Ph.D., Melanie Swan, Nicole Rodger, Miriam Murray, Leila M. Larson Ph.D., Mph

Faculty Publications

In Liberia, children are exposed to multiple forms of adversity which can negatively impact their health and development. Research is needed to examine the feasibility and benefits of integrated interventions that can be incorporated into existing health delivery programs to simultaneously address low responsive stimulation, undernutrition, and infection. This study assessed the feasibility of an integrated intervention promoting psychosocial stimulation and improved child feeding by the provision of eggs and fish. The integrated intervention was incorporated into an existing government health program. Thirty female caregiver-child dyads were randomly selected from two rural communities in Liberia. Participants received fortnightly group parenting …

The Association Between Infant Non-Nutritive Suck And Oral Motor Development, Ross Westemeyer, Morgan Hines, Alaina Martens, Emily Zimmerman

Faculty Publications

This study investigated if non-nutritive suck (NNS) at 3 months is related to subsequent oral motor and motor skills using caregiver-reported scores on the Child Oral and Motor Proficiency Scale (ChOMPS) at 12 months in a cohort of 69 full-term infants and their caregivers. Longer NNS burst durations were associated with lower oral motor coordination and total ChOMPS scores. More NNS cycles per minute was associated with lower complex motor movement scores. More NNS bursts, cycles per burst, and cycles per minute were related with lower total ChOMPS scores. Early NNS outcomes can provide valuable insight in future neuromotor development.

From "Open Ocean" To "Exposed Aquaculture": Why And How We Are Changing The Standard Terminology Describing "Offshore Aquaculture", Tyler Sclodnick, Michael Chambers, Barry Antonio Costa-Pierce, Tobias Dewhurst, Nils Goseberg, Kevin Gerald Heasman, Wolf Isbert, Gesche Krause, Daniel Wieczorek, Till Markus, Bela H. Buck

Faculty Publications

The term “offshore” with regards to aquaculture has hitherto encompassed various perspectives, including technology, geographic location, legal jurisdiction, and more. To resolve the ambiguity in this term and understand its implications for current and future aquaculture development, “offshore” should be resolved into two separate metrics: distance from shore and energy exposure. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) distinguishes between internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and the high seas, but currently has no precise definition for “offshore” in its provisions, and therefore no applicable laws pertaining to “offshore” aquaculture. Regulating a …

From "Open Ocean" To "Exposed Aquaculture": Why And How We Are Changing The Standard Terminology Describing "Offshore Aquaculture", Tyler Sclodnick, Michael Chambers, Barry Antonio Costa-Pierce, Tobias Dewhurst, Nils Goseberg, Kevin Gerald Heasman, Wolf Isbert, Gesche Krause, Daniel Wieczorek, Till Markus, Bela H. Buck

Faculty Publications

The term “offshore” with regards to aquaculture has hitherto encompassed various perspectives, including technology, geographic location, legal jurisdiction, and more. To resolve the ambiguity in this term and understand its implications for current and future aquaculture development, “offshore” should be resolved into two separate metrics: distance from shore and energy exposure. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) distinguishes between internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and the high seas, but currently has no precise definition for “offshore” in its provisions, and therefore no applicable laws pertaining to “offshore” aquaculture. Regulating a …

Sculpting Success: The Importance Of Diet And Physical Activity To Support Skeletal Muscle Health During Weight Loss With New Generation Anti-Obesity Medications, Gregory J. Grosicki, Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, Jessica L. Unick, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak, J. Graham Thomas, Holly Lofton, Madelyn C. Shepherd, Jessica Kiel, Christopher Coleman, Satya S. Jonnalagadda

Faculty Publications

Obesity is a public health crisis, with prevalence rates tripling over the past 60 y. Although lifestyle modifications, such as diet and physical activity, remain the first-line treatments, recent anti-obesity medications (AOMs) have been shown to achieve greater reductions in body weight and fat mass. However, AOMs also reduce fat-free mass, including skeletal muscle, which has been demonstrated to account for 20% to 50% of total weight loss. This can equate to ∼6 kg or 10% of total lean mass after 12–18 mo, a loss comparable to a decade of human aging. Despite questions surrounding the clinical relevance of weight …

Identifying Ordinal Categories For The Water Insecurity Experiences Scales, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Hilary J. Bethancourt, Joshua D. Miller, Sera L. Young, The Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scales (Hwise)-Research Coordination Network (Rcn)

Faculty Publications

The Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) and Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) Scales are globally suitable tools for comparably measuring water insecurity experiences among households and adults, respectively. The potential range for HWISE and IWISE scores is 0–36. When the WISE Scales were first published, scores of 12 and higher were considered indicative of water insecurity, but additional cut-points are needed to provide more nuanced insights. We therefore sought to develop a practical set of cut-points for the WISE Scales using HWISE data from 13 sites across 12 countries (n = 3,293) and nationally representative samples of IWISE data …

Coastal Wetlands In The Anthropocene, John Day, Edward Anthony, Robert Costanza, Douglas Edmonds, Joel Gunn, Charles Hopkinson, Michael E. Mann, James Morris, Michael Osland, Tracy Quirk, Andre Rovai, John Rybczyk, Thomas Spencer, Jessica Stephens, Jaia Syvitski, Robert Twilley, Jenneke Visser, John R. White

Faculty Publications

We review the functioning and sustainability of coastal marshes and mangroves. Urbanized humans have a 7,000-year-old enduring relationship to coastal wetlands. Wetlands include marshes, salt flats, and saline and freshwater forests. Coastal wetlands occur in all climate zones but are most abundant in deltas. Mangroves are tropical, whereas marshes occur from tropical to boreal areas. Quantification of coastal wetland areas has advanced in recent years but is still insufficiently accurate. Climate change and sea-level rise are predicted to lead to significant wetland losses and other impacts on coastal wetlands and the humans associated with them. Landward migration and coastal retreat …

Allura Red Ac Is A Xenobiotic. Is It Also A Carcinogen?, Lorne J. Hofseth Ph.D., James Hébert Scd, Elizabeth Angela Murphy, Erica Trauner, Athul Vikas, Quinn Harris, Alexander A. Chumanevich

Faculty Publications

Merriam-Webster and Oxford define a xenobiotic as any substance foreign to living systems. Allura Red AC (a.k.a., E129; FD&C Red No. 40), a synthetic food dye extensively used in manufacturing ultra-processed foods and therefore highly prevalent in our food supply, falls under this category. The surge in synthetic food dye consumption during the 70s and 80s was followed by an epidemic of metabolic diseases and the emergence of early-onset colorectal cancer in the 1990s. This temporal association raises significant concerns, particularly given the widespread inclusion of synthetic food dyes in ultra-processed products, notably those marketed toward children. Given its interactions …

Allura Red Ac Is A Xenobiotic. Is It Also A Carcinogen?, Lorne J. Hofseth, James R. Hébert Scd, Elizabeth Angela Murphy, Erica Trauner, Athul Vikas, Quinn Harris, Alexander A. Chumanevich

Faculty Publications

Merriam-Webster and Oxford define a xenobiotic as any substance foreign to living systems. Allura Red AC (a.k.a., E129; FD&C Red No. 40), a synthetic food dye extensively used in manufacturing ultra-processed foods and therefore highly prevalent in our food supply, falls under this category. The surge in synthetic food dye consumption during the 70s and 80s was followed by an epidemic of metabolic diseases and the emergence of early-onset colorectal cancer in the 1990s. This temporal association raises significant concerns, particularly given the widespread inclusion of synthetic food dyes in ultra-processed products, notably those marketed toward children. Given its interactions …

Footprint Tools Tiptoeing Towards Nitrogen Sustainability, James N. Galloway, Elizabeth A. Castner, Elizabeth S M Dukes, Jessica Fox, Allison M. Leach

Faculty Publications

As we face multiple environmental crises (e.g. climate change, nutrient pollution, freshwater scarcity), there is often a disconnect between an entity’s activities and the pollution resulting from that activity. Footprint tools help address this disconnect. They are effective in educating people, institutions and communities on how their resource use results in environmental pollution and what we can do to moderate that pollution. These tools connect an entity’s activities with the associated pollution. Footprint tools are also constantly evolving. As we better understand how to best estimate emissions—especially from sources further removed like those from the supply chain—the guidance and methods …

Footprint Tools Tiptoeing Towards Nitrogen Sustainability, James N. Galloway, Elizabeth A. Castner, Elizabeth S M Dukes, Jessica Fox, Allison M. Leach

Faculty Publications

As we face multiple environmental crises (e.g. climate change, nutrient pollution, freshwater scarcity), there is often a disconnect between an entity’s activities and the pollution resulting from that activity. Footprint tools help address this disconnect. They are effective in educating people, institutions and communities on how their resource use results in environmental pollution and what we can do to moderate that pollution. These tools connect an entity’s activities with the associated pollution. Footprint tools are also constantly evolving. As we better understand how to best estimate emissions—especially from sources further removed like those from the supply chain—the guidance and methods …

Beyond Covid: Towards A Transdisciplinary Synthesis For Understanding Responses And Developing Pandemic Preparedness In Alaska, Taylor P. Van Doren, Ryan A. Brown, Guangqing Chi, Patricia Cochran, Katie Cueva, Laura Eichelberger, Ruby Fried, Stacey Fritz, Micah B. Hahn, Ron Heintz, Davin Holen, Andrey N. Petrov

Faculty Publications

Pandemics are regularly occurring events, and there are foundational principles of pandemic preparation upon which communities, regions, states, and nations may draw upon for elevated preparedness against an inevitable future infectious disease threat. Many disciplines within the social sciences can provide crucial insight and transdisciplinary thinking for the development of preparedness measures. In 2023, the National Science Foundation funded a conference of circumpolar researchers and Indigenous partners to reflect on COVID-19-related research. In this article, we synthesise our diverse social science perspectives to: (1) identify potential areas of future pandemic-related research in Alaska, and (2) pose new research questions that …

Association Between Bullying Victimization And Health Risk Behavior In Adolescents, Ana Beatriz Pacífico, Eliane Denise Araújo Bacil, Mariana Ardengue, Thiago Silva Piola, Michael Pereira Da Silva, Fabio Fontana, Ademar Avelar, Wagner De Campos

Faculty Publications

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between bullying victimization and health risk behaviors in adolescents. Methods: A representative sample of 1020 adolescents participated in the study. The variables such as bullying, health risk behaviors (tobacco, drugs, alcohol, sedentary behavior, smartphone use, level of physical activity, and sleep), and economic status were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were obtained using binary logistic regression and ordinal, gross, and adjusted logistic regression (p< 0.05). Results: Victims of bullying were more likely to smoke (OR 1.75; 95%CI 1.28–2.40), consume alcohol (OR1.43; 95%CI 1.05–1.94), have worse sleep quality (OR 1.94; 95%CI 1.28–2.91), and more sedentary behavior (OR 1.43; 95%CI 1.08–1.89) than those who were not bullied. However, victims were more likely to have high levels of physical activity than their non-bullied peers (OR 1.66; 95%CI 1.22–2.27). Conclusions: Bullying victimization was associated with an increased predisposition for the adoption of health risk behaviors. Interestingly, victims were also more prone to participate in physical activity.

The Past And Future Of The Fisheries And Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project, Camilla Novaglio, Andrea Bryndum-Buchholz, Derek P. Tittensor, Tyler D. Eddy, Heike K. Lotze, Cheryl S. Harrison, Ryan F. Heneghan, Olivier Maury, Kelly Ortega-Cisneros, Colleen M. Petrik, Kelsey E. Roberts, Julia L. Blanchard

Faculty Publications

Climate change is increasingly affecting the world's ocean ecosystems, necessitating urgent guidance on adaptation strategies to limit or prevent catastrophic impacts. The Fisheries and Marine Ecosystem Model Intercomparison Project (FishMIP) is a network and framework that provides standardised ensemble projections of the impacts of climate change and fisheries on ocean life and the benefits that it provides to people. Since its official launch in 2013 as a small, self-organized project within the larger Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project, the FishMIP community has grown substantially and contributed to key international policy processes, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment …

Preliminary Effectiveness Of A One-Week Summer Day Camp For Improving Children’S Health Behaviors And Psychosocial Well-Being Outcomes, Qiaoyin Tan, Yuxin Nie, Paul Son, Renee A. Underwood, Peyton Murray, Callie Hebert, K. Lynn Mckey, Chelsea Hendrick, Amanda E. Staiano, Senlin Chen

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Summer day camp offers children opportunities to grow knowledge and skills, be physically active, and have fun. Compared to healthy children, at-risk children (i.e., overweight, or with obesity and chronic health conditions) typically display less optimal health behaviors and psychosocial well-being, especially during summer months. This study examined the preliminary effectiveness of an American-Diabetes-Association-sponsored summer day camp at improving children’s health behaviors (i.e., physical activity, screen time, diet, sleep) and psychosocial well-being outcomes (i.e., quality of life [QoL], enjoyment, weight-related self-efficacy). Method: The sample consisted of 39 participants, including 19 boys and 20 girls, with majority being overweight (n …

Predicting Poor Mental Health Among Older Syrian Refugees In Lebanon During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Nested Cross-Sectional Study, Berthe Abi Zeid, Leen Farouki, Tanya El Khoury, Abla M. Sibai, Carlos Mendes F. De Leon, Marwan F. Alawieh, Zeinab Ramadan, Sawsan Abdulrahim, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Stephen J. Mccall

Faculty Publications

Background: Post-term pregnancy, defined as reaching or exceeding 42 + 0 weeks of gestation, is known to be associated with unfavourable birth outcomes. High-income countries have responded to this risk by widely adopting labour induction protocols in late-term, but many low- and middle-income countries have not. However, understanding underlying mechanisms linking post-term births to adverse newborn and infant outcomes remains limited.

Objective:To investigate the (a) prevalence of post-term, (b) the risk factors associated with post-term (c) the association between post-term births and the risk of smallfor-gestational-age (SGA) neonates and of infant mortality in middle-income settings.

Methods:We used existing …

A Systematic Review On The Effectiveness Of Brain-Breaks® Video Programming On Academic Performance And Physical Activity Of School Children, Garry Kuan, Ming Kai Chin, Yee Cheng Kueh, Abdulwali Sabo, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Govindasamy Balasekaran, Yu Kai Chang, Christopher R. Edginton, Ian Culpan, Biljana Popeska, J. Larry Durstine

Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aimed to complete a systematic review of the effect of the Brain Breaks® video program on academic performance and health-related outcomes among schoolchildren. Methods: A literature search was performed using Scopus, PubMed, ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to identify published manuscripts from December 2017 to December 2023. Dissertations, theses, monographs, and commentaries were excluded from this review. Results: A total of 15 studies were included in the review. Most studies applied quasi-experimental design and were conducted in Asia and Europe with children. Nine of these studies found that Brain Breaks® improved students' attitudes toward physical activity …

Why Are There So Many Definitions Of Eutrophication?, Alexandrine Pannard, Philippe Souchu, Christian Chauvin, Monique Delabuis, Chantal Gascuel-Odoux, Erik Jeppesen, Morgane Le Moal, Alain Ménesguen, Gilles Pinay, Nancy N. Rabalais, Yves Souchon, Elisabeth M. Gross

Faculty Publications

Because of the first observations in the 1900s of the oligotrophic and eutrophic states of lakes, researchers have been interested in the process that makes lakes become turbid because of high phytoplankton biomass. Definitions of eutrophication have multiplied and diversified since the mid-20th century, more than for any other ecological process. Reasons for the high number of definitions might be that the former ones did not sufficiently describe their causes and/or consequences. Global change is bringing eutrophication more into the spotlight than ever, highlighting the need to find consensus on a common definition, or at least to explain and clarify …

Acute Pancreatitis In Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review, Chinenye R. Dike, Adefunke Dadematthews, Oluwagbemiga Dadematthews, Maisam Abu-El-Haija, Jeffrey Lebensburger, Abigail Smith, Aamer Imdad

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Sickle cell disease (SCD) impacts about 100,000 people in the US. SCD increases the risk of cholelithiasis and microvascular ischemia, which could increase the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP). Abdominal pain is a common presenting symptom of AP and sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis. The purpose of our systematic review is to estimate the prevalence and determine the severity of AP in individuals with SCD compared to the general population. Methods: Multiple electronic databases were searched. We included studies that included children and adults (population) and addressed the association of SCD (exposure) with AP (outcome) compared to the same population …

Barriers And Facilitators To 24-Month Maintenance Of The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition Program In The U.S., Kelsey R. Day, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Rd, Sara Wilcox Phd

Faculty Publications

Little is known about the barriers and facilitators to organizational maintenance of faith-based health promotion programs. This study used qualitative data (collected from 2016–2019) from pastors (n = 81) and program coordinators (n = 103) to identify barriers and facilitators to 24-month maintenance of a faith-based physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) intervention in South Carolina. Barriers differed for PA versus HE: resistance to change impeded HE while church characteristics tended to impede PA. Similar themes emerged for PA and HE facilitators: healthy opportunities, church communication, and consistency. Future research should build upon this study to tailor faith-based health …

Development And Validity Of The 'Modified Mediterranean Prime Screen' To Assess Dietary Intake Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Lebanon, Mariam Assaad, Sara Ajjour, Maya Rahme, Laila Al-Shaar, May Sakr, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, Jana Jabbour

Faculty Publications

The Mediterranean Region registers an increasing prevalence of obesity. The region lacks a diet screener to assess obesogenic nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the Modified Mediterranean Prime Screen (MMPS) in estimating obesogenic nutrients' intake among women of reproductive age, as compared with a culturally validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in Lebanon. We developed the MMPS consisting of thirty-two food/beverage items specific to the Lebanese Mediterranean culture. The MMPS and FFQ were administered in two visits (2 weeks-6 months apart), face to face and via telephone during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The reproducibility and …

The Role Of Biological Plasticity In Model-Based Translational Research, Jessica A. Bolker

Faculty Publications

Reports of low replicability and translatability of biomedical research have called the value of animal models into question. The problems are real, but abandoning animal research is not the solution. Rather, improving the translatability of model-based research requires attention to relevant differences between humans and models, and to attributes of the models themselves that are essential to both robust science and effective translation. One is biological plasticity, the responsiveness of individual organisms to complex and variable environments. Though under-represented in model systems (for both historical and practical reasons), plasticity is central to human biology. While there are good reasons to …