Digital Commons Network^™

Association Of Patient-Centered Medical Home Designation And Quality Indicators Within Hrsa-Funded Community Health Center Delivery Sites, Nathaniel Bell, Rebecca Wilkerson, Kathy Mayfield-Smith, Ana Lòpez-De Fede

Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) adoption is an important strategy to help improve primary care quality within Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) community health centers (CHC), but evidence of its effect thus far remains mixed. A limitation of previous evaluations has been the inability to account for the proportion of CHC delivery sites that are designated medical homes.

METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study using HRSA Uniform Data System (UDS) and certification files from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the Joint Commission (JC). Datasets were linked through geocoding and an approximate string-matching algorithm. Predicted probability scores were …

Association Between Dietary Inflammatory Index And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China, Wenhui Fu, Hualian Pei, Nitin Shivaooa, James R. Hébert, Tao Luo, Tian Tian, Dilibaier Alimu, Zewen Zhang, Jianghong Dai

Faculty Publications

Background Diet and inflammation have both been studied in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the association between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and T2DM. Methods Subjects were adults enrolled in the baseline study of the Xinjiang multi-ethnic natural population cohort and health follow-up study from January to May 2019. The study involved 5,105 subjects (58.7% men) between 35 and 74 years of age. The DII score was calculated from a data obtained via a food frequency questionnaire consisting of 127 food items. Results Logistic regression analyses were used to …

Terminal Logic Behavior And Strategic Defection Of Governmental Officials During Presidential Transitions In Guatemala: Implications For The Sustainability Of Food And Nutrition Security Policy, Jessica L. Escobar-Alegria, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Christine E. Blake

Faculty Publications

Background: Presidents with no possibility of re-election overvalue far-future rewards and succumb to terminal logic behavior (TLB), responding to end-of-tenure legacy concerns despite political context. Government authorities perceiving the outgoing government is losing power at the end of term behave under the logic of strategic defection (SD), dissociating from the outgoing government once it is perceived powerless. In countries where re-election is impossible and government turnover and inconstant political parties are concerns, governmental officials at all levels may show TLB and SD during transitions that affect policy sustainability. Objectives: This study aimed to understand the context during presidential transitions that …

Evaluation Of An Immunomodulatory Probiotic Intervention For Veterans With Co-Occurring Mild Traumatic Brain Injury And Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study, Lisa A. Brenner, Jeri E. Forster, Kelly A. Stearns-Yoder, Christopher E. Stamper, Andrew J. Hoisington, Diana P. Brostow, Merideth Mealer, Hal S. Wortzel, Teodor T. Postolache, Christopher A. Lowry

Faculty Publications

Background: US military Veterans returned from Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) with symptoms associated with mild traumatic brain injury [mTBI; i.e., persistent post-concussive (PPC) symptoms] and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Interventions aimed at addressing symptoms associated with both physical and psychological stressors (e.g., PPC and PTSD symptoms) are needed. This study was conducted to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of a probiotic intervention, as well as to begin the process of evaluating potential biological outcomes.

Framework For A Community Health Observing System For The Gulf Of Mexico Region: Preparing For Future Disasters, Paul Sandifer, Landon Knapp, Maureen Lichtveld, Ruth Manley, David Abramson, Rex Caffey, David Cochran, Tracy Collier, Kristie Ebi, Lawrence Engel, John Farrington, Melissa Finucane, Christine Hale, David Halpern, Emily Harville, Leslie Hart, Yulin Hswen, Barbara Kirkpatrick, Bruce Mcewen, Glenn Morris, Raymond Orbach, Lawrence Palinkas, Melissa Partyka, Dwayne Porter, Aric A. Prather, Teresa Rowles, Geoffrey Scott, Teresa Seeman, Helena Solo-Gabriele, Erik Svendsen, Terry Tincher, Juli Trtanj, Ann Hayward Walker

Faculty Publications

© Copyright © 2020 Sandifer, Knapp, Lichtveld, Manley, Abramson, Caffey, Cochran, Collier, Ebi, Engel, Farrington, Finucane, Hale, Halpern, Harville, Hart, Hswen, Kirkpatrick, McEwen, Morris, Orbach, Palinkas, Partyka, Porter, Prather, Rowles, Scott, Seeman, Solo-Gabriele, Svendsen, Tincher, Trtanj, Walker, Yehuda, Yip, Yoskowitz and Singer. The Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region is prone to disasters, including recurrent oil spills, hurricanes, floods, industrial accidents, harmful algal blooms, and the current COVID-19 pandemic. The GoM and other regions of the U.S. lack sufficient baseline health information to identify, attribute, mitigate, and facilitate prevention of major health effects of disasters. Developing capacity to assess adverse human …

Analytical And Experimental Study Of Fatigue-Crack-Growth Ae Signals In Thin Sheet Metals, Roshan Joseph, Victor Giurgiutiu

Faculty Publications

The acoustic emission (AE) method is a very popular and well-developed method for passive structural health monitoring of metallic and composite structures. AE method has been efficiently used for damage source detection and damage characterization in a large variety of structures over the years, such as thin sheet metals. Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWASs) are lightweight and inexpensive transducers, which recently drew the attention of the AE research community for AE sensing. The focus of this paper is on understanding the fatigue crack growth AE signals in thin sheet metals recorded using PWAS sensors on the basis of the Lamb …

Shelf-Stable Sustainable Shrimp Thermally Processed With Reciprocal Agitation, William R. Dixon, Evelyn G. Watts, John A. King, Xing Fu, Louise Wicker

Faculty Publications

Shelf-stable, ready-to-eat shrimp offer a convenient, portion-controlled option for a highly desirable seafood commodity. The perishability of shrimp requires tight cold-temperature control during distribution and handling. Thermal processing of shrimp was evaluated in a multimode retort with automated control of come-up, heat, and cool times and with addition of high-speed reciprocal agitation. Reciprocal agitation was compared with static retort for thermal process and quality parameters, including cook time, process time to achieve target lethality (F0), cook yield, texture, and appearance of shelf-stable shrimp. Total retort thermal processing times decreased from 30 min at 0 shakes per minute (SPM) to 17.1 …

Instead Of The Thorn, Wilber Alexander

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Abundance Of The Species Clostridium Butyricum In The Gut Microbiota Contributes To Differences In Obesity Phenotype In Outbred Sprague-Dawley Cd Rats, Diana N. Obanda, Claudia Husseneder, Anne M. Raggio, Ryan Page, Brian Marx, Rhett W. Stout, Justin Guice, Diana Coulon, Michael J. Keenan

Faculty Publications

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Objectives: Gut microbiota profiles contribute to differences in obesity phenotype. We examined the abundance of the species Clostridium butyricum in relation to obesity phenotype. Methods: In outbred Sprague -Dawley rats we examined effects of dietary fat, resistant starch (RS), and a microbiota transplant on obesity phenotype. Using targeted qPCR, we examined the abundance of total gut bacteria and C. butyricum in relation to the propensity of obesity prone and obesity resistant rats to accumulate abdominal fat. Results: Before inclusion of dietary RS, obesity resistant (OR) rats had higher amounts of total bacteria, and C. butyricum compared …

Abundance Of The Species Clostridium Butyricum In The Gut Microbiota Contributes To Differences In Obesity Phenotype In Outbred Sprague-Dawley Cd Rats, Diana N. Obanda, Claudia Husseneder, Anne M. Raggio, Ryan Page, Brian Marx, Rhett W. Stout, Justin Guice, Diana Coulon, Michael J. Keenan

Faculty Publications

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Objectives: Gut microbiota profiles contribute to differences in obesity phenotype. We examined the abundance of the species Clostridium butyricum in relation to obesity phenotype. Methods: In outbred Sprague -Dawley rats we examined effects of dietary fat, resistant starch (RS), and a microbiota transplant on obesity phenotype. Using targeted qPCR, we examined the abundance of total gut bacteria and C. butyricum in relation to the propensity of obesity prone and obesity resistant rats to accumulate abdominal fat. Results: Before inclusion of dietary RS, obesity resistant (OR) rats had higher amounts of total bacteria, and C. butyricum compared …

Third-Variable Effect Analysis With Multilevel Additive Models, Qingzhao Yu, Bin Li

Faculty Publications

Third-variable effect refers to the effect transmitted by third-variables that intervene in the relationship between an exposure and a response variable. Third-variable effect analysis has been broadly studied in many fields. However, it remains a challenge for researchers to differentiate indirect effect of individual factor from multiple third-variables, especially when the involving variables are of hierarchical structure. Yu et al. (2014) defined third-variable effects that were consistent for all different types of response (categorical or continuous), exposure, or third-variables. With these definitions, multiple third-variables can be considered simultaneously, and the indirect effects carried by individual third-variables can be separated from …

Exploring New And Modified Rejection-Type Thresholds Using Cricket Snack Crackers, Ryan Ardoin, Ross Romero, Brian Marx, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul

Faculty Publications

Recently, sensory threshold concepts have been expanded to include affective perceptions of foods and beverages, especially measures of product rejection; however, each threshold interpretation depends largely on the methodology employed. By substituting cricket powder for whole-wheat flour in snack crackers (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%), we proposed modifications to two existing threshold methodologies: a modified consumer rejection threshold (M-CRT) using a 2-alternative choice (2-AC) preference test with “no preference” option; and a modified hedonic rejection threshold (M-HRT) based on less-than-neutral hedonic scores according to a one-sample t-test. We also proposed two new concepts: a rejection tolerance threshold (RTT) and …

Sensor-Measured Physical Activity Is Associated With Decreased Cardiovascular Disease Risk In African Americans, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches, Gabrielle M. Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Sarah Eustis, Mary J. Wilson Phd, Mph, Brent Hutto Msph, Sara Wilcox Phd, Edward A. Frongillo Jr. Ph.D., E. Angela Murphy

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Few studies have examined relationships between sensor-measured physical activity (PA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among African Americans. This study described relationships between PA and CVD risk in NEW Soul study participants. Methods: Participants completed a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan and measures of blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, height, and weight. Actigraph GTM accelerometers measured moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). We assessed relationships between minutes/day of MVPA and total body fat percent, total lean body mass, total fat mass, total bone mass, total fat distribution, body mass index (BMI), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and waist-to-hip ratio, …

National Nutrition Strategies That Focus On Maternal, Infant, And Young Child Nutrition In Southeast Asia Do Not Consistently Align With Regional And International Recommendations, Tuan T. Nguyen, Ashley Darnell, Amy Weissman, Jennifer Cashin, Mellissa Withers, Roger Mathisen, Karin Lapping, Timothy D. Mastro, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

We examined the consistency of national nutrition strategies and action plans (NNS) focusing on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia with regional and international recommendations. Between July and December 2017, we identified and extracted information on context, objectives, interventions, indicators, strategies, and coordination mechanisms from the most recent NNS in nine Southeast Asian countries. All NNS described context, objectives, and the following interventions: antenatal care, micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy, breastfeeding promotion, improved complementary feeding, nutrition in emergencies, and food fortification or dietary diversity. Micronutrient supplementation for young children was included in eight NNS; breastfeeding promotion during pregnancy …

Early Breastfeeding Practices Contribute To Exclusive Breastfeeding In Bangladesh, Vietnam And Ethiopia, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim, Lan Mai Tran, Purnima Menon, Edward A. Frongillo Jr.

Faculty Publications

Limited evidence exists on the complex relationship among interventions, early initiation of breastfeeding (EIBF), prelacteal feeding and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). We examined whether early breastfeeding practices are associated with EBF and how much improving EIBF and non-prelacteal feeding contributes to increased prevalence of EBF. Survey data were collected in 2010 and 2014 as part of impact evaluations of Alive & Thrive (A&T) interventions to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Ethiopia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine effects of interventions and early breastfeeding practices on EBF. Structural equation modelling quantified the direct …

Covid-19 And The Black Death: Nutrition, Frailty, Inequity, And Mortality, Katherine D. Van Schaik, Sharon Dewitte

Faculty Publications

Introduction: COVID-19 has challenged governments, healthcare systems, and individuals, drawing attention to the limits of modern technology and the extent of social inequity. Such challenges have directed attention to historical epidemics as repositories of data that could contribute to effective public health strategies and prognostic modeling. In light of the well-established correlation between frailty and mortality from COVID-19, this paper investigates the relationship between frailty, inequity, and mortality in the setting of the Black Death of 1346 – 1353, in order to identify trends over time in populations at the greatest risk of mortality during pandemics.

Methods: A comparative review …

Elementary Classroom Teachers’ Self-Reported Use Of Movement Integration Products And Perceived Facilitators And Barriers Related To Product Use, Roddrick Dugger, Aaron Rafferty, Ethan Hunt, Michael W. Beets, Collin Andrew Webster, Brian Chen, Jeffrey Michael Rehling, Robert Glenn Weaver

Faculty Publications

Movement integration (MI) products are designed to provide children with physical activity during general education classroom time. The purpose of this study was to examine elementary classroom teachers’ self-reported use of MI products and subsequent perceptions of the facilitators of and barriers to MI product use. This study utilized a mixed-methods design. Elementary classroom teachers (n = 40) at four schools each tested four of six common MI products in their classroom for one week. Teachers completed a daily diary, documenting duration and frequency of product use. Following each product test, focus groups were conducted with teachers to assess facilitators …

Insomnia Is Associated With Frequency Of Suicidal Ideation Independent Of Depression: A Replication And Extension Of Findings From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Zach Simmons, Lance D. Erickson, Dawson Hedges, Daniel Kay

Faculty Publications

Objective: Insomnia is associated with suicidality, although the mechanisms of this association are unclear. This study sought to replicate previous findings showing that insomnia symptoms but not sleep duration are associated with frequency of suicidal ideation in adults. We further investigated whether depression or sleep duration moderates the association between insomnia symptoms and frequency of suicidal ideation.

Materials and Methods: We used the 2005–2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to replicate previously reported findings from the 2007–2008 cycle. We used ordered logistic regression to determine whether insomnia symptoms were associated with frequency of suicidal ideation independently …

Consequences Of Plume Encounter On Larval Fish Growth And Condition In The Gulf Of Mexico, Kelia E. Axler, Su Sponaugle, Frank Hernandez, Carla Culpepper, Robert K. Cowen

Faculty Publications

© Inter-Research 2020. Freshwater input into nearshore continental shelf waters from coastal river-estuarine plumes can greatly alter the physical and trophic environments experienced by fish larvae. However, the biological consequences of plume encounter on larval fish survival remain equivocal, largely due to the extreme variability of these systems but also because traditional sampling techniques alone are too coarse to effectively characterize the dynamic biophysical environment at spatiotemporal scales relevant to individual larvae. Using a multidimensional approach, we simultaneously collected in situ imagery and net samples of larval fishes and zooplankton from the Mobile Bay plume (Alabama, USA) and ambient continental …

Music As A Management Tool In Elementary Physical Education: A Qualitative Investigation, David C. Barney, Keven A. Prusak

Faculty Publications

Classroom management is an important aspect for a K-12 teacher in any content area. The same applies in physical education (PE). In PE there are large spaces, students are moving, and in many cases, equipment (basketballs, rackets, hula hoops, etc.) is involved. Thus, making PE a unique challenge in regard to classroom management for PE teachers. One tool an elementary PE teacher can use for classroom management is music. For this study, one school administrator, 19 elementary-aged students and one PE teacher were interviewed to better understand their perspectives of music as a management tool in elementary PE. Findings indicate …

Initial Establishment Success Of Five Forages In An East Texas Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda) Silvopasture, Michael Richard, Ken Farrish, Brian P. Oswald, Hans M. Williams, Michael Maurer

Faculty Publications

The establishment at the end of 1 year of five forages was evaluated in a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) silvopasture system. The five forages were: ‘Pensacola” bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge), “Texas Tough” bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.), “Alamo” switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), “San Marcos” Eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), and a native mix containing 45% “Texas” little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium Michx Nash), 15% sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes Nutt. L. Alph. Wood), 15% “Blackwell” switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), 10% “Lometa” indiangrass (Sorgastrum nutans L. Nash), 10% “Haskell” sideoats grama (Bouteloua …

Natural Environment And Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review, Robert Rohli

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Of Artemisia Scoparia’S Anti-Inflammatory Activity In Cultured Adipocytes, Macrophages, And Pancreatic Β-Cells, Anik Boudreau, Susan J. Burke, J. Jason Collier, Allison J. Richard, David M. Ribnicky, Jacqueline M. Stephens

Faculty Publications

© 2020 The Obesity Society Objective: An ethanolic extract of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) improves adipose tissue function and reduces negative metabolic consequences of high-fat feeding. A. scoparia has a long history of medicinal use across Asia and has anti-inflammatory effects in various cell types and disease models. The objective of the current study was to investigate SCO’s effects on inflammation in cells relevant to metabolic health. Methods: Inflammatory responses were assayed in cultured adipocytes, macrophages, and insulinoma cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and NF-κB reporter assays. Results: In tumor necrosis factor α–treated adipocytes, SCO mitigated ERK and NF-κB …

Identification Of Pathways Associated With Placental Adaptation To Maternal Nutrient Restriction In Sheep, Ashley K. Edwards, Kathrin A. Dunlap, Thomas E. Spencer, M. Carey Satterfield

Faculty Publications

Maternal nutrient restriction impairs placental growth and development, but available evidence suggests that adaptive mechanisms exist, in a subset of nutrient restricted (NR) ewes, that support normal fetal growth and do not result in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This study utilized Affymetrix GeneChip Bovine and Ovine Genome 1.0 ST Arrays to identify novel placental genes associated with differential fetal growth rates within NR ewes. Singleton pregnancies were generated by embryo transfer and, beginning on Day 35 of pregnancy, ewes received either a 100% NRC (control-fed group; n = 7) or 50% NRC (NR group; n = 24) diet until necropsy …

Synergisms In Science: Climate Change And Integrated Pest Management Through The Lens Of Communication-2019 Student Debates, Jocelyn R. Holt, Lina Bernaola, Kadie E. Britt, Chirs Mccullough, Morgan Roth, Jennie Wagner, Max Ragozzino, Leslie Aviles, Zhilin Li, Forest Huval, Manoj Pandey, Benjamin W. Lee, Megan Asche, Abigail Hayes, Abigail Cohen, Adrian Marshall, Hannah E. Quellhorst, Rachel V. Wilkins, Valerie Nguyen, Jacqueline Maille, Rachel K. Skinner, John J. Ternest, Sarah Anderson, Scott W. Gula, Kayleigh Hauri, Julius Eason, Megan Mulcahy, Scott Lee, James Michael Villegas, Patricia Shorter

Faculty Publications

Every year, the Student Debates Subcommittee (SDS) of the Student Affairs Committee (SAC) for the annual Entomological Society of America (ESA) meeting organizes the Student Debates. This year, the SAC selected topics based on their synergistic effect or ability to ignite exponential positive change when addressed as a whole. For the 2019 Student Debates, the SAC SDS identified these topic areas for teams to debate and unbiased introduction speakers to address: 1) how to better communicate science to engage the public, particularly in the area of integrated pest management (IPM), 2) the influential impacts of climate change on agriculturally and …

Multiple Decrement Life Tables Of Cephus Cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) Across A Set Of Barley Cultivars: The Importance Of Plant Defense Versus Cannibalism, Buddhi B. Achhami, Robert K.D. Peterson, Jamie D. Sherman, Gadi V.P. Reddy, David K. Weaver

Faculty Publications

Accurately estimating cause-specific mortality for immature insect herbivores is usually difficult. The insects are exposed to abiotic and biotic mortality factors, causing cadavers to simply disappear before cause of mortality can be recorded. Also, insect herbivores are often highly mobile on hosts, making it difficult to follow patterns for individuals through time. In contrast, the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, spends its entire egg, larval, and pupal period inside a host stem. Therefore, with periodic sampling stage-specific causes of mortality can be ascertained. Consequently, we examined C. cinctus mortality in eight barley, Hordeum vulgare L., cultivars in two locations …

Antixenosis, Antibiosis, And Potential Yield Compensatory Response In Barley Cultivars Exposed To Wheat Stem Sawfly (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) Under Field Conditions, Buddhi B. Achhami, Gadi V.P. Reddy, Jamie D. Sherman, Robert K.D. Peterson, David K. Weaver

Faculty Publications

Wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton, is an economically serious pest of cereals grown in North America. Barley cultivars were previously planted as resistant crops in rotations to manage C. cinctus, but due to increasing levels of injury to this crop, this is no longer a valid management tactic in Montana. Therefore, we aimed to understand antixenosis (behavioral preference), antibiosis (mortality), and potential yield compensation (increased productivity in response to stem injuries) in barley exposed to C. cinctus. We examined these traits in eight barley cultivars. Antixenosis was assessed by counting number of eggs per stem and antibiosis was assessed …

The Validity, Time Burden, And User Satisfaction Of The FoodimageTm Smartphone App For Food Waste Measurement Versus Diaries: A Randomized Crossover Trial, Brian E. Roe, Danyi Qi, Robbie A. Beyl, Karissa E. Neubig, Corby K. Martin, John W. Apolzan

Faculty Publications

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. The FoodImageTM smartphone app transmits users’ photographs of food selection and food waste to researchers, and includes user-tagged information about waste reasons and destination. Twenty-four participants were trained to record food waste using FoodImage, food waste diaries requiring visual estimation of waste quantities, and diaries requiring scale weights. Participants used each method during three staged food-waste scenarios (food preparation, eating, and clean-out) in a randomized crossover trial. Two participants had extreme values for the weighed diary method; therefore, accuracy results are reported with and without these two participants’ data. Error was calculated as waste estimated with …

Unpacking The Decline In Food Waste Measured In Chinese Households From 1991 To 2009, Danyi Qi, John W. Apolzan, Ran Li, Brian E. Roe

Faculty Publications

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. Food waste reduction is an explicit goal for many countries, yet a paucity of high-quality primary measurements of food waste are available to inform policy. We analyze repeated physical measurements of discarded food from more than 37,000 households enrolled in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1991 to 2009 and describe relevant food waste patterns and trends within households over a period of dramatic change. Over a period in which average real household incomes tripled, food discarded per person declined by about 20% on a quantity basis and by about 40% on a Calorie …

Effectiveness Of Aqueous Chlorine Dioxide In Minimizing Food Safety Risk Associated With Salmonella, E. Coli O157:H7, And Listeria Monocytogenes On Sweet Potatoes, Phillip Luu, Vijay Singh Chhetri, Marlene E. Janes, Joan M. King, Achyut Adhikari

Faculty Publications

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a commonly used sanitizer in the produce industry despite its limited effectiveness against contaminated human pathogens in fresh produce. Aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is an alternative sanitizer offering a greater oxidizing potency with greater efficacy in reducing a large number of microorganisms. We investigated the effect of aqueous chlorine dioxide treatment against human pathogens, Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes seeded on sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes were spot inoculated (4.2 to 5.7 log CFU/cm2) with multi-strain cocktails of Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes and treated for 10-30 min with 5 ppm aqueous …