Digital Commons Network^™

The Obesity Epidemic, Lenka Kollar, Evienne Epifano, Molly Mckneight, Jeff Miskovich, Heather Moore

Student Papers in Public Policy

The incidence of chronic, noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, is increasing at an alarming rate on the global scale. The growing prevalence of overweight and obesity have led to an upsurge in cases of diabetes and other obesity-related diseases. About 18 million people die every year from heart disease, of which diabetes and obesity are major predisposing factors. Worldwide, more than 1.1 billion adults are overweight, 312 million of which are obese. The number of children that are overweight or obese is also growing (Hossain, Parvez et al.). Obesity, and the associated diseases, has become a worldwide epidemic and …

Food Security And State: Policy Considerations For The Contemporary Food Crisis, Mangala Subramaniam, Christopher Bunka

Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) Policy Briefs

In 1996, The World Food Summit (WFS) set a target to eradicate hunger in all countries and an immediate goal to half the number of undernourished people by 2015. Backed by the United Nations (UN), international organizations launched a global effort with the intent of achieving food security for all people. A variety of approaches were employed, including the distribution of food aid and farming supplies, skills training in agricultural development, funding for country-specific research, and legal counsel for states. Despite international efforts, over a decade later the number of undernourished was calculated to have risen by nearly 60 million …

Maximizing The Delivery Performance Of Point-Of-Care Cd4+ T-Cell Counting Tests In Resource-Limited Settings - A Policy Brief, Nan Kong, J. Paul Robinson, Fenggang Yang

Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) Policy Briefs

Managing HIV/AIDS presents challenges to public health policymakers, frontline workers, and researchers worldwide. A key strategy in the disease management is early diagnosis and rapid treatment initiation. While the technological field of point‐of‐care HIV/AIDS diagnostics has advanced significantly in the past two decades, several critical issues remain that hinder the deployment of point‐of‐care testing devices in resource‐deprived settings. In this policy brief, we discuss these issues, including technological specifics of point‐of‐care CD4⁺ T‐cell counting approaches and requirements of deploying them. We also discuss cultural and religious concerns on the deployment. At the end of the brief, we propose a …

Measuring The Impacts Of Agricultural Input Subsidies In Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence From Malawi's Farm Input Subsidy Program, Gerald E. Shively, Jacob Ricker-Gilbert

Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) Policy Briefs

Malawi, a small, land-locked country in south Eastern Africa has been at the forefront of the recent push to reestablish subsidies as a way of boosting agricultural production and improving food security, especially among the poor. Its programs have been widely observed, scrutinized, and emulated. This policy brief examines Malawi’s Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) and distills a set of key research findings drawn from research conducted recently at Purdue University.

Using High-Fiber Diets To Limit Energy Intake In Developing Gilts: Effects On Puberty, Reproduction, Culling Rates, Lifetime Productivity, And Progeny Health And Growth, Phillip S. Miller, Rodger Johnson, Justin Bundy, Daniel Ciobanu

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A total of 182 gilts were used to evaluate the effects of limiting energy intake during development compared to traditional corn-soybean meal based diets using the addition of soybean hulls to reduce caloric intake with ad libitum access to feed. The gilt developmental period consisted of 110 days, from 120 to 230 days of age. Data collected during development included body weight, backfat, longissimus muscle area, and feed intake, every 2 weeks. Estrus detection was conducted on a daily basis until breeding. Females were maintained in the breeding groups for 4 parities (785 days of age), at which time data …

The Putative Role Of Resveratrol In Sirt-1 Mediated Modulation Of The Vitamin D Pathway, Angelika Dampf Stone, Shane F. Batie, G. Kerr Whitfield, Mark R. Haussler, Peter W. Jurutka

American Association for the Advancement of Science Pacific Conference

The nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) modulates gene transcription in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) target tissues such as kidney, colon, and bone. The 1,25D hormone is derived from vitamin D in the skin or from the diet, and binds to and activates the VDR. We have previously shown that resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes, has the ability to activate the VDR signaling pathway. Moreover, cells treated with both resveratrol and 1,25D resulted in an additive or even synergistic stimulation of VDR-mediated transcription compared to cells treated with 1,25D alone. Based on these initial results, experiments were …

Effects Of Glucose Levels On Glucose Consumption And Viability Of Chondrocytes And Intervertebral Disc Cells, Garrett R. Waggoner

Open Access Theses

Lower back pain (LBP) and cartilage-related diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) have a tremendous financial impact on the world today. It is well-understood that the provision of glucose to these avascular regions of the body plays a large role in the sustenance of health and the prevention of pathogenic processes. In order to undertake innovative approaches to allow for glucose-involved cell therapeutics and to enhance a wide range of stem cell therapies, we need to better understand avascular cell metabolism. In this study, annulus fibrosus (AF), nucleus pulposus (NP), and cartilage cells were placed in agarose gel constructs and incubated …

Ada News - 06/17/2013, American Dental Association, Publishing Division

ADA News

Established in 1970 as the official newspaper of the American Dental Association, the ADA News serves practicing dentists and others allied to the dental profession in the U.S. and internationally. It is the No. 1 source of news and information about the many benefits and services the ADA delivers to members daily as well as timely information on scientific, social, political and economic developments affecting dentistry and health care.

Bjc Today

BJC Today

No abstract provided.

Foxo1a And Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein Levels In Male Mice Fed Dietary Selenium And Isoflavones, Michael Stallings, Chad Hancock

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a public health concern for the United States and is becoming a global health crisis. The hallmark of type 2 diabetes is high blood sugar, which leads to a host of other health issues. In healthy subjects, insulin acts as a signal to increase uptake of glucose from the blood stream into skeletal muscle. However, with the onset of diabetes skeletal muscle becomes resistant to insulin signaling. One of the many factors involved in skeletal muscle insulin resistance is Forkhead Box Protein 1a (FOXO1a) [1].

Nnb News, Local Farmers Market Give Midtown More Fresh Produce Options, June 16, 2013, Jaclyn Cayavec, Meaghan Habuda

Neighborhood News Bureau

A spotlight on two farmers markets in St. Petersburg, Florida: the Gulfport Tuesday Morning Fresh Market and the Saturday Morning Market.

From The Frontier: Translating Research To Practice…Qi As The Hinge Point, Paul C. Erwin

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

This article is number three in the series From the Frontier: Translating Research to Practice. The narrative describes the work of a practice-academic network in Minnesota which explored the degree to which having a culture of quality at the local health department level influenced the capacity to implement a new statewide initiative. The network conducted a mixed-methods study of grantees funded to develop and implement local policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to promote nutrition, increase activity, and reduce tobacco use and exposure. The results of their study indicated that grantees with higher performance levels in Quality Improvement (QI) …

Addressing Health Inequalities In The United States: Key Data Trends And Policy Action, Sara N. Bleich, Marian P. Jarlenski, Caryn N. Bell, Thomas A. Laveist

Frontiers in Public Health Services and Systems Research

Health inequalities, which have been well documented for decades, have recently become policy targets in the United States. This report summarizes current patterns and trends in health inequalities, commitments to reduce health inequalities, and progress made to eliminate health inequalities. Time trend data indicate improvements in health status and major risk factors but increases in morbidity, with black and lower-education individuals experiencing a disproportionate burden of disease. A common policy response has been priority setting in the form of national objectives or goals to address health inequalities. More research and better methods are needed to precisely measure relationships between stated …

The Murray Ledger And Times, June 15, 2013, The Murray Ledger And Times

The Murray Ledger & Times

No abstract provided.

Purification And Characterization Of An Extracellular Chitinase From Rhizopus Oryzae, Wei-Ming Chen, Ching-San Chen, Shann-Tzong Jiang

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

A chitinase with about 50 kDa of molecular mass from Rhizopus oryzae was purified to electrophoretical homogeneity after DEAE Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200 chromatographs, with specific activity of 165.2 U/mg, 19.7% recovery and 4.3-fold of purification. It had optimal pH and temperature at 5.5-6.0 and 60°C, respectively, and was stable at pH 5.0-8.5 and below 50°C. Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mn2+, Co2+ and β-Me enhanced chitinase activity by 10-48% ,whereas Hg2+ and SDS strongly inhibited enzyme activity. This enzyme was identified that might be with both chitinolytic and amylolytic activity. According to the result of LC-MS/MS analysis, 4 identified amino acid …

Caloric Restriction Augments Radiation Efficacy In Breast Cancer., Anthony D Saleh, Brittany A Simone, Juan Palazzo, Jason E Savage, Yuri Sano, Tu Dan, Lianjin Jin, Colin E Champ, Shuping Zhao, Meng Lim, Frederica Sotgia, Kevin Camphausen, Richard G Pestell, James B Mitchell, Michael P Lisanti, Nicole L Simone

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Dietary modification such as caloric restriction (CR) has been shown to decrease tumor initiation and progression. We sought to determine if nutrient restriction could be used as a novel therapeutic intervention to enhance cytotoxic therapies such as radiation (IR) and alter the molecular profile of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which displays a poor prognosis. In two murine models of TNBC, significant tumor regression is noted with IR or diet modification, and a greater regression is observed combining diet modification with IR. Two methods of diet modification were compared, and it was found that a daily 30% reduction in total calories …

Study Of The Thermodynamics Of Chromium(Iii) And Chromium(Vi) Binding To Iron(Ii/Iii)Oxide Or Magnetite Or Ferrite And Magnanese(Ii) Iron (Iii) Oxide Or Jacobsite Or Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles, Steven Luther, Nathan Brogfeld, Jisoo Kim, Jason Parsons

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Removal of chromium(III) or (VI) from aqueous solution was achieved using Fe3O4, and MnFe2O4 nanomaterials. The nanomaterials were synthesized using a precipitation method and characterized using XRD. The size of the nanomaterials was determined to be 22.4±0.9 nm (Fe3O4) and 15.5±0.5 nm (MnFe2O4). The optimal binding pH for chromium(III) and chromium(VI) were pH 6 and pH 3. Isotherm studies were performed, under light and dark conditions, to determine the capacity of the nanomaterials. The capacities for the light studies with MnFe2O4 and Fe3O4 were determined to be 7.189 and 10.63 mg/g, respectively, for chromium(III). The capacities for the light studies …

Prescribed Reading: June 2013, Centracare Clinic

Prescribed Reading

• Health Care Matters: Let’s make it easier to support healthy habits
• We ALL are caregivers!
• Welcome to these new employees
• Recognition for years of service
• Welcome to our new CentraCare providers
• Thank you to our generous employees
• Leadership changes at Women & Children
• Kudos to . . .
• Whooping cough on the rise — get the shot!
• Little Falls site moves, changes hours
• Big Lake Clinic to change name July 1
• Need an interpreter? Call ARCH
• Rain or shine, golf for a cause
• Loop the Plaza planned for Aug. 24
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit open house
• Meet with your Fidelity …

Effect Of Enrichment-Bleaching And Low Oxygen Atmosphere Storage On All-Purpose Wheat Flour Quality, Jonathan Myers Swindler

Theses and Dissertations

All-purpose wheat flour is a useful long-term storage commodity, but is subject to off-odor formation. Although flour stored in a low oxygen atmosphere should inhibit rancid odor formation, it elicits consumer complaints about odor. The purpose of this study was to examine off-odor development in all-purpose wheat flour during ambient and elevated storage by determining the effect of low oxygen atmosphere and enrichment-bleaching on quality as measured by, free fatty acids (FFA), flour descriptive sensory analysis, conjugated dienes, headspace volatiles, bread consumer sensory analysis, color, loaf volume, and vitamin analysis. Enriched, bleached (EB) and unenriched, unbleached (UU) flour was stored …

Someone’S In The Kitchen, Where’S Dinah? Gendered Dimensions Of The Professional Culinary World, Stephanie Konkol

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally cooking is considered to be women’s work, yet the vast majority of professional chefs, particularly in the upper echelons of restaurant work, are men. These curious gendered patterns stimulated interest in delving more deeply into the gendered nature of restaurant work. Existing research on this topic has concentrated on the front of the house (dining room) but has not addressed the gendered nature of the male-dominated back of the house (kitchen). This study looks at the gendered nature of the professional culinary kitchen (back of the house), how gender relations are constructed through culinary education and in the professional …

The Effects Of Green Smoothie Consumption On Blood Pressure And Health-Related Quality Of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Emiko Maeda

Dissertations and Theses

Chronic diseases are among the leading causes of death globally, and as much as 80% of these deaths are reported to be preventable with proper diet and lifestyle. Although extensive research has demonstrated that the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables offers protective health effects from many chronic illnesses, populations in both developed and developing nations consistently fall short of the recommended intake of 5 or more servings a day. This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of Green Smoothies for 4 consecutive weeks on blood pressure and health-related quality of life. Green Smoothies are a blended drink consisting …

Influence Of Media Composition On The Growth Rate Of Chlorella Vulgaris And Scenedesmus Acutus Utilized For Co2 Mitigation, Czarena L. Crofcheck, Xinyi E, Aubrey Shea, Michael D. Montross, Mark Crocker, Rodney Andrews

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased since the industrial revolution due to increasing combustion of fossil fuels. One possible CO₂ mitigation strategy is the use of microalgae for mitigation of CO₂. This paper focuses on the influence of media composition on the growth rate of two microalgae strains, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus actus. A KNO₃ based medium was found to work better for Chlorella, while a urea based equivalent worked better for Scenedesmus. The urea based media investigated here resulted in growth similar to that found with previously reported KNO₃ based media. …

Development Of A Dehydrated Banana Mash For The People Of East Africa, Nathan Jensen, Dr. Frost Steele

Journal of Undergraduate Research

This project was designed to help smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa learn how to develop a dehydrated banana mash using solar technology. This project was inspired by the need of finding a beneficial means of preserving excess banana crops in the region. One of the major varieties of bananas produced in Eastern Africa is the Eastern African highland banana. These cooking bananas, also known as plantains, are the primary production crop in the region. Because bananas have such a short shelf life farmers are not able to sell their produce fast enough and much of it goes to waste. The …

Enabling Fermentation Utilization Of Pyrolytic Substrates For The Production Of Biorenewable Fuels And Chemicals, Laura Jarboe, Zhiyou Wen, Robert Brown

BioEnergy IV: Innovations in Biomass Conversion for Heat, Power, Fuels and Chemicals

No abstract provided.

Biobutanol Production From High Sugar Content Wastewaters, Giuseppe Olivieri, Francesca Raganati, Antonio Marzocchella, Piero Salatino, Maria Elena Russo

BioEnergy IV: Innovations in Biomass Conversion for Heat, Power, Fuels and Chemicals

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Prenatal And Postnatal Care On Childhood Obesity, Michael M. O. Seipel, Kevin Shafer

Faculty Publications

Childhood obesity continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. If this problem is unresolved, some children will be at risk for disorders such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer and will become a high economic and social burden for society. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child and Young Adult sample (N = 6,643), this study examined the relationship between the effect of pre- and postnatal characteristics and obesity. The findings of this study show that the probability of childhood obesity can be lessened if pregnant women do not smoke and …

When Congress Practices Medicine: How Congressional Legislation Of Medical Judgment May Infringe A Fundamental Right, Shannon L. Pedersen

Touro Law Review

No abstract provided.

Lawrence Honoring Seven Alumni For Career Achievement, Service To The College, Lawrence University

Press Releases

Lawrence honoring seven alumni for career achievement, service to the college.

Alternative Hospital Gift Bags And Breastfeeding Exclusivity, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Rickie Kashdan

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The type of gift bags given to new mothers at the time of discharge from the hospital can influence their confidence in breastfeeding. Most hospitals in the US continue to distribute commercial gift bags containing formula samples despite the reported negative influence of commercial bags on the duration of breastfeeding. This study compared breastfeeding outcomes in women receiving three different kinds of gift bags at discharge. A prospective intervention study was conducted during the 2009-2010 in New Jersey. Three breastfeeding cohorts were recruited and assigned to three groups: COMMERCIAL received discharge bags containing formula samples, BF-INFO received breastfeeding information and …

Study Shows U.S. Adults Have Not Improved When It Comes To Cholesterol, Jim Bakken

Browse All News

No abstract provided.