Digital Commons Network^™

Animal Welfare - Environment - Sustainable Development Nexus: Scoping Study, Janice H. Cox

Nexus – UNEP – Animal Welfare, Environment, Sustainable Development

A detailed report on the links between animal welfare, environmental health and global sustainability. Issues discussed include climate change, biodiversity, pollution and waste management, one health, sustainable development and just transitions.

Bringing Back Former Vegans And Vegetarians: An Obstacle Analysis, Jo Anderson, Coni Arévalo

Diet

People have a variety of motivations for switching to plant-based diets, yet not all people who begin the transition to a vegan or vegetarian (collectively called veg*n) diet maintain it long-term. In fact, Faunalytics’ study of current and former veg*ns (2014) found that the number of lapsed (former) vegans and vegetarians in the United States far surpasses the number of current veg*ns, and most who lapse do so within a year. Are these people the low-hanging fruit for diet advocates? They could be—there are many of them and they’re clearly at least somewhat willing to go veg*n, so maybe more …

Reimagining The Church's New Member Experience Through Mutual Storytelling, Laura Holland

Doctor of Ministry

Most churches are great at welcoming visitors and have worked hard to develop their discipleship pipeline, but between these two stages where most churches focus and excel there is an experiential gap for new members. Looking into this gap more deeply, I discovered that despite guided assimilation processes, new church members feel abandoned when moved immediately to self-directed engagement. Providing for their unique needs increases their sense of belonging and commitment. Through conversations with church leaders, members, and those seeking to find church community, I noticed that this liminal period was the turning point in most of their stories, too …

Investigation Of Homocysteine, Vitamin B6 And Vitamin D Among Patients With Colorectal Cancer, Fenik A. Nadir, Zeyan A. Ali

Polytechnic Journal

Background and objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a disease that begins exclusively in the colon or rectum and is caused by the abnormal growth of glandular epithelial cells within the colon. Homocysteine, vitamin B6, and vitamin D are recognized to play a significant role in colorectal tumor pathogenesis. The aim of this study is to investigate serum levels of Hcy, vitamin D and vitamin B6 in colorectal cancer. Methods: The current study investigated the vital roles of homocysteine, vitamin B6 and vitamin D in cancer development by comparing serum levels of colorectal cancer patients with those of the healthy control …

Our Pearls Matter: Pcos Through The Lens Of Women Of Color And White Women, Kimberley Sheri Miles

Master's Theses

The prevalence of PCOS is increasing and due to the associated health complications, it is important to understand how higher-risk populations (women of color) cope with said condition. Analyzing current symptom management and treatment could help develop more practical resources and treatment strategies to help improve healthcare expectations and quality of life.

Ten women aged 22-38 with PCOS participated in comprehensive individual interviews with goal-oriented, semi-structured questions. A 27-question survey was also completed. Sampling was continued until data saturation was reached. The data was analyzed using the grounded theory technique which codes emergent themes with keywords and phrases which ultimately …

Lifestyle Modifications And Nutritional And Therapeutic Interventions In Delaying The Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Review, Lean Alkhatib, Lorena A. Velez Diaz, Samyukta Varma, Arsh Chowdhary, Prachi Bapat, Hai Pan, Geetika Kukreja, Prasannalaxmi Palabindela, Sri Abirami Selvam, Kartik Kalra

Hematology/Oncology Articles

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a debilitating progressive illness that affects more than 10% of the world's population. In this literature review, we discussed the roles of nutritional interventions, lifestyle modifications, hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) control, and medications in delaying the progression of CKD. Walking, weight loss, low-protein diet (LPD), adherence to the alternate Mediterranean (aMed) diet, and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010 slow the progression of CKD. However, smoking and binge alcohol drinking increase the risk of CKD progression. In addition, hyperglycemia, altered lipid metabolism, low-grade inflammation, over-activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and overhydration (OH) increase …

Child Opportunity Index And Hospital Utilization In Children With Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted To The Picu, Monica M. Gray, Kurt C. Stange, Elaine A. Borawski, Steven L. Shein, Katherine N. Slain

Faculty Scholarship

IMPORTANCE: The need to understand how Community-based disparities impact morbidity and mortality in pediatric critical illness, such as traumatic brain injury. Test the hypothesis that ZIP code-based disparities in hospital utilization, including length of stay (LOS) and hospital costs, exist in a cohort of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to a PICU using the Child Opportunity Index (COI). DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. PATIENTS: Children 0-18 years old admitted to a PHIS hospital with a diagnosis of TBI from January 2016 to December 2020 requiring PICU care. To identify the most …

Nursing News & Views - Feburary 2023, Joanne Miller Rn

Nursing Newsletters

No abstract provided.

One And A Half-Stage Revision With Prosthetic Articulating Spacer For Definitive Management Of Knee Periprosthetic Joint Infection., Ahmed Siddiqi, Yusuf Mahmoud, Salvador A. Forte, Thomas A Novack, James Nace

Orthopedic Surgery Resident Research

This paper is a comprehensive review that describes indications, contraindications, clinical outcomes, and pearls and pitfalls of 1.5-stage revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) utilizing a primary TKA femoral component, all-polyethylene tibial component, and hand-crafted antibiotic cement for the management of chronic periprosthetic joint infection. The 1.5-stage exchange TKA details placement of an articulating spacer for an indefinite period, prolonging revision until reinfection, deterioration of functional status, or construct failure. A 1.5-stage revision TKA technique is a viable option for treatment of chronic periprosthetic knee infections. The inherent advantages of decreased health-care costs, decreased morbidity and mortality, and improved emotional ease …

Planktonic Prey Size Selection Reveals An Emergent Keystone Predator Effect And Niche Partitioning, Darcy A.A. Taniguchi, Michael J. Follows, Susanne Menden-Deuer

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Marine herbivorous protists are often the dominant grazers of primary production. We developed a size-based model with flexible size-based grazing to encapsulate taxonomic and behavioral diversity. We examined individual and combined grazing impacts by three consumer sizes that span the size range of protistan grazers– 5, 50, and 200 μm—on a size-structured phytoplankton community. Prey size choice and dietary niche width varied with consumer size and with co-existence of other consumers. When all consumer sizes were present, distinct dietary niches emerged, with a range of consumer-prey size ratios spanning from 25:1 to 0.4:1, encompassing the canonical 10:1 often assumed. Grazing …

Cover Crop Planting Practices Determine Their Performance In The U.S. Corn Belt, Katja Koehler-Cole, Roger W. Elmore, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Charles A. Francis, Charles A. Shapiro, Christopher A. Proctor, Sabrina J. Ruis, Suat Irmak, Derek M. Heeren

Nebraska Cooperative Extension: Faculty and Staff Publications

Cover crop growing periods in the western United States Corn Belt could be extended by planting earlier. We evaluated both pre-harvest broadcast interseeding and post-harvest drilling of the following cover crops: (a) cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) [RYE]; (b) a mix of rye + legumes + brassicas [MIX1], (c) a mix of rye + oat [Avena sativa L.] + legumes + brassicas (MIX2), (d) legumes [LEGU]) and (e) a no cover crop control. These were tested in continuous corn (Zea mays L.) [corn–corn] and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn systems [soybean–corn] at three sites in Nebraska …

Sustainable And Organic Beekeeping In Chester County, John Pisciotta

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Professor John Pisciotta, Biology - Sustainable and Organic Beekeeping in Chester County

Neighborhood Deprivation And Residential Property Values Do Not Affect Weight Loss At 1 Or 3 Years After Bariatric Surgery, Adam Drewnowski, Benjamin D Hong, Ernest Shen, Ming Ji, Silvia R Paz, Bhumi B Bhakta, Mayra Macias, Cecelia L Crawford, Kristina H Lewis, Jialuo Liu, Darren D Moore, Sameer B Murali, Deborah R Young, Karen J Coleman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the association between individual- and neighborhood-level sociodemographic factors and surgical weight loss at 1 year (short term) and 3 years (long term).

METHODS: Data were obtained from the baseline survey of the BELONG (Bariatric Experience Long Term) prospective longitudinal cohort study. Individual-level self-reported data on sex, race and ethnicity, education, and household income were obtained by survey. Data from the 2010 US Census were used to calculate area Neighborhood Deprivation Index score and median value of owner-occupied housing units at the census tract level.

RESULTS: Patients (N = 1341) had a mean age of 43.4 (SD …

A Study To Investigate The Uptake Of Digital Technology In Ruben Fm Radio Station, Nahashon Shisia Wasilwa

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

Having realized the potential of digital technologies, radio stations in Kenya have embraced technology to improve “interactivity with their listeners”. However, the extent to which digital technologies are used at radio stations and existing challenges and opportunities in uptake is yet to be established. The research's primary goal was to investigate technology uptake in Ruben FM radio stations. Specifically, the study sought to examine the extent of use of the existing digital technologies in Ruben FM radio station, explore other digital technology opportunities for uptake in Ruben FM radio station and establish challenges facing digital technology uptake in Ruben FM …

Ruben Fm And Its Involvement In Socio-Economic Challenges Of Mukuru Kwa Ruben Slums Of Nairobi, Henix Obuchunju

Master of Arts in Digital Journalism

vii ABSTRACT Slums are a reflection of underdeveloped and marginalisation. It is so yet the traditional watchdog genre of journalism and the commercial press are both as old as the slums themselves. Past studies show that community radios are struggling with feedback. As such they are yet to assess their value to the world. This study sought to assess the impact of the Mukuru kwa Ruben-based Ruben FM in addressing the socio- economic needs of its listeners; and whether it is advancing the tenets of Solutions Journalism practice. That is; coverage of solutions rather than the problems. The study relied …

The Business Case For Social And Behavior Change For Breastfeeding And Complementary Feeding, Avenir Health

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

In global health, a business case analyzes the costs and benefits of investing in a particular health area or intervention. Breakthrough RESEARCH used this evidence-based approach to answer questions about the effectiveness, cost, and cost-effectiveness of SBC interventions on improving and maintaining key breastfeeding (BF) and complementary feeding (CF) behaviors. The model was applied to two different illustrative SBC investment scenarios; one in Kebbi state, Nigeria and one in Nepal. This business case highlights the benefits of investing in BF and CF SBC activities; the intended audience includes international donors funding or potentially funding SBC activities, health and finance ministries, …

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Comparing Integrated And Malaria-Only Social And Behavior Change Programming In Nigeria: Midline Analysis, Avenir Health

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Nigeria is working closely with the Nigerian government to improve the practice of priority health behaviors through the Breakthrough ACTION project. Breakthrough RESEARCH is leading an evaluation of Breakthrough ACTION’s program comparing the integrated social and behavior change (SBC) program (malaria, family planning, maternal and child health, and nutrition) in Kebbi and Sokoto states and vertical SBC program (malaria-only) in Zamfara state. While the first initial cost report covered the time frame from program initiation in April 2018 through December 2019, this midline report covers January 2020 through December 2021. This report examines …

Advancing Social And Behavior Change Measurement In Family Planning, Breakthrough Research

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Wic Online Ordering During The Covid-19 Pandemic: Evidence From An Oklahoma Grocery Store Chain, Qi Zhang, Junzhou Zhang

Department of Marketing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening the disparities in food access in the United States. As consumers have been increasingly using grocery online ordering services to limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus, participants of federal nutrition assistance programs lack the online benefit redemption option. With the support of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), retailers are pilot-testing online food benefit ordering in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). By combining the Oklahoma WIC administrative data, the online ordering data from a grocery store chain in Oklahoma, and the COVID-19 data in Oklahoma, this study examines …

Long-Term Exposure To An Invasive Fungal Pathogen Decreases Eptesicus Fuscus Body Mass With Increasing Latitude, Molly C. Simonis, Lynn K. Hartzler, Gregory G. Turner, Michael R. Scafini, Joseph S. Johnson, Megan A. Rúa

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Abstract Invasive pathogens threaten wildlife health and biodiversity. Physiological responses of species highly susceptible to pathogen infections following invasion are well described. However, the responses of less susceptible species (relative to highly susceptible species) are not well known. Latitudinal gradients, which can influence body condition via Bergmann's rule and/or reflect the time it takes for an introduced pathogen to spread geographically, add an additional layer for how mammalian species respond to pathogen exposure. Our goal was to understand how hosts less susceptible to pathogen infections respond to long‐term pathogen exposure across a broad latitudinal gradient. We examined changes in body …

Secular Trends In Physical Fitness Of Peruvian Children Living At High-Altitude, Carla Santos, Sara Pereira, Olga Vasconcelos, Go Tani, Donald Hedeker, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, José Maia, Alcibíades Bustamante

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

The physical fitness of children is an important marker of health, and monitoring its temporal changes provides important information for developing interventions. We aimed to: (1) describe secular trends in physical fitness across age, within each sex, in Peruvian schoolchildren; and (2) verify if these trends are also present when adjusted for changes in height and weight. We sampled 1590 children (707 in 2009; 883 in 2019), aged 6–11 years. Physical fitness was assessed with four tests from the EUROFIT battery. ANOVA and ANCOVA statistical models were used. Results showed that with increasing age, girls and boys were significantly stronger …

African American Perceptions Of Service Provided By Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education: A Qualitative Exploration, Matthew Greene, Denise Holston, Jamila Freightman, Chiquita Briley

Faculty Publications

Objective: To assess African Americans’ satisfaction with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) in Louisiana. Methods: African American facilitators conducted 5 focus group discussions with 25 African American SNAP-Ed participants according to issues identified by African American SNAP-Ed implementers in Louisiana. Focus group discussion transcripts were coded independently using inductive and in vivo coding by 2 members of the research team. Results: Participants viewed lessons as race-neutral and thought they should include more information about African American history and culture. Participants also noted a lack of engagement with the African American community and stressed the need for the program to employ …

Novel Index To Predict Mortality And Inform Malnutrition?, Jacob T. Mey

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1/Glucagon Receptor Agonism Associates With Reduced Metabolic Adaptation And Higher Fat Oxidation: A Randomized Trial, Karen D. Corbin, Elvis A. Carnero, Timothy D. Allerton, Joachim Tillner, Christopher P. Bock, Pierre Philippe Luyet, Britta Göbel, Kevin D. Hall, Stephanie A. Parsons, Eric Ravussin, Steven R. Smith

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that treatment with the glucagon-like peptide-1/glucagon receptor agonist SAR425899 would lead to a smaller decrease in sleeping metabolic rate (SMR; kilocalories/day) than expected from the loss of lean and fat mass (metabolic adaptation). Methods: This Phase 1b, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted at two centers in inpatient metabolic wards. Thirty-five healthy males and females with overweight and obesity (age = 36.5 ± 7.1 years) were randomized to a calorie-reduced diet (−1000 kcal/d) and escalating doses (0.06-0.2 mg/d) of SAR425899 (n = 17) or placebo (n = 18) for 19 days. SMR was measured …

Early Time-Restricted Eating Affects Weight, Metabolic Health, Mood, And Sleep In Adherent Completers: A Secondary Analysis, Felicia L. Steger, Humaira Jamshed, David R. Bryan, Joshua S. Richman, Amy H. Warriner, Cody J. Hanick, Corby K. Martin, Sarah Jeanne Salvy, Courtney M. Peterson

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: Data are mixed on whether intermittent fasting improves weight loss and cardiometabolic health. Here, the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) in participants who consistently adhered ≥5 d/wk every week were analyzed. Methods: Ninety patients aged 25 to 75 years old with obesity were randomized to early TRE (eTRE; 8-hour eating window from 07:00 to 15:00) or a control schedule (≥12-hour window) for 14 weeks. A per-protocol analysis of weight loss, body composition, cardiometabolic health, and other end points was performed. Results: Participants who adhered to eTRE ≥5 d/wk every week had greater improvements in body weight (−3.7 ± 1.2 …

Impact Of Early Time-Restricted Eating On Diet Quality, Meal Frequency, Appetite, And Eating Behaviors: A Randomized Trial, Felicia L. Steger, Humaira Jamshed, Corby K. Martin, Joshua S. Richman, David R. Bryan, Cody J. Hanick, Sarah Jeanne Salvy, Amy H. Warriner, Courtney M. Peterson

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: Time-restricted eating (TRE) can reduce body weight, but it is unclear how it influences dietary patterns and behavior. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of TRE on diet quality, appetite, and several eating behaviors. Methods: Adults with obesity were randomized to early TRE plus energy restriction (eTRE + ER; 8-hour eating window from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) or a control eating schedule plus energy restriction (CON + ER; ≥12-hour window) for 14 weeks. Food intake was assessed via the Remote Food Photography Method, while eating patterns, appetite, and eating behaviors were assessed via questionnaires. Results: A total of …

The Role Of Nutrition In Mitigating The Effects Of Covid-19 From Infection Through Pasc, Jacob T. Mey, John P. Kirwan, Christopher L. Axelrod

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The expansive and rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has resulted in a global pandemic of COVID-19 infection and disease. Though initially perceived to be acute in nature, many patients report persistent and recurrent symptoms beyond the infectious period. Emerging as a new epidemic, “long-COVID”, or post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease (PASC), has substantially altered the lives of millions of people globally. Symptoms of both COVID-19 and PASC are individual, but share commonality to established respiratory viruses, which include but are not limited to chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, along with adverse metabolic and pulmonary health effects. Nutrition plays …

Effects Of Covid-19 On Sensory And Cognitive Perception Of Mild And Severe Diagnosed And Recovered Patients Versus Healthy Consumers, Adan Cabal-Prieto, Lucía Sánchez-Arellano, José Andrés Herrera-Corredor, Jesús Rodríguez-Miranda, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Lorena Guadalupe Ramón-Canul, Filiberto Toledano-Toledano, Ingrid Mayanin Rodríguez-Buenfil, Manuel Octavio Ramírez-Sucre, Gregorio Hernández-Salinas, Emmanuel De Jesús De Ramírez-Rivera

Faculty Publications

The objective of this research was to analyze the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the sensory and cognitive perception of mild and severe COVID-19 diagnosed and recovered consumers versus healthy consumers. Three groups of 50 consumers each (healthy vs. mild and severe COVID-19 diagnosed with 30 days after recovery) were used for the evaluation of instant coffee stimuli in concentrations: 4.40, 2.93, 2.20, 1.76, and 1.47% weight (w)/volume (v) and determine their discriminating power, emotions, and memories. Sensory tests were performed remotely. Results indicated that healthy consumers perceived higher intensities in most of the sensory attributes (with the exception …

Identification Of Differential-Expressed Genes In Banana-Biostimulant Interaction Using Suppression Subtractive Hybridization, Tatiana Chavez-Navarrete, Luis Sanchez-Timm, Ricardo Pacheco-Coello, Niranjan Baisakh, Efrén Santos-Ordóñez

Faculty Publications

The use of environmental-friendly agricultural inputs to increase yield in crops could reduce environmental contamination and alleviate (a)biotic stress. In this study, we applied a foliar liquid biostimulant to banana plants, which was developed from the anaerobic fermentation of microorganisms with organic remains (manure and plant waste) and minerals to use as environmental-friendly product. To determine the effect of this biostimulant in the plants, a Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (SSH) library was developed from banana leaves in greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, salicylic and jasmonic pathways activation was evaluated by gene expression analysis. First, the application of the biostimulant to banana leaves increased …

Appraisal Of Clinical Care Practices For Child Obesity Treatment. Part I: Interventions, Asheley C. Skinner, Amanda E. Staiano, Sarah C. Armstrong, Shari L. Barkin, Sandra G. Hassink, Jennifer E. Moore, Jennifer S. Savage, Helene Vilme, Ashley E. Weedn, Janice Liebhart, Jeanne Lindros, Eileen M. Reilly

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

The objective of this technical report is to provide clinicians with evidence-based, actionable information upon which to make assessment and treatment decisions for children and adolescents with obesity. In addition, this report will provide an evidence base to inform clinical practice guidelines for the management and treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. To this end, the goal of this report was to identify all relevant studies to answer 2 overarching key questions: (KQ1) “What are clinically based, effective treatments for obesity?” and (KQ2) “What is the risk of comorbidities among children with obesity?” See Appendix 1 for …