Digital Commons Network^™

Assessing The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem In Egypt Through A Gender Lens, Hala Wasef Hattab

Business Administration

Purpose: According to the Egyptian Start-up Ecosystem Report (ITIDA, 2021), Egypt has one of the foremost start-up ecosystems on Africa, both in terms of levels of start-up activity and inward investments. Yet the county lags in terms of women’s participation in founding start-ups. According to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report for Egypt, the entrepreneurial activity rate for women was 5.7%, while that of Egyptian men was 16.7%, despite women’s positive attitudes towards entrepreneurship. Methodology: The current research has an exploratory nature and aims at analysing entrepreneurship ecosystem in Egypt through a gender lens to highlight the factors that are …

Recent Insights Into The Molecular Mechanisms Of Simultaneous Fatty Acid Oxidation And Synthesis In Brown Adipocytes, Ji Suk Chang

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Brown adipocytes is a specialized fat cell that dissipates nutrient-derived chemical energy in the form of heat, instead of ATP synthesis. This unique feature provides a marked capacity for brown adipocyte mitochondria to oxidize substrates independent of ADP availability. Upon cold exposure, brown adipocytes preferentially oxidize free fatty acids (FFA) liberated from triacylglycerol (TAG) in lipid droplets to support thermogenesis. In addition, brown adipocytes take up large amounts of circulating glucose, concurrently increasing glycolysis and de novo FA synthesis from glucose. Given that FA oxidation and glucose-derived FA synthesis are two antagonistic mitochondrial processes in the same cell, it has …

Aberrant Lipid Accumulation In The Mouse Visceral Yolk Sac Resulting From Maternal Diabetes And Obesity, Man Zhang, J. Michael Salbaum, Sydney Jones, David Burk, Claudia Kappen

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Maternal diabetes and obesity in pregnancy are well-known risk factors for structural birth defects, including neural tube defects and congenital heart defects. Progeny from affected pregnancies are also predisposed to developing cardiometabolic disease in later life. Based upon in vitro embryo cultures of rat embryos, it was postulated that nutrient uptake by the yolk sac is deficient in diabetic pregnancies. In contrast, using two independent mouse models of maternal diabetes, and a high-fat diet-feeding model of maternal obesity, we observed excessive lipid accumulation at 8.5 days in the yolk sac. The numbers as well as sizes of intracellular lipid droplets …

Factors Influencing Nutritional Intake And Interests In Educational Content Of Athletes And Sport Professionals Toward The Development Of A Clinician-Supported Mobile App To Combat Relative Energy Deficiency In Sport: Formative Research And A Description Of App Functions, Jacob T. Mey, Christine A. Karpinski, Shengping Yang, Joseph D. Madere, Tavis Piattoly, Ronnie Harper, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Background: Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) as a consequence of athlete malnutrition remains a prominent issue. However, it remains underrecognized, in part due to the perceived outward health of athletes. The Eat2Win app was designed to combat RED-S and athlete malnutrition by providing education, behavior modification, and direct communication with expert sports dietitians to athletes and sport professionals (professionals who work with athletes, eg, sport coaches and athletic trainers). Objective: The purpose of this formative research was to gain critical insight on motivators and barriers to optimal nutritional intake from both the athletes’ and sport professionals’ perspectives. Additionally, since …

Paper Gowns, Cold Hands, Or Something Else? Black Women's Barriers To Gynecologic Screening, Nadia Ayesha Sesay

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Cervical cancer mortality burden is carried disproportionately by African American women. Early indicators of cervical cancer are identified through prevention screening, a procedure typically performed by a gynecologist. Ideally, the patient group with the most severe mortality would likewise be the group with the most robust communication exchange with their physician to prevent cervical cancer incidence. However, a slew of factors contributes to continued mortalities among Black women. This study uses semi-structured interviews (n=10) and the health belief model to examine one barrier to Black women’s prosocial behaviors regarding routine gynecologic care—awkwardness, which here is conceptualized as social anxiety. The …

Virtual Teaching Kitchen Classes And Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Counselling Among Medical Trainees, Alexander C. Razavi, Anna Latoff, Amber Dyer, Jaclyn Lewis Albin, Kristi Artz, Alexandra Babcock, Francesca Cimino, Farzaneh Daghigh, Beth Dollinger, Maya Fiellin, Emily A. Johnston, Grace Marie Jones, Robert D. Karch, Emily T. Keller, Heather Nace, Nimisha K. Parekh, Stephanie Nelson Petrosky, Amy Robinson, Jessica Rosen, Eva M. Sheridan, Susan W. Warner, Jada L. Willis, Timothy S. Harlan

PCOM Scholarly Works

Background: Hands-on culinary medicine education for medical trainees has emerged as a promising tool for cardiovascular health promotion. Purpose: To determine whether virtual culinary medicine programming associates with Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence and lifestyle medicine competencies among medical trainees across the USA. Method: A total of 1433 medical trainees across 19 sites over a 12-month period were included. The Cooking for Health Optimisation with Patients-Medical Trainees survey composed of 61 questions regarding demographics, nutritional attitudes, dietary habits including MedDiet score and lifestyle medicine counselling competencies. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association of virtual culinary medicine education with MedDiet intake and …

Social Determinants Of Health In People Living With Psychiatric Disorders: The Role Of Pharmacists., Carla D Cobb, Shari N. Allen, Joseph M Cusimano, Michelle Ding, Amanda S Eloma, Carol A Ott, Kimberly B Tallian

PCOM Scholarly Works

INTRODUCTION: Social determinants of health (SDOH) affect outcomes of people living with psychiatric disorders, including substance use disorders. As experts in medication optimization, pharmacists play a vital role in identifying and addressing medication-related problems associated with SDOH. However, there is a paucity of literature on how pharmacists can be part of the solution.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to provide a narrative review and commentary on the intersection between SDOH, medication-related outcomes in people living with psychiatric disorders, and the role of pharmacists in addressing them.

METHOD: The American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists appointed an expert panel to …

Muhlenberg Magic, Lehigh Valley Health Network

LVHN documents

No abstract provided.

Hyperinsulinemic Lew.1wr1 Rats Develop Insulin Resistance And Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis, Madushika M. Wimalarathne

Dissertations

The pathophysiological causes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development are not fully understood but are often associated with hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance and ectopic lipid accumulation. A subpopulation of type 1 diabetes patients develops the pathophysiological parameters to be termed “double diabetes,” which is associated with NASH. The objective of this work was to identify metabolic features of double diabetes and assess if LEW.1WR1 rats develop NASH. I assessed pathophysiologically relevant protein changes using proteomics and western blotting. I found that 17-week-old LEW.1WR1 rats showed protein changes related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to NASH. We tested a second population …

Factors That Predict Weight Loss Success Differ By Diet Intervention Type, Jordan Losavio, Michael J. Keenan, Elizabeth A. Gollub, Heidi J. Silver

Faculty Publications

Background: Many types of diet intervention can achieve negative energy balance and successful weight loss in persons with obesity. However, within any dietary strategy, there is large inter-individual variation in the weight loss response. The aim of this study is to determine factors that predict weight loss success for diet interventions that vary by macronutrient and caloric composition. Methods: Participants with BMI 30.0 to 49.9 kg/m2 self-selected one of three diet intervention trials for weight loss: low carbohydrate (LOW CHO), low fat (LOW FAT), or low calorie (LOW KCAL). Multivariable regression models were developed to determine the significance of predictor …

Effect Of Storage Temperature And Produce Type On The Survival Or Growth Of Listeria Monocytogenes On Peeled Rinds And Fresh-Cut Produce, Juan Moreira, Erika Mera, Vijay Singh Chhetri, Joan M. King, Thanos Gentimis, Achyut Adhikari

Faculty Publications

Whole and fresh-cut produce are minimally processed and susceptible to microbial contamination. This study evaluated the survival or growth of L. monocytogenes on peeled rinds, and fresh-cut produce at different storage temperatures. Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, including cantaloupe, watermelon, pear, papaya, pineapple, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, bell pepper, and kale (25 g pieces) were spot inoculated with 4 log CFU/g of L. monocytogenes and stored at 4 or 13°C for 6 days. Cantaloupe and bell pepper rind disks (20 cm2), mimicking whole produce were inoculated with low inoculum level (4 log CFU/mL) and high inoculum level (6 log CFU/mL) and stored …

The Nitrogen-Dependent Gaba Pathway Of Tomato Provides Resistance To A Globally Invasive Fruit Fly, Hao Li, Yuan Zhang, Hu Li, Gadi V. P. Reddy, Zhihong Li, Fajun Chen, Yucheng Sun, Zihua Zhao

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The primary metabolism of plants, which is mediated by nitrogen, is closely related to the defense response to insect herbivores. Methods: An experimental system was established to examine how nitrogen mediated tomato resistance to an insect herbivore, the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). All tomatoes were randomly assigned to the suitable nitrogen (control, CK) treatment, nitrogen excess (NE) treatment and nitrogen deficiency (ND) treatment. Results: We found that nitrogen excess significantly increased the aboveground biomass of tomato and increased the pupal biomass of B. dorsalis. Metabolome analysis showed that nitrogen excess promoted the biosynthesis of amino acids in healthy …

Invasiveness, Biology, Ecology, And Management Of The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda, Marc Kenis, Giovanni Benelli, Antonio Biondi, Paul André Calatayud, Roger Day, Nicolas Desneux, Rhett D. Harrison, Darren Kriticos, Ivan Rwomushana, Johnnie Van Den Berg, François Verheggen, Yong Jun Zhang, Lakpo Koku Agboyi, Régis Besmer Ahissou, Malick N. Ba, Julio Bernal, Adeney Freitas De Bueno, Yves Carrière, Geraldo Andrade Carvalho, Xue Xin Chen, Lizette Cicero, Hannalene Du Plessis, Regan Early, Patrick Fallet, Komi K.M. Fiaboe, Dnyaneshwar M. Firake, Georg Goergen, Astrid T. Groot, Raul N.C. Guedes, Ankita Gupta, Gao Hu, F. N. Huang, Lara R. Jaber

Faculty Publications

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith, 1797), is a serious pest of several crops, particularly maize and other cereals. It has long been known as a pest in the Americas and has invaded most of Africa and parts of the Middle East, Asia, and Australia in the last six years. Its new status as an invasive species causing serious damage in many regions worldwide has highlighted the need for better understanding and has generated much research. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of FAW covering its (i) taxonomy, biology, ecology, genomics, and microbiome, (ii) worldwide status …

History, Annotated Gazetteer, And Bibliography Of Sarawak Ornithology, Frederick H. Sheldon, Dency F. Gawain, Daisy G. S. Kho, Rosalina Regai, Subir B. Shakya, Chin Aik Yeap

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

Sarawak is Malaysia’s largest state, covering most of northern Borneo. It has a remarkable history of scientific bird study, starting in the 1840s and growing ever since. To set the stage for the gazetteer, which is the core of this paper, we start with a review of this history and discuss various forces that have influenced the direction of bird research in the state. Following this introduction comes the gazetteer, which is an annotated list of c. 865 sites in Sarawak where birds have been collected, studied, or regularly observed. The gazetteer provides the latitude, longitude, and elevation of each …

The Impact Of Increasing Dietary Levels Of Hybrid Rye On Growing-Finishing Pig Performance, Carcass Characteristics, And Meat Quality, Caitlyn Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this trial was to determine the effects of increasing dietary levels of hybrid rye on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and product quality of growing-finishing pigs. A total of 2,400 barrows and gilts (FAST x PIC 800, initial wt. 44.9 kg) were utilized, as pigs were randomly assigned to one of the four dietary treatments. Diets were corn-soybean based and hybrid rye replaced corn at 0, 40, 70, or 100%. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the 2012 NRC requirements for all nutrients and fed through a five-phase feeding program (44.9 to 125 kg, respectively). Pigs …

Feeding Strategies To Improve Gastrointestinal Health And Growth Performance Of Confinement Fed Ruminants, Forest Laine Francis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how feed additives, orally administered direct fed microbials, and dietary management strategies may be beneficial in improving gastrointestinal health and growth performance of confinement fed ruminants. Four studies were conducted using confinement fed steers (n = 3) and wether lambs (n = 1) to determine the effects of the products and management strategies used. The first study was conducted on finishing steers to investigate the effects of increasing doses of an encapsulated butyric acid and zinc supplement (BZ) on growth performance, efficiency of dietary net energy utilization, carcass characteristics, and gastrointestinal health. …

Genome-Wide Association Studies And Advanced Genomic Selection Strategies: Towards The Optimization Of Oat (Avena Sativa L) Breeding, Girma Ayana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oats are important cereal crops worldwide, primarily valued for their nutritional and health benefits. The primary goal of oat breeding programs is to accelerate genetic gain to develop oat varieties with the desired product profiles, with the aim of meeting the needs and expectations of growers, processors, and consumers. Achieving this goal involves conducting extensive and resource-intensive field trials, particularly for traits such as crop yield and grain quality, which are strongly influenced by environmental factors. The availability of cost-effective molecular markers and tools like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic selection have the potential to accelerate the oat breeding …

Develop Biochar-Based Control Release Nitogen Fertilizers Using Biodegradable Polypropylene, Abdulkarim Aldekhail

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable key nutrient for crop plant growth, health, and yield, which significantly affects crop productivity. N fertilizers are wildly utilized in agriculture. Managing N application stands as a necessity to achieve optimal crop yield. Urea is one of the most common N fertilizers in agricultural practices due to its high N content and cost-effectiveness. Due to its commercial scale, feasibility, and reliability, it is demonstrating potential as a medium to improve agricultural sustainability. However, economic challenges, and environmental pollution remain as setbacks. This research focuses on selecting cost-effective and environmentally friendly coating materials for the fabrication …

Extraction, Characterization, And Utilization Of Yellow Pea Starch, Abdulmalik Albu Tuwaybah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dry peas, a leguminous crop, are one of the world's oldest crops, accounting for 35–40% of total pulse trade. Pea starch is an inexpensive source of starch since it can be obtained as a by-product of protein extraction. Recovering the starch from protein isolation streams (i.e., before or after) improves the environmental impact of the protein isolation process. The goal of the study was to transform low-value pea starch into highvalue starch through starch extraction and food application. Two methods of starch extraction were used (47.5% ethanol treatment and SC CO2 + EtOH extraction). Starch samples were analyzed for chemical, …

Impact Of Virtual Fence Technology On Yearling Steer Behavior, Performance, And Energetic Expenditure, Logan Riley Vandermark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Beef cattle production in the U.S. is largely dependent upon extensive rangelands like the Northern Great Plains. Solutions are needed to meet both the demand of animal-based protein products for a growing world population and the desire for producers to manage for several different ecosystem functions. Virtual fencing (VF) is an emerging precision technology that has the potential to revolutionize livestock management on extensive rangeland systems. However, the need to quantify animal behavior and performance differences using emerging precision technologies, like VenceTM, is ever growing. Thus, the objective of this research was to determine the impact of virtual fencing on …

Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, Winter 2023

Louisiana Agriculture

Agricultural best management practices are measures that producers can take to reduce — or eliminate — farming byproducts that enter streams and groundwater. Many of these practices address fertilizer and irrigation management and the handling of pesticides and animal waste. LSU AgCenter research has helped establish these practices, and extension agents assist producers in implementing them.

This issue of Louisiana Agriculture highlights the best management practices for many of the state’s most production areas. Aquaculture specialists detail how crawfish farms can save money while meeting best management practices, and sugarcane experts tell how the AgCenter is developing new varieties to …

Effects Of Ketone Bodies On Energy Expenditure, Substrate Utilization, And Energy Intake In Humans, Rodrigo Fernández-Verdejo, Jacob T. Mey, Eric Ravussin

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The potential of ketogenic approaches to regulate energy balance has recently gained attention since ketones may influence both energy expenditure and energy intake. In this narrative review, we summarized the most relevant evidence about the role of ketosis on energy expenditure, substrate utilization, and energy intake in humans. We considered different strategies to induce ketosis, such as fasting, dietary manipulation, and exogenous ketone sources. In general, ketosis does not have a major influence on energy expenditure but promotes a shift in substrate utilization towards ketone body oxidation. The strategies to induce ketosis by reduction of dietary carbohydrate availability (e.g., ketogenic …

Redox Regulation In Diabetic Kidney Disease, Ilse S. Daehn, Ubong S. Ekperikpe, Krisztian Stadler

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes mellitus, where currently there is no cure available. Several important mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of this complication, with oxidative stress being one of the key factors. The past decades have seen a large number of publications with various aspects of this topic; however, the specific details of redox regulation in DKD are still unclear. This is partly because redox biology is very complex, coupled with a complex and heterogeneous organ with numerous cell types. Furthermore, often times terms such as “oxidative stress” or reactive oxygen species …

Effects Of Episodic Food Insecurity On Psychological And Physiological Responses In African American Women With Obesity (Responses): Protocol For A Longitudinal Observational Cohort Study, Candice A. Myers, Robbie A. Beyl, Daniel S. Hsia, Melissa N. Harris, Isabella J. Reed, Danielle D. Eliser, Lauren Bagneris, John W. Apolzan

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Food insecurity is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases, including obesity. Importantly, both food insecurity and obesity are more prevalent in African American women than in other groups. Furthermore, food insecurity is considered a cyclic phenomenon, with episodes of food adequacy (ie, enough food to eat) and food shortage (ie, not enough food to eat). More research is needed to better understand why food insecurity is linked to obesity, including acknowledging the episodic nature of food insecurity as a stressor and identifying underlying mechanisms. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the episodic nature of food …

Dietary Sugars And Ncds: Burden, Epidemiology, And Priority Interventions, Pascal Bovet, Nick Banatvala, Eric Ravussin, Leo Nederveen

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

A high dietary intake of free sugars, and particularly sugar-sweetened beverages, is an important cause of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. The WHO recommends that free sugars contribute < 10% of the total energy intake (< 30-40 g or < 120-160 calories per day for an adult, approximately) throughout the life course, and ideally < 5%. This chapter describes the definitions of sugars and sugar drinks, the sources of sugar in the diet, the physiologic characteristics of sugar in relation to health outcomes, as well as natural or artificial no-calorie sweeteners. Public health interventions to reduce dietary sugar intake in the whole population are presented, including education programmes, public procurement policies, front-of-pack labelling, measures to reduce the marketing of sugary drinks and foods, reformulation of sugar products to reduce their sugar content, the importance of a high excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages and monitoring.

Editorial: Stress-Induced Weight Changes, Hassan M. Heshmati, Livio Luzi, Frank L. Greenway, Candida J. Rebello

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Adipose Tissue Expansion In Obesity, Health, And Disease, Ursula White

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

White adipose tissue (WAT) expands under physiological conditions via an increase in adipocyte size (hypertrophy) and/or number (hyperplasia; adipogenesis), and the ability of WAT to expand to accommodate energy demands is a significant determinant of metabolic health status. Obesity is associated with impaired WAT expansion and remodeling, which results in the deposition of lipids to other non-adipose organs, leading to metabolic derangements. Although increased hyperplasia has been implicated as a cornerstone in promoting healthy WAT expansion, recent developments suggest that the role of adipogenesis as a contributing factor in the transition from impaired subcutaneous WAT expansion to impaired metabolic health …

Association Between Sleep, Sedentary Time, Physical Activity, And Adiposity In Adolescents: A Prospective Observational Study, Chelsea L. Kracht, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Catherine M. Champagne, Stephanie T. Broyles, Daniel S. Hsia, Robert L. Newton, Amanda E. Staiano

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Purpose This study aimed to examine the effects of substituting sedentary time with sleep or physical activity on adiposity in a longitudinal sample of adolescents. Methods Adolescents (10-16 yr) were recruited for a prospective observational cohort. Parents and adolescents reported demographic characteristics and pubertal development. Accelerometry was used to measure sleep, physical activity, and sedentary time. Adiposity was quantified with imaging techniques. Isotemporal substitution modeling was conducted to examine the effect of substituting 10 min of sedentary time with sleep or differing intensities of physical activity. Results were stratified by sex and race and adjusted for covariates. Results A total …

Obesity: A Disease Of Overnutrition, George A. Bray, Catherine M. Champagne

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Obesity is a serious worldwide problem that is increasing in prevalence. Obesity results from increased energy intake from food exceeding what is needed for daily energy expenditure over a considerable period of time. Obesity predicts the risk for many diseases, including diabetes, liver and gall bladder disease, infectious diseases such as SARSCov-19, and heart disease, among others. Treatments for obesity include diet, exercise, behavioral therapy, medications, and surgery.

The Vegetarian/Flexitarian Diet, Derek C. Miketinas, Catherine M. Champagne

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Vegetarian diets are gaining popularity in the United States, although only a small fraction of the adult population follows some version of a vegetarian diet. Plant-based diets are heterogeneous in practice. Well-planned vegetarian and flexitarian diets can be healthy and reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. Unstructured vegetarian diets can be deficient in some nutrients like protein, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.