Digital Commons Network^™

Changement Climatique Et Adolescentes En Afrique De L’Ouest Et Du Centre : Vers Une Réponse Centrée Sur Les Filles, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

La série « L’avenir des filles en point de mire : données probantes d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre » examine les défis auxquels font face les adolescentes de la région et met en lumière des approches éclairées par les données probantes pour améliorer leurs conditions de vie. Cette note de recherche synthétise les données probantes sur la manière dont les chocs climatiques bouleversent la vie des adolescentes en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (AOC), en s’appuyant notamment sur les données issues des pays prioritaires du GIRL Center. Elle examine les vulnérabilités climatiques liées au genre, les lacunes des …

Climate Change And Adolescent Girls In West And Central Africa: Building A Girl-Intentional Response, Mame Soukeye Mbaye, Sarah Engebretsen, Maty Dia, Karen Austrian

Adolescents and Young People

The Girls’ Futures in Focus: Evidence from West and Central Africa series examines the challenges facing adolescent girls in the region and highlights evidence-informed approaches to improving their lives. This brief summarizes the evidence on how climate shocks reshape the lives of adolescent girls in West and Central Africa, drawing in particular on evidence from the GIRL Center’s priority countries. It examines gendered climate vulnerabilities, gaps in climate policies that overlook girls, and emerging adaptation strategies that hold promise for girls in the region. The brief points to what a girl-intentional climate response could look like across the priority countries.

The Rise Of Emergent Bilingual Students In Texas School Districts: A Longitudinal Analysis Of Outcomes, Resources, And Conditions, Ashley Ivy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined district-level changes associated with rapid growth in Emergent Bilingual (EB) enrollment across 53 Texas public school districts between the 2012-2013 and 2022-2023 academic years. Using a quantitative, nonexperimental, longitudinal descriptive-comparative design, secondary data from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) were analyzed to assess changes in district demographics, staffing patterns, bilingual/ESL expenditures, academic achievement, graduation rates, and college readiness outcomes. Paired-samples t-tests were conducted to determine statistically significant mean differences across the 10-year period. Findings revealed significant increases in EB enrollment, Hispanic enrollment, and economically disadvantaged enrollment, indicating that participating districts served increasingly diverse student populations with …

Dean's Research Newsletter, August 2026, Neil W. Schluger

SOM Dean's Research Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Nutrition Considerations In Youth With Type 2 Diabetes Using Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists: A Commentary, Maria E Diaz, Grace Kim, Mili Vakharia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Dupilumab Versus Placebo In Adults And Adolescents With Eosinophilic Gastritis (Degas): A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2, Multicentre, Randomised Controlled Trial, Nirmala P Gonsalves, Evan S Dellon, Kara L Kliewer, Tetsuo Shoda, Regina Yearout, Seema S Aceves, Nicoleta C Arva, John A Besse, Julie M Caldwell, Mirna Chehade, Amaziah Coleman, Margaret H Collins, Sara Anvari, Gary W Falk, Sandeep K Gupta, Girish Hiremath, David A Katzka, Paneez Khoury, John Leung, Calies Menard-Katcher, Paul Menard-Katcher, Kathryn A Peterson, Maria A Pletneva, Amanda K Rudman Spergel, Jonathan M Spergel, Tatyana Vaysman, Joshua B Wechsler, Benjamin L Wright, Guang-Yu Yang, Xue Zhang, Meijian Zhou, Ashish Bansal, Bram P Raphael, Amr Radwan, Jennifer Maloney, Antonio Martin, Yamo Deniz, Glenn T Furuta, Lisa J Martin, Marc E Rothenberg

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Eosinophilic gastritis currently has no approved treatments and is postulated to be driven by type 2 inflammation. Dupilumab blocks type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 and has efficacy in multiple diseases characterised by type 2 inflammation, including eosinophilic oesophagitis. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in patients with eosinophilic gastritis.

Methods: DEGAS was a proof-of-concept, phase 2, multicentre, randomised controlled trial consisting of a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled period, followed by a 24-week open-label extension period. Patients aged 12-70 years from 11 hospitals in the USA with histologically active eosinophilic gastritis (≥30 eosinophils per high-power field …

Colocalization Of Eqtls With Type 2 Diabetes And Glycemic Traits Using Whole-Genome Sequences In Diverse Populations From The Nhlbi Trans-Omics In Precision Medicine (Topmed) Program, Ningyuan Wang, Daniel A Dicorpo, Yixin Zhang, Erica Kleinbrink, Donna K Arnett, John Barnard, John Blangero, Donald W Bowden, April P Carson, Yii-Der Ida Chen, Mina K Chung, Joanne E Curran, Dawood Darbar, Ravindranath Duggirala, Patrick T Ellinor, Diane Fatkin, Myriam Fornage, Nancy Heard-Costa, Jiang He, Lifang Hou, Sharon L R Kardia, Charles Kooperberg, Ruth J F Loos, David D Mcmanus, Braxton D Mitchell, Ryan L Minster, Kari E North, Bruce M Psaty, Laura M Raffield, Susan Redline, Stephen S Rich, Dan Roden, Jerome I Rotter, Moore B Shoemaker, Jonathan D Smith, David R Van Wagoner, Francois Aguet, Kristin Ardlie, Joshua C Bis, Jennifer A Brody, Brian E Cade, Clary B Clish, Paul S De Vries, James S Floyd, Barry I Freedman, Stacey Gabriel, Robert E Gerzsten, Mark O Goodarzi, Charles Gu, Xiuqing Guo, Namrata Gupta, Susan R Heckbert, Sarah Hsu, Yi-Jen Hung, Rita R Kalyani, Tanika N Kelly, Gregory L Kinney, Changwei Li, Simin Liu, Yongmei Liu, Donald M Lloyd-Jones, Joann E Manson, Rasika A Mathias, Josep M Mercader, Alanna C Morrison, Take Naseri, Suna Onengut, Nicholette D Palmer, Patricia A Peyser, Qibin Qi, Sridharan Raghavan, Alex P Reiner, Mary R Rooney, Magdalena Sevilla-Gonzalez, Chloe Sarnowski, Joshua D Smith, Jennifer A Smith, Nicole L Spartano, Usman Tahir, Kent D Taylor, Deirdre K Tobias, Russel P Tracy, Satupa'itea Viali, Heming Wang, Alexis C Wood, Lisa R Yanek, Wei Zhao, Yinan Zheng, Josée Dupuis, Ching-Ti Liu, Robert Sladek, Jennifer Wessel, James B Meigs, Alisa K Manning, Nhlbi Trans-Omics For Precision Medicine (Topmed) Consortium

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Large-scale multiancestry genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of loci associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and glycemic traits, yet imputed genotyping arrays limit the detection of low-frequency and rare variants. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) offers a more complete view of genetic variation, especially across diverse populations. We analyzed high-coverage (38×) WGS data from 21,913 T2D case subjects, 61,036 control subjects, and up to 50,011 individuals with no diabetes with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and HbA1c from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine Program. We performed single-variant association testing, conditional analysis, fine-mapping, and Bayesian colocalization to …

Proteomic Signatures Of 3-Year Progression From Impaired Fasting Glucose To Diabetes: The Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (Aric) Study, Mary R Rooney, Justin B Echouffo Tcheugui, Jingsha Chen, Keenan A Walker, Christie M Ballantyne, Eric Boerwinkle, Tanika N Kelly, Chiadi E Ndumele, James S Pankow, Morgan E Grams, Wendy S Post, Peter J Ganz, Alexis C Wood, Jerome I Rotter, Elizabeth Selvin, Josef Coresh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: To identify proteomic signatures underlying 3-year progression from impaired fasting glucose (IFG) to diabetes.

Research design and methods: We examined IFG progression in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study from visit 2 (1990-1992) to visit 3 (1993-1995). We tested associations of 4,955 plasma proteins (SomaScan version 4.0) with ∼3-year progression from IFG (FG 100-125 mg/dL without diabetes) to diabetes (diagnosis, medication, or FG ≥126 mg/dL) using logistic regression models adjusted for demographics, cardiometabolic risk factors, and baseline glucose with Bonferroni correction (P < 10-5). We explored biological pathways enriched among the top proteins and calculated improvements in prediction (ΔAUC and net reclassification using 3-year risk thresholds of 6% and 15% in 80% training and 20% internal validation subsamples). We validated results in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort.

Results: There were 3,786 ARIC participants with IFG (mean [SD] age 57 [6] years, 52% female, …

Biochar-Derived Ethylene Scavengers For The Preservation Of Bananas, Morgan Samson

Theses

Ethylene regulates the rapid ripening of numerous climacteric fruits (e.g., banana, tomato, mango, and avocado). Minimization of ethylene formation and action in fruits during harvest or at any stage along the supply chain has become an important approach to prolong storage periods and minimize postharvest losses. Active packaging with ethylene scavengers has been proven to extend the shelf life of climacteric fruits; however, a cost-effective and sustainable solution is needed. Biochar-derived ethylene scavengers offer a promising approach to minimize postharvest losses, along with the valorization of abundant organic residues. This study produced and characterized biochars from two different feedstocks (i.e., …

Impact Of Prematurity On Nutrient Signaling And Protein Synthesis In Skeletal Muscle, Antonio C Ramos Dos Santos, Ki Beom Jang, Marta L Fiorotto, Teresa A Davis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Preterm birth disrupts nutrient-responsive signaling pathways critical for skeletal muscle growth and long-term metabolic health. Despite improvements in neonatal care, preterm infants often experience postnatal growth failure marked by impaired lean mass accretion. This review examines how prematurity intrinsically alters insulin and amino acid signaling to mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), a central regulator of translation initiation and protein synthesis. Evidence from translational models reveals blunted activation of mTORC1 and its downstream effectors, independent of birth weight or comorbidities. Defects in insulin-PDK1/mTORC2-Akt signaling and amino acid sensing, particularly leucine sensing, contribute to impaired mTORC1-dependent translation initiation and reduced …

The Effect Of Addition Of Formic Acid, With Or Without Formalin, On The Conservation Quality, Digestibility, Nutritive Value, And Nitrogen Balance Of Direct-Cut Silage, C Demarquilly, Elisabeth Grenet, J P. Dulphy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

From 34 standing crops of grasses or legumes, 93 direct-cut silages were prepared: 33 without additive, 37 with formic acid (3.5 or 5 1/t), 10 with formic acid and 1.5 1/t formalin, 15 with formic acid and 3.5 to 5 1/t formalin. The conservation quality of the silages was improved by the addition of formic acid and even further by the mixture of formic acid and formalin. Silage digestibility is similar to that of the corresponding green forage, but the addi­tion of formalin considerably reduces protein digestibility (by 2 to 8 points). The voluntary intake of silage is lower than …

The Effects Of Mixtures Of Formalin And Acid On Silage Fermentation, Robert F. Wilson, Roger J. Wilkins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Three experiments are described in which herbages were ensiled in test-tube silos without additive or after the addition of mixtures containing formalin with formic, sulphuric or phosphoric acid in order to restrict fermen­tation in the silo. Silages containing less than 5 % of the dry matter as fermentation acids and with low contents of ammonia were pro­duced with mixtures containing either 0.1 % of the fresh crop weight as formaldehyde with 10 meq of formic or sulphuric acid/ 100 g of crop or with 0.2 % of formaldehyde with 5 meq of either acid. Phosphoric acid was less effective than …

Effect Of Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum And Cobalt On Develop­ Ment, Yield And Hay Quality Of Lucerne, B Miskovic, P Eric, M Pantovic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of zinc, copper, molybdenum and cobalt exerted on the development, yield and quality of various cultivated plants is favourable in many ways. Our studies of their application in the nutrition of luceme in a pot experiment and field trials on chernozem soil were carried out to determine the effect of the above micro­elements on the yield, development and quality of lucerne hay, when applied togeµier with NPK fertilizers. The results of our experiments have shown that the application of these microelements, especially of zinc and copper, together with NPK fertilizers resulted in considerable increase of lucerne hay yields …

Influence Of Mineral Fertilization On The Quality Of Meadow Grasses, A Klesnil, F Turek

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of different rates of nitrogen fertili­zation combined with PK on the quality of 6 important meadow grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis, Holcus lanatus, Trisetum jla­vescens, Alopecurus pratensis, and Deschampsia caespitosa) was studied from 1973 to 1975. Complete NPK nutrition at rates of I 00 and 100 + 50 kg N/ha distinctly increased the di­gestible crude protein content in the tested grasses, especially in the first cut (in Dactylis glomerata by 44-56 %, in Poa pratensis by 54 %, and in Trisetum jlavescens by 35 %). Application of 50 kg N/ha after the first cut produced maximum increase of …

Experiments About The Nutrition Of Grassland Ecosystems With Respect To Different Times Of Npk Application, Eduard Halva, Josef Lesak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Experiments carried out during the years 1971 to 1973 have shown that a uniform system of the nutrition of grassland associations cannot be introduced into all production areas and all types of forage crops represented in Czechoslo­vakia. In relation to the complexity of the studied problems and to the diversity of soil and climatic conditions in the production areas, it is necessary to propose the adequate systems of nutrition after several series of experiments or to base them on empirical experience drawn from the studied production area. The testing of different times of application of identical nutrient rates (150 kg …

Problems Of Nitrogen Nutrition Of Medicago Sativa L. With Respect To Rhizobia, Eduard Halva, Josef Lesak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of increasing rates of nitrogen (80, 140, 200, 260, and 320 kg/ha) on the yields of above-ground biomass and nutrients in alfalfa was studied in 1974 and 1975. Applica­tion of nitrogen increased dry matter and crude protein production in relation to the unfertilized control, but the yield increase was statistically insignificant. Further it was shown that increasing rates of nitrogen had a negative effect on the number and weight of rhizobia. A close negative cor­relation of high significance ( estimated by the t-test) was found between the rates of nitrogen and the number of rhizobia. The experiments conducted …

Some Remarks Concerning The Theory Of Nutrition And Biology Of Grass Stands, A Korab

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The growth rate and yielding capacity of grasses, expressed as kg crude protein/ha per unit of time, are dependent upon the plants' capacity to take up and utilize nitrogen. This character is specific in individual grass species and has been found to be more or less heredi­tarily determined and relatively coincident in different sites. These assumptions and inter­relations have been utilized for determining the yield indices to express not only the rela­tive yielding capacity of major cultivated grasses but also their requirements in terms of effective nitrogen nutrition. The principle of determining effective doses of nitrogen using the index method …

The Intensification Of Grass Production Through Nitrogen Fertilization, And The Nitrate Problem, Klau Ebert, Henrich Koriath, Gunter Rinno

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two-year pot and five-year field tests with increasing nitrogen doses revealed an increase in the nitrate content of forage grasses. In the pot tests the content of 0.25 % N03-N in the dry matter, which is safe in animal nutrition, had by far been exceeded. In the field tests the· nitrate content increased more slowly for the average of the tests and did not reach this limit when giving 140 to 240 kg N/ha. In single cases this value had, however, already been reached when giving 100 kg N/ha. By selecting grass species with a lesser tendency to nitrate accumulation, …

Yield And Nutritive Value Of Forage Plants As Influenced By Stage Of Plant Development At Harvest, Khindrek Older, Ants Linnutaya, Yulo Oll

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Field experiments were conducted for the pur­pose of studying yield formation in six single­crop sown grass species and two clover/grass mixtures, as well as the. chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of the forage as in­fluenced by the stage of plant development at the time of harvest. Highest dry matter yields were obtained from two-cut use with harvesting in flower. Highest digestible dry matter levels were obtained from three-cut use in the stage of shooting. Highest protein levels were recorded in the context of four-cut use in the heading stage. Digestible nutrients were high in the tillering and shoot­ing stages. …

Forage-Animal Systems For Economic Calf Production, R E. Blaser, R C. Hammes Jr, J P. Fontenot, H T. Bryant

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nine forage-cow-calf systems with constant ,stocking but variable grazing pressures to pro­vide for changing nutritional needs of beef cows, and continuous high calf nutrition with creep grazing gave similar high weaning weights of autumn and winter calves for all-year grazing vs. hay feeding and for 2 stocking rates. The all-fescue systems lowered calf weights. Nine forage-cow-calf systems with constant ,stocking but variable grazing pressures to pro­vide for changing nutritional needs of beef cows, and continuous high calf nutrition with creep grazing gave similar high weaning weights of autumn and winter calves for all-year grazing vs. hay feeding and for 2 …

Forage And Feedstuff Analysis With Infrared Reflectance Spectro/Computer System1, J S. Shenk, K H. Norris, R F. Barnes, G W. Fissel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An infrared reflectance spectro/computer sys­tem (IRSCS) has been established at The Pennsylvania State University to evaluate the nutritional quality of forage and feedstuffs. Studies with alfalfa forage clearly show that the reflectance spectral curve of the forage is a composite curve consisting of various chemical constituents in the forage such as water, protein and cellulose. Chemical constituents are not measured directly by IRSCS but calibration prediction equations are developed from sam­ples with known chemical constituents and animal response data. After this is completed, forage samples can be analyzed for multiple chemical constituents and animal responses in less than 2 minutes. …

Evaluating Floral Species Richness As A Predictor For Pollinator Diversity Across Crp Sites, Alayna Whitson, Ai Wen, Kenneth Elgersma, Morgan Sullivan, Greyson Brandt, Grant Van Nieuwenhuyzen

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The Conservation Reservation Program (CRP) is the nation's largest management effort to preserve and protect fragile landscapes that have been eroded due to excessive agricultural practices.

A major consequence of vast agricultural usage includes an extreme decline in pollinators due to substantial habitat loss. In response to this crisis, a CRP incentive called CP- 42 was introduced to target habitat reconstruction through seed mixes that support these pollinators' nutritional needs. The seed mixes are made up of floral cocktails that provide an ongoing nutrient safety net from spring to fall to create a bloom cycle.

Opportunistic plants (unsown, invasive species) …

Development And Evaluation Of Electrospun Pva/Lemongrass Nanofibers As Potential Pest Control Applications, Manjula Ramamoorthy, Sheeja Rajiv, B. Hamsini

Sultan Qaboos University Journal For Science

The growing demand for safe and controlled application of medicines in biological field has led to the development of using synthetic polymers. Essential oils have been used as green insecticides due to their non-toxic and eco-friendly nature. In this study, a green alternative insecticide based on PVA polymeric nanofibers and lemongrass was successfully prepared using electrospinning technique and was characterised by SEM, FTIR, XRD and TGA measurements. The developed lemongrass loaded PVA mat exhibited strong insecticidal action directed at the test insect saw tooth beetle. These findings demonstrated that the prepared electrospun blend mat might provide a protective atmosphere around …

Phytochemical Analysis And Safety Assessment Of Watercress Nasturtium Officinale: Antioxidant Capacity, Heavy Metal Profiling, And Toxicity Using Brine Shrimp Model, Qurrota A’Yunin, Chamini Kasun Hemachandra, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko, Maftuch Maftuch, Rizky Fadilla Agustin Rangkuti, Cucun Herlina, Zulfa Mahdiatur Rasyida, Moh Dliyauddin

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Medicinal plants have attracted growing attention as sources of natural bioactive compounds for sustainable aquaculture and health. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, heavy metal profile, and acute toxicity of watercress (Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton) methanol extract using maceration, qualitative and quantitative (TPC, TFC, antioxidant DPPH) phytochemical assay, XRF, and BSLA. Phytochemical screening of plant extracts showed the existence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, triterpenoids, and saponins, but not steroidal. The TPC and TFC were 20.6 mg GAE/g and 10.8 mg QE/g, respectively. The extract displayed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 64.78 µg/mL in DPPH assay). …

Select Plasma Oxylipins As Potential Biomarkers Of Effective Indomethacin Treatment Response In Preterm Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus., Khanh C K Nguyen, Cindy H T Yeung, Allison Scott, Thomas J. Velenosi, Tamorah Lewis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

OBJECTIVES: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is one of the most common heart conditions in preterm infants, and indomethacin treatment is used for PDA closure. However, its efficacy varies among patients. This pilot study aimed to identify novel metabolic biomarkers to predict effective indomethacin response in infants with PDA.

METHODS: Preterm infants with PDA <  34 weeks gestational age were recruited and treated with indomethacin. Plasma and urine samples were collected before and 2-7 days after initial treatment. Longitudinal targeted oxylipin and untargeted metabolomics analysis were performed on plasma and urine samples.

RESULTS: Among 17 infants, 12 were responders and 5 non-responders to indomethacin treatment. Before the treatment, four plasma oxylipins: 12,13-DiHOME, 9,10-DiHOME, 15,16-DiHODE, and 9,10-DiHODE were significantly higher in responders compared to non-responders (P <  0.05). Following treatment, these oxylipins decreased in responders but remained stable in non-responders. Urinary 12,13-DiHOME showed an opposite trend, with lower baseline concentrations in the responders.

CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment plasma levels of four oxylipins were associated with effective PDA response to …

Ethnographic Insights Into Community-Based Circular Economy: The Case Of Waste Banks In Semarang, Rahoyo Rahoyo, Teti Susilowati, Sri Purwantini, Darto Sachius, Wilson M. A. Therik

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

The linear economy model has led to severe environmental degradation, prompting a shift toward the circular economy (CE) framework to promote sustainability. However, CE literature often overlooks grassroots, community-based initiatives in urban contexts, particularly in the Global South. This study addresses that gap by examining waste banks in Semarang, Indonesia, highlighting the critical importance of these grassroots initiatives within the broader discourse of community engagement. Using an ethnographic approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews, field observations, and open-ended survey responses across multiple community waste banks. The findings reveal the complex interdependence of four key actors—waste banks, itinerant collectors, scavengers, …

Human Capital, Regional Development, And Maqasid Sharia: An Input-Output Analysis Of Government Spending And Private Investment In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Adibah Seila, Nurkholis Nurkholis Mr.

International Journal of Islamic Economics and Business Sustainability

Purpose – This study examines the sectoral linkages and multiplier effects of local government expenditure and private investment in education, health, and information and communication technology (ICT) – sectors central to human capital formation – in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Indonesia, and interprets the findings through a Maqasid Sharia lens.

Design/methodology/approach – The 2016 input-output table for DIY (17 sectors) was updated to 2020–2029 using the RAS method. Backward and forward linkages and output, gross value added (GVA), income, and labor multipliers were estimated for all sectors. Four shock simulations (ICT, education, health, and a combined shock) were …

Role Of Ngos In Financial Inclusion, Basic Health Awareness, And Climate Change Resilience Towards Sdgs: Bangladesh Perspective, Md. Mamunar Rashid, Mohammad Main Uddin, Md. Asaduzzaman Babu, Md. Javed Kayser

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Economics and Administration

Objectives: This study focuses on what connections, if any, NGOs have made with financial inclusion, basic health awareness, and climate change resilience over time in Bangladesh. What are the contributions of NGOs to the design, implementation, and attainment of financial inclusion, basic health awareness, and climate change resilience? In what manner does this contribution correspond with the achievement of the SDGs?
Materials and Methods: This study used self-administered, structured, and closed-ended questionnaires. Three sections comprise the survey questionnaires: Financial Inclusion (FI), Basic Health Awareness (BHA), and Climate Change Resilience (CCR). This study reached out to 406 respondents, all of whom …

Estimated Prebiotic Intake And Depression In Us Adults: Repeated Cross-Sectional Analyses Of Nhanes 2015–2018 And 2021–2023, Cassandra Boyd, John Gieng

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Prebiotics are selectively utilised dietary substrates that may influence depression through gut microbiota-related pathways, but population-level estimates of intake and associations with depression are limited. This repeated cross-sectional study estimated intake of International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP)-recognised prebiotics and examined associations with depression among US adults using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2018 and NHANES August 2021–August 2023, analysed as independent survey periods. Estimated intakes of galactooligosaccharides and inulin-type fructans were assigned to foods using published source-food values, Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies food codes, and ingredient-level information for mixed dishes. Depression was …

Training Needs And Preferences Of Small-Scale Farmers In Maryland, Lila B. Karki, Prem Bhandari, Enrique N Escobar

Journal of Extension

This study examined small-scale farmers' (N = 124) current needs, emerging priorities, and training preferences from a Farmers' Needs Assessment in Agriculture. They reported marketing agricultural products as the most important activity for building capacity, followed by certification for good agricultural practices; low-volume, high-value crops; agribusiness and enterprise development; specialty and ethnic vegetable production; and developing value-added products. The most preferred educational materials were hands-on exercises and digital learning videos. They preferred weekend programs over weekdays (afternoon, evening, and virtual) and shorter sessions over daylong sessions to benefit most from the educational events.