Life Sciences Commons^™

The Argument About Healthy Keto Supplements, Margaretta C. Borum

Margaretta C. Borum

Socio-Ecological Barriers To Dry Grain Pulse Consumption Among Low-Income Women: A Mixed Methods Approach, Shelly M. Palmer, Donna M. Winham, Ann M. Oberhauser, Ruth E. Litchfield

Ann Oberhauser

The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-ecological influences on dry grain pulse consumption (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas) among low-socioeconomic women in Iowa. Seven focus groups were conducted, with 36 women who qualified for income-based federal assistance. Data were collected from October 2017 to January 2018. Participants completed a survey that gathered individual demographics, assessed perceptions of dry grain pulses, and level of food security. Fifty-eight percent of the women were non-Hispanic white, and 39% were African American, all with an average age of 34.7 years. Thirty-three percent of the women consumed pulses less than once per week. …

Structure Of Clostridium Difficile Pilj Exhibits Unprecedented Divergence From Known Type Iv Pilins, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Grace A. Maldarelli, Claudia F. Martinez De La Pena, George L. Mulvey, Greg A. Snyder, Leon De Masi, Erik C. Von Rosenvinge, Sebastian Gunther, Glen D. Armstrong, Michael S. Donnenberg, Eric J. Sundberg

Kurt Piepenbrink

Type IV pili are produced by many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria and are important for processes as diverse as twitching motility, cellular adhesion, and colonization. Recently, there has been an increased appreciation of the ability of Gram-positive species, including Clostridium difficile, to produce Type IV pili. Here we report the first three-dimensional structure of a Grampositive Type IV pilin, PilJ, demonstrate its incorporation into Type IV pili, and offer insights into how the Type IV pili of C. difficile may assemble and function. PilJ has several unique structural features, including a dual-pilin fold and the incorporation of a structural zinc …

Whole Egg Consumption Impairs Insulin Sensitivity In Rat Model Of Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes, Cassondra J. Saande, Megan A. Steffes, Joseph L. Webb, Rudy J. Valentine, Matthew J. Rowling, Kevin Schalinske

Rudy Valentine

Background: The literature regarding the relation between egg consumption and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is inconsistent and there is limited evidence pertaining to the impact of egg consumption on measures of insulin sensitivity. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary whole egg on metabolic biomarkers of insulin resistance in T2D rats. Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/cdn/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/cdn/nzz015/5374517 by Iowa State University user on 28 March 2019 Methods: Male Zucker diabetic fatty rats (n=12; 6 wk of age) and their lean controls (n=12; 6 wk of age) were randomly assigned to a casein- or whole egg-based diet. At …

Calibrating A Food Thermometer, Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head

Lorna Saboe-Wounded Head

Using a properly calibrated thermometer is essential to ensure that foods are cooked to the correct temperature, chilled rapidly, or held at proper temperatures after cooking. A thermometer should be calibrated before the first use, after an extreme temperature change (such as going from hot food to frozen food), if the thermometer is dropped, or if it is used many times. Clean thermometers after each use by washing in hot soapy water, rinsing, sanitizing, and air drying.

Eating Ursula, Brad Weiss

Brad Weiss

This paper examines issues surrounding the values of farmers, consumers, chefs, and other food activists who are working to expand the production and consumption of pastured pork in central North Carolina (a region known as the Piedmont). What I try to demonstrate in this paper are the ways that an ‘‘ethics of care’’ (Heath and Meneley 2010) is often articulated in terms of the cultural categories of ‘‘connection’’ and ‘‘authenticity.’’ These consciously expressed categories are shown to undergird a range of commitments, from concerns about animal welfare, to support for ‘‘local’’ economies, to parental care for children. My discussion considers …

The Subject Librarian Newsletter, Biology, Spring 2017, Sandy Avila

Sandy Avila

No abstract provided.

Ethyleneproduction As An Indicator Of Stress Conditions In Hydroponically-Grown Strawberries, Justin D. Hogan, Elizabeth E. Murray, Marcia Harrison-Pitaniello Phd

Marcia Harrison-Pitaniello

As a soilless system, hydroponics eliminates competing weeds and soil-born pests while conserving water and providing conditions that can be quickly altered to suit specific crops. However, stress-induced physiological conditions may arise within the system from factors such as mechanical injury, pests, or inconsistent nutrient flow rates that result in some plants receiving too much or too little water. Most abiotic stress conditions result in increased production of the plant hormone ethylene. High levels of ethylene inhibit growth, cause premature ripening, and induce the onset of senescence, potentially reducing the productivity of hydroponically-grown crops. In this study, we demonstrate that …

Production Of Barbari Bread (Traditional Iranian Bread) Using Different Levels Of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (Ddgs) And Sodium Stearoyl Lactate (Ssl), Shirin Pourafshar, Kurt Rosentrater, Padmanaban Krishnan

Padmanaban Krishnan

Influence Of Processing Conditions On Apparent Viscosity And System Parameters During Extrusion Of Distiller’S Dried Grains-Based Snacks, Poonam Singha, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Padmanaban Krishnan

POONAM SINGHA

Influence Of Processing Conditions On Apparent Viscosity And System Parameters During Extrusion Of Distiller’S Dried Grains-Based Snacks, Poonam Singha, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Padmanaban Krishnan

Padmanaban Krishnan

Brett Taubman.Jpg

Dr. Brett Taubman

No abstract provided.

Brett Taubman In Lab.Jpg, Brett Taubman

Dr. Brett Taubman

No abstract provided.

Physicochemical And Nutritional Properties Of Extrudates From Food Grade Distiller’S Dried Grains, Garbanzo Flour, And Corn Grits, Poonam Singha, Sushil Kumar Singh, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, Padmanaban G. Krishnan

Sushil Singh

Vitamin D Status And Demographic And Lifestyle Determinants Among Adults In The United States (Nhanes 2001-2006), Yan Cao, Katie L. Callahan, Sreenivas P. Veeranki, Yang Chen, Ying Liu, Shimin Zheng

Shimin Zheng

This study looked at risk factors associated with vitamin D levels in the body among a representative sample of adults in the U.S., NHANES III (2001-2006) data were used to assess the relationship between several demographic and health risk factors and vitamin D levels in the body. The Baseline-Category Logit Model was used to test the association between vitamin D level and the potential risk factors age, education, ethnicity, poverty status, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, obesity, diabetes and total cholesterol with both genders. Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were significantly associated with age, race, education, physical activity, obesity, diabetes and …

Exploring The Connection Between Community Food Security Initiatives And Social-Cognitive Factors On Dietary Intake, Diana Cuy Castellanos, Josh Keller, Emma Majchrzak

Diana Cuy Castellanos

Food insecurity and poor dietary consumption continue to impact low-income populations in the U.S. However, communities are developing ways to address it at the local level. Community Food Security Initiatives (CFSI) focus on increasing a sustainable, healthy food supply and food system while addressing food insecurity and dietary quality within a community.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: (1) explore CFSIs in low-income areas in a metropolitan Midwest city and (2) examine the effects of the initiatives along with other social-cognitive factors on fruit and vegetable consumption in persons participating in local CFSIs.

This was a mixed-methods study. First, …

Exponential Growth, Animal Welfare, Environmental And Food Safety Impact: The Case Of China’S Livestock Production, Peter J. Li

Peter J. Li, PhD

Developmental states are criticized for rapid “industrialization without enlightenment.” In the last 30 years, China’s breathtaking growth has been achieved at a high environmental and food safety cost. This article, utilizing a recent survey of China’s livestock industry, illustrates the initiating role of China’s developmental state in the exponential expansion of the country’s livestock production. The enthusiastic response of the livestock industry to the many state policy incentives has made China the world’s biggest animal farming nation. Shortage of meat and dairy supply is history. Yet, the Chinese government is facing new challenges of no less a threat to political …

A Three-Year Level Study Of The Profitability Of Corn And Soybean Production, Todd D. Davis, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Crop producers face many decisions each year about the quantity and quality of inputs to use, the purchasing of these inputs, and the timing of production operations. Because their time for gathering and analyzing information on which to base management decisions is limited, they need to know which decision, areas have the greatest impact on profitability. A set of detailed and accurate records of production, costs, and returns from a group of producers growing corn and soybeans in Iowa over a three-year period was.available from Iowa State University Extension. This information was used to assess the relative importance of various …

A Three-Year Level Study Of The Profitability Of Corn And Soybean Production, Todd D. Davis, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Crop producers face many decisions each year about the quantity and quality of inputs to use, the purchasing of these inputs, and the timing of production operations. Because their time for gathering and analyzing information on which to base management decisions is limited, they need to know which decision, areas have the greatest impact on profitability. A set of detailed and accurate records of production, costs, and returns from a group of producers growing corn and soybeans in Iowa over a three-year period was.available from Iowa State University Extension. This information was used to assess the relative importance of various …

A Three-Year Level Study Of The Profitability Of Corn And Soybean Production, Todd D. Davis, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Crop producers face many decisions each year about the quantity and quality of inputs to use, the purchasing of these inputs, and the timing of production operations. Because their time for gathering and analyzing information on which to base management decisions is limited, they need to know which decision, areas have the greatest impact on profitability. A set of detailed and accurate records of production, costs, and returns from a group of producers growing corn and soybeans in Iowa over a three-year period was.available from Iowa State University Extension. This information was used to assess the relative importance of various …

A Three-Year Level Study Of The Profitability Of Corn And Soybean Production, Todd D. Davis, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Crop producers face many decisions each year about the quantity and quality of inputs to use, the purchasing of these inputs, and the timing of production operations. Because their time for gathering and analyzing information on which to base management decisions is limited, they need to know which decision, areas have the greatest impact on profitability. A set of detailed and accurate records of production, costs, and returns from a group of producers growing corn and soybeans in Iowa over a three-year period was.available from Iowa State University Extension. This information was used to assess the relative importance of various …

A Three-Year Level Study Of The Profitability Of Corn And Soybean Production, Todd D. Davis, William M. Edwards

William Edwards

Crop producers face many decisions each year about the quantity and quality of inputs to use, the purchasing of these inputs, and the timing of production operations. Because their time for gathering and analyzing information on which to base management decisions is limited, they need to know which decision, areas have the greatest impact on profitability. A set of detailed and accurate records of production, costs, and returns from a group of producers growing corn and soybeans in Iowa over a three-year period was.available from Iowa State University Extension. This information was used to assess the relative importance of various …

Panel Ii: Consumer Level - Overview, Eugenie L. Birch

Eugenie L. Birch

No abstract provided.

A Critical Review Of Electrical Water-Bath Stun Systems For Poultry Slaughter And Recent Developments In Alternative Technologies, Sara J. Shields, A. B. M. Raj

Sara Shields, PhD

Prior to slaughter, most farmed birds move through a constant-voltage, multiple- bird, electrical water-bath stun system. Using this system subjects live birds to stressful and painful shackling, and the potential exists for them to receive prestun electric shocks and induction of seizures while still conscious. The existing elec- trical water-bath stunner settings, particularly those used in U.S. slaughter plants, are not necessarily based on sound scientific data that they produce a consistent, immediate stun, and research indicates that they are not effective in all birds. Further, in multiple-bird, electrical water-bath systems, birds may miss the stunner completely. Evidence suggests that …

A Comparison Of The Welfare Of Hens In Battery Cages And Alternative Systems, Sara Shields, Ian J.H. Duncan

Sara Shields, PhD

Housing systems for egg-laying hens range from small, pasture-based flocks to large, commercial-scale operations that intensively confine tens of thousands of hens indoors. The overwhelming majority of laying hens used for commercial egg production in the United States are confined in battery cages and provided 432.3 cm2 (67 in2) of space per bird. Cages prevent hens from performing the bulk of their natural behavior, including nesting, perching, dustbathing, scratching, foraging, exercising, running, jumping, flying, stretching, wingflapping, and freely walking. Cages also lead to severe disuse osteoporosis due to lack of exercise. Alternative, cage-free systems allow hens to move freely through …

Vegetarianism And Virtue: Does Consequentialism Demand Too Little?, Nathan Nobis

Nathan M. Nobis, PhD

The article discusses the moral aspects of vegetarianism. This will make vegetarians more compassionate and caring for animals and will result in better health and less finances. The virtue theory or the vegetarian justifying principle connotes that one should not support even symbolically bad practices to animals when good alternatives are readily available. Becoming a vegetarian is a way of attesting to the depth and sincerity of one's belief in the wrongness of how we treat animals and its consequence to humans. Consequentialism does not demand too little because it requires that one conforms his behavior to the vegetarian justifying …

Improved Growth Of Lactobacillus Bulgaricus And Streptococcus Thermophilus As Well As Increased Antioxidant Activity By Biotransforming Litchi Pericarp Polysaccharide With Aspergillus Awamori, Sen Lin, Lingrong Wen, Bao Yang, Guoxiang Jiang, John Shi, Feng Chen, Yueming Jiang

Feng Chen

This study was conducted to increase the bioactivity of litchi pericarp polysaccharides (LPPs) biotransformed by Aspergillus awamori. Compared to the non-A. awamori-fermented LPP, the growth effects of A. awamori-fermented LPP on Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus were four and two times higher after 3 days of fermentation, respectively. Increased 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and DNA protection activity of litchi pericarp polysaccharides were also achieved after A. awamori fermentation. Moreover, the relative content of glucose and arabinose in LPP after fermentation decreased from 58.82% to 22.60% and from 18.82% to 10.09%, respectively, with a concomitant increase in the relative contents of …

Two Novel Approaches Used To Produce Biodiesel From Low-Cost Feedstocks, Xiaohu Fan, Xi Wang, Feng Chen

Feng Chen

The price of feedstock is one of the most significant factors affecting the economic viability of biodiesel manufacturer. Many approaches were investigated to reduce the biodiesel production cost. The present work gave a preliminary study of two approaches to economically produce biodiesel from waste cooking oil (WCO) and flaked cottonseed. One was the use of ultrasound-assisted synthesis of biodiesel from WCO. The other was the application of in situ transesterification from flaked cottonseed. Gas chromatography (GC) and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results demonstrated the feasibility of using both approaches to produce biodiesel from low-cost feedstock.

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis Of Biodiesel From Crude Cottonseed Oil Using Response Surface Methodology, Xiaohu Fan, Feng Chen, Xi Wang

Feng Chen

Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to optimize the three important reaction variables-methanol/oil molar ratio (M), NaOH catalyst concentration (C) and reaction time (T) for transesterification of crude cottonseed oil under ultrasonic irradiation. A quadratic polynomial model was obtained to predict the methyl ester yield. 98 wt% of the methyl ester yield could be reached at the deduced optimal conditions: methanol/oil molar raito of 6.2:1, NaOH catalyst concentration of 1 wt% (by the weight of crude cottonseed oil) and reaction time of 8 min. Validation experiments confirmed …

Anticancer Activity Of Branched-Chain Derivatives Of Oleic Acid, Oliver Daily, Xi Wang, Feng Chen, Guohui Huang

Feng Chen

Background: A number of unsaturated fatty acids and a few saturated branched-chain fatty acids have been reported to exhibit anticancer activity. Materials and Methods: In previously reported research, several novel branched-chain derivatives (methyl, n-butyl, phenyl) of methyl oleate were produced by bromination in the allylic position and subsequent treatment with organocuprate reagents. These compounds and their free acid counterparts were tested in vitro for their antiproliferative activities against two cancer cell lines: MCF-7 (human breast) and HT-29 (human colon). In addition, two sets of isomeric tertiary alcohols obtained as side-products in the synthesis of the branched-chain derivatives were evaluated. Testing …