Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP)...Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP) may be markedly prevalent. Researchers utilized a cross-sectional design to assess HTN prevalence and its risk factors among college students (N = 123). Self-administered surveys comprising four validated questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Shortened (REAPS), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q), and the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey (FSS) were employed. Additionally, physical measurements were conducted, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and BP. Results indicated that 71.6% of students had elevated BP, with 24.4% classified as Stage 1 HTN and 23.6% as Stage 2 HTN. Notably, 60% of students reported low adherence to the DASH diet and a mean REAPS score of 26.3 out of 39. Students experiencing marginal food security had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) 131.7 ± 16.8 mm Hg compared to those with high food security 123.03 ± 11.7 mm Hg (p = 0.028). Furthermore, REAPS scores showed a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = −0.201, p = 0.03). Significant predictors for SBP included WC (β = 0.40, p β = −0.33, p β = 0.16, p = 0.046). The findings highlight the need for BP screenings and nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits among college students, which may help reduce HTN and its associated long-term risks for CVD.展开更多
Agricultural drought,a prolonged disaster with widespread impacts,exerts tremendous pressure on farm household activities,agricultural production,and economic development.The western region of Jilin Province,China,loc...Agricultural drought,a prolonged disaster with widespread impacts,exerts tremendous pressure on farm household activities,agricultural production,and economic development.The western region of Jilin Province,China,located in a semi-arid zone,where persistents drought exacerbates ecological fragility.With a larger proportion of its population living in rural areas,the life and production activities of households are particularly susceptible to drought-related challenges.This study focuses on the western part of Jilin Province,utilizing remote sensing data to calculate the temperature vegetation dryness index(TVDI)as a soil moisture monitoring indicator for drought assessment.The livelihood vulnerability index(LVI)and the improved LVI-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)index are employed to comprehensively assess the livelihood vulnerability of communes in the region and the impact of drought conditions on farmers'livelihood vulnerability.The results reveal a spatial trend of increasing drought severity from northeast to southwest,with temporally minor fluctuations observed in drought levels from 2005 to 2022.Livelihood vulnerability results indicate significant spatial and temporal variations,with education,health,food,and water playing key roles.Correlation analysis indicates a strong relationship between TVDI and LVI,highlighting the detrimental impact of drought on farmers'livelihoods.The study aims to provide a scientific foundation for managing livelihood vulnerability in the western part of Jilin Province and similar arid areas.Additionally,it seeks to offer strategic recommendations for policymakers to mitigate the adverse effects of drought,thereby reducing farmers'vulnerability and fostering sustainable socio-economic development.展开更多
Fresh-cut lettuce is widely used in ready-to-eat salads sold in modified atmosphere packages (MAP).Even in MAP,fresh-cut lettuce has short shelf life that results in loss of nutrients.Lettuce cultivars exhibit genetic...Fresh-cut lettuce is widely used in ready-to-eat salads sold in modified atmosphere packages (MAP).Even in MAP,fresh-cut lettuce has short shelf life that results in loss of nutrients.Lettuce cultivars exhibit genetic variation for shelf life in MAP,but their variation for nutrient retention is not known.Fifty accessions were evaluated for initial content of ascorbic acid (AsA),carotenoids,and sugars and their retention in storage.Accessions with high content and/or good retention of one or more nutrients were identified.The romaine accession ‘Floricos’ had high levels of all the three nutrients.Accessions with relatively high retention of all the three nutrients were ‘Salinas 88’,‘Siskiyou’,‘Solar’,SM09A,‘Romance’,and ‘Green Towers’.Romaine cultivars,‘Balady Barrage’,‘Green Towers’,and ‘Darkland’ had relatively high initial levels of all tested nutrients and good rate of their retention.There was no clear correlation between initial AsA/carotene concentrations and their retention rates,suggesting that besides content,retention of nutrients should also be a breeding target in a lettuce nutritional improvement program.Statistical analyses with the Pearson's correlation coefficient determined a negative relationship between tissue deterioration(AUDePS) and retention of all tested nutrients[r of-0.52 (P<0.0001) for AsA,-0.27 (P<0.01) for total carotene,and-0.59 (P<0.0001) for total sugars],suggesting that an increase in tissue deterioration intensifies nutrient decay.Broad-sense heritability (H^(2)) across the experiments was0.15 for AsA,0.23 for total carotene,and 0.50 for total sugars.Identification of germplasm with high nutrient content,extended shelf life and good nutrient retention provides valuable information for the lettuce industry and associated breeding programs.展开更多
Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional...Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.展开更多
Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Prev...Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Previous studies have shown that urinary arsenic(UAs)concentration can reflect As exposure and metabolism in individuals.However,little is known about how other factors,such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status,may affect UAs concentrations in children.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the influence of factors such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status on UAs concentrations in children,in addition to the impact of drinking water arsenic(WAs)levels.Methods:We conducted our study on elementary school-going children aged 8-11 years from rural Araihazar in Bangladesh.We measured UAs(available for a subset of 391 children)and WAs levels and collected information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.We employed regression analysis and t-tests to analyze the data.Results:Our findings revealed that younger children(β=197.95,95%confidence interval[CI]:111.97 to 283.94),female children(β=93.95,95%CI:8.49 to 179.40),and children with less educated fathers(β=138.03,95%CI:26.47 to 249.58)had higher UAs levels,particularly when they consumed water with high As content.Conclusion:The study concludes that children's As exposure and UAs concentration may vary depending on their age,sex,and socioeconomic status.Therefore,these factors should be considered when assessing the health risks associated with As.展开更多
The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. Th...The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc on differences in dry matter digestibility in vitro for white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer (n = 2) were ethically harvested, rumens were collected, and placed into a cooler containing warm water. Rumen contents were agitated, and fluid was filtered using cheese cloth while applying CO2. Fluid was placed into four separate incubator jars with filter bags containing a 1:1 alfalfa to coastal hay blend. Zinc doses of 0.073 mg/kg/d equivalents were added to two of the jars ( Zn), and the additional two jars received 0.00 mg/kg/d (CON). Following 48 h of incubation, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) showed no significant differences between the control and the treatment groups. Average dry matter digested in vitro was 91.87% and 95.13%, respectively. There were no differences detected in ADF, NDF, IVTD, or OM between the treatment groups. While no detectable differences were observed in this study, this methodology did prove to be viable and functional for microbial digestion in vitro. This study can be replicated with multiple experimental units to confirm the observations of increased digestibility. Formal nutritional guidelines can be created to allow for more efficient feeding of cervids thereby reducing feed costs and continuing the growth of the captive deer industry.展开更多
文摘Early onset of hypertension (HTN) raises the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U.S. For university students who do not follow healthy diets or lifestyles, high blood pressure (BP) may be markedly prevalent. Researchers utilized a cross-sectional design to assess HTN prevalence and its risk factors among college students (N = 123). Self-administered surveys comprising four validated questionnaires: the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Shortened (REAPS), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Quality (DASH-Q), and the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey (FSS) were employed. Additionally, physical measurements were conducted, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and BP. Results indicated that 71.6% of students had elevated BP, with 24.4% classified as Stage 1 HTN and 23.6% as Stage 2 HTN. Notably, 60% of students reported low adherence to the DASH diet and a mean REAPS score of 26.3 out of 39. Students experiencing marginal food security had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) 131.7 ± 16.8 mm Hg compared to those with high food security 123.03 ± 11.7 mm Hg (p = 0.028). Furthermore, REAPS scores showed a negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = −0.201, p = 0.03). Significant predictors for SBP included WC (β = 0.40, p β = −0.33, p β = 0.16, p = 0.046). The findings highlight the need for BP screenings and nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits among college students, which may help reduce HTN and its associated long-term risks for CVD.
基金Under the auspices of Basic Construction Funds of Jilin Province in 2024 and 2023(No.2024C021-3,2023C030-1)Foundation of the Education Department of Jilin Province(No.JJKH20250317KJ)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42071223,42471223)。
文摘Agricultural drought,a prolonged disaster with widespread impacts,exerts tremendous pressure on farm household activities,agricultural production,and economic development.The western region of Jilin Province,China,located in a semi-arid zone,where persistents drought exacerbates ecological fragility.With a larger proportion of its population living in rural areas,the life and production activities of households are particularly susceptible to drought-related challenges.This study focuses on the western part of Jilin Province,utilizing remote sensing data to calculate the temperature vegetation dryness index(TVDI)as a soil moisture monitoring indicator for drought assessment.The livelihood vulnerability index(LVI)and the improved LVI-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)index are employed to comprehensively assess the livelihood vulnerability of communes in the region and the impact of drought conditions on farmers'livelihood vulnerability.The results reveal a spatial trend of increasing drought severity from northeast to southwest,with temporally minor fluctuations observed in drought levels from 2005 to 2022.Livelihood vulnerability results indicate significant spatial and temporal variations,with education,health,food,and water playing key roles.Correlation analysis indicates a strong relationship between TVDI and LVI,highlighting the detrimental impact of drought on farmers'livelihoods.The study aims to provide a scientific foundation for managing livelihood vulnerability in the western part of Jilin Province and similar arid areas.Additionally,it seeks to offer strategic recommendations for policymakers to mitigate the adverse effects of drought,thereby reducing farmers'vulnerability and fostering sustainable socio-economic development.
基金supported by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) through the California Department of Food and Agriculture (SCB15015)partly also by funding from the California Leafy Greens Research Board and by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participation Program。
文摘Fresh-cut lettuce is widely used in ready-to-eat salads sold in modified atmosphere packages (MAP).Even in MAP,fresh-cut lettuce has short shelf life that results in loss of nutrients.Lettuce cultivars exhibit genetic variation for shelf life in MAP,but their variation for nutrient retention is not known.Fifty accessions were evaluated for initial content of ascorbic acid (AsA),carotenoids,and sugars and their retention in storage.Accessions with high content and/or good retention of one or more nutrients were identified.The romaine accession ‘Floricos’ had high levels of all the three nutrients.Accessions with relatively high retention of all the three nutrients were ‘Salinas 88’,‘Siskiyou’,‘Solar’,SM09A,‘Romance’,and ‘Green Towers’.Romaine cultivars,‘Balady Barrage’,‘Green Towers’,and ‘Darkland’ had relatively high initial levels of all tested nutrients and good rate of their retention.There was no clear correlation between initial AsA/carotene concentrations and their retention rates,suggesting that besides content,retention of nutrients should also be a breeding target in a lettuce nutritional improvement program.Statistical analyses with the Pearson's correlation coefficient determined a negative relationship between tissue deterioration(AUDePS) and retention of all tested nutrients[r of-0.52 (P<0.0001) for AsA,-0.27 (P<0.01) for total carotene,and-0.59 (P<0.0001) for total sugars],suggesting that an increase in tissue deterioration intensifies nutrient decay.Broad-sense heritability (H^(2)) across the experiments was0.15 for AsA,0.23 for total carotene,and 0.50 for total sugars.Identification of germplasm with high nutrient content,extended shelf life and good nutrient retention provides valuable information for the lettuce industry and associated breeding programs.
文摘Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.
基金supported by National Institutes of Health(NIH)/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants P42 ES 10349,P30 ES 09089,R01ES032149by a training grant(5D43TW005724)from the NIH Fogarty International Center.
文摘Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Previous studies have shown that urinary arsenic(UAs)concentration can reflect As exposure and metabolism in individuals.However,little is known about how other factors,such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status,may affect UAs concentrations in children.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the influence of factors such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status on UAs concentrations in children,in addition to the impact of drinking water arsenic(WAs)levels.Methods:We conducted our study on elementary school-going children aged 8-11 years from rural Araihazar in Bangladesh.We measured UAs(available for a subset of 391 children)and WAs levels and collected information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.We employed regression analysis and t-tests to analyze the data.Results:Our findings revealed that younger children(β=197.95,95%confidence interval[CI]:111.97 to 283.94),female children(β=93.95,95%CI:8.49 to 179.40),and children with less educated fathers(β=138.03,95%CI:26.47 to 249.58)had higher UAs levels,particularly when they consumed water with high As content.Conclusion:The study concludes that children's As exposure and UAs concentration may vary depending on their age,sex,and socioeconomic status.Therefore,these factors should be considered when assessing the health risks associated with As.
文摘The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc on differences in dry matter digestibility in vitro for white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer (n = 2) were ethically harvested, rumens were collected, and placed into a cooler containing warm water. Rumen contents were agitated, and fluid was filtered using cheese cloth while applying CO2. Fluid was placed into four separate incubator jars with filter bags containing a 1:1 alfalfa to coastal hay blend. Zinc doses of 0.073 mg/kg/d equivalents were added to two of the jars ( Zn), and the additional two jars received 0.00 mg/kg/d (CON). Following 48 h of incubation, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) showed no significant differences between the control and the treatment groups. Average dry matter digested in vitro was 91.87% and 95.13%, respectively. There were no differences detected in ADF, NDF, IVTD, or OM between the treatment groups. While no detectable differences were observed in this study, this methodology did prove to be viable and functional for microbial digestion in vitro. This study can be replicated with multiple experimental units to confirm the observations of increased digestibility. Formal nutritional guidelines can be created to allow for more efficient feeding of cervids thereby reducing feed costs and continuing the growth of the captive deer industry.
