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Raspberries contain flavonoid antioxidants whose relative concentrations may vary between the juice, pulp, and seed fractions. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), total anthocyanin content, and berry color were determined for six cultivars of primocane raspberries grown in a dry climate (Utah, USA). Significant ORAC differences were found between juice (18.4 ± 0.39 μmol TE/g), pulp (24.45 ± 0.43), and seeds (273.27 ± 11.15) with all Utah cultivars combined. A significantly higher concentration of anthocyanins was present in Utah raspberry juice (20.86 ± 0.35 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside eq./100 g), compared to pulp (13.96 ± 0.35). Anthocyanin content of juice and pulp were significantly positively correlated with dark color (L*). This is the first report of fractional differences in dry climate raspberries, and has implications for the juice and supplement industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Air bubbles had been shown to remove particles and bacteria from surfaces, but they had not yet been studied regarding the removal of mature biofilm from a surface. METHODS: Streptococcus mutans were grown as a biofilm on glass coverslips and were exposed to a fluid stream with or without bubbles. Three parameters (stream velocity, gas fraction, and bubble size) were varied in the bubble stream to determine which conditions best remove the biofilm. RESULTS: At low velocities bubbles enhance biofilm removal compared with the liquid alone. Stream conditions that were shown to be the most effective in removing biofilm were large bubbles at low gas fractions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that flowing bubble streams may be a desirable feature to incorporate into oral hygiene products to remove accumulated biofilms such as dental plaque. Copyright (c) Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated whether Latter-day Saints have more favorable perceptions and practices of food and water emergency preparedness than other households. Individuals across 46 states in the USA completed an online survey in 2014 (n = 572). Results indicated that Latter-day Saints, compared to Non-Latter-day Saints, were more likely to have a disaster supplies kit, to have long-term food storage, to have preserved food by canning/bottling, and to perceive neighborhood/community connectedness. Latter-day Saints had significantly lower odds of having less than one month of food storage available compared to Non-Latter-day Saints. Our findings suggest Latter-day Saints may be better prepared to handle a disaster than Non-Latter-day Saints., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

To evaluate if experiencing a short-term exposure (18-months) to factors such as menstrual irregularities, dieting, changes in exercise or body weight, and medication usage is associated with bone mineral density (BMD) in college-aged females. A retrospective survey assessing health behaviors during a recent 18-month time period and a DXA scan were completed in 641 females. A total of 45.5% of participants reported amenorrhea during the 18-month time period. Those who experienced amenorrhea had lower femoral neck BMD ( p = 0.018), trochanter ( p = 0.018) and spine BMD ( p = 0.022) compared to eumenorrheic women. Lifetime oral contraceptive usage longer than six months was negatively associated with BMD at femoral neck ( p = 0.018) and total hip ( p = 0.021). Women who lost weight trended towards having the lowest BMD at all sites compared to women who gained weight. Following a very-low calorie diet during the time period was negatively correlated with spine BMD ( p = 0.001). Time spent in vigorous and very vigorous activity was weakly correlated with some hip BMD sites but time spent in extremely vigorous activity was not. In conclusion, females who experienced weight loss, amenorrhea, or a very low-calorie diet within an 18-month period of time in young adulthood had lower BMD. Additionally, oral contraceptive usage for longer than six months during their lifetime was associated with lower BMD.

Objective: To evaluate food and water storage practices in the United States, including the extent that government emergency preparedness guidelines were followed., Methods: Qualtrics panelists (n = 572) completed a 142-item online survey in August 2014. Cognitive interviews (n = 5) and pilot data (n = 14) informed survey development. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Open-ended responses related to water storage preparation were classified into 5 categories., Results: Many respondents reported being somewhat or well prepared to provide food and water for their households during a large-scale disaster or emergency. Only 53% met Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines to have water last at least 3 days. Based on respondents' self-report, it appeared that those who prepared personally-filled containers for water did not carefully follow FEMA instructions. Most respondents had non-perishable foods available, with 96% meeting the FEMA guidelines of at least 3 days of storage., Conclusion: Households were generally prepared to provide food and, to a lesser extent, water in emergency situations, but were not consistently following FEMA guidelines. Additional easy-to-follow, evidence-based information may better help citizens accurately implement food and water storage emergency preparedness guidelines.

This study retrospectively compared the prevalence of factors related to the female athlete triad (low energy availability, secondary amenorrhea (SA), low bone mineral density (BMD)), and post-study BMD of female college students and female international volunteer missionaries (volunteers). Female college students (21-26 years) completed a survey that retrospectively assessed an 18-month study period (volunteer service or first 18 months of college); Diet History Questionnaire III (DHQ III) and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan were optional. One-way ANOVAs and chi-squared distributions assessed group differences. Logistic regression assessed covariates of SA and BMD; corresponding odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.001. 3683 participants (58.8% volunteers, 31.5% non-volunteers, 9.8% others) provided complete survey data; 246 completed the DHQ III, and 640 had a post-study DXA scan. Volunteers had higher metabolic equivalent (MET) hours than non-volunteers and others ( p < 0.001), and higher prevalence of food insecurity ( p < 0.001) and SA ( p < 0.001). Volunteers had higher odds of SA (OR = 2.17, CI = 1.75-2.62) than non-volunteers. Weight loss, body satisfaction, "other" weight loss methods, increased MET hours, and vomiting during the study period increased participants' odds of SA. Participants' average BMD Z-scores were within the expected range at all sites, with no significant group differences. Volunteers' higher MET hours and higher prevalence of food insecurity and SA did not result in significantly lower post-study period BMD.

Background: Previous research has suggested many households are meeting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's 3-day emergency food and water storage recommendations. The impact of limited economic household resources on emergency preparedness practices related to food and water is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare emergency preparedness practices in households participating in United States' food assistance programs with households not participating in these programs., Methods: A convenience sample of adults ( n = 572) completed an online Qualtrics survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square statistics, and independent t -tests were used to measure differences between households participating in food assistance programs vs. non-participating households., Results: Most households participating in food assistance programs felt prepared to provide household members with food and water during an emergency, which did not significantly differ from non-participating households. Households using food assistance programs had less accessible cash but had similar foods on-hand for an emergency compared to non-participating households. However, they more frequently reported having baby formula/food and less frequently reported having vitamin/mineral supplements compared to non-participating households., Conclusions: Food assistance programs may be effective in providing enough food and water to help low-income families be prepared for an emergency.

This study utilized resonant frequency vibration to the upper body to determine changes in pain, stiffness and isometric strength of the biceps brachii after eccentric damage. Thirty-one participants without recent resistance training were randomized into three groups: a Control (C) group and two eccentric exercise groups (No vibration (NV) and Vibration (V)). After muscle damage, participants in the V group received upper body vibration (UBV) therapy for 5 min on days 1-4. All participants completed a visual analog scale (VAS), maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and shear wave elastography (SWE) of the bicep at baseline (pre-exercise), 24 h, 48 h, and 1-week post exercise. There was a significant difference between V and NV at 24 h for VAS ( p = 0.0051), at 24 h and 1-week for MVIC ( p = 0.0017 and p = 0.0016, respectively). There was a significant decrease in SWE for the V group from 24-48 h ( p = 0.0003), while there was no significant change in the NV group ( p = 0.9341). The use of UBV resonant vibration decreased MVIC decrement and reduced VAS pain ratings at 24 h post eccentric damage. SWE was strongly negatively correlated with MVIC and may function as a predictor of intrinsic muscle state in the time course of recovery of the biceps brachii.

Osteoarthritis (OA), formerly understood to be a result of passive wear, is now known to be associated with chronic inflammation. Cigarette smoking promotes systemic inflammation and has been implicated in increased joint OA incidence in some studies, though the recent observational data on the association are contradictory. We hypothesize that second-hand smoke (SHS) treatment will increase the incidence of OA in a mouse model that has been subjected to a surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). To test this hypothesis, we applied either SHS treatment or room air (RA) to mice for 28 days post-DMM surgery. Histopathology findings indicated that the knees of SHS mice exhibited more severe OA than their control counterparts. Increased expression of matrix metalloprotease-13 (MMP-13), an important extracellular protease known to degrade articular cartilage, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), an intracellular effector of inflammatory pathways, were observed in the SHS group. These findings provide greater understanding and evidence for a detrimental role of cigarette smoke on OA progression and systemic inflammation.

Paenibacillus larvae is the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), the most destructive bacterial infection in honeybees. Even antibiotic-sensitive strains of P. larvae can produce recurrent AFB months to weeks post-antibiotic treatment due to the survival of bacterial spores. Recently, phages that infect P. larvae have been shown to effectively combat AFB in the field. Here, we present evidence that phages not only bind to vegetative P. larvae but also bind to P. larvae spores. Spore binding was observed in the results of three specific experiments: (1) bacteria counted by flow cytometry generated quantitative data of FITC-labeled phages that were bound to vegetative bacteria as well as those bound to spores, (2) electron microscopy captured images of phages bound to the surface of spores in both horizontal and vertical positions, and (3) phages incubated with P. larvae spores bound to the spores and created plaques in vegetative bacteria under conditions not conducive to spore activation, indicating that binding to spores is reversible and that the phages are still active. Identification of phages with reversible spore-binding capability for use in phage therapy may improve treatment of sporulating bacterial infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Brady, Roll, Walker, Fajardo, Breakwell, Eggett and Hope.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammatory degradation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Wogonin, a compound extracted from the plant Scutellaria baicalensis (colloquially known as skullcap), has previously been shown to have direct anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. We examined the pain-reducing, anti-inflammatory, and chondroprotective effects of wogonin when applied as a topical cream. We validated the efficacy of delivering wogonin transdermally in a cream using pig ear skin in a Franz diffusion system. Using a surgical mouse model, we examined the severity and progression of OA with and without the topical application of wogonin. Using a running wheel to track activity, we found that mice with wogonin treatment were statistically more active than mice receiving vehicle treatment. OA progression was analyzed using modified Mankin and OARSI scoring and direct quantification of cyst-like lesions at the chondro-osseus junction; in each instance we observed a statistically significant attenuation of OA severity among mice treated with wogonin compared to the vehicle treatment. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in protein expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), high temperature receptor A1 (HTRA1), matrix metalloprotease 13 (MMP-13) and NF-κB in wogonin-treated mice, further bolstering the cartilage morphology assessments in the form of a decrease in inflammatory and OA biomarkers., (Copyright © 2020 Smith, Starr, Goodman, Hanson, Palmer, Woolstenhulme, Weyand, Marchant, Bueckers, Nelson, Sterling, Rose, Porter, Eggett and Kooyman.)

Background and Purpose: The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends breast cancer risk-screening tools to help primary care providers determine which unaffected patients to refer to genetic specialists. The USPSTF does not recommend one tool above others. The purpose of this study was to compare tool performance in identifying women at risk for breast cancer., Methods: Pedigrees of 85 women aged 40-74 years with first-degree female relative with breast cancer were evaluated using five tools: Family History Screen-7 (FHS-7), Pedigree Assessment Tool, Manchester Scoring System, Referral Screening Tool, and Ontario Family History Assessment Tool (Ontario-FHAT). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated to describe each tool's ability to identify women with elevated risk as defined by Claus Model calculations (lifetime risk ≥15%). Receiver operating curves were plotted. Differences between areas under the curve were estimated and compared through logistic regression to assess for differences in tool performance., Conclusions: Claus calculations identified 14 of 85 women with elevated risk. Two tools, Ontario-FHAT and FHS-7, identified all women with elevated risk (sensitivity 100%). The FHS-7 tool flagged all participants (specificity 0%). The Ontario-FHAT flagged 59 participants as needing referral (specificity 36.2%) and had a NPV of 100%. Area under the curve values were not significantly different between tools (all p values > .05), and thus were not helpful in discriminating between the tools., Implications for Practice: The Ontario-FHAT outperformed other tools in sensitivity and NPV; however, low specificity and PPV must be balanced against these findings. Thus, the Ontario-FHAT can help determine which women would benefit from referral to genetics specialists.

Occupational speech users such as schoolteachers develop voice disorders at higher rates than the general population. Previous research has suggested that room acoustics may influence these trends. The research reported in this paper utilized varying acoustical conditions in a reverberant room to assess the effects on vocal parameters of healthy talkers. Thirty-two participants were recorded while completing a battery of speech tasks under eight room conditions. Vocal parameters were derived from the recordings and the statistically significant effects of room acoustics were verified using mixed-model analysis of variance tests. Changes in reverberation time (T 20 ), early decay time (EDT), clarity index (C 50 ), speech transmission index (STI), and room gain (G RG ) all showed highly correlated effects on certain vocal parameters, including speaking level standard deviation, speaking rate, and the acoustic vocal quality index. As T 20 , EDT, and G RG increased, and as C 50 and STI decreased, vocal parameters showed tendencies toward dysphonic phonation. Empirically derived equations are proposed that describe the relationships between select room-acoustic parameters and vocal parameters. This study provides an increased understanding of the impact of room acoustics on voice production, which could assist acousticians in improving room designs to help mitigate unhealthy vocal exertion and, by extension, voice problems.

Brevibacillus laterosporus is often present in beehives, including presence in hives infected with the causative agent of American Foulbrood (AFB), Paenibacillus larvae . In this work, 12 B. laterosporus bacteriophages induced bactericidal products in their host. Results demonstrate that P. larvae is susceptible to antimicrobials induced from field isolates of the bystander, B. laterosporus . Bystander antimicrobial activity was specific against the pathogen and not other bacterial species, indicating that the production was likely due to natural competition between the two bacteria. Three B. laterosporus phages were combined in a cocktail to treat AFB. Healthy hives treated with B. laterosporus phages experienced no difference in brood generation compared to control hives over 8 weeks. Phage presence in bee larvae after treatment rose to 60.8 ± 3.6% and dropped to 0 ± 0.8% after 72 h. In infected hives the recovery rate was 75% when treated, however AFB spores were not susceptible to the antimicrobials as evidenced by recurrence of AFB. We posit that the effectiveness of this treatment is due to the production of the bactericidal products of B. laterosporus when infected with phages resulting in bystander-killing of P. larvae . Bystander phage therapy may provide a new avenue for antibacterial production and treatment of disease.

Objective: Identify differences in teacher perceptions of benefits, challenges, and preferences to different School Breakfast Program (SBP) service models., Design: A cross-sectional study design was used and an electronic survey was distributed to teachers throughout the state of Utah., Setting: Kindergarten through 12th-grade schools throughout Utah., Participants: A convenience sample of 369 kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in Utah., Variables Measured: Demographics, benefits and challenges, and teacher preference for SBP models in Utah., Analysis: Frequencies and multiple comparison analysis tests were performed. A level of significance of <.001 was chosen to protect for multiple comparisons., Results: Traditional breakfast was the most preferred model, with a mean score of 2.8; Breakfast in the Classroom was the least preferred model by teachers, with a mean of -1.3 (scale used = -5 to 0 to 5). Children not going hungry was the greatest benefit (95.4%; n = 352) to SBP and food waste was the greatest challenge (45.8%; n = 168)., Conclusions and Implications: Teachers prefer traditional SBP model over BIC and other nontraditional models. Increased awareness and education regarding benefits and challenges of SBP models may increase teacher preference for nontraditional SBP models, especially BIC., (Copyright © 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The incidence of low back pain (LBP) among elite ballroom dancers is high and understanding associations between muscle morphology and pain may provide insight into treatment or training options. Research has linked multifidus muscle atrophy to LBP in the general and some athletic populations; however, this has not been examined in ballroom dancers. We compared the lumbar multifidus cross-sectional area (CSA) at rest in 57 elite level ballroom dancers (age 23±2.4 years; height, 174±11 cm; mass, 64±10 kg) divided into one of three pain groups, according to their self-reported symptoms, 1) LBP group (n=19), 2) minimal LBP (n=17), and 3) no LBP (n=21). There were no significant difference in demographics between the groups (P>0.05). The LBP group demonstrated significant differences in reported pain and Oswestry Disability Index scores compared to the other two groups. There was no significant difference between groups in multifidus cross-sectional area (P=0.49). Asymmetry was found in all groups with the overall left side being significantly larger than the right (P<0.002). Pain associated with segmental decrease in multifidus CSA was not observed in ballroom dancers with LBP, suggesting other reasons for persistent LBP in ballroom dancers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating inflammation related disease characterized by joint pain and effusion, loss of mobility, and deformity that may result in functional joint failure and significant impact on quality of life. Once thought of as a simple "wear and tear" disease, it is now widely recognized that OA has a considerable metabolic component and is related to chronic inflammation. Defects associated with primary cilia have been shown to be cause OA-like changes in Bardet-Biedl mice. We examined the role of dysfunctional primary cilia in OA in mice through the regulation of the previously identified degradative and pro-inflammatory molecular pathways common to OA. We observed an increase in the presence of pro-inflammatory markers TGFβ-1 and HTRA1 as well as cartilage destructive protease MMP-13 but a decrease in DDR-2. We observed a morphological difference in cartilage thickness in Bbs1 M390R/M390R mice compared to wild type (WT). We did not observe any difference in OARSI or Mankin scores between WT and Bbs1 M390R/M390R mice. Primary cilia appear to be involved in the upregulation of biomarkers, including pro-inflammatory markers common to OA.

CXCL10 is a chemokine for activated and memory T cells with many important immunological functions. We recently found that CXCL10 is upregulated in human muscle following contraction-induced damage. No information is available on the role of CXCL10 in the context of muscle damage or repair. In this study, we confirm that CXCL10 is elevated in human muscle at 2 and 3 days following damage and perform cell culture and animal studies to examine the role of CXCL10 in muscle repair. CXCL10 did not impact proliferation rates of human primary myoblasts but it did promote myogenic differentiation in vitro, suggesting a possible direct impact on muscle regeneration. To test if CXCL10 was dispensable for effective muscle regeneration in vivo, we measured functional and histological markers of muscle repair out to 14 days postmuscle injury caused by a myotoxin in wild-type (WT) mice and CXCL10 knockout (KO) mice. Between genotypes, no significant differences were found in loss or restoration of in situ muscle force, cross-sectional area of newly formed myofibers, or the number of embryonic myosin heavy chain-positive myofibers. In addition, KO animals were not deficient in T-cell accumulation in the damaged muscle following injury. Gene expression of the other two ligands (CXCL9 and 11) that bind to the same receptor as CXCL10 were also elevated in the damaged muscle of KO mice. Thus, other ligands may have compensated for the lack of CXCL10 in the KO mice. We conclude that CXCL10 is not necessary for effective muscle regeneration., (© 2018 The Authors. Physiological Reports published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of The Physiological Society and the American Physiological Society.)

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is used to determine nutrition status in children with cystic fibrosis (CF); however, lean body mass (LBM) is more strongly associated with pulmonary function. Handgrip strength (HGS) measures muscle function and is reflective of LBM. The aims of this study were to assess relationships among HGS, nutrition status, and pulmonary function; changes in HGS posthospitalization; and any relationship between HGS and nutrient intake., Methods: Twenty-three children with CF aged 6-18 years participated. BMI z scores, nutrition risk scores, and pulmonary function were assessed about 5 months before, days 5-7 of hospitalization, and about 6 weeks posthospitalization. HGS z scores and arm anthropometrics were measured during and after hospitalization. Nutrient intakes were assessed during hospitalization., Results: Mean HGS z score at hospitalization was -1.95 ± 0.92 and posthospitalization was -1.59 ± 1.06 (P = .007). Mean BMI z score prehospitalization was -0.17 ± 0.63, at hospitalization was -0.09 ± 0.64, and posthospitalization was 0.06 ± 0.54 (P = .065). Mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) prehospitalization was 93.52 ± 17.35, at hospitalization was 85.65 ± 21.57, and posthospitalization was 95.63 ± 18.18 (P = .001). No significant relationship was found between HGS z scores and BMI z scores (P = .892) or HGS z scores and FEV 1 (P = .340)., Conclusions: HGS z scores and FEV 1 significantly increased at follow-up. HGS z scores were lower than the standard even though mean BMI z scores classified participants as normal nutrition status., (© 2018 American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.)

This study was designed to quantitatively evaluate the health benefits of a multivitamin, multimineral, herbal, essential oil-infused supplement using serum biomarkers. We also qualitatively evaluated the health effects of this supplement using a survey. Sixteen participants were recruited to take the supplement as directed for two months. The levels of the following serum components were measured in the participants: total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoprotein(a), LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, total/HDL cholesterol ratio, ferritin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, insulin, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, free androgen index, red blood cell magnesium, homocysteine, coenzyme Q10, lipid peroxides, alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, cardiovascular index, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), arachidonic acid (AA), and the AA/EPA ratio. The following markers were significantly improved (p <.05) after two months of supplementation: HDL cholesterol, LDL/HDL cholesterol ratio, fasting insulin, homocysteine, serum vitamin E, EPA, and the AA/EPA ratio. These findings demonstrate that the supplementation had significant positive effects on biochemical indicators of cardiovascular health, antioxidant status, inflammation, and blood glucose regulation. All of the outcomes in the 16-item qualitative survey were improved after two months of supplementation. Twelve of these outcomes were significantly improved. The participants reported more mental clarity, energy, motivation, control, balance, and happiness, while reporting less back pain, muscle pain, cold and flu incidence, anxiety, frustration, and irritation at the end of the two-month supplementation period. Although definite clinical efficacy remains elusive, these results suggest that the supplement may provide a broad range of health benefits for users in a short period.

Background: Despite the pervasive and devastating effect of Essential Tremor (ET), the distribution of ET throughout the upper limb is unknown. We developed a method for characterizing the distribution of ET and performed a preliminary characterization in a small number of subjects with ET., Methods: Using orientation sensors and inverse kinematics, we measured tremor in each of the seven major degrees of freedom (DOF) from the shoulder to the wrist while ten patients with mild ET assumed 16 different postures. We described the tremor in each DOF in terms of power spectral density measures and investigated how tremor varied between DOF, postures, gravitational torques, and repetitions., Findings: Our method successfully resulted in tremor measures in each DOF, allowing one to compare tremor between DOF and determine the distribution of tremor throughout the upper limb, including how the distribution changes with posture. In our small number of subjects, we found that the amount of power in the frequency band associated with ET (4-12Hz) was lowest in the shoulder and greatest in the wrist. Similarly, the existence and amplitude of peaks in this band increased from proximal to distal. Although the amount of tremor differed significantly between postures, we did not find any clear patterns with changes in posture or gravitational torque., Interpretation: This method can be used to characterize the distribution of tremor throughout the upper limb. Our preliminary characterization suggests that the amount of tremor increases in a proximal-distal manner., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study identified, digitally recorded, edited and evaluated 89 bisyllabic Vietnamese words with the goal of identifying homogeneous words that could be used to measure the speech recognition threshold (SRT) in native talkers of Vietnamese., Design: Native male and female talker productions of 89 Vietnamese bisyllabic words were recorded, edited and then presented at intensities ranging from -10 to 20 dBHL. Logistic regression was used to identify the best words for measuring the SRT. Forty-eight words were selected and digitally edited to have 50% intelligibility at a level equal to the mean pure-tone average (PTA) for normally hearing participants (5.2 dBHL)., Study Sample: Twenty normally hearing native Vietnamese participants listened to and repeated bisyllabic Vietnamese words at intensities ranging from -10 to 20 dBHL., Results: A total of 48 male and female talker recordings of bisyllabic words with steep psychometric functions (>9.0%/dB) were chosen for the final bisyllabic SRT list. Only words homogeneous with respect to threshold audibility with steep psychometric function slopes were chosen for the final list., Conclusions: Digital recordings of bisyllabic Vietnamese words are now available for use in measuring the SRT for patients whose native language is Vietnamese.

Mental health issues have been increasingly recognized as public health problems globally. Their burden is projected to increase over the next several decades. Additional therapies for mental problems are in urgent need worldwide due to the limitations and costs of existing healthcare approaches. Essential oil aromatherapy can provide a cost-effective and safe treatment for many mental problems. This pilot study observed the effects of bergamot essential oil inhalation on mental health and well-being, as measured by the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, in a mental-health treatment center located in Utah, USA. Fifty-seven eligible participants (50 women, age range: 23-70 years) were included for analysis. Fifteen minutes of bergamot essential oil exposure improved participants' positive feelings compared with the control group (17% higher). Unexpectedly, more participants participated in experimental periods rather than control periods, suggesting even brief exposure to essential oil aroma may make people more willing to enroll in clinical trials. This study provides preliminary evidence of the efficacy and safety of bergamot essential oil inhalation on mental well-being in a mental health treatment center, suggesting that bergamot essential oil aromatherapy can be an effective adjunct treatment to improve individuals' mental health and well-being. © 2017 The Authors. Phytotherapy Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd., (© 2017 The Authors. Phytotherapy Research published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The 2 most common methods to determine resting metabolic rate (RMR) with indirect calorimetry are steady state (SS) and time intervals. Studies have suggested SS more accurately reflects RMR, but further research is needed. Our objective was to compare the bias, precision, and accuracy of SS to time intervals and non-SS measurements in a healthy adult population. Seventy-seven participants were measured for 45 minutes using a Quark RMR. Inclusion criteria included healthy participants aged 18-65 years. Pregnant and lactating women were excluded. Paired t tests compared differences between measures. Bland-Altman plots were used to determine precision. Bias occurred if there was a significant difference between the means. Accuracy was determined by counting the number of absolute differences between SS compared with non-SS and time intervals that were <75 calories. Of 77 participants, 84% achieved SS, and 95% achieved SS by minute 30. Most differences between SS and time intervals were statistically but not practically significant. Bland-Altman plots showed SS measurements were generally lower than any time interval, suggesting SS is more indicative of RMR. Non-SS was significantly more biased ( P = .0005), less precise (spread of limits of agreement was 269 calories), and less accurate (65%) than SS. We conclude that non-SS is not equivalent to SS. We also conclude that using 5-minute SS is more indicative of RMR than any time interval that was tested in healthy populations. If SS cannot be achieved, we recommend repeating the measurement.

Objective: Develop a questionnaire to measure students' knowledge, attitude, behavior, self-efficacy, and environmental factors related to the use of canned foods., Methods: The Knowledge-Attitude-Behavior Model, Social Cognitive Theory, and Canned Foods Alliance survey were used as frameworks for questionnaire development. Cognitive interviews were conducted with college students (n = 8). Nutrition and survey experts assessed content validity. Reliability was measured via Cronbach α and 2 rounds (1, n = 81; 2, n = 65) of test-retest statistics. Means and frequencies were used., Results: The 65-item questionnaire had a test-retest reliability of .69. Cronbach α scores were .87 for knowledge (9 items), .86 for attitude (30 items), .80 for self-efficacy (12 items), .68 for canned foods use (8 items), and .30 for environment (6 items)., Conclusions and Implications: A reliable questionnaire was developed to measure perceptions and use of canned foods. Nutrition educators may find this questionnaire useful to evaluate pretest-posttest changes from canned foods-based interventions among college students., (Copyright © 2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study has two aims: 1. Validate a non-invasive malocclusion model of mouse temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) that we developed and 2. Confirm role of inflammation in TMJ OA by comparing the disease in the presence and absence of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)., Design: The malocclusion procedure was performed on eight week old mice, either wild type (WT) or without RAGE., Results: We observed TMJ OA at two weeks post-misalignment/malocclusion. The modified Mankin score used for the semi-quantitative assessment of OA showed an overall significantly higher score in mice with malocclusion compared to control mice at all times points (2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks). Mice with malocclusion showed a decrease in body weight by the first week after misalignment but returned to normal weight for their ages during the following weeks. The RAGE knock out (KO) mice had statistically lower modified Mankin scores compared to WT mice of the same age. The RAGE KO mice had statistically lower levels of Mmp-13 and HtrA1 but higher Tgf-β1, as measured by immunohistochemistry, compared to WT mice at eight weeks post malocclusion., Conclusions: We demonstrate an inexpensive, efficient, highly reproducible and non-invasive model of mouse TMJ OA. The mechanical nature of the malocclusion resembles the natural development of TMJ OA in humans, making this an ideal model in future studies that aim to elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease leading to the discovery of a treatment. The RAGE plays a role in mouse TMJ OA., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Concerns about energy consumption and climate change make residential evaporative coolers a popular alternative to central air conditioning in arid and semi-arid climates. However, evaporative coolers have been shown to significantly increase indoor relative humidity and dust mite allergen levels in some studies, while showing no association in other studies. Improved measurement of temporal fluctuations in indoor relative humidity may help identify factors that promote mite growth in homes in dry climates. Dust samples and continuous indoor relative humidity measurements were collected from homes with central air conditioning and homes with evaporative coolers in Utah. Samples were collected over two seasons, winter/spring (Jan-Apr) and summer (July-Sept), 2014. Dust samples were analyzed for Der p 1 and Der f 1 using a two-site monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Housing characteristics including age of home, occupant density, and age of mattresses, furniture, and carpeting were also measured. Positive Der p 1 or Der f 1 samples were found in 25.0% of the homes and there was no difference in mean allergen levels by type of air conditioning. Indoor relative humidity was significantly higher in homes with evaporative coolers compared to those with central air conditioning during the summer. Homes with evaporative coolers also spent significantly more time during summer above 55.0% and 65.0% relative humidity compared to central air homes, but not above 75.0%. Findings from this study suggest that increased humidity from evaporative coolers may not be sufficient to exceed the critical equilibrium humidity or maintain humidity excursions for sufficient duration in relatively larger single-family homes in semi-arid climates to support mite growth and reproduction.

Skeletal muscle responds to exercise-induced damage by orchestrating an adaptive process that protects the muscle from damage by subsequent bouts of exercise, a phenomenon called the repeated bout effect (RBE). The mechanisms underlying the RBE are not understood. We hypothesized that an attenuated inflammation response following a repeated bout of lengthening contractions (LC) would be coincidental with a RBE, suggesting a potential relationship. Fourteen men (n = 7) and women (n = 7) completed two bouts of lengthening contractions (LC) separated by 28 days. Muscle biopsies were taken before the first bout (B1) from the non-exercised leg, and from the exercised leg 2- and 27-d post-B1 and 2-d following the second bout (B2). A 29-plex cytokine array identified alterations in inflammatory cytokines. Immunohistochemistry quantified inflammatory cell infiltration and major histocompatibility complex class 1 (MHC-1). Muscle soreness was attenuated in the days following B2 relative to B1, indicating a RBE. Intramuscular monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP1) and interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP10) increased following B2 relative to the pre-exercise sample (7-52 and 11-36 pg/ml, respectively p < 0.05). Interleukin 4 (IL4) decreased (26-13 pg/ml, p < 0.05) following B2 relative to the pre-exercise sample. Infiltration of CD68(+) macrophages and CD8(+) T-cells were evident following B2, but not B1. Moreover, CD8(+) T-cells were observed infiltrating apparently necrotic muscle fibers. No changes in MHC-1 were found. We conclude that inflammation is not attenuated following a repeated bout of LC and that CD8(+) T-cells may play a role in muscle adaptation following LC. Moreover, it appears that the muscle or the immune system becomes sensitized to an initial bout of damaging exercise such that inflammatory cell infiltration into the muscle is enhanced upon a repeated bout of damaging exercise.

Wrist orthoses (also known as splints, braces, or supports) are commonly used to support or restrict the motion of a weak or injured wrist. These orthoses generally function by stiffening the wrist joint. Therefore, choosing the proper orthosis (or improving orthoses) requires that we understand their stiffness properties. In this study, we present a method for measuring the stiffness of wrist orthoses, and we apply this method to 12 of the most common wrist orthoses. We found similarities and differences between these orthoses, indicating that different orthoses have different effects on the wrist joint and, presumably, on wrist behavior. In particular, all six orthoses with a stay on the volar side or the volar and dorsal sides added a significant amount of stiffness to the wrist joint. In contrast, only one of three orthoses with a stay on the dorsal side and none of the three orthoses without stays exhibited a significant amount of stiffness, calling into question their ability to support the wrist joint. This work lays a foundation for future studies investigating the effect of wrist orthosis stiffness on wrist behavior and how wrist orthosis stiffness can be designed to produce behavior that facilitates healing.

An experimental study to examine the effects of CardioWaves interval training (CWIT) and continuous training (CT) on resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, and mind-body wellness. Fifty-two normotensive (blood pressure <120/80 mmHg), pre-hypertensive (120-139/80-89 mmHg), and hypertensive (>140/90 mmHg) participants were randomly assigned and equally divided between the CWIT and CT groups. Both groups participated in the assigned exercise protocol 30 minutes per day, four days per week for eight weeks. Resting blood pressure, resting heart rate, and mind-body wellness were measured pre- and post-intervention. A total of 47 participants (15 females and 32 males) were included in the analysis. The CWIT group had a non-significant trend of reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) and increased diastolic blood pressure (DBP) while the CT group had a statistically significant decrease in awake SBP (p = 0.01) and total SBP (p = 0.01) and a non-significant decrease in DBP. With both groups combined, the female participants had a statistically significant decrease in awake SBP (p = 0.002), asleep SBP (p = 0.01), total SBP (p = 0.003), awake DBP (p = 0.02), and total DBP (p = 0.05). The male participants had an increase in SBP and DBP with total DBP showing a statistically significant increase (p = 0.05). Neither group had a consistent change in resting heart rate. Both groups showed improved mind-body wellness. CWIT and CT reduced resting blood pressure, with CT having a greater effect. Resting heart rate did not change in either group. Additionally, both CWIT and CT improved mind-body wellness.

Animal models have historically provided an appropriate benchmark for understanding human pathology, treatment, and healing, but few animals are known to naturally develop intervertebral disc degeneration. The study of degenerative disc disease and its treatment would greatly benefit from a more comprehensive, and comparable animal model. Alpacas have recently been presented as a potential large animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration due to similarities in spinal posture, disc size, biomechanical flexibility, and natural disc pathology. This research further investigated alpacas by determining the prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration among an aging alpaca population. Twenty healthy female alpacas comprised two age subgroups (5 young: 2-6 years; and 15 older: 10+ years) and were rated according to the Pfirrmann-grade for degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs. Incidence rates of degeneration showed strong correlations with age and spinal level: younger alpacas were nearly immune to developing disc degeneration, and in older animals, disc degeneration had an increased incidence rate and severity at lower cervical levels. Advanced disc degeneration was present in at least one of the cervical intervertebral discs of 47% of the older alpacas, and it was most common at the two lowest cervical intervertebral discs. The prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration encourages further investigation and application of the lower cervical spine of alpacas and similar camelids as a large animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration., (© 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: The dose-response relationship in psychotherapy has been examined extensively, but few studies have included session frequency as a component of psychotherapy "dose." Studies that have examined session frequency have indicated that it may affect both the speed and the amount of recovery. No studies were found examining the clinical significance of this construct in a naturalistic setting, which is the aim of the current study., Method: Using an archival database of session-by-session Outcome Questionnaire 45 (OQ-45) measures over 17 years, change trajectories of 21,488 university counseling center clients (54.9% female, 85.0% White, mean age = 22.5) were examined using multilevel modeling, including session frequency at the occasion level. Of these clients, subgroups that attended therapy approximately weekly or fortnightly were compared to each other for differences in speed of recovery (using multilevel Cox regression) and clinically significant change (using multilevel logistic regression)., Results: Results indicated that more frequent therapy was associated with steeper recovery curves (Cohen's f2 = 0.07; an effect size between small and medium). When comparing weekly and fortnightly groups, clinically significant gains were achieved faster for those attending weekly sessions; however, few significant differences were found between groups in total amount of change in therapy., Conclusions: Findings replicated previous session frequency literature and supported a clinically significant effect, where higher session frequency resulted in faster recovery. Session frequency appears to be an impactful component in delivering more efficient psychotherapy, and it is important to consider in individual treatment planning, institutional policy, and future research., ((c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).)

Water storage is one of the most important components of emergency preparedness. Potable water is needed for ensuring the survival and well-being of disaster victims. Consumers may store water in previously used beverage or other food-grade containers for emergency use; however, this practice poses potential safety risks. Water stored in various containers for emergency purposes in residences within the state of Utah was tested for various contaminants. Of 240 samples, seven contained coliforms and 14 samples had free chlorine levels over the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 4 parts per million limit. There was a negative correlation between chlorine levels and age of water. The probability that a container had free chlorine present decreased by 4% for each month of storage, suggesting the importance of preventing subsequent contamination of water during storage and use. Water in clear polyethylene terephthalate plastic soda bottles (n=16), even when stored for >18 months, did not exceed 0.3 parts per billion (ppb) antimony, a level significantly lower than the EPA limit of 6.0 ppb antimony. These results support the practice of utilizing previously used containers, when properly cleaned and chlorinated, for emergency water storage.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study., Objective: To determine the time course of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dex-P) during iontophoresis to underlying tissues using microdialysis., Background: In human participants, real-time information of Dex-P transdermal delivery during iontophoresis is unknown., Methods: Sixty-four healthy male participants (mean ± SD age, 24.2 ± 3.3 years; height, 181.8 ± 26.1 cm; mass, 82.4 ± 11.8 kg; subcutaneous fat thickness, 0.61 ± 0.19 cm) were randomly assigned into 1 of 6 groups: (1) 1-mA current, 1-mm probe depth; (2) 1-mA current, 4-mm probe depth; (3) 2-mA current, 1-mm probe depth; (4) 2-mA current, 4-mm probe depth; (5) in vivo retrodialysis; and (6) skin perfusion flowmetry. Microdialysis probes were used to assess the combined recovery (Dex-total) of Dex-P, dexamethasone, and its metabolite., Results: There was no difference in Dex-total between current intensities (P = .99), but a greater amount of Dex-total was recovered superficially at 1 mm compared to the 4-mm depth (P<.0001). Peak concentration mean ± SD values for the 1- and 2-mA currents at 1 mm were 10.8 ± 8.1 and 7.7 ± 5.5 µg/mL, and at 4 mm were 2.0 ± 0.8 and 1.3 ± 0.9 µg/mL, respectively. Peak skin perfusion was 741.4% ± 408.7% and 711.6% ± 260.8% at baseline for 1- and 2-mA intensities, respectively. Skin perfusion returned to baseline levels earlier during 1-mA intensity at a 110 mA · min dose within the treatment, compared to 2 mA at 60 minutes posttreatment., Conclusion: Transdermal delivery of Dex-P during iontophoresis was successfully measured in vivo through human skin. Measurable concentrations of Dex-total were found regardless of current intensity. Although current-induced vasodilation occurred, it did not significantly affect the tissue accumulation of Dex-total.

Question placement and usage of pre-evaluation instructions (PEI) in questionnaires for food sensory analysis may bias consumers' scores via carry-over effects. Data from consumer sensory panels previously conducted at a central location, spanning 11 years and covering a broad range of food product categories, were compiled. Overall acceptance (OA) question placement was studied with categories designated as first (the first evaluation question following demographic questions), after nongustation questions (immediately following questions that do not require panelists to taste the product), and later (following all other hedonic and just-about-right [JAR] questions, but occasionally before ranking, open-ended comments, and/or intent to purchase questions). Each panel was categorized as having or not having PEI in the questionnaire; PEI are instructions that appear immediately before the first evaluation question and show panelists all attributes they will evaluate before receiving test samples. Postpanel surveys were administered regarding the self-reported effect of PEI on panelists' evaluation experience. OA scores were analyzed and compared (1) between OA question placement categories and (2) between panels with and without PEI. For most product categories, OA scores tended to be lower when asked later in the questionnaire, suggesting evidence of a carry-over effect. Usage of PEI increased OA scores by 0.10 of a 9-point hedonic scale point, which is not practically significant. Postpanel survey data showed that presence of PEI typically improved the panelists' experience. Using PEI does not appear to introduce a meaningful carry-over effect., (© 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®)

Background: The S31N amantadine-resistance mutation in the influenza A M2 sequence currently occurs more frequently in nature than the S31 wild type. Overcoming the resistance of the S31N mutation is the primary focus of M2 researchers who aim to develop novel antiviral therapies. Recent studies have noted a possible rise in frequency of the V27A/S31N double amantadine-resistance mutation in recent years. The purpose of this study is to investigate this recent rise in frequency of the double mutation and any possible bias of the other mutations toward co-occurrence with S31N or S31 strains., Results: The primary dataset used for this study was comprised of 24,152 influenza A M2 channel sequences which were downloaded from UniProt. There is an increased frequency for the S31N/V27A dual AR mutation in recent years, especially in swine. A test for difference in two proportions indicates that the V27A mutation is co-occurring with S31N more often than expected (p-value<0.001) when considering individual amino acid frequencies. At the same time, the different propensities for the V27A as compared to the V27T dual mutant may reflect differences in viral fitness or protein energetics, and this information could be exploited to focus drug development so as to reduce further drug insensitivity., Conclusions: The development of the S31N/V27A variant in the Midwestern US swine may be a harbinger of novel human strain development. V27A/S31N is a possible path forward for the evolution of M2 which may convey a new level of drug resistance and should receive attention in drug design.

Indirect calorimetry is often done early in the morning in a fasting state, with the subject unshowered and abstained from caffeine or other stimulants. Subjects often fall asleep, resulting in measurement of a sleeping metabolic rate rather than a resting metabolic rate. The objective of this study was to determine whether listening to self-selected relaxing music or reading an electronic device or magazine affects resting energy expenditure (REE) during measurement in healthy adults. A randomized trial comparing three different conditions (ie, resting, reading, and listening to music) was performed. Sixty-five subjects (36 female and 29 male) were used in final data analysis. Inclusion criteria included healthy subjects between the ages of 18 and 50 years with a stable weight. Exclusion criteria included pregnant or lactating women or use of medications known to affect metabolism. Results showed that reading either a magazine or an electronic device significantly increased REE by 102.7 kcal/day when compared with resting (P<0.0001); however, there was no difference in REE between the electronic device and magazine. Listening to self-selected relaxing music increased REE by 27.6 kcal/day compared with rest (P=0.0072). Based on our results, we recommend subjects refrain from reading a magazine or electronic device during an indirect calorimetry test. Whether or not the smaller difference found while listening to music is practically significant would be a decision for the indirect calorimetry test administrator., (Copyright © 2014 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: In this study, the authors examined the validity of using materials from 2 nonregional yet mutually intelligible dialects to evaluate an individual's speech recognition threshold (SRT) and word recognition (WR) abilities and whether a speaker of 1 dialect could accurately administer and score materials in the other dialect., Method: Previously created SRT and WR materials were presented to 32 Mandarin listeners with normal hearing: 16 speakers of Mainland Mandarin and 16 speakers of Taiwan Mandarin. Hearing abilities were examined using SRT and WR materials created for speakers from 2 different regional dialects. Presentation of the materials occurred during 2 test sessions, counterbalanced across material and listener dialect. Listener responses were evaluated by 2 judges; 1 spoke Mainland Mandarin, and the other spoke Taiwan Mandarin., Results: For the SRT and WR results, differences in listener performance were statistically significant across material and listener dialect, with threshold differences of less than 2 dB HL when collapsed across session. The interscorer percentage of agreement was 99.5% for SRT and 99.1% for WR testing., Conclusion: Testing with materials in a different regional dialect does have a measurable impact on SRT and WR performance. However, this difference, though reliable, is small enough to have a negligible impact on clinical findings.

Observations among former American residents living long-term in Peru suggested that hair health improved while in Peru. To determine if a Peruvian diet correlates with hair composition, dietary intake of nutrients and mineral content of hair were measured among Peruvian and matched US residents. Selected foods from Peru were also analyzed for mineral and antioxidant content and compared with equivalent foods available in the USA. Statistically significant differences between Peruvian and US residents' hair were found for sodium (decreased in Peru, p = 0.007) and vanadium (decreased in Peru, p = 0.03). Differences in hair composition between residencies may be explained by lower dietary sodium and vanadium intake among Peruvian residents or by lower concentrations of these minerals in Peruvian drinking water. Many significant mineral differences were also identified between Peruvian foods and their US equivalents. Although no statistically significant correlations between dietary intake and hair mineral content were found, results indicate that a Peruvian diet contributes differently to hair composition than a US diet. More research is needed to elucidate the link between a Peruvian diet and specific aspects of hair health.

Objective: The severity of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) ranges from mild to rapidly fatal. However, the factors determining the severity are not known. Our objective was to identify statistical associations with NEC severity using a large database., Method: We conducted a retrospective, multi-institutional, multiyear, study of neonates with confirmed NEC., Results: Two-hundred-twenty neonates with Bell's stage ≥ II NEC had 225 NEC episodes (157 stage II and 68 stage III). In the 3 d before NEC was diagnosed, those who went on to stage III disease were more likely to have elevations in C - reactive protein (p < 0.0001), immature to total neutrophil ratio (p = 0.0005), and mean platelet volume (p = 0.0001), and low pH (p < 0.0001) and platelet count (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis indicated higher odds that NEC would be severe if there was an antecedent RBC transfusion (p < 0.0001) or if the first feedings were not colostrum (p = 0.017). The two factors best predicting death from NEC were; (1) a low pH (p = 0.0005) and (2) lack of early colostrum (p = 0.003)., Conclusions: Strategies that reduce the severity of NEC would lower costs and improve outcomes. This study suggests that testable theories to accomplish this include means of; (1) reducing transfusions and (2) assuring early colostrum feedings.

Background: High dietary intake of soy or selenium (Se) is associated with decreased risk of prostate cancer. Soy constituents and various chemical forms of Se have each been shown to downregulate expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and AR-regulated genes in the prostate. We hypothesized that downregulation of AR and AR-regulated genes by the combination of these dietary components would inhibit tumorigenesis in the TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mouse., Methods: Male mice were exposed from conception to stock diets high or low in soy, with or without a supplement of Se-methylseleno-L-cysteine (MSC) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Mice were sacrificed at 18 weeks. Prostate histopathology, urogenital tract (UGT) weight, hepatic activity of androgen-metabolizing enzymes, and expression of AR, AR-regulated, and AR-associated FOX family genes, in the dorsolateral prostate were examined., Results: High soy intake decreased activity of hepatic aromatase and 5α-reductase, expression of AR, AR-regulated genes, FOXA1, UGT weight, and tumor progression, and upregulated protective FOXO3. Supplemental MSC upregulated AKR1C14, which reduces 5α-dihydrotestosterone., Conclusions: Soy is an effective pleiotropic dietary agent for prevention of prostate cancer. The finding of effects of soy on FOX family gene expression in animals is novel. Combination effects of supplemental MSC may depend upon the soy content of the basal diet to which it is added., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: This study evaluated environmental, personal, and behavioral correlates of BMI-for-age percentiles, dietary intake (kilocalories, carbohydrates, protein, fat, and Food Guide Pyramid food groups), and physical activity variables among homeless children., Methods: A 74-item survey, using social cognitive theory as the theoretical framework, height, weight, and one 24-hour recall were collected from homeless children aged 9-13 (n=159) at two shelters in Minneapolis, MN. Principal component analysis was performed on the subsections of the survey. Independent t-tests, Fisher exact tests, and chi-squared statistics evaluated sociodemographic and BMI percentile variables. Nonparametric tests evaluated dietary data. Stepwise regression models evaluated correlates of BMI percentiles, physical activity, and dietary intake variables., Results: Approximately 45% were overweight or obese (≥85(th) percentile). Dietary data represented intake on a given day, with children consuming a median 1.2 servings from the fruits and vegetables food group, 17.3 servings from the fats and sweets food group (one serving=grams in 1 Tbsp. fat/1 tsp. sugar), and the percent of calories from fat varying significantly between shelter 1 (S1) versus shelter 2 (S2) boys (37.1% vs. 31.7%, p<0.001). Factors identified from survey items and sociodemographic variables accounted for between 6% and 14% of the variance in energy intake and other dietary and physical activity variables (p range, 0.008 to <0.001)., Conclusions: Parental role modeling of eating behaviors and getting enough food were associated with less favorable food choices among homeless children. Policy interventions and program initiatives in the homeless environment could promote healthier food choices among children.

We sought to determine whether consumption of blueberries could reduce postprandial oxidation when consumed with a typical high-carbohydrate, low-fat breakfast. Participants (n 14) received each of the three treatments over 3 weeks in a cross-over design. Treatments consisted of a high blueberry dose (75 g), a low blueberry dose (35 g) and a control (ascorbic acid and sugar content matching that of the high blueberry dose). Serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), serum lipoprotein oxidation (LO) and serum ascorbate, urate and glucose were measured at fasting, and at 1, 2 and 3 h after sample consumption. The mean serum ORAC was significantly higher in the 75 g group than in the control group during the first 2 h postprandially, while serum LO lag time showed a significant trend over the 3 h for both blueberry doses. Changes in serum ascorbate, urate and glucose were not significantly different among the groups. To our knowledge, this is the first report that has demonstrated that increased serum antioxidant capacity is not attributable to the fructose or ascorbate content of blueberries. In summary, a practically consumable quantity of blueberries (75 g) can provide statistically significant oxidative protection in vivo after a high-carbohydrate, low-fat breakfast. Though not tested directly, it is likely that the effects are due to phenolic compounds, either directly or indirectly, as they are a major family of compounds in blueberries with potential bioactive activity.

The objective of this study was to better understand the effect of butter composition and emulsion structure on growth and survival of Clostridium sporogenes, used as a surrogate for C. botulinum in canned butter. The lack of a thermal process step in commercially available canned butter raises questions of potential safety, because it is hermetically sealed and generally exhibits anaerobic growth conditions, which are optimal for Clostridium botulinum growth. Without thermal processing, low-acid canned foods must have inhibitory factors present to prevent C. botulinum growth. Some potential intrinsic inhibitory factors, or hurdles, within butter include: reduced water activity, acidity in cultured products, elevated salt content, and the micro-droplet nature of the aqueous phase in the butter emulsion. It was hypothesized that a normal, intact butter emulsion would have sufficient hurdles to prevent C. botulinum growth, whereas a broken butter emulsion would result in a coalesced aqueous phase that would allow for C. botulinum growth. Batch-churned butter was inoculated with C. sporogenes; butter samples with varying salt contents (0, 0.8, 1.6, and 2.4% wt/wt NaCl) were prepared and stored in coated steel cans for varying times (1 or 2 wk) and temperatures (22 or 41°C) to determine temperature and emulsion structure effects on C. sporogenes growth. Samples stored at 41°C showed a significant increase in C. sporogenes growth compared with those stored at 22°C. Furthermore, NaCl addition was found to have a significant effect on C. sporogenes growth, with 0.8% NaCl promoting more growth than 0%, but with decreases in growth observed at 1.6 and 2.4%. Uninoculated control plates were also found to have bacterial growth; this growth was attributed to other anaerobic bacteria present within the cream. It was concluded that removal of the hurdle created by the micro-droplet size of the emulsion aqueous phase could result in C. botulinum growth even at elevated salt levels and, therefore, home preparation of canned butter is not advisable. It is also possible that commercially canned butter, if heat abused, could potentially allow for C. botulinum growth and, therefore, consumption is not recommended., (Copyright © 2013 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Describe eating competence, a positive and flexible way of conceptualizing eating attitudes and behaviors, in students enrolled in an introductory nutrition course., Methods: Online completion of the Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI) and self-assessment of eating disorder status by 557 students (343 ages 18-20 years and 180 ages 21-26 years; 377 females) at the beginning of 1 semester. Analysis of variance and post hoc Tukey adjusted tests were used., Results: The mean ecSI score was 30.7 ± 0.29; 47.4% were classified as eating competent, or ecSI ≥ 32. Mean ecSI was higher for males than females (29.4 ± 0.95 vs 27.4 ± 0.77; P < .001). Mean ecSI was higher for students who never had an eating disorder, compared with those reporting current (32.0 ± 0.43 vs 22.9 ± 1.91; P < .001) or past (28.8 ± 0.93; P < .01) eating disorders., Conclusions and Implications: Students had limited eating competence, but a majority of males were eating competent. Students who had never had an eating disorder had higher eating competence than students with current or past disorders. Examining nutrition courses as currently taught may reveal ways courses could contribute to eating competence., (Copyright © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To explore food shopping behaviors among low-income families over the course of the month., Design: Two researchers conducted 13 90-minute focus groups., Setting: Two community organizations serving low-income populations and a university campus., Participants: Low-income adults (n = 72) who were the primary household food shoppers and who had at least 1 child less than 18 years old., Variables Measured: Shopping behavior changes during 1 month., Analysis: Focus groups were recorded, transcribed, and coded independently by 2 researchers. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, race/ethnicity, and participation in food assistance programs., Results: Economics played a key role in participants' food shopping behaviors and influenced food availability throughout the month. To overcome economic barriers, participants used food and emergency assistance programs and engaged in menu planning, price matching, storing food, using credit cards, and receiving financial assistance from family members and/or neighbors., Conclusions and Implications: Low-income families made strategic decisions to maintain a food supply throughout the month. These results suggest limited economics throughout the month may hinder families' ability to consume a varied, nutrient-rich diet, which may have an impact on future health status., (Copyright © 2013 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Use of near-infrared light (NIR) is becoming more commonplace in the treatment of different pathologies; however, its safety in terms of heat generation and penetration has not been documented. The purpose of this investigation was to determine and compare skin surface and underlying tissue temperature response during and for 15 mins after a 30-min NIR application to the posterior lower leg using two different NIR devices (Anodyne and HealthLight) and one sham treatment. With this information, recommendations regarding potential adverse skin reactions, including burns, can be made. In addition, these results can serve as a reference for further studies., Design: This single-blind randomized controlled study used a repeated-measures design. Fifteen healthy college-age individuals randomly received 30-min treatments with two different near-infrared devices and one sham device to their lower leg. A thermistor underneath the diode and a thermocouple with temperature sensors at three depths measured the temperature at skin surface and in deep tissues, respectively, every minute during the treatment and for 15 mins posttreatment., Results: After 30 mins of treatment, there was a significant temperature increase between the NIR devices underneath the diodes and all tissue depths and the control. The skin temperature underneath the treatment diodes increased about 9.5°C from baseline to 40°C. There was no difference between the tissue temperature changes in response to the irradiation with the two NIR heating devices. A limitation of the study is that the entire sample was drawn from a healthy college population., Conclusions: The surface and underlying tissue temperature heating produced by the two NIR devices is within limits considered safe for healthy subjects.

Whether or not all foods marketed to consumers as organic meet specified standards for use of that descriptor, or are nutritionally different from conventional foods, is uncertain. In a retail market study in a Western US metropolitan area, differences in mineral composition between conventional potatoes and those marketed as organic were analysed. Potatoes marketed as organic had more copper and magnesium (p < 0.0001), less iron (p < 0.0001) and sodium (p < 0.02), and the same concentration of calcium, potassium and zinc as conventional potatoes. Comparison of individual mineral concentrations between foodstuffs sold as organic or conventional is unlikely to establish a chemical fingerprint to objectively distinguish between organic and conventional produce, but more sophisticated chemometric analysis of multi-element fingerprints holds promise of doing so. Although statistically significant, these differences would only minimally affect total dietary intake of these minerals and be unlikely to result in measurable health benefits.