bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of Undergraduate Research into the Biomolecular Science Curriculum Using Thematically Linked Laboratory Courses in Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, and Neurobiology
Authors: Johnson R. Jeremy , Hoops Geoffrey , Kowalski Jennifer
Published: November 2023

Participation in undergraduate research increases student interest and retention in science, recruits students into scientific careers, and instills greater self‐confidence in research skills. With these measurable benefits, incorporating greater authentic, research‐based learning into undergraduate science education has become a major thrust of undergraduate laboratory education. In this presentation, we will describe the introduction of three thematically connected, research‐based laboratories into the molecular science curriculum at Butler University. In these courses, students first synthesize and characterize novel fluorescent imaging agents, use these imaging agents to catalogue the substrate specificity of serine hydrolases from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and then perform parallel methodologies to measure neural signaling in Caenorhabitis elegans. These three linked courses expose undergraduate students to a diverse set of modern methodologies, increase the level of student inquiry throughout the semester, and culminate in student led undergraduate research projects. The introduction of open‐ended, hypothesis driven research has increased undergraduate student exposure to and participation in scientific research, challenged students to integrate multiple scientific disciplines within the context of a larger scientific investigation, and benefited faculty scholarship output. We will provide an overview of the experimental design for each course, present students’ experimental results, describe measurable student learning gains, and provide examples of how student‐led independent projects have been transitioned into publishable scientific research.

Support or Funding Information

Funding provided by an NSF TUES Award (DUE‐1140526).
Breast Cancer in the Age of Personalized Medicine: A CURE Design for Aspiring Physicians
Authors: Soneral Paula A.G.
Published: November 2023

Modern medicine is greatly impacted by the use of emergent technologies to diagnose and treat disease processes at the molecular level ‐from rapid sequencing of human genomes to remarkable progress from genome‐wide association studies. The potential for genetics and genomics to provide personalized approaches for diagnosing and treating human disease in the clinical setting is imminent. How can we prepare undergraduate students to fully engage these issues at the forefront of molecular medicine? We designed a course‐based undergraduate research experience (CURE) for an upper‐division molecular biology course illustrating the use of personalized medicine in the problem of breast cancer. Students experimentally and computationally analyzed the transcriptome of biopsied human breast cancer tissue using DNA microarrays, and determined a molecular diagnosis and prognosis for the patient. Synthesizing clinical pathological data with gene expression data, students reproducibly sub‐typed breast tumors as ER+/− and/or HER2+/− and BRCA1‐2 +/−, and determined a prognostic “fingerprint” for the patient. The experience culminated in a mock molecular tumor board event, wherein students role‐played as physicians to create a recommendation for personalized chemotherapy. In addition to measuring cognitive outcomes, we report the extent to which this CURE impacted non‐cognitive student outcomes.

The module's efficacy was evaluated in terms of five design elements ‐ the degree to which students (1) made novel scientific discoveries, (2) iterated and revised work, (3) collaborated with peers, (4) owned the project, and (5) gained confidence as a scientist. The Laboratory Course Assessment Survey (LCAS) and Project Ownership Survey (POS) indicated significant gains in aggregated measures of collaboration (T‐test, p<0.001) and project ownership (T‐test, p=0.004). In addition, pre‐post analysis of measures of science self‐efficacy and attitude indicated a favorable shift as a result of the course (CLASS‐BIO, T‐test, p=0.01), with significant gains in student self‐reported intention to pursue a science‐related research career (T‐test, p=0.01). Interestingly, these affective gains are not associated with the degree to which students make novel scientific contributions (T‐test, p=.28) or iterate the investigative process (T‐test, p=.53 for aggregated measures). Content analysis of open‐ended student comments corroborated survey results, and emphasized appreciation for the applicability of the course to societal issues and decision‐making. Together these data suggest that CURE design elements that include highly relevant proof‐of‐concept inquiry can be as effective as CURES centered on original research and iteration, signifying an alternative pathway toward increased science identity, career clarification, and persistence in science.
Lowering the activation barrier, not the academic bar: The role of contract grading in decreasing DFW rates in introductory biochemistry
Authors: Offerdahl Erika G , Hodgson Angela , Krupke Callie
Published: November 2023

Introductory biochemistry for majors is an upper‐level course that serves students from over three colleges and fifteen different majors with diverse academic backgrounds preparing them for success. As one example, students’ self‐reported chemistry preparation was identified as a factor that, in conjunction with prior GPA and score on the Introductory Molecular and Cell Biology Assessment, predicted 44% of variance in student performance. In this study, we used predictive variables to identify “at risk” students, those at high risk of earning a D or F or withdrawing from biochemistry and offer them a targeted opportunity to develop the higher‐order skills necessary to improve performance. Specifically, we employed a contract grading system; if students fulfilled all aspects of the contract they were guaranteed a C for the course. The contract required students to complete 15 obligations throughout the remainder of the semester, including attending regular help sessions, taking comprehensive notes, creating concept maps, and peer‐reviewing other C contract students’ work. After the first exam, 146 students were identified as “at‐risk”. Seventy‐five students signed the contract; twenty students completed all requirements. We compared student performance on major assessments for at‐risk students who (a) did not opt‐in to the contract, (b) opted in but did not complete the contract, and (c) completed the contract. 95% of students completing the contract earned enough points to achieve at least a C in the course, 45% earned a B or better (as compared to just 24% for students who started the contract but did not complete). Controlling for prior GPA, IMCA score, and self‐report chemistry preparation, we confirmed a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) between students who completed the contract and those who started but did not finish or opted out completely. Course assessments analyzed and a Weighted Bloom's Index for major assessments were calculated. Course assessments were at comparable or higher cognitive skill level than previous control semesters. These data suggest that a contract grading system provides the needed structure to support at‐risk students in developing the skills necessary to improve performance in introductory biochemistry. These data are consistent with previous work examining the role of high‐structure learning environments in supporting low performing students.
Using Pop‐It Beads in the Classroom to Enhance Student Comprehension of Enzyme Catalysis and Reaction Rate
Authors: Gehret Austin
Published: November 2023

A classroom activity was devised to introduce associate‐level deaf and hard‐of‐hearing (DHH) students to the concepts of enzyme activity and catalysis of reaction rate. Students’ hands manipulated Pop‐It Beads as the catalytic event and their progress was directly compared to the reaction progress in the absence of student manipulation (no catalysis). This kinesthetic approach also allowed students to experience first‐hand the effect of substrate depletion on their catalyzed reaction rate. Exam results suggested that students understood the targeted learning outcomes and survey responses revealed self‐perceived gains in knowledge. The potential, and benefit, of adapting the activity to explore Michaelis‐Menten kinetics is discussed.
Design elements of a high enrollment course‐based undergraduate research experience may lead to inaccurate student conceptions about scientific research
Authors: Cooper Katelyn M. , Wassef Cyril , Brownell Sara E.
Published: November 2023

National calls for more broadly integrating research into the undergraduate curriculum have sparked the development of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). In a CURE, students engage in the process of research in a formal lab course by exploring a question with an unknown answer that has relevance to the broader community. As opposed to independent research experiences, CUREs give a greater number of students the opportunity to do science.

We present our analysis of the student outcomes of an innovative CURE curriculum focused on the characterization of single point mutations in p53, a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in over 50% of human cancers. Using a set of open‐ended written prompts that were administered at the beginning and end of the course, we found that the course shifts student conceptions of what it means to think like a scientist from novice to more expert‐like. We further explored student conceptions about aspects of scientific research, and surprisingly found that while some students gained a more sophisticated understanding of scientific research, other students exhibited inaccurate conceptions about scientific research that seemed to stem from the course design. These data indicate that this course‐embedded research experience largely has a positive impact on the development of students’ conceptions and practice of scientific thinking. However specific design aspects of the course may hinder student conceptions about scientific research and need to be further explored.
Visual Models to Use in the Classroom for Teaching Immunology Concepts
Authors: Williams Ann
Published: November 2023

Teaching tools including visual models that utilize active learning techniques have been used successfully in my classroom to teach Immunology concepts and increase student learning. I have created three teaching modules: The Deadly Hershey's Kiss, the Construction paper activity, and INFECTION, an Immunology Board Game that have been used routinely and successfully in upper division Immunology and Microbiology for Allied Health courses. These modules utilize the concept of visualizing the processes of primary and secondary infections and specificity of T & B cell receptors with their corresponding antigen. INFECTION is useful in the college classroom or lab for modeling concepts such as primary and secondary response, vaccinations, specificity, autoimmunity, and HIV. INFECTION was developed and presented this tool to middle and high school teachers as part of a Science Math Masters grant funded by the Florida Department of Education and administered by University of Tampa faculty in partnership with K‐12 educators and administrators in Florida. It was developed for both the middle and high school teachers and classroom and at the undergraduate level. The INFECTION game utilizes a lymph node as the game board, case study scenarios, different colored balls as B cells, T cells, and antigens, clothespins as antibodies, a foam “pacman” ball as a macrophage, and a roll of the die to move you to the next Immune step to clear the infection. As you wait for each individual immune step, microbes are doubling (represented by pinto beans) and the game is a race between microbes doubling and antibody production. All three teaching modules are used in different ways in the classroom and lab to visualize and model several important immune concepts including vaccinations, B cell, T cell, and antigen specific interactions, HIV, autoimmunity, and would be appropriate to use in courses where Immunology concepts are discussed including Microbiology, Immunology, Introductory Biology, and Non‐majors Biology.

Support or Funding Information

Florida Department of Education
Global food system changes have created new drivers and new challenges for low and middle income countries
Authors: Popkin Barry M.
Published: November 2023

Over the past 15 years, villages and cities across the entire set of low and middle income countries (LMICs) have experienced a remarkable shift in their food systems. The major actors that used to run agricultural production and sales have shifted, the role of agribusinesses, food retailers, global and local food companies, and the food service sector have changed. Large‐scale representative surveys from Mexico and China combined with national sales trends highlight impacts on diets of rich and poor urban and rural individuals. The results increases in purchases of consumer packaged foods and beverages poses major new challenges for those concerned both with under‐ and overnutrition and for our entire research and program policy agenda with critical health implications. This rapid growth of the retail sector will change the diets of the food insecure as much as that of the food secure across rural and urban LMIC's. The rates of change are such that the approximately 30% of calories from packaged and processed kcal/cap/day in China in 2011 will probably double by 2015 and that of 58% of kcal from similar food from Mexico will continue to increase. Impacts on obesity are shown for China. The critical issue is the types of food purchased. Using trends from these and other countries, we will show how globally much of the increases are in what we might consider nonessential food or junk food. The hunger and obesity concerns are being joined in ways one could not have predicted a decade ago and demand attention.

Support or Funding Information

NIH: R01‐HD30880‐20, DK056350, R24 HD050924, R01‐HD38700, R24 HD050924
Dietary Comparisons between Mexican and American College‐Aged Adults
Authors: Hannon Bridget , Robinson Katie Nicole , Morales Juan Manuel Vargas , García Celia Aradillas , Teran‐Garcia Margarita
Published: November 2023

Increasing portion sizes, lack of physical activity, and high consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages are common trends in obesogenic environments such as Mexico and the United States, which currently have two of the highest obesity rates in the world. These factors, along with others, promote weight gain in the citizens of these countries, and concurrent obesity‐related diseases. Two such diseases, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperlipidemia, are on the rise in Mexico, a nation whose obesity rate just surpassed that of the United States. Therefore, this study sought to explore the differences in dietary patterns in two cohorts of college‐aged students, one located in central Mexico (UPAMIGOS project, n=223 [females=122, males=101]) and another in central Illinois (NIMIS study, n=68 [females=34, males=34]). Biochemical and anthropometric measurements were assessed in both cohorts. The same food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was administered to both populations, with some of the Mexican‐specific foods omitted for the American cohort. The Mexican cohort (Mex) had significantly higher triglycerides p <0.0001), total cholesterol (p <0.001), and LDL cholesterol (p <0.0001), while consuming significantly more calories (p<0.0001) than the American cohort (US), independent of sex (females: 2,154.3±1,032.7 [Mex] vs. 1,015.1±533.9 [US] and males: 2,433.0±1,250.6 [Mex] vs. 1,309.1±780.2 [US]). The Mexican cohort also consumed more total fat (in grams) than the American cohort. (females: 35.32±7.94 [Mex] vs. 30.57±5.18 [US] and males: 33.33±8.21 [Mex] vs. 31.82±10.27 [US]). These findings, particularly the significantly increased consumption of calories and fat, contribute to the increasing rate of obesity‐related diseases and poorer health status in the Mexican population. Future studies should seek to investigate whether metabolic risk factors for obesity‐related diseases develop at a younger age in those of Mexican descent and whether dietary changes could effectively manage these values.

Support or Funding Information

Bridget Hannon was supported by the National Institute for Agriculture under the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area grant (2015‐68001‐23248) to the University of Illinois. Katie Robinson was supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture as part of the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge (2011‐67001‐30101) to the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois.
Viral Hepatitis Infections in Africa
Authors: Oyesile T C , Einstein George P , Obidi O F , Tulp Orien L
Published: November 2023

Background

Hepatitis infections are a global public health challenge involving the inflammatory condition of the liver. Transmission is a common occurrence and a potential risk especially in Sub‐Saharan Africa which is an area of high endemicity.

Objectives

To investigate incidence of viral hepatitis infections in Africa.

Methods

A literature search was performed using Pubmed, American society for microbiology (ASM) journals, Googlescholar and other sources to establish conclusions from the results of randomized and cross sectional clinical studies in Africa. The quality of studies was assessed using descriptive and inferential statistics with adjusted odds ratio of 95% confidence interval (CI) for the most prevalent hepatitis infection, ages of susceptible individuals and health status involved.

Findings

The results revealed the most and least prevalent Hepatitis as B and A. Seroprevalence was highest among women 21–25 years of age. About three‐quarter (73.4%) were in their third trimester of pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors that are significantly associated with maternofetal transmission which remains a contributor to high prevalence of chronic infection. It was found that viral load and age showed significant contributions.

Conclusion

The results showed high correlation between viral hepatitis and maternofetal transmission in pregnant women.

Support or Funding Information

Supported by Institutional Resources of USAT, the Einstein Institute and the University of Lagos
The influence of inflammation on iron status among young children in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
Authors: Perrine Cria G , Jefferds Maria Elena , Then Amarilis , Santos Susana , Flores Rafael
Published: November 2023

Ferritin is often used to assess population iron status. However, ferritin is an acute phase protein that increases with inflammation, which can lead to underestimation of iron deficiency (ID) in areas with prevalent inflammation. Previous research has suggested correcting for inflammation by multiplying ferritin by a correction factor: the ratio of the geometric means of ferritin of the group without inflammation to the group with inflammation. Most data used in developing this method are from sub‐national surveys in Asia and Africa, where prevalence and causes of inflammation and iron deficiency may differ from Latin America. We used data from nationally representative surveys of children 6–59 months in the Dominican Republic (DR, 2009, n=550) and Nicaragua (2004–05, n=962) to describe the prevalence of inflammation (α1‐acid glycoprotein, AGP, >1g/L) and ID (ferritin >12 μg/L), and apply this correction method. In DR, the prevalence of inflammation was 42.4%. The prevalence of ID was 25.9% overall, and did not differ between children without and with inflammation (27.4% vs. 23.7%, p=0.4). The calculated correction factor for DR was 0.886, leading to a corrected overall prevalence of ID of 26.9%. In Nicaragua, the prevalence of inflammation was 26.3%. The prevalence of ID overall was 32.2%, and was higher among children without inflammation (37.9% vs 20.2%, p<0.01). The calculated correction factor for Nicaragua was 0.608, leading to a corrected overall prevalence of ID of 40.3%. Inflammation, as indicated by AGP, was common among young children in these Latin American countries. Inflammation had little effect on the prevalence of ID in the Dominican Republic, but was associated with lower estimates of ID in Nicaragua. The reason for these differences is not clear. The corrected prevalence of ID in Nicaragua was several percentage points higher than the prevalence among children without inflammation. National surveys in different global regions should continue to assess how inflammation impacts estimates of ID.
Micronutrients and Dengue Fever in Coastal Ecuador
Authors: Finkelstein Julia L. , Layden Alexander J. , Beltrán‐Ayala Efraín , Cárdenas Washington B. , Endy Timothy P. , Ryan Sadie J. , Stewart Ibarra Anna M. , Mehta Saurabh
Published: November 2023

Objective

Micronutrients are known immunomodulators and are often used as simple low‐cost adjuncts to lower the risk of acquisition, transmission, progression, or severity of infection. However, no studies to date have comprehensively assessed the linkage between micronutrient status and dengue fever. This study was conducted to examine the role of micronutrients in dengue fever, as part of a prospective study of dengue transmission conducted in Machala, Ecuador, our surveillance site located near the Peruvian border.

Methods

Individuals presenting with suspected dengue fever at four sentinel clinics and the central hospital of the Ministry of Health were recruited into the study. Index cases with acute dengue infection triggered an investigation of dengue cases in the index household and four neighboring households. Dengue fever was diagnosed via RT‐qPCR (n=72), and cases were sex‐and age‐matched to controls (n=72), individuals who tested negative for dengue fever (i.e., negative for RT‐qPCR, NS1, IgG, and IgM). Micronutrients, vitamin D (25(OH)D), vitamin B12, and folate; hemoglobin, serum ferritin (SF), and serum transferrin receptor (sTfR); and inflammatory biomarkers, C‐reactive protein (CRP) and alpha‐1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) were measured in stored samples; and total body iron was calculated.

Results

Serum ferritin concentrations (median (IQR): 188.0 (71.7–595.0) vs. 80.1 (45.0–138.0) μg/L; p<0.0001) and total body iron (p=0.0004) were significantly higher in dengue cases compared to controls. Iron overload (SF>150.0 μg/L) was common, with a higher prevalence in dengue cases compared to controls (55.1% vs. 22.5%; p<0.0001). The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (<148 pmol/L; 11.4% vs. 7.5%; p>0.05) and folate deficiency (<6.8 nmol/L; 0.0% vs. 1.6%; p>0.05; <10.0 nmol/L; 7.9% and 4.9%; p>0.05) were low; however, 32.9% of cases and 41.8% of controls had vitamin B12 insufficiency (<221 pmol/L). Median serum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly higher in cases compared to controls (median (IQR): 83.8 (71.8–93.5) vs. 76.6 (IQR: 65.5–90.8) nmol/L; p=0.04). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was low and comparable in cases and controls (25(OH)D <50.0 nmol/L: 0.0% vs. 4.25%; p>0.05). 32.5% of cases and 44.4% of controls had vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D <75.0 nmol/L; p>0.05).

Conclusion

The prevalence of iron overload was high in this population, particularly among dengue‐infected individuals. Vitamin B12 and D insufficiency were present in more than one‐third of individuals in both cases and controls. The implications of these micronutrient alterations for immune function and clinical outcomes in this population needs to be assessed in future studies.

Support or Funding Information

Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University; Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response
Impact of host iron on pathogenesis of falciparum malaria: a translational field study from The Gambia
Authors: Cerami Carla , Goheen Morgan M. , Gardner Daniel , Darboe Bakary , Danso Ebrima , Bah Mamadou , Bah Amat , Wegmuller Rita , Prentice Andrew
Published: November 2023

Epidemiological studies show that iron deficiency protects against malaria, and clinical trials administering iron to iron‐deficient individuals have increased the risk of malaria. However, the molecular mechanisms of these interactions are poorly understood. In an effort to further evaluate the pathogenesis of P. falciparum infection in people with iron deficiency before, during and after iron supplementation, we investigated the in vitro growth growth characteristics of standard laboratory strains of P. falciparum in red blood cells (RBCs) from Gambian children and pregnant women participating in an iron supplementation trial. First, we collected RBCs from children (ages 6 months to 2 years) and pregnant women (2nd and 3rd trimester) with hemoglobin levels less than 11 g/dL. Then, using flow cytometry‐based assays, we separately examined the effect of iron deficiency on overall parasite growth and, merozoite invasion of, RBCs. We demonstrate that P. falciparum erythrocytic stage growth in vitro increases directly in relation to mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in RBCs and we demonstrate that P. falciparum invasion is reduced in iron deficient RBCs from Gambian children. Additionally, we show that the in vitro growth of the malaria parasite is increased in RBCs drawn from individuals during iron supplementation and that the kinetics of this response correlate with an increase in erythropoiesis.

These investigations leverage novel tools and clinical samples from a malaria endemic country to refine our understanding of an ancient relationship between parasite and host. Our findings also imply that in malarious regions iron supplementation should be accompanied by effective measures to prevent falciparum malaria.

Support or Funding Information

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation;National Institutes of Child Health and Development; Medical Research Council
Vitamin D Status and Diabetes Among Patients with Suspected Tuberculosis in Rural South India
Authors: Yu Elaine A. , Finkelstein Julia L. , Bonam Wesley , Glesby Marshall J. , Russell David G. , Brannon Patsy M. , Mehta Saurabh
Published: November 2023

Objective

Although obesity is an established risk factor for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), our previous work has demonstrated a high prevalence of DM in populations with lower body mass index (BMI). Further, the roles of key modifiable risk factors of diabetes, such as vitamin D status, in these populations remain unclear. In this cross‐sectional study, we assessed the associations between vitamin D, diabetes, and pre‐diabetes among patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB) and low adiposity in India.

Methods

Study participants were recruited based on the presentation of clinical signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (n=848). Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25[OHD]) was determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay, and we defined low vitamin D with three cut‐off values (25[OH]D <40.0 nmol/L, <50.0 nmol/L, <75.0 nmol/L). Diabetes (HbA1c ≥6.5%) and pre‐diabetes (HbA1c ≥5.7% to <6.5%) were defined by concentrations of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), which was evaluated with high‐performance liquid chromatography. Whole and segmental body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (8 electrode; Tanita BC 418 MA).

Results

Among study participants, median vitamin D concentrations were 49.9 nmol/L (interquartile range [IQR] 36.7–69.3). 31.7% of patients had 25(OH)D < 40.0 nmol/L, 50.2% had 25(OH)D < 50.0 nmol/L, and 81.0% had 25(OH)D < 75.0 nmol/L. Median BMI was 18.5 kg/m2 (IQR 16.3–21.3) in males and 19.0 kg/m2 (IQR 16.4–23.7) in females. Median body fat was 14.8% (IQR 9.9–20.0) in males and 26.3% (IQR 20.1–34.5) in females. 13.0% of patients had DM and 20.8% had pre‐DM. 25(OH)D concentrations (nmol/L) were similar in patients with and without diabetes (p>0.05). Fat mass (kg) was higher in individuals with low vitamin D (<50.0 nmol/L), compared to patients with higher vitamin D status (11.0 kg [SD 7.9] vs. 8.8 kg [SD 5.3]; p=0.03). Individuals with vitamin D concentrations in the lowest quintile had a 3.7 times greater odds of having pre‐diabetes (adjusted OR: 3.7 [95% CI: 1.4–9.6]) after adjusting for waist circumference and age, compared to individuals in the four highest quintiles.

Conclusions

Findings demonstrate that lower vitamin D status is associated with increased pre‐diabetes and higher fat mass in patients with suspected tuberculosis, despite the low BMI of this study population. Prospective studies are needed to determine the role of vitamin D in this dual epidemic of diabetes and tuberculosis.

Support or Funding Information

Cornell University
The Infant Gut Microbiome Is Associated With Stool Markers of Macrophage and Neutrophil Activity
Authors: Pierce Zachary , Huda Nazmul , Raqib Rubhana , Ahmed Sheikh , Zerofsky Melissa , Mills David , Stephensen Charles
Published: November 2023

Background

Non‐exclusive breastfeeding and poor environmental hygiene in early infancy may perturb the gut microbiota to cause local inflammation and systemic exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), even in healthy infants.

Objective

To test the hypothesis that intestinal dysbiosis impairs local and systemic immune responses, we examined associations of stool microbiota with local intestinal inflammation (myeloperoxidase [MPO] and neopterin as markers of neutrophil and macrophage activity, respectively) and systemic LPS exposure (plasma anti‐LPS IgM) in healthy (no fever or recent history of symptomatic infection), breastfed Bangladeshi infants with potential exposure to enteric pathogens.

Methods

Samples were available from 48 Bangladeshi infants participating in a vitamin A supplementation trial (NCT01583972). Stool was collected at 6, 11, and 15 wk and plasma at 6 and 11 wk of age. Stool microbiota was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. MPO, neopterin and LPS‐specific IgM were measured with commercially available kits. Spearman correlation analyses were used to determine associations between relative abundance of bacterial taxa and markers of inflammation and LPS exposure.

Results

Proteobacteria at the phylum, class, and order levels were positively associated with MPO at 6 and 15 wk (p<0.05). Microbiota relative abundance was not associated with anti‐LPS IgM at either 6 or 15 wk. Actinobacteria (predominantly Bifidobacterium) relative abundance was positively associated with stool neopterin from the phylum to species levels (p<0.05) at all ages while the relative abundance of Firmicutes (orders Lactobacillales and Clostridia; p<0.05) was negatively associated with neopterin at all ages. MPO and neopterin did not vary with age; anti‐LPS IgM increased with age (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The positive association of Proteobacteria with MPO suggests subclinical intestinal inflammation in these otherwise healthy children, as MPO is indicative of neutrophil infiltration into the intestinal lumen, though the lack of LPS‐specific IgM may indicate minimal systemic exposure to these bacteria. Bifidobacterium is abundant in the stool of breastfed infants and has been positively associated with many beneficial health outcomes, thus its positive association with stool neopterin was not expected. However, neopterin in the stool may originate from normal macrophage activity in the intestinal immune compartment, which can be extensive, rather than from macrophages present in the intestinal lumen during inflammation. Thus, rather than a marker of inflammation, stool neopterin may indicate overall intestinal immune activity or development, which may be stimulated by Bifidobacterium, though this hypothesis needs further exploration.

Support or Funding Information

Thrasher Research Grant; Jastro‐Shields Research Grant
Multisectoral Nutrition: Feasible or Fantasy?
Authors: Pelletier David , Gervais Suzanne , Hafeez‐ur‐Rehman Hajra , Sanou Dia , Tumwine Jackson
Published: November 2023

Undernutrition has received unprecedented attention, financing and policy focus in recent years. One example is the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, with over fifty countries engaged and pursuing a multisectoral nutrition (MSN) approach. This presentation describes the extraordinarily high requirements for MSN to achieve impact and assesses the likelihood of countries achieving impact under current conditions. It is based on the results of a two‐year, prospective study of the challenges, strategies and accomplishments in implementing a multisectoral approach to stunting reduction in four of the African SUN countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Mali and Uganda. The requirements for effective MSN include various forms of commitment, coordination and capacity at individual, organizational and system levels, involving multiple government organizations, donors, implementing agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector, extending from national to community levels. Few of these requirements were met in the four study countries, yet each of them made significant progress in four major areas: Strengthening the enabling environment, cascading MSN to sub‐national levels, aligning stakeholders and the practice of adaptive management and learning. While this progress is encouraging, these countries remain at fairly early stages of building the MSN system and continue to face many challenges. Most of these challenges can be addressed by placing a high priority on three high leverage system investments: strengthening human resources in the MSN coordinating unit, creating a small but full‐time implementation team and ensuring that accurate information on critical bottlenecks is conveyed and acted upon in a timely fashion by high level decision makers in government and partner organizations. In the absence of such investments it is uncertain whether or how MSN can become effective or sustainable within a time frame that is acceptable to politicians and international donors.

Support or Funding Information

UNICEF Regional Offices in Western/Central Africa and Eastern/Southern Africa.
The Role of Women's Status in Agricultural Commercialization, Production Diversity and Dietary Diversity in Ethiopia: Results from a 2012 National Integrated Agriculture and Socio‐economic Survey
Authors: Coates Jennifer , Galante Tina
Published: November 2023

Evidence of the relationships between increased production of nutritious food crops, the diversity of crop production, and linkages to improved overall dietary quality is inconclusive. Similarly, there is controversy over whether agricultural commercialization leads to healthier, more diverse diets and for whom. The study of smallholder households in Ethiopia sought to answer the following 3 questions: 1) is agricultural commercialization associated with greater household dietary diversity and, if yes, under what circumstances? 2) Is greater food production diversity associated with dietary diversity? To what extent does the production of a specific food group increase the likelihood of its consumption? 3) To what extent do female headship and women's empowerment mediate these relationships?

An OLS regression model using data from the 2012 Living Standards Measurement Study‐Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS‐ISA): Ethiopia Rural Socioeconomic Survey found that greater income from agricultural sales, controlling for non‐agricultural income and other confounding variables, was associated with higher household dietary diversity, with female‐headed households experiencing greater diet diversity from commercialization than male‐headed households.

Regardless of headship, dietary diversity was greater in households where a female owned at least one large asset, intended as an indicator of empowerment. The same model demonstrated that greater food crop production diversity was not significantly associated with greater dietary diversity, while cash crop diversity was found to be positively associated with dietary diversity. Furthermore, results from logistic regression models showed that households producing vegetables, fruit, pulses, dairy, and eggs had a higher chance of consuming these foods than those that did not produce the foods at all. The results suggest that smallholder agricultural commercialization may improve household diet through increased income. Additionally, policies that focus on increasing production of nutrient‐rich foods and policies that empower women and enable them to have greater control over assets and other decision‐making may likely see improved dietary diversity both together with, and independent of, commercialization efforts.

Support or Funding Information

This research work is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Agreement No. AID‐663‐A‐11‐00017. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the researcher & do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
Meal Consumption Patterns Among Recipient of the School Nutrition Programme in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Francis Marlon , Nichols Selby
Published: November 2023

The National Dietary Services Limited makes available over 90,000 lunches to primary and secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factors influence meal consumption among recipients.

Methods

3,120 school lunches were randomly assigned to participant attending 52 randomly selected primary schools in Trinidad and Tobago. Participants in receipt of the specially marked boxes were advised by the class teachers to return the boxed to designation stations when there were finished with their meal. The remnants of the meals were analyses and recorded by quality officers specially trained for the investigation. We used a cutoff of 75% of more of meals consume as our cutoff for adequacy of consumption of that particular meal component. Approvals was granted by the Ministry of Education to conduct this survey. Participation by the students was voluntary.

Results

2009 or 65% of specially marked boxes were returned for analyses. Overall, we found significant linear trends in the adequacy of consumption of foods from animals and staples with age. Male were significant more likely that their female counterparts to have adequate consumption of staples. Vegetables were generally poorly consumed.

Conclusion

Meals uptakes were influenced by age, sex and the nature of the meal served.
The impact of a pricing and communications intervention on stocking and sales of healthier foods in small Baltimore City food stores
Authors: Budd Nadine , Kharmats Anna , Jeffries Jayne K , Jones‐Smith Jessica , Gittelsohn Joel
Published: November 2023

Improving food environments and increasing access to healthy foods has been identified as a key strategy for obesity prevention and reduction. B'More Healthy Retail Rewards was a 6‐month factorial randomized controlled trial that tested the impact of a communications and pricing intervention on the stock and sales of healthier foods, including drinks, staple foods, and snacks, at multiple levels of the local food system. Twenty‐four small food stores in low‐income areas of Baltimore City were randomized to one of four treatment groups: pricing only (G1), communications only (G2), combined pricing and communications (G3), and control (G4). Pricing stores (n=12) received a 10–30% discount on promoted foods from their local wholesaler. Communications stores (n=12) received signage, small refrigerators, and other materials to help increase stock and sales of promoted foods. Regression‐based difference‐in‐difference models using linear generalized estimating equations were used to estimate treatment effects from baseline to post‐intervention (Δ outcome for treatment group ‐Δ outcome for control). Intervention effects were observed for stocking scores of promoted foods for all treatment groups verses control group, with the greatest effects seen among the two pricing interventions (G1: β=3.6, 95% CI 1.3–5.9; G2: β=2.5, 95% CI 0.7–4.3; G3: β=3.5, 95% CI 0.8–6.2). There was a significant treatment effect for daily unit sales of healthy snacks for the combined pricing and communications intervention (β=6.4, 95% CI 0.9–11.9) versus control, but not for other intervention groups. These findings suggest that store‐directed pricing interventions are most effective in motivating store owners to stock healthier foods, with additional integration of targeted communication strategies further motivating customers to purchase these foods.

Support or Funding Information

Funding was received by National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (Grant #1R21HL102812‐01A1), the Abell foundation, and Johns Hopkins Global Obesity Prevention Center.
Vitamin A fortification of vegetable oil in Bangladesh
Authors: Raghavan Ramkripa , Aaron Grant J , Neufeld Lynnette M , Rahman Sabuktagin , Nahar Baitun , Knowles Jacky
Published: November 2023

Objective

Mandatory fortification of vegetable oil (soybean and palm oil) with vitamin A was decreed in Bangladesh in 2013, but there is a dearth of data on the availability and consumption of vitamin A fortifiable and fortified oil at retailer and household (HH) level.

Methods

Data on household use and purchase of edible oil was collected as part of a 2015 national iodized salt coverage survey. Stratification was done by urban and slum (combined), rural low performing (program performance for salt iodization) and rural other. The survey included collection of information about household vulnerability to poverty (deprivation) to assess equity of access to fortified/fortifiable products. Individual oil consumption was estimated based on reported frequency and quantity of oil purchased and expected intra‐HH distribution according to FAO recommended adult male consumption (AME) method. Commercially produced soy and palm oil samples were also collected from local retail outlets for analysis of vitamin A content. The final national sample included 1512 HH and 756 retailer shops from 126 primary sampling units nationwide.

Results

Purchase of commercially produced fortifiable vegetable oil was high (86.5% HHs) but varied significantly by strata, being highest in urban areas (93.9%) and lowest in rural low performing areas (80.4%). More deprived HHs were less likely to purchase fortifiable vegetable oil (81.4%) when compared to non‐deprived HHs (89.7%) ‐ p value ‐ <0.001 for all above differences. Estimated individual fortifiable oil consumption was highest among Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) in urban areas (27.20 g/day), and lowest in rural‐low performing areas (18.94 g/day). A similar pattern of statistically significant differences in fortifiable oil consumption between strata was observed for all age groups except for 12–23 month olds in rural low performing vs. rural‐other. Preliminary analysis suggests that if commercially produced oil were fortified at recommended level of 19ppm (suggested range 15–30 ppm), it would meet 26.5% and 51.2% vitamin A RNI for children (12–59 months old) and WRA respectively.

Conclusion

This survey indicates wide availability (>80%) of commercially produced (fortifiable) oils among all population groups, together with widespread consumption of oil for children 12–59 months old (8.28 g/day vs. 9.97 g/day in more and less deprived HH, respectively) and WRA (20.11 g/day vs. 25.37 g/day in more and less deprived HH, respectively). These data show that soybean and palm oils are appropriate vehicles for vitamin A fortification, and even deprived households can be reached using this vehicle. Future work will include an assessment of current actual additional vitamin A intake estimates, based on the results of the oil sample retinol analysis.
The Influence of Korean high school students’ midnight snacks on their breakfast‐skipping pattern
Authors: Kim Young A , Kim Ji‐Hyun
Published: November 2023

This study was conducted to provide basic information about the influence of midnight snacks on high school students’ breakfast‐skipping pattern. 1,010 students from 5 high schools were surveyed using a questionnaire in the region of Incheon and Bucheon, the metropolitan area of Korea. In the aggregate, 71.2% of the students had a midnight snacks more than once a week. Boys (74.9%) had more midnight snacks than girls(67.4%). When the students purchased foods midnight snack‐taking group gave higher priority on taste (66.9%) and quantity (8.6%) than the other students (54.0% and 7.2%). Boys tended to choose (50.4%) and have (34.0%) midnight snack alone, while girls do with their families (41.5%, 37.6%). 42% of students used to skip breakfast meal more than 3 times a week, and the ratio found higher with the students got up late in the morning (67%).

The students who have midnight snacks once or more in a week appeared lower having breakfast ratio (43.8%) than others (56.4%). Also the students who have midnight snacks had less desirable eating habits (examined with 17 criteria) than others. But most of the students (75.8%) did not notice the relationship between midnight snacks and breakfast.

Therefore, proper nutrition education to let students know about the effect of midnight snack is strongly required to reduce breakfast skipping ratio of the students.

Support or Funding Information

Grant Funding Source: Inha University
Cooking Meals More Frequently, Eating More Fruits and Vegetables, and Less Fast‐Foods among Students in Nutritional Sciences Majors than Non‐majors
Authors: Taylor Brittney R. , Pope Benjamin T. , Franklin Alexandra M. , Harris Preston R. , Wyatt Bobby , Hongu Nobuko
Published: November 2023

Background

Research shows that cooking meals improves diet quality among students. However, there is no evidence that undergraduate students in nutrition or dietetics programs cook more meals while they are learning about foods and its impacts on human health. The purpose of this study was to examine the types and frequency of meal preparations among undergraduate students in the nutritional sciences department and other departments in a University.

Methods

An 11‐question survey was completed by 238 nutritional science majors (NS‐majors) and 91 non‐nutritional science majors (non‐majors). Questions included demographics, the consumptions of fruits and vegetables and fast‐foods (ready‐to‐eat foods), and number of prepared meals per week. They were asked to specify whether each meal was prepared using one of two techniques. These were: 1) cooking techniques, including meal‐preparation activities such as washing, chopping, mixing, roasting, and seasoning, and 2) preparing techniques, including simple meal preparation, involving a microwave or making a bowl of cereal. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used to analyze data.

Results

NS‐majors cooked meals more often using cooking techniques than non‐majors (p=0.059). When comparing the students in freshman and senior NS‐majors, senior NS‐majors cooked more meals than freshman NS‐majors (p=0.023). The senior NS‐majors also consumed more vegetables compared to freshman NS‐majors (p=0.001). The students in both NS‐majors and non‐majors who are living in apartments, houses, or condos, or with parents, relatives, or spouses cooked more meals using cooking techniques than students living in dorms (p=0.006). NS‐majors consumed significantly less fast‐foods than non‐majors (p=0.022).

Conclusions

There were significant associations between the level of NS‐majors and numbers of cooked meals, eating more fruits and vegetables, and less consumption of fast food. We are planning to have focus group meetings with NS‐majors to determine factors influencing the increased numbers of cooking meals and improving eating habits, such as increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables.