NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD INSECURITY IMPACTING MENTAL HEALTH IN EAST TENNESSEE COMMUNITIES

This study contributes to a growing body of research in counseling, public health, and psychology that examines how features within neighborhoods affect mental health. The environment in which their clients live directly affects services that counselors provide. Mental health discussions often center at the individual level, but mental health significantly impacts communities a whole. Therefore, the presence of mental health problems in individuals will affect the wider community at varying societal levels. Geographic information Systems, (GIS) will be used to determine which features of built environment associated food insecurity impact mental health and where the correlations between mental health and food insecurity are strongest. The proximity of features defining food insecurity will be used to identify areas that may be vulnerable to mental health issues. The study\u27s research questions will examine conditions of the neighborhood’s built food environment that impact mental health and in turn increase allostatic load. The hypotheses of this study assert that positive food choices and a healthy neighborhood food environment will have a positive linear relationship with mental health. The results of this study will increase the use of the geographic information systems within counseling research; inform counselors and policymakers the impact of social determinants on mental health and identify vulnerable geographic subgroups. Counselors and decision makers may choose to use information and findings from this study to develop population-specific interventions

BH3I-1 DERIVATIVES INHIBIT THE FILAMENTOUS GROWTH OF THE CEA10 STRAIN OF ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS

Recent and exciting advances in medical therapies for cancer and organ failures have greatly extended the life span of afflicted patients. However, these therapies often place the patient at risk for potentially lethal fungal infections. As the number of immunocompromised patients continues to rise, there has been an increase in associated opportunistic fungal infections. Treatment options for invasive mycoses caused by Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus are surprisingly limited. A. fumigatus is the most common Aspergillus species associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, accounting for over 60% of cases. Aspergillus grows as a filamentous mold with true hyphae originating from the germination of asexual conidia.  A. fumigatus is not a dimorphic fungi as is the case with C. albicans, however, as both grow in hyphal form it seems possible that small molecules that inhibit the transition of C. albicans budded cells to hyphal growth (often referred to as the germination of blastoconidia) may also inhibit the germination of Aspergillus conidia. We tested BH3I-1 and derivatives against A. fumigatus strain CEA10 in YPD media. BH3I-1 and five of the derivatives inhibited at a 200?M concentration based on general observation via microscopy as well as eleven showing promising inhibition at possible different concentrations. Out of these inhibiting molecules, seven also shown inhibition within the prior C. albicans assay. We are currently employing a micro-plate reader to obtain quantitative levels of inhibition with increasing concentrations of molecule. Molecule 54 at the 300?M concentration showed similar inhibition to that of BH3I-1 at the same concentration

A social pedagogical intervention to support children in care:Back on Track

This paper focuses on an intervention project, Back on Track (BoT), implemented as a part of the Resilience Revolution: HeadStart Blackpool (RR:HS) programme in the UK. Whilst it is a famous family holiday resort, Blackpool is also one of the most deprived towns in England. This makes life challenging for young people (YP) to maintain wellbeing and reach their potential. Blackpool also has an above average and growing proportion of children in care. They are at a higher risk of developing mental health difficulties and of being permanently excluded from school. BoT aimed to support fostered children who have been referred by schools or social workers to the project for having emotional and behavioural struggles. As a consequence of their difficulties, they were at risk of permanent exclusion from the school. The intervention was grounded in a social pedagogical approach and Resilient Therapy. Resilience Coaches (i.e., wellbeing practitioners) had the role of enhancing communication between YP, family, social care, and school, whilst working with YP to co-produce coping strategies. Between November 2016 and June 2021, 39 YP (61.5% male) aged 10 to 15 (M = 12.74, SD = 1.60) received BoT support over a period lasting between 4 months to 2.5 years (M = 14 months, SD = 6.8 months). Using a mixed-methods design, this paper explored the BoT implementation. YP completed questionnaires before and after BoT. Triangulation interviews were conducted with a randomly selected YP, foster parent and the Resilience Coach. Results showed the benefit of equipping YP with ‘resilient moves’ and joining up systems to work together and better support YP and families. YP reported reduced difficulties, improved strengths (i.e., prosocial behaviour) and educational outcomes. This helped build resilience and reduce the risk of permanent exclusions from school. Policy and practice implications for children in care are discussed

Transcription factor expression dynamics of early T-lymphocyte specification and commitment

Mammalian T lymphocytes are a prototype for development from adult pluripotent stem cells. While T-cell specification is driven by Notch signaling, T-lineage commitment is only finalized after prolonged Notch activation. However, no T-lineage specific regulatory factor has been reported that mediates commitment. We used a gene-discovery approach to identify additional candidate T-lineage transcription factors and characterized expression of > 100 regulatory genes in early T-cell precursors using realtime RT-PCR. These regulatory genes were also monitored in multilineage precursors as they entered T-cell or non-T-cell pathways in vitro; in non-T cells ex vivo; and in later T-cell developmental stages after lineage commitment. At least three major expression patterns were observed. Transcription factors in the largest group are expressed at relatively stable levels throughout T-lineage specification as a legacy from prethymic precursors, with some continuing while others are downregulated after commitment. Another group is highly expressed in the earliest stages only, and is downregulated before or during commitment. Genes in a third group undergo upregulation at one of three distinct transitions, suggesting a positive regulatory cascade. However, the transcription factors induced during commitment are not T-lineage specific. Different members of the same transcription factor family can follow opposite trajectories during specification and commitment, while factors co-expressed early can be expressed in divergent patterns in later T-cell development. Some factors reveal new regulatory distinctions between αβ and γδ T-lineage differentiation. These results show that T-cell identity has an essentially complex regulatory basis and provide a detailed framework for regulatory network modeling of T-cell specification

The Grizzly, September 23, 1983

Security Measures Enacted • Rape Suspect Arrested • Union Welcomes Director • President\u27s Corner • Letters to the Editor • What to do With Your First $10,000 • Art Exhibit Opens • French Professor Earns Doctorate • Bloodmobile is Back • The New Invasion • Some People Never Give Up • Math, Science Teachers Needed • Ursinus Welcomes New Faculty • Calling All Diabetics: Wanna be a Guinea Pig? • New Look Bears Score Grid Upset • Field Hockey Off to Fine Start • Seniors Anchor U.C. Soccer • Sports Profilehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1101/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, September 30, 1983

Fraternities Speak Out • Media Meeting Held • Forum Series Begins • President\u27s Corner • Letters to the Editor • Student Profile: Weible on Wheels • Guitarist Plays at Ursinus • Faculty Lectures Open • Everybody\u27s Rockin\u27 • Accountants Sponsor Competition • Parsons Stars in Video • Volleyball Picks up First Win • Gone But Not Forgotten • Speech Exemption Exam to be Given • Soccer Team Seeks to Regroup for Divisional Play • Hockey Lookin\u27 Good • Bear Pack up for Strong Season • Western Maryland Bombs Bearshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1102/thumbnail.jp

Incorporating Technology Into the iCook 4-H Program, a Cooking Intervention for Adults and Children: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Families who cook, eat, and play together have been found to have more positive health outcomes. Interventions are needed that effectively increase these health-related behaviors. Technology is often incorporated in health-related interventions but is not always independently assessed.Objective: The objective of this study was to describe challenges and facilitators to incorporating technology into the iCook 4-H intervention program.Methods: Dyads (n=228) composed of children (mean 9.4, SD 0.7 years old) and an adult primary meal preparer (mean 39.0, SD 8 years) were randomly assigned to a control (n=77) or treatment group (n=151). All treatment group dyads participated in 6 in-person sessions designed to increase families cooking, eating, and playing together. We incorporated Web-based between-session technological components related to the curriculum content throughout the intervention. Assessments were completed by both groups at baseline and at 4, 12, and 24 months; they included measured anthropometrics for children, and online surveys about camera and website skill and use for dyads. Session leaders and participants completed open-ended process evaluations after each session about technological components. We computed chi-square analysis for sex differences in technological variables. We tested relationships between video posting frequency and outcomes of interest (cooking frequency, self-efficacy, and skills; dietary intake; and body mass index) with Spearman correlations. Process evaluations and open-ended survey responses were thematically analyzed for beneficial and inhibiting factors, including technological components in the curriculum.Results: Only 78.6% (81/103) of children and 68.3% (71/104) of adults reported always being comfortable accessing the internet postintervention. Boys reported being more comfortable than girls with technological tasks (P\u3c.05). Children who posted more videos had a higher level of cooking skills at 4 months postintervention (r=.189, P=.05). Barriers to website usage reported most frequently by children were lack of accessibility, remembering, interactivity, motivation, time, and lack of parental encouragement.Conclusions: Incorporating technological supports, such as cameras and websites, into children’s programs may help produce improved outcomes. Identifying barriers to and patterns of technology usage need to be considered when developing future child health promotion interventions

Incorporating Technology Into the iCook 4-H Program, a Cooking Intervention for Adults and Children: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Families who cook, eat, and play together have been found to have more positive health outcomes. Interventions are needed that effectively increase these health-related behaviors. Technology is often incorporated in health-related interventions but is not always independently assessed. Objective: The objective of this study was to describe challenges and facilitators to incorporating technology into the iCook 4-H intervention program. Methods: Dyads (n=228) composed of children (mean 9.4, SD 0.7 years old) and an adult primary meal preparer (mean 39.0, SD 8 years) were randomly assigned to a control (n=77) or treatment group (n=151). All treatment group dyads participated in 6 in-person sessions designed to increase families cooking, eating, and playing together. We incorporated Web-based between-session technological components related to the curriculum content throughout the intervention. Assessments were completed by both groups at baseline and at 4, 12, and 24 months; they included measured anthropometrics for children, and online surveys about camera and website skill and use for dyads. Session leaders and participants completed open-ended process evaluations after each session about technological components. We computed chi-square analysis for sex differences in technological variables. We tested relationships between video posting frequency and outcomes of interest (cooking frequency, self-efficacy, and skills; dietary intake; and body mass index) with Spearman correlations. Process evaluations and open-ended survey responses were thematically analyzed for beneficial and inhibiting factors, including technological components in the curriculum. Results: Only 78.6% (81/103) of children and 68.3% (71/104) of adults reported always being comfortable accessing the internet postintervention. Boys reported being more comfortable than girls with technological tasks (P\u3c.05). Children who posted more videos had a higher level of cooking skills at 4 months postintervention (r=.189, P=.05). Barriers to website usage reported most frequently by children were lack of accessibility, remembering, interactivity, motivation, time, and lack of parental encouragement. Conclusions: Incorporating technological supports, such as cameras and websites, into children’s programs may help produce improved outcomes. Identifying barriers to and patterns of technology usage need to be considered when developing future child health promotion interventions