Alien Registration- Gregoire, Catherine (Lewiston, Androscoggin County)

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Benefits and Obstacles to Purchasing Food From Local Growers and Producers

Oftentimes, those who are responsible for purchasing food for school foodservice programs have a variety of vendors from whom they choose to purchase. One buying option that is receiving increased support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the purchase of foods from local growers (those who grow food items on their farm and sell directly to consumers) and producers (those who produce a food item, such as pasta or ground beef, from locally grown or raised foods). Data for this study were collected from individuals responsible for managing school foodservice operations in four Midwestern states to determine current purchasing practices and identify benefits and obstacles to purchasing food from local growers or producers. Results indicated that approximately one-third of the managers had purchased from local growers or producers. Primary benefits cited were: good public relations; aiding the local economy; ability to purchase smaller quantities and fresher food; knowing product sources; and food safety. The year-round availability of food items, as well as the ability to obtain an adequate food supply and reliable food quantity, were perceived as the greatest obstacles

Iowa Producers\u27 Perceived Benefits and Obstacles in Marketing to Local Restaurants and Institutional Foodservice Operations

Local Iowa producers were surveyed to determine perceived benefits and obstacles in marketing to local restaurants and institutional foodservice operations; 195 (35%) responded. Results indicated that only 25% of producers currently were selling to foodservice operations. Benefits cited were: support for local farmers; fresher food; food traveling shorter distances; better quality food; and knowledge of food source. Year-round availability, lack of dependable market, and inability to change pricing were greatest obstacles. Extension educators can help facilitate linking local growers with foodservice operations to increase direct sales of local products to these operations

Understanding the Internet Pitchfork Mob: Internal Revolutionary Activity in Self-Regulated Online Communities

Research into organised online protest typically focuses on how digital activism empowers social movements. But what if an online community is rebelling against its platform owners? This study seeks to identify the trajectory of internally focused revolutionary activity in self-regulated online communities. Based on an analysis of three cases (Reddit, 2015; Mozilla, 2014, and Skyrim, 2015) it identifies six stages of revolution: incident, reaction, mobilization, action, negotiation, and a return to ‘normality’ with a new power equilibrium. For each stage, key events, relations between the community and platform managers, and the ways in which power is enacted through online means, are identified. This preliminary model for online community revolution offers potential for further work that has diagnostic, predictive and ameliorative value. Relations with online communities are of significant value in an era in which many platform-related business models are reliant on voluntary contributions of self-regulating online communities

An Electromyographic and Electrogoniometric Study of Stair Climbing with and without the Use of the Ez-Stepª and the Quad-Stepª

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare lower extremity muscle activity along with hip and knee ROM in an elderly population on stair ascent and descent using the EZ-StepTM and Quad-StepTM in comparison to traditional stair climbing. Subjects: Twenty nine male and female adults volunteered for this study. Inclusion criteria included those 65 years of age and older, ability to climb three flights of standard stairs, and upper extremity strength to be able to manipulate the Quad-Step TM. Instrumentation: The EZ-StepTM and Quad-StepTM are devices that decrease stair step height by one-half. The EMG activity and ROM was recorded using a Noraxon TeleMy0900 telemetry unit. The goniometers that were used were Biometrics SG110 twin axis goniometers. Procedure: EMG activity was recorded with surface electrodes over the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, and gastrocnemius. Electrogoniometers were placed at the knee and hip to record ROM during the stair climbing activities. There were three randomly selected stair-climbing trials in the study: 1) Quad-StepTM, 2) EZ-StepTM, and 3) traditional stairs. Data Analysis: A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data collected. The significance was set at an alpha level of .05. Results: The study found significantly less EMG activity in all four muscles with the EZ-Step TM and Quad-Step TM devices during stair ascent and stair descent, except for the BF with the use of the Quad-Step TM during stair descent. A significant difference in hip ROM was found for stair ascent, but not forstair descent. On both stair ascent and descent, significantly less knee ROM was required. Conclusion and Clinical Implication: The EZ-Step 1M and Quad-Step 1M may make stair climbing easier for older individuals who have difficulty with this task

Comparison of Cooperative and Noncooperative Purchasing in School Nutrition Programs

Purpose/Objectives The purpose of this study was to compare food cost and public school foodservice directors’ satisfaction between districts participating in school foodservice cooperatives or group purchasing arrangements and districts purchasing independently. It also assessed the prevalence of purchasing cooperatives in school foodservice and various bid purchasing methods used in school foodservices to solicit and award competitive contracts for food. Methods A random sample (N = 1,650) of school foodservice directors, stratified by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) region, was surveyed electronically regarding satisfaction with current purchasing methods, food prices currently paid for selected items, and participation in cooperative or group purchasing. Data from completed surveys (n = 453) were analyzed using t-tests and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results Study results showed nearly half of respondents indicated participation in purchasing cooperatives. The majority of cooperative members were from districts with fewer than 5,000 students. Line-item bids were reported as used most frequently. There was no significant difference in overall satisfaction with purchasing outcomes between cooperative members and nonmembers. Primary reasons identified by district foodservice directors for joining a cooperative were lower costs, increased competition, and reduced paperwork. Among eight selected foods, cooperative members reported significantly (p = .05) lower prices on three items. Applications to Child Nutrition Professionals Foodservice directors could use data from this study to evaluate their current competitive purchasing. Data from this study could be useful to program directors and school officials in decision making regarding joining a cooperative or purchasing group. Further research is needed to determine factors that influence participation of vendors in school foodservice competitive bids

Evaluation of genetic counseling among cystic fibrosis carriers, Michigan Newborn Screening

Objective A quality improvement (QI) strategy to improve the rate of genetic counseling (GC) services was initiated in cystic fibrosis (CF) care Center E in 2010. This statewide study was conducted to determine: (1) GC rates before and after implementation of the QI strategy at Center E; (2) characteristics associated with not receiving GC; and (3) topic areas addressed during GC. Methods The retrospective study included 1,097 CF carriers born from 2008 to 2011 identified through Michigan's Newborn Screening Program. Rate of GC services was determined for Center E and the other four CF centers before and after the QI change. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to determine associations between select characteristics and not receiving GC. Topic areas discussed during GC sessions were assessed using frequency tables. Results Rate of GC services in Center E increased from 23% in 2008–2010 to 91% in 2011, while at the other centers approximately 92% received GC services across those years. In 2008–2010, being seen at Center E and black race were significantly associated with increased likelihood of not receiving GC services in adjusted analyses. In 2011, neither characteristic was associated with receipt of GC. Of 16 target topic areas, all were discussed in 85% of GC sessions. Conclusions Implementing a QI strategy of providing sweat test results at the GC appointment within Center E resulted in more CF carriers receiving comprehensive GC services. Center‐specific procedure differences should be assessed to increase rate of GC services following a positive CF newborn screen. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:123–129. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/96254/1/22703_ftp.pd

Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of Depressive Symptomatology in a French Population-Based Cohort of Older Adults

Several foods from the Mediterranean Diet (MeDi) have already been characterized as beneficial for depression risk, while studies focusing on adherence to the overall MeDi are lacking among older adults at higher risk of depression. The aim of this study was to assess the association between MeDi adherence and the risk of depressive symptomatology (DS) in an older French cohort followed for 15 years. Participants from the Three-City Bordeaux cohort answered a food frequency questionnaire used to assess their MeDi adherence. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale score of 16 or greater and/or use of antidepressant treatment ascertained at each visit defined incident DS. Random-effect logistic regression models were adjusted for potential confounders. Among 1018 participants, aged 75.6 years (SD 4.8 years) on average at baseline, 400 incident cases of DS were identified during the follow-up. Only when restricting the definition of DS to a CES-D score ≥ 16 was a borderline-significant trend towards a benefit of greater adherence to the MeDi with reduced odds of DS found (p-value = 0.053). In this large sample of older French adults, a potential benefit of greater adherence to the MeDi regarding the risk of DS would depend on the definition of DS