Household Food Insecurity Is Inversely Associated with Social Capital and Health in Females from Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Households in Appalachian Ohio

Food insecurity has been negatively associated with social capital (a measure of perceived social trust and community reciprocity) and health status. Yet, these factors have not been studied extensively among women from households participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or the WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. A cross-sectional, self-administered, mailed survey was conducted in Athens County, Ohio, to examine the household food security status, social capital, and self-rated health status of women from households receiving WIC benefits alone (n=170) and those from households receiving both WIC and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program benefits (n=65), as well as the relationship of food security, social capital, and self-rated health status. Household food security and perceived health status were not significantly different between groups; however, high social capital was greater (χ2=8.156, P=0.004) among WIC, compared to WIC/Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program group respondents. Overall, household food insecurity was inversely associated with perceived health status (r=−0.229, P=0.001) and social capital (r=0.337, P\u3c0.001). Enabling networking among clients, leading to client-facilitated programs and projects, and developing programs that strengthen social capital, including community-based mentoring programs and nutrition education programs that are linked to community-based activities, are needed, as is additional research to verify these findings

Capability of 2 Gait Measures for Detecting Response to Gait Training in Stroke Survivors: Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool and The Tinetti Gait Scale

Zimbelman J, Daly JJ, Roenigk KL, Butler K, Burdsall R, Holcomb JP. Capability of 2 gait measures for detecting response to gait training in stroke survivors: Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool and the Tinetti Gait Scale. Objective:To characterize the performance of 2 observational gait measures, the Tinetti Gait Scale (TGS) and the Gait Assessment and Intervention Tool (G.A.I.T.), in identifying improvement in gait in response to gait training. Design: In secondary analysis from a larger study of multimodal gait training for stroke survivors, we measured gait at pre-, mid-, and posttreatment according to G.A.I.T. and TGS, assessing their capability to capture recovery of coordinated gait components. Setting: Large medical center. Participants: Cohort of stroke survivors (N=44) greater than 6 months after stroke. Interventions: All subjects received 48 sessions of a multimodal gait-training protocol. Treatment consisted of 1.5 hours per session, 4 sessions per week for 12 weeks, receiving these 3 treatment aspects: (1) coordination exercise, (2) body weight–supported treadmill training, and (3) overground gait training, with 46% of subjects receiving functional electrical stimulation. Main Outcome Measures: All subjects were evaluated with the G.A.I.T. and TGS before and after completing the 48-session intervention. An additional evaluation was performed at midtreatment (after session 24). Results: For the total subject sample, there were significant pre-/post-, pre-/mid-, and mid-/posttreatment gains for both the G.A.I.T. and the TGS. According to the G.A.I.T., 40 subjects (91%) showed improved scores, 2 (4%) no change, and 2 (4%) a worsening score. According to the TGS, only 26 subjects (59%) showed improved scores, 16 (36%) no change, and 1 (2%) a worsening score. For 1 treatment group of chronic stroke survivors, the TGS failed to identify a significant treatment response to gait training, whereas the G.A.I.T. measure was successful. Conclusions: The G.A.I.T. is more sensitive than the TGS for individual patients and group treatment response in identifying recovery of volitional control of gait components in response to gait training

Oxidation Resistance of Low Carbon Stainless Steel for Applications in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Alloys protected from corrosion by Cr2O3 (chromia) are recognized as potential replacements for LaCrO3–based ceramic materials currently used as bipolar separators (interconnects) in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). Stainless steels gain their corrosion resistance from the formation of chromia, when exposed to oxygen at elevated temperatures. Materials for interconnect applications must form uniform conductive oxide scales at 600–800o C while simultaneously exposed to air on the cathode side and mixtures of H2 - H2O, and, possibly, CHx and CO - CO2 on the anode side. In addition, they must possess good physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Type 316L stainless steel was selected for the baseline study and development of an understanding of corrosion processes in complex gas environments. This paper discusses the oxidation resistance of 316L stainless steel exposed to dual SOFC environment for ~100 hours at ~900oK. The dual environment consisted of dry air on the cathode side of the specimen and a mixture of H2 and 3% H2O on the anode side. Post - corrosion surface evaluation involved the use of optical and scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analyses

Understanding the corrosion behavior of chromia-forming 316L stainless steel in dual oxidizing-reducing environment representative of SOFC interconnect

A and B site doped LaCrO3-based electronically conducting Perovskite ceramic materials have been extensively used as interconnects in solid oxide fule cells (SOFC) operating at 800° to 1000°C as the Perovskites offer good electrical conductivity, chemical compatibility with the adjacent components of the fuel cell, chemical stability in reducing and oxidizing atmospheres, and thermal expansion coefficients that match other cell components. However, requirements for good mechanical properties, electrical and thermal conductivities, and low cost make metallic interconnects more promising. Significant progress in reducing the operating temperature of SOFC from ~1000°C to ~750°C is expected to permit the use of metallic materials with substantial cost reduction. Among the commercially available metallic materials, Cr2O3 (chromia) scale-forming iron base alloys appear to be the most promising candidates since they can fulfill the technical and economical requirements. These alloys, however, remain prone to reactions with oxygen and water vapor at fuel cell operating conditions and formation of gaseous chromium oxides and oxyhydroxides. To study the degradation processes and corrosion mechanisms of commercial chromia scale-forming alloys under SOFC interconnect exposure conditions, 316L was selected for this research because of the availability of the materials. The dual environment to which the interconnect material was exposed consisted of dry air (simulates the cathode side environment) and a mixture of H2 and 3% H2O (simulates the anode side environment). Post-corrosion surface evaluation involved the use of optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as energy dispersive X-ray analyses

Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit Inflammation and Preserve Vascular Endothelial Integrity in the Lungs after Hemorrhagic Shock

Hemorrhagic shock (HS) and trauma is currently the leading cause of death in young adults worldwide. Morbidity and mortality after HS and trauma is often the result of multi-organ failure such as acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conditions with few therapeutic options. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a multipotent stem cell population that has shown therapeutic promise in numerous pre-clinical and clinical models of disease. In this paper, in vitro studies with pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs) reveal that conditioned media (CM) from MSCs and MSC-PEC co-cultures inhibits PEC permeability by preserving adherens junctions (VE-cadherin and β-catenin). Leukocyte adhesion and adhesion molecule expression (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) are inhibited in PECs treated with CM from MSC-PEC co-cultures. Further support for the modulatory effects of MSCs on pulmonary endothelial function and inflammation is demonstrated in our in vivo studies on HS in the rat. In a rat “fixed volume” model of mild HS, we show that MSCs administered IV potently inhibit systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the serum of treated animals. In vivo MSCs also inhibit pulmonary endothelial permeability and lung edema with concurrent preservation of the vascular endothelial barrier proteins: VE-cadherin, Claudin-1, and Occludin-1. Leukocyte infiltrates (CD68 and MPO positive cells) are also decreased in lungs with MSC treatment. Taken together, these data suggest that MSCs, acting directly and through soluble factors, are potent stabilizers of the vascular endothelium and inflammation. These data are the first to demonstrate the therapeutic potential of MSCs in HS and have implications for the potential use of MSCs as a cellular therapy in HS-induced lung injury

Developmental roadmap for antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) technologies help to accelerate the initiation of targeted antimicrobial therapy for patients with infections and could potentially extend the lifespan of current narrow-spectrum antimicrobials. Although conceptually new and rapid AST technologies have been described, including new phenotyping methods, digital imaging and genomic approaches, there is no single major, or broadly accepted, technological breakthrough that leads the field of rapid AST platform development. This might be owing to several barriers that prevent the timely development and implementation of novel and rapid AST platforms in health-care settings. In this Consensus Statement, we explore such barriers, which include the utility of new methods, the complex process of validating new technology against reference methods beyond the proof-of-concept phase, the legal and regulatory landscapes, costs, the uptake of new tools, reagent stability, optimization of target product profiles, difficulties conducting clinical trials and issues relating to quality and quality control, and present possible solutions

Presenting Evidence for The Field That Invented The Randomized Clinical Trial

In this chapter the author raises difficult questions about the ethics of experimental design when investigating questions about student learning, which led him to forego the traditional approach of using a control group. This decision resulted in difficulties with getting his work published in statistics education journals, despite the work having received extremely positive feedback at conferences. He also discusses the meaning of reliability and validity in measurement and provides an example of a simple scheme for analyzing open-ended responses to surveys

Presenting Evidence for The Field That Invented The Randomized Clinical Trial

In this chapter the author raises difficult questions about the ethics of experimental design when investigating questions about student learning, which led him to forego the traditional approach of using a control group. This decision resulted in difficulties with getting his work published in statistics education journals, despite the work having received extremely positive feedback at conferences. He also discusses the meaning of reliability and validity in measurement and provides an example of a simple scheme for analyzing open-ended responses to surveys

Food Insecurity Is Associated with Health Status of Older Adults Participating in The Commodity Supplemental Food Program in A Rural Appalachian Ohio County

Context. Food insecurity is associated with poorer nutritional and health status among older adults. Objectives. To assess the household food security and health status of older adults participating in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and to determine the relationship of these factors. Design. A telephone survey conducted during Spring 2004 that included the 18-item Food Security Survey Module and SF-36 health status questionnaire. Setting. Athens County, Ohio, located in rural, Appalachian Ohio. Participants. Convenience sample of older adults 60 years and older [n = 91; 71.0y (8.1 SD)] receiving CSFP benefits and living in households located in Athens County, Ohio. Main Outcome Measures. Household food security status (U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module) and health status (SF-36) (physical and mental health scores in eight areas: Physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, role-emotional, mental health). It was hypothesized that food insecurity would be associated with poorer health status. Results. Forty-six (50.5%), 36 (39.6%), and 9 (9.9%) subjects were from food secure, food insecure without hunger, and food insecure with hunger households, respectively. Consistent with other reports, all health scores worsened as household food security status worsened (physical functioning, p = .018; role-physical, p = .005; bodily pain, p \u3c .001; general health, p \u3c .001; vitality, p = .029; social functioning, p = .009; role-emotional, p = .007; mental health, p = .009), and health status was greater for those from food secure compared with food insecure households for 7 of 8 scores (physical functioning, p = .025; role-physical, p = .016; bodily pain, p = .002; general health, p \u3c .001; social functioning, p = .014; role-emotional, p = .006; mental health, p = .003). Conclusions. This study further supports that food insecurity is related to poorer health among older adults. Further research in a larger sample of older adults participating in CSFP is warranted, as are other studies of those participating in food assistance programs