The Interaction of Obesity Related Genotypes, Phenotypes, and Economics: An Experimental Economics Approach with Mice

Food intake is greatly influenced by economic factors. Consequently, neuroeconomics has been identified as a new and important area for understanding the interaction between genotypes and phenotypes related to food intake. A foundational element of economics is choice between alternatives. Changing food choices are a central element in the explanation of the increasing obesity rates in human populations. The purpose of this research is to incorporate the key element of choice into the investigation of food intake and weight-related phenotypes for mice in an operant chamber setting. Using normal mice, and mice with a mutation in the Tubby gene (Tub-Mut) which results in adult onset obesity, this research will investigate different behavioral responses among genotypes, as well as unexplored phenotype outcomes when mice are confronted with a falling price of a high fat food relative to a low fat food. Results for both genotypes indicate that as the price of the high fat food falls, consumption of that food increases, but consumption of the low fat food does not decrease in a compensatory fashion. For both genotypes, weight and body fat percentage increases with decreasing high fat food price, but ghrelin and leptin levels do not significantly change. The Tub-Mut shows a significant increase in the area under the glucose tolerance curve, suggestive of a diabetic state. These results show that accounting for choice in neuroeconomic studies is important to understanding the complex regulation of body weight and diabetes.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Preservice Teacher Preparation in International Contexts: A Case-Study Examination of the International Student Teacher Programs

This article examines the teacher preparation experiences of preservice teachers in six international contexts: China, Fiji, Kiribati, Mexico, Samoa, and Tonga. More specifically, it looks at the value-added components in an international teacher education program, with an emphasis on effective teaching and employability. Theoretically the study is based on Straus and Corbin’s (1998a) substantive grounded theory and Patton’s (1997) Theory of Action Framework. Verbal and non-verbal forms of feedback were identified as essential aspects of the international preservice training experience. Cultural diversity, teaching English as a second language, collaboration, and exposure to a different educational system were identified among several components as advantages to individuals who conduct their preservice teacher training in international settings.</jats:p

Assessment of political officeholders’ attitudes towards educational planning in federal capital territory, Abuja, Nigeria.

Introduction: The attitudes of political officeholder towards educational planning in Nigeria is not encouraging and this is affecting the entire educational system. Purpose: This purpose of this paper is to assess the political officeholder attitudes towards planning of education in FCT. Methodology: The survey design was used for the study. Random sampling technique was employed to select the respondents while questionnaire was adopted for data collection, test re-test method was used to determine the reliability of the instrument. This study used SPSS (Statistical Package of Social Sciences) soft for data analysis. The data collected was cleansed by the researchers who removed the unwanted data. The results were analyzed using percentage, mean and standard deviation and chi-square method. Result: The results revealed that there was significant relationship between the attitudes of political officeholders and poor planning of education in FCT.   Finding: The finding revealed that the majorities of the respondents disagreed that political officeholders have positive attitude toward educational planning, majorities of the respondents disagreed that adequately funding are provided for educational planning. It was also  discovered that majorities of the respondents disagreed that political officeholders are support the capacity development of educational planners and 100% of the respondents disagreed that political officeholders are providing necessary planning tools for educational planner to plan education. Recommendation: The government should appoint people with passion for educational development and political officeholders should develop positive attitude toward educational planning in FCT by allocating adequate funds for educational planning

Why we are still failing to measure the nutrition transition

Summary boxMuch of the global burden of malnutrition, particularly shifts towards an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, is driven by dietary changes described as the ‘nutrition transition’.The nutrition transition appears to be driven by shifts in diets towards more ‘ultraprocessed’ foods high in sugar, fat, salt, low in fibre and less nutrient dense - but  little is known about actual food consumption in many populations.Standard instruments used for measuring diets in low-income and middle-income countries are inadequate for assessing changing diets in the context of the nutrition transition, as they do not provide appropriate provision in response to categories for consumption of ultraprocessed food products.There is a need for a validated standardised food frequency questionnaire designed to measure changing dietary patterns that have appropriate provision for highly processed food types - and with the implementation of such questonnaires there is a need to consider food source and the importance of capturing foods eaten outside of the home as well as in the home.Malnutrition in all its forms—both underweight and micronutrient deficiencies, as well as overweight, obesity and associated non-communicable disease—is a global health issue, with the majority of cases arising in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).1 Much of this malnutrition, particularly shifts towards an increased prevalence of overweight and obesity, is driven by dietary changes described as the ‘nutrition transition’, whereby populations move from traditional diets high in fibre and micronutrients, to more highly processed diets high in sugar, fat, salt, low in fibre and less nutrient dense–with these dietary changes accompanied by changes in eating behaviours and physical activity patterns.2 Ultraprocessed food products have been defined by Monteiro et al as ‘not entirely or mostly made from foods, but from industrial ingredients and additives, and are highly profitable’.3 Distinctions are made between processed

A Follow-Up Study on the Clinical Impact of Pre-Registration Extended Immersive Ward-Based Simulation

Aim: To explore how extended immersive ward-based simulation influenced graduate nurses’ experiences six-months post-registration. Background: Graduates of nursing training programs are expected to enter the workforce meeting the role of a registered nurse. Extended immersive ward-based simulation has been adopted by nurse educators as a means of easing the transition to professional practice. To what degree transfer of learning occurs from these experiences is yet to be determined. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used to conduct a series of face-to-face focus groups. Methods: Participants were nine former students who had participated in a series of ward-based simulation workshops before graduating. A semi-structured interview process explored participants’ transition experiences. Results: Past simulation experiences were used as a base for practice in areas of teamwork, communication, conflict, and time management. Simulations were used as a point of reference and built confidence for transition to practice. Conclusions: Transition to professional practice was supported by simulated experiences. Transfer of learning was demonstrated among participants

The Effects of an Interdisciplinary Program upon Students' Achievement, Attendance, and Attitude

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Project SAIL, a program designed to increase student achievement through interdisciplinary learning, upon the achievement, attendance, and attitude toward school of the ninth grade students who participated in it. The study also identified its benefits and liabilities from the perspective of teachers and students

PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH WORKSHOP ON SEASONAL PREDICTION OF HYDROCLIMATIC EXTREMES IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA

Sixty participants, including experts from seven countries from the Greater Horn of Africa (GHA) and project coinvestigators from the United States, met to discuss seasonal prediction of hydroclimatic extremes across the GHA, engage decision-makers in the assessment of information requirements, and use feedback to orient prediction models to address user needs. Perceptions of current climate change impacts in the GHA were assessed using pre- and postworkshop surveys. Participatory research was conducted through small group discussions on water, agriculture, impacts, and data sharing

Safe School Initiative (SSI) in Nigeria: Challenges of Implementation and Way Forward

The Safe Schools Initiative was launched at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Nigeria in 2014 by a coalition of Nigerian business leaders working with the United Nations special envoy for Global Education, the Global Business Coalition for Education and World at School. The implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative faced with many challenges. This article discussed the challenges faced with the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative programme in Nigerian North East Nigeria. This article identified inadequate funding, corruption, poor monitoring and evaluation, political instability, undefined roles of tiers of government, insecurity problem and lack of political will as challenges the Safe Schools Initiative programme faced during implementation in Nigeria. To address this challenges, the article recommended adequate funding of the Safe Schools Initiative programme, improvement in the monitoring and evaluation of the programme, redefine the roles of each tier of government in the implementation of the programme, government should monitor the funds released for the implementation of the programme and ensure the political will of implementing the programme Safe Schools Initiative