Student Use of the Internet for Research Projects: A Problem? Our Problem? What Can We Do About It?

The Internet and other electronic media have changed the way undergraduate students conduct research. The effects of this technological change on the role of the professor are still not well understood. This article reports on the findings of a recent study that evaluated the scholarly content of student citations in a political science course and tested two interventions designed to improve their quality. The study finds that these students’ use of electronic sources was not as poor as some may have assumed, and that the quality of bibliographies improved when in-class instruction was combined with academic penalties. This article reflects on the study’s findings, and offers suggestions for how instructors might encourage students to improve the quality of their research

The impact of maternal BMI, gestational weight gain, and breastfeeding on early childhood weight: Analysis of a statewide WIC dataset

Early childhood obesity is a persistent health concern with more frequent and significant impact on low-income families. Maternal weight factors impact offspring weight status, but evidence on whether breastfeeding protects against this impact is mixed. This analysis examined a model to predict early childhood obesity risk, simultaneously accounting for maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain, and breastfeeding. The team analyzed 27,016 unique maternal-child dyadic records collected via the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Wisconsin Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) between 2009 and 2011. Generalized Linear Modeling, specifically logistic regression, was used to predict a child\u27s risk of obesity given the mother\u27s pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain, and duration of breastfeeding. For each 1 kg/m2 increase in pre-pregnancy BMI, there was a 4.5% increase in risk of obesity compared to children with mothers of normal BMI. Children whose mothers had excessive gestational weight gain were 50% more likely to have obesity compared to those whose mothers had ideal weight gain. For each week of additional breastfeeding, there was a 1.9% increased risk of obesity. The risk models did not differ by race. In this model, accounting for pre-pregnancy weight, gestational weight gain, and breastfeeding among a diverse, low-income sample, women with pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity or who had excessive gestational weight gain had the highest risk of early childhood obesity. While breastfeeding is healthy for many reasons, providers should focus on maternal weight-related behaviors when counseling mothers about how to avoid risk of early childhood obesity

Unseen, Unheard: a Qualitative Analysis of Women’s Experiences of Exclusively Expressing Breast Milk

Background Breast milk feeding has numerous benefits for women and infants. Positive maternal experiences with breast milk feeding impacts exclusivity, duration, and maternal mental health. Most research focuses on women feeding directly at the breast. Some women elect to feed exclusively expressed milk to their healthy, term infants rather than feed directly at the breast. Little is known about what constitutes a positive experience among this population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore women’s experiences of exclusive expression (EE). Methods Interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams to collect qualitative data from a purposive sample of 21 women practicing EE. Interviews were analyzed for themes. Results Three themes: Unseen and Unheard, Doing it My Way, and Getting into the Groove, and 8 subthemes: Breast is Best, Missed Opportunities for Healthcare Provider Support, Fighting for it, What Works for Us, A Sense of Control, Preparation, Tricks of the Trade, and Making it Manageable were identified. Despite challenges, including a lack of support from healthcare providers and a lack of acknowledgement as breastfeeding mothers, exclusive expression offered participants a method to continue breast milk feeding in a way that they found to be satisfying. Conclusion This study provides insight into experiences of exclusive expression that clinicians can use to improve their support of breast milk feeding during perinatal encounters. Societal pressure to feed from the breast may have negative emotional consequences for women electing to exclusively express. There is a need for more information and support for breast milk expression from healthcare providers along with a reframing of how breast milk feeding is discussed and promoted

Best practices for urban local food entrepreneurs and building regional Extension networks

Interest in local foods production in the urban environment has been steadily increasing in North Dakota and the surrounding region. Food entrepreneurs are seeking safe and reliable ways to grow, create, and market their fresh or freshly preserved products. Urban consumers are demanding local foods and food products that are fresh and safe. As an increasing number of producers and vendors enter farmers markets and other local food sales channels, these growing small businesses need technical assistance for safe food handling and marketing in the changing world of pandemics and supply chain issues. Although some basic practices, such as hand washing, have been encouraged for decades, the pandemic has shown that they are in constant need of reinforcement. Regulations for small-scale food entrepreneurs vary widely from state to state and can be confusing for both entrepreneurs and consumers. This lack of clarity is an ongoing issue, so a best practices document was created and disseminated throughout the North Central Region. The North Central Food Safety Extension Network (NCFSEN) has been building a coalition of Extension food safety professionals in our region since 2016. We have implemented several activities together, including monthly meetings, building relationships with industry professionals, developing educational materials, and creating a program evaluation tool for our region. Our network also has been working steadily to help other regions establish their own Extension coalitions to better serve their constituents as developed around a particular topic, such as food safety in our case. To that end, we have assembled best practices for creating regional Extension networks. The following elements was presented at the conference: 1) background of cottage foods in our region, pre- and post-pandemic; 2) best practices for local food entrepreneurs, including the relevance of “best practices” in view of varying state laws and regulations, health and hygiene policy for employees, volunteers, and family members, market day preparations and contingencies, creating, labeling, and sampling value-added food products; 3) evolving practices for pandemic circumstances in urban markets; 4) building regional Extension coalitions to better serve local constituencies; and 5) best practices for implementing your own regional Extension network, including benefits of regional collaboration, organization, communication, and setting goals

Testing self-report time-use diaries against objective instruments in real time

This study provides a new test of time-use diary methodology, comparing diaries with a pair of objective criterion measures: wearable cameras and accelerometers. A volunteer sample of respondents (n = 148) completed conventional self-report paper time-use diaries using the standard UK Harmonised European Time Use Study (HETUS) instrument. On the diary day, respondents wore a camera that continuously recorded images of their activities during waking hours (approximately 1,500–2,000 images/day) and also an accelerometer that tracked their physical activity continuously throughout the 24-hour period covered by the diary. Of the initial 148 participants recruited, 131 returned usable diary and camera records, of whom 124 also provided a usable whole-day accelerometer record. The comparison of the diary data with the camera and accelerometer records strongly supports the use of diary methodology at both the aggregate (sample) and individual levels. It provides evidence that time-use data could be used to complement physical activity questionnaires for providing population-level estimates of physical activity. It also implies new opportunities for investigating techniques for calibrating metabolic equivalent of task (MET) attributions to daily activities using large-scale, population-representative time-use diary studies

Acute effects of an Avena sativa herb extract on responses to the Stroop Color-Word test

Background and aims: Extracts from oat (Avena sativa) herb may benefit cognitive performance. This study investigated whether Neuravena®, an oat herb extract, could acutely improve responses to the Stroop Color–Word test, a measure of attention and concentration and the ability to maintain task focus.  Subjects and methods: Elderly volunteers with below-average cognitive performance consumed single doses (0, 1600, and 2400 mg) of oat herb extract at weekly intervals in a double-blind, randomized, crossover comparison. Resting blood pressure (BP) was assessed before and after supplementation, and a Stroop test was performed.  Results: Significantly fewer errors were made during the color-naming component of the Stroop test after consuming the 1600-mg dose than after the 0-mg or 2400-mg doses (F (1,36)=18.85, p<0.001). In 7 subjects with suspected cognitive impairment, Stroop interference score was also improved by the 1600-mg dose compared to 0- and 2400-mg doses (F (1, 34)=2.40, p<0.01). Resting BP was unaffected by supplementation.  Conclusions: Taking 1600 mg of oat herb extract may acutely improve attention and concentration and the ability to maintain task focus in older adults with differing levels of cognitive status