Food Resources for the Allen Family Center

Food Resources for the Allen Family Center Allen Family Center (AFC), a part of the nonprofit organization Mary’s Place, is a family driven resource hub that focuses on the needs and goals of families experiencing or on the verge of homelessness (Mercy Housing, 2022). They use a multigenerational approach to break the cycle of homelessness which promotes inclusivity, safety and provides opportunities to improve health (Mercy Housing, 2022). When meeting with the team, we identified a concern as the limited food supplies available to AFC and the lack of food outreach they can provide. Providing resources to the community is a goal of AFC and many families are dependent on their supplies. All parties agreed more nutritious resources are needed and would be helpful for families regularly visiting AFC. As a group of five nursing students from Seattle Pacific University’s Lydia Green Nursing Program, our purpose was to provide families with information on inclusive and sustainable food resources. We included recipes that also catered to the medically fragile children that take part in the Popsicle Place program at Mary’s Place and AFC, specifically children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Background According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, an individual experiences food insecurity when they lack access to food that is necessary for adequate growth and development (FAO, 2022). The incidence of food insecurity is higher in families that live under the poverty line (Martin, 2022). In Seattle, WA, 10.2% of families live under the poverty line and lack safe housing (United States Census Bureau, 2021). The neighborhood surrounding AFC has recorded that 26% of the population experiences food insecurity (Seattle.gov, 2022). When Hill et al. (2022) surveyed low-income older adults in Washington state, they found that 26% of participants experienced food insecurity. Hill et al. (2022) explained that while enrolling in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can be effective, barriers include stigma and overcoming eligibility requirements. Therefore, SNAP is very underutilized in the adult population. When considering youth in the Greater Seattle Area, Kloubec & Harris (2022) found that only 6% of youth surveyed reported that they were given information about food access from a social worker or case manager. Additionally, 41.2% of participants responded that they learned about food acquisition methods on their own. Seattle has made great efforts in establishing resources to provide for those that are experiencing food insecurity. An example of such efforts is the Food Insecurity Screening Community of Practice which is a group of healthcare providers that screen patients that are at risk for developing or currently experiencing food insecurity. They can then intervene and connect patients to food resources (KingCounty.gov, 2021). However, a large majority of low-income individuals and individuals experiencing homelessness do not have access to and/or do not visit a healthcare provider, causing a disconnect in the referrals to food resources (Hill et al., 2022). Our research shows that a large majority of individuals in King County experience food insecurity. Many interventions are in place to battle food insecurity, but there is a disconnect between these interventions and resources available, such as posters and fliers, that can point these individuals and families to these interventions. By providing food resource binders to AFC, families will have easy access to information regarding where to access food. This can help eliminate the stigma of asking, bridge the gap of missing information and help improve health literacy. Activities and Rationale Lewin’s change theory is a three-phase model for effective and sustainable changes with positive outcomes (Marquis, 2019). In the beginning stage of “unfreezing”, problems are identified, prioritized, and debated in the environment (Marquis, 2019). Extensive research through windshield surveys of the community and neighborhood was mandatory in order to find more information about the neighborhood’s food insecurity issues. The following phase is the “movement” stage, where the project for change is created and worked on to finalize and implement into the setting (Marquis, 2019). As a group, we created three binders with Spanish translations for organizations with food resources. Twelve organizations were included in the binders in which we visited to confirm all information. In addition, there are a handful of recipes made with common food found in food banks. We presented the team members with these binders to be placed at the front desk, the community room, and carried during outreach visits. We included advertisement posters for placement around AFC to ensure families are aware of the resource binders. The last phase of Lewin’s change theory, “refreezing”, is focused on long term integration (Marquis, 2019). We provided education on the binders and allowed the team to work with them for a week before evaluating the efficacy. Education is important for the full and best utilization of creations. With all phases complete, the project of change should continue sustainability until future advancements and opportunities arise leading to a new change. Outcomes After a week with the binders, we issued surveys to the staff at AFC which asked how many times the binders had been used, what worked, what did not work, and what feedback they have for future binders. We were provided with helpful feedback as well as suggestions for adaptations. The food resource binders were used 15 times over a one-week period. Additionally, the staff members felt comfortable offering the binders to families. After reviewing the results of the seven surveys that were completed, we concluded that the staff felt as if the posters and binders were a great resource to have. Through educating the staff on how to utilize the binders, we promoted sustainability of use. Suggestions were provided to the staff to aid families in finding directions and utilizing the computers at the resource center. Furthermore, the information provided addressed health equity and cultural sensitivity through catering to different cultural and dietary needs. The outcome of the project was three Spanish-translated food resource binders, posters, eight food bank friendly recipes, and two window advertisements. Conclusion Through this project, we provided information on sustainable food resources for families visiting AFC. Language barriers were a limitation for this project. When meeting with the agency, we noted there were many families that speak in African dialects. The center did not have a translation service available for use, therefore the quantity of people that view and read the binders is limited. Another limitation to the success of our project was the lack of families visiting AFC. There is an unknown amount of traffic coming into AFC, and it varies according to the time of year. Our project timeline was short and limited our project time and the evaluation period which constricted the amount of feedback from staff. Moving forward, future binders could provide more inclusive and accommodating information. Overall, the project was successful and can be utilized at AFC as well as at other locations that provide resources for those experiencing homelessness. References Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. (2022). Hunger and Food Insecurity. https://www.fao.org/hunger/en/ Hill, C., Tseng, A., Holzhauer, K., Littman, A., & Jones-Smith, J. (2022). Association between health care access and food insecurity among lower-income older adults with multiple chronic conditions in Washington State, USA. Public Health Nutrition, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980022001240 Kloubec, J., & Harris, C. (2021). Food acquisition strategies of homeless youth in the Greater Seattle area: A cross-sectional study. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121 (1), 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2020.05.013 Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. (2019). Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health. https://coursepoint.vitalsource.com/books/9781975153984 Martin, A. (2022, September 13). Food Security and Nutritional Assistance. Economic Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/   Mercy Housing (2022). Allen Family Center: A Family Sized Solution. https://www.mercyhousing.org/northwest/mount-baker-family-housing/ Public Health Seattle & King County (2020, August). Increased in Food Needs in King County, WA, Spring-Summer 2020. https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data/impacts/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/food-insecurity-brief-report-august-2020.ashx Seattle.gov. (2022). Food Insecurity. https://www.seattle.gov/rsji/racial-equity-research/food-insecurity#community United States Census Bureau (2021, July 1). Seattle City, Washington. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/seattlecitywashingto

Periodontitis, microbiomes and their role in Alzheimer’s disease

As far back as the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, microbial infections were responsible for vast numbers of deaths. The trend reversed with the introduction of antibiotics coinciding with longer life. Increased life expectancy however, accompanied the emergence of age related chronic inflammatory states including the sporadic form of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Taken together, the true challenge of retaining health into later years of life now appears to lie in delaying and/or preventing the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases, through identifying and influencing modifiable risk factors. Diverse pathogens, including periodontal bacteria have been associated with AD brains. Amyloid-beta (Aβ) hallmark protein of AD may be a consequence of infection, called upon due to its antimicrobial properties. Up to this moment in time, a lack of understanding and knowledge of a microbiome associated with AD brain has ensured that the role pathogens may play in this neurodegenerative disease remains unresolved. The oral microbiome embraces a range of diverse bacterial phylotypes, which especially in vulnerable individuals, will excite and perpetuate a range of inflammatory conditions, to a wide range of extra-oral body tissues and organs specific to their developing pathophysiology, including the brain. This offers the tantalizing opportunity that by controlling the oral-specific microbiome; clinicians may treat or prevent a range of chronic inflammatory diseases orally. Evolution has equipped the human host to combat infection/disease by providing an immune system, but Porphyromonas gingivalis and selective spirochetes, have developed immune avoidance strategies threatening the host-microbe homeostasis. It is clear from longitudinal monitoring of patients that chronic periodontitis contributes to declining cognition. The aim here is to discuss the contribution from opportunistic pathogens of the periodontal microbiome, and highlight the challenges, the host faces, when dealing with unresolvable oral infections that may lead to clinical manifestations that are characteristic for AD

Resistance to cytotoxicity and sustained release of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in the presence of decreased interferon-γ after differentiation of glioblastoma by human natural killer cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells are functionally suppressed in the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor microenvironment. We have recently shown that survival and differentiation of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/poorly differentiated tumors are controlled through two distinct phenotypes of cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic/split anergized NK cells, respectively. In this paper, we studied the function of NK cells against brain CSCs/poorly differentiated GBM and their NK cell-differentiated counterparts. Brain CSCs/poorly differentiated GBM, differentiated by split anergized NK supernatants (supernatants from NK cells treated with IL-2 + anti-CD16mAb) expressed higher levels of CD54, B7H1 and MHC-I and were killed less by the NK cells, whereas their CSCs/poorly differentiated counterparts were highly susceptible to NK cell lysis. Resistance to NK cells and differentiation of brain CSCs/poorly differentiated GBM by split anergized NK cells were mediated by interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Brain CSCs/poorly differentiated GBM expressed low levels of TNFRs and IFN-γRs, and when differentiated and cultured with IL-2-treated NK cells, they induced increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 and chemokine IL-8 in the presence of decreased IFN-γ secretion. NK-induced differentiation of brain CSCs/poorly differentiated GBM cells was independent of the function of IL-6 and/or IL-8. The inability of NK cells to lyse GBM tumors and the presence of a sustained release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and chemokine IL-8 in the presence of a decreased IFN-γ secretion may lead to the inadequacy of NK cells to differentiate GBM CSCs/poorly differentiated tumors, thus failing to control tumor growth

The Art of Inclusion: Marketing Toward Social Good

The theme of this research emerges from a pedagogical philosophy that it is essential to learn the significance that business has upon society while working with a neighborhood non-profit. Undergraduate Business students from Molloy College pitch their business and marketing recommendations to a local non-profit supporting the mission of the College through transformative learning. Having students enter into the business world where profit is a healthy by-product, but acquiring the proper disposition in the process is critical toward today’s career development. The Capstone project helps develop tomorrow’s sought out ethical and social leaders. The learning activity leading to this learning outcome requires the undergraduate business students to experience this type of real-world project. The students are presented with an opportunity to study the most prevalent issues their assigned non-profit is facing and they are to collectively make a set of turnkey recommendations that will ultimately lead to social good

Patient experience and satisfaction with symptomatic Faecal Immunochemical Testing: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods evaluation

Background: Recent evidence suggests that faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) can rule out colorectal cancer in symptomatic adults. To date, there is little research exploring experiences of FIT for this population. Aim: To explore patient experience and satisfaction with FIT in an ‘early adopter’ site in England. Design: We used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach combining mailed quantitative surveys with semi-structured telephone interviews. Methods: Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse quantitative data. Thematic analysis was used to assess qualitative transcripts. Results: The survey had 260 respondents and found satisfaction with FIT was high (88.7%). Compared with test satisfaction, the proportion of respondents satisfied with GP consultation, and how they received their results, was lower (74.4% and 76.2%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed increased area-level deprivation and not receiving an explanation of the purpose of the test were associated with lower satisfaction with GP consultation (both P-values<0.05), while increased area-level deprivation and not receiving results from the GP were associated with lower satisfaction with receiving results (both P-values<0.05). Interviews with respondents (n=20) helped explain the quantitative results. They revealed that “not knowing the purpose of the test” caused “anxiety” and “confusion”, which led to dissatisfaction. “Not receiving results from GP” was considered “unacceptable”, as this left patients with a “niggling doubt” and lack of diagnosis, or assurance that they did not have cancer. Conclusion: Patient satisfaction with symptomatic FIT is high. Efforts to improve satisfaction should focus on ensuring patients understand the purpose of the test and always receive their test results

Hybrid Signal protocol for post-quantum email encryption

The Signal protocol is used in many messaging applications today. While it is an active research topic to design a post-quantum variant of the protocol, no such variant is currently realized in the real world. In the following document we describe a hybrid version of the Signal protocol, that will be implemented to achieve post-quantum security for Tutanota’s end-to-end encrypted e-mails

Effect of metritis on endometrium tissue transcriptome during puerperium in Holstein lactating cows

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to evaluate the effect of parity and uterine healthstatus postpartum on the gene expression profile of the endometrium early post-partum. Twenty-fourHolstein cows were randomly selected (16 multiparous (MP) and 8 primiparous (PP)) and endometriumbiopsies were collected on days 1, 3, and 6 after calving and clinically monitored for metritis. Rectaltemperature was measured twice and fever was defined as a temperature 39.5 C. A case of metritiswas diagnosed with the presence of red-brown watery, foul-smelling uterine discharge or a purulentdischarge with more than 50% pus and fever between days 1 and 6 postpartum. Cows were thenretrospectively selected (cows diagnosed with metritis were paired with healthy ones) to analyze theexpression of 66 genes measured on the NanoString nCounter Analysis System. The genes selected wererelated with adhesion, immune system, steroid and prostaglandin biosynthesis regulation, insulinmetabolism and transcription factors, and nutrient transporters. The results indicated a different patternon genes related to immune function by parity.PTX3,involved in antigen presentation, was increased inhealthy MP compared with healthy PP whereas inflammatory cytokineTNFaand complement-relatedproteinSERPING1was upregulated in MP compared with PP (P<0.05). As expected, presence of ametritis condition affected the expression of genes related to immune function. There was an increasedexpression of the antiviral factorMX2andMYH10gene, which is involved in macrophages recruitment, inmetritic compared with healthy cows (P<0.05). Differences in uterine involution from cows diagnosedwith metritis were reflected by the downregulation ofIGF1(P<0.10), involved in endometriumremodeling, and a possible compensatory upregulation of its receptorIGFR1(P<0.05). A greaterexpression of prostaglandins and oxytocin receptors (PGRandOXTR), involved in the involution process,were observed in metritic PP compared with healthy PP (P<0.05). Overall, it seems that metritissignificantly modulate processes closely tied with the physical involution of the uterus early post-partum(IGF1, IGFR1, PGR, OXTR), whereas both metritis and multiparous cows tended to upregulate genes relatedto immune response (PTX3, TNFa, SERPING1, MX2, MYH10).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio