The effect of omega-3 enhanced fish consumption on C-reactive protein levels in post-menopausal women

Heart disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, and the risk is 2--3 times greater in post-menopausal than pre-menopausal women. C-Reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory marker that has been identified as a risk factor for heart disease. The objective of this study was to determine if increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, known for their anti-inflammatory properties, reduced CRP levels in post-menopausal women. A sample of 29 women was recruited to participate in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups, experimental and control. The women were instructed to follow a heart healthy diet for eight weeks and to avoid all fish, seafood, and omega-3 enhanced products for the duration of the study (8 weeks). In addition to the heart healthy diet and restricted omega-3 guidelines, subjects in the experimental group were provided two 4 ounce servings of omega-3 enhanced trout each week. The control group subjects were instructed on the same diet guidelines but were not given the omega-3 enhanced trout. Seven day food diaries were recorded and blood tests were performed to determine CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels at the beginning and end of the study. No significant pre- to post-study changes between groups were seen for CRP (p=0.34), total cholesterol (p=0.64), HDL cholesterol (p=0.65), LDL cholesterol (p=0.50), VLDL cholesterol (p=0.91) and triglycerides (p=0.92). Participants in the fish group significantly increased their consumption of omega-3 fatty acids ( p=0.004) during the eight week study. A majority (87.5%) of the experimental group and 85.7% of the control group experienced no change or a decrease in CRP. A similar trend was evident for Il-6 levels. The addition of two servings of omega-3 enhanced trout per week for eight weeks was successful in increasing n-3 intake in post-menopausal women; however the increased n-3 intake did not produce significant changes in markers of inflammation over the course of the study

Principals, Trust, and Cultivating Vibrant Schools

Although principals are ultimately held accountable to student learning in their buildings, the most consistent research results have suggested that their impact on student achievement is largely indirect. Leithwood, Patten, and Jantzi proposed four paths through which this indirect influence would flow, and the purpose of this special issue is to examine in greater depth these mediating variables. Among mediating variables, we assert that trust is key. In this paper, we explore the evidence that points to the role that faculty trust in the principal plays in student learning and how principals can cultivate trust by attending to the five facets of trust, as well as the correlates of trust that mediate student learning, including academic press, collective teacher efficacy, and teacher professionalism. We argue that trust plays a role in each of the four paths identified by Leithwood, Patten, and Jantzi. Finally, we explore possible new directions for future research

Mt Baker Snow School Intern

My internship with Northwest Avalanche Center’s (NWAC) Mt Baker Snow School (MBSS) spanned from February to May of 2023. During my time at Mt Baker Snow School, I was able to engage in lots of hands-on learning opportunities, both for myself and the students I was leading. Through the primary scope of my internship, which was leading student field trips, I was able to combine snow science knowledge from my Western classes with tools and guidance provided by MBSS to facilitate a fast paced, hands-on learning environment and get students excited about our mountain systems in Whatcom County. During MBSS, I learned the processes of snowpack analysis, as well as how the snowpack interacts with forces like weather, snow algae blooms, and even our own recreation

Mitochondrial Haplotypes suggest Genetic Component for Habitat Preference in Blue Crabs

Atlantic blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) are ecologically and commercially fundamental. Life stages are punctuated with migration. Adults and juveniles live in estuaries and sounds. Larval stages develop in the coastal ocean. Juvenile and adult crabs occupy habitats from high salinities to fresh water. We determined whether maturing juvenile and adult blue crab habitat use is reflected in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 haplotypes. High salinity crabs had lower haplotype diversity (0.7260 ± .03900) compared to spawning crabs (0.9841 ± .00021) and low salinity crabs (0.94154 ± .00118). Significant pairwise differences in haplotypes were found between high salinity and spawning crabs (Nm = 0.26018, p < 0.001), and between high salinity and low salinity crabs (Nm = 0.19482, p < 0.001) indicating a lack of gene flow. Crabs from high salinity had highly significant genetic differentiation compared to spawning crabs (Fst = 0.11830, p < 0.001) and low salinity crabs (Fst = 0.09689, p < 0.001). Results support the hypothesis that genetics influence habitat selection. Crab larvae mix in the coastal ocean but occupy specific habitats upon return to sounds and estuaries. These findings have implications for the management of fisheries

Review: The Place of Many Moods: Udaipur’s Painted Lands and India’s Eighteenth Century

A review of the 2020 book The Place of Many Moods: Udaipur’s Painted Lands and India’s Eighteenth Century by Dipti Khera for inclusion in the September 2021 issue of ARLIS/NA Reviews