Development, Implementation, and Validation of the Health Density Vending Machine Audit Tool (HDVMAT)

Vending machines may be contributing to the obesogenic food environment. The Health Density Vending Machine Audit Tool (HDVMAT) was developed to comprehensively evaluate and score vending machines based on machine accessibility, product healthfulness, price, and promotion. A novel nutrient-dense scoring system was created to determine the healthfulness of vended snacks based upon calories and macro/micro-nutrients and of beverages based on type and/or calories. The HDVMAT was implemented in snack and beverage university machines in different states. Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Vending (NEMS-V) was used to validate the nutrient-density score. Significant differences in HDVMAT snack and beverage scores were found between states. Overall the HDVMAT is comparable to the NEMS-V, but uses a unique nutrient-dense scoring approach to evaluate snacks and beverages along a continuum of healthfulness criteria, offering a more accurate representation of the nutritional quality of vended products

If i had one -- it would be huge

By alluding to genitalia, If I Had One-It Would Be Huge calls attention to the need in contemporary society to eliminate gender bias in favor of more relevant criteria for evaluating an individual\u27s worth and potential. Gender is never an appropriate criterion. By referring to one, it also alludes to bringing what appears to be opposite elements, materials, and viewpoints into compatibility. On examination of the completed pieces which I selected for the thesis exhibit, I found that a quote from Eugene Delacroix1 was very appropriate as the Artist\u27s Statement for my thesis exhibit: The scientist discovers the elements of things, if you like, and the artist, with elements having no value in the place they chance to be, composes, invents a unity, in one word, creates; he strikes the imagination of men by the spectacle of his creations, and in a particular manner. He renders clear the sensations that things arouse within us, and which the great run of men, in the presence of nature, only vaguely see and feel. This thesis also describes the installation of my work in general and in terms of the materials in the four individual pieces. Opposite elements are incorporated into four pieces (Untitled-Slide #1, Chick-Slides #2 and #3, Building-Slides #4 and #5, and Altar-Slide #6) primarily through the use of unusual combinations of materials. In addition to the material combinations that make up the installation, symbolic elements are also suggestive of opposite elements. The choice of particular materials is based on the interpretation of the environment and what seems to dominate it. Each of the pieces is intended to be clear, honest, non-didactic, and accessible

Garden of Truth: The Prostitution and Trafficking of Native Women in Minnesota

Explores mental health needs of Native women working as prostitutes; their experience of sexual or physical violence and homelessness; use of shelters, rape crisis centers, and substance abuse treatment; and role of culture. Makes policy recommendations

Positive Relationship Between VO2max And Leg Strength in Healthy Older Adults Who Regularly Exercise, But Not in Those Who Do Not Exercise

Individuals that are physically active have greater cardiorespiratory fitness and skeletal muscle strength than those that are physically inactive. Although VO2maxis commonly used to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness, in older adults, leg strength may also influence VO2max. The PURPOSE of this study is to examine the relationship between VO2max and leg strength in physically active vs. physically inactive older adults. METHODS: Twenty-four older adults (12 physically active (PA; 62.1±5.0 yrs), 12 physically inactive (PI; 63.9±5.1 yrs)) performed a two-stage treadmill test to estimate VO2max. Leg strength was assessed by 8-repitition maximum (8RM) tests of leg curl, leg press, calf raise, and leg extension. Correlations between VO2max and leg strength were assessed and reported significant if pRESULTS: PA participants had a higher leg press 8RM (p=0.02), leg curl 8RM (p=0.003), calf raise (0.004), leg extension (p=0.01), than PI participants. In the PA participants, there was a correlation between estimated VO2max and leg curl (R2=0.34; p=0.049), calf raise (R2=0.41; p=0.03), and leg extension (R2=0.40; p=0.03). In the PI participants, there was no correlation between estimated VO2max and all leg strength measure (p≥0.05). CONCLUSION: These data show that there is a positive relationship in PA older adults between the estimated VO2max and leg curl, leg extension and calf raise 8RM

Body-Image, Self-Esteem, and Nutrition Concerns of Parents of 6th- and 7th-Grade Students

To fully address the issues of self-esteem and body image, parents, teachers, and students must be involved in creating meaningful solutions. The study discussed here sought to ascertain concerns of parents related to their children\u27s body image, self-esteem, and nutrition. Parents with children in the 6th or 7th grade were surveyed regarding factors that influenced their child\u27s perception about their body, how satisfied their child was with their body, and methods to reach children and parents with body image messages. Results will be used to assist in the development of Extension programs for parents and children that address body image

Irish nurses’ and midwives’ understanding and experiences of empowerment

Aim This study explored conceptualisations of empowerment amongst Irish nurses and midwives. Background Current literature on the meaning of empowerment in the literature lacks consensus. As a result there is a likelihood that empowerment will be conceptualised differently between managers and sub-ordinates. Method In order to get a sense of how Irish practitioners viewed empowerment, ten focus groups were held in locations throughout Ireland (n = 93). A national distribution of participants was obtained. Results Twenty-one different responses emerged representing what nurses and midwives understood by the term empowerment. In relation to experiences of empowerment, six themes were found to impact on empowerment experiences. Three themes emerged as central to empowerment. One theme (education for practice) was identified as an antecedent to empowerment. Conclusion Empowerment is a complex concept and its meaning is contextually determined. Managers play a key role in impacting on the empowerment perceptions of Irish nurses and midwives

FreeSurfer vs. Manual Tracing: Distinguishing Stable from Cognitively Declining Elders Using Prospectively Measured Hippocampal Volume

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is thought to begin years before symptom onset. Hippocampal volume is sensitive to age-related cognitive decline and conversion from MCI to AD. Measurement of hippocampal volumes has used either automated methods such as FreeSurfer (FS) or manual tracing (MT). We compared the ability of FS and MT in detecting baseline volume differences in cognitively intact older individuals who subsequently showed significant cognitive decline. Participants and Methods: Seventy-five cognitively intact elders underwent baseline and 18-month follow-up structural MRI scan and neuropsychological testing. Participants were classified as Declining (n=27) or Stable (n=48) based on the baseline to 18-month changes on a listlearning task and a measure of general cognitive functioning. A 2 (left, right) x 2 (anterior, posterior) x 2 (Declining, Stable) repeated measures ANOVA was conducted for both the MT and FS hippocampal volumes derived at baseline. Results: MT identified significantly smaller left and right hippocampal volumes and smaller anterior than posterior hippocampal volumes in Declining compared to Stable subjects. In contrast, no group differences in hippocampal volumes were observed using FS. Notably, MT included more subiculum and entorhinal cortex, while FS included more of the amygdala and the CA region of the hippocampus. Conclusions: MT was superior to FS for detecting prospective volumetric differences associated with cognitive decline in cognitively intact older participants. MT afforded more unique coverage of the anterior hippocampus than FS. The differences in regional coverage of the mesial temporal lobe between MT and FS may account for the different findings in discriminating Stable and Declining groups

Prediction of Longitudinal White Matter Change in Healthy Elderly Individuals

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) studies have shown that significant alteration in white matter (WM) integrity differentiates healthy older adults from persons with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Most studies, however, have been cross-sectional and have not related longitudinal DTI changes to cognitive change. Here we report changes in WM integrity and cognition in healthy older adults over an 18-month interval. Sixty-seven cognitively intact elders underwent neuropsychological testing and DTI at baseline to follow-up on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (recall sum across trials 1-5, delayed recall) and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale-2. Declining participants (N=21) showed a minimum of 1 SD reduction on at least one cognitive measure, while Stable participants (N=46) showed comparable scores at each time point. WM regions-of-interest were derived from Freesurfer. Hierarchical linear regression was used to predict fractional anisotropy (FA) change in regions frequently identified in DTI studies of MCI and AD including transentorhinal cortex, temporal lobe, and posterior cingulate. Groups did not differ at baseline in age, cognition, FA, or WM volume. After controlling for age and baseline FA, cognitive status (Declining, Stable) predicted the baseline to 18-month reduction in FA in the right hippocampal gyrus (p=.004) and left fusi-form gyrus (p=.01) with a trend in the left middle temporal gyrus (p=.06). Future research should examine WM changes in other brain regions and determine whether DTI diffusivity measures are related to cognitive decline

Longitudinal Associations between Physical Activity, Cognitive Status, and Brain Function in Older Adults at Genetic Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease

The apolipoproteinE epsilon4 (APOE-?4) allele is associated with cognitive decline in old age and is a risk factor for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Physical activity (P A) is associated with a reduced risk of incident cognitive impairment, particularly among APOE-?4 carriers. We recently reported greater semantic memory related brain activation in cognitively intact physically active (High P A) APOE-?4 carriers compared to physically inactive (Low PA) ?4 carriers and non-carriers (Smith et al., 2011). Here, we compared longitudinal changes in semantic memory-related brain activation in High PA and Low PA APOE-?4 carriers. Thirty-two older ?4 carriers completed neuropsychological testing and a fMRI semantic memory task (famous name discrimination) at baseline and after 18 months. All participants were cognitively intact at baseline and were classified as High PA (n = 16) or Low PA (n = 16) based on self-report. After 18 months, 5 of 16 High P A and 13 of 16 Low P A were classified as cognitively declining by at least 1 SD decrease in neurocognitive performance (Group difference, p = .011, Fisher\u27s exact test). A fROI analysis of the fMRI data and repeated measures ANOV As revealed significant Group by Time interactions for intensity of semantic memory-related activation. Significantly greater activation at baseline in the High PA group was attenuated over time (no change in Low P A) and resulted in no group differences at the 18-month follow-up. These findings suggest that greater P A at baseline is associated with greater cognitive stability over 18-months in APOE-?4 carriers and reduced neural activation during fame discrimination

Five-Year Changes in Brain Volume and Episodic Memory in Cognitively Intact Elders with and without an Apolipoprotein ε4 Allele

The apolipoprotein ε4 allele is a risk factor for Alzheimer\u27s disease. ε4 carriers diagnosed with AD or MCI exhibit an increased rate of atrophy on MRI relative to non-carriers. Few longitudinal studies have examined the rate of atrophy and cognitive change in older ε4 carriers who were cognitively intact at study entry. In this study, structural MRI and episodic memory testing were administered on two occasions separated by 5 years to 45 cognitively intact older adults, ages 65-90 years, divided into two groups: (1) carriers with one or both ε4 alleles (n=24) and (2) demographically-matched non-carriers (n=21). Longitudinal analysis of whole brain gray matter, whole brain white matter, and hippocampal volumes were derived from Freesurfer software. Analysis of variance indicated a significant group x time interaction for both left and right cortical gray matter (p\u27s \u3c .05; 2% decrease) and left hippocampus (p \u3c .001; 5.6% decrease); right hippocampus showed a marginal effect (p=.086; 4.9% decrease). In all instances, the ε4 group showed greater atrophy over the five-year interval than non-carriers. White matter brain volume significantly decreased over retest intervals (3.5%), but did not differ between groups. Over the same retest interval, the ε4 group also showed significantly greater decline than non-carriers on delayed word recall and percent retention on a list-learning task. These data suggest that the presence of an ε4 allele carries an increased risk for cortical gray matter and hippocampal atrophy and memory loss among older participants who were cognitively intact at study entry