A Field Experience with the Nutrition Section Dallas City Health Department, Dallas, Texas

This thesis relates observations and experiences during an eight-week field experience while with the Nutrition Section of the Dallas City Health Department. The purpose of this field experience was to integrate academic theory and practical application in the field of public health nutrition. In addition, the field experience was to provide an opportunity to observe nutritional problems related to the various stages of the life cycle and to work with other ethnic groups, including blacks and Chicanos. The field experience was designed to allow the author to familiarize herself with the philosophy and principles of public health. Through observation and participation in the nutrition program, the author was able to develop her professional skills in public health nutrition. In addition, observation in the various community agencies increased the author\u27s awareness of the programs provided by these agencies. Planning and implementation of a project provided an opportunity for professional growth and self evaluation of performance. The field experience provided insight into the interdisciplinary approach to public health. Throughout the field experience the author was aware of the need for cooperation, coordination, good public relations, and flexibility when directing an effective nutrition program

Self-Compassion and Instagram Use Is Explained by the Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Stress

Abstract: Previous research acknowledges that prolonged social media use is associated with several negative psychological consequences, including higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. In order to protect individuals from social stressors, research illustrates the role that self-compassion can play, with individuals high in self-compassion reporting greater emotional wellbeing; hence, proposing self-compassion could be a trait that is positively related to social media use. This research aimed to investigate the relationship between Instagram use and self-compassion, and whether this relationship can be explained through the relation to psychological wellbeing (depression, anxiety, and stress). A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate this relationship amongst young adults (n = 173), utilizing a revised version of The Multidimensional Facebook Intensity Scale to explore Instagram, The Self-Compassion Scale, and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Instagram intensity appeared to influence psychological wellbeing, with participants who spent more time on Instagram reporting poorer psychological wellbeing. Whilst higher levels of self-compassion were associated with lower levels of reported depression, anxiety, and stress, the relationship between Instagram intensity and self-compassion was not mediated to the extent as expected by wellbeing. Possible explanations and future directions are discussed as to what could explain the positive relationship between self-compassion and Instagram use

ExCyto PCR Amplification

ExCyto PCR cells provide a novel and cost effective means to amplify DNA transformed into competent bacterial cells. ExCyto PCR uses host E. coli with a chromosomally integrated gene encoding a thermostable DNA polymerase to accomplish robust, hot-start PCR amplification of cloned sequences without addition of exogenous enzyme.Because the thermostable DNA polymerase is stably integrated into the bacterial chromosome, ExCyto cells can be transformed with a single plasmid or complex library, and then the expressed thermostable DNA polymerase can be used for PCR amplification. We demonstrate that ExCyto cells can be used to amplify DNA from different templates, plasmids with different copy numbers, and master mixes left on ice for up to two hours. Further, PCR amplification with ExCyto cells is comparable to amplification using commercial DNA polymerases. The ability to transform a bacterial strain and use the endogenously expressed protein for PCR has not previously been demonstrated.ExCyto PCR reduces pipetting and greatly increases throughput for screening EST, genomic, BAC, cDNA, or SNP libraries. This technique is also more economical than traditional PCR and thus broadly useful to scientists who utilize analysis of cloned DNAs in their research

Correction to: Cluster identification, selection, and description in Cluster randomized crossover trials: the PREP-IT trials

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

A Tale of Two Courses: Renovating Courses for Significant Learning

Using L. Dee Fink’s model of backward course design for integrated learning (2003), nine members of a year-long faculty learning community (FLC) designed or redesigned a course. Participants initially focused on critically examining what they wanted students to know, do, think and feel ve years after taking their respective classes. Once participants established and re ned course goals, they designed teaching and learning activities and assessments to help students meet those goals. Fink’s model of course design and development provided the framework for creating and implementing these course (re)designs across disciplines. This model integrates the relationships between learning goals, assessment and feedback, and teaching and learning activities to ensure that these components are integrated and support the others. Fink’s conceptual model includes a taxonomy of “signi cant learning” that expands the de nition of what is valued as learning outcomes (for example, those traditionally championed by Bloom) to include goals of foundational knowledge, application, integration, human dimension, caring, and learning how to learn. This poster presents the results of two of the (re)designed courses, one on American literature and one on nutrition education, highlighting the goals of the (re)designed courses with an example of teaching and learning activities, and feedback and assessment that support those learning goals

Maintenance energy requirements of odor detection, explosive detection and human detection working dogs

Despite their important role in security, little is known about the energy requirements of working dogs such as odor, explosive and human detection dogs. Previous researchers have evaluated the energy requirements of individual canine breeds as well as dogs in exercise roles such as sprint racing. This study is the first to evaluate the energy requirements of working dogs trained in odor, explosive and human detection. This retrospective study evaluated twenty adult dogs who maintained consistent body weights over a six month period. During this time, the average energy consumption was $136\pm 38~\mathrm{kcal}\cdot {\mathrm{BW}}_{\mathrm{kg}}^{0.75}$136±38kcal⋅BWkg0.75 or two times the calculated resting energy requirement ($\mathrm{RER}=70~\mathrm{kcal}\cdot {\mathrm{BW}}_{\mathrm{kg}}^{0.75}$RER=70kcal⋅BWkg0.75). No statistical differences were found between breeds, age or sex, but a statistically significant association (p = 0.0033, R-square = 0.0854) was seen between the number of searches a dog performs and their energy requirement. Based on this study’s population, it appears that working dogs have maintenance energy requirements similar to the 1974 National Research Council’s (NRC) maintenance energy requirement of $132~\mathrm{kcal}\cdot {\mathrm{BW}}_{\mathrm{kg}}^{0.75}$132kcal⋅BWkg0.75 (National Research Council (NRC), 1974) and the $139\pm 42~\mathrm{kcal}\cdot {\mathrm{BW}}_{\mathrm{kg}}^{0.75}$139±42kcal⋅BWkg0.75 reported for young laboratory beagles (Rainbird & Kienzle, 1990). Additional research is needed to determine if these data can be applied to all odor, explosive and human detection dogs and to determine if other types of working dogs (tracking, search and rescue etc.) have similar energy requirements