Characterization of Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors of Adolescents in East Tennessee

Educational research suggests that middle school is an ideal time to teach food safety since adolescents are in the process of setting life-long behaviors and are, therefore, more likely to synthesize new food safety knowledge into positive behaviors. The objectives of this study were to: 1) Describe the baseline food safety knowledge and attitudes/ behaviors of 7th grade students in East Tennessee 2) determine the relationship with geographic location, socioeconomic status, race, and gender; and 3) compare the current data (Study 2) to a previous study (Study 1) that pre-tested 7th grade students prior to an education intervention. A 40-item survey was administered to 232 students in 12 schools chosen using a weighted, stratified random sample. A hierarchical model was used to obtain least squares means at the school and student levels. To compare Studies 1 and 2, independent sample t-tests and chi-square analysis were applied to determine significant differences in food safety knowledge or attitudes/behaviors between the populations. Study 2 results showed that 63% knew the importance of hand-washing, but only 50% reported ‘always’ washing their hands before eating or preparing food; 50% reported ‘always’ following temperature directions, but 85% did not know how to determine if a hamburger was cooked properly. No statistical difference was found in food safety knowledge for all variables except race, where Asian/Pacific students scored lower (p=0.0005). Males (p=0.0133) and Asian/Pacific students (p=0.0033) reported riskier food handling behaviors. No significant differences (p\u3c0.05) were found between Study 1 and 2 in food safety knowledge or attitudes/behaviors. Hand-washing and use of proper temperatures, as well as differences in behavior within gender and some ethnic groups should be focal points in adolescent food safety education. These results suggest that some differences in knowledge and behaviors are less pronounced in adolescents than those found in similar studies with adults. The results of the comparison between adolescent studies suggest that the food safety curriculum targeted to adolescents of Study 1 would likely be effective at raising student knowledge and improving students’ food handling behaviors in a larger population of 7th grade students

Strategic Planning of Communications and Knowledge Transfer for the Solar Energy Technologies Program

The goal of the Solar Communications Team is to get the right information to the right people at the right time in the right form at the right cost, and to measure the effectiveness of projects and our strategic communications plan. Our communications efforts in FY 2005 emphasized the following: 1) Reaching the Buildings and Consumer audiences (e.g., Solar Decathlon, International Builders' Show). 2) Developing and distributing critical program documents to key stakeholders (e.g., Solar Program Review Meeting Proceedings, Industry Roadmap, second Multi-Year Program Plan). 3) Conducting a gap analysis of communications products and evaluating their effectiveness. 4) Working with our program management to streamline business processes and improve communications of management expectations. 5) Developing and maintaining content for all Solar Program Web sites that reflect research and program accomplishments. 6) Representing the interests of the Solar Program at strategic events (technical conferences, meetings, workshops, community events)

Arizona\u27s Vulnerable Populations

Arizona’s vulnerable populations are struggling on a daily basis but usually do so in silence, undetected by traditional radar and rankings, often unaware themselves of their high risk for being pushed or pulled into a full crisis. Ineligible for financial assistance under strict eligibility guidelines, they don’t qualify as poor because vulnerable populations are not yet in full crisis. To be clear, this report is not about the “poor,” at least not in the limited sense of the word. It is about our underemployed wage earners, our single-parent households, our deployed or returning military members, our under-educated and unskilled workforce, our debt-ridden neighbors, our uninsured friends, our family members with no savings for an emergency, much less retirement

Evaluating the use of 3'-(p-Aminophenyl) fluorescein for determining the formation of highly reactive oxygen species in particle suspensions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Given the importance of highly reactive oxygen species (hROS) as reactants in a wide range of biological, photochemical, and environmental systems there is an interest in detection and quantification of these species. The extreme reactivity of the hROS, which includes hydroxyl radicals, presents an analytical challenge. 3'-(<it>p</it>-Aminophenyl) fluorescein (APF) is a relatively new probe used for measuring hROS. Here, we further evaluate the use of APF as a method for the detection of hydroxyl radicals in particle suspensions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Particle-generated hROS can be quantified with an estimated detection limit of 50 nM. Measurements of hROS in two National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST 2709 and 2710) soil suspensions and a pyrite suspension show non-linear particle dose-response curves for hROS generation. APF can also be used in solutions containing no dissolved molecular oxygen (O₂) to determine the role of O₂in the formation of hROS. Results confirm that O₂is mechanistically important in the formation of hROS by dissolved ferrous iron and in pyrite suspensions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given the non-linear dose-response curves for particle generation of hROS, we recommend using several particle loadings in experiments aimed to compare particles for their hROS generation potential. The method presented here is specific to hROS and simple to perform. The analysis can be conducted in mobile labs as only basic laboratory equipment is required.</p

Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of the morphological development of neurons

BACKGROUND: The morphological development of neurons is a very complex process involving both genetic and environmental components. Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation are valuable tools in helping us unravel particular aspects of how individual neurons grow their characteristic morphologies and eventually form appropriate networks with each other. METHODS: A variety of mathematical models that consider (1) neurite initiation (2) neurite elongation (3) axon pathfinding, and (4) neurite branching and dendritic shape formation are reviewed. The different mathematical techniques employed are also described. RESULTS: Some comparison of modelling results with experimental data is made. A critique of different modelling techniques is given, leading to a proposal for a unified modelling environment for models of neuronal development. CONCLUSION: A unified mathematical and numerical simulation framework should lead to an expansion of work on models of neuronal development, as has occurred with compartmental models of neuronal electrical activity

Polyamine Sharing between Tubulin Dimers Favours Microtubule Nucleation and Elongation via Facilitated Diffusion

We suggest for the first time that the action of multivalent cations on microtubule dynamics can result from facilitated diffusion of GTP-tubulin to the microtubule ends. Facilitated diffusion can promote microtubule assembly, because, upon encountering a growing nucleus or the microtubule wall, random GTP-tubulin sliding on their surfaces will increase the probability of association to the target sites (nucleation sites or MT ends). This is an original explanation for understanding the apparent discrepancy between the high rate of microtubule elongation and the low rate of tubulin association at the microtubule ends in the viscous cytoplasm. The mechanism of facilitated diffusion requires an attraction force between two tubulins, which can result from the sharing of multivalent counterions. Natural polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are present in all living cells and are potent agents to trigger tubulin self-attraction. By using an analytical model, we analyze the implication of facilitated diffusion mediated by polyamines on nucleation and elongation of microtubules. In vitro experiments using pure tubulin indicate that the promotion of microtubule assembly by polyamines is typical of facilitated diffusion. The results presented here show that polyamines can be of particular importance for the regulation of the microtubule network in vivo and provide the basis for further investigations into the effects of facilitated diffusion on cytoskeleton dynamics