Reforming Prisons to Reduce Harm and Increase Wellbeing

Honors (Bachelor's)PhilosophyUniversity of Michiganhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/147386/1/jprosky.pd

Aleurone flour increases red-cell folate and lowers plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially in man

Aleurone flour (ALF) is a rich source of natural folate (>500 μg/100 g wet weight). Our objective was to establish whether intake of ALF in man can significantly improve folate status and reduce plasma homocyst(e)ine. We performed a randomised, controlled intervention, of 16 weeks duration, in free-living healthy individuals (mean age 46–52 years). Participants were assigned to one of three groups: ALF, 175 g bread made with ALF and placebo tablet each day; PCS, 175 g bread made with pericarp seed coat (PCS) flour and placebo tablet each day (low-folate control); or FA, 175 g bread made with PCS flour and tablet containing 640 μg folic acid each day (high-folate control). The daily folate intake contributed by the bread and tablet was 233 μg in the PCS group, 615 μg in the ALF group and 819 μg in the FA group. The number of participants completing all phases of the PCS, ALF and FA interventions was twenty-five, twenty-five and eighteen, respectively. Plasma and red-cell folate increased significantly (P<0·0001) and plasma homocyst(e)ine decreased significantly (P<0·0001) in the ALF and FA groups only. Plasma folate and red-cell folate in the ALF group (mean, 95 % CI) increased from baseline values of 12·9 (9·9, 15·7) nmol/l and 509 (434, 584) nmol/l to 27·1 (22·5, 31·7) nmol/l and 768 (676, 860) nmol/l, respectively. Plasma homocyst(e)ine in the ALF group decreased from 9·1 (8·2, 10·0) μmol/l at baseline to 6·8 (6·2, 7·5) μmol/l after 16 weeks. In conclusion, moderate dietary intake of ALF can increase red-cell folate and decrease plasma homocyst(e)ine substantially.Michael Fenech, Manny Noakes, Peter Clifton and David Toppin

Linseed dietary fibers reduce apparent digestibility of energy and fat and weight gain in growing rats.

nutrient

The Battle over Wastewater between Woonsocket and North Smithfield

From 2012-2017, the communities of Woonsocket and North Smithfield engaged in a protracted dispute concerning wastewater disposal. For thirty years, the two jurisdictions had maintained a signed service agreement. Following its expiration, however, Woonsocket imposed a new host fee on North Smithfield. Woonsocket needed to upgrade the facility in order to comply with mandates from the RI Department of Environmental Management. Over the next five years, leaders from both jurisdictions vociferously fought over the new fee. At the same time, leaders within communities experienced their own divisions. This case study highlights the challenges that decision makers faced in both communities. This case study draws on interviews conducted with officials from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, City of Woonsocket, and Town of North Smithfield. Additionally, it pulls from relevant legal documents, recordings and minutes from meetings of the Woonsocket City Council and North Smithfield Town Council, City Council resolutions, state legislation, and local press coverage. This case is appropriate for graduate and executive level courses in environmental policy, communication, and leadership

Effect of water yam (Dioscorea alata) flour fortified with distillers spent grain on nutritional, chemical, and functional properties

It was envisaged that the inclusion of treated distiller ’ s spent grain ( DSG ) to yam fl our might increase its nutritional value, with the aim of reducing nutritional diseases in communities consuming yam as a staple. Hence, yam fl our was fortifi ed with DSG at 5–35%. The effects of this fortifi cation on the nutritional, chemical, and functional properties of yam fl our were investigated. The result showed a signifi cant increase ( P 0.001) in fat, ash, protein, total amino acids, total dietary fi ber, and insoluble dietary fi ber contents of the blends as DSG increased except for starch and soluble dietary fi ber contents, which decreased. The functional properties showed a signifi cant ( P 0.001) reduction with DSG inclusion. The inclusion of DSG increased both the tryptophan and methionine contents of the blends. Therefore, the DSG fortifi ed yam fl our could contribute to quality protein intake in populations consuming yam as a staple, due to its indispensible amino acid content

Effects of defatted dried roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed powder on lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemia rats.

BACKGROUND: In vivo investigations were made of the effect of defatted dried roselle seed powder (DRS) on the lipid profiles of rats with induced hypercholesterolemia. The two-batch sample consisted of 23 and 20 Sprague-Dawley male rats randomly divided into four groups and fed with four different diets. The first batch of rats was fed with normal, hypercholesterol, hypercholesterol + 10 g kg-1 (w/w) DRS and hypercholesterol + 20 g kg-1 (w/w) DRS diets. The second batch of rats was fed with normal, hypercholesterol, hypercholesterol + 50 g kg-1 (w/w) DRS and hypercholesterol + 150 g kg-1 (w/w) DRS diets. Treatments were given for a total of 5 weeks. RESULTS: Results indicated that the addition of 10 g kg-1 and 20 g kg-1 of DRS did not significantly lower the plasma total cholesterol (TC) levels. In contrast, 50 g kg-1 and 150 g kg-1 DRS significantly lowered (P &lt; 0.05) the TC and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. CONCLUSION: The addition of 50 g kg-1 and 150 g kg-1 DRS showed potential hypocholesterolemic effects. Furthermore, these findings indicated that protein, lipid and dietary fibre were high in the seed powder