SELECTION OF BLOCKED TWO-LEVEL FRACTIONAL FACTORIAL DESIGNS FOR AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS

Blocked two-level fractional factorial designs are a very useful tool for efficient data collection in agricultural and other scientific research. In most experiments, in addition to the main effects, some two-factor interactions are also meaningful and need to be estimated. We propose a method for efficiently selecting blocked two-level fractional factorial designs when some of the two-factor interactions are non-negligible. We then present some results for a design with only 8 or 16 runs to illustrate how to use this method

The Medicine Wheel Nutrition Intervention: a Diabetes Education Study with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

OBJECTIVE: The Northern Plains Indians of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe have experienced significant lifestyle and dietary changes over the past seven generations that have resulted in increased rates of diabetes and obesity. The objective of this study was to determine if Northern Plains Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are randomized to receive culturally adapted educational lessons based on the Medicine Wheel Model for Nutrition in addition to their usual dietary education will have better control of their type 2 diabetes than a nonintervention, usual care group who received only the usual dietary education from their personal providers.DESIGN: A 6-month, randomized, controlled trial was conducted January 2005 through December 2005, with participants randomized to the education intervention or usual care control group. The education group received six nutrition lessons based on the Medicine Wheel Model for Nutrition. The usual care group received the usual dietary education from their personal providers.PARTICIPANTS: One hundred fourteen Northern Plains Indians from Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe aged 18 to 65 years, with type 2 diabetes.METHODS: Weight, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c, fasting serum glucose and lipid parameters, circulating insulin, and blood pressure were measured at the beginning and completion. Diet histories, physical activity, and dietary satiety surveys were measured at baseline and monthly through completion. Differences were determined using Student t tests, chi(2) tests, and analysis of variance.RESULTS: The ED group had a significant weight loss ( 1.4 ± 0.4 kg, mean ± standard error {SE}, P ≤ .05) and decrease in BMI (1.0 ± 0.1 means ± SE, P ≤ .05) from baseline to completion. The UC group had no change in weight (0.5 ± 0.5 kg, mean ± SE) or BMI (0.5 ± 0.2, mean ± SE). There were no between group differences due to intervention in calorie, carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake and physical activity.CONCLUSIONS: The culturally based nutrition intervention promoted small but positive changes in weight. Greater frequency and longer duration of educational support may be needed to influence blood glucose and lipid parameters

Traditional Open-bay Versus Single-family Room Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: a Comparison of Selected nutrition Outcomes

Background: In contrast to the traditional open-bay–type design of the neonatal intensive care unit (tNICU), infants in developmentally appropriate NICU (dNICU) are housed in individual rooms with greater control of light and noise. Previous reports have documented positive influence of the dNICU in cardiorespiratory status, physiologic stability, and weight gain of the infants. The objective of this study was to explore selected nutrition outcomes of infants in the dNICU versus tNICU. Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted on infants with birth weight of 1500 g or less cared for in dNICU (n = 42) or tNICU (n = 31). Differences between days to reach full parenteral nutrition, full enteral nutrition, or full bottling were determined using analysis of covariance controlling for gestational age, birth weight, and clinical risk index for babies (CRIB) acuity score. Results: There were no differences between the two groups in days to reach full parenteral and bottle feeding. The infants in the dNICU took fewer days to reach full enteral nutrition (20.8 days, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 17, 24.6 (dNICU) vs 23.3 days, 95% CI: 17.1, 29.6 (tNICU), P = 0.04) than those in the tNICU. Conclusions: Although the two groups of infants only differed in the days to reach full enteral feeding, it is important to remember that the lack of difference may be clinically significant. Clinically, the infants in the dNICU were younger (gestational age) and sicker (CRIB acuity score) than the infants in the tNICU. Consequently, the results of this study support the change to dNICU, as the private room model provides a supportive environment for growth as evidenced by similar nutritional outcome measures. More research is needed to determine the effect of the dNICU on nutrition outcomes

Culturally Appropriate Nutrition Lessons Increased Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in American Indian Children

This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a 6-lesson, culturally adapted nutrition curriculum on fruit and vegetable consumption. Thirty-three students from 6 classes in 3 rural elementary schools were assigned to an intervention group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 21) in accordance with time requirements to travel from one school to another and with the physical education class schedule. The intervention and control groups were assessed at baseline and post-education for fruit and vegetable intake by using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire and a 12-item Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire. The change in intake from baseline to completion between groups is significantly different for total fruit and vegetable (2.7 ± 1.0 serving per day, P ≤ .0001) and total vegetable (2.2 ± 0.3 serving per day, P ≤ .0001) but not for total fruit. At completion, there were a significantly greater number of students who scored 75% or more on the knowledge questionnaire (100% in intervention, 14% in control, P ≤ .0001). This study indicates that culturally appropriate educational intervention is a potential tool to increase fruit and vegetable intake and nutrition knowledge in American Indian children

Control of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using Interactive Internet-Based Support on a Northern Plains Indian Reservation: A Pilot Study

With a high incidence of type 2 diabetes in indigenous populations and limited access to healthcare, an interactive Web site may improve disease control. Input from Northern Plains\u27 tribe members was used for the creation of a culturally sensitive Web site. The site was implemented for 24 weeks, with data collected at baseline and follow-up. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), exercise, diet, cultural activities, and social activities were recorded by participants and tested for statistical significance to assess the effectiveness of the program. Control of HbA1c was better in the intervention group than in the control group (P = .025), suggesting improved disease control and program effectiveness

Motivating 18- to 24-year-olds to Increase Their Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the effectiveness of a 4-month intervention using stage-based newsletters, computer-based communication, and motivational interviewing to increase fruit and vegetable consumption by college students aged 18 to 24 years.DESIGN: Participants were stratified by stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption and randomized to an intervention or control group. Participants completed the staging algorithm for fruit and vegetable intake, which included a one-item food frequency question, a 26-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), an 18-item decisional balance questionnaire, and a five-item self-efficacy questionnaire at baseline and completion of study.SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 437 college students enrolled in a rural, land grant university was enrolled in the study. Only nondietetics majors between ages 18 to 24 years were included in the study. A total of 314 students finished the study for a completion rate of 72%.INTERVENTION: After baseline staging and randomization, the intervention group participants received four stage-based newsletters, one motivational interview, and an individually tailored e-mail follow-up over a 4-month period. Control group participants only received assessment at baseline and at completion.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Two fruit and vegetable instruments, a one-item food frequency question, and a 26-item FFQ measured daily consumption of fruits and vegetables at baseline and postintervention.STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: The SAS system for Windows, version 8 (1999, SAS Institute, Inc, Cary, NC), was used for analysis, including the following tests: PROC GLM, PROC FREQ, and PROC NPAR1WAY, Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher, Wilcoxon rank sum, and chi(2).RESULTS: Fruit and vegetable consumption increased significantly more for the intervention group than the control group. Consumption increased in the intervention group by one serving a day for both instruments compared with 0.4 servings a day in the control group for a one-item instrument and no change in the control group for a 26-item FFQ.CONCLUSIONS: This intervention is an effective way to increase fruit and vegetable consumption by young adults

Practitioner Perception of Nutrition Education in the Medical Curriculum for Diagnosis of Failure to Thrive in Infants and Children

A questionnaire to determine medical practitioner perception of nutrition education for diagnosis of failure to thrive (FTT) was sent to 2 medical practitioner listservs. Participants were members of the professional listserv and practicing medical practitioners. A total of 312 practitioners from 41 states responded to the online survey. Twelve percent were extremely satisfied with their training for diagnosing FTT with an increased comfort level based on years of practice. Practitioners consider experience to be the leading type of training for making diagnoses. Sixty-seven percent of participants reported registered dietitian consultation with FTT diagnoses

Objective Bayesian analysis of spatial models with separable correlation functions

This paper considers general linear models for Gaussian geostatistical data with multi-dimensional separablecorrelation functions involving multiple parameters. We derive various objective priors, such as the Jeffreys-rule, independence Jeffreys, and usual and exact reference priors for the model parameters. In addition, we relax and simplifythe assumptions in Paulo [2005] for the propriety of the posteriors in the general setup. We show that the frequentist coverage of posterior credible intervals for a function of range parameters do not depend on the regression coefficient or error variance. These objective priors and a proper flat prior based on ML estimates are compared by examining the frequentist coverage of equal-tailed Bayesian credible intervals. An illustrative example is given from the field of complex computer model validations

The Efficacy of KidQuest: A Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum for 5th and 6th Grade Youth

KidQuest is a nutrition and physical activity curriculum for 5th to 6th grade youth engaging participants in goal setting, self-monitoring, and reinforcement. Evaluation of the program over the 2005-2006 school year involved a nonrandom sample of 98 intervention and 38 control group participants in rural South Dakota using baseline and ending surveys. Self-reported improvements in breakfast frequency, dairy intake, increased frequency of looking at the food label, and increased food label knowledge were observed in the intervention group, with no significant change in the control group

Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Team that Includes a Registered Dietitian in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Improved Nutrition Outcomes

This study determined whether nutrition outcomes of neonates who were receiving neonatal intensive care were improved with the implementation of a fully functioning multidisciplinary team that included a registered dietitian. A medical record review was conducted of neonates with birth weights of 1500 g or less who were cared for in Sanford Children\u27s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit from January 1 to December 31, 2001 (prior to functioning multidisciplinary team establishment) and January 1 to December 31, 2004 (subsequent to establishment of a multidisciplinary team). Data from charts in the 2 time periods were examined for differences in nutrition outcomes. Outcome variables included length of stay, birth weight, discharge weight, weight gained for specified time periods, weight at full feeds, weight gain per day, length, head circumference, and number of days to start enteral feeding. Analysis of covariance, controlling for the effect of birth weight, was used to determine differences and was considered significant at P \u3c .05. The mean length of stay (65 days, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 48-68 vs 72 days, 95% CI: 53-73) was not different for the 2 periods. The mean weight at the beginning of enteral feeding was significantly less in the period prior to the establishment of the multidisciplinary team (1099 g, 95% CI: 955-1165 vs 1164 g, 95% CI: 1067-1211, respectively). Weight at discharge, total weight gained, total daily weight gained, daily weight gain from birth to the initiation of enteral feeds, daily weight gain from birth to full feeds, and head circumference growth were significantly greater for neonates in the postgroup than in the pre-multidisciplinary team group. Implementation of a multidisciplinary team that included a registered dietitian improved the nutrition outcomes of low birth weight infants in a neonatal intensive care unit