The Effect of Computer-Assisted Nutrition Education on Nutrition Knowledge, Nutrition Status, Dietary Compliance, and Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients

This study was conducted to assess the effect of nutrition education utilizing computerized dietary analysis on nutrition knowledge, dietary compliance, nutrition status, and quality of life in hemodialysis patients. Twenty patients of the Bonneville Dialysis Center in Ogden, Utah voluntarily agreed to participate in this six-month study. All participants completed quality of life assessments, the Beck Depression Inventory© (BDI), and a nutrition knowledge assessment pre- and post-study. Patients in the treatment group (n=12) completed monthly 3-day food records which were analyzed by Computrition® nutrient analysis software. Results were discussed with the patients during one-on-one education sessions. Control patients (n=8) completed 3-day food records pre- and poststudy. Monitoring parameters included: nutrition-related laboratory data, kinetic modeling data, weights, and percent body fat, using Futrex® near infrared interactance. Dietary components followed were: protein, calories, sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Multivariant analysis of variance was used for statistical comparisons. Weight and percent body fat were relatively stable throughout the study period for both groups. The treatment group\u27s nutrition knowledge improved as measured by pre- and post-study test scores. Nutrient intakes showed no significant changes except for calorie intake, which decreased in the treatment group. The treatment group\u27s intake of other analyzed nutrients showed declining trends, which were not statistically significant. Serum albumin and total protein increased in both groups. Average serum cholesterol levels decreased in the treatment group. Serum potassium levels did not change significantly. Serum phosphorus increased in the treatment group. However, this did not appear to be caused by increased dietary phosphorus intake. Kinetic modeling data showed a significant increase in protein catabolic rate of experimental subjects. Protein catabolic rates (PCR) are an indicator of dietary protein intakes in maintenance hemodialysis patients. The treatment group showed improvement in the alertness behavior area of the Sickness Impact Profile© (SIP). The control group declined in the recreation and pastimes area of the SIP. No significant changes were observed in the BDI. These results indicate that computerized dietary analysis is an effective instruction tool, is helpful in improving dietary protein intake as measured by PCR, and may contribute to improved quality of life of hemodialysis patients

The ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury II. Young Stars and their Relation to Halpha and UV Emission Timescales in the M81 Outer Disk

We have obtained resolved stellar photometry from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) observations of a field in the outer disk of M81 as part of the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST). Motivated by the recent discovery of extended UV (XUV) disks around many nearby spiral galaxies, we use the observed stellar population to derive the recent star formation histories of five ~0.5 kpc-sized regions within this field. These regions were selected on the basis of their UV luminosity from GALEX and include two HII regions, two regions which are UV-bright but Halpha-faint, and one "control" region faint in both UV and Halpha. We estimate our effective SFR detection limit at ~2 x 10^-4 Msun/yr, which is lower than that of GALEX for regions of this size. As expected, the HII regions contain massive main sequence stars (in the mass range 18-27 Msun, based on our best extinction estimates), while similar massive main sequence stars are lacking in the UV-bright/Halpha-faint regions. The observations are consistent with stellar ages 16 Myr in the UV-bright/Halpha-faint regions. All regions but the control have formed ~10^4 Msun of stars over the past ~65 Myr. Thus, our results, for at least one small area in the outer disk of M81, are consistent with an age difference being sufficient to explain the observed discrepancy between star-forming regions detected in Halpha and those detected exclusively in UV. However, our data cannot conclusively rule out other explanations, such as a strongly truncated initial mass function (IMF).Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, paper with full resolution figures available: http://www.nearbygalaxies.org/papers/M81_Halpha_uv.pd

Environmental controls, oceanography and population dynamics of pathogens and harmful algal blooms: connecting sources to human exposure

© 2008 Author et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Environmental Health 7 (2008): S5, doi:10.1186/1476-069X-7-S2-S5.Coupled physical-biological models are capable of linking the complex interactions between environmental factors and physical hydrodynamics to simulate the growth, toxicity and transport of infectious pathogens and harmful algal blooms (HABs). Such simulations can be used to assess and predict the impact of pathogens and HABs on human health. Given the widespread and increasing reliance of coastal communities on aquatic systems for drinking water, seafood and recreation, such predictions are critical for making informed resource management decisions. Here we identify three challenges to making this connection between pathogens/HABs and human health: predicting concentrations and toxicity; identifying the spatial and temporal scales of population and ecosystem interactions; and applying the understanding of population dynamics of pathogens/HABs to management strategies. We elaborate on the need to meet each of these challenges, describe how modeling approaches can be used and discuss strategies for moving forward in addressing these challenges.The authors acknowledge the financial support for the NSF/NIEHS and NOAA Centers for Oceans and Human Healt

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in a UK university identifies dynamics of transmission

AbstractUnderstanding SARS-CoV-2 transmission in higher education settings is important to limit spread between students, and into at-risk populations. In this study, we sequenced 482 SARS-CoV-2 isolates from the University of Cambridge from 5 October to 6 December 2020. We perform a detailed phylogenetic comparison with 972 isolates from the surrounding community, complemented with epidemiological and contact tracing data, to determine transmission dynamics. We observe limited viral introductions into the university; the majority of student cases were linked to a single genetic cluster, likely following social gatherings at a venue outside the university. We identify considerable onward transmission associated with student accommodation and courses; this was effectively contained using local infection control measures and following a national lockdown. Transmission clusters were largely segregated within the university or the community. Our study highlights key determinants of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and effective interventions in a higher education setting that will inform public health policy during pandemics.</jats:p

Political advertising in Australia and New Zealand

This article discusses the role of advertising in political life and especially during political campaigns. Issues include an overview of the political systems of both countries, the media systems, government regulation of advertising, history of political advertising and of the evolution of different formats, a summary of academic research undertaken, key events, and future directions including electronic media and online communication channels

Television and Dependency: A Case Study of Policy Making in Fiji and Papua New Guinea

Dependency theory continues to offer the development researcher attractive possibilities for heuristic claims about relationships of cultural or economic dependency between nations. However, as recent work on dependency theory-for example, by Larrain (1990) and Wallerstein (1990)-demonstrates, claims that dependency theory provides a valuable explanatory tool must take into account the specific social, cultural, and economic circumstances and idiosyncrasies of that country. That is, dependency theory must always be a possible conclusion, rather than a premise, of investigation. Dependency theory must be answerable, therefore, to empirical investigation. This paper details two empirical studies that furnish data for evaluating the validity of applying dependency theory to an understanding of the socioeconomic impact of televisual development in the Pacific. In the mid-1980s both Fiji and Papua New Guinea leaped enthusiastically into agreements with Australian media interests to introduce broadcast television into those countries. An examination of the policy formulation and decision-making processes of both Fijian and Papua New Guinean governments at the time shows that politicians in both Suva and Port Moresby did not cope well with the incompatible needs of profitoriented foreign media entrepreneurs and development-oriented national groups. This paper therefore focuses on the period of the early negotiations and dealmaking in the two countries, during the mid-1980s and on the social, political, and economic consequences of the resulting deals for both television institutions and their target audiences. It is argued that these consequences have been conducive to relations of cultural and economic dependency