The Impact of Nutrition and Physical Activity Education on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Muslim Youth from Various Ethnic Backgrounds

The Islamic Foundation of Lincoln is a growing population within Lincoln including many different racial backgrounds, ethnic identities, and languages. Due to these various backgrounds communication may impair the education of families as well as their attitudes and behaviors. Although there are programs developed for many other minority groups, the Muslim (population comprising the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln) population does not have any data obtained from the community in terms of nutrition and physical activity behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. This study seeks to understand if there are barriers to communication and if the intervention enhanced nutrition knowledge. This poster reflects the data method collections and purpose of research

The Impact of Nutrition and Physical Activity Education on the Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior of Muslim Youth from Various Ethnic Backgrounds

The Islamic Foundation of Lincoln is a growing population within Lincoln including many different racial backgrounds, ethnic identities, and languages. Due to these various backgrounds communication may impair the education of families as well as their attitudes and behaviors. Although there are programs developed for many other minority groups, the Muslim (population comprising the Islamic Foundation of Lincoln) population does not have any data obtained from the community in terms of nutrition and physical activity behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. This study seeks to understand if there are barriers to communication and if the intervention enhanced nutrition knowledge. This poster reflects the data method collections and purpose of research

The perception of school food-service professionals on the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010: a mixed-methods study

Objective: To: (i) understand the nutrition attitudes, self-efficacy, knowledge and practices of school food-service personnel (SFP) in Nebraska and (ii) identify potential barriers that schools face in offering healthy school meals that meet the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrition standards. Design: Convergent parallel mixed-methods study. Setting: Kindergarten–12th grade schools in Nebraska, USA. Participants: SFP (260 survey participants; fifteen focus group participants) working at schools that participate in the USDA National School Lunch Program. Results: Mixed-methods themes identified include: (i) ‘Mixed attitudes towards healthy meals’, which captured a variety of conflicting positive and negative attitudes depending on the situation; (ii) ‘Positive practices to promote healthy meals’, which captured offering, serving and promotion practices; (iii) ‘Mixed nutrition-related knowledge’, which captured the variations in knowledge depending on the nutrition concept; and (iv) ‘Complex barriers’, which captured challenges with time, support and communication. Conclusions: The study produced relevant findings to address the barriers identified by SFP. Implementing multicomponent interventions and providing training to SFP may help reduce some of the identified barriers of SFP

Exploring rural and urban Go NAP SACC trained child care providers perceptions and needs regarding the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating

Introduction: Early childhood is an optimal time to support the development of physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. As over half of children are cared for in family child care homes and child care centers it is crucial to ensure these behaviors are being supported in the childcare setting. One such process that supports provider’s education and implementation of healthy behaviors in the childcare setting is the Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment in Child Care (Go NAP SACC). However, after participation in Go NAP SACC, little is known regarding how to further support providers in their promotion of healthy behaviors. More research is needed in the United States (U.S.), especially in rural populations, to understand providers’ reported perceptions of health behavior promotion after receiving Go NAP SACC training and implementing best practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition and physical activity reported practices and perceptions of U.S. rural and urban providers who had received Go NAP SACC training and implemented Go NAP SACC best practices within the last two years. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were completed with 12 providers (6 rural, 6 urban) in the Midwestern U.S. based on constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory (i.e., personal behaviors, cognitive factors, and socioenvironmental factors). Data were analyzed via immersion and crystallization and validated with reflexivity and peer debriefing. Results: Findings indicated Go NAP SACC trained providers in both rural and urban areas felt they had the resources and knowledge needed to promote physical activity and healthy eating. However, they still struggled with barriers related to adequate space for activity, funding for equipment, parent engagement, and health promotion among staff and parents. Conclusion: Incorporating opportunities for follow-up interactions after initial training may help reduce the barriers that persist after Go NAP SACC training. In addition, future interventions should consider the factors of parent engagement and staff wellness during intervention development and execution

Exploring rural and urban Go NAP SACC trained child care providers perceptions and needs regarding the promotion of physical activity and healthy eating

Introduction: Early childhood is an optimal time to support the development of physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. As over half of children are cared for in family child care homes and child care centers it is crucial to ensure these behaviors are being supported in the childcare setting. One such process that supports provider’s education and implementation of healthy behaviors in the childcare setting is the Nutrition and Physical Activity Assessment in Child Care (Go NAP SACC). However, after participation in Go NAP SACC, little is known regarding how to further support providers in their promotion of healthy behaviors. More research is needed in the United States (U.S.), especially in rural populations, to understand providers’ reported perceptions of health behavior promotion after receiving Go NAP SACC training and implementing best practices. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the nutrition and physical activity reported practices and perceptions of U.S. rural and urban providers who had received Go NAP SACC training and implemented Go NAP SACC best practices within the last two years. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were completed with 12 providers (6 rural, 6 urban) in the Midwestern U.S. based on constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory (i.e., personal behaviors, cognitive factors, and socioenvironmental factors). Data were analyzed via immersion and crystallization and validated with reflexivity and peer debriefing. Results: Findings indicated Go NAP SACC trained providers in both rural and urban areas felt they had the resources and knowledge needed to promote physical activity and healthy eating. However, they still struggled with barriers related to adequate space for activity, funding for equipment, parent engagement, and health promotion among staff and parents. Conclusion: Incorporating opportunities for follow-up interactions after initial training may help reduce the barriers that persist after Go NAP SACC training. In addition, future interventions should consider the factors of parent engagement and staff wellness during intervention development and execution

Assessment of Nutrition Knowledge of Childcare Providers Regarding the Implementation of the 2017 CACFP Meal Pattern Update

Background: With the release of 2017 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal pattern, states need to determine knowledge gaps in order to develop targeted training materials and resources to aid childcare providers in achieving new regulations. Purpose: To assess the nutrition knowledge of childcare providers in regards to the implementation of the 2017 CACFP meal pattern. Methods: Convenience sampling, where CACFP participants (n = 398) completed a self-reported survey at the annual mandatory trainings across the state of Nebraska, was employed in this study. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, standard deviations, independent sample t tests, and chi-square tests were used to determine differences in nutrition knowledge by geographical location, for-profit and nonprofit, and program settings. Results: Data obtained from this study indicate that CACFP participants scored low on questions regarding yogurt (30%), juice (35%), breakfast cereal (37%), and whole grain (43%) questions. Data also show that there was no significant difference in levels of knowledge among characteristics and demographics of programs, types of facilities, and geographic locations. Translation to Health Education Practice: The present study results underscore the importance for continued professional development for CACFP participating childcare providers to implement the new CACFP meal pattern for child nutrition standards

Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Strategies of Herbal Medicine for Acute Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common gastrointestinal problem characterized by loose watery stool and mild to severe dehydration. Annually, about 1.7–5 billion new cases of diarrhea were reported. In developing countries, it is more common, where young kids have diarrhea approximately three times/year. In 2013, 1.26 million deaths occurred due to diarrhea, whereas in 1990, the figure was slightly higher (2.58 million). In 2012, diarrhea was the second most common reason of death (11%, n = 0.76 million) in children less than 5 years. Although various synthetic drugs are being prescribed as standard therapy for diarrhea, they have side effects. It is possible to prescribe the herbal medicine for diarrhea, which is safe and effective. In this study, medicinal plants discussed are proven to be scientifically active in diarrheal diseases. This study reviews about current medicinal plants used in the treatment of diarrhea. The use of medicinal plants for diarrhea results in improvement of the symptom. Moreover, studies on large scale are needed to characterize the beneficial role of medicinal plants in the treatment of diarrhea

Psychological and psychotherapeutic challenges of COVID-19

Coronavirus is a deadly disease, classified on 30th January 2020, by the World Health Organization (WHO) that acknowledged the outburst of coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19), after several cases were reported from China’s 34 regions. In 2020 the virus originated from the wholesale seafood market in Wuhan (China)spreading life all around the world. Quarantine, restraints, and economic closure can change a whole psychological environment in all the countries having coronavirus. affect Although this situation should give several opportunities for personal growth and family unity, disadvantages may compensate for these benefits affecting the psychological health of children and adolescents. But in this difficult time anxiety, and stress are common due to lake of relationships and also due to a reduction in other opportunities other risk includes parents’ mental illness, domestic violence, and lack of treatment for the child during an illness. This was especially common in adolescents and children because they need special care thus causing disabilities, traumatic experiences, and mental health problems. With all these above-mentioned problems this was definitely a challenging time. In Italy where Covid-19 had severe effects on physical health but on mental health also and psychological issues are long-term and main challenges for our healthcare systems where mental health gain not as much important as other physical illnesses

Role of Phenylalanine and Its Metabolites in Health and Neurological Disorders

Phenylalanine, an amino acid, is a “building block” of protein. Phenylalanine is a component of food sources and also derived through supplementation. In current treatment, phenylalanine is prescribed as anti-depressant agent. The present study reviewed the possible antidepressant potential of phenylalanine. We reviewed data using the major databases, namely, Web of Science, SciFinder, Google Scholar, and PubMed. This manuscript provides a brief overview of the role of phenylalanine in depressive disorders. Phenylalanine possesses anti-depressant potential. Significant anti-depressant activities have been studied both in-vitro and in-vivo models. Based on current data, phenylalanine could be recommended as a potential candidate for clinical anti-depressant trials. Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency results in intolerance to the dietetic consumption of the phenylalanine and a variety of syndromes such as deep and permanent logical disability, impaired cognitive development

SmartSIM - a virtual reality simulator for laparoscopy training using a generic physics engine

International audienceVirtual reality (VR) training simulators have started playing a vital role in enhancing surgical skills, such as hand–eye coordination in laparoscopy, and practicing surgical scenarios that cannot be easily created using physical models. We describe a new VR simulator for basic training in lapa-roscopy, i.e. SmartSIM, which has been developed using a generic open‐source physics engine called the simulation open framework architecture (SOFA). This paper describes the systems perspective of SmartSIM including design details of both hardware and software components, while highlighting the critical design decisions. Some of the distinguishing features of SmartSIM include: (i) an easy‐to‐fabricate custom‐built hardware interface; (ii) use of a generic physics engine to facilitate wider accessibility of our work and flexibility in terms of using various graph-ical modelling algorithms and their implementations; and (iii) an intelligent and smart evaluation mechanism that facilitates unsupervised and independent learning