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Enhancing Workplace Nutrition: Development of a Culturally-tailored Nutrition Intervention Program to Improve Dietary Patterns, Habits, Nutrition Literacy, and Health Outcomes
Get PDFNutrition intervention programs can improve dietary patterns, habits, and health outcomes in communities, but a long-term, integrative approach is essential for success. Barriers such as limited time, resources, lack of cultural sensitivity, and competing priorities hinder their effectiveness. Research highlights the importance of environmental support, particularly from peers and employers, in improving dietary habits and nutrition literacy.
Using the social ecological model framework for food and beverage intake, this program aims to develop a standardized approach to workplace nutrition interventions. The program, approved by the Institutional Review Boards at San Jose State University, will launch in Spring 2025. It incorporates online components, culturally-tailored feedback, and employer and peer support across diverse work settings. The five-week intervention includes eight modules, delivered through 10-minute videos and lesson plans on topics like MyPlate, nutrition labels, macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), salt, and spices. Participants will complete a pre-questionnaire to assess health history, goals, lifestyle factors, dietary behavior, preferences, and nutrition knowledge. Each module concludes with a quiz, ensuring engagement and knowledge retention. Culturally-tailored, nutritionally balanced recipes and meal plans will be provided after completing the modules. In the final week, a post-intervention questionnaire will evaluate changes in nutrition knowledge, cultural relevance, and practical application of learned behaviors. This standardized, supportive approach aims to improve nutrition literacy and promote sustainable dietary behavior changes in workplace settings.
In conclusion, this program seeks to enhance nutrition education and behavior modification, offering a scalable model for diverse workplace wellness programs
Exploring the Moderating Effect of Boundary Management Strategy in a Remote Work Environment
Get PDFRemote work has evolved significantly, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to influence employee experiences in both positive and negative ways. Managing the separation between work and personal life is of importance. More specifically, using a boundary management strategy of segmentation may be more effective than an integration strategy because those who separate the two domains of work and family/personal life may be less prone to conflict in their lives. The present study aimed to examine the moderating effect of boundary management strategy on the relationship between remote work and job satisfaction, work-life balance, and well-being. Specifically, it was hypothesized that employees who utilized a boundary management strategy of segmentation rather than integration would have a stronger relationship between remote work and job satisfaction, work-life balance, and well-being. In a sample of 92 responses from an online survey, results did not support a moderating effect of a boundary management strategy on these relationships. However, boundary management strategy, well-being, job satisfaction, and work-life balance were all strongly related to each other. This study’s results suggest that organizations should focus on both segmentation strategies and attitudinal outcomes as they heavily influence one another when employees are working remotely
Sea Otter Behavior and Prey Composition Across Alternative Reef States in Monterey, CA: Applying Ecological Theory to Kelp Restoration
Get PDFDue to a myriad of factors, giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) abundance along the California coast has decreased in select areas, leading to the formation of lower-diversity ecosystems dominated by purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus), known as “urchin barrens.” While sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are keystone predators that help maintain kelp forests through predation on sea urchins, in Monterey, they avoid barren sea urchins due to their low energetic value and abundance of other habitat types, limiting their influence in these areas. From 2021-2023, sea urchin culling at Tankers Reef, a former barren site in Monterey Bay, was conducted to promote kelp recovery. This study combined long-term kelp canopy data (2010-2024), historical sea otter foraging records (2017-2024), and direct behavioral observations (June – October 2024) at five rocky reef sites to evaluate the role of sea otters in three alternative subtidal reef states. Results indicated that sea otters exhibit behaviors and prey selection patterns at Tankers Reef, similar to those in established kelp forests. Foraging in urchin barrens appeared to depend heavily on local habitat features and prey availability. While some urchin barrens offer access to viable prey, they may still pose long-term risks to sea otters due to higher energetic costs and increased exposure to toxins from elevated mussel consumption. This study contributes to growing literature advocating for the use of ecological theory in ecosystem restoration approaches, and findings suggest that sea otter foraging at Tankers Reef may reinforce kelp recovery
High-throughput discovery of fluoroprobes that recognize amyloid fibril polymorphs
Get PDFAggregation of microtubule-associated protein tau into conformationally distinct fibrils underpins neurodegenerative tauopathies. Fluorescent probes (fluoroprobes) such as thioflavin T have been essential tools for studying tau aggregation; however, most of them do not discriminate between amyloid fibril conformations (polymorphs). This gap is due, in part, to a lack of high-throughput methods for screening large, diverse chemical collections. Here we leverage advances in protein-adaptive differential scanning fluorimetry to screen the Aurora collection of 300+ fluoroprobes against multiple synthetic fibril polymorphs, including those formed from tau, α-synuclein and islet amyloid polypeptide. This screen—coupled with excitation-multiplexed bright-emission recording (EMBER) imaging and orthogonal secondary assays—revealed pan-fibril-binding chemotypes, as well as fluoroprobes selective for fibril subsets. One fluoroprobe recognized tau pathology in ex vivo brain slices from Alzheimer’s disease and rodent models. We propose that these scaffolds represent entry points for developing fibril-selective ligands. (Figure presented.
Raˉmaˉnuja\u27s cosmopsychist-panentheistic solution to the hard problem of consciousness
Get PDFRecent decades have seen a renewal of interest in panpsychism as a solution to the hard problem of consciousness. This has, in part, also driven an increase in interest in classical Indian philosophical traditions among analytic philosophers of mind. Many of these cross-cultural studies pertaining to panpsychism (and cosmopsychism) have focused on one particularly influential school of Indian philosophy, Advaita (non-dual) Veda nta, the most famous proponent of which is sankara. In this work, we would like to consider the view of another influential philosopher and the school that developed based on his view - Rama nuja (eleventh century CE) and Viśiá1-Avaita (qualified non-dualism) Vedta. We argue that a cosmopsychist-panentheistic metaphysics that is motivated by Rauja\u27s views offers a solution to the hard problem that is preferable to other comparable views and could form the basis for a panentheistic conception of God that is compatible with the reality of the freedom of human selves
Advancing the environmental DNA and RNA toolkit for aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management
Get PDFThe application of environmental DNA (eDNA) and RNA (eRNA) technologies to aquatic ecosystem monitoring and management has increased rapidly in the last decade. These methods are providing many new and exciting opportunities for enhanced biodiversity assessment, ecological health evaluation, and species detection. This special issue of PeerJ Life and Environment brings together 20 innovative studies that collectively advance the eDNA toolkit. Four key themes are covered: (i) Methodological advancements, (ii) Ecological health assessments and biomonitoring, (iii) Species detection, and (iv) Application and management. The studies cover a suite of topics including; optimizing sample collection, developing species-specific assays, evaluating bioindicator species, assessing microbial activity, and biodiversity monitoring in diverse freshwater and marine habitats. Emerging applications, such as the use of genome skimming to identify new fish markers, showcase the many new advancements in this field. The studies in this issue also highlight challenges, including the need for standardized protocols and ethical considerations that must be addressed before these tools can be implemented or adopted for decision making at national or global scales. Together, these contributions demonstrate the transformative potential of environmental nucleic acids’ technologies for advancing aquatic conservation and management. By bridging methodological rigor with applied research, the studies in this special issue provide an important resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners committed to sustainable aquatic ecosystem stewardship
Directional vibrotactile takeover requests on a wrist-worn device: effects of age, pattern type, and urgency in automated driving
Get PDFDrivers are still required to perform the takeover task in highly automated vehicles. This task, which is cognitively and physically demanding, may present challenges for older adults due to general age-related declines in perception and cognition. Tactile modalities that may not be occupied by many non-driving-related tasks could serve as a potential solution for delivering takeover requests. Among these, directional vibrotactile stimuli presented via a wrist-worn device represent a promising approach. However, the effects of the two common types of directional vibrotactile patterns, dynamic patterns that vibrate sequentially at different locations and static patterns that vibrate at fixed locations, are still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of age (younger and older adults), vibrotactile pattern types (Baseline, Full-Dynamic, Semi-Dynamic, and Static), and interpulse interval (shorter (300 ms) and longer (800 ms)) on takeover performance. Forty participants (20 younger and 20 older adults) were engaged in the SAE Level 3 driving simulator study. Overall, Static and Baseline patterns were associated with faster reaction and takeover times and were perceived as more useful and satisfactory compared to the Full-Dynamic and Semi-Dynamic patterns. Shorter interpulse intervals (300 ms) for vibrotactile takeover requests resulted in better takeover performance, as indicated by shorter reaction and takeover times compared to longer interpulse intervals (800 ms). Finally, younger adults reacted faster to vibrotactile takeover requests than older adults did. The findings from the current study may inform the design of human–machine interfaces on wearable devices for next-generation automated vehicles
Spartan Daily, October 2, 2025
Get PDFVolume 165, Issue 18https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartan_daily_2025/1061/thumbnail.jp
Visual Analog of Temporal Envelope Benefits Speech Processing in Cochlear Implant Users: A Pilot Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study on the Associations Between Audiovisual Benefit, Listening Environment, and Peripheral Neural Health
No full textObjectives: This study compared the benefit of visual analog of temporal envelope for speech processing across listening environments in postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant users. Associations between cortical activities and peripheral neural health were explored. Design: Speech perception was measured using Harvard/IEEE sentences in quiet and noise with a visually presented sphere whose size was synchronized with the temporal envelope of the sentences. Cortical activities were recorded concurrently using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Audiovisual benefit was evaluated using sentence scores, activation additivity, and functional connectivity. Peripheral neural health was measured using electrically evoked compound action potentials. Results: Behavioral results showed the largest audiovisual benefit at a signal-to-noise ratio of +10 dB. The nonsignificant trends of activation additivity agreed with the behavioral results. Correlations between functional near-infrared spectroscopy and electrically evoked compound action potential results are inconclusive and warrant further research. Conclusion: Visual temporal envelope benefits speech perception in moderately noisy environment in cochlear implant users
School Resources and Teen Suicide Risk, 1991–2016: A Longitudinal Analysis at the State Level
Get PDFPurpose: Research shows that teachers’ salaries influence educational and non-educational outcomes. And still, too few studies explore whether teacher compensation patterns correlate with student mental health outcomes. This research attends to this gap and asks: at the state level, does the average K-12 teacher salary predict teen suicide risk? Design/methodology/approach: We use an original panel time-series dataset which includes average teacher salary, teen suicide rate and economic, religious and sociocultural control variables at the state level. We analyze this data using two analytical strategies. First, we build mixed models with teachers’ salaries and the covariates as fixed effects and state and region as random factors. Second, we use the same models after differencing teachers’ salaries and suicide rates, that is, after calculating the year-to-year change in both variables. Findings: Results indicate an association between teachers’ salary and teen suicide rates. Social implications: Social policy implications suggest increased funding for schools, teachers and teacher and staff training may improve student well-being at the aggregate level. Originality/value: The conceptual framework and data provide an innovative approach to the study of a very personal phenomenon; linking the structural variable of teacher pay to the specific indicator of teen suicide risk is novel. Peer review: The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2024-019