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Feeding, dysphagia, weight, and sleep in pediatric patients: mediation analysis and comparison of autism and non-autism
No full textPurpose: Feeding difficulties impact child wellbeing and are associated with sleep disorders. Children with autism are known to have problems with sleep; however, a gap in evidence exists regarding relationships between other symptoms such as feeding difficulties. The purpose of this study was to describe feeding difficulties in children with autism referred for polysomnography and examine the relationships between feeding difficulties, dysphagia, abnormal weight, and sleep disorder. Methods: A secondary analysis of the de-identified 2017–2019 Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Sleep DataBank was completed. The data were filtered for age (> 2, < 18 years), autism, feeding/dysphagia, and weight-related diagnoses. Results: Our sample included 3,053 participants (M = 7.26 years); 56% males; 66% White and 94% non-Hispanic. Feeding difficulties occurred in 11% and dysphagia in 9% of the total sample (autism and non-autism). The most common abnormal weight diagnoses were obesity (30%) and abnormal weight gain (24%). Feeding difficulties and dysphagia predicted sleep disorders in the sample; however, those with autism were 3.83 times more likely to have feeding difficulties than patients without autism and 2.19 times more likely to have dysphagia. In the autism group, obesity and abnormal weight gain partially mediated the relationship between feeding difficulties and sleep disorder, and between dysphagia and sleep disorder. Conclusions: In a sample of children referred for polysomnography, both feeding difficulties and dysphagia were associated with sleep disorders and were more likely in children with autism. The relationship between feeding difficulties, dysphagia, and sleep disorder in autism was enhanced by the presence of obesity and abnormal weight gain. Prospective longitudinal studies are recommended to help reveal causal relationships between these variables
Fluvial architectural analysis and longitudinal variance of the Castlegate Sandstone, Book Cliffs, Utah
No full textThe Castlegate Sandstone is one of the most-studied fluvial deposits in the world due to its world-class exposure. Despite this, there has yet to be a comprehensive fluvial architecture analysis study considering the longitudinal variance within the system. This study uses methods of lithofacies analysis, analysis of fluvial architectural elements, and
calculation of backwater length to reconstruct the depositional history of the Castlegate Sandstone. This study recognizes valley-scale scours in the Castlegate, a frequently overlooked surface within the hierarchy of fluvial bounding surfaces. Data collected was compared and supplemented with the numerous previous studies on this rock unit. This study determines the lack of trackable surfaces from the proximal to distal reaches of the Castlegate system due to the different controls on fluvial architecture in different regions of the system, and provides insight into driving factors of change in fluvial architecture and channel style along longitudinal profile
Community engagement and outreach practices of select professional U.S. orchestral organizations: A descriptive study
No full textThe purpose of this study is to document community engagement and outreach activities
of select professional U.S. Group 1 orchestras (N = 10). In the data collection process, I
considered publicly available information pertaining to community engagement and outreach
strategies, public documentation of organizational finances, and website presentation. There
were 19 engagement strategies commonly used by the studied organizations, with additional
unique strategies found for individual organizations. The financial information specific to
educational spending was limited, though some information could be inferred. All organizations
considered in this study offer community engagement and outreach content on their website,
though they are varied in presentation and content
Mad Spoon Serve Yourself Cereal Bar
No full textMad Spoon is a Brooklyn-based cereal bar that redefines breakfast through rebellious branding, nostalgic design, and an immersive customer experience. Rooted in personal memory and cultural insight, this essay outlines the strategic design, marketing, and advertising actions taken to bring Mad Spoon to life. Inspired by art history?specifically the whimsical linework of Saul Steinberg?and grounded in consumer behavior research, the brand identity balances playfulness and edge. With bold typography, expressive illustrations, and a distinctive color palette, Mad Spoon crafts a visual language that invites customers to break the rules and make breakfast their own. Its marketing strategy spans experiential retail design, viral digital content, and high-impact advertising in Times Square and New York subways. More than just a business, Mad Spoon is a tribute to the creator's childhood connection with cereal and their father?a reflection of how joy, memory, and design can merge into a vibrant, community-driven brand experience. This project is both a nostalgic homage and a modern disruption, proving that cereal is no longer just a meal?it is a movement
Beyond Treatment: Exploring Nutritional Access and Food Literacy in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
No full textAdolescents and young adults (AYA) cancer survivors ages 18 to 39 experience unique and complex challenges during a critical transitional period in their life, in addition to the effects of cancer treatment and survivorship. Nutrition is an aspect of cancer treatment that is often underappreciated for its impact on healing. This qualitative study aims to explore AYA cancer survivors' experiences with their nutrition during and after treatment and identify areas of improvement to promote better nutrition. Through recruitment partnerships with multiple AYA organizations in a large metroplex, five individuals enrolled in the study. Participants were ages 18 to 35 with diagnoses including Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Ductile Carcinoma. Through open-ended questions, participants shared their cancer journey and nutritional experiences. Thematic analysis was used to develop four key themes: (1) Nutritional knowledge driving varying dietary patterns, (2) Financial barriers to healthy food, (3) Lack of nutritional education and consultation, and (4) Long term health impacts. To promote nutritional education and lifestyle support, multidisciplinary care for cancer survivors, specifically AYAs, is imperative to address this population's unique needs
Purple Barbie: Social media, social contagion, and female TCU students’ co-construction of extreme beauty ideals and practices
No full textThis study aimed to expand on previous research linking women’s experience on social media with an emphasis on the modern landscape of extreme beauty trends. Specifically, this study focused on what was be defined as “extreme beauty behaviors”. Through five semi-structured focus groups, 21 TCU female-identifying college students were interviewed. This research and data were open coded, and schemas were collapsed into identifiable categories to be included in primary and second-cycle coding (Tracy, 2013). Several themes were yielded from the focus groups, which warranted in-depth discussion as they shed insights on future theoretical and practical advancement. These implications included: updating research on Two-Step Flow Theory to include the modern landscape of social media, focusing future research to understand the role of social contagion in the CMM process, and universities, and their affiliated clubs and organizations, more consistently address mental health and eating disorder support for female students
Association of Social Media Recruitment and Depression Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Candidates: Prospective Cohort Study
No full textBackground Due to the widespread use of social media and the internet in today’s connected world, obesity and depression rates are increasing concurrently on a global scale. This study investigated the complex dynamics involving social media recruitment for scientific research, race, ethnicity, and depression among metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) candidates. Objective This study aimed to determine (1) the association between social media recruitment and depression among MBS candidates and (2) racial and ethnic differences in social media recruitment engagement. Methods The analysis included data from 380 adult MBS candidates enrolled in a prospective cohort study from July 2019 to December 2022. Race and ethnicity, recruitment method (social media: yes or no), and depression status were evaluated using χ2 tests and logistic regression models. Age, sex, and ethnicity were adjusted in multivariable logistic regression models. Results The mean age of the candidates was 47.35 (SD 11.6) years, ranging from 18 to 78 years. Participants recruited through social media (n=41, 38.32%) were more likely to report past or current episodes of depression compared to nonsocial media–recruited participants (n=74, 27.11%; P=.03), with a 67% increased likelihood of depression (odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% CI 1.04†2.68, P=.03). Further analysis showed that participants with a history of depression who were below the mean sample age were 2.26 times more likely to be recruited via social media (adjusted OR [aOR] 2.26, 95% CI 1.03†4.95; P=.04) compared to those above the mean age. Hispanic (n=26, 38.81%) and non-Hispanic White (n=53, 35.10%) participants were significantly more likely to be recruited via social media than non-Hispanic Black (n=27, 18.37%) participants (P<.001). After adjusting for covariates, non-Hispanic Black participants were 60% less likely than non-Hispanic White participants to be recruited via social media (aOR 0.40, 95% CI 0.22†0.71; P=.002). Conclusions We found that individuals recruited through social media channels, especially younger participants, were more likely to report past or current episodes of depression compared to those recruited through nonsocial media. The study also showed that non-Hispanic Black individuals are less likely to engage in social media recruitment for scientific research versus other racial and ethnic groups. Future mental health–related studies should consider strategies to mitigate potential biases introduced by recruitment methods to ensure the validity and generalizability of research findings
The development of a novel predator avoidance assay for fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) across multiple life stages
No full textWithin ecotoxicology, there is a growing need to develop assays to evaluate ecologically-relevant behaviors in fish across their lifespan. One class of such behaviors is predator avoidance, which hold importance for fish populations. These behaviors have been documented in adult FHMs but remain poorly understood in larvae. This study aimed to develop an assay to assess predator avoidance behaviors of FHMs across multiple life stages. The objectives were to 1) verify that the use of alarm cue collected from pond-reared donors induced predator avoidance behaviors, as measured via ToxTrac, in adult FHMs, and 2) develop a predator avoidance assay for use in 14 days post-hatch (dph) FHMs using the verified stimulus. Exposure of adult and larval FHMs to pond-reared alarm cue induced significant changes in predator avoidance behaviors, verifying its use as a predator stimulus. Consequently, this study outlines methodology for assessing these behaviors in FHMs across multiple life stages
The Necessity of Bees: Why We Need Them and How We Can Use Economics To Save Them
No full textBees are essential to our everyday lives. However, many current conservation efforts do not adequately encourage bee populations to repopulate or even maintain healthy numbers. This paper uses an economic lens to analyze the specific needs of bee populations and target the best ways to promote towards healthy populations, specifically in Blanco County, Texas. The paper looks at two distinct populations of bees, honeybees and the native bees of Blanco County, and how their biological differences lead to varying conservation approaches. Furthermore, it analyzes the land makeup in Blanco County, which allows for specialized incentives to be put into action at the local level through tax exemptions. Additionally, the paper includes the economic theory that serves as a basis for potential policy actions. Ultimately, the paper suggests five policy recommendations for further encouragement of bee populations in Blanco County