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- Creators: Barrett, The Honors College
Description
Diet quality is closely intertwined with overall health status and deserves close examination. Healthcare providers are stretched thin in the current stressed system and would benefit from a validated tool for rapid assessment of diet quality. The Rapid Eating and Activity Assessment for Participants Short Version (REAP-S) represents one such option. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the REAP-S and Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010) for scoring the diet quality of omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan diets. Eighty-one healthy male and female subjects with an average age of 30.9 years completed the REAP-S as well as a 24-hour dietary recall. REAP-S and HEI-2010 scores were calculated for each subject and evaluated against each other using Spearman correlations and Chi Square. Further analysis was completed to compare diet quality scores of the HEI-2010 and REAP-S by tertiles to examine how closely these two tools score diet quality. The mean HEI-2010 score was 47.4/100 and the mean REAP-S score was 33.5/39. The correlation coefficient comparing the REAP-S to the HEI-2010 was 0.309 (p=0.005), and the REAP-S exhibited a precision of 44.4% to the HEI-2010 for diet quality. The REAP-S significantly correlated with the HEI-2010 for whole fruit (r=0.247, p=0.026), greens and beans (r=0.276, p=0.013), seafood proteins (r=0.298, p=0.007), and fatty acids (r=0.400, p<0.001). When evaluated by diet type, the REAP-S proved to have increased precision in plant-based diets, 50% for vegetarian and 52% for vegan, over omnivorous diets (32%). The REAP-S is a desirable tool to rapidly assess diet quality in the community setting as it is significantly correlated to the HEI-2010 and requires less time, labor and money to score and assess than the HEI-2010. More studies are needed to evaluate the precision and validity of REAP-S in a broader, more diverse population.
ContributorsBliss, Courtney (Author) / Johnston, Carol (Thesis advisor) / Tasevska, Natasha (Committee member) / Levinson, Simin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2015
Description
Geology and its tangential studies, collectively known and referred to in this thesis as geosciences, have been paramount to the transformation and advancement of society, fundamentally changing the way we view, interact and live with the surrounding natural and built environment. It is important to recognize the value and importance of this interdisciplinary scientific field while reconciling its ties to imperial and colonizing extractive systems which have led to harmful and invasive endeavors. This intersection among geosciences, (environmental) justice studies, and decolonization is intended to promote inclusive pedagogical models through just and equitable methodologies and frameworks as to prevent further injustices and promote recognition and healing of old wounds. By utilizing decolonial frameworks and highlighting the voices of peoples from colonized and exploited landscapes, this annotated syllabus tackles the issues previously described while proposing solutions involving place-based education and the recentering of land within geoscience pedagogical models. (abstract)
ContributorsReed, Cameron E (Author) / Richter, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Semken, Steven (Committee member) / School of Earth and Space Exploration (Contributor, Contributor) / School of Sustainability (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
The ASU COVID-19 testing lab process was developed to operate as the primary testing site for all ASU staff, students, and specified external individuals. Tests are collected at various collection sites, including a walk-in site at the SDFC and various drive-up sites on campus; analysis is conducted on ASU campus and results are distributed virtually to all patients via the Health Services patient portal. The following is a literature review on past implementations of various process improvement techniques and how they can be applied to the ABCTL testing process to achieve laboratory goals. (abstract)
ContributorsKrell, Abby Elizabeth (Co-author) / Bruner, Ashley (Co-author) / Ramesh, Frankincense (Co-author) / Lewis, Gabriel (Co-author) / Barwey, Ishna (Co-author) / Myers, Jack (Co-author) / Hymer, William (Co-author) / Reagan, Sage (Co-author) / Compton, Carolyn (Thesis director) / McCarville, Daniel R. (Committee member) / Industrial, Systems & Operations Engineering Prgm (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
Description
Background: Twenty-four hour urinary sucrose and fructose (24uSF) has been developed as a dietary biomarker for total sugars intake. Collection of 24-h urine is associated with high costs and heavy participant burden, while collection of spot urine samples can be easily implemented in research protocols. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the utility of uSF biomarker measured in spot urine. Methods: 15 participants age 22 to 49 years completed a 15-day feeding study in which they consumed their usual diet under controlled conditions, and recorded the time each meal was consumed. Two nonconsecutive 24-hour urines, where each urine void was collected in a separate container, were collected. Four timed voids (morning, afternoon, evening, and next day) were identified based on time of void and meal time. Urine samples were measured for sucrose, fructose and creatinine. Variability of uSF excretion was assessed by coefficient of variation (%CV) and variance ratios. Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were used to investigate the association between uSF in each timed void and corresponding 24uSF excretion. Results: The two-day mean uSF was 50.6 mg (SD=29.5) for the 24-h urine, and ranged from 4.5 to 7.5 mg/void for the timed voids. The afternoon void uSF had the lowest within-subject variability (49.1%), and lowest within- to between-subject variance ratio (0.2). The morning and afternoon void uSF had the strongest correlation with 24-h uSF for both mg/void (r=0.80 and r=0.72) and mg/creatinine (r=0.72 and r=0.67), respectively. Finally, the afternoon void uSF along with other covariates had the strongest predictive ability of 24-h uSF excretion (mg/void) (Adjusted R2= 0.69; p=0.002), whereas the morning void had the strongest predictive ability of 24-h uSF excretion (mg/g creatinine) (adjusted R2= 0.58; p=0.008). Conclusions: The afternoon void uSF had the most favorable reproducibility estimates, strong correlation with 24uSF excretion, and explained greatest proportion of the variability in 24uSF. USF in mg/void may be better to use than uSF in mg/g creatinine as a biomarker in spot urine. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger study, and in a study population with a wide range of sugars intake.
ContributorsAverill, Annalisa (Author) / Tasevska, Natasha (Thesis advisor) / Shepard, Christina (Committee member) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2018
Description
Fruit and vegetable consumption among school children falls short of current recommendations. The development of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), which combine the resources of government entities with the resources of private entities, such as businesses or not-for-profit agencies, has been suggested as an effective approach to address a number of public health concerns, including inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption. The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides fruits and vegetables as snacks at least twice per week in low-income elementary schools. In addition to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption behaviors at school, children participating in the FFVP have been found to make more requests for fruits and vegetables in grocery stores and at home, suggesting the impact of the program extends beyond school settings. The purpose of this multicase study was to describe key stakeholders' perceptions about creating PPPs between schools and nearby retailers to cross-promote fruits and vegetables in low-income communities, using the FFVP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from three cases groups: grocery store/produce managers (n=10), district FFVP personnel (n=5) and school FFVP personnel (n=12). Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach using constructs from the Health Belief Model, including benefits, barriers, strategies, and motivation. While findings varied by case group, key benefits of creating a PPP included the potential to increase store sales, to enhance public relations with the community, and to extend the impact of the FFVP to settings outside of schools. Barriers included offering expensive produce through the FFVP, time/labor-associated costs, and needing approval from authorities and supervisors. Strategies for developing a PPP included using seasonal produce and having clear instructions for teachers and staff. Stakeholders reported being motivated to create a PPP by the potential to improve health outcomes in children and by wanting to help the community. Both objective and subjective measures were suggested to measure the success of such a partnership. Finally, the educational component of the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) has the potential to serve as a catalyst for organizing a PPP between FFVP-participating schools and nearby grocery stores.
ContributorsGruner, Jessie (Author) / Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam (Thesis advisor) / Evans, Browynne (Committee member) / Bruening, Meg (Committee member) / Tasevska, Natasha (Committee member) / Hekler, Eric (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
Background: Higher intake of carbohydrates in the evening and later eating times has been associated with higher total energy intake (TEI)1-3 and higher risk of being overweight or obese.1,4 Though existing evidence indicates a link between added sugars intake and increased body mass index (BMI), the effect of daily patterns of added sugars intake on TEI and BMI is unknown. Research on added sugars has relied on self-report dietary assessments with limited days of dietary data, resulting in unreliable estimates. The purpose of this thesis was to describe patterns of added sugars consumption, and to investigate the relationship between dietary sugars, eating patterns, TEI, and BMI using 15-days of dietary data from a feeding study. Methods: 40 participants age 18 to 70 years completed a 15-d highly controlled feeding study which imitated their normal diet, while recording meal times. Meals and snacks were coded based on participant identified, time-of-day, and meal content specific criteria. All consumed foods and beverages were carefully weighed and entered into the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) for analysis. Pearson correlation, independent t-test, one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc tests, and multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the association between patterns of added sugars and energy intake, as well as eating frequency (EF), with TEI and BMI. Results: 15-d median added sugars intake was 9.7% of total calories. The highest contribution to added sugars intake (% of g/d) came from snacks (44%) in women and from afternoon (39%) consumption in men. The highest contribution to TEI came from dinner (30%) and afternoon (34%) consumption in women, and from lunch (31%) or dinner (30%) and afternoon (35%) consumption in men. Total eating occasion (EO) frequency had a negative association with TEI (r = -0.31) and no association with % energy from added sugars. In multivariate regression models, besides sex, % energy from beverages only (Adjusted R2 = 0.41) and % added sugars from dinner (Adjusted R2 = 0.39) were significant predictors of TEI, while none of the variables were associated with BMI. Conclusion: Changing one’s pattern of eating, (EF and % energy from beverages only and % added sugars from dinner), may reduce TEI, potentially reducing BMI.
ContributorsGunnerson, Hannah Marie (Author) / Tasevska, Natasha (Thesis advisor) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
Objective: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a federally-funded program that provides supplemental food packages, nutrition education, and healthcare referrals to low-income women, infants, and children under 5, who are at the highest nutritional risk. This study explores if household WIC participation is associated with healthier dietary behaviors among age-ineligible children (5-18-years-old) in WIC households. Consumption frequency of fruits, vegetables, 100% juice, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and energy-dense snacks (sweet and salty snacks) among children from WIC and income-qualifying non-WIC households were compared.
Methods: Data were obtained from two cross-sectional panels (2009-10 and 2014) of the New Jersey Child Health Study conducted in four low-income New Jersey cities. Questions from previously validated surveys assessed consumption frequency of fruits, vegetables, SSBs, and sweet and salty snacks. Analyses were confined to 570 children between 5-18 yrs; of which 365 (5-11 yrs: 237, 12-18 yrs: 128) resided in WIC participating households and 205 (5-11 yrs: 138, 12-18 yrs: 67) in income-qualifying non-WIC households. Over half of the sample was African American and 43% were Hispanic. Multivariable analyses were conducted to compute incidence rate ratios (IRRs) using negative binomial regression to compare the differences in eating behaviors of children in WIC vs. Non-WIC households
Results: Household WIC participation was associated with a slightly higher frequency of vegetable consumption among 12-18-year-old children (IRR= 1.25, p=.05); differences were significant among older males (12-18-years-old) (p=.006), and not in females.
Frequency of 100% juice consumption was significantly higher among younger females (5-11-years-old) in WIC households who consumed juice about 44% more frequently (p=.02) compared to similar age girls in non-WIC households. Hispanic children in WIC households reported a lower frequency of SSBs consumption (p=.01); this association was only true among males (p=.02).
Conclusions: Household WIC participation is associated with healthier dietary behaviors among age-ineligible children living in the households, suggesting a positive spillover effect of the program. Proposed changes to WIC packages are likely to have dietary implications not only for WIC participants but also for non-participating children residing in WIC households,
Methods: Data were obtained from two cross-sectional panels (2009-10 and 2014) of the New Jersey Child Health Study conducted in four low-income New Jersey cities. Questions from previously validated surveys assessed consumption frequency of fruits, vegetables, SSBs, and sweet and salty snacks. Analyses were confined to 570 children between 5-18 yrs; of which 365 (5-11 yrs: 237, 12-18 yrs: 128) resided in WIC participating households and 205 (5-11 yrs: 138, 12-18 yrs: 67) in income-qualifying non-WIC households. Over half of the sample was African American and 43% were Hispanic. Multivariable analyses were conducted to compute incidence rate ratios (IRRs) using negative binomial regression to compare the differences in eating behaviors of children in WIC vs. Non-WIC households
Results: Household WIC participation was associated with a slightly higher frequency of vegetable consumption among 12-18-year-old children (IRR= 1.25, p=.05); differences were significant among older males (12-18-years-old) (p=.006), and not in females.
Frequency of 100% juice consumption was significantly higher among younger females (5-11-years-old) in WIC households who consumed juice about 44% more frequently (p=.02) compared to similar age girls in non-WIC households. Hispanic children in WIC households reported a lower frequency of SSBs consumption (p=.01); this association was only true among males (p=.02).
Conclusions: Household WIC participation is associated with healthier dietary behaviors among age-ineligible children living in the households, suggesting a positive spillover effect of the program. Proposed changes to WIC packages are likely to have dietary implications not only for WIC participants but also for non-participating children residing in WIC households,
ContributorsSteeves, Stephanie N (Author) / Ohri-Vachaspati, Punam (Thesis advisor) / Tasevska, Natasha (Committee member) / DeWeese, Robin (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
Urinary sucrose and fructose has been suggested as a predictive biomarker of total sugars intake based on research involving UK adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between total sugars consumption and 24-hour urinary sucrose and fructose (24uSF) in US adult population and to investigate the effect of physical activity on this association. Fifty seven free-living healthy subjects 20 to 68 years old, participated in a 15-day highly controlled feeding study, consuming their habitual diet, provided by the research metabolic kitchen. Dietary sugars were estimated using Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR). Subjects collected eight 24-hour urine samples measured for urinary sucrose and fructose. Physical activity was assessed daily using a validated 15-day log that inquired about 38 physical activities across six domains; home activities, transportation, occupation, conditioning, sports and leisure. The mean total sugars intake and added sugars intake of the sample was 112.2 (33.1) g/day and 65.8 (29.0) g/day (9.7%EI), respectively. Significant moderate positive correlation was found between 15-d mean total sugars intake and 8-day mean 24uSF (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Similarly, added sugars were moderately correlated with 24uSF (r = 0.56, p < 0.001), while no correlation was found between naturally-occurring sugars and 24uSF (r = 0.070, p < 0.001). In a linear multiple regression, total and added sugars each explained 30% of variability in 24uSF (Adjusted R2, p value; total sugars: 0.297, 0.001; added sugars: 0.301, p < 0.001). Physical activity had no effect on the association between dietary and urinary sugars in neither the correlation nor the linear regression analysis. 24uSF can be used as a biomarker for total and added sugars consumption in US adults, although its predictability was weaker compared to findings involving UK adults. No evidence was found showing that physical activity levels affect the association between 24uSF and total sugars intake in US adults. More detailed investigation through future feeding studies including subjects with wide range of sugars intake and of different ethnic/racial backgrounds are needed to better understand the characteristics of the biomarker and its uses.
ContributorsMohan, Chitra (Author) / Tasevska, Natasha (Thesis advisor) / Ainsworth, Barbara (Committee member) / Johnston, Carol (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2019
Description
For as long as humans have been working, they have been looking for ways to get that work done better, faster, and more efficient. Over the course of human history, mankind has created innumerable spectacular inventions, all with the goal of making the economy and daily life more efficient. Today, innovations and technological advancements are happening at a pace like never seen before, and technology like automation and artificial intelligence are poised to once again fundamentally alter the way people live and work in society. Whether society is prepared or not, robots are coming to replace human labor, and they are coming fast. In many areas artificial intelligence has disrupted entire industries of the economy. As people continue to make advancements in artificial intelligence, more industries will be disturbed, more jobs will be lost, and entirely new industries and professions will be created in their wake. The future of the economy and society will be determined by how humans adapt to the rapid innovations that are taking place every single day. In this paper I will examine the extent to which automation will take the place of human labor in the future, project the potential effect of automation to future unemployment, and what individuals and society will need to do to adapt to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology. I will also look at the history of automation in the economy. For centuries humans have been advancing technology to make their everyday work more productive and efficient, and for centuries this has forced humans to adapt to the modern technology through things like training and education. The thesis will additionally examine the ways in which the U.S. education system will have to adapt to meet the demands of the advancing economy, and how job retraining programs must be modernized to prepare workers for the changing economy.
ContributorsCunningham, Reed P. (Author) / DeSerpa, Allan (Thesis director) / Haglin, Brett (Committee member) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Department of Finance (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Businesses stand to face many uncertainties from the moment they start up to every moment in between. A business can try to recognize them and plan ahead, react to them as they occur, or be rocked by a black swan they never saw coming. How a business deals with unforeseen events can increase its potential for success or failure. With this in mind, there is no better bridge between the here and now and the future than planning for change in order to move a company toward preparing for change, adapting to change and achieving optimal results. Interested in taking a step toward the digital age, Alpha Homes Management, Inc. (Alpha Homes) sought our help to explore ideas and options to take their company to a new level. This Barrett Creative Project was centered on designing a system for Alpha Homes that will replace their outdated paper-based system with a more digital one. This aligns with the project also featured as a capstone project as required by the information technology degree expectations. In supplement to the capstone, and for the Barrett Creative Project, the final product was presented to the owners of Alpha Homes Management, Inc. to be utilized by the business. The end goal is to provide a platform which provides a paperless environment for documentation and bring the company a step closer to having a robust internet presence. Now that the web-based application product has been created and presented, the testing phase can now begin to evaluate its efficacy.
ContributorsBrice-Nash, Tristan (Co-author) / Alfawzan, Mohammad (Co-author) / Doheny, Damien (Thesis director) / Rodriguez, Carlos (Committee member) / Information Technology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05