Phytosterol Composition of Seeds from Different Maturity Classes.

The seeds of cultivated peanut, , are an agronomically important crop produced for human nutrition, oilseed and feed stock. Peanut seed is the single most expensive variable input cost and thus producers require seed with excellent performance in terms of germination efficiency. During the maturation process, triglycerides are stored in oil bodies as an energy resource during germination and seedling development.

Data for Community Health Assessment in Rural Colorado: A Comparison of Electronic Health Records to Public Health Surveys to Describe Childhood Obesity.

Context: Community-level data are necessary to inform community health assessments and to plan for appropriate interventions. However, data derived from public health surveys may be limited or unavailable in rural locations.

Objective: We compared 2 sources of data for community health assessment in rural Colorado, electronic health records (EHRs) and routine public health surveys.

A Community-Engaged Approach to Collecting Rural Health Surveillance Data.

Purpose: In order for communities to make health-related, data-driven decisions concerning resource allocation, needed services, and intervention priorities, they need an accurate picture of the health status of residents. While state and national health surveillance systems exist to help local communities make data-driven health decisions, rural communities face unique challenges including: (1) limited county-level data; (2) underrepresented segments of the population; and (3) a lack of survey items to address local health concerns. The purpose of this study was to take a community-engaged approach to collecting population-based health status data in a rural area in an effort to address some of these unique challenges.

Association between lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water and coronary heart disease in Colorado residents.

Background: Chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), have been associated with ingestion of drinking water with high levels of inorganic arsenic (> 1,000 μg/L). However, associations have been inconclusive in populations with lower levels (< 100 μg/L) of inorganic arsenic exposure.

Objectives: We conducted a case-cohort study based on individual estimates of lifetime arsenic exposure to examine the relationship between chronic low-level arsenic exposure and risk of CHD.

Oven, microwave, and combination roasting of peanuts: comparison of inactivation of salmonella surrogate Enterococcus faecium, color, volatiles, flavor, and lipid oxidation.

Peanut safety and quality were evaluated for different roasting technologies. Shelled raw peanuts were roasted using an oven at 163 to 204 °C, microwave, or oven and microwave combinations. The lethal effect of these treatments was investigated on peanuts inoculated with the Salmonella surrogate, Enterococcus faecium and stored at room temperature for 1 h, 24 h, or 7 d before roasting.

Predicting arsenic concentrations in groundwater of San Luis Valley, Colorado: implications for individual-level lifetime exposure assessment.

Consumption of inorganic arsenic in drinking water at high levels has been associated with chronic diseases. Risk is less clear at lower levels of arsenic, in part due to difficulties in estimating exposure. Herein we characterize spatial and temporal variability of arsenic concentrations and develop models for predicting aquifer arsenic concentrations in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, an area of moderately elevated arsenic in groundwater.

Local Wellness Policy 5 years later: is it making a difference for students in low-income, rural Colorado elementary schools?

Introduction: The federally mandated Local Wellness Policy (LWP) was intended to promote student health in schools. This study assesses the 5-year effects of the LWP on the health practices of rural elementary schools in Colorado.

Methods: One year before and 5 years after the LWP mandate, a survey was administered to a random sample of principals, physical education (PE) teachers, and food-service managers in 45 rural, low-income elementary schools in Colorado.

Long-term student outcomes of the Integrated Nutrition and Physical Activity Program.

Objective: To examine the long-term effects of the Integrated Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (INPAP), a school-based nutrition education program.

Design: Quasi-experimental design comparing intervention and comparison cohorts at 3-6 years after delivery of the INPAP intervention on nutrition- and physical activity-related outcomes.

Setting: This study was conducted in 1 school district in a low-income rural county of ∼15,000 residents in south-central Colorado.

A case-cohort study examining lifetime exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water and diabetes mellitus.

Background: Consumption of drinking water with high levels of inorganic arsenic (over 500 μg/L) has been associated with type II diabetes mellitus (DM), but previous studies have been inconclusive about risks at lower levels (<100 μg/L). We present a case-cohort study based on individual estimates of lifetime arsenic exposure to examine the relationship between chronic low-level arsenic exposure and risk of DM.

Methods: This case-cohort study included 141 cases of DM diagnosed between 1984 and 1998 as part of the prospective San Luis Valley Diabetes Study.

Validation of estimates of past exposure to arsenic in drinking water using historical urinary arsenic concentrations.

Consumption of inorganic arsenic in drinking water at high levels has been associated with chronic diseases. Research groups have estimated historic exposure using databases and models of arsenic in drinking water supplies, along with participant residential histories. Urinary arsenic species are an established biomarker of recent exposure; we compare arsenic concentrations in historically collected urine samples with predicted estimates of arsenic exposure.

Adapted intervention mapping: a strategic planning process for increasing physical activity and healthy eating opportunities in schools via environment and policy change.

Background: School environment and policy changes have increased healthy eating and physical activity; however, there has been modest success in translating research findings to practice. The School Environment Project tested whether an adapted version of Intervention Mapping (AIM) resulted in school change.

Methods: Using a pair randomized design, 10 rural elementary schools were assigned to AIM or the School Health Index (SHI).

Fear of injury with physical activity is greater in adults with diabetes than in adults without diabetes.

Objective: Physical activity is a cornerstone of treatment for diabetes, yet people with diabetes perform less moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) than people without diabetes. In contrast, whether differences in walking activity exist has been understudied. Diabetes-specific barriers to physical activity are one possible explanation for lower MVPA in diabetes.

The influence of social involvement, neighborhood aesthetics, and community garden participation on fruit and vegetable consumption.

Objectives: We considered the relationship between an urban adult population's fruit and vegetable consumption and several selected social and psychological processes, beneficial aesthetic experiences, and garden participation.

Methods: We conducted a population-based survey representing 436 residents across 58 block groups in Denver, Colorado, from 2006 to 2007. We used multilevel statistical models to evaluate the survey data.

My baby, my move: examination of perceived barriers and motivating factors related to antenatal physical activity.

Introduction: Based on a socioecological model, the present study examined multilevel barriers and facilitators related to physical activity engagement during pregnancy in women of low socioeconomic status.

Methods: Individual and paired interviews were conducted with 25 pregnant women (aged 18-46 years, 17-40 weeks' gestation) to ask about motivational factors and to compare differences in activity level and parity. Atlas/Ti software was used to code verbatim interview transcripts by organizing codes into categories that reflect symbolic domains of meaning, relational patterns, and overarching themes.

Early effects of the federally mandated Local Wellness Policy on school nutrition environments appear modest in Colorado's rural, low-income elementary schools.

To increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity, US school districts participating in the National School Lunch Program were required to create a Local Wellness Policy (LWP) by June 2006. The What's Working project described the initial influence of this mandate on nutrition environments and policies. In 2005 and 2007 (before and after the mandate went into effect), a survey about school features related to nutrition and physical activity was sent to a random sample of 45 low-income, rural elementary foodservice managers and principals.

Collective efficacy in Denver, Colorado: Strengthening neighborhoods and health through community gardens.

Community gardens are viewed as a potentially useful environmental change strategy to promote active and healthy lifestyles but the scientific evidence base for gardens is limited. As a step towards understanding whether gardens are a viable health promotion strategy for local communities, we set out to examine the social processes that might explain the connection between gardens, garden participation and health. We analyzed data from semi-structured interviews with community gardeners in Denver.

Early impact of the federally mandated Local Wellness Policy on physical activity in rural, low-income elementary schools in Colorado.

The What's Working project described the initial impact of the United States' federally mandated Local Wellness Policy in rural, low-income elementary schools located in Colorado. Before and after the Local Wellness Policy mandate went into effect, a survey about school features related to nutrition and physical activity was sent to a random sample of 45 rural elementary schools (i.e.

Molecular probing of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae sterol 24-C methyltransferase reveals multiple amino acid residues involved with C2-transfer activity.

Two families of sterol C24-methyltransferase (SMT) are responsible for the formation of the ergostane (C(1)-transfer activity; SMT1) and stigmastane (C(2)-transfer activity: SMT2) sterol side chains, respectively. The fungal Saccharomyces cerevisiae SMT1 (Erg6p) operates the first C(1)-transfer in concerted fashion to form a single product whereas the protozoan and plant SMTs are bifunctional capable of catalyzing two sequential, mechanistically distinct C-methylation activities in the conversion of a Delta(24)-sterol acceptor to diverse doubly alkylated products. Previous mutation of the amino acids of Erg6p at D79, Y81 and E82 afforded C(1) or C(2)-transfer activities typical of the protozoan and plant SMT.

Validation of a survey instrument to assess home environments for physical activity and healthy eating in overweight children.

Background: Few measures exist to measure the overall home environment for its ability to support physical activity (PA) and healthy eating in overweight children. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the reliability and validity of such a measure.

Methods: The Home Environment Survey (HES) was developed to reflect availability, accessibility, parental role modelling, and parental policies related to PA resources, fruits and vegetables (F&V), and sugar sweetened drinks and snacks (SS).

Relationship of abdominal obesity measured by DXA and waist circumference with insulin sensitivity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white individuals: the San Luis Valley Diabetes Study.

Background: To determine if dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures of trunk fat, a user-defined abdominal region of interest (ROI) and waist circumference (WC) differ in their association with insulin sensitivity among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites (NHW) or explain any ethnic differences in insulin sensitivity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of data collected (1997-98) as part of the longitudinal San Luis Valley Diabetes Study was utilized. There were 664 non-diabetic participants including 349 women (220 NHW, 139 Hispanic) and 305 men (197 NHW, 108 Hispanic), average age 63 years.

Genetic and physiologic correlates of longitudinal immunoreactive trypsinogen decline in infants with cystic fibrosis identified through newborn screening.

Objectives: To characterize the time course and physiologic significance of decline in serum immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) levels in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) by mode of diagnosis and genotype, and to examine IRT heritability.

Study Design: We studied longitudinal IRT measurements in 317 children with CF. We developed statistical models to describe IRT decline.

Coaching process outcomes of a family visit nutrition and physical activity intervention.

The purpose of this article is to report the process outcomes of a coaching methodology used in a study designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity in families. Eighty-eight families with second graders were recruited from a rural, biethnic community in Colorado and randomized to intervention and delayed intervention conditions. This article reports on the 27 families in the delayed intervention group.