Publications by authors named "K S Howell"

Palm wine is an alcoholic beverage that has existed for centuries and has important economic and socio-culture values in many tropical and sub-tropical countries. Lesser known than other types of wines, palm wine is made by spontaneous fermentation of palm sap by naturally occurring microbial communities. The palm sap ecosystem has unique microbial composition and diversity, which determines the composition of the eventual wine and is likely affected by geographical distinctiveness.

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Recent studies have revealed a role for zinc in insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis. Randomized placebo-controlled zinc supplementation trials have demonstrated improved glycemic traits in patients with type II diabetes (T2D). Moreover, rare loss-of-function variants in the zinc efflux transporter reduce T2D risk.

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Community violence (CV) is associated with negative psychosocial outcomes, such as posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and anger; however, many individuals also exhibit resilience. Considering the multifinality of outcomes following CV and guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems framework, the current study sought to examine individual, microsystem, and exosystem level factors in relation to PTSS, anger, and resilience. Participants were 536 emerging adults ( = 20.

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Article Synopsis
  • Exposure to direct and intergenerational adversity can lead to increased depressive symptoms in Black adolescents, who are particularly vulnerable due to systemic racism and stress, yet many do not develop mental health issues.
  • The study involved 141 Black adolescents (ages 11-17) and assessed factors like internal assets, mother-adolescent communication, and community support to understand their protective roles against depression.
  • Results showed that less exposure to adversity, stronger internal assets, and effective communication with mothers were linked to fewer depressive symptoms, suggesting that improving family communication and personal strengths could help mitigate depression in Black youth.
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