Because microbes use carotenoids as an antioxidant for protection, dietary carotenoids could be associated with gut microbiota composition. We aimed to determine associations among reported carotenoid intake, plasma carotenoid concentrations, and fecal bacterial communities in pregnant women. Pregnant women (n = 27) were enrolled in a two‐arm study designed to assess feasibility of biospecimen collection and delivery of a practical nutrition intervention. Plasma and fecal samples were collected and women were surveyed with a 24‐hr dietary checklist and recalls. Plasma carotenoids were analyzed by HPLC using photodiode array detection. Fecal bacteria were analyzed by 16S rRNA DNA sequencing. Results presented are cross‐sectional from the 36‐week gestational study visit combined across both study arms due to lack of significant differences between intervention and usual care groups (n = 23 women with complete data). Recent intake of carotenoid‐containing foods included carrots, sweet potatoes, mangos, apricots, and/or bell peppers for 48% of women; oranges/orange juice (17%); egg (39%); tomato/tomato‐based sauces (52%); fruits (83%); and vegetables (65%). Average plasma carotenoid concentrations were 6.4 µg/dL α‐carotene (AC), 17.7 µg/dL β‐carotene (BC), 11.4 µg/dL cryptoxanthin, 39.0 µg/dL trans‐lycopene, and 29.8 µg/dL zeaxanthin and lutein. AC and BC concentrations were higher in women who recently consumed foods high in carotenoids. CR concentrations were higher in women who consumed oranges/orange juice. Microbiota α‐diversity positively correlated with AC and BC. Microbiota β‐diversity differed significantly across reported intake of carotenoid containing foods and plasma concentrations of AC. This may reflect an effect of high fiber or improved overall dietary quality, rather than a specific effect of carotenoids.Practical ApplicationLittle is known about the association between the gut microbiome and specific dietary microconstituents, such as carotenoids, especially during pregnancy. This research demonstrates that a carotenoid‐rich diet during pregnancy supports a diverse microbiota, which could be one mechanism by which carotenoids promote health.
Research on the topic of perceived control in caregiving is often limited in scope due to safety concerns. Two studies were done to create a simple virtual dog training simulation to have a safe and controllable way to test perceived control in both difficult and easy caregiving situations. Using materials normed in Study 1, we were able to create a simple virtual dog training simulation with 3 dog attitude levels; Friendly, Neutral, and Aggressive. Study 2 found a pattern of results that matched previous findings in perceived control research, which indicate not only further evidence on the relationship between perceived control and caregiver interactions with pets, but also the viability of using a virtual simulation to test such things.
The purpose of this usability analysis was to utilize convergent methods to evaluate the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) website and provide recommendations to improve user experience. Three methods were utilized including the Mouloua and Alberti Usability Questionnaire (MAUQ), the System Usability Scale (SUS), and Net Promoter Score (NPS). An in-depth heuristic analysis using Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics was conducted in concordance with the previous scales to provide specific implementation recommendations for improving user experience. Our findings suggest that implementing convergent methods leads to robust knowledge about the user experience of a digital product. Both theoretical and practical implications are discussed, alongside recommendations for design improvements, and directions for future research are presented.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many universities began moving their classes from in-person to online. With the sudden change in the learning environment, students have likely struggled to maintain their school-life balance. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate whether school-life balance had decreased during COVID-19 lockdowns, and if so, why. Given the limited school life balance research, we also propose an instrument with novel components to measure school-life balance, the School-Life Balance Questionnaire. We found a lower school-life balance was reported during COVID-19 lockdowns and that certain recovery strategies predict school life balance. This study is a preliminary step towards understanding how changes in the learning environment impact school-life balance and what strategies students can use to create an optimal balance between life and school.
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