Search Results Within Category "Food & Nutrition"
Slips of Action in Adolescents and Young Adults
Adolescence is a critical period during which many important healthhttps://irb.psu.edu/IRB/sd/ResourceAdministration/Project/ProjectEditor?Project=com.webridge.entity.Entity[OID[058ACDEB3E43384D816C7E390C2B83F6]]&Mode=smartform&WizardPageOID=com.webridge.entity.Entity[OID[E4552FC57E491543A6B7FD8268E23FD7]] habits form in humans. However, animal models provide mixed information about habit formation across development and there are relatively few human studies that address differences between habit formation in adolescents and adults. To address this gap, the proposed study will assess differences in habit formation in adolescents and adults as measured by the "Slips of Action" task, which seeks to discriminate between habitual and goal-directed learning of visual stimuli pairings.
There will be one in-person visit lasting about one hour. Visits will begin with informed consent. Participants will complete a computer task where they are asked to learn associations between pictures and then will be tested on the associated pairings. They will also complete questionnaires and cognitive tasks.
$20
Healthy adults between the ages of 25 to 40
No learning disabilities (e.g., ADHD) or diagnosed psychological conditions (e.g. anxiety)
Right handed
Not on any medications known to influence behavior
Diagnosed neurological or psychological condition including severe anxiety and/or depression, schizophrenia, learning disability, ADD/ADHD, or autism
Significant family history of neurological or psychological disorders
Left handed
Participant is on any medication that may influence behavior
Investigation of pulse starch impact on the gut microbiome
We are investigating how the starch from pulse crops (chickpeas, lentils and dry peas) affects the gut microbiome, particularly with regards to the production of butyrate, a microbial metabolite with a number of known health benefits. We are recruiting people from two groups, those that consume a lot of these pulses and those who rarely consume them. These participants will then track their food intake for 48 hours before collecting a fecal sample which they will return to the lab. We will then use these fecal samples to conduct laboratory fermentations with pulse starches processed in a number of different ways to see what factors are important for determining the amount of butyrate that is produced. This will serve as pilot data for designing future human clinical trials.
Either consume pulses twice or more per week or consume them once a month or less. Pulses are dry legumes such as chickpeas(Garbanzo beans), lentils or other dry peas and beans
Taking a fiber supplement
Bowel problems such as IBD, IBS, chronic diarrhea or constipation
Pregnancy
NUTRI-Beta Study: A Pilot Clinical Trial for Children with New Diagnosis of Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes
This will be a 12-week single blinded, randomized, nutrition clinical trial for children with new diagnosis of stage 3 type 1 diabetes (clinical diagnosis of T1D). Beta cell function will be measured after 3 and 6 months.
Study participants in the intervention group will be required to follow the intake of specific foods and adhere to specific nutrition guidelines in addition to follow with a registered dietitian for 12 weeks (4 in person visits and 3 virtual visits). All these visits will be compensated. All study visits will be seen for a screening visit, an enrollment visit, 12-week visit and a 24-week visit. During the study visits, participants will undergo the following: physical exam/ demographic/social evaluation, clinical nutrition evaluation, nutrition counseling, dietary intake assessment, blood test collection, 2-hour Mixed Meal Tolerance Test (MMTT) and anthropometry.
$345
Age 6-17 years old, any gender
Attendance to the Pediatric diabetes clinic at Penn State Health in Hershey, PA
Positive antibodies for type 1 diabetes
History of seafood allergies and/or milk/dairy related allergies
Type 2 diabetes
Food sensory disorders
Measuring the impact of three types of resistant starch on fecal butyrate levels and the gut microbiome in healthy and obese individuals
This is dietary intervention trial that will examine the impact of consuming three different types of resistant starch on the gut microbiome and butyrate levels in normal weight and obese individuals. Participants will consume starch samples daily for 24 weeks, collecting weekly fecal samples that will be returned to the lab. Researchers will analyze the bacterial fermentation products in these samples, particularly butyrate and analyze the microbiome composition. This will allow identification of differences in resistant starch (a dietary fiber) processing between normal weight and obese individuals and will also determine if the three resistant starches tested have differing impacts on the microbiome and butyrate levels.
Diagnosis of Diabetes
Pregnant
Taking antibiotics
Interaction between cocoa and the fecal microbiome
There is a growing body of data demonstrating that polyphenols from foods including cocoa and chocolate are metabolized by the gut microbiome to produce small molecular weight metabolites that have greater systemic bioavailability and a potential role in the health-related effects of the parent compounds. The objective of this protocol is to collect fecal samples from human subjects, aged 18 - 40 years old, with overweight or obesity (BMI = 25 – 40 kg/m2), to use as a source of gut microbiota. These fecal samples will be used in in vitro fermentation experiments where fecal samples will be mixed cocoa powder or cocoa extracts in buffer. Samples from these fermentation experiments will be analyzed by chemical methods to identify the metabolites present and will be tested in bioassays to determine potential health-related bioactivities. Because biological sex can impact the composition of the microbiome, we plan to recruit both biological males and females.
There will be two in-person visits. Screening and consent collection will be done at the first and participants will receive supplies for stool collection. The participant will collect the stool samples at home and then return the sample at the second visit.
25
BMI of greater than 25 to 40 kg/m2
Free of chronic intestinal/colon diseases
Willingness to abstain from consumption of polyphenol-rich foods for 24 h
Proficiency with English (verbal and written)
Pre-existing chronic gastrointestinal diseases
Use of antibiotics within 30 days
Medical circumstances that prevent participation
Understanding healthcare workers perception and knowledge of dysphagia
The purpose of this study is to gain a greater understanding of healthcare workers’ knowledge of and perception of dysphagia in older adults. Study participants will fill out a survey/questionnaire in a single study session. This is expected to take 15-20 minutes.
You will be asked to complete a single, brief survey. It will take no more than 15-20 minutes.
Active healthcare workers or care providers for community dwelling older adults over 60 years old
Working with older adults
English proficiency at 8th grade level
Not working clinically currently
Diagnosed mild cognitive impairment or dementia
Mindful Moms study
This study (Mindful Moms) is being done to understand how an 8-week app-based mindfulness program called Calm impacts breastfeeding and maternal well-being. Eligible participants will be asked to complete three online surveys (each survey will take about 20 minutes) and take part in an 8-week app-based mindfulness program. Eligible participants will also be asked to take part in one online interview that will take about 25-30 minutes once the mindfulness program is over.
Participants will take part in one of two groups: A group asked to take part in a free 8-week app-based mindfulness program on their smartphone starting when they are 36 weeks pregnant or 4 weeks after delivery. The program will teach participants about mindfulness and breathing strategies to assist with calming their mind and body. or A group asked to take part in a free 8-week app-based mindfulness program on your smartphone starting 4 weeks or 12 weeks after they deliver. The program will teach participants about mindfulness and breathing strategies to assist with calming their mind and body. Participants will also be asked to complete three online surveys (each survey will take about 20 minutes) and take part in one online interview that will take about 25-30 minutes once the mindfulness program is over.
$130
currently pregnant (12 to 34 weeks) or recently delivered (within the past 4 weeks)
intend to or are currently breastfeeding
daily access to a smartphone
willing to download a free mobile app
Dining Out in NYC: Using VR to investigate the influence of multisensory urban design factors on eating behavior in emerging adults
This study uses virtual reality to investigate how sensory aspects of an environment influence eating behavior. Specifically, subjects will be immersed in a virtual outdoor café environment and consume a standardized meal while being exposed to either a pleasant or unpleasant smell. Total food intake and mood will be measured following each visit.
Answer initial screening and demographics questionnaires. Two in-person visits to the lab to experience a VR setting and consume a provided meal. One visit will include a small hair sample. Answer questionnaires following the VR experience.
$20 in pre-paid gift card
Fluent in English
Not color blind or nose blind
No food allergies/sensitivities
No diagnosis of mental or physical disabilities that may affect appetite, eating behavior, or body awareness and balance (such as eating disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, epilepsy, and vertigo)
Not fluent in English
Color blind or nose blind
Self-reported food allergies/sensitivities
Have diagnosis of mental or physical disabilities that may affect appetite, eating behavior, or body awareness and balance (such as eating disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, epilepsy, and vertigo)
Prevalence of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) traits among children and adolescents with Food Allergy
This study looks at understanding eating behaviors and attitudes toward food in children/adolescents. More specifically the study's goal is to compare those with and without food allergies to gain a better understanding of a possible underlying factor towards certain behaviors. Children and their caregivers will complete a survey composed of a short section on the child's medical history regarding allergies followed with questions in commonly used clinical assessments.
Age 18 years or older
Intellectual disability preventing comprehension of questions
Child and/or caregiver unable to respond to English-language questionnaire
Longitudinal Associations Between Food Insecurity, Diet, Mental Health, Sleep and Academic Outcomes in College Students
This is a questionnaire study that seeks to discover the prevalence of food insecurity at PSU's University Park campus over the course of a semester and the relationship between long-term food insecurity and academic outcomes, as mediated by mental health and sleep outcomes.
Must be in their 2nd semester during Spring 2021
Must have internet access
Must be at least 18 years old
Must not have children or other dependents
Has diagnosed mental disorders
Is unable to read, write or understand English fluently
The Effects of Healthy Diets with Plant Oils on Heart and Metabolic Health
The purpose of this study is to assess if a healthy diet containing cottonseed oil improves markers of heart and metabolic health compared to healthy diets containing other commonly consumed plant oils. Participants will be asked to consume three different healthy diets containing plant oils for 28 days each, with a minimum 1-month break between the three diets. Measurements of blood markers (sugar, insulin, cholesterol), blood pressure, and heart health, will be done at the start of the study and the end of each diet period.
In this study, you will be asked to consume three different diets for 28 days each. The diets will be provided and include 3 meals, 2 snacks and beverages daily. These diets will meet your energy and nutrient needs. You will be asked not to eat any foods outside of what is provided by the study. You will have a minimum 1-month break between the three diets. Testing will be conducted on two consecutive days at the start of the study, and the end of each of the three diet periods (a total of 8 testing days). For these visits, you will need to fast for 12 hours prior and avoid alcohol for 48 hours prior. At these visits, we will take a blood draw, measure your body weight, and perform non-invasive tests to assess your vascular health.
500
BMI: 25-40 kg/m2
LDL cholesterol: 100-190 mg/dL
Current use of tobacco-containing products or (≤6 months) cessation
Pregnant or nursing individuals
Allergy to study foods
Optimizing Maternal Nutrition: Adaptive trials and molecular methods to improve maternal and newborn health
Poor maternal nutrition is linked to poor birth outcomes. Current vitamin and mineral recommendations in pregnancy are based on limited data mostly from animal models and non-pregnant people. This study seeks to improve our understanding of the amounts of vitamins and minerals that are needed during pregnancy, to improve the health of women and newborns, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Nutrients travel around the body in blood, therefore part of the research is to understand how much blood and the watery component of blood (plasma) increases in pregnancy. This is a collaborative study with George Washington University (lead PI is there). The Penn State team will conduct pilot work to establish a method for measuring plasma volume in 2 phases. In phase 1, nonpregnant will be asked to attend one visit and plasma volume will be measured by injecting indocyanine-green (ICG, a green dye) and hydroxyethyl starch (HES, a form of starch) through an IV in the arm. In phase 2, pregnant women will be asked to attend 2 visits that are 4 weeks apart, but only HES (the starch) will be injected. For both phases (1 and 2), blood draws will occur at each visit and other non-invasive measurements will also be taken (e.g. weight, height, blood pressure). Each visit should take less than 2 hours and will be conducted at the Clinical Research Center in Noll Laboratory on the Penn State campus.
In phase 1, nonpregnant will be asked to attend one visit and plasma volume will be measured by injecting indocyanine-green (ICG, a green dye) and hydroxyethyl starch (HES, a form of starch) through an IV in the arm. In phase 2, pregnant women will be asked to attend 2 visits that are 4 weeks apart, but only HES (the starch) will be injected. For both phases (1 and 2), blood draws will occur at each visit and other non-invasive measurements will also be taken (e.g. weight, height, blood pressure). Each visit should take less than 2 hours and will be conducted at the Clinical Research Center in Noll Laboratory on the Penn State campus.
$50 per visit
Are generally healthy with normal blood pressure and BMI
Phase 1 - not pregnant
Phase 2 - are currently pregnant (22-32 weeks)
Currently have low or high blood pressure
Taking regular medication(s) prescribed by a physician
Phase 1 - pregnant or breastfeeding
Phase 2 - multiple/twin pregnancy
Psychological and Biological Determinants of Eating Disorder Pathology in Endurance and Aesthetic Athletes
The purpose of this study is to investigate psychobiological factors that impact the development and manifestation of eating disorder (ED) pathology in elite male and female athletes before and during their competitive season.
The purpose of this voluntary research study is to assess how changes in stress, cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and reward delay predict the trajectory of eating disorder behaviors and associated side effects of energy deficiency from the off-season compared to the competitive season. Your participation in this study will last approximately the duration of one season of your sport, specifically 4-weeks of data collection prior to season commencement (baseline), 4-weeks of data collection during peak competition season, and 4-weeks of data collection during off-season. The total time spent in the lab will be approximately 10-14 hours. Procedures will occur three times and measurements will be taken twice following baseline measures (once during the peak competition season, once during off-season), if you agree to do so.
$50
A member of a Penn State NCAA Division 1 Sports team, or Penn State affiliated competitive club team, or competitive community sport team
Exercising without any training modifications that reduce training participation.
non-smoker
No serious of chronic health conditions
Currently a smoker or history of regular smoking (including nicotine products, e-cigarettes, vaping)
Medications influencing metabolic or endocrine factors (e.g., hormonal use in previous 6 months)
Medical instability or history of psychosis
Vasectomy (male) or Hysterectomy or oophorectomy (female)
Characterizing resilience to food-cue induced overeating in children
This is a behavioral and neuroimaging study that will examine how food commercials affect the way a child eats and responds to food. Children enrolled in the study will complete 5 in-lab sessions that include eating meals and snacks, watching TV, and playing computer games. For one of these sessions, children will complete an fMRI scan. On the first and last visit to the lab, children will receive a DXA scan to assess their body composition.
We are looking for children to help us learn about how kids respond to different types of foods and food advertisements. The study consists of 5 visits to our facilities in Noll and Chandlee Labs, located on the University Park Campus. For 3 visits your child will eat test meals and snack buffets in our laboratory. On 1 visit we will use fMRI to take pictures of your child’s brain. We will use a DXA to scan for lean muscle and conduct an IQ test. These procedures are not harmful. You and your child will fill out questionnaires.Your child will also play computer games and watch commercials.
$250.00-450.00
Be 7-9 years-old at enrollment.
Not be taking any medications known to influence body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow.
Have no learning disabilities (e.g., ADHD).
The biological mother must have a body mass index either between 18.5 - 25 kg/m2 (low-risk group) or greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 (high-risk group).
If they have a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions.
If they have a pre-existing medical condition such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, severe lactose intolerance, Prader-Willi syndrome, HIV, cancer, renal failure, cerebral palsy, or can't engage in moderate exercise.
If they don’t speak English.
Biological mother must have a body mass index either between 18.5 - 25 kg/m2 (low-risk group) or greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 for mothers (high-risk group), or they are excluded.
Interoception and eating behaviors in children
The purpose of this study is to examine how individual differences in interoception (the ability to sense, interpret, and act on bodily feelings like hunger, fullness, thirst, hot, cold, etc.) relate to eating behaviors in children ages 7-10 years. Findings will inform whether interventions targeting interoceptive awareness may be helpful for prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases.
Child and parent will attend 2 visits at the Clinical Research Center, about 1-3 weeks apart. At visit 1 (~3 hours) - Your child's height and weight will be measured - Your child's percent body fat will be measured using an x-ray based technology - Your child will wear a heart rate monitor and will complete tasks where they are asked to notice or count their heartbeat - Your child will complete questionnaires via an interview with a researcher - Your child will be asked to drink several glasses of water to measure their stomach sensations - You will complete questionnaires At visit 2 (~2.5 hours) - We will collect 4 saliva samples from your child - Your child will eat a meal and taste snacks - Your child will play brain games on an iPad - You will complete questionnaires
$100
Able to understand and answer questions in English
Any medical conditions impacting growth, eating, or heart function
Developmental delay
Autism/autism spectrum disorder
Taking medications that impact appetite
Home Observation of Meals and Environment (HOME) Bytes
This study aims to measure child eating behavior at home. Parents will video record their child eat 3 meals at home using a smart phone device and then take pictures of food storage locations (e.g., fridge, pantry). Videos will be coded for child eating behaviors. Parents will complete baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Children will wear an activity watch (like a Fitbit) for 1 week. In addition to these study procedures, there is an optional urine sample collection for children in order to study urinary metabolites as a marker of diet.
You will be asked to video record your child eating 3 meals at home and to take photos of food storage locations in your home (e.g., fridge, pantry).
$75 and an optional $25 for completing the urine sample collection
Child must have no neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g., ADHD) or learning disabilities (e.g., dyslexia)
Child must not be taking any medications known to influence body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow.
Child must be 7-10 years-old at enrollment
The child must speak English
Child is taking cold or allergy medication, or other medications known to influence cognitive function, taste, appetite, or blood flow.
Child has a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions.
Child has a pre-existing medical condition such as type I or type II diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, severe lactose intolerance, Prader-Willi syndrome, HIV, cancer, renal failure, or cerebral palsy.
Child has a highly restrictive diet limiting their ability to consume typical meals due to disordered eating (anorexia, RFID) or severe allergies.
Insulitis, Inflammation, Dietary intake and Omega-3 Biostatus of Youth with Partial Remission of Type 1 Diabetes
Only 50% of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) recover insulin secretion function after 3 months of initial diagnosis, and this phase is called partial remission (PR) of T1D, also called "Honeymoon phase". During this PR phase of T1D, patients recover the ability to secrete more than 50% of their insulin secretion function. This phase of PR typically lasts no longer than 6 or up to12 months, and has been frequently defined as requiring exogenous insulin below 0.5 units per kilogram per day, and hemoglobin A1C is typically below 7.5%. Most recently the use of a coefficient called IDAA1C ≤ 9 has became more accepted as the methodology to determine the development of partial clinical remission of T1D (honeymoon phase). Prior data published by the SEARCH study (national epidemiological study) showed that youth with prolonged honeymoon phase had higher intake of omega -3 fatty acids, vitamin D intake and leucine intake than those youth without prolonged honeymoon phase of T1D. Currently, there are not approved medications to prolong this phase of partial remission of type 1 diabetes, however inducing PR in youth with T1D could potentially decrease the risk of multi-organ damage caused by chronic severe hyperglycemia associated to the chronic hyperglycemia related to T1D. We aim to perform a case- multiple control study between youth with prolonged partial remission phase of T1D after one year of diagnosis, and compare these youths with multiple controls matched by age, gender, race, and puberty stage to study the potential protective factors associated to the development of prolonged partial remission of T1D.
Participants will be approached at their routine Pediatric diabetes clinic appointment. If participants agrees to be in the research, informed consent/assent will be reviewed and signed by all parties. Participant's parent/guardian will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The participant's glucose machine/insulin pump will be downloaded for study purposes. Participant will undergo a fingerstick and a blood draw to collect specific lab values as outlined in the consent.
$35.00
Age 1-17 years old, any gender
Attendance to the Pediatric diabetes clinic at Penn State Health in Hershey, PA
Most recent hemoglobin A1C below 7.5%
History of seafood allergies and/or milk/dairy related allergies
Medical conditions (such as severe cerebral palsy, etc.) that could make patients unable to communicate with the study team
Existence of other autoimmune diseases in addition to T1D requiring regular treatment with immunosuppressive or anti-inflammatory treatment
Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, monogenic diabetes (MODY), secondary diabetes, pregnancy, compromised kidney function, or liver diseases
Cardiovascular effects of a healthy dietary pattern containing eggs: a controlled-feeding study
The purpose of this research study is to determine if a healthy diet containing 2 eggs/day has similar effects on risk factors for heart disease as a healthy diet containing 3 eggs/week.
This study runs for about 3 months. During this time, you will be provided with two diets in random order to consume for 28 days. These diets will meet your energy and nutrient needs and include 3 meals, 2 snacks and some beverages. During this time, we will ask you not to eat any foods outside of those provided by the study. You will have a 1-month break between the two diets. Testing will be conducted on two separate days at the beginning and end of each diet period (a total of 8 testing days). For these visits, you will need to fast for 12 hours prior and avoid alcohol for 48 hours prior. At these visits, we will take a blood draw, measure your body weight, and perform non-invasive tests to assess your vascular health.
400
LDL-C ≥115 mg/dL and ≤190 mg/L
BMI of 25-35 kg/m2
Self-reported intake of <14 eggs/week for the prior 3 months
Current use of tobacco-containing products or (≤6 months) cessation
Pregnant or lactating individuals
Allergy to study foods
PACE – Development of an Eating Behavior Risk Score
The prevention of obesity is a far more effective approach than treating obesity after it has developed. Researchers and medical providers need better tools to identify risk factors for developing obesity, so families and their physicians can work to reduce a child's risk. This proposed study tests whether a novel risk score (PACE) is good at predicting if children will develop obesity. The PACE Score combines the measures of sensitivity to portion size, behavior while hungry or craving, loss of control during eating, and eating speed. This study will follow children in middle childhood through four visits, followed by two visits one year later. We will identify the components of PACE as well as biological and environmental factors that may work with or against the PACE factors to predict how children's body composition changes over a year.
Four baseline visits followed by two follow-up visits one year later Children will be provided meals at each visit Children and parents will complete questionnaires Children will have a DXA scan and an MRI scan Children will play learning games on the computer Children will wear an activity monitor for one week Children will perform brief and moderate exercise while wearing a heart rate monitor
$300
The biological mother must have a BMI between 18.5 – 25 or greater than 30. The parent primarily in charge of feeding must be able to accompany children to the visits.
children must speak English fluently
children should have no learning disabilities or developmental delays (e.g., ADHD, Autism, dyslexia)
children generally healthy with a BMI-for-age percentile less than 85 or greater than 95 to be enrolled.
Child medical condition affecting digestion, cardio, etc.
Child not fluent in English
Child should not be taking a medication that affects blood flow, appetite, behavior, etc.
Child should not have any unremovable metal in their body (e.g. steel dental work) or be claustrophobic
Children's appetite regulation study
The purpose of this study is to determine whether girls and boys regulate their appetites differently. Children will attend 1, 3 hour session in the laboratory, complete some surveys and health measures, donate saliva, and eat pizza.
Children will come to the lab for a 3.5 hour session where they will wear a heart rate monitor, conduct some surveys, have their veggie intake measured, provide some saliva, and eat some pizza. Parents will attend the lab visit with the child and complete questionnaires about feeding and the home environment.
$50 plus travel costs for > 20 miles from lab
Healthy without food allergies
Parent in charge of feeding able to attend with child
Children with medical problems or taking a prescription medication that may affect appetite
Children who are not willing to eat pizza in the laboratory
The parent in charge of feeding decisions cannot attend with the child
COVID-19: Implications for Family Meals
The purpose of this study is to gather information about family meals, what they look like, and how they have changed over time since the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will complete a confidential online survey last approximately 10-15 minutes.
Adults who live in a household with a child under the age of 18
Adult who are fluent in English
Individuals who can read and respond to written closed and open-ended survey questions electronically
Individuals who live in the United States
Individuals who do not reside in a household with a child under the age of 18
Individuals who are not fluent in English
Individuals with poor reading comprehension or are otherwise limited in their ability to read and respond to survey questions.
Individuals who do not currently live in the United States
The effects of creatine supplementation on neurocognitive function of college students of differing levels and types of physical activity
This study design is a survey that collects information about students' active level and supplement use, with an emphasis on creatine. The difference between contact and non-contact athletes will be examined, in addition to people who are considered inactive/low activity. This will help provide information of how physical activity related supplementation use affects cognition in different populations, with varying amounts of neurotrauma.
All participants will complete a digital survey that provides information about their dietary supplementation and physical activity habits. As part of the survey, participants will be allowed to indicate their interest and availability to come to a laboratory setting to complete a brief batter of neurocognitive tests.
Has had concussion in last 3 months
Impact of fermented pulses on inflammation and the gut microbiota
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether fermenting pulse foods (e.g. beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas, etc.) changes their effects on the gut microbiome and inflammation. Participants will eat provided meals of either fermented or unfermented pulses, providing blood and fecal samples at the beginning of the study and after two weeks of eating meals containing each of the pulse types.
The study lasts 8 weeks. 2 weeks where you do not consume any of the test food (pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, peas or beans), 2 weeks of consuming the first type of the provided meals, 2 weeks without consuming any of the test foods, 2 weeks consuming the second type of provided meals. There will be five in person visits, one at the beginning to provide consent and then one at the end of each 2 week section. At three of these visits a fecal sample will be collected, blood will be drawn and a dietary survey completed.
300
18-65
BMI >24.9
Taking any medication for diabetes or weight management
Pregnant
Allergies to meal components
Habitual Diet and Avocado Trial
This study aims to evaluate the effect of providing one avocado per day for consumption over a six month period on established health parameters, including visceral adiposity, hepatic lipid content, markers of metabolic syndrome and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), compared to habitual diet. The primary aim of this study is to determine whether providing one avocado per day for consumption for six months will produce a greater decrease in visceral adiposity as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Americans with an increased waist circumference as compared to habitual diet.
not currently eating >2 avocados per month
increased waist circumference (35+ inches for women, 40+ inches for men)
not willing to undergo MRI scans
unstable medical conditions
lost/gained 10 or more pounds in past year
Advancing the use of immersive virtual environments to study the effects of racism on eating behavior in an Asian American population
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans have faced a rise in overt racism, with thousands of hate incidents reported. This has had a bigger impact on young Asian American adults, leading to emotional distress and health problems. A theory by Harrell suggests that experiencing racial discrimination can harm mental and physical well-being due to stress. Past studies have shown a connection between racial discrimination stress and health issues like obesity and mental disorders. However, there's a need to understand the cultural and emotional factors involved. This research aims to explore how racial discrimination affects Asian Americans' food choices by looking at stress responses and cultural influences. Using surveys, experiments, psychophysiology, and virtual reality, the study will investigate how cultural identity affects stress reactions and subsequent food decisions after racial discrimination experiences.
Hello, We are recruiting Asian Americans with Japanese, Chinese, or Korean heritage for a paid research study. We want to understand how racism affects food choice in a virtual reality (VR) environment. To participate in this study, you will need to complete an informed consent form, and answer questions prior to your arrival at the lab. You will have to come to the lab to watch a video of anti-Asian racism incidents that happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and answer questions before and after the video. Last, you will make food choices in the VR environment. Participation will require three hours or more of fasting before arrival at the lab. You will be paid $25 in a gift card for your participation. If you come to the lab but do not complete the study, you will still be paid. Please continue to the next page to read the informed consent if you are interested in participating. If you are not, please exit this page. https://redcap.link/lp1wq7uu
$25 Amazon gift card
Aged between 18 and 21 at the start of the study
Born in the US or lived in the U.S. since your 10th birthday or earlier
Self-reported having fasted for at least 3 hours prior to the start of the study
Not aged between 18 and 21 at the start of the study
Not born in the US or not having lived in the U.S. since your 10th birthday or earlier
Self-reported having fasted for less than 3 hours prior to the start of the study
Has epilepsy or a cognitive disability
POSTA: Protocol for Oral Somatosensation and Texture Appreciation
The purpose of this study is to collect normative data related to orofacial (lip/tongue) somatosensation (touch sensation) in healthy adults across the adult lifespan. This data will be compared to a select clinical population, those with Parkinson's disease.
There will be one data collection session lasting approximately 90 minutes. Participants may be invited back for a second session approximately 4 weeks later to repeat the testing session During the sessions, participants will answer a series of questions about their eating and drinking preferences, they will be asked to provide a speech sample by repeating a series of syllables, words, and sentences, as well as providing a spontaneous speech sample. All participants will be asked to complete a series of sensory tests where small plastic objects are placed on their lip, tongue, and finger tip. Participants will be asked when they feel the pressure/texture and when they do not.
English-speaking
Hearing and cognition within functional limits to complete speaking tasks
Clinical Group: Diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD)
have an active lesion to the lower face (ie cold sore, fever blister, etc)
have had a dental visit in the last month that involved general or local anesthesia to the oral region
exhibit symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia secondary to anti-psychotic drug use
report current or recovering from a viral illness like Bell’s Palsy or Shingles
Observations of Family Mealtime Routines
The purpose of this study is to gather information about what family mealtimes look like for families with children between the ages of 3 and 8. Families will be asked to video record their family mealtime, in addition to answer some questions and to complete some questionnaires, some about body image and dieting.
On one occasion, your family's mealtime will be recorded via Zoom. You and your family will be asked some questions and to complete some questionnaires online.
$20
Adults age 18 and older
Children, ages 3-8
Individuals fluent in English
Caregivers who are under the age of 18
Individuals who are not fluent in English
Families without at least one child age 3 to 8
Understanding Prenatal Hydration Behaviors
To examine women’s self-reported pregnancy hydration behaviors, especially during a global pandemic. This study will also examine other lifestyle behaviors (e.g., weight gain, exercise, eating behaviors, sleep, pain management). It is hypothesized that hydration behaviors will decrease due to lifestyle changes related to the pandemic. Secondary outcomes will also be influenced by hydration behaviors and pandemic lifestyle changes.
Women
18-45
English speaking
Men
Younger than 18
Non-English speaking
Monitoring Eating Across Locations (MEAL) – Timing, Intake, and Mealtime Evaluation (TIME)
We know that both what (e.g., apples, pizza) and how (e.g., large vs small bites, fast vs slow) can contribute to overeating. The study will be focused on how children eat. We want to see if children eat the same way in the lab as they eat at home. We will assess laboratory and home eating styles (e.g., bite rate) in 100 prepubertal 6-9-year-old children. Children will be video-recorded while consuming identical study-provided meals at home and in the laboratory in addition to a ‘typical’ meal at home.
Healthy 6-9 year-olds and their parents are needed for the MEAL-TIME Study at Penn State University. We are looking for children to help us learn about how kids respond to different types of foods and computer games. The study consists of 3 visits to our facilities in Noll and Chandlee Labs, located on the University Park Campus. Your child will eat a meal and complete computer game tasks at each visit. Between visits, you will be asked to record your child eating at home using a study-provided smart phone. Your child will also complete an IQ test. Some children may experience anxiety when completing clinical procedures (e.g., height, weight). You and your child will be compensated $50 per visit for a total of $150. Each visit is expected to be 1.5 hours long and at-home meal recordings are expected to take 30-45 min, for a total of 8 hours participating in our lab.
$150
children are of good health with no learning disabilities (e.g., ADHD, determined by parent report)
children are not on any medications known to impact body weight, taste, food intake, behavior, or blood flow
parents report that children like and are willing to eat study foods
children are not color blind
If they don’t speak English
If they have a learning disability, ADD/ADHD, language delays, autism or other neurological or psychological conditions
If they have a pre-existing medical condition such as type I or type II diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Cushing’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, severe lactose intolerance, Prader-Willi syndrome, HIV, cancer, renal failure, or cerebral palsy
Characterizing the effect of an electrolyte and carbohydrate-based hydration beverage on hydration status in young adults.
This study will determine how well water, an electrolyte and carbohydrate based drink, and an electrolyte only drink hydrate the body. This study will measure how long the water from these drinks stay in your body. We will look at different hormones and electrolytes in the blood and urine to determine which drink keeps fluid in your body the longest.
There will be 4 in person visits. The first is a screening visit which will take about an hour. During the next three visits we will have you drink 1 L of a beverage and we will measure your blood and urine for a few hours after you drink it to determine how well it hydrates you. There will be a blood draw at each of the 4 visits.
150
Regularly Active
18-40 yrs old
Men and women
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
smoking
diuretics
prostate issues interfering with urination