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Truly a pioneer in the field of learning assistance and developmental education, Martha Maxwell has mentored hundreds, if not thousands, of professionals and students as well as authored a variety of reference shelf publications. Her career spanned 50 years. In her classic, Improving Student Learning Skills, she says there are seven persons named Martha Maxwell: counselor, teacher, academic advisor, reading/learning disabilities specialist, researcher, administrator, and perennial student.

The Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI) for Human Development is the only national institute or center to integrate both professional and family caregiver issues in research, education, and advocacy agendas. This paper focuses on caregiver education and support and includes: (1) a discussion of the limitations of models that separate family versus professional caregivers, (2) a brief overview of the Rosalynn Carter Institute and the conceptual basis for the Institute's integrated caregiving agenda, and (3) precepts of effective caregiver education and support that guide activities at the RCI.

Examines the methodology of using novel reading and letter exchange based upon the novels to enhance reading/writing skills in non-native speakers at the college freshmen level. In addition, it refers to theories on which such methodology is based and offers samples from student work. Contains 17 references. (VWC)

Emulgold (EG) is a highly concentrated source of soluble dietary fiber extracted from the natural resin of the acacia tree. Acacia fiber is known for its prebiotic effects in humans but has not been well studied in dogs. This study was conducted to assess how EG and other fibers commonly used in pet foods (cellulose, inulin, and pectin) affected fermentability and canine microbiota populations using an in vitro fermentation system. Fresh fecal samples were collected from healthy adult dogs (n = 3) and pooled to serve as inoculum. Fermentation media aliquots were collected at 0, 6, 12, and 18 h for measurement of pH, gas production, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and microbiota populations. Blank-corrected data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED of SAS, with fiber and time as main effects. Sequence data were analyzed using QIIME2. Significance was declared at P ≤ 0.05. In this study, distinct fermentation patterns were observed among the different fiber substrates over time. Fermentation media pH (P ≤ 0.01) decreased, while gas (P ≤ 0.01) and SCFA (P = 0.01) production increased over time. EG, inulin, and pectin tubes had a greater (P ≤ 0.01) decrease in media pH than cellulose tubes. Pectin and inulin tubes had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in gas production than those containing EG and cellulose. A greater (P < 0.01) increase in SCFA concentrations was observed in EG, inulin, and pectin tubes than cellulose tubes. Alpha diversity analysis showed that bacterial richness (observed features; P = 0.03) and diversity (Shannon diversity; P = 0.02) were highest after 18 hours of fermentation. Also, EG tubes had a greater (P ≤ 0.01) number of observed features and Shannon Index than other fibers. β-diversity analysis based on weighted and unweighted UniFrac distances demonstrated differences due to time and fiber. Bacterial communities at 0 h differed (P < 0.01) from those at 6, 12 or 18 h. In addition, β-diversity was different (P < 0.01) among fiber sources. Specifically, unweighted UniFrac distances showed separate clustering of bacterial communities within tubes containing EG, cellulose, and pectin, indicating distinct bacterial community structure among these substrates. The bacterial community associated with inulin exhibited similarities to those observed in tubes containing EG and pectin. Weighted UniFrac distances showed that the bacterial community of EG and cellulose tubes had clusters separate from those containing pectin and inulin. Differences in the relative abundances of approximately 40 bacterial genera were affected by time and fiber type. Specifically, tubes containing EG had a greater increase in Bacteroides while cellulose tubes had a greater increase in Lactobacillus than other fibers. Inulin tubes had a greater increase in Bifidobacterium and Dubosiella than other fibers. Overall, this study showed that Emulgold results in increased bacterial richness and diversity with significantly less gas production when compared with pectin and inulin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metronidazole is a potent antibiotic often prescribed to treat gastrointestinal enteropathies, but is known to induce loose stools, negatively alter the fecal microbiome, and affect fecal metabolite production. Dietary intervention may aid in post-antibiotic recovery, but little research has been conducted regarding the potential of fiber utilization for microbial recovery in canines. Using an in vitro fermentation assay, the objective was to investigate the fermentation characteristics of dietary fibers using fecal inocula from dogs treated with metronidazole. All procedures were approved by the University of Illinois IACUC prior to experimentation. Healthy male beagles (n = 4) were fed a commercial canned diet for 2 wk, then administered metronidazole [20 mg/kg body weight (BW) twice a day] for 2 wk. Fresh fecal samples were collected at wk 2 [diet only (CTL)] and 4 [antibiotic treatment (ANT)], stabilized in a 20% glycerol solution, and then frozen. On the in vitro fermentation day, feces from each time point were thawed and used to inoculate tubes. At baseline and after 6, 12, and 18 h of fermentation, pH, short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations, and microbiota populations were measured. SCFA were measured by gas chromatography and fecal microbiota populations were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. All blank tube-corrected changes from baseline data were analyzed using repeated measures and the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4, with significance set at P < 0.05. QIIME2 analysis was used for bacterial diversity measures. As expected, metronidazole administration heavily influenced microbiota populations and fiber fermentability characteristics. Pectin fermentation reduced (P < 0.001) pH and increased (P < 0.001) SCFA concentrations over time, but responses were less (P < 0.001) in ANT tubes than CTL tubes. Beet pulp fermentation also reduced (P < 0.001) pH and increased (P < 0.001) SCFA concentrations over time. Whereas the magnitude of pH change was small between inoculum sources, SCFA concentrations were different (P < 0.001) between ANT tubes and CTL tubes. Propionate and butyrate concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in CTL tubes than ANT tubes at all time points, but acetate concentrations varied over time. Chicory pulp fermentation reduced (P < 0.001) pH over time, with greater (P < 0.01) reductions in ANT tubes than CTL tubes. Chicory pulp fermentation increased SCFA concentrations, but had different patterns based on inoculum source. Metronidazole altered microbiota populations by reducing (P < 0.001) bacterial alpha diversity. The analysis of bacterial beta diversity revealed separate clusters for dogs in the absence and presence of metronidazole. Beta diversity analysis also showed that tubes containing chicory pulp clustered separately from those containing the other fibers. Relative abundances of over 50 bacterial genera differed (P < 0.05) among inoculum sources. In summary, interesting fermentation patterns in response to varying fiber sources were observed, allowing for improved insight into their potential abilities when provided to antibiotic-treated dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregiver support and education tend to be separated into programs that address the needs of professional or formal caregivers or the needs of family or informal caregivers. The two groups [...]

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The objectives of this study were as follows: 1) to determine the rate and extent of starch disappearance from the small intestine of the rat fed selected starch sources, 2) to determine the ratios of the major starch fractions [rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS)] in those starch sources using two in vitro methods and 3) to compare the two data sets to determine the accuracy of the in vitro methods. Diets were prepared using cornstarch, potato starch, amylomaize, maltodextrin, modified maltodextrin or pullulan. Starch sources and diets were analyzed for starch fractions by two in vitro methods. Diets were fed to rats, intestinal contents were collected and the ethanol-induced precipitate from the contents was analyzed to obtain a digestion curve that was mathematically modeled for comparison to results obtained using the two in vitro methods. Only the cornstarch diet had a defined amount of RDS, SDS and RS. The RDS concentration obtained from the intestinal contents of the rats fed the cornstarch diet differed (P < 0.05) from that determined by one in vitro method but was consistent with the value obtained using the other in vitro method. All other digestible starch values obtained differed (P < 0.05) among methods except for that of amylomaize. Starch fractions in starch sources obtained using in vitro procedures differed (P < 0.05) from values obtained for diets. The rate of disappearance differed (P < 0.05) between in vivo and in vitro procedures. There was minimal agreement between in vitro methods tested, and there was also minimal agreement between in vitro and in vivo results. Classification of starch into RDS and SDS components cannot be accomplished for a variety of starch sources, with cornstarch being the major exception. KEY WORDS: * starch * digestion * in vivo * in vitro

The objective of this research was to determine whether fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and (or) Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC) affected concentrations of gut microbial populations, fermentative end products and nutrient digestibilities in healthy adult dogs. Two experiments were performed using 40 adult dogs (20 dogs/experiment). Dogs in each experiment were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatments. Twice daily, treatments were given orally via gelatin capsules: 1) 2 g sucrose + 80 mg cellulose; 2) 2 g FOS + 80 mg cellulose; 3) 2 g sucrose + 1 x [10.sup.9] colony forming units (cfu) LAC; or 4) 2 g FOS + 1 x [10.sup.9] cfu LAC. Data were analyzed by the General Linear Models procedure of SAS. In Experiment 1, FOS resulted in lower (P = 0.08) Clostridium perfringens and greater fecal butyrate (P = 0.06) and lactate (P < 0.05) concentrations. In Experiment 2, FOS supplementation increased (P < 0.05) bifidobacteria, increased lactobacilli (P = 0.08), increased fecal lactate (P = 0.06) and butyrate (P < 0.05), and decreased (P < 0.05) fecal ammonia, isobutyrate, isovalerate and total branched-chain fatty acid concentrations. Dogs fed LAC had the highest fecal concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol in Experiment 1 and dimethyl sulfide in Experiment 2, whereas dogs fed FOS had the lowest concentrations of these compounds. Overall, FOS appeared to enhance indices of gut health by positively altering gut microbial ecology and fecal protein catabolites, whereas LAC was more effective when fed in combination with FOS rather than fed alone. J. Nutr. 132: 3721-3731, 2002. KEY WORDS: * dogs * prebiotics * probiotics * fructooligosaccharides * Lactobacillus

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether supplementation with fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and (or) Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC) affected bowel function and fermentative end-product concentrations in feces of healthy humans. Subjects (n = 68) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study design. After a 4-wk baseline period, subjects consumed one of the following treatments twice daily for 4 wk: 1) 3 g sucrose + 80 mg cornstarch; 2) 3 g FOS + 80 mg cornstarch; 3) 3 g sucrose + 1 x [10.sup.9] colony-forming units (cfu) LAC; or 4) 3 g FOS + 1 x [10.sup.9] cfu LAC. Subjects completed 7-d bowel function forms and 3-d dietary records before collection of fresh stool samples at wk 4, 6 and 8. Statistical analyses were performed on differences from baseline using the General Linear Models procedure of SAS. Fructooligosaccharides decreased fecal ammonia (P = 0.07) and isovalerate (P = 0.12) concentrations at wk 6. At wk 8, FOS tended (P = 0.11) to increase fecal putrescine concentrations. Lactobacillus decreased fecal organic matter percentage at wk 6 (P < 0.05) and 8 (P = 0.07). At wk 6 and 8, LAC increased (P < 0.05) fecal 2-methylindole, total indole, and total indole and phenol concentrations. At wk 8, LAC decreased fecal agmatine (P = 0.08) and phenylethylamine (P < 0.05) concentrations. In conclusion, FOS and LAC modified several metabolites associated with gut health, with FOS tending to be beneficial (decreased fecal protein catabolites) and LAC being negative (increased fecal protein catabolites). KEY WORDS: * humans * oligosaccharides * prebiotic * probiotic * colon health