Are Maternal Feeding Practices and Mealtime Emotions Associated with Toddlers’ Food Neophobia?A Follow-Up to the DIT-Coombe Hospital Birth Cohort in Ireland

This study was conducted to explore the associations between maternal feeding practices,mealtime emotions, as well as maternal food neophobia and toddlers’ food neophobia in Ireland.A follow-up to the Technological University Dublin (DIT)-Coombe Hospital birth cohort wasconducted. Mothers in the original cohort were invited to the present study by telephone calls.Postal questionnaires with stamped addressed envelopes were distributed to those who agreed toparticipate in the study. Toddler food neophobia was assessed by the modified version of the ChildFood Neophobia Scale (CFNS). There were 205 participants included in this study, with a median scoreof child food neophobia of 12. A higher degree of child food neophobia (score\u3e12) was positivelyassociated with the maternal practice of coaxing the children to eat at refusal (OR (Odds Ratio)=2.279,95% CI: 1.048–4.955), unpleasant emotions at mealtime (e.g., stressful or hectic for mothers, or tearfulfor children) (OR ranged between 1.618 and 1.952), and mothers’ own degree of food neophobia(OR=1.036, 95% CI: 1.001–1.072). Mothers who were not worried when confronted with child’s foodrefusal was negatively associated with toddlers’ food neophobia (OR=0.251, 95% CI: 0.114–0.556).This study suggests the maternal practices of responsive feeding, being calm and patient with thetoddlers, and creating a positive atmosphere at mealtime

Maternal Feeding Practices And Toddlers’ Fruit And Vegetable Consumption: Results From The DIT - Coombe Hospital Birth Cohort In Ireland

Health benefits of fruit and vegetable have been well recognized. However, insufficient consumption of fruit and vegetable is prevalent among toddlers, and has become a global public health issue. Maternal feeding practices are potential factors influencing toddlers’ dietary intake, including fruit and vegetable intake. This study was conducted to explore the influence of maternal feeding practices on toddlers’ fruit and vegetable consumption in Ireland

Adsorption Mechanisms of Typical Carbonyl-Containing Volatile Organic Compounds on Anatase TiO₂ (001) Surface: A DFT Investigation

The carbonyl-containing compounds (CCs) are typical volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ubiquitously present in the environment. Therefore, the adsorption structures and properties of typical CCs on the anatase TiO₂ (001) surface were investigated systematically with density functional theory (DFT) to understand their further catalytic degradation mechanisms. The adsorption mechanisms show that three selected typical CCs, acetaldehyde, acetone, and methyl acetate, can easily be trapped on the anatase TiO₂ (001) surface via the interaction between the carbonyl group with Ti_5c sites of catalyst surface. Especially for acetaldehyde with the bare carbonyl group and the strongest adsorption energy, it is the most stable on the surface, because the bare carbonyl group can interact with not only the Ti_5c atom, but also the O_2c atom of the surface. The substituent effect of different CCs has less impact on its adsorption models in this studied system and the bare carbonyl group is the key functional group within studied CCs. The Ti_5c atoms of anatase TiO₂ (001) surface are active sites to trap CCs. Our theoretical results are expected to provide insight into the adsorption mechanisms of these carbonyl-containing VOCs on TiO₂ catalyst and also to help understand the further catalytic degradation mechanisms of air pollutants at the molecular level