Newborn feeding and infant phenotype

Breastfeeding in infancy, when compared with formula feeding, is associated with a reduced incidence of components of the metabolic syndrome later in life. One potential mechanism is via an effect on lipid metabolism and storage, manifesting as altered adiposity and ectopic lipid deposition. I have examined the null hypothesis: no association is detectable between infant feeding and adiposity or ectopic lipid in infancy, through a meta-analysis of published studies and a prospective cohort study of healthy infants employing gold standard direct measurement techniques (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy). Eleven studies were identified for meta-analysis: in formula-fed compared to breastfed infants, fat mass was lower at 3-4 months [mean difference (95% confidence interval)]: [-0.09 kg (-0.18, -0.01 kg)] and 6 months [-0.18 kg (- 0.34, -0.01 kg)]. Conversely, at 12 months, fat mass was higher in formula-fed infants [0.29 kg (-0.03, 0.61 kg)] than in breastfed infants. Eighty-seven infants were included in a prospective cohort, of which 73 were investigated at two time points. In healthy, term, breastfed infants adipose tissue accretion between birth and 2-3 months ages was predominantly within subcutaneous rather than internal adipose tissue compartments, and a significant increase in intrahepatocellular lipid was detected: median [interquartile range] 0.653 [0.367-1.900] after birth and 1.837 [1.408-2.429] at 2-3 months. Comparing breastfed with formula fed infants within this cohort no significant differences were detected in total adipose tissue, adipose tissue distribution or intrahepatocellular lipid between birth and 2-3 months. Significant associations were detected between maternal BMI, rate of weight gain in early infancy and gender, and adipose tissue partitioning at 2-3 months. While method of feeding is associated with altered infant fat mass up to 6 months, no association is detectable with adipose tissue partitioning or ectopic hepatic lipid at 2-3 months.Open Acces

The Use of Online Panel Data in Management Research: A Review and Recommendations

Management scholars have long depended on convenience samples to conduct research involving human participants. However, the past decade has seen an emergence of a new convenience sample: online panels and online panel participants. The data these participants provide—online panel data (OPD)—has been embraced by many management scholars owing to the numerous benefits it provides over “traditional” convenience samples. Despite those advantages, OPD has not been warmly received by all. Currently, there is a divide in the field over the appropriateness of OPD in management scholarship. Our review takes aim at the divide with the goal of providing a common understanding of OPD and its utility and providing recommendations regarding when and how to use OPD and how and where to publish it. To accomplish these goals, we inventoried and reviewed OPD use across 13 management journals spanning 2006 to 2017. Our search resulted in 804 OPD-based studies across 439 articles. Notably, our search also identified 26 online panel platforms (“brokers”) used to connect researchers with online panel participants. Importantly, we offer specific guidance to authors, reviewers, and editors, having implications for both micro and macro management scholars

LAMI: A gesturally controlled three-dimensional stage Leap (Motion-based) Audio Mixing Interface

Interface designers are increasingly exploring alternative approaches to user input/control. LAMI is a Leap (Motion-based) AMI which takes user’s hand gestures and maps these to a three-dimensional stage displayed on a computer monitor. Audio channels are visualised as spheres whose Y coordinate is spectral centroid and X and Z coordinates are controlled by hand position and represent pan and level respectively. Auxiliary send levels are controlled via wrist rotation and vertical hand position and visually represented as dial-like arcs. Channel EQ curve is controlled by manipulating a lathed column visualisation. Design of LAMI followed an iterative design cycle with candidate interfaces rapidly prototyped, evaluated and refined. LAMI was evaluated against Logic Pro X in a defined audio mixing task

The Valuation of Wetlands

This Article asserts that an understanding of wetland valuation requires consideration of many disciplines, including biology, chemistry, social sciences, economics, and state and federal law. The authors explain that wetland valuation is dependent upon the definition of wetland in the area under study and the surrounding situation, and conclude that if practitioners understand the major points of wetland appraisal, they will be able to present hearing officers and judges with relatively sophisticated, comprehensive, and accurate information upon which rulings can be based

Examining the Effects of Perceptions of Voter Suppression and Voter Fraud on Support for Voter Identification Laws in the United States

Democracy is fundamentally grounded in the people's right to vote, but what happens when the same mechanisms meant to protect the electoral process become barriers? This study examined the relationship between perceptions of voter suppression and voter fraud and support for voter restrictions, such as requiring identification to vote. The study utilized data from the American National Election Studies 2020 Times Series Study, examining a sample of 5,264 voters. Results revealed that voter support for voter ID laws depends on their perceptions of voter integrity and suppression. The more confidence voters have in the integrity of elections and the more they believe in voter suppression, the less likely they are to support voter identification requirements. Other demographic factors are considered

Breastfeeding, the use of docosahexaenoic acid-fortified formulas in infancy and neuropsychological function in childhood

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between breastfeeding, use of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-fortified formula and neuropsychological function in children. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Southampton, UK. SUBJECTS: 241 children aged 4 years followed up from birth. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: IQ measured by the Wechsler Pre-School and Primary Scale of Intelligence (3rd edn), visual attention, visuomotor precision, sentence repetition and verbal fluency measured by the NEPSY, and visual form-constancy measured by the Test of Visual-Perceptual Skills (Non-Motor). RESULTS: In unadjusted analyses, children for whom breast milk or DHA-fortified formula was the main method of feeding throughout the first 6 months of life had higher mean full-scale and verbal IQ scores at age 4 years than those fed mainly unfortified formula. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, particularly maternal IQ and educational attainment, the differences in IQ between children in the breast milk and unfortified formula groups were severely attenuated, but children who were fed DHA-fortified formula had full-scale and verbal IQ scores that were respectively 5.62 (0.98 to 10.2) and 7.02 (1.56 to 12.4) points higher than children fed unfortified formula. However, estimated total intake of DHA in milk up to age 6 months was not associated with subsequent IQ or with score on any other test. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in children's intelligence according to type of milk fed in infancy may be due more to confounding by maternal or family characteristics than to the amount of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids they receive in milk

Creating the 2011 area classification for output areas (2011 OAC)

This paper presents the methodology that has been used to create the 2011 Area Classification for Output Areas (2011 OAC). This extends a lineage of widely used public domain census only geodemographic classifications in the UK. It provides an update to the successful 2001 OAC methodology, and summarizes the social and physical structure of neighbourhoods using data from the 2011 UK Census. We also present the results of a user engagement exercise that underpinned the creation of an updated methodology for the 2011 OAC. The 2011 OAC comprises 8 Supergroups, 26 Groups and 76 Subgroups. Finally, we present an example of the results of the classification in Southampton