Differences in parental feeding styles and practices and toddler eating behaviour across complementary feeding methods: Managing expectations through consideration of effect size

Nutritional experiences during infancy and toddlerhood influence the development of healthy eating habits later in life. Interest into solid food introduction practices has experienced resurgence due to the popularization of the baby-led weaning (BLW) approach as an alternative to more traditional parent-led weaning (PLW) practices. Although the literature shows beneficial effects of BLW on eating behaviours, the magnitude of those effects is unknown making parental expectation management challenging. This study provides an estimation of the size of the difference between the solid feeding practices groups for a variety of practices consistent with the development of healthy food preferences and behaviours.565 participants with infants between 12 and 36 months old completed a survey concerning their preferred parental feeding styles, parental feeding practices, sources of information on feeding and toddler's eating behaviour. Participants were categorised to one of four groups reflecting the level of infant self-feeding level a month after the introduction of solid food (Strict PLW, Predominant PLW, Predominant BLW and Strict BLW).Estimated effect sizes of the observed significant differences showed that the magnitude of effects was modest to minimal. Moderate effect sizes were observed in comparisons regarding breastfeeding duration, maternal feeding practices, sources of information and types of first food given to the infants at the beginning of solid feeding introduction. When it comes to toddlers’ eating behaviour and the family food environment, although some differences were statistically significant, the effect sizes were very small. Considering the long-lasting impact of food preferences developed at this stage along with the stress surrounding infant feeding decisions, it is crucial that the complementary feeding advice parents receive reflects realistic expectations of the outcomes regarding the effects on eating behaviour

Early feeding experiences, individual characteristics, and their impact on infant feeding outcomes.

Early life experiences impose long lasting effects on health and wellbeing. The early development of eating habits and flavour preferences associated with a healthy diet can help to extend and improve the quality of life. A variety of factors contribute to this process and the resulting early feeding choices have an impact on parents and infants alike. Initially, nutritional factors provide the key influence, with maternal diet affecting the flavour profile of amniotic fluid and breast milk. In doing so, these factors shape the type of flavours recognised as “familiar” and “safe” by the infant. Later parental behavioural inputs interact at different levels, and with an increasing influence, to further mould infants’ and toddlers’ eating related behaviours. This thesis aims to explore elements of the nutrition and behavioural inputs during early life by employing a bi-directional focus. In a small-scale laboratory study comparing vegetable acceptance between breast-fed and formula-fed infants it was found, contrary to hypotheses that the intake of vegetable puree did not vary with milk feeding type. Maternal ratings of their infant’s enjoyment of the vegetables were also comparable between the two groups. With the recognition that mothers likely use multiple means of assessing vegetable preference, the rationale for the enjoyment ratings applied was further explored. Two main categories of cues were derived ‘explicit cues’ and ‘implicit cues, with the first most commonly applied. Finally, the potential for mother-infant interactions to provide insight into vegetable acceptance was explored. Results suggested that mothers might adjust their interactions with their baby during feeding depending on the food familiarity. However, outcomes should be considered with caution due to various methodological limitations and the small sample size. The focus of subsequent research was guided by the methodological limitations identified in the laboratory based. The final online survey was targeted at weaning practices. Specifically, it demonstrated positive associations between the baby-led weaning approach and the use of health promoting parental feeding practices to achieve positive eating behaviour outcomes in toddlers. Although results were encouraging, as BLW is relatively contemporary in the literature, further research is required to explore the long-term benefits of this weaning method

The Emotional and Practical Experiences of Formula-Feeding Mothers

The majority of infant‐feeding research is focused on identifying mother's reasons for the cessation of breastfeeding. The experience of mothers who choose to use formula is largely overlooked in quantitative designs. This study aimed to describe the emotional and practical experiences of mothers who formula feed in any quantity, and examine whether these experiences would vary among different cohorts of formula‐feeding mothers according to prenatal feeding intention and postnatal feeding method. A total of 890 mothers of infants up to 26 weeks of age, who were currently formula feeding in any quantity, were recruited through relevant international social media sites via advertisements providing a link to an online survey. Predictors of emotional experiences included guilt, stigma, satisfaction, and defense as a result of their infant feeding choices. Practical predictor variables included support received from health professionals, respect displayed by their everyday environment, and main sources of infant feeding information. Descriptive findings from the overall sample highlighted a worryingly high percentage of mother's experienced negative emotions as a result of their decision to use formula. Multinomial logit models revealed that negative emotions such as guilt, dissatisfaction, and stigma were directly associated with feeding intention and method. The evidence suggests that the current approach to infant‐feeding promotion and support may be paradoxically related to significant issues with emotional well‐being. These findings support criticisms of how infant‐feeding recommendations are framed by health care professionals and policy makers, and highlight a need to address formula feeding in a more balanced, woman‐centered manner

Chloride and lactose contents and chloride/lactose ratio in milk from Jersey cows in the first month of lactation

Avaliou-se a influência do período colostral nos teores lácteos de cloretos, lactose e do índice cloretos/lactose. Foram colhidas 418 amostras de leite provenientes de glândulas mamárias sadias, e que não apresentavam crescimento bacteriano ao exame microbiológico, de 127 vacas da raça Jersey. As amostras foram distribuídas em oito grupos: 0 ?1/2 dia; 1/2 ?1 dia; 1 ?2 dias; 2 ?3 dias; 3 ?5 dias; 5 ?7 dias; 7 ?15 dias; 15 ?30 dias em lactação. Nas amostras, colhidas antes da ordenha, foram determinados os valores de cloretos, por titulação colorimétrica, e de lactose, por radiação infravermelho, e calculou-se o índice cloretos/lactose. Nas primeiras 24 horas da lactação, observou-se abrupta diminuição no teor lácteo de cloretos e do índice cloretos/lactose, associada com o aumento no teor lácteo de lactose. A transição da secreção de colostro para leite em relação ao teor de cloretos e lactose e ao índice cloretos/lactose na secreção láctea ocorreu na primeira semana da lactação, a partir do terceiro dia da lactação para o valor de cloretos e para a relação cloretos/lactose e a partir do quarto dia da lactação para o teor de lactose. Recomenda-se, nas primeiras 24 horas da lactação, a adoção dos seguintes limites de normalidade: cloretos, <173,4mg/dL; lactose >3,94g/dL e índice cloretos/lactose, <6,11%. Entre o segundo e o sétimo dia da lactação (transição de colostro para leite), indicamse os seguintes limites: cloretos <125,9mg/dL; lactose, >4,03g/dL e índice cloretos/lactose <3,54In order to assess the influence of the colostral period on chloride and lactose levels and on the chloride/lactose ratio, 419 milk samples from 127 Jersey cows were analyzed. The samples were collected from healthy udders that did not present any bacterial growth in the microbiological examination. Cows were distributed into eight groups as follows: 0 ?1/2 day; 1/2 ?1 day; 1 ?2 days; 2 ?3 days; 3 ?5 days; 5 ?7 days; 7 ?15 days; 15 ?30 days of lactation. The samples were collected before milking to analyze the levels of chloride by colorimetric titration, lactose by infrared radiation, and to determine the chloride/lactose ratio. In the first 24 hours after partition, there was an abrupt reduction in chloride levels as well in chloride/ lactose ratio, associated with an increase in lactose levels. It was observed that the transition of the secretion from colostrum to milk, regarding chloride and lactose levels and chloride/lactose ratio occurred during the first week of lactation: from the 3rd day of lactation for chloride and chloride/lactose ratio and from 4th for the lactose levels. It is recommended the use the following thresholds as normal ranges for the first 24 hours of lactation: chloride <173.4mg/dL; lactose >3.94g/dL, and chloride/lactose ratio <6.11%; and between 2nd and 7th days of lactation (transition from colostrum to milk), it was suggested the use of the following values: chloride <125.9mg/dL; lactose >4.03g/dL and chloride/lactose ratio <3.5

Laser-matter interactions, phase changes and diffusion phenomena during laser annealing of plasmonic AlN:Ag templates and their applications in optical encoding

Nanocomposite thin films incorporating silver nanoparticles are emerging as photosensitive templates for optical encoding applications. However, a deep understanding of the fundamental physicochemical mechanisms occurring during laser-matter interactions is still lacking. In this work, the photosensitivity of AlN:Ag plasmonic nanocomposites is thoroughly examined and a series of UV laser annealing parameters, such as wavelength, fluence and the number of pulses are investigated. We report and study effects such as the selective crystallization of the AlN matrix, the enlargement of the Ag nanoparticle inclusions by diffusion of laser-heated Ag and the outdiffusion of Ag to the film's surface. Detailed optical calculations contribute to the identification and understanding of the aforementioned physical mechanisms and of their dependency on the laser processing parameters. We are then able to predetermine the plasmonic response of processed AlN:Ag nanocomposites and demonstrate its potential by means of optically encoding an overt or covert cryptographic pattern

Outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in an air force base in Western Greece

BACKGROUND: On the 20(th )September 2005, soldiers and staff at the Air Force base in Western Greece experienced an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis. The purpose of this study was to identify the agent and the source of the outbreak in order to develop control measures and to avoid similar outbreaks in the future. METHODS: A case-control analytical approach was employed with 100 randomly selected cases and 66 controls. Patients completed standardized questionnaires, odds ratios were calculated and statistical significance was determined using χ(2 )test. In addition, to identify the source of the infection, we performed bacteriological examination of food samples (included raw beef, cooked minced meat, grated cheese and grated cheese in sealed package) collected from the cuisine of the military unit. RESULTS: More than 600 out of the 1,050 individuals who ate lunch that day, became ill. The overall attack rate, as the military doctor of the unit estimated it, was at least 60%. The overall odds ratio of gastroenteritis among those who had lunch was 370 (95% CI: 48–7700) as compared to those who didn't eat lunch. Among the symptoms the most prominent were watery diarrhoea (96%) and abdominal pain (73%). The mean incubation period was 9 h and the median duration of the symptoms was 21 h. In the bacteriological examination, Staphylococcus aureus was detected in a sample of raw beef (2,000 cfu per g) and in two samples of grated cheese; leftover cheese from lunch (7,800 cfu per g) and an unopened package purchased from the market (3,000 cfu per g). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that the aetiological agent of this outbreak was S. aureus. The food vehicle was the grated cheese, which was mixed with the beef and served for lunch in the military unit. This outbreak highlights the capacity of enterotoxin-producing bacteria to cause short term, moderately-severe illness in a young and healthy population. It underscores the need for proper food handling practices and reinforces the public health importance of timely notification of such outbreaks

Guilt, shame, and postpartum infant feeding outcomes: A systematic review

Abstract Negative maternal affect (e.g., depression and anxiety) has been associated with shorter breastfeeding duration and poorer breastfeeding intention, initiation, and exclusivity. Other affective states, including guilt and shame, have been linked with formula feeding practice, though existing literature has yet to be synthesised. A narrative synthesis of quantitative data and a framework synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data were conducted to explore guilt and/or shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes. Searches were conducted on the DISCOVER database between December 2017 and March 2018. The search strategy was rerun in February 2020, together yielding 467 studies. The study selection process identified 20 articles, published between 1997 and 2017. Quantitative results demonstrated formula feeders experienced guilt more commonly than breastfeeding mothers. Formula feeders experienced external guilt most commonly associated with healthcare professionals, whereas breastfeeding mothers experienced guilt most commonly associated with peers and family. No quantitative literature examined shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes, warranting future research. The framework synthesis generated four distinct themes which explored guilt and/or shame in relation to infant feeding outcomes: ‘underprepared and ineffectively supported’, ‘morality and perceived judgement’ (breastfeeding), ‘frustration with infant feeding care’ and ‘failures, fears and forbidden practice’ (formula feeding). Both guilt and shame were associated with self‐perception as a bad mother and poorer maternal mental health. Guilt and shame experiences were qualitatively different in terms of sources and outcomes, dependent on infant feeding method. Suggestions for tailored care to minimise guilt and shame, while supporting breastfeeding, are provided

Interactions between Plasma Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF)-1 and C-Peptide with Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Background: Vitamin D status and levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and C-peptide have been implicated in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, in contrast to vitamin D IGF-1 is not an easily modifiable risk factor. Methods: Combining data from the Health Professionals Follow up Study (HPFS) and the Nurses' Health Study cohort (NHS) additive and multiplicative interactions were examined between plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and IGF-1, IGFBP-3 as well as C-peptide levels in 499 cases and 992 matched controls. For the various analytes, being high or low was based on being either above (or equal) or below the medians, respectively. Results: Compared to participants with high 25(OH)D and low IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (reference group), participants with a high IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio were at elevated risk of colorectal cancer when 25(OH)D was low (odds ratio (OR): 2.05 (95% CI: 1.43 to 2.92), but not when 25(OH)D was high (OR:1.20 (95% CI: 0.84 to 1.71, p(interaction): additive = 0.06, multiplicative = 0.25). Similarly, compared to participants with high 25(OH)D and low molar IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio and low C-peptide levels (reference group), participants with a combination of either high IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio or high C-peptide were at elevated risk for colorectal cancer when 25(OH)D was low (OR = 1.90, 95% CI: 1.22 to 2.94) but not when 25(OH)D was high (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.74 to 1.77, p(interaction): additive = 0.004; multiplicative = 0.04). Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that improving vitamin D status may help lower risk of colorectal cancer associated with higher IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio or C-peptide levels

Role of hydrodynamic factors in controlling the formation and location of unconformity-related uranium deposits: insights from reactive-flow modeling

The role of hydrodynamic factors in controlling the formation and location of unconformity-related uranium (URU) deposits in sedimentary basins during tectonically quiet periods is investigated. A number of reactive-flow modeling experiments at the deposit scale were carried out by assigning different dip angles and directions to a fault and various permeabilities to hydrostratigraphic units). The results show that the fault dip angle and direction, and permeability of the hydrostratigraphic units govern the convection pattern, temperature distribution, and uranium mineralization. Avertical fault results in uranium mineralization at the bottom of the fault within the basement, while a dipping fault leads to precipitation of uraninite below the unconformity either away from or along the plane of the fault, depending on the fault permeability. A more permeable fault causes uraninite precipitates along the fault plane,whereas a less permeable one gives rise to the precipitation of uraninite away from it. No economic ore mineralization can form when either very low or very high permeabilities are assigned to the sandstone or basement suggesting that these units seem to have an optimal window of permeability for the formation of uranium deposits. Physicochemical parameters also exert an additional control in both the location and grade of URU deposits. These results indicate that the difference in size and grade of different URU deposits may result from variation in fluid flow pattern and physicochemical conditions, caused by the change in structural features and hydraulic properties of the stratigraphic units involved