Fluid or fuel? The context of consuming a beverage is important for satiety

Energy-containing beverages have a weak effect on satiety, limited by their fluid characteristics and perhaps because they are not considered ‘food’. This study investigated whether the context of consuming a beverage can influence the satiating power of its nutrients. Eighty participants consumed a lower- (LE, 75 kcal) and higher-energy (HE, 272 kcal) version of a beverage (covertly manipulated within-groups) on two test days, in one of four beverage contexts (between-groups): thin versions of the test-drinks were consumed as a thirst-quenching drink (n = 20), a filling snack (n = 20), or without additional information (n = 20). A fourth group consumed subtly thicker versions of the beverages without additional information (n = 20). Lunch intake 60 minutes later depended on the beverage context and energy content (p = 0.030): participants who consumed the thin beverages without additional information ate a similar amount of lunch after the LE and HE versions (LE = 475 kcal, HE = 464 kcal; p = 0.690) as did those participants who believed the beverages were designed to quench-thirst (LE = 442 kcal, HE = 402 kcal; p = 0.213), despite consuming an additional 197 kcal in the HE beverage. Consuming the beverage as a filling snack led participants to consume less at lunch after the HE beverage compared to the LE version (LE = 506 kcal, HE = 437 kcal; p = 0.025). This effect was also seen when the beverages were subtly thicker, with participants in this group displaying the largest response to the beverage’s energy content, consuming less at lunch after the HE version (LE = 552 kcal, HE = 415 kcal; p<0.001). These data indicate that beliefs about the consequences of consuming a beverage can affect the impact of its nutrients on appetite regulation and provide further evidence that a beverage’s sensory characteristics can limit its satiating power

Optimising foods for satiety

Foods that generate strong satiety sensations have obvious ben- efits for weight management. This review builds on the under- standing that a food’s satiating power is dependent on the amount of protein, carbohydrate, fat and fibre it contains by examining evidence that the consumer’s sensory and cognitive appraisal of the food is also important. It is concluded that numerous features of a food product can be manipulated to enhance the consumer’s experience of satiety but the combi- nation of these features will ultimately determine its effect on appetite control. Taking this integrated approach to satiety will optimise the development of high satiety foods

Late Cretaceous and Paleocene marine diatom floras

The aims of this study were to assess the palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic potential of Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene diatoms and to create a useable taxonomy capable of being applied to any Upper Cretaceous or Palaeocene site studied. Samples and slides were studied from 9 diatomaceous sites. The published count data from a further 11 diatomaceous sites were also studied. The taxonomic information from 96 published papers was collected and placed into a card index system and a computer database. Each species reference, including its illustration, was cross-referenced against every other species in the database and its holotype illustration. In addition, extensive light microscope and scanning electron microscope work was performed on individually picked problem species. As a result of this work, 510 diatom species were considered to be taxonomically valid for Upper Cretaceous and Palaeocene assemblages. These form the basis of the taxonomy section of this study, which was itself used to identify diatom species whilst quantatively counting slides. The count data, including the published data sets, were analysed using principle components analysis and cluster analysis the results of which suggested that the samples could be grouped into 32 clusters. The relationship between these clusters was further explored by the cross-comparison of species abundance and composition within each cluster against all other clusters. This suggested that the 32 clusters could be placed into 7 broad groups. The results of this statistical analysis was used as part of the assessment of the potential for Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene diatoms as palaeoenvironmental indicators. A comparison of the distribution of the known Cretaceous and Palaeocene diatomites with modem diatomaceous oozes suggests that a comparable distribution pattern may have existed in the past. Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene diatom genera with modem representatives, it was found that using the number of benthonic species relative to meroplanktonic species could be used to distinguish shallow palaeowater depth diatom assemblages from deeper water ones. Little evidence was found of a change in diatom distribution with increasing or decreasing palaeolatitude, although Arctic Basin cores may show diatom assemblages that had adapted to a very high palaeolatitudinal existence. An examination of the statistical groupings of samples indicated that there may have been diatom palaeobiogeographical provinces in existence in the Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene. The Late Cretaceous had 4 possible palaeobiogeographic provinces, whilst the Palaeocene possibly had 2. An assessment of Upper Cretaceous and Palaeocene diatoms was made for their bosratigraphic, potenia. The ranges for 169 species were plotted out, 88 of which are possibly useful as markers from the Campanian to the lower Eocene and a preliminary biostratigraphy with 11 zones was recognised. This biostratigraphy was tested on a number of previously undated diatomaceous samples from the Upper Cretaceous, Palaeocene and Eocene. A study was made of the diatoms' reaction to the Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary Event. An estimate of overall diatom survival across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary was put at 37.5%. Benthonic genera were found to have a higher extinction rate than meroplanktonic genera, suggesting that resting spores may have aided the survival of selected genera across the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary. The results of this study suggests that there is potential for diatoms to be used as palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic indicators in the Late Cretaceous and Palaeocene although their application is currently limited

Effects of repeated consumption on sensory-enhanced satiety

Previous research suggests that sensory characteristics of a drink modify the acute satiating effects of its nutrients, with enhanced satiety evident when a high energy drink was thicker and tasted creamier. The present study tested whether this modulation of satiety by sensory context was altered by repeated consumption. Participants (n=48) consumed one of four drinks mid-morning on seven non-consecutive days with satiety responses measured pre-exposure (day 1), post-exposure (day 6) and at a one month follow-up. Drinks combined two levels of energy (lower energy, LE, 326 KJ: higher energy, HE, 1163KJ) with two levels of satiety-predictive sensory characteristics (low-sensory, LS, or enhanced sensory, ES). Test lunch intake 90 minutes after drink consumption depended on both the energy content and sensory characteristics of the drink before exposure, but on energy content alone at post-exposure and the follow-up. The largest change was an increase in test meal intake over time in the LE/LS condition. Effects on intake were reflected in appetite ratings, with rated hunger and expected filling affected by sensory characteristics and energy content pre-exposure, but were largely determined by energy content post exposure and at follow up. In contrast, a measure of expected satiety reflected sensory characteristics regardless of energy content on all three test days. Overall these data suggest that some aspects of the sensory-modulation of satiety are changed by repeated consumption, with covert energy becoming more effective in suppressing appetite over time, but also suggest that these behavioural changes are not readily translated into expectations of satiety

Expectations about satiety and thirst are modified by acute motivational state

Prior research has shown that consumers have clear and measurable expectations about the likely effects of food and drink items on their appetite and thirst, which are acquired with experience and influenced by a product’s taste and texture. What is unclear is whether expression of these expectations also varies with current appetitive state. It is possible that current appetite could increase or decrease the relevance of these expectations for future food choice and magnify a product’s expected impact on appetite. To test this, we contrasted expectations about satiety and thirst for four products consumed two hours after an appetite manipulation at breakfast, achieved through ad libitum access to low-energy drinks only (hunger condition), cereal only but no drinks (thirst condition) or both foods and drinks (sated condition). The test products were two soups and two drinks, with a thicker and thinner version of each product type to act as positive control to ensure sensitivity in detecting differences in expectations. For satiety, the predicted differences between products were seen: soups and thicker products were expected to be more filling and to suppress subsequent hunger more than drinks and thinner products, but these differences were more pronounced in the hunger than thirsty or sated conditions. Being thirsty also enhanced expectations of how much drinks would appease immediate thirst. Overall the data show that expectations were adjusted subtly by a person’s current appetitive state, suggesting that we have mechanisms that highlight the most important features of a product at the time when it may be most beneficial to the consumer

Burnout prevalence in New Zealand's public hospital senior medical workforce: a cross-sectional mixed methods study.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the prevalence of, and associated factors contributing to burnout among senior doctors and dentists working in the New Zealand's public health system. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, mixed methods study. SETTING: New Zealand's 20 district health boards (DHBs). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1487 of 3740 senior doctors and dentists who are members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists working in DHBs were recruited (response rate 40%). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Gender, age, self-rated health status, vocation and hours of work per week were obtained from an electronic questionnaire. Burnout was measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Qualitative data taken from an open-ended comments section was coded using grounded theory and used for contextual data. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of high personal burnout was 50%. Women aged 60). Qualitative data emphasised intense and unrelenting workloads, under-staffing, onerous on-call duties and frustrations with management as factors contributing to burnout. CONCLUSIONS: High burnout appears prevalent in New Zealand's senior doctors and dentists. Many attribute their feelings of burnout to work conditions. These findings may assist with understanding contributors to burnout and with developing strategies to ameliorate the high burnout found across this cohort

Can behaviour during immunisation be used to identify attachment patterns? A feasibility study

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; Infant attachment is a strong predictor of mental health, and current measures involve placing children into a stressful situation in order to observe how the child uses their primary caregiver to assuage their distress.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Objectives&lt;/b&gt; This study aimed to explore observational correlates of attachment patterns during immunisation.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Participants and setting&lt;/b&gt; 18 parent–child pairs were included in the study. They were all recruited through a single general medical practice.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; Infant immunisation videos were observed and coded for parenting behaviours as well as pain promoting and pain reducing strategies. Results were compared between different attachment groups, as measured with the Manchester Child Attachment Story Task. &lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Parents of securely attached children scored higher on positive Mellow Parenting Observational System behaviours, but not at a statistically significant level. Parents of securely attached children were also significantly more likely to engage in pain reducing behaviours (p &lt;0.01) than parents of insecurely attached children.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusions&lt;/b&gt; Robust composite measures for attachment informative behaviours in the immunisation situation should be developed and tested in a fully powered study

Efficacy and Safety of BCG Vaccine for Control of Tuberculosis in Domestic Livestock and Wildlife

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an intractable problem in many countries, particularly where “test and slaughter” policies cannot be implemented or where wildlife reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis infection serve as a recurrent source of infection for domestic livestock. Alternative control measures are urgently required and vaccination is a promising option. Although the M. bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been used in humans for nearly a century, its use in animals has been limited, principally as protection against TB has been incomplete and vaccination may result in animals reacting in the tuberculin skin test. Valuable insights have been gained over the past 25 years to optimise protection induced by BCG vaccine in animals and in the development of tests to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). This review examines factors affecting the efficacy of BCG vaccine in cattle, recent field trials, use of DIVA tests and the effectiveness of BCG vaccine in other domestic livestock as well as in wildlife. Oral delivery of BCG vaccine to wildlife reservoirs of infection such as European badgers, brushtail possums, wild boar, and deer has been shown to induce protection against TB and could prove to be a practical means to vaccinate these species at scale. Testing of BCG vaccine in a wide range of animal species has indicated that it is safe and vaccination has the potential to be a valuable tool to assist in the control of TB in both domestic livestock and wildlife

Levels of wellbeing, resilience, and physical activity amongst Irish pre-service teachers: a baseline study

The current study examines the wellbeing, resilience and physical activity (PA) levels among Irish pre-service teachers. Participants were a sample of 128 higher education students (29% male; 71% female; mean age range 18–27 years old) who completed a self-report questionnaire, using a combination of established instruments for wellbeing, resilience, and PA. Descriptive data revealed that 39.1% presented with low levels of resilience, and 74% were not meeting the PA guidelines for health. One sample t-tests further revealed the sample population of higher education students had lower wellbeing (t (127) = −3.05, p = .003) and resilience (t (127) = −6.48, p = .003) levels, when compared to the population normative data. Results from the existing study suggest that a structured mental health and PA education awareness intervention for Irish pre-service teachers may be warranted, specifically to increase the lower than expected levels of resilience. The existing sample of pre-service teachers are at a critical time of transition, as they move forward into a profession where self-awareness of wellbeing is required at the beginning of their careers to sustain health both inside and outside of the classroom