Functions of Social Networks in Maternal Food Choice for Children in Mexico

Food choice for children has important implications in establishing early-life dietary habits and preferences. Food choice for children has been studied as parent–child dyad dynamics, but little is known about the extended system of relationships in maternal food choice for children. The objective of this study was to understand the functions of mothers\u27 social networks in the food choices that mothers make for their children ages 1 to 5 years old in rural Mexico. In-depth interviews were conducted with 46 participants in three rural communities. The interviews inquired about participants\u27 child-feeding practices, personal and local beliefs about child feeding and the individuals with whom they had conversations about food and child feeding. All interviews were conducted in Spanish, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, verified for quality and analysed using the constant comparative method. Five interconnected networks emerged, consisting of household family, non-household family, community, children\u27s initial school and health and nutritional programme personnel. Each network had functions in food choice that ranged from shared food decision-making in the household family network to imparting formal dietary guidance in the health and nutritional programme personnel network. Across the networks, professionals, participants\u27 mothers and mothers-in-law, community senior women and other women with children emerged as prominent figures whom participants would turn to for child-feeding advice. These findings provide empirical evidence that social networks, as an organized system of interconnected relationships, have vital functions in establishing social norms for food choices made for children that can be leveraged to promote healthy food choices

The Effect of Two Planting Dates and Methods on Snap Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris) Production in a Tunnel House

The study was conducted to evaluate the impact of two planting dates and methods on snap bean yields in a tunnel house. The main plots included planting dates March 17 and 31, 2016 for first and second plantings. The sub-plots consisted of planting Method 1 where one seed per hill was planted every 4” apart, and planting Method 2 where three seeds per hill were planted every 12” apart; each treatment combination was replicated four times. The results of the study showed that it took 55 days for the snap beans to be ready for harvest for both planting dates. Also, there were no significant differences in yields between planting dates, and there were no significant differences in yields between planting methods. This notwithstanding, it may appear that Method 2 would better for weed control because the plants will be well spaced compared to Method 1. Keywords: Tunnel House, Snap bean Planting Dates, Snap bean Planting Methods, Snap bean Yield

Draft genome sequence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli strain CCUG 62462, isolated from a urine sample

The draft genome sequence has been determined for an extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing (blaCTX-M-15) Escherichia coli strain (CCUG 62462), composed of 119 contigs and a total size of 5.27 Mb. This E. coli is serotype O25b and sequence type 131, a pandemic clonal group, causing worldwide antimicrobial-resistant infections

Scandinavium goeteborgense gen. nov., sp. nov., a New Member of the Family Enterobacteriaceae Isolated From a Wound Infection, Carries a Novel Quinolone Resistance Gene Variant

The family Enterobacteriaceae is a taxonomically diverse and widely distributed family containing many human commensal and pathogenic species that are known to carry transferable antibiotic resistance determinants. Characterization of novel taxa within this family is of great importance in order to understand the associated health risk and provide better treatment options. The aim of the present study was to characterize a Gram-negative bacterial strain (CCUG 66741) belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from a wound infection of an adult patient, in Sweden. Initial phenotypic and genotypic analyses identified the strain as a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae but could not assign it to any previously described species. The complete 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarity (98.8%) to four species. Whole genome sequencing followed by in silico DNA-DNA similarity analysis and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis confirmed that strain CCUG 66741 represents a novel taxon. Sequence comparisons of six house-keeping genes (16S rRNA, atpD, dnaJ, gyrB, infB, rpoB) with those of the type strains of the type species of related genera within the family Enterobacteriaceae indicated that the strain embodies a novel species within the family. Phylogenomic analyses (ANI-based and core genome-based phylogeny) showed that strain CCUG 66741 forms a distinct clade, representing a novel species of a distinct, new genus within the family Enterobacteriaceae, for which the name Scandinavium goeteborgense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with CCUG 66741T as the type strain (= CECT 9823T = NCTC 14286T). S. goeteborgense CCUG 66741T carries a novel variant of a chromosomally-encoded quinolone resistance gene (proposed qnrB96). When expressed in Escherichia coli, the qnrB96 gene conferred five-fold increase in minimum inhibitory concentration against ciprofloxacin. This study highlights the importance and the utility of whole genome sequencing for pathogen identification in clinical settings.publishedVersio

Air and Soil Temperature Readings, Growing Degree Days, and Chilling Hours Recorded in Two Wiregrass Tunnel Houses Located in East Central Alabama

The study examined air and soil temperature readings, growing degree days, and chilling hours recorded in two Wiregrass tunnel houses during the 2018-2019 season. The monthly average ambient temperature, was 15OF warmer inside the Tunnel House (75/60OF) during the Cool/Cold months, and 17OF warmer inside (90/73OF) during the Warm/Hot seasons of 2018 and 2019. Growing Degree Days heat unit (HU) accumulations were higher inside than outside 4,154 vs. 3,153 HU for the Cool/Cold months and 5,134 vs. 4,800 HU for the Warm/Hot months. Chilling hour accumulations were lower inside the tunnel houses than outside the tunnel houses, 601vs. 671 hr. Utilizing the temperature data from this study, a planting guide consisting of a Cool/Cold (September-February) season and Warm/Hot (March-August) season was developed for a list of crops which producers could plant. The results of this study provides information for growers to better plan their crop choices and planting schedules