Maternal Autonomy as a Protective Factor in Child Nutritional Outcome in Tanzania

Child malnutrition is a problem in all countries and centers in poorer communities. Biological and socioeconomic factors alike contribute to malnutrition with recent studies focusing on aspects of maternal autonomy as an influencing factor. In this study, maternal autonomy is defined as the independence in her actions and control over resources a mother has within her household and is made up of several factors, including decision-making power, opinion of domestic abuse, and financial independence. Child nutritional outcomes were operationalized using the anthropometric measures height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-height (WHZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ). For this study, the 2004-2005 Tanzanian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) dataset was examined using weighted logistic regression in SPSS version 17. After controlling for sociodemographic covariates, the only maternal autonomy variable which was statistically associated with child nutritional outcome (associated with height-for-age) was if the mother had final say in decisions regarding her own healthcare (OR=0.857, 95% CI=0.749-0.980). Sociodemographic variables which were statistically associated with child nutritional outcome were child age (older children had higher odds ratios for stunting and lower odds ratios for wasting), child gender (being female was a protective factor against stunting and underweight), duration of breastfeeding (intervals longer than 24 months had higher odds ratios for stunting, wasting, and underweight), and family’s position in the wealth index (being in the richer and richest quintiles were protective factors against stunting and underweight). While further research is needed to examine other influencing factors such as sanitation, diet, and disease prevalence, decision-making power regarding a mother’s own healthcare is an important factor that may influence her ability to meet the nutritional needs of her children. This implies that public health professionals may want to look into avenues by which maternal autonomy may be enhanced for possible interventions to improve child nutritional status in Tanzania

Synthesis of a mitochondria-targeted spin trap using a novel Parham-type cyclization

A new cyclic nitrone spin trap, [4-(3′,3′-dibutyl-2′-oxy-3′H-isoindol-5′-yloxy)butyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide (MitoSpin), bearing a lipophilic cation has been prepared by a route that involves a novel Parham-type lithiation–cyclization of an isocyanate to give the isoindolinone core. MitoSpin accumulates in a membrane potential dependent way in energized mitochondria and its oxidation could potentially be used in the study of oxidative stress resulting from reactive oxygen species generated in mitochondria

Novel audio lures to improve interaction and encounter rates of possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) with control methods in New Zealand

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), a marsupial native to Australia, was widely introduced in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand between 1890 and 1930 to support the fur industry that was booming in Australia at the time. Possums were one of the many mammalian species that humans introduced when they discovered and settled in New Zealand. Before the settlement of humans in New Zealand, there were no terrestrial mammals; therefore, the local species evolved in the absence of mammalian predators. This resulted in native species populations falling at alarming rates and possibly facing extinction due to numerous predators and species that had not been intended to coexist alongside one another. The government's initiative to reduce New Zealand's predators (possums, rats, and stoats) by 2050 has significantly expanded efforts to eliminate these pest mammals in recent years. Managing these pest mammal populations is crucial to protect the native bird, reptile, and invertebrate species. In New Zealand, predator control has been practiced for a long time, but what started with simple trapping has since developed into a thriving industry full of expertise to boost the efficiency of trapping and toxins, including species-specific attractants. The number of traps and bait stations needed to be set up and the associated labour and expense would be significantly reduced if animals could be reliably drawn from a distance to a bait station or trap. Any sound played to encourage or discourage interaction with a control tool/area is known as an audio lure. This research aims to identify if audio lures can significantly increase possum encounter and interaction rates of control devices and establish an audio lure tool that is durable, easy to use, and cost-effective for the wider public to use. Preliminary captive trials found that an aggressive possum sound is significantly more attractive to possums than an alarmed possum sound, a beeping sound, or a control (no sound). Preliminary field trials have found that the audio lure being developed performs similarly to an already established audio lure included as part of the Cacophony Project Thermal Camera. The price point of the audio lure being developed is around $250 (NZD) and should last 30 days in the field. At the conference, I will present the final captive trial results and more field trial research. The field trial research will investigate encounter and interaction rates of possums feeding in live-capture traps with and without audio lures. I will also, report the final audio lure costings and field life before servicing is required

The Gut Microbiota Composition in Dichorionic Triplet Sets Suggests a Role for Host Genetic Factors

peer-reviewedMonozygotic and dizygotic twin studies investigating the relative roles of host genetics and environmental factors in shaping gut microbiota composition have produced conflicting results. In this study, we investigated the gut microbiota composition of a healthy dichorionic triplet set. The dichorionic triplet set contained a pair of monozygotic twins and a fraternal sibling, with similar pre- and post-natal environmental conditions including feeding regime. V4 16S rRNA and rpoB amplicon pyrosequencing was employed to investigate microbiota composition, and the species and strain diversity of the culturable bifidobacterial population was also examined. At month 1, the monozygotic pair shared a similar microbiota distinct to the fraternal sibling. By month 12 however, the profile was more uniform between the three infants. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of the microbiota composition revealed strong clustering of the monozygotic pair at month 1 and a separation of the fraternal infant. At months 2 and 3 the phylogenetic distance between the monozygotic pair and the fraternal sibling has greatly reduced and by month 12 the monozygotic pair no longer clustered separately from the fraternal infant. Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of the bifidobacterial population revealed a lack of strain diversity, with identical strains identified in all three infants at month 1 and 12. The microbiota of two antibiotic-treated dichorionic triplet sets was also investigated. Not surprisingly, in both triplet sets early life antibiotic administration appeared to be a major determinant of microbiota composition at month 1, irrespective of zygosity. By month 12, early antibiotic administration appeared to no longer exert such a strong influence on gut microbiota composition. We hypothesize that initially host genetics play a significant role in the composition of an individual’s gut microbiota, unless an antibiotic intervention is given, but by month 12 environmental factors are the major determinant.This study was performed as part of the INFANTMET project (10/RD/Infantmet/MFRC/705) and was funded by the Government of Ireland's Department of Agriculture Fisheries and in part by Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. KM is a Teagasc Walsh Fellow. CS, RPR and PWOT are members of The Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, which is a Centre for Science and Technology (CSET) funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), through the Irish Government’s National Development Plan (Grant no. 02/CE/B124 and 07/CE/B1368)

Single shot, temporally and spatially resolved measurements of fast electron dynamics using a chirped optical probe

A new approach to rear surface optical probing is presented that permits multiple, time-resolved 2D measurements to be made during a single, ultra-intense ( > 1018 W cm−2) laser-plasma interaction. The diagnostic is capable of resolving rapid changes in target reflectivity which can be used to infer valuable information on fast electron transport and plasma formation at the target rear surface. Initial results from the Astra-Gemini laser are presented, with rapid radial sheath expansion together with detailed filamentary features being observed to evolve during single shots

A Path to Resolution Regarding the Show Lamb Tail Docking Controversy

Short dock length in show lambs increases health risks and creates animal welfare concerns. The study reported here was conducted to 1) describe a population of lambs that were docked at the distal end of the caudal fold in terms of a linear measurement, and 2) determine the changes in tail length between docking, weaning, and market. A total of 782 lambs docked at the distal end of the caudal fold, comprised the population of lambs in the study. The results provide descriptive statistics to help guide industry leaders and Extension professionals concerned with docking standards at shows and sales