Diet Quality and Changes in Food Intake during the University Studies in Polish Female Young Adults: Linkages with Food Experiences from Childhood and Perceived Nutrition Concerns

The transition from adolescence to young adulthood may be associated with unfavorable changes in food intake due to some substantial transformations in social life and environment. Factors that affect food choices and diet quality during early adulthood are still not well-recognized. This paper aims to explore the relationship between females’ childhood food experiences related to parents’ monitoring practices and healthy eating guidance, perceived nutrition concerns, changes in food intake during university studies, and diet quality. A cross-sectional study with the use of CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) was carried out on 657 female students aged 19–30 years. Beliefs and Eating Habits Questionnaire (KomPAN) was used to assess the frequency of eating various kinds of food and then to calculate the diet-quality index (DQI). Adults’ Memories of Feeding in Childhood (AMoFiC) questionnaire was used to assess food experiences from childhood, and Health Concern Scale (HCS) was used to assess nutrition concerns. Associations between changes in food intake, diet quality, and selected factors describing the study sample were verified using logistic regression analysis. The DQI of the majority of students indicated a low intensity of nonhealthy and pro-healthy dietary characteristics. The intensity was higher among nutrition and health students, those with low nutrition concerns, and those with childhood experiences of monitoring. The chances of a negative change in food intake were increased by a higher score for childhood food experiences associated with parents’ monitoring practices. The chances of a negative DQI were increased by bigger concerns about nutrition and by technical and agricultural majors; however, they were reduced by positive changes in food intake. Both childhood food experiences and perceived nutrition concerns should be factored into strategies aimed at improving youth diet and educating parents about effective parental feeding practices

IMPACT OF ATHERMIC PROPERTIES OF THE ELECTROMAGNETIC MICROWAVE RADIATION ON THE PROCESS OF ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF DAIRY WASTEWATER

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of electromagnetic microwave radiation on the activity of microorganisms during the anaerobic digestion of dairy wastewater. The substrate used in the study was a model dairy wastewater prepared with the use of milk powder. The anaerobic sludge was taken from the anaerobic reactor operated at mesophilic conditions, then it was heated by microwave irradiation (Option 1) or heated in a conventional thermostatic cabinet (Option 2). The study, based on the temperature of the process, was divided into two stages. In the first stage, the temperature of the process was 38°C and in the second stage it was 58°C. The studies showed that the use of microwave electromagnetic field might influence on the biogas production. Furthermore, microwave treatment of anaerobic sludge enhanced the removal of organic compounds in the methane fermentation process