How experienced SoTL researchers develop the credibility of their work

Teaching and learning research in higher education, often referred to as the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), is still relatively novel in many academic contexts compared to the mainstay of disciplinary research. One indication of this is the challenges those who engage in SoTL report in terms of how this work is valued or considered credible amongst disciplinary colleagues and in the face of institutional policies and practices. This paper moves beyond the literature that describes these specific challenges to investigate how 23 experienced SoTL researchers from five different countries understood the notion of credibility in relationship to their SoTL research and how they went about developing credibility for their work. Semi-structured interviews were facilitated and analyzed using inductive analysis. Findings indicate that notions of credibility encompassed putting SoTL research into action and building capacity and community around research findings, as well as gaining external validation through traditional indicators such as publishing. SoTL researchers reported a variety of strategies and approaches they were using, both formal and informal, to develop credibility for their work. The direct focus of this paper on credibility of SoTL work as perceived by experienced SoTL researchers, and how they go about developing credibility, is a distinct contribution to the discussions about the valuing of SoTL work

Caloric compensation in preschool children: relationships with body mass and differences by food category

Maintaining a healthy weight may involve compensating for previously consumed calories at subsequent meals. To test whether heavier children demonstrated poorer caloric compensation across a range of conditions, and to explore whether compensation failure was the result of inadequate adjustment of overall intake or specific over-consumption of highly palatable, high energy-density 'junk' foods, we administered two compensation tests to a sample of 4-5 y olds. For Test A, preloads varied only in carbohydrate content and were organoleptically indistinguishable (200 ml orange-flavored beverage [0 kcal vs. 200 kcal]). For Test B, the preloads varied substantially in both macronutrient composition and learned gustatory cues to caloric content (200 ml water [0 kcal] vs. 200 ml strawberry milkshake [200 kcal]). Each preload was followed 30 min later by a multi-item ad-libitum meal containing junk foods (chocolate cookies, cheese-flavored crackers) and core foods (fruits and vegetables, bread rolls, protein foods). Testing took place at the children's own school under normal lunch-time conditions. Children were weighed and measured. Caloric compensation occurred in both tests, in terms of total, junk and core food intake (RMANOVA, all p < 0.01). Higher BMI z scores were associated with greater average caloric compensation (r = -0.26p < 0.05), such that overweight/obese children showed least compensation (41%), children over the 50th centile the next least (59%), and children under the 50th centile (80%) the most. For Test A only, obese/overweight children compensated less well than normal weight children in terms of junk food intake (RMANOVA preload-by-weight group interaction p < 0.05), with no significant effect for core foods. Our results suggest that caloric compensation is consistently poorer in heavier children, and that overweight/obese children's preferences for junk foods may overwhelm intake regulation mechanisms within meals containing those foods. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.National Institute of Diabetes and Ingestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Níel Superior (CAPES)Medical Research Council (MRC)Johns Hopkins Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat & Behav Sci, Div Child & Adolescent Psychiat, 600 N Wolfe St Phipps 300, Baltimore, MD 21287 USAUniv Roehampton, Dept Psychol, London, EnglandFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Discipline Nutrol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Discipline Nutrol, São Paulo, SP, BrazilNIDDK: R00DK088360OD: U54HD070725Web of Scienc

Fatores associados à subestimação do status do peso da criança pelos pais

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of parental misperception of child weight status, and identify socioeconomic, anthropometric, behavioral and dietary factors associated with underestimation. Method: Cross-sectional study. Data was collected in 14 Brazilian private schools. Parents of children aged 2-8 years (n= 976) completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing their perception of their child's weight status, and sociodemographic, anthropometric, behavioral and dietary information. To measure the agreement between parental perception about child weight status and actual child weight status, the Kappa coefficient was estimated, and to investigate associations between parental underestimation and independent variables, chi-squared tests were performed, followed by multiple logistic regression, considering p <= 0.05 for statistical significance. Results: Overall, 48.05% of the parents incorrectly classified their child's weight. Specifically, 45.08% underestimated their child's weight status, with just 3% of parents overestimating. Children with higher body mass index (OR = 2.03p< 0.001) and boys (OR = 1.70p < 0.001) were more likely to have their weight status underestimated by parents. Conclusion: Since awareness of weight problems is essential for prevention and treatment, clinical practitioners should help parents at high risk of misperception to correctly evaluate their child's weight status. (C) 2017 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.Objetivo: Analisar a prevalência de percepção errônea dos pais sobre o status do peso infantil e identificar fatores socioeconômicos, antropométricos, comportamentais e dietéticos associados à subestimação. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Os dados foram coletados em 14 escolas particulares brasileiras. Pais de crianças de dois a oito anos de idade (n = 976) preencheram um questionário autoaplicável sobre sua percepção do estado nutricional do seu filho e informações sociodemográficas, antropométricas, comportamentais e dietéticas. Para medir o grau de concordância entre a percepção dos pais do peso do filho e o peso real do filho, estimamos o coeficiente Kappa e investigamos as associações entre subestimação do pai e variáveis independentes, calculamos o qui-quadrado seguido do modelo de regressão logística múltipla considerando p≤0,05 para significância estatística. Resultados: Em geral, 48,05% dos pais classificaram incorretamente o peso de seus filhos; particularmente, 45,08% subestimaram o peso do seu filho e apenas 3% subestimaram o peso infantil. A regressão logística demonstrou que as crianças com maior índice de massa corporal (OR = 2,03; p < 0,001) e os meninos (OR = 1,70; p < 0,001) tinham maior probabilidade de ter seu peso subestimado pelos pais. Conclusão: Médicos clínicos devem concentrar suas intervenções nessas crianças para ajudar os pais a avaliar corretamente o seu peso. A consciência dos pais sobre um problema de peso em crianças é essencial para a prevenção e tratamento da obesidade infantil e estilos de vida saudáveis.CAPESNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (OD)Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (OD)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Disciplina Nutrol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Dept Epidemiol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilJohns Hopkins Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat & Behav Sci, Div Child & Adolescent Psychiat, Baltimore, MD 21205 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Disciplina Nutrol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilNIDDK: R00DK088360NICHD/OH: U54HD070725NIH/OH: U54HD070725Web of Scienc

Validation of the comprehensive feeding practices questionnaire in parents of preschool children in Brazil

Background: Recent national surveys in Brazil have demonstrated a decrease in the consumption of traditional food and a parallel increase in the consumption of ultra-processed food, which has contributed to a rise in obesity prevalence in all age groups. Environmental factors, especially familial factors, have a strong influence on the food intake of preschool children, and this has led to the development of psychometric scales to measure parents' feeding practices. The aim of this study was to test the validity of a translated and adapted Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire in a sample of Brazilian preschool-aged children enrolled in private schools. Methods: A transcultural adaptation process was performed in order to develop a modified questionnaire (43 items). After piloting, the questionnaire was sent to parents, along with additional questions about family characteristics. Test-retest reliability was assessed in one of the schools. Factor analysis with oblique rotation was performed. Internal reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha and correlations between factors, discriminant validity using marker variables of child's food intake, and convergent validity via correlations with parental perceptions of perceived responsibility for feeding and concern about the child's weight were also performed. Results: The final sample consisted of 402 preschool children. Factor analysis resulted in a final questionnaire of 43 items distributed over 6 factors. Cronbach alpha values were adequate (0.74 to 0.88), between-factor correlations were low, and discriminant validity and convergent validity were acceptable. Conclusions: The modified CFPQ demonstrated significant internal reliability in this urban Brazilian sample. Scale validation within different cultures is essential for a more comprehensive understanding of parental feeding practices for preschoolers.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Brasilia (DF), BrazilNational Institute of Health (NIH)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq)Fed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Discipline Nutrol, Dept Pediat, Rua Loefgreen 1647, BR-04040032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Epidemiol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilJohns Hopkins Univ, Sch Med, Dept Psychiat & Behav Sci, Div Child & Adolescent Psychiat, Baltimore, MD 21205 USAFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Discipline Nutrol, Dept Pediat, Rua Loefgreen 1647, BR-04040032 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Parents Matter: Associations of Parental BMI and Feeding Behaviors With Child BMI in Brazilian Preschool and School-Aged Children

Background: Brazil is undergoing nutritional transition and rates of obesity in preschool and school-aged children are increasing. Excess weight in the first years of life could predict excess weight in adulthood, making it essential to study risk factors in this population.Objective: Our goal was to investigate associations of parent feeding behaviors, as well as more distal familial influences including family SES and maternal and paternal weight, with BMI z-score in preschool and school-aged children in a Brazilian sample.Methods: Cross-sectional study. Data were collected in 14 Brazilian private schools. Parents of children aged 2–8 years (n = 1,071) completed a questionnaire assessing parent feeding behaviors, as well as sociodemographic and anthropometric information. Hierarchical linear regression models were fitted to investigate relationships between parent and child characteristics and child BMI z-score in preschool (2–5 years, n = 397) and school-aged (6–8 years, n = 618) children.Results: Final models indicated that higher maternal BMI and “restriction for weight control” were associated with higher child BMI z-score in both age groups (excessive weight, i.e., BMI ≥ +1 z-score, in preschoolers and school-aged children: 24.4 and 35.9%, respectively). In preschoolers only, “healthy eating guidance” and “pressure” were associated with lower child BMI z-score. For school-aged children, male sex, higher father BMI, and “restriction for health” were associated with higher child BMI z-score.Conclusions: Parent feeding behaviors and parent weight, as well as child sex, are associated with child BMI z-score, with evidence for differential relationships in preschool and school-aged children. Optimal obesity prevention and treatment strategies may differ by child age

Development of a Hamster Natural Transmission Model of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an international thrust to study pathogenesis and evaluate interventions. Experimental infection of hamsters and the resulting respiratory disease is one of the preferred animal models since clinical signs of disease and virus shedding are similar to more severe cases of human COVID-19. The main route of challenge has been direct inoculation of the virus via the intranasal route. To resemble the natural infection, we designed a bespoke natural transmission cage system to assess whether recipient animals housed in physically separate adjacent cages could become infected from a challenged donor animal in a central cage, with equal airflow across the two side cages. To optimise viral shedding in the donor animals, a low and moderate challenge dose were compared after direct intranasal challenge, but similar viral shedding responses were observed and no discernible difference in kinetics. The results from our natural transmission set-up demonstrate that most recipient hamsters are infected within the system developed, with variation in the kinetics and levels of disease between individual animals. Common clinical outputs used for the assessment in directly-challenged hamsters, such as weight loss, are less obvious in hamsters who become infected from naturally acquiring the infection. The results demonstrate the utility of a natural transmission model for further work on assessing the differences between virus strains and evaluating interventions using a challenge system which more closely resembles human infection

Parent-reported child appetite moderates relationships between child genetic obesity risk and parental feeding practices

BackgroundFood parenting practices are associated with child weight. Such associations may reflect the effects of parents' practices on children's food intake and weight. However, longitudinal, qualitative, and behavioral genetic evidence suggests these associations could, in some cases, reflect parents' response to children's genetic risk for obesity, an instance of gene–environment correlation. We tested for gene–environment correlations across multiple domains of food parenting practices and explored the role of parent-reported child appetite in these relationships.Materials and methodsData on relevant variables were available for N = 197 parent–child dyads (7.54 ± 2.67 years; 44.4% girls) participating in RESONANCE, an ongoing pediatric cohort study. Children's body mass index (BMI) polygenic risk score (PRS) were derived based on adult GWAS data. Parents reported on their feeding practices (Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire) and their child's eating behavior (Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Moderation effects of child eating behaviors on associations between child BMI PRS and parental feeding practices were examined, adjusting for relevant covariates.ResultsOf the 12 parental feeding practices, 2 were associated with child BMI PRS, namely, restriction for weight control (β = 0.182, p = 0.011) and teaching about nutrition (β = −0.217, p = 0.003). Moderation analyses demonstrated that when children had high genetic obesity risk and showed moderate/high (vs. low) food responsiveness, parents were more likely to restrict food intake to control weight.ConclusionOur results indicate that parents may adjust their feeding practices in response to a child's genetic propensity toward higher or lower bodyweight, and the adoption of food restriction to control weight may depend on parental perceptions of the child's appetite. Research using prospective data on child weight and appetite and food parenting from infancy is needed to further investigate how gene–environment relationships evolve through development