"A renewed sense of purpose": mothers' and fathers' experience of having a child following a recent stillbirth.

Most research has focused on mothers' experiences of perinatal loss itself or on the subsequent pregnancy, whereas little attention has been paid to both parents' experiences of having a child following late perinatal loss and the experience of parenting this child. The current study therefore explored mothers' and fathers' experiences of becoming a parent to a child born after a recent stillbirth, covering the period of the second pregnancy and up to two years after the birth of the next baby. In depth interviews were conducted with 7 couples (14 participants). Couples were eligible if they previously had a stillbirth (after 24 weeks of gestation) and subsequently had another child (their first live baby) who was now under the age of 2 years. Couples who had more than one child after experiencing a stillbirth and those who were not fluent in English were excluded. Qualitative analysis of the interview data was conducted using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Five superordinate themes emerged from the data: Living with uncertainty; Coping with uncertainty; Relationship with the next child; The continuing grief process; Identity as a parent. Overall, fathers' experiences were similar to those of mothers', including high levels of anxiety and guilt during the subsequent pregnancy and after the child was born. Coping strategies to address these were identified. Differences between mothers and fathers regarding the grief process during the subsequent pregnancy and after their second child was born were identified. Despite difficulties with bonding during pregnancy and at the time when the baby was born, parents' perceptions of their relationship with their subsequent child were positive. Findings highlight the importance of tailoring support systems not only according to mothers' but also to fathers' needs. Parents', and particularly fathers', reported lack of opportunities for grieving as well as the high level of anxiety of both parents about their baby's wellbeing during pregnancy and after birth implies a need for structured support. Difficulties experienced in bonding with the subsequent child during pregnancy and once the child is born need to be normalised

The temperature’s influence on the selectivity between HNCO and HCN from pyrolysis of 2,5-diketopiperazine and 2-pyridone

Two cyclic amides, 2-pyridone and 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP), were pyrolysed at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1100C. Pyridone is the only one of the four main nitrogen functionalities found in coal that is likely to form HNCO under pyrolysis. DKP is a primary pyrolysis product from proteins, which are the main nitrogen source in biomass. The formation of HNCO from biomass has been suggested to originate from DKP and other cyclic amides. The aromatic 2-pyridone was thermally more stable than the non-aromatic DKP. Both amides formed HCN, HNCO and NH3. The NH3 yields, about 3–4% for 2-pyridone and 10% for DKP, were almost independent of temperature. The HCN yield on the other hand showed strong temperature dependence and increased with temperature for both of the cyclic amides. The HNCO yield decreased with increasing temperature for DKP over the whole temperature interval. For 2-pyridone, the pyrolysis was incomplete at the lowest temperature in the investigation. Between 900 and 1100C, the pyrolysis of 2-pyridone was complete and the HNCO yield decreased with increasing temperature. The HNCO/HCN ratio for both of the cyclic amides decreased with increasing temperature over the whole investigated temperature range. The finding in literature that the HNCO formation from cracking of coal tars produced a maximum HNCO yield at an intermediate temperature, is explained by the thermal stability of pyridone at low temperatures and the selectivity towards HCN at high temperatures

Formation of HNCO, HCN, and NH3 from the pyrolysis of bark and nitrogen-containing model compounds

Bark pellets have been pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed reactor at temperatures between 700 and 1000C. Identifiednitrogen-containing species were hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH3), and isocyanic acid (HNCO). Quantification of HCN and to some extent of NH3 was unreliable at 700 and 800C due to low concentrations. HNCO could not be quantified with any accuracy at any temperature for bark, due to the low concentrations found. Since most of the nitrogen in biomass is bound in proteins, various protein-rich model compounds were pyrolyzed with the aim of finding features that are protein-specific, making conclusions regarding the model compounds applica-ble for biomass fuels in general. The model compounds used were a whey protein isolate, soya beans, yellow peas,and shea nut meal. The split between HCN and NH3 depends on the compound and temperature. It was found that the HCN/NH3 ratio is very sensitive to temperature and increases with increasing temperature for all compounds, including bark. Comparing the ratio for the different compounds at a fixed temperature, the ratio was found to decrease with decreasing release of volatile nitrogen. The temperature dependence implies that heating rate andthereby particle size affect the split between HCN and NH3. For whey, soya beans, and yellow peas, HNCO was also quantified. It is suggested that most HCN and HNCO are produced from cracking of cyclic amides formed as primary pyrolysis products. The dependence of the HNCO/HCN ratio on the compound is fairly small, but the temperature dependence of the ratio is substantial, decreasing with increasing temperature. The release of nitrogen-containing species does not seem to be greatly affected by the other constituents of the fuel, and proteins appear to be suitable model compounds for the nitrogen in biomass

The temperature’s influence on the selectivity between HNCO and HCN from pyrolysis of 2,5-diketopiperazine and 2-pyridone

Two cyclic amides, 2-pyridone and 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP), were pyrolysed at temperatures ranging from 700 to 1100C. Pyridone is the only one of the four main nitrogen functionalities found in coal that is likely to form HNCO under pyrolysis. DKP is a primary pyrolysis product from proteins, which are the main nitrogen source in biomass. The formation of HNCO from biomass has been suggested to originate from DKP and other cyclic amides. The aromatic 2-pyridone was thermally more stable than the non-aromatic DKP. Both amides formed HCN, HNCO and NH3. The NH3 yields, about 3–4% for 2-pyridone and 10% for DKP, were almost independent of temperature. The HCN yield on the other hand showed strong temperature dependence and increased with temperature for both of the cyclic amides. The HNCO yield decreased with increasing temperature for DKP over the whole temperature interval. For 2-pyridone, the pyrolysis was incomplete at the lowest temperature in the investigation. Between 900 and 1100C, the pyrolysis of 2-pyridone was complete and the HNCO yield decreased with increasing temperature. The HNCO/HCN ratio for both of the cyclic amides decreased with increasing temperature over the whole investigated temperature range. The finding in literature that the HNCO formation from cracking of coal tars produced a maximum HNCO yield at an intermediate temperature, is explained by the thermal stability of pyridone at low temperatures and the selectivity towards HCN at high temperatures

Formation of HNCO, HCN, and NH3 from the pyrolysis of bark and nitrogen-containing model compounds

Bark pellets have been pyrolyzed in a fluidized bed reactor at temperatures between 700 and 1000C. Identifiednitrogen-containing species were hydrogen cyanide (HCN), ammonia (NH3), and isocyanic acid (HNCO). Quantification of HCN and to some extent of NH3 was unreliable at 700 and 800C due to low concentrations. HNCO could not be quantified with any accuracy at any temperature for bark, due to the low concentrations found. Since most of the nitrogen in biomass is bound in proteins, various protein-rich model compounds were pyrolyzed with the aim of finding features that are protein-specific, making conclusions regarding the model compounds applica-ble for biomass fuels in general. The model compounds used were a whey protein isolate, soya beans, yellow peas,and shea nut meal. The split between HCN and NH3 depends on the compound and temperature. It was found that the HCN/NH3 ratio is very sensitive to temperature and increases with increasing temperature for all compounds, including bark. Comparing the ratio for the different compounds at a fixed temperature, the ratio was found to decrease with decreasing release of volatile nitrogen. The temperature dependence implies that heating rate andthereby particle size affect the split between HCN and NH3. For whey, soya beans, and yellow peas, HNCO was also quantified. It is suggested that most HCN and HNCO are produced from cracking of cyclic amides formed as primary pyrolysis products. The dependence of the HNCO/HCN ratio on the compound is fairly small, but the temperature dependence of the ratio is substantial, decreasing with increasing temperature. The release of nitrogen-containing species does not seem to be greatly affected by the other constituents of the fuel, and proteins appear to be suitable model compounds for the nitrogen in biomass

Conversion of Fuel Nitrogen during Combustion of Biofuel in a Fixed Bed - Measurements Inside the Bed

The conversion of fuel nitrogen during combustion of biofuel pellets in a fixed bed is investigated experimentally. Measurements were performed in a quadratic (0.3x0.3 m2) reactor, with a bed height of about 0.4 m. The ignition front propagated from the top of the bed towards the grate, counter-current to the gas stream. The combustion in the batch-fired reactor can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, the fuel is ignited and devolatilised by the ignition front, and in the second phase the remaining char, accumulated above the front is burnt. When the ignition front propagates through the bed, NH3 is the dominant nitrogen compound measured and there are only small amounts of HCN and NO. During the char combustion phase when there was an excess of oxygen, only NO is detected. NO2 and N2O were not found in any of the two phases. The result can be used to validate models describing the conversion of nitrogen in a fixed bed of biofuel

Conversion of Fuel Nitrogen during Combustion of Biofuel in a Fixed Bed - Measurements Inside the Bed

The conversion of fuel nitrogen during combustion of biofuel pellets in a fixed bed is investigated experimentally. Measurements were performed in a quadratic (0.3x0.3 m2) reactor, with a bed height of about 0.4 m. The ignition front propagated from the top of the bed towards the grate, counter-current to the gas stream. The combustion in the batch-fired reactor can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, the fuel is ignited and devolatilised by the ignition front, and in the second phase the remaining char, accumulated above the front is burnt. When the ignition front propagates through the bed, NH3 is the dominant nitrogen compound measured and there are only small amounts of HCN and NO. During the char combustion phase when there was an excess of oxygen, only NO is detected. NO2 and N2O were not found in any of the two phases. The result can be used to validate models describing the conversion of nitrogen in a fixed bed of biofuel

Time trends in nutrient intake and dietary patterns among five birth cohorts of 70-year-olds examined 1971-2016 : results from the Gothenburg H70 birth cohort studies, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is a key factor in healthy ageing but there are still gaps in knowledge about risk- and protective factors linking diet and healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to investigate time trends in dietary patterns and nutrient intake in an older population, in order to increase the understanding of whether dietary recommendations are followed and if nutrient needs are met. METHODS: Cross-sectional data was derived from five samples of 70-year-olds examined 1971-72, 1981-83, 1992-93, 2000-02 and 2014-16 from the Gothenburg H70 birth cohort studies in Sweden. A total of 2246 individuals (56% women) participated. Dietary intake was determined by the diet history method, which is an interview including questions on usual frequencies and portion sizes of food intake during the preceding three months. Recommended values of nutrient intake and determinants of healthful dietary patterns were based on the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012. Statistical analyses were performed using general linear models, student's t-test and chi-square test, stratified by sex. RESULTS: The intake of fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, whole grain products and nuts and seeds increased during the study period (p < 0.0001), among both sexes. However, there was also an increase in alcohol intake (p < 0.0001), especially from wine and beer, and in 2014-16 more than 30% had an alcohol intake above recommendations. Protein intake increased (p < 0.0001 for women and p = 0.0004 for men), and 48% of the women and 37% of the men had a protein intake above recommended 1.2 g/kg body weight and day in 2014-16. The proportion of participants at risk of inadequate intake of vitamins C, D and folate decreased during the study period, among both sexes (p < 0.0001). However, vitamin D intake from diet was still below average requirement level of 7.5 μg/day for 49% of the women and 32% of the men in 2014-16. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary patterns have changed among 70-year-olds during the past five decades, with an increase in healthful foods and a higher nutrient density in later born birth cohorts. However, the intake of alcohol increased, especially among women. Results from this study can be useful as a basis for dietary guidelines and used for prevention strategies involving older adults in population-based and health care settings