62880 research outputs found
Sort by
Meat and dairy products as dietary sources of saturated fatty acids and proteins and the risk of cardiovascular diseases
No full textCurrent public dietary guidelines recommend limiting the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and red
and processed meat, while having optimal intake of low-fat dairy foods to meet the nutritional
requirements. Prior observational evidence suggested beneficial cardiovascular diseases (CVD)
associations with substitution of meat SFA with dairy SFA, but the associations of individual types of
meat and dairy with CVD risk remain unclear, especially in the UK population for which evidence is
lacking. Simultaneously, red meat and dairy foods are important sources of high-quality proteins in many
Western diets, yet the impact of increasing protein intake from these foods and other protein sources on
risk markers of CVD remains unclear. In this context, this PhD thesis aimed to (i) examine the
associations of substituting total and different types of meat with total and different types of dairy and
of one type of meat with another, equivalised to SFA, with the risk of CVD, and (ii) examine the impact of
increasing protein intake from various foods within the diet on risk markers of CVD.
Using data from 21,841 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition
(EPIC)-Norfolk study (56% female; mean age: 58.5 ±9.2 years), I modelled the isoenergetic substitution
of SFA from total meat, processed meat, red meat (unprocessed and processed) and poultry with SFA
from total dairy, milk, yogurt and cheese and assessed the associations with the incidence of CVD, CHD
and stroke. Substituting 2.5% of total energy (en%) of SFA from total meat with total dairy was
associated with 11% lower risk of CVD (Hazard ratio (HR): 0.89; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.82,
0.96) and 12% lower risk of CHD (0.88: 0.80, 0.96). Food group analyses showed that substitution of
processed meat SFA with cheese SFA was associated with lower incidence of CVD (0.77: 0.68, 0.88);
CHD (0.77: 0.66, 0.90), and stroke (0.81: 0.67, 0.99). Beneficial associations with CVD (0.84: 0.75, 0.94)
and CHD (0.83: 0.73, 0.95) was also found with substitution of processed meat SFA with milk SFA.
Substitution of red meat SFA with cheese SFA was inversely associated with the risk of CVD (0.86: 0.76,
0.97) and CHD (0.86: 0.74, 1.00). On the contrary, higher incidence of stroke was found with substitution
of poultry SFA with milk SFA (2.06: 1.09, 3.89), yogurt SFA (2.55: 1.27, 5.13), and cheese SFA (1.96:
1.04, 3.70).
In 120,496 participants of the UK Biobank (57% female, mean age: 55.9 ±7.8 years), I replicated the
above study and extended the findings from EPIC-Norfolk by modelling substitution of SFA from more
extensive categories of meat (total meat, processed meat, unprocessed meat, red meat, unprocessed
red meat, processed red meat, poultry, unprocessed poultry and processed poultry) with SFA from total
dairy, milk, yogurt and cheese in relation to incident CVD, CHD and stroke. Furthermore, I modelled the
substitution of SFA from red meat with poultry and of SFA from processed meats with unprocessed
meats in relation to CVD outcomes. The substitution of 2.5 en% of SFA from total meat with total dairy
was associated with 9% (0.91: 0.86, 0.96) and 8% (0.92: 0.86, 0.98) lower incidence of CVD and CHD,
respectively. Analyses of types of meat and dairy revealed lower incidence of CVD with substitution of
SFA from processed meat, but not unprocessed meat, with the same quantities of SFA from total dairy
(0.88: 0.81, 0.95), milk (0.91: 0.82, 1.00), yogurt (0.78: 0.67, 0.92) and cheese (0.86: 0.80, 0.94).
Similarly, substituting SFA from processed red meat with total dairy (0.88: 0.82, 0.96), yogurt (0.80: 0.68,
0.94) and cheese (0.88: 0.81, 0.96) was associated with lower CVD incidence. Similar associations
were observed for the substitution of SFA from unprocessed red meat with total dairy (0.91: 0.85, 0.98),
yogurt (0.82: 0.70, 0.97) and cheese (0.91: 0.85, 0.98), although lower in magnitude. Moreover,
substituting SFA from processed poultry, but not unprocessed poultry, with total dairy (0.64: 0.43, 0.94),
milk (0.67: 0.45, 0.99), yogurt (0.58: 0.38, 0.87) and cheese (0.64: 0.43, 0.94) was strongly inversely
associated with lower incidence of CVD. Within meat categories, substituting SFA from processed with
unprocessed meat was associated with lower incidence of CVD (0.87: 0.76, 0.98). Specifically,
substitution of SFA from processed poultry with unprocessed poultry was associated with lower CVD
incidence (0.61: 0.40, 0.93). Associations were similar for CHD and stroke.
The effect of increasing protein intake within a diet on measures of adiposity, blood pressure, blood lipids
and markers of glucose metabolism was evaluated in a systematic review and meta-analysis of 54 RCTs
(n participants=4344, 65% female, mean age: 46 ±10 years). Over a mean study duration of 18 weeks
(range: 4 to 156 weeks), higher protein diets (range: 20–45 en%) showed small but beneficial effects on
weight loss (standardised mean difference (SMD): -0.13, 95% CI: -0.23, − 0.03), fat mass loss (-0.14: -
0.24, − 0.04), systolic BP (-0.12: -0.21, − 0.02), total cholesterol (-0.11: -0.19, − 0.02), triacylglycerol (-
0.22: -0.30, − 0.14) and insulin (-0.12: -0.22, − 0.03), compared to lower protein diets (range: 10–23
en%). Findings from this review have been incorporated in the updated DNSG (Diabetes Nutrition Study
Group) dietary recommendations for people with type 2 diabetes.
Overall, evidence from large UK population-based cohorts consistently shows that substituting meat
SFA with dairy SFA is associated with lower incidence of CVD. Analyses by types of meat and dairy
consistently reveal lower CVD incidence with substitution of processed meat SFA with milk or cheese
SFA. These findings suggest the importance of considering food sources of SFA and align with current
recommendations to limit processed meat intake, with possible benefits of dairy foods. Unprocessed
meat, specifically, unprocessed poultry, seems to be most beneficial for cardiovascular health,
suggesting that unprocessed meat and processed meat should have distinct guidelines. Moreover,
increasing dietary protein intake, in a healthy diet, does not have deleterious effects on cardiovascular
health. Observational and experimental studies are needed to examine the associations of specific
animal- and plant-based protein sources with CVD and other health outcomes, in diverse populations,
to better inform specific food-based dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention
Cross-equatorial heat transports and the monsoons
Get PDFMonsoons, the lifeline for billions of people, result from the cross-equatorial Hadley
circulation (HC), which imports moisture into monsoon regions and exports heat. The inter-annual relationships between cross-equatorial heat transports and monsoons are largely unexplored, which is vital for water resources and climate stability.
Using reanalysis data, it is revealed that increased cross-equatorial atmospheric heat
transport (CE-AHT) during JJA weakens the Indian, West African, and North American
monsoons by contracting the HC, shifting the subtropical jets and Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) equatorward, weakening the Walker circulation, and inducing El Nino- ˜
like conditions. During DJF, the Australian, South African, and South American monsoons
strengthen as the HC expands, the ITCZ and subtropical jets move poleward, strengthening
the Walker circulation, and promoting La Nina-like conditions. Global monsoon precipi- ˜
tation increases in both JJA and DJF. Conversely, increased cross-equatorial oceanic heat
transport (CE-OHT) in JJA and DJF elicits effects opposite to those of CE-AHT.
A few CMIP6 models simulate the historical trends observed in reanalysis for CE-AHT
and CE-OHT. However, the relationship between CE-AHT, CE-OHT, and monsoons in most
models mirrors reanalysis patterns.
Under the shared socioeconomic pathways 5-8.5 scenario, most CMIP6 models exhibit
upward CE-AHT and downward CE-OHT trends in JJA, but these trends are downward
and insignificant for DJF. In JJA, all models indicate increases in Indian monsoon precipitation for 2080–2100 compared to 1995–2014, while disagreement arises regarding the West
African and North American monsoons. In multi-model space, greater CE-AHT weakens
Indian monsoon rainfall, while greater CE-OHT weakens global monsoon rainfall. In DJF,
models differ on Australian, South African, and South American monsoon precipitation
changes.
This research suggests that changes in CE-AHT and CE-OHT are deeply intertwined with
monsoons, and future warming could alter monsoon dynamics and heighten uncertainty in
climate modelling and predictions
Geidōmono: teatro e cinema em Ozu e Mizoguchi
No full textThis paper reconsiders two giants of Japanese cinema, Kenji Mizoguchi and Yosujirō Ozu, in light of the theatrical recourses they have resorted to, respectively in The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums (Zangiku monogatari, 1939) and Floating Weeds (Ukigusa, 1959). In these films, the languages of theatre and cinema are entangled through the adoption of the geidōmono genre, comprising films in which the protagonist is a professional in one of the Japanese traditional treatrical arts. Because kabuki and other similar forms are their own subject, the genre opens up for a self-reflexive discussion of the lengthy and arduous
process of training a theatre actor has to go through, establishing, at the same time, a fascinating contrast with the film actor’s specific talent. Making room for some exquisite performances, The Story of the Late Chrysanthemums and Floating Weeds invite the spectator to appreciate the inner workings of theatre through a constant focus on the backstage that reveals the tyranny inherent in kabuki training, which in turn reflects the film director’s own
autocratic behaviour. Thus, theatre and cinema find themselves suffused with the reality not only of the characters on stage, but by that of the actors’ lives themselves
Exogenous L-Cysteine and its transport through ctaP play a role in biofilm formation, swimming motility, and swarming motility of Listeria monocytogenes
Get PDFListeria monocytogenes is of a significant concern for the food industry, largely due to its ability to form biofilms. Flagellar motility and environmental factors are crucial for biofilm formation. Cysteine is an important compound affecting the behavior of this bacterium; therefore, we investigated its role in growth, biofilm formation and motility of L. monocytogenes 10403S through a mutant in cysteine uptake (ΔctaP). Basal defined media (DM) and L-cysteine-supplemented DM were used. Biofilm formation was promoted by L-cysteine supplementation in both wild type (WT) and ΔctaP. Lower biofilm formation of ΔctaP compared to WT indicates the significance of the cysteine transporter and cysteine uptake. A negative correlation was found between growth and biofilm formation, especially in the presence of high L-cysteine concentrations. Motility experiments showed that as the L-cysteine concentration increased, the swarming motility of WT decreased. Furthermore, swimming motility of WT was enhanced with L-cysteine supplementation, while the swimming motility of ΔctaP remained unaffected. To evaluate the role of cysteine and CtaP in biofilm formation and motility, transcriptome analysis, comparing WT and ΔctaP in basal and L-cysteine-supplemented (1.57 and 3.67 mM) DM, was conducted at 37 °C. The investigation of biofilm-related genes explained the role of ctaP and revealed induced expression of flagella and chemotaxis genes by L-cysteine
Association of micronutrient status with thyroid function in adolescent Afghan refugees; a cross-sectional study
Get PDFMicronutrients play a crucial role in several metabolic processes including thyroid hormone metabolism and functions. The current study aimed to assess the associations between thyroid hormone levels and micronutrient status in a cohort of adolescents Afghan refugees residing in a refugee camp in Pakistan. A randomised, community based, cross-sectional study design was employed to recruit 206 adolescent (both male and female) Afghan refugees aged 10–19 years. Sociodemographic data, anthropometric assessments and blood samples were collected using standard methods. Serum vitamins, minerals and thyroid hormones levels were assessed using ELISA, electrochemiluminescence and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) respectively. Overall results showed the median levels of T3 and TSH were significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in younger adolescents (10–14 years) compared to 15–18 year olds while T4 was significantly higher in boys compared to girls. Correlational analysis between serum micronutrients status (vitamin D, vitamin B12, ferritin, folate, zinc, copper, selenium) and thyroid hormones revealed significant relationships in different age groups. Overall, vitamin D exhibited a statistically significant positive correlation with T4 ( r = 0.279) in the combined, younger ( r = 0.277) and older ( r = 0.319) age groups. In contrast, a statistically significant but negative correlation was observed when zinc levels were compared with T3 ( r =-0.288) in the older age group and with T4 ( r =-0.195) in the younger age group. In conclusion, micronutrients status, especially vitamin D and zinc, have important implications for thyroid health and thereby require close monitoring in any thyroid deficiency related disorders in vulnerable population such as refugees.
Clinical trial number: Not applicable
Seed collection and processing practices affect subsequent seed storage longevity in durum wheat and wild relatives
Get PDFPotential seed storage longevity is influenced by environment during seed development and maturation but post-harvest processing may also affect longevity, particularly in accessions with variable maturity or seed shedding. The impact of sequential harvesting and post-harvest processing was examined in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum) and its wild relatives Triticum turgidum subsp. dicoccoides and T. monococcum subsp. boeoticum. Spikes were collected in sequential harvests as they matured and either processed immediately (fumigated, threshed, cleaned, dried) or delayed (remaining in the field until all plots were harvested). A separate study with durum wheat assessed seed quality throughout development and maturation and the effects of initial post-harvest drying temperatures. Delayed processing resulted in equal or greater seed longevity than immediate processing across all accessions. In durum wheat, longevity improved considerably between 21 and 41 days after heading but declined thereafter. Initial seed drying temperature affected longevity: 30°C was optimal for the earliest harvests, whereas 15°C was superior at harvest maturity and beyond. These findings demonstrate that immature seeds can continue to develop in quality ex planta under warm, dry conditions, challenging conventional recommendations for immediate post-harvest processing and suggesting a potential role for delayed processing in optimizing seed longevity
Silchester: the landscape setting of the Iron Age oppidum and Roman City. From the Neolithic to the Middle Ages
No full textThis monograph reports the results of prospection and excavations across 50km2 to explore the prehistoric context for the emergence of the Iron Age oppidum and Roman city of Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester). Six locations with suspected later prehistoric enclosures were sampled by coring and excavation, accompanied by extensive programmes of radiocarbon dating and environmental, especially pollen analysis. The oppidum of Calleva was founded in a wooded and otherwise empty landscape at the end of the 1st century BCE
Multiscale characterization of anammox granules and microbial migration Under variable nitrogen loading rates
Get PDFThe sustainable restoration of river and lake ecosystems requires advanced wastewater treatment technologies to control nitrogen pollution, a key driver of aquatic degradation. This study explores the physiological responses of anammox granular sludge (AnGS) to varying nitrogen loading rates (NLRs), offering insights into microbial stability under environmental stress. AnGS samples with different particle sizes (<1.0 mm, 1–2 mm, >2 mm) were subjected to NLRs ranging from 0.9 to 3.6 gN/L/d. As the NLR increased, the NO2−-N/NH4⁺-N consumption ratio rose from 1.0 to 1.2, and the most active particle size shifted to 1–2 mm. Hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystals formed at higher NLRs, enhancing the settling and activity of 1–2 mm AnGS but inhibiting larger granules (>2 mm). Microbial analysis revealed that Candidatus Brocadia dominated at high NLRs (10.5%), outperforming Candidatus Kuenenia (2.47%). The enrichment of these key genera across granules indicates adaptive microbial migration under loading stress. These findings provide critical operational strategies for sustaining AnGS performance through particle size regulation, contributing to nitrogen control solutions vital for river and lake restoration efforts
‘Getting better all the time’: using professional human coach competencies to evaluate the quality of AI coaching agent performance
Get PDFThis paper explores the evaluation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) AI coaching agent (coachbot) as a tool for workplace performance and wellbeing conversations. The paper starts by considering methods for the evaluation of coach performance, including client evaluation, qualitative and quantitative methods and coach competencies. Using a coach competency as a framework, this study uses a qualitative approach to assess a real-world AI coaching agent’s ‘behaviours’ in the form of an assessment by trained ICF assessors of a genuine session with a human client. The study involved a sample of 43 managers who volunteered to be coached by an AI Coaching agent. ICF assessors used the ICF coach competency framework and supporting behavioural anchored rating (BARS) framework developed by the ICF. The results indicated the AI coaching agent was able to demonstrate many elements of both ICF ACC level and PCC level coach competencies. The assessment also revealed gaps in AI coach competence. We conclude AI coaching agents are highly competent at some aspects of the coach process, while less competent at others. Further, AI development is needed to address these gaps