What influences the timing of the introduction of solid food to infants?

The aim of the present study was to assess the factors which may influence the timing of the introduction of solid food to infants. The design was a prospective cohort study by interview and postal questionnaire. Primiparous women (n 541) aged between 16 and 40 years were approached in the Forth Park Maternity Hospital, Fife, Scotland. Of these, 526 women agreed to participate and seventy-eight were used as subjects in the pilot study. At 12 weeks we interviewed 338 women of the study sample. The postal questionnaire was returned by 286 of 448 volunteers. At 12 weeks 133 of 338 mothers said that they had introduced solids. Those that said that they had introduced solids early (<12 weeks) were compared with those who had introduced solids late (>12 weeks) by bivariate and multiple regression analysis. Psychosocial factors influencing the decision were measured with the main outcome measure being the time of introduction of solid food. The early introduction of solids was found to be associated with: the opinions of the infant's maternal grandmother; living in a deprived area; personal disagreement with the advice to wait until the baby was 4 months; lack of encouragement from friends to wait until the baby was 4 months; being in receipt of free samples of manufactured food. Answers to open-ended questions indicated that the early introduction appeared to be influenced by the mothers’ perceptions of the baby's needs. Some of the factors influencing a woman's decision to introduce solids are amenable to change, and these could be targeted in educational interventions.

Impacto das variáveis sociodemográficas no potencial dos jovens com formação superior em Portugal

Dissertação apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa, como parte dos requisitos para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Psicologia, ramo de Psicologia do Trabalho e das Organizações

Long-term declining trend of zooplankton biomass in the Tropical Atlantic

We report evidences that the zooplankton biomass in the tropical Atlantic has declined with an almost 10-fold drop from the 1950s to 2000. The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that the decline in zooplankton biomass was positively related to the NAO-index and to phosphate concentration. We also found that the depth of the thermocline has decreased over the period of our investigation. Thus, the decline we report in zooplankton biomass may be related to the combined effect of two phenomena driven by global temperature increase: (1) the widening of the distributional range of tropical species due to the expansion of the ‘tropical belt’ and (2) a decrease in primary production resulting from the thinning of the thermocline. The decline of zooplankton biomass we report suggests that global warming of the ocean may be altering tropical food webs, and through them, it may also indirectly impact tropical oceans biogeochemical cycles.

Factors influencing eating a varied diet in old age

OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the influences of resources and food-related goals on the variety of food choice among older people.
DESIGN:
A questionnaire-based survey in eight European countries: Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Italy and Spain.
SUBJECTS:
Participants (n 3200) were above 65 years of age and living in their own homes. The samples were quota samples, eight groups of fifty in each country, based on gender, age and living circumstances, reflecting the diversity of each of the national populations based on education, income and urbanization of living environment.
RESULTS:
Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that income, health status, access to a car and living arrangement affected the level of dietary variety. The perceived level of different food-related resources impacted the consumption of a varied diet over and above actual resource levels. Food-related goals contributed to variety of food intake that was not accounted for by the amount of material resources possessed or the social and other resources perceived to be possessed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Older people's variety of food intake depended on material resources (e.g. monthly income, access to a car, living arrangement, physical and mental health). However, in addition to these variables, the way older people perceived other resources, such as their level of appetite, their food knowledge, their perception of the distance to the shops, access to high-quality products, having better kitchen facilities, access to good service providers and support from friends and neighbours, all contributed to how varied a diet they ate.

Red-shifts and red herrings in geographical ecology

I draw attention to the need for ecologists to take spatial structure into account more seriously in hypothesis testing. If spatial autocorrelation is ignored, as it usually is, then analyses of ecological patterns in terms of environmental factors can produce very misleading results. This is demonstrated using synthetic but realistic spatial patterns with known spatial properties which are subjected to classical correlation and multiple regression analyses. Correlation between an autocorrelated response variable and each of a set of explanatory variables is strongly biased in favour of those explanatory variables that are highly autocorrelated - the expected magnitude of the correlation coefficient increases with autocorrelation even if the spatial patterns are completely independent. Similarly, multiple regression analysis finds highly autocorrelated explanatory variables "significant" much more frequently than it should. The chances of mistakenly identifying a "significant" slope across an autocorrelated pattern is very high if classical regression is used. Consequently, under these circumstances strongly autocorrelated environmental factors reported in the literature as associated with ecological patterns may not actually be significant. It is likely that these factors wrongly described as important constitute a red-shifted subset of the set of potential explanations, and that more spatially discontinuous factors (those with bluer spectra) are actually relatively more important than their present status suggests. There is much that ecologists can do to improve on this situation. I discuss various approaches to the problem of spatial autocorrelation from the literature and present a randomisation test for the association of two spatial patterns which has advantages over currently available methods.

Investigation of Genetic Variation in Scavenger Receptor Class B, Member 1 (SCARB1) and Association with Serum Carotenoids

Objective: To investigate association of scavenger receptor class B, member 1 (SCARB1) genetic variants with serum carotenoid levels of lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) and macular pigment optical density (MPOD).
Design: A cross-sectional study of healthy adults aged 20 to 70.
Participants: We recruited 302 participants after local advertisement.
Methods: We measured MPOD by customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. Fasting blood samples were taken for serum L and Z measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography and lipoprotein analysis by spectrophotometric assay. Forty-seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across SCARB1 were genotyped using Sequenom technology. Association analyses were performed using PLINK to compare allele and haplotype means, with adjustment for potential confounding and correction for multiple comparisons by permutation testing. Replication analysis was performed in the TwinsUK and Carotenoids in Age-Related Eye Disease Study (CAREDS) cohorts.
Main Outcome Measures: Odds ratios for MPOD area, serum L and Z concentrations associated with genetic variations in SCARB1 and interactions between SCARB1 and gender.
Results: After multiple regression analysis with adjustment for age, body mass index, gender, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, and dietary L and Z levels, 5 SNPs were significantly associated with serum L concentration and 1 SNP with MPOD (P<0.01). Only the association between rs11057841 and serum L withstood correction for multiple comparisons by permutation testing (P<0.01) and replicated in the TwinsUK cohort (P = 0.014). Independent replication was also observed in the CAREDS cohort with rs10846744 (P = 2×10-4), an SNP in high linkage disequilibrium with rs11057841 (r2 = 0.93). No interactions by gender were found. Haplotype analysis revealed no stronger association than obtained with single SNP analyses.
Conclusions: Our study has identified association between rs11057841 and serum L concentration (24% increase per T allele) in healthy subjects, independent of potential confounding factors. Our data supports further evaluation of the role for SCARB1 in the transport of macular pigment and the possible modulation of age-related macular degeneration risk through combating the effects of oxidative stress within the retina.
Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosures may be found after the references. Ophthalmology 2013;120:1632–1640 © 2013 by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Parametric design optimization of hard turning of AISI 4340 steel (69 HRC)

Continuous research endeavors on hard turning (HT), both on machine tools and cutting tools, have made the previously reported daunting limits easily attainable in the modern scenario. This presents an opportunity for a systematic investigation on finding the current attainable limits of hard turning using a CNC turret lathe. Accordingly, this study aims to contribute to the existing literature by providing the latest experimental results of hard turning of AISI 4340 steel (69 HRC) using a CBN cutting tool. An orthogonal array was developed using a set of judiciously chosen cutting parameters. Subsequently, the longitudinal turning trials were carried out in accordance with a well-designed full factorial-based Taguchi matrix. The speculation indeed proved correct as a mirror finished optical quality machined surface (an average surface roughness value of 45 nm) was achieved by the conventional cutting method. Furthermore, Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio analysis, Analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Multiple regression analysis were carried out on the experimental datasets to assert the dominance of each machining variable in dictating the machined surface roughness and to optimize the machining parameters. One of the key findings was that when feed rate during hard turning approaches very low (about 0.02mm/rev), it could alone be most significant (99.16%) parameter in influencing the machined surface roughness (Ra). This has, however also been shown that low feed rate results in high tool wear, so the selection of machining parameters for carrying out hard turning must be governed by a trade-off between the cost and quality considerations.

Does a proactive environmental orientation automatically lead to a ‘win-win’ situation?

A debate on the effect of environmental practices on performance has been taking place in the academic literature over the last two decades. In recent years this has involved researchers looking beyond the direct relationship between practices and performance to consider other potential contributing factors. This paper considers the extent to which environmental proactivity influences the practices that firms adopt and the associated performance outcomes. Data were collected from sample of UK food manufacturers and analysed using multiple regression analysis. Findings suggest that proactivity is an important antecedent to practices but these practices may not lead to improvements beyond environmental performance.

Enhancing performance: The moderating effect of environmental integration and environmental capabilities on the performance outcomes of pollution prevention

Over the last two decades there has been ongoing debate about the impact of environmental practices on operational performance. In recent years, studies have started to move beyond assessing the direct impact of environmental management on different dimensions of performance to consider factors that might moderate or mediate this relationship. This study considers the extent to which environmental integration and environmental capabilities moderate the relationship between pollution prevention and environmental performance outcomes. The mediating influence of environmental performance on the relationship between pollution prevention and cost and flexibility performance is also considered. Data were collected from a sample of UK food manufacturers and analysed using multiple regression analysis. The findings indicate the existence of some moderated and mediated relationships suggesting that there is more to improving performance than implementing environmental practices.

The association between subgingival periodontal pathogens and systemic inflammation

Aim To investigate associations between periodontal disease pathogens and levels of systemic inflammation measured by C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods A representative sample of dentate 60-70-year-old men in Northern Ireland had a comprehensive periodontal examination. Men taking statins were excluded. Subgingival plaque samples were analysed by quantitative real time PCR to identify the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia. High-sensitivity CRP (mg/l) was measured from fasting blood samples. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed using log-transformed CRP concentration as the dependent variable, with the presence of each periodontal pathogen as predictor variables, with adjustment for various potential confounders. Results A total of 518 men (mean age 63.6 SD 3.0 years) were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index (p < 0.001), current smoking (p < 0.01), the detectable presence of P. gingivalis (p < 0.01) and hypertension (p = 0.01), were independently associated with an increased CRP. The detectable presence of P. gingivalis was associated with a 20% (95% confidence interval 4-35%) increase in CRP (mg/l) after adjustment for all other predictor variables. Conclusion In these 60-70-year-old dentate men, the presence of P. gingivalis in subgingival plaque was significantly associated with a raised level of C-reactive protein.

Progressing from internal to supply chain level environmental strategies: The influence of internal support processes

The need for companies to consider the environmental impact of their operations and supply chains has been highlighted in the literature. However, few studies appear to consider how companies’ progress from proactive environmental strategies implemented at the internal, operations level to proactive environmental strategies implemented at the supply chain level. This study assesses the implementation process through the lens of the natural resource-based view and dynamic capabilities perspective. First, the link between the internal strategy ‘pollution prevention’ and the supply chain strategy ‘process stewardship’ is assessed. Second, the mediating influence of the internal support processes ‘integration’ and ‘learning’ on the implementation process is considered. Data collected from a sample of 1200 UK-based food manufacturing companies is analysed using multiple regression analysis. The findings suggest that the progression to environmental efforts at the supply chain level begins with internally-based environmental efforts and that the integration of these efforts and experience gained from them are important supporting factors in this progression.

A importância do relacionamento bancário no financiamento das PME

Dissertação de Mestrado em Finanças Empresariais

Parents living with HIV in a high-income country: do patients need specific support?

The number of HIV-infected persons with children and caregiving duties is likely to increase. From this statement, the present study was designed to establish how HIV infected caregivers organise their parenting routines and to determine their support needs. A further aim was to ascertain caregivers' perception of conspicuous behaviours displayed by their children. Finally, it sought to determine the extent to which the caregivers' assessment of their parenting activity is influenced by the required support and their children's perceived conspicuous behaviours. The study design was observational and cross-sectional. Sampling was based on the 7 HIV Outpatient Clinics associated with the national population-based Swiss HIV Cohort Study. It focused on persons living with HIV who are responsible for raising children below the age of 18. A total of 520 caregivers were approached and 261 participated. An anonymous, standardised, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical procedures and backward elimination multiple regression analysis. The 261 respondents cared for 406 children and adolescents under 18 years of age; the median age was 10 years. The caregivers' material resources were low. 70% had a net family income in a range below the median of Swiss net family income and 30% were dependent on welfare assistance. 73% were undergoing treatment with 86% reporting no physical impairments. The proportion of single caregivers was 34%. 92% of the children were living with their HIV infected caregivers. 80% of the children attended an institution such as a school or kindergarten during the day. 89% of the caregivers had access to social networks providing support. Nevertheless, caregivers required additional support in performing their parenting duties and indicated a need for assistance on the material level, in connection with legal problems and with participation in the labour market. 46% of the caregivers had observed one or more conspicuous behaviours displayed by their children, which indicates a challenging situation. However, most of these caregivers assessed their parenting activity very favourably. Backward elimination multiple regression analysis indicated that a smaller number of support needs, younger age of the eldest child and fewer physical impairments on the part of the caregiver enhance the caregivers' assessment of their parenting activity. Physicians should speak to caregivers living with HIV about their parenting responsibilities and provide the necessary scope for this subject in their consultation sessions. Physicians are in a position to draw their patients' attention to the services available to them.

The examination of predictors of success in two programmes requiring self-direction /

The new Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy programmes, based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario) are unique. The teaching and learning philosophies utilized are based on learner-centred and selfdirected learning theories. The 1991 admissions process of these programmes attempted to select individuals who would make highly qualified professionals and who would have the necessary skills to complete such unique programmes. In order to: 1 . learn more about the concept of self-directed learning and its related characteristics in health care professionals; 2. examine the relationship between various student characteristics - personal, learner and those assessed during the admissions process - and final course grades, and 3. determine which, if any, smdent characteristics could be considered predictors for success in learner-centred programmes requiring self-directed learning skills, a correlational research design was developed and carried out. Thirty Occupational Therapy and thirty Physiotherapy smdents were asked to complete 2 instruments - a questionnaire developed by the author and the Oddi Continuing Learning Inventory (Oddi, 1986). Course grades and ratings of students during the admissions process were also obtained. Both questionnaires were examined for reliability, and factor analyses were conducted to determine construct validity. Data obtained from the questionnaires, course grades and student ratings (from the admissions process) were analyzed and compared using the Contingency Co-efficient, the Pearson's product-moment correlation co-efficient, and the multiple regression analysis model. The research findings demonstrated a positive relationship (as identified by Contingency Coefficient or Pearson r values) between various course grades and the following personal and learner characteristics: field of smdy of highest level of education achieved, level of education achieved, sex, marital stams, motivation for completing the programmes, reasons for eru-oling in the programmes, decision to enrol in the programmes, employment history, preferred learning style, strong selfconcept and the identification of various components of the concept of self-directed learning. In most cases, the relationships were significant to the 0.01 or 0.(X)1 levels. Results of the multiple regression analyses demonstrated that several learner and admissions characteristic variables had R^ values that accounted for the largest proportion of the variance in several dependent variables. Thus, these variables could be considered predictors for success. The learner characteristics included: level of education and strong self-concept. The admissions characteristics included: ability to evaluate strengths, ability to give feedback, curiosity and creativity, and communication skills. It is recommended that research continue to be conducted to substantiate the relationships found between course grades and characteristic variables in more diverse populations. "Success in self-directed programmes" from the learner's perspective should also be investigated. The Oddi Continuing Learning Inventory should continue to be researched. Further research may lead to refinement or further development of the instrument, and may provide further insight into self-directed learner attributes. The concept of self-directed learning continues to be incorporated into educational programmes, and thus should continue to be explored.

Self concept, acculturation, and fashion orientation

The research begins with a discussion of the worldwide and the Canadian market. The research profiles the examination of the relationship between a person's self concept (as defined by Malhotra) and fashion orientation (as defined by Gutman and Mills), and to understand how these factors are influenced by acculturation, focusing in-depth on their managerial implications. To study these relationships; a random sample of 196 ChineseCanadian female university students living in Canada was given a survey based on Malhotra's self-concept scale, and the SLASIA acculturation scale. Based on multiple regression analysis, findings suggest that the adoption of language and social interaction dimensions of acculturation constructs have significant effects on the relationship between self concept and fashion orientation. This research contributes significantly to both marketing theory and practice. Theoretically, this research develops new insights on the dimensionality of fashion orientation, identifies various moderating effects of acculturation on the relationship of self concept and fashion orientation dimensions, and provides a framework to examine these effects, where results can be generalized across different culture. Practically, marketers can use available findings to improve their understanding of the fashion needs of Chinese-Canadian consumers, and target them based on these findings. The findings provide valuable implications for companies to formulate their fashion marketing strategies for enhance fashion orientation in terms of different dimensions, based on different levels of acculturation.