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Journal articleMiraldo M, Galizzi MM, 2017,
Are You What You Eat? Healthy Behaviour and Risk Preferences
, B E JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS & POLICY, Vol: 17, ISSN: 1935-1682We elicit and estimate risk preferences for a pool of young adults in the UK, and explore their links with healthy eating and risky health behaviours. We construct the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) as an overall indicator of nutritional quality, and we use it to complement the body mass index BMI. While for females we find no significant association between the BMI and risk preferences, males with high BMI appear more risk-seeking. However, this association disappears when controlling for the quality of the diet. For males, the HEI is significantly associated with risk preferences. Males smoking status is not associated with risk preferences.
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Journal articleP Mohammed MA, Wanigasooriya L, Chakerabarti-Bell S, et al., 2017,
Extrusion of unleavened bread dough: experiments and simulations
, Journal of Rheology, Vol: 61, Pages: 49-65, ISSN: 0148-6055An experimental and numerical study on ram extrusion of bread dough was conducted in order to develop predictive models for the pressures involved, as well as the deformation of the extruded dough. Such studies are needed as high pressures can potentially lead to significant degassing, tearing and shearing of the dough and hence poor bread quality; the latter limits the use of extrusion processes which would otherwise be a cost – effective forming process. A laboratory extrusion rig was designed, with dies of varying angles and exit radii. Rate dependent behaviour was observed from tests conducted at different extrusion speeds, and higher extrusion pressure was reported for dies with smaller exit radius or larger die angle. A simulation of extrusion was performed to predict the extrusion pressure as well as the extrudate swell, as a function of die geometry and extrusion rate. A continuum approach was taken in the constitutive model of dough which is a starch filled system in a protein matrix. A nonlinear viscoelastic model combined for the first time with the Mullins model for filled rubbers is found to capture the continuum behaviour well. A Coulomb friction law combined with a maximum shear stress limit was used to describe the contact definition between the extrusion barrel and the dough. Higher die angles and higher extrusion speeds require higher shear stress limit values for the model and the experiments to agree. A possible reason for this is that the shear stress limit depends on maximum strain as well as strain rate imposed during the extrusion process. Static zones were observed both experimentally and numerically. The onset of the static zones was predicted well but quantifying the geometry of the latter needs further studies.
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Journal articleAune D, Keum N, Giovannucci E, et al., 2016,
Nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies
, BMC Medicine, Vol: 14, ISSN: 1741-7015Background: Although nut consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, data on less common causes of death has not been systematically assessed. Previous reviews missed several studies and additional studies have since been published. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched for prospective studies of nut consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in adult populations published up to July 19, 2016. Summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. The burden of mortality attributable to low nut consumption was calculated for selected regions. Results: Twenty studies (29 publications) were included in the meta-analysis. The summary RRs per 28 grams/day increase in nut intake was for coronary heart disease, 0.71 (95% CI: 0.63-0.80, I2=47%, n=11), stroke, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.83-1.05, I2=14%, n=11), cardiovascular disease, 0.79 (95% CI: 0.70-0.88, I2=60%, n=12), total cancer, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76-0.94, I2=42%, n=8), all-cause mortality, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.72-0.84, I2=66%, n=15), and for mortality from respiratory disease, 0.48 (95% CI: 0.26-0.89, I2=61%, n=3), diabetes, 0.61 (95% CI: 0.43-0.88, I2=0%, n=4), neurodegenerative disease, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.40-1.08, I2=5.9%, n=3), infectious disease, 0.25 (95% CI: 0.07-0.85, I2=54%, n=2), and kidney disease, 0.27 (95% CI: 0.04-1.91, I2=61%, n=2). The results were similar for tree nuts and peanuts. If the associations are causal, an estimated 4.4 million premature deaths in the America, Europe, South-East Asia and Western Pacific would be attributable to a nut intake below 20 grams per day in 2013.Conclusion: Higher nut intake is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, total c
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Journal articleBrooks L, Viardot A, Tsakmaki A, et al., 2016,
Fermentable carbohydrate stimulates FFAR2-dependent colonic PYY cell expansion to increase satiety
, Molecular Metabolism, Vol: 6, Pages: 48-60, ISSN: 2212-8778ObjectiveDietary supplementation with fermentable carbohydrate protects against body weight gain. Fermentation by the resident gut microbiota produces short-chain fatty acids, which act at free fatty acid receptor 2 (FFAR2). Our aim was to test the hypothesis that FFAR2 is important in regulating the beneficial effects of fermentable carbohydrate on body weight and to understand the role of gut hormones PYY and GLP-1. MethodsWild-type or Ffar2-/-mice were fed an inulin supplemented or control diet. Mice were metabolically characterised and gut hormone concentrations, enteroendocrine cell density measurements were carried out. Intestinal organoids and colonic cultures were utilised to substantiate the in vivo findings.ResultsWe provide new mechanistic insight into how fermentable carbohydrate regulates metabolism. Using mice that lack FFAR2, we demonstrate that the fermentable carbohydrate, inulin, acts via this receptor to drive an 87% increase in the density of cells that produce the appetite-supressing hormone peptide YY (PYY), reduce food intake and prevent diet-induced obesity. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that FFAR2 is predominantly involved in regulating the effects of fermentable carbohydrate on metabolism and does so, in part, by enhancing PYY cell density and release. This highlights the potential for targeting enteroendocrine cell differentiation to treat obesity.
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Journal articleAune D, Keum N, Giovannucci E, et al., 2016,
Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies
, BMJ, Vol: 353, ISSN: 0959-8138Objective To quantify the dose-response relation between consumption of whole grain and specific types of grains and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality.Data sources PubMed and Embase searched up to 3 April 2016.Study selection Prospective studies reporting adjusted relative risk estimates for the association between intake of whole grains or specific types of grains and cardiovascular disease, total cancer, all cause or cause specific mortality.Data synthesis Summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals calculated with a random effects model.Results 45 studies (64 publications) were included. The summary relative risks per 90 g/day increase in whole grain intake (90 g is equivalent to three servings—for example, two slices of bread and one bowl of cereal or one and a half pieces of pita bread made from whole grains) was 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.75 to 0.87; I2=9%, n=7 studies) for coronary heart disease, 0.88 (0.75 to 1.03; I2=56%, n=6) for stroke, and 0.78 (0.73 to 0.85; I2=40%, n=10) for cardiovascular disease, with similar results when studies were stratified by whether the outcome was incidence or mortality. The relative risks for morality were 0.85 (0.80 to 0.91; I2=37%, n=6) for total cancer, 0.83 (0.77 to 0.90; I2=83%, n=11) for all causes, 0.78 (0.70 to 0.87; I2=0%, n=4) for respiratory disease, 0.49 (0.23 to 1.05; I2=85%, n=4) for diabetes, 0.74 (0.56 to 0.96; I2=0%, n=3) for infectious diseases, 1.15 (0.66 to 2.02; I2=79%, n=2) for diseases of the nervous system disease, and 0.78 (0.75 to 0.82; I2=0%, n=5) for all non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes. Reductions in risk were observed up to an intake of 210-225 g/day (seven to seven and a half servings per day) for most of the outcomes. Intakes of specific types of whole grains including whole grain bread, whole grain breakfast cereals, and added bran, as well as total bread and total breakfast cereals were also associated with re
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Journal articleSkamniotis, Patel Y, Charalambides MN, et al., 2016,
Fracture investigation in starch based foods
, Interface Focus, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2042-8901The study of oral processing and specifically cutting of the food piece during mastication can lead towards optimisation of products for humans or animals. Food materials are complex bio-composites with highly nonlinear constitutive response. Their fracture properties have not been largely investigated as yet while the need for models capable of predicting food breakdown increases. In this study, the blade cutting and the essential work of fracture (EWF) methodologies assessed the fracture behaviour of starch based pet-food. Tensile tests revealed rate dependent stiffness and stress softening effects, attributed to viscoplasticity and micro-cracking, respectively. Cutting data were collected for 5, 10 and 30 mm/s sample feed rates, whereas the EWF tests were conducted at 1.7, 3.3 and 8.3 mm/s crosshead speeds corresponding to average crack speeds of 4, 7 and 15 mm/s respectively. A reasonable agreement was achieved between cutting and EWF, reporting 1.26, 1.78, 1.76 kJ/m² and 1.52, 1.37, 1.45 kJ/m² values, respectively, for the corresponding crack speeds. These toughness data were used in a novel numerical model simulating the ‘first’ bite mastication process. A viscoplastic material model is adopted for the food piece, combined with a damage law which enabled predicting fracture patterns in the product.
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Journal articleChamali B, Finnamore H, Manning R, et al., 2016,
Dietary supplement use and nosebleeds in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia - an observational study.
, Intractable & rare diseases research, Vol: 5, Pages: 109-113, ISSN: 2186-3644Understanding potential provocations of haemorrhage is important in a range of clinical settings, and particularly for people with abnormal vasculature. Patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) can report haemorrhage from nasal telangiectasia in real time, and suggested dietary factors may precipitate nosebleeds. To examine further, nosebleed severity, dietary supplement use, and blood indices were evaluated in an unselected group of 50 HHT patients recruited from a specialist UK service. Using the validated Epistaxis Severity Score, nosebleed severity ranged from 0 to 9.1 out of 10 (median 3.9). Using a Food Frequency Questionnaire, 24/50 (48%) participants reported use of dietary supplements in the previous year. A third (18/50; 36%) had used self prescribed, non-iron containing dietary supplements, ingesting between 1 and 3 different supplements each day. Eight (16%) used fish oils. Despite having more severe epistaxis (p = 0.012), the 12 iron supplement users had higher serum iron concentrations, and were able to maintain their red blood cell indices. In contrast, there was no evident benefit for the participants using non iron supplements. Furthermore, platelet counts and serum fibrinogen tended to be lower in fish oil/supplement users, and one fish oil user demonstrated reduced in vitro platelet aggregation. In conclusion, in this small study, a third of HHT patients used non-iron dietary supplements, and one in six ingested fish oils, unaware of their known anti-platelet activity. The scale of use, and potential of these "natural health supplements" to exacerbate nosebleeds has not been appreciated previously in HHT.
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Conference paperBaxter W, Aurisicchio M, Childs PRN, 2016,
Tear Here: the Impact of Object Transformations on Proper Disposal
, IAPRI 20th World Conference on PackagingEfforts promoting proper disposal of packaging generally focus on infrastructure and messaging. Significantly less attention has been given to how the attributes of packaging can be used to change disposal behaviour. This research shows how changes in packaging attributes (e.g. alterations in shape, colour, or size) influence two disposal behaviours: recycling and littering. Specifically, we use an implicit association test to measure the subconscious tendency to categorize altered objects as trash rather than recycling. The results indicate that 82% or respondents showed at least a slight effect and 53% showed a strong effect towards associating altered objects with waste. Next, we evaluate object transformations on littering behaviour through an observational field study. Observations (N = 2823) indicated that littering is influenced by deformed, torn, disassembled, and partially full packaging. No significant effect was found with regard to packaging that is wet, sticky, has undergone colour changes or that is has remains (e.g. sauce) on it. These findings suggest that the (re)design of packaging can significantly influence proper disposal. Based on this, packaging can be (re)designed in two ways. First, many types of packaging have scripted alterations such as the iconic ‘tear here’ indicator. These can be changed to preserve properties associated with recyclables and non-littering. Second, packaging can be designed so that there are fewer alterations during use. This work can also help identify inherent attributes that encourage proper disposal.
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Journal articleMurphy N, Cross AJ, Abubakar M, et al., 2016,
A nested case–control study of metabolically defined body size phenotypes and risk of colorectal cancer in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC)
, Plos Medicine, Vol: 13, ISSN: 1549-1676 -
Journal articleHudry B, Khadayate S, Miguel-Aliaga I, 2016,
The sexual identity of adult intestinal stem cells controls organ size and plasticity
, Nature, Vol: 530, Pages: 344-348, ISSN: 1476-4687Sex differences in physiology and disease susceptibility are commonly attributed to developmental and/or hormonal factors, but there is increasing realization that cell-intrinsic mechanisms play important and persistent roles. Here we use the Drosophila melanogaster intestine to investigate the nature and importance of cellular sex in an adult somatic organ in vivo. We find that the adult intestinal epithelium is a cellular mosaic of different sex differentiation pathways, and displays extensive sex differences in expression of genes with roles in growth and metabolism. Cell-specific reversals of the sexual identity of adult intestinal stem cells uncovers the key role this identity has in controlling organ size, reproductive plasticity and response to genetically induced tumours. Unlike previous examples of sexually dimorphic somatic stem cell activity, the sex differences in intestinal stem cell behaviour arise from intrinsic mechanisms that control cell cycle duration and involve a new doublesex- and fruitless-independent branch of the sex differentiation pathway downstream of transformer. Together, our findings indicate that the plasticity of an adult somatic organ is reversibly controlled by its sexual identity, imparted by a new mechanism that may be active in more tissues than previously recognized.
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