Foods consumed at lower eating rates (ER) lead to reductions in energy intake. Previous research has shown that texture-based differences in eating rateER can reduce meal size. The effect size and consistency of these effects across a wide range of composite and complex meals differing considerably in texture and varying in meal occasion have not been reported. We determined how consistently texture-based differences in ER can influence food and energy intake across a wide variety of meals. In a crossover design, healthy participants consumed twelve breakfast and twelve lunch meals that differed in texture to produce a fast or slow ER. A breakfast group (n = 15) and lunch group (n = 15) completed twelve ad libitum meal sessions each (six ‘fast’ and six ‘slow’ meals), where intake was measured and behavioural video annotation was used to characterise eating behaviour. Liking did not differ significantly between fast and slow breakfasts (P = 0·44) or lunches (P = 0·76). The slow meals were consumed on average 39 % ± 9 % (breakfast) and 45 % ± 7 % (lunch) slower than the fast meals (both P < 0·001). Participants consumed on average 22 % ± 5 % less food (84 g) and 13 % ± 6 % less energy (71 kcal) from slow compared with fast meals (mean ± SE; P < 0·001). Consuming meals with a slower ER led to a reduction in food intake, where an average decrease of 20 % in ER produced an 11 % ± 1 % decrease in food intake (mean ± SE). These findings add to the growing body of evidence showing that ER can be manipulated using food texture and that this has aits consistent effect on food and energy intake across a wide variety of Hedonically equivalent meals.

Political polarization is a systemic-level and multifaceted process that severs cross-cutting ties and shifts perceptions of politics to a zero-sum game. When it turns pernicious, political actors and supporters view opponents as an existential threat and the capacity of democratic institutions to process political conflict breaks down. The article identifies four common fault lines of polarization globally – who belongs, democracy, inequality and social contract. It argues that while Latin American countries experience, to varying degrees, all four of the fault lines, it is the deep-seated, persistent social hierarchies oriented around class, race, and place that stand out relative to other countries. Reaching consensus on reforms that may renew or reformulate agreements on the terms of the social contract, boundaries of community membership, and redressing social inequality is a tall task. Yet the region’s sustained consensus on the democratic rules of the game can provide the mechanisms for addressing this task if new majority coalitions can be formed.

This article offers an analysis of the changes in mass-level ideological polarization in Latin America. It provides a cross-national, region-wide assessment of polarization dynamics using survey data on left-right ideological identities. A novel indicator for measuring ideological polarization at the individual level is proposed, which is more compatible with theoretical conceptualizations of ideological polarization than other existing indicators. The indicator is applied to data from the AmericasBarometer surveys to measure degrees and changes in mass-level ideological polarization in 19 Latin American countries between 2006 and 2019. The study reveals a substantial process of mass-level ideological restructuring, accompanied by a region-wide increase in ideological polarization in Latin America taking place during the second decade of the twenty-first century. We also find that ideological polarization, albeit varying in intensity from country to country, is clearly present at the mass level in the majority of countries in the region.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is associated with periodontitis and tooth loss in older adults. A total of 2346 adults underwent a detailed dental examination as part of the health assessment of a national population study – The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing. 25(OH)D analysis was performed on frozen non-fasting total plasma using LC-MS. The analysis included both multiple logistic regression and multinominal logistic regression to investigate associations between 25(OH)D concentration, periodontitis and tooth loss, adjusting for a range of potential confounders. Results of the analysis found the mean age of participants was 65·3 years (sd 8·2) and 55·3 % of the group were female. Based on the quintile of 25(OH)D concentration, participants in the lowest v. highest quintile had an OR of 1·57 (95 % CI 1·16, 2·13; P < 0·01) of having periodontitis in the fully adjusted model. For tooth loss, participants in the lowest v. highest quintile of 25(OH)D had a RRR of 1·55 (95 % CI 1·12, 2·13; P < 0·01) to have 1–19 teeth and a RRR of 1·96 (95 % CI 1·20, 3·21; P < 0·01) to be edentulous, relative to those with ≥ 20 teeth in the fully adjusted models. These findings demonstrate that in this cross-sectional study of older men and women from Ireland, 25(OH)D concentration was associated with both periodontitis and tooth loss, independent of other risk factors.

The association between the frequency of eating ready-made meals (RMM) or eating out (EO) during pregnancy and postpartum depression remains unclear. We aimed to explore the association between the frequency of RMM or EO use during pregnancy and the incidence of postpartum depression. This study included 639 community-dwelling pregnant women who were recruited between 2019 and 2022. Data on the frequency of RMM and EO use, as well as sociodemographic, economic and lifestyle factors, were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Data on dietary intake were obtained using a validated brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Postpartum depression was assessed using the Japanese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The incidence of postpartum depression (EPDS score of ≥9) based on the frequency of RMM or EO use was analysed using multiple logistic regression analysis. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was limited evidence suggesting an association between consuming RMM 3 times/week or more and the likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression, with an adjusted OR (aOR) and 95 % CI (95 % CI) of 4·16 and 1·68–10·27 (Pfor trend = 0·017) compared with consuming RMM less than 1 time/week. There was no evidence for an association between consuming EO 3 times/week or more and postpartum depression (aOR: 1·20, 95 % CI: 0·14, 10·04 and Pfor trend = 0·283). Accordingly, the present study presented weak evidence of an association between RMM and postpartum depression. Further studies with large and diverse samples are needed to overcome any potential selection bias.

The UK population is living longer; therefore, promoting healthy ageing via positive nutrition could have widespread public health implications. Moreover, dietary fibre intake is associated with health benefits; however, intake is below UK recommendations (30 g/d). Utilising national dietary survey data can provide up-to-date information on a large representative cohort of UK older adults, so that tailored solutions can be developed in the future. This study used cross-sectional data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (years 2008–2009 to 2018–2019) for older adults’ (n 1863; 65–96 years) dietary fibre intake (three-to-four-day food diaries), top ten dietary fibre-rich foods, associated factors (demographics, dietary/lifestyle habits) and various health outcomes (anthropometric, blood and urine). Mean dietary fibre intake was 18·3 g/d (range: 2·9–55·1 g/d); therefore, below the UK dietary recommendations, with compliance at 5·7 %. In addition, there were five significant associations (P < 0·05) related to lower dietary fibre intake such as increasing age group, without own natural teeth, impaired chewing ability, lower education leaving age and poor general health. Older adults’ key foods containing dietary fibre were mainly based on convenience such as baked beans, bread and potatoes. Positively, higher dietary fibre consumption was significantly associated (P = 0·007) with reduced diastolic blood pressure. In summary, the benefits of dietary fibre consumption were identified in terms of health outcomes and oral health were key modulators of intake. Future work should focus on a life course approach and the role of food reformulation to help increase dietary fibre intake.

The primary aim of this study was to examine the association between snack nutritional quality, overall diet quality and adiposity among Australian adolescents. The secondary aim was to assess the distribution of discretionary foods (i.e. energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods and beverages) and intakes from the five food groups at different levels of snack nutritional quality. Dietary data collected from nationally representative adolescents (12–18 years old) during a 24-h dietary recall in the National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were analysed (n 784). Snacks were defined based on participant-identified eating occasions. Snack nutritional quality was assessed using the Nutrient Profiling Scoring Criterion (NPSC), whereas diet quality was evaluated using the Dietary Guideline Index for Children and Adolescents. Adiposity was assessed through BMI Z-score waist circumference and waist:height ratio (WHtR). Higher nutritional quality of snacks, as assessed by the NPSC, has been associated with higher diet quality among both boys and girls (P < 0·001). However, there is no association between snacks nutritional quality with BMI Z-score, waist circumference and WHtR. Among both boys and girls, the consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes/beans at snacks increased with improvement in snack nutritional quality. Conversely, the consumption of discretionary foods at snack decreased with improvement in snack nutritional quality. In conclusion, improved snack quality was associated with better diet quality in adolescents. However, there was no association between snack nutritional quality and adiposity. Future, snack nutrition quality indices should consider optimum snack characteristics related with adiposity and diet quality.

The contribution of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFA) to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality remains debated after decades of research. Few previous studies had repeated dietary assessments and power to assess mortality. Evidence for individual SFA is limited. In this large population-based cohort study, we investigated associations between intake of total and individual SFA and risk of total and CVD mortality. Adult residents (mean 41·1 years at baseline) in three Norwegian counties were invited to repeated health screenings between 1974 and 1988 (> 80 % attendance). We calculated cumulative average intakes of macronutrients from semi-quantitative FFQ. Median (interquartile range) intake of SFA was 14·6 % (12·8–16·6 %) of total energy (E%). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % CI were estimated using multivariable Cox regression models to assess total, CVD, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) mortality. Among 78 725 participants, 28 555 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 33·5 years, with 9318 deaths due to CVD. Higher intake of SFA (replacing carbohydrates) was positively associated with all mortality endpoints, including total (HR per 5 E% increment, 1·18; 95 % CI 1·13, 1·23) and CVD mortality (1·16; 95 % CI 1·07, 1·25). Theoretical isoenergetic substitution of SFA with carbohydrates or MUFA was associated with lower risk. Of individual SFA, myristic (14:0) and palmitic acid (16:0) were positively associated with mortality. In summary, dietary SFA intake was strongly associated with higher total and CVD mortality in this long-term cohort study. This supports policies implemented to reduce SFA consumption in favour of carbohydrates and unsaturated fats.

Polarizing rhetoric and negative tone are thought to generate more attention on social media. We seek to describe and analyze how presidential candidates in Colombia’s 2022 election deployed (de)polarizing rhetoric and tone, around what topics, and with what effects. We analyze the tweets (and corresponding engagement) of the four leading candidates during the campaign. Tone behaves as expected. Negatively worded tweets receive overall more likes and retweets, though the strength of their effect varies by candidate. Polarizing rhetoric behaves differently. Using polarizing and depolarizing rhetoric proved better than neutral messages, but using depolarizing rhetoric, generated greater engagement than its polarizing counterpart. This study suggests that the visibility of a candidate does not necessarily correspond to their greater use of Twitter, an increased deployment of polarizing rhetoric, or an emphasis on negative emotions. This article provides a glimmer of hope regarding the potential usefulness of positive uniting messages on Twitter (now X).

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that causes blindness and the early detection of diabetics using retinopathy images remains a challenging task. Hence, a novel, earlier smart prediction of diabetic retinopathy from fundus image under Innovative ResNet Optimization is introduced to effectively detect the earlier stage of DR from Fundus image. Initially, the fundus image is scaled during preprocessing and converted into a grayscale format. As the existing studies neglect some deserving unique features that are crucial for predicting the earliest signs of DR, a novel Fractional Radon Transform with Visibility Graph is introduced for extracting the novel features such as microaneurysms count, dot and blot hemorrhages count, statistical measures, and retinal layer thickness, in which a Generalized Cosine Fractional Radon Transform is used to capture the image’s fine-scale texture information thereby effectively capturing the statistical measures, while a weighted Horizontal Visibility Graph is made to examine the apparent spatial relationships between pixel pairs in the image based on the values of the pixels’ gray levels. Further, the existing works failed to identify the small fine dark areas that were ignored throughout the morphological opening process. In order to overcome this issue, a Morphological Black Hat Transform with Optimized ResNet Algorithm is implemented, where segmentation is made through Enriched Black Hat Transform-based Morphological operation to identify fine dark regions among the pixels inside the eye samples, and the classification is done by using ResNet-driven S-GOA (Socio Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm), to optimally predict the stages of DR. The result obtained showed that the proposed model outperforms existing techniques with high performance and accuracy.

Previous studies have found direct associations between glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) with chronic diseases. However, this evidence has not been consistent in relation to mortality, and most data regarding this association come from high-income and low-carbohydrate-intake populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the overall GI and dietary GL and all-cause mortality, CVD and breast cancer mortality in Mexico. Participants from the Mexican Teachers’ Cohort (MTC) study in 2006–2008 were followed for a median of 10 years. Overall GI and dietary GL were calculated from a validated FFQ. Deaths were identified by the cross-linkage of MTC participants with two national mortality registries. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the impact of GI and GL on mortality. We identified 1198 deaths. Comparing the lowest and highest quintile, dietary GI and GL appeared to be marginally associated with all-cause mortality; GI, 1·12 (95 % CI: 0·93, 1·35); GL, 1·12 (95 % CI: 0·87, 1·44). Higher GI and GL were associated with increased risk of CVD mortality, GI, 1·30 (95 % CI: 0·82, 2·08); GL, 1·64 (95 % CI: 0·87, 3·07) and with greater risk of breast cancer mortality; GI, 2·13 (95 % CI: 1·12, 4·06); GL, 2·43 (95 % CI: 0·90, 6·59). It is necessary to continue the improvement of carbohydrate quality indicators to better guide consumer choices and to lead the Mexican population to limit excessive intake of low-quality carbohydrate foods.

This study compared survival outcomes between intensive care unit (ICU) patients receiving enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) with vasopressor support, explored risk factors affecting clinical outcomes and established an evaluation model. Data from 1046 ICU patients receiving vasopressor therapy within 24 h from 2008 to 2019 were collected. Patients receiving nutritional therapy within 3 d of ICU admission were divided into EN or PN (including PN+EN) groups. Cox analysis and regression were used to determine relevant factors and establish a nomogram for predicting survival. The 28-d survival rate was significantly better in the EN group compared with the PN/PN+EN group. Risk factors included age, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, red cell distribution width, international normalised ratio, potassium level, mean corpuscular Hg, myocardial infarction, liver disease, cancer status and nutritional status. The nomogram showed good predictive performance. In ICU patients receiving vasopressor drugs, patients receiving EN had a better survival rate than PN. Our nomogram had favourable predictive value for 28-d survival in patients. However, it needs further validation in prospective trials.

This analytical essay proposes the notion of disjointed polarization to characterize the nature of polarization in contemporary Chile. In disjointed polarization, elite-level polarization does not lead to a successful electoral realignment. Disjointed polarization is thus consistent with a long-lasting crisis of representation in which a serial disconnect between politicians (pursuing different polarizing strategies) and a sizable fraction of the electorate persists, as voters remain alienated from old and emerging political elites. Because the structural changes that make disjointed polarization persist longer than expected in Chile today are widespread across Latin America, the essay speculates on the possibility that enduring disjointed polarization applies to other cases where neither a “populist realignment” nor “generative polarization” took place. Instead, disjointed polarization might reflect the onset of a new (non-partisan representation) normal.