Antenatal corticosteroids are given to pregnant people at risk of preterm birth to reduce newborn morbidity, including respiratory distress syndrome. However, there has been concern surrounding potential adverse effects on subsequent generations. Animal studies have demonstrated endocrine and metabolic changes in those exposed to corticosteroids in utero (F1) and in the second generation (F2). We aimed to assess the effects of parental antenatal corticosteroid exposure on health of the second generation (F2) of Auckland Steroid Trial (AST) participants. In the AST, women (F0) expected to birth between 24 and 36 weeks’ gestation were randomised to betamethasone or placebo. When their children (F1) were 50 years old, they and their children (F2) were followed up with a self-report questionnaire and data linkage. The primary outcome for this analysis was body mass index (BMI) z-score in the F2 generation. Secondary outcomes included respiratory, cardiovascular, neurodevelopmental, mental and general health, and social outcomes. Of the 213 F2 participants, 144 had BMI data available. There was no difference in BMI z-score between participants whose parent was exposed to betamethasone versus placebo (mean (SD) 0.63 (1.45), N = 77 vs 0.41 (1.28), N = 67, adjusted mean difference (95% confidence interval) = 0.16 (-0.37, 0.69)). There was no evidence of a difference in rates of overweight, diabetes, respiratory disease, cardiometabolic risk factors, neurodevelopmental difficulties, mental health difficulties and social outcomes between parental betamethasone versus placebo exposure groups, but confidence intervals were wide. These findings are reassuring regarding the intergenerational safety of antenatal corticosteroids.

Current clinical guidelines for people at risk of heart disease in Australia recommend nutrition intervention in conjunction with pharmacotherapy(1). However, Australians living in rural and remote regions have less access to medical nutritional therapy (MNT) provided by Accredited Practising Dietitians (APDs) than their urban counterparts(2). The aim of the HealthyRHearts study was to trial the delivery of MNT by APDs using telehealth to eligible patients of General Practitioners (GPs) located in small to large rural towns in the Hunter New England region(3) of New South Wales, Australia. The study design was a 12-month pragmatic randomised controlled trial. The key outcome was reduced total cholesterol. The study was place-based, meaning many of the research team and APDs were based rurally, to ensure the context of the GPs and patients was already known. Eligible participants were those assessed as moderate-to-high risk of CVD by their GP. People in the intervention group received five MNT consults (totalling two hours) delivered via telehealth by APDs, and also answered a personalised nutrition questionnaire to guide their priorities and to support personalised dietary behaviour change during the counselling. Both intervention and control groups received usual care from their GP and were provided access to the Australian Eating Survey (Heart version), a 242-item online food frequency questionnaire with technology-supported personalised nutrition reports that evaluated intake relative to heart healthy eating principles. Of the 192 people who consented to participate, 132 were eligible due to their moderate-to-high risk. Pre-post participant medication use with a registered indication(4) for hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and glycemic control were documented according to class and strength (defined daily dose: DDD)(5). Nine GP practices (with 91 participants recruited) were randomised to the intervention group and seven practices (41 participants) were randomised to control. Intervention participants attended 4.3 ± 1.4 out of 5 dietetic consultations offered. Of the132 people with baseline clinical chemistry, 103 also provided a 12-month sample. Mean total cholesterol at baseline was 4.97 ± 1.13 mmol/L for both groups, with 12-m reduction of 0.26 ± 0.77 for intervention and 0.28 ± 0.79 for control (p = 0.90, unadjusted value). Median (IQR) number of medications for the intervention group was 2 (1–3) at both baseline and 12 months (p = 0.78) with 2 (1–3) and 3 (2–3) for the control group respectively. Combined DDD of all medications was 2.1 (0.5–3.8) and 2.5 (0.75–4.4) at baseline and 12 months (p = 0.77) for the intervention group and 2.7 (1.5–4.0) and 3.0 (2.0–4.5) for the control group (p = 0.30). Results suggest that medications were a significant contributor to the management of total cholesterol. Further analysis is required to evaluate changes in total cholesterol attributable to medication prescription relative to the MNT counselling received by the intervention group.

The authors report on ancient DNA data from two human skeletons buried within the chancel of the 1608–1616 church at the North American colonial settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. Available archaeological, osteological and documentary evidence suggest that these individuals are Sir Ferdinando Wenman and Captain William West, kinsmen of the colony's first Governor, Thomas West, Third Baron De La Warr. Genomic analyses of the skeletons identify unexpected maternal relatedness as both carried the mitochondrial haplogroup H10e. In this unusual case, aDNA prompted further historical research that led to the discovery of illegitimacy in the West family, an aspect of identity omitted, likely intentionally, from genealogical records.

Salmonella spp. is a common zoonotic pathogen, causing gastrointestinal infections in people. Pigs and pig meat are a major source of infection. Although farm biosecurity is believed to be important for controlling Salmonella transmission, robust evidence is lacking on which measures are most effective. This study enrolled 250 pig farms across nine European countries. From each farm, 20 pooled faecal samples (or similar information) were collected and analysed for Salmonella presence. Based on the proportion of positive results, farms were categorised as at higher or lower Salmonella risk, and associations with variables from a comprehensive questionnaire investigated. Multivariable analysis indicated that farms were less likely to be in the higher-risk category if they had ‘<400 sows’; used rodent baits close to pig enclosures; isolated stay-behind (sick) pigs; did not answer that the hygiene lock/ anteroom was easy to clean; did not have a full perimeter fence; did apply downtime of at least 3 days between farrowing batches; and had fully slatted flooring in all fattener buildings. A principal components analysis assessed the sources of variation between farms, and correlation between variables. The study results suggest simple control measures that could be prioritised on European pig farms to control Salmonella.

Having a sense of calling toward one's work has key benefits for both the employee and the employer. Yet, little is known about whether and what kind of work climate facilitates employees' senses of calling, hindering efforts toward positive changes from managers and organizations. This research introduces the concept of ‘career calling climate’ and describes the development of a scale (i.e., Career Calling Climate Scale) to measure the level of support that a work unit provides for its employees' pursuit of a calling. We established the scale's validity and reliability using survey responses from participants of various occupations and age. To provide evidence of its predictive validity, we examined career calling climate's relation with career callings using a sample of 189 healthcare employees nested in 34 work units. Results suggested that career calling climate predicted individuals' career callings. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

To date, a limited number of studies have examined aspects of food choice values and food literacy in relation to some aspects of dietary behaviours. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to comprehensively examine the associations of food choice values and food literacy with diet quality. In total, 2231 Japanese adults aged 19–80 years completed questionnaires asking about food choice values (accessibility, convenience, health/weight control, tradition, sensory appeal, organic, comfort and safety) and food literacy characterised by nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, food skills and eating behaviours (hunger, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, emotional undereating, food fussiness and slowness in eating). As a measure of diet quality, the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) was calculated using a brief-type diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) or a food combination questionnaire (FCQ). In males, after adjustment for potential confounding factors (including age, BMI and the ratio of reported energy intake to estimated energy requirement), the HEI-2015 derived from BDHQ and that derived from FCQ were associated significantly (P ≤ 0·02) and positively with the food choice values of organic and inversely with food fussiness. In females, the HEI-2015 showed positive associations with the food choice values of health/weight control, nutrition knowledge and cooking skills and an inverse association with food fussiness, irrespective of the dietary assessment questionnaire (P ≤ 0·03). In conclusion, this study suggests that several aspects of food choice values and food literacy were associated with diet quality, and the aspects related differed between males and females.

Sentences that have more than one possible meaning are said to be syntactically ambiguous (SA). Because the correct interpretation of these sentences can be unclear, resolving SA sentences can be cognitively demanding for children, particularly with regards to inhibitory control (IC). In this study we provide three lines of evidence supporting the importance of IC in SA resolution. First, we show that children with higher IC resolve more SA sentences correctly. Second, we show that SA resolution is worse on tasks that place higher demands on IC, even for children with high IC. Third, we show that children with higher IC make different types of SA errors than children with lower IC. This study expands understanding of the cognitive skills underlying language and suggests a need to consider task demands on IC when developing educational curriculums.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy, and maternal nutritional factors may play protective roles or exacerbate risk. The tendency to focus on single nutrients as a risk factor obscures the complexity of possible interactions, which may be important given the complex nature of pre-eclampsia. An evidence review was conducted to compile definite, probable, possible and indirect nutritional determinants of pre-eclampsia to map a nutritional conceptual framework for pre-eclampsia prevention. Determinants of pre-eclampsia were first compiled through an initial consultation with experts. Second, an expanded literature review was conducted to confirm associations, elicit additional indicators and evaluate evidence. The strength of association was evaluated as definite relative risk (RR) < 0·40 or ≥3·00, probable RR 0·40–0·69 or 1·50–2·99, possible RR 0·70–0·89 or 1·10–1·49 or not discernible RR 0·90–1·09. The quality of evidence was evaluated using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Twenty-five nutritional factors were reported in two umbrella reviews and twenty-two meta-analyses. Of these, fourteen were significantly associated with pre-eclampsia incidence. Higher serum Fe emerged as a definite nutritional risk factors for pre-eclampsia incidence across populations, while low serum Zn was a risk factor in Asia and Africa. Maternal vitamin D deficiency was a probable risk factor and Ca and/or vitamin D supplementation were probable protective nutritional factors. Healthy maternal dietary patterns were possibly associated with lower risk of developing pre-eclampsia. Potential indirect pathways of maternal nutritional factors and pre-eclampsia may exist through obesity, maternal anaemia and gestational diabetes mellitus. Research gaps remain on the influence of household capacities and socio-cultural, economic and political contexts, as well as interactions with medical conditions.

Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) and false cleavers (Galium spurium L.) are currently a challenge to manage in less competitive crops such as flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Increasing the functional diversity in crop rotations can be an option to improve weed management. Nonetheless, this strategy had not been tested in flax in western Canada. A 5-yr (2015 to 2019) crop rotation study was carried at three locations in western Canada to determine the effect of diverse flax-based crop rotations with differences in crop species, crop life cycles, harvesting time, and reduced herbicides on managing A. fatua and G. spurium. The perennial rotation (flax–alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.]–alfalfa–alfalfa–flax) under reduced herbicide use was found to be the most consistent cropping system, providing A. fatua and G. spurium control similar to the conventional annual flax crop rotation (flax–barley [Hordeum vulgare L.]–flax–oat [Avena sativa L.]–flax) with standard herbicides. At Carman, this alfalfa rotation provided even better weed control (80% A. fatua, 75% G. spurium) than the conventional rotation. Furthermore, greater A. fatua control was identified compared with a conventional rotation in which two consecutive winter cereal crops were grown successfully in rotation (flax–barley–winter triticale [×Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus (Secale × Triticum)]–winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.]–flax). Incorporation of silage oat crops did not show consistent management benefits compared with the perennial alfalfa rotation but was generally similar to the conventional rotation with standard herbicides. The results showed that perennial alfalfa in the rotation minimized G. spurium and A. fatua in flax-cropping systems, followed by rotations with two consecutive winter cereal crops.

Motivated by the industrial manufacture of organic light-emitting-diode displays, we formulate and analyse a mathematical model for the evolution of a thin droplet in a shallow axisymmetric well of rather general shape both before and after touchdown that accounts for the spatially non-uniform evaporation of the fluid, perform physical experiments using three cylindrical wells with different small aspect ratios, and validate the mathematical model by comparing the present experimental results with the corresponding theoretical predictions for a cylindrical well.

Dietary acculturation may explain the increasing risk of diet-related diseases among African immigrants in the United States (US). We interviewed twenty-five Ghanaian immigrants (Youth n 13, Age (Mean ± sd) 20 y ± 5⋅4, Parents (n 6) and Grandparents (n 6) age 58⋅7 ± 9⋅7) living in New York City (NYC) to (a) understand how cultural practices and the acculturation experience influence dietary patterns of Ghanaian immigrants and (b) identify intergenerational differences in dietary acculturation among Ghanaian youth, parents and grandparents. Dietary acculturation began in Ghana, continued in NYC and was perceived as a positive process. At the interpersonal level, parents encouraged youth to embrace school lunch and foods outside the home. In contrast, parents preferred home-cooked Ghanaian meals, yet busy schedules limited time for cooking and shared meals. At the community level, greater purchasing power in NYC led to increased calories, and youth welcomed individual choice as schools and fast food exposed them to new foods. Global forces facilitated nutrition transition in Ghana as fast and packaged foods became omnipresent in urban settings. Adults sought to maintain cultural foodways while facilitating dietary acculturation for youth. Both traditional and global diets evolved as youth and adults adopted new food and healthy social norms in the US.