Poor iron status is one of the most prevalent problems facing infants worldwide, in both developing and developed countries(1). A complex interplay of both dietary and non-dietary factors affects iron intake, absorption, and requirements, and subsequently iron status(2). We aimed to describe iron status in an ethnically diverse cohort of urban-dwelling infants. Data were collected from 364 infants aged 7.0 to 10.0 months living in two main urban centres in New Zealand (Auckland and Dunedin) between July 2020 and February 2022. Participants were grouped by total ethnicity, with any participants who did not identify as either Māori or Pacific categorised into a single ‘others’ group. Haemoglobin, plasma ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), C-Reactive protein, and alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein were obtained from a non-fasting venous blood sample. Inflammation was adjusted for using the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anaemia (BRINDA) method(3). Body iron concentration (mg/kg body weight) was calculated using the ratio of sTfR and ferritin. A total of 96.3% of Pacific infants were iron sufficient, defined as body iron ≥0 mg/kg body weight and haemoglobin (Hb) ≥105 g/L, compared to 82.3% of Māori and 76.0% of ‘other’ (i.e. neither Māori nor Pacific) infants. ‘Other’ infants had the highest prevalence of iron deficiency overall, with 2.8% categorised with iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA) (body iron <0 mg/kg, haemoglobin <105 g/L), 11.8% with early ‘functional’ iron deficiency (body iron <0 mg/kg, haemoglobin ≥105 g/L), and 9.4% with iron depletion (ferritin <15 µg/L, in the absence of early ‘functional’ iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia). For Māori infants, 3.2% and 6.5% had IDA and early ‘functional’ iron deficiency respectively, and 8.1% were iron depleted. One (3.7%) Pacific infant was iron depleted, and the remainder were iron sufficient. Plasma ferritin and body iron concentration were, on average, higher in Pacific compared to non-Pacific infants. These findings give an up-to-date and robust understanding of the iron status of infants by ethnicity, highlighting an unexpected finding that infants who are neither Māori nor Pacific may be at higher risk of poor iron status in NZ.

The significance of human milk in an infant’s diet is well-established, yet accurately measuring human milk intake remains challenging. Current methods are either unsuitable for large-scale studies, such as the dose-to-mother stable isotope technique, or rely on set amounts of human milk, regardless of known variability in individual intake(1). There is a paucity of data on how much infants consume, particularly in later infancy (>6 months) when complementary foods have been introduced. This research aimed to estimate human milk intakes and total infant milk intakes (including infant formula) in New Zealand infants aged 7-10 months, explore factors that predict these intakes, and develop and validate equations to predict human milk intake using simple measures. Human milk intake data were obtained using the dose-to-mother stable isotope technique in infants aged 7-10 months and their mothers as part of the First Foods New Zealand study (FFNZ)(2). Predictive equations were developed using questionnaire and anthropometric data (Model 1) and additional dietary data from diet recalls (Model 2)(3). The validity of existing methods to estimate human milk intake (NHANES and ALSPAC studies) was compared against the dose-to-mother results. FFNZ included 625 infants, with 157 mother-infant dyads providing complete data for determining human milk volume. Using the dose-to-mother data, the measured mean (SD) human milk intake was 785 (264) g/day. Older infants had lower human milk and total milk intakes, male infants consumed more total milk. The strongest predictors of human milk intake were infant age, infant body mass index, number of breastfeeds a day, infant formula consumption, and energy from complementary food intake. When the predictive equations were tested, mean (95% CI) differences in predicted versus measured human milk intake (mean, [SD]: 762 [257] mL/day) were 0.0 mL/day (-26, 26) for Model 1 and 0.5 mL/day (-21, 22) for Model 2. In contrast, the NHANES and ALSPAC methods underestimated intake by 197 mL/day (-233, -161) and 175 mL/day (-216, -134), respectively. The predictive equations are presented as the Human Milk Intake Level Calculations (HuMILC) tool, designed for use in large-scale studies to more accurately estimate human milk intakes of infants. The use of objective quantifiable assessment methods enhances our understanding of infant human milk intakes, improving our ability to accurately assess nutritional adequacy in infants.

Background: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) leads to progressive functional decline and reduced survival. Identifying clinical predictors like ALSFRS-R and FVC is essential for prognosis and disease management. Understanding progression profiles based on diagnostic characteristics supports clinical trial design and assessment of treatment response. This study evaluates disease progression and survival predictors in ALS patients from the CNDR. Methods: 1565 ALS patients in the CNDR were analyzed to assess baseline ALSFRS-R, FVC, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and their association with disease progression and survival. Results: At diagnosis, ALSFRS-R was 44.7 (SD = 5.46), with 72.3% scoring ≥44. Mean FVC was 84.2% (SD = 23.3), with 78.3% of patients having FVC ≥65%. ALSFRS-R declined at 1.06 points/month (SD = 1.33), with faster progression in patients diagnosed within 24 months (1.61 points/month). Patients with ALSFRS-R ≥44 had a median survival of 41.8 months, compared to 30.9 months for those <44 (p < 0.001). Similarly, FVC ≥65% was associated with longer survival (35.4 vs. 29.5 months, p = 0.002). Conclusions: ALSFRS-R and FVC at diagnosis predict survival and inform clinical decision-making. These findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and targeted interventions to slow disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

The Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) offers powerful new capabilities for studying the polarised and magnetised Universe at radio wavelengths. In this paper, we introduce the Polarisation Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism (POSSUM), a groundbreaking survey with three primary objectives: (1) to create a comprehensive Faraday rotation measure (RM) grid of up to one million compact extragalactic sources across the southern $\sim50$% of the sky (20,630 deg$^2$); (2) to map the intrinsic polarisation and RM properties of a wide range of discrete extragalactic and Galactic objects over the same area; and (3) to contribute interferometric data with excellent surface brightness sensitivity, which can be combined with single-dish data to study the diffuse Galactic interstellar medium. Observations for the full POSSUM survey commenced in May 2023 and are expected to conclude by mid-2028. POSSUM will achieve an RM grid density of around 30–50 RMs per square degree with a median measurement uncertainty of $\sim$1 rad m$^{-2}$. The survey operates primarily over a frequency range of 800–1088 MHz, with an angular resolution of 20” and a typical RMS sensitivity in Stokes Q or U of 18 $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$. Additionally, the survey will be supplemented by similar observations covering 1296–1440 MHz over 38% of the sky. POSSUM will enable the discovery and detailed investigation of magnetised phenomena in a wide range of cosmic environments, including the intergalactic medium and cosmic web, galaxy clusters and groups, active galactic nuclei and radio galaxies, the Magellanic System and other nearby galaxies, galaxy halos and the circumgalactic medium, and the magnetic structure of the Milky Way across a very wide range of scales, as well as the interplay between these components. This paper reviews the current science case developed by the POSSUM Collaboration and provides an overview of POSSUM’s observations, data processing, outputs, and its complementarity with other radio and multi-wavelength surveys, including future work with the SKA.

We conducted a pilot study of implementing community health workers (CHWs) to assist patients with hypertension and social needs. As part of clinical care, patients identified as having an unmet need were referred to a CHW. We evaluated changes in blood pressure and needs among 35 patients and conducted interviews to understand participants’ experiences. Participants had a mean age of 54.1 years and 29 were Black. Twenty-six completed follow-up. Blood pressure and social needs improved from baseline to 6 months. Participants reported being accepting of CHWs, but also challenges with establishing a relationship with a CHW and being unclear about their role.

North Carolina growers have long struggled to control Italian ryegrass, and recent research has confirmed that some Italian ryegrass biotypes have become resistant to nicosulfuron, glyphosate, clethodim, and paraquat. Integrating alternative management strategies is crucial to effectively control such biotypes. The objectives of this study were to evaluate Italian ryegrass control with cover crops and fall-applied residual herbicides and investigate cover crop injury from residual herbicides. This study was conducted during the fall/winter of 2021–22 in Salisbury, NC, and fall/winter of 2021–22 and 2022–23 in Clayton, NC. The study was designed as a 3 × 5 split-plot in which the main plot consisted of three cover crop treatments (no-cover, cereal rye at 80 kg ha−1, and crimson clover at 18 kg ha−1), and the subplots consisted of five residual herbicide treatments (S-metolachlor, flumioxazin, metribuzin, pyroxasulfone, and nontreated). In the 2021–22 season at Clayton, metribuzin injured cereal rye and crimson clover 65% and 55%, respectively. However, metribuzin injured both cover crops ≤6% in 2022–23. Flumioxazin resulted in unacceptable crimson clover injury of 50% and 38% in 2021–22 and 2022–23 in Clayton and 40% in Salisbury, respectively. Without preemergence herbicides, cereal rye controlled Italian ryegrass by 85% and 61% at 24 wk after planting in 2021–22 and 2022–23 in Clayton and 82% in Salisbury, respectively. In 2021–22, Italian ryegrass seed production was lowest in cereal rye plots at both locations, except when it was treated with metribuzin. For example, in Salisbury, cereal rye plus metribuzin resulted in 39,324 seeds m–2, compared to ≤4,386 seeds m–2 from all other cereal rye treatments. In 2022–23, Italian ryegrass seed production in cereal rye was lower when either metribuzin or pyroxasulfone were used preemergence (2,670 and 1,299 seeds m–2, respectively) compared with cereal rye that did not receive an herbicide treatment (5,600 seeds m–2). cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)

In December 2018, an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections was identified in Canada by whole-genome sequencing (WGS). An investigation was initiated to identify the source of the illnesses, which proved challenging and complex. Microbiological hypothesis generation methods included comparisons of Salmonella isolate sequence data to historical domestic outbreaks and international repositories. Epidemiological hypothesis generation methods included routine case interviews, open-ended centralized re-interviewing, thematic analysis of open-ended interview data, collection of purchase records, a grocery store site visit, analytic comparison to healthy control groups, and case–case analyses. Food safety hypothesis testing methods included food sample collection and analysis, and traceback investigations. Overall, 83 cases were identified across seven provinces, with onset dates from 6 November 2018 to 7 May 2019. Case ages ranged from 1 to 88 years; 60% (50/83) were female; 39% (22/56) were hospitalized; and three deaths were reported. Brand X profiteroles and eclairs imported from Thailand were identified as the source of the outbreak, and eggs from an unregistered facility were hypothesized as the likely cause of contamination. This study aims to describe the outbreak investigation and highlight the multiple hypothesis generation methods that were employed to identify the source.

An investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Newport infections in Canada was initiated in July 2020. Cases were identified across several provinces through whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Exposure data were gathered through case interviews. Traceback investigations were conducted using receipts, invoices, import documentation, and menus. A total of 515 cases were identified in seven provinces, related by 0–6 whole-genome multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST) allele differences. The median age of cases was 40 (range 1–100), 54% were female, 19% were hospitalized, and three deaths were reported. Forty-eight location-specific case sub-clusters were identified in restaurants, grocery stores, and congregate living facilities. Of the 414 cases with exposure information available, 71% (295) had reported eating onions the week prior to becoming ill, and 80% of those cases who reported eating onions, reported red onion specifically. The traceback investigation identified red onions from Grower A in California, USA, as the likely source of the outbreak, and the first of many food recall warnings was issued on 30 July 2020. Salmonella was not detected in any tested food or environmental samples. This paper summarizes the collaborative efforts undertaken to investigate and control the largest Salmonella outbreak in Canada in over 20 years.

Obesity is a significant health issue in Aotearoa; effective and pragmatic strategies to facilitate weight loss are urgently required. Growing recognition of the circadian rhythm’s impact on metabolism has popularised diets like time-restricted eating (TRE)(1). The 16:8 TRE method involves limiting food intake to an 8-hour daily eating window and can lead to weight loss without other substantial changes to diet(2). Nonetheless, TRE requires accountability and tolerating hunger for short periods. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are small wearable biofeedback devices that measure interstitial glucose levels scanned via smartphones. By providing immediate feedback on the physiological effects of eating and fasting, CGM use may promote adherence to TRE(3). This pilot study aimed to 1) investigate how CGM affects adherence to TRE and 2) assess the feasibility of CGM use while undertaking TRE. This two-arm randomised controlled trial enrolled healthy adults from Dunedin, assigning them to TRE-only or TRE+CGM groups for 14 days. Successful adherence to TRE was defined a priori as maintaining an 8-hour eating window on 80% of days. CGM feasibility was defined a priori as scanning the glucose monitor thrice daily on 80% of days. Secondary outcomes included well-being, anthropometry, glucose levels, and overall TRE and CGM experiences via semi-structured interviews. Twenty-two participants were randomised into two groups: TRE-only (n = 11) and TRE+CGM (n = 11, with n = 2 excluded from analysis post-randomisation for medical reasons). Participants had a diverse range of ethnicities, the mean age was 32 (+/-14.9) years, and 55% were female. The TRE+CGM group adhered to the 8-hour eating window for an average of 10.0 days (range 2-14) compared with 8.6 days (range 2-14) in the TRE-only group. Both groups had similar mean eating window durations of 8.1 hours. Five (56%) participants in the TRE+CGM group achieved the a priori criteria for TRE adherence, compared to 3 (27%) in the TRE-only group. Participants in the TRE+CGM group performed an average of 8.2 (+/-5.6) daily scans, with n = 7 (78%) of participants meeting the a priori CGM feasibility criteria. Neither group reported consistent adverse psychological impacts in DASS-21 and WHO-5 scores. Interviews highlighted that CGM increased hunger tolerance during fasting as participants felt reassured by their normal glucose levels. CGM aided TRE accountability by acting as a biological tracker of food intake. Participants reported that TRE led to improved energy and self-efficacy, a more productive daily routine, and healthier food choices. Promisingly, 72% of participants would use CGM and undertake TRE in future. This study demonstrates that using CGM while undertaking TRE is feasible and can improve adherence by enhancing hunger tolerance and accountability. Overall, participants experienced increased awareness of eating habits and physiological mechanisms. Over the longer term, this simple and synergistic approach may be a helpful weight loss strategy.

The complementary feeding period (6-23 months of age) is when solid foods are introduced alongside breastmilk or infant formula and is the most significant dietary change a person will experience. The introduction of complementary foods is important to meet changing nutritional requirements(1). Despite the rising Asian population in New Zealand, and the importance of nutrition during the complementary feeding period, there is currently no research on Asian New Zealand (NZ) infants’ micronutrient intakes from complementary foods. Complementary foods are a more easily modifiable component of the diet than breastmilk or other infant milk intake. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake of micronutrients from complementary foods of Asian infants and non-Asian infants in NZ. This study reported a secondary analysis of the First Foods New Zealand cross-sectional study of infants (aged 7.0-9.9 months) in Dunedin and Auckland. 24-hour recall data were analysed using FoodFiles 10 software with the NZ food composition database FOODfiles 2018, and additional data for commercial complementary foods(2). The multiple source method was used to estimate usual dietary intake. Ethnicity was collected from the main questionnaire of the study, answered by the respondents (the infant’s parent/caregiver). Within the Asian NZ group, three Asian subgroups were identified – South East Asian, East Asian, and South Asian. The non-Asian group included all remaining participants of non-Asian ethnicities. Most nutrient reference values (NRV’s)(3) available for the 7-12 month age group are for total intake from complementary foods and infant milks, so the adequacy for the micronutrient intakes from complementary foods alone could not be determined. Vitamin A was the only micronutrient investigated in this analysis that had an NRV available from complementary foods only, allowing conclusions around adequacy to be made. The Asian NZ group (n = 99) had lower mean group intakes than the non-Asian group (n = 526) for vitamin A (274µg vs. 329µg), and vitamin B12 (0.49µg vs. 0.65µg), and similar intakes for vitamin C (27.8mg vs. 28.5mg), and zinc (1.7mg vs. 1.9mg). Mean group iron intakes were the same for both groups (3.0mg). The AI for vitamin A from complementary foods (244µg) was exceeded by the mean intakes for both groups, suggesting that Vitamin A intakes were adequate. The complementary feeding period is a critical time for obtaining nutrients essential for development and growth. The results from this study indicate that Asian NZ infants have lower intakes of two of the micronutrients of interest than the non-Asian infants in NZ. However, future research is needed with the inclusion of infant milk intake in these groups to understand the total intake of the micronutrients. Vitamin A intakes do appear to be adequate in NZ infants.

The prevalence of food allergies in New Zealand infants is unknown; however, it is thought to be similar to Australia, where the prevalence is over 10% of 1-year-olds(1). Current New Zealand recommendations for reducing the risk of food allergies are to: offer all infants major food allergens (age appropriate texture) at the start of complementary feeding (around 6 months); ensure major allergens are given to all infants before 1 year; once a major allergen is tolerated, maintain tolerance by regularly (approximately twice a week) offering the allergen food; and continue breastfeeding while introducing complementary foods(2). To our knowledge, there is no research investigating whether parents follow these recommendations. Therefore, this study aimed to explore parental offering of major food allergens to infants during complementary feeding and parental-reported food allergies. The cross-sectional study included 625 parent-infant dyads from the multi-centred (Auckland and Dunedin) First Foods New Zealand study. Infants were 7-10 months of age and participants were recruited in 2020-2022. This secondary analysis included the use of a study questionnaire and 24-hour diet recall data. The questionnaire included determining whether the infant was currently breastfed, whether major food allergens were offered to the infant, whether parents intended to avoid any foods during the first year of life, whether the infant had any known food allergies, and if so, how they were diagnosed. For assessing consumers of major food allergens, 24-hour diet recall data was used (2 days per infant). The questionnaire was used to determine that all major food allergens were offered to 17% of infants aged 9-10 months. On the diet recall days, dairy (94.4%) and wheat (91.2%) were the most common major food allergens consumed. Breastfed infants (n = 414) were more likely to consume sesame than non-breastfed infants (n = 211) (48.8% vs 33.7%, p≤0.001). Overall, 12.6% of infants had a parental-reported food allergy, with egg allergy being the most common (45.6% of the parents who reported a food allergy). A symptomatic response after exposure was the most common diagnostic tool. In conclusion, only 17% of infants were offered all major food allergens by 9-10 months of age. More guidance may be required to ensure current recommendations are followed and that all major food allergens are introduced by 1 year of age. These results provide critical insight into parents’ current practices, which is essential in determining whether more targeted advice regarding allergy prevention and diagnosis is required.

Although food insecurity affects a significant proportion of young children in New Zealand (NZ)(1), evidence of its association with dietary intake and sociodemographic characteristics in this population is lacking. This study aims to assess the household food security status of young NZ children and its association with energy and nutrient intake and sociodemographic factors. This study included 289 caregiver and child (1-3 years old) dyads from the same household in either Auckland, Wellington, or Dunedin, NZ. Household food security status was determined using a validated and NZ-specific eight-item questionnaire(2). Usual dietary intake was determined from two 24-hour food recalls, using the multiple source method(3). The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was assessed using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method and full probability approach. Sociodemographic factors (i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, caregiver education, employment status, household size and structure) were collected from questionnaires. Linear regression models were used to estimate associations with statistical significance set at p <0.05. Over 30% of participants had experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months. Of all eight indicator statements, “the variety of foods we are able to eat is limited by a lack of money,” had the highest proportion of participants responding “often” or “sometimes” (35.8%). Moderately food insecure children exhibited higher fat and saturated fat intakes, consuming 3.0 (0.2, 5.8) g/day more fat, and 2.0 (0.6, 3.5) g/day more saturated fat compared to food secure children (p<0.05). Severely food insecure children had lower g/kg/day protein intake compared to food secure children (p<0.05). In comparison to food secure children, moderately and severely food insecure children had lower fibre intake, consuming 1.6 (2.8, 0.3) g/day and 2.6 (4.0, 1.2) g/day less fibre, respectively. Severely food insecure children had the highest prevalence of inadequate calcium (7.0%) and vitamin C (9.3%) intakes, compared with food secure children [prevalence of inadequate intakes: calcium (2.3%) and vitamin C (2.8%)]. Household food insecurity was more common in those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity; living in areas of high deprivation; having a caregiver who was younger, not in paid employment, or had low educational attainment; living with ≥2 other children in the household; and living in a sole-parent household. Food insecure young NZ children consume a diet that exhibits lower nutritional quality in certain measures compared to their food-secure counterparts. Food insecurity was associated with various sociodemographic factors that are closely linked with poverty or low income. As such, there is an urgent need for poverty mitigation initiatives to safeguard vulnerable young children from the adverse consequences of food insecurity.

We demonstrate the importance of radio selection in probing heavily obscured galaxy populations. We combine Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) Early Science data in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) G23 field with the GAMA data, providing optical photometry and spectral line measurements, together with Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) infrared (IR) photometry, providing IR luminosities and colours. We investigate the degree of obscuration in star-forming galaxies, based on the Balmer decrement (BD), and explore how this trend varies, over a redshift range of $0<z<0.345$. We demonstrate that the radio-detected population has on average higher levels of obscuration than the parent optical sample, arising through missing the lowest BD and lowest mass galaxies, which are also the lower star formation rate (SFR) and metallicity systems. We discuss possible explanations for this result, including speculation around whether it might arise from steeper stellar initial mass functions in low mass, low SFR galaxies.

Our institution sought to evaluate our antimicrobial stewardship empiric treatment recommendations for Salmonella. Results from 36 isolates demonstrated reduced susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones with 1 isolate susceptible only to ceftriaxone. Analysis supports the current recommendation of empiric ceftriaxone therapy for severe infection and updated recommendation for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim in non-severe infections.