Precision or “Personalized Medicine” and “Big Data” are growing trends in the biomedical research community and highlight an increased focus on access to larger datasets to effectively explore disease processes at the molecular level versus the previously common one-size-fits all approach. This focus necessitated a local transition from independent lab and siloed projects to a single software application utilizing a common ontology to create access to data from multiple repositories. Use of a common system has allowed for increased ease of collaboration and access to quality biospecimens that are extensively annotated with clinical, molecular, and patient associated data. The software needed to function at an enterprise level while continuing to allow investigators the autonomy and security access they desire. To identify a solution, a working group comprised of representation from independent repositories and areas of research focus across departments was established and responsible for review and implementation of an enterprise-wide biospecimen management system. Central to this process was the creation of a unified vocabulary across all repositories, including consensus around source of truth, standardized field definitions, and shared terminology.

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.

To investigate the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, their dynamics and their discriminatory power for the disease using longitudinally, prospectively collected information reported at the time of their occurrence. We have analysed data from a large phase 3 clinical UK COVID-19 vaccine trial. The alpha variant was the predominant strain. Participants were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 infection via nasal/throat PCR at recruitment, vaccination appointments, and when symptomatic. Statistical techniques were implemented to infer estimates representative of the UK population, accounting for multiple symptomatic episodes associated with one individual. An optimal diagnostic model for SARS-CoV-2 infection was derived. The 4-month prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 2.1%; increasing to 19.4% (16.0%–22.7%) in participants reporting loss of appetite and 31.9% (27.1%–36.8%) in those with anosmia/ageusia. The model identified anosmia and/or ageusia, fever, congestion, and cough to be significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Symptoms’ dynamics were vastly different in the two groups; after a slow start peaking later and lasting longer in PCR+ participants, whilst exhibiting a consistent decline in PCR- participants, with, on average, fewer than 3 days of symptoms reported. Anosmia/ageusia peaked late in confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (day 12), indicating a low discrimination power for early disease diagnosis.

In this paper, we investigate finite solvable tidy groups. We prove that a solvable group with order divisible by at least two primes is tidy if all of its Hall subgroups that are divisible by only two primes are tidy.

Let G be a p-group for some prime p. Recall that the Hughes subgroup of G is the subgroup generated by all of the elements of G with order not equal to p. In this paper, we prove that if the Hughes subgroup of G is cyclic, then G has exponent p or is cyclic or is dihedral. We also prove that if the Hughes subgroup of G is generalised quaternion, then G must be generalised quaternion. With these results in hand, we classify the tidy p-groups.

Previous research has shown that self-reports of the amount of social support are heritable. Using the Kessler perceived social support (KPSS) measure, we explored sex differences in the genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences. We did this separately for subscales that captured the perceived support from different members of the network (spouse, twin, children, parents, relatives, friends and confidant). Our sample comprised 7059 male, female and opposite-sex twin pairs aged 18−95 years from the Australian Twin Registry. We found tentative support for different genetic mechanisms in males and females for support from friends and the average KPSS score of all subscales, but otherwise, there are no sex differences. For each subscale alone, the additive genetic (A) and unique environment (E) effects were significant. By contrast, the covariation among the subscales was explained — in roughly equal parts — by A, E and the common environment, with effects of different support constellations plausibly accounting for the latter. A single genetic and common environment factor accounted for between half and three-quarters of the variance across the subscales in both males and females, suggesting little heterogeneity in the genetic and environmental etiology of the different support sources.

The metabolic syndrome is common in older adults and may be modified by the diet. The aim of this study was to examine associations between a posteriori dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome in an older New Zealand population. The REACH study (Researching Eating, Activity, and Cognitive Health) included 366 participants (aged 65–74 years, 36 % male) living independently in Auckland, New Zealand. Dietary data were collected using a 109-item FFQ with demonstrated validity and reproducibility for assessing dietary patterns using principal component analysis. The metabolic syndrome was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Associations between dietary patterns and the metabolic syndrome, adjusted for age, sex, index of multiple deprivation, physical activity, and energy intake were analysed using logistic regression analysis. Three dietary patterns explained 18 % of dietary intake variation – ‘Mediterranean style’ (salad/leafy cruciferous/other vegetables, avocados/olives, alliums, nuts/seeds, shellfish and white/oily fish, berries), ‘prudent’ (dried/fresh/frozen legumes, soya-based foods, whole grains and carrots) and ‘Western’ (processed meat/fish, sauces/condiments, cakes/biscuits/puddings and meat pies/hot chips). No associations were seen between ‘Mediterranean style’ (OR = 0·75 (95 % CI 0·53, 1·06), P = 0·11) or ‘prudent’ (OR = 1·17 (95 % CI 0·83, 1·59), P = 0·35) patterns and the metabolic syndrome after co-variate adjustment. The ‘Western’ pattern was positively associated with the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1·67 (95 % CI 1·08, 2·63), P = 0·02). There was also a small association between an index of multiple deprivation (OR = 1·04 (95 % CI 1·02, 1·06), P < 0·001) and the metabolic syndrome. This cross-sectional study provides further support for a Western dietary pattern being a risk factor for the metabolic syndrome in an older population.

Morgan and Parker proved that if G is a group with ${\textbf{Z}(G)} = 1$ , then the connected components of the commuting graph of G have diameter at most $10$ . Parker proved that if, in addition, G is solvable, then the commuting graph of G is disconnected if and only if G is a Frobenius group or a $2$ -Frobenius group, and if the commuting graph of G is connected, then its diameter is at most $8$ . We prove that the hypothesis $Z (G) = 1$ in these results can be replaced with $G' \cap {\textbf{Z}(G)} = 1$ . We also prove that if G is solvable and $G/{\textbf{Z}(G)}$ is either a Frobenius group or a $2$ -Frobenius group, then the commuting graph of G is disconnected.

Impairment in reciprocal social behavior (RSB), an essential component of early social competence, clinically defines autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the behavioral and genetic architecture of RSB in toddlerhood, when ASD first emerges, has not been fully characterized. We analyzed data from a quantitative video-referenced rating of RSB (vrRSB) in two toddler samples: a community-based volunteer research registry (n = 1,563) and an ethnically diverse, longitudinal twin sample ascertained from two state birth registries (n = 714). Variation in RSB was continuously distributed, temporally stable, significantly associated with ASD risk at age 18 months, and only modestly explained by sociodemographic and medical factors (r2 = 9.4%). Five latent RSB factors were identified and corresponded to aspects of social communication or restricted repetitive behaviors, the two core ASD symptom domains. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated substantial heritability for all factors at age 24 months (h2 ≥ .61). Genetic influences strongly overlapped across all factors, with a social motivation factor showing evidence of newly-emerging genetic influences between the ages of 18 and 24 months. RSB constitutes a heritable, trait-like competency whose factorial and genetic structure is generalized across diverse populations, demonstrating its role as an early, enduring dimension of inherited variation in human social behavior. Substantially overlapping RSB domains, measurable when core ASD features arise and consolidate, may serve as markers of specific pathways to autism and anchors to inform determinants of autism's heterogeneity.

The Eating Assessment in Toddlers FFQ (EAT FFQ) has been shown to have good reliability and comparative validity for ranking nutrient intakes in young children. With the addition of food items (n 4), we aimed to re-assess the validity of the EAT FFQ and estimate calibration factors in a sub-sample of children (n 97) participating in the Growing Up Milk – Lite (GUMLi) randomised control trial (2015–2017). Participants completed the ninety-nine-item GUMLi EAT FFQ and record-assisted 24-h recalls (24HR) on two occasions. Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed at months 9 and 12 post-randomisation and calibration factors calculated to determine predicted estimates from the GUMLi EAT FFQ. Validity was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients, weighted kappa (κ) and exact quartile categorisation. Calibration was calculated using linear regression models on 24HR, adjusted for sex and treatment group. Nutrient intakes were significantly correlated between the GUMLi EAT FFQ and 24HR at both time points. Energy-adjusted, de-attenuated Pearson correlations ranged from 0·3 (fibre) to 0·8 (Fe) at 9 months and from 0·3 (Ca) to 0·7 (Fe) at 12 months. Weighted κ for the quartiles ranged from 0·2 (Zn) to 0·6 (Fe) at 9 months and from 0·1 (total fat) to 0·5 (Fe) at 12 months. Exact agreement ranged from 30 to 74 %. Calibration factors predicted up to 56 % of the variation in the 24HR at 9 months and 44 % at 12 months. The GUMLi EAT FFQ remained a useful tool for ranking nutrient intakes with similar estimated validity compared with other FFQ used in children under 2 years.

Gut microbiota data obtained by DNA sequencing are not only complex because of the number of taxa that may be detected within human cohorts, but also compositional because characteristics of the microbiota are described in relative terms (e.g., “relative abundance” of particular bacterial taxa expressed as a proportion of the total abundance of taxa). Nutrition researchers often use standard principal component analysis (PCA) to derive dietary patterns from complex food data, enabling each participant's diet to be described in terms of the extent to which it fits their cohort's dietary patterns. However, compositional PCA methods are not commonly used to describe patterns of microbiota in the way that dietary patterns are used to describe diets. This approach would be useful for identifying microbiota patterns that are associated with diet and body composition. The aim of this study is to use compositional PCA to describe gut microbiota profiles in 5 year old children and explore associations between microbiota profiles, diet, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and fat mass index (FMI) z-score. This study uses a cross-sectional data for 319 children who provided a faecal sample at 5 year of age. Their primary caregiver completed a 123-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire validated for foods of relevance to the gut microbiota. Body composition was determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and BMI and FMI z-scores calculated. Compositional PCA identified and described gut microbiota profiles at the genus level, and profiles were examined in relation to diet and body size. Three gut microbiota profiles were found. Profile 1 (positive loadings on Blautia and Bifidobacterium; negative loadings on Bacteroides) was not related to diet or body size. Profile 2 (positive loadings on Bacteroides; negative loadings on uncultured Christensenellaceae and Ruminococcaceae) was associated with a lower BMI z-score (r = -0.16, P = 0.003). Profile 3 (positive loadings on Faecalibacterium, Eubacterium and Roseburia) was associated with higher intakes of fibre (r = 0.15, P = 0.007); total (r = 0.15, P = 0.009), and insoluble (r = 0.13, P = 0.021) non-starch polysaccharides; protein (r = 0.12, P = 0.036); meat (r = 0.15, P = 0.010); and nuts, seeds and legumes (r = 0.11, P = 0.047). Further regression analyses found that profile 2 and profile 3 were independently associated with BMI z-score and diet respectively. We encourage fellow researchers to use compositional PCA as a method for identifying further links between the gut, diet and obesity, and for developing the next generation of research in which the impact on body composition of dietary interventions that modify the gut microbiota is determined.

The Laurentide Ice Sheet of the last glacial period terminated in several lobes along its southern margin. The timing of maximum extent may have varied among the terminal lobes owing to internal ice sheet dynamics and spatially variable external controls. Some terminal ice lobes, such as the westernmost James Lobe, remain poorly dated. To determine the timing of maximum ice extent in this key location, we have mapped glacial deposits left by the Pierre Sublobe in South Dakota and applied 10Be surface exposure age dating on boulders on moraine ridges associated with three distinct late Quaternary glacial drifts. The oldest and most extensive “Tazewell” drift produced variable 10Be surface exposure ages spanning 20–7 ka; the large range is likely attributable to moraine degradation and subsequent boulder exhumation. The oldest ages of about 20 ka are probably limiting minimum ages for the Tazewell moraine surfaces. By contrast, exposure ages of the youngest “Mankato” drift of the easternmost Pierre Sublobe tightly cluster at about 16 ka. This age for the Pierre Sublobe is consistent with the nearby Des Moines Lobe, suggesting both acted together.

Small islands can guide visualization of the diverse information requirements of future context-relevant coastal governance. On small marine islands (<20 000 km2), negative effects of coastal challenges (e.g., related to population growth, unsustainable resource use or climate change) can develop rapidly, with high intensity and extreme impacts. The smallest and most remote islands within small-island states and small islands in larger states can be threatened by intrinsic governance factors, typically resulting in access to fewer resources than larger islands or administrative centres. For these reasons, efforts to support coastal change governance are critical and need to be targeted. We propose a conceptual framework that distinguishes key governance-related components of small-island social–ecological systems (SESs). To prioritize areas of vulnerability and opportunity, physical, ecological, social, economic and governance attributes are visualized to help show the ability of different types of small-island SESs to adapt, or be transformed, in the face of global and local change. Application of the framework to an Indonesian archipelago illustrates examples of local rule enforcement supporting local self-organized marine governance. Visualization of complex and interconnected social, environmental and economic changes in small-island SESs provides a better understanding of the vulnerabilities and opportunities related to context-specific governance.

Host–parasite dynamics can play a fundamental role in both the establishment success of invasive species and their impact on native wildlife. The net impact of parasites depends on their capacity to switch effectively between native and invasive hosts. Here we explore host-switching, spatial patterns and simple fitness measures in a slow-expanding invasion: the invasion of Asian house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) from urban areas into bushland in Northeast Australia. In bushland close to urban edges, H. frenatus co-occurs with, and at many sites now greatly out-numbers, native geckos. We measured prevalence and intensity of Geckobia mites (introduced with H. frenatus), and Waddycephalus (a native pentastome). We recorded a new invasive mite species, and several new host associations for native mites and geckos, but we found no evidence of mite transmission between native and invasive geckos. In contrast, native Waddycephalus nymphs were commonly present in H. frenatus, demonstrating this parasite's capacity to utilize H. frenatus as a novel host. Prevalence of mites on H. frenatus decreased with distance from the urban edge, suggesting parasite release towards the invasion front; however, we found no evidence that mites affect H. frenatus body condition or lifespan. Waddycephalus was present at low prevalence in bushland sites and, although its presence did not affect host body condition, our data suggest that it may reduce host survival. The high relative density of H. frenatus at our sites, and their capacity to harbour Waddycephalus, suggests that there may be impacts on native geckos and snakes through parasite spillback.

For any odd prime $\ell$, let $h_{\ell }(-d)$ denote the $\ell$-part of the class number of the imaginary quadratic field $\mathbb{Q}(\sqrt{-d})$. Nontrivial pointwise upper bounds are known only for $\ell =3$; nontrivial upper bounds for averages of $h_{\ell }(-d)$ have previously been known only for $\ell =3,5$. In this paper we prove nontrivial upper bounds for the average of $h_{\ell }(-d)$ for all primes $\ell \geqslant 7$, as well as nontrivial upper bounds for certain higher moments for all primes $\ell \geqslant 3$.