bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrition and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Crawford M.A. , Doyle W. , Leaf A. , Leighfield M. , Ghebremeskel K. , Phylactos A. 
Published: January 2012

Since the 1960s the structural requirements for the growth, development and function of the brain have become better understood due to the recognition of the prodigious energy needs for brain development and its structural requirements for lipids. The most vulnerable period of neural development is during embryonic and fetal growth. There is now both retrospective and prospective evidence that maternal nutrition prior to conception is most important to pregnancy outcome. Our studies on maternal nutrition in pregnancy again illustrate the relationship of maternal nutrition to birthweight and head circumference. In a study of 513 pregnancies we found that nutrient intakes in mothers of low birthweight babies were well below those of mothers whose babies were in the 3.5–4.5 Kg range at which morbidity is at its lowest. Nutrient intakes tracked with birthweight, independent of smoking and alcohol up to, but not above 3,270 g. The closest correlations were obtained with the diet of the mother at or about the time of conception rather than later in the pregnancy. Our studies also reveal that premature and intrauterine growth retarded babies were born with deficits of the types of essential fatty acids (arachidonic AA, docosahexaenoic DHA acids) known to be required for brain development. Deficits of brain DHA have been found experimentally to impair visual and cognitive development and also to cause haemorrhage, not unlike peri-ventricular haemorrhage in low birthweight babies, the above evidence is suggestive of a route to test the prevention and treatement of these types of membrane related disorders.
Nutrition and Health in Relation to Food Production and Processing
Authors: Ghebremeskel K. , Erawford M.A. 
Published: January 2012

Intensive animal rearing, manipulation of crop production and food processing have altered the qualitative and quantitative balance of nutrients of foods consumed by Western society. This change, to which the physiology and biochemistry of man may not be presently adapted to, is thought to be responsible for the chronic diseases that are rampant in the Industrialised Western Countries. Agriculture production and food processing practices, dietary habits and lifestyle of the West is being fostered without any appraisal of the health implications by most developing countries. Consequently, a rising trend in the incidences of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, dental decay and appendicitis is apparent. Mediterranean countries are adopting the agriculture and food practices of northern Europe as the result of the harmonisation of European food and agriculture policy. It is predicted that the low incidence of morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and breast and colon cancer of the Mediterranean countries would rise to the high northern European level in the foreseeable future. Most of these chronic diseases are lifestyle related and are preventable. This can be realised by tackling the root problem which is food production and processing practices and not by dispensing designer drugs or opening more hospital beds.
The Association of Maternal Social Class with Maternal Diet and the Dimensions of Babies in a Population of London Women
Authors: Wynn S.W. , Wynn A.H.A. , Doyle W. , Crawford M.A. 
Published: January 2012

Records of the diets of 513 London mothers towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy have been reported previously to show the maternal nutritional intakes associated with birthweight in the optimum range, which may be assumed to approximate to basic maternal needs for reproduction. The diets associated with low birthweight and small head size were also recorded and were found to be inferior. The present paper shows social class gradients for baby size and 35 essential dietary components, providing an indication of which basic maternal nutritional needs were not always met. There was no social class gradient for intake of total energy, or the energy carriers carbohydrate and fat. There were, however, statistically highly significant social class gradients for intake of protein, seven minerals and six B-vitamins, all of which were also highly significantly correlated with birthweight. Maternal intake of these 14 components of diet fell progressively as birthweight fell, but only for the mothers of smaller babies below 3270g, the median for the study. Further increase of maternal intakes of any nutrient by mothers whose babies were above median did not apparently further increase birthweight. The social and medical problem presented by maternal nutrition is that of a minority of women who enter pregnancy with qualitatively inadequate nutritional status. This minority is found in all social classes but increases from social class I to V, and further still among single mothers. The women comprising this minority eat foods not meeting basic maternal needs for a range of nutrients characteristic of whole grains, vegetables and fruit and dairy produce, which may partly be explained by their high cost.
Why do Adolescents Eat Low Nutrient Snacks Between Meals? An Analysis of Behavioral Determinants with the Fishbein and Ajzen Model
Authors: Mesters Ilse , Oostveen Ton 
Published: January 2012

This article presents determinants of eating sweet and fat snacks between meals by adolescents (12–15 years). A preliminary qualitative study focused on eliciting students' interpretation of the self-rated terminology ‘low nutrient sweet and fat snacks’ and the development of a written questionnaire following the principles of the theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1980). In a quantitative study a questionnaire was administered to 560 students in the first and second grade of Dutch secondary education. In the data-analysis frequent and moderate users were compared. Frequent users had a more positive attitude towards the intake of sweet and fat snacks than moderate users. The intention to consume sweet snacks was more positive for frequent users. As opposed to frequent users, moderate users had a negative intention towards consuming fat snacks between meals. Moreover, moderate users experienced more social influence against the intake of both snacks than the frequent users. This study demonstrates the usefulness of the theory of reasoned action in relation to the self-rated consumption of sweet and fat snacks eaten between meals. In predicting intention to consume such snacks, attitude turned out to be more important than subjective norm. Finally, the correlation between actual eating behavior as reported by the students, and the behavioral intentions was relatively moderate which was probably caused by inconsistency between intention and behavior.
Infant Weaning Practises of Some Idoma Women in Makurdi, Nigeria
Authors: Igbedioh S.O. , Edache A. , Kaka H.I. 
Published: January 2012

The weaning practices in infants aged 4–9 months of two hundred Idoma women resident in Makurdi were examined. A pre-tested standard questionnaire was used to collect data from mothers who regularly visited the post-natal health clinics in Makurdi. The results showed that better educated mothers breast fed for a shorter time or planned to cease breast feeding after a shorter period than mothers who had little education or no formal training. Most mothers (97%) fed milk formula which they claimed was used to supplement breast milk and was good for their babies. The most influential factors were the hospital and the husband. The majority of the mothers fed pap; 73% using com in its preparation, with 91% of them storing such paps in flask. More than half of the mothers used a bottle in feeding the paper or gruel to their infants while a similar proportion (65.5%) fed legumes to their infants in addition to fruits. The implications of these practices in comparison with other ethnic groups are discussed.
Effect of Wilting and Processing on the Nitrate and Nitrite Contents of Some Nigerian Leaf Vegetables
Authors: Ezeagu Ike E. , Fafunso Mich A. 
Published: January 2012

Nitrate and nitrite contents of seven varieties of commonly consumed leaf vegetables were determined, Effect of cooking and wilting on the contents of these factors were investigated. Nitrate ranged from 48.10 in ewuro to 270.0 ppm ogunmo (mean 116.43 ± 78.31) while nitrite ranged from 0.024 ppm in tete to 0.064 in ogunmo (mean 0.044 ± 0.018). Cooking reduced the nitrate levels in all the samples but nitrite levels inexplicably increased in all sample. On wilting nitrate levels decrease while nitrite levels increased up to 83% in tete. The nitrate and nitrite levels were not considered hazardous but toxicological implications of high consumption of these factors is briefly highlighted.
Infant Weaning Practices of some TIV Women Resident in Makurdi, Nigeria
Authors: Igbedioh S.O. , Ogbeni A.O. , Adole G.M. 
Published: January 2012

The weaning practices in infants aged 4 to 9 months of two hundred Tiv mothers in Makurdi, Nigeria were examined. The data was collected using a questionnaire from these randomly selected women from a known population and who regularly visited the public post-natal clinic in Makurdi. The study showed that all the mothers breast-fed their infants and most introduced supplementary feed at 3 to 4 months. Most also fed the traditional pap or ‘akamu’ usually prepared by adding boiling water to fermented maize-sorghum paste. However, only a few of these (34%) enriched such paps. Price was a major determinant influencing the choice of feed fed to the infants. Only a few of the mothers (19%) used commercial milk formula, about a quarter fed legumes (24.5%) and fruits and vegetables (30%). The study showed that the mother's educational level and occupation influenced both time and duration of breast feeding and introduction of milk formula. Three-quarter of the mothers used bottle feeding while a quarter used spoon and cup and the feeds were improperly stored. The significance of these findings is discussed
The Influence of Time on Dietary Data: Differences in Reported Summer and Winter Food Consumption
Authors: Joachim Gloria 
Published: January 2012

A pilot study was conducted to test whether or not the time of data collection affected subjects' responses to a dietary questionnaire and could therefore bias the results of a study. A 117 item food frequency questionnaire was administered to 43 subjects—16 in the summer and 27 in the winter. The summer and winter consumption per person per month was calculated and compared. Of the 117 foods, 105 (89%) showed differences between summer and winter consumption. While differences in summer fruit and hot cereal might be expected, this study showed that many other foods not usually thought of as seasonal were seasonally consumed by the population tested. Since food consumption is affected by supply and demand factors, and the reported memory of food intake is biased toward the present, the time of data collection could greatly influence reported intake for a great number of foods. Recommendations for enhancing dietary studies are given. These recommendations include the development of a gold standard of consumption for each food in a given population, incorporating the elements of person, place and time into study design, building the rate and length of data collection into the study plan and using the gold standard and improved design to produce a new generation of dietary studies.
The Relationship Between Habits of Food Consumption and Reported Reactions to Food in People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease—Testing the Limits
Authors: Joachim Gloria 
Published: January 2012

Anecdotally, people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report that some foods make them feel better and some foods make them feel worse. This paper reports about the relationship between food habits and reactions to foods in people with IBD. A database was designed to incorporate the date of data collection, the IBD disease, food habits, the quantity consumed and a response rating of the subjects' reactions to each food. For each of 122 foods, subjects were asked simultaneously about these five categories. Thirty three subjects with Crohn's disease and 27 with ulcerative colitis completed the questionnaire in two seasons. The focus of the examination was directed to the upper and lower limits of reactions to foods. Foods that affect people negatively and foods that affect people positively were identified in relation to habits of consumption. Foods that affect people negatively were among those never consumed while foods that affect people positively were among the regularly consumed foods. Findings included an increased number of foods that caused problems for people with Crohn's disease when compared with people with ulcerative colitis. Problems with chocolate, dairy products, fats and artificial sweeteners were documented in both groups of IBD. A standard food list generated without the input of individuals with a chronic illness may be inadequate to collect data about their consumption since many of the foods on the list were reportedly never consumed and there may be other foods not on the list that are consumed by this chronically ill population.
Identification of the Gifted — Some Methodological Issues
Authors: Maitra Krishna 
Published: January 2012

This article summarises basic elementary concerns with regard to gifted education. Identification and special educational provision for the gifted ate two sides of the same coin. One needs to identify a special child so that the child's special needs are taken care of. Without nurturance identification becomes meaningless. Identification also depends on the special purposes for which individuals are being identified. The problems which are associated with the identification of the gifted have their roots in the following areas: Definition of gifted or whom should we call gifted, In which areas we are identifying the gifted, Identification tools and their reliability and validity Target group, and The system followed for analysis of data for identification. I shall discuss each of these issues which, I feel, should be concern for all of us who are directly involved with gifted children and their education.
Thinking with a Futures Perpective
Authors: Sisk Dorothy A. 
Published: January 2012

Society's need to anticipate and plan for the future has never been more keenly felt than it is today. Thinking with a futures perspective is not a new activity, although crystal balls, ouija boards and astrological charts have been supplemented by more sophisticated methods of predicting and forecasting the future. Parker (1988) notes that the term futurology was first used in 1943 by a German political scientist, Ossip K. Flechtheim. He defined futurology as an interdisciplinary and scientific study of the future. Since the term was introduced, world events continue to demand the development of futuristic thinking in scientists, social scientists, political leaders, and educators. Educators know that they cannot prepare young people to live in a society similar to their own, and many say that we need to prepare students for a world that we do not know. Yet, most educational systems remain geared to the needs of today rather than the future, and this represents a major dilemma in education. This article examines the theory and practice of developing futures study for high ability students.
Adolescent Females and Body Image: Eating Disorders and Educational Implications
Authors: Leroux Janice A. , Cuffaro Maria Assunta 
Published: January 2012

Research on females and body image points to the complex relationships among many factors. There is a dynamic interaction among culture, society, school networks and parents that impacts on the development of eating disorders infernales. What is the relationship of these factors to the psychological makeup of adolescent females with high academic ability? This paper will provide an overview of the internal and external predisposing factors that signal potential eating disorders infernales. It will outline the psychology of high ability females which places them at greater risk for the development of an eating disorder. It will provide recommendations for parents and teachers who want to recognize and help adolescent females deal with a potentially life-threatening illness.
Thinking Skills in the Early Years
Authors: Bayley Ros 
Published: January 2012

The importance of early experiences The more we learn about how the brain works, the more we realise just how important high quality early years practice really is. Whilst all children are born thinking, the degree to which that thinking develops is heavily dependent on early experiences. A growing body of research indicates that it is during the first five or six years of life that half of the brain's nerve cells are connected. A baby may be born with millions of brain cells but they cannot become usable intelligence until they are connected, and these connections are made most effectively in response to a rich, nurturing, stimulating environment. What is also becoming increasingly clear, is that potential that is not realised within these vital early years may be lost forever. The early years form the foundation upon which all future learning will be based, and it is easy to see why the House of Commons Select Committee Enquiry into Early Years Education made the following recommendation: ‘We recommend that the advances in knowledge about brain development should be kept under examination by the DfEE-funded researchers in the education field so that Early Years policy is kept up to date and consistent with the available scientific evidence.’ (DfEE 2001) Early experiences really do matter and it is essential that, as children enter early education they encounter developmentally appropriate experiences. Currently there is a wide continuum of practice and experiences can be extremely diverse. At one end of the continuum children enter settings where adults encourage their thinking and promote their independence and autonomy. At the other end they work under the direction of adults who do much of their thinking for them resulting in what might be termed ‘learned helplessness’. There are many variables in between. We must continue to work to ensure that all children benefit from high quality practice. To fail to place sufficient emphasis on the quality of early experiences is to fail our children.
The Torn Learning Sprockets: Judge This Film by Its Sequel
Authors: Maree J.G. , Molepo J.M. 
Published: January 2012

The metaphor of a film, which is being shown to the reader, is employed here to highlight the dire educational and domestic situation in Limpopo, where, in 2001–2002, the authors embarked on a project with the initial aim of establishing whether it is possible, through working with teachers and learners, to help learners attain better achievements. Soon after the project had commenced, we began to realise how appalling learners' domestic backgrounds were. According to conservative estimates, 80% of all children in rural areas live with other caretakers, for instance grandmothers and aunties. Learner support material is almost non-existent Classrooms resemble broken-down shacks. Sporting facilities are almost non-existent. Sanitary amenities are nightmarish. Our primary research question has now become: How can anyone facilitate not only scholastic achievement, but indeed the government's intended AIDS/HIV prevention programme and the life orientation programme in primary and secondary schools (intended to be a key element in its fight against the pandemic) in South Africa? How is it possible to facilitate lifeskills acquisition in domestic circumstances such as those prevailing in Limpopo? How can we seriously consider ‘Ubuntu’ (humaneness, sharing, compassion) when children are living in these circumstances?
Our Greatest Natural Resource: Gifted Education in Australia
Authors: McCann Maria 
Published: January 2012

In Australia, the identification of gifted individuals and the provision of an education which is appropriate to their abilities is a relatively recent phenomenon. The first national focus on the special needs of gifted students took place just over 20 years ago when educators and researchers gathered at the first Australian Conference in Melbourne in 1983 and the national body, the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT), was formed two years later at the second national conference in Brisbane. A reflection on Australia's progress in Gifted Education reveals that the years through the mid 1980's and 1990's witnessed the establishment of policies and programs for gifted students which were probably second to no other country in diversity and quality. There was a marked increase in specialized provision for gifted students, many teachers in schools participated in professional development in gifted education, and undergraduate and postgraduate training, including full degrees in gifted education, began to expand within the universities. Some of these Australian initiatives are highlighted in this edition of the Gifted Education International. However, as the 1990s came to an end, many programs began to close down. Indeed some Australian States which had showcased the most advanced and creative policies and programs, were the ones which reduced or abolished them. Alarm at the change of mood in Australia was voiced by one of the most respected leaders in gifted education, and a former President of the AAEGT, Professor Eddie Braggett, when he observed that, as the new millennium dawned: it is clear that there is current national concern at the closing down of some of the excellent State and Territory initiated programs … it is obvious that gifted and talented education is facing increasing difficulties in a number of States and Territories .. In their desire to reduce costs and streamline services, State Departments and Ministries of Education often collapse sections and scale back specialised services … I have genuine fears for gifted and talented students in some States as staff of Gifted and Talented Divisions are returned to schools or reincorporated into general divisions
The Analytical Aspect of Musical and Numerical Memory
Authors: Rosemarin Shoshana , Cohen Dalia 
Published: January 2012

The purpose of the study is to investigate the analytical aspect of musical and numerical memory, while comparing the memory of familiar schema (in music) or logical patterns (in mathematics) with those that are not so. Adult musicians from Western and Arabic cultures responded to musical patterns, based on various kinds of schemata of both cultures, as well as to series of numbers, based on mathematical formulas (including randomly arranged series). It was found that the musical memory depended on both the level of musical training and the culture from which the music stemmed. The more trained subjects were able to analyze the patterns, and even to correct them according to the familiar schemata. The two groups differed in their numerical memory: while the western subjects used analytical strategies in order to memorize the patterns, the Arabic subjects used merely technical strategies. Moreover, while the western subjects memorized the mathematical patterns (based on schemata) more easily than the randomly arranged patterns, there was no difference between the memorization of the two among the Arabic subjects. This could be related to the difference between the cultures in this aspect.