Cecile Morris

The effect of inulin and fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation on the textural, rheological and sensory properties of bread and their role in weight management: A review.

There is evidence that fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin can impart a range of health benefits if consumed on a regular basis. The health benefits include increased mineral absorption and improved immune response and while there is mounting evidence that prebiotics play a role in colorectal cancer prevention, their role of satiety and weight management is still being investigated. In this review we look at the evidence published so far on FOS or inulin supplementation and weight management. We also establish whether prebiotic enriched breads are feasible in terms of dough machinability, bread characteristics and consumers acceptance. Addition of inulin to bread generally resulted in smaller loaves with a harder crumb and darker colour. The limited sensory studies on those products reflect those findings and acceptability decreased with inulin content. However, a fortification of 5% seems achievable. Despite evidence that yeast invertase and dry heat degrade inulin, the extent to which this is the case and whether the prebiotics maintain their activity is not known. There is still a great deal of work to be done to establish whether a bread prepared with enough inulin to retain a significant activity can be manufactured without compromising consumer acceptance.

Screencasts: How effective are they and how do students engage with them?

The use of screencasts as an instructional technology is increasing rapidly in higher education. While there appears to be a consensus around students’ satisfaction with the provision of technology-enhanced tools, there is limited evidence revolving around their impact in terms of knowledge acquisition. Moreover, the reasons why students choose to engage (or not) with these resources remain largely unreported. The study assessed the effect of using screencasts on undergraduate students’ understanding and engagement with learning material in one of their modules. Customised screencasts were used as optional additional learning and teaching resources. Grades obtained in a test module (with screencasts) and a control module (without screencasts) were compared to gauge the impact of screencasts on knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, the reasons for students’ engagement (or lack thereof) with the screencasts were explored using questionnaires. A modest but significant impact of screencasts on knowledge acquisition was found, and students’ perception of the screencasts was overwhelmingly positive. Students suggested that screencasts should be kept short to summarise lectures or delve in-depth into complex concepts but should not replace whole lectures. Reasons for not using screencasts revolved around a lack of understanding of what the resources were and also a reported lack of fit between the nature of the tool and self-assessed learning style.

Impact of health claims in prebiotic-enriched breads on purchase intent, emotional response and product liking

Abstract The impact of health claims on purchase intent, emotional response and liking has never been previously reported. In this study, prebiotic-enriched bread was used as a model functional food. Purchase intent, emotional response and liking were investigated in three phases: (1) focus groups were used to gauge consumer perception of health claims and functional foods, (2) the impact of health claims on purchase intent and emotional responses were measured using an online survey (n = 122) and (3) hedonic ratings on bread rolls presented with or without any associated claims were obtained (n = 100). A cluster analysis of the purchase intent data identified two clusters of consumers who were either receptive or non-receptive to health claims. Receptive and non-receptive consumers significantly differed in the emotions they reported with respect to the claims. The hedonic ratings did not significantly differ between the breads tasted with or without health claims.

UK Views toward Breastfeeding in Public An Analysis of the Public’s Response to the Claridge’s Incident

Background: The embarrassment that UK mothers experience when breastfeeding in public has often been cited as a key factor in the decision of the mother to discontinue breastfeeding. There is convincing evidence that many UK residents are not comfortable with women breastfeeding in public; however, little is known about the underlying reasons for this discomfort. Objective: This study aimed to assess views on breastfeeding in public in the United Kingdom and to understand why some UK residents object to this practice. Methods: The comments sections of news media websites and parenting forums were systematically identified and reviewed for statements made in response to an incident widely reported in the British press: a woman was asked to cover up while breastfeeding in public at Claridge’s, a London luxury hotel. Of these, 805 comments (73 108 words) met the inclusion criteria and were thematically analyzed. Results: The majority of commenters were supportive of “discreet” breastfeeding in public, but a significant portion felt that breastfeeding in public is always inappropriate. Sexualization of the breast was mainly evoked as something others may experience while viewing a breastfeeding mother, rather than to reflect the commenters’ own views. Common justifications cited against breastfeeding in public were onlookers’ embarrassment (not knowing where to look) and disgust (at bodily fluids and/or functions). Conclusion: Campaigns portraying breastfeeding in public as normal and desirable with a focus on human milk as food rather than a bodily fluid may improve societal acceptance of breastfeeding in public.

Audio versus written feedback: Exploring learners’ preference and the impact of feedback format on students’ academic performance:

Very little is known about the impact of the different types of feedback on students’ academic performance. This article explores students’ preference in the use of audio and written feedback and how each type of feedback received by students impacts their academic performance in subsequent assignments. The study involved 68 students who were divided into two groups that received either audio or written feedback in their first assignment which was then recalled and applied into the second assignment. An analysis of results obtained in the second assignment was conducted and comparisons made between students in the audio and written feedback group. Students were also surveyed using an online questionnaire to ascertain their perceptions about the type of feedback they had received. The study established that the type of feedback received did not impact students’ grades in the subsequent assignment. In addition, while students were broadly positive about audio feedback, they indicated a strong preference for written feedback in future assignments. The study recommends, among other things, further investigation into the link between students’ learning styles and their preferences for different types of feedback.

Responses to oral glucose challenge differ by physical activity volume and intensity: A pilot study

Background One-hour postprandial hyperglycemia is associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Physical activity (PA) has short-term beneficial effects on post-meal glucose response. This study compared the oral glucose tolerance test results of 3 groups of people with habitually different levels of PA. Methods Thirty-one adults without diabetes (age 25.9 ± 6.6 years; body mass index 23.8 ± 3.8 kg/m2; mean ± SD) were recruited and divided into 3 groups based on self-reported PA volume and intensity: low activity < 30 min/day of moderate-intensity activity (n = 11), moderately active ≥ 30 min/day of moderate-intensity PA (n = 10), and very active ≥ 60 min/day of PA at high intensity (n = 10). Participants completed an oral glucose tolerance test (50 g glucose) with capillary blood samples obtained at baseline, 15 min, 30 min, 45 min, 60 min, 90 min, and 120 min post-ingestion. Results There were no significant differences between groups for age or body fat percentage or glycated hemoglobin (p > 0.05). The groups were significantly different in terms of baseline glucose level (p = 0.003) and, marginally, for gender (p = 0.053) and BMI (p = 0.050). There was a statistically significant effect of PA on the 1-h postprandial glucose results (p = 0.029), with differences between very active and low activity groups (p = 0.008) but not between the moderately active and low activity groups (p = 0.360), even when baseline glucose level and gender differences were accounted for. For incremental area under the curve there was no significant effect of activity group once gender and body fat percentage had been accounted for (p = 0.401). Those in the low activity group took 15 min longer to reach peak glucose level than those in the very active group (p = 0.012). Conclusion The results suggest that high levels of PA have a beneficial effect on postprandial blood glucose profiles when compared to low and moderate levels of activity.

Influence of the obesogenic/leptogenic food environment on consumer behaviour in leisure centres

This document is the author deposited version. You are advised to consult the publishers version if you wish to cite from it. Published version ASHWORTH, Pippa, JENSEN, Y.L., STOCKTON, H.J., MORRIS, Cecile, GIOVE, Samantha and PAXMAN, Jenny (2016). Influence of the obesogenic/leptogenic food environment on consumer behaviour in leisure centres. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 75 (OCE3), E136-E136.

Comparison of responses to oral glucose challenge by physical activity duration and intensity

The glycaemic response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) can be used to predict risk of development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Low habitual physical activity is associated with undiagnosed impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes, and OGTT response is inversely related to physical activity levels in a population at risk of T2D development. However the relationship between habitual physical activity and OGTT response in a low-risk population is not as well understood. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Sheffield Hallam University and all participants provided written informed consent. Thirty-one non-diabetic adults (25·9yrs ±6·6; 23·8 kg/m ±3·8) participated. An OGTT was performed: capillary blood samples were obtained and analysed for blood glucose at baseline, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after ingestion of 50 g of glucose. Participants were categorised into 3 groups based on self-reported physical activity levels: Sedentary (< 30 min.day−1 ‘moderate’ intensity activity, n= 11), Active (⩾ 30 min.day−1 of ‘moderate’ intensity physical activity, n= 10) and Very Active (⩾ 60 min.day−1 of ‘intense’ physical activity (n= 10). There were no significant differences between groups for age or percentage body fat (P> 0·05); however, there was a significant difference between groups for BMI (P= 0·043). Area under the curve (AUC) was significantly impacted by the intensity and duration of physical activity (P= 0·049) with the AUC of the very active group being significantly lower than that of the sedentary and active groups (P= 0·027 and P = 0·041 respectively). There was no significant difference between the active and sedentary groups (P= 0·844).