METHODS AND RESULT: The pure culture of K. nataicola was obtained from yeast-glucose-calcium carbonate (YGC) agar, followed by genomic DNA extraction, and subjected to whole genome sequencing on a Nanopore flongle flow cell. The genome of K. nataicola consists of a 3,767,936 bp chromosome with six contigs and 4,557 protein coding sequences. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree and average nucleotide identity analysis confirmed that the bacterial isolate was K. nataicola. The gene annotation via RAST server discovered the presence of cellulose synthase, along with three genes associated with lactate utilization and eight genes involved in lactate fermentation that could potentially contribute to the increase in acid concentration during BC synthesis.
CONCLUSION: A more comprehensive genome study of K. nataicola may shed light into biological pathway in BC productivity as well as benefit the analysis of metabolites generated and understanding of biological and chemical interactions in BC production later.
METHODS: The Food Sensations® for Parents five-week program was delivered to participants from community-based parenting organisations during 2020 and 2021. Formative research and a pre-post evaluation design were adopted.
RESULTS: Pre- and post-evaluation data were collected from 224 participants (96% female). There was a statistically significant improvement in the mean score for 13 food literacy behaviours, 10 positive parenting feeding practices and a mean increase in parents' daily vegetable intake of 1/3 serve. Participants reported significantly greater net improvements in food literacy behaviours than feeding practices, the largest being the Use a nutrition information panel to make food choices (33.1%). Multivariate logistic regression analyses found English as a first language, being older than 35, and from a higher Socio-Economic Index for Areas resulted in a higher likelihood of positive changes in behaviours and practices.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that the program is effective in improving the frequency of use of food literacy behaviours, positive parenting feeding practices and increasing vegetable consumption. SO WHAT?: Analysing improvements in food literacy behaviours and feeding practices provides clarity on what change can be expected with a five-week parent program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2022 in urban areas in Selangor among children aged less than two years old from B40 households using purposive sampling through both online surveys and face-to-face interviews. There were 112 children aged < 2 years old from B40 households participating in this study. The data obtained on maternal sociodemographic, Household Food Insecurity Scale (HFIAS), and children's anthropometric measurements were analysed by using the WHO Anthro Survey, descriptive analysis, Person's Chisquare test and Fischer's exact test.
RESULTS: The prevalence of food insecurity was more significant than the prevalence of food secured, at 55.4% and 44.6% respectively. The stunting among the children rated at 34.8%, followed by 7.2% of the sample found underweight, 7.8% (BAZ) and 16.1% (BAZ) of them were wasted, and overweight & obese, proportionately. This study discovered that household size was the sole determinant of household food security status. This finding suggested that size of a household influenced the odds of a household being food insecure.
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide insights into how the COVID-19 pandemic have an impact on children's nutritional status especially those from low-income and bigger size households. Therefore, more thorough and effective interventions should be designed particularly targeting this urban poor community to enhance their nutritional status and health.