bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying and documenting osseous trauma from shark attacks by post mortem CT examination and autopsy
Authors: Byard Roger W. , Perumal Raj
Published: May 2024

A 15-year-old male was attacked by a large white shark while surfing. CT examination revealed an above-knee amputation of the right lower extremity with stripping of soft tissues from the groin distally. 3-dimensional volume rendering did not show any fragments of shark teeth but did reveal linear gouges, areas of shaving of cortical bone and an inverted ‘V’-shaped defect at the distal margin of the femoral shaft. At autopsy these injuries were confirmed in addition to areas with fine parallel cross-striations matching the marginal serrations of the teeth of a white shark. Thus, while post mortem CT with 3-dimensional reconstruction at high resolution can show the nature and number of the bony injuries following shark attack, it is complimented by pathological examination which may find fine parallel grooves from teeth serrations. Post mortem 3-dimensional volume rendering may also help to find or exclude fragments of teeth, and silicone casting may provide a permanent record of bone lesions.
Content Validity of the Modified Functional Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (f-SARA) Instrument in Spinocerebellar Ataxia
Authors: Potashman Michele , Rudell Katja , Pavisic Ivanna , Suminski Naomi , Doma Rinchen , Heinrich Maggie , Abetz-Webb Linda , Beiner Melissa Wolfe , Kuo Sheng-Han , Rosenthal Liana S. , Zesiwicz Theresa , Fife Terry D. , van de Warrenburg Bart P. , Ristori Giovanni , Synofzik Matthis , Perlman Susan , Schmahmann Jeremy D. , L’Italien Gilbert
Published: May 2024

The functional Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (f-SARA) assesses Gait, Stance, Sitting, and Speech. It was developed as a potentially clinically meaningful measure of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) progression for clinical trial use. Here, we evaluated content validity of the f-SARA. Qualitative interviews were conducted among individuals with SCA1 (n = 1) and SCA3 (n = 6) and healthcare professionals (HCPs) with SCA expertise (USA, n = 5; Europe, n = 3). Interviews evaluated symptoms and signs of SCA and relevance of f-SARA concepts for SCA. HCP cognitive debriefing was conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed by ATLAS.TI software. Individuals with SCA1 and 3 reported 85 symptoms, signs, and impacts of SCA. All indicated difficulties with walking, stance, balance, speech, fatigue, emotions, and work. All individuals with SCA1 and 3 considered Gait, Stance, and Speech relevant f-SARA concepts; 3 considered Sitting relevant (42.9%). All HCPs considered Gait and Speech relevant; 5 (62.5%) indicated Stance was relevant. Sitting was considered a late-stage disease indicator. Most HCPs suggested inclusion of appendicular items would enhance clinical relevance. Cognitive debriefing supported clarity and comprehension of f-SARA. Maintaining current abilities on f-SARA items for 1 year was considered meaningful for most individuals with SCA1 and 3. All HCPs considered meaningful changes as stability in f-SARA score over 1–2 years, 1–2-point change in total f-SARA score, and deviation from natural history. These results support content validity of f-SARA for assessing SCA disease progression in clinical trials.
Do Sea Surface Winds and Currents in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean Derive the Extreme El Niños?
Authors: Lee Seongsuk , Yi Yu , Lee Yun Gon
Published: May 2024

El Niño is the largest natural climate variability event on an interannual time scale occurring in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, and is linked to global climate change. The north equatorial countercurrent (NECC) is considered a significant feature of the tropical Pacific current system due to its location and eastward flow direction. The NECC has been suggested as a current that transports the warmer western Pacific waters to the eastern Pacific to trigger the El Niño event in the equatorial Pacific. We investigated how the movements of zonal wind stress (ZWS) and ocean surface currents (OSC) contribute to the sea surface temperature (SST) changes during the El Niño period. During moderate to severe Central Pacific El Niño events, the continuous flow of the NECC extending from the El Niño monitoring region into the eastern Pacific is rarely observed. In addition, a significant increase in ocean heat content compared to the 27-year climatological normal has been identified at temperatures above 28 °C. Therefore, we propose a hypothesis that the additional heat is supplied from the subsurface source and the warm pool is expanded by the subsurface equatorial countercurrent, known as the Equatorial Undercurrent, rather than by the surface currents. The heated water is expected to contribute to the evolution of El Niño by upwelling to the surface along the equator in a north–south symmetric feature.
Monitoring of spatio-temporal glaciers dynamics in Bhagirathi Basin, Gharhwal Himalayas using remote sensing data
Authors: Sandhu Har Amrit Singh , Gusain Hemendra Singh , Arora Manoj , Cherubini Claudia , Singh Dhiraj Kumar , Tripathi Neeraj
Published: May 2024

Glacier retreat represents a highly sensitive indicator of climate change and global warming. Therefore, timely mapping and monitoring of glacier dynamics is strategic for water budget forecasting and sustainable management of water resources. In this study, Landsat satellite images of 2000 and 2015 have been used to estimate area extent variations in 29 glaciers of the Bhagirathi basin, Garhwali Himalayas. ASTER DEM has been used for extraction of glacier terrain features, such as elevation, slope, area, etc. It is observed from the analysis that Bhagirathi sub-basin has a maximum glaciated area of ~ 35% and Pilang has the least with ~ 3.2%, whereas Kaldi sub-basin has no glacier. In this region, out of 29 glaciers, 25 glaciers have shown retreat, while only 4 glaciers have shown advancement resulting in a total glacier area loss of ~ 0.5%, while the retreat rate varies from ~ 0.06 m/yr to ~ 19.4 m/yr. Dokarni glacier has maximum retreat rate (~ 19.4 m/yr), whereas Dehigad has maximum advancing rate (~ 10.1 m/yr). Glaciers retreat and advance have also been analyzed based on terrain parameters and observed that northern and southern orientations have shown retreat, whereas the area change is highly correlated with glacier length. The study covers more than 65% of the total glaciated area and based on the existing literature represents one of the most exhaustive studies to cover the highest number of glaciers in all sub-basins of the Bhagirathi basin.
An alternative method for predicting internal friction angle of rock materials
Authors: Karakul Hasan , Ulusay Reşat
Published: May 2024

The shear strength properties of rock materials, cohesion and internal friction angle, are determined by carrying out tri-axial strength test on cylindrical core specimens in laboratory. But determination of these parameters by triaxial tests in accordance with standards and suggested methods, particularly for weak, fractured and weathered rocks is exteremely difficult and/or impossible due to difficulties related to preparation of test specimens suitable for this test. In addition, the tri-axial test requires high cost equipment and too much time for sample preparation and testing. In such cases, there is a need to precisely estimate the friction angle and estimation of rock shear strength properties using some indirect methods, as they are economical and easy to carry out. In this study, the traditional method, which is recommended to be used for the prediction of internal friction angle (ϕ) when triaxial test data is not available, was briefly assessed with its some limitations and an alternative method using theoretical tensile strength and uniaxial compressive strength to predict ϕ was proposed. Then the prediction performances of traditional and proposed methods were compared using a very large data set collected from published literature. The statistical reliability of the derived equations was assessed using F- and t-tests and according to the test results the prediction equations were found to be statistically reliable. The results indicated that the method proposed in this study using the theoretical tensile strength yields best predictions of ϕ when compared to those estimated from the traditional methods based on direct and Brazilian tensile strength values.
Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices to Support Emergent Literacy Development in Preschool Education: The Moderating Role of Continuous Training
Authors: Cadime Irene , Alves Diana , Mendes Sofia , Pinto Patrícia , Cruz Joana
Published: May 2024

The main goal of this study was to explore the relationship between emergent literacy beliefs and practices among Portuguese preschool teachers and to investigate the moderating role of experience and training (initial and continuous). The participants were 266 preschool teachers working in Portugal. The results indicate higher levels of holistic beliefs than technicist beliefs regarding emergent literacy. Practices aimed at promoting oral language and phonological awareness were reported as the most frequently used practices in the classroom. Teachers who had continuous training in emergent literacy had more holistic beliefs and performed more practices to promote children’s phonological awareness and knowledge of the relationship between oral and written language. Continuous training was also a significant moderator of the relationship between emergent literacy beliefs and practices. These findings highlight the importance of continuous training in fostering the use of quality research-based practices in the classroom.
Sand screen selection by sand retention test: a review of factors affecting sand control design
Authors: Khan Javed Akbar , Zainal Aimi Zahraa , Idris Khairul Nizam , Herman Angga Pratama , Cai Baoping , Maoinser Mohd Azuwan
Published: May 2024

The installation of sand screens in open-hole completions in the wellbore is crucial for managing sand production. The main reason for using standalone screens in open-hole completions is their relatively reduced operational complexity compared to other sand control technologies. However, directly applying the screen to the bottom of the hole can lead to an incorrect screen type selection, resulting in an unreliable sand control method. To address this issue, a sand retention test is conducted to evaluate the performance of a standalone screen before field installation. Nevertheless, current sand retention test setups encounter several challenges. These include difficulties in identifying minimum retention requirements, interpreting results in the context of field conditions, and replicating field-specific parameters. The existing sand retention test introduces uncertainties, such as inaccurately replicating field requirements, inconsistent selection of wetting fluids, flow rates, and channel formation, leading to variations in the choice of the optimal screen using this test. In response to these challenges, this study aims to review the sand retention test and propose an improved sand retention method to overcome these problems. The focus of this article is to provide an in-depth analysis of previous sand retention test setups, their contributions to characterizing sand screens, and the parameters utilized in determining test outcomes. Additionally, this review outlines a procedure to investigate the impact of different particle sizes on screen erosion. Key findings emphasize the importance of using high-quality materials, proper screen design to resist damage and erosion, achieving acceptable natural packing behind the screen, and considering factors such as geology, wellbore conditions, and installation techniques. The analysis reveals that a high quantity of finer and poorly sorted sand increases sand production. The study recommends performing a sand pack test closer to reservoir conditions for better evaluation. Premium sand screens demonstrate the highest retention capacity, followed by metal mesh and wire-wrapped screens. Additionally, geotextiles show potential for enhancing sand retention, and screen design affects erosion resistance and service life.
Case report. Emfysemateuze cystitis
Authors: Tijhof Esther H. , van der Fels Christa A. M.
Published: May 2024

Samenvatting

Emfysemateuze cystitis is een zeldzame aandoening van de blaas, met een relatief hoog mortaliteitspercentage. Er is geen richtlijn beschikbaar en er zijn weinig onderzoeken beschreven. Een 85-jarige patiënt wordt met deze aandoening gediagnosticeerd. Een adequate aanpak resulteert in een succesvolle behandeling.
Experimental Investigation and Classification of Wastewater Treatment Sludge as Pozzolan for Cement
Authors: Ekolu S. O. , Mudzanani P. , Mofokeng M. T. M. , Maiyana M. C. , Naghizadeh A.
Published: May 2024

This paper presents an investigation conducted to evaluate wastewater treatment sludge for potential use as a cement extender or pozzolan. Two varieties comprising the digested wastewater sludge (DWWS) and activated wastewater sludge (AWWS) materials, were finely ground then calcined at 750 °C for 30 min. Subsequently, the calcined sludge waste materials were blended with ordinary Portland cement CEM I 52.5 N at 0, 10, 20, 30% DWWS or AWWS, and used to prepare mortar mixtures at proportions of 1:3:0.61 cement to sand to water. Various tests were conducted including workability, compressive strength, pozzolanic activity with lime, drying shrinkage and alkali-silica reaction. It was found that both varieties of the sludge waste materials, once blended with CEM I at 20% DWWS or 20% AWWS, satisfied the ASTM C618 criteria for Class C pozzolan, and may be classified as CEM II /A-P 32.5 N,R cement type of EN 197-1/SANS 50197-1. The overall performance of DWWS was relatively better than that of AWWS.
Advancements in the application of metal oxide nanocatalysts for sustainable biodiesel production
Authors: Awogbemi Omojola , Ojo Ayotunde Adigun , Adeleye Samson Adedayo
Published: May 2024

The growing population and the unpalatable ecological impact of exploration and utilization of fossil-based fuels have resulted in increased demand for biofuel as an alternative fuel for engines and power generation. The global demand for biodiesel, a prominent member of the biofuels family, has continued to increase over the past decades with researchers devising various means to intensify cost-effective production. The use of metal oxide nanocatalysts is one of the feasible strategies to meet the increased demand for quality biodiesel. This study reviews the recent advances in the deployment of commonly used metal oxide nanoparticles such as MgO, CaO, TiO2, ZnO, and ZrO2 to accelerate sustainable biodiesel production. Converting conventional metal oxide heterogeneous catalysts into nanoparticles enhances the surface configuration, chemical and thermal stability, porosity, and crystallinity of the nanocatalysts. The deployment of metal oxide nanocatalysts hasten the transesterification reaction, reduces reaction temperature and time, and enhances biodiesel yield. Biodiesel synthesized with the aid of metal oxide nanoparticles is of impeccable quality and meets international standards. Notwithstanding the few challenges, the application of metal oxide nanoparticles as heterogeneous catalysts engenders sustainable biodiesel production and contributes to energy security. More innovative and collaborative studies are needed to reduce the ethical, economic, infrastructural, and environmental consequences of the usage of nanomaterials for sustainable biodiesel production.
A Multiscale Method for Two-Component, Two-Phase Flow with a Neural Network Surrogate
Authors: Magiera Jim , Rohde Christian
Published: May 2024

Understanding the dynamics of phase boundaries in fluids requires quantitative knowledge about the microscale processes at the interface. We consider the sharp-interface motion of the compressible two-component flow and propose a heterogeneous multiscale method (HMM) to describe the flow fields accurately. The multiscale approach combines a hyperbolic system of balance laws on the continuum scale with molecular-dynamics (MD) simulations on the microscale level. Notably, the multiscale approach is necessary to compute the interface dynamics because there is—at present—no closed continuum-scale model. The basic HMM relies on a moving-mesh finite-volume method and has been introduced recently for the compressible one-component flow with phase transitions by Magiera and Rohde in (J Comput Phys 469: 111551, 2022). To overcome the numerical complexity of the MD microscale model, a deep neural network is employed as an efficient surrogate model. The entire approach is finally applied to simulate droplet dynamics for argon-methane mixtures in several space dimensions. To our knowledge, such compressible two-phase dynamics accounting for microscale phase-change transfer rates have not yet been computed.
Application Study on the Reinforcement Learning Strategies in the Network Awareness Risk Perception and Prevention
Authors: Xie Junwei
Published: May 2024

The intricacy of wireless network ecosystems and Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices have increased rapidly as technology advances and cyber threats increase. The existing methods cannot make sequential decisions in complex network environments, particularly in scenarios with partial observability and non-stationarity. Network awareness monitors and comprehends the network's assets, vulnerabilities, and ongoing activities in real-time. Advanced analytics, machine learning algorithms, and artificial intelligence are used to improve risk perception by analyzing massive amounts of information, identifying trends, and anticipating future security breaches. Hence, this study suggests the Deep Reinforcement Learning-assisted Network Awareness Risk Perception and Prevention Model (DRL-NARPP) for detecting malicious activity in cybersecurity. The proposed system begins with the concept of network awareness, which uses DRL algorithms to constantly monitor and evaluate the condition of the network in terms of factors like asset configurations, traffic patterns, and vulnerabilities. DRL provides autonomous learning and adaptation to changing network settings, revealing the ever-changing nature of network awareness risks in real time. Incorporating DRL into risk perception increases the system's capacity to recognize advanced attack methods while simultaneously decreasing the number of false positives and enhancing the reliability of risk assessments. DRL algorithms drive dynamic and context-aware response mechanisms, making up the adaptive network prevention component of the development. Predicting new threats and proactively deploying preventive measures, such as changing firewall rules, isolating compromised devices, or dynamically reallocating resources to reduce developing risks, is made possible by the system's ability to learn from historical data and prevailing network activity. The suggested DRL-NARPP model increases the anomaly detection rate by 98.3%, the attack prediction accuracy rate by 97.4%, and the network risk assessment ratio by 96.4%, reducing the false positive ratio by 11.2% compared to other popular methodologies.
Predictive capability of rough set machine learning in tetracycline adsorption using biochar
Authors: Balasubramanian Paramasivan , Prabhakar Muhil Raj , Liu Chong , Zhang Pengyan , Li Fayong
Published: May 2024

Machine learning algorithms investigate relationships in data to deliver useful outputs. However, past models required complete datasets as a prerequisite. In this study, rough set-based machine learning was applied using real-world incomplete datasets to generate a prediction model of biochar’s adsorption capacity based on key attributes. The predictive model consists of if–then rules classifying properties by fulfilling certain conditions. The rules generated from both complete and incomplete datasets exhibit high certainty and coverage, along with scientific coherence. Based on the complete dataset model, optimal pyrolysis conditions, biomass characteristics and adsorption conditions were identified to maximize tetracycline adsorption capacity (> 200 mg/g) by biochar. This study demonstrates the capabilities of rough set-based machine learning using incomplete practical real-world data without compromising key features. The approach can generate valid predictive models even with missing values in datasets. Overall, the preliminary results show promise for applying rough set machine learning to real-world, incomplete data for generating biomass and biochar predictive models. However, further refinement and testing are warranted before practical implementation.
A numerical study on effect of liquefaction on ring footings during 2001 Bhuj earthquake at Kutch (Gujarat), India
Authors: Amin Milind , Singh Manendra
Published: May 2024

Liquefaction, the temporary loss of strength in saturated sand causing it to behave like a liquid, leads to devastating consequences, including the settling, tilting, or collapsing of structures built on loose, saturated soil. The 2001 Bhuj earthquake witnessed extensive liquefaction in regions such as the Great Rann of Kutch, Banni Plains, Kandla, and Gulf of Kutch, resulting in substantial damage to various infrastructures, including bridges, docks, buildings, embankments, and dams. This study employs a finite element approach to analyse the behaviour of shallow foundations on liquefying subsoil in Kutch during the 2001 earthquake. The investigation focuses on ring footings with inner radii of 0.25 m, 0.5 m, and 0.75 m, as well as an outer radius of 1 m, alongside a circular foundation with a 1 m radius. Notably, the ring footing with a radius ratio of 0.5 exhibits the least settlement under static loads, underscoring that liquefaction-induced settlement for ring footings is significantly less than that for circular footings.
Online Algorithms
Authors: Vaze Rahul
Published: May 2024

Online algorithms are a rich area of research with widespread applications in scheduling, combinatorial optimization, and resource allocation problems. This lucid textbook provides an easy but rigorous introduction to online algorithms for graduate and senior undergraduate students. In-depth coverage of most of the important topics is presented with special emphasis on elegant analysis. The book starts with classical online paradigms like the ski-rental, paging, list-accessing, bin packing, where performance of online algorithms is studied under the worst-case input and moves on to newer paradigms like 'beyond worst case', where online algorithms are augmented with predictions using machine learning algorithms. The book goes on to cover multiple applied problems such as routing in communication networks, server provisioning in cloud systems, communication with energy harvested from renewable sources, and sub-modular partitioning. Finally, a wide range of solved examples and practice exercises are included, allowing hands-on exposure to the concepts.
The effects of dairy on the gut microbiome and symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts: a systematic review
Authors: Ní Chonnacháin Clíona , Feeney Emma L. , Gollogly Clare , Shields Denis C. , Loscher Christine E. , Cotter Paul D. , Noronha Nessa , Stack Roisin , Doherty Glen A. , Gibney Eileen R.
Published: May 2024

Bovine dairy foods provide several essential nutrients. Fermented bovine dairy foods contain additional compounds, increasing their potential to benefit gastrointestinal health. This review explores the effects of dairy consumption on the gut microbiome and symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts. Human subjects with common gastrointestinal diseases (functional gastrointestinal disorders and inflammatory bowel disease) or associated symptoms, and equivalent animal models were included. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. The search yielded 3014 studies in total, with 26 meeting inclusion criteria, including 15 human studies (1550 participants) and 11 animal studies (627 subjects). All test foods were fermented bovine dairy products, primarily fermented milk and yogurt. Six studies reported increases in gastrointestinal bacterial alpha diversity, with nine studies reporting increases in relative Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium abundance. Six studies reported increases in beneficial short-chain fatty acids, while three reported decreases. Gastrointestinal symptoms, specifically gut comfort and defecation frequency, improved in 14 human studies. Five animal studies demonstrated reduced colonic damage and improved healing. This review shows fermented bovine dairy consumption may improve gut microbial characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms in gastrointestinal disease cohorts. Further human intervention studies are needed, expanding test foods and capturing non-self-reported gastrointestinal measures.
Coherent structures of elastoinertial instabilities in Taylor–Couette flows
Authors: Boulafentis T. , Lacassagne T. , Cagney N. , Balabani S.
Published: May 2024

We combine flow visualisation techniques and particle image velocimetry to experimentally investigate the higher-order transition to elastoinertial turbulence of Boger fluids (

$El = 0.11\unicode{x2013}0.34$

) in Taylor–Couette flows. The observed route to turbulence is associated with the appearance of chaotic inflow jets, termed flame patterns, for increasing inertia, and stable structures of solitons, known as diwhirls, for decreasing inertia. We also report for the first time spatially and temporally resolved flow fields in the meridional plane for the three characteristic viscoelastic flow regimes (diwhirls, flame patterns and elastoinertial turbulence). We observe in all cases coherent structures of dynamically independent solitary vortex pairs. The stability of these coherent structures is jet-dominated and can be mainly ascribed to the high extension of the polymer chains in the inflow boundaries in the

$r$

–

$z$

plane. Solitary pairs are self-sustained when created through random events and do not split; instead, they merge when moving sufficiently close and annihilate when hoop stresses are not sufficient to sustain them. The highly localised and random events result in highly fluctuating, chaotic flow states. We estimate the decay exponent of spatial power spectral density, illustrating a universal scaling of

$-2.5$

for elastoinertial turbulence. Based on our observations and in an effort to unify and combine precedent theories with our results, we suggest a mechanism for the origins of elastoinertial instabilities, accounting for both the effect of elasticity on the vortex formation and the effect of increasing/decreasing inertia on the flow dynamics.
Small micro- and nanoplastic test and reference materials for research: Current status and future needs
Authors: Sørensen Lisbet , Gerace Mathias Hanson , Booth Andy M.
Published: May 2024

Environmental plastic pollution comprises partially degraded particles representing a continuum of sizes, shapes, polymer types and chemical compositions. Owing to their potential for biological uptake, small microplastic particles (sMP; <100 μm) and nanoplastics (NPs) are considered to be a potential risk to organisms. Understanding how sMPs and NPs behave in the environment, and how environmental matrices affect their detection, is fundamental to quantifying exposures, assessing hazards and understanding these risks. For this purpose, high-quality, well-characterised and environmentally relevant test and reference materials are crucial. The current lack of environmentally relevant sMP and NP reference materials has resulted in many studies applying commercially available spherical, homogenous and monodisperse particles, typically produced for specific purposes and without environmental relevance. There is a need for sMP and NP test/reference materials for fate and effects assessments and analytical protocol validation that more accurately represent the sMP and NP present in the environment. To date, feasible methods for producing relevant sMP and NP test materials in sufficient quantities for environmental fate and effects studies remain lacking. The current review provides an overview and comparison of the available methods, highlighting those that show the most promise for producing environmentally relevant sMP and NP with further development and optimisation.
Socioeconomic gradient in functional difficulties by domain among youth: evidence from Egypt
Authors: Metwally Soha
Published: May 2024

This study aims to measure inequalities in the distribution of functional difficulties and their different domains among youth aged 15–29 years in Egypt, according to selected socioeconomic characteristics (e.g. wealth quantiles and education level of the head of the household). The data come from the nationally representative survey, ‘Household Observatory Survey’, with 10,405 persons aged 15–29 years representing the study sample population. The survey identifies individuals with disabilities using the Washington Group Short questions. Inequalities in disability distribution have been measured by the concentration index (CI). The results indicate that functional difficulties have been concentrated among the poorest youth and households headed by illiterate persons. Rural areas have the highest concentration of disabilities among youth, with the lowest wealth and the lowest educational level of the head of the household. The CI suggests the existence of socioeconomic inequalities in all functional difficulties except for seeing difficulties. Understanding which factors more substantially contribute to inequalities is critical for advancing policies devoted to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
Navigating Pacific nutrition and health at Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM): Process evaluation and systems dynamics research at a flax-roots organization
Authors: Savila F.
Published: May 2024

Brown Buttabean Motivation (BBM) is a Māori and Pacific-driven community-based organisation operating in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and Tokoroa. It provides free community exercise bootcamps and other social and health support programs. BBM’s foundational mission was to reduce, among Māori and Pacific people, the prevalence of obesity in Auckland through exercise and nutrition programs.1 This study aimed to understand participants’ engagement with BBM, and the meaning it has had in their lives, with a focus on nutrition. Combining Pacific Fonofale and Te Whare Tapa Wha frameworks, this was a process evaluation to understand the impact of BBM’s services on the community using qualitative methods and a systems analysis to identify program sustainability and improvement. Semi-structured interviews explored the benefits and values of engagement with BBM. Followed by cognitive mapping interviews (CMI) and group model building (GMB) to identify the motivations and challenges of sustained engagement. Participants described holistic health benefits and impacts on community wellbeing. BBM responds to inequitable nutrition contexts, through its FoodShare (food bank), community kitchen, and BBM Kai (nutrition literacy). Engagement changed family nutrition patterns, and benefits included healthier spending habits, and addressing food insecurity. Social inclusiveness represented the Fonofale foundation (family) and the roof (culture) was described as ethnic cultural practices and BBM culture. Nutrition was not highlighted by BBM participants in CMI or GMB activities. However, participants suggested BBM increase nutrition initiatives to enable all members to improve their health journeys. BBM was seen as not just an exercise program but their own and their family’s new way of life, that health was a journey, not a destination. Moreover, although participants mentioned nutrition and health benefits, there was an overwhelming understanding that the values of BBM, Pacific culture, and social collectivism were the drivers of engagement, motivating healthier practices. BBM could leverage existing strengths by incorporating nutrition-enabling initiatives that are achieved collectively. Opportunities for systematic intervention will be presented.
Exploring the use of school-based infrastructure in healthy and sustainable food education
Authors: Kempler J. , Margerison C. , Nanayakkara J. , Booth A.
Published: May 2024

Food-related infrastructure in primary schools can be used to deliver healthy and sustainable food education from a young age(1), though little is known about the presence and use of such infrastructure in primary schools. The aim of this study is to explore the use of physical infrastructure in healthy and sustainable food education in Australian primary schools. A quantitative cross-sectional online survey of primary school teachers undertaken between August 2022-July 2023 collected data about the presence and teaching-related use of food gardens, cooking facilities and food waste management systems in primary schools. Descriptive statistics were generated using Stata 17.0 statistical software. Participants were 239 teachers recruited via social media advertising and education/nutrition networks. The majority of teachers agreed that primary schools should have a food garden (n = 194, 81%), cooking facilities (n = 196, 82%) and a food waste system (n = 205, 86%) that can be used for teaching. Whilst three quarters of participants stated their school had a food garden (n = 181, 76%), just over half reported their school had cooking facilities (n = 130, 54%) or a food waste system (n = 131, 55%) that could be used for teaching purposes. More than 60% of participants reported they used such infrastructure within their teaching when it was available. Food waste systems were most commonly reported to be used more than once a week (n = 30, 33%) to teach students about food waste (n = 69, 77%), food sustainability (n = 65, 72%) and the environment (n = 63, 60%). Food gardens were most commonly reported to be used once a week (n = 33, 30%) to teach students about gardening skills (n = 97, 87%), the environment (n = 77, 69%), healthy eating (n = 67, 60%) and food sustainability (n = 67, 60%). Cooking facilities were most commonly reported to be used once or twice a term (n = 21, 23%) to teach students about food preparation and cooking (n = 71, 84%) and healthy eating (n = 62, 73%) and for tasting food (n = 55, 64%). From these findings we conclude that primary school teachers consider food gardens, cooking facilities and food waste systems to be important for delivering healthy and sustainable food education. Whilst food gardens appear to be common in Australian primary schools, there is variability in their use as an educational resource. Further variability exists regarding the presence and use of cooking facilities and food waste systems in primary school settings. There is future scope to (1) extend the presence of food-related infrastructure in primary schools; and (2) develop resources and training opportunities for teachers to support their use of such infrastructure in delivering healthy and sustainable food education for primary school students.
Mapping the potential of meal kits to influence parental food literacy: an application of behaviour change frameworks
Authors: Fraser K. , Johnson B.J. , Love P. , Spence A. , Laws R. , Campbell K.J.
Published: May 2024

Cooking at home and eating together provide opportunities to improve family nutrition and promote healthy dietary habits. Commercial meal kit subscription services (MKSSs) (e.g. HelloFresh™, Marley Spoon™, EveryPlate™) may support parents to overcome obstacles to family meal provisioning and facilitate food literacy development. A gap exists in our understanding of how and why meal kits may elicit behaviour change, and opportunities to increase their behaviour change capability. This study aimed to examine the theoretical potential of Australian MKSSs to promote parental food literacy using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW)(1) and associated Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)(1) and Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1)(2). A one-week subscription was purchased for all Australian-based MKSSs (n = 9) and key meal kit components (subscription and meal planning features, meal kit delivery and website content) were coded using the retrospective application of these behaviour change frameworks. Parental food literacy-related behaviours were informed by a Food Literacy framework(3). Identified BCTs were mapped to the TDF using the Theory and Techniques Tool to identify theoretical mechanisms of action. The key meal kit components identified mapped to eight of the nine BCW intervention functions. These components primarily served the functions of enablement and environmental restructuring to support cooking at home. Thirty-five of the 93 possible BCTs were identified across the nine MKSSs reviewed, ranging from 19 to 29 BCTs per company, and linked to 13 of the 14 TDF domains. The most frequently identified mechanisms of action (TDF) targeted changes in motivation (n = 27) and capability (n = 19) to influence parental food literacy. Australian-based MKSSs incorporate a wide range of BCTs that target mechanisms of action associated with food literacy-related behaviours. These findings provide a strong theoretical evidence-base for the potential of commercial MKSSs to enhance parental food literacy. However, the extent to which these services may influence behaviour change or impact family food intakes is currently unknown. Therefore further research is required to evaluate the healthfulness and effectiveness of MKSSs.
The nutritional adequacy of popular weight loss diets - do they meet the requirements for dairy foods and calcium?
Authors: Murphy K.J. , O’Connor A. , Bracci E.L.
Published: May 2024

Weight loss or fad diets are often promoted for rapid weight loss and by unqualified individuals and celebrities. There is sometimes limited information around the nutritional adequacy of the diet. Some diets require fasting, some modify macronutrient composition, and some restrict food groups, such as dairy foods, resulting in suboptimal intake of nutrients like calcium, potentially leading to nutrient deficiencies and disease such as osteoporosis if followed long-term. We assessed the total dairy food and calcium content of five popular weight loss diets (Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic, Optifast, Paleolithic, 8 Weeks to Wow; 8WW), and two government recommended healthy eating principles (Australian Guide to Healthy Eating; AGHE, and Mediterranean diet; MedDiet, for weight loss). Meal plans from each diet were analysed using Foodworks Dietary Software and compared with government recommendations and dietary reference values (DRV) in Australia, the United States and Ireland to give the percentage of the recommended intake of dairy food and calcium, met by each diet(1). Intermittent Fasting, Ketogenic and AGHE provided the most serves of dairy foods with 2.8, 2.3 and 2.2 serves/d, respectively, whilst 8WW, MedDiet, and Optifast provided 1.4, 1.3 and 1 serve/d each, respectively, and Paleolithic 0.02 serves/d. None of the dietary patterns met all government recommendations for dairy serves. Milk was the most common source of dairy food in all dietary patterns except for Ketogenic (cheese), MedDiet (yoghurt) and Paleolithic. The Ketogenic diet provided the highest calcium content (1293mg/d), followed by Intermittent Fasting (1230mg/d) and Optifast (1212mg/d). Non-dairy sources contributed to 93% of the calcium content (385mg/d) of the Paleolithic diet, 70% for Optifast and 61% in the MedDiet (631mg/d). None of the dietary pattens met all dietary reference values for calcium. There are no universal dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium, making cross country comparisons of dietary recommendations difficult. Only the Intermittent Fasting diet met the dietary recommendations in Australia for dairy serves for males 19-70 and females 19-50 years. None of the other diets met any recommendation for Australia, the US and Ireland. Most dietary patterns met the estimated average requirement for age and gender, for calcium for Australia, the US and Ireland, apart from the Paleolithic diet which eliminates dairy foods and the MedDiet which is naturally low in dairy foods. These data indicate that several popular weight-loss diets do not meet dietary recommendations for dairy foods or calcium. Therefore, when considering a weight loss diet or dietary pattern, it is crucial to consider the nutritional adequacy, to ensure macro and micronutrient requirements are met for health and avoidance of nutritional deficiencies, particularly if followed long-term.
Risk of low energy availability and level of nutrition knowledge in recreational trail runners in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Authors: Buch T. , Beck K.L. , Tam R. , Gifford J. , Badenhorst C.
Published: May 2024

Trail running is an endurance sport growing in popularity. It is characterised by long event durations and extreme environments that are likely to result in high exercise energy expenditure. Energy availability is defined as the amount of energy available to support normal physiological functions after subtracting the energy cost of exercise from energy intake. Insufficient energy intake, increased exercise, or a combination of both can result in a state of low energy availability (LEA). While research shows a weak positive association between nutrition knowledge and diet quality, results are conflicting regarding associations between nutrition knowledge and LEA. Research has demonstrated a high prevalence of risk of LEA (~33%-85%) among both elite and recreational athletes, across both sexes and in endurance sports such as running. However, little is known about risk of LEA and nutrition knowledge in trail runners. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of LEA prevalence in recreational trail runners and investigate associations with nutrition knowledge. Risk of LEA was assessed using the ‘Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire’ (LEAF-Q)(1), and the ‘Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire’ (LEAM-Q)(2). Nutrition knowledge was measured via the ‘Platform for Evaluating Athlete Knowledge in Sports – Nutrition Questionnaire’ (PEAKS-NQ)(3). Demographics and trail-running experience questions were integrated into the survey. Data was analysed in SPSS version 29 (IBM Corporation). Comparisons between groups (e.g. ‘low risk’ vs ‘not low risk’) were performed using a chi-square test for categorical variables, and an independent samples t-test for continuous variables. The final survey sample was 217 (140 females, 42.01 ± 10.72 years; 77 males, 47.86 ± 12.05 years) for the LEAF-Q, LEAM-Q, and trail running questions; and 152 for the PEAKS-NQ. Thirty-one percent of females (n = 43) were classified as ‘not low risk’ of LEA based on the LEAF-Q cut-off of ≥8. Twenty-three percent of males (n = 18) were identified as having low sex drive, a marker of LEA risk. The LEAF-Q/sex drive score was higher in those ‘not at low risk’ (10.72 ± 2.28/4.50 ± 1.95) compared to those at low risk (3.94 ± 2.34/1.53 ± 1.12, p<0.001). Three quarters of general nutrition knowledge responses were correct (females, 78.60 ± 10.09%; males, 75.78 ± 10.67%). However, sports nutrition scores were lower (females, 66.31 ± 13.44%; males, 63.18 ± 15.53%) with the lowest mean scores observed for ‘fuel for during events’. There was no significant association between nutrition knowledge and risk of LEA in both sexes. The findings suggest that recreational trail runners are a group of active individuals who are at risk of LEA and that they might benefit from more sports-specific nutrition education.
Australian native grain reduces blood glucose response and Glycemic Index
Authors: Pour T. , Binge H. , Cross R. , Moore K. , Pattison A. , Brand-Miller J. , Atkinson F. , Bell-Anderson K.
Published: May 2024

Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are disproportionately affected by diet-related disease such as type 2 diabetes, the rate of which is 20 fold higher than that of non-Indigenous young Australians(1). Before colonisation, Gomeroi and other First Nations people harvested, threshed and ground native grass seeds with water into a paste before cooking(2). The introduction of white refined flour has meant that time-consuming grass seed processing has mainly ceased, and native grains are no longer eaten habitually. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 10% incorporation of two native grain flours on postprandial blood glucose response and Glycemic Index (GI). Five male and five female subjects, with a mean age of 30 ± 0.9 and BMI of 21.6 ± 0.4 and normoglycemic, participated in GI testing of three flour + water pancake compositions matched for available carbohydrate: 100% wheat (Wheat) and 90% wheat:10% native grains (Native_a and Native_b). Effect on satiety was determined using subjective ratings of hunger/fullness over the time course of the GI testing. In comparison to the plain flour pancake, replacing 10% plain wheat flour with Native_b flour significantly reduced the GI by 28.8% from 73 ± 5 to 48 ± 5, having a profound effect on postprandial blood glucose levels in 9 of 10 subjects (p<0.05, paired t-test). The GI of 10% Native_a flour pancake was not different from 100% wheat flour pancake (75 ± 5). Satiety tended to be greater when native grains were incorporated but this study was not powered to detect effect on satiety. In conclusion, replacing only 10% of plain wheat flour with Native_b flour was sufficient to significantly reduce the blood glycemic response to the pancake. This replacement could be easily implemented for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. For Aboriginal people with access to grain Country, the nutritional health benefits associated with eating native grains, as well as the cultural benefits of caring for Country, will have a direct transformational impact on local communities. Our vision is to revitalise Gomeroi grains and to guide a sustainable Indigenous-led industry to heal Country and people through co-designed research.
SunGold Kiwifruit and Psychological Health (GoKiPH): a randomised, crossover trial
Authors: Billows M. , Kakoschke N. , Zajac I.
Published: May 2024

Gold kiwifruit consumption and increased vitamin C intake have been associated with improved mood, vitality, and wellbeing in healthy individuals(1,2). However, to date, no studies have focussed exclusively on the efficacy of gold kiwifruit for improving such outcomes in participants with disturbed mood. A randomised crossover trial was undertaken to examine the efficacy of ZespriTM SunGoldTM kiwifruit for improving psychological wellbeing and vitamin C concentrations in adults with sub-clinical levels of mood disturbance. In a two-period, non-blinded crossover trial, N = 26 adults aged 21 to 60 years (M = 36.1, SD = 11.0) with mild to moderate mood disturbance were randomised to a counter-balanced sequence. Participants consumed 2x SunGold kiwifruit daily or their typical diet for four weeks, with a two-week washout between periods. The primary outcome was change in mood disturbance, with secondary outcomes including plasma vitamin C, wellbeing, vitality and gut health. Results indicated a significant time x treatment interaction effect for mood disturbance (F(2,107.3) = 6.19, p = ,003) with significant improvements in mood disturbance scores between baseline and post-intervention during the SunGold kiwifruit period. A significant time x treatment interaction effect for blood plasma vitamin C (F(2,98.5) = 3.65, p = ,029) also demonstrated increased vitamin C concentrations during the SunGold kiwifruit period. A significant time x treatment interaction effect for wellbeing (F(2,104.7) = 4.5, p = ,013) was evident with wellbeing significantly improved between baseline and post-intervention during the SunGold kiwifruit period. The time x treatment interaction for vitality approached significance (F(2,104.7) = 2.89, p = ,06) with increases in vitality following SunGold kiwifruit consumption. These results provide preliminary evidence that SunGold kiwifruit consumption improves psychological wellbeing in mood-disturbed adults, which corresponds to increased plasma vitamin C concentrations. Future research is required to replicate this effect and to further demonstrate the potential benefit of whole-food interventions for treating mood-disturbance.