Publications by authors named "Brian Cook"

Background: Reducing the environmental impact of foods consumed is important for meeting climate goals. We aimed to conduct a randomised controlled trial to test whether ecolabels reduce the environmental impact of food selected in worksite cafeterias, alone or in combination with increased availability of more sustainable meal options.

Methods: Worksite cafeterias (n = 96) were randomised to one of three study groups, with 54 included for final analysis.

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The low reduction potentials required for the reduction of dinitrogen (N) render metal-based nitrogen-fixation catalysts vulnerable to irreversible damage by dioxygen (O). Such O sensitivity represents a major conundrum for the enzyme nitrogenase, as a large fraction of nitrogen-fixing organisms are either obligate aerobes or closely associated with O-respiring organisms to support the high energy demand of catalytic N reduction. To counter O damage to nitrogenase, diazotrophs use O scavengers, exploit compartmentalization or maintain high respiration rates to minimize intracellular O concentrations.

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Introduction: Retinol has a long history of treating skin conditions, including photoaging. However, skin irritation with repeated use of retinol is well documented. The present study assessed the effectiveness of a novel topical formulation, referred to as retinol topical formulation (RTF), to improve the quality of skin health.

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In an era of growing environmental, socioeconomic, and market uncertainties, understanding the adaptive strategies of smallholder farmers is paramount for sustainable agricultural productivity and environmental management efforts. We adopted a mixed-methods approach to investigate the adaptive strategies of smallholders in Northwest Cambodia. Our methodology included downscaled climate projections to project future climate conditions and scenarios, household surveys to collect detailed demographic and socioeconomic data, crop monitoring and record-keeping to gather data on productivity and profitability, and semi-structured interviews to obtain qualitative insights on constraints and adaptation.

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Providing consumers with product-specific environmental impact information for food products (ecolabels) may promote more sustainable purchasing, needed to meet global environmental targets. This UK study (N = 1051 participants) investigated the effectiveness of different ecolabels using an experimental online supermarket platform, comparing three labels against control (no label). Significant reductions were found in the environmental impact score (EIS) for all labels compared to control (labels presented: values for four environmental indicators [-3.

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High-quality grid preparation for single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) remains a bottleneck for routinely obtaining high-resolution structures. The issues that arise from traditional grid preparation workflows are particularly exacerbated for oxygen-sensitive proteins, including metalloproteins, whereby oxygen-induced damage and alteration of oxidation states can result in protein inactivation, denaturation, and/or aggregation. Indeed, 99% of the current structures in the EMBD were prepared aerobically and limited successes for anaerobic cryoEM grid preparation exist.

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Advances in single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) now allow for routine structure determination of well-behaved biological specimens to high-resolution. Despite advances in the electron microscope, direct electron detectors, and data processing software, the preparation of high-quality grids with thin layers of vitreous ice containing the specimen of interest in random orientations remains a critical bottleneck for many projects. Although numerous efforts have been dedicated to overcoming hurdles frequently encountered during specimen vitrification using traditional blot-and-plunge specimen preparation techniques, the development of blot-free grid preparation devices provide a unique opportunity to carefully tune ice thickness, particle density, and specimen behavior during the vitrification process for improvements in image quality.

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The application of machine learning to cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) data analysis has added a valuable set of tools to the cryoEM data processing pipeline. As these tools become more accessible and widely available, the implications of their use should be assessed. We noticed that machine learning map modification tools can have differential effects on cryoEM densities.

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Talonavicular (TN) fusion is a common treatment for TN arthritis or deformity correction. There is incongruous evidence regarding remaining motion at the talocalcaneal and calcaneocuboid joints after TN fusion. Additionally, the effects of a malaligned TN fusion are not well understood and alignment of the fusion may be important for overall foot integrity.

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Sustainability labelling on food products can help consumers make informed purchasing decisions and support the urgent transition to sustainable food systems. While there is a relatively robust body of evidence on health and nutrition labelling, less is known about the effectiveness of sustainability labelling in facilitating sustainable food choices. This paper investigates the impact of sustainability labelling on consumer understanding, attitudes, and behaviour to support a more nuanced, detailed, and holistic understanding of the evidence.

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Objective: Evaluate the impact of a broadened theoretical and empirical model of community engagement aimed at coastal drowning prevention via relationship building between lifeguards and beachgoers through the delivery of skill development sessions on the beach.

Setting: A lifeguard-patrolled beach in Lorne, Victoria, Australia, during the 2023 peak summer holiday season.

Methods: In total, 12 skill development sessions were delivered by teams of lifeguards and risk researchers to beachgoers.

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Exercise addiction (EA) refers to excessive exercise, lack of control, and health risks. The Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) is one of the most widely used tools in its assessment. However, the cross-cultural psychometric properties of the EAI could be improved because it misses three pathological patterns, including guilt, exercise despite injury, and experienced harm.

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Most drowning deaths on Australian beaches occur in locations not patrolled by lifeguards. At patrolled locations, where lifeguards supervise flagged areas in which beachgoers are encouraged to swim between, the incidence of drowning is reduced. To date, risk prevention practices on coasts focus on patrolled beaches, deploying warning signs at unpatrolled locations with the aim of raising public awareness of risk.

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Policies to reduce meat consumption are needed to help achieve climate change targets, and could also improve population health. Public acceptability can affect the likelihood of policy implementation. This study estimated the acceptability of policies to reduce red and processed meat consumption, and whether acceptability differed when policies were framed as benefitting health or the environment.

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Introduction: Reserve and National Guard (RNG) service members face increased risks for psychological and behavioral problems and are unlikely to seek mental health (MH) care after returning from military deployments. This article examines an online intervention (Web-Ed) with regard to participation, screening results, satisfaction, and intent to seek follow-up MH care, with comparisons by gender and post-deployment MH care receipt.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 414 RNG service members (214 women and 200 men), who returned from deployments to or in support of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars within the prior 36 months.

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Background: There is an urgent need to reduce society's meat consumption to help mitigate climate change and reduce noncommunicable diseases.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate changes in meat intake after participation in an online, multicomponent, self-regulation intervention.

Methods: We conducted a pre-post observational study among adult meat eaters in the United Kingdom who signed up to a website offering support based on self-regulation theory to reduce meat consumption.

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Background: Although numerous studies have examined associations between personality traits and eating disorders in females, few studies have been conducted on female exercisers. Given the high risk of disordered eating in female exercisers, this study investigated the associations between the Big Five personality traits and disordered eating in female exercisers, and further explored the potential mediators, namely exercise dependence symptoms, and obsessive-compulsive symptoms underlying this association.

Methods: A total of 295 female exercisers aged between 18 to 67 years (M =  22.

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Providing consumers with product-specific environmental impact information for food products (ecolabels) may promote more sustainable purchasing, needed to meet global environmental targets. Two UK studies investigated the effectiveness of different ecolabels using an experimental online supermarket platform. Study 1 (N = 1051 participants) compared three labels against control (no label), while Study 2 (N = 4979) tested four designs against control.

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Nutrition labels and ecolabels can support consumers to make healthier and more sustainable choices, and the former is now widespread. But there is no information on the impact of ecolabels in the presence of nutrition labels. The aims of this study were primarily to examine whether (1) ecolabels are effective at promoting sustainable purchasing behaviour if presented alongside nutrition labels; (2) and secondarily, whether nutrition labels are effective at promoting healthier purchasing if presented alongside ecolabels.

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The enzyme nitrogenase couples adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis to the multielectron reduction of atmospheric dinitrogen into ammonia. Despite extensive research, the mechanistic details of ATP-dependent energy transduction and dinitrogen reduction by nitrogenase are not well understood, requiring new strategies to monitor its structural dynamics during catalytic action. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the nitrogenase complex prepared under enzymatic turnover conditions.

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Weakening and cleaving N-H bonds is crucial for improving molecular ammonia (NH) oxidation catalysts. We report the synthesis and H-atom-abstraction reaction of bis(ammonia)chromium porphyrin complexes Cr(TPP)(NH) and Cr(TMP)(NH) (TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl--porphyrin and TMP = 5,10,15,20-tetramesityl--porphyrin) using bulky aryloxyl radicals. The triple H-atom-abstraction reaction results in the formation of Cr(por)(≡N), with the nitride derived from NH, as indicated by UV-vis and IR and single-crystal structural determination of Cr(TPP)(≡N).

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Purpose: A reduction in meat intake is recommended to meet health and environmental sustainability goals. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an online self-regulation intervention to reduce meat consumption.

Methods: One hundred and fifty one adult meat eaters were randomised 1:1 to a multi-component self-regulation intervention or an information-only control.

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