β-Glucan content and bile-acid binding capacity of and spp.

The cholesterol lowering properties of oats and barley, attributed to their high β-glucan content, are well established, but it remains unclear whether mushrooms, also rich in β-glucan, exhibit a similar functionality. We aimed to quantify the β-glucan content of commonly consumed Australian mushrooms and evaluated their bile acid binding capacity, the primary cholesterol lowering mechanism of β-glucan. Raw, boiled and fried Australian grown (button, cup, flat and brown mushrooms) and spp.

Assessing the Protein Quality, In Vitro Intestinal Iron Absorption and Human Faecal Microbiota Impacts of Plant-Based Mince.

The nutritional quality of plant-based meat analogues compared to traditional meat products has been questioned in recent commentary, particularly in relation to protein quality and micronutrient bioavailability. However, the attributes of specific products within this category are unclear. We therefore undertook a comprehensive assessment of the compositional and functional attributes of v2food (Sydney, Australia) plant-based mince, including an assessment of the effects of reformulation, including the addition of amino acids, ascorbic acid, and different forms of elemental iron.

Nutrition, allergenicity and physicochemical qualities of food-grade protein extracts from Nannochloropsis oculata.

Microalgae offer an opportunity to act as a sustainable source of dietary protein. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of different protein extraction methods on the nutritional and physicochemical properties of Nannochloropsis oculata. Food-grade protein extracts were obtained by hypotonic osmotic shock using milli-Q water.

Development and Usability Evaluation of a Desktop Software Application for Pain Assessment in Infants.

Background: Pain assessment is a key component of pain management and research in infants. We developed software to assist in coding of pain in infants called PAiN (Pain Assessment in Neonates).

Aims: The aims of this study were to evaluate the usability of PAiN in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction among novice and expert users and to compare the efficiency and satisfaction of PAiN to existing software for coding of infant pain among expert users.

A panel of correlates predicts vaccine-induced protection of rats against respiratory challenge with virulent Francisella tularensis.

There are no defined correlates of protection for any intracellular pathogen, including the bacterium Francisella tularensis, which causes tularemia. Evaluating vaccine efficacy against sporadic diseases like tularemia using field trials is problematic, and therefore alternative strategies to test vaccine candidates like the Francisella Live Vaccine Strain (LVS), such as testing in animals and applying correlate measurements, are needed. Recently, we described a promising correlate strategy that predicted the degree of vaccine-induced protection in mice given parenteral challenges, primarily when using an attenuated Francisella strain.

Increasing Epilepsy Awareness in Schools: A Seizure Smart Schools Project.

A high prevalence of epilepsy diagnoses and seizure events among students was identified at a large Midwestern school district. In partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota (EFMN), a quality improvement project was conducted to provide education and resources to staff caring for school children with seizures. School nurses (N = 26) were trained as seizure management educators and instructed staff in 21 schools on seizure awareness and response.

Protogynous Sex Change in the Intertidal Isopod Gnorimosphaeroma oregonense (Crustacea: Isopoda).

In Crustacea, the dominant pattern of sequential hermaphroditism is protandry (sex change from male to female). Here we provide the first evidence from external morphology and population structure that Gnorimosphaeroma oregonense, an abundant, sexually dimorphic intertidal isopod, undergoes protogynous (female to male) sex change. In the field, 31% of females had rudimentary penes, suggesting sex change and laboratory growth experiments confirmed that females produced one brood of juveniles, then passed through a variable number of molts as immature males before becoming sexually mature males.

AIDS education in rural Uganda--a way forward.

A survey of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related knowledge and attitudes was conducted during July and August 1988 in rural SW Uganda. The aim was to assess the impact of Uganda's AIDS education programme and to consider how future programmes could be more effectively implemented. Four hundred and seventy-six individuals aged 12-45 years were selected by a quota method, to form a sample stratified by age and sex.