Assessing the predictive value of means-end-chain theory: an application to meat product choice by Australian middle-aged women.

Means-end-chain theory seeks to understand how consumers make links between products and self-relevant consequences and values. To date, means-end-chain theory has remained a descriptive process and has not been applied to predicting product choice. Within the context of cooking meat, the main objective of this research was to assess the predictive value of the means-end-chain theory.

Reactions to genetically modified food crops and how perception of risks and benefits influences consumers' information gathering.

Previous research has reported strong consumer perception that genetically modified (GM) food crops may lead to adverse outcomes in a number of different areas. This is despite the widespread promulgation of the potential benefits and opportunities ascribed to the same technology by many scientists and other experts. A computer-based information gathering and evaluation task was completed by 198 adults to assess the extent to which their initial focus on the dangers or opportunities of genetic modification, or both, could be ascribed to the manner in which they gathered information on the topic (heuristically vs.

Food neophobia and associations with cultural diversity and socio-economic status amongst rural and urban Australian adolescents.

Exposure to diverse cultures and higher socio-economic status (SES) may increase knowledge of a wide variety of stimuli, including food, and be negatively associated with food neophobia. We contrasted questionnaire responses from two groups of Australian high school students (aged 12-18 years) from remote rural (rural, n=243) and cosmopolitan urban (city, n=696) locations to the food neophobia scale (FNS), familiarity with certain foods and willingness to try those foods. Cultural diversity measures and two SES scales were created.

Anti-ovine interleukin-1beta monoclonal antibody immunotherapy in an ovine model of gram-negative septic shock.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of an anti-ovine interleukin-1beta monoclonal antibody to ameliorate pathophysiological derangements and improve survival in an ovine model of gram-negative septic shock.

Design: Prospective, placebo-controlled, interventional study (24-hr study period).

Setting: University hospital animal research laboratory.

A prospective randomized trial evaluating the haemodynamic role of incompetent calf perforating veins.

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine the haemodynamic effect of incompetent calf perforating veins in patients with uncomplicated varicose veins and long saphenous incompetence.

Methods: Thirty-eight limbs from 35 patients were studied. All patients had uncomplicated varicose veins with both long saphenous and calf perforator incompetence on duplex ultrasonography.