Synthesis of Cyclic Oligomers of Polyether Ketone Ketone (PEKK) for Ring-Opening Polymerisation (ROP) Applications.

Entropy-Driven Ring-Opening Polymerisation represents an attractive mechanism to produce high-performance polymeric materials as it can be performed using neat, low-viscosity precursors and without the production of by-products or release of volatiles. Macrocyclic oligomers (MCOs) of polyether ketone ketone (PEKK) were synthesised and investigated as an method of forming this high-performance thermoplastic. Cyclic oligomers were successfully synthesised by pseudo-high dilution methods, and the reaction conditions were optimised through careful addition of starting materials and carbonate base selection.

Evaluating Self-Pollination Methods: Their Impact on Nut Set and Nutlet Abscission in Macadamia.

Nut set is an important determinant of yield and plays a pivotal role in orchard profitability. The complex process of nut setting is governed by numerous factors, with pollination being a critical mechanism. Macadamia cultivars exhibit both self- and cross-pollination.

Time-Restricted Eating in Real-World Healthcare Settings: Utilisation and Short-Term Outcomes Evaluation.

Background: Time-restricted eating (TRE) shows promise for managing weight and metabolic issues, yet its application in real-world healthcare settings remains underexplored. This study aims to assess the real-world utilisation and short-term outcomes of TRE in clinical practice.

Methods: This observational study used a retrospective chart review of 271 adults who attended a metabolic specialist clinic between 2019 and 2023.

A Narrative Review on the Neurocognitive Profiles in Eating Disorders and Higher Weight Individuals: Insights for Targeted Interventions.

: Recent research has increasingly explored the cognitive processes underlying eating disorders (EDs), including anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED), other specified feeding or eating disorders (OSFEDs), and individuals with higher weight (HW). This critical narrative review focuses on neurocognitive findings derived from mainly experimental tasks to provide a detailed understanding of cognitive functioning across these groups. Where experimental data are lacking, we draw on self-report measures and neuroimaging findings to offer supplementary insights.

Update on Fatty Acids and the Brain.

The brain is a lipid-rich organ, mainly due to the very high lipid content of myelin, but in addition to this, all the neuronal cell membranes, of which there are over 80 billion in the human brain [...

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Through Lifestyle Interventions in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes-A Summary of Participant and Intervention Characteristics.

: We aimed to review the effect of lifestyle interventions in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the participants and intervention characteristics. : We systematically searched seven databases for RCTs of lifestyle interventions published up to 24 July 2024. We included 30 studies that reported the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) or body weight.

Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Co-Designed and Co-Created Healthy Lifestyle Social Media Intervention Programme the Daily Health Coach for Young Women: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: Young women spend 50 min daily on social media (SM); thus, SM platforms are promising for health interventions. This study tested the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the co-designed SM intervention the Daily Health Coach (DHC). The DHC is a 3-month healthy lifestyles intervention programme, targeting eating, physical activity, and social wellbeing behaviours in women aged 18-24, via the dissemination of health and nutrition content on social media platform Instagram.

Urinary Metabolite Profiles of Participants with Overweight and Obesity Prescribed a Weight Loss High Fruit and Vegetable Diet: A Single Arm Intervention Study.

Background/objectives: Thus far, no studies have examined the relationship between fruit and vegetable (F and V) intake, urinary metabolite quantities, and weight change. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to explore changes in urinary metabolomic profiles during and after a 10-week weight loss intervention where participants were prescribed a high F and V diet (7 servings daily).

Methods: Adults with overweight and obesity ( = 34) received medical nutrition therapy counselling to increase their F and V intakes to national targets (7 servings a day).

Dietary Patterns and Fibre Intake Are Associated with Disease Activity in Australian Adults with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Exploratory Dietary Pattern Analysis.

Background: Few studies have explored the relationship between habitual dietary patterns and disease activity in people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). This cross-sectional study explored the association between dietary patterns and clinical and objective markers of inflammation in adults from the Australian IBD Microbiome Study.

Methods: Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis (PCA) of baseline food frequency questionnaire data.

Defining "High-In" Saturated Fat, Sugar, and Sodium to Help Inform Front-of-Pack Labeling Efforts for Packaged Foods and Beverages in the United States.

: To help consumers make healthier choices, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been charged with developing a front-of-package label (FOPL) to appear on US packaged foods and beverages. One option being explored is the use of "high-in" FOPLs for added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat using a threshold of ≥20% of the recommended daily value (%DV) per portion/serving size to define "high-in". While research has addressed what FOPL designs are most effective at visually communicating "high-in", less attention has been paid to the nutrient profile model (NPM) used to decide which products should receive these labels.

The Effect of Carnosine Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health in Adults with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background/objectives: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of adverse musculoskeletal outcomes likely due to heightened chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and advanced glycation end-products (AGE). Carnosine has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-AGE properties. However, no clinical trials have examined the impact of carnosine on musculoskeletal health in adults with prediabetes or T2D.

Investigating the Impact of Glycogen-Depleting Exercise Combined with Prolonged Fasting on Autophagy and Cellular Health in Humans: A Randomised Controlled Crossover Trial.

Importance: Although prolonged fasting has become increasingly popular, the favourable biological adaptations and possible adverse effects in humans have yet to be fully elucidated.

Objective: To investigate the effects of a three-day water-only fasting, with or without exercise-induced glycogen depletion, on autophagy activation and the molecular pathways involved in cellular damage accumulation and repair in healthy humans.

Design: A randomised, single-centre, two-period, two-sequence crossover trial.

Extract Improves Vascular Dysfunction in Obese Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) by impairing normal vascular function. Natural products are gaining momentum in the clinical setting due to their high efficacy and low toxicity. extract (CFE) has been shown to control appetite and promote weight loss; however, its effect on vascular function remains poorly understood.

What Do We Know About the Energy Status and Diets of Pre-Professional and Professional Dancers: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: Dancers require adequate nutrition support for growth and development during the pre-professional stage, as well as to fuel classes and rehearsals and to enhance performance for both pre-professional and professional dancers. The aim of this study is to understand the energy status and diet of pre-professional and professional dancers in the genres of ballet, contemporary, musical theatre, and opera.

Methods: Electronic databases ( = 9) and grey literature were searched for primary studies with no time limit.

The Relationship Between the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern and Exercise and Sport Performance-A Scoping Review.

Athletes seek healthy diets for their health and performance. The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) has been widely studied for its health benefits. We conducted a scoping review of the scientific literature for studies reporting on the relationship between MedDiet adherence and performance and health outcomes in athletes.

Metabolic Health, Overweight or Obesity, and Lung Function in Older Australian Adults.

Few studies have explored the links between adiposity, metabolic health, and lung function. This study examined the cross-sectional association between spirometric lung function and overweight/obesity, with and without metabolic abnormalities, in older adults. The research involved 3,318 older adults from the Hunter Community Study Cohort who had a BMI of 18.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of (Gaertn.) Roxb. and Retz. Fruit Extracts Against Gastrointestinal Pathogens: Enhancing Antibiotic Efficacy.

(Gaertn) Roxb. and Retz. are significant botanicals in ancient Ayurvedic medicine.

Detection and Characterisation of Colistin-Resistant in Broiler Meats.

The irrational use of antimicrobials has led to the emergence of resistance, impacting not only pathogenic bacteria but also commensal bacteria. Resistance against colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, mediated by globally disseminated plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistance () genes, has raised significant global concerns. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns of colistin-resistant () and mobilised colistin resistance ( 1-5) genes from broiler meat.

Wild-Mouse-Derived Gut Microbiome Transplantation in Laboratory Mice Partly Alleviates House-Dust-Mite-Induced Allergic Airway Inflammation.

Laboratory mice are instrumental for preclinical research but there are serious concerns that the use of a clean standardized environment for specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice results in poor bench-to-bedside translation due to their immature immune system. The aim of the present study was to test the importance of the gut microbiota in wild vs. SPF mice for evaluating host immune responses in a house-dust-mite-induced allergic airway inflammation model without the influence of pathogens.

Histological Dissection of Fusarium-Banana Interaction Using a GFP-Tagged Subtropical Race 4 Strain of f. sp. on Banana Cultivars with Differing Levels of Resistance.

Fusarium wilt, caused by f. sp. (), poses a significant threat to global banana production.

Medicinal Cannabis and the Intestinal Microbiome.

Historically, the multiple uses of cannabis as a medicine, food, and for recreational purposes as a psychoactive drug span several centuries. The various components of the plant (i.e.

A Quantitative Chemometric Study of Pharmaceutical Tablet Formulations Using Multi-Spectroscopic Fibre Optic Probes.

Two fibre optic probes were custom designed to perform Raman and near-infrared spectroscopic measurements. Our long-term objective is to develop a non-destructive tool able to collect data in hard-to-access locations for real-time analysis or diagnostic purposes. This study evaluated the quantitative performances of Probe A and Probe B using model pharmaceutical tablets.

The Comparative Effect of Morphine on Proliferation of Cancer Cell Lines Originating from Different Organs: An In Vitro Study.

: Opium consumption was recently classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) monograph as carcinogenic to humans based on strong evidence for cancers of the larynx, lung, and urinary bladder, and limited evidence for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, and pharynx. This poses the question of a potential pro-cancer effect of pharmaceutical opioid analgesics. In vitro studies employing a variety of experimental conditions suggest that opioid alkaloids have proliferative or antiproliferative effects.

Novel sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback () and Green () Turtle in Western Australia.

Malaria and other haemosporidian parasites are common in reptiles. During baseline health surveys of sea turtles in Western Australia (WA), haemosporidian parasites were detected in flatback () and green () turtle erythrocytes during routine blood film examination. 130 blood samples were screened via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including 105 20 and 5 olive ridley turtles ().

The Effectiveness of Salivary Sampling for the Detection and Quantification of in Periodontitis Patients.

The objective was to evaluate using unstimulated saliva in detecting and to compare the saliva and subgingival and mucosa membrane occurrence of this periodontal pathogen in patients diagnosed with advanced periodontitis. Patients with advanced forms of periodontitis ( = 220; mean age: 54.03 ± 03 years) at stage III/IV were sampled.