The in-vitro digestibility of instant noodles: Interplay of texture, microstructure and starch structure.

Instant noodles are a worldwide food staple. However, the correlation between its production methods and nutritional characteristics remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the effects of hydrothermal (steaming and boiling) and cooling techniques on instant noodles in-vitro digestibility.

Genomic selection shows improved expected genetic gain over phenotypic selection of agronomic traits in allotetraploid white clover.

Genomic selection using white clover multi-year-multi-site data showed predicted genetic gains through integrating among-half-sibling-family phenotypic selection and within-family genomic selection were up to 89% greater than half-sibling-family phenotypic selection alone. Genomic selection, an effective breeding tool used widely in plants and animals for improving low-heritability traits, has only recently been applied to forages. We explored the feasibility of implementing genomic selection in white clover (Trifolium repens L.

Early subacute frontal callosal microstructure and language outcomes after stroke.

The integrity of the frontal segment of the corpus callosum, forceps minor, is particularly susceptible to age-related degradation and has been associated with cognitive outcomes in both healthy and pathological ageing. The predictive relevance of forceps minor integrity in relation to cognitive outcomes following a stroke remains unexplored. Our goal was to evaluate whether the heterogeneity of forceps minor integrity, assessed early after stroke onset (2-6 weeks), contributes to explaining variance in longitudinal outcomes in post-stroke aphasia.

Timely access to specialist outpatient care: can applying systems thinking unblock our waiting lists?

Background: The purpose of this qualitative study was to focus on review and repeat review outpatients and the structural role they play in exacerbating waitlists for Specialist Outpatient (SOP) services in Queensland. Waitlists, which record the number of patients waiting for an initial consultation (new appointment), are an indicator of a health system under strain. Waiting too long to access SOP can have a detrimental effect on people's health outcomes.

The development of social offloading.

Across two experiments, we explored the conditions under which 4- to 11-year-old children (N = 138) were more likely to seek social cognitive helpers and whether they preferentially relied on help from those that had previously shown proficiency in a relevant cognitive context. Children completed a memory task with varying levels of difficulty, after which they were introduced to two characters that exhibited either a high memory ability (task-relevant) or a high motor skill ability (task-irrelevant) in a distinct context. Children then completed the memory task a second time with the option to choose one of the two characters to assist them.

An in-silico investigation of the effect of changing cycling crank power and cadence on muscle energetics and active muscle volume.

This study used musculoskeletal modelling to explore the relationship between cycling conditions (power output and cadence) and muscle activation and metabolic power. We hypothesized that the cadence that minimized the simulated average active muscle volume would be higher than the cadence that minimized the simulated metabolic power. We validated the simulation by comparing the predicted muscle activation and fascicle velocities with experimental electromyography and ultrasound images.

Developing an Online Education Resource to Enhance Physical Therapists' Use of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Other Related Identities Affirming Care: A Mixed Methods Study.

Introduction: The objective of this study is to develop and evaluate an evidence-based, clinically relevant, and user-friendly eLearning resource to facilitate the provision of safe and affirming physical therapy services for individuals with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other related identities or experiences (LGBTQIA+).

Review Of Literature: When accessing physical therapy, individuals who are LGBTQIA+ can experience assumptions, discrimination, discomfort, and encounter health professionals who lack knowledge about LGBTQIA+ health.

Subjects: Nine consumers and end-users participated in codesign and 20 physical therapists (evaluated the resource).

Increased arterial stiffness is associated with poorer social cognition in older age.

It is now well established that vascular aging is a significant predictor of cognitive decline in older age. But what remains less clear is the role that vascular health plays in social cognitive aging. Therefore, we aimed to provide the first test of the relationship between arterial stiffness and theory of mind (ToM) in late adulthood.

A first-in-human study of JNJ-70218902, a bispecific T-cell-redirecting antibody against TMEFF2 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has a poor prognosis, necessitating the investigation of novel treatments and targets. This study evaluated JNJ-70218902 (JNJ-902), a T-cell redirector targeting transmembrane protein with epidermal growth factor-like and 2 follistatin-like domains 2 (TMEFF2) and cluster of differentiation 3, in mCRPC.

Patients And Methods: Patients who had measurable/evaluable mCRPC after at least one novel androgen receptor-targeted therapy or chemotherapy were eligible.

Electrochemical Fluorination of Organic Compounds Using a Hexafluorosilicate Salt as an Inexpensive and Widely Available Fluorine Source.

The introduction of fluorine into organic molecules is of the utmost importance in the preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). While a wide range of fluorine sources for organic synthesis have been used over the past decades, the associated safety risks, cost, or environmental impact are still serious limitations. Hexafluorosilicate salts are one of the most inexpensive and readily available sources of nucleophilic fluorine, but they have so far not been used in organic synthesis.

Cre-Lox miRNA-delivery technology optimized for inducible microRNA and gene-silencing studies in zebrafish.

While many genetic tools exist for zebrafish, this animal model still lacks robust gene-silencing and microRNA-delivery technologies enabling spatio-temporal control and traceability. We have recently demonstrated that engineered pri-miR backbones can trigger stable gene knockdown and/or express microRNA(s) of choice in this organism. However, this miRNA-expressing technology presents important limitations.

Nanofiltration Membranes for Efficient Lithium Extraction from Salt-Lake Brine: A Critical Review.

The global transition to clean energy technologies has escalated the demand for lithium (Li), a critical component in rechargeable Li-ion batteries, highlighting the urgent need for efficient and sustainable Li extraction methods. Nanofiltration (NF)-based separations have emerged as a promising solution, offering selective separation capabilities that could advance resource extraction and recovery. However, an NF-based lithium extraction process differs significantly from conventional water treatment, necessitating a paradigm shift in membrane materials design, performance evaluation metrics, and process optimization.

Genomic regions associated with spot blotch resistance in elite barley breeding populations.

Unlabelled: Spot blotch (SB), a prevalent foliar disease of barley, is caused by the hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen . Predominately occurring in humid growing regions worldwide, SB can result in yield losses of up to 30%. Genetic resistance remains the most effective strategy for disease management; however, most Australian barley cultivars exhibit susceptibility despite the previous identification of major resistance loci.

Electrospun meshes for abdominal wall hernia repair: Potential and challenges.

Surgical meshes are widely used in abdominal wall hernia repairs. However, consensus on mesh treatment remains elusive due to varying repair outcomes, especially with the introduction of new meshes, posing a substantial challenge for surgeons. Addressing these issues requires communicating the features of emerging candidates with a focus on clinical considerations.

Undoped ruthenium oxide as a stable catalyst for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction.

Reducing green hydrogen production cost is critical for its widespread application. Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers are among the most promising technologies, and significant research has been focused on developing more active, durable, and cost-effective catalysts to replace expensive iridium in the anode. Ruthenium oxide is a leading alternative while its stability is inadequate.

Assessing biochar's impact on greenhouse gas emissions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in agricultural soils through meta-analysis and machine learning.

The role of biochar in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving soil health is a topic of extensive research, yet its effects remain debated. Conflicting evidence exists regarding biochar's impact on soil microbial-mediated emissions with respect to different GHGs. This study systematically examines these divergent perspectives, aiming to investigate biochar's influence on GHG emissions and soil health in agricultural soils.

Viral auxiliary roles in hydrolytic and biosynthetic metabolism regulate prokaryotic microbial interactions in anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) viruses have gained recognition as significant regulators of microbial interactions within AD communities, yet their ecological roles remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the ecological roles of AD viruses in regulating microbial interactions among syntrophic hosts. We recovered 3921 diverse viral sequences from four full-scale anaerobic digesters and confirmed their widespread presence across 127 global metagenomic sampling sites (with >95 % sequence similarity), underscoring the ubiquity of prokaryotic viruses in AD-related systems.

Tannin additions decrease the concentration of malodorous volatile sulfur compounds in wine-like model solutions and wine.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS), methanethiol (MeSH) and ethanethiol (EtSH) are volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) produced during winemaking and are associated with negative 'reductive' aromas in wine. Anecdotal evidence suggests that oenological tannins may be used to remediate the 'reductive' character of wines, yet little scientific evidence or explanation supporting this observation has been published. In this study, it was found that the addition of oenological tannins significantly decreased HS, MeSH, and EtSH in model wine by up to 92 %, 90 % and 86 %, respectively, after two weeks of storage.

Microbial safety of black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) reared on food waste streams.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can valorise different organic matter and yield a product of high nutritional value. The lack of knowledge about the microbial safety of BSFL grown on different organic waste streams influences the commercialisation of BSFL as stockfeed ingredient. This study evaluates the microbial safety of BSFL grown on five different commercial food waste streams collected from two commercial production facilities.

Electrostatically tuning radical addition and atom abstraction reactions with distonic radical ions.

Although electrostatic catalysis can enhance the kinetics and selectivity of reactions to produce greener synthetic processes, the highly directional nature of electrostatic interactions has limited widespread application. In this study, the influence of oriented electric fields (OEF) on radical addition and atom abstraction reactions are systematically explored with ion-trap mass spectrometry using structurally diverse distonic radical ions that maintain spatially separated charge and radical moieties. When installed on rigid molecular scaffolds, charged functional groups lock the magnitude and orientation of the internal electric field with respect to the radical site, creating an OEF which tunes the reactivity across the set of gas-phase carbon-centred radical reactions.

Coarse bubble mixing in anoxic zone greatly stimulates nitrous oxide emissions from biological nitrogen removal process.

The biological nitrogen removal process in wastewater treatment inevitably produces nitrous oxide (NO), a potent greenhouse gas. Coarse bubble mixing is widely employed in wastewater treatment processes to mix anoxic tanks; however, its impacts on NO emissions are rarely reported. This study investigates the effects of coarse bubble mixing on NO emissions in a pilot-scale mainstream nitrite shunt reactor over a 50-day steady-state period.

Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis.

Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012-2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We (i) synthesised information from a literature review; (ii) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; (iii) hosted an in-person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and (iv) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources.

Uptake of Quitline Telephone Counselling by Women Who Smoke During Pregnancy.

Background: While many pregnant women accept referrals for smoking cessation support, the uptake of telephone counselling appointments is unknown.

Aims: To determine the uptake rate of Quitline appointments among Australian pregnant women who smoke after being referred by a healthcare provider.

Materials And Methods: Data on attendance at telephone counselling appointments, number of appointments attended, gestational age at referral, referral source and smoking cessation upon completion of the program were requested from Quitline.

Gene content of seawater microbes is a strong predictor of water chemistry across the Great Barrier Reef.

Background: Seawater microbes (bacteria and archaea) play essential roles in coral reefs by facilitating nutrient cycling, energy transfer, and overall reef ecosystem functioning. However, environmental disturbances such as degraded water quality and marine heatwaves, can impact these vital functions as seawater microbial communities experience notable shifts in composition and function when exposed to stressors. This sensitivity highlights the potential of seawater microbes to be used as indicators of reef health.