Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease with a growing global prevalence and a projected increase in economic burden by 2050. A hallmark of asthma pathophysiology is airway remodeling, driven by persistent inflammation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a key mediator in this process, contributing to fibrosis and structural changes in the airways(1). Moreover, long-term use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), a mainstay in asthma management, has been associated with elevated PAI-1 levels(2), highlighting the need for alternative or adjunctive therapeutic strategies. Anthocyanins, naturally occurring flavonoids found in various fruits and vegetables, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in several chronic diseases. Their use has also been linked to improvements in asthma-related symptoms and inflammatory biomarkers. However, the direct impact of anthocyanins on PAI-1 levels in the context of asthma has not yet been explored, presenting a novel area of investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of New Zealand Blackcurrant (NZBC) extract rich in anthocyanins on PAI-1 levels using BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells, an in vitro model relevant to asthma due to its airway epithelial responses involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and remodeling. Statistical analyses were conducted using GraphPad Prism version 10.4.2. MTT assay data were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, while ELISA results were evaluated using an unpaired t-test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, which indicated significant cytotoxicity at concentrations above 50 µg/mL (p < 0.05). Based on these findings, 50 µg/mL was selected for subsequent experiments. Cells pretreated with NZBC anthocyanins and subsequently stimulated with TNF-α exhibited a significant reduction in PAI-1 levels compared to untreated controls (Control: 28,958 ± 2,485 vs. ACN: 14,360 ± 1,148; n = 3; p = 0.0060), as measured by ELISA, suggesting a potential protective effect against pro-fibrotic state. These findings support the potential role of NZBC anthocyanins as adjunctive agents in asthma therapy, particularly in mitigating airway remodeling. Future research should explore the clinical relevance of these effects, including genotype-specific variations in PAI-1 expression and responsiveness to anthocyanin treatment, to inform personalized therapeutic approaches.

Carbohydrate counting is crucial in the management of type 1 diabetes for determining meal time insulin and maintaining postprandial euglycemia. The use of automated dietary tracking apps may aid carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. However, the accuracy of these apps in detecting carbohydrate-containing foods might depend on their presentation. Segmenting or separating carbohydrate-rich foods on a plate could be a strategy to improve carbohydrate estimation accuracy with these tools. This study aimed to compare the performance of commercially available dietary apps in assessing the carbohydrate content of reference meals served as segmented vs. mixed meals. Under standard laboratory conditions, we analysed 30 meals of known composition using four commercially available apps: LoseIT, SnapCalorie, MyFitnessPal, and MacroFactor. Meals were presented with the carbohydrate dense food separated from other plate elements (segmented) (i.e., bolognaise sauce and pasta) and again with all elements combined (mixed). Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare mean absolute errors (MAEs) for mixed vs. segmented meals across the different apps. Bland-Altman plots and 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA) were used to assess systematic bias and clinical acceptability. Differences of < 20 g from known carbohydrate amounts was used as the clinically acceptable limit1. We found no significant difference in the MAEs of carbohydrate amounts assessed in segmented vs. mixed meals (median: 27.8 g vs. 29.8 g; p = 0.192). This finding did not vary according to the type of diet tracking app used. All apps showed a bias towards underestimating carbohydrate amounts, with mean bias (difference from known amounts) ranging from −5.6 g to −20.9 g. MacroFactor had the lowest mean bias (−5.6 g) and was the only diet tracking app with 95% LoAs within acceptable clinical limits for carbohydrate determination (−16.9 g, 5.7 g). The LoAs exceeded clinically acceptable thresholds for LoseIT (95% LoA: −29.0 g, −7.4 g), MyFitnessPal (95% LoA: −31.2 g, −10.6 g), and SnapCalorie (95% LoA: −24.9 g, 3.6 g). In conclusion segregating carbohydrate foods on a plate did not appear to improve carbohydrate estimation when using photo-assisted diet tracking apps. Current commercially available tools tended to underestimate carbohydrate amounts, and their accuracy varied between apps, suggesting that not all apps may be suitable for T1D management.

The Pacific Islands region is facing a high burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases, with Tonga experiencing some of the world’s highest rates of type II diabetes and obesity(1). Tonga relies strongly on agriculture as a main source of food production, however in recent decades a nutrition transition has significantly altered Tonga’s food environment(1). Homestead gardens (also known as community gardens) provide an opportunity to stabilise Tongan food production and encourage consumption of fruits and vegetables through increasing access and availability and promoting social values associated with food and eating through community engagement. Although research shows that homestead gardens promote health(2), there is little known about the outcomes in Tonga and the broader Pacific region. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the dietary diversity of Tongan adults participating in homestead gardening. In October 2024, Tongan adults participating in a homestead gardening initiative (n = 363) across the four main Tongan islands: Tongatapu, ‘Eua, Ha’apai, and Vava’u were surveyed. The survey asked about food and beverage consumption in the previous day to measure dietary diversity (using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women indicator), involvement in the homestead garden and general food literacy. Dietary diversity, recognised by a score of 5 or higher, was achieved by 79% of participants. The most consumed food group was meat/poultry/fish (99.4%) and the least consumed was nuts/seeds (4.6%). No statistical significance was found between dietary diversity and garden location by island (p = 0.196), however there was an effect between district location (p < 0.001). The findings pinpointed specific districts that have lower dietary diversity and vegetable intake. The results also identified a negative significant association between diversity and garden participation length (r = −0.112) and nutrient composition knowledge for crops containing iron (r = −0.22, p < 0.01) and vitamin C (r = −0.147, p = 0.005). Based on these results, recommendations for further research have been made. This work presents new dietary intake data for a Tongan population and highlights the role that homestead gardening can play in supporting healthy, diverse diets.

Valid and reliable methods for measuring plate waste are essential to improving foodservice efficiency and patient nutrition management. Although direct weighing is considered the most accurate method for quantifying food waste, it is often impractical in clinical settings due to labour and time constraints(1). Alternative methods such as visual estimation, particularly digital photography, may offer a feasible solution. This study examined the accuracy of a digital photography method for quantifying whole plate waste (aggregate) in an acute care hospital setting. Plate waste data were collected across three main meals over seven breakfasts, 21 lunches, and 21 dinners. Each plate was photographed before and after consumption, and leftover food was weighed using an electronic scale. A total of 1763 plates (n = 108 for breakfast; n = 804 for lunch; n = 851 for dinner) were assessed using both direct weighing and digital photography with a 7-point visual scale (0%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, 100% of food remaining). A subsample of 200 plate images (n = 20 for breakfast; n = 90 for lunch; n = 90 for dinner) was independently evaluated by two assessors to determine inter-rater reliability. Waste per food component was calculated as: the visually estimated proportion (%) of food remaining × the recommended standard serving size of each menu item(2). Spearman correlation coefficients assessed associations between the two methods, and the Bland-Altman analysis evaluated agreement(3). A strong positive correlation was observed between the two methods (rs = 0.9895, p < 0.001), with consistent results across meals (breakfast: rs = 0.9950, p < 0.001; lunch: rs = 0.9882, p < 0.001; dinner: rs = 0.9882, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis indicated good agreement, with a mean difference of 4.67 g and 95% limits of agreement ranging from −50.51 to 59.84 g. Mean differences were consistent across meals (breakfast: −5.22 g; lunch: 5.05 g; dinner: 5.56 g), with breakfast showing narrower limits of agreement than lunch and dinner (breakfast: −33.96 to 23.51 g; lunch: −50.99 to 61.09 g; dinner: −50.91 to 62.02 g), likely due to simpler meal composition. Inter-rater reliability was high [ICC range: 0.874 (95% CI: 0.815–0.916) to 0.972 (95% CI: 0.958–0.982)], indicating good consistency between assessors. Findings support digital photography as a valid method for quantifying whole plate waste in acute care hospital settings. It also highlights the utility of digital photography in monitoring plate waste over time, informing food waste reduction strategies, and evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to enhance patient satisfaction and improve nutritional intake.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), a climate-resilient grain, is gaining recognition for its rich polyphenol content, particularly tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids and is strongly linked to antioxidant and metabolic health benefits(1). Germination is an accessible, sustainable grain processing technique shown to enhance nutrient density(2), but its effects on the polyphenol profile and functional properties of pigmented sorghum varieties remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of germination on the polyphenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of black sorghum. Grains were soaked for 24 hours and germinated in the dark for 72 hours, followed by heat drying. Polyphenols were extracted using a standard protocol(3). Antioxidant activity was assessed using total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assays. The TPCs of germinated and non-germinated sorghum samples were 65.013 and 60.012 mg GAE/g dry weight, respectively. At concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/mL, germinated samples exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) DPPH radical scavenging activity, with increases of 22.3% and 33.6% compared to controls. Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), based on DPPH, was significantly enhanced by germination, with values of 777.02 µmol TE/g in germinated samples versus 455.34 µmol TE/g in non-germinated samples (p < 0.05). FRAP values were 738.39 µmol TE/100 g for germinated and 722.38 µmol TE/100 g for non-germinated samples, indicating a modest increase in ferric-reducing capacity. These findings suggest that germination improves the antioxidant potential and nutritional profile of black sorghum, supporting its development as a functional food. This research contributes to the advancement of value-added, climate-smart grains in Australia and aligns with public health nutrition goals.

Appendicectomy with 29,000 procedures per annum is the most common source of emergency hospitalizations in Australia(1). However, there has been little improvement in understanding acute appendicitis (AA) pathogenesis. Past studies based on online databases (i.e., UK Biobank) highlighted that dietary patterns could significantly contribute to AA development(2). More precisely, patterns aligned with the Mediterranean Diet (MD) were found to decrease the risk of developing AA. Therefore, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether dietary adherence to the MD had an impact on AA outcomes among appendicectomy patients in South-East Queensland (SEQ). It was hypothesized that clinically diagnosed AA cases would have lower adherence to a MD in comparison to control individuals without AA history. A total of 87 patients (confirmed with diagnostic histopathological reports) were recruited before undergoing appendicectomy at the Acute Surgical Unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital. Another 87 Australia-residing control participants, without AA history were recruited into the study involving a dietary survey based upon the 14-Item MD Assessment Tool from the PREDIMED Study(3). The 14 questions were related to the use of olive oil, daily/weekly intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seafood, spreads, confectioneries, red meat (including processed meat), red/white meat preference, and drinking habits regarding sweet beverages and wine. A maximum score of 14 points (indicative of the complete MD diet) and a minimum score of 0 points (indicative of a diet with no pattern recognisable as MD at all) were possible resulting in two categories defined by ≤ 5 points and ≥ 6 points defined as low and moderate-high adherence to a MD, respectively. A chi-squared test was performed to determine the relationship between MD adherence and appendiceal inflammation status. The AA group 87 patients reported in this study had their AA status confirmed with diagnostic histopathological reports provided by Pathology Queensland following surgery. For the appendicitis cohort, 62% (54/87) could be classified as low adherence whilst 38% (33/87) fell under moderate-high adherence to the MD. In contrast, the control group were categorized 48% (42/87) as low and 52% as moderate-high MD adherence, accordingly. The chi-squared analysis showed a near-significant (trend) value of p = 0.07, confirming that dietary patterns maybe one of the main risk factors of developing the disease. One potential constraint of this study was that there was some discrepancy in socio-demographic characteristics between the intervention and control groups particularly relating to ethnicity, where there was a greater proportion of non-White participants recruited in the non-AA group. It is concluded that dietary patterns associated to low adherence to the MD are likely to increase the risk of developing AA in a Queensland context.

Prebiotics can help to develop the gut and immune systems of young children via modulation of the gut microbiota(1), reducing the risk of infection and disease in later life. Breastmilk contains unique prebiotics and is associated with lower rates of infection, allergy and gut colonization of pathogenic bacteria, but not all parents can breastfeed. This review aims to understand if formula containing specific prebiotics can help modulate gut and immune outcomes in children up to 3 years, compared to standard formula. A systematic literature review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted without date limits using six international databases. RCTs that reported on gut or immune outcomes and included an intervention where a prebiotic blend containing short-chain galactooligosaccharides (scGOS) and long-chain fructooligosaccharides (lcFOS) [(scGOS/lcFOS ratio 9:1)] in formula were included. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and consistency of results using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and Health Canada Consistency Rating tool, respectively. Twenty-eight studies were included, of which 24 were high quality (low risk of bias). scGOS/lcFOS prebiotic blend reduced incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, supported by increases in secretory IgA (first line of defense against pathogens in the gut) and decreases in stool pH. Improved markers of intestinal microbiota, including highly consistent beneficial increases in bifidobacteria and lactobacillus (beneficial bacteria), and decreases in clostridia (detrimental bacteria), were also reported. No study reported any unfavourable effects. Formula with scGOS/lcFOS prebiotic blend improves intestinal microbiota and reduces incidence of infection. When exclusive breastfeeding is not feasible, nurses can improve children’s gut-immunity outcomes by recommending formula with added scGOS/lcFOS prebiotic blend, instead of standard formula.

The nutrition transition model examines the impact of industrialization and economic development on standards of living through dietary changes. The changes in dietary structure over the last two centuries have been determined. These changes consist of an overall increase in calorie and protein intake and a shift from a diet of predominantly cereals to one with animal-based products. The literature considers that the growth in income is the principal factor explaining dietary change. Although it has also highlighted the importance of other environmental, social, institutional, and cultural factors. Therefore, a quantitative exercise has been made to verify the role of economic factors such as income and prices in the nutrition transition process.

This paper puts forward a novel argument for realism about corporate agents. We begin with the observation that philosophical theories of trust generally require that any putative trustee is a moral agent. We then consider sources of evidence from practice that suggest that people speak, behave, and theorise as-if they trust corporations. This amounts to taking a realist view about corporate moral agency. Corporations can thus be conceived as agents that emerge from, among other things, the individuals, rules, and the internal organisational complexity that constitutes them. Our methodological approach throughout involves arguing that our behaviour and our theorising about a particular kind of entity (the corporation) can be used to justify a position in social metaphysics.

The following article explores an emerging theoretical framework for ‘sound-based material theatre’, a form of post-instrumental, post-puppetry performance practice. Whitehead’s ‘philosophy of the organism’ is employed as a foundational vocabulary to describe the modes of interaction and synthesis of entities in an intermedial ecology. Drawing on instrument design theory, the discussion connects processes of embodied learning, mediation and distributed agency with a collaborative ‘animist’ approach to composition and performance. Challenges of mediation in intermedial practice are examined in relation to the perceived separation of senses and disciplines. Foucault’s analysis of the pre-classical epistemology of resemblance is used as a model for describing different types of cross-modal relations between materials, applied as a ‘nexus’ method of orchestration towards an ideal of a ‘living’ organism of intermedia.

Currently, the research on the key factors which affect clinical and non-clinical pregnancy in high-quality single blastocyst transfer cycles remains relatively limited. This is particularly true for FET cycles, where the relationship between the transfer of high-quality single blastocysts and pregnancy outcomes has not been fully explored. This study aimed to identify key factors influencing clinical pregnancy outcomes in high-quality single blastocyst frozen-thawed transfer cycles to optimize assisted reproductive technology (ART). Patients under 38 years old who underwent high-quality single blastocyst frozen-thawed embryo transfer were included. Based on clinical pregnancy outcomes, they were divided into clinical pregnancy (Group A) and non-clinical pregnancy (Group B) groups. Key influencing factors were analyzed to guide the selection of blastocysts with the highest pregnancy potential.The result showed that Group B showed significantly higher age and infertility duration, but lower AMH levels, antral follicle count, and endometrial thickness on the day of transfer compared to Group A (P < 0.01). Infertility type also differed significantly (P < 0.01). Blastocyst grading differed between groups (P < 0.01), while E2, LH, P levels, embryo age, and D3 cleavage-stage cell count showed no significant differences (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that infertility type, age, infertility duration, and endometrial thickness significantly impacted clinical pregnancy outcomes (P< 0.05), while AMH, antral follicle count, and blastocyst grading had no significant effect. All in all, clinical pregnancy outcomes are significantly influenced by age, infertility type, infertility duration, and endometrial thickness. Early treatment, optimized endometrial conditions, and selecting high-quality blastocysts are recommended to improve pregnancy rates.

In 2005, McCafferty and Steinbrenner presented new radiocarbon dates from Santa Isabel to challenge the traditional ceramic sequence for the Postclassic of Pacific Nicaragua. Since then, several projects have generated more data, such that a new chronology and cultural sequence can now be suggested. In this article we present 79 chronometric dates from 19 sites, representing a 1,500-year temporal span. This new scheme is divorced from the existing chronology of the “Greater Nicoya” region that includes both Pacific Nicaragua and northwestern Costa Rica because of perceived distinctions in ceramic types (and other cultural traits). It also facilitates better comparisons with cultural traditions of greater Mesoamerica, especially the development of the Mixteca-Puebla stylistic tradition.