Neuropsychological disorders, including anxiety, depression, and dementia, are significant public health problems among older adults. While psychotropics are effective treatments, long-term treatment often has adverse side effects(1). Many patients often seek healthy food consumption as an alternative preventive strategy. Dietary fibre has been suggested for many health benefits, including cardiometabolic health and anti-inflammation, which may influence neurological health through the gut-brain axis(2). However, fibre’s role in neuropsychological health outcomes in older people is unclear. This study examined the potential role of dietary fibre intake and consumption of fibre-rich foods in neurological health outcomes in older Australians. We utilised data from the Ageing Study (MAS) of 1,037 participants aged 70–90(3). At baseline, dietary fibre, whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts and legumes consumption was estimated using the Cancer Council of Victoria food frequency questionnaire. The intake amount was further derived into tertiles (T), with T1 in the lower 33rd%tile and T3 in the upper 33rd%tile. Depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), anxiety symptoms (Goldberg Anxiety Scale), and psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) were assessed. Linear regression models were used to estimate beta coefficients for the associations cross-sectionally. Incident dementia was defined using diagnostic criteria, clinical assessments, and a consensus panel review. Nine hundred and sixty-three participants were followed up from the baseline (2005) until wave 4 (2011) [median: 5.8 (IQR: 3.1–5.9) years; 97 incident cases). Incident depression was defined as diagnoses by healthcare professionals and treatments for depression. Eight hundred and nine participants were followed up from the baseline (2005) until wave 3 (2009) [median: 3.9 (IQR: 1.9–4.0) years; 109 incident cases). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (95% CIs). All models were adjusted for demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and health history. Among 963 participants (mean age: 78.5; 5.8% females) in the cross-sectional analysis, compared with T1, higher vegetable intake was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (T2: β = 0.52; T3: β= −0.53; both p < 0.05), psychological distress (T2: β = −0.59; T3: β = −1.13; both p < 0.05), and anxiety symptoms (T3: β = −0.37; p = 0.03). Combined intake of vegetables and fruit was inversely associated with fewer psychological distress symptoms (T2: β = −0.55; p = 0.06; T3: β = −1.3; p < 0.05). In the highest tertile, dietary fibre was associated with fewer depressive symptoms (T3: β = −0.47; p = 0.04). In the longitudinal analysis, dietary fibre intake was associated with a 43–56% lower risk of incident dementia (T2 vs T1: adj.HR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.31–1.03; T3 vs T1: adj.HR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.19–1.01). Intakes of whole grains, fruit, nuts and legumes were not associated with the outcomes assessed. In a cohort of older Australians, dietary fibre intake appeared to be protective in reducing depressive symptoms cross-sectionally and the risk of incident dementia longitudinally. Additionally, vegetable consumption was associated with fewer symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and distress cross-sectionally.

Depression and dementia represent significant public health issues, affecting approximately 1 in 10 and 1 in 12 older Australians, respectively. While current pharmacological treatments are effective in relieving symptoms, they often entail undesirable adverse effects, including gastrointestinal issues and bradycardia(1,2). This highlights the need for primary preventative measures, including food- and nutrition-based approaches. Chronic brain inflammation is believed to interfere with the gut–brain axis(3). Consumption of fermented dairy products rich in beneficial gut microbes may attenuate this inflammation and offer protective health benefits. This study aimed to examine whether fermented dairy intake could mitigate the risk of incident depression and dementia. Utilising data from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study I of 1037 participants 70–90 years, 816 participants (mean age: 76.7) were followed from 2005 until 2012 for incident depression, and 974 participants (mean age: 80.7) were followed up from 2005 until 2014 for incident dementia. Fermented dairy intake was assessed using the Dietary Questionnaire for Epidemiological Studies version 2 and categorised yoghurt and regular cheese into quartiles (Q) and low-fat cheese into consumers/non-consumers, with no consumption as the reference group. Depression diagnoses were assessed via self-reported physician-diagnosed history, medication use, service utilisation, and heavy alcohol use. Dementia diagnoses followed the criteria in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Cox proportional hazards models examined the associations between fermented dairy intake and the risk of incident depression/dementia. Additionally, linear regression models were applied to assess for depressive symptoms score (measured by the Geriatric Depression Scale-15) and psychological distress score (measured by the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-10). All models were adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle factors, and medical histories. Over a median follow-up of 3.9 and 5.8 years, 120 incident depression and 100 incident dementia cases occurred, respectively. Those who consumed high yoghurt (Q4: 145.8–437.4 g/day) and low-fat cheese (consumers: 0.4–103.1g/day) intakes were associated with a lower risk of incident depression, both compared to non-consumers (yoghurt: adj.HR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19–0.77; low-fat cheese: adj.HR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.29–0.86). They were also associated with lower depressive symptom scores (yoghurt: adj.β = −0.46; 95% CI: −0.84, −0.07; low-fat cheese: adj.β = −0.42; 95% CI: −0.73, −0.11). However, those who consumed a higher intake of regular cheese (Q4: 14.7–86.1 g/day) had an elevated risk of incident depression (adj.HR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.47), and those in Q2 (0.1–7.2 g/day) had significantly higher depressive symptom scores (adj.β = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.78). No significant findings were found for psychological distress scores or incident dementia. Our findings of a cohort of older Australians suggest that higher yoghurt and low-fat cheese intakes may reduce incident depression and depressive symptoms, while a higher intake of regular cheese may increase these risks.

Ambiguity aversion has been widely observed in individuals’ judgments. Using scenarios that are typical in decision analysis, we investigate ambiguity aversion for pairs of individuals. We examine risky and cautious shifts from individuals’ original judgments to their judgments when they are paired up in dyads.

In our experiment the participants were first asked to specify individually their willingness-to-pay for six monetary gambles. They were then paired at random into dyads, and were asked to specify their willingness-to-pay amount for the same gambles. The dyad’s willingness-to-pay amount was to be shared equally by the two individuals. Of the six gambles in our experiment, one involved no ambiguity and the remaining five involved different degrees of ambiguity. We found that dyads exhibited risk aversion as well as ambiguity aversion. The majority of the dyads exhibited a cautious shift in the face of ambiguity, stating a smaller willingness-to-pay than the two individuals’ average. Our study thus confirms the persistence of ambiguity aversion in a group setting and demonstrates the predominance of cautious shifts for dyads.

Triticum monococcum L. and T. boeoticum L., diploid wild relatives of bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), possess resistance to leaf rust (also known as brown rust) caused by Puccinia triticina Eriks. Haustorium formation-based resistance mechanisms (i.e. pre-haustorial and post-haustorial resistance) to leaf rust have been studied and reported in various T. monococcum accessions. In the present study, the mechanism of leaf rust resistance in T. monococcum and T. boeoticum accessions was studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Components of resistance studied at a histological level against leaf rust pathotypes, a Mexican pathotype (TCB/TD) and a Swiss pathotype (97512-19), indicated different types of resistance mechanism operative in the two accessions. The resistance in T. monococcum ranged from pre-haustorial resistance against 97512-19 to post-haustorial resistance against TCB/TD. The response in T. boeoticum was post-haustorial with necrosis against the two pathotypes. Pre-haustorial resistance observed in T. monococcum could serve as a potential source of durable rust resistance in wheat breeding.

This SHEA white paper identifies knowledge gaps and challenges in healthcare epidemiology research related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a focus on core principles of healthcare epidemiology. These gaps, revealed during the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, are described in 10 sections: epidemiology, outbreak investigation, surveillance, isolation precaution practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), environmental contamination and disinfection, drug and supply shortages, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare personnel (HCP) occupational safety, and return to work policies. Each section highlights three critical healthcare epidemiology research questions with detailed description provided in supplementary materials. This research agenda calls for translational studies from laboratory-based basic science research to well-designed, large-scale studies and health outcomes research. Research gaps and challenges related to nursing homes and social disparities are included. Collaborations across various disciplines, expertise and across diverse geographic locations will be critical.

Introduction. Individuals with psychotic-spectrum disorders may smoke due to the ameliorating effect of nicotine on the cognitive deficits that accompany these illnesses. Metacognitive remediation therapy (MCR) has been shown to produce improvements in cognitive functioning among individuals with psychotic-spectrum disorders and provides a foundation for a novel smoking cessation intervention for this population. Aims. To complete an open investigation of pharmacotherapy and a modified version of MCR [MCR to Quit (MCR-Q)] in promoting smoking cessation among individuals with psychotic-spectrum disorders. Methods. Forty-nine individuals with a psychotic-spectrum disorder and who currently smoke cigarettes participated in MCR-Q while also receiving evidence-based smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Tobacco use was assessed as follows: (i) prior to MCR-Q, (ii) immediately after completing MCR-Q, and (iii) six weeks after completion of MCR-Q. Results/Findings. During participation in MCR-Q, nearly 80% of participants made a 24-hour quit attempt. Following the completion of MCR-Q, participants experienced reductions in level of nicotine dependency and exhaled carbon monoxide, with reductions in nicotine dependency sustained six weeks after completion of MCR-Q. Over the course of their participation in MCR-Q, participants reported strong therapeutic alliance with their MCR-Q therapist and high levels of intrinsic motivation with regard to completing MCR-Q exercises. Conclusions. The results from the current study suggest cautious optimism with regard to the use of MCR-Q in combination with medication for individuals with psychotic-spectrum disorders who want to quit smoking.

Wildlife translocations, which involve the introduction of naive hosts into new environments with novel pathogens, invariably pose an increased risk of disease. The meningeal worm Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a nematode parasite of the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which serves as its primary host and rarely suffers adverse effects from infection. Attempts to restore elk (Cervus canadensis) to the eastern US have been hampered by disease caused by this parasite. Using DNA sequence data from mitochondrial and nuclear genes, we examined the hypothesis that elk translocated within the eastern US could be exposed to novel genetic variants of P. tenuis by detailing the genetic structure among P. tenuis taken from white-tailed deer and elk at a source (Kentucky) and a release site (Missouri). We found high levels of diversity at both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA in Missouri and Kentucky and a high level of differentiation between states. Our results highlight the importance of considering the potential for increased disease risk from exposure to novel strains of parasites in the decision-making process of a reintroduction or restoration.

Trifludimoxazin, a new protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicide, is being evaluated for possible use as a soil-residual active herbicide treatment in cotton for control of small-seeded annual broadleaf weeds. Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to compare vertical mobility and cotton tolerance of trifludimoxazin to flumioxazin and saflufenacil, which are two currently registered protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicides for use in cotton, in three West Texas soils. Vertical soil mobility of trifludimoxazin was similar to flumioxazin in Acuff loam and Olton loam soils, but was more mobile than flumioxazin in the Amarillo loamy sand soil. The depth of trifludimoxazin movement after a 2.5-cm irrigation event ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 cm in all soils, which would not allow for crop selectivity based on herbicide placement, because ideal cotton seeding depth is from 0.6 to 2.54 cm deep. Greenhouse studies indicated that PRE treatments were more injurious than the 14 d preplant treatment when summarized across soils for the three herbicides (43% and 14% injury, respectively). No differences in visual cotton response or dry weight was observed after trifludimoxazin preplant as compared with the nontreated control within each of the three West Texas soils and was similar to the flumioxazin preplant across soils. On the basis of these results, a use pattern for trifludimoxazin in cotton may be established with the use of a more than 14-d preplant restriction before cotton planting.