We present the first results from a new backend on the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, the Commensal Realtime ASKAP Fast Transient COherent (CRACO) upgrade. CRACO records millisecond time resolution visibility data, and searches for dispersed fast transient signals including fast radio bursts (FRB), pulsars, and ultra-long period objects (ULPO). With the visibility data, CRACO can localise the transient events to arcsecond-level precision after the detection. Here, we describe the CRACO system and report the result from a sky survey carried out by CRACO at 110-ms resolution during its commissioning phase. During the survey, CRACO detected two FRBs (including one discovered solely with CRACO, FRB 20231027A), reported more precise localisations for four pulsars, discovered two new RRATs, and detected one known ULPO, GPM J1839 $-$10, through its sub-pulse structure. We present a sensitivity calibration of CRACO, finding that it achieves the expected sensitivity of 11.6 Jy ms to bursts of 110 ms duration or less. CRACO is currently running at a 13.8 ms time resolution and aims at a 1.7 ms time resolution before the end of 2024. The planned CRACO has an expected sensitivity of 1.5 Jy ms to bursts of 1.7 ms duration or less and can detect $10\times$ more FRBs than the current CRAFT incoherent sum system (i.e. 0.5 $-$2 localised FRBs per day), enabling us to better constrain the models for FRBs and use them as cosmological probes.

Fasciolosis, caused by the liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica, is a zoonotic parasitic disease associated with substantial economic losses in livestock. The transforming growth factor-beta signalling pathway is implicated in developmental processes and biological functions throughout the animal kingdom, including the Fasciola spp. It may also mediate host–helminth interactions during infection. In this work, we present an exploration of FgSmad4, the sole member of the Co-Smad protein family in F. gigantica. The isolated FgSmad4 cDNA was 4,014 bp in length encoding for a protein comprising 771 amino acids. FgSmad4 exhibited typical Co-Smad protein features, including Mad Homology 1 (MH1) and Mad Homology 2 (MH2) domains, a Nuclear Localisation Signal, a DNA-Binding Motif, and a Nuclear Export Signal. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of FgSmad4 revealed that its MH1 and MH2 sequences are most similar to those of other trematode species. The MH1 domain, in particular, closely resembles the Co-Smad protein in mammalian hosts more than those in cestodes and nematodes. The expression patterns of FgSmad4 during the liver fluke’s developmental stages showed significant variation. Transcript levels were highest at the newly excysted juvenile stage, followed by unembryonated egg, redia, and metacercaria, with the lowest expression in the adult fluke, embryonated egg, and cercaria stages. Our results underscore the conservation and suggest the potential role of FgSmad4, a key transforming growth factor-beta signalling molecule within the liver fluke F. gigantica. As Co-Smad is typically involved in several biological pathways, the precise functions and mechanisms of this identified FgSmad4 necessitate further exploration.

Female athletes are increasingly participating in sport during pregnancy and returning postpartum. However, similar to the Sex Data Gap in sport and exercise research(1), there is limited evidence to support athletes during this life stage(2) especially as it relates to nutrition. Therefore, as optimal nutrition is essential for long-term maternal and child health, the aim of this study was to investigate specific wants, needs and behaviours in relation to nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum return to sport in athletes.

King’s College London provided ethical approval (Ref: LRU/DP-23/24-41676) and the study was pre-registered (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/NCSZK). An exploratory cross-sectional online survey is being conducted and dissemination is occurring during April and May 2024. Primary variables are assessed using researcher developed and validated measures and included pregnancy and postpartum nutritional support needs, supplement use, athlete level, performance changes and sociodemographic characteristics. Residents of the UK or ROI, ≥ 18 years old, trained and/or competed as an athlete prior to and/or during pregnancy within the last eight years are eligible. All data was summarised using IBM SPSS Statistics. Due to the exploratory nature of the survey, preliminary descriptive evidence is shown and comparisons between groups (e.g. athlete level, region, number of pregnancies) will be presented.

35 eligible athletes (UK: 24 (68.6%); ROI: 11 (31.4%)) from 14 team and individual sports have completed the survey. Average age of participants was 34.2±3.2 and 32 (91.4%) had ≥1 child. 9 participants (25.7%) were currently pregnant, and 7 (20%) had retired due to pregnancy. Only 9 participants (25.7%) received any nutrition advice during pregnancy, and, of the postpartum participants, one participant (3.8%) received nutrition advice during the postpartum period. During pregnancy, participants reported wanting to receive advice from NHS Midwives, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (37.7%) and fellow athletes who’ve previously experienced pregnancy (21%).

Whereas postpartum advice was preferable from NHS Midwives, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (37.1%), sports-specific nutritionist/dietitian (37.1%) and general

nutritionist/dietitian (37.1%). During pregnancy, 28 participants (80%) reported wanting athletespecific nutrition advice related training needs during pregnancy and 19 participants (54.3%) reported wanting more information about pregnancy-specific supplement intake (e.g. folic acid). Postpartum, 22 participants (62.9%) reported wanting athlete-specific nutrition advice related training needs during postpartum and returning to sport and 20 participants (57.1%) reported wanting more information about breast or mixed feeding. The top listed challenges to returning to sport postpartum were childcare provisions (94.3%), infant feeding practices (85.7%) and sleep (82.9%).

The preliminary findings revealed that pregnant/postpartum athletes want further advice in areas such as nutrition advice specific to being an athlete and training during pregnancy and postpartum, pregnancy supplement intake, and infant feeding practices. These areas require further investigation so pregnant and postpartum athlete needs can be better met.

Male adolescence (10–19 years), is a critical life-stage for adequate nutrition due to the rapid growth and development that occurs during this period. Additionally, this population sub-group may begin to engage in muscle-building exercises due to socially established body image ideals(1), which fuel their desire to increase protein consumption. Currently, Irish diets are not sustainable, and exceed all planetary boundaries apart from freshwater use(2). Thus, there is a need to incorporate sustainability into Ireland’s food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG). The aim of this study was to develop FBDG for adolescent males to meet their nutritional needs more sustainably, whilst exploring protein intakes.

Commonly consumed foods (≥10% of consumers) and patterns of consumption were identified from secondary analysis of the National Children’s Food Survey II and the National Teens’ Food Survey II(3). Using the Henry equation(4), energy requirements were calculated, informed by actual height and weight data. Following the food consumption patterns and using foods commonly eaten, four-day omnivore meal patterns (including one lacto-ovo-vegetarian day) were developed within energy requirements for males at nine age-points (9y, 10y, 11y, 12y, 13y, 14y, 15y, 16y, 17–18y), covering five UK90 growth percentiles (5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th), and four physical activity levels (PAL) (1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0). To improve environmental sustainability, diet modelling reduced current FBDG recommendations on meat and dairy for adolescent males. The nutritional composition of modelled meal patterns was assessed using Nutritics software. Nutritional intakes provided by diet modelling were compared with macronutrient and 13 key micronutrient intake goals. The protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) was used to record the proportion of highquality protein foods contributing to protein intake.

A total of 180 four-day meal patterns were developed in the diet modelling process, which included vitamin D supplementation. Regardless of variations in energy requirements due to body size and PAL, modelled diets met all macronutrient and micronutrient goals (exceeding target intake levels for calcium, Dietary Folate Equivalents, and vitamin C). Inadequate modelled vitamin D provided from foods only (median 4.8µg/day; range 9–11 years 1.7-6.5µg/day; range 12–18 years 1.814.0µg/day) were resolved by existing 10–15µg supplement recommendations(5). Protein intakes (g/kg body weight) were 316% above recommendations, despite the reduction of red meat and dairy in modelled meal patterns. Examination of foods in modelled meal patterns showed that 49– 76% of protein food sources were high-quality (PDCAAS ≥60), and 48–76% of calcium food sources were bioavailable dairy products.

In conclusion, FBDG for male adolescents in Ireland have been developed considering environmental sustainability, whilst keeping nutritional requirements at the forefront. This study shows lower dairy and red meat intakes than currently recommended, combined with extra lactoovo-vegetarian days, provide adolescent males with nutritionally adequate, high protein (quality and quantity) diets.

In the 12-month period leading up to March 2023, inflation in the UK increased by 8.9%(1). Notably, the annual inflation rate for food and non-alcoholic beverages reached a peak of 19.2% in March 2023, marking a 45-year high(1). Concurrently, research conducted between October 2022 and January 2023, revealed that 25% of adult respondents were classified as food insecure(2). Food insecurity disproportionately affects young families, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities, and correlates with poorer mental health, higher rates of obesity, and lower dietary quality. However, improving skills in cooking, meal planning, and budget shopping may alleviate some of the adverse health consequences associated with food insecurity. This primary research aimed to investigate the relationships between food insecurity, mental wellbeing, dietary quality, and food behaviours among a nationally representative sample of UK adults and was pre-registered (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/ZFMHD).

A nationally representative cross-sectional survey was conducted in April 2023. Participants were recruited using a market research company (Dynata, UK) and quota-controlled sampling ( ± 5%) for age, gender, region and socioeconomic status. Data on food insecurity, mental wellbeing, diet quality and food behaviours, were collected, using validated measures where available. Ethical approval was received from King’s College London (Ref: LRS/DP-22/23-35412). Data analysis consisted of chi-square tests of homogeneity, Kruskal-Wallis H tests and hierarchical multiple regression modelling with adjustment of relevant covariates, using SPSS Statistics v29.0.2. The significance threshold was set at p<0.05.

1493 UK adults participated. Within the sample, 49.9% were male, mean age was 44.7 years (SD 16.3), 35.9% were classified into groups of either low (22.2%) or very low (13.7%) food security(3). Analyses revealed significantly higher proportions of females, individuals with lower income, and those of non-white ethnicity in the low or very low food security groups compared to groups with higher levels of food security (p<0.05). Participants in the low or very low food security groups exhibited lower mental wellbeing scores and consumed fewer fruits and vegetables per day compared to those with higher food security (p<0.05). Hierarchical regression models explained 28.5% of the variance in mental wellbeing scores and 16.4% in daily fruit and vegetable intake. Notably, variables related to food behaviour, such as food engagement and cooking skills confidence, significantly added to the variance explained by the models (p<0.001), even after controlling for factors such as food insecurity score and income, respectively.

This study reveals the substantial prevalence of food insecurity among UK adults, whilst also highlighting its associations with mental wellbeing and dietary quality, particularly among higher risk groups. The findings emphasise the urgent need for targeted interventions. Implementing programs focused on enhancing cooking skills and wider food behaviours could serve to mitigate some of the adverse health consequences associated with food insecurity, leading to improvements in overall wellbeing.

Dietary intake assessment is an essential part of nutrition research and practice, with the use of digital technology now well established(1) and artificial intelligence (AI) in the form of image recognition readily available in research and commercial settings(2). Recent advances in large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, allow computers to converse in a human-like way providing text responses to typed queries. No studies, however, have utilised both the LLM and image recognition components of ChatGPT-4 to evaluate its accuracy to estimate nutritional content of meals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the ChatGPT-4 LLM and image recognition model in estimating the nutritional content of meals.

Thirty-eight meal photographs with known nutritional content (from McCance and Widdowson’s Composition of Foods) were uploaded to ChatGPT, and it was asked to provide point estimates for each of the meals for each of the following: energy (kcal), protein (g), total carbohydrate (g), dietary fibre (g), total sugar (g), total fat (g), saturated fat (g), monounsaturated fat (g), polyunsaturated fat (g), calcium (mg), iron (mg), sodium (mg), potassium (mg), vitamin D (mcg), folate (mcg), and vitamin C (mg). Comparisons were made between ChatGPT estimates and those from McCance and Widdowson using the Wilcoxon signed rank test, percent difference, Spearman’s correlation, and cross-classification of quartiles. Interpretation of statistical measures was based on Lombard et al.(3).

For estimating the content of meals, differences (p < 0.05) existed between the methods for 11 of the 16 nutrients, and 12 nutrients had a percent difference of >10%, indicating poor agreement for most nutrients. ChatGPT underestimated 15 of the 16 nutrients. Conversely, when considering the ranking of meals, all nutrients had correlation coefficients which indicated good (rs ≥ 0.50)(11 of 16) or acceptable (0.20 < rs < 0.49)(5 of 16) agreement. In the cross-classification of quartiles, ≥50% of meals were classified into the same quartile by both methods for 9 nutrients and 10% of meals were classified into opposite quartiles for 14 nutrients, indicating good agreement. ChatGPT also provided caveats regarding its estimations such as “the caloric estimate assumes the butter is spread thinly” and “cornflakes can often be fortified with vitamins and minerals […] and exact content could also vary based on the brand of cornflakes”.

ChatGPT showed poor agreement for estimating the nutritional composition of meal photographs for most nutrients, but the correlation and cross-classification of quartiles indicate good ability to rank meal photographs according to nutritional composition. Further research is required with a wider range of meals and in real-world settings. Future work should consider the training of language models using high-quality nutrition data to improve accuracy and maximise the potential for their use in dietary assessment.

Consumers are increasingly switching to plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDA) for environmental sustainability(1). Dairy products are important sources of protein, calcium, iodine, and vitamin B12 for the Irish population(2), whereas PBDA have variable nutritional composition. The aims of this study were to compare nutritional composition of PBDA marketed in Ireland with dairy counterparts; identify the most nutritionally equivalent plant-based beverage to dairy milk and compare the environmental impact of both.

A survey (online and in-store) of grocery outlets (92% of Irish market share) was conducted in summer 2023. Data collected included labelling information (brand, nutritional content, and organic status) of PBDA products; and micronutrients added to fortified low-fat dairy milks. The PBDA products were compared with the nutritional composition of counterpart dairy products, obtained using CoFID(3) and data collected. Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe; kgCO2eq/100g) and water use (L/100g) in the production of dairy milk and the most nutritionally equivalent plant-based beverages were compared using Foodprint(4). SPSS (version 25) was used for statistical analysis.

Out of 214 PBDA identified, 72% (n153) were alternatives to milk, 14% (n30) to cheese and 14% (n31) to yoghurts. A total of 32% (n68) PBDA were unfortified (no added micronutrients) of which just over half (54%, n37) were labelled organic. Of the 153 PBDA to milk, 67% (n102) were fortified with at least one micronutrient. The most common fortification was calcium (65%, n100), followed by vitamin D (59%, n90). Iodine was added to 22% (n34) of products. Fortified plant-based beverages, compared with milk, provided lower amounts of calcium and iodine (115.7mg/100ml vs. 142.5mg/100ml; and 7.7µg/100ml vs 30µg/100ml for calcium and iodine respectively). PBDA to cheese (n30) were lower in energy, total fat and saturated fat compared with dairy cheese but contained low amounts of protein (0.8g/100g vs. 24.1/100g for PBDA and dairy counterparts respectively). Among PBDA to cheese, 60% (n18) were fortified; 37% (n11) with vitamin B12 and 30% (n9) with calcium. Unfortified products contained negligible amounts of micronutrients. Of the 31 PBDA to yoghurts, only soya-based (71%, n22) products were comparable to dairy yoghurts in terms of protein (4.0g/100g vs. 4.5g/100g, respectively). Coconut-based products (26%, n8) compared to dairy yoghurts provided over nine-fold higher saturated fat (6.7g/100g vs. 0.7g/100g, respectively). The majority (84%, n26) PBDA to yoghurts were fortified with calcium and one product was fortified with iodine. GHGe were lower for soya-based beverages compared to milk (0.09kgCO2eq/100g vs. 0.15kgCO2eq/100g, respectively), however water use was higher (29.7L/100g vs. 0.64L/100g).

Due to protein content, fortified soya-based products represent the best PBDA choices nutritionally in Ireland, where such beverages are environmentally comparable with dairy milk. Micronutrient fortification, in terms of nutrients and amounts added, was identified as a key factor in ensuring the adequacy of PBDA.

Prenatal vitamin D deficiency is widely reported and may affect perinatal outcomes. In this secondary analysis of the UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial, we examined vitamin D status and its relationship with selected pregnancy outcomes in women with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) from multi-ethnic inner-city settings in the UK. Determinants of vitamin D status at a mean of 17 ± 1 weeks’ gestation were assessed using multivariable linear regression and reported as percent differences in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Associations between 25(OH)D and clinical outcomes were examined using logistic regression. Among 1089 participants, 67 % had 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l and 26 % had concentrations < 25 nmol/l. In fully adjusted models accounting for socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, 25(OH)D was lower among women of Black (% difference = −33; 95 % CI: −39, −27), Asian (% difference = −43; 95 % CI: −51, −35) and other non-White (% difference = −26; 95 % CI: −35, −14) ethnicity compared with women of White ethnicity (n 1086; P < 0·001 for all). In unadjusted analysis, risk of gestational diabetes was greater in women with 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l compared with ≥ 50 nmol/l (OR = 1·58; 95 % CI: 1·09, 2·31), but the magnitude of effect estimates was attenuated in the multivariable model (OR = 1·33; 95 % CI: 0·88, 2·00). There were no associations between 25(OH)D and risk of preeclampsia, preterm birth or small for gestational age or large-for-gestational-age delivery. These findings demonstrate low 25(OH)D among pregnant women with obesity and highlight ethnic disparities in vitamin D status in the UK. However, evidence for a greater risk of adverse perinatal outcomes among women with vitamin D deficiency was limited.

The rate of sorption of methanol (MeOH), propan-2-ol (i-PrOH), and 2-methyl-propan-2-ol (t-BuOH) onto a Wyoming montmorillonite saturated with Al3+-, Cr3+-, or Fe3+-cations has been studied by isothermal gravimetry in the temperature range 18°–105°C using samples of differing weights and grain-size distributions. The rate of sorption for all the alcohols increased with decreasing sample and grain size, demonstrating that inter-, rather than intraparticle mass transfer was the rate-limiting process. Optimization of the sample parameters (2 mg sample of < 45-μm grain size, pretreated at 120°C yielded integral diffusion coefficients at 18°C of 1.1 × 10−4 m2/s for t-BuOH for the Cr3+-form and 2.0 × 10−14 m2/s for MeOH and i-PrOH for the Al3+-form. In general, the rate of alcohol sorption decreased as MeOH ≥ i-PrOH > t-BuOH, but no temperature dependence of the sorption rate was observed. The alcohol sorption rate was dependent on the cation present, with Fe3+ < Cr3+ < Al3+.

The rate of vapor-phase sorption of tetrahydrofuran (THF), tetrahydropyran (THP), and 1,4-dioxan (DIOX) onto a Wyoming montmorillonite saturated with Al3+ or Cr3+ has been studied by isothermal gravimetry in the temperature range 18° to 105°C using samples of different weights and grain-size distributions. The rate of sorption for all the cyclic ethers increased with decreasing sample and grain size, demonstrating that inter-, rather than intraparticle mass transfer was rate-determining. Optimization of the sample parameters (2 mg sample of <45-μm grain size, pretreated at 120°C yielded integral diffusion coefficients at 18°C of 0.5 × 10−14 m2/s for DIOX for the Cr3+-clay to 3.5 × 10−4 m2/s for THF for the Al3+-clay; however, no temperature or cationic dependence of the cyclic ether uptake was observed. In general, the rate of sorption of the cyclic ethers increased as THF ≥ THP > DIOX indicating that the sorption rate of THF and THP was dependent on concentration or that DIOX sorption was retarded by bidentate coordination to aluminum ions at the edges of the clay platelets.

People with lived experience of incarceration have higher rates of morbidity and mortality compared to people without history of incarceration. Research conducted unethically in prisons and jails led to increased scrutiny of research to ensure the needs of those studied are protected. One consequence of increased restrictions on research with criminal-legal involved populations is reluctance to engage in research evaluations of healthcare for people who are incarcerated and people who have lived experience of incarceration. Ethical research can be done in partnership with people with lived experience of incarceration and other key stakeholders and should be encouraged. In this article, we describe how stakeholder engagement can be accomplished in this setting, and further, how such engagement leads to impactful research that can be disseminated and implemented across disciplines and communities. The goal is to build trust across the spectrum of people who work, live in, or are impacted by the criminal-legal system, with the purpose of moving toward health equity.

Older adults (≥65 years) are the fastest growing population group. Thus, ensuring nutritional well-being of the ‘over-65s’ to optimise health is critically important. Older adults represent a diverse population – some are fit and healthy, others are frail and many live with chronic conditions. Up to 78% of older Irish adults living independently are overweight or obese. The present paper describes how these issues were accommodated into the development of food-based dietary guidelines for older adults living independently in Ireland. Food-based dietary guidelines previously established for the general adult population served as the basis for developing more specific recommendations appropriate for older adults. Published international reports were used to update nutrient intake goals for older adults, and available Irish data on dietary intakes and nutritional status biomarkers were explored from a population-based study (the National Adult Nutrition Survey; NANS) and two longitudinal cohorts: the Trinity-Ulster and Department of Agriculture (TUDA) and the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) studies. Nutrients of public health concern were identified for further examination. While most nutrient intake goals were similar to those for the general adult population, other aspects were identified where nutritional concerns of ageing require more specific food-based dietary guidelines. These include, a more protein-dense diet using high-quality protein foods to preserve muscle mass; weight maintenance in overweight or obese older adults with no health issues and, where weight-loss is required, that lean tissue is preserved; the promotion of fortified foods, particularly as a bioavailable source of B vitamins and the need for vitamin D supplementation.

We present a broadband radio study of the transient jets ejected from the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535–571, which underwent a prolonged outburst beginning on 2017 September 2. We monitored MAXI J1535–571 with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) at frequencies from 119 to 186 MHz over six epochs from 2017 September 20 to 2017 October 14. The source was quasi-simultaneously observed over the frequency range 0.84–19 GHz by UTMOST (the Upgraded Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope) the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA). Using the LBA observations from 2017 September 23, we measured the source size to be $34\pm1$ mas. During the brightest radio flare on 2017 September 21, the source was detected down to 119 MHz by the MWA, and the radio spectrum indicates a turnover between 250 and 500 MHz, which is most likely due to synchrotron self-absorption (SSA). By fitting the radio spectrum with a SSA model and using the LBA size measurement, we determined various physical parameters of the jet knot (identified in ATCA data), including the jet opening angle ( $\phi_{\rm op} = 4.5\pm1.2^{\circ}$ ) and the magnetic field strength ( $B_{\rm s} = 104^{+80}_{-78}$ mG). Our fitted magnetic field strength agrees reasonably well with that inferred from the standard equipartition approach, suggesting the jet knot to be close to equipartition. Our study highlights the capabilities of the Australian suite of radio telescopes to jointly probe radio jets in black hole X-ray binaries via simultaneous observations over a broad frequency range, and with differing angular resolutions. This suite allows us to determine the physical properties of X-ray binary jets. Finally, our study emphasises the potential contributions that can be made by the low-frequency part of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-Low) in the study of black hole X-ray binaries.