Digital Commons Network^™

How Neuroscience Technology Is Changing Our Understanding Of Brain Injury, Vegetative States And The Law, Glenn R. Butterton

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The author examines clinical studies that use neuroscience technology to study patients in Vegetative States. The studies indicate that some of the patients are, in fact, conscious. The author suggests that this finding is a matter of considerable practical importance for the drafting and execution of end-of-life protocols such as Advance Directives and Living Wills. He recommends that statutes, and other guidance used by patients, caregivers, medical institutions, family members and others to draft and interpret such Directives and Wills, be revised or amended to take account of these results.

A Review Of The Putative Causal Mechanisms Associated With Lower Macular Pigment In Diabetes Mellitus, Grainne Scanlon, James Loughman, Donal Farrell, Daniel Mccartney

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Macular pigment (MP) confers potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects at the macula, and may therefore protect retinal tissue from the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with ocular disease and ageing. There is a body of evidence implicating oxidative damage and inflammation as underlying pathological processes in diabetic retinopathy. MP has therefore become a focus of research in diabetes, with recent evidence suggesting that individuals with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, have lower MP relative to healthy controls. The present review explores the currently available evidence to illuminate the metabolic perturbations that may possibly be involved in MP’s depletion. Metabolic co-morbidities …

Emerging Food Processing Technologies And Factors Impacting Their Industrial Adoption, Anushree Priyadarshini, Gaurav Rajauria, Colm. P. O'Donnell, Brijesh K. Tiwari

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Innovative food processing technologies have been widely investigated in food processing research in recent years. These technologies offer key advantages for advancing the preservation and quality of conventional foods, for combatting the growing challenges posed by globalization, increased competitive pressures and diverse consumer demands. However, there is a need to increase the level of adoption of novel technologies to ensure the potential benefits of these technologies are exploited more by the food industry. This review outlines emerging thermal and non-thermal food processing technologies with regard to their mechanisms, applications and commercial aspects. The level of adoption of novel food processing …

Ultrasound/Elastography Techniques, Lipidomic And Blood Markers Compared To Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Adults, Irene Cantero, Mariana Elorz, Itziar Abete, Bertha Araceli Marin, Jose Ignacio Herrero, Jose Ignacio Monreal, Alberto Benito, Jorge Quiroga, Ana Martínez, Pilar Huarte, Juan Isidro Uriz-Otano, Josep Antoni Tur, John Kearney, J. Alfredo Martinez, M. Angeles Zulet

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Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may progress to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and complicated hepatocellular carcinoma with defined differential symptoms and manifestations. Objective: To evaluate the fatty liver status by several validated approaches and to compare imaging techniques, lipidomic and routine blood markers with magnetic resonance imaging in adults subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and methods: A total of 127 overweight/obese with NAFLD, were parallelly assessed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasonography, transient elastography and a validated metabolomic designed test to diagnose NAFLD in this cross-sectional study. Body composition (DXA), hepatic related biochemical measurements as well as the Fatty …

Effect Of Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation On Preoperative Pulmonary Physiology, Postoperative Respiratory Complications And Quality Of Life In Patients With Oesophageal Cancer, J. A. Elliott, L. O'Byrne, G. Foley, C. F. Murphy, Suzanne Doyle, S. King, E. M. Guinan, N. Ravi, V. Reynolds

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Background: It remains controversial whether neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) for oesophageal cancer influences operative morbidity, in particular pulmonary, and quality of life. This study combined clinical outcome data with systematic evaluation of pulmonary physiology to determine the impact of nCRT on pulmonary physiology and clinical outcomes in locally advanced oesophageal cancer.

Methods: Consecutive patients treated between 2010 and 2016 were included. Three-dimensional conformal radiation was standard, with a lung dose–volume histogram of V20 less than 25 per cent, and total radiation between 40 and 41⋅4Gy. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and diffusion capacity …

A Web-Based Dietary Intervention In Early Pregnancy And Neonatal Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Rachel Ak Kennedy, C.M.E. Reynolds, Shona Cawley, E. O'Malley, D.M. Mccartney, M.J. Turner

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Background Maternal nutrition is a determinant of pregnancy outcomes. Few studies have evaluated the potential of online nutrition resources to modify behaviour. This randomized controlled trial aimed to determine whether access to a customized evidence-based nutrition website in pregnancy improved neonatal outcomes.

Methods Women < 18 weeks gestation were recruited at their convenience. The control group received standard care. In addition to standard care, the intervention group received access to an evidence-based nutrition website, customized to the preferences of pregnant women.

Results Of the 250 women, there were no differences in characteristics between the two groups. Of the women, 91.0% reported they make a conscious effort currently to eat a healthy diet. However, only 19.6% met dietary requirements for calcium, 13.2% for iron, 2.7% for folate and 2.3% for iodine. The most popular website section was pregnancy …

The Effect Of Atmospheric Cold Plasma On Bacterial Stress Responses And Virulence Using Listeria Monocytogenes Knockout Mutants, Apurva Patange, Conor O'Byrne, Daniela Boehm, Patrick J. Cullen, Kevin Keener, Paula Bourke

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Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic intracellular pathogen commonly associated with serious 16 infections and multiple food-borne outbreaks. In this study, we investigated the influence of 17 atmospheric cold plasma (80 kV, 50 Hz) on L. monocytogenes (EGD-e) and its knockout mutants of 18 sigB, rsbR, prfA, gadD and lmo0799 genes at different treatment time intervals. Further, to ascertain if 19 sub-lethal environmental stress conditions could influence L. monocytogenes survival and growth 20 responses, atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) resistance was evaluated for the cultures exposed to cold 21 (4°C) or acid (pH 4) stress for 1 h. The results demonstrate that …

Dough Properties And Baking Characteristics Of White Bread, As Affected By Addition Of Raw, Germinated And Toasted Pea Flour, Kim A. Millar, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Roisin Burke, Sinead Mccarthy, Eimear Gallagher

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Thermal and non-thermal processing may alter the structure and improve the techno-functional properties of pulses and pulse flours, increasing their range of applications in protein-enhanced foods. The effects of germination and toasting of yellow peas (Pisum sativum) on flour and dough characteristics were investigated. Wheat flour was substituted with raw, germinated and toasted pea flour (30%). The resulting bread-baking properties were assessed. Toasting increased dough water absorption and improved dough stability compared with germinated and raw pea flour (p < 0.05). This resulted in bread loaves with comparable specific volume and loaf density to that of a wheat flour control. Significant correlations between dough rheological properties and loaf characteristics were observed. Addition of pea flours increased the protein content of the breads from 8.4% in the control white bread, to 10.1–10.8% (p < 0.001). Toasting demonstrated the potential to improve the techno-functional properties of pea flour. Results highlight the potential application of pea flour in bread-making to increase the protein content.

Evaluating Food Safety Knowledge And Practices Among Foodservice Staff In Al Madinah Hospitals, Saudi Arabia, Anushree Priyadarshini, Nada Ahmad Alqurashi, Amit Jaiswal

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This study examines food safety knowledge and practices of food service staff in Al Madinah hospitals, Saudi Arabia. A total of 163 food service staff participated voluntarily from 10 hospitals across the city of Al Madinah. The participants completed a questionnaire composed of threeparts: Generalcharacteristics,foodsafetyknowledge,andfoodsafetypractices. Resultsshowed that respondents generally had good food safety knowledge with the highest pass rate of 77.9% for knowledge of cross contamination followed by 52.8% for knowledge of food poisoning, and 49.7% of knowledge of food storage. Food safety practices were also strongly observed in the hospitals with a pass rate of 92.6%. Food safety knowledge …

Spent Coffee Waste As A Potential Media Component For Xylanase Production And Potential Application In Juice Enrichment, Rajeev Ravindran, Gwilym Williams, Amit Jaiswal

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In this study, spent coffee waste (SCW) was used as the sole carbon source for xylanase production in solid state fermentation mode using Aspergillus niger. A Box–Behnken design was constructed using three parameters viz. temperature, initial moisture content, and log number of sporestodeterminetheoptimalfermentationcondition. Thebestfermentationconditionsforxylanase productionwerefound to beincubation at30◦Cwith aninitial moisture contentof 70%and usingan inoculum of 6.5×106 spores/g of dry SCW. Furthermore, the design of experiments revealed that maintaining a medium composition of 0.2 g of yeast extract, 0.04 g of K2HPO4, and 0.03 g of MgSO4 increased xylanase production. Under optimised solid-state fermentation conditions an enzyme activity of 6495.6 IU/g …

Targeting Lipoprotein Biogenesis: Considerations Towards Antimicrobials, Toufic El Arnaout, Tewfic Soulimane

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Decades have passed without approval of a new antibiotic class. Several companies have recently halted related discovery efforts because of multiple obstacles. One promising route under research is to target the lipoprotein maturation pathway in light of major recent findings and the virulence roles of lipoproteins. To support the future design of selective drugs, considerations and priority-setting are established for the main lipoprotein processing enzymes (Lgt, LspA, and Lnt) based on microbiology, biochemistry, structural biology, chemical design, and pharmacology. Although not all bacterial species will be similarly impacted by drug candidates, several advantages make LspA a top target to pursue …

Uncompromising Hunger For Justice: Resistance, Sacrifice, And Latcrit Theory, Brenda Williams, Edwin Lindo, Marc-Tizoc González

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In this Article, three law professors report on and theorize a nonviolent direct-action campaign of the kind discussed by Dr. King in his famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Using the basic steps of the nonviolent campaign as an organizing framework, they analyze and report on the 18-day hunger strike by the Frisco 5 (a.k.a., Frisco5). This direct action protested the extrajudicial killings of Amilcar Perez-Lopez, Alex Nieto, Luis Góngora-Pat, and Mario Woods by San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) officers and advocated for institutional change to reduce the risk of homicides against persons with similarly racialized minority-group identities. Two weeks …

The Legacy Of Colonialism On The Rule Of Law In Sub Saharan Africa, Joel H. Samuels

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No abstract provided.

Should Good People Be Doctors: A Comment On Paul Butler And Anonymous, Richard Delgado

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No abstract provided.

Interpreting And Reporting Principal Component Analysis In Food Science Analysis And Beyond, D. Cozzolino, A. Power, J. Chapman

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Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the most widely used data mining techniques in sciences and applied to a wide type of datasets (e.g. sensory, instrumental methods, chemical data). However, several questions and doubts on how to interpret and report the results are still asked every day from students and researchers. This brief communication is inspired in relation to those questions asked by colleagues and students. Please note that this article is a focus on the practical aspects, use and interpretation of the PCA to analyse multiple or varied data sets. In summary, the application of the PCA provides …

From The Laboratory To The Vineyard—Evolution Of The Measurement Of Grape Composition Using Nir Spectroscopy Towards High-Throughput Analysis, Aoife Power, Vi Khanh Truong, James Chapman, Daniel Cozzolino

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Compared to traditional laboratory methods, spectroscopic techniques (e.g., near infrared, hyperspectralimaging)provideanalystswithaninnovativeandimprovedunderstandingofcomplex issuesbydeterminingseveralchemicalcompoundsandmetabolitesatonce,allowingforthecollection of the sample “fingerprint”. These techniques have the potential to deliver high-throughput options for the analysis of the chemical composition of grapes in the laboratory, the vineyard and before or during harvest, to provide better insights of the chemistry, nutrition and physiology of grapes. Faster computers, the development of software and portable easy to use spectrophotometers and data analytical methods allow for the development of innovative applications of these techniques for the analyses of grape composition.

Identification Of Surrogate Biomarkers For The Prediction Of Patients At Risk Of Low Macular Pigment In Type 2 Diabetes, Grainne Scanlon, Daniel Mccartney, John Butler, Ekaterina Loskutova, James Loughman

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Purpose: This cross-sectional study compared macular pigment (MP) levels among persons with Type 2 diabetes relative to healthy controls. Additionally, a range of behavioral, anthropometric, clinical and serum measures were explored as possible predictors of low MP optical density (MPOD) in diabetes.

Lutein And Zeaxanthin: The Possible Contribution, Mechanisms Of Action And Implications Of Modern Dietary Intake For Cognitive Development In Children. [Version 1; Peer Review: 2 Approved], Ekaterina Loskutova, Kajal Shah, Daniel Ian Flitcroft, Annalisa Setti, John Butler, Yvonne Nolan, Nabin Paudel, James Loughman

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No abstract provided.

Five-Year Follow Up Of A Low Glycaemic Index Dietary Randomised Controlled Trial In Pregnancy—No Long-Term Maternal Effects Of A Dietary Intervention, E.C. O'Brien, Aisling A. Geraghty, Elizabeth O'Sullivan, J.A. Riordan, Mary K. Horan, Elizabeth Larkin, John Mehegan, P.J. Twomey, Fionnuala M. Mcauliffe

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Objective: To determine whether a dietary intervention in pregnancy had a lasting effect on maternal outcomes of diet, HbA1c and weight retention 5 years post-intervention; and to establish whether modifiable maternal behaviours were associated with these outcomes. Design: Randomised control trial of low glycaemic index (GI) diet in pregnancy with longitudinal follow up to 5 years post-intervention. Setting: Dublin, Ireland (2007–2016). Population: In all, 403 women of 759 (53.1%) were followed up at 5 years. A total of 370 (intervention n = 188; control n = 182) were included in this analysis. Methods: Fasting glucose was measured at 13 and …

Measuring The Impact Of Oesophagectomy On Physical Functioning And Physical Activity Participation: A Prospective Study, E.M. Guinan, A.E. Bennett, Suzanne Doyle, Luke O'Neill, J. Gannon, G. Foley, J.A. Elliott, J. O'Sullivan, J.V. Reynolds, J. Hussey

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Background: Oesophagectomy remains the only curative intervention for oesophageal cancer, with defined nutritional and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) consequences. It follows therefore that there is a significant risk of decline in physical wellbeing with oesophagectomy however this has been inadequately quantified. This study prospectively examines change in physical functioning and habitual physical activity participation, from presurgery through 6-months post-oesophagectomy. Methods: Patients scheduled for oesophagectomy with curative intent were recruited. Key domains of physical functioning including exercise tolerance (six-minute walk test (6MWT)) and muscle strength (hand-grip strength), and habitual physical activity participation, including sedentary behaviour (accelerometry) were measured presurgery (T0) …

Randomised Study Demonstrates Sustained Benefits Of A Pre-School Intervention Designed To Improve Nutrition And Physical Activity Practices, Diewerke De Zwarte, John Kearney, Clare A. Corish, Corina Glennon, Lorraine Maher, Charlotte Johnston Molloy

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Background: Health-promoting programmes must demonstrate sustained efficacy in order to make a true impact on public health. This study aimed to determine the effect of the Healthy Incentive for Pre-schools project on health-promoting practices in full-day-care pre-schools 18 months after a training intervention.

Methods: Thirty-seven pre-schools completed the initial study and were included in this follow-up study. The intervention consisted of one training session with either the pre-school 'manager-only' or 'manager and staff' using a specifically developed needs-based training resource pack comprised of written educational material and a validated health-promoting practice evaluation tool. Direct observation data of health-promoting practices were …

Improving Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Brewer Spent Grain With Nonthermal Plasma, Rajeev Ravindran, Chaitanya Sarangapani, Swarna Jaiswal, Peng Lu, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke, Amit Jaiswal

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In this study, a new pre-treatment method based on novel non-thermal plasma technology was developed to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of brewer’s spent grain (BSG) and subsequent bioethanol production. A submerged dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor system was applied for this purpose. Pre-treatments were performed by taking into account variables including; voltages (22 kV, 25 kV and 28 kV), solvent (acid, alkali and water) and time (5, 10, 15 min). The resulting treated biomass was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis. A 2.14-fold increase in yield of the reducing sugar was achieved post hydrolysis when the biomass was treated in water for …

An Observational Analysis Of Meal Patterns In Overweight And Obese Pregnancy, Kate M. Ainscough, Maria A. Kennelly, Eileen C. O'Brien, Elizabeth J. O'Sullivan, John Mehegan, Eileen R. Gibney, Fionnauala M. Mcauliffe

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Background Nutrient intakes are known to be poorer among pregnant women with raised body mass index (BMI) than those with a healthy BMI. While meal patterns have the potential to influence obstetric, metabolic and anthropometric measures for mother and infant, limited data exists regarding meal patterns among pregnant women with raised BMI.

Aim To identify categories of meal patterns among pregnant women with overweight and obesity and determine whether patterns change with advancing gestation. To determine if maternal meal patterns are associated with dietary intakes and pregnancy outcomes.

Methods Prospective, observational analysis of pregnant women (n = 143) (BMI 25–39.9 …

Biological Membranes In Ev Biogenesis, Stability, Uptake, And Cargo Transfer: An Isev Position Paper Arising From The Isev Membranes And Evs Workshop, Ashley E. Russell, Alexandra Sneider, Kenneth W. Witwer, Paola Bergese, Suvendra N. Bhattacharyya, Alexander Cocks, Emanuele Cocucci, Uta Erdbrugger, Juan M. Falcon-Perez, David W. Freeman, Thomas M. Gallagher, Shuaishuai Hu, Yiyao Huang, Steven M. Jay, Shin-Ichi Kano, Gregory Lavieu, Aleksandra Leszczynska, Alicia M. Llorente, Quan Lu, Vasiliki Mahairaki, Dillon C. Muth, Nicole Noren Hooten, Matias Ostrowski, Ilaria Prada, Susmita Sahoo, Tine Hiroth Schoyen, Lifu Sheng, Deanna Tesch, Guillaume Van Niel, Roosmarijn E. Vandenbroucke, Frederik J. Verweij, Ana V. Villar, Marca Wauben, Hang Yin, David Raul Francisco Carter, Pieter Vader

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Paracrine and endocrine roles have increasingly been ascribed to extracellular vesicles (EVs) generated by multicellular organisms. Central to the biogenesis, content, and function of EVs are their delimiting lipid bilayer membranes. To evaluate research progress on membranes and EVs, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) conducted a workshop in March 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, bringing together key opinion leaders and hands-on researchers who were selected on the basis of submitted applications. The workshop was accompanied by two scientific surveys and covered four broad topics: EV biogenesis and release; EV uptake and fusion; technologies and strategies used to study …

The Relationship Between Maternal Plasma Homocysteine In Early Pregnancy And Birth Weight, Shona Cawley, Eimer O'Malley, Rachel Kennedy, Ciara Reynolds, Anne Molloy, Michael Turner

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Background: There is limited evidence that plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is increased in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as low birth weight (LBW).

Objective: We examined the relationship between maternal Hcy at the first prenatal visit and birth weight.

Study design: In a prospective observational study, women were recruited during their first prenatal visit after sonographic confirmation of gestational age. Along with the standard tests, blood was also taken for the measurement of maternal serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate, vitamin B12, and Hcy. In addition to collecting standard clinical and sociodemographic details, a detailed questionnaire on vitamin supplementation …

Development Of A Novel Periconceptual Nutrition Score (Pens) To Examine The Relationship Between Maternal Dietary Quality And Fetal Growth, Rachel Ak Kennedy, Michael J. Turner

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Background Maternal nutrition may influence intrauterine fetal development. To date, the relationship between contemporary European dietary guidelines and fetal growth has not been examined.

Aims To develop a novel Periconceptual Nutrition Score (PENS) to assess maternal dietary quality in early pregnancy and examine its relationship with fetal growth.

Study design Women were recruited conveniently at their first clinic visit and completed a supervised four day retrospective diet history. The PENS was developed using European Food Safety Authority recommended dietary intakes for pregnancy. The relationship between PENS and fetal growth was examined.

Subjects Women with a singleton pregnancy.

Outcome measures Birthweight, …

Subjective And Objective Assessment Of Taste And Smell Sensation In Advanced Cancer, Niamh Mcgettigan, Pauline Uí Dhuibhir, Michelle Barrett, Jessica Sui, Lucy Balding, Stephen Higgins, Norma O'Leary, Aileen Kennedy, Declan Walsh

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Context: Taste and smell abnormalities (TSA) occur throughout the cancer trajectory regardless of cancer primary site and contribute to cancer-associated malnutrition. TSA etiology is poorly understood. Tumor-related inflammation is a possible cause. Objective: This study examined the prevalence, characteristics, and severity of TSA in advanced cancer and explored the relationship between TSA and nutritional status. No previous study combined subjective and objective measures for both taste and smell assessment in this population. Method: Consecutive advanced cancer hospice patients were recruited. A modified version of the “Taste and Smell Survey” assessed subjective TSA. Validated taste strips and “Sniffin’ …

Comparing Alternative Breast Milk Feeding Questions To U.S. Breastfeeding Surveillance Questions, Elizabeth O'Sullivan, Sheela R. Geraghty, Patricia Cassano, Kathleen M. Rasmussen

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Background: Most mothers in the United States express their milk, which is then bottle fed to their infants. The National Immunization Survey (NIS), used to report national breastfeeding prevalence, asks about infant breast milk consumption, regardless of whether it is consumed at the mother's breast or from a bottle. The NIS data are often erroneously interpreted, however, to mean prevalence of at-the-breast feeding. We hypothesized that over half of infants classified as breastfed at 3, 6, and 12 months by the NIS questions would also be consuming expressed breast milk.

Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 456 …

The Surprising Reach Of Fda Regulation Of Cannabis Even After Rescheduling, Sean M. O'Connor, Erika Lietzan

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As more states legalize cannabis, the push to “deschedule” it from the Controlled Substances Act is gaining momentum. At the same time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first conventional drug containing a cannabinoid derived from cannabis—cannabidiol (CBD) for two rare seizure disorders. This would all seem to bode well for proponents of full federal legalization of medical cannabis. But some traditional providers are wary of drug companies pulling medical cannabis into the regular small molecule drug development system. The FDA’s focus on precise analytical characterization and on individual active and inactive ingredients may be fundamentally inconsistent …

The Role Of Mineral And Trace Element Supplementation In Exercise And Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review, Shane Heffernan, Katy Horner, Giuseppe De Vito, Gillian Conway

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Minerals and trace elements (MTEs) are micronutrients involved in hundreds of biological processes. Deficiency in MTEs can negatively affect athletic performance. Approximately 50% of athletes have reported consuming some form of micronutrient supplement; however, there is limited data confirming their efficacy for improving performance. The aim of this study was to systematically review the role of MTEs in exercise and athletic performance. Six electronic databases and grey literature sources (MEDLINE; EMBASE; CINAHL and SportDISCUS; Web of Science and clinicaltrials.gov) were searched, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results: 17,433 articles were identified and 130 experiments from 128 studies were included. Retrieved …