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Dietary Patterns And Cognitive Decline In Older Adults: Findings From The Western Australia Memory Study, Carolina Blagojevic Castro, Samantha L. Gardener, Farzana Jahan, Juliana Chen, Belinda M. Brown, Ruey L. Loo, Kevin Taddei, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Michael Weinborn, Ana Caroline R.Dos Reis, Manohar L. Garg, Ralph N. Martins, Hamid R. Sohrabi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preventive strategies, including adherence to specific dietary patterns, have received increasing attention as approaches to reduce cognitive decline and dementia risk. However, findings remain inconsistent, partly due to differences in dietary assessment methods, cognitive outcomes, and THE consideration of genetic susceptibility factors such as apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype.

Methods: This study examined associations between dietary patterns and longitudinal cognitive change in 185 older adults without dementia from the Western Australia Memory Study. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at baseline and up to five follow-up visits at 18-month intervals. Composite scores were …

Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer With Liver-Only Metastases: A Retrospective Cohort Study Integrating Prospectively Collected Real-World Clinical And Molecular Data From An Australian National Database (2009–2024) To Guide Treatment Planning, Savio G. Barreto, Christos S. Karapetis, Shahid Ullah, Matthew Burge, Susan Caird, Angus Campbell, Azim Jalali, Ross Jennens, Muhammad A. Khattak, Belinda Lee, Stephanie H. Lim, Shehara Mendis, Louise Nott, Timothy J. Price, Jeremy D. Shapiro, Jeanne Tie, Javier Torres, Colin Williams, Rachel Wong, Vanessa Wong, Peter Gibbs

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: To leverage the Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer (TRACC) registry (an Australian cancer database) to explore the ideal timing and sequence of therapies and the factors influencing these decisions in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with liver-only metastases to inform contemporary decision-making and future trials.

Study Type: Retrospective registry-based cohort study using the TRACC registry.

Setting and Participants: Consecutive patients with liver-only metastatic CRC enrolled in the TRACC registry.

Main Outcome Measures: To explore cancer biology, intended treatment at presentation, actual treatment received and the resultant outcomes for early-onset CRC (EOCRC) (≤ 50 years) and late-onset CRC (LOCRC) …

Estimation Of Persistent Inward Currents Contribution To Inspiratory Motoneuron Firing In Humans, Ricardo N.O. Mesquita, Simon C. Gandevia, Janet L. Taylor, Anna L. Hudson, Jane E. Butler

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Persistent inward currents (PICs) are known to prolong firing of limb-muscle motoneurons. Although there is immunohistochemical evidence of PIC channels in respiratory motoneurons, it is unknown whether PICs contribute to their firing prolongation. Intramuscular electromyographic signals were recorded from human inspiratory muscles to identify motor unit (MU) activity. Diaphragm MUs were identified during quiet breathing (n = 7; one female) and MUs from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th parasternal intercostal muscles during quiet (no lung volume feedback) and voluntary (triangular-shaped lung volume feedback) breathing (n = 5 males). PIC contribution to firing prolongation was estimated via quantification of firing hysteresis …

Gut Microbiome Changes In Preclinical Alzheimer’S Disease, D. M. Sithara Dissanayaka, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Thilini N. Jayasinghe, Vincent Ho, Vijay Jayasena, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that develops many years before clinical symptoms appear. The biological changes involved in the earliest stages remain poorly understood, particularly during the preclinical stage. Our previous work has identified gradual gut microbial and metabolic changes during this stage, suggesting these may represent early biological shifts that precede disease progression. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiome may contribute to early AD processes through its effects on immune regulation, metabolism, and gut–brain communication. Changes in gut microbial composition, including reduced levels of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, and Eubacterium, …

Is There Mush-Room For Bettongs On Dirk Hartog Island? Environmental Dna Assessment Of Food Resource Availability For Fauna Translocations, Rebecca J. Quah, Saul J. Cowen, Kelly J. Rayner, Aaron J. Brace, Robert A. Davis, Harriet R. Mills, Anna J.M. Hopkins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conservation translocations require careful assessment of dietary resources to ensure population viability. Here, we used environmental DNA metabarcoding to characterise fungal assemblages across three major habitat types on Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, prior to the planned reintroduction of two threatened mycophagous species: the boodie (Bettongia lesueur) and woylie (Bettongia ogilbyi). We detected 243 fungal ASVs, of which 75 represented taxa that are likely to produce macroscopic fruiting bodies accessible to mycophagous mammals. Ectomycorrhizal fungi dominated all habitats, with Pezizaceae being the most abundant family—a pattern consistent with known dietary preferences of both species across multiple Australian locations. Fungal community …

Right-Sized Glycolysis In Growing Children: A Muscle Mass-Based Scaling Perspective, Sébastien Ratel, Joffrey Bardin, Anthony J. Blazevich

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Safety And Effectiveness Of Behavioural Activation For Chronic Pain: A Protocol For A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Randomised Controlled Trials, Fangyuan Zheng, Laura Hynes, Richard J. Gray, Irene Ngune, Jacqueline Sin, Martin Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background/Objectives: Chronic pain is a prevalent and complex condition associated with substantial physical, psychological, and social burden. Behavioural activation (BA), a structured psychological intervention originally developed for depression, may be relevant to chronic pain through its focus on reducing behavioural avoidance and increasing engagement in meaningful activities. Although BA has been applied in studies involving people with chronic pain, the safety and effectiveness of BA in this population have not been comprehensively synthesised. This systematic review and meta-analysis will examine the safety and effectiveness of BA for people with chronic pain.

The Future Midwife: A Prisma Scoping Review Of Education, Transition, And Work Readiness Among Midwifery Students, Danielle Gleeson, Tracey Tulleners, Jessica Elliott, Dianne Stratton-Maher, Liz Ryan, Jillian Mcculloch, Geraldine Roderick, Thenuja Jayasinghe, Joanne Buckley, Jamie May Newman, Helen Nutter, Jo Southern, Lisa Beccaria, Georgina Sheridan, Tess Trinder, Haiying Wang, Tao Wang, Sita Sharma, Linda Ng, Jing Yu Tan, Daniel Terry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preparing midwifery graduates to be confident, competent, and resilient is essential for workforce sustainability, yet students report a disconnect between academic preparation and clinical realities. Increasing care complexity, workforce shortages, and variable clinical learning environments globally highlight the need to examine how educational strategies support effective transition to practice. Objective: To map and synthesise the evidence regarding educational approaches, learning experiences, and transition-to-practice factors that influence preparedness for professional practice among midwifery students, and to identify gaps in the existing literature to inform a coherent and future-ready educational framework.

Methods: A PRISMA-ScR-guided scoping review was conducted across seven databases. …

The Massbank Contributions Of The Mfam Collaboration, Anusha Ahlendorf, Asaph Aharoni, Khabat Vahabi, Tillmann G. Fischer, Pierre Marie Allard, Megan Augustin, Ulschan Bathe, David Broadhurst, Corey Broeckling, Joerg Buescher, Adrian Covaci, Katyeny Manuela Da Silva, Ric C.H. De Vos, Micha Gracianna Devi, Stefanie Döll, Maximilian Frey, Andrej Frolov, Emmanuel Gaquerel, Vasuk Gautam, Esteban Charria-Girón, Alain Goossens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The analysis of metabolic profiles using high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) data provides deep insights into biological processes. In metabolomics, MS analysis generates a large number of features that represent metabolites. However, identifying specific metabolites from these features can be challenging. One of the major bottlenecks in the metabolomics field is the identification of MS features, which is a prerequisite for any biochemical interpretation. By identifying similarities and differences within a metabolite family (mFam), evaluating MS features at the metabolite family level can help assigning functional roles to individual MS features. These data can help interpreting metabolic pathways and …

Attraction Of Nocturnal Scarab Beetles By Unusual Floral Volatiles In A Banksia (Proteaceae) With Functionally Diverse Pollinators, S. K. Wawrzyczek, B. Bohman, S. L. Krauss, I. M. Butler, G. R. Flematti, K. Farnier, S. E. Hoebee, R. A. Davis, R. D. Phillips

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Pollination by beetles has evolved multiple times in flowering plants but with relatively few plant species adapted specifically to pollination by scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). However, some plant species may produce floral scents and offer floral rewards that attract scarabs alongside other pollinator functional groups. In Banksia attenuata (Proteaceae), nocturnal observations led to the discovery of extensive floral visitation by beetles, alongside birds, mammals and diurnal insects. Given the distinctive melon-like floral scent of B. attenuata, we predicted long-distance attraction of beetles by chemical cues. We undertook floral visitor surveys aided by camera traps and video recordings, and quantified insect …

Source-Specific Nitrate And Nitrite Intake And Bladder Cancer: Findings From The Danish Diet, Cancer And Health Cohort, Dorit W. Erichsen, Cecilie Kyrø, Jörg Schullehner, Susanne Rosthøj, Catherine P. Bondonno, Liezhou Zhong, Ole Raaschou-Nielsen, Pratik Pokharel, Torben Sigsgaard, Peter Fjeldstad Hendriksen, Frederik Dalgaard, Christina Dahl, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Christina C. Dahm, Anja Olsen, Anne Tjønneland, Nicola P. Bondonno

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction Nitrate and nitrite, present in ground and drinking water, as well as foods, may contribute to bladder cancer through the formation of carcinogenic N -nitrosamines. However, risk likely depends on both the source and endogenous nitrosating factors. Methods Among participants of the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Cohort (N = 54,610) with no history of cancer, source-specific nitrate and nitrite intakes (drinking water, plant sources, naturally occurring animal sources, and additive-permitted meat sources) were estimated from national water monitoring data and food frequency questionnaires using food databases. Bladder cancer cases were ascertained through the Danish Cancer Registry. Multivariable-adjusted Cox …

Mathematics As Creative Structure: A Review Of Marcus Du Sautoy’S Blueprints, Sangeetha Balakrishnan, Latha R

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Marcus du Sautoy’s Blueprints: How Mathematics Shapes Creativity (2025) makes a provocative claim that creativity emerges not in opposition to constraint, but through it. Working through nine mathematical “blueprints” — symmetry, randomness, the Fibonacci sequence, among others — du Sautoy traces recurring structural patterns across artistic practice, natural phenomena, and mathematical thought. The argument is ambitious and persuasive. In this review we consider what the book adds to longstanding conversations about the relationship between scientific and humanistic ways of knowing, and reflect on what it means to reframe mathematics as an imaginative and exploratory enterprise rather than a purely technical …

Waiting For The Magic: A Historical And Mathematical Study Of Queues In Disney Theme Parks, Nina E. Becket

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This paper, written as part of an honors research project in high school, provides an introduction to the line and queuing systems at Disney theme parks. We begin with a brief history of Disney World and its creators. We then introduce the basics of queuing theory and queuing notation. Finally, we examine modern line systems at Disney (as of 2023) and the future of its different queue systems.

Technological Behaviour Of Pellets Containing Dried Green Crop, Christian Furll

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pelleted dried green crop presents essential advantages compared to chaff and meal as processing forms. Normally, the solidity of the pellets does not exceed the values required by animal feeding. Abrasion resulting from turnover processes is at present too high, particularly for the discharge of bins. Belt conveyors, vibrating conveyors, and bucket elevators are suitable to convey pellets. Storage of pellets over long periods has to be done by respecting prescribed climate conditions. Zones with excessive portion of abraded par­ticles in the storing pile are a preferred cause for self-heating. Slit-type dosing units as well as dosing units equipped with …

The Production Of Dry Feeds From Straw And Green Forage In The Gdr, Fritz Berg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the GDR, at present about 9% of the feed energy requirement of cattle is covered by dry feeds, above all mechanically processed and chemically treated straw as well as dried green forages. This share is expected to rise to 15 % in forthcoming years. On the basis of technological fundamentals devised by animal nutritionists, corresponding production processes are being developed and perfected. They allow to convert the feedstuffs into a physical and chemical form favourable to high intake; in addition, the feeding value of high-fibre feedstuffs is improved. In this way, the feedstuffs are fed in favourable com­bination as …

Etiology And Control Of Total White Ears In Grass Stands For Seed Production, Theo Wetzel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The total white ears is one of the major diseases of forage grasses grown for seeds. Heavy losses are common in fescue species and in Poa pratensis L. While non-parasital factors can be neglected as a cause of the white ears, the tarsonemid mites, especially the species Siteroptes graminum (Reuter) and Steneotarso­nemus spirifex (Marchal), are major animal pests. Limiting the period of use of such seed grass stands to a maximum of 2 years and the application of lindane and oleo-parathion prep­arations have proved effective control meas­ures.

Irrigation With Sewage -An Effective Procedure For In­Creasing The Yield Performance Of Grassland As Well As For Protecting Inland Waters Against Pollution, V M. Novikov, N A. Kovaleva, V P. Sayapin, L F. Mikheeva, M I. Demina

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The utilization of sewage for irrigation pur­poses is an effective procedure for increasing the yield performance of grassland as well as for protecting inland waters against pollution. Compared with irrigation only during the growing season, all-season use of sewage is more effective in increasing forage production and reducing both the quantity of sewage diverted into inland waters and the deficit of irrigation water. By way of science-based choice of the irri­gation regime, the perennial forage plant spe­cies, and their kind ofutilization, 8.0-10.0 tons and more of high-quality dry matter can be obtained per hectare, with 6,000-7,000 m3 of sewage being …

Recommended Values For Dimensioning And Designing Sprinkler Irrigation In Industrialized Forage Plant Produc­Tion In The Gdr, Klaus Schwarz, Dieter Roth

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With the transition to industrialized crop and animal production in the GDR, sprinkler irrigation of field forage plants and grassland, above all with sewage water and clean water +slurry mixtures, is becoming more and more important. It gets increasingly concentrated on field grass and grass/clover stands. The supple­mental water requirement is 210 to 270 mm/ year in case of clean-water sprinkling and up to 400 mm/year if sewage water is used. The hydro-modulus of the irrigation plants is be­tween 1.2 and 1.6 m3 /h/ha, depending on the simultaneity factor. In order to attain the required water quantity per unit of …

Effect Of Increasing Levels Of Phosphorus And Three Types Of Soil On Glycine Wightii In Cuba, T Ruiz, J R. Ayala

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A factorial design with 4 replications was used to study the effect of increasing levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 150 kg P/ha) in three tropical soils (red, brown, and gley) on Glycine wightii in a glasshouse exper­iment. The highest DM yields were achieved with the brown soil. Levels of 30 kg P/ha always increased yields in all the soils used (P < 0.01) but no differences were found with higher P applications. In general, P in plant tops was not related with the levels of P applied. K tended to decrease as the levels of phosphorus increased. None of the treatments used in­fluenced Ca and Mg. A similar work is suggested to be carried out in the field.

Effect Of Nitrogen-Potassium Levels On The Yield Of Guinea Grass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.), G Crespo, J Perez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of combining levels of 0, 150, 300, 450, 600, and 750 kg K/ha/year and 0, 300, 600, 900, 1200, and 1500 kg N/ha/year on the DM yield and NK contents of Guinea grass were studied in a latosolic soil, not K-deficient, by using a factorial design with two replications. The experiment lasted 2 years. During the first 6 months there was no response to K appli­cations and yield only increased with increasing N fertilization (4.3 t/ha with N0 up to 12.8 t/ha with 60 kg N/ha). For the rest of the experi­ment it was found necessary to apply …

The Effect Of Nitrogen Fertilization And Age Of Regrowth On The Chemical Composition Of Coast Cross No. 1 Bermuda Grass (Cynodon Dactylon), R Herrera, N Ramos

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of nitrogen fertilization (0, 50, and 100 kg/ha) and regrowth age from 1 to 12 weeks on the chemical composition of Coast Cross cv. No. 1 bermuda grass was studied during the dry season using sprinkler irrigation. Crude protein tended to decrease with age, increasing with the N levels up to 20 % with 100 kg N/ha. Total soluble carbohydrates (TSC) were in­fluenced by age (P < 0.001); the same did not hold true for N. The adjustment of regres­sion equations for lignin and cellulose showed increasing values with respect to age. In vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) showed signifi­cant differences (P < 0.001) only when 100 kg N were applied (50.46%). The two other levels did not differ between them, being 43.45 and 46.11 % for 0 and 50, respectively. The highest value obtained was of 62.07 % in the fourth week with 100 kg N. From the 8th week a sharp trend to decrease was found for all the treatments. Suggested is the use of 100 kg N/ha every twelve weeks and cuts between the fifth and sixth weeks in order to obtain good­quality pastures.

The Intensification Of Grass Production Through Nitrogen Fertilization, And The Nitrate Problem, Klau Ebert, Henrich Koriath, Gunter Rinno

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two-year pot and five-year field tests with increasing nitrogen doses revealed an increase in the nitrate content of forage grasses. In the pot tests the content of 0.25 % N03-N in the dry matter, which is safe in animal nutrition, had by far been exceeded. In the field tests the· nitrate content increased more slowly for the average of the tests and did not reach this limit when giving 140 to 240 kg N/ha. In single cases this value had, however, already been reached when giving 100 kg N/ha. By selecting grass species with a lesser tendency to nitrate accumulation, …

Effect Of The Nitrogenous Fertilizer Level On The Performance Of Bulls Grazing On Common Pangola Grass (Digitaria Decumbens Stent.) At Two Stocking Rate Levels, L R. Valdes, A Perdomo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A study was made of the effect of nitrogenous fertilization and stocking rate on the live weight gain and the composition of the carcass of bulls grazing on pangola grass. Treatments were five nitrogen levels: 80, 160,240, 320, and 400 kg/ha/year, each with stocking rates of 4 and 6 animals per hectare. No nitrogen level effect was found during the rainy season, while in the dry season the major levels of 240 kg/ha produced greater gains of live weight (P < 0.001). Animals that were submitted to stocking rates of 6 animals/ha gained less and the production per hectare was significantly greater (P < 0.01 ). Animals of higher levels of nitrogen had more adipose carcasses. The results suggest that the increased levels of nitrogen applied in the rainy period in­fluenced the growth of grass and the animals during the succeeding dry period.

Effect Of High Nitrate Fertilization On The Yield And Biological Value Of Grasses Tested By Common Vole, Slawomir Pronczuk, Janina Gnat, Tadeusz Szuperski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of different fertilization doses ( 4 x 60, 4 x 120, and 1 x 480 kg N/ha) on the yield of grasses and their basic chemical composition as well as on the growth efficiency and health of animals fed those grasses was studied. Yield of grass during three following years was higher from the fields fertili_zed 4 x 120 and 1 x 480 kg N/ha, when compared to 4 x 60 kg N/ha. No differences were found be­tween 1 x 480 kg N/ha and 4 x 120 kg N/ha. Growth ·efficiency of the common voles which were fed …

Forage Production With Intensive Fertilization And Sprinkler Irrigation For The Supply Of A Dairy Farm Working On An Industrial Scale, Gerhard Weinreich, Wolfgang Richter, Jurden Gellrich, Manfred Meyer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The development and the results of the Dedelow cooperative farm for crop production testify the successful agricultural policy pursued in the GDR. Intensification measures, such as mecha­nization, fertilization and irrigation, brought about a stable growth of production and form the basis for further economic success. At the same time it becomes obvious that cooperative farmers and farm workers have developed in a way that enabled them to master the processes prevailing in large-scale crop and animal pro­ductions from the technical as well as organi­zational points of view, even at a growing in­tensification of production.

The Effectiveness Of Mineral Fertilizers On Meadows In The Western Ukraine, V D. Gorb, M T. Yarmolyuk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the western parts of the Ukrainian SSR, the effectiveness of mineral fertilization of culti­vated pastures depends on the type of soil, the forage plant stand, and the rates of fertilizer applied. Without irrigation, nitrogen fertili­zation on a slightly loamy meadow soil was highly effective. The yield increment per 1 kg N applied at rates of 60-240 kg/ha was 25- 1 7 kg in the case of dry matter yields of 7.45-10.14 t/ha. On highly acid medium-loamy pseudogleyed soddy podzolic soils, cultivated pastures gave much lower dry matter yields, namely 2.06-4.27 t/ha. Nitrogen fertilization is highly effective at higher rates …

Results Of Pasture Management 1n The Medium-Altitude Mountains Of The Gdr, Henrich Olschewski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture management in the County of Karl­Marx-Stadt, which is considered representative of the medium-altitude mountain areas in the German Democratic Republic, is used as an example to demonstrate the results that were obtained when using the method for grazing efficiency determination as proposed by FALKE in 1927. Long-term and large-scale determina­tion of grazing efficiency has contributed to the intensification of pasture managernc·nt. The increasing division of labour between crop production farms and those of animal production is a characteristic feature of in­dustry-like production in agriculture. This re­quires exact commodity-and-money relations for pasture farming as well. New principles of pasture management …

Young-Cattle Rearing Along Industrial Lines And Pasturing In The Gdr, H Kleiber, F Morchen, F Lemme

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Young-cattle rearing along ind us trial lines involves a general increase ofrearing standards. When pasturing large herds of young cattle it is difficult to achieve high live weight gain. Factory-like milk production requires not only optimal live weight development of the heifers but also an excellent state of health of the animals' legs. The latter is achieved more easily through pasturing than by way of indoor rear­ing of the youngstock. The intensification of young-cattle rearing includes the intensifica­tion of pasture rearing as well. Young-cattle rearing along industrial lines brings up new problems to be solved by technological re­search workers.

Studies Regarding The Influence Of Weather Conditions On The Performance Of Grazing Cattle, W Rotschke, W Lampeter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In a pasture trial with cattle youngstock the influence of weather conditions on the live weight gain was studied. Comparisons between the weekly average in global radiation and the weight gain showed that for each 100 cal/ cm2 • d -1 the daily live weight gain increased by 80 g per animal, and under extreme weather conditions the increase in live weight gain even amounted to 219 g per animal and day. On a pasture farm of 590 cows an average weekly increase in global radiation by 100 cal/ cm2 • d -1 resulted in a rise in milk performance …

Behaviour And Efficiency Of Animals On Intensively And Extensively Managed Pastures, Jan Sinkovic, Frantisek Bures

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Results of investigations conducted from 1971 to 1973 have shown that the cattle in the mountainous regions of Czechoslovakia graze mainly from between 4.00 and 5.00 to between 9.00 and 10.00 a.m. and from between 5.00 and 8.00 to 9.00 p.m. On intensive pastures the dairy cows gave 25. 95 % of their time to grazing in the same place and 5.5 % to grazing in walk­ing. For this the young cattle needed 24.32 and 12.19 %, respectively. On extensive pastures the respective values were 16.1 and 15. 5 % for dairy cows and 19.56 and 23.74 % for young …