Using imprecise continuous time Markov chains for assessing the reliability of power networks with common cause failure and non-immediate repair.

We explore how imprecise continuous time Markov chains can improve traditional reliability models based on precise continuous time Markov chains. Specifically, we analyse the reliability of power networks under very weak statistical assumptions, explicitly accounting for non-stationary failure and repair rates and the limited accuracy by which common cause failure rates can be estimated. Bounds on typical quantities of interest are derived, namely the expected time spent in system failure state, as well as the expected number of transitions to that state. A worked numerical example demonstrates the theoretical techniques described. Interestingly, the number of iterations required for convergence is observed to be much lower than current theoretical bounds

Immune-Boosting Functional Foods: A Potential Remedy for Chinese Consumers Living Under Polluted Air

The deterioration of air quality in China has resulted in many people looking for remedies to counteract the impact that air pollution is perceived to be having on their health. As the importance of diet on immune health is becoming increasingly well recognised, a narrative literature review was undertaken to elucidate Chinese consumers’ acceptance of functional food products designed to help the immune system recover from pollution-driven impact and to assess their market potential. Consumers’ attitude towards immune-boosting functional foods were mainly positive, with scientific validation being important in determining the credibility of a product. This was despite the fact that the effectiveness of the functional food products currently in the market that purported to be remedies for pollution-driven impacts on the lung did not appear to be supported by scientific evidence. Numerous studies have reported functional foods could provide a wide range of benefits to immune health, including helping pollution-driven immune issues. This review highlights the market demand for effective and scientifically-proven functional food products that help Chinese consumers’ immune system recover from the impact of air pollution

The effect of sugar-sweetened beverage price increases and educational messages on beverage purchasing behavior among adults

There is a paucity of evidence regarding the impact of sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) price increases on beverage consumption, using individual-level data, for the population overall and for different socioeconomic groups. This study aimed to predict the impact of altered beverage prices and educational messages on consumer purchasing behavior. 2020 adults representative of the Australian population by age, gender and income completed a discrete choice experiment online in 2016. Each subject completed 20 choice scenarios in a hypothetical convenience store setting where subjects chose between seven SSB and non-SSB beverage options or a no beverage option. Beverage prices and volumes varied between scenarios. Half of participants (n = 1012) were randomly exposed to an educational poster discouraging SSB consumption prior to completing choice scenarios. We used discrete choice models to predict purchases under several policy proposals, overall and for income and SSB consumption frequency sub-groups. Compared to baseline prices, a 10% SSB price increase was predicted to reduce SSB purchases by 15.0% [95%CI -15.2, -14.7], and increase purchases of non-SSBs by +11.0% [95%CI 10.8, 11.2] and no beverage by +15.5% [95%CI 15.1, 15.9]. Effects were greater with a 20% SSB price increase. Across all policy scenarios, the highest income quintile had a similar absolute and slightly greater relative decrease in SSB purchases compared to the lowest quintile. Educational poster exposure reduced SSB choice for all groups, with a greater reduction in the lower compared to higher income group, and additively increased response to price changes. Our results support the use of population-wide SSB pricing and educational interventions to reduce demand across all income groups.This research was funded by a Monash University Faculty of Businessand Economics Interdisciplinary Grant. MB is supported by an AustralianGovernment Research Training Program Scholarship and a MonashUniversity Departmental Scholarship. KB is supported by a post-doctoralfellowship from the National Heart Foundation of Australia (grant numberPH 12 M 6824). AP is supported by a National Health and Medical ResearchCouncil (NHMRC) fellowship. EL is supported by an Australian ResearchCouncil (ARC) fellowship (grant number DE140101260

Using imprecise continuous time Markov chains for assessing the reliability of power networks with common cause failure and non-immediate repair

We explore how imprecise continuous time Markov chains can improve traditional reliability models based on precise continuous time Markov chains. Specifically, we analyse the reliability of power networks under very weak statistical assumptions, explicitly accounting for non-stationary failure and repair rates and the limited accuracy by which common cause failure rates can be estimated. Bounds on typical quantities of interest are derived, namely the expected time spent in system failure state, as well as the expected number of transitions to that state. A worked numerical example demonstrates the theoretical techniques described. Interestingly, the number of iterations required for convergence is observed to be much lower than current theoretical bounds

Chinese consumers’ perceptions of immune health and immune-boosting remedies including functional foods

To facilitate the successful design of functional foods designed to boost immunity and to guide the successful promotion of such products, to Chinese consumers, fundamental knowledge is required on how consumers perceive the concept of immunity, the steps they take to improve their immunity and what their general attitudes are toward new functional food products. To explore these issues, focus groups (n = 4) and in-home semi-structured interviews (n = 12) were conducted in Shanghai. Immunity was understood to be the defense system that protects the body, with perceived causes for poor immunity including irregular lifestyles, polluted air, and increased age. Participants believed that immunity could be changed by modifying their diet with either conventional or functional foods (including TCM-based foods), supplements (TCM or non-TCM containing), TCM medical gels, TCM patent medicine, and Western medicine all playing varying roles at enhancing immunity and protecting health at different stages of wellbeing

Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory and modifies the uncinate fasciculus in older adults

ObjectiveCognitive loss in older adults is a growing issue in our society, and there is a need to develop inexpensive, simple, effective in-home treatments. This study was conducted to explore the use of olfactory enrichment at night to improve cognitive ability in healthy older adults.MethodsMale and female older adults (N = 43), age 60–85, were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to an Olfactory Enriched or Control group. Individuals in the enriched group were exposed to 7 different odorants a week, one per night, for 2 h, using an odorant diffuser. Individuals in the control group had the same experience with de minimis amounts of odorant. Neuropsychological assessments and fMRI scans were administered at the beginning of the study and after 6 months.ResultsA statistically significant 226% improvement was observed in the enriched group compared to the control group on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test and improved functioning was observed in the left uncinate fasciculus, as assessed by mean diffusivity.ConclusionMinimal olfactory enrichment administered at night produces improvements in both cognitive and neural functioning. Thus, olfactory enrichment may provide an effective and low-effort pathway to improved brain health

GAA repeat expansion mutation mouse models of Friedreich ataxia exhibit oxidative stress leading to progressive neuronal and cardiac pathology

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an unstable GAA repeat expansion mutation within intron 1 of the FXN gene. However, the origins of the GAA repeat expansion, its unstable dynamics within different cells and tissues, and its effects on frataxin expression are not yet completely understood. Therefore, we have chosen to generate representative FRDA mouse models by using the human FXN GAA repeat expansion itself as the genetically modified mutation. We have previously reported the establishment of two lines of human FXN YAC transgenic mice that contain unstable GAA repeat expansions within the appropriate genomic context. We now describe the generation of FRDA mouse models by crossbreeding of both lines of human FXN YAC transgenic mice with heterozygous Fxn knockout mice. The resultant FRDA mice that express only human-derived frataxin show comparatively reduced levels of frataxin mRNA and protein expression, decreased aconitase activity, and oxidative stress, leading to progressive neurodegenerative and cardiac pathological phenotypes. Coordination deficits are present, as measured by accelerating rotarod analysis, together with a progressive decrease in locomotor activity and increase in weight. Large vacuoles are detected within neurons of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), predominantly within the lumbar regions in 6-month-old mice, but spreading to the cervical regions after 1 year of age. Secondary demyelination of large axons is also detected within the lumbar roots of older mice. Lipofuscin deposition is increased in both DRG neurons and cardiomyocytes, and iron deposition is detected in cardiomyocytes after 1 year of age. These mice represent the first GAA repeat expansion-based FRDA mouse models that exhibit progressive FRDA-like pathology and thus will be of use in testing potential therapeutic strategies, particularly GAA repeat-based strategies. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved