Integration of Food Literacy and Food Numeracy Across Australian Secondary Schools’ Curriculum: Teachers’ Opinions in a Mixed Method Study

Objective: This article reports the findings from a convergent parallel mixed method study, aiming to ascertain the opinions of New South Wales (Australia) government secondary school teachers on integration of food literacy and food numeracy (FL&FN) across secondary school curriculum. Methods: Participants were invited to take part in an anonymous survey and a semi-structured interview [n (email invitations) =401 schools, duration of study=17 weeks]. Their opinions were sought on the integration of FL&FN within their own subject, in all subjects, in whole school programs and as an additional cross-curriculum priority. The collected qualitative and quantitative data were analysed separately, using analytic software programs, and discussed together. Results: Participants in quantitative and qualitative components [n (surveys received) =200, (valid surveys) =118, n (interviews conducted) =14] reported higher feasibility rates in lower secondary grades and stated several barriers and enablers for this integrative pedagogy. Conclusion: If FL&FN is to become an integral part of secondary school curriculum, a collaborative approach by secondary and tertiary education sectors is required to address two main barriers i.e., provision of teacher training and teaching resources. Implications for public education: The reported poor dietary intake among Australian adolescents and its impact on public health, cognitive development, economy, and environment requires further strengthening of school-based food and nutrition education interventions such as the proposed integration of FL&FN across secondary school curriculum. This study provides an initial insight into the feasibility of this proposal

Integration of Food and Nutrition Education Across the Secondary School Curriculum: Two Experiential Models as Two Case Studies

The aim of this paper is to present the implementation and evaluation of two recognised programs, one from Australia and one from Denmark, that endeavour to integrate and enhance food and nutrition education across the secondary school curriculum and whole school programs. This paper details descriptions of design, delivery mode, core components and evaluation of each program based on existing detailed reports and original research investigations. Resultantly, one program in Australia (Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program) and one program in Denmark (LOMA or LOkal MAd = local food) are reported as two case studies. The target group for both programs is secondary school students in Years 7–12; both programs are conducted within secondary schools and within school hours. Both interventions focus on developing secondary students’ food production and food preparation knowledge and skills. Their evaluation methods have consisted of pre- and post-intervention surveys, single case study, and focus groups with both students and teachers. Both programs have reported possible integration across secondary school subjects and modifications in students’ knowledge and skills in food and nutrition. These programs have focused on developing an experiential and localised learning model for food and nutrition education, which may also address food insecurity concerns among adolescents which has been shown to correlate with poor nutrient intake and consequential health complications. Their overall model can be adapted taking into account the social, economic, and environmental context of a secondary school

Rhetorical Functions of Articles in SINTA Accredited Journal

Background: In the past ten years or so, the publication of research journal articles has been increasing and growing. The development is even more significant when the Higher Education in Circular Letter No.152 / E / T / 2012 requires article writing for students of all levels as one of the graduation requirements. The publication of articles, especially in English-language journals, is a challenge for Indonesian authors to be able to produce scientific papers that not only meet scientific rules but also linguistic rules in English. Methodology: This study aims to see the function of rhetorical moves in English journal articles published in SINTA-accredited journals. The part of the article to be studied is focused on the Introduction which has the main role of providing general information about the research background. The rhetoric function of this article will show a series of texts that have a specific function in the Introduction. The sample of this study was taken from articles in the SINTA-accredited journals level 2 and written in English written by authors of non-English-language disciplines. Two articles were randomly selected from each journal so in total it amounted to 16 articles. Findings: This study looks at what rhetorical functions were used, and the textuality of the rhetorical functions used in the Introduction to articles written and published in SINTA-accredited journals level 2. “Indicating the Structure of the Research Paper” and “Announcing Principal Findings” were the least two rhetorical functions stated by the authors in the Introduction section. Two articles in this study fulfil the textuality components but the rests fail to fulfill the textuality components. Conclusion: Writing journal articles in English is a great challenge for Authors with an English as a foreign language (EFL) background. Language proficiency, academic language mastery, academic writing convention and mechanics awareness which include rhetorical functions and textuality might distract their content writing competence. Originality: Many studies searched the rhetorical functions of postgraduate theses, journal articles, and thesis abstracts in English written by non-native English; however, research on journal articles by Indonesian journal publishers is limited

Challenges in reading English academic texts for non-English major students of an Indonesian university

This study examines the barriers to reading academic texts among university students for whom English is a foreign language. While many previous studies have focused on instructional design for building academic reading skills, this study focuses on the fundamental issues that need consideration before setting up the instructional design for English academic reading. Taking an interpretive phenomenological viewpoint, this study applied a qualitative method through an online survey and interviews. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, online data collection was the most accessible means of approaching the students. Ninety-five students from various non-English study programs (courses) at a private university voluntarily responded to the open-ended online questionnaire, providing survey data. Five students provided further data through individual interviews on their academic reading challenges. A thematic analysis of the survey data revealed four themes and eight subthemes representing the students’ challenges, which were explored further in the interviews. These challenges and the relationships among them are discussed. The results suggest that most students depended on single-word meanings as their prime strategy for achieving comprehension. However, this strategy also represented the most notable challenge in their effective reading of English academic texts. They failed to comprehend the text effectively because their translation did not make sense. Furthermore, the nature of the reading strategies of the student cohort had an impact on their baseline reading proficiency

Optimising management of complex regional pain syndrome to improve clinical outcomes throughout the therapy care pathway in England: Protocol for a qualitative interview and observational study with patients and clinicians

Introduction: Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a disabling and distressing chronic pain condition characterised by a range of sensory, motor, autonomic and trophic symptoms. Guidelines recommend early referral for therapies that promote movement of the painful limb. However, evidence suggests a lack of defined therapy pathways for CRPS. Aims: The current study aims to explore CRPS therapy management in centres of excellence in England, and outside of these settings, to understand what facilitates and hinders best practice. The overall aim is to develop a draft stratified package of care to expedite patient access to optimal CRPS therapy across the management pathway. Methods and Analysis: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with therapists working in CRPS centres of excellence and with therapists in other settings. Observations of therapy interventions in CRPS centres of excellence and interviews with patients who have received this care, will also help to identify potential key care package components. Interview data will be analysed using thematic analysis, mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), and Intervention Mapping Adapt (IMA) framework. Observations will be described and documented using the TDF headings. Conclusion: A triangulation protocol for qualitative health research will be used to integrate all data. Online stakeholder events will be held using consensus methods to agree a draft package of care for future implementation following further refinement, testing and evaluation. Clinical Trial Registration: The trial was registered with ISRCTN registry on 24 February 2022 (ISRCTN16917807)

Cued to act on impulse: more impulsive choice and risky decision making by women susceptible to overeating after exposure to food stimuli

There is increasing evidence that individual differences in tendency to overeat relate to impulsivity, possibly by increasing reactivity to food-related cues in the environment. This study tested whether acute exposure to food cues enhanced impulsive and risky responses in women classified on tendency to overeat, indexed by scores on the three factor eating questionnaire disinhibition (TFEQ-D), restraint (TFEQ-R) and hunger scales. Ninety six healthy women completed two measures of impulsive responding (delayed discounting, DDT and a Go No-Go, GNG, task) and a measure of risky decision making (the balloon analogue risk task, BART) as well as questionnairemeasures of impulsive behaviour either after looking at a series of pictures of food or visually matched controls. Impulsivity (DDT) and risk-taking (BART) were both positively associated with TFEQ-D scores, but in both cases this effect was exacerbated by prior exposure to food cues. No effects of restraint were found. TFEQ-D scores were also related tomore commission errors on the GNG, while restrained women were slower on the GNG, but neither effect was modified by cue exposure. Overall these data suggest that exposure to food cues act to enhance general impulsive responding in women at risk of overeating and tentatively suggest an important interaction between tendency for impulsive decision making and food cues thatmay help explain a key underlying risk factor for overeating

A low energy dense diet in the context of a weight management program improves appetite control in overweight and obese women

Background: Low energy density foods (LED) reduce energy intake (EI); whether this effect is sustained over time and during weight loss is unknown. Objective: This trial examined the effects of LED compared to high energy density (HED) meals on appetite, EI and control over eating in the laboratory and during a weight management program that encourages unrestricted intake of LED foods [Slimming World, UK (SW)] compared to a self-led Standard Care program [NHS weight loss plan (SC)]. Methods: Overweight and obese women (n=96;age:41.03±12.61 years; BMI:34.00±3.61 kg/m2) were recruited from SW- or SC-program. Primary outcomes included appetite, food preferences (liking and wanting for LED and HED foods), cravings and evening meal EI (LED, HED) in response to calorie-matched LED (≤0.8 kcal/g) and HED (≥2.5 kcal/g) breakfast and lunch meals. Probe day tests were conducted at weeks 3 and 4 and repeated at weeks 12 and 13 in a within-day cross-over design. Secondary outcomes including body weight and program experience were measured from week 1 to 14 in a parallel-group design. Dietary compliance was monitored using weighed food diaries at weeks 3 and 12. Results: Intention-to-treat (ITT) and completers-analyses showed SW lost more weight compared to SC [ITT:-5.9% (95%CI:-4.7, -7.2) versus -3.5% (-2.3,-4.8), p<0.05; completers:-6.2% (-4.8,-7.6) versus 3.9% (-2.5,-5.2), p<0.05]. SW reported greater control over eating and more motivation to continue the program compared to SC. LED meals increased sensations of fullness and reduced hunger on probe days (p<0.001). Total-day-EI was 1057±73 kcal less (95% CI:912, 1203;36%) under LED compared to HED (p<.001). Liking for LED and HED foods and wanting for HED foods were lower pre-lunch under LED compared to HED conditions and liking decreased to a greater extent after the LED-lunch. SW reported fewer cravings under LED compared to HED conditions (p<0.05). On probe days, appetite and EI outcomes did not differ between weeks 3 and 12 or SW- and SC-groups. Conclusion: LED meals improve appetite control in women attempting weight loss and the effect is sustainable. Consumption of LED meals likely contributed to weight loss in the SW-program.ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02012426

Dopamine Modulates Persistent Synaptic Activity and Enhances the Signal-to-Noise Ratio in the Prefrontal Cortex

The importance of dopamine (DA) for prefrontal cortical (PFC) cognitive functions is widely recognized, but its mechanisms of action remain controversial. DA is thought to increase signal gain in active networks according to an inverted U dose-response curve, and these effects may depend on both tonic and phasic release of DA from midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons.We used patch-clamp recordings in organotypic co-cultures of the PFC, hippocampus and VTA to study DA modulation of spontaneous network activity in the form of Up-states and signals in the form of synchronous EPSP trains. These cultures possessed a tonic DA level and stimulation of the VTA evoked DA transients within the PFC. The addition of high (≥1 µM) concentrations of exogenous DA to the cultures reduced Up-states and diminished excitatory synaptic inputs (EPSPs) evoked during the Down-state. Increasing endogenous DA via bath application of cocaine also reduced Up-states. Lower concentrations of exogenous DA (0.1 µM) had no effect on the up-state itself, but they selectively increased the efficiency of a train of EPSPs to evoke spikes during the Up-state. When the background DA was eliminated by depleting DA with reserpine and alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, or by preparing corticolimbic co-cultures without the VTA slice, Up-states could be enhanced by low concentrations (0.1–1 µM) of DA that had no effect in the VTA containing cultures. Finally, in spite of the concentration-dependent effects on Up-states, exogenous DA at all but the lowest concentrations increased intracellular current-pulse evoked firing in all cultures underlining the complexity of DA's effects in an active network.Taken together, these data show concentration-dependent effects of DA on global PFC network activity and they demonstrate a mechanism through which optimal levels of DA can modulate signal gain to support cognitive functioning

Clinical outcomes and response to treatment of patients receiving topical treatments for pyoderma gangrenosum: a prospective cohort study

Background: pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is an uncommon dermatosis with a limited evidence base for treatment. Objective: to estimate the effectiveness of topical therapies in the treatment of PG. Methods: prospective cohort study of UK secondary care patients with a clinical diagnosis of PG suitable for topical treatment (recruited July 2009 to June 2012). Participants received topical therapy following normal clinical practice (mainly Class I-III topical corticosteroids, tacrolimus 0.03% or 0.1%). Primary outcome: speed of healing at 6 weeks. Secondary outcomes: proportion healed by 6 months; time to healing; global assessment; inflammation; pain; quality-of-life; treatment failure and recurrence. Results: Sixty-six patients (22 to 85 years) were enrolled. Clobetasol propionate 0.05% was the most commonly prescribed therapy. Overall, 28/66 (43.8%) of ulcers healed by 6 months. Median time-to-healing was 145 days (95% CI: 96 days, ∞). Initial ulcer size was a significant predictor of time-to-healing (hazard ratio 0.94 (0.88;80 1.00); p = 0.043). Four patients (15%) had a recurrence. Limitations: No randomised comparator Conclusion: Topical therapy is potentially an effective first-line treatment for PG that avoids possible side effects associated with systemic therapy. It remains unclear whether more severe disease will respond adequately to topical therapy alone

International genome-wide meta-analysis identifies new primary biliary cirrhosis risk loci and targetable pathogenic pathways.

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune liver disease for which effective immunomodulatory therapy is lacking. Here we perform meta-analyses of discovery data sets from genome-wide association studies of European subjects (n=2,764 cases and 10,475 controls) followed by validation genotyping in an independent cohort (n=3,716 cases and 4,261 controls). We discover and validate six previously unknown risk loci for PBC (Pcombined<5 × 10(-8)) and used pathway analysis to identify JAK-STAT/IL12/IL27 signalling and cytokine-cytokine pathways, for which relevant therapies exist