Litigation and Mediation in Thailand

A Review of Code and Custom in a Thai Provincial Court by David M. Enge

Detection and initial characterization of a bacteriocin inhibitory to Campylobacter jejuni

Given the current concerns regarding the use of antibiotics and chemical preservatives in animal husbandry, a naturally occurring antimicrobial peptide of bacterial origin (bacteriocin) that exhibits antagonist activity toward foodborne pathogens could provide a favorable alternative to these agents. The goal of this research was to identify one or more bacteriocins that might reduce the incidence of C. jejuni in poultry and poultry products, and thus enhance the safety of food products of poultry origin. Twelve bacteriocin-producing bacteria (producer organisms), which included eight Lactobacillus sp. strains, two Paenibacillus polymyxa strains, a Streptococcus salivarious and a Propionibacterium thoenii, were selected and screened against two wild type strains of C. jejuni (indicator organisms) via agar spot and well diffusion assays. Four organisms inhibited C. jejuni growth and were retained for further evaluation. Through inhibition tests with catalase and four proteases, the inhibitory substances were determined to be proteinaceous. The bacterium Paenibacillus polymyxa (ATCC 842) provided the most consistent inhibitory activity. The antimicrobial molecule produced by P. polymyxa was found to be a protein of molecular weight between 3000 and 5000 D, stable during extended storage at low temperature, stable to heat at 1210C, and optimally produced during incubation at 30-370C for 24 h in the pH range 6.0 to 7.4

Evaluating and improving understanding and use of current UK nutrition labels among older adults

Background: New formats of UK nutrition labels were mandatorily introduced on-pack and for products sold online, from 2014. However, there is a lack of evidence concerning older adults’ understanding and use of this information and the extent to which these may be improved with nutrition label education. With respect to older adults, this research aimed to (1) explore use of this information and potentially related consumer characteristics and (2) evaluate objective understanding of the current UK nutrition labels, before developing and evaluating a pilot education intervention targeting label understanding. Methods: An online survey was developed to evaluate understanding of current UK nutrition labels and their use among older adults aged 50 years or older. Exploration of these adults’ engagement with online nutrition information was also undertaken using “Think aloud sessions”. Following a systematic review of the effect of nutrition label education on consumers’ use and understanding of this information, a single-arm pre post-intervention study design was used to evaluate a pilot educational intervention among community service-users. Results: Frequent use of nutrition labels during purchases was reported by 51% of all survey respondents (n=181) and predicted by increasing levels of personal motivation (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1, 1.2), nutrition knowledge (OR 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1, 1.5) as well as self-rated (OR 1.2 95% CI: 1.0, 1.5), but not objective (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.3), understanding of this information. Respondents had difficulties understanding the meaning of specific elements of the current UK nutrition labels, including “Reference Intakes (RI)” terminology. Infrequent use of online nutrition information could be explained by a variety of factors related to supermarket website use and information presentation. Finally, the developed educational intervention increased levels of participants’ (n = 30) objective understanding of current UK nutrition labels (quiz score out of 5 MD=1.4, 95% CI: -2.1, -0.8), as well as participants’ confidence in their use of this information to make healthier food choices (using a 7-point scale, MD = 1.0, 95% CI: 0.5 to 1.6). Conclusion: Older adults’ understanding of current UK nutrition labels may be improved with nutrition label education. Implications for policy and practice are given. Further research into the impact of education on older adults’ nutrition label understanding, use and dietary intakes is now warranted

Reflections from the Classroom: Towards a Radical Pedagogy for Early Years

This article comprises some critical reflections on the teaching of a second year undergraduate module called Children’s Cultural Worlds in which students are required to engage with original studies which are then used to stimulate self-reflection and engagement with wider issues relating to our understanding of children’s place in the social world. It will be argued that when individual memories are shared, it is possible to identify continuities and discontinuities in childhood experiences as well as the intersections between childhood and other social divisions such as gender, class and ethnicity. The requirement that students recall and reflect on their childhood memories and share them with others is a way of students learning through their own experiences, reflecting on their views and values. Furthermore, as it will be shown, it opens up spaces for alternative values and viewpoints to emerge about how we might ‘regulate’ early childhood because ‘When we tell stories and process them, using reflective dialogues, we create the possibility of change in ourselves and others’.</jats:p

UK government delays restriction of promotions on less‐healthy foods: Serious implications for tackling obesity

Regulations ensuring that the promotion and advertising of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt were restricted from October 2022 are now to be delayed by the UK Government. The delay of this policy is to be condemned because it will set back the anticipated improvement to population diets and obesity levels by postponing the expected transformation of retail food environments in-store and online. Governmental justifications for delaying these policies, the implementation of which was the responsibility of the UK food industry, can be perceived to reflect a short-sighted willingness to use the current economic circumstances to push the responsibility for obesity and dietary choices back into the court of the consumer. Delaying these polices will, yet again, leave public health and clinical practitioners tackling obesity with less-effective approaches focused on individual willpower and information provision

Bernard Vonnegut (1914-1997)

Bernard Vonnegut, a Fellow of AGU, the American Meteorological Society, and the Royal Meteorological Society, died of cancer in Albany, N.Y. on April 25,1997. At 82, he was still an active and innovative scientist serving as both Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the State University of New York, at Albany and Honorary President of the International Commission of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics

Knowledge brokers and rapid reviews: what do they do and how do they do it?

Knowledge brokering is a strategy frequently utilised to increase interaction between policymakers and researchers and build capacity for research. The Sax Institute uses knowledge brokers in one-off brief interventions to commission rapid reviews for use in decision making. Using knowledge brokers has been found to increase the clarity of rapid review proposals, yet little is known about how knowledge brokers assist policymakers to define their rapid research needs

A Landscape Study of Public Universities with Undergraduate-Focused Ethics Education

Little is known about the aims and impact of university-based ethics centers. Less is known about how centers leverage their unique campus positions to engage undergraduates in transformative ethics education. This article provides a foundation for future research on university-based ethics centers. First, this article addresses the history of ethics education in higher education, the rise of university ethics centers, and the factors necessary for successful ethics programs. Next, this piece shows the geographic distribution of ethics centers and which centers provide undergraduate-focused ethics education. Finally, this article enables future research on effective ethics center structure, leadership, and outreach