The scientific basis of 'net zero emissions' and its diverging sociopolitical representation

The Net Zero Emissions (NZE) concept has created momentum for climate commitment made by national governments, cities, industries and individual companies. However, evidence of tangible decarbonisation is limited. Here we identify precarious differences between the scientific origin of NZE and its social representation in the wider public and explore the consequences of the resulting science-action gap for achieving global climate goals. A particular focus is given to 'offsetting', which is closely connected to the practical delivery of NZE but typically ignores that different types or carbon credits have different environmental efficacy. Revisiting the science related to the global carbon cycle demonstrates that a heavy reliance on any carbon offsetting that is not a permanent removal presents a real risk. Moreover, competition over scarce 'removal credits' distracts from the real tasks at hand, namely to rapidly decrease fossil fuel emissions, actively remove carbon through restoration, and protect existing terrestrial carbon sinks. Establishing separate targets for these distinct actions is an essential step towards disentangling current confusion. Whilst a 'race to net zero' may trigger innovation in the decarbonisation space, the restoration and protection of carbon sinks demands a collective approach where actors should focus on how to make real and verifiable contributions rather than claiming individual net zero scores.

Validation of the Kimberley Cognitive Assessment (KICA-Cog) for Torres Strait Islander Peoples

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to validate the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment-Cognitive Component (KICA-Cog) adapted for dementia screening in Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

METHODS

Data were obtained from a broader dementia prevalence study completed in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area between 2015 and 2018. Modifications were made to items from the original KICA-Cog to ensure they were culturally appropriate for the Torres Strait. All participants completed a KICA-Cog and had a comprehensive dementia assessment with a geriatrician experienced in cross-cultural assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 255 Torres Strait residents aged 45 years and over completed a KICA-Cog and underwent geriatric assessment. The adapted KICA-Cog showed good validity for dementia diagnosis with a cut point of 33/34 associated with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 92% with an area under the ROC curve of 0.91.

CONCLUSIONS

The KICA-Cog, when modified for the Torres Strait, is a valid cognitive screening tool for dementia. Caution is required when interpreting test scores, as the adapted KICA-Cog had slightly lower sensitivity (ability to detect people with dementia) than the original KICA-Cog. As with all short cognitive tests, individuals with a low KICA-Cog scores should undergo further medical investigations before a dementia diagnosis is considered.

Safeguarding against Dementia in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities through the Optimisation of Primary Health Care: A Project Protocol

This protocol describes the methodology and methods for a collaborative project with eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care (PHC) organisations, across three Australian states and one territory, to increase clinical service performance and access to preventive health and health promotion services for preventing, identifying, treating, and managing dementia risk in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Aboriginal participatory action research (APAR) methodology will be the framework for this project, incorporating continuous quality improvement (CQI), informed by research yarning with stakeholder groups, comprising community members and PHC staff and service providers and data collected from the auditing of client health records and the mapping of existing clinical processes and health services at each partnering PHC organisation. The qualitative and quantitative data will be summarised and discussed with stakeholder groups. Priorities will be identified and broken down into tangible PHC organisation deliverable strategies and programs, which will be co-developed with stakeholder groups and implemented cyclically over 24 months using the Plan, Do, Study, Act model of change. Key project outcome measures include increased clinical service performance and availability of preventive health and health promotion services for safeguarding against dementia. Project implementation will be evaluated for quality and transparency from an Indigenous perspective using an appropriate appraisal tool. The project processes, impact, and sustainability will be evaluated using the RE-AIM framework. A dementia safeguarding framework and accompanying tool kit will be developed from this work to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PHC organisations to identify, implement, and evaluate dementia safeguarding practice and service improvements on a broader scale.

The book history of Rona M. Fields's A Society on the Run (1973): A case study in the alleged suppression of psychological research on Northern Ireland

The US psychologist Rona M. Field's book A Society on the Run (1973) offered a psychological account of the nature and effects of the Northern Irish Troubles at their peak in the early 1970s. The book was withdrawn shortly after publication by its publisher, Penguin Books Limited, and never reissued. Fields alleged publicly that the book had been suppressed by the British state, a claim that has often been treated uncritically. Local Northern Irish psychologists suggested that the book was taken off the market because of its scientific deficiencies. Rigorous book-historical investigation using Penguin editorial fields reveals, however, that what might appear to be a case of state suppression, or an instance of disciplinary boundary work, can be explained instead by the commercial interests and professional standards of a publisher keen to preserve its reputation for quality and reliability.

Erratum: Potentially preventable dementia in a First Nations population in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of North Queensland, Australia: a cross sectional analysis using population attributable fractions

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100855.][This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100532.].

Beyond a literacy model for psychiatry in the mass media

Professional statements suggest that psychiatrists engage in media work to supply a general audience with medical knowledge informed by relevant professional expertise. However, media work may be motivated by interests other than disinterested service to the well-being of the public, such as fame, money and a platform for one's wider views. The role of media psychiatrist is also crucially shaped by the unpredictable needs of a complex media ecology and marketplace. Furthermore, the properties of the media, and different forms within them, bring implicit meanings such as the wider authorisation of therapeutic self-reflection or the promotion of para-social intimacy. Finally, the media psychiatrist may function as an entrepreneur, converting the currency of celebrity into new forms of cultural, social and political capital. Professional guidelines for media work should be updated in light of such observations.

Dementia Risk Models in an Australian First Nations Population: Cross-Sectional Associations and Preparation for Follow-Up

Background

Reducing the burden of dementia in First Nations populations may be addressed through developing population specific methods to quantify future risk of dementia.

Objective

To adapt existing dementia risk models to cross-sectional dementia prevalence data from a First Nations population in the Torres Strait region of Australia in preparation for follow-up of participants. To explore the diagnostic utility of these dementia risk models at detecting dementia.

Methods

A literature review to identify existing externally validated dementia risk models. Adapting these models to cross-sectional data and assessing their diagnostic utility through area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analyses and calibration using Hosmer-Lemeshow Chi².

Results

Seven risk models could be adapted to the study data. The Aging, Cognition and Dementia (AgeCoDe) study, the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), and the Brief Dementia Screening Indicator (BDSI) had moderate diagnostic utility in identifying dementia (i.e., AUROC >0.70) before and after points for older age were removed.

Conclusion

Seven existing dementia risk models could be adapted to this First Nations population, and three had some cross-sectional diagnostic utility. These models were designed to predict dementia incidence, so their applicability to identify prevalent cases would be limited. The risk scores derived in this study may have prognostic utility as participants are followed up over time. In the interim, this study highlights considerations when transporting and developing dementia risk models for First Nations populations.

Culturally Appropriate Assessment of Depression and Anxiety in Older Torres Strait Islanders: Limitations and Recommendations

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression in older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

METHODS

A modified version of the PHQ-9 (KICA-dep) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) were administered as part of a wider dementia prevalence study conducted in the Torres Strait. Results were compared to diagnoses obtained on Geriatric review to evaluate their applicability in the region.

RESULTS

A total of 236 participants completed the KICA-dep and 184 completed the GAI short form. Of these, 10.6% were identified with depression and 15.8% with anxiety. Some participants found questions about suicide ideation and self-harm offensive and others had difficulty understanding concepts on the GAI. The KICA-dep performed poorly in comparison to diagnosis on geriatric clinical review, so results are unlikely to reflect the true prevalence of depression in the region.

CONCLUSIONS

Further research is required to explore the underlying dimensions of depression and anxiety and terminology used to express mood symptoms in the Torres Strait.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

• Current mental health screening tools are not applicable for the Torres Strait• More work is required to determine how symptoms of depression and anxiety are expressed within Torres Strait communities.

Potentially preventable dementia in a First Nations population in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of North Queensland, Australia: A cross sectional analysis using population attributable fractions

Background

Dementia is highly prevalent among Australia's First Nations peoples, including Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples in Far North Queensland (FNQ). It is likely that historically recent exposure to modifiable risk factors underlies these rates, and a large proportion of dementia may be potentially preventable.

Methods

Data from two adult community health checks (2015-2018) were analyzed to determine the prevalence of 11 modifiable dementia risk factors among the First Nations residents of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of FNQ. Population attributable fractions (PAF%) for dementia were calculated using age-standardized prevalence estimates derived from these health checks and relative risks obtained from previous meta-analyses in other populations. PAF% estimates were weighted for communality to account for overlap of risk factors.

Findings

Half (52·1%) of the dementia burden in this population may be attributed to 11 potentially modifiable risk factors. Hypertension (9·4%), diabetes mellitus (9·0%), obesity (8·0%), and smoking (5·3%) were the highest contributing risk factors. The contribution of depression (2·0%) and alcohol (0·3%) was lower than other global and national estimates. While the adjusted PAF% for social isolation was low based on the adult community health check data (1·6%), it was higher (4·2%) when official census data were analyzed.

Interpretation

These results suggest that a substantial proportion of dementia in FNQ First Nations peoples could potentially be prevented. Government investment in preventative health now is essential to reduce the future burden of dementia.

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC, GNT1107140, GNT1191144, GNT1106175, GNT0631947).

Scintillation light detection in the 6-m drift-length ProtoDUNE Dual Phase liquid argon TPC

DUNE is a dual-site experiment for long-baseline neutrino oscillation studies, neutrino astrophysics and nucleon decay searches. ProtoDUNE Dual Phase (DP) is a 6  ×  6  ×  6 m 3 liquid argon time-projection-chamber (LArTPC) that recorded cosmic-muon data at the CERN Neutrino Platform in 2019-2020 as a prototype of the DUNE Far Detector. Charged particles propagating through the LArTPC produce ionization and scintillation light. The scintillation light signal in these detectors can provide the trigger for non-beam events. In addition, it adds precise timing capabilities and improves the calorimetry measurements. In ProtoDUNE-DP, scintillation and electroluminescence light produced by cosmic muons in the LArTPC is collected by photomultiplier tubes placed up to 7 m away from the ionizing track. In this paper, the ProtoDUNE-DP photon detection system performance is evaluated with a particular focus on the different wavelength shifters, such as PEN and TPB, and the use of Xe-doped LAr, considering its future use in giant LArTPCs. The scintillation light production and propagation processes are analyzed and a comparison of simulation to data is performed, improving understanding of the liquid argon properties.

Magseed localisation of non-palpable breast lesions: experience from a single centre

AIM

To prospectively analyse patients undergoing magnetic seed (Magseed) localisation (MSL) to evaluate the outcome, and to retrospectively compare re-excision rates for MSL with previous wire-guided localisation (WGL) to assess the hypothesis that the introduction of MSL may lead to a lower re-excision rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MSL commenced at University Hospital Crosshouse in December 2017. No other changes were made to radiological or surgical practice during this time. Data were collected prospectively on all patients undergoing MSL between December 2017 and December 2019, in a single breast unit. Data were gathered retrospectively on patients who had undergone localised breast procedures between January 2016 and December 2019 for comparison of re-excision rates.

RESULTS

Two hundred and fifty-five patients underwent MSL surgery between December 2017 and December 2019. Of those, 98% (n=250) patients underwent successful MSL at the first attempt. The Magseed was identified intraoperatively in 100% patients and surgical excision was performed. The re-excision rate reduced from 18.9% in 2016/2017, to 11.6% in 2018/2019 (p=0.098).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Magseed localisation has proved to be a safe and effective way of localising breast lesions, with the advantage of high accuracy. The reduction in re-excision rates at University Hospital Crosshouse with the introduction of Magseed® localisation is a potential benefit, which requires further study.

Factors associated with the increased risk of dementia found in the Torres Strait

OBJECTIVE

To identify the specific risk factors for dementia in the Torres Strait.

METHODS

This research was conducted as part of a cross-sectional dementia prevalence study conducted in the Torres Strait. Participants underwent a comprehensive health assessment, where data on risk factors were collected, and a Geriatrician assessment, which was used to establish dementia diagnoses.

RESULTS

A total of 276 Torres Strait residents aged between 45 and 93 participated in the study. Cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and older age were the most significant risk factors in this population. Once adjusted for age, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, low education and problems with mobility and incontinence were significantly associated with dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

Reducing dementia risk in the Torres Strait requires multifactorial interventions to address potentially modifiable risk factors with a particular focus on addressing the development of chronic midlife diseases.

Community involvement to maximise research success in Torres Strait Islander populations: more than just ticking the boxes

CONTEXT

Health research is important to effectively address the health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. However, research within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities has not always been conducted ethically or with tangible benefits to those involved. Justifiably then, people may be reticent to welcome researchers into their communities. Genuine commitment to community consultation, the fostering of partnerships and collaborative approaches maximise successful outcomes and research translation in these communities.

ISSUE

Despite guidelines existing to try to ensure the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are met through any research involving them, non-Indigenous researchers may not be fully aware of the complexities involved in applying these guidelines. This article explores how a team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers understood and applied the guidelines during a 3-year dementia prevalence study in the Torres Strait. Their reflections on the practicalities involved in conducting ethically sound and culturally appropriate research are discussed.

LESSONS LEARNED

Having a deep understanding of the ethical principles of research with Torres Strait communities is more than just 'ticking the boxes' on ethics approvals. Genuine community involvement is paramount in conducting research with the communities and only then will research be relevant to community needs, culturally appropriate and facilitate the translation of knowledge into practice.

SERENA: Particle Instrument Suite for Determining the Sun-Mercury Interaction from BepiColombo

The ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury will provide simultaneous measurements from two spacecraft, offering an unprecedented opportunity to investigate magnetospheric and exospheric particle dynamics at Mercury as well as their interactions with solar wind, solar radiation, and interplanetary dust. The particle instrument suite SERENA (Search for Exospheric Refilling and Emitted Natural Abundances) is flying in space on-board the BepiColombo Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and is the only instrument for ion and neutral particle detection aboard the MPO. It comprises four independent sensors: ELENA for neutral particle flow detection, Strofio for neutral gas detection, PICAM for planetary ions observations, and MIPA, mostly for solar wind ion measurements. SERENA is managed by a System Control Unit located inside the ELENA box. In the present paper the scientific goals of this suite are described, and then the four units are detailed, as well as their major features and calibration results. Finally, the SERENA operational activities are shown during the orbital path around Mercury, with also some reference to the activities planned during the long cruise phase.

"Other psychotherapies": Healing interactions across time, geography, and culture

This article introduces the special issue of Transcultural Psychiatry entitled "Other Psychotherapies": Healing Interactions across Time, Geographies, and Cultures. This special issue is intended to highlight that, rather than being exclusively a modern phenomenon, variants of psychotherapeutic practice have existed for millennia in diverse sociocultural contexts. This article explores the historical development of Western psychotherapy and points to the important contribution that Greco-Roman scholars from antiquity made to contemporary understandings of mental states and emotional wellbeing. The ways in which healing interactions have been localized to reflect the local cultural and geographic contexts are also highlighted through a discussion of recent work in psychotherapeutic geographies. This allows us to identify commonalities and differences between various forms of psychotherapy. We also consider how particular subcultures may influence the future development of psychotherapy. This article serves to foreshadow the themes that are explored in more detail in the collection of articles that make up the "Other Psychotherapies" special issue. The various articles that contribute to the special issue are introduced, and the key issues explored by these articles briefly highlighted. The intention of the special issue is to facilitate an opportunity to appreciate the ways in which psychotherapies are a product of the epoch, setting, and institutions that shape people's lives.

Prevalence of dementia in the Torres Strait

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of dementia and problems associated with ageing in the Torres Strait.

METHODS

The study was conducted across all 18 island and 5 mainland communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Far North Queensland. Participants underwent a comprehensive health assessment and a Geriatrician assessment, which were used to establish consensus diagnoses.

RESULTS

A total of 276 Torres Strait residents aged between 45 and 93 participated in the study. The prevalence of dementia in the sample was 14.2%, which was 2.87 times higher than the wider Australian population.

CONCLUSION

Torres Strait Islander peoples share the increased risk of dementia seen in Aboriginal Australians compared to the wider community. This highlights the need for interventions to address this increased dementia risk for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Between Exploration, Pleasure, and Performance: Sexual Enhancement Medication Use among Older Gay and Heterosexual Men

Pharmaceutical marketing campaigns and biomedical discourses tend to oppose two types of sexual enhancement medication (SEM) use. While "therapeutic" use is associated with older heterosexual men in committed relationships, "recreational" use is associated with young gay men, and with the context of casual sex. However, little is known about the real objectives of older men (especially older gay men) who use SEM or the contexts in which they use such drugs. Furthermore, SEM conveys representations of masculinity and sexuality that focus on performance and youth, and the influence of these representations on SEM users remains unexplored. Based on semi-structured interviews conducted, in French, in 2015-2016, with 27 Canadian men (12 heterosexual, 15 gay) aged 65 to 84 years, we examined the context in which older men used such medication and the reasons why they used it, and we explored how older men's notions of sexuality, masculinity, and aging influenced their experiences with SEM use. Our participants' narratives focused on three themes: exploring sexual possibilities/improving one's sex life, restoring sexual capacities, and masculinity and aging. This study improves our understanding of older men's use of SEM and contributes to the deconstruction of normative models of older men's masculinity and sexuality.

Placement of Visually Impaired Persons: A Survey of Current Practices

Agencies offering vocational rehabilitation services for blind and visually impaired clients are involved in job placement using different models in terms of personnel and placement activities. In an effort to obtain information about personnel, types of activities, and other resources, agencies across the nation were surveyed. Using survey findings and available Rehabilitation Services Administration placement data, we noted that agencies employing both rehabilitation counselors and placement specialists were experiencing a higher rate of success than those agencies not employing placement specialists. We propose a model placement program employing both rehabilitation counselors and placement specialists, as well as rehabilitation technologists. Suggestions for model programs are made with an understanding of the pressures faced by the counselors and administrators: large caseloads, clients with multiple handicaps, and financial constraints.

Aging, Vision, and Work

Older people who lose their vision often do not return to competitive employment. Work, however, meets important, financial, psychological, and social needs. This article explores the variety of reasons why work is not always considered a rehabilitation alternative. Realistic factors that enhance competitive employment for this population are noted and information on available employment resources in the public and private sectors that will increase vocational opportunities is provided.

The Challenge of Upward Mobility

Many blind and visually impaired employees are working below their potential because of limited opportunity for upward mobility. This article explores the issues surrounding this problem, identifies existing resources, and includes the findings of the American Foundation for the Blind's Task Force on Upward Mobility which state the recommendations for rehabilitation and educational professionals, employers, and consumers.

High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Method for Indole in Shrimp: Development of Method and Collaborative Study

A collaborative study on the determination of indole in shrimp was conducted in which a high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method and a spectrofluorometric method were compared with the AOAC gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method (18.075–18.078,13th ed.). In the HPLC method, 10 g shrimp was blended with methanol, an internal standard was added, and the extract was filtered. Indole was separated on an octadecylsilane reverse phase column, using 60% MeOH-H2O, and quantitated with a fluorescence detector (excitation 280 nm, emission 330 nm) by comparing the indole peak height with that of an internal standard, 2-methylindole. Recoveries at a 25 μg/100 g level averaged 104% with a range of 90–127%, and at a level of 35 μg/100 g averaged 102% with a range of 93–112%. In the spectrofluorometric method, 25 g shrimp was extracted with 2% EtOAc-hexane. After several washes, indole was partitioned into a saturated NaCl-MeOH solution and its fluorescence was measured (excitation 280 nm, emission 332 nm). Recoveries at a 25 μg/100 g level averaged 93% with a range of 0–255% and at a level of 35 μg/100 g averaged 64% with a range of 0–107%. Recoveries obtained by the AOAC-GLC method at a level of 25 μg/100 g averaged 96% with a range of 81–116% and at a level of 35 μg/100 g averaged 101% with a range of 81–119%. The coefficients of variation were 20,10, and 64% at a 25 μg/100 g level for the GLC method, the HPLC method, and the spectrofluorometric method, respectively. The HPLC method was adopted as official first action for indole levels in shrimp exceeding 1 μg/100 g.

Validation of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment short form (KICA-screen) for telehealth

INTRODUCTION

Studies show Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at increased risk of dementia. Whilst there have been several studies evaluating the use of telehealth for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes, and studies validating telehealth dementia screening tools for the wider community, none have addressed the pressing need for culturally appropriate telehealth dementia screening for this at-risk population. The aim of the study was to examine the utility of using a culturally appropriate dementia screening tool (KICA-screen) in a telehealth setting.

METHODS

A prospective field trial was used to compare administration of the short version of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment (KICA-screen) face-to-face and via telehealth. A total of 33 medically stable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inpatients/outpatients participated. The stability of the KICA-screen scores, administered face-to-face and via telehealth, for each participant was measured.

RESULTS

The two test delivery methods showed not only good correlation (Pearson's r = 0.851; p < 0.01) but good agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.85; p < 0.01).

DISCUSSION

Results of the assessment showed that KICA-screen can be reliably administered via videoconference and resulted in comparable scores to face-to-face testing in the majority of cases. The telehealth process was acceptable to participants, who were able to understand the process and complete the full screen remotely.

Madness Decolonized?: Madness as Transnational Identity in Gail Hornstein's Agnes's Jacket

The US psychologist Gail Hornstein's monograph, Agnes's Jacket: A Psychologist's Search for the Meanings of Madness (2009), is an important intervention in the identity politics of the mad movement. Hornstein offers a resignified vision of mad identity that embroiders the central trope of an "anti-colonial" struggle to reclaim the experiential world "colonized" by psychiatry. A series of literal and figurative appeals makes recourse to the inner world and (corresponding) cultural world of the mad as well as to the ethno-symbolic cultural materials of dormant nationhood. This rhetoric is augmented by a model in which the mad comprise a diaspora without an origin, coalescing into a single transnational community. The mad are also depicted as persons displaced from their metaphorical homeland, the "inner" world "colonized" by the psychiatric regime. There are a number of difficulties with Hornstein's rhetoric, however. Her "ethnicity-and-rights" response to the oppression of the mad is symptomatic of Western parochialism, while her proposed transmutation of putative psychopathology from limit upon identity to parameter of successful identity is open to contestation. Moreover, unless one accepts Hornstein's porous vision of mad identity, her self-ascribed insider status in relation to the mad community may present a problematic "re-colonization" of mad experience.

A 100-Year Review: A century of dairy processing advancements-Pasteurization, cleaning and sanitation, and sanitary equipment design

Over the past century, advancements within the mainstream dairy foods processing industry have acted in complement with other dairy-affiliated industries to produce a human food that has few rivals with regard to safety, nutrition, and sustainability. These advancements, such as milk pasteurization, may appear commonplace in the context of a modern dairy processing plant, but some consideration of how these advancements came into being serve as a basis for considering what advancements will come to bear on the next century of processing advancements. In the year 1917, depending on where one resided, most milk was presented to the consumer through privately owned dairy animals, small local or regional dairy farms, or small urban commercial dairies with minimal, or at best nascent, processing capabilities. In 1917, much of the retail milk in the United States was packaged and sold in returnable quart-sized clear glass bottles fitted with caps of various design and composition. Some reports suggest that the cost of that quart of milk was approximately 9 cents-an estimated $2.00 in 2017 US dollars. Comparing that 1917 quart of milk to a quart of milk in 2017 suggests several differences in microbiological, compositional, and nutritional value as well as flavor characteristics. Although a more comprehensive timeline of significant processing advancements is noted in the AppendixTable A1 to this paper, we have selected 3 advancements to highlight; namely, the development of milk pasteurization, cleaning and sanitizing technologies, and sanitary specifications for processing equipment. Finally, we provide some insights into the future of milk processing and suggest areas where technological advancements may need continued or strengthened attention and development as a means of securing milk as a food of high safety and value for the next century to come.

Garlic diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide mitigates effects of pro-oxidant induced cellular stress and has immune modulatory function in LPS-stimulated porcine epithelial cells

The objective of the current study was to determine if garlic-derived diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) could mitigate oxidative and endotoxin stress, using an intestinal porcine epithelial cell (IPEC-J2) model. The experiment was arranged as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial of DADS + DATS (0 or 18 µM), pro-oxidant stressor (hydrogen peroxide at 0 or 100 µM), and endotoxin stressor (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] at 0 or 10 µg/mL) with 8 replicates per treatment. Cells were incubated with DADS + DATS for 18 h, LPS for 6 h, then with hydrogen peroxide for 3 h. Gene expression was measured by RT-PCR for cytokines, interleukin 8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and tight junction proteins, claudin 1 (CL-1), occludin (OC), and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1). Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER), the antioxidant enzyme catalase, and apical secretion of IL-8 protein into the incubation medium was also measured. There was an increase ( < 0.01) in TNF-α and IL-8 gene expression due to LPS, although there was no effect of hydrogen peroxide or DADS + DATS. Furthermore, there was a tendency for an increase ( = 0.08) in ZO-1 gene expression due to DADS + DATS. Treatment with DADS + DATS and hydrogen peroxide did not affect TEER, although there was a decrease ( = 0.02) in TEER with LPS incubation. Treatment of cells with hydrogen peroxide reduced catalase activity ( < 0.01), which was restored with pre-incubation of DADS + DATS ( < 0.10). There was an increase ( < 0.01) in IL-8 secretion due to LPS, which was further augmented ( < 0.01) by pre-incubation with DADS + DATS. Based on the results from the current study, DADS + DATS can ameliorate oxidative effects of hydrogen peroxide, as well as alter IL-8 secretion in LPS-treated IPEC-J2 cells.

Ability of garlic-derived diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide supplemented by oral gavage to mitigate effects of an acute postweaning feed and water deprivation event in nursery pigs

Compounds in garlic have been shown to contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune modulatory properties that may be able to mitigate the effects of nursery pig stressors. The objective of the current experiment was to determine if oral gavage of garlic-derived diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) could mitigate the effects of a 24-h postweaning feed + water deprivation event in nursery pigs. Pigs (6.0 ± 0.05 kg and 21 d old) were allotted to 4 treatments in a randomized complete block design at weaning with 8 replicate pens per treatment that consisted of with or without a 24-h postweaning feed + water deprivation event and with or without an oral gavage containing 3.6 mg DADS + DATS/kg BW. Growth performance and morbidity were recorded throughout the experiment, and on 1, 6, and 21 d after weaning, 1 pig per pen was selected, blood was collected, the pig was euthanized, and a segment of the distal ileum was subsequently excised for morphological and gene and protein expression measurements. Mucosal gene expression was conducted by reverse transcription PCR for immune, antioxidant, and cellular integrity markers. Furthermore, activity of mucosal superoxide dismutase was measured by colorimetric assay. Immediately following the feed + water deprivation event, there was a decrease ( < 0.01) in growth performance and an increase ( = 0.01) in serum cortisol. The feed + water deprivation event tended ( = 0.10) to decrease ileal villus height and supplementation of DADS + DATS by oral gavage increased ( = 0.03) villus height 1 d after weaning. Supplementation of DADS + DATS by oral gavage decreased ( = 0.03) and tended to decrease ( = 0.08) gene expression of on 6 and 21 d after weaning, respectively. Furthermore, at 1 d after weaning, ileal mucosa SOD activity was decreased ( = 0.01) by the feed + water deprivation and increased ( = 0.04) by oral supplementation of DADS + DATS. Expression of the tight junction genes and were reduced ( ≤ 0.05) due to the feed + water deprivation event 1 d after weaning. Results from the current study show that an acute feed + water deprivation event can impact growth performance, intestinal characteristics, and antioxidant status in nursery pigs, which can be partially mitigated by oral supplementation of garlic compounds DADS + DATS.

Hygienic Shortcomings of Frozen Dessert Freezing Equipment and Fate of Listeria monocytogenes on Ice Cream-Soiled Stainless Steel

Although frozen dairy desserts have a strong record of safety, recent outbreaks of foodborne disease linked to ice creams have brought new attention to this industry. There is concern that small-scale frozen dessert equipment may not comply with or be reviewed against published comprehensive design and construction sanitation specifications (National Sanitation Foundation or 3-A sanitary standards). Equipment sanitary design issues may result in reduced efficacy of cleaning and sanitation, thus increasing the likelihood of postprocess contamination with pathogenic bacteria. In this context, and given that Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks are of great concern for the frozen dessert industry, a complementary study was conducted to evaluate the fate of L. monocytogenes in ice cream mix on a stainless steel surface. Our results showed that L. monocytogenes survived for up to 6 weeks at room temperature and 9 weeks at 4°C in contaminated ice cream on a stainless steel surface. Furthermore, chlorine- and acid-based surface sanitizers had no detrimental effect on the L. monocytogenes when used at a concentration and contact time (1 min) recommended by the manufacturer; significant reduction in CFU required 5 to 20 min of contact time.

David Stafford-Clark (1916-1999): Seeing through a celebrity psychiatrist

This article uses the mass-media career of the British psychiatrist David Stafford-Clark (1916-1999) as a case study in the exercise of cultural authority by celebrity medical professionals in post-war Britain. Stafford-Clark rose to prominence in the mass media, particularly through his presenting work on medical and related topics for BBC TV and Radio, and was in the vanguard of psychiatrists and physicians who eroded professional edicts on anonymity. At the height of his career, he traded upon his celebrity status, and consequent cultural authority, to deliver mass media sermons on a variety of social, cultural, and political topics. Stafford-Clark tried to preserve his sense of personal and intellectual integrity by clinging to a belief that his authority in the public sphere was ultimately to be vindicated by his literary, intellectual, and spiritual significance. But as his credibility dwindled, he came to distrust the cultural intermediaries, such as broadcasters and publishers, who had supported him.