Dairy Innovation Australia (Australia)

ABSTRACTThere has been an increase in the consumption of plant‐based milk alternatives (PBMA), though these often differ in sensory properties compared to cow milk. Some consumers specifically seek PBMA with sensory qualities that resemble cow milk; however, such products are not yet available on the market. This study compared the chemical composition, particle size, color, viscosity, physical stability, and volatile compounds of seven commercial milk types: almond, coconut, oat, rice, soy, plant‐hybrid (a blend of plant‐based ingredients), and cow milk. Sensory descriptive analysis was used to evaluate appearance, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel across the samples.All PBMA, except soy milk, had lower protein levels (<2%) than cow milk (3.2%), as soy naturally contains more protein due to being a legume. PBMA generally had larger particle sizes than cow milk (D4.3 = 1.41 µm), with rice milk showing the highest (4.19 µm), leading to greater sedimentation and grittiness. Soy milk was linked to beany and astringent attributes, while almond and oat had nutty and cereal notes. Coconut and cow milk were most similar in whiteness (L* > 75) and creamy texture, attributed to their higher fat content and lactones. Plant‐hybrid PBMA, despite lacking cereal ingredients, shared sensory similarities with oat and rice milk.Volatile compound analysis identified benzaldehyde in almond milk, contributing to its characteristic almond‐like aroma. Coconut milk contained lactones, which are associated with sweet and creamy notes.Blending complementary PBMA ingredients, such as coconut and soy milk, would effectively mimic cow milk by introducing dairy‐like aroma, creaminess, and improved stability.Practical Application: There is a need to reformulate PBMA to improve their sensory quality and meet consumer expectations. By understanding how chemical and physical properties influence the overall sensory experience, manufacturers can make better ingredient choices and optimize production processes to produce more desirable products.

Evidence of the cost implications and health outcomes associated with the use of mobile stroke units (MSU) is required to support their utilization. We aimed to evaluate the causal effect of the use of an MSU compared with a standard ambulance on hospitalization costs and 90- to 180-day health outcomes. Causal effect estimation was performed using patient-level data from a cohort of patients with stroke in 2018 identified from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (Victoria) and Melbourne MSU. These data were linked to Ambulance Victoria and government-held administrative data sets. In total, linked data from 8657 patients were available. Propensity score matching was used to define comparator groups within a target trial framework. Costs included emergency department and hospital admission costs in the first 180 days after stroke. Multivariable regression analyses of the matched data were used to compare costs and outcomes (mortality and modified Rankin Scale) between MSU and standard ambulance groups. The target trial sample included 96 patients transported by the MSU (intervention) and 198 patients transported by standard ambulance services (control). Of these, the mean age was 76 years and 157 (53%) were men. A greater proportion of patients received mechanical thrombectomy in the intervention group than the control group (40% versus 23%; P<0.001). The adjusted hospital costs were $17 949 greater in the intervention group than the control group (95% CI, $4682-$31 214; P=0.01). Patients in intervention group doubled the odds of achieving nondisability (modified Rankin Scale scores of 0-1, adjusted odds ratio of 2.11 [95% CI, 1.07-4.18]) and halved the mortality rate (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.32-0.86]) within 90 to 180 days poststroke compared with the control group. There are important cost implications and improved outcomes from using the MSU that are likely related to increased provision of reperfusion therapy.

ObjectiveUsing a strength‐based framework, we aimed to describe and compare First Nations patients who completed care in an ED to those who took their own leave.MethodsRoutinely collected adult patient data from a metropolitan ED collected over a 5‐year period were analysed.ResultsA total of 6446 presentations of First Nations patients occurred from 2016 to 2020, constituting 3% of ED presentations. Of these, 5589 (87%) patients waited to be seen and 857 (13%) took their own leave. Among patients who took their own leave, 624 (73%) left not seen and 233 (27%) left at own risk after starting treatment. Patients who were assigned a triage category of 4–5 were significantly more likely to take their own leave (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.67–3.77, P < 0.001). Patients were significantly less likely to take their own leave if they were >60 years (adjusted OR 0.69, 95% CI 1.01–1.36, P = 0.014) and had private health insurance (adjusted OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.84, P < 0.001). Patients were more likely to leave if they were women (adjusted OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.36, P = 0.04), had an unknown housing status (adjusted OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.44–2.15, P < 0.001), were homeless (adjusted OR 1.50, 95% CI 1.22–1.93, P < 0.001) or had a safety alert (adjusted OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.35–1.90, P < 0.001).ConclusionA lower triage category is a strong predictor of First Nations patients taking their own leave. It has been documented that First Nations patients are under‐triaged. One proposed intervention in the metropolitan setting is to introduce practices which expediate the care of First Nations patients. Further qualitative studies with First Nations patients should be undertaken to determine successful approaches to create equitable access to emergency healthcare for this population.

La derni&#232;re d&#233;cennie a vu l&#8217;&#233;mergence d&#8217;un nouveau champ de recherche en &#233;conomie du d&#233;veloppement&#160;: les m&#233;thodes exp&#233;rimentales d&#8217;&#233;valuation d&#8217;impacts par assignation al&#233;atoire. Cet article explore le contraste entre d&#8217;une part les limites (nombreuses) et la circonscription (tr&#232;s &#233;troite) du champ r&#233;el d&#8217;application de ces m&#233;thodes et d&#8217;autre part leur succ&#232;s, attest&#233; &#224; la fois par leur nombre et leur forte m&#233;diatisation. L&#8217;analyse sugg&#232;re que ce contraste est le fruit d&#8217;une conjonction &#233;conomique et politique particuli&#232;re, &#233;manant de strat&#233;gies novatrices de la part des chercheurs de cette nouvelle &#233;cole, et d&#8217;int&#233;r&#234;ts et de pr&#233;f&#233;rences sp&#233;cifiques provenant &#224; la fois du monde acad&#233;mique et de la communaut&#233; bailleurs de fond.Classification JEL&#160;: A11, B41, C18, C93, D72, O10.