Flinders University

Dietary restraint is a common weight regulation strategy, yet long-term adherence is frequently disrupted by emotional influences. These disruptions may stem from difficulties in emotion regulation strategy and capability use. The present study utilised a naturalistic seven-day snack diary method to examine the relationships between mood (state and trait), dietary restraint, and emotion regulation on snack choice and consumption. Each day, 155 women recorded their snack intake alongside their mood prior to consuming each snack. Results indicated an interaction between state mood and dietary restraint, with negative (but not positive) mood associated with greater unhealthy snack intake for restrained eaters, compared to unrestrained eaters. Emotion regulation was found to have only a limited moderating role in this relationship, suggesting instead that a restrained eater’s ability to interpret and process their emotional state is more likely to influence their snacking behaviour. Trait affect did not interact with dietary restraint to predict eating behaviour, suggesting that momentary emotional states have a stronger impact on dietary adherence than chronic emotional tendencies. These findings highlight the impact of emotional awareness and real-time mood regulation in influencing snacking behaviour, and inform potential intervention targets to support sustainable weight regulation goals.

Endorsing conspiracy beliefs may relate to fixated interests and less flexible thinking—patterns often observed in individuals with higher autistic traits and autism spectrum disorder. This study examines whether systemizing tendencies, measured by the Systemizing Quotient, contribute to conspiracy belief formation. Study 1, in a general population sample, identified two latent profiles with high autistic traits: one with strong systemizing, better scientific reasoning, and greater conspiracy endorsement; another with lower systemizing, weaker scientific reasoning, but similarly high conspiracy beliefs. These contrasting profiles suggest different cognitive pathways to conspiracy beliefs. Study 2, in an autistic sample, found that systemizing moderated the relationship between autistic traits and conspiracy beliefs, with an interaction between belief inflexibility and systemizing. Overall, these findings suggest systemizing shapes distinct cognitive profiles in individuals with high autistic traits, influencing scientific reasoning and conspiracy endorsement. Systemizing emerged as a key predictor, supporting the hyper-systemizing hypothesis as a distinct pathway to conspiracy beliefs.

BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a common opportunistic infection in kidney transplant recipients, typically reactivating in the context of immunosuppression. Although asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, reactivation in transplant recipients can cause BKPyV-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN), a leading cause of graft dysfunction and loss. BKPyV viremia affects approximately 10%-15% of transplant recipients, and once BKPyVAN is established, the risk of graft failure can exceed 50%. The current standard of care involves immunosuppression reduction to restore virus-specific immunity, but this approach increases the risk of acute and chronic rejection. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which contains antiviral and immunomodulatory antibodies, has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy, although evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited to small observational studies. The BEAT-BK trial is a multicenter, adaptive, randomized controlled trial comparing standard immunosuppression reduction with or without IVIg in kidney and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients with BKPyV viremia or biopsy-confirmed BKPyVAN. The trial will enroll participants aged 2 y and older, randomizing them 1:1 to receive standard care alone or in combination with a total IVIg dose of 2 g/kg for 8 wk. An adaptive Bayesian design will permit interim analyses with the potential for early trial success or futility. The primary endpoint is a composite ordinal outcome at 12 wk, incorporating death, graft loss, estimated glomerular filtration rate decline, acute rejection, viral load, and degree of immunosuppression reduction. Secondary outcomes include viral clearance, development of BKPyVAN and donor-specific antibodies, infections, malignancy, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. This trial will provide the first high-quality evidence on the role of IVIg in BKPyV management and inform clinical decision-making in posttransplant care.

In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, the duration of vegetation response to rainfall pulses varies with the magnitude and timing of the precipitation event. Extreme weather events, such as tropical cyclones, can trigger long-lasting ecological responses. In this study, we examined the impact of tropical cyclones on ecosystem gross primary production (GPP) in the Pilbara, Western Australia, and identified two distinct effects: direct and legacy effects. Our findings reveal that tropical cyclones delivering substantial rainfall lead to an immediate increase in GPP. This direct effect typically persists for approximately two months. Following this initial GPP increase, the ecosystems exhibit altered responses to subsequent rainfalls, a phenomenon we define as the legacy effect, which lasts for about 100 days. On average, tropical cyclones contribute an additional 30 g C/m 2 /y GPP during a water year, with 40% of this additional GPP attributed to the legacy effect, compared with tropical-cyclone-unaffected areas in the semi-arid tropics of Western Australia. However, prolonged drought can diminish the legacy effect. These findings improve our understanding of how changes in precipitation patterns driven by global climate change may influence carbon assimilation and ecosystem resilience in semi-arid regions. This diagram shows the two stages of tropical cyclone effects and the additional GPP caused by tropical cyclones in the Pilbara basin, tropical Western Australia. During the direct-effect stage, GPP increases due to the immediate rainfall pulse and returns to its pre-TC event level after approximately two months. During the legacy-effect stage, GPP increases due to better conditions caused by tropical cyclone rainfall, including increased deep soil water, larger foliage cover, and enhanced shallow root systems. The tropical cyclone rainfall brings additional 30 g C/m 2 per water year on average. • In addition to the immediate direct effect, tropical cyclones also improve vegetation response to subsequent rainfall (the legacy effect). • The direct effect lasts for ∼two months, and the legacy effect for ∼three months. • The legacy effect is substantiated by foliage cover and shallow roots. • Tropical cyclones contribute 30 g C/m 2 /yr, of which 40% comes from the legacy effect. • Extended droughts can suppress the legacy effect.

Jack Jumper ant (JJA) venom immunotherapy (VIT) is highly efficacious but the lowest effective dose is unknown. Delta-inulin adjuvant (Advax) is known to enhance honeybee VIT immunogenicity. This phase 1/2 single-blind, randomised controlled trial aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of JJA VIT with different doses of venom ± Advax. Adults aged 18-65 with a history of immediate systemic reaction (SR) to JJA stings were randomised to receive JJA VIT at a maintenance dose of 25 mcg or 50 mcg ± Advax; participants were blinded to treatment allocation. Primary outcomes were the response to sting challenges after 12 months and venom-specific IgE and IgG4 responses to treatment. Forty-nine of 50 screened subjects met inclusion criteria and were randomised; 44 started treatment (25 mcg n = 12; 25 mcg + Advax n = 13; 50mcg n = 12, 50 mcg + Advax n = 12). Subsequently, two withdrew due to SRs to treatment, and two withdrew due to unrelated factors. The higher JJA venom maintenance dose was associated with reduced likelihood of SRs (OR 0.53 (95% CI, 0.28-0.98)), while Advax did not have an effect (OR 1.17 (95% CI, 0.59-2.32)). Forty proceeded to sting challenge, with six developing SRs. There was no difference between groups for sting challenge outcome (p = 0.98), and the ORs for 25 mcg vs. 50 mcg venom dose (0.89, 95% CI, 0.38-2.09) and Advax vs. no Advax (0.99, 95% CI 0.42-2.33) indicated no effect. There were no differences between groups for venom sIgE (p = 0.78), sIgG4 (p = 0.25), sIgE/IgG4 ratio (p = 0.42), intradermal (p = 0.77), and basophil activation test (BAT) (p = 0.69) responses to treatment. Subjects with high baseline BAT sensitivity, which reduced markedly in response to treatment, were less likely to have a positive sting challenge (p = 0.006). Challenge outcomes were similar for all groups, with no significant difference found between 25 and 50 mcg maintenance dose or between treatment with and without Advax. Further research of low dose JJA VIT is warranted to confirm its efficacy and tolerability. NCT03066986.

The tribological behaviour and thermal performance of as‐received 60NiTi alloy for load‐bearing and high‐temperature applications were investigated in this study. A linear reciprocating tribometer was used to evaluate the effects of applied load and temperature on 60NiTi alloy sliding against Al 2 O 3 under dry and water‐lubricated conditions. Initial surface characterisation confirmed the ordered intermetallic microstructure, consistent with characteristic x‐ray diffraction (XRD) peaks. The results showed that adhesive and abrasive wear dominated material loss under dry sliding at room temperature, leading to the highest wear volume (Wv = 2.2145 mm 3 ), whereas water lubrication reduced friction and produced moderate wear. At elevated temperatures (above 200°C), oxidative wear became the predominant mechanism, stabilising the sliding interface, lowering friction coefficients ( µ ≤0.33) and significantly reducing wear, with the lowest wear observed at 600°C. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and XRD analyses confirmed phase stability, while surface morphology and compositional analyses highlighted the protective role of oxide layers in improving wear resistance. These findings demonstrate that thermally driven oxidation, rather than adhesive or abrasive wear, governs the superior tribological performance of 60NiTi alloy at elevated temperatures, supporting its suitability for demanding high‐temperature applications.