Hunter Water

A warming climate poses significant threats to seagrass species worldwide, resulting in ecosystem impacts such as reduced foreshore stabilisation, decreased fisheries habitat, and diminished carbon sequestration. The recovery of seagrass is often inconsistent, taking weeks to years, and in severe cases, recovery may not occur. Recovery is facilitated through both asexual and sexual reproduction, with smaller or short-term disturbances typically favoring asexual reproduction, while large-scale disturbances rely on a persistent seed bank. This study investigated reproductive metrics of Zostera muelleri in persistent thermal plumes, measuring reproductive shoot density, spathe counts, and seed bank density and viability. An estuary affected by thermal effluent, Lake Macquarie, NSW, Australia, was used as a proxy for future climate scenarios and compared with two other east coast Australian estuaries. Seed banks in all three systems were relatively small (averaging 16 seeds m-2), suggesting that these populations may not rely strongly on seed banks for recovery. Mean reproductive shoot densities ranged from 4 to 8 shoots m-2, while spathe counts averaged between 10 and 20 per reproductive shoot, with peak reproductive metrics observed in November and January. Importantly, no significant differences in reproductive shoot densities, spathe counts, or seed bank viability were found between thermally affected (mean maximum temperatures ~2°C higher) and ambient conditions, indicating that Zostera muelleri reproduction on the east coast of Australia may have the capacity to acclimate to temperatures expected by the end of the 21st century.

Abstract There is an urgent need for improved monitoring approaches to rapidly and accurately assess sea cucumber populations at ecologically relevant scales. Timely surveys are critical for informing effective fisheries management and decision-making. Traditional surveys, undertaken via snorkelling, manta tows, or SCUBA, are limited to shallow and accessible areas; however, sea cucumbers inhabit a broad range of depths, including areas beyond safe diving limits and exposed shallow waters inaccessible by boat. To overcome these limitations and increase the rapidity of field collection, we propose the use of remote sensing technologies to survey sea cucumber populations across a range of depths. Here, we evaluated the effectiveness of aerial drones and in-water remote operated vehicles (ROVs) for assessing sea cucumber species and abundances across various depth ranges (< 50 m) on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Aerial drone orthomosaics and ROV video footage were compared to more traditional snorkel and SCUBA-based assessments conducted at similar depths. The vast majority of pairwise comparisons between in-water ROV video counts and snorkel or SCUBA assessments found no significant differences in sea cucumber assemblages. Counts from aerial drone-derived orthomosaics, however, were significantly lower, counting approximately half as many sea cucumbers as snorkel counts. This was largely attributed to poor weather during the drone surveys. Remote methods were significantly faster in the field for surveying a given area than traditional methods. Given that towed ROVs can efficiently cover a broader depth range and aerial drones are effective for survey shallow areas under suitable weather conditions, we recommend using a combination of aerial drones and towed ROVs to survey sea cucumbers, with tool selection guided by prevailing weather conditions. This approach offers the advantages of collecting multiple types of data from a single data source, vastly increasing survey efficiency, and providing a historical record for future assessments. The methods have the potential to be used to survey other benthic–associated species.

The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease in South Pacific Island countries. A literature search was conducted using Scopus, Medline (via PubMed and Ovid), databases, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria for the review were the studies that reported on periodontal disease in the 1- to 85-year age group, excluding data from Australia, New Zealand, and protectorates of the United States and France. The findings from the studies were synthesized, noting the demographics, periodontal disease assessment methods, and main outcomes. The initial search yielded 475 relevant articles. After further screening for eligibility, a total of nine articles were included in this systematic review. In the studies included, the population ranged from 185 to 7966 participants with the age range of 1 to 64 years. The studies were heterogeneous, with each study utilizing different criteria to assess periodontal disease. Notably, the latest study eligible for inclusion was published in 2012. The prevalence of periodontitis ranged from 20% to 100%, with greater prevalence in the age group of 40 years or older. The findings from this review highlighted the need for regular prevalence studies to inform public health policy makers and develop strategies to manage periodontal disease proactively.

Dementia is a major public health priority due to its increasing prevalence and the considerable burden it places on individuals living with the condition and their carers. Internet-based tools can help carers and the people they support to manage daily tasks, access resources and support, track health data, and connect with health care professionals. However, the benefits of these tools will only be realized if the intended users have access to the internet and are confident in its use. This study aimed to examine the patterns of internet access and use among dementia carers in Australia and the people they support. A cross-sectional survey of carers providing informal support to a person diagnosed with dementia and living in the community was conducted. Carers were recruited through geriatric clinics, aged care providers, and community organizations between July 2018 and June 2020. Consenting carers self-completed a multitopic survey that included study-specific questions about their access to the internet, confidence using the internet, and whether the person with dementia they support was able to use the internet. Multivariate regression analysis identified sociodemographic factors associated with carers' internet access. A total of 172 carers (consent rate 47%) with an average age of 71.8 (SD 10.91) years completed the survey. Most carers (126/155, 81%) had access to the internet; however, 31% (47/153) reported they were not at all confident in using it. The likelihood of carers having access to the internet decreased with carers' age (OR [odds ratio] 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.96; P=.003). Male carers were 4 times more likely to have internet access than female carers (OR 4.32, 95% CI 1.00-18.6; P=.05). Similarly, carers with private health insurance (an indicator of individual socioeconomic status) were 8 times more likely to have internet access than those without private health insurance (OR 8.45, 95% CI 2.74-26; P<.001). Only 17% (29/166) of carers perceived that the person with dementia they support was able to use the internet independently or with assistance. Despite high rates of internet access among carers, significant age, gender, and socioeconomic disparities were found, and a notable proportion lacked confidence in its use. Internet use among people with dementia was limited. The digital disparities identified in this study suggest that targeted training to build digital literacy to effectively use internet resources and co-design new technologies is needed. The findings further highlight that in this digital era, alternative methods to deliver dementia care and resources are essential to accommodate those who are unable to access or are less comfortable using the internet.

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.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in aged care due to reduced endogenous synthesis of vitamin D and less time outdoors, and is associated with poorer health outcomes. Supplementation implementation is variable and dosages are often suboptimal. Due to limited food sources, diet is frequently overlooked, yet mushrooms can raise vitamin D levels in deficient individuals similar to a supplement. Mushrooms on the Menu (MOM) was a 10-week prospective pre-post mixed method study that evaluated the feasibility of adding vitamin D mushrooms to the menu of a residential aged care facility. During the 4-week baseline phase, residential care (RC) participants ordered meals from the standard food service menu, while independent living (IL) followed their usual diet. During the 4-week MOM phase, participants were instructed to consume at least one mushroom meal containing 75 g of UV-exposed mushrooms daily. In RC, 26 recipes were modified and two recipes newly created to include mushrooms. RC participants chose a minimum of one mushroom meal from the lunch or dinner menu, and IL residents were instructed to prepare at least one mushroom meal daily. Dietary intakes were estimated by plate wastage (RC) or 24-h recalls (IL), while qualitative data were collected during and post the MOM. In RC (n = 60), vitamin D provision via mushrooms from the MOM menu increased by 180% compared to the standard menu (7.0 vs. 2.5 μg, p < 0.0001), with no significant differences in total energy and other nutrients. During MOM, vitamin D intake increased by 212% for RC (6.0 vs. 18.7 μg; p < 0.0001) and 740% for IL participants (n = 12; 8.7 vs. 73.1 μg; p < 0.0001) compared to baseline, representing 125 and 1,387% of the adequate intake (AI) for over 70-year-old's, respectively. Over 75% of participants rated the taste of vitamin D mushroom meals as good or excellent, while qualitative data reported participants enjoyed mushrooms as both hero and complimentary ingredients. Over 75% of staff understood the health benefits of vitamin D mushrooms and found the meals easy to prepare, but preferred low-burden ordering and preparation processes. Both participants and staff supported the continued inclusion of MOM. MOM is a well-accepted food-first approach that provides substantial vitamin D to aged care residents.

Practices to routinely monitor athletes are rapidly changing. With the concurrent exponential rise in wearable technologies and advanced data analysis, tracking training exposures and responses is widespread and more frequent in the athlete-coach decision-making process. Within this scenario, the concept of invisible monitoring emerged, which was initially vaguely defined as testing athletes without testing them. Despite sound practical applications and benefits (eg,reduced burden on player staff and more frequent measurement), a clear lack of constitutive definition has led to multiple cleavages in both research and practice, including ethical concerns. The purpose of this study is to (1) extend the current conceptualization of invisible monitoring by considering subdimensions of the conceptand (2) its data-related and ethical challenges and (3) provide practical considerations to implement invisible monitoring. Monitoring burden (degree of obtrusion and frequency of measurement) and the number of constructs a single measurement tool can assess have been proposed as subdimensions of the concept of invisible monitoring. Challenges include the governance and analysis of data required to make estimates, validity and reliability of an invisible monitoring measure, and communication to athletes. This commentary presents a first attempt to conceptualize invisible monitoring in the context of elite sport and provide subdimensions of the concept that can be used to classify choices of measurement tools. A consensus is required from both researchers and practitioners regarding its definition and operationalization to optimize current monitoring services to elite athletes.

Surveying benthic communities has historically relied on snorkel or SCUBA, but these methods are labour-intensive, inefficient (∼1000m2 per day covered for one dive pair) and depth-limited (<30m depth). Here we detail a remote method using a towed mini-ROV that combines the depth capabilities and endurance of towed cameras with the flexibility and manoeuvrability of SCUBA and snorkel. Towed mini-ROV allows over 10km of transects or 38,000m2 of benthic surveys per day, produces data that can be geo-referenced, allows measurement of organisms using orthomosaics, can include physical data such as depth and temperature, and can operate from depths of 2-60m without any gear changes. This setup requires only modest modifications of readily available equipment, and is relatively low-cost given the time and labour efficiencies gained. We provide some examples of the types of data that can be produced (video, imagery, spatial layer), as well as the sort of coverage that is realistic using real survey data obtained from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Results demonstrate this approach could be used on a large scale to rapidly survey benthic environments. It could be further improved by using a more hydrodynamic ROV design, and a more streamline pipeline that integrates data sources. Use of underwater positioning systems could improve spatial parameters, lasers could improve measurement accuracy, and additional cameras could increase spatial coverage, but at the cost of added complexity and hydrodynamic drag.

Background/Objectives: Convenience cooking foods have gained popularity as they reduce the time and effort spent on preparation. These types of products are often deemed unhealthy and low in nutrients. However, if these products had an adequate serving and variety of vegetables and healthful sources of protein, they could be a good time-efficient and cost-effective alternative. However, there is no established evidence on health professionals’ opinions and ideas about convenience cooking products, nor is their information whether if they consume them or recommend them to their patients/clients, or whether they could provide a solution when patients are confronted with decision fatigue. The objective of the present study is to define the opinions that health professionals have regarding convenience cooking products and their healthfulness, if they use these products themselves, if they recommend these products to clients, and their ideas regarding decision fatigue and the use of convenience cooking products. Methods: A cross-sectional survey analysed the opinions of 143 Australian health professional participants, including dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors on their use of the products, if they recommend them to their clients, their health opinions of the products and decision fatigue. Results: The findings indicate that 74.8% of the participants use convenience products. The participant’s professions (p = 0.0014) and their personal usage of the products (p = 0.0154) significantly correlated with their recommending these products. Additionally, 86.7% of participants believed that decision fatigue impacts food choices. Conclusion: These insights highlight the complex role of convenience cooking products in dietary practices, particularly for time-poor individuals, and provide insight into the potential for future improvements in the nutritional formulations of these products to enhance their acceptability among health professionals.