History of depression and smoking cessation outcome: A meta-analysis.

The authors conducted a meta-analysis of published studies to (a) evaluate the premise that a history of major depression is associated with failure to quit smoking and (b) identify factors that moderate the relationship between history of depression and cessation outcome. Fifteen studies met the selection requirements and were coded for various study methodology and treatment characteristics. DSTAT was used to calculate individual study effect sizes, determine the mean effect size across studies. and test for moderator effects. No differences in either short-term (≤ 3 months) or long-term abstinence rates (≥ 6 months) were observed between smokers positive versus negative for history of depression. Lifetime history of major depression does not appear to be an independent risk factor for cessation failure in smoking cessation treatment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Investigating the Social Dimensions of Transport Disadvantage II: From Concepts to Methods through an Empirical Case Study

This article is the second of two papers that review the field of spatially sensitive social scientific research into the links between social status and transport disadvantage. The first paper undertook a comprehensive review of the social scientific and transport planning literature to mark the level of development in the field and identify conceptual and methodological issues and constraints in this field of inquiry. The present article supports the advancement of socially and geographically sensitive transport research by opportunities for the development of more sophisticated spatial analytical methodologies. The approach we present is able to account for factors not previously addressed in either social or transport planning research, in particular the temporal dimensions of transport service accessibility. The article articulates the methodology through an empirical case study of socio-spatial transport disadvantage within the Gold Coast City. The article demonstrates that there are important theoretical and practical lessons to be gained for researchers and policy makers in addressing the social dimensions of transport and infrastructure provision. Further, the article argues that an attentiveness to new ways of combining and representing social and transport data-sets can promote policy relevant empirical social inquiry. The article also contributes in a productive way to the empirical knowledge of Australia's sixth-largest metropolitan area, which is often overlooked by urban scholars.     

Technology enters the hospital's executive suite

Two major forces are driving the emergence of more powerful and comprehensive executive information systems: compression of the time horizon--CEO's cannot wait weeks or months for historical trends data--and EIS technological development that allows executives to tap into daily operations on all levels.     

Restoration of stormwater retention capacity at the allotment-scale through a novel economic instrument

Urbanisation results in changes to runoff behaviour which, if not addressed, inevitably degrade receiving waters. To date, most stormwater management has focussed on the streetscape and public open space. Given that much of the catchment imperviousness is located on private land, we developed and tested a novel economic instrument (a uniform price auction) for encouraging allotment-scale stormwater retention. We evaluated bids using an integrated environmental benefit index (EBI), based on the ability of the proposed works to reduce runoff frequency, pollutant loads and to reduce potable water demand. The uniform price auction resulted in 1.4 ha of impervious areas being effectively 'disconnected' from the stormwater system. The EBI provided an objective and transparent method of comparing bids, which varied in the type of works proposed (e.g. rainwater tank, rain-garden), the cost and the resulting environmental benefit. Whilst the pilot auction was a success, the public subsidy of works undertaken was around 85%, meaning that property owners a relatively small private benefit in the works. Future auction rounds will be revised to (i) test an EBI which is more focussed on the protection of streams (assessing changes to runoff frequency, baseflow volumes and water quality) and (ii) provide an auction process which is simpler to understand, and provides greater practical support for landholders who wish to undertake works.     

Invited review: Potential antiobesity effect of fermented dairy products

The growing prevalence of obesity affects millions of people around the world and has gained increased attention over the years because it is associated with the development of other chronic degenerative diseases. Different organizations recommend lifestyle changes to treat obesity; nevertheless, other strategies in addition to lifestyle changes have recently been suggested. One of these strategies is the use of probiotics in fermented dairy products; however, a need exists to review the different studies available related to the potential antiobesity effect of these products. Because probiotic fermented dairy products that support weight management are not available in the market, there is a great opportunity for the development of functional dairy products with new lactic acid bacteria that may present this added health benefit. Thus, the purpose of this overview is to highlight the importance of probiotic fermented dairy products as potential antiobesogenic functional foods and present in vitro and in vivo studies required before this kind of product may be introduced to the market. Overall, most studies attributed the antiobesity effect of fermented dairy foods to the probiotic strains present; however, bioactive peptides released during milk fermentation may also be responsible for this effect.     

Pasting,thermal, gel texture,resistant starch and colour properties of unripe banana flour from 10 desert banana varieties cultivated in South Africa

Unripe banana flour is a potential commercial ingredient in various food products for increased resistant starch and reduced gluten contents. In the present study, the pasting (rapid visco-analysis), gel texture (penetration test), thermal (differential scanning calorimetry), colour (tri-stimulus colour indices) and the resistant starch properties of unripe banana flour produced from different dessert banana varieties (n?=?10) cultivated in South Africa, were analysed and juxtaposed to wheat and maize flour. The functional properties varied significantly (p?≤?0.05) between banana varieties, and from wheat and maize flours, to various extents. Selected functional property ranges of unripe banana, wheat and maize flours, respectively included; flour colour index (63.16–76.42, 77.34 and 80.96), paste viscosity (405.5–556.6, 124.7 and 115.6 RVU), gelatinization temperature (64.67–71.21, 71.11 and 69.95?°C), gel firmness (7.24–11.44?×?10^??2 N, 3.49?×?10^??2 N and 6.56?×?10^??2 N) and resistant starch content (19.9–47.4, 2.8 and 2.2% w/w). Multivariate analysis (principle component analysis) showed that the unripe banana flours from different varieties were distinguished from each other based on the pasting temperature. The unripe banana flours were distinguished from both wheat and maize flour based on breakdown and peak paste viscosities. The breakdown viscosity was the most positively related measure to the resistant starch content with a linear regression R-squared value of 0.898, indicating a significant role played by granule structure in resistance to enzymatic hydrolysis. The present research demonstrates that selection of appropriate dessert banana variety is important when replacing staple flours (wheat and maize) with unripe dessert banana flour as a functional ingredient.