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Carotenoids are fat-soluble pigments primarily found in fruits and vegetables. They accumulate in human skin and contribute to skin yellowness, which has a favorable effect on appearance. The association between specific fruit and vegetable intakes and skin yellowness is currently unknown and could help to promote increased fruit and vegetable consumption in those motivated by appearance, such as young women. The objective was to evaluate associations between specific fruit and vegetable intakes and skin yellowness in young women. It was hypothesized that the intake of fruits and vegetables known to be rich in carotenoids, particularly β-carotene, would account for the greatest variation in skin yellowness. One hundred and eighteen women (18–40 years) were recruited from the Hunter region, NSW, Australia. Fruit and vegetable intakes were assessed using the 2010 Australian Eating Survey Food Frequency Questionnaire and skin yellowness was measured using reflectance spectroscopy. Multiple linear regression was used to assess how much of the variation in skin yellowness is explained by fruit and vegetable intakes. Higher combined fruit and vegetable intake ( P  = .0004) and higher total fruit intake ( P  = .005) were associated with increased skin yellowness. Three specific fruits (apple/pear, mango/pawpaw and dried fruit) and five vegetables (beans/lentils, spinach, broccoli, corn, baked beans) also accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in skin yellowness ( P  < .05). In conclusion, the consumption of eight specific fruits and vegetables and total combined fruit and vegetable intake are positively associated with skin yellowness and this confers a desirable effect on appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical investigation of two Irciniidae sponges collected by hand (SCUBA) from Australian near shore waters, afforded six new examples of a rare class of sesterterpene lactam; ircinialactams B ( 1 ), G ( 2 ), H ( 5 ), and I ( 6 ), and 8-hydroxyircinialactams C ( 3 ) and G ( 4 ); together with the new biosynthetically related lactone, ircinialactone A ( 7 ). Also isolated were seven biosynthetically related known Irciniidae metabolites; ircinialactams A ( 8 ) and C ( 9 ), (7 E ,12 E ,20 Z ,18 S )-variabilin ( 10 ), (7 Z ,12 Z ,20 Z ,18 S )-variabilin ( 11 ), (7 E ,12 Z ,20 Z ,18 S )-variabilin ( 12 ), (7 Z ,12 E ,20 Z ,18 S )-variabilin ( 13 ) and irciniafuran A ( 14 ). The structure elucidation of 1 – 14 was achieved by detailed spectroscopic analysis, and consideration of a plausible biosynthetic relationship linking Irciniidae sesterterpene β-furans, lactams and lactones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty two-year observations (1990–2022) of water level from a total of 14 high-quality acoustic tide stations around the coast of Australia deployed for the Australian Baseline Sea Level Monitoring Project were analyzed. The following three approaches were used: Fourier Transform (FT), Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD), and Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). The water level anomaly was observed to have predominant annual variations with a period of about 12 months based on the Fourier transform. The intrinsic components of stations were extracted in the EMD analysis and the mean period of each of the components was calculated using the zero down crossing method. A regular association was observed between the order of modes and the mean period such that the periods increase by a factor of two on successive modes. The third method used for anomaly analysis was SSA. The number of the obtained components in this method was less than in the EMD. Moreover, the order observed for the components' period in the EMD was not seen in this method. Spectral analysis of Autocorrelation function (ACF) has demonstrated that peak frequencies are almost the same with anomaly spectra so the dominant modes in anomalies are also present in the ACF. • More than 30-year sea level data around the Australian coast have been analyzed. • Fourier Transform, Empirical Mode Decomposition, and Singular Spectrum Analysis have been used. • A predominant annual variation with a period of about 12 months was observed based on the Fourier transform. ACF analysis showed that: ✓ The periodic and regular signals have larger ACF with low rate decreasing amplitude. ✓ Irregular signal has a smaller ACF and its amplitude decreases more sever. ✓ In general, the more regular the time series, the more symmetrical its ACF. ✓ Spectral analysis of anomalies and ACF has demonstrated that peak frequencies are almost the same in both spectra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of the Australian rainforest tree Cryptocarya mackinnoniana led to the discovery of three new oxygenated phenyl alkyl acids, cryptocaryoic acids A – C and two known compounds, cryptocaryone and 2′,6′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxychalcone. The structures of all the compounds were determined by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Mosher's analysis was used for absolute stereochemistry determination at C-11, while the remaining stereochemistry determination of the one remaining stereocenter C-13 was based on NOESY correlations. All compounds isolated were also evaluated for their anti-inflammatory properties by assessing their inhibitory effects on LPS and interferon-γ induced nitric oxide (NO) production and TNF- α release in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The new cryptocaryoic acids exhibited weak to moderate anti-inflammatory activity (NO inhibition) ranging from (18.4–56 μM). [Display omitted] • Three new phenyl alkyl acids, cryptocaryoic acids A – C, were isolated from the leaves of Cryptocarya mackinnoniana • Cryptocaryoic acids exhibited weak to moderate anti-inflammatory activity • Cryptocaryoic acids are the first in the series of molecules bearing the phenyl oxy-alkyl acid from C.mackinnoniana [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the agreement between detected changes in body composition determined by bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) and air-displacement plethysmography (ADP) among patients with cancer undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT); and to assess the agreement of absolute values of BIS with ADP and dual energy x-ray (DXA). Methods: Forty-four adult hematologic cancer patients undergoing PBSCT completed both BIS and ADP assessment at preadmission and at 3 mo after transplantation. A subsample (n = 11) was assessed by DXA at 3 mo after transplantation. Results were examined for the BIS instrument's default setting and three alternative predictive equations from the literature. Agreement was assessed by the Bland-Altman limits of agreement analysis while correlation was examined using the Lin's concordance correlation. Results: Changes in body composition parameters assessed by BIS were comparable with those determined by ADP regardless of the predictive equations used. Bias of change in fat-free mass was clinically acceptable (all <1 kg), although limits of agreement were wide (more than ±6 kg). Overall, the BIS predictive equation accounting for body mass index performed the best. Absolute body composition parameters predicted by the alternative predictive equations agreed with DXA and ADP better than the BIS instrument's default setting. Conclusion: Changes predicted by BIS were similar to those determined by ADP on a group level; however, agreement of predicted changes at an individual level should be interpreted with caution due to wide limits of agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Propolis of Australian stingless bees (Tetragonula carbonaria, Meliponini) originating from Corymbia torelliana (Myrtaceae) fruit resins was tested for its antimicrobial activities as well as its flavonoid contents. This study aimed at the isolation, structural elucidation and antibacterial testing of flavanones of C. torelliana fruit resins that are incorporated into stingless bee propolis. Flavanones of this study were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric methods including UV, 1D and 2D NMR, EI-MS, ESI-MS and HR-MS. The results indicated known C-methylated flavanones namely, 1 (2S)-cryptostrobin, its regioisomer 2 (2S)- stroboponin, 3 (2S)- cryptostrobin 7-methyl ether, and 6 (2S)- desmethoxymatteucinol, and known flavanones 4 (2S)- pinostrobin and 5 (2S)- pinocembrin as markers for C. torelliana fruit resins and one propolis type. Ethanolic preparations of propolis were shown to be active against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and to a lesser extent against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). C. torelliana flavanones inhibited the growth of S. aureus therefore contributing to the antibacterial effects observed for Australian stingless bee propolis extracts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]