Food, design, users: how to design food interaction modes

Food is becoming a design material: its use and consumption along with the entire related scenario have changed. Food, in particular, is no longer of interest only to cooks and pastry chefs but also to designers, of food and otherwise. The design of the new "material-food" creates new sensory worlds: as a result, the taste is analysed as a new and unexpected experience. At the same time, food handling is another crucial aspect that has acquired growing importance: what is the consumer’s behaviour like when handling the food product? In other words, what are the ways and places of interaction between “this material” and the consumer? It is clear that interaction modes with food are changing according to its “usage context” and its presentation form (extruded, expanded, sandwich, mesh, granules, etc.). These presentation forms are directly linked to food ingredients and are often mediated by the presence of a packaging, which determines the user's first interaction with the food. An example is given by a study of a chocolate bar that is illustrated in this paper. The chocolate can be eaten at home as a dessert or on a ski slope as an energising snack, but at the same time it can appear in different ways: as a multilayer when joined with cookies, as a moulded material in the case of cream chocolate or as a composite material when the chocolate bar contains nuts. Starting from the mode of interaction and consumption that should be satisfied, a classification of the possible presentation forms of a chocolate bar can be carried out. Consequently, on the basis of this classification, innovative interactions modes of the food with its packaging and the final user should be devised. As a result, according to the different interaction modes that should be achieved, the chocolate bar can become the object of the design process and therefore its design can be approached by following the design process usually adopted for a product. Moreover, on these assumptions, should the real or virtual material libraries, generally considered by designers as a useful research and knowledge tool in relation to material innovations, enlarge the field of action with the inclusion of a section dedicated to food? Should the material libraries include a cabinet as a section dedicated to food and its presentation forms? The paper aims at describing the results collected so far by this research focused on “food as a design material”

A dynamic discrete dislocation plasticity method for the simulation of plastic relaxation under shock loading

In this article, it is demonstrated that current methods of modelling plasticity as the collective motion of discrete dislocations, such as two-dimensional discrete dislocation plasticity (DDP), are unsuitable for the simulation of very high strain rate processes (106 s-1 or more) such as plastic relaxation during shock loading. Current DDP models treat dislocations quasi-statically, ignoring the time-dependent nature of the elastic fields of dislocations. It is shown that this assumption introduces unphysical artefacts into the system when simulating plasticity resulting from shock loading. This deficiency can be overcome only by formulating a fully time-dependent elastodynamic description of the elastic fields of discrete dislocations. Building on the work of Markenscoff & Clifton, the fundamental time-dependent solutions for the injection and non-uniform motion of straight edge dislocations are presented. The numerical implementation of these solutions for a single moving dislocation and for two annihilating dislocations in an infinite plane are presented. The application of these solutions in a two-dimensional model of timedependent plasticity during shock loading is outlined here and will be presented in detail elsewhere. © 2013 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved

Could Black Be the New Gold? Design-Driven Challenges in New Sustainable Luxury Materials for Jewelry

Is there a new material for use in jewelry, matching gold and precious stones, capable of maintaining the same perception of “preciousness” but that is also more sustainable, ethical, and inexpensive? This article deals with a case study within the European EcoDesign Network research project, aimed at investigating how sustainable design can help prestigious companies pinpoint new materials for the creation of jewelry, focusing on new and environmentally friendly opportunities while preserving their market position and target audience. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Adopting the exploring design path, a jewelry background analysis pointed out both stereotypes and possible innovations in the jewelry field: an analysis was carried out on the perception of jewels by a panel guided by a cognitive ergonomics specialist, also using the eye-tracking machine to examine participants’ reactions to the jewelry involved in the study, and to establish paradigms of sustainability, preciousness, and innovation. Several meta-project proposals regarding innovations in materials and finishing were hypothesized and tested, following the main guidelines and principles of ecodesign. Lastly, a prototyping phase and some mechanical tests were implemented to verify the hypotheses of innovation. The results allowed the creation of a first set of sustainable jewelry, currently on the market

Modelos numéricos para estudios de incendio en túneles con ventilación longitudinal

En casos de accidentes severos en túneles se requiere una adecuada estrategia para evitar pérdidas humanas. En túneles con ventilación longitudinal el recurso fundamental es la actuación sobre los ventiladores de chorro para dirigir o concentrar la nube de humo. Las situaciones más comprometidas se presentan en túneles con doble sentido de circulación. En este artículo se presentan varios modelos numéricos de distinta complejidad y coste que permiten el análisis e interpretación de accidentes con fuego. Finamente se muestran ejemplos de aplicación a casos reales, en particular los realizados para los túneles de El Negrón II y Los Yébenes

La cultura dei materiali e il lato sensoriale del progetto / The material cultures and the sensory side of the project

L’ambito della cultura dei materiali per il design, oggi, si presenta quale disciplina variegata e multiforme: tale contesto, infatti, è studiato attraverso metodi, metodologie e approcci differenti, appartenenti a scienze e saperi spesso anche distanti tra loro, quali discipline delle aree tecnico-scientifiche e discipline umanistiche. I materiali (per il progetto) sono infatti indagati principalmente da due tipi di conoscenze, la prima più tecnica e la seconda più estetico-sensoriale. L’articolo si focalizzerà su quest’ultima, porgendo particolare attenzione ai sensi del tatto, dell’udito e dell’olfatto, quali “strumenti” per il progettista per la progettazione corretta della loro user experience, della percezione, emozione e reazione che una persona prova quando si interfaccia con essi. / Today, the field of the culture of materials for design is a variegated and multi-form discipline: this context, in fact, is investigated through different methods, methodologies and approaches, belonging to sciences and knowledge that are often very distant from each other, such as disciplines of technical-scientific areas and humanities. The materials (for the project) are, in fact, investigated mainly by two types of knowledge, a more technical one and a more aesthetic-sensorial one. The article will focus on the latter, paying particular attention to the senses of touch, hearing and smell, as “tools” for the designer looking for the correct design of their user experience, perception, emotion and reaction when interfacing with them

The effect of temperature on the elastic precursor decay in shock loaded FCC aluminium and BCC iron

EPSRC under Established Career Fellowship grant EP/N025954/1. Trinity College Cambridge Institute of Shock Physics Research Board and the Faculty of Engineering Dean’s office at the American University of Beiru

Association between faecal pH and fat absorption in children with cystic fibrosis on a controlled diet and enzyme supplements dose

[EN] Background Despite treatment with pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) can still suffer from fat malabsorption. A cause could be low intestinal pH disabling PERT. The aim of this study was to assess the association between faecal pH (as intestinal pH surrogate) and coefficient of fat absorption (CFA). Additionally, faecal free fatty acids (FFAs) were quantified to determine the amount of digested, but unabsorbed fat. Methods In a 24-h pilot study, CF patients followed a standardised diet with fixed PERT doses, corresponding to theoretical optimal doses determined by an in vitro digestion model. Study variables were faecal pH, fat and FFA excretion, CFA and transit time. Linear mixed regression models were applied to explore associations. Results In 43 patients, median (1st, 3rd quartile) faecal pH and CFA were 6.1% (5.8, 6.4) and 90% (84, 94), and they were positively associated (p < 0.001). An inverse relationship was found between faecal pH and total fat excretion (p < 0.01), as well as total FFA (p = 0.048). Higher faecal pH was associated with longer intestinal transit time (p = 0.049) and the use of proton pump inhibitors (p = 0.009). Conclusions Although the clinical significance of faecal pH is not fully defined, its usefulness as a surrogate biomarker for intestinal pH should be further explored. Impact Faecal pH is a physiological parameter that may be related to intestinal pH and may provide important physiopathological information on CF-related pancreatic insufficiency. Faecal pH is correlated with fat absorption, and this may explain why pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy is not effective in all patients with malabsorption related to CF. Use of proton pump inhibitors is associated to higher values of faecal pH. Faecal pH could be used as a surrogate biomarker to routinely monitor the efficacy of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in clinical practice. Strategies to increase intestinal pH in children with cystic fibrosis should be targeted.We acknowledge the support of the MyCyFAPP Project consortium. We especially thank the participation and the effort of the patients involved in the study and their families. This work was fully funded by the European Union and the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme (PHC-26-2014 call Self management of health and disease: citizen engagement and mHealth) under grant number 643806.Calvo-Lerma, J.; Roca-Llorens, M.; Boon, M.; Colombo, C.; De Koning, B.; Fornés-Ferrer, V.; Masip, E.... (2021). Association between faecal pH and fat absorption in children with cystic fibrosis on a controlled diet and enzyme supplements dose. Pediatric Research. 89(1):205-210. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-0860-3S205210891Turck, D. et al. ESPEN-ESPGHAN-ECFS guidelines on nutrition care for infants, children, and adults with cystic fibrosis. Clin. Nutr. 35, 557–577 (2016).Borowitz, D., Baker, R. D. & Stallings, V. Consensus report on nutrition for pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 35, 246–259 (2002).Fieker., A., Philpott, J. & Armand, M. Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future. Clin. Exp. Gastroenterol. 4, 55 (2011).Sitrin, M. D. Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates and Proteins in the Gastrointestinal System 137–158 (Springer, Dordrecht, 2014).Gelfond, D. et al. Intestinal pH and gastrointestinal transit profiles in cystic fibrosis patients measured by wireless motility capsule. Dig. Dis. Sci. 58, 2275–2281 (2013).Robinson, P. J. et al. Duodenal pH in cystic fibrosis and its relationship to fat malabsorption. Dig. Dis. Sci. 35, 1299–1304 (1990).Hunter, J. E. Studies on effects of dietary fatty acids as related to their position on triglycerides. Lipids 36, 655–668 (2001).Hernell, O., Staggers, J. E. & Carey, M. C. Physical–chemical behavior of dietary and biliary lipids during intestinal digestion and absorption. 2. Phase analysis and aggregation states of luminal lipids during duodenal fat digestionin healthy adult human beings. Biochemistry 29, 2041–2056 (1990).Calvo-Lerma, J. et al. A first approach for an evidence-based in vitro method to adjust pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in cystic fibrosis. PLoS ONE 14, e0212459 (2019).Aburub, A. Comparison of pH and motility of the small intestine of healthy subjects and patients with symptomatic constipation using the wireless motility capsule. Int. J. Pharm. 544, 158–164 (2018).Calvo-Lerma, J. et al. Innovative approach for self-management and social welfare of children with cystic fibrosis in Europe: development, validation and implementation of an mHealth tool (MyCyFAPP). Br. Med. J. Open. 7, e014931 (2017).Calvo-Lerma, J. et al. Clinical validation of an evidence-based method to adjust pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy through a prospective interventional study in paediatric patients with cystitic fibrosis. PLoS ONE 14, e0213216 (2019).Koumantakls, G. & Radciltf, F. J. Estimating fat in feces by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Clin. Chem. 33, 502–506 (1987).Rivero-Marcotegui, A. et al. Water, fat, nitrogen, and sugar content in feces: reference intervals in children. Clin. Chem. 44, 1540–1544 (1998).Korpi-Steiner, N. L. et al. Comparative analysis of fecal fat quantitation via nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) and gravimetry. Clin. Chim. Acta 400, 33–36 (2009).Dorsey, J. et al. Fat malabsorption in cystic fibrosis: comparison of quantitative fat assay and a novel assay using fecal lauric/behenic acid. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 50, 441–446 (2010).Proesmans, M. & De Boeck, K. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, improves residual steatorrhoea in cystic fibrosis patients treated with high dose pancreatic enzymes. Eur. J. Pediatr. 162, 760–763 (2003).Paz-Yépez, C. et al. Influence of particle size and intestinal conditions on in vitro lipid and protein digestibility of walnuts and peanuts. Food Res. Int. 119, 951–959 (2019).Moore, C. G. et al. Recommendations for planning pilot studies in clinical and translational sciences. Clin. Transl. Sci. 4, 332–337 (2011).Fitzpatrick, J. J. & Kazer, M. W. Encyclopedia of Nursing Research 3rd edn, Vol. 440 (Springer, New York, 2011).Isaac, S. & Michael, W. B. Handbook in Research and Evaluation (Educational and Industrial Testing Services, San Diego, 1995).Asensio-Grau, A. et al. Effect of cooking methods and intestinal conditions on lipolysis, proteolysis and xanthophylls bioaccessibility of eggs. J. Funct. Foods 46, 579–586 (2018).Asensio-Grau, A. et al. Fat digestibility in meat products: influence of food structure and gastrointestinal conditions. Int. J. Food Sci. Nutr. 70, 530–539 (2019).Regan, P. T. et al. Reduced intraluminal bile acid concentrations and fat maldigestion in pancreatic insufficiency: correction by treatment. Gastroenterology 7, 285–289 (1979).Fallingborg, J. et al. pH‐profile and regional transit times of the normal gut measured by a radiotelemetry device. Aliment. Phamacol. Ther. 3, 605–614 (1989).Fallingborg, J. Intraluminal pH of the human gastrointestinal tract. Dan. Med Bull. 46, 183–196 (1999).Calvo-Lerma, J. et al. In vitro digestion models to assess lipolysis: the impact of the simulated conditions for gastrointestinal pH, bile salts and digestion fluids. Food Res. Int. 125, 108511 (2019).Kalantzi, L. Characterization of the human upper gastrointestinal contents under conditions simulating bioavailability/bioequivalence studies. Pharm. Res. 23, 165–176 (2006).Zelles, L. & Bai, Q. Y. Fractionation of fatty acids derived from soil lipids by solid phase extraction and their quantitative analysis by GC-MS. Soil Biol. Biochem. 25, 495–507 (1993).Fiorentini, G. et al. Effect of lipid sources with different fatty acid profiles on intake, nutrient digestion and ruminal fermentation of feedlot nellore steers. Asian-Australas. J. Anim. Sci. 28, 1583 (2015).Perman, J. A., Modler, S. & Olson, A. C. Role of pH in production of hydrogen from carbohydrates by colonic bacterial flora. Studies in vivo and in vitro. J. Clin. Invest. 67, 643–650 (1981).Sellin, J. H. & Hart, R. Glucose malabsorption associated with rapid intestinal transit. Am. J. Gastroenterol. 87, 5 (1992).Tran, T. M. D. et al. Effects of a proton-pump inhibitor in cystic fibrosis. Acta Pediatr. 87, 553–558 (1998).Ayoub, F., Lascano, J. & Morelli, G. Proton pump inhibitor use is associated with an increased frequency of hospitalization in patients with cystic fibrosis. Gastroenterol. Res. 10, 288 (2017)

High-throughput comparison, functional annotation, and metabolic modeling of plant genomes using the PlantSEED resource

The increasing number of sequenced plant genomes is placing new demands on the methods applied to analyze, annotate, and model these genomes. Today's annotation pipelines result in inconsistent gene assignments that complicate comparative analyses and prevent efficient construction of metabolic models. To overcome these problems, we have developed the PlantSEED, an integrated, metabolism-centric database to support subsystems-based annotation and metabolic model reconstruction for plant genomes. PlantSEED combines SEED subsystems technology, first developed for microbial genomes, with refined protein families and biochemical data to assign fully consistent functional annotations to orthologous genes, particularly those encoding primary metabolic pathways. Seamless integration with its parent, the prokaryotic SEED database, makes PlantSEED a unique environment for cross-kingdom comparative analysis of plant and bacterial genomes. The consistent annotations imposed by PlantSEED permit rapid reconstruction and modeling of primary metabolism for all plant genomes in the database. This feature opens the unique possibility of model-based assessment of the completeness and accuracy of gene annotation and thus allows computational identification of genes and pathways that are restricted to certain genomes or need better curation. We demonstrate the PlantSEED system by producing consistent annotations for 10 reference genomes. We also produce a functioning metabolic model for each genome, gapfilling to identify missing annotations and proposing gene candidates for missing annotations. Models are built around an extended biomass composition representing the most comprehensive published to date. To our knowledge, our models are the first to be published for seven of the genomes analyzed

Hospital use of systemic antifungal drugs

BACKGROUND: Sales data indicate a major increase in the prescription of antifungal drugs in the last two decades. Many new agents for systemic use that only recently have become available are likely to be prescribed intensively in acute care hospitals. Sales data do not adequately describe the developments of drug use density. Given the concerns about the potential emergence of antifungal drug resistance, data on drug use density, however, may be valuable and are needed for analyses of the relationship between drug use and antifungal resistance. METHODS: Hospital pharmacy records for the years 2001 to 2003 were evaluated, and the number of prescribed daily doses (PDD, defined according to locally used doses) per 100 patient days were calculated to compare systemic antifungal drug use density in different medical and surgical service areas between five state university hospitals. RESULTS: The 3-year averages in recent antifungal drug use for the five hospitals ranged between 8.6 and 29.3 PDD/100 patient days in the medical services (including subspecialties and intensive care), and between 1.1 and 4.0 PDD/100 patient days in the surgical services, respectively. In all five hospitals, systemic antifungal drug use was higher in the hematology-oncology service areas (mean, 48.4, range, 24 to 101 PDD/100 patient days, data for the year 2003) than in the medical intensive care units (mean, 18.3, range, 10 to 33 PDD/100) or in the surgical intensive care units (mean, 10.7, range, 6 to 18 PDD/100). Fluconazole was the most prescribed antifungal drug in all areas. In 2003, amphotericin B consumption had declined to 3 PDD/100 in the hematology-oncology areas while voriconazole use had increased to 10 PDD/100 in 2003. CONCLUSION: Hematology-oncology services are intense antifungal drug prescribing areas. Fluconazole and other azol antifungal drugs are the most prescribed drugs in all patient care areas while amphotericin B use has considerably decreased. The data may be useful as a benchmark for focused interventions to improve prescribing quality

Increasing contextual information by merging existing archaeological data with the state of the art laser scanning in the prehistoric funerary deposit of Pastora Cave, Eastern Spain

In this paper we present a virtual reconstruction of prehistoric funerary practices in Pastora Cave,a collective burial site in Eastern Spain that dates from the Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. Modern data of the cave was captured by 3D laser scanning techniques and added to recorded archaeological data and 3D graphic information. The combination of these data sets allowed us to create a hypothetical reconstruction to analyze the material excavated in the 1940s and 50s in greater spatial context. A 3D model of the current cave was created in order to serve as a basis for modeling the relative stratigraphic information available. We present the methodology employed and the results and implications of the analysis for Pastora Cave with particular emphasis on the spatial and chronological data