Outdoor Water Efficiency Offers Large Potential Savings, But Research on Effectiveness Remains Scarce

This article summarizes the work completed in Phase 1 of the Alliance for Water Efficiency’s (AWE) Outdoor Water Savings Research Initiative. Phase 1 was a review, analysis, and synthesis of published and pending research on outdoor water use and water savings. In particular, studies that documented water savings were reviewed. The research in Phase 1 was conducted specifically to identify the area(s) of greatest need for future research. Key findings are: • Outdoor water savings are achievable and can be significant. • Quantifying water savings from outdoor programs and measures is challenging. • Cost savings of any kind are rarely documented. • Standardized approaches and methods for measuring and evaluating outdoor water efficiency programs are needed

Métodos de estudo das tradições de educação familiar no ensino de crianças em idade pré-escolar

The reported study aims to develop and test a comprehensive methodology entitled "Study of Family Education Traditions." Within the axiological approach, the authors employ a set of methods, including interdisciplinary analysis of family education traditions, analysis of the art history of works addressing the theme of family, classification of family education traditions, and modeling support for the family education of children from birth to adulthood based on the strengthening of family education traditions. The authors conclude on the appropriateness of developing a comprehensive diagnostic complex and a methodological guide for the study of family education traditions, which will enable educators to competently design and effectively implement targeted support for family education, taking into account the rules of a specific family.El objetivo del estudio presentado es desarrollar y probar una metodología integral "Estudio de las tradiciones de educación familiar". En el marco del enfoque axiológico, los autores emplean un conjunto de métodos, incluido el análisis interdisciplinario de las tradiciones de crianza familiar, el análisis de la historia del arte de obras de arte que tratan el tema de la familia, la clasificación de las tradiciones de crianza familiar y la modelización del apoyo a la familia. Crianza de los niños desde el nacimiento hasta la edad adulta basada en el fortalecimiento de las tradiciones de crianza familiar. Los autores concluyen sobre la conveniencia de desarrollar un complejo de diagnóstico y un navegador de métodos para el estudio de las tradiciones de crianza familiar, que permita a los educadores diseñar de manera competente y realizar de manera efectiva un apoyo específico a la crianza familiar teniendo en cuenta las tradiciones de una familia específica.O objetivo do estudo relatado é desenvolver e testar uma metodologia abrangente “Estudo das tradições de educação familiar”. No âmbito da abordagem axiológica, os autores empregam um conjunto de métodos, incluindo análise interdisciplinar das tradições de educação familiar, análise da história da arte de peças de arte que tratam do tema da família, classificação das tradições de educação familiar e modelagem de apoio à família. educação das crianças desde o nascimento até a idade adulta com base no fortalecimento das tradições de educação familiar. Os autores concluem sobre a conveniência de desenvolver um complexo diagnóstico e um navegador de métodos para o estudo das tradições de educação familiar, que permitirá aos educadores projetar com competência e realizar de forma eficaz o apoio direcionado à educação familiar, levando em consideração as tradições de uma família específica

START lipid/sterol-binding domains are amplified in plants and are predominantly associated with homeodomain transcription factors

BACKGROUND: In animals, steroid hormones regulate gene expression by binding to nuclear receptors. Plants lack genes for nuclear receptors, yet genetic evidence from Arabidopsis suggests developmental roles for lipids/sterols analogous to those in animals. In contrast to nuclear receptors, the lipid/sterol-binding StAR-related lipid transfer (START) protein domains are conserved, making them candidates for involvement in both animal and plant lipid/sterol signal transduction. RESULTS: We surveyed putative START domains from the genomes of Arabidopsis, rice, animals, protists and bacteria. START domains are more common in plants than in animals and in plants are primarily found within homeodomain (HD) transcription factors. The largest subfamily of HD-START proteins is characterized by an HD amino-terminal to a plant-specific leucine zipper with an internal loop, whereas in a smaller subfamily the HD precedes a classic leucine zipper. The START domains in plant HD-START proteins are not closely related to those of animals, implying collateral evolution to accommodate organism-specific lipids/sterols. Using crystal structures of mammalian START proteins, we show structural conservation of the mammalian phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PCTP) START domain in plants, consistent with a common role in lipid transport and metabolism. We also describe putative START-domain proteins from bacteria and unicellular protists. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of START domains in plants belong to a novel class of putative lipid/sterol-binding transcription factors, the HD-START family, which is conserved across the plant kingdom. HD-START proteins are confined to plants, suggesting a mechanism by which lipid/sterol ligands can directly modulate transcription in plants

Enrichment of starch-based extruded cereals with chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace: Influence of processing conditions on techno-functional and sensory related properties, dietary fibre and polyphenol content as well as in vitro digestibility

Aiming at providing prototypes for ready-to-eat texturised (RTE) cereal products with reduced glycaemic load, starch blends with chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace powder (CPP) rich in dietary fibre (DF) and polyphenols (PP) were extruded using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The CPP ratios (25%, 50%) and processing conditions applied (barrel temperature 100 °C, screw speed 200, 400, 600, 800 min−1, water content 13%, 23%) result in specific mechanical energies of 87–336 Whkg−1 and material temperatures of 111–155 °C. Extrudates containing 25% CPP still offer acceptable techno-functional and sensory related physical properties, while higher CPP ratios result in decreased expansion and cell pore size of the slightly darker and softer extrudates. The in vitro glucose release of both extruded blends is reduced by 25% and 50%, respectively. The DF contents are unaffected. As expected, anthocyanins are degraded by about 70% in both blends while phenolic acids and flavonols are fully retained. All PP are already accessible during the stomach phase of an in vitro digestion and are not changed significantly in the intestinal phases. Overall, these data substantiate, that marketable texturised RTE extruded cereals may be developed based on the results presented and on further sensory analysis

Extrusion processing of pure chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace: impact on dietary fiber profile and bioactive compounds

The partial substitution of starch with dietary fiber (DF) in extruded ready-to-eat texturized (RTE) cereals has been suggested as a strategy to reduce the high glycemic index of these food products. Here, we study the impact of extrusion processing on pure chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace powder (CPP) rich in DF and polyphenols (PP) focusing on the content and profile of the DF fractions, stability of PP, and techno-functional properties of the extrudates. Using a co-rotating twin-screw extruder, different screw speeds were applied to CPP with different water contents (c$_{w}$), which resulted in specific mechanical energies (SME) in the range of 145–222 Whkg$^{-1}$ and material temperatures (T$_{M}$) in the range of 123–155 °C. High molecular weight soluble DF contents slightly increase with increasing thermomechanical stress up to 16.1 ± 0.8 g/100 g dm as compared to CPP (11.5 ± 1.2 g/100 g dm), but total DF (TDF) contents (58.6 ± 0.8 g/100 g dm) did not change. DF structural analysis revealed extrusion-based changes in the portions of pectic polysaccharides (type I rhamnogalacturonan) in the soluble and insoluble DF fractions. Contents of thermolabile anthocyanins decrease linearly with SME and temperature from 1.80 ± 0.09 g/100 g dm in CPP to 0.24 ± 0.06 g/100 g dm (222 Whkg$_{-1}$, 155 °C), but phenolic acids and flavonoids appear to be largely unaffected. Resulting techno-functional (water absorption and water solubility) and physical properties related to the sensory characteristics (expansion, hardness, and color) of pure CPP extrudates support the expectation that granulated CPP extrudates may be a suitable food ingredient rich in DF and PP

Efecto del impuesto general a las ventas en la reducción de precios de productos de consumo final en Chimbote, 2022

Ante la subida de los precios de los productos de la canasta básica familiar el gobierno propuso la medida de exonerar el impuesto general a las ventas de dichos productos, sin saber con certeza el efecto de dicha medida en los precios, es por ello que está investigación se propuso como objetivo determinar el efecto del IGV en la reducción de precios de los productos de consumo final. La investigación fue aplicada con un nivel correlacional-causal, y diseño no experimental, se tuvo como muestra a 68 contribuyentes de los rubros de panadería, avícola y abarrotes a quienes se les encuesto por medio de un cuestionario validado y con una confiabilidad de 0.872. De esta forma se obtuvo como resultado que existe un efecto significativo del impuesto general a las ventas en la reducción de precios y dicho efecto es bajo, con un valor de -0.249. Llegando a la conclusión de que el IGV no logra tener un gran impacto en la reducción de precios y que los precios están influenciados por otros factores por lo que el gobierno debe optar por tomar medidas más eficaces a fin de reducir los precios de los productos de la canasta básica familiar

Impact of defined thermomechanical treatment on the structure and content of dietary fiber and the stability and bioaccessibility of polyphenols of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) pomace

Dietary fiber is a potential replacement for other ingredients such as starch in reformulated extruded breakfast cereals. Analysis of chokeberry pomace powder revealed a total dietary fiber content of 57.8 ± 2 g/100 g with 76% being insoluble, 20% high molecular soluble and 4% low molecular soluble dietary fiber. The fiber polysaccharide composition was analyzed in detail by using a variety of analytical approaches. Extrusion-like processing conditions were studies in a Closed Cavity Rheometer enabling the application of defined thermal (temperature range 100–160 °C) and mechanical treatments (shear rates between 0.1 s$^{-1}$ and 50 s$^{-1}$) to chokeberry pomace powder. Application of temperatures up to 140 °C irrespective of the mechanical treatment does not remarkably alter dietary fiber structure or content, but reduces the initial content of total polyphenols by about 40% to a final content of 3.3 ± 0.5 g/100 g including 0.63 ± 0.1 g/100 g of anthocyanins, 0.18 ± 0.02 g/100 g of phenolic acids and 0.090 ± 0.007 g/100 g of flavonols, respectively. The retained polyphenols are fully bioaccessible after in vitro digestion, and antioxidant capacity remains unchanged as compared to the untreated pomace powder. Glucose bioaccessibility remains unaffected, whereas glucose content is reduced. It is concluded that chokeberry pomace powder is a good source of dietary fiber with the potential to partially substitute starch in extruded breakfast cereals

New fat free mass - fat mass model for use in physiological energy balance equations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Forbes equation relating fat-free mass (<it>FFM</it>) to fat mass (<it>FM</it>) has been used to predict longitudinal changes in <it>FFM </it>during weight change but has important limitations when paired with a one dimensional energy balance differential equation. Direct use of the Forbes model within a one dimensional energy balance differential equation requires calibration of a translate parameter for the specific population under study. Comparison of translates to a representative sample of the US population indicate that this parameter is a reflection of age, height, race and gender effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed a class of fourth order polynomial equations relating <it>FFM </it>to <it>FM </it>that consider age, height, race and gender as covariates eliminating the need to calibrate a parameter to baseline subject data while providing meaningful individual estimates of <it>FFM</it>. Moreover, the intercepts of these polynomial equations are nonnegative and are consistent with observations of very low <it>FM </it>measured during a severe Somali famine. The models preserve the predictive power of the Forbes model for changes in body composition when compared to results from several longitudinal weight change studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The newly developed <it>FFM</it>-<it>FM </it>models provide new opportunities to compare individuals undergoing weight change to subjects in energy balance, analyze body composition for individual parameters, and predict body composition during weight change when pairing with energy balance differential equations.</p

Ácidos grasos como marcadores de las relaciones tróficas entre el sestón, el zooplancton crustáceo y el sifonóforo Nanomia cara en Georges Basin y el cañón Oceanographer (NO Atlántico)

[EN] Fatty acid concentrations expressed as percentages of total fatty acid pools in seston, stage V copepodites of Calanus finmarchicus, adults of the euphausiid Meganyctiphanes norvegica, and the physonect siphonophore Nanomia cara were used to elucidate trophic links in Georges Basin and Oceanographer Canyon in September 2003. Seston at both locations was refractory and comprised mainly of saturated fatty acids. Phytoplankton did not contribute significantly to the fatty acid composition of seston or higher trophic levels. Only four fatty acids, i.e. 14:0, 16:0, 16:1 (n–7) and 18:1 (n–7), were transferred from seston to C. finmarchicus or M. norvegica, which suggested weak trophic interactions. Fatty acids transferred from the two species of crustaceans to N. cara included the same four fatty acids, along with three polyunsaturated fatty acids found in relatively high concentrations in both crustaceans, i.e. 20:3 (n–6), 20:5 (n–3) and 22:6 (n–3). In addition, 18:1 (n–9), which occurred in relatively high concentrations only in M. norvegica, and 18:0 and 18:2 (n–6), which were found in low concentrations in both crustaceans, also appeared to be transferred to N. cara. Overall, fatty acid trophic markers proved useful for identifying trophic links to N. cara[ES] En este estudio se utilizaron las concentraciones de ácidos grasos (expresadas como porcentajes) para identificar posibles relaciones tróficas entre el seston, el estadio V (copepoditos) de Calanus finmarchicus, los adultos del eufáusido Meganyctiphanes norvegica, y el sifonóforo fisonecto Nanomia cara en Georges Basin y el cañón submarino Oceanographer durante Septiembre de 2003. En ambos lugares el seston era muy refractario y compuesto básicamente por ácidos grasos saturados. El fitoplancton no contribuyó de forma significativa a la composición de ácidos grasos del seston o de niveles tróficos superiores. Sólo cuatro ácidos grasos [14:0, 16:0, 16:1 (n–7) y 18:1 (n–7)] se transfirieron potencialmente del seston a C. finmarchicus o M. norvegica, lo que sugiere una débil conexión trófica entre estos eslabones de la cadena. Los ácidos grasos transferidos de las dos especies de zooplancton crustáceo a N. cara incluyen los mismos descritos más arriba y otros tres ácidos grasos poliinsaturados [20:3 (n–6), 20:5 (n–3) y 22:6 (n–3)] encontrados en concentraciones relativamente elevadas en ambos crustáceos. Además, tanto el 18:1 (n–9) (encontrado en elevadas concentraciones en M. norvegica) y los 18:0 y 18:2 (n–6) (encontrados en bajas concentraciones en ambas especies de crustáceos) se transfieren a N. cara. Los ácidos grasos demuestran ser una herramienta útil para identificar conexiones tróficas en N. caraA grant to MJY from the National Science Foundation (NSF-0002493), the European Project EUROGEL, and USDA CRIS Project FLA-FAS-03978 supported this workPeer reviewe

Effects of GPR139 agonism on effort expenditure for food reward in rodent models: Evidence for pro-motivational actions

Apathy, deficiency of motivation including willingness to exert effort for reward, is a common symptom in many psychiatric and neurological disorders, including depression and schizophrenia. Despite improved understanding of the neurocircuitry and neurochemistry underlying normal and deficient motivation, there is still no approved pharmacological treatment for such a deficiency. GPR139 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor expressed in brain regions which contribute to the neural circuitry that controls motivation including effortful responding for reward, typically sweet gustatory reward. The GPR139 agonist TAK-041 is currently under development for treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia which include apathy. To date, however, there are no published preclinical data regarding its potential effect on reward motivation or deficiencies thereof. Here we report in vitro evidence confirming that TAK-041 increases intracellular Ca2+ mobilization and has high selectivity for GPR139. In vivo, TAK-041 was brain penetrant and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile. It was without effect on extracellular dopamine concentration in the nucleus accumbens. In addition, TAK-041 did not alter the effort exerted to obtain sweet gustatory reward in rats that were moderately food deprived. By contrast, TAK-041 increased the effort exerted to obtain sweet gustatory reward in mice that were only minimally food deprived; furthermore, this effect of TAK-041 occurred both in control mice and in mice in which deficient effortful responding was induced by chronic social stress. Overall, this study provides preclinical evidence in support of GPR139 agonism as a molecular target mechanism for treatment of apathy