What is the impact of food reformulation on individual’s behaviour, nutrient intakes and health status? A systematic review of empirical evidence

Food reformulation aimed at improving the nutritional properties of food products has long been viewed as a promising public health strategy to tackle poor nutrition and obesity. This paper presents a review of the empirical evidence (i.e. modelling studies were excluded) on the impact of food reformulation on food choices, nutrient intakes and health status, based on a systematic search of Medline, Embase, Global Health, and sources of grey literature. Fifty-nine studies (in 35 papers) were included in the review. Most studies examined food choices (n=27) and dietary intakes (n=26). The nutrients most frequently studied were sodium (n=32) and trans-fatty acids (TFA, n=13). Reformulated products were generally accepted and purchased by consumers, which led to improved nutrient intakes in 73% of studies. We also conducted two meta-analyses showing, respectively, a -0.57g/day [95%CI -0.89, -0.25] reduction in salt intake, and an effect size for TFA intake reduction of -1.2, 95% [CI -1.79, -0.61]. Only six studies examined effects on health outcomes, with studies on TFA reformulation showing overall improvement in cardiovascular risk factors. For other nutrients, it remains unclear whether observed improvements in food choices or nutrient intakes may have led to an improvement in health outcomes

Charge-Density-Wave like Behavior in the One-Dimensional Charge-Ordered Semiconductor (NbSe4)3I

We report on broadband dielectric spectroscopy on the one-dimensional semiconductor (NbSe4)3I. Below the structural phase transition close to 270 K we observe colossal dielectric constants with a frequency and temperature dependence very similar to what is observed in canonical charge-density wave systems. Guided by structural details we interpret this structural phase transition as driven by complex charge-order processes.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Interpretation of Photoemission Spectra of (TaSe4)2I as Evidence of Charge Density Wave Fluctuations

The competition between different and unusual effects in quasi-one-dimensional conductors makes the direct interpretation of experimental measurements of these materials both difficult and interesting. We consider evidence for the existence of large charge-density-wave fluctuations in the conducting phase of the Peierls insulator (TaSe4)2I, by comparing the predictions of a simple Lee, Rice and Anderson theory for such a system with recent angle-resolved photoemission spectra. The agreement obtained suggests that many of the unusual features of these spectra may be explained in this way. This view of the system is contrasted with the behaviour expected of a Luttinger liquid.Comment: Archive copy of published paper. 19 pages, 12 figures, uses IOP macro

Novel recoil nuclei detectors to qualify the AMANDE facility as a Standard for mono-energetic neutron fields

The AMANDE facility at IRSN-Cadarache produces mono-energetic neutron fields from 2 keV to 20 MeV with metrological quality. To be considered as a standard facility, characteristics of neutron field i.e fluence distribution must be well known by a device using absolute measurements. The development of new detector systems allowing a direct measurement of neutron energy and fluence has started in 2006. Using the proton recoil telescope principle with the goal of increase the efficiency, two systems with full localization are studied. A proton recoil telescope using CMOS sensor (CMOS-RPT) is studied for measurements at high energies and the helium 4 gaseous micro-time projection chamber (microTPC He4) will be dedicated to the lowest energies. Simulations of the two systems were performed with the transport Monte Carlo code MCNPX, to choose the components and the geometry, to optimize the efficiency and detection limits of both devices or to estimate performances expected. First preliminary measurements realised in 2008 demonstrated the proof of principle of these novel detectors for neutron metrology.Comment: to appear in Radiation Measurements, Proc. of 24th International Conference on Nuclear Tracks in Solids (Bologna, 1-5 September 2008

A {\mu}-TPC detector for the characterization of low energy neutron fields

The AMANDE facility produces monoenergetic neutron fields from 2 keV to 20 MeV for metrological purposes. To be considered as a reference facility, fluence and energy distributions of neutron fields have to be determined by primary measurement standards. For this purpose, a micro Time Projection Chamber is being developed to be dedicated to measure neutron fields with energy ranging from 8 keV up to 1 MeV. In this work we present simulations showing that such a detector, which allows the measurement of the ionization energy and the 3D reconstruction of the recoil nucleus, provides the determination of neutron energy and fluence of these neutron fields

Luminescent multifunctional hybrids obtained by grafting of ruthenium complexes on mesoporous silica

This work evaluates the luminescent properties of new hybrids obtained by covalent grafting of ruthenium complexes on mesoporous silica particles. Spray pyrolysis afforded the mesoporous silica particles in one step; two different types of structure-directing agents were employed. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively) analyses confirmed that the particles had spherical morphology and ordered hexagonal mesoporosity (2 and 5nm), which justified the high surface area up to 1420m2g-1 measured by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Covalent grafting of silylated ruthenium(II) complexes [Ru(bpy)21]Cl2 and [Ru(bpy)22]Cl2 on the mesoporous particles gave monolayered hybrids, characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TEM, and photoluminescence. Results highlighted the formation of new luminescent platforms containing an estimated 0.11mmol of ruthenium(II) complex per gram of silica, which corresponded to 0.09 ruthenium(II) complex nm−2 of silica

The Hubble PanCET program: The near-ultraviolet transmission spectrum of WASP-79b

We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) transit observations of the Hot-Jupiter WASP-79b acquired with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) in the near ultraviolet (NUV). Two transit observations, part of the PanCET program, are used to obtain the transmission spectra of the planet between 2280 and 3070{\AA}. We correct for systematic effects in the raw data using the jitter engineering parameters and polynomial modelling to fit the white light curves of the two transits. We observe an increase in the planet-to-star radius ratio at short wavelengths, but no spectrally resolved absorption lines. The difference between the radius ratios at 2400 and 3000{\AA} reaches $0.0191\pm0.0042$ ($\sim$4.5$-\sigma$). Although the NUV transmission spectrum does not show evidence of hydrodynamical escape, the strong atmospheric features are likely due to species at very high altitudes. We performed a 1D simulation of the temperature and composition of WASP-79b using Exo-REM. The temperature pressure profile crosses condensation curves of radiatively active clouds, particularly MnS, Mg$_2$SiO$_4$, Fe, and Al$_2$O$_3$. Still, none of these species produces the level of observed absorption at short wavelengths and can explain the observed increase in the planet's radius. WASP-79b's transit depth reaches 23 scale height, making it one of the largest spectral features observed in an exoplanet at this temperature ($\sim$1700 K). The comparison of WASP-79b's transmission spectrum with three warmer hot Jupiters shows a similar level of absorption to WASP-178b and WASP-121b between 0.2 and 0.3$\mu$m, while HAT-P-41b's spectrum is flat. The features could be explained by SiO absorption.Comment: Accepted for publication January 31, 2023 in the Journal Astronomy & Astrophysic

Structural and Luminescence Properties of Silica-Based Hybrids Containing New Silylated-Diketonato Europium(III) Complex

A new betadiketonate ligand displaying a trimethoxysilyl group as grafting function and a diketone moiety as complexing site (TTA-Si = 4,4,4-trifluoro-2-(3-trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-1-3-butanedione (C4H3S)COCH[(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3]COCF3) and its highly luminescent europium(III) complex [Eu(TTA-Si)3] have been synthesized and fully characterized. Luminescent silica-based hybrids have been prepared as well with this new complex grafted on the surface of dense silica nanoparticles (28 (+/-3 nm) or on mesoporous silica particles. The covalent bonding of Eu(TTA-Si)3 inside the core of uniform silica nanoparticles (40 (+/- 5 nm) was also achieved. Luminescence properties are discussed in relation to the europium chemical environment involved in each of the three hybrids. The general methodology proposed allowed high grafting ratios and overcame chelate release and tendency to agglomeration, and it could be applied to any silica matrix (in the core or at the surface, nanosized or not, dense or mesoporous) and therefore numerous applications such as luminescent markers and luminophors could be foreseen

Individual neutron monitoring in workplaces with mixed neutron/photon radiation

EVIDOS (‘evaluation of individual dosimetry in mixed neutron and photon radiation fields') is an European Commission (EC)-sponsored project that aims at a significant improvement of radiation protection dosimetry in mixed neutron/photon fields via spectrometric and dosimetric investigations in representative workplaces of the nuclear industry. In particular, new spectrometry methods are developed that provide the energy and direction distribution of the neutron fluence from which the reference dosimetric quantities are derived and compared to the readings of dosemeters. The final results of the project will be a comprehensive set of spectrometric and dosimetric data for the workplaces and an analysis of the performance of dosemeters, including novel electronic dosemeters. This paper gives an overview of the project and focuses on the results from measurements performed in calibration fields with broad energy distributions (simulated workplace fields) and on the first results from workplaces in the nuclear industry, inside a boiling water reactor and around a spent fuel transport cas

Bifunctional silica nanoparticles for the exploration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

Luminescent silica nanoparticles (LSNPs) are frequently employed for biotechnology applications mainly because of easy functionalization, photo-stability and biocompatibility. Bifunctional silica nanoparticles (BSNPs) are described here as new efficient tools for the understanding of a complex biological system such as biofilms. Photoluminescence is brought by the incorporation of a silylated ruthenium(II) complex, surface properties of the silica particles are designed by reaction with. BSNPs are fully characterized and Zeta potential and contact angle measurements exhibit various surface properties according to the functional groups. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy measurements show that the spatial distribution of these nanoparticles inside PAO1 biofilm depends more on their hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics than on their size