Attenuation of allergic airways inflammation by an extract of Hymenocardia acida

Tracheal hyperresponsiveness, airway mucus production and bronchoalveolar inflammation are the major components of asthma. Here, we aim to investigate the role in the control of asthma of a bioactive plant extracted from Hymenocardia acida in a physiological and pathophysiological model. The effect of H. acida crude extract (HACE) on total cellular components of bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluids was performed on ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-challenged Swiss mice for induction of allergic asthma and airways inflammation, respectively. Mice were pretreated with 0.9% sodium chloride (NaCl), HACE (oral doses at 100 mg/kg/body weight) for a week and then by intranasal instillation with OVA (0.5 mg/ml) + aluminium hydroxyde (20 mg/ml), during three days after intraperitoneally sensitization or with LPS (0.4 mg/ml) for a day (OVA or LPS + HACE). The BAL cells were collected in a mixed solution (0.9% NaCl and 2.6 mm Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid EDTA) one day after the last challenge and total cells were numbered in a Neubauer chamber. The HACE: (i) significantly inhibited the airways inflammation induced by a single intranasal instillation of LPS or allergic asthma on mice challenged with 3 consecutive days intranasal instillation of OVA in comparison to control mice only instilled with 0.9% sterile. NaCl : (ii) significantly impaired the increased levels of total cells in OVA and LPS-treated mice, without changing the basal cellularity after NaCl or HACE treatment; (iii) and significantly inhibitshydroxyl radicalsandsuperoxideanions production. Taken together, these results suggest that HACE exposure induces a marked reduction of cellular component in the BAL fluid, which is only partially lymphocytes dependent

On the ensemble of optimal identifying codes in a twin-free graph

Let G = (V, E) be a graph. For v is an element of V and r >= 1, we denote by B-G,B- r (v) the ball of radius r and centre v. A set C subset of V is said to be an r-identifying code if the sets B-G,B- r (v) boolean AND C, v is an element of V, are all nonempty and distinct. A graph G which admits an r-identifying code is called r-twin-free, and in this case the smallest size of an r-identifying code is denoted by gamma(r)(G). We study the ensemble of all the different optimal r-identifying codes C, i.e., such that broken vertical bar C broken vertical bar = gamma(r)(G). We show that, given any collection A of k-subsets of V-1 = {1, 2, . . . , n}, there is a positive integer m, a graph G = (V, E) with V = V-1 boolean OR V-2, where V-2 = {n + 1, . . . , n + m}, and a set S subset of V-2 such that C subset of V is an optimal r-identifying code in G if, and only if, C = A boolean OR S for some A is an element of A. This result gives a direct connection with induced subgraphs of Johnson graphs, which are graphs with vertex set a collection of k-subsets of V1, with edges between any two vertices sharing k - 1 elements

Uncorking the potential of wine language for young wine tourists

Effective communication with consumers underpins growth in wine knowledge that, in turn, contributes to growth in wine consumption. Indeed, tasting notes may enhance consumers’ experiences of wine. Yet wine language is full of fuzzy concepts. In this chapter, we consider the language used to talk about wine, specifically the humanlike features of wine (e.g., wine is described as honest, sexy, shy, or brooding). We demonstrate that metaphoric language is integral to the experience of wine and influences consumer behaviour. We discuss practical implications for the cellar door experience, and for effective and ethical wine communication. We conclude that metaphoric language is a pedagogical and cultural platform for engaging younger wine tourists in the cellar door experience, which is a significant revenue source for micro, small, and medium wineries

Monitoring the impacts of trade agreements on food environments

The liberalization of international trade and foreign direct investment through multilateral, regional and bilateral agreements has had profound implications for the structure and nature of food systems, and therefore, for the availability, nutritional quality, accessibility, price and promotion of foods in different locations. Public health attention has only relatively recently turned to the links between trade and investment agreements, diets and health, and there is currently no systematic monitoring of this area. This paper reviews the available evidence on the links between trade agreements, food environments and diets from an obesity and non-communicable disease (NCD) perspective. Based on the key issues identified through the review, the paper outlines an approach for monitoring the potential impact of trade agreements on food environments and obesity/NCD risks. The proposed monitoring approach encompasses a set of guiding principles, recommended procedures for data collection and analysis, and quantifiable ‘minimal’, ‘expanded’ and ‘optimal’ measurement indicators to be tailored to national priorities, capacity and resources. Formal risk assessment processes of existing and evolving trade and investment agreements, which focus on their impacts on food environments will help inform the development of healthy trade policy, strengthen domestic nutrition and health policy space and ultimately protect population nutrition.The following organizations provided funding support for the travel of participants to Italy for this meeting and the preparation of background research papers: The Rockefeller Foundation, International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF), University of Auckland, Deakin University, The George Institute, University of Sydney, Queensland University of Technology, University of Oxford, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, World Cancer Research Fund International, University of Toronto, and The Australian National University. The Faculty of Health at Deakin University kindly supported the costs for open access availability of this paper, and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence in Obesity Policy and Food Systems (APP1041020) supported the coordination and finalizing of INFORMAS manuscripts

An improved lower bound for (1,<=2)-identifying codes in the king grid

We call a subset $C$ of vertices of a graph $G$ a $(1,\leq \ell)$-identifying code if for all subsets $X$ of vertices with size at most $\ell$, the sets $\{c\in C |\exists u \in X, d(u,c)\leq 1\}$ are distinct. The concept of identifying codes was introduced in 1998 by Karpovsky, Chakrabarty and Levitin. Identifying codes have been studied in various grids. In particular, it has been shown that there exists a $(1,\leq 2)$-identifying code in the king grid with density 3/7 and that there are no such identifying codes with density smaller than 5/12. Using a suitable frame and a discharging procedure, we improve the lower bound by showing that any $(1,\leq 2)$-identifying code of the king grid has density at least 47/111

Progress achieved in restricting the marketing of high-fat, sugary and salty food and beverage products to children

In May 2010, 192 Member States endorsed Resolution WHA63.14 to restrict the marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverage products high in saturated fats, trans fatty acids, free sugars and/or salt to children and adolescents globally. We examined the actions taken between 2010 and early 2016 – by civil society groups, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its regional offices, other United Nations (UN) organizations, philanthropic institutions and transnational industries – to help decrease the prevalence of obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases among young people. By providing relevant technical and policy guidance and tools to Member States, WHO and other UN organizations have helped protect young people from the marketing of branded food and beverage products that are high in fat, sugar and/or salt. The progress achieved by the other actors we investigated appears variable and generally less robust. We suggest that the progress being made towards the full implementation of Resolution WHA63.14 would be accelerated by further restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food and beverage products and by investing in the promotion of nutrient-dense products. This should help young people meet government-recommended dietary targets. Any effective strategies and actions should align with the goal of WHO to reduce premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases by 25% by 2025 and the aim of the UN to ensure healthy lives for all by 2030

A proposed approach to monitor private-sector policies and practices related to food environments, obesity and non-communicable disease prevention

Private-sector organizations play a critical role in shaping the food environments of individuals and populations. However, there is currently very limited independent monitoring of private-sector actions related to food environments. This paper reviews previous efforts to monitor the private sector in this area, and outlines a proposed approach to monitor private-sector policies and practices related to food environments, and their influence on obesity and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention. A step-wise approach to data collection is recommended, in which the first (‘minimal’) step is the collation of publicly available food and nutrition-related policies of selected private-sector organizations. The second (‘expanded’) step assesses the nutritional composition of each organization’s products, their promotions to children, their labelling practices, and the accessibility, availability and affordability of their products. The third (‘optimal’) step includes data on other commercial activities that may influence food environments, such as political lobbying and corporate philanthropy. The proposed approach will be further developed and piloted in countries of varying size and income levels. There is potential for this approach to enable national and international benchmarking of private-sector policies and practices, and to inform efforts to hold the private sector to account for their role in obesity and NCD prevention

Sydney principles for reducing the commercial promotion of foods and beverages to children

A set of seven principles (the &lsquo;Sydney Principles&rsquo;) was developed by an International Obesity Taskforce (IOTF) Working Group to guide action on changing food and beverage marketing practices that target children. The aim of the present communication is to present the Sydney Principles and report on feedback received from a global consultation (November 2006 to April 2007) on the Principles.The Principles state that actions to reduce marketing to children should: (i) support the rights of children; (ii) afford substantial protection to children; (iii) be statutory in nature; (iv) take a wide definition of commercial promotions; (v) guarantee commercial-free childhood settings; (vi) include cross-border media; and (vii) be evaluated, monitored and enforced.The draft principles were widely disseminated and 220 responses were received from professional and scientific associations, consumer bodies, industry bodies, health professionals and others. There was virtually universal agreement on the need to have a set of principles to guide action in this contentious area of marketing to children. Apart from industry opposition to the third principle calling for a statutory approach and several comments about the implementation challenges, there was strong support for each of the Sydney Principles. Feedback on two specific issues of contention related to the age range to which restrictions should apply (most nominating age 16 or 18 years) and the types of products to be included (31 % nominating all products, 24 % all food and beverages, and 45 % energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods and beverages).The Sydney Principles, which took a children&rsquo;s rights-based approach, should be used to benchmark action to reduce marketing to children. The age definition for a child and the types of products which should have marketing restrictions may better suit a risk-based approach at this stage. The Sydney Principles should guide the formation of an International Code on Food and Beverage Marketing to Children.<br /