TAS2R38 bitter taste genotype is associated with complementary feeding behavior in infants

Background: Genetically mediated sensitivity to bitter taste has been associated with food preferences and eating behavior in adults and children. The aim of this study was to assess the association between TAS2R38 bitter taste genotype and the first complementary food acceptance in infants. Parents of healthy, breastfed, term-born infants were instructed, at discharge from the nursery, to feed their baby with a first complementary meal of 150 mL at 4 to 6 months of age. They recorded the day when the child ate the whole meal in a questionnaire. Additional data included food composition, breastfeeding duration, feeding practices, and growth at 6 months. Infants' TAS2R38 genotypes were determined at birth, and infants were classified as "bitter-insensitive" (genotype AVI/AVI) and "bitter-sensitive" (genotypes AVI/PAV or PAV/PAV). Results: One hundred seventy-six infants and their mothers were enrolled; completed data were available for 131/176 (74.4%) infants (gestational age 39.3 \ub1 1.1 weeks, birth weight 3390 \ub1 430 g). Bitter-insensitive were 45/131 (34.3%), and bitter-sensitive were 86/131 (65.6%). Thirty-one percent of bitter-insensitive infants consumed the whole complementary meal at first attempt, versus 13% of bitter-sensitive ones (p = 0.006). This difference was significant independently of confounding variables such as sex, breastfeeding, or foods used in the meal. Growth at 6 months did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Differences in TAS2R38 bitter taste gene were associated with acceptance of the first complementary food in infants, suggesting a possible involvement in eating behavior at weaning

Hydrogen Production by Formic Acid Decomposition over Ca Promoted Ni/SiO2 Catalysts: Effect of the Calcium Content

Formic acid, a major product of biomass processing, is regarded as a potential liquid carrier for hydrogen storage and delivery. The catalytic dehydrogenation of FA to generate hydrogen using heterogeneous catalysts is of great interest. Ni based catalysts supported on silica were synthesized by incipient wet impregnation. The eect of doping with an alkaline earth metal (calcium) wasstudied, and the solids were tested in the formic acid decomposition reaction to produce hydrogen.The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and programmed temperature surface reaction (TPSR).The catalyst doped with 19.3 wt.% of Ca showed 100% conversion of formic acid at 160 C, with a 92% of selectivity to hydrogen. In addition, all the tested materials were promising for their application, since they showed catalytic behaviors (conversion and selectivity to hydrogen) comparable to thoseof noble metals reported in the literature.Fil: Faroldi, Betina María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; ArgentinaFil: Paviotti, María Aneley. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; ArgentinaFil: Camino-Manjarrés, M.. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: González-Carrazán, S.. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: López-Olmos, C.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica; EspañaFil: Rodríguez-Ramos, I.. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. Instituto de Catálisis y Petroleoquímica; Españ

Noise and annoyance from motorbikes, scooters and mopeds in urban areas

Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds (altogether called Powered-Two-Wheelers or PTW) are considered, based on surveys performed in the past, amongst the most annoying environmental noise sources in the cities. A test campaign was performed in Athens to verify how the PTW influence the perception of annoyance outdoors in the cities. The results of the test campaign showed that PTW are a consistent part of the traffic with specific annoying features that distinguish them from the rest of the road traffic noise. These different annoying features are reflected in a survey conducted on pedestrians simultaneously to the PTW pass by, to verify how relevant the influence of the PTW may be. The tests and the results are presented in this paper

On the outdoor annoyance from scooter and motorbike noise in the urban environment

The health impacts of environmental noise are a growing concern amongst both the general public and policy-makers in Europe. Environmental noise - especially from road transportation - is widely accepted as an important environmental impact factor that can be taken as a start for the process of evaluating the impact of annoyance on the exposed urban population. Extensive urbanisation and the increase of road transport define the main driving forces for the environmental noise exposure of the population. In urban conditions, it is rather common, regarding road transportation noise, to hear from people that, especially, PIW (Powered Two Wheelers) are annoying, and many times are actually the most annoying environmental noise sources introducing a degradation of the urban environment. In this research, in Athens city centre, both scooters and motorbikes operation patterns are analysed, in the basis of their environmental impact through ad-hoc tests to establish if specific features of their emitted noise are annoying and affect the quality of life. It resulted that PTW are a relevant cause of specific environmental annoyance on pedestrians when low background noise levels and sparse traffic flow allow identifying the PTW. Based on the results of a measurement campaign, both L-max and roughness indices are identified as characteristic noise signatures of the PTW. Results are compared to laboratory studies on annoyance found in literature and to a specific set of interviews with a large number of pedestrians in selected sites. Annoyance caused by scooters and motorbikes is analysed in the findings and conclusions. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

PTW noise levels and potentials for reduction

Motorbikes, scooters and mopeds (altogether called Powered-Two-Wheelers) are considered, based on surveys performed in the past, amongst the most annoying environmental noise sources in the cities. A few test campaigns were performed in real running conditions to verify how the PTW influence the overall noise produced by standard mixtures of road traffic. In the city of Athens a measurement campaign was performed aimed to quantify the noise of PTW in real running conditions, and in a set of representative locations. These results were also compared to other few available databases. The results of the test campaign showed that PTW are a consistent part of the traffic noise. By having analysed the contributions of other vehicle types as well, an indication on the potential noise reduction on the overall road traffic noise, if PTW are made more silent, is given. The tests and the results will be presented in this paper. © European Acoustics Association

Mappature del rumore: aspetti tecnici

La redazione di mappe acustiche del territorio interessato dalla presenza di traffico veicolare, ferroviario, aeroportuale e di siti industriali, inclusi i porti principali, costituisce una delle attività di maggiore impegno richieste agli stati membri dalla Direttiva 2002/49/CE. La memoria esamina gli aspetti tecnici della mappatura acustica con particolare riferimento all’estensione spaziale della mappatura, ai requisiti della cartografia di base, al censimento dei ricettori e reperimento dei dati demografici e fisici, all’integrazione con i GIS, alla caratterizzazione delle sorgenti, alla scelta dei descrittori delle immissioni, all’analisi della propagazione e determinazione dei descrittori acustici, alla presentazione dei risultati e alla validazione delle mappature. L’articolo è frutto della pluriennale esperienza degli autori nell’ambito della ricerca, della redazione di studi di impatto ambientale e del monitoraggio acustico di grandi infrastrutture civili e industriali

Mappature del rumore: aspetti tecnici

La redazione di mappe acustiche del territorio interessato dalla presenza di traffico veicolare, ferroviario, aeroportuale e di siti industriali, inclusi i porti principali, costituisce una delle attività di maggiore impegno richieste agli stati membri dalla Direttiva 2002/49/CE. La memoria esamina gli aspetti tecnici della mappatura acustica con particolare riferimento all'estensione spaziale della mappatura, ai requisiti della cartografia di base, al censimento dei ricettori e reperimento dei dati demografici e fisici, all'integrazione con i GIS, alla caratterizzazione delle sorgenti, alla scelta dei descrittori delle immissioni, all'analisi della propagazione e determinazione dei descrittori acustici, alla presentazione dei risultati e alla validazione delle mappature. L'articolo è frutto della pluriennale esperienza degli autori nell'ambito della ricerca, della redazione di studi di impatto ambientale e del monitoraggio acustico di grandi infrastrutture civili e industrial

Uncertainties in Long-Term Road Noise Monitoring Including Meteorological Influences

Results from measurements of road traffic noise at large distances depend strongly on the meteorological propagation conditions, i.e. wind direction, wind speed and the atmospheric stability. For the HARMONOISE project long-term measurements at distances ranging from 25 to 1200 m from the highway have been carried out, including the measurement of meteorological parameters employing a 3D ultrasonic anemometer. These parameters cover the threedimensional wind speed, the wind direction, the vertical impulse flux as well as the Monin-Obukhov length to characterize the atmospheric stability. The measured data were analyzed for different propagation parameters grouping the measured data into classes as a function of the Monin-Obukhov length and wind speed, and the uncertainties for these classes were determined according to the guideline of uncertainties of measurements GUM... The analysis covers the overall levels as well as frequency structure transfer function... in 1/3-octave bands.JRC.I.5-Physical and chemical exposure