Systematic literature review shows that appetite rating does not predict energy intake

Ratings of appetite are commonly used to assess appetite modification following an intervention. Subjectively rated appetite is a widely employed proxy measure for energy intake (EI), measurement of which requires greater time and resources. However, the validity of appetite as a reliable predictor of EI has not yet been reviewed systematically. This literature search identified studies that quantified both appetite ratings and EI. Outcomes were predefined as: (1) agreement between self-reported appetite scores and EI; (2) no agreement between self-reported appetitescores and EI. The presence of direct statistical comparison between the endpoints, intervention type and study population were also recorded. 462 papers were included in this review. Appetite scores failed to correspond with EI in 51.3% of the total studies. Only 6% of all studies evaluated here reported a direct statistical comparison between appetite scores and EI. χ² analysis demonstrated that any relationship between EI and appetite was independent of study type stratification by age, gender or sample size. The very substantive corpus reviewed allows us to conclude that self-reported appetite ratings of appetite do not reliably predict EI. Caution should be exercised when drawing conclusions based from self-reported appetite scores in relation to prospective EI.     

Solution calorimetry: A novel perspective into the dissolution process of food powders

The enthalpy of dissolution of two food powders, maltodextrin and skim milk, was studied by means of isothermal solution calorimetry. The effects of the moisture content and the physical state of the samples were investigated. A reduced exothermic response was found as the moisture content of the samples increased. It was shown that this effect is reversible upon re-drying of the solid, unless crystallization occurs. In the skim milk powder, crystallization of lactose occurred, leading to a less exothermic response. In addition, the dissolution kinetics of single particles was followed in situ with real time video acquisition and a novel image analysis technique. The data showed a significant effect of the physical state of the powder on the dissolution kinetics. Fully amorphous skim milk powder dissolved significantly faster than the recrystallized counterpart. A clear relation was observed between the physical state of the powders, their thermodynamic response and the dissolution kinetics.     

Biodegradation of octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium: new insight into the degradation pathway

Octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) is a recalcitrant energetic chemical that tends to accumulate in soil, close to the surface. The present study describes the aerobic biodegradability of HMX using Phanerochaete chrysosporium. When added to 7 day old static P. chrysosporium liquid cultures, HMX (600 nmol) degraded within 25 days of incubation. The removal of HMX was concomitant with the formation of transient amounts of its mono-nitroso derivative (1-NO-HMX). The latter apparently degraded via two potential routes: the first involved N-denitration followed by hydrolytic ring cleavage, and the second involved alpha-hydroxylation prior to ring cleavage. The degradation of 1-NO-HMX gave the ring-cleavage product 4-nitro-2,4-diazabutanal (NDAB), nitrite (NO2 -), nitrous oxide (N2O), and formaldehyde (HCHO). Using [14C]-HMX, we obtained 14CO2 (70% in 50 days), representing three C atoms of HMX. Incubation of real soils, contaminated with either HMX (403 micromol kg(-1)) (military base soil) or HMX (3057 micromol kg(-1)), and RDX (342 micromol kg(-1)) (ammunition soil) with the fungus led to 75 and 19.8% mineralization of HMX (liberated 14CO2), respectively, also via the intermediary formation of 1-NO-HMX. Mineralization in the latter soil increased to 35% after the addition of glucose, indicating that a fungus-based remediation process for heavily contaminated soils is promising. The present findings improve our understanding about the degradation pathway of HMX and demonstrate the utility of using the robust and versatile fungus P. chrysosporium to develop effective remediation processes for the removal of HMX.     

Atmospheric deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to Atlantic Canada: geographic and temporal distributions and trends 1980-2001

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The semivolatile organic compounds may disperse into the atmosphere by direct input from several sources such as the burning of fossil fuels, from motor vehicle emissions, and forest fires. Once in the atmosphere, they may travel great distances before being deposited to the earth's surface by the scavenging action of rain and snow. Up to 14 PAHs were determined in wet precipitation samples collected monthly from five sites in the four Canadian Atlantic Provinces during 1980-2001. The relatively more volatile PAHs (phenanthrene, fluoranthene, naphthalene, and pyrene) were predominant in the samples. Significant (P < 0.05) spatial variations in the deposition of some PAHs were observed among sites, but there were no consistent geographic patterns. Seasonal patterns were discernible with peak deposition for sigma6&14 PAHs occurring during the colder months of the year (December to March) and coinciding with higher energy consumption for heating and transport. The monthly volume weighed mean concentration for sigma6 PAHs has declined steadily since the mid-1980s at Kejimkujik National Park in southwest Nova Scotia, with a calculated half-life of 6.4 +/- 0.3 years. The maximum annual deposition flux of 20 microg m(-2) yr(-1) reached in 1985 for sigma6 PAHs decreased approximately 1 order of magnitude by the year 2000. The decrease in sigma6&14 PAHs for the region was found to be correlated (P < 0.05) with decreasing sulfate ion concentrations in the precipitation. The implementation of air pollution abatement programs in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere, switching to cleaner sources of energy and improved technology during the pastfew decades is most likely responsible for the observed decline.     

Telecino: an interactive petrological and geochemical diagrams generator

This article presents a group of FORTRAN IV programs for the interactive treatment of geochemical data. The data are entered on a graphic tablet and the result are output on a CRT screen. This technique has been designed for users who are not familiar with computer programming and allows them to carry out their own data analysis.     

Extraction,isolation and characterisation of oil bodies from pumpkin seeds for therapeutic use

Pumpkin, a member of the Cucurbitaceae family has been used frequently as functional medicines for therapeutic use. Several phytochemicals such as polysaccharides, phenolic glycosides, 13-hydroxy-9Z, 11E-octadecatrienoic acid from the leaves of pumpkin, proteins from germinated seeds, have been isolated.     

AXIAL PHASES DISTRIBUTION AND HOMOGENIZATION IN THREE-PHASE FLUIDIZED BEDS

We have investigated the axial distribution of the liquid phase in a three-phase fluidized bed in which the particles were glass beads of two different diameters, 710-850 μm and 2 mm. Two methods were used to reduce the axial heterogeneity and homogenize the bed: the use of packing elements and the addition of a small quantity of a high molecular weight polymer. The use of packing elements was shown to be very efficient in controlling phases distribution in the bed. The packing consisted of 1 mm thick steel horizontal plates punched and stretched to obtain parallelogram-shaped openings. The addition of a high molecular weight polyisobutylene (BASF Oppanol B246, M_u, =6.15 Lo⁶) on the phase distribution was also studied. Low polymer concentrations up to 397 ppm (based on the liquid phase) were investigated. The addition of the polymer reduced bubble coalescence and allowed for a better distribution of the phases.     

Influence de la structure sur les propriétés mécaniques dynamiques de quelques polytéréphtalates de polyméthylèneglycol. Relaxations β et γ

The influence of structure, cristallinity and orientation on the β- and γ-relaxation mechanisms of several poly(α,ω-alkandiolterephthalates) has been investigated. The γ-relaxation consists of two main components involving molecular motions in the amorphous phase, and motions of CH₂ groups (glycolic residue) in the gauche or trans form. A third component involves movements of bigger groups. The β-relaxation at low frequencies can be compared with the dilatometric glass transition.     

FISHER'S INFORMATION MATRIX FOR SEASONAL AUTOREGRESSIVE-MOVING AVERAGE MODELS

Abstract. Two procedures are described for obtaining Fisher's information matrix of a multiplicative seasonal autoregressive-moving average process. They can be useful in determining the asymptotic covariance matrix of Gaussian maximum likelihood estimators of the parameters. Components of the information matrix are expressed in the first procedure as integrals of rational functions. The second procedure makes use of the autocorrelation function of several autoregressive processes.     

Effect of iron enrichment with GIC or FeCl3 on the pore structure and reactivity of coking coal

The effect of a Lewis acid addition to a coking coal on the porosity and reactivity towards steam of the resulting iron enriched coal chars are studied. GIC (FeCl₃ graphite intercalation compound) or free FeCl₃ are used as iron containing additives. Coal iron enrichment was performed using either directly FeCl₃ in vapour phase, or by mixing of coal and additives in decaline or by common grinding of coal and additives under argon. Iron enriched coals were carbonized at 750°C (heating RATE = 5°C min) and activation made with pure steam at 800°C to a burn-off off of 50 wt%. The pore structures of coal chars before and after activation were evaluated on the basis of CO₂ and C₆H₆ sorption at 25°C. A significant development of the microporosity is observed in the iron enriched char before activation and its steam reactivity is also increased. After activation, BET surface area values are increased in presence of iron, and porosity is mainly microporous.