Charles Macintosh and his Famous Coat - Google Arts & Culture

https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/theme/SwLSEIbM4qLrIg?utm_campaign=charles_macintosh&utm_source=google&utm_medium=hppromo via @googlearts

Thou Shall Not Harm All Living Beings: Feminism, Jainism, and Animals

Article in Hypatia A Journal of Feminist Philosophy 27(3):636-650 · August 2012 with 18 Reads

DOI: 10.2307/23254845

• 

  1st IRINA ARISTARKHOVA

Abstract

In this paper, I critically develop the Jain concept of nonharm as a feminist philosophical concept that calls for a change in our relation to living beings, specifically to animals. I build on the work of Josephine Donovan, Carol J. Adams, Jacques Derrida, Kelly Oliver, and Lori Gruen to argue for a change from an ethic of care and dialogue to an ethic of carefulness and nonpossession. I expand these discussions by considering the Jain philosophy of nonharm (ahimsa) in relation to feminist and other theories that advocate noneating of animals, "humane killing," and "less harm." Finally, I propose that a feminist appropriation of the Jain concept of nonharm helps us develop a feminist ethic of nonharm to all living beings.

Fish Oil Supplementation in Pregnancy — NEJM

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde1614333?query=TOC#.WGRZcngas-g.twitter

Deepening, and repairing, the metabolic rift.

J Peasant Stud. 2010;37(3):461-84. doi: 10.1080/03066150.2010.494371.

Schneider M¹, McMichael P.

Author information

• ¹Cornell University.

Abstract

This paper critically assesses the metabolic rift as a social, ecological, and historical concept describing the disruption of natural cycles and processes and ruptures in material human-nature relations under capitalism. As a social concept, the metabolic rift presumes that metabolism is understood in relation to the labour process. This conception, however, privileges the organisation of labour to the exclusion of the practice of labour, which we argue challenges its utility for analysing contemporary socio-environmental crises. As an ecological concept, the metabolic rift is based on outmoded understandings of (agro) ecosystems and inadequately describes relations and interactions between labour and ecological processes. Historically, the metabolic rift is integral to debates about the definitions and relations of capitalism, industrialism, and modernity as historical concepts. At the same time, it gives rise to an epistemic rift, insofar as the separation of the natural and social worlds comes to be expressed in social thought and critical theory, which have one-sidedly focused on the social. We argue that a reunification of the social and the ecological, in historical practice and in historical thought, is the key to repairing the metabolic rift, both conceptually and practically. The food sovereignty movement in this respect is exemplary.

Establishing a framework to understand the regulation and control of dogs in urban environments: a case study of Melbourne, Australia.

Carter SB¹.

Author information

• ¹Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

This study examines the effectiveness of animal management from a critical theory perspective, establishing a framework to describe the animal management activities of local government. In creating sustainable cities, local government must critically engage with the management of other species which live alongside humans. Despite around 40 % of Australian households owning a dog, there is relatively scarce scholarly attention paid to animal management as a subject in its own right. There are numerous studies examining the need to regulate dogs, however there are relatively few studies which examine the effectiveness of regulation.

RESULTS:

This study adopts interpretive qualitative content analyses of documentary and interview accounts to critically describe the practice of animal management and suggest why it takes place the way it does. An ontological-methodological framework is introduced to frame the practice of animal management, relating the methodology of animal management to the underlying ontological orientation of local government. This study highlights some institutional conditions which allow particular animal management activities to flourish. Enforcement of barking dog nuisance and responsible dog ownership education are shown to demonstrate attributes of regulatory success. Conversely, enforcement of effective control and community education processes demonstrate some attributes of regulatory failure.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrates how institutional ontology and methodology affect the practice of animal management. This study provides animal management officers and local government with a means to critically examine particular approaches to animal management in practice, offering an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of animal management functions in local government. In contributing to improving the awareness of local government as to how they plan for and manage dogs, this study contributes to a broader community consideration of dogs as a beneficial part of society.

KEYWORDS:

Animal management; Dogs; Institutional ontology; Local government; Regulation

PMID:

27516928

PMCID:

PMC4963355

DOI:

10.1186/s40064-016-2843-8

[PubMed]

Free PMC Article

Critical theory becomes a text to read

Critical Theory Reading Group

Date: Thursday, Jan 5th
Time: 4:30pm - 8:00pm 
Location: Dr. Simon KY Lee Global Lounge & Resource Centre - Media Room 

Building 1 – Marine Drive Residence 2205 Lower Mall | Vancouver BC Canada V6T 1Z4

Critical Theory seeks to provide a descriptive and normative basis for changing the world. By seeking to understand human experience and the unseen forces order and shape it, Critical Theory enables us to take more effective and nuanced action to change oppressive systems.

Hi all, here is information for a new reading group beginning in the new year. Open to all folks at UBC and beyond!

_______________________________________

The Critical Theory Reading Group is looking for a small group of committed scholars with a theoretical background interested in meeting to discuss crucial texts and their influence on the world around us and will be meeting once a month through the upcoming term. The group is organized by the Dialogue in Action Society, in association with the RAGA Student network.

This Group is ideal for:

-Scholars who have a familiarity with theory from their respective discipline and are interested in gaining a critical edge on their work.

-Students with an interest in Critical Theory, who are looking for a group of committed peers to further their study.

-Individuals who have a text they’ve been meaning to read, and are looking for an environment of interested peers to discuss it with.

Everyone is invited to our first meeting, in which we’ll meet the group, and discuss the reading list for the upcoming month. In our second meeting, we will begin by reading recent and essential texts from Indigenous Scholars Dian Million ("Therapeutic Nations”) Glen Coulthard (“Red Skin, White Masks”). 

Space is limited. If you are interested in participating in the discussion, please contact Zakir Suleman at Zakir.Jamal.Suleman@gmail.com to reserve a spot. 

When LNG plants get a special deal on Hydro rates, who pays?

 http://www.policynote.ca/when-lng-plants-get-a-special-deal-on-hydro-rates-who-pays/#.WGQhFqKgeDE.twitter

How to reach the poor? Surveillance in low-income countries, lessons from experiences in Cambodia and Madagascar

Prev Vet Med. 2015 Jun 1;120(1):12-26. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.02.014. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Goutard FL¹, Binot A², Duboz R³, Rasamoelina-Andriamanivo H⁴, Pedrono M⁵, Holl D⁶, Peyre MI⁷, Cappelle J⁸, Chevalier V⁹, Figuié M¹⁰, Molia S¹¹, Roger FL².

Author information

• ¹Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: flavie.goutard@cirad.fr.
• ²Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
• ³Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; AIT, Bangkok, Thailand.
• ⁴Faculty of Medicine, Veterinary Department, Antananarivo, Madagascar; FOFIFA, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• ⁵Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; FOFIFA, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• ⁶NaVRI, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• ⁷Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; NIVR, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
• ⁸Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• ⁹Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France.
• ¹⁰Cirad, MOISA Research Unit, Montpellier, France.
• ¹¹Cirad, AGIRs Research Unit, Montpellier, France; Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Abstract

Surveillance of animal diseases in developing countries faces many constraints. Innovative tools and methods to enhance surveillance in remote and neglected areas should be defined, assessed and applied in close connection with local farmers, national stakeholders and international agencies. The authors performed a narrative synthesis of their own publications about surveillance in Madagascar and Cambodia. They analysed the data in light of their fieldwork experiences in the two countries' very challenging environments. The burden of animal and zoonotic diseases (e.g. avian influenza, African swine fever, Newcastle disease, Rift Valley fever) is huge in both countries which are among the poorest in the world. Being poor countries implies a lack of human and financial means to ensure effective surveillance of emerging and endemic diseases. Several recent projects have shown that new approaches can be proposed and tested in the field. Several advanced participatory approaches are promising and could be part of an innovative method for improving the dialogue among different actors in a surveillance system. Thus, participatory modelling, developed for natural resources management involving local stakeholders, could be applied to health management, including surveillance. Data transmission could benefit from the large mobile-phone coverage in these countries. Ecological studies and advances in the field of livestock surveillance should guide methods for enhancing wildlife monitoring and surveillance. Under the umbrella of the One Health paradigm, and in the framework of a risk-based surveillance concept, a combination of participatory methods and modern technologies could help to overcome the constraints present in low-income countries. These unconventional approaches should be merged in order to optimise surveillance of emerging and endemic diseases in challenging environments.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Cambodia; Challenging environment; Companion modelling; Madagascar; Participatory surveillance

Agatha Christie: A Reappraisal A two-day conference. 19-20 June 2017. Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge

Agatha Christie: A Reappraisal

deadline for submissions: 

January 31, 2017

full name / name of organization: 

Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge

contact email: 

agathachristieconference@gmail.com

Agatha Christie: A Reappraisal
A two-day conference. 19-20 June 2017. Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge

CONFIRMED KEYNOTES:

JULIUS GREEN, author of Curtain Up: Agatha Christie: A Life in Theatre
DR MERJA MAKINEN, author of Agatha Christie: Investigating Femininity

Agatha Christie (1890-1976) has become internationally recognized as one of the most significant writers of the twentieth century. Recent scholarship has legitimized Christie as a writer of substance and a major figure in twentieth and twenty-first century popular culture. This conference seeks to finally establish Christie Studies as an academic discipline, extending across and beyond the humanities.

Proposals for twenty-minute papers are invited. Possible themes include but are by no means limited to:

Theorizing Agatha Christie
Crime and detectives: generic context
New biographical readings
Christie and modernism
Christie and postmodernism
Political readings, political revisionism
Christie and feminism
Gender, sexuality, and queerness
Adaptations, parodies, and pastiches
Continuation projects
Christie and art
Film and television legacies

Proposals for traditional papers are encouraged, as are proposals for innovative or creative presentations. Please send a 200 word proposal to Mia Dormer (University of Exeter) and Dr Jamie Bernthal (Middlesex University) at agathachristieconference @ gmail.com no later than Tuesday 31 January 2017.

The standard two-day registration fee is expected to be £120.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – International Conference on Convergence and Divergence between Animal & Environmental Ethics

Call for young researcher proposals
International Conference On Convergence and Divergence between Animal and Environmental Ethics
Montreal, 17-19 May 2017
Submission Deadline: 15 February 2017

The Centre de Recherche en Éthique (CRE) in association with the Groupe de recherche en éthique environnementale et animale (GRÉEA) will host an international conference on Convergence and Divergence between Animal and Environmental Ethics, which will be held in Montreal, on May 17-19, 2017.
The organizing committee of the conference invites graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and non-tenure track assistant professors to submit paper proposals to be considered for inclusion in the program of the conference. Papers addressing any philosophical issue relevant to the conference theme are welcome.
Up to four proposals will be selected. Each participant will have 45 minutes to present his or her paper and will benefit from a 45 minutes discussion with invited speakers and other participants. Submission format and procedure: Please submit a 300-500 words abstract formatted for blind review (exclude any personal and institutional information). Email your submission as a Word or PDF attachment here. Full call for proposals and conference information available here. The CRE will provide assistance for participant’s transportation and lodging expenses.
Submission deadline: Wednesday, February 15, 2017.
Description:
«[T]wo streams of thought meet and are woven together… [in]to the beginnings of what, I believe, will be a lasting marriage. (Though I have no illusions about the tranquility of that particular relationship.) » (Singer 1992)
Environmental ethics and animal ethics have much in common. For one thing, each field has firmly established itself over just the past few decades. On the theoretical side, this has meant the founding of journals like The Journal of Animal Ethics and Environmental Ethics; and on the practical side, the organization of activist groups running the gamut from polite to militant. For the most part, both fields have also shared a commitment to non-anthropocentrism. As the editor of a recent anthology put it, « Environmental ethics [which for him includes animal ethics] begins the moment we reject the view that only humans can be moral patients… » (Williston 2016). In other words, humans are not the only entities in the universe worthy of direct moral concern.
Animal and environmental ethics have tended to differ, however, on the question of just which other entities do count for their own sakes (rather than merely for the sake of humans). Environmental ethicists have often included all individual animals, plants, and other organisms; along with « soils, waters » and the ecosystemic « community as such » (Leopold 1949). In contrast, animal ethicists have tended to limit their direct moral concern to beings able to experience joy and suffering (Singer 1975). Animal and environmental ethicists have also largely applied their respective theories to different domains, i.e., domesticated animals including pets, livestock, and laboratory subjects; vs. wild organisms, species, and ecosystems.
However, humans are causing increasingly strong interactions between the wild and domestic realms. For example, the overfishing of wild populations has induced a massive rise in fish farms. Conversely, scientists now identify animal agriculture in general as the world’s leading cause of biodiversity loss (Machovina et al. 2015). Furthermore, it has been nearly 25 years since two important book-length anthologies focused on the relationships between environmental and animal ethics (Hargrove 1992, Ryder 1992). We therefore plan to host a conference on the topic in May 2017, and to publish a new edited volume based on it.
The conference will bring together major established scholars, as well as up-and-coming researchers, in both fields. Speakers will address convergence and divergence between animal and environmental ethics. To wit, how much overlap is there between the policies that would be morally required for the sake of animals alone (including humans), vs. those required for the sake of organisms (including animals), entire species, and ecosystems? We will focus on answers to this question in the following contexts: (1) the wild vs. domesticated spheres, (2) predation by some non-human animals upon others, and (3) animal agriculture.
Reference:
Hargrove, E. C., editor. 1992. The Animal Rights, Environmental Ethics Debate. State University of New York, Albany, NY.
Leopold, A. 1949. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University. New York, NY.
Machovina, B., K. J. Feeley, and W. J. Ripple. 2015. Biodiversity conservation: The key is reducing meat consumption. Science of the Total Environment 536:419-431.
Ryder, R. D., editor. Animal Welfare and the Environment. Gerald Duckworth. London, UK.
Singer, P. 1975. Animal Liberation. Avon. New York, NY.
Singer, P. 1992. Foreword. In: Ryder, R. D., op. cit.
Williston, B. 2016. Moral standing. In: Williston, B., editor. Environmental Ethics for Canadians. Oxford University. Toronto, ON. P. 25.
Organizing committee:
Gregory Mikkelson (McGill University)
Mauro Rossi (Université du Québec à Montréal)
Valéry Giroux (Centre de recherche en éthique)
Sophia Rousseau-Mermans (Université de Montréal, Université Paris 1)
Christine Tappolet (Université de Montréal)
Frédéric Bouchard (Université de Montréal)
Invited presentators (alphabetical order):
• John Baird Callicott, University of North Texas, North Texas, USA
• Mark Budolfson, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Vermont, Vermont, USA
• Ned Hettinger, Philosophy, College of Charleston, South Carolina, USA
• Oscar Horta, Department of Logic and Moral Philosophy, University of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruna, Spain
• Virginie Maris, Centre d’écologie fonctionnelle et évolutive du CNRS, Montpellier, France
• Katie McShane, Department of Philosophy, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA
• Gregory Mikkelson, McGill School of Environment & Department of Philosophy, Montreal, Canada
• Michael Nelson, Duth H. Spaniol Chair in Renewable Resources and Professor of Environmental Ethics and Philosophy, Oregon State University, USA
• Clare Palmer, Philosophy, Liberal Arts Texas A&M University, Texas, USA
• Jeff Sebo, Philosophy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
• Tatjana Visak, Philosophy, Mannheim University, Germany.

Holiday joke - exercise 2

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle? 
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 9;11(12):e0167108. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167108. eCollection 2016.

Intense Exercise and Aerobic Conditioning Associated with Chromium or L-Carnitine Supplementation Modified the Fecal Microbiota of Fillies.

Almeida ML¹, Feringer WH Júnior², Carvalho JR², Rodrigues IM², Jordão LR³, Fonseca MG³, Carneiro de Rezende AS³, de Queiroz Neto A², Weese JS⁴, Costa MC⁴, Lemos EG¹, Ferraz GC².

Author information

• ¹Department of Technology, Faculdades de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Laboratório de Bioquímica de Microrganismos e Plantas, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
• ²Department of Animal Morphology and Physiology, Faculdades de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Laboratório de Farmacologia e Fisiologia do Exercício Equino (LAFEQ), Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
• ³Department of Animal Sciences, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
• ⁴Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Abstract

Recent studies performed in humans and rats have reported that exercise can alter the intestinal microbiota. Athletic horses perform intense exercise regularly, but studies characterizing horse microbiome during aerobic conditioning programs are still limited. Evidence has indicated that this microbial community is involved in the metabolic homeostasis of the host. Research on ergogenic substances using new sequencing technologies have been limited to the intestinal microbiota and there is a considerable demand for scientific studies that verify the effectiveness of these supplements in horses. L-carnitine and chromium are potentially ergogenic substances for athletic humans and horses since they are possibly able to modify the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. This study aimed to assess the impact of acute exercise and aerobic conditioning, associated either with L-carnitine or chromium supplementation, on the intestinal microbiota of fillies. Twelve "Mangalarga Marchador" fillies in the incipient fitness stage were distributed into four groups: control (no exercise), exercise, L-carnitine (10g/day) and chelated chromium (10mg/day). In order to investigate the impact of acute exercise or aerobic conditioning on fecal microbiota all fillies undergoing the conditioning program were analyzed as a separate treatment. The fillies underwent two incremental exercise tests before and after training on a treadmill for 42 days at 70-80% of the lactate threshold intensity. Fecal samples were obtained before and 48 h after acute exercise (incremental exercise test). Bacterial populations were characterized by sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using the MiSeq Illumina platform, and 5,224,389 sequences were obtained from 48 samples. The results showed that, overall, the two most abundant phyla were Firmicutes (50.22%) followed by Verrucomicrobia (15.13%). The taxa with the highest relative abundances were unclassified Clostridiales (17.06%) and "5 genus incertae sedis" from the phylum Verrucomicrobia (12.98%). There was a decrease in the phylum Chlamydiae and in the genus Mycobacterium after the second incremental exercise test. Intense exercise changed the community's structure and aerobic conditioning was associated with changes in the composition and structure of the intestinal bacterial population of fillies. The intra-group comparison showed that chromium or L-carnitine induced moderate changes in the fecal microbiota of fillies, but the microbiota did not differ from the control group, which was exercised with no supplementation. Fecal pH correlated positively with Simpson's index, while plasma pH correlated negatively. Our results show that exercise and aerobic conditioning can change in the microbiota and provide a basis for further studies enrolling a larger number of horses at different fitness levels to better understand the effects of exercise and training on the intestinal microbiota of horses.

PMID:

27935992

DOI:

10.1371/journal.pone.0167108

[PubMed - in process]

Free full text

Holiday joke - swimming

Q: Is swimming good for your figure? 
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Glob Chang Biol. 2016 Dec 21. doi: 10.1111/gcb.13564. [Epub ahead of print]

Decadal shifts in autumn migration timing by Pacific Arctic beluga whales are related to delayed annual sea ice formation.

Hauser DD^1,2, Laidre KL^1,2, Stafford KM³, Stern HL², Suydam RS⁴, Richard PR⁵.

Author information

• ¹School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Box 355020, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
• ²Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
• ³Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
• ⁴North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, PO Box 69, Barrow, AK, 99723, USA.
• ⁵Freshwater Institute, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada.

Abstract

Migrations are often influenced by seasonal environmental gradients that are increasingly being altered by climate change. The consequences of rapid changes in Arctic sea ice have the potential to affect migrations of a number of marine species whose timing is temporally matched to seasonal sea ice cover. This topic has not been investigated for Pacific Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) that follow matrilineally maintained autumn migrations in the waters around Alaska and Russia. For the sympatric Eastern Chukchi Sea ('Chukchi') and Eastern Beaufort Sea ('Beaufort') beluga populations, we examined changes in autumn migration timing as related to delayed regional sea ice freeze-up since the 1990s, using two independent data sources (satellite telemetry data and passive acoustics) for both populations. We compared dates of migration between 'early' (1993-2002) and 'late' (2004-2012) tagging periods. During the late tagging period, Chukchi belugas had significantly delayed migrations (by 2 to >4 weeks, depending on location) from the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Spatial analyses also revealed that departure from Beaufort Sea foraging regions by Chukchi whales was postponed in the late period. Chukchi beluga autumn migration timing occurred significantly later as regional sea ice freeze-up timing became later in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering seas. In contrast, Beaufort belugas did not shift migration timing between periods, nor was migration timing related to freeze-up timing, other than for southward migration at the Bering Strait. Passive acoustic data from 2008 to 2014 provided independent and supplementary support for delayed migration from the Beaufort Sea (4 day yr^-1 ) by Chukchi belugas. Here, we report the first phenological study examining beluga whale migrations within the context of their rapidly transforming Pacific Arctic ecosystem, suggesting flexible responses that may enable their persistence yet also complicate predictions of how belugas may fare in the future.

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

KEYWORDS:

Beaufort Sea; Bering Sea; Chukchi Sea; cetacean; climate change; foraging ecology; marine mammal; passive acoustics; phenology; satellite telemetry

PMID:

28001336

DOI:

10.1111/gcb.13564

Holiday joke - chocolate

Q: Is chocolate bad for me? 
A: Are you crazy? HELLO.... Cocoa beans--another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Eur J Nutr. 2016 Nov 29. [Epub ahead of print]

Dietary sources of sugars in adolescents' diet: the HELENA study.

Mesana MI^1,2,3,4, Hilbig A⁵, Androutsos O⁶, Cuenca-García M^7,8, Dallongeville J⁹, Huybrechts I^10,11, De Henauw S¹⁰, Widhalm K¹², Kafatos A¹³, Nova E¹⁴, Marcos A¹⁴, González-Gross M^15,16,17, Molnar D¹⁸, Gottrand F¹⁹, Moreno LA^20,21,22,17.

Author information

• ¹Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain. mmesana@unizar.es.
• ²Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Saragossa, Spain. mmesana@unizar.es.
• ³Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Saragossa, Spain. mmesana@unizar.es.
• ⁴Red de Salud Materno-infantil y del Desarrollo (SAMID), Madrid, Spain. mmesana@unizar.es.
• ⁵Research Institute of Child Nutrition (FKE), Dortmund, Germany.
• ⁶Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
• ⁷Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
• ⁸GALENO Research Group, Department of Physical Education, School of Education, University of Cadiz, Puerto Real, Spain.
• ⁹Service d'Epidémiologie et Santé Publique - INSERM U1167 Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France.
• ¹⁰Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
• ¹¹Dietary Exposure Assessment Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
• ¹²Division of Clinical Nutrition and Prevention, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
• ¹³Department of Social Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
• ¹⁴Inmunonutrition Research Group, Department of Metabolism and Nutrition, Instituto del Frío, Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition (ICTAN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
• ¹⁵ImFINE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport-INEF, Technical University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
• ¹⁶Institut für Ernährungs- und Lebensmittelwissenschaften - Ernährungphysiologie, Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms Universität, Bonn, Germany.
• ¹⁷Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Madrid, Spain.
• ¹⁸Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty, University of Pécs, Pecs, Hungary.
• ¹⁹Lille Inflammation Research International Center (LIRIC) UMR 995 Inserm, University of Lille, CHU Lille, 59000, Lille cedex, France.
• ²⁰Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development (GENUD) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.
• ²¹Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), Saragossa, Spain.
• ²²Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Saragossa, Spain.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To report dietary sugars consumption and their different types and food sources, in European adolescents.

METHODS:

Food consumption data of selected groups were obtained from 1630 adolescents (45.6% males, 12.5-17.5 years) from the HELENA study using two nonconsecutive 24-h recalls. Energy intake, total sugars and free sugars were assessed using the HELENA-DIAT software. Multiple regression analyses were performed adjusting for relevant confounders.

RESULTS:

Total sugars intake (137.5 g/day) represented 23.6% and free sugars (110.1 g/day), 19% of energy intake. Girls had significantly lower intakes of energy, carbohydrates, total sugars and free sugars. 94% of adolescents had a consumption of free sugars above 10% of total energy intake. The main food contributor to free sugars was 'carbonated, soft and isotonic drinks,' followed by 'non-chocolate confectionary' and 'sugar, honey, jam and syrup.' Older boys and girls had significantly higher intakes of free sugars from 'cakes, pies and biscuits.' Free sugars intake was negatively associated with low socioeconomic status for 'non-chocolate confectionary' and 'sugar, honey and jam' groups; with low maternal educational level for carbonated and 'soft drinks,' 'sugar, honey and jam,' 'cakes and pies' and 'breakfast cereals' groups; and with high paternal educational level for 'carbonated and soft drinks' and 'chocolates' group.

CONCLUSIONS:

The majority (94%) of studied adolescents consumed free sugars above 10% of daily energy intake. Our data indicate a broad variety in foods providing free sugars. Continued efforts are required at different levels to reduce the intake of free sugars, especially in families with a low educational level.

KEYWORDS:

Adolescents; Diet; Europe; Food sources; Free sugars

Holiday joke - exercise

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

nt J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2016 Apr 12;13:48. doi: 10.1186/s12966-016-0373-y.

Children's route choice during active transportation to school: difference between shortest and actual route.

Dessing D^1,2,3, de Vries SI⁴, Hegeman G⁵, Verhagen E^6,7,8,9, van Mechelen W^6,7,9,10,11, Pierik FH¹².

Author information

• ¹Department of Public & Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. dirk.dessing@tno.nl.
• ²Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, IOC Research Center, AMC/VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. dirk.dessing@tno.nl.
• ³TNO, Department of Life Style, Leiden, The Netherlands. dirk.dessing@tno.nl.
• ⁴Research group Healthy Lifestyle in a Supporting Environment, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague, The Netherlands.
• ⁵Royal HaskoningDHV, Amersfoort, The Netherlands.
• ⁶Department of Public & Occupational Health and EMGO+ Institute, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• ⁷Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, IOC Research Center, AMC/VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• ⁸Australian Centre for Research into Injury in Sport and its Prevention (ACRISP), Federation University Australia, Ballarat, Australia.
• ⁹Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine (ESSM), Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
• ¹⁰School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
• ¹¹School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Population Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
• ¹²TNO, Department of Urban Environment and Safety, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The purpose of this study is to increase our understanding of environmental correlates that are associated with route choice during active transportation to school (ATS) by comparing characteristics of actual walking and cycling routes between home and school with the shortest possible route to school.

METHODS:

Children (n = 184; 86 boys, 98 girls; age range: 8-12 years) from seven schools in suburban municipalities in the Netherlands participated in the study. Actual walking and cycling routes to school were measured with a GPS-device that children wore during an entire school week. Measurements were conducted in the period April-June 2014. Route characteristics for both actual and shortest routes between home and school were determined for a buffer of 25 m from the routes and divided into four categories: Land use (residential, commercial, recreational, traffic areas), Aesthetics (presence of greenery/natural water ways along route), Traffic (safety measures such as traffic lights, zebra crossings, speed bumps) and Type of street (pedestrian, cycling, residential streets, arterial roads). Comparison of characteristics of shortest and actual routes was performed with conditional logistic regression models.

RESULTS:

Median distance of the actual walking routes was 390.1 m, whereas median distance of actual cycling routes was 673.9 m. Actual walking and cycling routes were not significantly longer than the shortest possible routes. Children mainly traveled through residential areas on their way to school (>80% of the route). Traffic lights were found to be positively associated with route choice during ATS. Zebra crossings were less often present along the actual routes (walking: OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.05-0.58; cycling: OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14-0.67), and streets with a high occurrence of accidents were less often used during cycling to school (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.43-0.76). Moreover, percentage of visible surface water along the actual route was higher compared to the shortest routes (walking: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01-1.07; cycling: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01-1.05).

DISCUSSION:

This study showed a novel approach to examine built environmental exposure during active transport to school. Most of the results of the study suggest that children avoid to walk or cycle along busy roads on their way to school.

KEYWORDS:

Active transportation; Built environment; Children; Cycling; Elementary school; GIS; Global Positioning System (GPS); Walking

PMID:

27072922

PMCID:

PMC4830076

DOI:

10.1186/s12966-016-0373-y

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Free PMC Article

Holiday jokes - sleep vs exercise

Courtesy of the Surgeon General for the Northern Lights region.

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Explore (NY). 2016 Nov - Dec;12(6):427-435. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2016.08.004. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Well-Being and Self-Assessment of Change: Secondary Analysis of an RCT That Demonstrated Benefit of Inhaled Lavender and Sleep Hygiene in College Students with Sleep Problems.

Lillehei AS¹, Halcón L², Gross CR², Savik K², Reis R².

Author information

• ¹School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Electronic address: alillehei@comcast.net.
• ²School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, 308 SE Harvard St, Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Sleep issues are prevalent and affect health and well-being. The aspects of well-being that are impacted by sleep interventions have not been well studied.

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the impact of lavender and sleep hygiene (LSH) compared to sleep hygiene (SH) alone on well-being as measured by the Self-assessment of Change questionnaire (SAC) at post-intervention and two-week follow-up, and secondarily to compare the SAC sleep item to results from standardized sleep surveys.

DESIGN:

Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where one group received a lavender inhalation patch and practiced sleep hygiene (LSH) and the other group received a placebo inhalation patch and practiced sleep hygiene (SH) for five consecutive nights.

SETTING:

Usual sleep setting.

PARTICIPANTS:

Seventy-nine college students with self-reported sleep issues.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The SAC was completed at post-intervention and follow-up.

RESULTS:

Exploratory analysis showed significantly improved well-being for the LSH group at post-intervention for well-being domains of sleep, energy, and vibrancy (P = .01, .03, and .05, respectively) and an overall trend of improved well-being in comparison to the SH group at post-intervention and follow-up. The SAC sleep item showed a similar pattern of change to the standardized sleep surveys with a statistically significant improvement in sleep for the LSH group at follow-up (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS:

Findings demonstrate the positive impact of the lavender intervention on three domains of self-assessed well-being are energy, vibrancy, and sleep. SAC results extend and complement prior findings of improved sleep quality.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

SAC; aromatherapy; inhaled lavender; self-assessment of change; sleep quality; well-being

Holiday joke - body fat

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have body fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Nutr Hosp. 2015 Dec 1;32(6):2400-8. doi: 10.3305/nh.2015.32.6.9587.

THE EFFECT OF GARCINIA CAMBOGIA AS COADJUVANT IN THE WEIGHT LOSS PROCESS.

Fassina P¹, Scherer Adami F², Terezinha Zani V², Kasper Machado IC², Garavaglia J², Quevedo Grave MT¹, Ramos R², Morelo Dal Bosco S¹.

Author information

• ¹Faculdade de Nutrição, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Centro Universitário UNIVATES, Universitário, Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul.. simonedb@ufcspa.edu.br.
• ²Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Departamento de Nutrição (UFCSPA), Brasil.. simonedb@ufcspa.edu.br.

Abstract

in English, Spanish

INTRODUCTION:

due to the significant increase in the obesity rate in recent years, public health has been facing in many countries of the world, one of the major problems caused by this disease. Because of this, natural products arise, herbal, to assist in the treatment of obesity due to their safer effects. Among these, stands out the extract obtained from dried fruits of Garcinia Cambogia (GC), which has been studied and used as a natural supplement for weight loss.

OBJECTIVE:

to investigate the GC administration as a coadjuvant factor in the treatment of obesity regarding to its effectiveness, way of action, recommended daily amount, side effects and contraindications, as a way of food and nutritional security for the population.

METHODOLOGY:

literature review. There were consulted the database of LILACS-BIREME data, SciELO and MEDLINE and there were selected scientific articles published in English, Portuguese and Spanish, between the period of 2007 and 2014 that conducted studies involving the administration of the GC as a way of treatment for obesity. The descriptors used for research articles in the databases were the following: Garcinia Cambogia in Portuguese, and in English the terms used were "Garcinia Cambogia", "weight loss and obesity", and "Hydroxycitric Acid (HCA)"; this last one is not a descriptor indexed in Decs, but given the importance of this term for the search, it was adopted as a keyword. Thirty-four articles were identified, but only 21 were related to the objectives of this study. The first analysis of the articles was conducted by the title and then by the summary. In addition, 17 references were included because of their relevance to the study.

RESULTS:

in some analyzed works, there was observed that the GC showed positive effects on weight loss process, appetite reduction, body fat percentage, triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose levels, lipogenesis process, while others had no effect.

CONCLUSION:

studies suggest positive results about the effectiveness of the GC on the weight loss process. However, the ideal dosage has not been well established yet. There is little evidence of adverse effects and signs of protective effect against hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol. Therefore, it becomes necessary to carry out further studies to confirm the efficacy of this phytotherapy in the weight loss process.

Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Holiday joke - alcohol

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit; brandy is distilled wine; tequila is made out of cactus. That means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

J Agric Food Chem. 2016 Dec 21;64(50):9515-9522. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b04612. Epub 2016 Dec 9.

Aroma-Active Compounds in Bartlett Pears and Their Changes during the Manufacturing Process of Bartlett Pear Brandy.

Zierer B¹, Schieberle P¹, Granvogl M¹.

Author information

• ¹Lehrstuhl für Lebensmittelchemie, Technische Universität München , Lise-Meitner-Straße 34, D-85354 Freising, Germany.

Abstract

Application of aroma extract dilution analysis to Bartlett pears and the fermented mash produced thereof revealed 24 and 34 aroma-active compounds in the flavor dilution (FD) factor range between 8 and 8192. Twenty-eight compounds, which have not been described before in Bartlett pears or in fermented pear mash, were identified. While ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear-like, metallic odor impression), hexyl acetate (green, fruity), and acetic acid (vinegar-like) showed the highest concentrations in Bartlett pears, ethanol (ethanolic), acetic acid, 3-methyl-1-butanol (malty), 1-hexanol (grassy, marzipan-like), (S)-2- and 3-methylbutanoic acid (sweaty), and 2-phenylethanol (flowery, honey-like) were present at the highest amounts in the fermented mash. The key aroma compounds were quantitated in each pear brandy production step (pears, fermented mash, distillate, and aged distillate) by stable isotope dilution analysis showing a clear influence of each step on the overall aroma of the spirit and, consequently, revealing clearly changing concentrations (e.g., of ethyl (S)-2-methylbutanoate, (E)-β-damascenone, ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate, and ethyl (E,E)-2,4-decadienoate) and different aroma perceptions during the manufacturing process. In addition, the concentrations of the so-called "pear esters" ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate and ethyl (E,E)-2,4-decadienoate were determined in 6 different pear varieties (Abate Fetel, Anjou, Bartlett, Forelle, Kaiser Alexander, and Packham's Triumph) clearly demonstrating the aroma potential of the variety Bartlett, which is mostly used for brandy production due to the high amounts of both esters eliciting a typical pear-like odor impression.

KEYWORDS:

Bartlett pear brandy; Bartlett pears; aging; aroma extract dilution analysis; distillation; fermentation; production; stable isotope dilution analysis

Holiday jokes meat vs veggies

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? 
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Oncotarget. 2016 Nov 18. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.13450. [Epub ahead of print]

Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) improve weaned intestinal microbiota and mucosal barrier using a piglet model.

Han M¹, Song P¹, Huang C¹, Rezaei A², Farrar S³, Brown MA⁴, Ma X^1,5.

Author information

• ¹State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
• ²School of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
• ³College of Dental Medicine, Midwestern University, Downers Grove IL, USA.
• ⁴Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA.
• ⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Center for Autophagy Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.

Abstract

Proanthocyanidins have been suggested as an effective antibiotic alternative, however their mechanisms are still unknown. The present study investigated the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidins on gut microbiota and mucosal barrier using a weaned piglet model in comparison with colistin. Piglets weaned at 28 day were randomly assigned to four groups treated with a control ration, or supplemented with 250 mg/kg proanthocyanidins, kitasamycin/colistin, or 250 mg/kg proanthocyanidins and half-dose antibiotics, respectively. On day 28, the gut chyme and tissue samples were collected to test intestinal microbiota and barrier function, respectively. Proanthocyanidins treated piglets had better growth performance and reduced diarrhea incidence (P < 0.05), accompanied with decreased intestinal permeability and improved mucosal morphology. Gene sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA revealed that dietary proanthocyanidins improved the microbial diversity in ileal and colonic digesta, and the most abundant OTUs belong to Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes spp.. Proanthocyanidins treatment decreased the abundance of Lactobacillaceae, and increased the abundance of Clostridiaceae in both ileal and colonic lumen, which suggests that proanthocyanidins treatment changed the bacterial composition and distribution. Administration of proanthocyanidins increased the concentration of propionic acid and butyric acid in the ileum and colon, which may activate the expression of GPR41. In addition, dietary proanthocyanidins improved the antioxidant indices in serum and intestinal mucosa, accompanied with increasing expression of barrier occludin. Our findings indicated that proanthocyanidins with half-dose colistin was equivalent to the antibiotic treatment and assisted weaned animals in resisting intestinal oxidative stress by increasing diversity and improving balance of gut microbes.

KEYWORDS:

Immune response; Immunity; Immunology and Microbiology Section; antibiotic alternative; bacterial composition and distribution; grape seed proanthocyanidins; intestinal mucosal barrier; oxidative stress

Scientists in Germany, Peru and Taiwan to lose access to Elsevier journals

http://www.nature.com/news/scientists-in-germany-peru-and-taiwan-to-lose-access-to-elsevier-journals-1.21223

Senior Scientific Officer – Sustainable Beef Systems Unit

02/12/2016

in collaboration with

---

• ORGANISATION/COMPANY

  Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)
• RESEARCH FIELD

  Biological sciences
• RESEARCHER PROFILE

  First Stage Researcher (R1)

  Recognised Researcher (R2)

  Established Researcher (R3)

  Leading Researcher (R4)
• APPLICATION DEADLINE

  30/12/2016 23:59 - Europe/Brussels

• LOCATION

  United Kingdom › Hillsborough, Ulster
• TYPE OF CONTRACT

  Other
• JOB STATUS

  Other

---

*Senior Scientific Officer – Sustainable Beef Systems Unit*
*REF: IRC214080*
*SALARY: £35,190 - £39,675 (under review)*
*DEPARTMENT: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)*
*LOCATION: AFBI Hillsborough*
AFBI is currently recruiting for a key scientific position which will provide a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative scientist to join the research teams at AFBI Hillsborough.
The successful candidate will jointly lead Agriculture Branch’s Susta *Senior Scientific Officer – Sustainable Beef Systems Unit*
*REF: IRC214080*
*SALARY: £35,190 - £39,675 (under review)*
*DEPARTMENT: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBI)*
*LOCATION: AFBI Hillsborough*
AFBI is currently recruiting for a key scientific position which will provide a unique opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative scientist to join the research teams at AFBI Hillsborough.
The successful candidate will jointly lead Agriculture Branch’s Sustainable Beef Systems Team. This post will involve establishing a programme of research to improve the sustainability of beef production, which may include on-farm studies. Current research interests involve evidence gathering from innovative studies to address knowledge gaps that optimize beef production systems. This will span topics of importance for upland and lowland enterprises in Northern Ireland, such as breed diversity, dairy/suckler calf origin, blueprinting for rearing and finishing systems, suckler herd fertility, synchronisation methods/sorted semen, nutritional efficiencies, improving meat quality, grass/feed optimisation balance, high and low input systems, precision feeding, animal health and welfare issues and management impacts on biodiversity.
Further appointments may be made from this competition should AFBI positions become vacant which have similar duties and responsibilities.
For more detailed information and to apply, please go to
www.nicsrecruitment.gov.uk
Alternatively, an application pack can be requested by contacting:
HRConnect, PO Box 1089, The Metro Building, 6-9 Donegall Square South, Belfast, BT1 9EW. Telephone: 0800 1 300 330. 
Email: recruitment@hrconnect.nigov.net
All requests must include your name, address and reference number IRC214080.
Completed application forms must be returned to arrive not later than *12:00 noon (UK time) on Friday 30th December 2016.*
Applications are particularly welcomed from Roman Catholics and Females as these groups are currently under-represented within AFBI.
AFBI is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
ALL APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE CONSIDERED STRICTLY ON THE BASIS OF MERIT