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Brief Presentation (brief + presentation)
Selected AbstractsAn update of EU legislation (Directives and Regulations) on food-related issues (Safety, Hygiene, Packaging, Technology, GMOs, Additives, Radiation, Labelling): presentation and commentsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2005Ioannis S. Arvanitoyannis Summary This review aims at providing an update of the current European Union (EU) Regulations and Directives on food-related issues. Initially, a brief presentation of EU legislation in terms of structure (horizontal, vertical) was attempted. EU Regulations and Directives were classified into the following categories: food safety (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points, pesticides, radioactive, hormones, contaminants, freezing , ionisation, food additives, flavourings, packaging), genetically modified organisms, food quality, labelling, food products of plant or animal origin, imports from third countries. Apart from a synoptical presentation of all laws related to the above-mentioned topics, proper tables were compiled where the main points of each law are cited in conjunction with its effect on previous laws (repeal, modification, amendments, replacement). In such a way the reader can rapidly acquire a first approach to the topic of his interest. [source] Chemical reactions in the gas phase and in condensed matter: From wavefunctions to density operatorsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 13 2009David A. Micha Abstract This contribution generalizes the treatment of chemical reactions in the gas phase based on the reaction channel decomposition of the wavefunction, by introducing a similar channel decomposition of the statistical density operator valid also for condensed phases such as liquid solutions and solid surfaces. Coupled equations for the channel components of the density operator are derived and a brief presentation is given of their partial Wigner transform, which leads to a general treatment for coupling quantum and classical variables. This provides a general approach for reactions involving electronically excited states in many-atom systems. It is pointed out that reactions involving coupled quantal and classical variables can be correctly described provided (a) initial conditions for trajectories are generated from quantal distributions and (b) the bundle of trajectories for the whole initial classical phase space is propagated coupled to the quantal elements of the density matrix and used in the calculation of reaction flux averages. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2009 [source] Long-Lasting Resistance to Extinction of Response Reinstatement Induced by Ethanol-Related Stimuli: Role of Genetic Ethanol PreferenceALCOHOLISM, Issue 10 2001Roberto Ciccocioppo Background: The conditioning of ethanol's reinforcing effects with specific environmental stimuli is thought to be a critical factor in long-lasting relapse risk associated with alcoholism. To study the significance of such learning factors in the addictive potential of ethanol, this experiment was designed (1) to characterize the effects of stimuli associated with alcohol availability on the reinstatement of responding at a previously ethanol-paired lever in rats with genetically determined ethanol preference versus nonpreference and (2) to examine the persistence of the motivating effects of these stimuli over time. Methods: Male alcohol-preferring (P) and alcohol-nonpreferring (NP) rats were trained to operantly self-administer ethanol (10% w/v) or water on a fixed-ratio 1 schedule in a 30-min daily session. Ethanol and water sessions were scheduled in random sequence across training days. Ethanol availability was signaled by an olfactory discriminative stimulus (banana extract, S+), and each lever press was paired with brief presentation of the conditioning chamber's house light (CS+). The discriminative stimulus signaling water availability (i.e., nonreward) consisted of anise odor (S,), and lever-responses during water sessions were paired with a brief white noise generation (CS,). The rats then were placed on extinction conditions during which ethanol and water, as well as the corresponding stimuli, were withheld. The effects of noncontingent exposure to the S+ versus S, paired with response-contingent presentation of the CS+ versus CS, on responding at the previously active lever were then determined in 30-min reinstatement sessions. To study the resistance to extinction of the effects of the ethanol-associated stimuli, additional tests were conducted at 3-day intervals for a total of 50 days. Results: The number of ethanol-reinforced responses during self-administration training was significantly greater in P than in NP rats (p < 0.01). After extinction, a significant recovery of responding was observed in both groups of rats under the stimulus conditions associated with ethanol (S+/CS+) but not those associated with water (S,/CS,). However, the response reinstatement was significantly greater in P than NP rats (p < 0.01). In addition, the results revealed a considerable resistance to extinction to the effects of the ethanol-associated stimuli. Throughout the 50-day test period, responding remained significantly above extinction levels in both P and NP rats (p < 0.01), but with an overall greater number of responses in P than NP rats (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that conditioning factors contribute importantly to compulsive ethanol seeking and long-lasting vulnerability to relapse. In addition, the results suggest that genetic predisposition toward heightened ethanol intake extends to greater susceptibility to the motivating effects of ethanol-related environmental stimuli. [source] New approach to the study of city planning and domestic dwellings in the ancient Near EastARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION, Issue 2 2007Christophe BenechArticle first published online: 8 MAY 200 Abstract This paper presents the results of a magnetic survey on the Hellenistic and Roman site of Doura- Europos in Syria. The interpretation of the magnetic data is based on an original approach by considering the use of space in a domestic unit. This type of study has been developed for sociological research but is adapted to the information carried within geophysical data. After a brief presentation of the role of geophysical methods for the study of city planning, the most important components of the ,space syntax' will be presented and applied to two blocks of Doura-Europos, one that has been excavated in the twentieth century by the Yale University and another surveyed using the magnetic method. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Diversification des populations dans la région de Montréal: de nouveaux défis de la gestion urbaineCANADIAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION/ADMINISTRATION PUBLIQUE DU CANADA, Issue 2 2002Sylvie Paré Sommaire: Certaines organisations municipales s'efforcent de mieux répondre aux nouveaux besoins associés aux transformations de la population métropolitaine. Une perspective de meilleures pratiques face aux nouveaux défis de la gestion urbaine se dessine progressivement pour les banlieues et anciennes banlieues des villes situées dans les différentes couronnes au Nord et au Sud de Montréal. Après un bref aperçu des transformations de la population, nous examinons les groupes susceptibles d'avoir des besoins particuliers. S'ensuivent un exposé des types d'interventions entreprises par les municipalités québécoises dans ces domaines, puis les objectifs de recherche ainsi que la méthodologie. Finalernent, nous présentons les résultats à partir de l'analyse des données recueillies dans dix-sept municipalités de plus de 3 000 habitants, excluant la Ville de Montréal. Nous avons retenu quatre variables: population immigrante, minorités visibles, familles monoparentales et familles à faible revenu. Les municipalités retenues se situent à un niveau élevé pour l'un ou l'autre de ces fadeurs ou encore pour leur combinaison. Il n'y a pas forcément de liens entre la forte présence des divers sous-groupes et l'existence de politiques et programmes. Un phénomèe intéressant se présente quant à la présence de politiques pour les personnes âgées car la majorité des municipalités font preuve d'innovation à cet égard. Abstract: Some municipalities are adopting initiatives designed to better respond to needs associated with the changing composition of the urban population. This research aims to identify "best practices" of municipal administration in the suburban ring around Montreal, in particular with respect to the development of programs and policies designed to accommodate emerging populations with special needs. After a brief presentation of the changing demographics of such populations, the authors examine in greater detail specific groups that require special attention. They then present the different types of initiatives developed by Quebec municipalities to respond to identified needs discuss the objectives and methods of their research. They analyse data collected in seventeen municipalities in the Montreal area that have at least 3,000 residents, excluding the City of Montreal. Research focuses on four types of sub-populations: immigrants, visible minorities, single-parent families, and low-income families. All of the municipalities included in our study have a higher than average incidence of one or more of these sub-populations. Data does not reveal a strong relationship between municipal initiatives and the presence of the different sub-groups. On the other hand, nearly all municipalities have developed initiatives to respond to the increasing presence of the elderly. [source] | ||||||||||