New Year’s resolutions: The Penn State way

 

At Penn State, resources abound to help resolutions stick Chris Koleno December 16, 2014 It’s almost that time of year again when individuals vow to turn over a new leaf and shed old habits -- and sometimes some pounds. We call these pseudo-promises New Year’s resolutions, and many focus on embracing new routines to improve our health and well-being. The good news is that resources abound in the Penn State community to help faculty, staff and students stick with these New Year’s resolutions. Fitness facilities, healthy eating options, programs to help shed bad habits and even in-house experts on diets are available. “Be realistic about diets, try to think about what you can sustain because continuing to disappoint yourself is not good at all.” --Barbara J. Rolls, professor and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State “Be realistic about diets, try to think about what you can sustain because continuing to disappoint yourself is not good at all,” said Barbara J. Rolls, professor and the Helen A. Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State. "If you do decide you want to lose weight, choose something you can do consistently, because research shows that doing something regularly -- not giving yourself weekends off -- is what tends to work best. So opt for an approach that's sustainable, consistent and perhaps not too ambitious, because you really want to succeed." Rolls has written three books based on her decades of research on diet and nutrition, which shows that lowering the calorie density of food can help people feel full while eating fewer calories. Her latest book, “The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet,” offers tips for incorporating fruits and vegetables into recipes without sacrificing taste. The book continues to be among the best diet books according to U.S. News & World Report’s rankings -- only Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and government-sponsored type diets rank higher. The healthy eating that Rolls advocates is easy to find on campus. “There are plenty of choices around here, now,” said Rolls. “Gosh, so many more each year that it’s doable and it’s affordable. A lot of healthy choices don’t have to be expensive, so look around you and figure out how this will fit into your Penn State environment.” “We see a huge increase in fitness participants beginning just after the new year when everyone has a lot of time and enthusiasm. Conversely, as a general rule, our first major drop off in fitness participation comes just after Super Bowl Sunday, when there is less free time and life tends to get in the way of good intentions.” -- Jill Garrigan, fitness coordinator at Penn State The other resolution that goes hand-in-hand with eating healthier and losing weight is getting fit. Penn State is at the forefront in that category as well with four fitness centers and almost 60,000 square feet of workout space. These facilities lead to 1 million visits per year, with 23,000 yearly fitness memberships, 210 weekly fitness classes, 800 pieces of equipment and over 18,000 pounds of weights. The University was recently listed among the healthiest colleges in a number of different rankings, including Greatist’s ranking http://news.psu.edu/story/324366/2014/08/28/campus-life/penn-state-named... Despite good intentions, one annual event oftentimes derails the best-laid plans. “We see a huge increase in fitness participants beginning just after the new year when everyone has a lot of time and enthusiasm,” said Jill Garrigan, fitness coordinator at Penn State. “Conversely, as a general rule, our first major drop off in fitness participation comes just after Super Bowl Sunday, when there is less free time and life tends to get in the way of good intentions.” Jill Garrigan leading an exercise class at Penn State's White Building. Garrigan, echoing Rolls’ sentiment to be realistic with your goals, offered another strategy for keeping resolutions. “Sign up for a challenge, such as a fun run, walk or other contest to help keep yourself engaged," she said. “This also will help hold you accountable for a long-term goal. Pick an event that is several months away and work toward it.” For information on Penn State’s fitness opportunities or to sign up for a membership, go to http://www.athletics.psu.edu/fitness/ In addition to classes available for employees and students, there are opportunities for employees to workout exclusively with other employees. Other resources are available at Penn State to help individuals embrace a healthier lifestyle in 2015. Stop tobacco use -- Through the Employee Assistant Program’s Health Advocate employees have access to a free tobacco cessation assistance. -- Highmark also has a tobacco cessation program for benefits-enrolled employees and dependents at 1-888-258-3428 Nutrition/weight management -- Highmark offers Personal Nutrition Coaching or other Wellness Coaching. -- A reduced-rate membership to Weight Watchers is available to benefits-eligible employees. Fitness -- Highmark members can obtain a fitness membership at a reduced rate. The bottom line for those in the Penn State community who want to lead a healthier lifestyle and are looking for assistance keeping those resolutions: help is all around you. Origine di questo articolo : PennState News.

Fragile bones of modern humans result from reduced physical activity

 

By A'ndrea Elyse Messer December 22, 2014 UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The comparatively light bone structure of modern humans compared to early human species and other modern primates may be due to the modern abandonment of the constant physical activity that was inherent in the life of early hunter gathers, according to an international team of researchers. This knowledge may aid in prevention of osteoporosis and hip fracture in the elderly. "We set out to test three potential explanations for modern human gracility and any one of them would have been interesting," said Timothy M. Ryan, associate professor of anthropology and information science and technology, Penn State. "What we found was the most interesting." The most plausible explanation, he said, is that a lack of constant physical activity causes the bone in the head of the femur -- the long bone in the thigh -- to become thinner and lighter than that found in more mobile populations or modern primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. The other two possible explanations, that humans and nonhuman primates have different bone structure because of genetics, with humans evolving to a lighter, more gracile structure, or that the large joint surfaces required for upright, two-legged movement decrease the strain on bone and therefore the development of strong bones, do not appear to be true. Go to video Ancient hunters show better bone robustness over farmers of the same era It has been proven that there are many similarities in the bone structures of early humans and primates. Over time, the skeletal frames of humans have become noticeably more frail than our primate relatives and many researchers seek to find out why. Dr. Timothy Ryan, a biological anthropologist, is examining ancient bones of foragers and farmers in hopes of explaining the disparity. Ryan, working with Colin N. Shaw of the University of Cambridge, UK, looked at the hip joint to determine which of the three possible explanations was likely. They compared these joints in samples from foraging populations, early agriculturalists and comparably sized nonhuman primates. The human bones came from two agricultural groups and two foraging groups that once lived in what is now Illinois. The nonhuman bones came mostly from wild specimens in collections. The researchers used noninvasive microcomputed tomography to scan the hip joint ends of the femurs. In all, the study included 59 adult humans and 229 nonhuman primates. Ryan and Shaw compared the trabecular bone -- the honeycomb-like bone that fills joint ends -- among the three groups. "The results of the present study indicate that human populations with divergent activity patterns display significantly different trabecular bone structural characteristics in the proximal femur," the researchers report online today (Dec 22) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The researchers found that the agriculturalists had significantly lower bone mass than the foragers. However, the bone characteristics of the more mobile foragers overlapped with those of the nonhuman primates. "There are other things that could account for some of the differences between early agriculturalists and foragers," said Ryan. "The amount of cultivated grains in the diet of the agriculturalists, in this case maize, as well as possible deficiencies in dietary calcium may also contribute to lower bone mass. It does seem, however, that the biomechanical aspects of foraging play a large part." "The findings of the present study have significant implications for understanding human skeletal form and its relationship to age-related bone loss in contemporary human populations," the researchers report. "We need to understand the difference in bone structure caused by diet, behavior and evolution," said Ryan. "However, I think the key appears to be higher physical activity and mobility from a very young age that makes the bones of nonhuman primates and human foragers stronger." The National Science Foundation supported this work. origin of this article : PennState News

Researchers create method that recovers high value metals for industries while protecting the environment

 

Researchers at the University of Guanajuato (UGTO), in middle Mexico, developed an extraction column which recovers metals companies use in their production processes; and thus avoid environmental pollution and lessen economic losses. The column operates under the principles of liquid-liquid extraction which seeks to recover metals with high added value. The technology is already at laboratory prototype stage and in the process of obtaining a patent. Carlos Benito Martínez Pérez, PhD student of Science in Chemical Engineering at UGTO and project participant, explains: the process begins with the extraction; the influent enters the top of the column, makes contact with an organic formulation containing the extracting agent that is highly selective for the metal it seeks to recover. When leaving the column, the effluent will be virtually free of metal. "We do this verification through an atomic absorption equipment. When the metal is in organic phase we de- extract and accumulates in another aqueous phase solution." The technology may be employed by any company or industry if their production processes use some type of metal, because the extraction column for the recovery of metals with high added value will avoid economic losses and pollution. The concentrated metal in the solution is the one highly valued by the UGTO, which is why it is called of added value because the metal in the solution could be incorporated back into a production process or sold to other companies, with no waste. Within the state of Guanajuato, many companies in their production processes were releasing metals and, thus, generating some pollution;that is why this process is attractive for companies because they will have a product that can be reused and, with it, stop polluting. Using this process, companies fines would be avoided and a better status in the enterprise market achieved with waste treatment. Companies, which may be interested in this technology, are focused on the production of automotive parts, electronics, tannery and painting, among others. Basically, anyone that uses metal in their processes. Research on the extraction column for the recovery of metals with high added value was advised by Zeferino Arroyo Gamin, and won the VII Prize of the Council of Science and Technology of the State of Guanajuato (CONCYTEG) 2014. (Agencia ID) Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Investigación y Desarrollo. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Aging: What to expect

 

Wonder what's considered a normal part of the aging process? Here's what to expect as you get older — and what to do about it. You know that aging will likely cause you to develop wrinkles and gray hair. But do you know how the aging process will affect your teeth, heart and sexuality? Find out what kind of changes you can expect in your body as you continue aging — and what you can do to promote good health at any age. Your cardiovascular system What's happening As you age, your heart rate becomes slightly slower and your heart might become bigger. Your blood vessels and your arteries also become stiffer, causing your heart to work harder to pump blood through them. This can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) and other cardiovascular problems. What you can do To promote heart health: Include physical activity in your daily routine. Try walking, swimming or other activities you enjoy. Regular moderate physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower blood pressure and lessen the extent of arterial stiffening. Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit foods high in saturated fat and sodium. A healthy diet can help you keep your heart and arteries healthy. Don't smoke. Smoking contributes to the hardening of your arteries and increases your blood pressure and heart rate. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. Manage stress. Stress can take a toll on your heart. Take steps to reduce stress — or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways. Your bones, joints and muscles What's happening With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density — which weakens them and makes them more susceptible to fracture. You might even become a bit shorter. Muscles generally lose strength and flexibility, and you might become less coordinated or have trouble balancing. What you can do To promote bone, joint and muscle health: Get adequate amounts of calcium. For adults ages 19 to 50 and men ages 51 to 70, the Institute of Medicine recommends 1,000 milligrams (mg) of calcium a day. The recommendation increases to 1,200 mg a day for women age 51 and older and men age 71 and older. Dietary sources of calcium include diary products, almonds, broccoli, kale, canned salmon with bones, sardines and soy products, such as tofu. If you find it difficult to get enough calcium from your diet, ask your doctor about calcium supplements. Get adequate amounts of vitamin D. For adults ages 19 to 70, the Institute of Medicine recommends 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day. The recommendation increases to 800 IU a day for adults age 71 and older. Although many people get adequate amounts of vitamin D from sunlight, this might not be a good source for everyone. Other sources of vitamin D include oily fish, such as tuna and sardines, egg yolks, fortified milk, and vitamin D supplements. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, tennis and climbing stairs, and strength training can help you build strong bones and slow bone loss. Avoid substance abuse. Avoid smoking and don't drink more than two alcoholic drinks a day. Your digestive system What's happening Constipation is more common in older adults. Many factors can contribute to constipation, including a low-fiber diet, not drinking enough fluids and lack of exercise. Medications — such as diuretics and iron supplements — and certain medical conditions — such as diabetes and irritable bowel syndrome — also might contribute to constipation. What you can do To prevent constipation: Eat a healthy diet. Make sure your diet includes high-fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Limit meats that are high in fat, dairy products and sweets, which might cause constipation. Drink plenty of water and other fluids. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity can help prevent constipation and is important for your overall health. Don't ignore the urge to have a bowel movement. Holding in a bowel movement for too long can cause constipation. Your bladder and urinary tract What's happening Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence) is common with aging. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, might contribute to incontinence — as can menopause, for women, and an enlarged prostate, for men. What you can do To promote bladder and urinary tract health: Go to the bathroom regularly. Consider urinating on a regular schedule, such as every hour. Slowly, extend the amount of time between your bathroom trips. Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, lose excess pounds. Don't smoke. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. Do Kegel exercises. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, and then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions. Your memory What's happening Memory tends to becomes less efficient with age. It might take longer to learn new things or remember familiar words or names. What you can do To keep your memory sharp: Eat a healthy diet. A heart healthy diet might benefit your brain. Focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Choose low-fat protein sources, such as fish, lean meat and skinless poultry. What you drink counts, too. Too much alcohol can lead to confusion and memory loss. Include physical activity in your daily routine. Physical activity increases blood flow to your whole body, including your brain. This might help keep your memory sharp. Stay mentally active. Mentally stimulating activities help keep your brain in shape — and might keep memory loss at bay. Do crossword puzzles. Take alternate routes when driving. Learn to play a musical instrument. Be social. Social interaction helps ward off depression and stress, which can contribute to memory loss. Look for opportunities to get together with loved ones, friends and others. If you're concerned about memory loss, consult your doctor.  source : www.mayoclinic.org

The key to weight loss: Make a mental shift

 

The internal dialogue you have with yourself can make or break your weight-loss success. Watch out for these negative thinking patterns. Sure, you want to lose weight, but are you in the right mindset to make it happen? Stop sabotaging your efforts with a self-defeating outlook and stay motivated to reach your goals with these effective techniques. Negative beliefs and self-talk The internal dialogue you have with yourself influences your actions. Thoughts such as “I’ll never lose weight” or “I’m no good at exercising” can weaken your self-esteem and stall your progress. Replace these thoughts with positive statements. Instead of: “I can’t stick with an exercise program,” tell yourself: “I can meet one realistic goal today.” Unrealistic expectations Many people imagine that losing weight will solve all their problems. Your life will likely change with weight loss — but probably not in all the ways you imagine. Losing weight doesn’t guarantee a better social life or more satisfying job. Keep your expectations focused on those very real benefits like more energy and higher self-esteem. Inflexibility Words such as always, never or must place undue pressure on you. Telling yourself you’ll never eat chocolate again or you must walk two miles a day can lead to guilt-ridden lapses. Instead, treat yourself now and then in ways that make sense — when you’re out to dinner with friends, not when you’re feeling sad. All-or-nothing thinking One setback doesn’t mean failure. If you eat too much one day, you haven’t blown your plan. Counteract this kind of thinking with moderation — no “good” and “bad” foods, for example, and it’s OK to have dessert once in a while. Remind yourself you can get back on track tomorrow. Be flexible on your weight-loss journey. Don’t expect perfection. If you have a slip-up, learn from it and move on. s: www.mayoclinic.org

Light-emitting e-readers before bedtime can adversely impact sleep

Use of a light-emitting electronic device (LE-eBook) in the hours before bedtime can adversely impact overall health, alertness, and the circadian clock which synchronizes the daily rhythm of sleep to external environmental time cues. Use of a light-emitting electronic device (LE-eBook) in the hours before bedtime can adversely impact overall health, alertness, and the circadian clock which synchronizes the daily rhythm of sleep to external environmental time cues, according to researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) who compared the biological effects of reading an LE-eBook compared to a printed book. These findings of the study are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on December 22, 2014. "We found the body's natural circadian rhythms were interrupted by the short-wavelength enriched light, otherwise known as blue light, from these electronic devices," said Anne-Marie Chang, PhD, corresponding author, and associate neuroscientist in BWH's Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. "Participants reading an LE-eBook took longer to fall asleep and had reduced evening sleepiness, reduced melatonin secretion, later timing of their circadian clock and reduced next-morning alertness than when reading a printed book." Previous research has shown that blue light suppresses melatonin, impacts the circadian clock and increase alertness, but little was known about the effects of this popular technology on sleep. The use of light emitting devices immediately before bedtime is a concern because of the extremely powerful effect that light has on the body's natural sleep/wake pattern, and may thereby play a role in perpetuating sleep deficiency. During the two-week inpatient study, twelve participants read LE-e-Books on an iPad for four hours before bedtime each night for five consecutive nights. This was repeated with printed books. The order was randomized with some reading the iPad first and others reading the printed book first. Participants reading on the iPad took longer to fall asleep, were less sleepy in the evening, and spent less time in REM sleep. The iPad readers had reduced secretion of melatonin, a hormone which normally rises in the evening and plays a role in inducing sleepiness. Additionally, iPad readers had a delayed circadian rhythm, indicated by melatonin levels, of more than an hour. Participants who read from the iPad were less sleepy before bedtime, but sleepier and less alert the following morning after eight hours of sleep. Although iPads were used in this study, BWH researchers also measured other eReaders, laptops, cell phones, LED monitors, and other electronic devices, all emitting blue light. "In the past 50 years, there has been a decline in average sleep duration and quality," stated Charles Czeisler, PhD, MD, FRCP, chief, BWH Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders. "Since more people are choosing electronic devices for reading, communication and entertainment, particularly children and adolescents who already experience significant sleep loss, epidemiological research evaluating the long-term consequences of these devices on health and safety is urgently needed." Researchers emphasize the importance of these findings, given recent evidence linking chronic suppression of melatonin secretion by nocturnal light exposure with the increased risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Brigham and Women's Hospital. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Anne-Marie Chang, Daniel Aeschbach, Jeanne F. Duffy, and Charles A. Czeisler. Evening use of light-emitting eReaders negatively affects sleep, circadian timing, and next-morning alertness. PNAS, December 22, 2014 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1418490112

Breaking Bad (Habits): Finding Happiness through Change

 

 

By The Editors Self-improvement is a lifelong quest. We all have things we’d like to change about ourselves, which is why many people make New Year’s resolutions. Yet, research shows that only about 8% of resolution-makers achieve their goals. Making personal change is hard, and making changes to established behavior patterns is harder still – even though the potential reward is great. As the New Year approaches, the editors of Scientific American offer this eBook on breaking bad habits and the ultimate satisfaction of making difficult life changes. We open with Section 1, “Change Is in the Mind,” which looks at how our thought processes can either help or hinder these efforts. Elaine Fox writes in “The Essence of Optimism” that negative thinking causes us undue stress and that by reversing this habit, we could beat depression, anxiety and substance use disorders. Another story by Emily Anthes, “Six Ways to Boost Brainpower,” informs that the adult brain is far more malleable than we once thought, putting to bed the idea of being ‘too old to change,’ and gives practical advice on improving the brain’s performance. In Section 2, “Mastering Good Habits,” a story by Wray Herbert titled “The Willpower Paradox” addresses the contradictory notion that if we keep ourselves open to failing instead of willing ourselves not to fail, we are more likely to succeed. The next two sections focus on procrastination and self-discipline—two sides of the same coin. While certain personality traits like impulsiveness and low self-esteem can lead people to put things off, we can all break the habit, says Trisha Gura in “I’ll Do It Tomorrow.” Section 5 tackles “Mindfulness” and how being fully present in the moment can make us happier. It includes one of our most popular articles on the topic: “Being in the Now” by Amishi P. Jha. Section 6 discusses tips for self-improvement, many of which involve focusing on the present. Finally, in Section 7, we close with a discussion of those elusive New Year’s resolutions and make lasting personal change, whether that involves cutting back on drinking and smoking, losing and keep off weight, exercising more or keeping the romance alive with your partner or spouse. We hope that this eBook will not only help you keep your New Year’s resolutions, but also master new habits to form the foundation of a new and happier “you.” http://books.scientificamerican.com/sa-ebooks/books/breaking-bad-habits-finding-happiness-through-change/?WT.mc_id=SA_ebook_BadHabits_standalone_hero

Cholesterol: What numbers should you aim for?

 

What do your cholesterol numbers mean? A simple blood test called a lipid profile can tell you how much good, bad and total cholesterol you have in your blood, as well as your level of triglycerides, another form of fat in your blood. Your doctor will ask that you go without foods and liquids other than water for nine to 12 hours before the test so that you'll get accurate measurements. In the United States and some other countries, your test results will list cholesterol levels in units called milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood. Canada and most European countries measure cholesterol in millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of blood. Here are some guidelines to help you make sense of the numbers: Total cholesterol (U.S. and some other countries) Total cholesterol* (Canada and most of Europe) *Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines. Below 200 mg/dL Below 5.2 mmol/L Desirable 200-239 mg/dL 5.2-6.2 mmol/L Borderline high 240 mg/dL and above Above 6.2 mmol/L High LDL cholesterol (U.S. and some other countries) LDL cholesterol* (Canada and most of Europe) *Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines. Below 70 mg/dL Below 1.8 mmol/L Ideal for people at very high risk of heart disease Below 100 mg/dL Below 2.6 mmol/L Ideal for people at risk of heart disease 100-129 mg/dL 2.6-3.3 mmol/L Near ideal 130-159 mg/dL 3.4-4.1 mmol/L Borderline high 160-189 mg/dL 4.1-4.9 mmol/L High 190 mg/dL and above Above 4.9 mmol/L Very high HDL cholesterol (U.S. and some other countries) HDL cholesterol* (Canada and most of Europe) *Canadian and European guidelines differ slightly from U.S. guidelines. These conversions are based on U.S. guidelines. Below 40 mg/dL (men) Below 50 mg/dL (women) Below 1 mmol/L (men) Below 1.3 mmol/L (women) Poor 40-49 mg/dL (men) 50-59 mg/dL (women) 1-1.3 mmol/L (men) 1.3-1.5 mmol/L (women) Better 60 mg/dL and above Above 1.5 mmol/L Best If it turns out you have high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe lifestyle changes, such as exercise and a healthy diet, as well as medication, to help control your cholesterol. References See more In-depth

Can you outgrow food allergies?

 

My 4-year-old son is allergic to both peanuts and eggs. Is it possible he will outgrow these allergies as he gets older? Answers from James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D. Eight foods trigger 90 percent of all food allergies. Peanuts and eggs are two of them. The rest are milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, soy and wheat. Statistically speaking, there's a good chance he can safely eat eggs as an adult. Children usually outgrow egg and milk allergies as they get older. Unfortunately, it's much less likely for him to outgrow his peanut allergy. By school-age, this allergy is resolved in only 20 percent of children. Peanut consumption remains a common cause of allergic reactions in adults. Your son can outgrow his food allergies if and when his body begins to suppress the production of a protein called immunoglobulin E (IgE). The immune system releases this protein when it mistakenly identifies a food substance, such as peanuts and eggs, as something harmful. IgE suppression is key to gaining tolerance for foods that have previously caused an allergic reaction. There are other factors that can affect the likelihood of your son outgrowing his allergies. These include the severity of his reactions, how many foods he's allergic to, and how old he was when he had his first reaction. Mar. 04, 2014 References Zukiewicz-Sobczak W, et al. Causes, symptoms, and prevention of food allergy. Postepy Dermatologii i Alergologii. 2013;30:113. Keet C. Recognition and management of food-induced anaphylaxis. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2011;58:377. Sheikh A, et al. Oral immunotherapy for the treatment of peanut allergy: Systematic review of six case series studies. Primary Care Respiratory Journal. 2011;21:41. Immunoglobulin E (IgE). American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-a-to-z-search/immunoglobulin-e-%28ige%29.aspx. Accessed Jan. 24, 2014. Yamashita H, et al. Overcoming food allergy through acquired tolerance conferred by transfer of Tregs in a murine model. Allergy. 2012;67:201. Gupta RS, et al. Factors associated with reported food allergy tolerance among US Children. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 2013;111:194. Sheikh SZ, et al. Recent advances in the diagnosis and therapy of peanut allergy. Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. 2013;9:551. See more Expert Answers

Air Pollution Down Thanks to California’s Regulation of Diesel Trucks

 

Berkeley Lab air quality scientists measure truck emissions at Port of Oakland and Caldecott Tunnel. Feature Story Julie Chao (510) 486-6491 • December 11, 2014 Chelsea Preble, Rob Harley, and Tom Kirchstetter will be presenting new results from their research on Dec. 17 at the 2014 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco (Moscone South, 1:40 to 6 pm). Ever wonder what’s in the black cloud that emits from some semi trucks that you pass on the freeway? Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientist Thomas Kirchstetter knows very precisely what’s in there, having conducted detailed measurements of thousands of heavy-duty trucks over months at a time at two San Francisco Bay Area locations. With a specially outfitted research van equipped with sophisticated monitors for several pollutant types, he and his team are studying emissions levels from diesel trucks to understand and analyze the impact of new control technologies and California air pollution regulations. “We’re measuring a range of pollutants relevant to public health and the environment,” said Kirchstetter, an air quality scientist who also serves as an adjunct professor in UC Berkeley’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Heavy-duty diesel trucks are major sources of nitrogen oxides, which are a precursor to the formation of ozone and particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere, and of black carbon PM, which, according to climate scientists, contributes to global warming and regional changes in climate, such as precipitation and snow melting.” Outdoor air pollution is linked to 100,000 premature deaths per year in the United States, according to published studies. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set emissions standards for new engines, most trucks and buses run for several decades, so the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has sought to accelerate emissions reductions with aggressive new regulations in recent years. As a result growing numbers of heavy-duty diesel trucks in California are using two control technologies, a diesel particle filter, which removes most particulate matter, and selective catalytic reduction, which targets emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). The good news is that these regulations are having their intended effect, Kirchstetter and his collaborators, Rob Harley, professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley, and Phil Martien of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), have found. “At the Port of Oakland, we measured dramatic reductions of nitrogen oxides and black carbon PM, indicating a large degree of success which should translate into local improvements in air quality, especially as more trucks on the road use these technologies,” he said. Between 2009 and 2013, the fraction of trucks at the Port of Oakland equipped with a diesel particle filter increased from 2 to 99 percent, and the median engine age fell from 11 to 6 years. During the same period, the emission factor (or average emission rate) decreased by 76 percent for black carbon and by 53 percent for NOx. The researchers monitored drayage (short distance) trucks at the Port of Oakland in 2009, before a new emissions rule was implemented, in 2011 during the rule’s phase-in, and in 2013, after the rule was implemented. View passing trucks at the Port of Oakland overlaid with real-time measurements of four pollutants in the truck exhaust. California’s program of accelerated vehicle emissions reductions is especially important because fuel consumption is rising, and diesel fuel consumption is growing at an even faster rate than that of gasoline. “These new control technologies on trucks improve air quality despite increases in vehicle miles traveled and fuel consumption,” said Kirchstetter, who has been studying air pollutant emissions and controls in the transport sector for more than 20 years. The technologies come with some trade-offs that the research team is investigating. Selective catalytic reduction can cause some trucks to have increased emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. With diesel particle filters, the catalytic oxidation process leads to increased tailpipe emission of nitrogen dioxide, NO2, which is a toxic air contaminant and is involved in the formation of ozone. While these were known side effects, the research team is measuring the amounts of these increases. This summer Kirchstetter brought his research van to the Caldecott Tunnel, which connects Oakland to Contra Costa County, to measure emissions from a larger sampling of heavy-duty trucks. On a sunny weekday morning graduate student Chelsea Preble and undergraduate Troy Cados are in the van, having arrived at 6 a.m. to tune the instruments and catch the morning rush hour. The equipment includes an air sampler hanging directly above the right lane, a video camera that records the truck and its license plate as it passes under the sampling location, and state-of-the-art monitors to capture several species of pollutants. “Our measurements are very fast. We measure concentrations at a rate of one or two times a second, which is near real-time,” Preble said. “That allows us to link the emissions profile to the attributes of each passing truck, which we get from its license plate. So our methodology allows us to understand emissions changes associated with technologies.” The team plans to return to the Caldecott next summer and again in 2017 when nearly all heavy-duty trucks will have diesel particle filters installed. CARB’s Truck and Bus Regulation applies to approximately 1 million trucks and buses operating statewide. “Our study is an important verification of the impacts of California’s air quality regulations,” Kirchstetter said. “California tends to lead the way in air quality. The technologies we’re evaluating will eventually dominate truck fleets nationwide, so the significance of our study extends far beyond California and perhaps the USA.”  The research was supported by the California Air Resources Board and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory addresses the world’s most urgent scientific challenges by advancing sustainable energy, protecting human health, creating new materials, and revealing the origin and fate of the universe. Founded in 1931, Berkeley Lab’s scientific expertise has been recognized with 13 Nobel prizes. The University of California manages Berkeley Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. For more, visit www.lbl.gov. DOE’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov. source: www.lbl.gov