When questioned, people typically report that different foods are appropriate at times of day. What is more, patterns food consumption tend to exhibit marked diurnal/circadian variations in many parts the world too. The question addressed this review what factors help explain these temporal differences consumption. While it has been suggested our nutritional needs may differ somewhat over cours...

In 2006, in order to meet the requirements of the Swiss economy and households, around 360 million tonnes of materials were extracted, consumed or displaced in Switzerland or abroad. This represents an increase of 17 % compared with 1990. On the other hand, the increasing sales of organic products in 2007 and 2008 give an indication in changes in household habits towards more sustainable behavior.

This paper establishes a theoretical framework to characterise the optimal behaviour of individuals who receive income periodically but make consumption decisions on a more frequent basis. The model incorporates price uncertainty and imperfect credit markets. The simulated numerical solution to this model shows that weekly consumption functions are ordered such that the functions within the pay...

An empirical model for prediction of energy consumption in a distribution system is described. The model resembles a normalized radial basis function neural network whose neurons contain prototype joint data about the consumption process and the environment. A set of prototype patterns of consumption and environmental variables is formed from a record of a multi-component time series by a self-...

Global change, such as warming and ocean acidification, and local anthropogenic disturbances, such as eutrophication, can have profound impacts on marine organisms. However, we are far from being able to predict the outcome of multiple interacting disturbances on seagrass communities. Herbivores are key in determining plant community structure and the transfer of energy up the food web. Global ...

BACKGROUND In 2003 mean cord blood mercury concentrations in pregnant Bermudian women exceeded levels associated with adverse health outcomes in children. The principal mercury source was local fish species. Public health messages were developed suggesting pregnant women reduce consumption of fish species with higher mercury concentrations (e.g. swordfish), substituting species containing lower...

BACKGROUND Diet has been associated with differences in weight and nutritional status of an individual. The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased among adults in Taiwan. Hence, we examined the relationship between dietary patterns and weight status by gender among middle-aged and older adults in Taiwan. METHODS The cross-sectional data of 62,965 participants aged ≥40 years were retri...

Today is widely understood that global energy consumption patterns are directly related to the urban expansion and development process. This expansion is based on the natural growth of human activities and has left most urban areas totally dependent on fossil fuel derived external energy inputs. This status-quo of production, transportation, storage and consumption of energy has become ineffici...