U of M News Wire
March 6, 2008
Federal grants will boost biofuels research at the University of Minnesota
By Luisa Badaracco
U of M Newswire
Three ongoing research projects at the University of Minnesota have been awarded approximately $2.27 million over the next three years as part of a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to encourage biomass research and development.
The agencies said the awards, part of a national $18.4 million investment, are aimed at addressing barriers to making production of biomass more efficient and cost-effective, with the eventual goals of reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil and mitigating climate change. The University of Minnesota was the only institution to receive more than two grants.
The Minnesota projects include:
• Developing scalable distributed biorefining processes for conversion of cellulosic biomass to bio-oils with microwave-assisted pyrolysis and other systems, which will receive up to $975,676. The project leader is Roger Ruan, a professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering.
• Exploring sustainable pathways to achieving U.S. bioenergy policy goals, identifying economically viable and environmentally benign options for biofuel development, and identifying potential technological bottlenecks and policy instruments to meet the national bioenergy goals. The project, which will receive up to $715,340, is led by Sangwon Suh, an assistant professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering.
• Researching how brown rot fungi extract and metabolize carbohydrates from biomass without destroying lignin, which has implications for biorefining plant tissues. The project, which was awarded up to $576,368, is led by Jonathan Schilling, an assistant professor in the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering.
All three principal investigators are from the university’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. The research projects have also received significant financial support from the University of Minnesota’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment (IREE).
“These investments in bio-based technologies and bio-resource use will greatly strengthen our pursuit of innovative research in renewable energy” said Allen Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. “The selection of these projects by the USDA and DOE reflects the leadership of our university and state in this arena.”
“This is indeed a recognition of outstanding research by our faculty and it will help propel Minnesota’s efforts to be a leader in developing a sustainable bio-based economy,” said Shri Ramaswamy, head of the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering.
Funding for the projects is contingent on Congressional approval and on each project matching 20 percent of the award through other funding sources.
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Champions of breakfast
A study suggests that for teens, the road to good health starts at the breakfast table
By Laura Stroup and Deane Morrison
U of M News Wire
Teenagers are notorious for their appetites, but not having any at breakfast time may not be such a good idea, according to a study by the University's School of Public Health.
Researchers in the school's Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) have found new evidence to support the importance of encouraging youth to eat breakfast regularly. When they examined the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents (roughly 1,000 boys and 1,200 girls), they found the daily breakfast eaters tended to gain less weight and have lower body mass index levels--an indicator of how appropriate a person's weight is for their height – than those who had skipped breakfast as adolescents.
The results also indicated that daily breakfast eaters ate a healthier diet and were more physically active than breakfast skippers during adolescence. The teens' habits were assessed by questionnaires.
Mark Pereira, one of the authors, says the study stands out among the literature on the topic of breakfast habits and obesity risk because of its size and duration.
"The dose-response findings between breakfast frequency and obesity risk, even after taking into account physical activity and other dietary factors, suggests that eating breakfast may have important effects on overall diet and obesity risk, but experimental studies are needed to confirm these observations," he says.
At the beginning of the study, those who never ate breakfast were more likely to be girls and daily breakfast eaters were more likely to be boys. By the end of the study, however, the percentage of boys eating breakfast daily had dropped to the point where their rate matched that of girls.
Over the past two decades, rates of obesity have doubled in children and nearly tripled in adolescents. Fifty-seven percent of adolescent females and 33 percent of males frequently use unhealthy weight-control behaviors, and it is estimated that between 12 and 24 percent of children and adolescents regularly skip breakfast. The percentage of breakfast skippers also has been found to increase with age.
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, principal investigator of Project EAT, says this research confirms the importance of teaching adolescents to start the day off right by eating breakfast.
"Although adolescents may think that skipping breakfast seems like a good way to save on calories, findings suggest the opposite," she says. "Eating a healthy breakfast may help adolescents avoid overeating later in the day and disrupt unhealthy eating patterns, such as not eating early in the day and eating a lot late in the evening."
The study, "Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT," is published in the March edition of Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Growing Concerns
A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota
Question: Our second-grader is talking about having sleepovers, but we're not sure she's old enough. We're especially uneasy about the idea of slumber parties, and yet that seems to be a big thing with our friends' kids. At what age is it OK and what can parents do to make sleepovers manageable?
Answer: Sleepovers and slumber parties are big events for children - a time to feel grown-up, to enjoy a special closeness with friends, to tell silly jokes or scary stories, to laugh until they cry. And yes, sleepovers can be big headaches for parents! There is no set age when it's OK for kids to begin having sleepovers, and children vary greatly in terms of when they (and their parents) feel ready.
For many children, a sleepover at a friend's house is their first time away from home. It's a chance to spread their wings and practice for longer separations such as camp or special trips. What's important is that the child feels ready for that separation and knows that it's OK to decide she'd rather stay home and sleep in her own bed, despite peer pressure to do otherwise.
The first time your daughter does decide to stay at a friend's house, it's a good idea to assure her that she can call you if she changes her mind. If your child is the one hosting a sleepover, you might let guests know in advance that at a certain time you'll check to be sure everyone wants to stay. Then offer a ride, or call the parents, if anyone wants to go home.
When planning sleepovers, it's important that parents of both guests and hosts communicate clearly about when kids should arrive and leave, where parents can be reached in case of an emergency, and what the plan is if a child gets scared or homesick or misbehaves. As for misbehavior, even the most well behaved kids sometimes get wound up and do foolish things in the excitement of a slumber party.
Crank phone calls and sneaking outside in the middle of the night are all-time favorites among older kids. In fact I remember doing the same when I was a kid, and it came back around to me a few years ago when I caught my son and his friends sneaking out after curfew. So, the best thing is to anticipate the possibilities and lay down clear ground rules in advance.
These might include:
• Staying inside after a certain hour, which will vary depending on the age of the kids
• Rules about what to eat and where (but, be liberal folks...this is a time for treats)
• Limited use of the telephone
• Rules about noise level and physical activity (pillow fights can be fun but hazardous to your household)
• Guidelines for acceptable movies – scary movies are a popular slumber party activity, but can be really frightening for young children
In general, when you do muster the courage to host a slumber party, work with your child to choose fun games, DVDs, and special snacks. Simplify your job by asking each guest to bring a sleeping bag or bedroll. Then as they arrive, clearly tell them your expectations, rules and the consequences if anyone doesn't follow the rules. Let them know that if everyone plays by the rules, everyone can have a great time.
Want to hear more parenting advice?
Dr. Erickson and her daughter can be heard every Sunday, from 2 - 4 pm, on “Good Enough Moms,” on FM107.1 radio in the Twin Cities or via Webcast at www.FM1071.com
