Yes / A comparative food ethnobotanical study was carried out in twenty-one local communities in Italy, fourteen of which were located in Northern Italy, one in Central Italy, one in Sardinia, and four in Southern Italy. 549 informants were asked to name and describe food uses of wild botanicals they currently gather and consume. Data showed that gathering, processing and consuming wild food plants are still important activities in all the selected areas. A few botanicals were quoted and cited in multiple areas, demonstrating that there are ethnobotanical contact points among the various Italian regions (Asparagus acutifolius, Reichardia picroides, Cichorium intybus, Foeniculum vulgare, Sambucus nigra, Silene vulgaris, Taraxacum officinale, Urtica dioica, Sonchus and Valerianella spp.). One taxon (Borago officinalis) in particular was found to be among the most quoted taxa in both the Southern and the Northern Italian sites. However, when we took into account data regarding the fifteen most quoted taxa in each site and compared and statistically analysed these, we observed that there were a few differences in the gathering and consumption of wild food plants between Northern and Southern Italy. In the North, Rosaceae species prevailed, whereas in the South, taxa belonging to the Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, and Liliaceae s.l. families were most frequently cited. We proposed the hypothesis that these differences may be due to the likelihood that in Southern Italy the erosion of TK on wild vegetables is taking place more slowly, and also to the likelihood that Southern Italians' have a higher appreciation of wild vegetables that have a strong and bitter taste. A correspondence analysis confirmed that the differences in the frequencies of quotation of wild plants within the Northern and the Southern Italian sites could be ascribed only partially to ethnic/cultural issues. An additional factor could be recent socio-economic shifts, which may be having a continued effort on people's knowledge of wild food plants and the way they use them. Finally, after having compared the collected data with the most important international and national food ethnobotanical databases that focus on wild edible plants, we pointed out a few uncommon plant food uses (e.g. Celtis aetnensis fruits, Cicerbita alpine shoots, Helichrysum italicum leaves, Lonicera caprifolium fruits, Symphytum officinale leaves), which are new, or have thus far been recorded only rarely.

Magister Scientiae Dentium - MSc(Dent) / Introduction: Dental caries has one the highest incidences in children and the host’s diet may be a major factor in determining susceptibility to the disease. A proposed tool to screen and identify high risk individuals uses a bitter compound 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). The goal of this screening tool is to identify mothers and children who are Non-tasters (those who cannot taste PROP) and to educate them about their possible affinity towards sugar substances and its harmful effects on oral and general health. It is suggested that Non-taster children could be prioritized when providing preventative dental treatment. Aim: To validate the use of PROP as a screening tool for determining high caries risk individuals by identifying the taster status of mothers and children, their preference towards sugar, and its impact on their caries status. Methodology: 75 mother/ child pairs were recruited to participate in this study. Caries experience, sugar preference and taster status were determined for all the subjects. Comparisons were made between mothers and their children to find a possible association. Results: Caries experience was greater in individuals who were Non-tasters when compared to Super-tasters. A significant association between taster status and DMFT score was established (p<0.000). A significant association between taster status and sugar preference was established (p<0.000). A positive correlation with regard to taster status, sugar preference and caries experience was observed in mother/child pairs. Conclusion: Similarities in the mother's and child’s PROP taster status and its association with sugar preference allows such a screening test to identify individuals who are at high risk of developing dental caries. Early identification of mothers who are Non-tasters may allow the introduction of early intervention strategies and assist in the early detection of potentially high-risk children, especially in environments where resources are limited.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering (Biosystem concentration), 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

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The fifth basic taste, ‘umami', is the flavour function elicited by amino acids like monosodium glutamate (MSG) in foods. This taste is recognized for its flavour enhancing properties but little is known about its effects on appetite and intake. Thus the experiments in this thesis aimed to understand how umami influences pleasantness, appetite stimulation, satiation and satiety using MSG, with some additional focus on its associated ribonucleotide inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP). Chapter 2 established a bland, low glutamate control soup which was used throughout all subsequent experiments to test the effects of MSG on palatability using commercially-relevant concentrations. Chapters 3 and 4 assessed the influence of increasing palatability on rated appetite and intake of this soup with either added MSG (Chapter 3) or added sucrose (Chapter 4). No increase in hunger or intake was found after the more palatable conditions. Chapter 5 explored the relationship between MSG taste and protein regulation, assessing acute and habitual protein intake with findings indicating that high protein consumers liked high MSG concentrations more after an acute protein deprivation than sweet, salty or control flavours. Chapter 6 examined the time course of rated MSG satiety alone and in combination with either protein or carbohydrate in a preload soup and found enhanced rated satiety in MSG protein conditions. This design was extended in Chapter 7 to include an intake test after a pre-specified time of consuming the preload soup. The results indicated better compensation after MSG protein conditions but no differences in intake were found across carbohydrate or control conditions. Chapter 8 assessed MSG and IMP with or without added protein using the same design as Chapter 7 and found reductions in intake in MSG/IMP conditions. This suggests that the flavour of umami plays an important role in the regulation of appetite and intake.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Thomas A. Houpt, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biological Science. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Apr. 7, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1929. / Vita. Published also as Teachers college, Columbia university, Contributions to education, no. 348. Bibliography: p. 52-53.