SPRING
Presentations
in Italy
Dr. Dorothy Klimis-Zacas, while on
sabbatical in Milan, Italy, was invited by the Italian Institute for the
Technologic Validation of Agricultural Products (CRA-IVTPA) to make a
presentation entitled "Blueberries: Modulators of Arterial function and
Metabolism" on May 8, 2007. She previously attended the 2nd
International Congress of Preventive Medicine and Healthy Aging, April
13-14, 2007 in Milan.
D. Klimis-Zacas,
D. “Arterial glycosaminoglycan structural alterations with wild
blueberry
feeding of Sprague –Dawley rats” Multimedica Group, May 24, 2007, Milan,
Italy
[back to top]
SUMMER
UMaine makes an impact at the
2007 Institute of Food Technologists meeting
Several FSN staff and students attended the IFT meeting in Chicago July
28-August 1. Dr. Denise Skonberg, chair-designate of the IFT Education
division, co-chaired the Education symposium "Research-based best
teaching practices applied to food science undergraduate education." Dr.
Mary Ellen Camire chaired the Nutrition symposium "Evolving consumer
nutrition needs: What can the food industry do?" Dr. Wu organized the
IFT pre-course symposium "Global
Chinese Health Food Symposium".
[back to top]
FALL
52nd Annual Atlantic Fisheries Technology Conference a Success!
During the first week of November, 60 members of the seafood industry,
academia, and government agencies gathered in Portland, Maine to discuss
the latest issues and scientific developments in seafood science and
technology. Chaired by Associate Professor Denise Skonberg from the
Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition, this year’s conference
theme was “Enhancing Seafood Choices: Quality, Technology and Products.”
Session topics included consumer perspectives on seafood, seafood
quality and safety, aquaculture products, and processing and
preservation technology.
A special regulatory round table session focused on changes in Seafood
HACCP regulations, new seafood-related legislation introduced on Capitol
Hill, and emerging issues in seafood safety, and featured presenters
from the Food & Drug Administration, the National Fisheries Institute,
and Maine’s Department of Marine Resources. A second round table session
highlighted new product commercialization in the seafood industry, and
included speakers from Fishery Products International, Barber Foods,
SERO Ltd, and Bistro Fresh.
Participants traveled from Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Canada, as well
as the U.S. to attend the 3-day conference. In addition to the
scientific program, events included a Lobster Dinner and presentation by
the Lobster Institute, and a tour of the Portland Fish Exchange. The
second day of the conference also featured the annual Earl P McFee award
luncheon. The McFee award was established in 1971 to recognize
excellence in fishery technology involving all aspects of seafood
science and technology. This year the prestigious award was given to Ken
Gall, seafood technology specialist with the New York Sea Grant program
and Cornell University.
A Splendid
International Tri-Society Joint Conference on Trace Element Nutrition
and Health took place in Crete, Greece, October 21-26, 2007
Dorothy Klimis-Zacas
was co-organizer and Chair of the Local Organizing Committee of the
Joint International Conference entitled “Trace Elements in Diet,
Nutrition and Health: Essentiality and Toxicity” with participant
societies, the International Society of Trace Element Research in the
Human (ISTERH), the Nordic Trace Element Society (NTES), and the
Hellenic Trace Element Society (www.isterh.org). The Conference took
place in the beautiful resort of Creta Maris at Hersonissos, Crete,
October 21-26, 2007 (www.maris.gr/creta). Three hundred delegates from
academia, medical schools and hospitals, research centers, government
agencies such as the U.S.D.A. and the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, National Academy of Sciences and the UNESCO from Europe,
Asia, Africa the Americas and Australia representing more than 40
countries met to discuss cutting edge science on the area of trace
elements in plenary sessions, symposia, minisymposia, and poster
sessions. Topics covered areas related to the role of trace elements on
diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases,
carcinogenenesis, osteoporosis, infectious diseases and molecular
mechanisms of metal-induced diseases. Additionally, sessions addressed
recent research findings on health effects of low dose exposure to toxic
metals, environmental stress and mineral homeostasis, metal toxicity,
metal speciation, advances in analytical detection of trace elements in
biological tissues and international dietary standards. Supporting
Organizations for the conference were, the Trace Element Institute of
the UNESCO and The International Commission on Occupational Health.
Professor Antonia
Trichopoulou, MD., PhD., Chair of the Department of Hygiene and
Epidemiology, Director of the W.H.O Collaborating Centre for Nutrition,
University of Athens Medical School, researcher and creator of the
Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, was the Keynote Speaker on the
“Mediterranean diet, Traditional Foods and Health”.
Klimis-Zacas, D., was
plenary session organizer, fund-raiser and chair of “Trace Elements:
Modulators of Arterial Function and Metabolism” and speaker on
“Manganese, Regulator of Vasomotor Tone and Arterial Glycosaminoglycan
Metabolism”
The Raulin Award, the ISTERH society’s highest honor that recognizes lifetime achievement in
research on trace elements, was awarded to professor Harold Sandstead,
M.D., University of Texas, for his seminal and lifelong work on zinc
deficiency in humans and the role of zinc in DNA and RNA metabolism.
During the final
business meeting the new ISTERH Board and Council Members were elected.
Professor klimis-Zacas was voted as the new treasurer of ISTERH
(2007-2010).
In addition to the
scientific program, the delegates had an opportunity to network, share
experiences and bond in many cultural and social activities. A
reception took place before the Conference at the beautiful traditional
village site of Lychnostatis, (http://Lychnostatis.gr/)
a Cretan open-air museum where delegates danced to traditional Cretan
music, grape-treaded and sampled traditional Cretan food. During the
second afternoon of the Conference, delegates visited the Ancient Palace
of Knossos (www.dilos.com/region/crete/minoan_pictures.html)
and got a glimpse of the magnificence of the Minoan civilization,
additionally, they visited Peza wine and olive oil cooperative where
they were able to purchase the golden Cretan olive oil and organic
wines. The conference closed with a lavish banquet including
traditional Cretan cuisine and live Cretan traditional music and dance
provided by the youngsters of the Lyceum of the Hellenes, a high school
that teaches and promotes traditional Cretan dancing.
Professor Klimis-Zacas , chairs the
Local Organizing Committee for a tri-Society
International Conference in Crete, Greece, October 21-26, 2007
Time is getting closer to register at the discount rate for the
tri-society, International
Conference for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH), Nordic Trace
Element Society (NTES)
and the Hellenic Trace Element Society (HTES) on “Trace Elements in
Diet, Nutrition and Health: Essentiality and Toxicity” to be held
October 21-26, 2007 on the beautiful island of Crete, Greece.
Professor Klimis-Zacas is a member of the Planning Committee for the
above Conference and
Chairs the session on “Trace elements: Modulators of Arterial function
and Metabolism”.
She is also member of the Fund raising committee of the Conference.
Please go to: www.isterh.org for more information.
FSN Department to Host International
Seafood Technology Conference
Make plans now to attend the 52nd Annual Atlantic Fisheries
Technology Conference, hosted by the Department of Food Science & Human
Nutrition, with Dr. Denise Skonberg serving as Conference Chair. The
conference will be held at the historic Portland Regency Hotel in
Portland, Maine, November 4-7, 2007. The theme for the conference is
“Enhancing Seafood Choices: Quality, Technology and Products.” Session
topics will include aquaculture products, consumer perspectives on
seafood, seafood quality and safety, and processing and preservation
technology. There will also be special regulatory and product
development workshops specifically targeted to the local seafood
industry. Registration is now open and the abstract deadline for oral or
poster presentations has been extended to September 24.
A special Lobster dinner is planned for Monday evening featuring a
cultural program by the Maine Lobster Institute. There will also be a
tour of the Portland Fish Exchange/Fresh Seafood Auction. We hope you
will be able to join us for this unique industry/government/academia
program. More information is provided at: http://www.aftc.ca
Dr. Vivian Wu was interviewed by the
Wall Street Journal
Dr. Vivian Wu was recently interviewed by the Wall Street Journal
regarding the cranberry research conducted by her group (Mr. Xujian
Qiu's Ph.D. project). The cranberry health pieces can be found in
September 18, 2007, Page D6 of the Wall Street Journal.
[back to top]
WINTER
IFT Award Winners:
Professor Alfred Bushway was recognized as the Member of the Year by the
IFT Fruits and Vegetables Division for his volunteer efforts within the
division including judging the annual poster competition.
Professor Mary Ellen Camire has been honored as Institute of Food
Technologists Fellow for her contributions to extrusion processing,
dietary fiber analysis, dietary supplements, and functional foods and
meritorious service to IFT. Camire’s research has shown that extrusion
may not appear to cause changes in total fiber, while a significant
redistribution of insoluble to soluble forms of fiber may occur. Her use
of a colorimetric clinical assay in an in-vitro procedure for estimating
the bile acid–binding capacity of extrudates and their potential
cholesterol-lowering ability has been adopted by researchers around the
world to develop improved processing methods for producing healthful
grain and legume products. Additionally, she has conducted research on
the benefits of blueberries and cranberries for amelioration of diabetes
and heart disease. The research is leading to the identification of an
efficacious dose of anthocyanins that could be used successfully in
formulated products. Recognition as an Institute of Food Technologists
Fellow is a unique professional distinction conferred on individuals
with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience for
their contributions to the food science and technology field.
Senior Fulbright Specialist Award
Professor Dorothy klimis-Zacas has been
named a Senior Fulbright Specialist for 2007-2012.
The award, which promotes collaborations with non-U.S. academic
institutions world-wide,
requires rigorous application and selection process. It enables the
specialist to travel to a foreign country from two to six weeks to
collaborate on curriculum and faculty development, institutional
planning and other activities.
[back to top]
About us |
Faculty |
Degree Programs |
Resources |
News and Events |
Professional Activities |
Student Activities |
Home
© Copyright Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, 2004 - 2008
