The extent and nature of television food advertising to children and adolescents in the Russian Federation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency, healthfulness and promotional techniques of television food advertising to children and adolescents in the Russian Federation. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted to monitor food and beverage television advertising. For the five most popular TV channels among children and adolescents, TV broadcasts were recorded for two weekdays and two weekends (320 h) during March-May 2017. Recordings were screened for advertisements. Food advertisements were categorised by food categories and as either 'permitted' or 'not permitted' for advertising to children in accordance with World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), and promotional techniques in advertisements were recorded. RESULTS: Overall, 11 678 advertisements were coded. Across all channels, food and drink (19·2 %) were the most frequently advertised product type. The most common food categories advertised were beverages (except juices, milk drinks and energy drinks) (24·1 %); yoghurts and other dairy foods (15 %); and chocolate and confectionery (12·3 %). A majority (64·2 %) of food and drink products advertised should not be permitted for advertising to children according to the NPM. The most frequently used persuasive appeals in the food advertisements were low price (15·4 %), product novelty (11·8 %) and enjoyment (10·0 %). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents in the Russian Federation are likely exposed to a substantial number of unhealthy food advertisements. There is a need to consider policies to restrict children's exposure to unhealthy food advertising on television in the Russian Federation.

Determination of intrinsic mid-infrared absorption of a fluoride glass.

The intrinsic mid-infrared optical absorption of a ZrF(4)-BaF(2)-LaF(3)-AlF(3)-NaF (ZBLAN) glass has been determined by combining laser calorimetry and spark-source mass spectrographic analysis. The total optical absorption of four samples of varying purity was measured at 3.9 microm with laser calorimetry. The extrinsic contribution to the total absorption for each glass was calculated from the measured concentration of rare-earth impurity ions and known extinction coefficients. The intrinsic absorption of this glass at 3.9 microm determined from the difference between the total measured absorption and the calculated extrinsic absorption is 6.11 (+/-0.61) x 10(-4) cm(-1).

Interferometric method for concurrent measurement of thermo-optic and thermal expansion coefficients.

A Fabry-Perot-type interferometer is described that permits the concurrent measurement of the coefficient of thermal expansion (alpha) and the thermooptic coefficient (dn/dT) of transparent materials. Measurements of the a and the dn/dT of vitreous silica and a heavy-metal fluoride glass show that the technique is accurate, reproducible, and easily performed. In addition, the technique is used to show that the dn/dT of heavy-metal fluoride glasses is negative and temperature dependent. The magnitude of dn/dT is found to increase with increasing temperature.