Nutritional status and land tenure. A study in adults of the rural area of the northeastern Brazil

The present study was carried out in the rural areas of four municipalities in the North-East of Brazil as part of a broader survey which covered a sample of families living in the area. A subsample of adults (453 women and 126 men) was obtained from individuals who attended the survey's post for clinical and anthropometric evaluation. According to land tenure, they were stratified into four categories: those with-without land (W.L.); small land owner (S.O.); medium land owners (M.O.); and large land owners (L.O.). Means for anthropometric variables (height, weight, middle arm circumference and skinfold thickness) were calculated for each stratum. The differences between groups were statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Findings revealed that the larger the property, the greater the mean value for height; extreme values attained a difference of 7 and 6 cm in men and women, respectively. Mean weight increased as land ownership grew reaching a difference of 9 and 11 kg in men and women, respectively (p less than 0.01). Skinfold thickness and middle arm circumference showed significant differences between strata. To evaluate their present nutritional status, the adequacy of weight to height was obtained. In spite of the low proportion of individuals who exhibited less than 90%, adequate improvement was detected as land tenure increased. The study discusses the precariousness of criteria and patterns for the nutritional evaluation of adults, and suggests the existence of a relationship between nutritional status and land ownership.     

Diagnosis of hypovitaminosis A and nutritional anemia status in the population of Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brazil

A survey was carried out with the purpose of evaluating the nutritional status of the population of Jequitinhonha Valley in regard to vitamin A deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia. A Program--"Programa de Combate à Hipovitaminose A e à Anemia Nutricional Ferropriva em Bols?es de Probreza de Minas Gerais"--is being implanted by the Instituto Nacional de Alimentac?o e Nutri?ao (INAN) aiming to the prevention of such deficiencies. A random sample of 2,357 children from the towns: Turmalina, Minas Novas and Capelinha (Vale do Jequitinhonha), Minas Gerais (1,604 living in the urban and 753 in the rural areas) was submitted to an eye examination. Blood was drawn from a random subsample of these children (157 from the urban area and 107 from the rural area), in oder to detect possible nutritional problems. The following results were observed (preschool and school children, respectively): 1. Hemoglobin: 23.9% and 20% of the population in the urban area, 34.6 and 18.2% in the rural area, had low and deficient values, respectively. 2. Hematocrit: 1.5 and 2.2% of the population in the urban area, 17.3 and 5.5% in the rural area, had low values. 3. Vitamin A: 8.9 and 4.4% of the population in the urban area, 5.8 and 0% in the rural area, had deficient values (less than 10 micrograms/dl); 26.9 and 31.1% in the urban area, 26.9 and 23.6% in the rural area, had low values (10-20 micrograms/dl). These results show the occurrence of nutritional anemia and vitamin A deficiency in the observed children. As to the eye examination this was performed in 2,357 children. A high incidence of conjunctival xerosis (3.16 and 6.04% in the urban area, 7.7 and 12.6% in the rural area, in preschool and school children, respectively), was detected. Five cases of conjunctival xerosis with Bitot spot (0.2%), corneal xerosis (0.08%) and kerotomalacia (0.04%) were observed. The therapeutic effect of 200,000 UI of oral vitamin A was more efficient in preschool children (90.3% of positive reactions) than in school children (25.9% of positive reactions). The causes of the different reactions are now under study.     

石化装置改造中压力容器与压力管道材料质控现状分析及监理的预防对策

通过对石化装置改造中压力容器与压力管道工程材料,质量控制现状的分析及监理的预防对策,来探讨监理在施工阶段对工程材料进场质量控制的重要性。     

我国钛白粉生产的现状及发展对策

作者从我国目前钛白粉工业的现状谈起，展望了今后钛白粉工业的发展趋势，并就应采取的对策提出了建议。     

An evaluation of methods for determining the parameters in the BWR equation of state using volumetric and heat capacity data

The use of linear programming was compared with non-linear least squares techniques for estimating Benedict-Webb-Rubin (BWR) equation of state parameters to correlate the volumetric behavior of a fluid. The techniques were extended to estimate the parameters from the volumetric and heat capacity properties of a pure component. In the non-linear least squares technique a convergence scheme, which is a combination of the Levenberg and Marquardt algorithms, was used. The volumetric behavior of carbon dioxide, methane and their mixtures was best correlated by the parameter sets obtained by the non-linear least squares technique when volume was chosen as the dependent variable. For the simultaneous correlation of volumetric and heat capacity properties of carbon dioxide the non-linear least squares technique was found to be superior to the linear programming technique.     

Relation of socioeconomic and environmental indicators to the nutritional status of preschool children in a community of Sierra Norte de Puebla, México

A brief discussión on "the social" approach in nutritional research is presented. The relevance that socioeconomic factors have acquired in recent years for this type of studies, is also discussed. The main purpose of our communication was to identify and validate some socioeconomic and environmental indicators and their association with the nutritional status of preschool children in a Mexican indigenous community (Sierra Norte de Puebla). A total of 89 children below five years of age were studied and classified according to their nutritional status. A socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to their parents. Results revealed ample correlation between the degree of malnutrition of the preschool child and the following indicators: housing conditions, father's main occupation, land tenure, income, etc. It is argued that the analysis of these indicators is relevant, emphasizing the importance that the combination of anthropometrical, food consumption and socioeconomic data have for detecting population groups vulnerable to malnutrition. The obtention of these indicators is therefore highly recommended, but should not imply great obstacles; on the contrary, they should be highly sensitive and easy to detect.     

Pilot plant development of the alkali cooking process for cottonseed meats. I. Effect of flake,thickness and of time,temperature, and moisture content during cooking

Summary and Conclusions Results obtained from alkaline cooking experiments show that all of the four variables studied—cooking mousture content, temperature, time and flake thickness—influenced the properties of the resultant meals in varying degrees. Under the experimental conditions used a high initial moisture content, above 18%, is necessary to lower the free gossypol content in the finished meal to less than 0.04%. When this amount of moisture is used, a plastic mass results at the beginning of the process which requires special equipment to supply the mechanical action necessary to break the pigment glands at a low temperature. In the presence of high moisture content and alkali the gossypol, which is released when the glands are ruptured, is bound to the meal. When sufficient initial moisture is present (24–31%), only traces of gossypol (0.010% or less) are found in the extracted crude oil. High temperatures in the presence of high moisture content reduce the solubility of the meal protein (in 0.02N NaOH). Under the conditions of moisture, temperature, and time of cooking used in the experiments the maximum nitrogen solubility obtained under conditions necessary to produce low free gossypol content was 64%. This differs from results obtained in previous work performed under different conditions. A probable reason for the difference is given based on the interrelationship of the three variables. The results demonstrated further that finer comminution of the raw meats by rolling to 0.005-in. thick flakes results in lower free gossypol content in the finished meal and lower gossypol content of the oils as well as more complete removal of the oil by the filtration-extraction procedure used. One of the laboratories of the Southern Utilization Research Branch. Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.     

Rheology in the technology of ceramics and refractories. 2. Dispersed systems,methods of their investigation and evaluation of rheological properties

A classification of dispersed systems in accordance with their phase composition is presented. A common feature of the latter is its heterogeneity and the presence of a strongly developed interphase. The specific surface of the interphase in suspensions varies from 0.5–1 to 10–20 m²/cm³. This characteristic determines the technogenic and rheological properties of suspensions. The principal methods of experimental rheology (rheometry) are described. The methods of rotational and capillary viscometry and methods for evaluating flow anomalies in dispersed systems are considered. Ceramic suspensions are considered from the standpoint of applicability of exponential formulas for describing the degree of their thixotropy or dilatancy. The notion of intensity of variation of the effective viscosity of non-Newtonian dispersed systems is formulated and quantitative characteristics are suggested for its evaluation. Quantitative parameters describing the intensity of thixotropic disruption and dilatant strengthening of suspensions are suggested.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 12, pp. 11–19, December, 1995.     

浅析我国煤气化技术引进、研发及自主创新中存在的问题和鼓励措施

介绍了当前世界上最先进的壳牌干粉煤气化技术、德士古水煤浆气化技术、GSP煤气化技术的研发过程及国内引进情况,三种技术的研发国均不以煤为主要能源,体现了他们目光长远的经济战略决策,而我国企业在自主创新中缺乏积极性及人力、物力资源,针对这些问题,提出了鼓励企业自主创新的措施。     

本钢新三号高炉水系统特点及运行情况分析

对高炉水系统的工艺进行了介绍,并对其运行情况进行了总结和分析。实践表明,该系统运行安全可靠．为高炉稳产、高产、长寿提供了必要的保障。     

Biocompatible hydrogels for the controlled delivery of anti-hypertensive agent: development,characterization and in vitro evaluation

The aim of the present exploration was to develop novel pH-sensitive cross-linked Gelatin/Polyvinyl pyrrolidone hydrogels using different ratios of both the polymers and to investigate the effect of polymers and degree of crosslinking on dynamic, equilibrium swelling and invitro release pattern of the model drug (captopril). Grafting polymerization technique was used for the preparation of these hydrogels using glutaraldehyde as crosslinking agent. These polymeric materials were then used as model systems to envisage various important characterizations like FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Phosphate buffers of pH 1.2, 6.5 and 7.5 were used for swelling and invitro drug release profile investigation. Different parameters like swelling analysis, porosity, sol-gel analysis, average molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc), solvent interaction parameter (χ), volume fraction of polymer (V_2,s) and diffusion coefficient that affects the drug release behavior were also determined. Higher swelling and release was observed at lower pH values. FTIR spectra showed interaction between gelatin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone and successful formation of cross-linked structure. Pulsatile drug release study showed the controlled delivery of model drug. The release of drug occurred through non-fickian diffusion or anomalous mechanism. Aforementioned characterizations reveal successful formation of copolymer. pH sensitive swelling ability and drug release behavior suggest that the rate of polymer chain relaxation and the rate of drug diffusion from these hydrogels are comparable which also predicts their possible use for site specific captopril delivery.     

Rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gelation in the brabender measuring mixer. I. Equilibrium state between sliding,breaking, and gelation of PVC

This article discusses the first part of the Brabender typical torque process curves. Rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC; Polanwil S‐61) was processed at various temperatures between 160 and 200°C with blade speeds in the range of 5–40 min^?1. The morphological changes of the processed compound was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy, and the degree of gelation was estimated on the basis of DSC thermograms. The values of torque minimum strongly depends on temperature. Shear rate affects mainly the time of reaching the minimum torque. The grains are disintegrated into the nonuniform particles and aggregates of the dimensions between 20 and 4 μm. The significant variation of the gelation degree was found for the sample produced in the same conditions and unloaded from Brabender chamber at minimum of torque. It was found that the value of the minimum of torque described momentary equilibrium state between sliding of breaking grains and increasing degree of PVC gelation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 966–971, 2004     

Gossypol and gossypurpurin in cottonseed of different varieties ofG. barbadense andG. hirsutum,and variation of the pigments during storage of the seed

Summary Selected varieties of cottonseed comprising three Sea Island cottons, four Egyptian cottons, and 10 upland cottons providing two or more varieties having the following characteristics: short, intermediate, and long staple; low, intermediate, and high content of lipids; and low, intermediate, and high content of protein, were planted and grown under as nearly identical conditions as possible. The initial contents of moisture, lipids, nitrogen, gossypol, and gossypurpurin of the harvested seed were determined, after which samples of all of the seed were stored for a year under identical conditions and analyzed periodically for gossypol and gossypurpurin. A definite relation was found between the species of the seed and their content of gossypol and gossypurpurin. Sea Island and Egyptian seed of the speciesG. barbadense contained more gossypol and very much more gossypurpurin than seed of the speciesG. hirsutum. Within the speciesG. barbadense Sea Island seed contained more gossypol and less gossypurpurin than Egyptian seed. Gossypurpurin increased during storage of all of the seed whereas gossypol varied in a number of different ways, increasing in some, decreasing in others, and remaining relatively constant in a few samples of stored seed. A discussion is presented of the theoretical and practical implications of these observations. Presented at 39th Annual Meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society in New Orleans, May 4–6, 1948. One of the laboratories of the Burean of Agricultural and Industrial Chemistry, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture. Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research Administration, U. S. Department of Agriculture.     

Magnetic silk fibroin composite nanofibers for biomedical applications: Fabrication and evaluation of the chemical,thermal, mechanical,and in vitro biological properties

Magnetically responsive polymer composites have great potential for use in diverse biomedical applications. In this study, composite biomaterials consisting of silk fibroin (SF) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were fabricated by the electrospinning method. Two different methods were employed to incorporate the SPIONs into the SF nanofibers. In the first encapsulation method (M1), SPIONs (1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 wt%) were initially included in the electrospinning solution. In the second dip-coating method (M2), electrospun SF nanofiber mats were immersed in the aqueous suspensions of SPIONs (10, 30 and 50% v/v). Then, the pure and composite silk fibroin composite mats were comparatively evaluated for their morphological, chemical, magnetic, mechanical and in vitro biological properties, by using a number of methods including SEM, TEM, FTIR, XRD, EDS, VSM, TGA, mechanical tensile tests, as well as by indirect in vitro cytotoxicity and in vitro hemocompatibility analyses. Overall findings suggested that, while M1 nanofiber mats could be a suitable candidate for use in tissue engineering as a magnetically responsive cytocompatible scaffold, the M2 nanofiber mats perhaps could be more appropriate as an interface for triggering the in vitro stem cell differentiation and/or biosensor applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 48040.     

Analytical and physical investigation of alkyd resin in the course of its preparation. I. Determination of composition of reaction mixture using volatile monocarboxylic acid for alkyd synthesis

The extent of esterification between isocaprylic acid, phthalic anhydride, glycerol, and pentaerythritol was followed by analysis of reaction mixture. Acid numbers, hydroxyl numbers, and saponification numbers of alkyd samples were determined at different stages of the reaction. A way of calculation of the losses of volatile monomer reactants from liquid reaction mixture was proposed. The amounts of condensed water experimentally measured during alkyd synthesis correspond to the amounts of water losses from the batch that were calculated.