Factors associated with nutritional supplement consumption in Mexican women aged 12 to 49 years

The objectives of this analysis are to identify the types of nutritional supplements (NS) commonly used and explore the associations between NS consumption and socio-demographic characteristics, nutritional status, measured as BMI, and anemia in a nationally representative sample Mexican women aged 12 to 49 years (n = 15,936) who participated in the Mexican National Nutrition Survey in 1999. Data on NS consumption and the other characteristics of interest were collected. We calculated the probability (P) of supplement consumption using logistic regression. For the statistical analysis characteristics at the individual and household level were included in the statistical models, and adjusted for the study design. Interaction effects were also explored. Multiple mixed vitamin and mineral supplements were the most commonly consumed (36.7%) followed by vitamins only (34.3%). Married women were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely (P = 0.16; p < 0.001) to consume NS compared to unmarried women, as were those with more access to public and private health care (P = 0.18; p = 0.010), with higher education level (P = 0.20; p = 0.004) and living in the South region (P = 0.20; p = 0.003). Anemia modified the association between supplement consumption and socioeconomic status (SES) (p = 0.016), non anemic women having greater probabilities of NS consumption. These results suggest that NS use among Mexican women is associated with better living conditions. On the other hand, we also found that women living in the South region, the poorest region of the country, had higher probability of NS consumption compared to the North region. This could be related to participation in food assistance programs; however we were unable to explore this potential explanation. This information will be used to further study trends, risks and health benefits in this population of the use of nutritional supplements.     

Using multiple household food inventories to measure food availability in the home over 30 days: a pilot study

Background  

The consumption of foods, especially by children, may be determined by the types of foods that are available in the home. Because most studies use a single point of data collection to determine the types of foods in the home, which can miss the change in availability when resources are not available, the primary objective of this study was to determine the extent to which the weekly availability of household food items changed over one month by 1) developing the methodology for the direct observation of the presence and amount of food items in the home; 2) conducting five in-home household food inventories over a thirty-day period in a small convenience sample; and 3) determining the frequency that food items were present in the participating households.     

Rural development, household food safety, and nutrition in western Honduras

The authors studied the impact of a rural development project on household food security and nutrition. A quasi-experimental study design was used to compare the experience of members of thirteen Honduran small-holder farmers groups which had already received a year of credit and technical assistance, with another thirteen groups which had just joined the project, and thirteen control communities. All these communities were followed-up for one year (March/April 1997-March/April 1998). Farmers participating in the project showed a greater increase in maize stores than farmers in the control communities (p = 0.01), but did not increase their dietary energy consumption. There was, however, a small improvement in their dietary diversity (p = 0.01). The impact of the project on the nutritional status of under 5's was complex. The study underlined the importance of monitoring the impact of programs which may affect food and nutrition.     

肥料和食用农产品安全的若干问题

从农业化学角度和对某些习惯思维的反思,阐述肥料对农产品产量、品质及食用安全性的影响,说明不论是化肥或有机肥,都可能在一定条件下对食用农产品的安全产生影响。因此,迫切需要出台相应的更为科学的、可操作的法规与检测体系。     

Requirements for foods containing soy protein in the food for peace program

Under the Food for Peace Program, whole grains, milled wheat flour, milled rice, soybean oil, soybean flour, nonfat dry milk, soyacontaining blended food supplements, and soya-fortified processed foods are provided by the U.S. to needy people abroad to alleviate malnutrition. These commodities are used in maternal/child health programs, school feeding, food for work projects and disaster relief. The wide diversity of nutritional requirements and traditional food preferences has led to development of nine soya-containing food types, which are used in the PL-480 Title II donation program as blended food supplements or fortified processed foods. Research studies have led to the development of product specifications. Blended food supplements include the standardized mixtures of corn-soya-milk (CSM), instant CSM, wheat-soy blend and whey-soy drink mix. These foods, developed to fulfill the nutritional requirements of preschool children, contain from 17.5 to 29.7% either toasted-defatted or equivalent full-fat soya flour, along with vitamins and minerals. In addition, 4–19% soya oil is added to improve caloric density. These products contain 19 or 20% minimum protein and 6 or 19% minimum fat content. Fortified processed foods include soya-fortified bulgur (SFB), soya-fortified bread wheat flour (SFWF), soya-fortified cornmeal (SFCM), soya-fortified sorghum grits (SFSG), and soya-fortified rolled oats (SFRO). These foods contain toasted soya flour, grits, or flakes added at 12–15% levels. Fortified foods are generally consumed by people other than infants.     

腐植酸有机硒肥与食品安全及食疗健康

丽对高血压、心肌病及多种癌症有防治效果，因此，硒肥是一种功能性肥料。其施用对土壤臊酶，转化酶和磷酸酶有激活作用．能减少作物体内自由基，提高抗逆性．是一种安全肥料。施用硒肥能提高作物的含硒量，其中．粮食作物含硒量增加2.352～134.0倍，以大豆和小麦含量为最高;蔬菜作物含硒量增加6.78～74.50倍．以西兰花，菜花、红萝卜和莱豆角含量最高。硒肥的施用使玉米产量提高1１．27％～26.06％．大豆产量提高9．63％～12．00％，且能改善大豆品质，异亮氨酸、甘氪酸、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和谷氟酸等含量增加4．07％～10.00％，保健功能明显增强。     

Fertilizer use in Asian agriculture: implications for sustaining food security and the environment

This paper studies the role of chemical fertilizers in sustaining the growth in foodgrain production in the major rice growing countries in Asia. The trends in fertilizer consumption are reviewed, the yield response and change in policies in the fertilizer sector and their impact on fertilizer prices are assessed and factors affecting fertilizer demand are analyzed. The implications of sustaining food security and the environment on fertilizer use are critically examined, future projections on food and fertilizer demand are made and areas of research needed to achieve the targets are suggested.     

The adaptation and validation of the food security scale in a community of Caracas, Venezuela

This paper describes the process of modifying and validating a hunger index developed in the United States by Wehler et al (1992). It is part of a research whose main objective is to develop and validate a simple method that measures both quantitative (food sufficiency) and qualitative (female self-perception) dimensions of household food insecurity. In a pilot study, the original instrument was modified from a 2 point 8 item to a 4 point 12 item scale. Precision measured with Alpha Chronbach's coefficient was high (0.871) suggesting consistency in the scale's items. The instrument was applied to a sample of 238 poor and very poor households in a peri-urban barrio of Caracas. To determine overall internal validity of the scale the relationship between possible economic, social and behavioral determinants and food security level measured with the scale, was analyzed. Construct validity of the scale was established with factor and principal components analysis. Finally, with multiple regression analysis evidence is presented for overall validity of the scale. Four determinants: predictors of food sufficiency score, monthly income per capita, social class, and number of children in the household predict in the expected direction self-perceived food security level (R2 = 0.343). Results suggest that this instrument, together with an abbreviated measure of food sufficiency, based on strategic foods may be a valid, precise, and simple method for identifying and monitoring households that suffer from some degree of food insecurity in poor urban communities.     

餐厨垃圾和厨余垃圾厌氧消化产生沼渣的脱水性能分析

以餐厨垃圾和厨余垃圾为原料进行中温厌氧消化反应,采用含固率(TS)、离心脱水后含固率(CTS)、模化毛细吸水时间(NCST)、过滤比阻(SRF)以及结合水含量(BW)为脱水性能评价指标,研究不同厌氧消化阶段产生沼渣的脱水性能。研究发现:沼渣TS变化范围为3.0%～9.9%,CTS为10.9%～31.0%,NCST为50.8～163.7 s·L·(g TS)^-1,SRF为2.1×10¹³ ～13.8×10¹³ m·kg^-1,BW为2.3～15.1 g·(g TS)^-1。厌氧反应器的累计甲烷产量始终是餐厨垃圾高于厨余垃圾,前者最高可达381 ml·(g VS_added)^-1,而后者仅为280 ml·(g VS_added)^-1;沼渣的脱水性能主要受厌氧消化时间的影响。同时,以餐厨垃圾为原料的沼渣可以达到的脱水程度较高,而以厨余垃圾为原料的沼渣的脱水速率较快;沼渣TS与NCST、SRF和BW脱水指标的两两间相关性显著,而与CTS没有明显相关性。     

Impact of income strategies on food security in rural Mayan communities in northern Campeche

This paper examines the effect of income strategies on sufficiency of caloric intake in Mayan domestic groups (DG) of Campeche, Mexico. The analysis was based on the sustainable livelihoods approach. Information was obtained through a survey of households (N = 237) in four communities. The results reveal that all of the DG have diversified income strategies with clearly defined orientations. The caloric sufficiency index (CSI) is different (p < 0.05) among conglomerates (C) of DG and increases with the increase of the proportion of agricultural income in relation to total income. The wage labor strategy (37.6%) corresponding to C1 of DG (CSI-C = 0.69) and the agriculture-wage labor strategy (42.6%; CSI-C2 = 0.87) do not cover energy requirements of the DG. Only the agricultural strategy satisfies caloric intake needs (CSI-C3 = 1.09; CSI-C4 = 1.30) of the DG (19.8%). These results are associated with the heterogeneity of resources of the DG's, particularly, with the quality and extent of land, presence of producer organizations, and current rural policies. Implementation of differentiated local policies, interinstitutional coordination, and community participation could contribute to improving effectiveness of policies aimed at eradicating food insecurity.     

美国家用清洗剂的发展

通过一些具体实例以及相关专业人士的介绍,概括了洗涤剂行业的发展状况。目前洗涤剂行业以生产绿色清洁产品为发展目标,进一步开发可再生的生物原料实现可持续发展。对产品成分的安全性作了相应的倡议,并倡导相关行业要进行合作,以实现共同成长。     

Obesity in Mexican school age children is associated with out of-home food consumption: in the journey from home to school

The objective of our study was to evaluate the association between consumption of food during the journey from home to school and back, with overweight and obesity, in a nationwide representative sample of school children. We assessed consumption outside the home in 9537 children, with information on availability and consumption of selected groups of food and beverages. Height, weight, total energy consumption, and sociodemographic variables were also obtained. We developed logistic regression models, and tested interactions with sociodemographic variables. The results of our study show that the prevalence of overweight and obesity was positively associated with dairy consumption in girls (OR:1.70; p = 0.01), as well as fried snacks consumption in school children living in Mexico City (OR: 1.68; p = 0.06). Consumption of fruits and vegetables in medium and high socioeconomic levels was negatively associated with the prevalence of overweight and obesity (OR: 0.54; p = 0.01 and 0.59; p = 0.07, respectively). We concluded that children during their stay away from home have a high availability of energy dense foods, which can influence their consumption and contribute to the development of overweight and obesity, so it is important to investigate this association in prospective studies.     

Agronomic and economic benefits of green-waste compost for peri-urban vegetable production: implications for food security

A long-term field experiment in western Sydney evaluated the effect of source-separated green-waste (garden organics) compost on peri-urban vegetable crop yields and economic returns, compared to farmer practice. Comparisons were made over 10 vegetable crops between a compost (COMP) treatment (one off application of 125 dry t ha^?1 of green waste compost at the start and then every five crops, supplemented with urea when required), a mixed (MIX) treatment (one-off compost application of 62.5 dry t ha^?1 at start and then every five crops, but with inorganic NPK fertiliser inputs for each crop) and a conventional farmer practice (FP). Both COMP and MIX treatments consistently achieved similar or higher yields than FP, but the yield gains were more pronounced for COMP. COMP and MIX treatments delivered benefit–cost ratios of 3.3 and 2.6 respectively compared to FP over the 10 crops, indicating that this system could deliver economic benefits to growers as well as improve soil quality and the environment. Follow up large applications of compost generated more substantial yield increases in responsive vegetable crops and economic benefits. The substantial capsicum crop yield response provided a classic example of closing a crops ‘yield gap’ through improvements to soil quality with organic inputs, with implications for food security. The COMP treatment lifted the capsicum yield to?~?60 t ha^?1, 50% above its perceived maximum potential crop yield for Eastern Australia. The value of larger applications of compost for soil quality, fertiliser savings, crop yield and farm income was apparent.     

炼焦配煤及焦炭质量预测研究现状

介绍了炼焦行业煤焦分析研究及各种焦炭质量预测的方法和应用情况;总结了目前各焦化企业普遍采用的优化炼焦配煤的原理、方法和工艺现状,同时分析了中煤九鑫焦化公司优化配煤的原则和应用效果。