Socioeconomic and nutritional localization, quantification and characterization of functional groups in Panama

Even though there has been an increase in the coverage of governmental services and an adequate national food availability, malnutrition continues to exist in Panamanian children. In order to geographically and administratively identify those groups more seriously affected by this problem and orient governmental actions towards them, data from the National Nutrition Survey carried out in 1980 in 14 occupational (functional) groups were classified. Social, economic and cultural characteristics of each functional group were associated with food and nutrition problems. More than half of the malnourished children fall within the functional groups who work in the agricultural/sector. Within them, more than 40% of the malnourished live in homes where two-thirds of their income is derived from work performed outside their own farms. In urban as well as in rural areas low food availability exists at the family level in 25% of the families with inadequate diets studied. The food problem in the rural area is worsened due to limited access to health services and poor environmental conditions. Therefore, the malnutrition problem in Panama is linked to low incomes that prevent acquisition of sufficient foods and other goods and services, as well as to the difficulty of accessibility to public services by an important part of the population.     

Evolution of the nutritional and food situation of the metropolitan area of San Jose, Costa Rica]

Evolution of food and nutrient intake patterns in urban San José, Costa Rica, during the last decade, was studied comparing data from the last two national surveys (1978, 1982) and 1987 data obtained from 5 families previously included in the 1982 survey. Total food and nutrient intake was found to be similar to the 1982 results, although the pattern was altered, with a substantial decreased contribution of milk products to both energy and protein intakes. A small but constant decrease in the intake of more than half of the foods registered was also observed. Nevertheless, the nutritional adequacy of energy (from 100 to 78%), retinol (from 83 to 69%), riboflavin (from 94 to 63%), iron (from 106 to 69%) and niacin (from 103 to 81%), were found to be significantly lower than in previous years. The findings herein reported suggest that the effects of the economic crisis initiated in 1980 on food availability, could well be showing a time lag.     

Relation between food habits and nutritional status of preschool children in a rural community

Food habits in regard to the nutritional status of preschool children and their socioeconomic situation were analyzed in this research. The study was carried out in Cuetzalan, State of Puebla; all families were studied and, besides the presence of a preschool child in the home, both father and mother should also be living in the same house. Forty children considered as well nourished and 40 malnourished in the opposite case, were selected, taking the limits of the Gómez classification. In order to define socioeconomic differences between the two groups, the sample population was divided into different levels, with the following results. The socioeconomic level of the well-nourished children did correlate with a good living standard of their families; in the other case, families with a low socioeconomic status, presented more nutritional problems. A questionnaire was applied to every mother selected. This included two items: a) In the first case, we tried to assess the mother's attitude towards food habits and children's illnesses. b) In the second case, the mother's knowledge concerning pregnancy, breast feeding, feeding of the child during the first year of life, taboos, beliefs and other aspects which could be related to nutrition. On the whole, the main objective of this study was attained, because significant differences were found between these two groups. Firstly, a good relationship between food habits and good nutritional status of the children was found. Secondly, mother with well-nourished children had better food habits and better socioeconomic status than mothers having children with poor health status, and therefore, of a lower socioeconomic status.     

INCAP'S policies and strategies for training and capacitation of human resources in food and nutrition

The activities of the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), are focused according to the present food and nutrition situation of the Central American and Panamanian population, their conditioning factors and the prevailing political, economical and social context. According to the mandate of its Directing Council, INCAP has developed teaching activities in the field of food and nutrition at the subregional level, as a priority function. This function falls within the initiative of the plan of priority needs in health, promoted by the countries that integrate the Contadora group, the Central American area Governments and PAHO/WHO. The INCAP's human resources policy is centered on formation and training, which are closely linked to aspects such as holistic planning, recruiting, utilization and evaluation of human resources according to guidelines set up by the Central American countries and PAHO/WHO, in regard to the development of human resources in health and allied fields. The document herein discussed responds to the institutional objective of possessing an explicit guide to orient INCAP's technical cooperation in the programmatic area of human resources, pointing out priorities and fundamental aspects really effective in supporting the institutional development of the countries, thus contributing to the improvement of their food and nutrition situation. The experience accumulated by the Institute and the countries, in formation and training activities oriented to benefit the communities have also been considered in the present document. Likewise, strategies that guide the present and future actions according to the reality of the subregion have also been considered.     

Data-driven glass/ceramic science research: Insights from the glass and ceramic and data science/informatics communities

Data-driven science and technology have helped achieve meaningful technological advancements in areas such as materials/drug discovery and health care, but efforts to apply high-end data science algorithms to the areas of glass and ceramics are still limited. Many glass and ceramic researchers are interested in enhancing their work by using more data and data analytics to develop better functional materials more efficiently. Simultaneously, the data science community is looking for a way to access materials data resources to test and validate their advanced computational learning algorithms. To address this issue, The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) convened a Glass and Ceramic Data Science Workshop in February 2018, sponsored by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMTech) program. The workshop brought together a select group of leaders in the data science, informatics, and glass and ceramics communities, ACerS, and Nexight Group to identify the greatest opportunities and mechanisms for facilitating increased collaboration and coordination between these communities. This article summarizes workshop discussions about the current challenges that limit interactions and collaboration between the glass and ceramic and data science communities, opportunities for a coordinated approach that leverages existing knowledge in both communities, and a clear path toward the enhanced use of data science technologies for functional glass and ceramic research and development.     

Microscopic-photometric measurement of polymodal clay orientation using circular-polarized light and interference colours

Orientation measurements are important in many branches of geosciences in both field and laboratory studies. For fine-grained especially clayey samples, particulate and other physical methods are unsuitable. This is because numerous individual measurements are needed for a desirable level of accuracy, and sophisticated sample preparations and equipment are required. Existing photometric techniques were evaluated. They fail to deliver circular vectorial data (both magnitude and direction) for preferred orientation, and cannot detect bimodal or polymodal patterns. A modified method is developed to overcome these pitfalls. The pertinent principles related to clay orientation in thin sections, relative retardation and interferece colours are reviewed. Spectral distributions of interference colours are calculated and plotted to facilitate the selection of a suitable wavelength to winnow the light. A sensitive-tint plate of gypsum is used to alter the relative retardation and hence the interference colours of oriented clay in thin sections. The interference colours of unlike vibration direction are separated from those of alike vibration and isotopic components (including voids) by a monochromatic filter at a chosen wavelength, and detected by a photoelectric sensor (selenium photocell). Circular-polarized light was employed to eliminate the extinction phenomenon which was regarded as unwanted noise. Details on calibration, equipment setup and procedures are given. The application of circular statistics to the orientation data is described and illustrated with results of selected specimens.     

保定地区儿童头发中微量元素的含量测定

用火焰原子吸收光谱法测定儿童头发中的微量元素Fe、Zn、Ca、Pb的含量,并将城市和农村儿童头发中Fe、Zn、Ca、Pb的含量进行比较,探讨营养、环境污染等诸多因素对儿童身体、智力发育造成的影响。     

Implications of fat replacement for nutrition and food intake

The expanding development and marketing of fat replacers and reduced-fat foods is primarily directed at nutritional concerns regarding excessive fat and energy consumption. Existing and proposed ingredients used to replace fat span a range of physical and chemical properties, with varied functionality and differences in their potential physiological effects. Although the safety and functionality of such ingredients and technologies have been scrutinized by industrial and governmental bodies, there has been rather less consideration given to assessments of their likely effects on food intake and nutritional status. It is often assumed that products made using fat replacement technologies would help to reduce fat intake and aid in weight control, despite little research directly assessing the effects of purchase and consumption of these products by normal consumers in the domestic environment. This review considers existing and proposed fat replacers and reduced-fat foods, focusing on their potential beneficial and adverse influences on diet and nutrition, highlighting the possible implications for fat intake and energy balance.     

Soy grits,flour, concentrates,and isolates in meat products

Because of changing attitudes of consumers, processors, and regulatory agencies, soy protein products are being used at an increasing rate in various processed meat systems. The use of basic soy protein products in several meat systems is examined and guidelines are presented to optimize their use. Soy products as a supplemental ingredient in various meat systems can contribute nutrition, flavor, and valuable functional properties. As the price of meats continues to rise, and consumer interest in nutrition continues to increase, their demands will prompt governmental agencies to reconsider present meat regulations.     

Synopsis of the Seminar on Breast Feeding Promotion in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic. Isla Contadora, Panama, 1983

The most recent and reliable information on the status of breast-feeding in Central América, Panama and the Dominican Republic indicates that during the last decades, in all of these countries there has been a decrease in the prevalence and duration of breast-feeding. In some of them, this situation would seem to be reverting. Considering the importance that breast-feeding has on children's health and nutrition, the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama (INCAP), organized a Regional Seminar on the Promotion of Breast-feeding, which was held in Contadora Island, Panama, in April, 1983. Based on the discussions of the working groups, sectoral and integrated recommendations were formulated for the purpose of promoting breast-feeding. This document contains specific recommendations for each of the sectors represented in the Seminar.     

Risk factors for growth retardation in children of low economic and social level in São Paulo, Brazil

Aiming to analyze the mild to moderate growth retardation associate factors in children at school age, a case control study was conducted with 153 pairs of seven and eight years old children from public schools of the outskirts of the city. The cases were defined as children with a height for age(H/A) between -1 and -2 Z score, according to NCHS/WHO standards, and matched with a H/A +/- 0.5 Z-score children of same age, gender, school, classroom and class time, as controls. The height was measured at school according to WHO rules by trained professionals, and household visits were carried out to obtain environmental and socio-economic data. Initially the data was analyzed by the univariate conditional method and then, the statistically significant variables were included in a model of multivariate logistic regression analysis. As a result, the risk factors remaining at the end of the multivariate analyses, by Odds Ratio and it's 95% Confidence Interval were respectively:--mother's height: for each decrease of one standard deviation the OR increased 1.84(CI: 1.35 to 2.49); inadequate feeding pattern: OR = 2.12; CI: 1.17 to 3.83, very low socio-economic level: OR = 9.2; CI: 3.35 to 25.13, low birth weight: OR = 2.59; CI: 1.44 to 4.63 and smoking during pregnancy: OR = 1.75; CI: 0.98 to 3.12. These results highlight the environment as a determinant factor for growth performance during the first years of the child's life. Despite this, the significant OR for Mother's height allows the assumption that besides the environment, the parent's height has to be considered as one of the determinants of height deficit, even for the low socioeconomic level.     

Weight and height in an adult Panamanian population

This work consisted in the analysis of anthropometric data collected in 1980 in a representative sample of the adult population of the Republic of Panama, according to sex, place of residence, and age. As the data revealed, the adult Panamanian male has an average weight of 61.8 kg and a height of 165.0 cm, and the female, an average weight of 55.4 kg and a height of 154.0 cm. The average weight and height of the adult population differ in the different provinces of the country. Thus, Veraguas and San Blas have the lowest averages in weight and height while the adult men of the provinces of Panama, Bocas del Toro and Colón present the best nutritional conditions. Women increase in weight as age advances until reaching a maximum peak between 45 and 54 years of age. In the males, the average highest weight occurs at an earlier age, between 25 and 29 years old, and is maintained until the age of 45-54. From then on, a decrease in weight as age advances, begins to be observed in both sexes. Apparently, the height of the Panamanian population has increased through time, as reflected by the average height of the different age groups studied in 1980, when compared with similar information obtained in 1967. It is concluded that a Food and Nutrition Surveillance System in Panama must contemplate the inclusion of anthropometric data that describe the nutritional conditions of the adult Panamanian groups.     

NEAR-AMBIENT DRYING OF CANOLA

Study of in-bin canola (rapeseed) drying with near-ambient air is realised to know characteristics of drying and seed deterioration. Simulation models are applied to estimate both drying and in-bin cooling times. Along the process: (a) bed-density increases; (b) porosity varies with a second-order relation of time; (c) bed height decreases, mainly during the first 27 drying hours; (d) was not visually observed damages on grain surface; (e) neither was observed appreciable changes on the quality parameters refraction index, performance of oil extraction, acidity index and germination power; (f) drying time can be predicted through the programmable simulator designed to drying in-bin of shelled corn and other grains (Bauer et al., 1980[2]) with error lesser than 2.2%; (g) in-bin cooling time (17 h) was comparable with data of literature extrapolated from Christensen model (1982)[4], which predicts 14 h for cooling-time.     

Effect of temperature on the pre-creep mechanical properties of silicon nitride

The elasto-plastic properties and contact damage evolution of a commercial polycrystalline silicon nitride are evaluated as a function of temperature up to 1000 °C, using a recently developed method combining Hertzian indentation and FEM simulation. The results of the study are compared to existing data for other ceramic materials such as alumina and zirconia. Silicon nitride is found to exhibit an excellent combination of elasto-plastic properties in the pre-creep temperature range and good contact damage resistance. These qualities make this material ideal for high temperature applications in general, and in particular to be used in spherical indenters for the evaluation of mechanical properties of other materials at elevated temperature using the procedure applied in this work.     

Modification of food to control fat intake

National trends in amounts and types of fat consumed have not alleviated our problems in nutrition and health. The dilemma of the public, as well as of the medical and nutritional sectors of society, has been what to do about atherosclerosis and obesity. Various methods and approaches are suggested where-by the fat intake may be reduced or controlled. Several unique classes of compounds are suggested as possible candidates for novel nutritional foods. Nutritional education is stressed as the long range prerequisite for an enlightened public which can meet the challenge of tomorrow.     

Coupled carbon nanotube network and acoustic emission monitoring for sensing of damage development in composites

Material and structural reliability is crucial for the potential use of composite materials in a variety of structural applications. As a result, damage detection and health monitoring of fiber-reinforced composites are attracting progressively more attention in the field of materials research. In this work, small amounts of carbon nanotubes are added into traditional fiber composites to form electrically conductive networks throughout the polymer matrix. The electrical response of the carbon nanotube network to accumulated damage combined with the acoustic emission (AE) technique is utilized to sense damage initiation and evolution in laminated composites. The parameters which correspond to the resistance change of the specimen due to damage in quasi-static and cyclic tests are used to evaluate the damage state in the material. There exists a bi-linear relationship between the resistance change and AE signal cumulative counts which gives insight toward the damage state of the material during quasi-static and cyclic tests.     

Relationship of cotton nitrogen and yield with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and plant height

The strength of the associations of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and N nutrition with integrated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and plant height measurements has been scarcely documented. The objective of this investigation was to compare the strength in terms of determination coefficient (R²) among the associations of cotton yield and leaf N concentration with integrated and respective NDVI and plant height measurements taken at key growth stages. A field experiment was carried out on no-till cotton at Jackson and Milan in Tennessee during 2008–2010. Six N treatments of 0, 45, 90, 135, 179, and 224 kg N ha^?1 were implemented in a randomized complete block design with four replicates for all site years. Regressions of lint yield with NDVI × plant height and NDVI + plant height were sometimes stronger than those of lint yield with NDVI alone. Associations of leaf N concentration with NDVI × plant height and NDVI + plant height were similar to or variably stronger than those of leaf N with NDVI alone. Regressions of lint yield and leaf N with NDVI × plant height or NDVI + plant height were generally similar to those of lint yield and leaf N with plant height alone. Utilization of integrated NDVI and plant height measurements to predict cotton yield and/or assess N nutrition has variable advantages over the use of NDVI alone. Both integrated and respective NDVI and plant height measurements are more appropriate to be used to predict cotton yield than to assess N nutrition.     

Molecular mobility in polymers studied with thermally stimulated recovery. II. Study of the glass transition of a semicrystalline PET and comparison with DSC and DMA results

The glass transition of a semicrystalline PET is studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermally stimulated recovery (TSR). The DMA results allowed us to construct a master curve for E′ and D′, where the shift factors were modelled with the Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman-Hesse (VFTH) equation above T_g. Using the thermal sampling procedure, the TSR technique allowed us to decompose the complex distribution of retardation times into a set of quasi-elementary processes. At the compensation point a broad distribution of retardation times is observed using DSC data. The TSR results show a typical increase of the activation energies in the glassy state, followed by a decrease above T_g that may be modelled with the VFTH equation. This observation was explained taking into account both the typical time scale range of TS experiments and the evolution of the retardation times distribution with temperatures below and above T_g, under the Adams-Gibbs theory. The evolution of the activation energies from the TSR results was shown to be compatible with the DMA and DSC data.     

Progress toward the production of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic plants

Long-chain PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids are prevalent in fish oils, and these compounds have been demonstrated to play important roles in human health and nutrition. In particular, these n−3/omega-3 long-chain PUFA provide protection from cardiovascular disease and a collection of symptoms (termed metabolic syndrome) associated with progression toward type 2 diabetes and obesity. Within Western populations, a large increase in the occurrence of these conditions represents a major public health concern. Unfortunately, both marine fish stocks and (consequentially) consumption of fish oils are in steep decline, limiting the protective role of long-chain PUFA in human health. One alternative approach to the provision of these health-beneficial FA is via their synthesis in transgenic plants. This review will describe recent advances in the production of transgenic plant oils nutritionally enhanced to produce long-chain PUFA.