Food insecurity, weight control practices and body mass index in adolescents

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether experienced food insecurity was associated with weight control behaviour of adolescents. DESIGN: A national survey of 16-year-old students with the six-item food security scale, questions concerning intentions of trying to change weight, physical activity patterns, and measurement of height and weight. SETTING: Representative sample of 29 schools in Trinidad, West Indies. SUBJECTS: Data analysed for 1903 subjects including 1484 who were food-secure and 419 who were food-insecure. RESULTS: In the whole sample, food security status did not vary by body mass index (BMI) category. 'Trying to gain weight' and 'spending most free time in activities involving little physical effort' were each associated with lower BMI. 'Trying to gain weight' was more frequent in food-insecure subjects (135, 32%) than in food-secure subjects (369, 25%, P = 0.012). After adjustment for BMI, age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic variables, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 'trying to gain weight' for food-insecure subjects was 1.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.82, P = 0.014). Food-insecure subjects (197, 47%) were more likely than food-secure subjects (575, 39%) to report that most of their free time was spent doing things that involved little physical effort (P = 0.003). This association was not explained by adjustment for BMI, age, sex and ethnicity (OR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.13-1.76, P = 0.002) or additional socio-economic variables (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.57, P = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents who experience food insecurity are more likely to intend to gain weight but engage in less physical activity than food-secure subjects with the same BMI.     

The impact of body mass index and Western advertising and media on eating style, body image and nutrition transition among Jordanian women

OBJECTIVES: To identify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and Western advertising and media on the stage of the nutrition transition among Jordanian women, and to evaluate their impact on eating styles and body image. DESIGN: A randomised cross-sectional survey that included a variety of culturally measured Likert-type scales and body size images. In addition, BMI was calculated based on measured height and weight. SETTING: In the homes of the participants. The data were collected by female interviewers who worked for the Jordan Department of Statistics. SUBJECTS: The sample was based on a random and representative selection of 800 mostly urban Jordanian women. A pre-test sample of 100 women was also used to validate the instruments. RESULTS: Women tended to agree that they ate based on emotional cues. They had high levels of disordered eating attitudes and behaviours and 42.1% were considered restrained eaters. However, these women also had higher than expected body esteem levels and desired a healthy body size. As expected, being obese was associated with a desire to lose weight, being a restrained and emotional eater, and having more disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. Similarly, Western advertising and media were associated with restrained and emotional eating, desired weight loss, and disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to develop health education materials that explain the influence of obesity on health and the negative psychological and physical consequences of restrained and emotional eating, building on the current cultural preferences of healthy body size. Further implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Changes in neighbourhood food store environment, food behaviour and body mass index, 1981--1990

OBJECTIVE: This paper examines trends in the neighbourhood food store environment (defined by the number and geographic density of food stores of each type in a neighbourhood), and in food consumption behaviour and overweight risk of 5779 men and women. DESIGN: The study used data gathered by the Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program in four cross-sectional surveys conducted from 1981 to 1990. SETTING: Four mid-sized cities in agricultural regions of California. SUBJECTS: In total, 3154 women and 2625 men, aged 25-74 years. RESULTS: From 1981 to 1990, there were large increases in the number and density of neighbourhood stores selling sweets, pizza stores, small grocery stores and fast-food restaurants. During this period, the percentage of women and men who adopted healthy food behaviours increased but so did the percentage who adopted less healthy food behaviours. The percentage who were obese increased by 28% in women and 24% in men.ConclusionFindings point to increases in neighbourhood food stores that generally offer mostly unhealthy foods, and also to the importance of examining other food pattern changes that may have a substantial impact on obesity, such as large increases in portion sizes during the 1980s.     

The effects of suspended ‘red mud’ on mortality,body weight,and growth of the marine planktonic copepod,Calanus helgolandicus

The effect of ‘red mud’ at a dilution of 1:10⁵ to 1:10⁶ on growth, body weight and mortality of juvenile stages of the planktonic copepodCalanus helgolandicus were investigated. In the presence of phytoplanktonC. helgolandicus ingested large amounts of ‘red mud’. In comparison to control copepods growth of ‘red mud’ animals was delayed. Mortality of ‘red mud’ animals was 5 to 8 times higher than that of control animals. The dry body weight of C III, C v, and adults raised from N v/NVI on in ‘red mud’ was far lower than the dry weight of the control animals. All results show that ‘red mud’ at the above mentioned dilutions affects negatively juvenile stages and adults ofCalanus helgolandicus.     

基于点云采集设备的奶牛体尺指标测量

为验证Xtion在奶牛体尺测量上应用的可行性,该文以提高现有体尺指标测量技术的精度、效率及自动化程度为目标,选用Xtion作为采集设备,石膏奶牛模型和真实奶牛作为试验对象,在实验室环境下,采用高精度三维扫描仪扫描奶牛模型作为对比点云数据,以不同距离下Xtion采集的数据作为测试点云数据,通过统计误差定量分析数据精度和密度随采集距离变化的规律,以确定合适的采集距离。养殖场环境下,在小于1.2 m采集距离条件下利用Xtion获取奶牛点云数据,采用Meshlab对点云数据进行可视化和交互测量,定性分析阳光、体表材质等因素对获取点云数据质量的影响,并将交互测量与人工测量结果进行对比分析。结果表明,在遮挡太阳光和采集距离大于0.6小于1.2 m条件下,平均误差小于±5 mm,相对误差小于10%,Xtion作为点云采集设备用于奶牛体尺测量是可行的。     

智能饲喂器对哺乳母猪采食量体况和生产性能的影响

为探究不同饲喂方式对哺乳母猪采食量、体况和生产性能的影响,满足哺乳母猪获得最大采食量并达到精准饲喂控制等需求,该文以哺乳母猪为试验对象,比较不同饲喂方式对哺乳母猪采食量、体况和生产性能的影响。试验共选用40只1胎母猪,随机分为3组:试验1组采用智能饲喂器饲喂(6次/d)、试验2组采用人工饲喂(6次/d)、对照组采用人工饲喂(3次/d)。结果表明,在试验环境条件下,哺乳8～21 d、人工饲喂3次/d的采食量(6.46 kg)显著高于智能饲喂6次/d(5.22 kg)(P0.05),2种饲喂方式在母猪的体质量变化、背膘变化、总产仔数、断奶后发情天数、仔猪日增体质量和用水量方面均无显著性差异(P0.05);哺乳母猪在采食过多时可能引起厌食进而降低后期的采食量,应按照饲喂参数逐步增加饲喂量饲喂;在现有设备投资和工资水平下,智能饲喂器正常使用4.5 a可取代1名优秀饲养员。研究结果可为今后智能化饲喂替代有经验人工饲喂、根据饲养条件选择饲喂方式提供参考。     

Lipid, protein and carbohydrate intake in relation to body mass index: an Italian study

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the association between macronutrient intake and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: A series of hospital-based case-control studies. SETTINGS: Selected teaching and general hospitals in several Italian regions. SUBJECTS: A total of 6619 subjects from the comparison groups of the case-control studies were included in the analysis. METHODS: We obtained data from a validated 78-item food-frequency questionnaire submitted between 1991 and 2002. For various macronutrients, the partial regression coefficient (variation of BMI (kg m(-2)) per 100 kcal increment of energy intake) was derived from multiple linear regression models, after allowance for age, study centre, education, smoking habits, number of eating episodes and mutual adjustment for macronutrients. RESULTS: BMI was directly associated with protein intake among women only (beta = 0.68) and with unsaturated fats in both genders (for monounsaturated fats beta = 0.27 for men and 0.26 for women; for polyunsaturated fats beta = 0.27 for men and 0.54 for women), and inversely related to carbohydrates (beta = -0.05 for men and -0.21 for women) and number of eating episodes in both genders (beta = -0.42 for men and -0.61 for women) and to saturated fats among women only (beta = -0.57). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm and provide convincing evidence that, after allowance for selected covariates including total energy intake, a protein-rich diet is not inversely related to BMI, and a carbohydrate-rich diet is not directly related to BMI.     

Cadmium and lead in human body fluids,air and drinking water in the area of Cracow

The amount of Cd and Pb in full blood and in the urine of males in Cracow and in a control area were measured and compared to the background of the level of these metals in air, dust fall and drinking water. The investigations were carried out in the years 1984–85. The mean Cd level in body fluids of Cracow's inhabitants was significantly higher than in the control group, and it amounted to: 0.54 μg Cd 100 mL^?1 in blood and 2.13 μg Cd L^?1 in urine. The Pb content in blood of the Cracow group (15.74 μg 100 mL^?1) was also significantly higher than in the control one, while the Pb level in urine was similar in both populations, reaching values below 10 μg L^?1. The mean annual Cd concentration in air and the Cd content in the dust fall in Cracow were 3 times higher than in the control area. The mean annual Pb concentration in Cracow's air exceeded the permissible Polish norm. In comparison with the control area, the Pb concentration level in air and its content in the dust fall in Cracow were 5 and 2 times higher, respectively. The level of Cd and Pb concentration in drinking water in Cracow and in the control area were much lower than the permissible values; however, in Cracow they were somewhat higher than in the control area.     

Development and validation of instruments measuring body image and body weight dissatisfaction in South African mothers and their daughters

OBJECTIVE: We sought to validate questionnaires concerning body image perception, body size dissatisfaction and weight-related beliefs in multi-ethnic South African mothers and their daughters. SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS: Girls attending primary school (ages 9-12 years, n = 333) and their mothers (n = 204) were interviewed regarding their demographics and body image. Weight, height and skinfold thicknesses were measured. Body image questions and body mass index (BMI) were compared with silhouettes adapted from the Pathways Study for girls and Stunkard's body image figures for mothers. A Feel-Ideal Difference (FID) index score was created by subtracting the score of the silhouette selected by the participants as 'Ideal' from the one selected as most closely representing their current appearance or 'Feel'. We hypothesised that a higher FID index score would be associated with greater body size dissatisfaction. RESULTS: BMI percentiles in girls (r = 0.46, P < 0.05) and BMI in mothers (r = 0.68, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with the selected silhouettes based on size. Participants who reported feelings of being 'fat' and those who perceived that their family and friends were more dissatisfied with their body size had significantly higher FID index scores. Scores were lower in black than white girls (all P<0.05). No differences were found in FID index scores between ethnic groups of mothers. Internal reliability of the 'thin' and 'fat' belief constructs for girls was demonstrated by standardised Cronbach's alpha values > or = 0.7. CONCLUSION: Silhouettes, FID index, 'fat' and 'thin' belief constructs (in girls) are age-appropriate, culturally sensitive and can be used in further intervention studies to understand body image.     

Genetically modified rapeseed oil containing cis-9,trans-11,cis-13-octadecatrienoic acid affects body fat mass and lipid metabolism in mice

Punicic acid, one of the conjugated linolenic acid (CLN) isomers, exerts a body-fat reducing effect. Although punicic acid is found in pomegranate and Tricosanthes kirilowii seeds, the amount of this fatty acid is very low in nature. The goal of this study was to produce a transgenic oil containing punicic acid. A cDNA encoding conjugase that converts linoleic acid to punicic acid was isolated from T. kirilowii, and the plant expression vector, pKN-TkFac, was generated. The pKN-TkFac was introduced into Brassica napus by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. As a result, a genetically modified rapeseed oil (GMRO) containing punicic acid was obtained, although its proportion to the total fatty acids was very low (approximately 2.5%). The effects of feeding GMRO in ICR CD-1 male mice were then examined. Wild-type rapeseed (B. napus) oil (RSO) containing no CLN was used as a control oil. For reference oils, RSO-based blended oils were prepared by mixing with different levels of pomegranate oil (PO), either 2.5% (RSO + PO) or 5.0% (RSO + 2PO) punicic acid. Mice were fed purified diets containing 10% of either RSO, RSO + PO, RSO + 2PO, or GMRO for 4 weeks, and dietary PO dose-dependently reduced perirenal adipose tissue weight with a significant difference between the RSO group and the RSO + 2PO group. GMRO, as compared to RSO, lowered the adipose tissue weight to the levels observed with RSO + 2PO. The liver triglyceride level of the RSO + 2PO and GMRO groups but not that of the RSO + PO group was lower than that of the RSO group. The RSO + 2PO and GMRO groups, but not the RSO + PO group, had increased carnitine-palmitoyltransferase activity in the liver and brown adipose tissue. These results showed that dietary GMRO, even at a dietary punicic acid level as low as 0.25 wt % of diet, reduced body fat mass and altered liver lipid metabolism in mice and was more effective than an equal amount of punicic acid from PO.     

棕毛纤维介质对富营养化水体净化效果的研究

采用天然介质材料棕毛纤维对富营养化水体水质净化效果进行研究.采取静态试验的方法,共设置6组每组2个重复,共设置12个水箱,其中1组为对照组,对照组不放置棕毛纤维材料.试验开始后,每隔5 d取1次水样,并分别测定总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、亚硝氮(NO2-N)、硝氮(NO3-N)、氨氮(NH4-N)以及化学耗氧量(CODcr)和溶解氧(DO)等.试验结果表明,棕毛纤维对TN、TP和CODcr,具有较好地净化效果,试验组的净化效果明显高于对照组,春夏季好于秋冬季,不同布设密度之间存在明显差异,密度越大净化效果越好;棕毛纤维介质对NH4-N也有一定的净化效果,但与对照组的差别不是很大,且不同布设密度之间的差异也不是很明显;试验组水体NO3-N含量均有下降,净化效果好于对照组,不同布设密度之间的NO3-N净化差异较为明显,NO3-N的净化效果棕毛纤维高密度的优于低密度的.因此,棕毛纤维是一种较为理想的净化富营养化水体的天然介质材料.     

多缸柴油机机体试验模态研究

用试验模态分析方法确定了CZ480柴油机机体各阶振动频率，运用动态分析软件对机体在各阶振动频率下的变形进行了计算。结果表明：第一、四阶模态的振型以机体的扭转振动为主要特征；第二、三、五、六阶模态以机体弯曲、弯曲与扭转相结合振动为主要振型特征，这几阶振型对发动机的正常工作影响较大。振动频率较高时，在机体的上部(即活塞在缸套内的运动位置处)平面会产生沿机体轴向的振动，表现为椭圆振型特征。机体在该处的振动变形会导致气缸漏气、窜机油等现象，也是产生拉缸的主要因素之一。