Competencies for effective public health nutrition practice: a developing consensus

OBJECTIVES: To assess the level of consensus amongst an international panel of public health nutrition leaders regarding the essential competencies required for effective public health nutrition practice. DESIGN: A modified Delphi study involving three rounds of questionnaires. SUBJECTS: A panel of 20 public health nutrition experts from seven countries in the European Union, the USA and Australia. RESULTS: Expert panellists completed three rounds of the study relating to competencies. A literature review conducted as a prelude to the expert panel survey identified common competency units from the fields of public health, health promotion, nutrition and dietetics, and health education. These were categorised into seven competency areas including analytical, socio-cultural and political, public health service, communication, management and leadership, nutrition science and professional competency categories. There was strong initial agreement (> or = 90% of panellists at Round 1) that developing internationally recognised competencies for public health nutrition specialists was a priority. Twenty-six of an initial listing of 52 competency units were rated as essential competencies by > or = 80% of the panellists after Round 1. Iteration rounds resulted in the addition of five extra competency units suggested by panellists after Round 1 and an increase by 13 in the number of competencies rated as essential to consensus levels. From a total of 57 competency units rated after the final survey round, 41 competency units were rated as essential competencies by > or = 80% of the panellists (consensus), with 21 of these unanimously rated as essential competencies. CONCLUSIONS: There is strong international agreement amongst public health nutrition leaders in Europe, the USA and Australia about a range of competencies required for effective public health nutrition practice. Essential competency units identified can be used to develop and review competency standards for public health nutrition.     

Testing nutrient profile models using data from a survey of nutrition professionals

OBJECTIVE: To compare nutrient profile models with a standard ranking of 120 foods. DESIGN: Over 700 nutrition professionals were asked to categorise 120 foods into one of six positions on the basis of their healthiness. These categorisations were used to produce a standard ranking of the 120 foods. The standard ranking was compared with the results of applying eight different nutrient profile models to the 120 foods: Models SSCg3d and WXYfm developed for the UK Food Standards Agency, the Nutritious Food Index, the Ratio of Recommended to Restricted nutrients, the Naturally Nutrient Rich score, the Australian Heart Foundation's Tick scheme, the American Heart Association's heart-check mark and the Netherlands tripartite classification model for foods. Rank correlation was assessed for continuous models, and dependence was assessed for categorical models. RESULTS: The continuous models each showed good correlation with the standard ranking (Spearman's rho = 0.6-0.8). The categorical models achieved high chi(2) results, indicating a high level of dependence between the nutrition professionals' and the models' categorisations (P < 0.001). Models SSCg3d and WXYfm achieved higher scores than the other models, implying a greater agreement with the standard ranking of foods. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that Models SSCg3d and WXYfm rank and categorise foods in accordance with the views of nutrition professionals.     

Nutrition professionals' perception of the 'healthiness' of individual foods

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the development of an online questionnaire for testing nutrition professionals' perceptions of the 'healthiness' of individual foods and the results of administering that questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to produce a standard ranking of foods that can be used as a tool for testing nutrient profile models. DESIGN: The questionnaire asked respondents to categorise 40 foods (from a master list of 120) in one of six positions, ranging from less to more healthy. The 120 foods were selected to be representative of the British diet. The questionnaire was sent via email to nutrition professionals from the British Dietetic Association and the (British) Nutrition Society. RESULTS: Eight hundred and fifty responses were received. These responses were used to rank the 120 foods by the average score which they received from the nutrition professionals. A regression analysis was also carried out to examine the relationship between the scores awarded by the nutrition professionals and various features of the foods: their nutritional content, their average serving size, their frequency of consumption, whether they were drinks or foods, etc. Nearly 50% of the variance in the average scores was explained by the nutritional content of the foods. When other variables were included in the analysis the percentage of variance that was explained increased to 64%. CONCLUSIONS: The average scores of the foods produce a standard ranking, which can be used as a tool for validating and comparing nutrient profile models. The regression analysis provides some information about how nutrition professionals rank the 'healthiness' of individual foods.     

Public health nutrition practice in Canada: a situational assessment

OBJECTIVE: Renewed focus on public health has brought about considerable interest in workforce development among public health nutrition professionals in Canada. The present article describes a situational assessment of public health nutrition practice in Canada that will be used to guide future workforce development efforts. METHODS: A situational assessment is a planning approach that considers strengths and opportunities as well as needs and challenges, and emphasizes stakeholder participation. This situational assessment consisted of four components: a systematic review of literature on public health nutrition workforce issues; key informant interviews; a PEEST (political, economic, environmental, social, technological) factor analysis; and a consensus meeting. FINDINGS:Information gathered from these sources identified key nutrition and health concerns of the population; the need to define public health nutrition practice, roles and functions; demand for increased training, education and leadership opportunities; inconsistent qualification requirements across the country; and the desire for a common vision among practitioners. CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the situational assessment were used to create a three-year public health nutrition workforce development strategy. Specific objectives of the strategy are to define public health nutrition practice in Canada, develop competencies, collaborate with other disciplines, and begin to establish a new professional group or leadership structure to promote and enhance public health nutrition practice. The process of conducting the situational assessment not only provided valuable information for planning purposes, but also served as an effective mechanism for engaging stakeholders and building consensus.     

Measurement of Blend Concentrations of Conventional and Waxy Hard Wheats Using NIR Spectroscopy

Breeding development of waxy (amylose‐free) hard wheat lines adapted to the North American climate has been underway for more than a decade, with releases of competitive varieties imminent. Because of required identity preservation and a possible premium value placed on waxy lots, a rapid and accurate method is desired to identify and quantify the mixing of conventional wheat with waxy wheat, a condition that might occur at harvest or any point downstream. Our previous work demonstrated that lines pure with waxy starch can be identified from nonwaxy lines by use of near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy applied either on a whole kernel or ground meal basis. However, mixture quantification by NIR techniques has not been examined until now. Using hard winter wheat grown in two seasons (2011 and 2012) and at two locations (Nebraska and Arizona), a series of mixtures ranging in proportion (conventional/waxy) percentage by weight, from 0:100 to 100:0, were formed from nine pairs of waxy and nonwaxy varieties or lines, with year and location being consistent within a pair. Twenty‐nine mixtures (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, …, 85, 90, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, and 100%) were formed for each pair. Partial least squares regression models were developed by using eight of the nine pairs, with model validation accomplished by using the pair excluded. This procedure was repeated for each pair. The results indicate that, regardless of sample format or spectral pretreatment, the optimal models typically produce coefficients of determination in excess of 0.98, with standard errors of 4–7%, thus demonstrating the feasibility of the use of the NIR technique to predict the mixture level to within 10% by weight.     

Constructing DNA fingerprinting of Hemarthria cultivars using EST-SSR and SCoT markers

DNA fingerprinting of known cultivars may provide much-needed data to assist with the identification of such cultivars. From 86 pairs of expressed sequence tag SSRs (EST-SSR) and 45 start-codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) primers, eight pairs of EST-SSR primers and seven SCoT primers were chosen to construct the DNA fingerprinting of six Hemarthria cultivars in this study. Using genomic DNA from six cultivars, a total of eight pairs of EST-SSR primers were able to amplify 193 bands, producing an average of 24.1 bands per primer pair. The percentage of polymorphic bands (PPB) was 83.4 %, and the polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.480 to 0.695, with an average of 0.602. A total of seven SCoT primers amplified 105 bands with an average of 15 bands per sample. The PPB was 84.8 %, and the PIC ranged from 0.471 to 0.758, with an average of 0.612. The unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean dendrogram from EST-SSR and SCoT markers grouped the six Hemarthria cultivars into two major groups of the same. These clusters are in accordance with their known species and origin. Our results indicate a rich genetic diversity in these six Hemarthria cultivars. The six cultivars we assayed could be easily identified using these eight pairs of EST-SSR and seven pairs of SCoT primers.     

An objective examination of consumer perception of nutrition information based on healthiness ratings and eye movements

OBJECTIVE: Previous research on nutrition labelling has mainly used subjective measures. This study examines the effectiveness of two types of nutrition label using two objective measures: eye movements and healthiness ratings. DESIGN: Eye movements were recorded while participants made healthiness ratings for two types of nutrition label: standard and standard plus the Food Standards Agency's 'traffic light' concept. SETTING: University of Derby, UK. SUBJECTS: A total of 92 participants (mean age 31.5 years) were paid for their participation. None of the participants worked in the areas of food or nutrition. RESULTS: For the standard nutrition label, participant eye movements lacked focus and their healthiness ratings lacked accuracy. The traffic light system helped to guide the attention of the consumer to the important nutrients and improved the accuracy of the healthiness ratings of nutrition labels. CONCLUSIONS: Consumers have a lack of knowledge regarding how to interpret nutrition information for standard labels. The traffic light concept helps to ameliorate this problem by indicating important nutrients to which to pay attention.     

基于神经网络的作物营养诊断专家系统

针对传统专家系统自学习能力差的缺点,设计了基于神经网络的作物营养诊断专家系统。收集了小麦缺素时的田间宏观表现、叶部、茎部、果实症状及引起缺素的原因,由专家进行诊断,将其在诊断过程中输入的可信度值和结论作为神经网络的输入神经元和输出神经元。在PC机上经过神经网络学习产生的学习结果存入永久性存储器中作为系统知识库的一部分,然后采用MCS-51C进行设计,在单片机上实现了整个系统的诊断功能。通过田间试验表明该系统充分模仿了专家现场诊断的功能,大大提高了诊断效率。     

甜叶菊中莱苞迪苷D、莱苞迪苷A含量测定方法的优化及应用

为比较不同品系甜叶菊中甜味品质较好的莱苞迪苷D(RD)、莱苞迪苷A(RA)含量组成,在传统C18、HSS T3、Amide色谱柱中选择适宜固定相建立高效液相色谱(HPLC)方法进行测定与分析。结果表明,HSS T3柱对甜菊糖苷选择性较好,可同时分离RA、甜菜苷(ST)、莱苞迪苷F(RF)、莱苞迪苷C(RC)、甜茶苷(RBS)、莱苞迪苷B(RB)、甜菊双糖苷(SB),其HPLC分析参数为:流动相32%乙腈和68%磷酸水(0.01%),等度洗脱,柱温40℃,波长210 nm,进样量10 μL,流速1.0 mL·min^-1;Amide柱对RD分离能力最佳,其HPLC分析参数为:流动相76%乙腈和24%水,等度洗脱,柱温40℃,波长210 nm,进样量10 μL,流速0.8 mL·min^-1。 分析比较12个扦插培育的甜叶菊品系,以编号2甜叶菊中RD含量及其占比最高,提示以其为原材料可生产含RD较高的甜菊糖苷;编号3、5、7、11甜叶菊中具较有高含量的甜菊糖苷(主要为RA),提示这些品种富含RA且甜菊糖苷产量较高;编号1、8甜叶菊中RA+RD占比较高,提示以其为原材料的甜菊糖苷甜味品质较好。本研究所建立的HPLC法为甜叶菊中RD、RA分析研究提供了方法参考,含量分析结果可为实际应用中选择适宜甜叶菊品种提供依据。     

玉米HSP70基因家族的全基因组鉴定与分析

热激蛋白70(HSP70)是生物体应答各种胁迫反应产生的一类蛋白,广泛存在于生物体中,在几乎所有的活细胞中都起着重要的作用。为全面解析玉米基因组HSP70基因信息,利用从Pfam数据库中下载的隐马氏模型文件PF00012在Gramene数据库进行基因搜索,并利用多种生物软件或在线工具对所鉴定的基因进行生物信息学分析。结果表明,试验共鉴定得到35个玉米HSP70基因,分别命名为Zm HSP70-1~Zm HSP70-35。这些基因不均衡地分布在玉米的10条染色体上,其中5号染色体上分布最多(6个),9号染色体上分布最少(1个)。进化树分析显示35个基因聚为6组,且同组基因具有相似的基因结构,其基序数量、类型和顺序也是相似的。物种间进化树分析不同物种的86个基因,存在8对直系同源基因和17对旁系同源基因,直系同源基因中7对存在于玉米和水稻之间,仅1对存在于水稻和拟南芥之间,说明起源于共同祖先基因的直系同源基因对虽在单/双子叶植物差异分离前就存在,但玉米与水稻间的进化关系要比与拟南芥间更为亲近。表达谱分析表明,大多数Zm HSP70基因属组成型表达,但表达模式和表达量不同。本研究结果为进一步研究玉米HSP70家族基因的功能奠定了理论基础。     

Lipophilicity of aminopyridazinone regioisomers

Ten pairs of pyridazinone regioisomers were prepared, and their lipophilicity was described by the logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient (log P) determined experimentally and calculated with prediction methods. The 4- and 5-(substituted amino)-3(2H)-pyridazinone regioisomers were synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of one of the chloro atoms of 4,5-dichloro-2-methyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone or its 6-nitro derivative. Structures of new compounds were proven by spectroscopic methods. The experimental log P values were obtained by a shake flask method in octanol and a S?rensen buffer (pH 7.4) solvent system. A consequent difference was found in the lipophilicity of regioisomers. For each isomer pair, the log P value of the 4-isomer was significantly (average by 0.75 log unit) higher than that of the 5-isomer. Some quantum chemical calculations as well as X-ray analysis of two pairs of regioisomers were also carried out to gain insight into the structural differences of regioisomers. The log P values were calculated by the fragmental approach KOWWIN and a QSPR analysis (3DNET). The a priori KOWWIN gave poor agreement, but with the programs KOWWIN with EVA (experimental value adjusted) and 3DNET, the results were generally in agreement with experiment.     

Development of the Safe Tractor Assessment Rating System

We describe the development of the Safe Tractor Assessment and Rating System (STARS), a design-based tractor safety rating system that can be applied to new or used tractors to provide an objective assessment of their inherent safety features. A predictive rating system model, based on technical inspection, was used. Key principles underlying the system included the potential for design features to reduce the risk of an injury event occurring, and to reduce the risk of injury if such an event did occur. The rating system was based on current standards, research literature, injury and fatality data, and farmer input via focus groups. Development was an iterative process involving field, pilot, and inter-rater reliability tests. The final system was divided into six domains: rollover protection, runover protection, user protection, information and controls, pedestrian protection, and options. Within each domain, optimum design features were described for the common or serious potential injury risks, and a score was assigned for each feature. Scores were translated into a star rating, from zero stars for virtually no inherent safety features to five stars for the highest inherent safety, for each of the six domains. STARS distinguished well between older tractor models known to have few inherent safety features and newer tractor models known to have higher levels of inherent safety. STARS can provide tractor manufacturers, dealers, and users with information critical for managing tractor-associated injury risk. In Australia, it is initially being implemented within the curriculum of the technical education and training sector.     

Determination of optimum nutrient element ratios in plant tissue

A new approach for determining optimum nutrient element ratios in plant tissue is presented. Essential steps in the procedure involve: a) measuring patterns of response to pairs of nutrient elements in factorial fertilizer trials, b) modeling the yield response surface using a bivariate, Mitscherlich‐related response function, c) defining balanced nutrition in terms of the parameters of the response surface, d) identifying combinations of P and S fertilizer resulting in balanced nutrition, and e) determining from plant chemical analysis the ratio of nutrients in plant tissue in nutritionally balanced combinations. The approach is illustrated by data from a phosphorus (P) by sulfur (S) factorial field fertilizer trial on a mown mixed white clover (Trifolium repens cv Grasslands Huia) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L cv Grasslands Nui) sward. Different parameters of yield [total dry matter production, clover dry matter production, clover nitrogen (N) uptake] required different ratios of S:P in fertilizer and consequently in plant tissue for nutritional balance. Also, plant tissue S:P ratios for balanced nutrition declined as the level of nutrition increased. Economic optimum S:P fertilizer ratios were higher than those ratios required for nutrient element balance due to the lower cost and higher effectiveness per kilogram of fertilizer S compared with fertilizer P. Ratios of S and P to N in clover tissue were useful indicators of the adequacy of S and P for clover which was dependent on N₂ fixation for its N supply. It is suggested that a nutrient element index system showing both relative and absolute nutrient element status might be built around N as an internal standard for legumes dependent on N₂ fixation and possibly also for non‐legumes.     

ICP-AES法测定土壤及肥料中的硼含量

采用岛津 ICP- 10 0 0 型真空单道扫描发射光谱仪测定了土壤及肥料中的硼含量 ,方法经标准土壤样品验证 ,并与肥料测定的国家标准方法相比较 ,结果均十分符合。同时给出方法的精密度、检出限等参数 ,说明该方法准确度、灵敏度高 ,操作简便快速     

Why the Bush administration and the global sugar industry are determined to demolish the 2004 WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health

OBJECTIVE: To indicate why the world's most powerful nation state and one powerful sector of the food and drink production and manufacturing industry are determined to demolish the 2004 WHO (World Health Organization) global strategy on diet, physical activity and health, and to disassociate it from the 2003 WHO/FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) expert report on diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases, which with its background papers is the immediate scientific basis for the strategy. To encourage representatives of nation states at the 2004 WHO World Health Assembly to support the strategy together with the report, so that the strategy is explicit and quantified, and responds to the need expressed by member states at the 2002 World Health Assembly. This is for an effective global strategy to prevent and control chronic diseases whose prevalence is increased by nutrient-poor food low in vegetables and fruits and high in energy-dense fatty, sugary and/or salty foods and drinks and also by physical inactivity. Of these diseases, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancers of several sites are now the chief causes of morbidity and mortality in most countries in the world. METHOD: A summary of the global strategy and its roots in scientific knowledge accumulated over the last half-century. Reasons why the global strategy and the expert report are opposed by the current US government and the world sugar industry, with some reference to modern historical context. A summary of the trajectory of the global strategy since its first draft made in early 2003, and a further summary of its weaknesses, strengths and potential. CONCLUSION: The 2004 WHO global strategy and the 2003 WHO/FAO expert report are perceived by the current US administration as an impediment to US trade and international policy, within a general context of current US government hostility to the UN (United Nations) system as a brake on the exercise of its power as the world's dominant nation. Policy-makers throughout the world should be aware of the contexts of current pressures put on them by powerful nation states and sectors of industry whose ideologies and commercial interests are challenged by international initiatives designed to improve public health and to leave a better legacy for future generations.     

低能氮离子注入桔梗种子的生物学效应研究

为研究低能氮离子(N⁺)注入对桔梗种子的生物学效应,以不同氮离子注入能量(25 KeV和35 KeV)和剂量[0(CK)、2×10¹⁶、4×10¹⁶、6×10¹⁶、8×10¹⁶、10×10¹⁶、12×10¹⁶N⁺·cm^-2]对桔梗种子进行处理,通过测定M₀存活率探索最佳处理条件,并对桔梗进行形态学性状观察,筛选优异突变株,进一步通过ISSR分子标记分析桔梗突变体突变位点。结果表明,能量为25 KeV,剂量为12×10¹⁶ N⁺·cm^-2时,桔梗存活率最高,为77.0%。突变株的花形、花萼结构、花期和株高均发生了变化,主要表现为花萼向类似花瓣结构变化、花期延迟、植株变矮等;突变株的ISSR分析结果显示,20对引物共扩增出250个位点,其中多态性位点共87个,多态率为34.80%,平均每对引物可扩增出4.35条多态性片段。本研究结果为桔梗N⁺注入诱变育种提供了一定的理论参考。     

Delivery of nutrition services in health systems in sub-Saharan Africa: opportunities in Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Niger

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, underweight and micronutrient deficiencies account for an estimated 25% of the burden of disease. As the coverage of national health systems expands, increased opportunities exist to address the needs of children and women, the most vulnerable to these deficiencies, through high-quality nutrition services. OBJECTIVES: To assess health providers' knowledge and practice with regard to essential nutrition services for women and children in Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Niger, in order to assist the development of a standard guide and tools to assess and monitor the quality of the nutrition services delivered through national health systems. FINDINGS: The three surveys reveal the extent of missed opportunities to deliver nutrition services during routine prenatal, postnatal and child-care consultations for the prevention and treatment of highly prevalent nutritional deficiencies. CONCLUSION: A commitment to improving the quality of facility-based nutrition services is necessary to impact on the health outcomes of women and children 'covered' by national health systems. Rigorous assessment and monitoring of the quality of nutrition services should inform health programme and policy development. Building on the lessons learned in these three assessments, Helen Keller International has developed a standard Guide and Tools to assess the quality of the nutrition services delivered through national health systems. These tools can be adapted to assess ongoing nutrition services in health facilities, provide a framework for nutrition programming, inform the development of pre-service as well as in-service nutrition training curricula for providers, and evaluate the impact of nutrition training on providers' practices.     

Nutrient profiling: comparison and critical analysis of existing systems

BACKGROUND: Nutrient profiling systems aim at positioning foodstuffs relative to each other according to their contribution to a balanced diet. The accuracy and performance of methodologies are still debated. We present here a critical analysis of the structure and efficiency of the current schemes. METHODS: The literature survey detected only four systems addressing the issue on an 'across the board' approach and with enough detail to enable analysis. The building principles of these systems were compared and their performance was estimated via their classification of a series of 125 foodstuffs on the basis of nutritional composition. These classifications were compared with one another and with an empirical classification by expert nutritionists. RESULTS: All systems gave a similar overview, with fruits and vegetables ranked as the most favourable foods and fatty and sugary foods as the least favourable ones, but numerous discrepancies existed in every system, mainly related to their choice of nutrients and thresholds. The FSA scoring system seemed the most consistent approach, although it still generated some questionable rankings. Expert classification did not clearly validate any scheme, and cannot be considered as a true reference. CONCLUSION: Nutrient profiling systems are confirmed to be powerful tools to translate nutritional information related to the whole diet into the level of individual foods. However, the performance of the existing schemes remains moderate. Alternative approaches, such as considering food categories or introducing more stringent validation steps by a panel of expert nutritionists, could be ways to reach more efficient and consensual tools.     

Protozoa of a rotating biological contactor treatment plant in Mexico

A protozoological analysis of the biofilm developed on the discs of an RBC unit was performed using light microscopy; the species found belonged to 2 phyla: Sarcomastigophora with 23, and Ciliophora with 30 species. All isolates were free-living with the exception of Tritrichomonas fecalis. Most abundant species were: Euglena gracilis, Paramecium multimicronucleatum, Tetrahymena pyriformis, Polytoma uvella, Didinium nasutum, Bodo caudatus, Vorticella microstoma, Cyclidium glaucoma, Sathrophilus agitatus, Antophysa vegetans, and Urothrica farcta. Ciliates predominated over the flagellates in number and diversity. According to their locomotion most abundant species were free-swimming, followed by the attached, and crawling forms. In relation to their nutrition most frequent species were bacterivorous, saprozoic, and carnivorous. Values of the saprobic index calculated for each sampling station indicated that α-mesosaprobic conditions prevailed along the contactor with a zone of overlap with polysaprobic conditions at station IV. The RBC received an influent flow that varied from 1.5 to 13.5 L s^?1 and a soluble BOD₅ which range from 46 to 170 mg L^?1. The contactor studied showed an overall BOD₅ removal of 86% and a COD removal of 74%. DO levels influenced the values obtained for the saprobic index and the kind of protozoan populations and communities present. The biological findings (indicator species of the saprobic system), clearly reflected and agreed with the physicochemical results obtained simultaneously; the results showed that the system performed efficiently.