Overview of methods used to evaluate the adequacy of nutrient intakes for individuals and populations

The objective of the present paper is to review the methods of measuring micronutrient intake adequacy for individuals and for populations in order to ascertain best practice. A systematic review was conducted to locate studies on the methodological aspects of measuring nutrient adequacy. The results showed that for individuals, qualitative methods (to find probability of adequacy) and quantitative methods (to find confidence of adequacy) have been proposed for micronutrients where there is enough data to set an average nutrient requirement (ANR). If micronutrients do not have ANR, an adequate intake (AI) is often defined and can be used to assess adequacy, provided the distribution of daily intake over a number of days is known. The probability of an individual's intake being excessive can also be compared with the upper level of safe intake and the confidence of this estimate determined in a similar way. At the population level, adequacy can be judged from the ANR using the probability approach or its short cut – the estimated average requirement cut-point method. If the micronutrient does not have an ANR, adequacy cannot be determined from the average intake and must be expressed differently. The upper level of safe intake can be used for populations in a similar way to that of individuals. All of the methodological studies reviewed were from the American continent and all used the methodology described in the Institute of Medicine publications. The present methodology should now be adapted for use in Europe

A new sdO+dM binary with extreme eclipses and reflection effect

We report the discovery of a new totally-eclipsing binary (RA=06:40:29.11; Dec=+38:56:52.2; J=2000.0; Rmax=17.2 mag) with an sdO primary and a strongly irradiated red dwarf companion. It has an orbital period of Porb=0.187284394(11) d and an optical eclipse depth in excess of 5 magnitudes. We obtained two low-resolution classification spectra with GTC/OSIRIS and ten medium-resolution spectra with WHT/ISIS to constrain the properties of the binary members. The spectra are dominated by H Balmer and He II absorption lines from the sdO star, and phase-dependent emission lines from the irradiated companion. A combined spectroscopic and light curve analysis implies a hot subdwarf temperature of Teff(spec) = 55 000 +/- 3000K, surface gravity of log g(phot) = 6.2 +/- 0.04 (cgs) and a He abundance of log(nHe/nH) = -2.24 +/- 0.40. The hot sdO star irradiates the red-dwarf companion, heating its substellar point to about 22 500K. Surface parameters for the companion are difficult to constrain from the currently available data: the most remarkable features are the strong H Balmer and C II-III lines in emission. Radial velocity estimates are consistent with the sdO+dM classification. The photometric data do not show any indication of sdO pulsations with amplitudes greater than 7mmag, and Halpha-filter images do not provide evidence of the presence of a planetary nebula associated with the sdO star.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in Ap

Descritores epidérmicos de eudicotiledôneas forrageiras - guia para identificação da dieta de herbívoros usando o programa Delta.

Este Boletim é resultado de aproximadamente dez anos de coletas e pesquisas sobre dieta de animais silvestres e domésticos no Pantanal, com a utilização da técnica microhistológica fecal. Nesses anos, foram identificados os principais recursos forrageiros utilizados pelos bovinos e demais animais que consomem plantas a partir da análise das fezes. Este guia tem como objetivo auxiliar os técnicos nas leituras de lâminas fecais a partir da definição de descritores anatômicos da epiderme foliar de eudicotiledôneas, que foram inseridos no sistema DELTADIET, desenvolvido pela Embrapa Pantanal, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland e apoio de outras instituições. Essas informações serão úteis não apenas como guia para a identificação da dieta dos animais do Pantanal como também para animais de outras regiões, além de contribuir para a caracterização das forrageiras nativas da região.bitstream/item/79825/1/BP96.pd

Descritores epidérmicos de gramíneas (Poaceae): um guia para identificação da dieta de herbívoros usando o programa Delta.

Este guia tem como objetivo auxiliar os técnicos nas leituras de lâminas fecais a partir da definição de decritores anatômicos da epiderme foliar de gramíneas que foram inseridos no sistema DELTADIET, desenvolvido pela Embrapa Pantanal, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland e apoio de outras Instituições. Essas informações serão úteis não apenas como guia para a identificação da dieta dos animais do Pantanal como também para animais de outras regiões, além de contribuir para a caracterização das forrageiras nativas da região.bitstream/item/79824/1/BP95.pd