Nutritional status of adults and children under 5 years of age in two areas of Guatemala Project results for “His and Hers, time and income: how intra-household dynamics impact nutrition in agricultural households”.

Proyecto IMMANAIn this info-note, we explain the body mass index calculations (BMI) for adults in agricultural Guatemalan households, as well as the implementation of indicators to assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years (height for age, weight for age and weight for height). This work is part of the project “His and Hers, time and income: How intra-household dynamics impact nutrition in agricultural households,” led by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the University de Florida 1 with funding from the program Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA).2 The prevalence of stunting in Guatemalan children under 5 years is 46 percent, according to Guatemala’s Ministry of Public Health (INE, 2015). Stunting refers to insufficient height with respect to age. It is a consequence of inadequate socioeconomic conditions that are often associated with insufficient nutrition and health of the mother, which is in turn reflected in inadequate care of the infant. Stunting prevents children from fully developing their physical and cognitive potential (WHO, 2018). Simultaneously and paradoxically, Guatemala also shows a significant presence of overweight and obesity rates among its population. The prevalence of overweight in adults is 56% and of obesity is 21% (WHO, 2017)

A combined local damage index for seismic assessment of existing RC structures

A new local damage index for existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures is introduced, wherein deterioration caused by all deformation mechanisms (flexure, shear, anchorage slip) is treated separately for each mechanism. Moreover, the additive character of damage arising from the three response mechanisms, as well as the increase in degradation rate caused by their interaction, are fully taken into consideration. The proposed local damage index is then applied, in conjunction with a finite element model developed previously by the authors, to assess seismic damage response of several RC column and frame test specimens with substandard detailing. It is concluded that in all cases and independently from the prevailing mode of failure, the new local damage index describes well the damage pattern of the analysed specimens

His and Hers, time and income: How intra-household dynamics impact nutrition in agricultural households. Methods guide: Designing and implementation of data collection tools

Proyecto IMMAN

Él y Ella, tiempo e ingreso: Dinámicas intra-hogar e impacto sobre la nutrición de hogares agrícolas Guía metodologica: Diseño e implementación de herramientas para la recolección de datos

Proyecto IMMANAEl Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), junto con la Universidad de Florida, dentro del contexto del programa de Métodos y Métricas Innovadores para Acciones Agrícolas y Nutricionales (IMMANA)[1], diseñó un proyecto de investigación para el desarrollo de nuevas metodologías para entender como los procesos de toma de decisiones dentro del hogar respecto al uso del tiempo y la asignación de ingresos a diferentes tipos de alimentos impactan la nutrición de varios miembros del hogar. En este documento describimos el estudio, los instrumentos diseñados y el cálculo de los índices y métricos incluidos. Explicamos en detalle la metodología usada para la recolección y manejo de datos, las decisiones y ajustes hechos durante la fase de implementación y las lecciones aprendidas. Al explicar en detalle nuestra metodología, esperamos que este documento sirva como guía para futuros estudios

Damage Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Structures with Substandard Detailing

The goal of this study is to investigate seismic behaviour of existing R/C buildings designed and constructed in accordance with standards that do not meet current seismic code requirements. In these structures, not only flexure, but also shear and bond-slip deformation mechanisms need to be considered, both separately and in combination. To serve this goal, a finite element model is developed for inelastic seismic analysis of complete planar R/C frames. The proposed finite element is able to capture gradual spread of inelastic flexural and shear deformations as well as their interaction in the end regions of R/C members. Additionally, it is capable of predicting shear failures caused by degradation of shear strength in the plastic hinges of R/C elements, as well as pullout failures caused by inadequate anchorage of the reinforcement in the joint regions. The finite element is fully implemented in the general inelastic finite element code IDARC2D and it is verified against experimental results involving individual column and plane frame specimens with nonductile detailing. It is shown that, in all cases, satisfactory correlation is established between the model predictions and the experimental evidence. Finally, parametric studies are conducted to illustrate the significance of each deformation mechanism on the seismic response of the specimens under investigation. It is concluded, that all deformation mechanisms, as well as their interaction, should be taken into consideration in order to predict reliably seismic damage of R/C structures with substandard detailing

A rapidly growing skin lesion

Case report of a patient with a skin lesion

Mapping, description and improvement of the processes related to the macro-process Plant Health of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply s Decentralized Units

O Brasil ocupa posição de destaque no mundo como produtor e exportador de produtos agropecuários. O incremento do comércio internacional, aliado às dimensões do país, contribui, entretanto, para maior risco da entrada e estabelecimento de pragas que podem causar significativo impacto econômico, social e ambiental. As unidades de sanidade vegetal das Superintendências Federais de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (SFAs), embora atuem embasadas nas normas legais e diretrizes emanadas pelo Departamento de Sanidade Vegetal da Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuária do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (DSV/SDA/MAPA) e no escopo de suas competências regimentais, não dispõem de um manual de procedimentos e de formulários que estabeleça padrões para execução de suas atividades. Esta dissertação teve por objetivo desenvolver um manual de procedimentos para a realização dessas atividades. A metodologia empregada no planejamento, pesquisa, mapeamento e elaboração do manual foi aquela desenvolvida e adotada pela Coordenação de Planejamento e Gestão do MAPA, por meio de seu Manual de Mapeamento, Aprimoramento e Implementação de Processo de Serviço (MAIPS). Como resultado da pesquisa de campo, foram mapeados vinte e quatro subprocessos, compreendidos em três processos de serviço que compõem o macroprocesso Sanidade Vegetal das SFAs. Verificou-se ainda que, regra geral, não existem procedimentos operacionais padrão escritos e que os formulários utilizados não são uniformizados. Como resultado da fase de aprimoramento, foi construído o Manual de Procedimentos para as Unidades de Sanidade Vegetal das SFAs, composto de fluxogramas, descrições de atividades, tarefas, regras e formulários.Brazil is among the greatest world producers and traders of agricultural products. The inevitable growth of international trade, combined with the country s huge borders contributes, nevertheless, to increased risk of entrance and establishment of pests that may cause significant economic, social and environmental impact. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply s (MAPA) decentralized plant protection units, although operating in line with legal regulation and guidelines, and within the limits of its regimental competencies, do not have a procedural manual. The objective of this dissertation is to develop a procedural manual to guide the performance of the plant protection activities. The methodology used in planning, research, mapping and construction of the manual is the one developed and adopted by MAPA s Planning and Management Coordination, through its Mapping, Improvement and Implementation of Service Processes Manual (MAIPS). As a result of field research, twenty-four sub-processes have been mapped, comprised in three service processes that compose the macro-process Plant Health of MAPA s decentralized plant protection units. In general, research demonstrated that there are no written standard operational procedures in place and that the forms are not standardized. Throughout the improvement stage, a Procedural Manual has been built, composed by flowcharts, activity descriptions, tasks, rules and forms