Orange-Flesh Sweet Potato - Promising Partnerships for Assuring the Integration of Nutritional Concerns into Agricultural Research and Extension

Research Results from the Department of Policy Analysis MARD-Directorate of Economicsfood security, food policy, Mozambique, sweet potato, malnutrition, Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Q18,

Molecular interactions between Vitamin B12 and membrane models: A biophysical study for new insights into the bioavailability of Vitamin

Vitamin B12 (VB12) deficiency is one of the most common malnutrition problems worldwide and is related to its poor bioavailability. The lipid composition of cell membranes and molecule-cell membrane lipid interactions are major factors affecting the bioavailability of nutrients. So, the study of these interactions may allow predicting the behavior of VB12 at cellular membranes and the effects on its activity. Thus, lipid vesicles with lipid composition similar to the majority of eukaryotic cell membranes were used as biomembrane models, and their interactions with VB12 molecules were evaluated. For that, different parameters were assessed such as the lipophilicity of VB12, its preferential location in the membrane and its effect on the physical properties of the bilayer. VB12 showed high affinity for the biological membranes, not inducing any biophysical changes in their properties. The interactions of VB12 with the membrane was affected by the complexity of the bilayer, since its increase in order and rigidity hinders the diffusion of molecules. Thus, the low bioavailability of VB12 is not related with its interactions with the biological membranes. (c) 2020 Elsevier B.V

The role of religiousness on substance-use disorder treatment outcomes: a comparison of black and white adolescents

This study compares 41 Black and 124 White adolescents at intake and discharge from a residential treatment program for substance-use disorders. Study data were obtained as part of a larger study (N = 195) that sought to assess the relationship of helping behavior and addiction recovery. This post-hoc analysis aims to identify cultural strengths that may be associated with recovery from substance-use disorders among Black adolescents. Using regression analyses and controlling for the severity of substance use and background variables that distinguish racial groups, religious practices and behaviors at intake were examined. Specifically, Black youth and White youth were compared on treatment outcomes, including alcohol or drug use during treatment, drug craving, 12-Step work, and 12-Step helping. The burden of health and socioeconomic disparities at intake did not disproportionately disfavor Black adolescents. Outcomes related to 12-Step measures were similar between Black and White youth. White adolescents reported higher craving scores at discharge, and Black adolescents were more likely to use drugs during treatment. High levels of religiousness at treatment intake were linked to greater 12-Step work and greater 12-Step helping at discharge. High levels of religiousness at intake were not related to drug use during treatment or to craving scores at discharge. The relationship between intake levels of religiousness and treatment-related outcomes did not differ by race.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3437261/Accepted manuscrip

Cátions e ânions na solução do solo em área com aplicação de lodo de esgoto.

Estudos de longo prazo em áreas com sucessivas aplicações de lodo de esgoto (LE) são raros nas condições edafo-climáticas brasileiras. Uma destas áreas pertence ao Instituto Agronômico, em Campinas-SP. Entre os anos de 2001 e 2007 a área experimental recebeu anualmente duas doses de LE calculadas para fornecer 120 e 240 kg ha-1 de N para a cultura do milho ou fertilizante mineral nitrogenado na dose de 120 kg ha-1. De 2008 a 2011 a área não recebeu novas aplicações de LE, somente N mineral no tratamento em que era previsto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a distribuição de cátions e ânions em extrato aquoso 1:1, simulando a solução do solo, após a interrupção do uso do LE. Para tanto, foram realizadas coletas de solo (camada 0-20 cm) em setembro de 2009 e março e dezembro de 2010. Foram determinados nos extratos os teores de cátions (Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, Na+, Al+3, Cu+2, Fe+2, Mn+2, Zn+2, Cd+2, Cr+3, Ni+2, Pb+2, NH4+) e ânions (NO3-, SO4-2, HxPO4x-, Cl- e F-), além do pH. A análise dos resultados por componentes principais evidenciou a formação de grupos correspondentes aos tratamentos testados e dentre as variáveis identificadas como mais importantes na formação dos componentes destacaram-se as formas nitrogenadas (NO3- e NH4+), cujos teores foram superiores na solução do solo tratado com lodo

Functional status following pulmonary rehabilitation: responders and non-responders

The 6 min walking test (6MWT) has been largely studied. Less is, however, known about responders and non-responders to pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in other meaningful activities. We explored responders and non-responders and the predictors of response to PR in the 1 min sit-to-stand test (1 min STS) and the 6MWT and compared both measures in classifying responders. An observational study was conducted with 121 people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The functional status was assessed before and after PR. Baseline differences between responders and non-responders were tested with Mann–Whitney U, chi-square, or Fisher exact tests. Predictors were explored with binary logistic regressions. Agreement between both measures was assessed with chi-square, Cohen’s kappa, and McNemar tests. There were 54.5% and 57.0% of responders in the 1 min STS and the 6MWT, respectively. The proportion of responders was significantly different (p = 0.048), with a small agreement between the measures (kappa = 0.180; p = 0.048). The baseline 6MWT was the only significant predictor of response in the 6MWT (OR = 0.995; pseudo-r2 = 0.117; p < 0.001). No significant predictors were found for the 1 min STS. A large number of non-responders in terms of functional status exist. The 1 min STS and the 6MWT should not be used interchangeably. Future studies should explore the added benefit of personalizing PR to this outcome and investigate other potential predictors.publishe

Study of age-related changes in postural control during quiet standing through Linear Discriminant Analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The human body adopts a number of strategies to maintain an upright position. The analysis of the human balance allows for the understanding and identification of such strategies. The displacement of the centre of pressure (COP) is a measure that has been successfully employed in studies regarding the postural control. Most of these investigations are related to the analysis of individuals suffering from neuromuscular disorders. Recent studies have shown that the elderly population is growing very fast in many countries all over the world, and therefore, researches that try to understand changes in this group are required. In this context, this study proposes the analysis of the postural control, measured by the displacement of the COP, in groups of young and elderly adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In total 59 subjects participated of this study. They were divided into seven groups according to their age. The displacement of the COP was collected for each subject standing on a force plate. Two experimental conditions, of 30 seconds each, were investigated: opened eyes and closed eyes. Traditional and recent digital signal processing tools were employed for feature computation from the displacement of the COP. Statistical analyses were carried out in order to identify significant differences between the features computed from the distinct groups that could allow for their discrimination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our results showed that Linear Discrimination Analysis (LDA), which is one of the most popular feature extraction and classifier design techniques, could be successfully employed as a linear transformation, based on the linear combination of standard features for COP analysis, capable of estimating a unique feature, so-called <it>LDA-value</it>, from which it was possible to discriminate the investigated groups and show a high correlation between this feature and age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results show that the analysis of features computed from the displacement of the COP are of great importance in studies trying to understand the ageing process. In particular, the <it>LDA-value </it>showed to be an adequate feature for assessment of changes in the postural control which can be related to functional changes that occur over the ageing.</p

Estoques de carbono e nitrogênio em Latossolo após sucessivas aplicações de lodo de esgoto.

Resumo: O efeito de sete anos de aplicações sucessivas de lodo de esgoto (LE) nos estoques de carbono (C) e nitrogênio (N) em solo agrícola foi avaliado. O experimento consistiu em três tratamentos: FM, fertilização mineral para a cultura do milho; 1L, 10 Mg ha-1 de LE; 2L, 20 Mg ha-1 de LE. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso. Amostras de solo foram coletadas até 40 cm para determinação da densidade aparente e dos teores de C e N totais. Os estoques foram calculados a partir dos teores de C e N, densidade e espessura da camada de solo avaliada. Os resultados foram submetidos a análise de variância e diferenças comparadas pelo teste Tukey a 5% de significância. A aplicação de LE em solo agrícola diminuiu a densidade do solo até 10 cm de profundidade, modificou os teores de C e N até 40 cm, e aumentou os estoques de C e N até 20 cm em comparação aos resultados de FM. Concluímos que em longo prazo o LE traz benefícios ao sistema agrícola, com ênfase nos estoques de C e N

Disponibilidade de fósforo em solos tratados sucessivamente com lodos de esgoto.

Resumo: O uso de lodo de esgoto (LE) na agricultura pode reduzir gastos com fertilizantes, principalmente fosfatados e nitrogenados. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a disponibilidade de P no solo em experimentos de longo prazo com aplicações sucessivas de LE. Foram coletadas amostras de solo de duas áreas experimentais. Uma em Campinas, tratada com lodo proveniente da ETE de Jundiaí, onde foram avaliados três tratamentos (NPK, 1 N e 2 N) em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Outra em Jaguariúna, com aplicações de LE provenientes das ETEs de Barueri e Franca, avaliando-se seis tratamentos (controle, NPK, 1 N, 2 N, 4 N e 8 N) em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. O LE promoveu incrementos de P no experimento de Campinas até a profundidade de 40 cm, comparativamente a adubação mineral. Em Jaguariúna com lodo de Barueri, os incrementos de P disponível foram lineares, com coeficiente linear igual a 16 na camada superficial, e na camada subsuperficial, o efeito das doses foi quadrático. Já para a área com lodo de Franca, os aumentos foram lineares com as doses e o efeito foi observado até 60 cm de profundidade. O uso do LE como fonte de N para o milho proporciona adicionalmente incremento na disponibilidade de P no solo. O aumento na disponibilidade de P na camada superficial do solo é proporcional à dose de lodo aplicada e nas camadas subsuperficiais o efeito depende, além da dose, também do número de reaplicações