Association between socioeconomic status and diet quality in Mexican men and women: A cross-sectional study

Examining the potential differences in diet quality among socioeconomic status (SES) subgroups in Mexican adults may help to explain SES disparities in the burden of non-communicable diseases. We determined the association between SES, gender and diet quality among Mexican adults. We analyzed data from adults participating in the subsample with dietary information from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (n = 2,400), and developed the Mexican Diet Quality Index based on the Mexican Dietary Guidelines. We tested the interaction between sex and SES indicators using multivariable linear regression models. Sex was not a modifier; therefore, the analyses were carried out in the overall sample of men and women. The mean age was 42 (SE = 0.4) years, the total diet quality score was 38 (SE = 0.4), and a high percentage of men and women were classified with reading/writing skills or 3-9 years of school. A higher percentage of adults were classified with high versus medium or low assets index. In the multivariable model further adjusted for the assets index, for adults with education in the reading and/or 3-9 years of schooling and those with ≥10 years of school, there was a 3.7 and 5.8 points lower total diet quality score than with adults with no reading/writing skills (p < 0.05). Likewise, in multivariable model further adjusted for educational level, the total diet quality score was 2.5 points and 3.3 points lower in adults classified with medium and high assets index, respectively, versus low assets index (p < 0.05). The difference between individuals with medium and high assets index was not statistically significant. Although there is currently better diet quality among adults with low SES, this needs to continue to be monitored as Mexico progress through the nutrition transition

Analysis of dietary trends in Chinese adolescents from 1991 to 2011

Background and Objectives: To examine temporal trends in dietary energy, fat, carbohydrate, protein, sodium and potassium intake of Chinese adolescents aged 12 - 17 years by sex and urbanicity, using data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Methods and Study Design: Individual level, consecutive 3 - day 24-hour recalls were analyzed from survey years 1991 (n=504), 2000 (n=665), and 2011 (n=267) from nine provinces representing a range of geography, economic development, and health indicators in China. Linear multivariable regression models were conducted to predict mean intakes of energy, macronutrients, sodium, and potassium. Models were adjusted for age, per capita income, parental education, region, and family size. Results: From 1991 to 2011, total energy consumption decreased among both sexes and all urbanicity groups (p < 0.05). Sodium intake decreased in all sex and urbanicity groups except the high urbanicity group, which was the only group to show significant change in potassium intake (p < 0.05). Sodium-potassium ratios decreased overall and across both sexes (p < 0.05). However, the major observed shift was a structural change from carbohydrates to fat and protein. Both sexes showed decrease in carbohydrate-derived energy (p < 0.05). Proportion of fat-derived energy increased in female adolescents. Proportion of protein-derived energy increased in male adolescents, as well as in the low and high urbanicity groups (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This suggests Chinese adolescents are transitioning to a low carbohydrate diet. Urbanicity appears to play a role in sodium, potassium and protein intake. Improvements of sodiumpotassium ratios are primarily due to decreased sodium intake and require further reduction efforts

The socioeconomic disparities in intakes and purchases of less-healthy foods and beverages have changed over time in urban Mexico

Background: To our knowledge, the association between diet and socioeconomic status (SES), using both purchase and intake data, in the Mexican population has not been examined, which is particularly important given the high prevalence of diet-related diseases in Mexico. Objective: Our objectivewas to examine the SES-diet relation using household food purchases and individual food intake data. Methods: We analyzed purchases of packaged food and beverages of 5240 households with the use of the 2012- 2014 Nielsen Mexico Consumer Panel Service Dataset, representative of urban areas. Likewise, we examined 9672 individuals over 2 y with food and beverage intake information collected using a single 24-h recall as part of the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012. Multivariate linear regression models were conducted to predict per capita daily purchases and intakes of food and beverages classified as healthy and less healthy by SES, and adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Results: Per capita daily purchases of healthy and less-healthy foods were, on average, 142% and 55% higher in highthan in low-SES households, respectively, from 2012 to 2014 (P < 0.05). Intakes of healthy and less-healthy foods in urban areas were, on average, 7% and 136% higher in high- than in low-SES groups (P < 0.05). Per capita daily purchases of healthy beverages were, on average, 56% higher in high- than in low-SES households from 2012 to 2014 (P < 0.05), whereas purchases of less-healthy beverageswere 27% and 17% higher in low- than in high-SES households in 2012 and 2014, respectively (P < 0.05). Per capita daily intake of healthy beverages was 33% higher in high- than in low-SES groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher-SES groups from urban areas had greater purchases and intakes of less-healthy foods and healthy beverages. Lower-SES households had greater purchases of less-healthy beverages, but also had the largest reduction in these purchases from 2012 to 2014, which could be associated with the beverage tax implemented in Mexico in 2014

The association of overall diet quality with BMI and waist circumference by education level in Mexican men and women

Objective:The present study evaluated the association of two measures of diet quality with BMI and waist circumference (WC), overall and by education level, among Mexican men and women.Design:We constructed two a priori indices of diet quality, the Mexican Diet Quality Index (MxDQI) and the Mexican Alternate Healthy Eating Index (MxAHEI), which we examined relative to BMI and WC. We computed sex-specific multivariable linear regression models for the total sample and by education level.Setting:Mexico.Participants:Mexican men (n 954) and women (n 1356) participating in the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012.Results:Total dietary scores were not associated with BMI in men and women, but total MxDQI was inversely associated with WC in men (-0·10, 95 % CI -0·20, -0·004 cm). We also found that some results differed by education level in men. For men with the lowest education level, a one-unit increase in total MxDQI and MxAHEI score was associated with a mean reduction in BMI of 0·11 (95 % CI -0·18, 0·04) and 0·18 (95 % CI -0·25, -0·10) kg/m2, respectively. Likewise, a one-unit increase in total MxDQI and MxAHEI score was associated with a mean change in WC of -0·30 (95 % CI -0·49, -0·11) and -0·53 (95 % CI -0·75, -0·30) cm, respectively, in men with the lowest level of education. In women, the association of diet quality scores with BMI and WC was not different by education level.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that a higher diet quality in men with low but not high education is associated with lower BMI and WC

Cross-sectional association between diet quality and cardiometabolic risk by education level in Mexican adults

Objective: Understanding the association between diet quality and cardiometabolic risk by education level is important for preventing increased cardiometabolic risk in the Mexican population, especially considering pre-existing disparities in diet quality. The present study examined the cross-sectional association of overall diet quality with cardiometabolic risk, overall and by education level, among Mexican men and women.Design: Cardiometabolic risk was defined by using biomarkers and diet quality by the Mexican Diet Quality Index. We computed sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models.Setting: Mexico.Participants: Mexican men (n 634) and women (n 875) participating in the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012.Results: We did not find associations of diet quality with cardiometabolic risk factors in the total sample or in men by education level. However, we observed that for each 10-unit increase in the dietary quality score, the odds of diabetes risk in women with no reading/writing skills was 0·47 (95 % CI 0·26, 0·85) relative to the odds in women with ≥10 years of school (referent). Similarly, for each 10-unit increase of the dietary quality score, the odds of having three v. no lipid biomarker level beyond the risk threshold in lower-educated women was 0·27 (95 % CI 0·12, 0·63) relative to the odds in higher-educated women.Conclusions: Diet quality has a stronger protective association with some cardiometabolic disease risk factors for lower- than higher-educated Mexican women, but no association with cardiometabolic disease risk factors among men. Future research will be needed to understand what diet factors could be influencing the cardiometabolic disease risk disparities in this population

Machine learning in space and time for modelling soil organic carbon change

Spatially resolved estimates of change in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are necessary for supporting national and international policies aimed at achieving land degradation neutrality and climate change mitigation. In this work we report on the development, implementation and application of a data-driven, statistical method for mapping SOC stocks in space and time, using Argentina as a pilot. We used quantile regression forest machine learning to predict annual SOC stock at 0–30 cm depth at 250 m resolution for Argentina between 1982 and 2017. The model was calibrated using over 5,000 SOC stock values from the 36-year time period and 35 environmental covariates. We preprocessed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) dynamic covariates using a temporal low-pass filter to allow the SOC stock for a given year to depend on the NDVI of the current as well as preceding years. Predictions had modest temporal variation, with an average decrease for the entire country from 2.55 to 2.48 kg C m−2 over the 36-year period (equivalent to a decline of 211 Gg C, 3.0% of the total 0–30 cm SOC stock in Argentina). The Pampa region had a larger estimated SOC stock decrease from 4.62 to 4.34 kg C m−2 (5.9%) during the same period. For the 2001–2015 period, predicted temporal variation was seven-fold larger than that obtained using the Tier 1 approach of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Prediction uncertainties turned out to be substantial, mainly due to the limited number and poor spatial and static, whereas SOC is dynamic and SOC dynamics are of particular interest to carbon sequestration and land degradation studies. Thus, there is a clear need to extend spatial SOC mapping to space–time SOC mapping. temporal distribution of the calibration data, and the limited explanatory power of the covariates. Cross-validation confirmed that SOC stock prediction accuracy was limited, with a mean error of 0.03 kg C m−2 and a root mean squared error of 2.04 kg C m−2. In spite of the large uncertainties, this work showed that machine learning methods can be used for space–time SOC mapping and may yield valuable information to land managers and policymakers, provided that SOC observation density in space and time is sufficiently large.Fil: Heuvelink, Gerard B.M. ISRIC - World soil information; Holanda. Wageningen University. Soil Geography and Landscape Group; HolandaFil: Angelici, Marcos E. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos; ArgentinaFil: Poggio, Laura ISRIC - World soil information, Wageningen; HolandaFil: Bai, Zhanguo ISRIC - World soil information, Wageningen, The NetherlandsFil: Batjes, Niels H. ISRIC - World soil information, Wageningen, The NetherlandsFil: an den Bosch, Rik ISRIC - World soil information, Wageningen, The NetherlandsFil: Bossio, Deborah The Nature Conservancy; Estados UnidosFil: Estella, Sergio Vizzuality; EspañaFil: Lehmann, Jhoannes. Cornell University. Soil and Crop Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Olmedo, Guillermo F. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Mendoza; ArgentinaFil: Sandermann, Jonathan. Woods Hole Research Center; Estados Unido

Comercio Electrónico de flora y fauna exótica invasora (código de conducta)

Este código de conducta pretende alertar de la venta y adquisición on-line de especies invasoras y fomentar una serie de recomendaciones que ayuden a reducir el riesgo que conlleva el comercio electrónico como vía de introducción de fauna y flora invasora. Los principales destinatarios de este código de conducta son: Profesionales dedicados al comercio de plantas y animales de compañía y a la acuariofilia: importadores (mayoristas), intermediarios (comercializadores y distribuidores) y tiendas (minoristas).Consumidores: aficionados y usuarios de jardinería, mascotismo o acuariofilia. Este código de conducta ha sido redactado en el marco del proyecto LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515) con la contribución de la Comisión Europea a través del programa LIFE. El proyecto LIFE INVASAQUA tiene entre sus objetivos facilitar y apoyar las políticas europeas sobre gestión de especies exóticas invasoras generando información útil para su implementación. Los códigos de conducta son documentos que pretenden fomentar una serie de recomendaciones y buenas prácticas para reducir la problemática asociada a la introducción de fauna y flora invasora. Esta versión 1.0 del documento tiene por objeto difundir la información entre organismos, asociaciones y entidades relacionadas para fomentar la adopción de sus recomendaciones y recoger nuevas aportaciones.El proyecto LIFE INVASAQUA (LIFE17 GIE/ES/000515) está financiado por el Programa LIFE de la Unión Europe

Código de conduta. Prevenção da introdução e dispersão de flora e fauna exótica invasora: agentes ambientais

De forma intencional ou involuntária, o ser humano transporta espécies entre locais desde tempos imemoriais. No entanto, nos últimos 50 anos, o ritmo de introdução de espécies exóticas no meio natural acelerou de forma alarmante, tornando-se numa das principais causas de perda de biodiversidade. A globalização, juntamente com as alterações climáticas, a destruição de habitats, o aumento do trânsito de pessoas e o comércio, são hoje os principais responsáveis pela perda de biodiversidade a nível global, acarretando também graves prejuízos para a economia e a saúde humana

The Origin, Early Evolution and Predictability of Solar Eruptions

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were discovered in the early 1970s when space-borne coronagraphs revealed that eruptions of plasma are ejected from the Sun. Today, it is known that the Sun produces eruptive flares, filament eruptions, coronal mass ejections and failed eruptions; all thought to be due to a release of energy stored in the coronal magnetic field during its drastic reconfiguration. This review discusses the observations and physical mechanisms behind this eruptive activity, with a view to making an assessment of the current capability of forecasting these events for space weather risk and impact mitigation. Whilst a wealth of observations exist, and detailed models have been developed, there still exists a need to draw these approaches together. In particular more realistic models are encouraged in order to asses the full range of complexity of the solar atmosphere and the criteria for which an eruption is formed. From the observational side, a more detailed understanding of the role of photospheric flows and reconnection is needed in order to identify the evolutionary path that ultimately means a magnetic structure will erupt

The Physical Processes of CME/ICME Evolution

As observed in Thomson-scattered white light, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are manifest as large-scale expulsions of plasma magnetically driven from the corona in the most energetic eruptions from the Sun. It remains a tantalizing mystery as to how these erupting magnetic fields evolve to form the complex structures we observe in the solar wind at Earth. Here, we strive to provide a fresh perspective on the post-eruption and interplanetary evolution of CMEs, focusing on the physical processes that define the many complex interactions of the ejected plasma with its surroundings as it departs the corona and propagates through the heliosphere. We summarize the ways CMEs and their interplanetary CMEs (ICMEs) are rotated, reconfigured, deformed, deflected, decelerated and disguised during their journey through the solar wind. This study then leads to consideration of how structures originating in coronal eruptions can be connected to their far removed interplanetary counterparts. Given that ICMEs are the drivers of most geomagnetic storms (and the sole driver of extreme storms), this work provides a guide to the processes that must be considered in making space weather forecasts from remote observations of the corona.Peer reviewe