Model Selection of Meat Demand System Using the Rotterdam Model and the Almost Ideal Demand System (AIDS)

Aggregated time series data for differentiated meat products namely, beef, pork, poultry, and mutton were used to estimate and analyze Malaysian market demand for meats. The study aimed to select the most appropriate demand model between the equally popular Rotterdam model and the first difference Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA/AIDS) model by using a non-nested test. Both models were accepted, but further diagnostic tests revealed that the first difference LA/AIDS represents more appropriately the Malaysian market demand for meat than the Rotterdam model. Also, the elasticities from the first difference LA/AIDS were found to be more reliable than the Rotterdam model

Strategies and options for increasing and sustaining fisheries and aquaculture production to benefit poorer households in Asia [PDF in letter standard]

The last three decades have wi tnessed dramatic changes in the structure of supply and demand for fish, especially in Asia. This WorldFish research study sponsored by the Asian Development Bank focussed on nine developing countries û Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, all active players in the transformation of global fish supply and demand. The study, broken into five components and reported here, considered: 1) the profile of key aquaculture technologies and fishing practices; 2) analysis of policies, institutions and support services; 3) socioeconomic profile of major stakeholders in the fisheries sector; 4) projections of fish demand and supply in the nine Asian countries; and 5) formulation of national action plans based on the findings and recommendations of the study.Research, Fisheries, Economic analysis, Aquaculture, Fish consumption, Trade, Policies, Socioeconomic aspects, Technology, Fishery products, Asia, China, People's Rep., Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,

Strategies and options for increasing and sustaining fisheries and aquaculture production to benefit poorer households in Asia

The last three decades have witnessed dramatic changes in the structure of supply and demand for fish, especially in Asia. This WorldFish research study sponsored by the Asian Development Bank focussed on nine developing countries – Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, all active players in the transformation of global fish supply and demand. The study, broken into five components and reported here, considered: 1) the profile of key aquaculture technologies and fishing practices; 2) analysis of policies, institutions and support services; 3) socioeconomic profile of major stakeholders in the fisheries sector; 4) projections of fish demand and supply in the nine Asian countries; and 5) formulation of national action plans based on the findings and recommendations of the study

The association of spirometric small airways obstruction with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and quality of life: Results from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background: Spirometric small airways obstruction (SAO) is common in the general population. Whether spirometric SAO is associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and quality of life (QoL) is unknown. Methods: Using data from the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study (N = 21,594), we defined spirometric SAO as the mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25 and 75% of the FVC (FEF25-75) less than the lower limit of normal (LLN) or the forced expiratory volume in 3 s to FVC ratio (FEV3/FVC) less than the LLN. We analysed data on respiratory symptoms, cardiometabolic diseases, and QoL collected using standardised questionnaires. We assessed the associations with spirometric SAO using multivariable regression models, and pooled site estimates using random effects meta-analysis. We conducted identical analyses for isolated spirometric SAO (i.e. with FEV1/FVC ≥ LLN). Results: Almost a fifth of the participants had spirometric SAO (19% for FEF25-75; 17% for FEV3/FVC). Using FEF25-75, spirometric SAO was associated with dyspnoea (OR = 2.16, 95% CI 1.77–2.70), chronic cough (OR = 2.56, 95% CI 2.08–3.15), chronic phlegm (OR = 2.29, 95% CI 1.77–4.05), wheeze (OR = 2.87, 95% CI 2.50–3.40) and cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.11–1.52), but not hypertension or diabetes. Spirometric SAO was associated with worse physical and mental QoL. These associations were similar for FEV3/FVC. Isolated spirometric SAO (10% for FEF25-75; 6% for FEV3/FVC), was also associated with respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: Spirometric SAO is associated with respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and QoL. Consideration should be given to the measurement of FEF25-75 and FEV3/FVC, in addition to traditional spirometry parameters

Cohort Profile: Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study was established to assess the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction, a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and its risk factors in adults (≥40 years) from general populations across the world. The baseline study was conducted between 2003 and 2016, in 41 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, the Caribbean and Oceania, and collected high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry from 28 828 participants. The follow-up study was conducted between 2019 and 2021, in 18 sites across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Caribbean. At baseline, there were in these sites 12 502 participants with high-quality spirometry. A total of 6452 were followed up, with 5936 completing the study core questionnaire. Of these, 4044 also provided high-quality pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry. On both occasions, the core questionnaire covered information on respiratory symptoms, doctor diagnoses, health care use, medication use and ealth status, as well as potential risk factors. Information on occupation, environmental exposures and diet was also collected

Forecasting Rice Yields Based ofMarkov Chain theory

The study explores the application of Markov Chain theory for rice yield forecasting. Yield forecasts are based on the eco-physiological process of rice growth given measurable rice crop characteristics and weather data at intermediate times in the growing season of the rice crop. The ORYZA1 model is used to simulate a database containing rice yields and rice crop conditions at specified times during the growing season. The model was ran on 32 years of historical weather data (1959 - 1990) from the meteorological station at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Baños(121 15 E Latitude: 14 11 N Altitude: 21.0m), Laguna, Philippines. As input to the model, the study adopted the parameters on one of the representative yield potential field experiments at IRRI during the 1992 dry season for the IR72 variety planted on a 15x15 m2 plot. Based on the output of ORYZA1, a Markov Chain (matrix of transition probabilities) was constructed to provide forecast distributions of rice yield for various rice condition classes at different rice phenological stages prior to harvest. This Markov Chain can provide several statistics of interests. This ranges from mean, percentile (median) and standard error of the forecasts to probability interval forecasts and predicted probabilities of exceeding (or falling bellow) target yields. The simulated rice yield obtained from ORYZA1 model for 32 years ranged from 8.33 to 10.88 ton ha-1 with an average of 9.57 ton ha-1 and a standard deviation of 0.60 ton ha-1. Forecasted yields from the matrix of transition probabilities ranged from 8.58 to 9.45 ton ha-1 and standard deviations ranging from 0.39 to 0.60 ton ha-1. Results also showed that forecasted yields are more consistent when forecasting starts when the rice plants are more mature

Prevalence of small airways obstruction and its risk factors in the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study

Background: Small Airways Obstruction (SAO) is a common feature of obstructive lung diseases. There is limited research on SAO, its global prevalence and risk factors. Methods: Using data from 41 sites in the cross-sectional Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study (N=26,448), we defined SAO as either: 1) mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25-75) less than lower limit of normal (LLN), or 2) forced expiratory volume in three seconds to forced vital capacity ratio (FEV3/FVC) less than the LLN. We estimated the prevalence of pre- and post-bronchodilator SAO for each site. To identify risk factors for SAO, we performed multivariable regression analyses within each site, and pooled estimates using random effects meta-analysis. Findings: Prevalence of pre-bronchodilator SAO ranged from 5% (34/624) in Tartu (Estonia) to 34% (189/555) in Mysore (India) for FEF25-75, while for FEV3/FVC it ranged from 5% (31/667) in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) to 31% (287/981) in Salzburg (Austria). Prevalence of post-bronchodilator SAO was universally lower. Risk factors associated with FEV3/FVC included increasing age, low body mass index, active and passive smoking, low level of education, working in a dusty job for more than 10 years, and previous tuberculosis. Results were similar for FEF25-75, except for increasing age, which was associated with reduced odds of SAO. Interpretation: Despite the wide geographical variation, SAO is common and more prevalent than chronic airflow obstruction worldwide. SAO shows the same risk factors as chronic airflow obstruction. However, further research is required to investigate whether it also associates with respiratory symptoms and lung function decline. Funding: National Heart and Lung Institute; Wellcome Trust (085790/Z/08/Z)

Isolated small airways obstruction predicts future chronic airflow obstruction:a multinational longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Chronic airflow obstruction is a key characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We investigated whether isolated small airways obstruction is associated with chronic airflow obstruction later in life. METHODS: We used longitudinal data from 3957 participants of the multinational Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. We defined isolated small airways obstruction using the prebronchodilator mean forced expiratory flow rate between 25% and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FVC) (FEF ) if a result was less than the lower limit of normal (<LLN) in the presence of a normal forced expiratory volume in 1?s to FVC ratio (FEV /FVC). We also used the forced expiratory volume in 3 s to FVC ratio (FEV /FVC) to define small airways obstruction. We defined chronic airflow obstruction as post-bronchodilator FEV /FVC<LLN. We performed mixed effects regression analyses to model the association between baseline isolated small airways obstruction and chronic airflow obstruction at follow-up. We assessed discriminative and predictive ability by calculating the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and Brier score. We replicated our analyses in 26?512 participants of the UK Biobank study. RESULTS: Median follow-up time was 8.3 years. Chronic airflow obstruction was more likely to develop in participants with isolated small airways obstruction at baseline (FEF less than the LLN, OR: 2.95, 95% CI 1.02 to 8.54; FEV /FVC less than the LLN, OR: 1.94, 95% CI 1.05 to 3.62). FEF was better than the FEV /FVC ratio to discriminate future chronic airflow obstruction (AUC: 0.764 vs 0.692). Results were similar among participants of the UK Biobank study. CONCLUSION: Measurements of small airways obstruction can be used as early markers of future obstructive lung disease