Global Update and Trends of Hidden Hunger, 1995-2011: The Hidden Hunger Index

Background Deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals–also termed hidden hunger–are pervasive and hold negative consequences for the cognitive and physical development of children. Methods This analysis evaluates the change in hidden hunger over time in the form of one composite indicator–the Hidden Hunger Index (HHI)–using an unweighted average of prevalence estimates from the Nutrition Impact Model Study for anemia due to iron deficiency, vitamin A deficiency, and stunting (used as a proxy indicator for zinc deficiency). Net changes from 1995–2011 and population weighted regional means for various time periods are measured. Findings Globally, hidden hunger improved (-6.7 net change in HHI) from 1995–2011. Africa was the only region to see a deterioration in hidden hunger (+1.9) over the studied time period; East Asia and the Pacific performed exceptionally well (-13.0), while other regions improved only slightly. Improvements in HHI were mostly due to reductions in zinc and vitamin A deficiencies, while anemia due to iron deficiency persisted and even increased. Interpretation This analysis is critical for informing and tracking the impact of policy and programmatic efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiencies, to advance the global nutrition agenda, and to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, there remains an unmet need to invest in gathering frequent, nationally representative, high-quality micronutrient data as we renew our efforts to scale up nutrition, and as we enter the post-2015 development agenda. Funding Preparation of this manuscript was funded by Sight and Life. There was no funding involved in the study design, data collection, analysis, or decision to publish

Social Support Networks and the Mental Health of Runaway and Homeless Youth

In response to growing concerns about the rising number of runaway and homeless youth (RHY) in the U.S., researchers have sought to improve the scientific understanding of health and mental health needs, as well as the social resources available to these youths. In this paper, we examine the relationship between personal support network resources and the mental health status of a sample of RHY (N = 693) surveyed in metro-Atlanta, Georgia. The results suggest that having more supportive network ties reduces the risk of youth experiencing significant symptoms of a severe mental illness. We also find that older youth and youth who have been homeless for six months or longer have fewer personal support network resources. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for future research and services for this exceptionally vulnerable population

Problems With Complex Actions

We consider Euclidean functional integrals involving actions which are not exclusively real. This situation arises, for example, when there are $t$-odd terms in the the Minkowski action. Writing the action in terms of only real fields (which is always possible), such terms appear as explicitly imaginary terms in the Euclidean action. The usual quanization procedure which involves finding the critical points of the action and then quantizing the spectrum of fluctuations about these critical points fails. In the case of complex actions, there do not exist, in general, any critical points of the action on the space of real fields, the critical points are in general complex. The proper definition of the function integral then requires the analytic continuation of the functional integration into the space of complex fields so as to pass through the complex critical points according to the method of steepest descent. We show a simple example where this procedure can be carried out explicitly. The procedure of finding the critical points of the real part of the action and quantizing the corresponding fluctuations, treating the (exponential of the) complex part of the action as a bounded integrable function is shown to fail in our explicit example, at least perturbatively.Comment: 6+epsilon pages, no figures, presented at Theory CANADA

Computer recommendations for an automatic approach and landing system for V/STOL aircraft. Volume 1 - Computer recommendations

Evaluation of digital computer for V/STOL aircraft automatic approach and landing syste

The Cost of Improving Nutritional Outcomes Through Food‐Assisted Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Programmes in Burundi and Guatemala

Evidence on the cost‐effectiveness of multisectoral maternal and child health and nutrition programmes is scarce. We conducted a prospective costing study of two food‐assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programmes targeted to pregnant women and children during the first 1,000 days (pregnancy to 2 years). Each was paired with a cluster‐randomized controlled trial to evaluate impact and compare the optimal quantity and composition of food rations (Guatemala, five treatment arms) and their optimal timing and duration (Burundi, three treatment arms). We calculated the total and per beneficiary cost, conducted cost consequence analyses, and estimated the cost savings from extending the programme for 2 years. In Guatemala, the programme model with the lowest cost per percentage point reduction in stunting provided the full‐size family ration with an individual ration of corn–soy blend or micronutrient powder. Reducing family ration size lowered costs but failed to reduce stunting. In Burundi, providing food assistance for the full 1,000 days led to the lowest cost per percentage point reduction in stunting. Reducing the duration of ration eligibility reduced per beneficiary costs but was less effective. A 2‐year extension could have saved 11% per beneficiary in Guatemala and 18% in Burundi. We found that investments in multisectoral nutrition programmes do not scale linearly. Programmes providing smaller rations or rations for shorter durations, although less expensive per beneficiary, may not provide the necessary dose to improve (biological) outcomes. Lastly, delivering effective programmes for longer periods can generate cost savings by dispersing start‐up costs and lengthening peak operating capacity

Systèmes d'information et résilience des chaînes logistiques globales : Proposition d'un écosystème informationnel

Dans un contexte de crise permanente dont les causes sont multiples et de plus en plus imprévisibles, les entreprises doivent trouver des solutions pour s'adapter et maintenir leur niveau de performance. Cet article s'interroge sur la capacité des systèmes d'information à contribuer à la résilience des chaînes logistiques globales, c'est-à-dire leur capacité à garder un niveau d'efficience constant quels que soient les évènements auxquels elles sont soumises, rares ou inhabituels. Deux types de réponse aux crises sont identifiés : une réponse à court terme qui repose sur la dégradation des systèmes et la prise de décision dans l'urgence, et une gestion des crises par l'apprentissage qui permet un ajustement dynamique de la chaîne logistique. Un écosystème informationnel est proposé pour permettre une analyse des modifications des paramètres stratégiques relatifs à chaque acteur et la transmission en temps réel de ces informations. L'outil se veut innovant et créatif et vise à mieux appréhender la variabilité des marchés et l'absence de visibilité causée par la complexité croissante des chaînes logistiques globales.Résilience; Systèmes d'information; Gestion de crise; Chaîne logistique globale

Enhanced Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Shortens the Duration of Respiratory Disease in Thoroughbred Yearlings

AbstractBovine colostrum (BC) is used in humans as a nutritional supplement for immune support and has been shown to reduce Respiratory disease (RD). Other nutritional supplements, minerals and vitamins including mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), zinc and vitamins A, C and E have also been used for immune support. The aim of this prospective blinded randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effects of a BC, MOS, zinc and vitamin based enhanced bovine colostrum supplement (BCS) on incidence and duration of RD occurring in yearling horses. 109 yearlings on two Thoroughbred farms in Central Kentucky were randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups. Yearlings were supplemented once daily for 17 to 25 weeks with 100 g of a high quality commercial BCS (containing 50 g BC) or a full fat soy flour placebo, which were applied as a “top-dress” to feed. Yearlings were observed daily and evaluated weekly for signs of RD. All yearlings completed the study. The proportion of the study period during which each yearling exhibited illness was considerably shorter for BCS yearlings (least squares mean = 23% of the study period) than placebo yearlings (least squares mean = 34% of the study period, P = .002). The average duration of illness was shorter for BCS yearlings (1.96 weeks) than placebo yearlings (4.39 weeks, P < .0001). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of RD in these study yearlings

Technical, economic and environmental evaluation of advanced tertiary treatments for micropollutants removal (oxidation and adsorption)

International audienceTwo pilots for tertiary treatment, an advanced oxidation processes (AOP - O3/UV/H2O2) pilot and a granular activated carbon pilot, were tested in three different wastewater treatment plants after a secondary treatment. A total of 64 micropollutants including drugs, pesticides, alkylphenols, PAHs and metals were analysed in the samples at the inlet and the outlet of the pilots. The tertiary treatments studied (ozone, AOP and activated carbon) were efficient for the removal of most of the compounds analysed in this study, except metals. The addition of hydrogen peroxide to ozone increased the number of substances well removed but it did not improve the removal of substances that readily react with ozone (such as betablockers or carbamazepine). The other AOP (ozone/H2O2 and UV/H2O2) did not improve the number of substances well removed in comparison with ozone alone. The granular activated carbon was still efficient (R>70%) after 6 months working 24/7 for most of the drugs and the urea and triazine pesticides. The 5 technologies studied were sized at full scale in order to calculate their cost for two sizes of WWTP. The implementation of a tertiary treatment on a 60 000 to 200 000 PE WWTP would increase the wastewater treatment cost by 1,5 to 17,6 euros cents per cubic meter treated according to the technology and the removal objective. Concerning the environmental impact, for the big WWTP, the activated carbon is more impacting than the other processes for most of the impacts calculated. The order of POA by increasing environmental impact is ozone < ozone/H2O2 < ozone/UV ~ UV/H2O2. For the medium size WWTP however, the activated carbon is comparable to the other solutions regarding environmental impact