Eating habits of a population undergoing a rapid dietary transition: portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods and beverages consumed by Inuit adults in Nunavut, Canada

Background: To determine the portion sizes of traditional and non-traditional foods being consumed by Inuit adults in three remote communities in Nunavut, Canada. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and October, 2008. Trained field workers collected dietary data using a culturally appropriate, validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) developed specifically for the study population. Results: Caribou, muktuk (whale blubber and skin) and Arctic char (salmon family), were the most commonly consumed traditional foods; mean portion sizes for traditional foods ranged from 10 g for fermented seal fat to 424 g for fried caribou. Fried bannock and white bread were consumed by >85% of participants; mean portion sizes for these foods were 189 g and 70 g, respectively. Sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods were also widely consumed. Mean portion sizes for regular pop and sweetened juices with added sugar were 663 g and 572 g, respectively. Mean portion sizes for potato chips, pilot biscuits, cakes, chocolate and cookies were 59 g, 59 g, 106 g, 59 g, and 46 g, respectively. Conclusions: The present study provides further evidence of the nutrition transition that is occurring among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic. It also highlights a number of foods and beverages that could be targeted in future nutritional intervention programs aimed at obesity and diet-related chronic disease prevention in these and other Inuit communities.

Public-Private Partnership Design for Inclusive Cocoa Global Value Chains in Ghana

Within 10 years, there could be a severe global shortage in the supply of cocoa, according to industry practitioners and other experts. Due to global population growth and the emergence of a growing global middle class, by 2025 the cocoa crop would need to increase by nearly 50 per cent to keep up with projected demand. A potential shortage of supply is a direct threat to the business model of lead firms – including cocoa grinders and processors, chocolate confectioners, and retail distributors. But these international firms – the ones that will suffer the most if there is a shortage of cocoa supply – are helping create the market failure that is stifling sustainability. Functioning as a two-tiered consolidated oligopoly with a combined market share of approximately 89%, these firms enjoy the largest portion of value capture in the cocoa-chocolate global value chain (GVC). The smallholder cocoa producers, conversely, are trapped in low value-add segments of the GVC. In fact, most smallholder farmers survive on less than $1.00 per day per capita, on average in many cocoa exporting countries. In Ghana - the second largest producer of cocoa in the world - the government has accomplished little to help these smallholders upgrade and make cocoa an attractive sector for the next generation to inherit. The result – both in Ghana and around the world – is a lack of sustainability of the supply of cocoa. Demand is already beginning to outstrip supply. As a result of these underlying circumstances, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has posed the following policy question: "Under what conditions could USAID, as a development agency, support and enhance potential public-private partnerships in order to improve the bargaining power (and financial wherewithal) of smallholder organizations and farmers in the context of the global value chain for cocoa in Ghana?"

Link between increased gut hormones signaling satiety and reduced food reward following gastric bypass surgery for obesity

CONTEXT: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery is an effective long-term intervention for weight loss maintenance, reducing appetite, and also food reward, via unclear mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of elevated satiety gut hormones after RYGB, we examined food hedonic-reward responses after their acute post-prandial suppression. DESIGN: These were randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover experimental medicine studies. PATIENTS: Two groups, more than 5 months after RYGB for obesity (n = 7-11), compared with nonobese controls (n = 10), or patients after gastric banding (BAND) surgery (n = 9) participated in the studies. INTERVENTION: Studies were performed after acute administration of the somatostatin analog octreotide or saline. In one study, patients after RYGB, and nonobese controls, performed a behavioral progressive ratio task for chocolate sweets. In another study, patients after RYGB, and controls after BAND surgery, performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging food picture evaluation task. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Octreotide increased both appetitive food reward (breakpoint) in the progressive ratio task (n = 9), and food appeal (n = 9) and reward system blood oxygen level-dependent signal (n = 7) in the functional magnetic resonance imaging task, in the RYGB group, but not in the control groups. RESULTS: Octreotide suppressed postprandial plasma peptide YY, glucagon-like peptide-1, and fibroblast growth factor-19 after RYGB. The reduction in plasma peptide YY with octreotide positively correlated with the increase in brain reward system blood oxygen level-dependent signal in RYGB/BAND subjects, with a similar trend for glucagon-like peptide-1. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced satiety gut hormone responses after RYGB may be a causative mechanism by which anatomical alterations of the gut in obesity surgery modify behavioral and brain reward responses to food.

White Adipose Tissue Re-growth after Partial Lipectomy in High Fat Diet Induced Obese Wistar Rats

The effects of partial removal of epididymal (EPI) and retroperitoneal (RET) adipose tissues (partial lipectomy) on the triacylglycerol deposition of high fat diet induced obese rats were analyzed, aiming to challenge the hypothesized body fat regulatory system. Male 28-day-old wistar rats received a diet enriched with peanuts, milk chocolate and sweet biscuits during the experimental period. At the 90th day of life, rats were submitted to either lipectomy (L) or sham surgery. After 7 or 30 days, RET, EPI, liver, brown adipose tissue (BAT), blood and carcass were obtained and analyzed. Seven days following surgery, liver lipogenesis rate and EPI relative weight were increased in L. After 30 days, L, RET and EPI presented increased lipogenesis, lipolysis and percentage of small area adipocytes. L rats also presented increased liver malic enzyme activity, BAT lipogenesis, and triacylglycerol and corticosterone serum levels. The partial removal of visceral fat pads affected the metabolism of high fat diet obese rats, which leads to excised tissue re-growth and possibly compensatory growth of non-excised depots at a later time.

Propuesta de formalización para el acceso a mercados de exportación e incremento de rentabilidad de los productores cacaoteros de Bagua Grande, Amazonas 2014

Trabajo de suficiencia profesional

Special low protein foods for phenylketonuria: availability in Europe and an examination of their nutritional profile

Background Special low protein foods (SLPF) are essential in the nutritional management of patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). The study objectives were to: 1) identify the number of SLPF available for use in eight European countries and Turkey and 2) analyse the nutritional composition of SLPF available in one of these countries. Methods European Nutritionist Expert Panel on PKU (ENEP) members (Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Denmark and Turkey) provided data on SPLF available in each country. The nutritional composition of Portuguese SLPF was compared with regular food products. Results The number of different SLPF available in each country varied widely with a median of 107 [ranging from 73 (Portugal) and 256 (Italy)]. Food analysis of SLPF available from a single country (Portugal) indicated that the mean phenylalanine content was higher in low protein baby cereals (mean 48 mg/100 g) and chocolate/energy bars/jelly (mean 41 mg/100 g). The energy content of different foods from a sub-group of SLPF (cookies) varied widely between 23 and 96 kcal/cookie. Low protein bread had a high fat content [mean 5.8 g/100 g (range 3.7 to 10)] compared with 1.6 g/100 g in regular bread. Seven of the 12 SLPF sub-groups (58 %) did not declare any vitamin content, and only 4 (33 %) identified a limited number of minerals. Conclusions Whilst equal and free access to all SLPF is desirable, the widely variable nutritional composition requires careful nutritional knowledge of all products when prescribed for individual patients with PKU. There is a need for more specific nutritional standards for special low protein foods.

The Ponto-Caspian basin as a final trap for southeastern Scandinavian Ice-Sheet meltwater

This paper provides new data on the evolution of the Caspian Sea and Black Sea from the Last Glacial Maximum until ca. 12 cal kyr BP. We present new analyses (clay mineralogy, grain-size, Nd isotopes and pollen) applied to sediments from the river terraces in the lower Volga, from the middle Caspian Sea and from the western part of the Black Sea. The results show that during the last deglaciation, the Ponto-Caspian basin collected meltwater and fine-grained sediment from the southern margin of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet (SIS) via the Dniepr and Volga Rivers. It induced the deposition of characteristic red-brownish/chocolate-coloured illite-rich sediments (Red Layers in the Black Sea and Chocolate Clays in the Caspian Sea) that originated from the Baltic Shield area according to Nd data. This general evolution, common to both seas was nevertheless differentiated over time due to the specificities of their catchment areas and due to the movement of the southern margin of the SIS. Our results indicate that in the eastern part of the East European Plain, the meltwater from the SIS margin supplied the Caspian Sea during the deglaciation until ∼13.8 cal kyr BP, and possibly from the LGM. That led to the Early Khvalynian transgressive stage(s) and Chocolate Clays deposition in the now-emerged northern flat part of the Caspian Sea (river terraces in the modern lower Volga) and in its middle basin. In the western part of the East European Plain, our results confirm the release of meltwater from the SIS margin into the Black Sea that occurred between 17.2 and 15.7 cal kyr BP, as previously proposed. Indeed, recent findings concerning the evolution of the southern margin of the SIS and the Black Sea, show that during the last deglaciation, occurred a westward release of meltwater into the North Atlantic (between ca. 20 and 16.7 cal kyr BP), and a southward one into the Black Sea (between 17.2 and 15.7 cal kyr BP). After the Red Layers/Chocolate Clays deposition in both seas and until 12 cal kyr BP, smectite became the dominant clay mineral. The East European Plain is clearly identified as the source for smectite in the Caspian Sea sediments. In the Black Sea, smectite originated either from the East European Plain or from the Danube River catchment. Previous studies consider smectite as being only of Anatolian origin. However, our results highlight both, the European source for smectite and the impact of this source on the depositional environment of the Black Sea during considered period.

Explorar o grafismo e a matéria expressiva da criança através de processos criados por artistas modernistas e contemporâneos

O tema escolhido para este estudo, intitulado “Exploração do grafismo e da matéria expressiva da criança através de processos criados por artistas modernistas e contemporâneos”, pretende desenvolver alguns conceitos e investigar as várias metodologias artísticas relacionadas com a evolução gráfica, a matéria expressiva da criança e o experimentalismo nas expressões plásticas, explorando a matéria e a técnica. Para tal, enquadrou-se nesta proposta as teorias e métodos da Educação pela Arte e Educação Artística, no âmbito das nas Artes Plásticas, em particular na Educação Pré-Escolar. Teve-se a intenção de traçar um projeto de investigação prático direcionado a três grupos de jardim-de-infância, dos 3 aos 6 anos, em contexto escolar. Esta investigação tem como base notas de campo, entrevistas, fotografias, análise documental e de conteúdo. Pretendeu-se verificar através dos resultados da investigação teórica e prática que a introdução das Artes Visuais é uma mais-valia no contexto educacional, no sentido do estudo centrar-se na compreensão da evolução gráfica individual, seguindo o percurso de cada criança e o tempo das sessões) e a sua própria linguagem artística, pois através dela se pode analisar várias perspetivas: como as crianças produzem e aprendem a criar expressões plásticas – produção artística; qual a importância da expressão artística e da criatividade; bem como a aprendizagem dos conhecimentos empíricos das Artes Visuais através do processo de criação dos artistas, ensinando indiretamente à História da Arte. Consideramos relevante a inovação do ensino artístico na Educação Pré-Escolar através dos materiais não convencionais das artes plásticas, inspirados na “arte pobre”, isto é, empregar elementos naturais - como título de exemplo: a cortiça, folhas, ouriços das castanhas, areia da praia; as matérias da cozinha (papel de cozinha, chocolate, farinha, cereais, beterraba) e da higiene (espuma de barbear) e, por fim, os materiais reutilizáveis e recuperáveis como o cartão, tecidos, entre outros. Neste sentido, torna-se relevante entender que estas formas de linguagens artísticas permitem desenvolver determinadas capacidades da criança como ser criador, explorador, autêntico, capaz de expressar ideias e sentimentos recorrendo aos seus próprios códigos.

Estudio de factibilidad para la industrialización y comercialización de los productos derivados de la soya, elaborados por el comité de mujeres de mitaza afiliadas a CONFRAS.

La industrialización y Comercialización para los productos derivados de la Soya elaborados por el Comité de Mujeres de Mizata comprende el establecimiento de una planta de producción que agilice y mejore la calidad de los productos que actualmente se elaboran y un plan de mercado que facilite la comercialización de dichos productos. Considerando lo anterior se desarrolló un estudio de factibilidad con el objetivo de determinar la disponibilidad de recursos para la industrialización y comercialización de los productos a base de Soya; para lograr dichos propósitos se desarrolló un diagnóstico de la situación actual fundamentado en los siguientes objetivos: Conocer la existencia de demanda potencial insatisfecha de los productos derivados de la soya en el Municipio de Teotepeque. Identificar características, gustos y preferencias de los compradores potenciales. Conocer los productos derivados de la soya que tendrán más aceptación o demanda en el Municipio de Teotepeque. La metodología de la investigación se basó por medio de la aplicación del método científico; el cual sigue un proceso lógico y esquematizado permitiendo solucionar un problema emitiendo un juicio. El tipo de investigación que se aplicó para efectos de este estudio es descriptiva ya que especifica las características importantes de posibles compradores de los productos derivados de la soya, así como las características de los oferentes de dichos productos. Por tal motivo se diseñaron los instrumentos para la recolección de los datos, dirigidos a los pobladores del Municipio de Teotepeque y miembros del Comité de Mizata. Los resultados más importantes que se obtuvieron son: En el estudio de mercado se determinó que los productos derivados de la Soya tienen un mercado potencial insatisfecho en el Municipio de Teotepeque. Los compradores actuales de los productos derivados de la Soya son en su mayoría mujeres entre edades de 26 a 45 años cuyos ingresos mensuales oscilan entre $200 a $250 dólares mensuales. Los productos derivados de la soya que tienen mayor aceptación o demanda en el Municipio de Teotepeque es en primer lugar el café, en segundo lugar el chocolate, en tercer lugar la horchata y finalmente el cereal; preferentemente en presentaciones de libra y con empaque hermético, higiénico y sencillo. Fundamentado en lo anterior y en cada uno de los estudios realizados en esta investigación, se concluye que en la actualidad existe factibilidad para la industrialización y comercialización de los productos derivados de la Soya elaborados por el Comité de Mujeres de Mizata afiliadas a la Confederación de Federaciones de la Reforma Agraria Salvadoreña (CONFRAS).

The Amplifier - v. 17, no. 8

In this issue...M Club Smoker, Coach Beers, GED Exam, Hawaii, Debate Team, 328 Radio Programming, Young Republicans, Hershey Chocolate Company

Evaluación de bancos naturales de invertebrados marinos comerciales, Región La Libertad-Perú, 2011

La evaluación de los bancos naturales, se realizó entre 07°10’27”S, 79°41’18”W (Punta Chérrepe) y 08°45’44,9”S, 78°47’42,2”W (Isla Chao), del 13 al 24 de diciembre 2011. Se evaluó ocho especies de invertebrados de importancia comercial en 15 bancos naturales. Las especies fueron: Platyxanthus orbignyi cangrejo violáceo, Stramonita chocolata caracol negro, Octopus mimus pulpo, Argopecten purpuratus concha de abanico, Semele sp. almeja, Emerita analoga muy muy, Pattalus molli pepino de mar, Donax sp. palabritas.