Trends in food and nutritional intakes of French adults from 1999 to 2007 : results from the INCA surveys

Two independent cross-sectional dietary surveys (the Individual and National Food Consumption Surveys, INCA), performed in 1998–99 (INCA1) and in 2006–07 (INCA2) on nationally representative samples of French people, were used to analyse trends in the dietary habits and nutritional intake of French adults. Food consumption was recorded through 7-d dietary records, and nutritional intakes were assessed using the French food composition database. After exclusion of under-reporters, analyses were performed on 3267 adults, aged 18–79 years: 1345 from INCA1 and 1922 from INCA2. The trends highlighted over the 8-year period showed a decrease in consumption of dairy products, meat, bread, potatoes, pastries/croissant-like pastries/cakes/biscuits and sugar/confectionery. In contrast, the consumption of fruits and vegetables, rice, ice cream and chocolate increased. Other food groups, like fish and snacking foods, remained stable. Food choices were mostly age specific. These age differences remained consistent over the years and underlined two opposite dietary trends: a ‘traditional’ one mainly followed by the elderly, and a ‘snacking and convenience’ one mainly adopted by young adults. The overall trends in food consumption did not influence the mean energy intake, but did slightly modify the contribution of each macronutrient to energy intake. These repeated surveys highlighted the fact that trends in French food habits have moved towards an average European diet at the crossroads between Mediterranean and Northern diets, and that food consumption changes impacted, to a lesser extent, nutritional intake.

Hysterectomy trends in australia between--2000/01 and 2004/05

Background: Hysterectomy is a major and common surgical procedure that has the potential to provide relief from ongoing gynaecological problems, but is often associated with negative impacts on health and wellbeing. Research indicates that hysterectomy rates and trends vary widely between and within countries; yet little is known about patterns in Australia.

Aims: This research aimed to describe hysterectomy rates and trends in Australia between 2000/01 and 2004/05.

Methods: This repeat cross-sectional study used routinely collected data from all hospitals in Australia. Data on all women admitted to hospital for a hysterectomy were obtained from the National Hospital Morbidity Database (2000/01–2004/05). Data were analysed by calculating population rates for each type of hysterectomy. Incidence rate ratios were calculated to assess changes over time.

Results: Hysterectomy rates in Australia declined from 34.8 per 10 000 women in 2000/01 to 31.2 per 10 000 women in 2004/05. A decline in the incidence rate for abdominal hysterectomy (from 18.7 to 15.1 per 10 000 women) and the incidence rate for concurrent oophorectomy (from 12.4 to 11.3 per 10 000 women) were also observed during this time period. At each point in time, the highest incidence rates for hysterectomy were for women aged 45–54 years.

Conclusions: Hysterectomy rates in Australia are declining over time and currently appear to be lower than most other countries. More hysterectomies are performed vaginally than in Canada, the USA, the UK and Finland and the rate of concurrent oophorectomy is less than that reported in the USA and the UK.

Identifying changes and trends in Hong Kong outbound tourism

Despite the numerous research endeavors aimed at investigating tourists' preferences and motivations, it remains very difficult for practitioners to utilize the results of traditional association rule mining methods in tourism management. This research presents a new approach that extends the capability of the association rules technique to contrast targeted association rules with the aim of capturing the changes and trends in outbound tourism. Using datasets collected from five large-scale domestic tourism surveys of Hong Kong residents on outbound pleasure travel, both positive and negative contrasts are identified, thus enabling practitioners and policymakers to make appropriate decisions and develop more appropriate tourism products.

A brief review of recent research trends on applications of computational and statistical techniques in financial and business intelligence

Artificial neural networks and statistical techniques like decision trees, discriminant analysis, logistic regression and survival analysis play a crucial role in Business Intelligence. These predictive analytical tools exploit patterns found in historical data to make predictions about future events. In this paper we have shown some recent developments of a few of these techniques in financial and business intelligence applications like fraud detection, bankruptcy prediction and credit rating scoring.

Trends in BMI, diet and lifestyle between 1976 and 2005 in North Sydney

Although the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australia has increased during the past 30 years, little is known about the dietary and behavioural antecedents of body mass index (BMI). We examined changes in mean BMI, diet, and other lifestyle behaviours between 1976 and 2005 and described the cross-sectional associations between these factors and BMI. A series of biennial biomedical surveys by Sydney Adventist Hospital from 1976 to 2005 allowed examination of BMI trends, while the selection of three surveys enabled detailed examination of likely dietary and lifestyle associations. Subjects included in this study were: 384 men and 338 women in 1976; 160 men and 146 women in 1978; 166 men and 141 women in 1980; 164 men and 142 women in 1982; 177 men and 13 women in 1984; 239 men and 227 women in 1986; 210 men and 225 women in 1988; 165 men and 148 women in 1990; 138 men and 167 women in 1992 and 270 men and 62 women in 2005. Height and weight were measured by hospital staff. Mean BMI increased in the early 1990s. Salt, coffee, cola, alcohol and meat consumption, dieting to lose weight and eating between meals were positively associated with BMI while physical activity, food variety, large breakfasts and consumption of spreads were negatively associated. Food consumption and daily activities have important associations with BMI, though their specific associations differ by sex. 'Affluent' lifestyle patterns appear to contribute to higher BMI, while a more 'prudent' lifestyle seems to protect from such increases.

Marine nutraceuticals : glucosomine and omega-3 fatty acids : new trends for established ingredients

Glucosamine and long-chain omega-3 lipid are the two most widely consumed marine nutracuticals. These   ingredients have been used as dietary supplement ingredients for many years, but  are now becoming important functional food and beverage ingredients. The production of GRAS and vegetarian glucosamine has led to increased use of this ingredient in beverages in particular. For long chain omega -3 lipid the development of stabilisation technologies has been critical for the increased use of these lipids in functional foods. The development of new sources of both of these ingredients, together with novel delivery and application technologies, will continue to drive increased consumption of these marine nutracuticals, in particular as functional food and beverage ingredients.

Part-time employment trends for full-time undergraduate property and construction students : results of a two year sequential investigation

This paper reports on the initial findings of an investigation into the experiences and part-time work practices of undergraduates enrolled in the Bachelor of Property and Construction (BPC) and combined degree courses at the University of Melbourne. Initial data was collected from final year students during 2001 and for all four years of the course in 2002. The results suggest that students in earlier years of the course are more likely to work in non-industry (casual) related employment and work fewer hours. Students in later years of the BPC course are more likely to work in jobs in the construction industry and also to work longer hours than those in earlier years. An analysis of final year students shows that the students employed by contracting organisations work significantly more hours than students employed by other types of organisations including architectural practices. The consequences of part-time semester employment on academic performance and students' well-being are considered and proposals are put forward as to how to better manage the industry experience-University relationship.

Early childhood science education : do Australian publishing trends represent world publishing trends?

A literature search of both Australian early childhood journals and Australian science education journals provides a compelling picture of science education in Australian early childhood in the recent past and the previous 40 years. Whilst a previous review of the literature found that there were concerns over the early childhood educators' confidence in teaching science, particularly physical sciences, current research indicates that this problem is still prevalent. The historical perspective also found that there was a distinctive approach evolving in early childhood science education, however further research into the place of science in the cognitive domain of early childhood was required. The more recent literature search found that as an area of investigation, early childhood science is still a neglected research area and there is still much scope for the development of theories and analysis of early childhood science education. The literature search was undertaken scanning for titles which included science education and early childhood in several Australian early childhood journals and Australian science education journals, although it is acknowledged that some articles may have been sent to international journals.

Trends and factors concerning gender and mathematics in Australasia

For many years now gender differences in average mathematics achievement in Australia and New Zealand have not been significant in large-scale domestic and international studies. However there is some recent evidence, from Australia at least, that gender differences in achievement favouring males may be re-emerging and, despite some positive affective findings and trends with respect to affect and participation leading up to the turn of the century, a pattern of lower interest and declining participation in mathematics among girls is evident. In this paper, trends in gender equity with respect to participation, achievement and affect reported in the literature over the past decade will be presented and analysed. Of particular interest are the factors that may have influenced these trends. Findings from recent research will be discussed. However it would seem that the attempts made by researchers to explain these trends are either limited in their capacity to establish an explanation or imply a deficit view of girls. An alternate position on gender equity and explanation of these trends will be presented in this paper with the purpose of making a contribution to the debate on curriculum and pedagogy in mathematics education.