16181 results
7 - Internal Migration and Temporary Labour Circulation in India
- Edited by K. S. James, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, T. V. Sekher, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai
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- India Population Report
- Published online:
- 15 August 2023
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- 31 May 2024, pp 246-269
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Summary
Background
Migration has been an important determinant of population change associated with demographic transition, urbanization, and economic development. It has a unique ability to transform the size, distribution, and composition of national populations. Zelinsky (1971) has successfully linked the different stages of demographic transition with the level and direction of migration known as mobility transition. Recent studies have also established that when an increasing number of developing countries reach the advanced stages of demographic transition, there would be a concomitant increase in the impact of migration on the settlement systems of those countries (Charles-Edwards et al., 2020; King, 2012).
In developing countries, migration is mostly governed by the level of economic development of a region. In some countries like India, internal migration is predominantly seen in the form of interstate movement, which is generally propelled by two factors: uneven economic development and variations in the demographic transition of states (Srivastava et al., 2020). In reality, however, the incidence of intrastate migration is several times higher than that of interstate migration (Bhagat and Keshri, 2020). It is important, however, to emphasize that irrespective of migration being intrastate or interstate, it is inevitably a significant livelihood strategy adopted by a major section of the Indian population. While studying migration and linking it with development, researchers generally do not make a distinction between long-term migration, which could take the form of permanent or semi-permanent migration, and short-term migration of a temporary and circulatory nature. We have been arguing that this distinction is important to understand the livelihood strategy of rural masses (Bhagat and Keshri, 2020; Keshri and Bhagat, 2013; Kumar and Bhagat, 2017). It is likely that with the increasing duration of migration, a person's economic status not only becomes better, but they are also absorbed in urban areas as a permanent migrant, whereas temporary circulatory migrants keep on shuttling between the place of origin and the place of destination.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing migration crisis has highlighted the poor understanding on the part of government agencies, which till recently had no clue of the real number of migrants and migrant labour staying in different parts of the country (Bhagat et al., 2020). There is a need to provide researchers and policymakers with some recent evidence of migration and its associated factors.
Physiological and biochemical processes underlying the differential sucrose yield and biomass production in sugarcane varieties
- Tamires Da Silva Martins, José R. Magalhães Filho, Larissa Prado Cruz, Daniela F. S. P. Machado, Norma M. Erismann, Rose M. A. Gondim-Tomaz, Paulo E. R. Marchiori, André L. B. O. Silva, Eduardo Caruso Machado, Rafael Vasconcelos Ribeiro
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- Experimental Agriculture / Volume 60 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 14 May 2024, e13
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Sucrose yield in sugarcane is a complex process regulated by both environmental and endogenous factors. However, the metabolic balance driving vegetative growth and sucrose accumulation remains poorly understood. Herein, we carried out a comprehensive assessment of carbohydrate dynamics throughout the crop cycle in two sugarcane varieties varying in biomass production, evaluating the carbon metabolism in both leaves and stalks. Our data revealed that the decline in photosynthetic rates during sugarcane maturation is associated not only to accumulation of sugars in leaves but also due to stomatal and non-stomatal limitations. We found that metabolic processes in leaves and stalks were intrinsically linked. While IACSP94-2094 had higher stalk sucrose concentration than IACSP95-5000, this latter produced more biomass. Compared to IACSP95-5000, IACSP94-2094 showed higher sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity in leaves and stalks, along with lower soluble acid invertase (SAI) activity in leaves during the maximum growth stage. Interestingly, IACSP94-2094 also exhibited higher stalk SPS activity and lower stalk SAI activity than IACSP95-5000 during maturation. High biomass production by IACSP95-5000 was associated with higher sucrose synthase (SuSy) and SAI activity in leaves and higher SuSy and soluble neutral invertase (SNI) activity in stalks when compared to IACSP94-2094 during the maximum growth. Despite the contrasting strategies, both varieties displayed similar total sucrose yield, a balance between sucrose concentration and biomass production. This phenomenon implies the presence of a compensatory mechanism in sugarcane, with high biomass production compensating low sucrose accumulation and vice versa.
Angiographic tool to detect pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in single ventricle physiology
- Stephen B. Spurgin, Yousef M. Arar, Thomas M. Zellers, Jijia Wang, Nicolas L. Madsen, Surendranath R. Veeram Reddy, Ondine Cleaver, Abhay A. Divekar
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- Journal:
- Cardiology in the Young , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 May 2024, pp. 1-6
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Objective:
Individuals with single ventricle physiology who are palliated with superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (Glenn surgery) may develop pulmonary arteriovenous malformations. The traditional tools for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation diagnosis are often of limited diagnostic utility in this patient population. We sought to measure the pulmonary capillary transit time to determine its value as a tool to identify pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in patients with single ventricle physiology.
Methods:We defined the angiographic pulmonary capillary transit time as the number of cardiac cycles required for transit of contrast from the distal pulmonary arteries to the pulmonary veins. Patients were retrospectively recruited from a single quaternary North American paediatric centre, and angiographic and clinical data were reviewed. Pulmonary capillary transit time was calculated in 20 control patients and compared to 20 single ventricle patients at the pre-Glenn, Glenn, and Fontan surgical stages (which were compared with a linear-mixed model). Correlation (Pearson) between pulmonary capillary transit time and haemodynamic and injection parameters was assessed using angiograms from 84 Glenn patients. Five independent observers calculated pulmonary capillary transit time to measure reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient).
Results:Mean pulmonary capillary transit time was 3.3 cardiac cycles in the control population, and 3.5, 2.4, and 3.5 in the pre-Glenn, Glenn, and Fontan stages, respectively. Pulmonary capillary transit time in the Glenn population did not correlate with injection conditions. Intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.87.
Conclusions:Pulmonary angiography can be used to calculate the pulmonary capillary transit time, which is reproducible between observers. Pulmonary capillary transit time accelerates in the Glenn stage, correlating with absence of direct hepatopulmonary venous flow.
Alcohol milestones and internalizing, externalizing, and executive function: longitudinal and polygenic score associations
- Sarah E. Paul, David A.A. Baranger, Emma C. Johnson, Joshua J. Jackson, Aaron J. Gorelik, Alex P. Miller, Alexander S. Hatoum, Wesley K. Thompson, Michael Strube, Danielle M. Dick, Chella Kamarajan, John R. Kramer, Martin H. Plawecki, Grace Chan, Andrey P. Anokhin, David B. Chorlian, Sivan Kinreich, Jacquelyn L. Meyers, Bernice Porjesz, Howard J. Edenberg, Arpana Agrawal, Kathleen K. Bucholz, Ryan Bogdan
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 May 2024, pp. 1-14
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Background
Although the link between alcohol involvement and behavioral phenotypes (e.g. impulsivity, negative affect, executive function [EF]) is well-established, the directionality of these associations, specificity to stages of alcohol involvement, and extent of shared genetic liability remain unclear. We estimate longitudinal associations between transitions among alcohol milestones, behavioral phenotypes, and indices of genetic risk.
MethodsData came from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (n = 3681; ages 11–36). Alcohol transitions (first: drink, intoxication, alcohol use disorder [AUD] symptom, AUD diagnosis), internalizing, and externalizing phenotypes came from the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism. EF was measured with the Tower of London and Visual Span Tasks. Polygenic scores (PGS) were computed for alcohol-related and behavioral phenotypes. Cox models estimated associations among PGS, behavior, and alcohol milestones.
ResultsExternalizing phenotypes (e.g. conduct disorder symptoms) were associated with future initiation and drinking problems (hazard ratio (HR)⩾1.16). Internalizing (e.g. social anxiety) was associated with hazards for progression from first drink to severe AUD (HR⩾1.55). Initiation and AUD were associated with increased hazards for later depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation (HR⩾1.38), and initiation was associated with increased hazards for future conduct symptoms (HR = 1.60). EF was not associated with alcohol transitions. Drinks per week PGS was linked with increased hazards for alcohol transitions (HR⩾1.06). Problematic alcohol use PGS increased hazards for suicidal ideation (HR = 1.20).
ConclusionsBehavioral markers of addiction vulnerability precede and follow alcohol transitions, highlighting dynamic, bidirectional relationships between behavior and emerging addiction.
The contribution of cannabis use to the increased psychosis risk among minority ethnic groups in Europe
- J. P. Selten, M. Di Forti, D. Quattrone, P. B. Jones, H. E. Jongsma, C. Gayer-Anderson, A. Szöke, P. M. Llorca, C. Arango, M. Bernardo, J. Sanjuan, J. L. Santos, M. Arrojo, I. Tarricone, D. Berardi, A. Lasalvia, S. Tosato, C. la Cascia, E. Velthorst, E. M. A. van der Ven, L. de Haan, B. P. Rutten, J. van Os, J. B. Kirkbride, C. M. Morgan, R. M. Murray, F. Termorshuizen
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- Journal:
- Psychological Medicine , First View
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 May 2024, pp. 1-10
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Background
We examined whether cannabis use contributes to the increased risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities in Europe.
MethodsWe used data from the EU-GEI study (collected at sites in Spain, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands) on 825 first-episode patients and 1026 controls. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) of psychotic disorder for several groups of migrants compared with the local reference population, without and with adjustment for measures of cannabis use.
ResultsThe OR of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities, adjusted for age, sex, and recruitment area, was 1.80 (95% CI 1.39–2.33). Further adjustment of this OR for frequency of cannabis use had a minimal effect: OR = 1.81 (95% CI 1.38–2.37). The same applied to adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis. Likewise, adjustments of ORs for most sub-groups of non-western countries had a minimal effect. There were two exceptions. For the Black Caribbean group in London, after adjustment for frequency of use of high-potency cannabis the OR decreased from 2.45 (95% CI 1.25–4.79) to 1.61 (95% CI 0.74–3.51). Similarly, the OR for Surinamese and Dutch Antillean individuals in Amsterdam decreased after adjustment for daily use: from 2.57 (95% CI 1.07–6.15) to 1.67 (95% CI 0.62–4.53).
ConclusionsThe contribution of cannabis use to the excess risk of psychotic disorder for non-western minorities was small. However, some evidence of an effect was found for people of Black Caribbean heritage in London and for those of Surinamese and Dutch Antillean heritage in Amsterdam.
Is higher fruit and vegetable intake associated with a reduced risk of depression in middle-aged and older adults? Data from 10 diverse international cohorts
- A. Matison, V. Flood, B. Lam, D. Lipnicki, K. Tucker, P. Preux, M. Guerchet, E. d’Ors, I. Skoog, N. Scarmeas, O. Gureje, S. Shahar, K. Anstey, R. Ho, H. Brodaty, P. Sachdev, S. Reppermund, K. Mather, for Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC)
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E73
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Depression is the largest global contributor to non-fatal disease burden(1). A growing body of evidence suggests that dietary behaviours, such as higher fruit and vegetable intake, may be protective against the risk of depression(2). However, this evidence is primarily from high-income countries, despite over 80% of the burden of depression being experienced in low- and middle-income countries(1). There are also limited studies to date focusing on older adults. The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the associations between baseline fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of depression in adults aged 45-years and older from 10 cohorts across six continents, including four cohorts from low and middle-income countries. The association between baseline fruit and vegetable intake and incident depression over a 3–6-year follow-up period was examined using Cox proportional hazard regression after controlling for a range of potential confounders. Participants were 7771 community-based adults aged 45+ years from 10 diverse cohorts. All cohorts were members of the Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium collaboration(3). Fruit intake (excluding juice) and vegetable intake was collected using either a comprehensive food frequency questionnaire, short food questionnaire or diet history. Depressive symptoms were assessed using validated depression measures, and depression was defined as a score greater than or equal to a validated cut-off. Prior to analysis all data were harmonised. Analysis was performed by cohort and then cohort results were combined using meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed by sex, age (45 – 64 versus 65+ years) and income level of country (high income countries versus low- and middle-income countries). There were 1537 incident cases of depression over 32,420 person-years of follow-up. Mean daily intakes of fruit were 1.7 ± 1.5 serves and vegetables 1.9 ± 1.4. serves. We found no association between fruit and vegetable intakes and risk of incident depression in any of the analyses, and this was consistent across the subgroup analyses. The low intake of fruit and vegetables of participants, diverse measures used across the different cohorts, and modest sample size of our study compared with prior studies in the literature, may have prevented an association being detected. Further investigation using standardised measures in larger cohorts of older adults from low- to middle-income countries is needed. Future research should consider the potential relationship between different types of fruits and vegetables and depression.
Price, social life and proximity influence food choices: Engaging young people as co-researcher collaborators to better understand their surrounding school food environments
- S. Jia, A.A. Gibson, R. Raeside, R. Valanju, E. McMahon, B. Ren, F. Yan, K. Tse, M. X. Zeng, M. Allman-Farinelli, S.R. Partridge
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E157
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Food environments around secondary schools are a strong influence on adolescents’ food purchasing habits1. We conducted a repeat cross-sectional study using Google Street View to examine school food environments in regional and metropolitan NSW, Australia over 17-years. Findings showed that unhealthful food outlets such as fast-food franchises, consistently dominated school food environments over 2007-2023. Increasing levels of poor nutrition among youth has been raised as a concern2 by the Health Advisory Panel for Youth at the University of Sydney [HAPYUS] - an established group of 16 adolescents aged 13-18 years residing in NSW3. To gain further insight into the study findings and how it may impact adolescents’ health, it is critical to include voices of adolescents in this research. The aim of this sub-study was to engage with members of our youth advisory group and conduct a consultation exercise on these study findings, drawing upon their lived experiences of school food environments. In Aug-2023, we engaged four youth advisors from HAPYUS. Study authors provided an overview of the study and its findings to the youth advisors via a Zoom call. Youth advisors formulated a 500-word statement on their perspectives and lived experiences of food environments surrounding their high schools over the subsequent 4 weeks. Adolescents agreed that physical proximity to unhealthy food outlets around schools was a key contributor to unhealthy eating habits however also recognised social and economic factors which play a significant role in shaping poor diets. The following quotes from their combined statement reflect social and economic concerns: i) “[We] observed on a daily basis young people were opting to travel to the closest food court for fast food, or in some extreme cases, even order fast food via a meal delivery app, to be delivered to the school - as opposed to choosing the closest outlet” ii) “Overpriced foods in schools with some drinks costing 2x more than a heavily discounted KFC meal, no meaningful difference between foods sold at canteens and those sold at fast food outlets - heavily processed, packaged snacks, pre-made reheated foods” iii) “Most unhealthy food outlets choose a location that is not only close to schools but also close to major shopping centres and food courts… ideal for an after-school social catchup as it appears to accommodate the needs of a large group of people.” Consultation findings revealed the importance of social and economic factors that must be analysed in addition to adolescents’ physical proximity to food outlets around their schools. Youth advisors call for governments to take immediate action to implement policies that ensure schools have cheap and healthy foods at canteens to mitigate against the purchase of foods from nearby unhealthy food outlets.
Dietary fibre intake, adiposity, and metabolic disease risk in Pacific and New Zealand European women
- N. Renall, B. Merz, J. Douwes, M. Corbin, J. Slater, G.W. Tannock, R. Firestone, R. Kruger, B.H. Breier, L. Te Morenga
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E21
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The aim of this study was to explore associations between habitual dietary fibre intake, adiposity, and biomarkers of metabolic health in Pacific and New Zealand European women who are known to have different metabolic disease risks. Pacific (n = 126) and New Zealand European (NZ European; n = 161) women (18-45years) were recruited to the PROMISE cross-sectional study(1) based on normal (18-24.9kg/m2) and obese BMI (≥30kg/m2). Body fat percentage (BF%), measured using whole body DXA, was used to stratify participants into low (<35%) or high (≥35%) BF% groups. Habitual dietary intake was calculated using the National Cancer Institute method, involving a 5-day-food-record and a semi-quantitative FFQ. Fasting blood was analysed for glucose, insulin, and lipid profile. NZ European women in the low- and high-BF% groups were older, less socioeconomically deprived, and consumed more dietary fibre (median 23.7g/day [25-75-percentile, 20.1, 29.9]; 20.9 [19.4, 24.9]) than Pacific women (18.8 [15.6, 22.1]; 17.8 [15.0, 20.8]; both p<0.001), respectively. Pacific women consumed a higher proportion of their total fibre intake from discretionary fast foods, in contrast NZ European women consumed more dietary fibre from wholegrains. Regression analysis controlling for ethnicity, age, socioeconomic deprivation, energy intake, protein, total carbohydrate, and fat intake showed significant inverse associations between higher dietary fibre intake and BF% and visceral fat% (β = −0.47, 95% CI = −0.62, −0.31, p<0.001; β = −0.61, [−0.82, −0.40], p<0.001, respectively) among both Pacific and NZ European women. LDL-C (β = −0.04, [−0.06, −0.01]) was inversely associated with fibre intake following further adjustment for BF%-groups in NZ European women. Despite differences in intake, dietary fibre was inversely associated with adiposity and metabolic disease risk in both Pacific and NZ European women. However younger woman living in areas of higher socio-economic deprivation who consumed a higher proportion of total dietary fibre intake from discretionary fast foods were more likely to have low dietary fibre intakes than older, wealthier women. These women were also more likely to be Pacific women. Increasing habitual dietary fibre intake could help to reduce adiposity and metabolic disease risk; so implementing policies that make health-promoting high fibre foods more affordable, ensuring households have sufficient income to purchase nutritious food and limiting the amount of unhealthy food marketing that low income communities are exposed to should be public health priorities.
The effectiveness of a Lactobacillus probiotic on measures of psychosocial health in adults diagnosed with subthreshold depression: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial
- G. Moschonis, K. Sarapis, S. Resciniti, R. Hall, K. Yim, M. Tonkovic, C. Fitzgerald, F. Anixiadis, Q. Nhu Dinh, M. Hale, B. Wright, M. Pane, C.J. Tuck, J.R. Biesiekierski
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E58
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Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide(1). The microbiota-gut-brain axis may play a role in the aetiology of depression, and probiotics show promise for improving mood and depressive state(2). Further evidence is required to support mechanisms and in high-risk populations, such as those with sub-threshold depression (which may be 2-3 times more prevalent than diagnosed depression)(3). The aims were to assess the efficacy of a probiotic compared with placebo in reducing the severity of depressive symptoms in participants with subthreshold depression, and to investigate potential mechanistic markers of inflammatory, antioxidant status and stress response. A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in participants meeting diagnosis of subthreshold depression (DSM-5); aged 18-65 years; ≥18.5 kg/m2 body mass index; not taking antidepressants, centrally acting medications, probiotics nor antibiotics for at least 6 weeks. The probiotic (4 × 109 AFU/CFU, 2.5 g freeze-dried powder containing Lactobacillus fermentum LF16 (DSM26956), L. rhamnosus LR06 (DSM21981), L. plantarum LP01 (LMG P-21021), Bifidobacterium longum BL04 (DSM 23233)) or placebo was taken daily for 3-months. Data was collected at 3 study visits (pre-, mid- (6 weeks), post-intervention). Self-reported questionnaires measured psychological symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI; Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, HADS) and quality of life. Blood and salivary samples were collected for biomarkers including cortisol awakening response (CAR). General linear models examined within-group and between-group differences across all time points. Thirty-nine participants completed the study (n = 19 probiotic; n = 20 placebo) using intention-to-treat analysis. The probiotic group decreased in BDI score by −6.5 (95% CI −12.3; −0.7) and −7.6 (95% CI −13.4; −1.8) at 6 and 12 weeks, respectively. The HADS-A score decreased in the probiotic group by −2.8 (95% CI −5.2; −0.4) and −2.7 (95% CI −5.1; −0.3) at 6 and 12, respectively. The HADS-D score decreased in the probiotic group by −3.0 (95% CI −5.4; −0.7) and −2.5 (−4.9; −0.2) at 6 and 12 weeks of intervention, respectively. No between group differences were found. There were no changes in perceived stress or quality of life scores. The probiotic group had reduced hs-CRP levels (7286.2 ± 1205.8 ng/dL vs. 5976.4 ± 1408.3; P = 0.003) and increased total glutathione (14.2 ± 8.9 ng/dL vs. 9.3 ± 4.7; P = 0.049) compared to placebo, post intervention. Lower levels of CAR were found in the probiotic compared to placebo (−0.04 ± 0.17 μg/dL vs. 0.16 ± 0.25; P = 0.009). A significant reduction in depressive symptoms and anxiety was observed within the probiotic group only. These results were supported by improvements observed in biomarkers, suggesting probiotics may improve psychological wellbeing in adults experiencing sub-threshold depression, by potential pathways involved in central nervous system homeostasis and inflammation. Future analyses are required to understand changes within the intestinal microbiota and to clarify how their metabolites facilitate emotional processing.
The effect of pre- and probiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women
- R. Branch, M.C. Kruger, B. Kuhn-Sherlock, B. Ilesanmi-Oyelere
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E80
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Chronic inflammation is linked with several deleterious diseases, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes mellitus, irritable bowel disease, and osteoporosis (1,2). Post-menopausal women are at a heightened risk of developing these diseases due to the remission of oestrogen, further amplifying a pro-inflammatory state (3,4). This study aimed to critically examine the combined effect of pre- and probiotic supplementation (synbiotics) and exercise in the form of ≥7,000 steps per day on inflammatory markers hs- CRP, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, INF-γ and TNF- α in sedentary post-menopausal women. Eighty-seven healthy post-menopausal women were allocated to receive either a synbiotic supplement or placebo for 12 weeks. Participants’ demographics and physical activity levels were determined using questionnaires, and their diet was assessed using self-reported 3-day diet records. Body composition measures of height, weight and BMI were measured at baseline, while total body mass, lean body mass, total fat mass and total body fat percentage at baseline and week 12 using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasted venous blood samples were collected to analyse inflammatory status before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24, where outcome variables with multiple time points, were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA with the model, including time (baseline vs 12 weeks), intervention group (placebo vs synbiotic), and their interaction as fixed effects. The results showed no significant differences between the intervention group’s demographics, physical activity levels, and dietary intake (p > 0.05). The 12-week study duration (time) was found to have had a statistically significant effect on lowering hs-CRP (p <0.018), IL-8 (p <0.001), IFN-γ (p <0.001), TNF-α (p <0.001) and increasing IL-6 (p <0.001) and IL-10 (p <0.001) in both groups. However, the observed decrease in IL-1β (p <0.348) over time was not significant. The intervention type (synbiotic or placebo) significantly impacted IL-10 (p < 0.003). No significant interactions between time and group were observed across all other inflammatory markers (p > 0.05). The study duration increased total lean body mass (p <0.015) and decreased total body fat percentage (p <0.022) in both the placebo and synbiotic groups. At the same time, the intervention type (synbiotic or placebo) had no effect on total lean body mass, total fat mass, total body mass and percentage body fat in both groups (p > 0.05). The current study showed no notable differences between the placebo and synbiotic groups suggesting synbiotic supplementation is likely ineffective at reducing chronic inflammation in overweight, sedentary post-menopausal women living in New Zealand. However, future studies are needed to confirm these findings. Additionally, studies should investigate the effects of exercise and synbiotic supplementation separately in this population.
Household food insecurity and associations with energy, nutrient intake, and sociodemographic characteristics in young New Zealand children
- R. Jupiterwala, C. Conlon, K. Beck, R. Taylor, A-L. Heath, J. Haszard, I. Katiforis, R. Paul, K. Brown, M. Casale, E. Jones, A. Wei, L. Fangupo, B. Bruckner, V. Pulu, M. Healy, P. von Hurst
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E85
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Although food insecurity affects a significant proportion of young children in New Zealand (NZ)(1), evidence of its association with dietary intake and sociodemographic characteristics in this population is lacking. This study aims to assess the household food security status of young NZ children and its association with energy and nutrient intake and sociodemographic factors. This study included 289 caregiver and child (1-3 years old) dyads from the same household in either Auckland, Wellington, or Dunedin, NZ. Household food security status was determined using a validated and NZ-specific eight-item questionnaire(2). Usual dietary intake was determined from two 24-hour food recalls, using the multiple source method(3). The prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake was assessed using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) cut-point method and full probability approach. Sociodemographic factors (i.e., socioeconomic status, ethnicity, caregiver education, employment status, household size and structure) were collected from questionnaires. Linear regression models were used to estimate associations with statistical significance set at p <0.05. Over 30% of participants had experienced food insecurity in the past 12 months. Of all eight indicator statements, “the variety of foods we are able to eat is limited by a lack of money,” had the highest proportion of participants responding “often” or “sometimes” (35.8%). Moderately food insecure children exhibited higher fat and saturated fat intakes, consuming 3.0 (0.2, 5.8) g/day more fat, and 2.0 (0.6, 3.5) g/day more saturated fat compared to food secure children (p<0.05). Severely food insecure children had lower g/kg/day protein intake compared to food secure children (p<0.05). In comparison to food secure children, moderately and severely food insecure children had lower fibre intake, consuming 1.6 (2.8, 0.3) g/day and 2.6 (4.0, 1.2) g/day less fibre, respectively. Severely food insecure children had the highest prevalence of inadequate calcium (7.0%) and vitamin C (9.3%) intakes, compared with food secure children [prevalence of inadequate intakes: calcium (2.3%) and vitamin C (2.8%)]. Household food insecurity was more common in those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity; living in areas of high deprivation; having a caregiver who was younger, not in paid employment, or had low educational attainment; living with ≥2 other children in the household; and living in a sole-parent household. Food insecure young NZ children consume a diet that exhibits lower nutritional quality in certain measures compared to their food-secure counterparts. Food insecurity was associated with various sociodemographic factors that are closely linked with poverty or low income. As such, there is an urgent need for poverty mitigation initiatives to safeguard vulnerable young children from the adverse consequences of food insecurity.
Strengthening national salt reduction strategies using mixed methods process evaluations – case studies from Malaysia and Mongolia
- B. Mckenzie, Y-R. Lo, F. Mustapha, B-E. Battumur, E. Batsaikhan, B. Sukhbaatar, J. Untoro, A. Chandran, V. Michael, J. Webster, K. Trieu
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- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E126
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Almost half of countries globally are implementing national strategies to lower population salt intake towards the World Health Organization’s target of a 30% reduction by 2025(1). However, most are yet to lower population salt intake(1). We conducted process evaluations of national salt reduction strategies in Malaysia and Mongolia to understand the extent to which they were implemented and achieving their intended outcomes, using the findings to generate insights on how to strengthen strategies and accelerate population salt reduction. Mixed methods process evaluations were conducted at the mid-point of implementation of the strategies in Malaysia (2018-19) and Mongolia (2020-21)(2). Guided by theoretical frameworks, information on the implementation, mechanism and contextual barriers and enablers of the strategies were collected through desk-based reviews of documents related to salt reduction, interviews with key stakeholders (n = 12 Malaysia, n = 10 Mongolia), and focus group discussions with health professionals in Malaysia (n = 43) and health provider surveys in Mongolia (n = 12). Both countries generated high-quality evidence about salt intake and salt levels in foods, and culturally-specific education resources in 3 and 5 years respectively. However, in Malaysia there was moderate dose delivered and low reach in terms of education and reformulation activities. Within 5 years, Mongolia implemented education among schools, health professionals and food producers on salt reduction with high reach but with moderate dose and reach among the general population. There were challenges in both countries with respect to implementing legislative interventions and both could improve the scaling up of their reformulation and education activities to have population-wide reach and impact. In the first half of Malaysia’s and Mongolia’s strategies, both countries generated necessary evidence and education materials, mobilised health professionals to deliver salt reduction education and achieved small-scale salt reformulation in foods. However, both faced challenges in implementing regulatory policies and the scaling up of their reformulation and education activities to have population-wide reach and impact could be strengthened. Similar process evaluations of existing salt reduction strategies are needed to strengthen intervention delivery and inform areas for adaptation, to aid achievement of the WHO’s global target of a 30% reduction in population salt intake by 2025.
Proton acceleration from optically tailored high-density gas jet targets
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- A. Maitrallain, J.-R. Marquès, K. Bontemps, J. Bonvalet, E.F. Atukpor, V. Bagnoud, T. Carrière, F. Hannachi, J.L. Henares, J. Hornung, A. Huber, E. d'Humières, L. Lancia, P. Loiseau, P. Nicolaï, J. Santos, V. Tikhonchuk, B. Zielbauer, M. Tarisien
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- Journal:
- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 90 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 April 2024, 965900201
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Laser-driven ion acceleration is well established using solid targets mainly in the target normal sheath acceleration regime. To follow the increasing repetition rate available on high-intensity lasers, the use of high-density gas targets has been explored in the past decade. When interacting with targets reaching densities close to the critical one, the laser pulse can trigger different acceleration mechanisms such as Collisionless Shock Acceleration (CSA) or hole boring. Particle-in-cell simulations using ideal target profiles show that CSA can accelerate a collimated, narrow energy spread and few hundreds of megaelectronvolts ion beam on the laser axis. Nevertheless, in real experiments, the laser will not only interact with an overcritical, thin plasma slab with sharp density gradients, but also with lower density regions surrounding the core of the gas jet, extending to several hundreds of micrometres. The interaction of the laser with these lower density wings will lead to nonlinear effects that will reduce the available energy to drive the shock in the high-density region of the target. Optically tailoring this target could mitigate that issue. Recent experiments conducted on different laser facilities aimed at testing several tailoring configurations. We first tested a scheme with a copropagating picosecond prepulse to create a lower density plasma channel to facilitate the propagation of the main pulse, while the second one was a transverse tailoring driven by nanosecond laser pulses to generate blast waves and form a high-density plasma slab. The main results will be presented here and the methods compared.
MCTrans++: a 0-D model for centrifugal mirrors
- Nick R. Schwartz, Ian G. Abel, Adil B. Hassam, Myles Kelly, Carlos A. Romero-Talamás
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- Journal:
- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 90 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 April 2024, 905900217
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The centrifugal mirror confinement scheme incorporates supersonic rotation of a plasma into a magnetic mirror device. This concept has been shown experimentally to drastically decrease parallel losses and increase plasma stability as compared with prior axisymmetric mirrors. MCTrans++ is a dimensionless (0-D) scoping tool which rapidly models experimental operating points in the Centrifugal Mirror Fusion Experiment (CMFX) at the University of Maryland. In the low-collisionality regime, parallel losses can be modelled analytically. A confining potential is set up that is partially ambipolar and partially centrifugal. Due to the stabilizing effects of flow shear, the perpendicular losses can be modelled as classical. Radiation losses such as bremsstrahlung and cyclotron emission are taken into account. A neutrals model is included, and, in some circumstances, charge-exchange losses are found to exceed all other loss mechanisms. We use the SUNDIALS ARKODE library to solve the underlying equations of this model; the resulting software is suitable for scanning large parameter spaces, and can also be used to model time-dependent phenomena such as a capacitive discharge. MCTrans++ has been used to verify results from prior centrifugal mirrors, create an experimental plan for CMFX and find configurations for future reactor-scale fusion devices.
Strategies to overcome stagnation in agricultural adoption despite awareness and interest: a case study of conservation agriculture in South Asia
- E. Karki, A. Sharma, P. Timsina, A. Chaudhary, R. Sharma, B. Brown
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- Journal:
- Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems / Volume 39 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 23 April 2024, e14
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The Eastern Gangetic Plains are a densely populated region of South Asia with comparatively low productivity yet a strong potential to intensify production to meet growing food demands. Conservation agriculture-based sustainable intensification (CASI) has gained academic and policy traction in the region, yet despite considerable promotional activities, uptake remains limited. Based on emerging evidence delving beyond a binary classification of adoption, this qualitative study seeks to explore the experiences and perspectives of smallholder farmers who express positive sentiments about CASI, yet have not progressed to (autonomous) adoption. After thematic coding of semi-structured interviews with 44 experimenting farmers and 38 interested non-users, ten common themes emerged that explain why farmers stagnate in their adoption process. Seven of the ten themes were non-specific to CASI and would constraint promotion and uptake of any agri-system change, highlighting the need for contextual clarity when promoting practice changes in smallholder systems. We summaries this to propose the ‘four T's’ that are required to be addressed to enable agricultural change in smallholder systems: Targeting; Training; Targeted incentives; and Time. Through this more nuanced evaluation approach, we argue the need for a stronger focus on enabling environments rather than technological performance evaluations generically, if promotional efforts are to be successful and emerging sustainable intensification technologies are to be adopted by smallholder farmers.
The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines in the prevention of post-COVID conditions in children and adolescents: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
- Maria Celidonio Gutfreund, Takaaki Kobayashi, Gustavo Yano Callado, Isabele Pardo, Mariana Kim Hsieh, Vivian Lin, Eli N. Perencevich, Jorge L. Salinas, Michael B. Edmond, Eneida Mendonça, Luiz Vicente Rizzo, Alexandre R. Marra
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- Journal:
- Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology / Volume 4 / Issue 1 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 April 2024, e54
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Objective:
We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination against post-COVID conditions (long COVID) in the pediatric population.
Design:Systematic literature review/meta-analysis.
Methods:We searched PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, and Web of Science from December 1, 2019, to August 14, 2023, for studies evaluating the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against post-COVID conditions among vaccinated individuals < 21 years old who received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. A post-COVID condition was defined as any symptom that was present 4 or more weeks after COVID-19 infection. We calculated the pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) (95% CI) for post-COVID conditions between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
Results:Eight studies with 23,995 individuals evaluated the effect of vaccination on post-COVID conditions, of which 5 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of children who did not receive COVID-19 vaccines ranged from 65% to 97%. The pooled prevalence of post-COVID conditions was 21.3% among those unvaccinated and 20.3% among those vaccinated at least once. The pooled DOR for post-COVID conditions among individuals vaccinated with at least 1 dose and those vaccinated with 2 doses were 1.07 (95% CI, 0.77–1.49) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.63–1.08), respectively.
Conclusions:A significant proportion of children and adolescents were unvaccinated, and the prevalence of post-COVID conditions was higher than reported in adults. While vaccination did not appear protective, conclusions were limited by the lack of randomized trials and selection bias inherent in observational studies.
Simulations of radiatively cooled magnetic reconnection driven by pulsed power
- Rishabh Datta, Aidan Crilly, Jeremy P. Chittenden, Simran Chowdhry, Katherine Chandler, Nikita Chaturvedi, Clayton E. Myers, William R. Fox, Stephanie B. Hansen, Chris A. Jennings, Hantao Ji, Carolyn C. Kuranz, Sergey V. Lebedev, Dmitri A. Uzdensky, Jack D. Hare
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- Journal of Plasma Physics / Volume 90 / Issue 2 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 April 2024, 905900215
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Magnetic reconnection is an important process in astrophysical environments, as it reconfigures magnetic field topology and converts magnetic energy into thermal and kinetic energy. In extreme astrophysical systems, such as black hole coronae and pulsar magnetospheres, radiative cooling modifies the energy partition by radiating away internal energy, which can lead to the radiative collapse of the reconnection layer. In this paper, we perform two- and three-dimensional simulations to model the MARZ (Magnetic Reconnection on Z) experiments, which are designed to access cooling rates in the laboratory necessary to investigate reconnection in a previously unexplored radiatively cooled regime. These simulations are performed in GORGON, an Eulerian two-temperature resistive magnetohydrodynamic code, which models the experimental geometry comprising two exploding wire arrays driven by 20 MA of current on the Z machine (Sandia National Laboratories). Radiative losses are implemented using non-local thermodynamic equilibrium tables computed using the atomic code Spk, and we probe the effects of radiation transport by implementing both a local radiation loss model and $P_{1/3}$ multi-group radiation transport. The load produces highly collisional, super-Alfvénic (Alfvén Mach number $M_A \approx 1.5$), supersonic (Sonic Mach number $M_S \approx 4-5$) strongly driven plasma flows which generate an elongated reconnection layer (Aspect Ratio $L/\delta \approx 100$, Lundquist number $S_L \approx 400$). The reconnection layer undergoes radiative collapse when the radiative losses exceed the rates of ohmic and compressional heating (cooling rate/hydrodynamic transit rate = $\tau _{\text {cool}}^{-1}/\tau _{H}^{-1}\approx 100$); this generates a cold strongly compressed current sheet, leading to an accelerated reconnection rate, consistent with theoretical predictions. Finally, the current sheet is also unstable to the plasmoid instability, but the magnetic islands are extinguished by strong radiative cooling before ejection from the layer.
Dynamics and predicted decline of Anguillicola crassus infection in European eels, Anguilla anguilla, in Neusiedler See, Austria
- M. Schabuss, C.R. Kennedy, R. Konecny, B. Grillitsch, W. Reckendorfer, F. Schiemer, A. Herzig
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- Journal of Helminthology / Volume 79 / Issue 2 / June 2005
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 April 2024, pp. 159-167
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The eel population in Neusiedler See has been maintained by regular massive stocking since 1958. After the establishment of the National Park Neusiedler See-Seewinkel in 1993, eel stocking was prohibited and the population, together with the specific parasites of eels, was predicted to decline to extinction within 10 years. This investigation was undertaken to document the decline and extinction of the Anguillicola crassus population in eels. From 1994 to 2001, 720 eels were collected from two sites in the lake. Prevalence and abundance of A. crassus were lower in spring than in summer and autumn and larger eels harboured more parasites than smaller ones. Neither year of study nor sampling site were correlated with parasite infection levels. No significant trend in the population parameters of A. crassus was detected over the 8 years of the survey. This suggested that there had been no significant decline in the eel population. This suggestion was confirmed by investigations of the fishery, which also found evidence of regular illegal stocking. The stability of the A. crassus population over the past decade seems to reflect the lack of change in eel population density. No mass mortalities of eels occurred over the period despite the many similarities between Neusiedler See and Lake Balaton in Hungary. Differences in eel size, eel diet and the lack of large-scale insecticide use are discussed as possible explanations for the absence of eel mass mortalities in Neusiedler See.
Epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in southern Cantal, Auvergne region, France
- J.-F. Magnaval, C. Boucher, B. Morassin, F. Raoul, F. Raoul, C. Duranton, P. Jacquiet, P. Giraudoux, D.A. Vuitton, R. Piarroux
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- Journal of Helminthology / Volume 78 / Issue 3 / September 2004
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 April 2024, pp. 237-242
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Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a helminth zoonosis which is encountered only in the northern hemisphere. In central France, the Auvergne region represents the most western and southern extension of this helminthiasis. In 1999, a human case of AE was diagnosed in the southern part of the Cantal department, where AE was supposed absent, and an epidemiological survey was subsequently carried out. The transmission of the zoonosis in the sylvatic and peridomestic definitive hosts was studied, as well as that in the rodent and human intermediate hosts. Eleven red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were shot, and 50 fox faecal deposits were collected. Twelve farm dogs had their faeces taken by rectal touch, and four were checked after arecoline purgation. Optical detection of Echinococcus multilocularis worms was achieved on fox intestines after scraping, and also on dog stools after arecoline therapy. Coproantigen ELISA assay was performed for the 11 scraping products, for the 50 fox faeces, and for the 12 dog faecal samples. No adult AE agent was observed by microscopy, and the ELISA assay yielded positive results in one of 11 fox intestines, one of 50 fox faeces, and 2 of 12 dog faecal samples. Twenty-five small mammals were trapped, of which 19 were Arvicola terrestris water voles. One rodent liver exhibited a hepatic lesion consistent with AE. An epidemiological questionnaire was completed in 85 human volunteers, who were also serologically tested for AE. Only one (the case's husband) exhibited a Western-blotting pattern indicative of a low-grade AE infection. The results of this preliminary study suggested a slow AE extension to the south of Cantal department from the northern focus.
Syphacia obvelata infections and reproduction of male domestic mice Mus musculus domesticus on a sub-Antarctic Island
- B. Pisanu, J.-L. Chapuis, R. Périn
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- Journal of Helminthology / Volume 77 / Issue 3 / September 2003
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- 12 April 2024, pp. 247-253
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The reproductive activity of feral male mice on an island of the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen archipelago was influenced by biological factors depending on periods within the breeding season. After having controlled host reproductive activity indices for body size, i.e. age, and body condition effects, Syphacia obvelata prevalence did not vary with host reproductive status or age either during the beginning or the middle–end of the reproductive season. Considering the beginning of the breeding season, worm abundance was more pronounced in males the year following a strong winter crash of the population than in years when high over wintering survival occurred. During the middle–end of the breeding season, males with the highest reproductive status were more infected than males with a lower reproductive status in years when oldest individuals dominated the population. It is suggested that this situation was due to an endocrine related increased host susceptibility partly influenced by a change in the age structure of the population, and that an increase in worm transmission was not directly related to male activity concurrent with reproductive status, nor to population density.