The aim of this paper is to describe the possibilities of analyzing human mastication. The development of a standardized food model is presented. Based on the findings of a systematic literature search an elastic food...The aim of this paper is to describe the possibilities of analyzing human mastication. The development of a standardized food model is presented. Based on the findings of a systematic literature search an elastic food model was created with the aim of standardizing size and elastic properties. Three different eatable jellied products were chosen, created by a changing of the amount of gelatin (260 Blooms) related to the total mass of the standard jellied food. The different hardness were classified in soft, medium and hard, flavored identically, but stained with different colors: soft-green, medium-yellow, hard-red. A cylindrical form was chosen with a height of 1 cm and a diameter of 2 cm. A standard protocol for analyzing chewing patterns in men was created. The condylographic data off several patients are described in details to demonstrate the possible clinical implementation. The newly developed standard food model (SFM) showed the capability to serve in experimental settings to analyze human mastication, although only a few patients have been examined. In addition, strength and size of the newly developed SFM load the masticatory system in an extent;it should be possible to disclose subclinical symptoms of patients within a short time of examination. The diagnostic procedure of temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) should be endorsed by this new method. The condylographic data created by a standardized protocol should have the ability to enhance the clinical functional analysis of patients previous to restorative dental procedures.展开更多
In this paper,a kind of discrete delay food-limited model obtained by the Euler method is investigated,where the discrete delay τ is regarded as a parameter.By analyzing the associated characteristic equation,the lin...In this paper,a kind of discrete delay food-limited model obtained by the Euler method is investigated,where the discrete delay τ is regarded as a parameter.By analyzing the associated characteristic equation,the linear stability of this model is studied.It is shown that Neimark-Sacker bifurcation occurs when τ crosses certain critical values.The explicit formulae which determine the stability,direction,and other properties of bifurcating periodic solution are derived by means of the theory of center manifold and normal form.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to verify the analytical results.展开更多
A dynamic food chain model and program, DYFOM 95, for predicting the radiological consequences of nuclear accident has been developed, which is not only suitable to the West food chain but also to Chinese food chain. ...A dynamic food chain model and program, DYFOM 95, for predicting the radiological consequences of nuclear accident has been developed, which is not only suitable to the West food chain but also to Chinese food chain. The following processes, caused by accident release which will make an impact on radionuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable were considered: dry and wet deposition interception and initial retention, translocation, percolation, root uptake and tillage. Activity intake rate of animals, effects of processing and activity intake of human through ingestion pathway ware also considered in calculations. The effects of leaf area index LAI of vegetable were considered in dry deposition model. A method for calculating the contribution of rain with different period and different intensity to total wet deposition was established. The program contains 1 main code and 5 sub codes to calculate dry and wet deposition on surface of vegetable and soil, translocation of nuclides in vegetable, nuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable and in animal products and activity intake of human and so on.展开更多
In this paper,a deterministic and stochastic fractional-order model of the tri-trophic food chain model incorporating harvesting is proposed and analysed.The interaction between prey,middle predator and top predator p...In this paper,a deterministic and stochastic fractional-order model of the tri-trophic food chain model incorporating harvesting is proposed and analysed.The interaction between prey,middle predator and top predator population is investigated.In order to clarify the characteristics of the proposed model,the analysis of existence,uniqueness,non-negativity and boundedness of the solutions of the proposed model are examined.Some sufficient conditions that ensure the local and global stability of equilibrium points are obtained.By using stability analysis of the fractional-order system,it is proved that if the basic reproduction number R_(0)<1,the predator free equilibrium point E_(1) is globally asymptotically stable.The occurrence of local bifurcation near the equilibrium points is investigated with the help of Sotomayor’s theorem.Some numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical findings.The impact of harvesting on prey and themiddle predator is studied.We conclude that harvesting parameters can control the dynamics of the middle predator.A numerical approximation method is developed for the proposed stochastic fractional-order model.展开更多
In this paper a dynamic food chain model for Hong Kong which simulates the transfer of radioactive substances from a fallout deposition via the food chain into the human bodies is built. The model is based on the RADF...In this paper a dynamic food chain model for Hong Kong which simulates the transfer of radioactive substances from a fallout deposition via the food chain into the human bodies is built. The model is based on the RADFOOD model and the BirchallJames algorithm. The radionuclides 13if and 90Sr representing the short-term and long-term risk situations have been studied as sample cases. Various types of crops,and the dietary pattern of the public have been collsidered. The resulting internal radiation doses have been calculated. The results are obtained for food consumption starting at various time after the fallout deposition and for different consumption durations.展开更多
Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised...Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised starch solution with 1% w/w sodium chloride as a liquid phase. The effects of particle phase volume （Ф, 0-0.60）, particle shapes （cube, sphere, rod and disc） and starch concentrations （3% and 5% w/w starch） were investigated. The power law model was successfully applied to characterize the flow properties of each system and the consistency K and power law index n were obtained. The K increased and n decreased with increasing # for samples at all particle shapes at 3% w/w starch in the liquid phase. The particle effect on the viscosity is further analysed by means of the Krieger-Dougherty model and the maximum packing fraction #,, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] were obtained in each system. The Фm, depended on the particle shape, as expected. The [7] value depended on particle shape and was largely in the order of 4.04 （cube）, 3.28 （disc）, 2.56 （sphere） and 2.32 （rod） at 3% w/w starch. The [η] also depended on starch concentration and was 1.1 at 5%,6 w/w starch in the liquid phase with spherical particles. The present results show successful application of BMS to study the rheological properties of large particulate liquid food systems at relatively small scale experiment （-0.5 L） and also that existing models for suspension rheology are applicable for such food systems to a great extend.展开更多
Sea ice in the western Antarctic Peninsula （WAP） region is both highly variable and rapidly changing. In the Palmer Station region, the ice season duration has decreased by 92 d since 1978. The sea-ice changes affec...Sea ice in the western Antarctic Peninsula （WAP） region is both highly variable and rapidly changing. In the Palmer Station region, the ice season duration has decreased by 92 d since 1978. The sea-ice changes affect ocean stratification and freshwater balance and in turn impact every component of the polar marine ecosystem. Long-term observations from the WAP nearshore and offshore regions show a pattern of chlorophyll （Chl） variability with three to five years of negative Chl anomalies interrupted by one or two years of positive anomalies （high and low Chl regimes）. Both field observations and results from an inverse food-web model show that these high and low Chl regimes differed significantly from each other, with high primary productivity and net community production （NCP） and other rates associated with the high Chl years and low rates with low Chl years. Gross primary production rates （GPP） averaged 30 mmolC.m^-2.d^-1 in the low Chl years and 100 mmolC.m-2.d1 in the high Chl years. Both large and small phytoplankton were more abundant and more productive in high Chl years than in low Chl years. Similarly, krill were more important as grazers in high Chl years, but did not differ from microzooplankton in high or low Chl years. Microzooplankton did not differ between high and low Chl years. Net community production differed significantly between high and low Chl years, but mobilized a similar proportion of GPP in both high and low Chl years. The composition of the NCP was uniform in high and low Chl years. These results emphasize the importance of microbial components in the WAP plankton system and suggest that food webs dominated by small phytoplankton can have pathways that funnel production into NCP, and likely, export.展开更多
Worldwide biodiversity is being threatened by human activities to a greater level wherein the natural ecosystems are reaching the verge of collapsing. We are faced with four major interrelated challenges namely a chan...Worldwide biodiversity is being threatened by human activities to a greater level wherein the natural ecosystems are reaching the verge of collapsing. We are faced with four major interrelated challenges namely a changing climate, biodiversity loss, human population growth and food production for this growing population. Agricultural intensification contributes significantly to biodiversity loss. The agricultural model for our current food production systems is mainly based on the Green Revolution, which promoted the cultivation of crops in extensive monoculture fields and intensified external inputs of agrochemicals. This model resulted in biodiversity loss, particularly in insect populations. A model based on ecological intensification as an alternative to agricultural intensification with minimized use of agro-inputs may slow the rate of biodiversity loss resulting in more sustainable agricultural ecosystems.展开更多
Environmental contamination of food is a worldwide public health problem. Folate mediated one- carbon metabolism plays an important role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and mutagenesis. Many contaminants i...Environmental contamination of food is a worldwide public health problem. Folate mediated one- carbon metabolism plays an important role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and mutagenesis. Many contaminants in food cause cancer through epigenetic mechanisms and/or DNA instability i.e. default methylation of uracil to thymine, subsequent to the decrease of 5-methylte- trahydrofolate (5 mTHF) pool in the one-carbon metabolism network. Evaluating consequences of an exposure to food contaminants based on systems biology approaches is a promising alternative field of investigation. This report presents a dynamic mathematical modeling for the study of the alteration in the one-carbon metabolism network by environmental factors. It provides a model for predicting “the impact of arbitrary contaminants that can induce the 5 mTHF deficiency. The model allows for a given experimental condition, the analysis of DNA methylation activity and dumping methylation in the de novo pathway of DNA synthesis.展开更多
Food and non-alcoholic beverages are highly important for individuals to continue staying alive and living healthy lives. The increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages experienced across the world ove...Food and non-alcoholic beverages are highly important for individuals to continue staying alive and living healthy lives. The increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages experienced across the world over years has continued to make food and non-alcoholic beverages not to be accessible and affordable to individuals and families having a low income. The aim of this particular research study was to identify how Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages could be modelled using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models for forecasting future values for the next two years. The data used for the study was that of Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages for the period starting from February 2009 to April 2024 obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database. The best specification for the ARIMA model was identified using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean absolute scaled error (MASE) and assessing whether residuals of the model were independent and normally distributed with a variance that is constant an whether the model has most of its coefficients being significant statistically. ARIMA (3, 1, 0) (1, 0, 0) model was identified as the best ARIMA model for modeling Kenya’s CPI of food and non-beverages for forecasting future values among the ARIMA models considered. Using this particular model, Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages was forecasted to increase only slightly with time to reach a value of about 165.70 by March 2026.展开更多
This paper presents a scenario-based assessment of global future food security. To do that,the socio-economic and climate change scenarios were defined for the future and were linked to an integrated modeling framewor...This paper presents a scenario-based assessment of global future food security. To do that,the socio-economic and climate change scenarios were defined for the future and were linked to an integrated modeling framework. The crop yields simulated by the GIS-based Environmental Policy Integrated Climate （EPIC） model and crop areas simulated by the crop choice decision model were combined to calculate the total food production and per capita food availability,which was used to represent the status of food availability and stability. The per capita Gross Domestic Product （GDP） simulated by IFPSIM model was used to reflect the situation of food accessibility and affordability. Based on these two indicators,the future food security status was assessed at a global scale over a period of approximately 20 years,starting from the year 2000. The results show that certain regions such as South Asia and most African countries will likely remain hotspots of food insecurity in the future as both the per capita food availability and the capacity of being able to import food will decrease between 2000 and 2020. Low food production associated with poverty is the determining factor to starvation in these regions,and more efforts are needed to combat hunger in terms of future actions. Other regions such as China,most Eastern European countries and most South American countries where there is an increase in per capita food availability or an increase in the capacity to import food between 2000 and 2020 might be able to improve their food security situation.展开更多
[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate tbe healthy risk of genetically modified （ GM ） soybeans by using a novel approach for functions and safety of food. [ Me^od] Different from traditional evaluation of substan...[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate tbe healthy risk of genetically modified （ GM ） soybeans by using a novel approach for functions and safety of food. [ Me^od] Different from traditional evaluation of substantial equivalence, three great innovations were performed in this study, involving in basic diet, evalu- ation approaches and principle, as well as the clarification of connotation differences between absolute and relative mass of organs. Hence a novel BDI-GS （Bendib Damage Index and General Score） evaluation approach was established and applied in comparative evaluation between RR GM and natural soybeans. Healthy male ICR mice during linear growth were selected; experimental mice were fed with 15% RR GM soybeans and 15% natural soybeans blending maize meal diets, and control mice were fed with single maize meal diet for 13 d; the mice were dissected after collecting blood samples and perfectly obtained nine organs or tissues to re- cord their masses and conduct statistical analyses. [Result] Plenty of matching information was obtained through simple design. The growth performance of treated mice was markedly of individual differences, some mice were thwarted due to regular intake of RR soybeans. Meanwhile, the functions and safety of RR soybeans were markedly lowered in overall nutritional and healthy effects than those of natural soybeans expressed in GS values, and presents some declines in nutrition and health of thymus, pancreas and spermary; especially, it can make thymus immune （P 〈0.05） in markedly lower level than that of natural soybeans. [ Conclusion] Therefore, major troubles and risks of RR soybeans intake are of personal risks in different degrees, in addition, it may increase sub-health and related chronic epi- demics risks, and herein it will presents certain safety issues. The creation of this novel evaluation system provides a simple and available evaluation approach for functions and potential risks revelation of food effects, and will yield far-reaching influences to safety evaluation and healthy development of GM foods, as well as public health.展开更多
World Health Organization through tuberculosis (TB) control averted up to six million deaths and cured thirty-six million people in 1995-2008, but had less success in reducing TB incidence, especially in thirteen high...World Health Organization through tuberculosis (TB) control averted up to six million deaths and cured thirty-six million people in 1995-2008, but had less success in reducing TB incidence, especially in thirteen high burden countries, including Indonesia. Therefore, TB control will need to have more emphasis on the issues of social determinants, as social determinants affect TB’s incidence directly and/-or through TB’s risk factors. This study aimed to identify a significant effect of social determinants and the risk factors of TB incidence. The research setting was at twenty-seven primary health centers and one hospital that have implemented the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy in Bandar Lampung municipality, Indonesia. Respondents of this research were 238 smear-positive TB patients as case group and 238 patients without TB as control group. Research variables consisted of “social determinants”, “housing condition”, “household food security” and “health access” which were set as latent variables and measured through their indicators. Data had been collected by using questionnaire and then was analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS 2.0 software. The result showed that “social determinants” through “housing condition” and “household food security” affected “TB incidence”. Moreover, “social determinants”, “housing condition” and “household food security” can be used to explain 34.1% variation of “TB incidence”. In conclusion, the knowledge can be used to support the TB control program, particularly to implement the DOTS strategy together with improving social determinants, housing condition and household food security.展开更多
This study was conducted to clarify the food compositions of Corbicula bivalves (C. japonica and leana) in tidal rivers with varied landscapes. In order to grasp their trophic structures, we measured the carbon and ni...This study was conducted to clarify the food compositions of Corbicula bivalves (C. japonica and leana) in tidal rivers with varied landscapes. In order to grasp their trophic structures, we measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of the collected samples such as the bivalves with varied growth stages and the suspended particulate organic matters (SPOMs) with varied landscapes as their food sources, and then analyzed their relationships with IsoSource mixing model software. The stable isotope ratio measurements clarified that there was a large difference in the ranges of C. japonica and leana in spite of the same sampling locations, and the IsoSource analysis could quantitatively describe their food compositions. According to the results, it could be clarified that the variations in food compositions were dependent not only on the species difference but also on their growth stages. Furthermore, it might suggest that their diet preferences affected the spatial distributions of these Corbicula bivalves in this location.展开更多
This study analyzed rural households’ food security and its determinants in western Ethiopia. The study used a primary data collected from 276 randomly selected households using interview schedule. In addition, focus...This study analyzed rural households’ food security and its determinants in western Ethiopia. The study used a primary data collected from 276 randomly selected households using interview schedule. In addition, focus group discussion (FGD) and key informants interview were also used to obtain a qualitative primary data. As to the method of data analysis, the study employed descriptive statistics (such as mean, frequency, range and percentage) and binary logit model (BLM). The finding of the study revealed that, in the study area, 59.06% of the sampled households were food insecure and 40.94% of them were food secure. Besides, the study indicated that 86.87% of the households were vulnerable to different shocks, risks, and seasonality’s and 41.67% of the households faced shortage of food. Moreover, the finding indicated that only 31.88% of the households were food self-sufficient from own production. Low productivity, climate related problems and inadequacy of cultivable land were identified as the top three main causes of food shortage and/or food self-insufficiency from own production. The estimated BLM pointed out that sex, age, access to irrigation, off-farm and non-farm income, input cost, access to credit and distance to market were significant in determining household’s food security status. Therefore, policies and actions directed towards improving households’ food security and reducing their vulnerability should focus on the aforementioned factors.展开更多
We used a Lake Shira numerical model to estimate the response of the ecosystem of a saline meromictic lake to variations in weather parameters during the growing season. The sensitivity analysis of the model suggests ...We used a Lake Shira numerical model to estimate the response of the ecosystem of a saline meromictic lake to variations in weather parameters during the growing season. The sensitivity analysis of the model suggests that compared to other external(nutrient inflows) and internal(spring biomasses of food-web components) factors, weather parameters are among the most influential for both mixolimnetic(phyto-and zooplankton) and monimolimnetic(purple sulfur bacteria, sulfur reducing bacteria and hydrogen sulfide) food-web components. Calculations with different weather scenarios shows how changes in the water temperature and mixing depth af fect mixolimnetic and monimolimnetic food-web components and the depth of the oxic-anoxic interface in a meromictic lake. When weather forcing stimulates an increase in the biomass of food-web components in the mixolimnion, it produces cascading effects that lead to three results: 1) a higher content of detritus in the water column; 2) a higher content of hydrogen sulfide in the monimolimnion; 3) raising of the oxic-anoxic interface closer to the water-air surface. This cascading effect is complicated by the negative correlation between two light dependent primary producers located at diff erent depths—phytoplankton in the mixolimnion and purple sulfur bacteria at the oxic-anoxic interface. Thus, weather conditions that stimulate higher phytoplankton biomass are associated with a higher detritus content and lower biomass of purple sulfur bacteria, a higher content of hydrogen sulfide and a shallower oxic-anoxic interface. The same weather conditions(higher wind, lower cloud cover, and lower air temperature) promote a scenario of less stable thermal stratification. Thus, our calculations suggest that weather parameters during the summer season strongly control the mixing depth, water temperature and the mixolimnetic food web. An effect of biogeochemical and physical interactions on the depth of the oxicanoxic interface is also detectable. However, intra-and interannual climate and weather effects will be more important for the control of meromixis stability.展开更多
文摘The aim of this paper is to describe the possibilities of analyzing human mastication. The development of a standardized food model is presented. Based on the findings of a systematic literature search an elastic food model was created with the aim of standardizing size and elastic properties. Three different eatable jellied products were chosen, created by a changing of the amount of gelatin (260 Blooms) related to the total mass of the standard jellied food. The different hardness were classified in soft, medium and hard, flavored identically, but stained with different colors: soft-green, medium-yellow, hard-red. A cylindrical form was chosen with a height of 1 cm and a diameter of 2 cm. A standard protocol for analyzing chewing patterns in men was created. The condylographic data off several patients are described in details to demonstrate the possible clinical implementation. The newly developed standard food model (SFM) showed the capability to serve in experimental settings to analyze human mastication, although only a few patients have been examined. In addition, strength and size of the newly developed SFM load the masticatory system in an extent;it should be possible to disclose subclinical symptoms of patients within a short time of examination. The diagnostic procedure of temporo-mandibular disorder (TMD) should be endorsed by this new method. The condylographic data created by a standardized protocol should have the ability to enhance the clinical functional analysis of patients previous to restorative dental procedures.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61272069,61272114,61073026,61170031,and 61100076)
文摘In this paper,a kind of discrete delay food-limited model obtained by the Euler method is investigated,where the discrete delay τ is regarded as a parameter.By analyzing the associated characteristic equation,the linear stability of this model is studied.It is shown that Neimark-Sacker bifurcation occurs when τ crosses certain critical values.The explicit formulae which determine the stability,direction,and other properties of bifurcating periodic solution are derived by means of the theory of center manifold and normal form.Finally,numerical simulations are performed to verify the analytical results.
文摘A dynamic food chain model and program, DYFOM 95, for predicting the radiological consequences of nuclear accident has been developed, which is not only suitable to the West food chain but also to Chinese food chain. The following processes, caused by accident release which will make an impact on radionuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable were considered: dry and wet deposition interception and initial retention, translocation, percolation, root uptake and tillage. Activity intake rate of animals, effects of processing and activity intake of human through ingestion pathway ware also considered in calculations. The effects of leaf area index LAI of vegetable were considered in dry deposition model. A method for calculating the contribution of rain with different period and different intensity to total wet deposition was established. The program contains 1 main code and 5 sub codes to calculate dry and wet deposition on surface of vegetable and soil, translocation of nuclides in vegetable, nuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable and in animal products and activity intake of human and so on.
基金The authors gratefully acknowledge Qassim University,represented by the Deanship of Scientific Research,on the financial support under the number(cosao-bs-2019-2-2-I-5469)during the academic year 1440 AH/2019 AD.
文摘In this paper,a deterministic and stochastic fractional-order model of the tri-trophic food chain model incorporating harvesting is proposed and analysed.The interaction between prey,middle predator and top predator population is investigated.In order to clarify the characteristics of the proposed model,the analysis of existence,uniqueness,non-negativity and boundedness of the solutions of the proposed model are examined.Some sufficient conditions that ensure the local and global stability of equilibrium points are obtained.By using stability analysis of the fractional-order system,it is proved that if the basic reproduction number R_(0)<1,the predator free equilibrium point E_(1) is globally asymptotically stable.The occurrence of local bifurcation near the equilibrium points is investigated with the help of Sotomayor’s theorem.Some numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical findings.The impact of harvesting on prey and themiddle predator is studied.We conclude that harvesting parameters can control the dynamics of the middle predator.A numerical approximation method is developed for the proposed stochastic fractional-order model.
文摘In this paper a dynamic food chain model for Hong Kong which simulates the transfer of radioactive substances from a fallout deposition via the food chain into the human bodies is built. The model is based on the RADFOOD model and the BirchallJames algorithm. The radionuclides 13if and 90Sr representing the short-term and long-term risk situations have been studied as sample cases. Various types of crops,and the dietary pattern of the public have been collsidered. The resulting internal radiation doses have been calculated. The results are obtained for food consumption starting at various time after the fallout deposition and for different consumption durations.
文摘Rheological properties of large particulate-liquid model food systems were studied by using the BMS （ball measuring system）. The model food systems were composed of alginate gel particles （-10mm） and a gelatinised starch solution with 1% w/w sodium chloride as a liquid phase. The effects of particle phase volume （Ф, 0-0.60）, particle shapes （cube, sphere, rod and disc） and starch concentrations （3% and 5% w/w starch） were investigated. The power law model was successfully applied to characterize the flow properties of each system and the consistency K and power law index n were obtained. The K increased and n decreased with increasing # for samples at all particle shapes at 3% w/w starch in the liquid phase. The particle effect on the viscosity is further analysed by means of the Krieger-Dougherty model and the maximum packing fraction #,, and the intrinsic viscosity [η] were obtained in each system. The Фm, depended on the particle shape, as expected. The [7] value depended on particle shape and was largely in the order of 4.04 （cube）, 3.28 （disc）, 2.56 （sphere） and 2.32 （rod） at 3% w/w starch. The [η] also depended on starch concentration and was 1.1 at 5%,6 w/w starch in the liquid phase with spherical particles. The present results show successful application of BMS to study the rheological properties of large particulate liquid food systems at relatively small scale experiment （-0.5 L） and also that existing models for suspension rheology are applicable for such food systems to a great extend.
基金supported by NSF Polar Programs awards ANT-1344502 and PLR-1440435 to HWD at Lamont-Doherty Earth ObservatorySFS and SCD were supported partly by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
文摘Sea ice in the western Antarctic Peninsula （WAP） region is both highly variable and rapidly changing. In the Palmer Station region, the ice season duration has decreased by 92 d since 1978. The sea-ice changes affect ocean stratification and freshwater balance and in turn impact every component of the polar marine ecosystem. Long-term observations from the WAP nearshore and offshore regions show a pattern of chlorophyll （Chl） variability with three to five years of negative Chl anomalies interrupted by one or two years of positive anomalies （high and low Chl regimes）. Both field observations and results from an inverse food-web model show that these high and low Chl regimes differed significantly from each other, with high primary productivity and net community production （NCP） and other rates associated with the high Chl years and low rates with low Chl years. Gross primary production rates （GPP） averaged 30 mmolC.m^-2.d^-1 in the low Chl years and 100 mmolC.m-2.d1 in the high Chl years. Both large and small phytoplankton were more abundant and more productive in high Chl years than in low Chl years. Similarly, krill were more important as grazers in high Chl years, but did not differ from microzooplankton in high or low Chl years. Microzooplankton did not differ between high and low Chl years. Net community production differed significantly between high and low Chl years, but mobilized a similar proportion of GPP in both high and low Chl years. The composition of the NCP was uniform in high and low Chl years. These results emphasize the importance of microbial components in the WAP plankton system and suggest that food webs dominated by small phytoplankton can have pathways that funnel production into NCP, and likely, export.
文摘Worldwide biodiversity is being threatened by human activities to a greater level wherein the natural ecosystems are reaching the verge of collapsing. We are faced with four major interrelated challenges namely a changing climate, biodiversity loss, human population growth and food production for this growing population. Agricultural intensification contributes significantly to biodiversity loss. The agricultural model for our current food production systems is mainly based on the Green Revolution, which promoted the cultivation of crops in extensive monoculture fields and intensified external inputs of agrochemicals. This model resulted in biodiversity loss, particularly in insect populations. A model based on ecological intensification as an alternative to agricultural intensification with minimized use of agro-inputs may slow the rate of biodiversity loss resulting in more sustainable agricultural ecosystems.
文摘Environmental contamination of food is a worldwide public health problem. Folate mediated one- carbon metabolism plays an important role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and mutagenesis. Many contaminants in food cause cancer through epigenetic mechanisms and/or DNA instability i.e. default methylation of uracil to thymine, subsequent to the decrease of 5-methylte- trahydrofolate (5 mTHF) pool in the one-carbon metabolism network. Evaluating consequences of an exposure to food contaminants based on systems biology approaches is a promising alternative field of investigation. This report presents a dynamic mathematical modeling for the study of the alteration in the one-carbon metabolism network by environmental factors. It provides a model for predicting “the impact of arbitrary contaminants that can induce the 5 mTHF deficiency. The model allows for a given experimental condition, the analysis of DNA methylation activity and dumping methylation in the de novo pathway of DNA synthesis.
文摘Food and non-alcoholic beverages are highly important for individuals to continue staying alive and living healthy lives. The increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages experienced across the world over years has continued to make food and non-alcoholic beverages not to be accessible and affordable to individuals and families having a low income. The aim of this particular research study was to identify how Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages could be modelled using Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models for forecasting future values for the next two years. The data used for the study was that of Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages for the period starting from February 2009 to April 2024 obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database. The best specification for the ARIMA model was identified using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean absolute scaled error (MASE) and assessing whether residuals of the model were independent and normally distributed with a variance that is constant an whether the model has most of its coefficients being significant statistically. ARIMA (3, 1, 0) (1, 0, 0) model was identified as the best ARIMA model for modeling Kenya’s CPI of food and non-beverages for forecasting future values among the ARIMA models considered. Using this particular model, Kenya’s CPI of food and non-alcoholic beverages was forecasted to increase only slightly with time to reach a value of about 165.70 by March 2026.
基金National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program),No.2010CB951504National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.40930101+1 种基金No.40971218Foundation for National Non-Profit Scientific Institution,Ministry of Finance of China,No.IARRP-2010-02
文摘This paper presents a scenario-based assessment of global future food security. To do that,the socio-economic and climate change scenarios were defined for the future and were linked to an integrated modeling framework. The crop yields simulated by the GIS-based Environmental Policy Integrated Climate （EPIC） model and crop areas simulated by the crop choice decision model were combined to calculate the total food production and per capita food availability,which was used to represent the status of food availability and stability. The per capita Gross Domestic Product （GDP） simulated by IFPSIM model was used to reflect the situation of food accessibility and affordability. Based on these two indicators,the future food security status was assessed at a global scale over a period of approximately 20 years,starting from the year 2000. The results show that certain regions such as South Asia and most African countries will likely remain hotspots of food insecurity in the future as both the per capita food availability and the capacity of being able to import food will decrease between 2000 and 2020. Low food production associated with poverty is the determining factor to starvation in these regions,and more efforts are needed to combat hunger in terms of future actions. Other regions such as China,most Eastern European countries and most South American countries where there is an increase in per capita food availability or an increase in the capacity to import food between 2000 and 2020 might be able to improve their food security situation.
基金Supported by Development Fund of the Institute of Radiation Medicine(No.SF1227)Research Fund for Youth Scholars of Union Medical College(No.2012D03)Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(No.20121106120042)
文摘[Objective] This study aimed to evaluate tbe healthy risk of genetically modified （ GM ） soybeans by using a novel approach for functions and safety of food. [ Me^od] Different from traditional evaluation of substantial equivalence, three great innovations were performed in this study, involving in basic diet, evalu- ation approaches and principle, as well as the clarification of connotation differences between absolute and relative mass of organs. Hence a novel BDI-GS （Bendib Damage Index and General Score） evaluation approach was established and applied in comparative evaluation between RR GM and natural soybeans. Healthy male ICR mice during linear growth were selected; experimental mice were fed with 15% RR GM soybeans and 15% natural soybeans blending maize meal diets, and control mice were fed with single maize meal diet for 13 d; the mice were dissected after collecting blood samples and perfectly obtained nine organs or tissues to re- cord their masses and conduct statistical analyses. [Result] Plenty of matching information was obtained through simple design. The growth performance of treated mice was markedly of individual differences, some mice were thwarted due to regular intake of RR soybeans. Meanwhile, the functions and safety of RR soybeans were markedly lowered in overall nutritional and healthy effects than those of natural soybeans expressed in GS values, and presents some declines in nutrition and health of thymus, pancreas and spermary; especially, it can make thymus immune （P 〈0.05） in markedly lower level than that of natural soybeans. [ Conclusion] Therefore, major troubles and risks of RR soybeans intake are of personal risks in different degrees, in addition, it may increase sub-health and related chronic epi- demics risks, and herein it will presents certain safety issues. The creation of this novel evaluation system provides a simple and available evaluation approach for functions and potential risks revelation of food effects, and will yield far-reaching influences to safety evaluation and healthy development of GM foods, as well as public health.
文摘World Health Organization through tuberculosis (TB) control averted up to six million deaths and cured thirty-six million people in 1995-2008, but had less success in reducing TB incidence, especially in thirteen high burden countries, including Indonesia. Therefore, TB control will need to have more emphasis on the issues of social determinants, as social determinants affect TB’s incidence directly and/-or through TB’s risk factors. This study aimed to identify a significant effect of social determinants and the risk factors of TB incidence. The research setting was at twenty-seven primary health centers and one hospital that have implemented the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) strategy in Bandar Lampung municipality, Indonesia. Respondents of this research were 238 smear-positive TB patients as case group and 238 patients without TB as control group. Research variables consisted of “social determinants”, “housing condition”, “household food security” and “health access” which were set as latent variables and measured through their indicators. Data had been collected by using questionnaire and then was analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling using SmartPLS 2.0 software. The result showed that “social determinants” through “housing condition” and “household food security” affected “TB incidence”. Moreover, “social determinants”, “housing condition” and “household food security” can be used to explain 34.1% variation of “TB incidence”. In conclusion, the knowledge can be used to support the TB control program, particularly to implement the DOTS strategy together with improving social determinants, housing condition and household food security.
文摘This study was conducted to clarify the food compositions of Corbicula bivalves (C. japonica and leana) in tidal rivers with varied landscapes. In order to grasp their trophic structures, we measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of the collected samples such as the bivalves with varied growth stages and the suspended particulate organic matters (SPOMs) with varied landscapes as their food sources, and then analyzed their relationships with IsoSource mixing model software. The stable isotope ratio measurements clarified that there was a large difference in the ranges of C. japonica and leana in spite of the same sampling locations, and the IsoSource analysis could quantitatively describe their food compositions. According to the results, it could be clarified that the variations in food compositions were dependent not only on the species difference but also on their growth stages. Furthermore, it might suggest that their diet preferences affected the spatial distributions of these Corbicula bivalves in this location.
文摘This study analyzed rural households’ food security and its determinants in western Ethiopia. The study used a primary data collected from 276 randomly selected households using interview schedule. In addition, focus group discussion (FGD) and key informants interview were also used to obtain a qualitative primary data. As to the method of data analysis, the study employed descriptive statistics (such as mean, frequency, range and percentage) and binary logit model (BLM). The finding of the study revealed that, in the study area, 59.06% of the sampled households were food insecure and 40.94% of them were food secure. Besides, the study indicated that 86.87% of the households were vulnerable to different shocks, risks, and seasonality’s and 41.67% of the households faced shortage of food. Moreover, the finding indicated that only 31.88% of the households were food self-sufficient from own production. Low productivity, climate related problems and inadequacy of cultivable land were identified as the top three main causes of food shortage and/or food self-insufficiency from own production. The estimated BLM pointed out that sex, age, access to irrigation, off-farm and non-farm income, input cost, access to credit and distance to market were significant in determining household’s food security status. Therefore, policies and actions directed towards improving households’ food security and reducing their vulnerability should focus on the aforementioned factors.
文摘We used a Lake Shira numerical model to estimate the response of the ecosystem of a saline meromictic lake to variations in weather parameters during the growing season. The sensitivity analysis of the model suggests that compared to other external(nutrient inflows) and internal(spring biomasses of food-web components) factors, weather parameters are among the most influential for both mixolimnetic(phyto-and zooplankton) and monimolimnetic(purple sulfur bacteria, sulfur reducing bacteria and hydrogen sulfide) food-web components. Calculations with different weather scenarios shows how changes in the water temperature and mixing depth af fect mixolimnetic and monimolimnetic food-web components and the depth of the oxic-anoxic interface in a meromictic lake. When weather forcing stimulates an increase in the biomass of food-web components in the mixolimnion, it produces cascading effects that lead to three results: 1) a higher content of detritus in the water column; 2) a higher content of hydrogen sulfide in the monimolimnion; 3) raising of the oxic-anoxic interface closer to the water-air surface. This cascading effect is complicated by the negative correlation between two light dependent primary producers located at diff erent depths—phytoplankton in the mixolimnion and purple sulfur bacteria at the oxic-anoxic interface. Thus, weather conditions that stimulate higher phytoplankton biomass are associated with a higher detritus content and lower biomass of purple sulfur bacteria, a higher content of hydrogen sulfide and a shallower oxic-anoxic interface. The same weather conditions(higher wind, lower cloud cover, and lower air temperature) promote a scenario of less stable thermal stratification. Thus, our calculations suggest that weather parameters during the summer season strongly control the mixing depth, water temperature and the mixolimnetic food web. An effect of biogeochemical and physical interactions on the depth of the oxicanoxic interface is also detectable. However, intra-and interannual climate and weather effects will be more important for the control of meromixis stability.
