Amount Of Vegetation Research Articles

The Effect of Nutrition Education Using Puzzle to Increased Knowledge and Intentions Consumption of Vegetables and Fruits in SDN Dupak I Surabaya

Background: The level of vegetable and fruit consumption in Indonesia is generally still low at 95.5%. Children who consume small amounts of vegetables and fruits have the potential to suffer from malnutrition. One of the age groups that are vulnerable to nutrition is school children. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nutrition education using puzzle media on increasing knowledge and intentions related to vegetable and fruit consumption in Dupak 1 Surabaya Elementary School children. Methods: This type of research was a quasi-experiment using pre-post test design. The research sample used was 44 people (22 students in the treatment group and 22 students in the control group) taken randomly with sample random sampling. Data collection in this study used knowledge questionnaires, Theory of Planned Behavior constructs, and intentions. The statistical tests used in this study were Paired T-Test and Independent T-Test. Results: Paired T-Test analysis revealed that all variables had significant differences in the control group and treatment group. The Independent T-Test analysis showed that there were differences in attitude changes (p=0.004) and subjective norms (p=0.025) between the treatment group and the control group. Providing education using puzzle media was effective in changing attitudes and subjective norms of respondents. Conclusion: In conclusion, there was a significant increase in the variables of knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perception of behavioral control, and intention before and after being given nutrition education related to vegetables and fruits in both groups. Providing education with puzzle media was effective in changing attitudes and subjective norms in respondents when compared to poster media.

Discrimination of Degraded Pastures in the Brazilian Cerrado Using the PlanetScope SuperDove Satellite Constellation

Pasture degradation poses significant economic, social, and environmental impacts in the Brazilian savanna ecosystem. Despite these impacts, effectively detecting varying intensities of agronomic and biological degradation through remote sensing remains challenging. This study explores the potential of the eight-band PlanetScope SuperDove satellite constellation to discriminate between five classes of pasture degradation: non-degraded pasture (NDP); pastures with low- (LID) and moderate-intensity degradation (MID); severe agronomic degradation (SAD); and severe biological degradation (SBD). Using a set of 259 cloud-free images acquired in 2022 across five sites located in central Brazil, the study aims to: (i) identify the most suitable period for discriminating between various degradation classes; (ii) evaluate the Random Forest (RF) classification performance of different SuperDove attributes; and (iii) compare metrics of accuracy derived from two predicted scenarios of pasture degradation: a more challenging one involving five classes (NDP, LID, MID, SAD, and SBD), and another considering only non-degraded and severely degraded pastures (NDP, SAD, and SBD). The study assessed individual and combined sets of SuperDove attributes, including band reflectance, vegetation indices, endmember fractions from spectral mixture analysis (SMA), and image texture variables from Gray-level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM). The results highlighted the effectiveness of the transition from the rainy to the dry season and the period towards the beginning of a new seasonal rainy cycle in October for discriminating pasture degradation. In comparison to the dry season, more favorable discrimination scenarios were observed during the rainy season. In the dry season, increased amounts of non-photosynthetic vegetation (NPV) complicate the differentiation between NDP and SBD, which is characterized by high soil exposure. Pastures exhibiting severe biological degradation showed greater sensitivity to water stress, manifesting earlier reflectance changes in the visible and near-infrared bands of SuperDove compared to other classes. Reflectance-based classification yielded higher overall accuracy (OA) than the approaches using endmember fractions, vegetation indices, or texture metrics. Classifications using combined attributes achieved an OA of 0.69 and 0.88 for the five-class and three-class scenarios, respectively. In the five-class scenario, the highest F1-scores were observed for NDP (0.61) and classes of agronomic (0.71) and biological (0.88) degradation, indicating the challenges in separating low and moderate stages of pasture degradation. An initial comparison of RF classification results for the five categories of degraded pastures, utilizing reflectance data from MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI)/Sentinel-2 (400–2500 nm) and SuperDove (400–900 nm), demonstrated an enhanced OA (0.79 versus 0.66) with Sentinel-2 data. This enhancement is likely to be attributed to the inclusion of shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands in the data analysis. Our findings highlight the potential of satellite constellation data, acquired at high spatial resolution, for remote identification of pasture degradation.

Did COVID-19 influence fruit and vegetable consumption? Explaining and comparing pandemic peak and post-peak periods

The COVID-19 pandemic, one of the worst global health crises in the last century, impacted nearly every aspect of people's lives, including their dietary choices and food consumption patterns. It arrived during a long shift in American diets featuring increasingly large portions of processed foods as well as fruit and vegetable consumption that is well below recommended levels. Improving the latter has been a key part of policymakers' efforts to improve consumers' diets. This study surveyed individuals in the US South to determine the factors influencing their consumption of fruit and vegetables during the pandemic peak and how these have changed post-peak. During the peak, food venue, demographics, and concerns about diet and the seriousness of the virus heavily affected consumption. Greater amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables were consumed post-peak pandemic. Changes post-peak were predicted by food venue. Cooking meals at home was the main positive predictor for consumption. US policymakers should try and leverage the changes since the peak to promote greater consumption of fruit and vegetables.

The association between healthy and unhealthy dietary indices with prostate cancer risk: a case-control study

IntroductionAccording to our knowledge, the relationship between dietary patterns such as pro-healthy, pro-vegetarian, and non-healthy dietary patterns and prostate cancer risk has not been clearly investigated in Iranian men. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence to a pro-healthy (PHDI), pro-vegetarian (PDP), and non-healthy dietary indices (NHDI) and the risk of prostate cancer.MethodIn this matched case-control study, 125 participants (62 cases and 63 hospital-based controls) were enrolled from April to September 2015. Participants’ dietary intakes were evaluated using a valid and reliable 160-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary indices calculated based on previous studies. The relationship between dietary indices (PHDI, NHDI and PDP) and prostate cancer risk was assessed using binary regression models.ResultsAccording to adjusted model, significant negative correlations were found between PHDI and PDP with prostate cancer (PHDI: OR = 0.31; 95% CI; 0.11–0.85; P = 0.023 – PDP: OR = 0.34; 95% CI; 0.15–0.75; P = 0.008). Also, a positive association was seen between NHDI and prostate cancer (OR = 3.01; 95% CI; 1.20–7.57; P = 0.019).ConclusionWe found that adherence to healthy dietary indices which includes high amounts of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains reduces the risk of prostate cancer. While adherence to a dietary pattern high in red and processed meat, refined grains, and sweetened beverages increases the risk of prostate cancer.

Integrated Assessment of the Runoff and Heat Mitigation Effects of Vegetation in an Urban Residential Area

Urban vegetation has an essential role in maintaining the hydrological and energy balance. These processes in urban areas have been long overlooked due to the fragmentation and uneven feature of land use and vegetation distribution. Recent advances in remote sensing and the ease of data acquisition have allowed a more precise mapping of vegetation and land cover, making it possible to simulate the above processes at micro scales. This research selects a small typical residential catchment in Japan as the study area and the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of urban vegetation on mitigating urban runoff and the heat island effect. The remote-sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data were used to represent vegetation spatial distribution and seasonal variation. A single layer canopy model and the Storm Water Management Model were coupled to simulate interception, evapotranspiration, and runoff generation processes. The effects of vegetation amount and landscape patterns on the above processes were also considered. The results showed that the coupled model had a satisfactory performance in the modeling of these processes. When the vegetation amount was set to 1.4 times its original value, the summer total runoff had a 10.7% reduction and the average surface temperature had a 2.5 °C reduction. While the vegetation amount was 0.8 times its original value, the total runoff increased by 6%, and the average surface temperature in summer increased by 1.5 °C. The combination of green roof and dense street trees showed the best mitigation performance among the different landscape patterns. The results of this study could be used as a reference for future green infrastructure development in areas with similar climate and vegetation characteristics.

Estimating thresholds of natural vegetation for the protection of water quality in South African catchments

Many of South Africa's current water quality problems have been attributed to diffuse pollution derived from poorly regulated land use/land cover (LULC) transformations. To mitigate these impacts, the preservation of an adequate amount of natural vegetation within catchment areas is an important management strategy. However, it is not clear how much natural vegetation cover is required to provide adequate levels of protection, nor at which scale(s) this strategy would be most effective. To investigate the possibility of estimating minimum thresholds of natural vegetation required to protect water resources, regression analysis was used to model relationships between water quality (measured using Nemerow's Pollution Index) and metrics of natural vegetation at multiple scales across a sample of sub-catchments located along the western, southern, and south-eastern coast of South Africa. With conspicuous outliers removed, the models were able to explain up to 82 % of the variability in the relationship between land use and water quality. Moreover, a statistically significant, nonlinear, and inverse relationship was found between proportions of natural vegetation cover and pollution levels. This relationship was strongest when measured (1) across the whole catchment and (2) within a 200 m riparian buffer zone. The models further indicated that approximately 80 to 90 % natural vegetation cover was necessary at these scales to maintain water quality at ecologically acceptable levels. Additional nonlinear thresholds estimated using breakpoint analysis suggested that if proportions of natural vegetation fall below 45 % (across the whole catchment) and 60 % (within a 200 m riparian buffer zone) a dramatic increase in pollution levels can be expected. The estimated thresholds are recommended as guidelines that can be used to inform integrated land and water resources management strategies aimed at protecting water quality in the study area. Likewise, the methods described are recommended for the estimation of similar thresholds in other regions.

The effect of hypothyroidism on cardiovascular events and type 2 diabetes mellitus developing in rheumatoid arthritis

To compare the frequency of cardiovascular events (CVE), to assess the risk of cardiovascular death using the mSCORE and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using the FINDRISC in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with and without hypothyroidism. The study included 149 patients (125 women, 24 men) with RA (median age - 57 [52; 61] years). In all patients, traditional factors of cardiovascular risk and glucose metabolism disorders (age, smoking status, total blood cholesterol, blood pressure, overweight, abdominal obesity - AO, heredity burdened by diabetes, insufficient physical activity, the lack of the necessary amount of berries, fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, history of hyperglycemia episodes), the 10-year risk of death from cardiovascular causes according to the mSCORE and the risk of developing type 2 DM according to the FINDRISС were assessed, a history of CVE (myocardial infarctions, and its revascularization, stroke) was recorded. Hypothyroidism was diagnosed in 17.4% of RA patients. Patients with hypothyroidism (group 1) were more likely to have AO and less likely to consume unsufficient dietary fiber than patients with euthyroidism (group 2). Moderate, high and very high risk of development according to the mSCORE and FINDRISC was detected in 61.5% of hypothyroid patients and 48.8% euthyroid patients, according to mSCORE alone - in 30.8 and 44.7%, according to FINDRISC - in 0 and 2.4%, respectively (p>0.05 in all cases); 11.5% of patients in group 1 and 6.5% in group 2 suffered from CVE (OR 1.875, 95% CI 0.462-7.607; p=0.63). It is necessary to evaluate the thyroid gland function, especially in patients with AO due to the high frequency of hypothyroidism in RA. Hypothyroidism did not have an independent effect on the severe CVЕ rates, as well as risk assessment according to the score and FINDRISC in RA patients. Theses, with and without hypothyroidism, were predominantly in the moderate, high, very high risk groups according to both scales.

Administrative empowerment and its role in reducing career cynicism among physical education teachers in Salah ad Din province

A recent study has shown that consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Conducted on a large group of participants over ten years, the study found that those who ate larger quantities of fruits and vegetables were less likely to suffer from heart attacks and strokes. The findings indicated that dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals in these foods play a crucial role in promoting heart health. The study emphasized the importance of consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables to ensure a wide range of essential nutrients. Additionally, the research highlighted that the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables also include improved digestive functions and maintaining a healthy weight. To achieve the best results, the study recommends consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, focusing on fresh and seasonal produce whenever possible. These results reinforce general health recommendations and underscore the significance of a balanced diet in preventing chronic diseases and enhancing overall quality of life.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in rural population of Puducherry

Objectives Rapid changes in India’s population and epidemiology are being brought about by Noncommunicable diseases, which significantly increase morbidity, mortality, and disability in both urban and rural populations, as well as in all socioeconomic groups. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors (CVRF) in the rural population of Puducherry. Material and Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Puducherry’s rural field practice area, which is connected to Aarupadai Veedu Medical College & Hospital (AVMC&H). A total of one thousand rural residents, ages 40 to 75, comprised the samples. With the aid of a modified WHO steps approach, a structured questionnaire containing physical measurements, CVRF information, and sociodemographic details was used to collect the data. SPSS version 28.0 was used to analyse the data. The prevalence of CVRF was determined using percentages, and the degree of correlation between the rural population’s CVRF and their demographic characteristics were examined. Results The following behaviours have the highest prevalence of CVRF: smoking (28.3%), drinking alcohol (13.8%), not exercising (48%), consuming coffee (60.2%), tea (61.4%), artificial beverages (42.6%), nonvegetarian (98.1%), consuming insufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables (32%), insomnia (59.4%), being overweight (18.5%), class I obesity (6.4%), hypertension (25%) and diabetes mellitus (25.1%). The cardiovascular risk factors of the rural population, such as the use of tobacco products (p < 0.001), the consumption of coffee, tea, and artificial beverages (p < 0.001), the use of alcohol (p < 0.001), the non-vegetarian diet (p < 0.001), the insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.001), Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) at risk (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), and diabetes (p < 0.001), were strongly statistically significantly associated with demographic variables. Conclusion A significant proportion of Puducherry’s rural population has cardiovascular risk factors. It is imperative to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the community by implementing lifestyle modifications that suppress risky behaviours at an early age.

Inadequacy of Meals Served and Food Waste in a Portuguese University Canteen

This study aims to evaluate food waste and the adequacy of portions served in a Portuguese university canteen. The sample included 10278 meals. Portions served and food waste (plate waste and leftovers) were measured through physical weighing. Portion inadequacy was determined, considering the Dietary Reference Values proposed by the European Food Safety Authority. The portions of all meal components served were inadequate. Meat, fish, salads and vegetables were those in the most inadequate portions (p < 0.001), with the quantities of meat and fish served being well above the recommended level (+77%) and the quantities of salad and vegetables below the recommended level (−37.7%). During the study period, 1253.6 kg of food was wasted, representing a daily average of 65.9 kg of food waste (20.8%). It was estimated that 126.6 g of food was wasted per consumer per day. Salads and vegetables represented the food category with high food waste values (41.4%), mainly from plate waste (29.6%). Our findings show an inadequacy in terms of the portions served for all meal components. High food waste values were found, for vegetable soup, vegetables, salads and fruit; these were the items most rejected by consumers, compromising the achievement of nutritional goals for the lunches served in the university canteen.

Examining the relationship of major air pollutants with land surface parameters and its monthly variation in Indian cities using satellite data

The relationship of land surface parameters with the air pollutants is worth exploring. The present study investigates the relation of Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with six air pollutants such as Aerosol Index (AI), Carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3) from January to December month of year 2022 in four cities situated at varying climatic zones of India. Except for O3, which exhibits lower concentration in winter and greater in summer, the air pollutants concentration showed lower values during monsoon season and higher during summer and post-monsoon seasons. The relationship of LST, NDBI and NDVI with different air pollutants were found to vary throughout the year in the four cities. The magnitude of correlation coefficient (R) was found greater for AI and NO2 as compared to other pollutants depicting greater impact of land surface parameters on concentration of AI and NO2. The surface urban cool island effect in Bikaner showed strong negative relation of LST with NO2 with magnitude of R greater than 0.41. The surface urban heat island formation in Varanasi showed strong positive correlation with the air pollutants such as AI, CO, NO2 and O3 with magnitude of R value greater than 0.61, 0.31, 0.59 and 0.32 for AI, CO, NO2 and O3, respectively. Even though, the correlation of LST with air pollutants varied with seasons and cities, NDVI showed negative correlation with most of the air pollutants in the cities except in Bikaner where vegetation content is negligible. Thus, increasing the amount of vegetation in a city can improve the air quality by lowering the quantity of air pollutants there.

Impact of changing urban typologies on residential vegetation and its climate-effects – A case study from Helsinki, Finland

Residential green spaces are an integral part of urban green infrastructure and its role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Various urban typologies and changing planning practices affect the amount and structure of residential greenery, which has a direct impact on climate benefits. While urban green and its climate benefits have received increasing attention, there is still limited knowledge on how changing planning practices and related urban typologies impact residential vegetation and its capacity to deliver climate benefits. This paper aims to address this gap by determining the impact of planning practices on residential vegetation, focussing specifically on climate mitigation and adaptation. With the case study of Helsinki, characterized by a high share of green areas, the paper first examines how construction year and urban density affect the amount and structure of vegetation on residential properties. Second, it estimates the carbon sequestration and summer temperatures in the present-day climate. The paper applies spatial modelling and regression analysis to estimate the impact of construction year on the studied dependent variables, while controlling density via gross floor area of buildings. The study demonstrates that the average amount of residential vegetation, as measured using canopy and vegetation cover, has declined 15 percentage points from the 1970 s to early 2010 s and the canopy to low vegetation ratio has decreased constantly over the periods studied. The decline of the canopy cover in particular has reduced the climate benefits of residential vegetation. The paper highlights the significant impact of gross floor area and planning practices on urban vegetation cover and the climate benefits it provides. It also stresses the importance of ensuring sufficient tree cover and permeable surfaces in cities with progressive climate mitigation agenda throughout the chain of urban planning, construction, and subsequent property management stages.

The Biomass Amount of Spontaneous Vegetation Concerning the Abiotic Habitat Conditions in Coal Mine Heaps as Novel Ecosystems

The Biomass Amount of Spontaneous Vegetation Concerning the Abiotic Habitat Conditions in Coal Mine Heaps as Novel Ecosystems

Impacts of land use/land cover on water quality: a contemporary review for researchers and policymakers

Abstract Few factors are as important in determining water quality as land use/land cover (LULC). Many land use activities, including agriculture, urban development, mining, and commercial forestry, tend to be sources of diffuse pollution. By contrast, indigenous vegetation can act as a sink, thus providing some protection from diffuse anthropogenic contamination. Notwithstanding the large body of research demonstrating these facts, decision-makers require clear and accessible information to assist them in developing effective management plans that are fully cognisant of the manifold impacts of LULC on water resources. Reviewing the available literature, this article, therefore, offers a critical overview of the typical impacts of LULC on water quality. An important strategy for managing water quality highlighted in this article is the maintenance of a sufficient amount of unfragmented natural vegetation, not only within riparian zones but also across catchment areas. However, knowledge gaps identified in this review indicate that further context-specific research is required to determine not only the types and minimum amount of vegetative cover required to protect water resources from diffuse pollution but also the potential impact of landscape fragmentation on the ability of natural vegetation to protect water resources. A critical discussion of these factors is therefore provided.

Nutritional Habits of Hungarian Older Adults.

There are many nutritional changes that come with aging, mostly as consequences of health regression. Malnutrition and overweight often start with inadequate food consumption, followed by alterations in biochemical indices and body composition. In our study, we aimed to analyze the feeding habits and energy and nutrient intake of a Hungarian elderly population, focusing on macronutrient, water, fruit, and vegetable consumption while searching for possible nutritional factors leading to NCD and many other chronic diseases in this population. Two questionnaires were used. These were the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and one asking about nutritional habits, and a 3-day feeding diary was also filled. Subjects (n = 179, 111; females (F), 68 males (M), older than 50 years were recruited. Based on MNA results, 78 adults (43.57% of the studied population) were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, although, according to BMI categories, 69% were overweight and 7.3% were obese among M, while 42.3% were overweight among F. The average daily meal number was diverse. The amount of people consuming fruit (11.7%) and vegetables (8.93%) several times a day was extremely low (15.3% of F and 4.4% of M). Daily fruit consumption in the whole sample was 79.3%. Overall, 36.3% consumed 1 L of liquid and 0.5 L of consumption was found in 15.1% of participants. A significant gender difference was found in water consumption, with F drinking more than M (p ≤ 0.01). In our sample, 27.93% of the respondents took dietary supplements. Further analysis and research are needed to explore the specific health implications of and reasons behind these findings.

Urban greening with shrubs can supercharge invertebrate abundance and diversity

In urban areas, diverse and complex habitats for biodiversity are often lacking. This lack of diversity not only compromises essential ecological processes, such as pollination and nutrient cycling, but also diminishes the resilience of urban ecosystems to pests and diseases. To enhance urban biodiversity, a possible solution is to integrate shrubs alongside trees, thereby increasing the overall amount of vegetation, structural complexity and the associated resource diversity. Here, using a common garden experiment involving a variety of trees and shrubs planted alone and in combination, we evaluate how canopy-associated invertebrate assemblages are influenced by vegetation type. In particular, we test whether the presence of shrubs, alone or with trees, results in increased abundance and taxonomic richness of invertebrates, compared to trees on their own. We found that the overall abundance of invertebrates, and that of specific functional groups (e.g., herbivores, pollinators, detritivores), was higher on shrubs, compared to trees, and when trees and shrubs were planted in combination (relative to trees on their own). Our results suggest that planting shrub and tree species with wide and dense crowns can increase the associated abundance and taxonomic and functional group richness of invertebrate communities. Overall, our findings indicate that urban planning would benefit from incorporating shrubs alongside urban trees to maximise invertebrate abundance, diversity and function in urban landscapes.

Soil bacterial community structure and co‐occurrence networks in response to the succession of secondary forests in subtropical regions

AbstractA large amount of secondary successional vegetation (subtropical evergreen broadleaved forests) has formed after the extensive deforestation and cultivation of coniferous forests in Wuyi Mountain, Southeast China. However, we lack a detailed understanding of the dynamic changes in microbial community structure and its co‐occurrence network during succession. The features that are responsible for alterations in the soil bacterial community remain poorly defined. Therefore, we compared the soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial diversity among three different forests (a coniferous forest [CF], early stage of succession; a mixed conifer‐broadleaf forest [CBMF], middle stage of succession; an evergreen broadleaf forest [EBF]; late stage of succession). Results indicated that the contents of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in CBMF were higher compared with those in CF. The alpha diversity indices were the highest in CBMF. Functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa predicted the relative abundances of chemoheterotrophy and aerobic chemoheterotrophy were lower in CF than in the other two forests. Bacterial network topology was affected by forest succession, with CBMF having more complex bacterial networks. Mantel's test indicated the soil nitrate nitrogen content (P = 0.03) was the most important property that shaped the bacterial community composition, bacterial diversity was influenced by soil pH (P = 0.026), and the contents of available phosphorus (P = 0.04) and MBC (P = 0.022) during the succession process. In conclusion, the succession of secondary forests promoted soil nutrient accumulation and improved bacterial diversity and network complexity.

Farmer Application

The aim of the program is to provide a platform for farmers to rent modern agricultural machinery and equipment as well as rent storage space for crops. The app will also connect to government servers to track data on crops, fertilizer use and government funds. Records of machinery and equipment will be kept along with details of the crop stored. In India, agriculture is the main source of income for the majority of the population. However, many farmers are not aware of advances in agricultural technology and cannot understand the market value of their products. That's why they often sell products at very low prices. In addition, they also try to follow the government's agricultural plans and reports. To solve these problems, our initiative will create a platform where farmers can get the latest information on vegetables and fruits in every market in India. This will help them sell their products at reasonable prices and improve their financial situation. Additionally, farmers will also receive notifications regarding government agricultural programs and in-app notifications to benefit from these programs. Additionally, our application will help farmers prepare the required products by estimating the amount of vegetables and fruits according to the market. We will also include weather data to support farmers' planning for the next 2-3 days. Overall, our programs focus on providing farmers with new knowledge and technology that will improve their livelihoods and increase their productivity

Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Mediating Antioxidant Response to a Glucoraphanin Rich Meal

Aging is associated with increasing oxidative stress and declining antioxidant defences, making the body susceptible to various chronic conditions. Cruciferous vegetables contain glucoraphanin, which is metabolised into sulforaphane (SFN) in the gut(1). SFN activates a mechanism enhancing antioxidant defences that may contribute to a reduction in risk of age-related chronic diseases. Our hypothesis proposes that consuming cruciferous vegetables releases hepatic extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry with a cargo of antioxidant proteins, into the systemic circulation(2) that are transported to ‘at risk’ tissues. We seek to characterise the antioxidant protein content of EVs from blood samples of healthy human volunteers from a prospective dietary intervention study trial called (GLOBE). The GLOBE study employs a randomised, single-blind, two-arm crossover design and involves 12 healthy male or female adults aged >55 years, at the time of enrolment, have a BMI in the range of 18.5-30 kg/m2, and have self-reported healthy (are not suffering from current illness like cancer, and gastrointestinal diseases including coeliac, Crohn’s, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome) and not using any medications like antacids, laxatives and antibiotics which can interfere with normal digestive or metabolic processes. The dietary intervention consists of two commercially available treatments, one of which is a glucoraphanin-rich vegetable soup, while the other vegetable soup lacks glucoraphanin. Our initial focus lies in optimizing and standardizing a method for routinely characterizing EVs derived from healthy volunteers participating in dietary intervention studies. We specifically aim to extract EVs from a minimal plasma volume (2ml) using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Subsequently, we intend to employ this method to analyse EVs obtained from 161 plasma samples collected from 12 participants during the GLOBE study for different time points like 0, 120, 240, 360, 480 min, 24 and 48 hr. Our goal is to gain insight into the role of EVs as part of the mechanisms by which consuming a moderate quantity of cruciferous vegetables may confer health benefits. Our research carries the potential to establish a standardised approach to the characterisation of EVs from healthy individuals which has several applications in nutrition research.

Regional ethnic economy: features and prospects of development (on the example of Khakassia)

The socio-economic realities of today force to look for development ways at the expense of internal resources. The deployment of local systems is perspective at the regional level, because they based on the traditional economic patterns of ethnic communities inhabiting the region. Ethnoeconomical patterns are the relevant model for the geographical, spatial and socio-cultural conditions in which they were formed. This fact allows us to highly evaluate their potential. This article attempts to assess the prospects for the development of the ethnic economy of a region Khakassia. Author uses statistical data and materials of sociological survey of ethnic communities of the region (Russians, Khakass people and Shors). They have the greatest influence on the vector of ethnoeconomical development of the republic. The peculiarity of the ethnic economy of Khakassia is the high role of households of the population. They play a significant role in the agricultural sector. They produce a large amount of both vegetables and meat products. There are various programs aimed at supporting the livestock industry for both peasant (farmer) farms and personal subsidiary farms at the regional level. Representatives of the titular ethnic group (Khakass people) and indigenous small-numbered peoples (Shors) generally remain focused on traditional economic practices: cattle breeding and crafts. Author concludes that the support of the distinctive types of economic activities of these ethnic groups is necessary not only from the point of view of economic expediency, but also for the preservation of the culture of these people.