Daily Amount Research Articles

126 Time-budget and welfare indicators of stabled horses in three different stall architectures: A cross-sectional study

Keeping horses in single stalls can prevent them from performing natural behaviors leading to the development of abnormal behaviors (AB) and stereotypic behaviors (SB). Time-budget (TB) is the daily amount of time an animal engages in behavioral activities. Differences in the TB of domesticated horses compared with feral conspecifics in their natural environment can be used to reveal welfare impairment. Other measurements indicative of stress levels in horses are the cortisol circadian rhythm (CCR), and the leucocyte numbers (LN). The current study aimed to identify how 3 different stall architectures can influence the TB and physiological parameters in full-time stabled horses fed at 1.45% DMI/BW twice a day with a 34:66 grain: forage ratio. Stall types included: 1) 3.2 × 3.7m stalls with tactile contact (TC) between horses, B1; 2) 2.6 × 3.5m stalls with only visual contact (VC) between horses with outside view, B2; 3) 2.3 × 3.4m stalls with VC and outside view, B3. The horses were used for light exercise, 4 d a week. Surveillance cameras were installed in one stall per barn. Twenty-nine mixed breed horses (10 horses from B1 and B3, and 9 from B2) were randomly selected and filmed for one period of 24 h per horse. The video was analyzed with continuous sampling and the time spent in SB, AB and other activities was measured second-by-second and inserted into a spreadsheet. Blood collection wasperformed one day after de recording period at 8:00 a.m. and at 5:00 p.m. The samples were used to determine the cortisol levels, and CCR. The effects of the different stall architectures were analyzed by ANOVA and significant results compared by post hoc Tukey test. B1 had higher social interaction time (2.77% of the TB) compared with B2 (0%) and B3 (0.01%) (P = 0.020), with no other differences among barns. Restricted availability of food had a direct impact on all the horses’ TB, creating long periods of idleness (41% of the TB observing the exterior, 18% of the TB standing attentively) and fasting. The low time spent eating (204 ± 13 min) may have led horses to develop AB like bed-eating (176 ± 19 min), coprophagy (18 ± 9 min) and wood-chewing (42 ± 19 min). All horses presented SB and AB, 25% of the horses low LN, 38% of the horses had cortisol above the reference range, and 29% of the horses an altered CCR. The physiological and TB alterations along with high prevalence of SB and AB indicate that horses were in a state of chronic stress and the stalls’ architecture did not affect the horses’ capability to cope with such housing conditions. Feed restriction likely led to AB and SB.

CLINICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF DIARRHEA TREATMENT IN CHILDREN WITH HIV INFECTION

to study the clinical efficacy of the treatment of diarrhea in HIV-infected children in a comparative aspect. 261 HIV-infected children with infectious diarrhea under the age of 18 were divided into 2 groups. The main group included 118 children who received the traditional treatment regimen plus Saccharomyces boulardii 2 sachets 2 times a day for 5 days, and the control group included 143 children who received only traditional therapy. Treatment of acute diarrhea in HIV-infected children with Saccharomyces boulardii preparations significantly reduces the daily amount and duration of diarrhea, which leads to a significant disappearance of dehydration symptoms, especially the severity of dehydration decreases by almost 2.4 times after the 5th day of treatment compared with the values before treatment ( P<0.05).

The mental health and wellbeing impact of a Community Wealth Building programme in England: a difference-in-differences study

Wide differences in health exist between places in the UK, underscored by economic inequalities. Preston, an economically disadvantaged city in England, implemented a new approach to economic development, known as the Community Wealth Building programme. Public and non-profit organisations modified their procurement policies to support the development of local supply chains, improve employment conditions, and increase socially productive use of wealth and assets. We aimed to investigate the effect of this programme on population mental health and wellbeing. Difference-in-differences techniques compared trends in mental health outcomes in Preston, relative to matched control areas before (2011-15) and after (2016-19) the introduction of the programme. Outcomes were antidepressant prescribing, prevalence of depression, and mental health related hospital attendance rates using data provided by National Health Service Digital, the Quality and Outcomes Framework, and the Office for National Statistics. Additional analysis compared local authority measures of life satisfaction, median wages, and employment with synthetic counterfactuals created using Bayesian Structural Time Series. The introduction of the Community Wealth Building programme was associated with reductions in the prescribing of antidepressants (1·3 average daily quantities per person [95% CI 0·72-1·78) and prevalence of depression (2·4 per 1000 population [0·42-4·46]), relative to the control areas. The local population also experienced a 9% improvement in life satisfaction (95% credible interval 0-19·6%) and 11% increase in median wages (1·8-18·9%), relative to expected trends. Associations with employment and mental health related hospital attendance outcomes did not reach statistical significance. During the period in which the Community Wealth Building programme was introduced, there were fewer mental health problems than would have been expected compared with other similar areas, as life satisfaction and economic measures improved. This approach potentially provides an effective model for economic regeneration potentially leading to substantial health benefits. National Institute for Health Research.

Estimating daily precipitation climatology by postprocessing high‐resolution reanalysis data

AbstractSpatial information of climatological frequency distribution of daily precipitation is highly valuable for a wide range of applications. Accurate estimation of climatology can be made for gauged locations where quality and lengthy observations are available. For ungauged or poorly gauged locations, however, indirect estimation is needed. One approach is to use a gridded daily precipitation dataset derived from interpolating observations. However, gridded daily precipitation data can be subject to large errors when gauge density is low. In addition, most interpolation methods tend to smooth the extreme values and increase the low ones, leading to unrealistic statistical properties and therefore poor estimation of daily climatology. Another approach is to first derive climatology at gauged locations and then interpolate climatology to ungauged locations. While this approach is likely to be more robust than the first approach, low gauge density can still cause significant errors especially in areas of complex terrain. In this study, we develop a method that postprocesses spatially consistent and rich reanalysis data using accurate observations at gauged locations. At an ungauged location, daily precipitation amounts from the reanalysis are bias‐corrected using quantile‐mapping guided by frequency distributions of reanalysis data and observations at a nearby gauged location (reference location). The bias‐corrected precipitation amounts are then used to estimate the climatology for the ungauged location. This method eliminates the need for interpolation and therefore its adverse effects. Special care is taken in quantile‐mapping when extrapolating beyond the range of reanalysis data at the reference location. We evaluate the method at 50 locations in Australia, using the Bureau of Meteorology Atmospheric high‐resolution Regional Reanalysis for Australia (BARRA) and precipitation observation network across Australia. These locations are chosen to represent different climate regions in Australia and have observations to validate the postprocessed reanalysis climatology of daily precipitation. Results show that the postprocessed climatology is consistent with observations, in terms of frequency distribution, high quantiles, probabilities of wet and dry days and their transitions.

Chronic circadian desynchronization of feeding-fasting rhythm generates alterations in daily glycemia, LDL cholesterolemia and microbiota composition in mice.

The circadian system synchronizes behavior and physiology to the 24-h light- dark (LD) cycle. Timing of food intake and fasting periods provide strong signals for peripheral circadian clocks regulating nutrient assimilation, glucose, and lipid metabolism. Mice under 12 h light:12 h dark (LD) cycles exhibit behavioral activity and feeding during the dark period, while fasting occurs at rest during light. Disruption of energy metabolism, leading to an increase in body mass, was reported in experimental models of circadian desynchronization. In this work, the effects of chronic advances of the LD cycles (chronic jet-lag protocol, CJL) were studied on the daily homeostasis of energy metabolism and weight gain. Male C57 mice were subjected to a CJL or LD schedule, measuring IPGTT, insulinemia, microbiome composition and lipidemia. Mice under CJL show behavioral desynchronization and feeding activity distributed similarly at the light and dark hours and, although feeding a similar daily amount of food as compared to controls, show an increase in weight gain. In addition, ad libitum glycemia rhythm was abolished in CJL-subjected mice, showing similar blood glucose values at light and dark. CJL also generated glucose intolerance at dark in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), with increased insulin release at both light and dark periods. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterolemia was increased under this condition, but no changes in HDL cholesterolemia were observed. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was analyzed as a marker of circadian disruption of microbiota composition, showing opposite phases at the light and dark when comparing LD vs. CJL. Chronic misalignment of feeding/fasting rhythm leads to metabolic disturbances generating nocturnal hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia in a IPGTT, increased LDL cholesterolemia, and increased weight gain, underscoring the importance of the timing of food consumption with respect to the circadian system for metabolic health.

Water Consumption: Effect on Energy Expenditure and Body Weight Management.

Water, which is of vital importance, has a critical role in maintaining the normal function of the body, and even mild dehydration can play a role in the development of various diseases. Therefore, it is of great importance to meet the recommended daily water consumption amounts. In addition to the numerous roles of water in metabolism, its effect on energy metabolism should not be overlooked. Water consumption can increase energy expenditure and be an additional tool for weight management. Therefore, the importance of water consumption, which is like a hidden component for treating of obesity, should be emphasized. This review was written to explain the possible mechanisms of water consumption in energy expenditure and body weight management. Because water consumption is associated with sympathetic activity, which increases metabolic rate (thermogenesis) and daily energy expenditure, the increase in sympathetic activity caused by water consumption is an important and unrecognized component of daily energy expenditure. In addition to the concept of water-based thermogenesis, water, which is a potential improvement factor in body composition, also plays an auxiliary role in body weight loss with both less energy intake and increased fat oxidation. From this perspective, water consumption may have critical importance in the fight against increasing obesity worldwide. Considering its effect on energy metabolism in various ways, it becomes necessary to focus more on the importance of water on human health. (Created by BioRender.com).

Oral Palatability and Owners' Perception of the Effect of Increasing Amounts of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in the Diet of a Cohort of Healthy Dogs and Cats.

The nutraceutical supplementation of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) in dogs and cats has not yet been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the dietary supplementation of increasing amounts of Spirulina for 6 weeks is palatable to pets and to assess the owner's perception of such supplementation. The owners of the 60 dogs and 30 cats that participated in this study were instructed to daily provide Spirulina tablets starting with a daily amount of 0.4 g, 0.8 g, and 1.2 g for cats as well as small dogs, medium dogs, and large dogs, respectively, and allowing a dose escalation of 2× and 3× every 2 weeks. The daily amount (g/kg BW) of Spirulina ranged from 0.08 to 0.25 for cats, from 0.06 to 0.19 for small-sized dogs, from 0.05 to 0.15 for medium-sized dogs, and from 0.04 to 0.12 for large-sized dogs. Each owner completed a questionnaire at the time of recruitment and the end of each 2-week period. No significant effect on the fecal score, defecation frequency, vomiting, scratching, lacrimation, general health status, and behavioral attitudes was detected by the owners' reported evaluations. Most animals accepted Spirulina tablets either administrated alone or mixed with food in the bowl. Daily supplementation of Spirulina for 6 weeks in the amounts provided in this study is therefore palatable and well tolerated by dogs and cats.

The concurrent impacts of drought and leaf harvesting on two traditional African vegetable non-timber forest product species.

Investigating the concurrent impacts with harvesting on wild vegetables can guide their sustainable management while contributing to the understanding of such impacts on NTFP species. This study investigated leaf production, morphological and growth responses to the concurrent impacts of drought and leaf harvesting between two wild vegetables. A randomized greenhouse experiment was implemented with 1,334 plants of Amaranthus sp. and 391 of B. pilosa. A drought treatment was first implemented through six levels of drought stress and a control treatment. The harvesting treatment consisted of four harvesting levels and was implemented twice. Measurements were recorded before first and second harvests and at end of experiment. Data were separated into two periods (after first and second harvests) and analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Variance and log-linear analysis. The results showed significant effects of drought on both species. However, Amaranthus sp. appeared more resilient to reduction in the daily amount of water than reduction in the frequency, while B. pilosa was resilient under both facets of drought stress. For Amaranthus sp., basal diameter, its growth, leaf production and survival increased with increase in the harvesting level (with some exceptions) after first harvest. After second harvest, there was decrease in plant height and leaf production. In B. pilosa, the impact was only significant on survival and leaf production (after first harvest). The effect of the interaction of the two drivers was significant for Amaranthus sp., but not for B. pilosa. The results also highlighted the possible negative impact of a prolonged high rate harvesting on the species performance, especially under severe drought. Basal diameter, its growth, survival and leaf production appeared more resilient to reduced amounts of watering in Amaranthus sp., and under both types of drought stress for B. pilosa. This suggests that both species could be sustained under medium drought stress.

Vitamin content in the diet among 14- to 15-year-old teenagers depending on the BMI value.

In a period of intensive growth and development, both a deficiency and an excess of nutrients may have negative consequences on health. In the case of vitamins, an ongoing deficiency can result which have a direct effect on public health. The research included all third-year middle school pupils. With the assistance of the person conducting the research, a questionnaire was completed about consumption of food products consumed every day for a period of 7 days. Energy and nutrient requirements were defined individually for each child in terms of RDA. The daily intake of group B vitamins was exceeded both in the boys' group and the girls' group. The daily intake of vitamin C and folates was higher in the boys' group than in the girls' group, but did not meet the required daily intake in any of the groups studied. In all boys' groups, the intake of vitamin D covered less than 30% of the required daily amount. It has been shown that there is a statistically significant influence of the intake of vitamins on body mass. In the girls' group, the most common statistically significant differences were between the group of underweight girls and the groups of girls with correct body weight and overweight girls. Insufficient intake of vitamins is observed most often in underweight adolescents. The incorrect amount of vitamins in the diet requires the implementation of action to improve the dietary preferences of adolescents.

Biotransfer of heavy metals along the soil-plant-edible insect-human food chain in Africa

Although mining is Zambia's major economic activity, it is implicated in environmental contamination, particularly with heavy metals. This study investigated the accumulation and transfer of heavy metals along the soil-plant-edible insect-human food chain. Our results revealed the presence of eight heavy metals (Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc) with a 28–60 % increase in soil concentrations at the proximity of the mining facilities. There was a higher accumulation of Cd, Cu, Ni, Fe, Pb, and Zn than As and Cr in plant species near the mine. Among the insect species studied, C. forda accumulated nickel significantly higher (70–81 %), I. obscura had higher cadmium (2–84 %) and lead (10–79 %), while I. rubra and M. falciger accumulated higher iron (41–96 %) and zinc (1–67 %), respectively, than other insect species. The quantity of I. obscura consumed (248 g person−1 day−1) was significantly higher (9–37 %) than other insect species. It was noted that the consumption of insects increased the daily intake of heavy metals, enhanced the target hazard quotient, and increased the associated health risks by up to 9 folds compared to the WHO permissible limits meaning that the daily intake of metals consumed depends on the daily quantity of insects consumed. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of heavy metals along the soil-plant-edible insect-human food chain could pose severe human and environmental health risks along the mining gradients. The potential consequences of heavy metal mobility in the consumer trophic levels and the ecotoxicological consequences are particularly concerning. Furthermore, physiological and biological studies are needed to investigate the abovementioned effects.

Seasonal variation affects the quantity and composition of milk produced in water buffaloes - case study in Shatrah city of Iraq

This study was conducted at Thi-Qar Governorate, Al-Shatrah district, Al-Bidaah region, in Iraq during two seasons winter (from Dec-Feb, 01.12.2021 to 01.03.2022), and summer (Jun-Aug from 01.06 to 01.09. 2022). The quantity and composition of milk of water buffaloes for Fat, Solid-Not-Fat (SNF) Protein and Lactose) were studies. Seventy (70) dairy buffaloes of different ages, in second parity among two seasons were used, and their productivity was monitored for a full lactation (from birth to dryness). Milk samples were taken periodically, once every two weeks, at a rate of 100 ml for each sample. The results of the study showed a significant (P<0.05) superiority for the winter season in the amount of milk produced daily and monthly compared to the summer season, and the average daily and monthly milk quantity for winter and summer seasons were as 0.26±8.03, 7.75±240.36, 0.18±4.60, 5.44±137.5, respectively. As for the main components of milk (fat, SNF protein and lactose, a significant effect of the season appeared on the main components of milk, where the winter season was significantly superior (P < 0.05) in all studied traits compared to the summer season, and the average percentages of fat reached the SNF, protein and lactose in the winter and summer seasons were as follows: (0.47±5.92, 0.45±8.77, 0.013±3.21, 0.25±4.93) (0.49±4.31, 0.46±7.30, 0.017±2.70, 0.72±4.17), respectively. it can be concluded that season strongly affects milk yield, fat and also protein of water buffaloes in Iraqi climatic conditions

Şırnak İlindeki Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Beslenme Durumlarının Değerlendirilmesi Üzerine Bir Araştırma

In this study, it was aimed to determine the daily nutrient consumption amounts and nutritional diversity in the diets of Şırnak University students using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-05). It was conducted by applying a face-to-face questionnaire on 148 students selected by random sampling method from among the students studying at Şırnak University Silopi Vocational School and accepting to participate in the study. 24 hours food consumption records of the students were taken and nutrients were analyzed using the BEBIS program. The majority of the students participating in the survey were male students (58.8%). The Healthy Eating Index score average of female students was higher than that of male students and it was determined as 65.74 ±11.45 for females and 63.56 ± 11.53 for males. A significant difference was found between the genders of the students and energy, cholesterol and sodium score averages that they consumpted daily by diet. According to the results of this research, Healthy Eating Index scale scores show that students' nutritional habits should be improved. Determining the food consumption and nutritional habits of higher education students can be beneficial for the prevention of nutrition related diseases.

Exiguobacterium sp. as a bioinoculant for plant-growth promotion and Selenium biofortification strategies in horticultural plants

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have a positive effect on plant development and being a promising way to enhance crop productivity and as substitution of chemical fertilizers. Selenium (Se) is an important trace element and its intake is usually lower than the daily minimum amount required for humans; hence, there is a demand on the design of Se biofortification strategies. Here, the genetic traits known to be associated with Plant-Growth Promotion (PGP) and Se biotransformation of Exiguobacterium sp. S17 were evaluated through genome analysis. Its growth-promoting capacity was tested through plant-growth promotion assays in laboratory and field conditions, using Brassica juncea (indian mustard), Beta vulgaris (chard), and Lactuca sativa (lettuce). Additionally, the Se biotransformation ability of Exiguobacterium sp. S17 was evaluated and the obtained selenized bacteria were tested in mustard plants. The sequenced bacteria genome revealed the presence of multiple genes involved in important functions regarding soil and plant colonization, PGP and Se biotransformation. Moreover, it was demonstrated that Exiguobacterium sp. S17 enhanced plant growth and could be useful to produce Se accumulation and biofortification in accumulator plants such as mustard. Thereby, Exiguobacterium sp. S17 might be used for developing new, sustainable, and environmentally friendly agro-technological strategies.

Sinonasal Stent Coated with Sustained-Release Varnish of Mometasone Furoate Inhibits Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Release from Macrophages: An In Vitro Study

The aim of the study was to develop a sustained-release varnish (SRV) containing mometasone furoate (MMF) for sinonasal stents (SNS) to reduce mucosa inflammation in the sinonasal cavity. The SNS' segments coated with SRV-MMF or an SRV-placebo were incubated daily in a fresh DMEM at 37 °C for 20 days. The immunosuppressive activity of the collected DMEM supernatants was tested on the ability of mouse RAW 264.7 macrophages to secrete the cytokines' tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-6 in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cytokine levels were determined by respective Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). We found that the daily amount of MMF released from the coated SNS was sufficient to significantly inhibit LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-10 secretion from the macrophages up to days 14 and 17, respectively. SRV-MMF had, however, only a mild inhibitory effect on LPS-induced TNFα secretion as compared to the SRV-placebo-coated SNS. In conclusion, the coating of SNS with SRV-MMF provides a sustained delivery of MMF for at least 2 weeks, maintaining a level sufficient for inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. This technological platform is, therefore, expected to provide anti-inflammatory benefits during the postoperative healing period and may play a significant role in the future treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Optimal workday length considering worker fatigue and employer profit

The relationship between workday duration, daily production rate, and worker fatigue accumulation and recovery has been overlooked in studies on Operations Research and Production Planning and analytical models that investigate this relationship are scarce. The purpose of this paper is twofold, the first of which is revising the widely adopted 8-hour workday standard and the second one is the determination of the economic daily production quantity when the worker fatigue accumulation and recovery are considered. A closely related issue to the proposed model is the current debate on the fitness of the four-day workweek. The model observes the interest of the employer by maximizing his overall profit while the worker is protected by imposing a constraint on his highest fatigue level. In order to solve the model, we derive an efficient algorithm based on Karush–Kuhn–Tucker theorems. The numerical results show that neither the 8-hour workday standard nor the corresponding daily production quantity is optimal. More importantly, the results confirm the appropriateness of the four-day workweek system for work situations with low or moderate worker fatigue growth factors.

Socio-Economic Factors Contributing to Crashes Involving Motor Tricycles in Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area, Ghana

Commercial passenger motor tricycles are a recent addition to the vehicle mix in urban areas of Ghana having been introduced in about 2015. While they serve a good purpose and fill a niche in the transport market in Ghanaian cities, this mode of transport is characterized by several road crashes that sometimes result in fatalities. Consequently, the objective of this study was to understand social and economic factors as well as motor tricycles’ operational characteristics and related crashes. A detailed study of this mode of transport in the study area revealed that the socio-economic factors that contribute to crashes involving commercial motor tricycles include the revenue per day, amount spent on fuel per day, and operating days, but with a negative relationship between daily revenue and amount spent on fuel and crash severity. Operational characteristics studied revealed a general improvement in operators’ level of education, a situation where owner-operators are more careful with their vehicles, patrons’ preference for new tricycles, and relatively good returns from operations of these vehicles. Operators also work for long hours and on all days of the week. Further analysis of the data revealed that there are major safety concerns. While the Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) reports a fatality share of 28% with an annual increase of 3.9% for motorcycle-related crashes in Ghana, the National Road Safety Authority, in the year 2010, indicated a crash rate of more than 50% which is yet to be updated. Recent data for 2019 published by the BRRI estimate a rate of 8.15 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles with a total of 829 total crashes in 2019 for motorcycles, tricycles, and rickshaws and 2.7 motorcycle fatalities per 10,000 vehicles. Similar data are yet to be estimated for motorcycles and commercial tricycles in the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area. However, our study revealed a crash rate of 67% for motor tricycle operators in the study area on account of an increase in population, low initial capital cost, and the ability to maneuver in inaccessible areas. It is recommended that, in view of the preponderance of passenger tricycles in the study area, massive educational campaigns involving all stakeholders be pursued.

Association Between Smoking and Pain, Functional Disability, Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) accounts for a majority of the disability associated with LBP, which can produce long-term negative effects. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between smoking and pain, dysfunction and psychological status in patients with CLBP. Methods: The 54 patients with CLBP were recruited and divided into smoking and non-smoking groups. Their pain, dysfunction, anxiety, depression, fear and quality of life were evaluated. The amount of cigarettes smoked daily was recorded. Results: Significant differences in VAS, ODI, RMDQ and FABQ and the impact of LBP on life and work were found between smoking and non-smoking patients. In addition, a correlation was found between the daily cigarette smoking amount and VASmax, FABQtotal, SDS and FABQ-W. Moreover, a correlation was observed between the amount of cigarettes smoked daily and the degree of impact of low back pain on work. Conclusion: The study found that smoking affected the aggravation of symptoms in patients with CLBP, which indicated that patients with CLBP and people at risk of LBP should be aware of the harm caused by smoking.

How do front-of-package labels influence the healthy evaluation of consumers?

PurposeThis study aims to examine the effects of front-of-package (FoP) labels on the healthy evaluation of Peruvian consumers. This relationship was examined in cases where snacks were healthy and unhealthy. In addition, the study included the role of three consumer purchase objectives (i.e. hedonic, healthy and weight loss) and two types of consumers (high and low use of labelling) in the healthy evaluation.Design/methodology/approachThe sample consisted of 628 Peruvian youngsters aged between 16 and 24 years who frequently consume processed food. The research panel “QueOpinas” oversaw the recruitment of the participants through social media and television. Four types of FoP labels were studied in depth: Nutritional Warnings, Monochrome Guideline Daily Amount (GDA), Polychrome Guideline Daily Amount (GDA-Semaphore) and Traffic Light Labelling. A paired sample t-test and MANOVA were performed to evaluate the research objectives.FindingsThe GDA FoP label was found to be insufficient to promote a healthy evaluation. In contrast, the Nutritional Warnings and GDA-Semaphore and Traffic Light FoP labels had a significant and positive effect on the healthy evaluation of the snacks at a 95% confidence level. However, a comparative analysis of the labels revealed that some can be more efficient than others in promoting healthy purchase decisions. For the nutritional warnings (NWs) and traffic light FoP labels, the results revealed that consumers better distinguish unhealthy and healthy cereal bars when these products display traffic light labels.Originality/valueThis research topic has not been investigated in Peru and relevant research in this region is still incipient. In addition, the findings are important for policymakers as the findings will be able to implement specific labelling systems that will help consumers make healthier choices and support the debate about the effectiveness of the main FoP systems.

Correlation between smoking and serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 level in overweight and obese men.

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a vaso-specific inflammatory marker that exacerbates atherosclerotic through inflammatory responses. It can be used to predict the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events and to assess the residual risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aims to investigate the correlation between smoking and serum Lp-PLA2 levels in overweight and obese men, and to provide evidence for preventing the cardiovascular diseases. Male subjects, who participated in health examination at the Health Management Center, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from May 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021, were selected. The smoking status and other information were collected by the Self-test Scale of Physical Examination. According to the smoking status, they were divided into a never-smoking group, a current smoking group, a quit smoking group and a passive smoking group. According to the daily smoking amount, the current smoking subjects were divided into a <10 cigarettes group, a 10 to 20 cigarettes group, a 21 to 30 cigarettes group, and a >30 cigarettes group. According to the smoking years, the current smoking subjects were divided into a <5 years group, a 5 to 10 years group, a 11 to 20 years group, and a >20 years group.Serum Lp-PLA2 levels and other clinical indexes in different smoking groups were measured and compared, the correlation between smoking and serum Lp-PLA2 levels in overweight and obese men was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Serum Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly different between the never-smoking group and the current smoking group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that, before adjusting other influencing factors and in terms of smoking status, the current smoking group (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.58, P<0.01) and the quit smoking group (OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.12 to 3.90, P<0.05) were positively correlated with serum Lp-PLA2 levels compared with the never-smoking group, while the passive smoking group had no correlation with serum Lp-PLA2 levels (OR=1.27, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.73, P>0.05). In terms of daily smoking amount, the 10 to 20 cigarettes group (OR=2.09, 95% CI 1.40 to 3.12, P<0.001) and the 21 to 30 cigarettes group (OR=1.98, 95% CI 1.22 to 3.20, P<0.01) were positively correlated with serum Lp-PLA2 levels compared with the never-smoking group, while the <10 cigarettes group (OR=1.45, 95% CI 0.81 to 2.60, P>0.05) and the >30 cigarettes group (OR=1.17, 95% CI 0.60 to 2.28, P>0.05) had no correlation with serum Lp-PLA2 levels. In terms of smoking years, the 5 to 10 years group (OR=1.94, 95% CI 1.07 to 3.53, P<0.05), the 11 to 20 years group (OR=2.06, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.18, P<0.01), and the >20 years group (OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.47, P<0.05) were positively correlated with serum Lp-PLA2 levels compared with the never-smoking group, while the <5 years group had no correlation with serum Lp-PLA2 levels (OR=1.12, 95% CI 0.38 to 3.33, P>0.05). After adjusting for age and other indicators, the correlation between smoking years and serum Lp-PLA2 levels was the same as before adjustment among the above smoking groups, except that the correlation between the smoking 5 to 10 years group and serum Lp-PLA2 levels was not significant (OR=1.77, 95% CI 0.95 to 3.29, P>0.05). Smoking is correlated with serum Lp-PLA2 levels in overweight and obese men.

GENERATION OF SYNTHETIC RAINFALL DATA IN SEKAYAM SUB-WATERSHED BASED ON TRMM SATELLITE RAINFALL DATA CORRECTION EQUATION

The hydrological analysis is the first stage of the review in waterworks planning. Hydrological analysis necessitates the availability of sufficient data. Data availability tends to have several problems, including a lack of availability, incomplete/empty data, a smaller number of stations, observers, and observation systems, data entry that is still manual, and slow data collection. One possible solution is to use rain satellites. However, TRMM data must be evaluated for field suitability. TRMM (Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission) rainfall data can help overcome this. TRMM is a NASA mission that uses weather monitoring satellite technology to monitor tropical rainfall. This is also the case for the Sekayam Subwatershed, part of the Kapuas River Basin.In the Sekayam sub-watershed, there are 14 (fourteen) rainfall observation stations managed by the Balai Wilayah Sungai Kalimantan (BWSK) I, but currently only 5 observation stations are still active, namely the SGU-01 Sanggau, SGU-03 Balai Karangan, SGU-06 Entikong, SGU-19 Semuntai and SC-01 Kembayan observation stations with data recorded up to 2019, while the other 9 (nine) observation stations do not have long continuous data, because there are years where rainfall data is not recorded. This is because the recording of rainfall on average stopped until 2005, or even some have stopped operating since the 1990s or early 2000s. This study aims to generate representative synthetic TRMM daily rainfall amount data for the Sekayam sub-watershed based on the correction equations obtained in a series of TRMM rainfall data validation analyses, so that it can be used as alternative daily rainfall data in water resources planning and management in the Sekayam sub-watershed. From the analysis, it can be seen that synthetic rainfall data in the Sekayam sub-watershed will be valid if it is generated with the linear model correction equation Y = 0.6708 X + 139.123 or can be interpreted as TRMM' = 0.6708 TRMM + 139.123.