The effect of the dietary macronutrient composition on weight loss has been a controversial issue for decades. During that time, a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate diet has been one of the more popular weight loss diets with the public. We hypothesized that a computer simulation model using STELLA software could help to better understanding the effect of the dietary macronutrient composition on weight loss. We calculated daily total oxidation instead of total energy expenditure as others have done based on the facts that carbohydrate, fat, and protein intake influence carbohydrate, fat, and protein oxidation. In order to create a simple and accurate model comparing dietary macronutrient composition effects, we eliminated exercise as a factor and focused on a sedentary population. The model was validated by five sets of published human data. Following model validation, simulations were carried out to compare the traditional high-carbohydrate diet recommended by the American Dietetic Association and two well-known high-protein diets (Atkins and the Zone diet). The results of computer simulation suggested that the lean tissue retention effect of a high-protein diet, especially with a lower-fat diet, compared with a traditional high carbohydrate diet over 6 months.

Apesar das diversas aptidões de uso do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), como forragem para pastoreio ou silagem, cobertura do solo e alimentação humana, alguns fatores são limitantes para a expansão do cultivo dessa espécie no Brasil e um dos agravantes é a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes comercializadas. Assim, este trabalho visou aplicar as técnicas de condicionamento fisiológico, peletização e incorporação de fósforo às sementes para favorecer a implementação e o desenvolvimento da cultura em campo. O experimento envolveu sementes do cultivar BRS 1501, representadas por três lotes, com condicionamento envolvendo água e soluções de PEG6000, enquanto que a peletização foi testada inicialmente com adesivos (PVA, PVP k30, bentonita e Metil celulose) e diferentes produtos em pó com base inerte ou fosforada. As avaliações consistiram de testes físicos iniciais, testes fisiológicos por seis meses de armazenamento, desenvolvimento das plantas em campos com diferentes disponibilidades de fósforo no solo e avaliações químicas de fósforo total e fosfatase ácida em plântulas e plantas de milheto. Não há diferemça significativa na germinação das sementes e emergência das plântulas originadas de sementes pré condicionadas. A peletização das sementes é uma alternativa viável para alteração do volume das sementes sem alterar seu desempenho fisiológico. Em relação à incorporação de fósforo ao pélete das sementes, há efeito significativo no desenvolvimento das plântulas, assim como para a absorção deste macronutriente. Por outro lado, há impacto significativo de materiais e doses específicas sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes, principalmente do fosfato bicálcico. / Beside the many aptitudes of the pearl millet (stock feeding, hay, soil layer protection and food in general), some factors limit its expansion in Brazil, being generally, the low physical and physiological seed quality on the market as one of the harshest problems. Thus, this study aimed at applying physiologic conditioning techniques, pelleting and phosphorus application on seeds to improve seedling emergence and crop development in the fields. The experiment used 3 seed lots of BRS 1501 cv, with water and osmotic solution conditioning, while pelleting was tested with 4 different binders (PVA, PVP k30, bentonite and Methil celulose) and different inert and phosphorate powder products. The evaluations consisted of initial phisical tests, followed by physiological tests for 6 months of storage, Field development under 2 different phosphorus soil content and, chemical evaluations as total P content and acid phosphate on pearl millet seedlings and plants. The results show no significant difference on the seedling emergence and germination of physiological conditioned seeds. The seed pelleting was effective on improving seeds volume without harming seed physiologic performance. Regarding phosphorous incorporation through seed pellet, the results show significant effects on the seedling development, as well as it´s absorption. However, with significant impact of specific materials and quantities on the seeds physiologic performance, especially with Bicalcic phosphate.

Leguminosas forrageiras têm sido consorciadas com capins, e contribuído com a sustentabilidade do sistema solo-planta-animal. A soja-perene (Neonotonia wightii) é uma das leguminosas forrageiras bem adaptadas ao cultivo em áreas tropicais. A aplicação de cálcio e boro tem resultado em benefícios ao desenvolvimento da planta, especialmente para as espécies leguminosas. Este trabalho objetivou verificar os efeitos de combinações de cálcio e de boro para a soja-perene na morfofisiologia da planta, produção, concentração mineral, concentração de carboidratos na parede celular, em alterações anatômicas nos tecidos foliares e sintomas visuais. Foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação com plantas de soja-perene cultivadas em solução nutritiva em vasos plásticos contendo quartzo moído como substrato. Empregou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, e um esquema fatorial 52 incompleto, perfazendo um total de 13 combinações de doses de cálcio e boro. As plantas foram submetidas a dois períodos de crescimento. O primeiro corte das plantas foi realizado 46 dias após o transplante das mudas e o segundo 38 dias após o primeiro. O ponteiro (três folhas trifolioladas completamente expandidas contadas a partir do ápice) foi separado da porção inferior da planta (restante do tecido vegetal) e das raízes que também foram coletados. A interação cálcio x boro foi significativa apenas para a concentração de cálcio na porção inferior da soja-perene. As doses de cálcio alteraram a área foliar, as concentrações de cálcio, magnésio e potássio nos tecidos vegetais amostrados, e as concentrações de carboidratos na parede celular da planta. As doses de boro alteraram a produção, comprimento e superfície das raízes, as concentrações minerais nos tecidos analisados e as concentrações de carboidratos na parede celular das folhas. As combinações de baixas ou altas doses de cálcio e de boro promoveram alterações nas características anatômicas da soja-perene. Com o suprimento de boro de 10 mmol L-1 na solução nutritiva as plantas apresentaram deformações nas folhas novas e desenvolvimento anormal do sistema radicular. / Forage legumes have been mixed with grasses and contributed to improve the sustainability of the soil- plant- animal system. Perennnial soybean (Neonotonia wightii) is one forage legume well adapted to the tropical areas. Calcium and boron have resulted in benefits for plant development, particularly in legume species. This study was set with the objectives of verifying the effects of calcium and boron combinations for perennial soybean in plant morphophysiology, production, mineral concentrations, carbohydrate concentrations in cell wall, anatomical changes in leaf tissues and visual symptoms. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with plants grown in plastic pots containing ground quartz and supplied with nutrient solutions. An incomplete factorial 5 x 5, with 13 combinations of calcium and boron rates, was set in randomized block design. Plants were harvested twice, the first harvest one at 46 days after seedlings transplanting to the pots and the second harvest at 38 days after the first one. The upper part (three completely expended leaves) was separated from the lower part of plant tops and roots that were collected too. Calcium x boron interaction was only significant for the calcium concentration in the lower part of perennial soybean. Calcium rates changed leaf area, concentrations of calcium, magnesium and potassium in the sampled plant tissues, and carbohydrate concentrations in the cell wall of perennial soybean. Boron rates influenced changes in roots (dry matter, length and surface), mineral concentrations and carbohydrate concentrations in leaves cell wall. High or low rates of both calcium and boron had resulted in changes in anatomical characteristics of perennial soybean. When boron was supplied at 10 µmol L-1 plants presented deformed new leaves and abnormal root system growth.

Apesar das diversas aptidões de uso do milheto (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), como forragem para pastoreio ou silagem, cobertura do solo e alimentação humana, alguns fatores são limitantes para a expansão do cultivo dessa espécie no Brasil e um dos agravantes é a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes comercializadas. Assim, este trabalho visou aplicar as técnicas de condicionamento fisiológico, peletização e incorporação de fósforo às sementes para favorecer a implementação e o desenvolvimento da cultura em campo. O experimento envolveu sementes do cultivar BRS 1501, representadas por três lotes, com condicionamento envolvendo água e soluções de PEG6000, enquanto que a peletização foi testada inicialmente com adesivos (PVA, PVP k30, bentonita e Metil celulose) e diferentes produtos em pó com base inerte ou fosforada. As avaliações consistiram de testes físicos iniciais, testes fisiológicos por seis meses de armazenamento, desenvolvimento das plantas em campos com diferentes disponibilidades de fósforo no solo e avaliações químicas de fósforo total e fosfatase ácida em plântulas e plantas de milheto. Não há diferemça significativa na germinação das sementes e emergência das plântulas originadas de sementes pré condicionadas. A peletização das sementes é uma alternativa viável para alteração do volume das sementes sem alterar seu desempenho fisiológico. Em relação à incorporação de fósforo ao pélete das sementes, há efeito significativo no desenvolvimento das plântulas, assim como para a absorção deste macronutriente. Por outro lado, há impacto significativo de materiais e doses específicas sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes, principalmente do fosfato bicálcico. / Beside the many aptitudes of the pearl millet (stock feeding, hay, soil layer protection and food in general), some factors limit its expansion in Brazil, being generally, the low physical and physiological seed quality on the market as one of the harshest problems. Thus, this study aimed at applying physiologic conditioning techniques, pelleting and phosphorus application on seeds to improve seedling emergence and crop development in the fields. The experiment used 3 seed lots of BRS 1501 cv, with water and osmotic solution conditioning, while pelleting was tested with 4 different binders (PVA, PVP k30, bentonite and Methil celulose) and different inert and phosphorate powder products. The evaluations consisted of initial phisical tests, followed by physiological tests for 6 months of storage, Field development under 2 different phosphorus soil content and, chemical evaluations as total P content and acid phosphate on pearl millet seedlings and plants. The results show no significant difference on the seedling emergence and germination of physiological conditioned seeds. The seed pelleting was effective on improving seeds volume without harming seed physiologic performance. Regarding phosphorous incorporation through seed pellet, the results show significant effects on the seedling development, as well as it´s absorption. However, with significant impact of specific materials and quantities on the seeds physiologic performance, especially with Bicalcic phosphate.

Leguminosas forrageiras têm sido consorciadas com capins, e contribuído com a sustentabilidade do sistema solo-planta-animal. A soja-perene (Neonotonia wightii) é uma das leguminosas forrageiras bem adaptadas ao cultivo em áreas tropicais. A aplicação de cálcio e boro tem resultado em benefícios ao desenvolvimento da planta, especialmente para as espécies leguminosas. Este trabalho objetivou verificar os efeitos de combinações de cálcio e de boro para a soja-perene na morfofisiologia da planta, produção, concentração mineral, concentração de carboidratos na parede celular, em alterações anatômicas nos tecidos foliares e sintomas visuais. Foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação com plantas de soja-perene cultivadas em solução nutritiva em vasos plásticos contendo quartzo moído como substrato. Empregou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, e um esquema fatorial 52 incompleto, perfazendo um total de 13 combinações de doses de cálcio e boro. As plantas foram submetidas a dois períodos de crescimento. O primeiro corte das plantas foi realizado 46 dias após o transplante das mudas e o segundo 38 dias após o primeiro. O ponteiro (três folhas trifolioladas completamente expandidas contadas a partir do ápice) foi separado da porção inferior da planta (restante do tecido vegetal) e das raízes que também foram coletados. A interação cálcio x boro foi significativa apenas para a concentração de cálcio na porção inferior da soja-perene. As doses de cálcio alteraram a área foliar, as concentrações de cálcio, magnésio e potássio nos tecidos vegetais amostrados, e as concentrações de carboidratos na parede celular da planta. As doses de boro alteraram a produção, comprimento e superfície das raízes, as concentrações minerais nos tecidos analisados e as concentrações de carboidratos na parede celular das folhas. As combinações de baixas ou altas doses de cálcio e de boro promoveram alterações nas características anatômicas da soja-perene. Com o suprimento de boro de 10 mmol L-1 na solução nutritiva as plantas apresentaram deformações nas folhas novas e desenvolvimento anormal do sistema radicular. / Forage legumes have been mixed with grasses and contributed to improve the sustainability of the soil- plant- animal system. Perennnial soybean (Neonotonia wightii) is one forage legume well adapted to the tropical areas. Calcium and boron have resulted in benefits for plant development, particularly in legume species. This study was set with the objectives of verifying the effects of calcium and boron combinations for perennial soybean in plant morphophysiology, production, mineral concentrations, carbohydrate concentrations in cell wall, anatomical changes in leaf tissues and visual symptoms. A greenhouse experiment was carried out with plants grown in plastic pots containing ground quartz and supplied with nutrient solutions. An incomplete factorial 5 x 5, with 13 combinations of calcium and boron rates, was set in randomized block design. Plants were harvested twice, the first harvest one at 46 days after seedlings transplanting to the pots and the second harvest at 38 days after the first one. The upper part (three completely expended leaves) was separated from the lower part of plant tops and roots that were collected too. Calcium x boron interaction was only significant for the calcium concentration in the lower part of perennial soybean. Calcium rates changed leaf area, concentrations of calcium, magnesium and potassium in the sampled plant tissues, and carbohydrate concentrations in the cell wall of perennial soybean. Boron rates influenced changes in roots (dry matter, length and surface), mineral concentrations and carbohydrate concentrations in leaves cell wall. High or low rates of both calcium and boron had resulted in changes in anatomical characteristics of perennial soybean. When boron was supplied at 10 µmol L-1 plants presented deformed new leaves and abnormal root system growth.

This investigation examined acute energy compensation and macronutrient intake in habitually active and sedentary, college-aged males, following an exercise session as compared to a resting (control) session, to see if habitually active males compensate intake better to an energy deficit incurred by exercise, than sedentary males. Participants were males, aged 18-30 years, of a normal percent body fat and body mass index, and exercised < 60 min per week (sedentary) or > 150 min per week (habitually active). Participants came in for two sessions: 1) 45 minutes of resting (control) and then eating an ad libitum meal; and 2) riding a cycle ergometer for 45 minutes (exercise) and then eating an ad libitum meal. Sessions were counterbalanced across participants. Energy and macronutrient intake were calculated for the meal and over the remaining part of the day. Sedentary individuals ate significantly less during the meal in the exercise session (which expended a mean of 453.5 kcals across both groups) as compared to the control session (934.8 + 222.0 kcals vs. 1073.9 + 470.3 kcals, p < 0.03), which demonstrated negative energy compensation (-30.6%). The habitually active group showed no significant difference in energy intake between sessions at the meal (1016.8 + 396.7 kcal [control] vs. 1105.6 + 389.2 kcal [exercise]). While the habitually active group showed no significant difference in intake at the meal, the slight increase in intake at the meal in the exercise session demonstrated some energy compensation (19.6%), which was significantly better (p < 0.03) than that in the sedentary group. No differences in macronutrient intake at the meal were found between the sessions. Over the day following the sessions, both groups reported a significant increase in energy intake after the exercise session as compared to the control session (1457.5 + 646.2 kcals vs. 1356.1 + 657.2 kcals, p < 0.04), with no difference in macronutrient intake between the sessions. These results indicate that, although complete acute compensation did not occur, the habitually active group acutely compensated intake significantly more so than the sedentary group, demonstrating better energy regulation ability.

Sandy soils make up more than 205,000 ha in the coastal area of the North Central region of Vietnam. Thua Thien Hue province lying in the south of this region has predominantly sandy soils that cover almost 47,000 ha out of the 84,000 ha of cultivated land. Most of the population lives in the coastal area and people’s livelihoods are largely dependent on crop farming in these inherently poor soils. The objectives of this study were to provide extensive information on the soil and organic resources (including agricultural and aquatic sources) in the coastal area of Thua Thien Hue province, to assess the fertilization capacity of various organic materials when applied at different rates to soils for different crops and to make a diagnosis of the balance of main plant nutrients within the farms to assess possible risks of depletion in soils or of release to the environment. Soil characteristics were measured from a survey of 300 cultivated plots in seven villages scattered in the coastal area. All these light-textured soils are acidic and are very poor in organic C. Consequently, the cation exchange capacity is very low. Soil properties are linked significantly to the different cropping patterns. Farmers in the studied area use wide diversify of organic materials for various purposes. Very large variations in the content of major elements (C, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) are observed in the organic samples. Crop yield and soil fertility increased following the rate of farmyard manure and organic amendment application. Organic amendments brought higher profit for rice and peanut growers in coastal sandy area. The highest fertilization efficiency was observed for pig manure in case of growing rice and peanut and goat manure for sweet potato. The most frequently used species of aquatic plants by local farmers are Najas indica, Vallisneria spiralis, Potamogeton malaianus plus various algae species. Najas Indica and Hydrilla verticillata showed the highest fertilization capacity. At farm level, the N, P, K balances in 10 studied farms were positive. More detailed N-P-K balances in 9 field plots indicated that N balance was largely positive for rice and sweet potato plots. P imports exceeded P exports in all studied plots, whereas K balance was always negative in 4 cropping systems.

In setting the AMDR for protein at 10-35% of daily energy, the Institute of Medicine acknowledged a lack of data regarding the safety of long-term intakes. The current study assessed the impact of chronic (17 months) protein consumption at the upper end of the AMDR on renal function, histology, and inflammation. Using plant and animal whole protein sources, female Sprague-Dawley rats (70 days old; n=8-11 at 4, 8, 12, or 17 mo.) were randomized to either a normal (NP; 15% of energy) or high protein (HP; 35% of energy) diet. Egg albumen and skim milk replaced carbohydrates in the HP diet. Diets were balanced for energy, fat, vitamins and minerals, and offered ad libitum. Renal function was analyzed by creatinine clearance and urinary protein levels. Glomerular hypertrophy, glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis were assessed on kidney sections. Kidney disease progression was determined by the measurement of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and renal inflammation by the measurement of chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Rats consuming the HP compared to NP diet had ~17% higher kidney weights (P<0.0001) and ~4.8 times higher proteinuria (P<0.0001). There was a trend towards higher creatinine clearance with HP (P=0.055). Consistent with this, HP compared to NP rats had ~22% larger glomeruli (P<0.0001) and ~33% more glomerulosclerosis (P=0.0003). The HP diet had no significant effect on tubulointerstitial fibrosis and renal TGF-β1 levels and did not result in higher renal levels of MCP-1 and RANTES. In fact, per mg renal protein, HP rats had ~16% lower MCP-1 (P<0.0001) and ~34% lower levels of RANTES (P<0.0001) than NP. The absence of an increase in cytokine levels may be a reflection of the moderate changes in renal pathology observed in rats offered HP diets. These data in normal female rats suggest that protein intakes at the upper end of the AMDR are detrimental to kidney health in the long-term. While modest, this may have implications for individuals whose kidney function is compromised, especially given the prevalence of those unaware of their kidney disease within North America. / October 2007

<p>Land use histories affect the rate and pattern of soil nutrients at regional and global scale. However, former studies have rarely focused on soil trace elements (B, Mn, Zn, Cu and Fe). In this study, we aimed at the long-term biogeochemical cycling pattern and spatial heterogeneity of soil trace elements in response to land use changes. We conducted experiment at Calhoun experiment forest in SC and surrounded relic hardwood forest, cultivated land and secondary pine forests with contrasting land use histories in a statistically rigorous and spatially explicit design. Our first study indicated that spatial heterogeneity is greatly reduced in many soil properties by agricultural practices, but that successional forest growth on previously cultivated soils re-structures heterogeneity of soil properties within a few decades. We document cases in which land use alters both the soil property's central tendencies and their heterogeneity (C, N, CN, Ca, K), and cases in which changes are apparent in central tendency but much less so in their heterogeneity (Db). In our second study, samples of the upper 0.6-m mineral soil archived in 1962 and 1997 revealed three cycling patterns: 1) Extractable B and Mn were significantly depleted because tree uptake of B and Mn from mineral-soil greatly outpaced resupplies from atmospheric deposition, mineral weathering, and deep-root uptake. 2) Extractable Zn and Cu changed little during forest growth, indicating that nutrient resupplies kept pace with accumulations by the aggrading forest. 3) Oxalate-extractable Fe increased substantially during forest growth, by about 10-fold more than accumulations in tree biomass. This study indicated that forest Fe cycling is qualitatively different from that of other macro- and micro-nutrients. Thirdly, our results revealed that long-term cultivation substantially diminished the activity of soil iron oxides relative to forest growth. Forest Fe cycling is derived from mineral soil weathering, which suggests a need to explore the underlying mechanisms by which bioturbation (e.g.earthworms) mediates transformations of iron bioavailability and oxidation of organic matter in soils. Overall, the wide range of responses to land use changes among the ecosystem's trace elements and other biogeochemical features illustrates the great dynamics of the soil system over time scales of decades to centuries.</p> / Dissertation

This investigation examined acute energy compensation and macronutrient intake in habitually active and sedentary, college-aged males, following an exercise session as compared to a resting (control) session, to see if habitually active males compensate intake better to an energy deficit incurred by exercise, than sedentary males. Participants were males, aged 18-30 years, of a normal percent body fat and body mass index, and exercised < 60 min per week (sedentary) or > 150 min per week (habitually active). Participants came in for two sessions: 1) 45 minutes of resting (control) and then eating an ad libitum meal; and 2) riding a cycle ergometer for 45 minutes (exercise) and then eating an ad libitum meal. Sessions were counterbalanced across participants. Energy and macronutrient intake were calculated for the meal and over the remaining part of the day. Sedentary individuals ate significantly less during the meal in the exercise session (which expended a mean of 453.5 kcals across both groups) as compared to the control session (934.8 + 222.0 kcals vs. 1073.9 + 470.3 kcals, p < 0.03), which demonstrated negative energy compensation (-30.6%). The habitually active group showed no significant difference in energy intake between sessions at the meal (1016.8 + 396.7 kcal [control] vs. 1105.6 + 389.2 kcal [exercise]). While the habitually active group showed no significant difference in intake at the meal, the slight increase in intake at the meal in the exercise session demonstrated some energy compensation (19.6%), which was significantly better (p < 0.03) than that in the sedentary group. No differences in macronutrient intake at the meal were found between the sessions. Over the day following the sessions, both groups reported a significant increase in energy intake after the exercise session as compared to the control session (1457.5 + 646.2 kcals vs. 1356.1 + 657.2 kcals, p < 0.04), with no difference in macronutrient intake between the sessions. These results indicate that, although complete acute compensation did not occur, the habitually active group acutely compensated intake significantly more so than the sedentary group, demonstrating better energy regulation ability.