Objective: This study’s purpose was to examine dietary quality, macronutrient intake, and micronutrient adequacy among long term weight loss maintainers (WLM) in a commercial weight management program. Methods: Participants were 1,207 WLM in WW (formerly Weight Watchers) who had maintained a 9.1 kg or greater weight loss (29.7 kg on average) for 3.4 years, and had an average BMI of 28.3 kg/m2. A control group of weight stable adults with obesity (Controls; N=102) had a BMI of 41.1 kg/m2 and 2.3 kg or less weight change over the previous five years. Results: WLM vs. Controls had a 10.1 point higher HEI-2015 score (70.2 [69.7 - 70.7] vs 60.1 [58.4 - 61.8], respectively; p=0.0001) in analyses that adjusted for group difference in demographic factors. WLM versus Controls had a significantly higher average percentage of calories from carbohydrates (50.3% [49.7 - 50.8] vs 46.7% [44.8 - 48.7], respectively; p=0.0001) and protein (18.2% [18.0-18.5] vs 15.9% [15.1-16.6], respectively; p=0.0001) and lower percentage of calories from fat (32.3% [31.9-32.8] vs 37.4% [35.8-38.9], respectively; p=0.0001). Examining micronutrients, WLM had significantly higher odds for meeting the EAR for copper (OR=5.8 [2.6-13.1]; p=0.0001), magnesium (OR=2.9 [1.8-4.7]; p=0.0001), potassium (OR=4.7 [1.4-16.5]; p=0.015), vitamin A (OR=2.8 [1.7-4.8]; p=0.0001), thiamin (OR=2.3 [1.3-4.1]; p=0.003), riboflavin (OR=6.5 [2.2-19.3]; p=0.001), vitamin B6 (OR=2.91 [1.6-5.2]; p=0.0001), vitamin C (OR=5.0 [2.8-8.8]; p=0.0001), folate (OR=2.2 [1.3-3.7]; p=0.003), and vitamin E (OR=1.8 [1.1-2.8]; p=0.014) and didn’t differ in calcium (OR=1.15 [0.7-1.7]; p=0.823), iron (OR=1.9 [0.8-4.6]; p=0.151), phosphorus (OR=2.0 [0.9-4.5]; p=0.101), selenium (OR=1.6 [0.6-3.8]; p=0.332), zinc (OR=1.7 [0.9-3.0]; p=0.095), niacin (B3) (OR=1.9 [0.8-4.1]; p=0.136), vitamin B12 (OR=1.2 [0.5-2.8]; p=0.625), and vitamin D (OR=1.5 [0.9-2.4]; p=0.09). Conclusions In a widely available commercial program, WLM consumed a healthier and more micronutrient rich diet than adults who were weight stable with obesity. Future research is needed to examine whether improved micronutrient status among WLM reduces risk of chronic disease.

Background: Multiple micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in pregnant women in developing countries and can result in adverse effects to both the mother and infant. Multiple micronutrient supplements or supplementary foods may be a way to combat micronutrient deficiencies. Objective: To assess change in micronutrient and protein levels in moderately malnourished pregnant Malawian women after receiving one of three nutritional interventions. Methods: Serum retinol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate, zinc, albumin and C-reactive protein concentrations were measured in pregnant women with MUAC >20.6 cm and Results: Baseline micronutrient concentrations indicated high rates of deficiency in zinc (29-39%) and albumin (37-46%), and marginal status of retinol (26-37%) and vitamin D (31-32%). Adjusted mean changes in vitamin B12 concentrations from week 0 to week 10 were -17.1, -36.1, and -52.9 pg/mL for RUSF, CSB-UNIMMAP, and CSB-IFA, respectively (p=0.007). Adjusted mean changes in vitamin D concentrations from week 0 to week 10 were 6.1, 3.1, and 1.7 ng/mL for RUSF, CSB-UNIMMAP, and CSB-IFA, respectively (p=0.007). Adjusted mean changes in folate concentrations from week 0 to week 10 were 2.2, 1.7, and 4.0 ng/mL for RUSF, CSB-UNIMMAP, and CSB-IFA, respectively (p=0.37 for effect of treatment; p=0.06 for the interaction effect of time*treatment). Changes in ferritin, zinc, albumin, retinol, and CRP were not significantly different between treatment groups. Conclusions: Deficiencies in zinc and albumin, and marginal status of vitamin D and retinol, are common among this population of moderately malnourished pregnant Malawian women. Significant changes in vitamin D and vitamin B12were observed from week 0 to week 10, with the RUSF group having the greatest improvements compared to the CSB-UNIMMAP and CSB-IFA treatments.

Farmers around the world aim to use soil with adequate nutrients to produce sufficient and quality crops to the world's ever-growing population. Unbalanced use of nutrients in the soil will lead to soil deficiency, which is usually seen in South and Southeast Asian countries. This soil deficiency is often due to loss of micronutrient(s) within the soil from farming practices. Micronutrient deficiency affects not only plant growth but human health. Plants grown in nutrient deficient soil produce food with nutrient deficiencies, which affect people dependent on these foods for nutrients (Kathmandu, 2004). Nutrient deficient diseases and disorders like malnutrition are often seen in such cases. Current farming practices often involve leaching, mineralization, and bioconversion, which result in 50-70% loss of micronutrients. Smart practices from nanotechnology can lead conventional farming to more sustainable agriculture (Chhippa, 2016). This study aims to improve the dispersibility and uptake of zinc in plants different dual combination of ‘green' capping agents in zinc nanoparticles. The results of this study suggest tomato plants treated with urea coated with 3% Zn (w/w) using NAC-SAL ZnO showed a higher number of leaves and number of fruits set compared to controls.

Fortified and unfortified soymilk were produced from the same production batches for comparative evaluation. Fortification included a comprehensive array of micronutrients of interest to community and humanitarian nutrition programs. The effects of time after fortification prior to cooling, cooling method, and light or dark refrigerated storage on the stability of 5 vitamins (vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and folate) were investigated for both fortified and unfortified soymilk. Significant vitamin C loss (6%) and mild vitamin A isomerization occurred while soymilk was hot immediately following fortification. Cooling bottled soymilk in an ambient water bath or ice water bath made no difference in the levels of any of the vitamins measured. Significant loss of riboflavin (18%) and significant vitamin A isomerization to cis isomers other than 13-cis, resulting in loss of bioactivity, occurred during 12 days of light-exposed refrigerated storage. An increase of 13-cis isomer was observed in dark refrigerated storage but with no significant loss of vitamin A bioactivity. No significant degradation of any other vitamins occurred during 12 days of dark refrigerated storage. Sensory evaluation by a panel of youth and children revealed no significant preferences between fortified and unfortified soymilk excepting colour, for which property there was a slight preference for unfortified soymilk. Acceptable vitamin stability and sensory characteristics can be achieved in comprehensively fortified soymilk produced in small-scale batch processes with appropriate management of production and storage conditions.

No description available.

No description available.

An increasing number of people in the United States are finding it difficult to access a safe, personally acceptable, nutritious diet. Urban agriculture is seen as an important avenue for increasing their food security. For better or worse, urban agriculture is subject to the urban setting, agriculture must complete with other socially and economically viable land uses. Establishing and maintaining a robust system of urban agriculture will require a constant seeking out of urban open spaces that, at least for a time, are available for food production. This study focuses on golf courses as one such type of open space. Due to market saturation, a fairly significant number of golf courses are presently experiencing financial difficulty. Tone potential an emerging land use type catagor that is experiencing is increasing. Developing a robust and reliable system of urban agriculture is one strategy for improving food security. In the urban setting, agriculture must complete with other socially and economically viable land uses. Consequently, much of the research completed to date focuses on using abandoned lots as food growing sites. Fewer studies seek to identify the broad range of urban open spaces that might eventually contribute to a system of urban agriculture that is economically and socially viable. This thesis focuses on a newly emerging class of abandoned urban lands – golf courses. Countryside Golf Course located in Roanoke, Virginia is the case study site that is deeply investigate for its potentional of contributing to food security. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Des études récentes ont permis de constater qu'une part de plus en plus importante des sols agricoles présente des déficiences en micronutriments. Ces carences posent donc de graves problèmes en terme de productivité. Il existe de nombreuses études sur le rôle des micronutriments dans le métabolisme des plantes et des microorganismes. Cependant aucune étude basée sur une approche holistique visant à prendre en considération l'ensemble des trois composantes biologiques du sol (plante, faune, microorganismes) par rapport à l'apport de micronutriments n'a été entreprise à ce jour. L'objectif de cette étude était de préciser l'impact des micronutriments sur les trois composantes biologiques d'un sol en étudiant différents paramètres tels que la production de biomasse végétale, les communautés bactériennes et les aspects fonctionnels à travers l'analyse de l'activité des enzymes du sol.Une expérimentation menée en champ a été réalisée sur une culture de colza. Une comparaison entre blocs parcellaires traités et non traité a été réalisé en analysant le nombre et le poids de siliques ; la teneur en chlorophylle des feuilles, le poids et la densité des vers de terre, les activités enzymatiques, la structure des communautés microbiennes et l'activité microbienne globale. L'apport de micronutriments induit des changements de tous les paramètres biologiques étudiés en fonction du stade de développement de la plante. Parmi les enzymes étudiées (phosphatases alcaline et acide, beta-glucosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta xylosidase), une augmentation significative de la phosphatase alcaline et de l'alpha-glucosidase a été mesurée mais seulement lorsque la plante est au stade de grenaison. A ce stade, on constate également une augmentation de l'activité microbienne totale ainsi qu'une plus forte densité de vers de terre dans les blocs parcellaires traités. De plus, l'apport de micronutriments affecte de manière significative les communautés de bactéries nitrifiantes mais ce phénomène ne s'observe qu'au stade de la floraison. L'ensemble des ces résultats suggère donc que les micronutriments agissent comme des catalyseurs de l'activité biologique des différents acteurs du sol (plante, microorganismes et macrofaune). Ils sont à l'origine d'une succession d'inter action complexes et modifient alors les processus biologiques qui s'opèrent dans le sol.Le deuxième objectif de cette étude était de comparer l'impact de micronutriments sur les communautés microbiennes en présence /absence de plantes ou de vers de terre. Une expérimentation conduite en microcosme a été entreprise. Compte- tenu que les paramètres physico –chimiques du sol influent la biodisponibilité des micronutriments, l'expérience a été réalisée avec trois types de sols (sols limoneux, argileux et sableux). Les résultats obtenus mettent en évidence que l'impacte des micronutriments sur les communautés bactériennes est subordonné à la présence et le type d'organismes (vers de terre/plante) ainsi qu'à la nature du sol.Finalement, les micronutriments ne doivent plus être perçus en terme de productivité à travers une simple relation avec la plante mais au contraire comme des agents agissant comme catalyseur de l'activité biologique des principaux acteurs du sol. Une telle vision holistique constitue les premières données pour établir les bases de l'agroécologie. / Numerous arable lands in the world have a low availability of micronutrients. This lack of micronutrients has a serious impact on crop production. To increase plant productivity more attention must be paid to micronutrients. A number of studies have focused on the effect of micronutrients on plant and bacterial metabolism. However, studies on the impact of these micronutrients, when all living organisms (plant, macrofauna and microorganism) present in a field are taken into account, are scarce..The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of these micronutrients on the three soil components. Different parameters were chosen such as plant productivity, bacterial community, soil enzyme and fauna to determine the impact of micronutrients on these organisms.A field experimental approach consisted of micronutrient treatments during oilseed rape cultivation in the Aisne Department (France) was carried out. In comparison to control plots, the weight and number of siliques (seed pods), the chlorophyll content of leaves, the weight and density of earthworms, soil enzyme activities, bacterial communities and total microbial activity were analysed. The addition of micronutrients caused changes to all the biological parameters studied in relation to the plant growth stage. Among the enzymes tested (alkaline and acid phosphatase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta xylosidase), a significant increase in alkaline phosphatase and alpha-glucosidase was measured at the 3rd stage of oilseed rape development with the addition of micronutrients. At this stage of oilseed rape development, total microbial activity and the weight and density of earthworms were higher in plots under micronutrient treatment. On the other hand, micronutrients had a significant impact on the nitrifying bacterial community and the total bacterial community only at the 2nd stage of oilseed rape development. All these results suggest that micronutrients act as a catalyst by stimulating plants, soil fauna and microorganisms directly or indirectly. Thus micronutrients can modify biological processes in all living organisms through successive complex interactions.The second objective of this study was to compare the impact of micronutrients on bacterial communities in presence/absence of plants or earthworms. An in vitro experimental approach using microcosms has been conducted to study different parameters (bacterial community, soil enzyme activity, total microbial activity). Because characteristics of soil contents are important in determining the availability of micronutrients in soils the experiment was conducted on three type of soil: sandy; loamy and clay soil. Our results bring to light that the application of micronutrients affected the bacterial communities. However the nature and the importance of this impact varies according to the organisms presents (plant or earthworms) and the nature of the soil.The results of this study provide a scientific basis for fertilizing and utilizing soil, protecting microbial diversity, and accomplishing the sustainable development of agroecology.

Nos últimos anos, houve rápido crescimento da utilização de substâncias que buscam aumentar a produtividade de soja, seja por alterações fisiológicas ou morfológicas. Entre estes compostos, lactofen (LC), citocinina (CK), ácido salicílico (AS) e boro (B) têm sido utilizados com esse propósito. No entanto, não existem informações científicas que atestam esses manejos, o que causa instabilidade na resposta observada no campo. Além disso, atualmente existe mais de 1000 variedades cultivadas de soja disponíveis no mercado, o que dificulta o entendimento do efeito desses produtos na cultura e soja. Visando entender as alterações fisiológicas e morfológicas que estes compostos proporcionam, objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da época de aplicação de cinetina (KIN) e os efeitos das associações entre KIN, LC, AS e B nas variedades cultivadas NA-5909-RG (GM 6.7) e NS-7114-RR (GM 7.1). Foram realizados dois experimentos em condições de campo no Centro Universitário de Patos de Minas, Patos de Minas (MG), durante o período de novembro de 2014 a maio de 2015. Foram realizadas avaliações fisiológicas (atividade da nitrato redutase - ANR, teor de proteína total solúvel na folha, atividade da peroxidase e superóxido dismutase, teor de H2O2, peroxidação de lipídios e teor de prolina) e fenométricas (valor Spad, massa de matéria seca de raiz, caule, folhas e vagens), além do número de vagens, nós, ramificações e produtividade. Para o primeiro experimento, foram utilizados quatro tratamentos: (i) Controle; (ii) KIN (V4); (iii) KIN (V6) e (iv) KIN (V4+V6) com cinco repetições em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. No segundo experimento, foram utilizados dezesseis tratamentos: (i) Controle; (ii) L; (iii) KIN; (iv) AS; (v) B; (vi) LC + KIN; (vii) LC + AS; (viii) LC + B; (ix) LC + KIN + AS; (x) LC + KIN + B; (xi) LC + AS + B; (xii) LC + KIN + AS + B; (xiii) KIN + AS; (xiv) KIN + B; (xv) KIN + AS + B e (xvi) AS + B em duas variedades cultivadas, NA-5909-RG e NS-7114-RR, em esquema fatorial 16x2 com quatro repetições em delineamento em blocos ao acaso. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que: (i) a aplicação de KIN em V4, V6 ou V4+V6 aumenta a ANR e o teor de proteína na folha, reduz o nível de estresse e aumenta o acúmulo de massa de matéria seca e a produtividade; (ii) a aplicação de LC aumenta o nível de estresse das plantas e incrementa a produtividade apenas na variedade cultivada do GM 7.1; (iii) a aplicação de KIN proporciona maior efeito na produtividade na variedade cultivada NS-7114-RR; (iv) mesmo a variedade cultivada NA-5909-RG sendo mais responsivo à aplicação de AS para as características fisiológicas e fenométricas, este incrementou a produtividade apenas no NS-7114-RR; (v) a aplicação de B proporciona os melhores efeitos na NS-7114-RR; (vi) o efeito das associações entre LC + CK + AS e AS + B é mais estável na NS-7114-RR, enquanto que na NA-5909-RG, os efeitos mais estáveis foram observados para LC + CK + AS + B; (vii) considerando as duas variedades cultivadas, a associação entre LC + CK proporciona o maior incremento de produtividade; e (viii) a variedade cultivadas NS- 7114-RR manteve maior teor de proteína na folha, superior acúmulo de massa de matéria seca durante o final do período do enchimento de grãos e maior massa de 1000 grãos, o que repercutiu em maior produtividade em relação ao NA-5909-RG. / In recent years, there has been a rapid growth of the substance use to increase soybean productivity, either physiological or morphological changes. Among these compounds, lactofen (LC), cytokinins (CK), salicylic acid (SA) and boron (B) have been used with this purpose. However, there is no scientific information that attest these managements, which cause instability in the observed response in field. In addition, there are currently more than 1,000 soybean cultivars available on the market, making it difficult to understand the product effect on the soybean crop. In order to understand the physiological and morphological changes that these compounds provide, this work aimed to evaluate the effects of kinetin (KIN) application time and the effects of the associations between KIN, LC, SA and B in the NA-5909-RG (GM 6.7) and NS-7114-RR (GM 7.1) cultivars. Two field experiments were carried out at the University of \'Patos de Minas\' (UNIPAM), \'Minas Gerais\' state, Brazil, during the period from November 2014 to May 2015. Physiological (nitrate reductase activity, total soluble protein content in leaf, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, H2O2 content, lipid peroxidation and proline content) and phenometric (Spad value, dry matter of root, stem, leaves and pods) evaluations were done, as well as the number of pods, nodes, branches and productivity. For the first experiment, four treatments were used: (i) Control; (ii) KIN (V4); (iii) KIN (V6) and (iv) KIN (V4+V6) with five replications in a randomized block design. In the second experiment, sixteen treatments were used: (i) Control; (ii) LC; (iii) KIN; (iv) SA; (v) B; (vi) LC + KIN; (vii) LC+SA; (viii) LC + B; (ix) LC + KIN+SA; (x) LC + KIN + B; (xi) LC+SA+B; (xii) LC + KIN+SA+B; (xiii) KIN+SA; (xiv) KIN + B; (xv) KIN+SA+B and (xvi) SA+B. The NA-5909-RG and NS-7114-RR cultivars (factorial 16x2) were used with four replications in a randomized block design. Based on the results, it is possible to conclude that: (i) the application of KIN in V4, V6 or V4+V6 increases the nitrate reductase activity and leaf protein content, reduces the stress level, increases the total dry matter production and productivity; (ii) the LC application increases the plant stress level and productivity (only in the maturation group 7.1); (iii) the KIN application provides greater effect on productivity in the NS-7114-RR cultivar; (iv) the NA-5909-RG cultivar is more responsive to the application of SA, however it increased productivity only in the NS-7114- RR cultivar; (v) the B application provides the best effects on NS-7114-RR cultivar; (vi) the effects of LC + CK + SA and SA + B were more stable in the NS-7114-RR cultivar, while the NA-5909-RG cultivar was more stable for LC + CK + SA + B application; (vii) considering two varieties, LC + CK application provides the greatest increase in productivity; and (viii) the NS-7114-RR cultivar maintained higher protein content on the leaf, higher total dry matter accumulation during the late grain filling period and higher mass of 1,000 grains, which reflected in higher productivity compared to the NA-5909-RG cultivar.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-25T19:30:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JOSE LUCIANO BAIL.pdf: 1520249 bytes, checksum: 9b68428497958f276e5d9677a9db0d18 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-04 / Sowing soybean seed in the field is a key component to obtain economically yields. The chemical treatment is essential to promote the vigorous development of seedlings and ensure ideal stand establishment of plants. However it is essential to know the relationship between the products used and seed quality parameters. This study aimed to assess the health and physiological attributes of soybean seeds treated with combinations of products and stored for different periods of time in a natural environment. The soybean seeds, cultivars BRS 284 and Don Mario 7.0i, were harvested on 2011 in Ponta Grossa, PR. The treatments consisted of the use of the fungicide thiram + carbendazin (F), (200 mL of the commercial product per 100 kg of seed) the same fungicide in combination with the insecticide Fipronil (FI), (200 ml of the commercial product per 100 kg of seed), this fungicide in combination with micronutrient CoMo (FM), (300 ml of the commercial product per 100 kg of seed) and the same fungicide and insecticide combined with the micronutrient, using that doses indicated (FIM) and control treatment, seed without these products. The seeds were analyzed immediately after the onset of treatments and at 45, 90 and 135 days of storage. Besides the determination of moisture content, seed quality was evaluated by germination, emergence and seedling length and seed pathology. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with four replicates for each test and comparison of means by Tukey test (5%). There is no negative influence of the soybean seed treatment on seed conservation. The application of fungicide, insecticide alone or associated with micronutrient improve the sanitary quality of seeds in both cultivars, immediately after treatment and during seed storage time. / A instalação inicial da cultura da soja no campo é um dos principais componentes para obtenção de rendimentos economicamente viáveis. O tratamento químico das sementes é prática essencial para promover o desenvolvimento vigoroso das plântulas e garantir o estabelecimento do estande ideal de plantas. Entretanto é essencial, conhecer a influência dos produtos utilizados com relação aos parâmetros de qualidade das sementes tratadas. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar os atributos fisiológicos e sanitários de sementes de soja, submetidas a diferentes combinações de produtos e armazenadas por diferentes períodos de tempo, em ambiente natural. As sementes de soja, das cultivares BRS 284 e Don Mario 7.0 i, foram produzidas na safra de 2011, na região de Ponta Grossa, PR. Os tratamentos consistiram da utilização do fungicida carbendazin + thiram (200 mL do produto comercial por 100 kg de sementes) isoladamente (F); do mesmo fungicida em combinação com o inseticida fipronil, 200 ml do produto comercial por 100 kg de sementes (FI); do fungicida em combinação com o micronutriente CoMo, 300 ml do produto comercial por 100 kg de sementes (FM); do fungicida combinado com o inseticida e mais o micronutriente, nas doses indicadas (FIM) e o tratamento testemunha, sem a utilização desses produtos. As sementes foram analisadas logo após o estabelecimento dos tratamentos e aos 45, 90 e 135 dias de armazenamento. Além da determinação do grau de umidade, a qualidade das sementes foi avaliada pelos testes de germinação, emergência e comprimento da plântula e de sanidade. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por tratamento, para cada teste e com a comparação das médias pelo teste de Tukey (5%). Não há interferência negativa dos produtos aplicados e nem das doses utilizadas em relação ao parâmetro fisiológico das sementes de soja, independentemente da cultivar. A utilização do fungicida, isolada ou conjuntamente com o inseticida e o micronutriente, antes do armazenamento e durante o período de armazenamento, promove controle eficiente dos microrganismos associados às sementes de soja das duas cultivares.