scholarly journals Development and Usability Study of an Open-Access Interviewer-Administered Automated 24-h Dietary Recall Tool in Argentina: MAR24

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismael A. Contreras-Guillén ◽  
Sara Leeson ◽  
Rocio V. Gili ◽  
Belén Carlino ◽  
Daniel Xutuc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Nutritional Epidemiology ◽  
Expert Assessment ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Total Dietary Fiber ◽  
Multiple Pass ◽  
Geographical Regions

Background: Latin American countries show a fast-growing rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and diet is a critical risk factor that must be properly assessed. Automated dietary assessment tools to collect 24-h dietary recalls (24HR) are lacking in Argentina.Objective: This study aimed to develop an open-access automated tool (MAR24) for collecting 24HR using a multiple pass method and a database containing foods and recipes commonly consumed in Argentina.Methods: MAR24 was developed based on data from 1,285 24HR provided by male and female participants aged 18 to 68 years from the six Argentinian geographical regions. The main structure and interface of the tool were designed using Visual Basic for Applications programming language in Excel Microsoft Office 365, integrating the five steps of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Automated Multiple-Pass Method (AMPM) for the application of 24HR in Spanish. The tool underwent alpha testing and expert assessment to address structural and usability issues. Critical feedback and face validation from researchers and experienced dietitians, and repeated testing to collect 24HR were used to adjust and improve the tool.Results: A total of 968 food items and 100 standard Argentinian recipes were added to its database. MAR24 allows the estimation of the nutrient profile of dietary intake. The analytic food composition includes energy and 50 nutrients including water, macronutrients, total dietary fiber, total sugar, 10 minerals, 19 vitamins, eight fatty acids, cholesterol, ethyl alcohol, caffeine, and theobromine. MAR24 includes a user manual and technical manual to guide users to apply changes (e.g., add foods or recipes, or change food designation according to local terms) to fit different research and clinical applications.Conclusions: MAR24 is the first tool that uses the AMPM methodology for 24HR applications in Argentina. The tool may be used in clinical practice and clinical trials for monitoring purposes, and in validation of food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) for nutritional epidemiology studies addressing dietary-associated risk factors for NCDs.

scholarly journals Genetic Diversity of Clinical and Environmental Vibrio parahaemolyticus Strains from the Pacific Northwest

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (24) ◽  
pp. 8631-8638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohinee Paranjpye ◽  
Owen S. Hamel ◽  
Asta Stojanovski ◽  
Martin Liermann
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Vibrio Parahaemolyticus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Environmental Isolates ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Thermostable Direct Hemolysin

ABSTRACTSince 1997, cases ofVibrio parahaemolyticus-related gastroenteritis from the consumption of raw oysters harvested in Washington State have been higher than historical levels. These cases have shown little or no correlation with concentrations of potentially pathogenicV. parahaemolyticus(positive for the thermostable direct hemolysin gene,tdh) in oysters, although significant concentrations oftdh+V. parahaemolyticusstrains were isolated from shellfish-growing areas in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). We compared clinical and environmental strains isolated from the PNW to those from other geographic regions within the United States and Asia for the presence of virulence-associated genes, including the thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh), the thermostable-related hemolysin (trh), urease (ureR), the pandemic group specific markersorf8andtoxRS, and genes encoding both type 3 secretion systems (T3SS1 and T3SS2). The majority of clinical strains from the PNW were positive fortdh,trh, andureRgenes, while a significant proportion of environmental isolates weretdh+buttrhnegative. Hierarchical clustering grouped the majority of these clinical isolates into a cluster distinct from that including the pandemic strain RIMD2210633, clinical isolates from other geographical regions, andtdh+,trh-negative environmental isolates from the PNW. We detected T3SS2-related genes (T3SS2β) in environmental strains that weretdhandtrhnegative. The presence of significant concentrations oftdh+,trh-negative environmental strains in the PNW that have not been responsible for illness and T3SS2β intdh- andtrh-negative strains emphasizes the diversity in this species and the need to identify additional virulence markers for this bacterium to improve risk assessment tools for the detection of this pathogen.

Applied Anthropology in Latin America

1942 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-39
Author(s):  
Charles Loomis
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
State Department ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
United States Department ◽  
State University ◽  
Department Of Agriculture ◽  
Louisiana State University ◽  
Rural Welfare ◽  
Foreign Agricultural

The decision of the State Department to employ three outstanding rural sociologists to make sociological and anthropological studies in three leading Latin American countries, Argentina, Brazil and Mexico was based in no small measure upon the reputation of the rural sociologists in the applied field. A year ago last February Professor T. Lynn Smith, Head of the Department of Sociology at Louisiana State University, was sent to Brazil; in May, Dr. Carl C. Taylor, Head of the Division of Farm Population and Rural Welfare in the United States Department of Agriculture, left for Argentina; and in June, Professor Nathan Whetten, Dean of the Graduate School at Connecticut University left for Mexico. The State Department, which is furnishing these rural sociologists funds to conduct the investigations in the respective countries, and the Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations in the USDA, which cooperates in the direction of the studies, have permitted each of these men wide latitude within which to work.

A Streamlined Approach for Pipeline Integrity Management

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd R. Porter ◽  
James E. Marr
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Baseline Risk ◽  
Initial Assessment ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Integrity Assessment ◽  
Integrity Management ◽  
Near Term

Formulating and implementing an integrity management plan (IMP) that satisfies Regulatory compliance requirements as mandated in the United States Department of Transportation (US-DOT, CFR 192 / 195) is a significant undertaking. The initial implementation step as defined in the regulations, is to identify high consequence areas (HCA’s or “covered segments”, and the integrity threats that could potentially impact the pipeline. These threats drive the data requirements, i.e. the minimal data sets required to address and evaluate these threats. This data must be gathered, aligned, integrated and technically analyzed (i.e. use of threat models) in a consistent and systematic manner. A baseline / risk assessment is then conducted using this data with the integrity threat models — to identify potentially higher risk areas within a system, individual lines, pipe segments, joints or specific points on the pipelines. The pipeline analysis normally includes time dependent, time independent and stable threats. Integrity management decisions are made based on the outcome of this initial assessment. This leads to selection of integrity assessment tools such as In Line Inspection (ILI) technologies, Direct Assessment (DA), Hydro Static testing, other methods, or combinations thereof. The outcome of the integrity assessment is used to develop an optimal, prioritized repair & mitigation program. In both regulated and non-regulated environments, there is critical need to prioritize and address immediate and near term repair situations a tactical approach. In order to effectively implement an IMP, a management system is normally required that captures the work process of the integrity team and delivers rapid, accurate, and economic decision support. Efficiencies can be realized with a well coordinated approach to data acquisition, management, and analysis. Tuboscope provides an integrated pipeline solution (TIPS) approach to streamline these processes, and an Integrity Management Vehicle LinaViewPRO™, to manage, analyze and present the results of the integrity analysis. In the quest for regulatory compliance and subsequent maintenance of the line, this paper will present an integrity process overview, implementation, results, and benefits from operating hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipelines integrity projects.

Populism: A Threat to Democracy? Or a verification of it?

2017 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-420
Author(s):  
Steven Webb
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Civilian Control ◽  
Democratic Transitions ◽  
Jel Codes ◽  
The People ◽  
The Will ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Military

Abstract The recent surge in the number of populist governments coming into power raises the question of their effect on the prospects for democracy. This article uses the limited vs. open access framework – developed by North, Wallis, Webb and Weingast – to evaluate how populist leaders and their parties govern after coming to power. It looks at episodes of populists in power in Latin America, Europe, and the United States. Although most populist governments have kept civilian control of the military, notwithstanding some Latin American exceptions, they have typically moved their societies away from open access and sustainable democracy in several important ways: undermining rule of law in the name of the “will of the people” whom they claim to represent; reducing citizenship rights for unpopular minorities; making rules and their enforcement more personal and dependent on group identity; and hindering a free press and opposition parties that could hold the government accountable and perhaps bring about peaceful democratic transitions in the future. This sheds new light on how open access orders might revert to limited access. JEL Codes: H110, P5

The United States and Chile during the Second World War: the Diplomacy of Misunderstanding

1977 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-113
Author(s):  
Michael J. Francis
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The United States ◽  
Second World War ◽  
United States Department ◽  
World War ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
The Government ◽  
Second World ◽  
Latin American Countries

During most of 1942 the United States Department of State attempted to cajole, flatter, or force the Government of Chile to break diplomatic relations with the Axis powers. The reluctance of both Chile and Argentina to join the other Latin American countries in severing relations with Germany, Italy, and Japan soon reached the level of a major foreign policy controversy, and United States officials became incensed at Chile's ‘timidity’ in joining the crusade against fascism. The misunderstanding between them, this analysis will argue, stemmed from the nature of the situation and of the parties involved.

Demonstrating Nutrient Cost Gradients: A Brooklyn Case Study

2014 ◽  
Vol 84 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Karp ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
Marguerite Orsi
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Food Selection ◽  
The United States ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Caloric Density ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Introduction: Foods dense in micronutrients are generally more expensive than those with higher energy content. These cost-differentials may put low-income families at risk of diminished micronutrient intake. Objectives: We sought to determine differences in the cost for iron, folate, and choline in foods available for purchase in a low-income community when assessed for energy content and serving size. Methods: Sixty-nine foods listed in the menu plans provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for low-income families were considered, in 10 domains. The cost and micronutrient content for-energy and per-serving of these foods were determined for the three micronutrients. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons of energy costs; Spearman rho tests for comparisons of micronutrient content. Ninety families were interviewed in a pediatric clinic to assess the impact of food cost on food selection. Results: Significant differences between domains were shown for energy density with both cost-for-energy (p < 0.001) and cost-per-serving (p < 0.05) comparisons. All three micronutrient contents were significantly correlated with cost-for-energy (p < 0.01). Both iron and choline contents were significantly correlated with cost-per-serving (p < 0.05). Of the 90 families, 38 (42 %) worried about food costs; 40 (44 %) had chosen foods of high caloric density in response to that fear, and 29 of 40 families experiencing both worry and making such food selection. Conclusion: Adjustments to USDA meal plans using cost-for-energy analysis showed differentials for both energy and micronutrients. These differentials were reduced using cost-per-serving analysis, but were not eliminated. A substantial proportion of low-income families are vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies.

Unifying Calibration Parameters for Dielectric Moisture Meter

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter Mészáros ◽  
David B. Funk
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Temperature Correction ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Correction Coefficient ◽  
Prototype System ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Very High Frequency ◽  
Grain Moisture ◽  
University Of Budapest ◽  
Improved Accuracy

The Unified Grain Moisture Algorithm is capable of improved accuracy and allows the combination of many grain types into a single “unified calibration”. The purposes of this research were to establish processes for determining unifying parameters from the chemical and physical properties of grains. The data used in this research were obtained as part of the United States Department of Agriculture-Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration's Annual Moisture Calibration Study. More than 5,000 grain samples were tested with a Hewlett-Packard 4291A Material/Impedance Analyzer. Temperature tests were done with a Very High Frequency prototype system at Corvinus University of Budapest. Typical chemical and physical parameters for each of the major grain types were obtained from the literature. Data were analyzed by multivariate chemometric methods. One of the most important unifying parameters (Slope) and the temperature correction coefficient were successfully modeled. The Offset and Translation unifying parameters were not modeled successfully, but these parameters can be estimated relatively easily through limited grain tests.

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