Assessing Global Kidney Nutrition Care

Background and objectivesNutrition intervention is an essential component of kidney disease management. This study aimed to understand current global availability and capacity of kidney nutrition care services, interdisciplinary communication, and availability of oral nutrition supplements.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsThe International Society of Renal Nutrition and Metabolism (ISRNM), working in partnership with the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Global Kidney Health Atlas Committee, developed this Global Kidney Nutrition Care Atlas. An electronic survey was administered among key kidney care stakeholders through 182 ISN-affiliated countries between July and September 2018.ResultsOverall, 160 of 182 countries (88%) responded, of which 155 countries (97%) answered the survey items related to kidney nutrition care. Only 48% of the 155 countries have dietitians/renal dietitians to provide this specialized service. Dietary counseling, provided by a person trained in nutrition, was generally not available in 65% of low-/lower middle–income countries and “never” available in 23% of low-income countries. Forty-one percent of the countries did not provide formal assessment of nutrition status for kidney nutrition care. The availability of oral nutrition supplements varied globally and, mostly, were not freely available in low-/lower middle–income countries for both inpatient and outpatient settings. Dietitians and nephrologists only communicated “sometimes” on kidney nutrition care in ≥60% of countries globally.ConclusionsThis survey reveals significant gaps in global kidney nutrition care service capacity, availability, cost coverage, and deficiencies in interdisciplinary communication on kidney nutrition care delivery, especially in lower-income countries.

History of Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) Distribution in Belarus

Based on several scientific publications, a limited number of news from the 1980s up until 2021 and a series of in-depth interviews with devotees in 2006–2021, the authors of the paper managed to restore the history of Bengal Vaishnavism distribution in Belarus for the first time. Specific attributes of its introduction to the country were: (1) philosophical requests from the local citizens, not immigration of its original bearers; (2) a long period of spontaneous distribution in the form of personal involvement with Vaishnava ideas and, hence, late institutionalization of the movement. The main stages of Vaishnavism development in Belarus were distinguished: (1) 1980s, the Soviet period: introduction of Vaishnava ideas and practices within individual self-identification of the members of small groups; (2) 1990s, the post-Soviet period: forming organizational structure of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Belarus; (3) 2000s: spiritual and administrative crises and reformation of the systems of administration and practice creation of the institute of curating the newly converted devotees; (4) 2010s: search for and establishment of the new models of serving, the out-of-temple bhakti practice, in particular; further popularization of the Vaishnava movement and community in Belarus. The main source of information on the history of Vaishnavism distribution in Belarus were in-depth interviews with the members of the community standing at its origin.

Anthropometric and capacitive analysis of the Ecuadorian senior national women's soccer team (Análisis antropométrico y capacitivo del equipo nacional femenino de fútbol de mayores de Ecuador)

The development of women's football worldwide points to the resignification of the approach to team preparation, where anthropometric and capacitive variables play an important role. Ecuador shows no precedent for studies in high-level female soccer players. Accordingly, the objective focused on analyzing the state of anthropometric and capacitive variables of 22 soccer players of the Ecuadorian senior women's national team, which represent 100% of the population. It started from the morphological diagnosis of equipment applying 19 measurements under the protocol of marking and measurement of the International Society for the development of Kineanthropometry (ISAK), the evaluation of the explosive force through three jumps (Tests SJ, CMJ and Abalakob ( AB) and speed (35 meters), The data were subjected to normality criteria (Shapiro-Wilk test), the result of which indicated that the values ​​did not follow a normal distribution, therefore the non-parametric ANOVA test of a Kruskal - Wallis Factor for independent samples. The study was preceded by three research hypotheses. It is shown that there are no significant differences in the variables analyzed by position, being p> 0.05, H0 is accepted in all cases. The results allowed to characterize the team morphologically with a Meso-Endomorph somatotype, irregularities were found in some variables of the morphology of the soccer players (IDG / IMO), suggesting how conclusion a nutritional dietary planning, and enhance muscle mass in the lower extremities from the management of physical direction. Resumen. El desarrollo del fútbol femenino a nivel mundial, apunta hacia la resignificación del enfoque de la preparación de los equipos, donde juega un rol importante las variables antropométricas y capacitivas. Ecuador no muestra precedentes de estudios en mujeres futbolistas de alto nivel. En concordancia el objetivo se centró en analizar el estado de variables antropométricas y capacitivas de 22 futbolistas del equipo nacional femenino de mayores de Ecuador, las cuales representan el 100% de la población. Se partió del diagnóstico morfológico de equipo aplicando 19 mediciones bajo el protocolo de marcaje y medición de la Sociedad Internacional para el desarrollo de la Cineantropometría (ISAK), la evaluación de la fuerza explosiva a través de tres saltos (Tests SJ, CMJ y Abalakob (AB) y la rapidez (35 metros), Los datos se sometieron a criterios de normalidad (test de Shapiro-Wilk), cuyo resultado indicó que los valores no siguen una distribución normal, en virtud de ello se empleó la prueba no paramétrica ANOVA de un Factor de Kruskal - Wallis para muestras independiente. El estudio estuvo precedido por tres hipótesis de investigación. Se demuestra que no existen diferencias significativas en las variables analizadas por posición; al ser p>0,05 se acepta H0 en todos los casos. Los resultados permitieron caracterizar morfológicamente al equipo con un somatotipo Meso-Endomorfo, se comprueba irregularidades en algunas variables de la morfología de las futbolistas (IDG/ IMO) sugiriendo como conclusión una planificación dietético nutricional, y potenciar la masa muscular en las extremidades inferiores desde la gestión de la dirección física.

Perfil Antropométrico de Futbolistas profesionales de acuerdo a la posición ocupada en el Campo de Juego (Anthropometric profile of professional football players according to the position occupied in the playing field)

Objetivo: Analizar las características antropométricas de futbolistas profesionales del club deportivo Ñublense divididos de acuerdo a la posición que ocupan en el campo de juego. Método: Participaron ciento cincuenta y ocho (n=158) jugadores profesionales de Futbol divididos en Arqueros (AR) Defensas (DEF) Volantes (VOL) y Delanteros (DEL), todos pertenecientes al Club Deportivo Ñublense de la ciudad de Chillan, Chile. Se realizó una valoración de la composición corporal utilizando el fraccionamiento en 5 componentes, somatotipo, índice de masa corporal, suma de seis pliegues cutáneos y la relación músculo-óseo, siguiendo el protocolo de la International Society for the Advancements of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). Resultados: En cuanto a la composición corporal se obtuvieron valores porcentuales de Masa Adiposa=21.7%, Masa Muscular=48.9%, Masa Residual=12.4%, Masa Osea=11.4% y Masa Piel=5.2%. En relación al somatotipo se obtuvo una clasificación mesomorfico balanceado con valores medios 2.5-5.4-2.1. Conclusión: Los jugadores profesionales del club de futbol Ñublense de acuerdo a la posición que ocupan en el terreno de juego, presentan un somatotipo similar al de otros futbolistas nacionales e internacionales, donde predomina el componente mesomórfico balanceado. Sin embargo, se observa una elevación de los porcentajes de masa adiposa (MA) y una menor talla, en comparación a futbolistas internacionales, lo que pueden determinar claras diferencias en el rendimiento respecto a las posiciones de juego en situaciones competitivas. Abstract. Objective: Analyze the anthropometric characteristics of Chilean professional soccer players divided according to the position they occupy in the field of play. Method: One hundred and fifty-eight (n = 158) professional soccer players divided into Archers (AR) Defenses (DEF) Volantes (VOL) and Forwards (FOR), with average Age values (24.2 ±4.76 years, body mass 75.0±7.28 kg and height 175.7±6.32 cm.), All belonging to the Ñublense Sports Club of the city of Chillan, Chile. An assessment of the body composition was made using the 5 component fractionation, somatotype, body mass index, sum of six skinfolds and the muscle-bone relationship, following the protocol of the International Society for the Advancements of Kinanthropometry. Results: Regarding body composition, mean values of Adipose Mass = 21.7%, Muscular Mass = 48.9%, Residual Mass = 12.4%, Bone Mass = 11.4% and Skin Mass = 5.2% were obtained. In relation to the somatotype, a balanced mesomorphic classification was obtained with mean values 2.5 - 5.4 - 2.1. Conclusion: According to the position they occupy on the pitch, the professional players of the Ñublense soccer club present a somatotype similar to that of other national and international soccer players, where the balanced mesomorphic component predominates. However, there is an increase in the percentages of adipose mass (AM) and a smaller stature, compared to international soccer players, which can determine clear differences in performance with respect to playing positions in competitive situations.

An Anatomy of International Thought

International relations encompass three aspects: international anarchy, with sovereign states recognizing no political superior; routine interactions in diplomatic, legal, and commercial institutions; and moral solidarity, with cultural and psychological links more profound than those of politics and economics. Thinkers who underscore international anarchy regard the idea of international society as fictional. Hobbes, for example, maintains that the only remedy for anarchical competition is to make a contract for a ruler or an assembly to take power and act to ensure security. Grotius and other thinkers who emphasize the extensive informal, legal, and customary interactions in international affairs highlight humanity’s sociability and its potential for constitutionalism and the rule of law. Kant and others anticipate the vindication of humanity’s potential for peace through the deepening of the material and moral interdependence of people around the world. This may come about through uniformity of independent states in standards of virtue and legitimacy or through the political and moral unification of humanity.

Western Values in International Relations

This essay presents the three main traditions of thinking about international relations in Western societies since the sixteenth century, with particular attention to the ‘middle ground’ between extremes. These extremes are typified by thinkers such as Machiavelli and Hobbes at one pole, and Kant and Wilson at the other. The via media is associated with the development of constitutional government and the rule of law, as represented by thinkers such as Grotius and Gladstone. The essay illustrates the differences among these three traditions by analysing their distinct positions concerning international society, the maintenance of order, intervention, and international morality. ‘Western values’ are most effectively supported by thinkers and leaders who neither deny the existence of international society nor exaggerate its foreseeable prospects for gaining greater cohesion and strength. The middle course—the mainstream of the ‘Western values’ tradition—respects moral standards and sees moral challenges as complex, instead of regarding them as simple or nonexistent.

On the Abolition of War

In this essay Wight advanced four main criticisms of the proposal by Walter Millis for the abolition of what Millis called ‘the war system’. First, the proposal disregards ‘the positive or constructive functions of war in international society’, such as bringing about ‘desirable change’, gaining independence, preserving independence, and maintaining the balance of power. Second, the proposal to abolish war understates ‘the intractability of international conflicts’ and exaggerates the role of armaments and military formations in causing war. The true causes of war reside in ‘human passions and conflicting interests’, not weapons. Third, the proposal to eradicate war fails to recognize the price that must be paid to defeat aggression and establish order. Fourth, no effective alternative institution has been found to replace ‘the war system’ as a means to perform certain functions, including the prevention of detrimental change. The vision of an ‘international government’ ruling the world without war ultimately implies ‘a monopoly of power’, including nuclear arms, perhaps under ‘an American–Russian dyarchy’, despite ‘the intrinsic instability of dyarchy’ and its ‘disagreeableness’ for the rival powers, such as China and France.