Strange invaders increase disturbance and promote generalists in an evolving food web

The patterns of diet specialization in food webs determine community structure, stability, and function. While specialists are often thought to evolve due to greater efficiency, generalists should have an advantage in systems with high levels of variability. Here we test the generalist-disturbance hypothesis using a dynamic, evolutionary food web model. Species occur along a body size axis with three traits (body size, feeding center, feeding range) that evolve independently and determine interaction strengths. Communities are assembled via ecological and evolutionary processes, where species biomass and persistence are driven by a bioenergetics model. New species are introduced either as mutants similar to parent species in the community or as invaders, with dissimilar traits. We introduced variation into communities by increasing the dissimilarity of invading species across simulations. We found that strange invaders increased the variability of communities which increased both the degree of generalism and the relative persistence of generalist species, indicating that invasion disturbance promotes the evolution of generalist species in food webs.

A temperature-regulated circuit for feeding behavior

Both rodents and primates have evolved to orchestrate food intake to maintain thermal homeostasis in coping with ambient temperature challenges. However, the mechanisms underlying temperature-coordinated feeding behavior are rarely reported. Here we found that a non-canonical feeding center, the anteroventral and periventricular portions of medial preoptic area (apMPOA) responded to altered dietary states. Two neighboring but distinct apMPOA neurons mediated feeding in receiving anatomical inputs from external and dorsal subnuclei of lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPB). While both populations are glutamatergic, the arcuate nucleus (ARC)-projecting neurons in apMPOA can sense low temperature and promote food intake. The other type, the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH)-projecting neurons in apMPOA are primarily sensitive to high temperature and suppress food intake. Cutting off both pathways can eliminate the temperature-dependence of feeding. Further projection-specific RNA sequencing identified that the two neuronal populations were molecularly marked by galanin receptor and apelin receptor. These findings reveal an unrecognized cell populations and circuits of apMPOA that orchestrates feeding behavior against thermal challenges.

Implementation of a community-based nutrition program in the community feeding center: a case study from Bantul

Background: Malnutrition among children becomes one of public issues in the population. Community-based nutrition programs provide opportunities to improve current child nutrition and in later life. Objective: To explore the implementation of a community-based nutrition program in Sedayu Subdistrict, Bantul District. Methods: A qualitative study with a single study case was conducted between March and May 2017 in the community feeding center in Argorejo Village, Sedayu Subdistrict, Bantul District. Data were collected from a focus group discussion among mothers of children under-fives, in-depth interviews to community health workers and a nutritionist, and observation during the program activities. Analysis was done by developing coding and themes on the implementation of the program. Results: Several activities were identified in the community-based nutrition program such as anthropometric measurement, nutrition counselling and education, providing healthy snacks during the program, and weekly food supplementation distribution to targeted children. Facilitators of this program included active participation from community health workers, acceptance and supports from the community, and self-subsistent food supplementation. Meanwhile, the barriers of this program were budget allocation, limited numbers and time of health workers, and lacked tools and facilities. Conclusions: Community-based nutrition program in the community feeding center is community-driven program which is from and to the community. The sustainability of this program needs a strong commitment from the government, multisectoral stakeholders, and the community.

Famine of 1946–1947: Causes, Consequences, Problems for Children’s Health

The results of historical and medical analysis are presented: they show the situation related to the famine of 1946–1947 that covered several regions of the USSR and was caused by natural (drought), objective (Second World War consequences), and political (foreign and domestic economic policy of our government) factors. The aim of the study is to analyze the famine causes and consequences and the associated increase in child morbidity and mortality. The archival materials of USSR Ministry of Health fund, the demography department of USSR Central Statistical Office (CSU), USSR State Planning Committee reports, and works of historians, economists, demographers, and children health professional were declassified and studied to cover the issue. The information provided by researchers about human losses during the famine is very contradictory. The resumptive opinion of the demographer V.B. Zhiromskaya indicates that human losses due to famine were about 1 million people in USSR in 1947, including about 0.5 million people in RSFSR. The children population reached more than one third of the total population mortality. Population losses in 1947 exceeded losses in 1946 in RSFSR by 402,480 people according to the authors calculations. Among them almost a half (49.6%) were children aged 0–15 years, and 74.6% of them were infants. The leading causes of children mortality were dystrophy, gastrointestinal diseases, pneumonia, childhood infections, typhus fever, and tuberculosis. The Soviet government has taken several measures to provide medical care for patients with dystrophy, to expand the infant-feeding center network for providing children with food, and to create children's health areas with better nutrition. The implementation of all these measures saved thousands of children's lives from famine and related diseases. However, these measures cannot be considered totally sufficient due to extremely high rate of child mortality in hunger-affected areas.

Reinforcing Roles of Lady Health Workers in Sedayu Community Feeding Center: Six-Steps Program Planning and Evaluation

Child malnutrition remains a challenge in Indonesia public health nutrition field. The assistance of lady health workers child feeding centers becomes important to guard nutritional issues among children in the community. To reinforce roles of lady health workers in the community feeding center, we recruited lady health workers in two community feeding centers of Argodadi and Argorejo villages, Sedayu Subdistrict, Bantul District, in a capacity-building intervention. We were expecting that lady health workers with adequate knowledge and skills can contribute more effectively in the community-based nutrition program including nutritional status assessment and monitoring, nutrition counselling and promotion, general food supplementation, and referral system.

The effectiveness of nutrition education for care takers at Al-Sabah children hospital in patient therapeutic feeding center, Juba South Sudan.

BackgroundA key part of treating and preventing malnutrition is the provision of effective nutrition education to the clients and caretakers so that they can self-manage their nutrition needs even after discharge from the hospital. For effective nutrition education, three factors are paramount; The successful transfer of knowledge and skills, client motivation to act on the acquired skills and knowledge and ensuring that the patient is able to understand and put to practice the educational messages given.MethodsThe study used cross sectional design with mixed method of data collection that involved 83 caretakers of admitted SAM children at Al-Sabah children hospital ITC, Sample size was determined using Cochran 1975, interviewer administered questionnaires and focus group discussion guide were the tools used in collecting data.Data set was generated using EPI info and analyzed using SPSS version 21, the analyzed descriptive data was triangulated with the qualitative data collected using FGD.Results The majority of the caretakers were female 78 (94%) of which 68 (81.9%) were mothers to the children that were admitted. Only 8 (9.6%) of the respondents were found to have attained effective nutrition education and majority of the respondents were found not to be recalling the information they were given during the education session.ConclusionAs per the guidelines adapted by the ministry of health republic of South Sudan, the nutrition education sessions conducted was found not be effective as most of the clients could not even recall the information given.

Time to Recovery from Severe Acute Malnutrition and Its Predictors among Admitted Children Aged 6-59 Months at the Therapeutic Feeding Center of Pawi General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A Retrospective Follow-Up Study

Background. Ethiopia is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest rates of severe acute malnutrition. Early recovery is a performance indicator for severe acute malnourished children for the therapeutic feeding. Despite the available interventions to tackle nutritional problems, there is scarce information on time to recovery and its determinants among children with SAM in Ethiopia. Objective. The study is aimed at assessing time to recovery from severe acute malnutrition and its predictors among admitted children aged 6-59 months at the therapeutic feeding center of Pawi General Hospital, northwest Ethiopia, from January 2013 to December 2017. Methods. An institution-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted among 398 children aged 6-59 months. The data were collected by using data extraction sheet. The data were cleaned and entered using EpiData version 4.2.0.0 and exported to Stata version 14 statistical software for further analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to estimate median nutritional recovery time after initiation of inpatient treatment, and log-rank test was used to compare time to recovery between groups. The Cox proportional regression model was used to identify the predictors of recovery time. Adjusted hazard rate with its 95% CI was reported to show strength of relationship. Results. The recovery rate was 5.3 per 100 person-day observations, and the median recovery time was 14 days (95% CI: 13–15). The lower chance of early recovery was found among children who were not fully vaccinated (AHR: 0.73 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.96)), while high chance of recovery was found among children who had no anemia (AHR: 1.66 (95% CI: 1.23, 2.23)), TB (AHR: 2.03 (95% CI: 1.11, 3.71)), and malaria infection (AHR: 1.54 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.17)) at admission. Conclusion and Recommendation. The overall nutritional recovery rate was below the accepted minimum standard. Children not fully vaccinated and children without malaria, anemia, and TB comorbidities at admission had a higher chance of recovering early from severe acute malnutrition. Hence, treating comorbidities is vital for prompt nutritional recovery.

Implementasi Program Posyandu Tfc (Theurapetic Feeding Center) Sebagai Strategis Penuntasan Dan Pemulihan Gizi Buruk Bagi Balita Di Puskesmas Bumijawa Kabupaten Tegal.

Latar Belakang: Masalah gizi merupakan salah satu masalah kesehtan masyarakat yang belum pernah tuntas di tanggulangi dunia. Organisasi Kesehatan Dunia memperkirakan bahwa sekitar 60 % dari semua kematian, yang terjadi antara anak-anak yang berusia kurang dari lima tahun dinegara berkembang, bisa dihubungkan dengan mal nutrisi. Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC) atau Pusat Pemulihan Gizi (PPG) adalah pemuliha gizi kurang dengan perawatan serta pemberian makanan secara intensif dan adekuat sesuai usia dan kondisinya dengan melibatkan peran serta orang tua (ibu) agar mandiri ketika sudah kembali ke rumah.Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa pelaksanaan program Posyandu TFC di Puskesmas Kabupaten Tegal.Metode: Penelitian ini bersifat kualitatif dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan teknik wawancara mendalam sesuai dengan pedoman wawancara. Responden yang diteliti ada 8 orang yaitu 2 petugas sebagai informan kunci yaitu dokter penanggungjawab dan koordinator gizi di Puskesmas Bumijawa, 4 petugas sebagai informan utama yaitu 2 petugas kesehatan bidan dan petugas gizi serta 2 petugas kader posyandu dan 2 ibu yang mempunyai anak gizi kurang sebagai informan Triangulasi.Hasil: Penelitian menunjukan bahwa sumber-sumber program, tenaga, dana dan sarana prasarana sudah memadai, proses pelaksanaan program tersebut pada tahap perencanaan sudah didukung dan di analisa permasalahan serta sudah melibatkan lintas program dan lintas sektoral, tahap pengorganisasian sudah di bentuk, ada standar prosedur yang jelas, pembagian tugas sudah baik, pelaksanaan monitoring dan evaluasi program sudah memadai ada pengawasan dari pihak kepala puskesmas bumijawa dan dari Dinas Kesehatan kabupaten Tegal.Simpulan: Balita yang gizi kurang sudah ada pendataan dan di tangani dengan baik di posyandu TFC baik rawat inap atau rawat jalan, balita tersebut 100 persen mengalami kenaikan BB 0,5 kg per minggu, kecuali balita yang gizi kurang dengan kelainan penyerta seperti jantung, TBC dll perlu penanganan intensif.Sehingga program posyandu TFC sudah berjalan dengan baik sebagai penuntasan dan pemulihan gizi kurang bagi balita di Puskesmas Bumijawa Kabupaten Tegal.Kata Kunci : Implementasi kebijakan, program posyandu TFC Background: The problem of nutrition is one of the people's health problems that has never been solved in the world tackling. The World Health Organization estimates that around 60% of all deaths, which occur among children aged less than five years in developing countries, can be attributed to malnutrition. Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC) or Nutrition Recovery Center (PPG) is recovery of malnutrition by intensive and adequate care and feeding according to age and condition by involving the participation of parents (mothers) to be independent when they return home.Objective: This study aims to analyze the implementation of the TFC Posyandu program at the Tegal District Health Center.Method: This research is qualitative by using descriptive methods. Data collection was carried out using in-depth interview techniques in accordance with interview guidelines. There were 8 respondents surveyed, namely 2 officers as key informants, namely the physician in charge and nutrition coordinator at Bumijawa Public Health Center, 4 officers as the main informants namely 2 midwife health workers and nutritionists as well as 2 posyandu cadre officers and 2 mothers who have undernourished children as informants Triangulation Results: Research results show that program resources, personnel, funds and infrastructure are adequate, the process of implementing the program at the planning stage has been supported and analyzed for problems and has involved cross-program and cross-sectoral, the organizing stage has been established, there are standard procedures clearly, the division of tasks is good, the implementation of program monitoring and evaluation is adequate, there is supervision from the head of the bumijawa puskesmas and from the Tegal district health office.Conclusion: Toddlers who lack nutrition already have data collection and are handled well in TFC posyandu both inpatient or outpatient, the toddler is 100 percent increasing in weight of 0.5 kg per week, except toddlers who are malnourished with comorbid disorders such as heart disease, tuberculosis etc. need intensive handling. So that the TFC posyandu program has been running well as the completion and recovery of malnutrition for children under five in the Bumijawa Health Center in Tegal Regency.Keywords: Policy implementation, TFC posyandu program

A limbic circuit selectively linking active escape to food suppression

Stress and anxiety are precipitating factors for eating disorders, but the neural basis linking stress to alterations in feeding is not well understood. Here we describe a novel population of stress-responsive neurons in the lateral septum (LS) of mice that express neurotensin (LSNTS) in a sexually dimorphic, estrous cycle-dependent manner. We used in vivo imaging to show that LSNTS neurons are activated by stressful experiences when flight is a viable option, but not by a stressful experience associated with freezing or immobility. LSNTS activation leads to a decrease of food intake and body weight in mice, without altering locomotion or other behaviors associated with anxiety. Molecular profiling of LSNTS neurons showed that these neurons co-express Glp1r (glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor), and both pharmacologic and genetic manipulations of Glp1r signaling in the LS recapitulates the behavioral effects of LSNTS activation. Finally, we mapped the outputs of LSNTS neurons and show that activation of LSNTS nerve terminals in the lateral hypothalamus (LH), a well-established feeding center, also decrease food intake. Taken together, these results show that LSNTS neurons link stress and anorexia via effects on hypothalamic pathways regulating food intake.