Database Structure for the Indonesian Food Crop Monitoring System

The development of the Indonesian Food Crop Monitoring System (FCMS) database required the compilation of general information on the principal food crops, as well as supportive data on climate, land use, prices, trade, and various macroeconomic conditions. The purpose for the collection and management of these data was twofold: (1) to support several specific food-crop policy analyses to be conducted by the FCMS project team, and (2) to provide a simple capability for monitoring and describing for the food crop sector over time

Demographic and Expenditure Profiles of Zambian Households: Evidence from the June 1991 Zambian Household Expenditure and Income Survey

The HEIS\u27s linkage of household-level demographic and expenditure data for Zambia provides the foundation for an analysis of household expenditure patterns. For this report, total household expenditure was composed of two broad expenditure classifications, food and nonfood. An analytical emphasis was placed on developing the food expenditure patterns of household groups identified by various socioeconomic characteristics. In general, within the various household classifications, there were three important economic variables: the availability of food items within specific markets, household income, and relative prices that appeared to contribute to the development of the observed food group expenditure patterns. Directly observable, absolute differences in total expenditure, shares of total expenditure, and shares of total food expenditure were used to distinguish groups of households

Food Consumption Patterns in Haiti: Evidence from the Haiti Household Expenditure and Consumption Survey

Effective evaluation of food pricing policies and other food policy issues requires accurate information on food consumption patterns and expenditures. This report documents food consumption patterns based on the 1986-87 Haitian Household Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HECS) conducted by the Institut Haitian de Statistique et d\u27Informatique (IHSI) with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Haiti). The report investigates food consumption patterns including total food expenditures and food budget shares, sources of food, food expenditures by major food group, expenditures for food consumed outside of the household, use of food inventories, and frequently consumed food items

Income Distribution in Jamaica

Since independence in 1962, Jamaica has witnessed changes in the physical and human capital stocks, taxation policies, production technology, household structure and even the general economic system. The percentage of illiterate population declined from 16 percent in 1960 to less than 5 percent by the late 70\u27s and per capita disposable income (nominal) has more than doubled (The Statistical Institute, 1982). Bauxite and sugar, both major sources of foreign exchange, are in economic difficulty caused by declining world prices of aluminum and sugar. These and many other factors, including changes in political institutions in Jamaica, may have resulted in a redistribution of income among households since 1960

Nutrition in Haiti: Evidence from the Haiti Household Expenditure and Consumption Survey

The conditions of widespread hunger and continuing food deficits dominate Haiti\u27s food and agricultural situation. A 1986-87 nationwide survey of household expenditure and food consumption provides new evidence on food sources of energy and protein, and the adequacy of diets in Haiti. The survey data document the importance of cereals and vegetables in supplying food energy and protein. Starchy roots were relatively more important to energy intake in rural areas than urban areas. Rice, bread, oil, and green and dried peas were important food items in contributing to food energy and protein (except for oil). Nearly 50 percent of household members had less than 75 percent of recommended levels of food energy intake; 36 percent had less than 75 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for protein. The most severe nutritional problems appear in rural areas and in the northern region

Advances and limitations of semi-elastic pneumatic cuffs in blood flow restriction training: a narrative review

Semi-elastic pneumatic (SEP) blood flow restriction (BFR) cuffs, such as the original KAATSU and the B Strong/B3 cuffs, have gained popularity as practical, user-friendly tools for low-load BFR exercise. However, their efficacy and optimal use remain somewhat debated, especially compared to rigid tourniquet-style cuffs that prescribe individualized arterial occlusion pressures (AOPs). This narrative review synthesizes the literature on SEP BFR devices with a focus on B Strong/B3 to clarify their acute and chronic effects and address unique methodological considerations. We first define SEP BFR cuffs and distinguish them from rigid AOP-calibrated cuffs, then summarize the acute and chronic physiological and perceptual responses and adaptations to resistance and aerobic exercise. Acutely, SEP BFR cuffs elicit pronounced local metabolic stress and fatigue. Longitudinally, SEP BFR training leads to significant improvements in muscle size, strength, and endurance. SEP BFR cuffs may offer practical advantages in safety and accessibility to a wide range of users by using a design that inherently limits the risk of arterial occlusion. We also discuss practical considerations for SEP BFR, propose alternative internal load monitoring such as near-infrared spectroscopy, and emphasize that the degree of fatigue and effort are primary hallmarks of an effective BFR training session. Finally, we propose future directions for research along with considerations on how to optimally apply and study SEP BFR. While SEP BFR cuffs are designed to not fully occlude arterial flow—thereby limiting their capacity for AOP standardization—they offer a pneumatically-controlled approach capable of delivering a safe and effective BFR training stimulus. Given their growing use in the field, researchers should not dismiss SEP BFR devices; instead, they should be systemically investigated and undergo direct comparisons with rigid AOP-based devices. Such research will help refine guidelines and broaden our understanding of how both SEP and AOP-calibrated BFR can be optimally applied

Impact of maximal exercise on immune cell mobilization and bioenergetics

Acute aerobic exercise increases the number and proportions of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) and can alter PBMC mitochondrial bioenergetics. In this study, we aimed to examine the impact of a maximal exercise bout on immune cell metabolism in collegiate swimmers. Eleven (7 M/4F) collegiate swimmers completed a maximal exercise test to measure anaerobic power and capacity. Pre- and postexercise PBMCs were isolated to measure the immune cell phenotypes and mitochondrial bioenergetics using flow cytometry and high-resolution respirometry. The maximal exercise bout increased circulating levels of PBMCs, particularly in central memory (KLRG1+/CD57−) and senescent (KLRG1+/CD57+) CD8+ T cells, whether measured as a % of PMBCs or as absolute concentrations (all p \u3c 0.05). At the cellularlevel, the routine oxygen flow (IO2 [pmol·s−1·106 PBMCs−1]) increased following maximal exercise (p = 0.042); however, there were no effects of exercise on the IO2 measured under the LEAK, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), or electron transfer (ET) capacities. There were exercise-induced increases in the tissue-level oxygen flow (IO2-tissue [pmol·s−1·mL blood−1]) for all respiratory states (all p \u3c 0.01), except for the LEAK state, after accounting for the mobilization of PBMCs. Future subtype-specific studies are needed to characterize further maximal exercise\u27s true impact on immune cell bioenergetics

Acute Exercise Increases NK Cell Mitochondrial Respiration and Cytotoxicity against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells under Hypoxic Conditions

Purpose Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, highly metastatic malignancy with high recurrence rates. Hypoxia is a hallmark of the TNBC tumor microenvironment, which promotes tumor growth while impairing natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxic functions. Although acute exercise improves NK cell function under normoxic conditions, the effect of exercise on NK cell cytotoxic functions under hypoxic conditions mimicking O2 tensions observed in solid tumors is unknown. Methods The cytotoxic functions of resting and postexercise NK cells isolated from thirteen young inactive healthy women were assessed against breast cancer cells expressing different levels of hormone receptors (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Mitochondrial respiration and H2O2 efflux rates of the TNBC-activated NK cells were assessed via high-resolution respirometry. Results Under hypoxia, postexercise NK cells exhibited greater killing of TNBC than resting NK cells. Further, postexercise NK cells were more likely to kill TNBC under hypoxia than normoxic conditions. In addition, mitochondrial respiration associated with oxidative (OXPHOS) capacity of TNBC-activated NK cells was greater in postexercise cells than resting cells under normoxia, but not under hypoxia. Finally, acute exercise was associated with reduced mitochondrial H2O2 efflux by NK cells in both conditions. Conclusions Together, we present crucial interrelationships between hypoxia and exercise-induced changes in NK cell functions against TNBC cells. By modulating their mitochondrial bioenergetic functions, we postulate that acute exercise improves NK cell function under hypoxic conditions. Specifically, NK cell O2 and H2O2 flow (pmol·s-1·million NK cells-1) changes in response to 30-min cycling suggest that exercise primes NK cell tumor killing by reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress and, thus, rescuing their function when exposed to harsh hypoxic environments as observed in the microenvironment of breast solid tumors