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At least 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

A data mining approach to investigate food groups related to incidence of bladder cancer in the BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants International Study

Abstract At present, analysis of diet and bladder cancer (BC) is mostly based on the intake of individual foods. The examination of food combinations provides a scope to deal with the complexity and unpredictability of the diet and aims to overcome the limitations of the study of nutrients and foods in isolation. This article aims to demonstrate the usability of supervised data mining methods to extract the food groups related to BC. In order to derive key food groups associated with BC risk, we applied the data mining technique C5.0 with 10-fold cross-validation in the BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants study, including data from eighteen case–control and one nested case–cohort study, compromising 8320 BC cases out of 31 551 participants. Dietary data, on the eleven main food groups of the Eurocode 2 Core classification codebook, and relevant non-diet data (i.e. sex, age and smoking status) were available. Primarily, five key food groups were extracted; in order of importance, beverages (non-milk); grains and grain products; vegetables and vegetable products; fats, oils and their products; meats and meat products were associated with BC risk. Since these food groups are corresponded with previously proposed BC-related dietary factors, data mining seems to be a promising technique in the field of nutritional epidemiology and deserves further examination.

Nutrition & Dietetics↗
DOE OSTI2015

The nutrition transition in Colombia over a decade: a novel household classification system of anthropometric measures

Background: Overweight and underweight increase the risk of metabolic impairments and chronic disease. Interventions at the household level require the diagnosis of nutritional status among family members. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and patterns of various anthropometric typologies over a decade in Colombia using a novel approach that considers all children in the household as well as the mother. This approach also allows identifying a dual burden of malnutrition within a household, where one child may be overweight and another one undernourished. Methods: This study used data from the Demographic and Health Survey and the Colombian National Nutrition Survey [2000 n = 2,876, 2005 n = 8,598, and 2010 n = 11,349]. Four mutually exclusive household (HH) anthropometric typologies - normal, undernourished, overweight/obese, and dual burden - were created. Anthropometric information of height-for-age Z-scores (HAZ) and body-mass-index-forage Z-scores (BMIz) in children under the age of 5 y, and on body mass index (BMI) in mothers, 18–49 y was used. Results: Prevalence of overweight/obese HHs increased between 2000 (38.2%) and 2010 (43.1%) (p < 0.05), while undernourished and dual burden HHs significantly decreased between 2005 (13.7% and 10.6%, respectively) and 2010 (3.5% and 5.1%, respectively) (p < 0.05). A greater increase of overweight/obesity was observed for the lowest quintile of wealth index (WI), with an increase of almost 10% between 2000 and 2010, compared to 2% and 4% for the fourth and highest WI, respectively. Although in 2010 there is still a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity HHs in urban areas (43.7%), the prevalence of overweight/obesity HHs in rural areas increased sharply between 2000 (34.3%) and 2010 (41.6%) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The observed prevalence of dual burden households was not different from the expected prevalence. Results from this study indicate that although overweight/obesity continues to be more prevalent among high-income Colombian households, it is growing at a faster pace among the most economically disadvantaged.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Plant Nutrition Influences Resistant Maize Defense Responses to the Fall Armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda )

Plants are often confronted by different groups of herbivores, which threaten their growth and reproduction. However, they are capable of mounting defenses against would-be attackers which may be heightened upon attack. Resistance to insects often varies among plant species, with different genotypes exhibiting unique patterns of chemical and physical defenses. Within this framework, plant access to nutrients may be critical for maximal functioning of resistance mechanisms and are likely to differ among plant genotypes. In this study, we aimed to test the hypothesis that access to nutrition would alter the expression of plant resistance to insects and alter insect performance in a manner consistent with fertilization regime. We used two maize (Zea mays) genotypes possessing different levels of resistance and the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) as model systems. Plants were subjected to three fertilization regimes prior to assessing insect-mediated responses. Upon reaching V4 stage, maize plants were separated into two groups, one of which was infested with fall armyworm larvae to induce plant defenses. Plant tissue was collected and used in insect bioassays and to measure the expression of defense-related genes and proteins. Insect performance differed between the two plant genotypes substantially. For each genotype, fertilization altered larval performance, where lower fertilization rates hindered larval growth. Induction of plant defenses by prior herbivory substantially reduced naïve fall armyworm growth in both genotypes. The effects between fertilization and induced defenses were complex, with low fertilization reducing induced defenses in the resistant maize. Gene and protein expression patterns differed between the genotypes, with herbivory often increasing expression, but differing between fertilization levels. The soluble protein concentrations did not change across fertilization levels but was higher in the susceptible maize genotype. These results demonstrate the malleability of plant defenses and the cascading effects of plant nutrition on insect herbivory.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1964

Nutrition and Stresses of Short Term Space Flight

The nutritional requirements for short-term space flights which are most likely to be affected by the expected stressors and operational malfunctions or both, especially that of the Environmental Control System, are water and calories. Evidence accumulated under simulated or analogous situations on Earth would indicate that calcium and protein imbalance may occur. Experiments have been proposed to study selected nutritional parameters during Gemini missions of increasing duration.

Nutrition↗
NASA NTRS2003

Measurement of nutritional status in simulated microgravity by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy

The potential of bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) for assessing nutritional status in spaceflight was tested in two head-down-tilt bed-rest studies. BIS-predicted extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), and total body water (TBW) measured using knee-elbow electrode placement were compared with deuterium and bromide dilution (DIL) volumes in healthy, 19- to 45-yr-old subjects. BIS was accurate during 44 h of head-down tilt with mean differences (BIS - DIL) of 0-0.1 kg for ECW, 0.3-0.5 for ICW, and 0.4-0.6 kg for TBW (n = 28). At 44 h, BIS followed the within-individual change in body water compartments with a relative prediction error (standard error of the estimate/baseline volume) of 2.0-3.6% of water space. In the second study, BIS did not detect an acute decrease (-1.41 +/- 0.91 kg) in ICW secondary to 48 h of a protein-free, 800 kcal/day diet (n = 18). BIS's insensitivity to ICW losses may be because they were predominantly (65%) localized to the trunk and/or because there was a general failure of BIS to measure ICW independently of ECW and TBW. BIS may have potential for measuring nutritional status during spaceflight, but its limitations in precision and insensitivity to acute ICW changes warrant further validation studies.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2002

Smart medical systems with application to nutrition and fitness in space

Smart medical systems are being developed to allow medical treatments to address alterations in chemical and physiologic status in real time. In a smart medical system, sensor arrays assess subject status, which is interpreted by computer processors that analyze multiple inputs and recommend treatment interventions. The response of the subject to the treatment is again assessed by the sensor arrays, thus closing the loop. An early form of "smart medicine" has been practiced in space to assess nutrition. Nutrient levels are assessed with food frequency questionnaires, which are interpreted by flight surgeons to recommend inflight alterations in diet. In the future, sensor arrays will directly probe body chemistry. Near-infrared spectroscopy can be used to non-invasively measure several blood and tissue parameters that are important in the assessment of nutrition and fitness. In particular, this technology can be used to measure blood hematocrit and interstitial fluid pH. The non-invasive measurement of interstitial pH is discussed as a surrogate for blood lactate measurement for the development and real-time assessment of exercise protocols in space. Earth-based application of these sensors is also described.

NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies↗
NASA NTRS2000

Food and nutrition in space: application to human health

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration begins the new millennium with the hope of expanding human space exploration beyond Earth's orbit. These extended-duration missions (3-5 years) require an in-depth assessment of the critical risks (referred to as "show stoppers") to humans when exposed to the remote environment and reduced gravity conditions for such long periods of time. Food, and the nutrition it provides, is paramount to crew health. For short-duration spaceflight (30 days), the nutrient requirements pertaining to physiological adaptations are likely to be satisfied without significant impact on crew performance or health. However, prolonged exposure to reduced gravity, or microgravity, and isolation may alter human nutrient requirements as well as increase the psychosocial role of food/meals in daily activities. An outline of critical questions and related research needs in the area of food and nutrition has been drafted (1) at NASA JSC with the help of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (http://www.nsbri.org). The research areas outlined in this plan will directly impact the success of extended-duration human space missions. Findings from this research will have direct applications to human health issues faced here on Earth.

NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology↗
NASA NTRS2005

The nutritional status of astronauts is altered after long-term space flight aboard the International Space Station

Defining optimal nutrient requirements is critical for ensuring crew health during long-duration space exploration missions. Data pertaining to such nutrient requirements are extremely limited. The primary goal of this study was to better understand nutritional changes that occur during long-duration space flight. We examined body composition, bone metabolism, hematology, general blood chemistry, and blood levels of selected vitamins and minerals in 11 astronauts before and after long-duration (128-195 d) space flight aboard the International Space Station. Dietary intake and limited biochemical measures were assessed during flight. Crew members consumed a mean of 80% of their recommended energy intake, and on landing day their body weight was less (P = 0.051) than before flight. Hematocrit, serum iron, ferritin saturation, and transferrin were decreased and serum ferritin was increased after flight (P < 0.05). The finding that other acute-phase proteins were unchanged after flight suggests that the changes in iron metabolism are not likely to be solely a result of an inflammatory response. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine concentration was greater and RBC superoxide dismutase was less after flight (P < 0.05), indicating increased oxidative damage. Despite vitamin D supplement use during flight, serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol was decreased after flight (P < 0.01). Bone resorption was increased after flight, as indicated by several markers. Bone formation, assessed by several markers, did not consistently rise 1 d after landing. These data provide evidence that bone loss, compromised vitamin D status, and oxidative damage are among critical nutritional concerns for long-duration space travelers.

Space Flight↗
DOE OSTI2025

Impact of nutritional history, prey quality, and quantity on grazing and photophysiological responses in the mixoplanktonic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis

The mixotrophic toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis forms red tides almost annually along Florida's Gulf coast. We hypothesize that the nutritional status and abundance of its prey, the picocyanobacterium Synechococcus , will affect its feeding rates and growth responses, with implications for bloom dynamics. This study investigated how prey nutritional quality and quantity (absolute and relative) impact grazing rates by K. brevis initially exponentially growing and in nitrogen (N)-limited conditions, and how grazing, in turn, affects the photophysiological responses of predator and prey. Prey quality was manipulated by providing Synechococcus grown under different ratios of N : phosphorus (P). Synechococcus quality did not significantly affect ingestion rates (measured as prey death rate) but grazing rates increased with increasing prey : grazer ratios (R 2 = 0.7). Compared to control, the growth of exponentially growing grazers doubled when Synechococcus was provided, whereas there was no growth enhancement when Synechococcus of varying qualities was provided to N-limited, chemostat-seeded grazers. Despite this doubled growth, 15 N labeling of the prey and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) detected low Synechococcus -N transfer into grazer biomass after 3 d (< 1% on a cell basis). This suggests the potential of grazers benefiting from alternative N sources (e.g., microbiome-N) or other constituents (e.g., vitamins or metals) not measured in this study. Prey photosynthetic efficiency declined under grazing conditions, demonstrating that grazers can directly affect prey abundance through grazing and indirectly affect prey photophysiology, potentially via allelopathy, supporting previous findings of an inverse relationship between grazers and prey along the Florida Gulf Coast.

Ahn, So Hyun [Univ. of Maryland, Cambridge, MD (Un↗
DOE OSTI2013

Impact of biochar application on nitrogen nutrition of rice, greenhouse-gas emissions and soil organic carbon dynamics in two paddy soils of China

Two field microcosm experiments and 15N labeling techniques were used to investigate the first-year effects of biochar addition on rice N nutrition and GHG emissions in an Inceptisol and an Ultisol. Biochar N bioavailability and effect of biochar on fertilizer nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) were studied by 15N-enriched wheat biochar (7.8803 atom% 15N) and fertilizer urea (5 atom% 15N) (Experiment I). Corn biochar and corn stalks were applied at 12 Mg ha-1 to study their effects on GHG emissions (Experiment II). Biochar had no significant impact on rice production and less than 2% of the biochar N was available to plants in the first season. Biochar addition increased soil C and N contents and decreased urea NUE.. Seasonal cumulative CH4 emissions with biochar were similar to the controls, but significantly lower than the local practice of straw amendment. Soil emissions of N2O with biochar amendment were similar to the control in the acidic Ultisol, but significantly higher in the slightly alkaline Inceptisol. Carbon-balance calculations found no major losses of biochar-C. Low bio-availability of biochar N did not make a significant impact on rice production or N nutrition during the first year.. Replacement of straw amendments with biochar could decrease CH4 emissions and increase SOC stocks.

agriculture↗
DOE OSTI2015

period -1 encodes an ATP-dependent RNA helicase that influences nutritional compensation of the Neurospora circadian clock

Mutants in the period -1 ( prd­ -1) gene, characterized by a recessive allele, display a reduced growth rate and period lengthening of the developmental cycle controlled by the circadian clock. We refined the genetic location of prd­ -1 and used whole genome sequencing to find the mutation defining it, confirming the identity of prd­ -1 by rescuing the mutant circadian phenotype via transformation. PRD-1 is an RNA helicase whose orthologs, DDX5 and DDX17 in humans and Dbp2p in yeast, are implicated in various processes including transcriptional regulation, elongation, and termination, 23 ribosome biogenesis, and RNA decay. Although prd­ -1smutantssiois an ATP-dependent RNA helicase, member of a sub-family display a long period (~25 hrs) circadian developmental cycle, they interestingly display a wild type period when the core circadian oscillator is tracked using a frq -luciferase transcriptional fusion under conditions of limiting nutritional carbon; the core oscillator runs with a long period under glucose-sufficient conditions. Furthermore PRD-1 clearly impacts the circadian oscillator and is not only part of a metabolic oscillator ancillary to the core clock. PRD-1 is an essential protein and its expression is neither light-regulated nor clock-regulated. However, it is transiently induced by glucose; in the presence of sufficient glucose PRD-1 is in the nucleus until glucose runs out which elicits its disappearance from the nucleus. Because circadian period length is carbon concentration-dependent, prd­ -1 may be formally viewed as clock mutant with defective nutritional compensation of circadian period length.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Media matters! Alterations in the loading and release of Histoplasma capsulatum extracellular vesicles in response to different nutritional milieus

Histoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that most frequently causes pneumonia, but can also disseminate and proliferate in diverse tissues. H. capsulatum has a complex secretion system that mediates the release of macromolecule-degrading enzymes and virulence factors. The formation and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important mechanism for non-conventional secretion in both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. H. capsulatum EVs contain diverse proteins associated with virulence and are immunologically active. Despite the growing knowledge of EVs from H. capsulatum and other pathogenic fungi, the extent that changes in the environment impact the sorting of organic molecules in EVs has not been investigated. In our research, we cultivated H. capsulatum with distinct culture media to investigate the potential plasticity in EV loading in response to differences in nutrition. Our findings reveal that nutrition plays an important role in EV loading and formation, which may translate into differences in biological activities of these fungi in various fluids and tissues.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

PCAST: Report to the President on a Vision for Advancing Nutrition Science in the United States

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is the sole body of advisors from outside the federal government charged with making science, technology, and innovation policy recommendations to the President and the White House. Established by Executive Order, it is an independent Federal Advisory Committee comprised of distinguished individuals from industry, academia, and non-profit organizations with a range of perspectives and expertise. On September 20, 2024, PCAST sent a report to the President with recommendations to advance nutrition science and to enable equitable access to the benefits of nutrition research.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

Extreme Low-Temperature Stress Affects Nutritional Quality of Amino Acids in Rice

Global climate change has increased the frequency of extreme climate events, and their effects on the nutritional quality, especially on amino acids in rice, have not been quantified. The data from a 3-year low temperature stress (LTS) experiment including two rice varieties (Huaidao 5 and Nanjing 46), seven minimum/maximum temperature levels (one optimal 21/27°C and six LTS levels from 17/23 to 6/12°C), and three LTS durations (3, 6, and 9 days) after flowering, revealed significant interactive effects of LTS at different stages, durations, and temperature levels on the content and accumulation of amino acids. LTS increased rice total amino acid content, while decreasing its accumulation, with higher sensitivities to LTS at the flowering stage than at the grain filling stage. In most treatments, the lysine (the first limiting amino acid) and phenylalanine content were increased under LTS at early and peak flowering stages but decreased at the grain filling stage in both varieties, and only leucine content was increased at all three stages after flowering, while the content of other essential amino acids differed among the two varieties. With an increase of 1°C·d per day in the accumulated cold degree days, the relative content of the essential amino acids was increased by 0.01–0.41%, depending on the rice variety and growth stage. Our results suggest that LTS can improve nutritional quality of amino acids of rice grains in terms of amino acids content, especially at flowering stage. These results provide critical insights for assessing the potential impact of extreme climates on the nutrient quality of rice under future climate change.

Kang, Min↗
NASA NTRS1981

Nutrition and food technology for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS)

Food technology requirements and a nutritional strategy for a Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) to provide adequate food in an acceptable form in future space missions are discussed. The establishment of nutritional requirements, dietary goals, and a food service system to deliver acceptable foods in a safe and healthy form and the development of research goals and priorities were the main objectives of the study.

Glaser, P. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

The development of an unconventional food regeneration process: Quantifying the nutritional components of a model methylotrophic yeast

A hybrid chemical/biological approach to unconventional food regeneration is discussed. Carbon dioxide and water, the major wastes of human metabolism would be converted to methanol by one of several physiochemical processes available (thermal, photocatalytic, etc.). Methanol is then used to supply carbon and energy for the culture of microorganisms which in turn produce biological useful basic food stuffs for human nutrition. Our work has focused on increasing the carbohydrate levels of a candidate methylotrophic yeast to more nearly coincide with human nutritional requirements. Yeasts were chosen due to their high carbohydrate levels compared to bacteria and their present familiarity in the human diet. The initial candidate yeast studied was a thermotolerant strain of Hansenula polymor pha, DL-1. The quantitative results that permit an evaluation of the overall efficiency in hybrid chemical/biological food production schemes are discussed. A preliminary evaluation of the overall efficiency of such schemes is also discussed.

Petersen, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Comparison of Soviet and US space food and nutrition programs

The Soviet Space Food and Nutrition programs are compared with those of the U.S. The Soviets established the first Space Food programs in 1961, when one of the Soviet Cosmonauts experienced eating in zero gravity. This study indicates that some major differences exist between the two space food and nutrition programs regarding dietary habits. The major differences are in recommended nutrient intake and dietary patterns between the cosmonauts and astronauts. The intake of protein, carbohydrates and fats are significantly higher in cosmonaut diets compared to astronauts. Certain mineral elements such as phosphorus, sodium and iron are also significantly higher in the cosmonauts' diets. Cosmonauts also experience intake of certain unconventional food and plant extracts to resist stress and increase stamina.

Ahmed, Selina↗