• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study assessed household food security status and determined its association with diet quality and weight status among indigenous women from the Mah Meri tribe in Peninsular Malaysia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument and the Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI) were used to assess household food security status and diet quality, respectively. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected through face-to-face interview, and anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were obtained from 222 women. RESULTS: Majority of households (82.9%) experienced different levels of food insecurity: 29.3% household food insecurity, 23.4% individual food insecurity, and 30.2% fell into the child hunger group. The food-secure group had significantly fewer children and smaller household sizes than the food-insecure groups (P < 0.05). The mean household income, income per capita, and food expenditure significantly decreased as food insecurity worsened (P < 0.001). The food-secure group had significantly higher Malaysian HEI scores for grains and cereals (P < 0.01), as well as for meat, poultry, and eggs (P < 0.001), than the food-insecure groups. The child-hunger group had significantly higher fat (P < 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.001) scores than the food-secure and household food-insecure groups. Compared to the individual food-insecure and child-hunger groups, multivariate analysis of covariance showed that the food-secure group was significantly associated with a higher Malaysian HEI score while the household food-insecure group was significantly associated with a higher BMI after controlling for age (P < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of indigenous households faced food insecurity. Food insecurity at the individual and child levels was associated with lower quality of diet, while food insecurity at the household level was associated with higher body weight. Therefore, a substantial effort by all stakeholders is warranted to improve food insecurity among poorer households. The results suggest a pressing need for nutritional interventions to improve dietary intake among low income households.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.104-117
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• 2019

Purpose: This study examined dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old by food security status. Methods: The study used data from the $6^{th}$ (2013 ~ 2015) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study subjects consisted of 3,948 subjects, of whom 2,445 were the young-old (aged 65 to 74 years) and 1,503 were the old-old (aged 75 years and over). Food security status was evaluated using an 18-item questionnaire. Energy intake, nutrient densities, and prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake were assessed. Food intake was evaluated in terms of the number of food group servings. Dietary behaviors and health status were also assessed. Results: The prevalence of food insecurity among the young-old and the old-old was 10.0% and 11.6%, respectively. Among the young-old, the food insecure group had a significantly higher level of prevalence of insufficient intake for all the nutrients (protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorous, and iron) assessed in this study compared with the food secure group. In case of the old-old, significant differences were found only for four nutrients (protein, riboflavin, niacin, and phosphorus) in the prevalence of insufficient nutrient intake between the food secure and the food insecure groups. Kinds of food groups with significantly different numbers of servings by food security status were dissimilar between the two age groups. In both the age groups, the food insecure group consumed a significantly lower number of servings in meat fish eggs legumes and fruits than the food secure group; grains and vegetables intake in the young-old and oils sweets intake in the old-old differed in the number of servings by food security status. Among the young-old, the prevalence of chewing difficulties in the food insecure group was significantly higher than that of the food secure group, while among the old-old, no significant differences were found by food security status. Conclusion: Dietary and health characteristics of the young-old and the old-old differed by food security status. Such differences were more apparent in the young-old than the old-old. Therefore, it is suggested that food and nutrition assistant programs should be designed with consideration of the differences.

• Proceedings of the Korean Association of Geographic Inforamtion Studies Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.153-161
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• 2008

Agriculture and forest are basis for livelihood in Nepal while both sectors constitute around 40 percent of the national product and over two-thirds of the economically active population is dependent on agriculture. However, radical changes in land use, depletion in crops production and food availability are major threats due to loss of soil fertilityand severe environmental degradation. In this study, we used time series data from 1986/87 to 2005/06 about food crop production and population published by Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and Central Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive statistics and ArcGIS were used to assess and map the food security status of Nepalese Terai based on the local food demand and supply system. Food supply to demand ratio(FSDR) was the main idea of assessment. Our results showed that out of 20 districts, only 8 districts were categorised under secured food districts whereas 5 districts were still under food unsecured situation. The analysis further revealed that 7 districts had faced food deficit more than 8-16 times during the last 20 year periods. Data further showed that there was surplus food supply relative to the requirements dictated by FSDR. However, the average FSDR was less than 1.2(less than 20% surplus) exploring fact that most of the districts were not producing sufficient food to cope up the food shock and after 1995 it was relatively stagnant. Our prediction reveals that food supply in Terai even in the future would remain at almost the same level as now, and there will not more than 16-17% surplus by 2021 considering medium vibrant population growth. The findings thus, indicate that Terai may not be a food secure region in the future, even though the region is considered as a food storage house of Nepal. In addition, this paper suggests ways to make future comprehensive case studies more widely comparable in Terai, Nepal.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.1225-1235
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• 2021

This study aims to analyze the influence of farmer characteristics, Ihsan attitude, economic conditions, and socio-cultural environmental support, and the number of family members on farmer behavior in meeting food needs in realizing household food security, with the role of the government as a moderator. This study is about the relationship between farmer behavior and their household food security. This research uses a quantitative research method involving 337 farmers from three villages located in three different sub-districts, namely Alang-alang village, Tragah sub-district, Mrecah village, Tanah Merah sub-district, and finally Gangsean village, Sepulu sub-district. The quantitative analysis approach consists of formulating problems, compiling models, obtaining data, finding solutions, testing solutions, analyzing results, and interpreting results. From the 7 hypotheses that were built, it was identified that there was 1 hypothesis that was not significant, namely the influence of the support of the socio-cultural environment on farmer behavior to meet the food needs of farmers' households. The attitude that is identified is still very rarely used in the context of agricultural human resources and at the same time is an inherent character of Madurese farmers which is an interesting part for researchers to study more deeply and become new or authentic in this research.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1291-1300
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• 2018

Objective: This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) level and exogenous protease supplementation on growth performance, serum metabolites, carcass traits, small intestinal morphology and endogenous protease activity in broiler chickens reared under a tropical climate. Methods: A total of 480 day-old male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments in a $4{\times}2$ factorial arrangement. The main effects were CP level (21.0%, 19.7%, 18.5%, or 17.2% from 1 to 21 days and 19.0%, 17.9%, 16.7%, or 15.6% from 22 to 35 days) and protease enzyme supplementation (0 ppm or 500 ppm). All experimental diets were fortified with synthetic feed-grade lysine, methionine, threonine and tryptophan to provide the minimum amino acid recommended levels for Cobb 500. Results: Reducing dietary CP linearly reduced (p<0.05) growth performance, serum albumin, total protein, and carcass traits and increased (p<0.05) serum triglycerides and abdominal fat. There was no consistent effect of reducing dietary CP on morphological parameters of the intestine and on the pancreatic and intestinal endogenous protease activity (p>0.05). Protease supplementation improved (p<0.05) feed conversion ratio, body weight gain, carcass yield and intestinal absorptive surface area. Conclusion: Protease supplementation, as measured by growth performance, intestinal morphology and carcass yield, may alleviate the detrimental effects of low protein diets in broiler chickens.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.2_spc
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• pp.337-345
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• 2024

Ruminants possess a specialized four-compartment forestomach, consisting of the reticulum, rumen, omasum, and abomasum. The rumen, the primary fermentative chamber, harbours a dynamic ecosystem comprising bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and bacteriophages. These microorganisms engage in diverse ecological interactions within the rumen microbiome, primarily benefiting the host animal by deriving energy from plant material breakdown. These interactions encompass symbiosis, such as mutualism and commensalism, as well as parasitism, predation, and competition. These ecological interactions are dependent on many factors, including the production of diverse molecules, such as those involved in quorum sensing (QS). QS is a density-dependent signalling mechanism involving the release of autoinducer (AIs) compounds, when cell density increases AIs bind to receptors causing the altered expression of certain genes. These AIs are classified as mainly being N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHL; commonly used by Gram-negative bacteria) or autoinducer-2 based systems (AI-2; used by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria); although other less common AI systems exist. Most of our understanding of QS at a gene-level comes from pure culture in vitro studies using bacterial pathogens, with much being unknown on a commensal bacterial and ecosystem level, especially in the context of the rumen microbiome. A small number of studies have explored QS in the rumen using 'omic' technologies, revealing a prevalence of AI-2 QS systems among rumen bacteria. Nevertheless, the implications of these signalling systems on gene regulation, rumen ecology, and ruminant characteristics are largely uncharted territory. Metatranscriptome data tracking the colonization of perennial ryegrass by rumen microbes suggest that these chemicals may influence transitions in bacterial diversity during colonization. The likelihood of undiscovered chemicals within the rumen microbial arsenal is high, with the identified chemicals representing only the tip of the iceberg. A comprehensive grasp of rumen microbial chemical signalling is crucial for addressing the challenges of food security and climate targets.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.287-294
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• 2021

Modern small farms are important link components in the structure of the world agro-industrial complex. It ensures the food and nutritional sustainability of the country exclusively at the local regional level. The purpose of the research is to examine the role of farming in ensuring nutritional security and food stability based on the analysis of the Food Sustainability Index (FSI). Research methods: modeling, abstraction, analogy, analysis, synthesis, formalization, logical abstraction, theoretical cognition, systematization and classification, abstract-logical, etc. Results. Having analyzed the Food Sustainability Index for 2018, it has been established that there is a lack of a clear relationship between the pace of economic development and the level of food and nutritional sustainability. In addition, this study has identified the countries with the largest number of small farms, as well as the number of farms within the region. The correlation between the size of the farm and the area of agricultural land that it cultivates has been determined. The problems faced by small farms in the process of their activity have been analyzed. The programs implemented in the field of agro-industrial complex development by international profile institutions have been systematized. Particularly, the regional structure of agricultural development programs under the guidance of IFAD is defined, as well as the areas to which they are directed. Specific measures taken by governments to stimulate the development of small farms have been outlined. Reasonable conclusions have been formed based on the study. The direction of future research is seen in the assessment of the export potential of small farms in terms of range, volume of export deliveries and geographical direction of movement of their products.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.38-42
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• 2011

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.152-167
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• 2018

Until recently, Japanese cuisine was known only for sushi and was still considered exotic outside the archipelago. However, today the number of specialized restaurants which serve other traditional foods is constantly increasing all over the world, making Japanese gastronomy one of the most influential. Japanese government has supported the promotion of national cuisine worldwide in different ways, making washoku (Japanese traditional cuisine) one of the main elements of Japan's soft power and cultural diplomacy. In this paper, I will analyse the connection between Japan's gastrodiplomacy, defined as the use of typical food and dishes as an instrument of soft power, and Japan's food security strategy. I will argue that the strategy of promotion of washoku worldwide is not a mere act of popularization of Japanese food but it is strictly related to the issue of the low self-sufficiency rate of the country, as the main objective of the government is the raise of food export, in order to foster agricultural production and improve self-sufficiency.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Agricultural Engineers
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.77-86
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• 2015

The agricultural water management generally has focused on water resources for crop production but it could be affected by the food consumption pattern. The aim of this study is to estimate virtual water consumption for food consumption and calorie supply using the water footprint and virtual water concept. In addition, we estimated the virtual water requirements for increasing the food and calorie self-sufficiency adjusted by the government for food security. About $330.0m^3/cap/yr$ of virtual water was consumed for the main foods consumption in 1985, and it was increased to $450.0m^3/cap/yr$ in 2010. The rate of virtual water consumption by meats consumption was 28 % in 1985 but it was increased to 54 % in 2010. In other words, the total virtual water consumption by foods consumption was increased from 1985 to 2010 with the high rate of meats consumption. The average $1.29m^3$ of virtual water was consumed for supplying 1 calorie per capita in 2010 but about $10.1m^3/cal$ of virtual water was consumed by only bovine meats consumption. The food self-sufficiency is the main factor for food security in Korea. About $46.5Mm^3$ and $393.9Mm^3$ of virtual water were required in order to increase the food and calorie self-sufficiency of wheat by 1 % individually. This study showed the water consumption was related to food consumption and calorie supply pattern, and these results could be used as the indices for the agricultural water management considering the change of eating habit and food security.