Understanding the Sustainability of Retail Food Recovery

In this paper we study the simultaneous problems of food waste and hunger in the context of food (waste) rescue and redistribution as a means for mitigating hunger. To this end, we develop an empirical model that can be used in Monte Carlo simulations to study the dynamics of the underlying problem. Our model''s parameters are derived from a data set provided by a large food bank and food rescue organization in north central Colorado. We find that food supply is a non-parametric heavy-tailed process that is well modeled with an extreme value peaks over threshold model. Although the underlying process is stochastic, the basic approach of food rescue and redistribution to meet hunger demand appears to be feasible. The ultimate sustainability of this model is intimately tied to the rate at which food expires and hence the ability to preserve and quickly transport and redistribute food. The cost of the redistribution is related to the number and density of participating suppliers. The results show that costs can be reduced (and supply increased) simply by recruiting additional donors to participate. With sufficient funding and manpower, a significant amount of food can be rescued from the waste stream and used to feed the hungry.     

随机限食与重喂食小鼠的能量代谢和行为的可塑性

分别测定了随机限食和重喂食驯化的雌性KM小鼠的体重、摄食量、基础代谢率(BMR)、行为活动、身体脂肪和性腺重量.随机限食使摄食量增加、BMR和活动行为降低,生长发育迟缓,但对身体脂肪无显著影响.重喂食后上述指标均恢复到对照组水平,表现出显著的可塑性变化.结果表明,动物通过能量摄入和支出的权衡策略适应难以预测的食物资源变化,能量代谢和活动行为的可塑性调节在能量代谢的权衡策略中发挥重要作用.     

Changing Food Habits: Case Studies from Africa, South America, and Europe

Changing Food Habits: Case Studies from Africa, South America, and Europe. Carola Lentz. ed. Newark, NJ: Gardon and Breach Publishing, 1999. 296 pp.     

嫩江高峰林区白腰朱顶雀的环志回收

高峰鸟类保护环志站地处大、小兴安岭之间的嫩江河谷东岸,松嫩平原北麓。特殊的地理位置使这里成为候鸟经松嫩平原迁徙途中重要的停歇地和食物补给站。自1998年开展环志以来,截止2005年12月末,在该地区发现鸟类210种,隶属15目36科,环志鸟类163种163305只,其中,白腰朱顶雀(Carduelis flammea)环志26157只,是高峰鸟类保护环志站环志数量最多的种类。2003年2月10日挪威回收到由高峰鸟类保护环志站环志的一只白腰朱顶雀,成为中国开展鸟类环志20多年来,欧洲国家回收到的第一只中国环志鸟。之后,在俄罗斯、荷兰也相继回收到高峰环志的鸟类,使高峰鸟类保护环志工作再度引起鸟类学家的关注。     

Composition,Microdistribution and Food of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna Inhabiting Wood in Low‐Order Mountain Streams in Central Europe

The macroinvertebrate community inhabiting woody debris in low‐order mountain streams was investigated using hand collections and emergence traps. With respect to dry mass, Amphipoda, Plecoptera and Diptera are the most important taxa. From the gut content analyses it was found that the microhabitat is colonized by xylophagous species as well as taxa of other feeding types. Regarding the whole community, there is no correlation between the abundance of specimens and density of wood, tree species, bark cover, consistency class, and surface structure. However, single species do show preferences; surface structure is the most important factor determining community composition.     

Push and pull in Europe

Expansion of the EU now looks set to take place but the major efforts to develop common policies continue to be stymied by national differences, no more so than in on the issue of genetically modified (GM) crops, as Nigel Williams reports. But other moves are aiming to draw together Europeans in an effort to exploit closer collaboration as Michael Gross reports below.     

Birds and people in Europe

At a regional scale, species richness and human population size are frequently positively correlated across space. Such patterns may arise because both species richness and human density increase with energy availability. If the species-energy relationship is generated through the 'more individuals' hypothesis, then the prediction is that areas with high human densities will also support greater numbers of individuals from other taxa. We use the unique data available for the breeding birds in Europe to test this prediction. Overall regional densities of bird species are higher in areas with more people; species of conservation concern exhibit the same pattern. Avian density also increases faster with human density than does avian biomass, indicating that areas with a higher human density have a higher proportion of small-bodied individuals. The analyses also underline the low numbers of breeding birds in Europe relative to humans, with a median of just three individual birds per person, and 4 g of bird for every kilogram of human.     

Histoplasmosis in Europe

After reviewing the reports ofHistoplasma capsulatum in man, animal and soil, and the results of histoplasmin sensitivity tests in Europe, we have concluded that autochthonous histoplasmosis is present but rare in Europe.Only the European parts of Turkey and of U.S.S.R. are considered in this report.Paper read at the Eighth International Congresses for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, September 1968, Teheran (Iran).     

Obesity in Europe

Obesity, defined as a body mass index > 30 kg/m² is relatively common in Europe, particularly among women, and especially in Southern and Eastern European countries. Among men the distribution of body mass index values is surprisingly similar in most countries of Europe. Educational level is strongly inversely associated with the prevalence of obesity. Although differences in body mass index cannot entirely explain the large variation in risk factors and mortality from coronary heart disease, it can be shown that within populations an increased body mass index is associated with less favorable risk patterns. More research is needed to elucidate the reasons for the large variation in the prevalence of obesity among European women and to the health risks associated with obesity in different European countries.     

Regulatory affairs and biotechnology in Europe

The high cost and risks associated with the research and development of new drugs demand an alert as well as realistic legislative policy at both national and international levels. Registration of a new drug required before a marketing licence is granted, is important for all branches of the pharmaceutical industry but is crucial for success in the innovative biotechnological sector.Innovation as such is no guarantee to be profitable. Increasing government demands have introduced uncertainty on whether new products will secure registration and have led to a disproportionate increase in the economical risks for innovative industry. Preparation and submission of an application for registration should be undertaken seriously and professionally since it has significantly more consequences than simply obtaining a marketing licence. It will influence marketing strategies and results. It is proposed — since dealing with regulatory affairs can be considered as an essential specialism — to apply a Quality Assurance approach. Activities in this context should comply with the same performance standards as developed for GMP, GLP and GCP leading to Good Regulatory Practice (GRP).By acknowledging regulatory affairs as a quality assurance means one can define a set of standard procedures within an organization to ensure that decisions are made on current and future regulations. In such a setup regulatory affairs becomes a marketing tool.This paper illustrates the complex problems found in registration activities. It underlines the necessity of introducing a GRP-approach of performance resulting in substantive evidence of regulatory efficacy.