Data presented from a cross-sectional anthropometric survey of children below the age of 5 are based upon 18-month findings of a 2-year study on the effects of nutritional status on mortality. The indicators studied included height, weight, and weight-for-height (W/H). Indicators for weight demonstrate a slow but steady increase in the risk of mortalilty as weight-for age (W/A) decreases to 60% of standard with a marked increase in the risk of dying during the ensuing 18 months. Risk of dying increases quickly as the height for age (H/A) and W/A falls to 90% below standard. After a fall below 80%, the risk increases sharply. As the study continues, it is hoped that one of the 3 indicators (W/A, W/H, H/A) will be pinpointed as the most sensitive risk indicator. One observation has been that mortality increases for W/H when there is an earlier departure from the standard, which might appear to be true for W/A as well. Growth standard must be evaluated for each population surveyed (e.g., highland) as there maybe differentiation from one popoulation to another. (kbc)

Phase 1 of a 2 part USDA-funded study determined which factors influence dietary practices and food choices. The survey was designed to represent a statistical sampling related to the geographical and economical diversity of American households. Five nutrition profiles were exhibited based on the segmentation analysis of 185 different food items which became indicators of food purchase behavior. These behaviors were indexed and then factored to determine if there were groupings with nutritional patterns in common. American eaters were classified as: meat eater, on-the-go, in a dither, conscientious, and healthy eater. Findings are charted; it is concluded that Americans believe they know enough about nutrition to select an adequate diet, even though results show their actual knowledge is limited; consumers are concerned about food safety. (kbc)

Abstract: Human Service organizations are influenced in significant ways by elements in their environment. The way Human Service organizations structure themselves, the technology they utilize and the environment in which they operate are the variables considered in this research model. A simulation model is constructed for the purpose of assisting decision makers in analyzing potential alternatives for decision making. The Human Service organization utilized for the purposes of this study was the Minnesota 4-H Youth Development program for the University of Minnesota Agricultural Extension Service. The model was constructed based on the theory of organizations which includes their structure, technology, and environment and the relationships between the same. A casual map of the relationships was developed. Indicators of structure, technology, and environment were identified and data for each indicator collected from the periods 1925-1980.

A study of oil palm agronomic experiments was conducted to evaluate individual palm fresh bunch (FFB) yield performance with time. Results based on yield trends of individual mature palms demonstrated considerable variation in FFB production and indicated that the yield trend of a mature palm was related to its inflorescence production pattern during immaturity and to its initial yield. A good yielding palm would maintain its high productive capability wheras a poor yielding palm tended to remain low-yielding throughout maturity. In spite of an overall anticipated yield increase for all palms during the peak production periods, the yields of identified low-yielding palms were still relatively lower than those of high-yielding palms. In view of these indicators, a method of identifying potentially low-yielding palms during the immature stage has been suggested and the concept of 'palm replacement during immaturity' put forward

Extract: The best clinical indicators of percentage body fat, on statistical grounds, are triceps skinfold thickness in females (aged 6 to 50.9) and in boys (ages 6 to 18), and weight divided by stature-squared (W/SxS) in men. The most valid simple clinical estimators of total body fat are W/SxS in the females, and in adult males (ages 19 and older), and subscapular skinfold thickness in the boys. Race- and sex-specific reference data are presented for these 3 measures, based on the First Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for individuals 6 to 50.9 years of age. Data for blacks and whites are presented separately because of the large differences in their distributions on the measures. When compared to data from the Health Examination Survey, 1960 to 1962, the present data show evidence of a secular trend toward higher values for triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness in the upper percentiles in adults. The tables presented can be used clinically, with the specified reservations to indicate percentage body fat or total body fat for individuals. (author)

Raw, highly limed, filter-cake sludge (22% solid) was entrenched 18 ha of well-drained, silt loam soil of the Manor (Typic Dystrochrept) and Glenelg (Typic Hapludalf) soil series in 1975 at a rate 2,200 wet metric tons/ha. As part of the overall evaluation of the environmental effects of sludge entrenchment, the USDA-ARS, in cooperation with the Maryland Environmental Service, began to monitor the site in 1977 to determine the mineralization and movement of N, movement of heavy metals, and die-off rate and movement of salmonellae, ascaris ova, and fecal indicators in the entrenched sludge and soil profile. Total N₁ NH₄-N, and Cl levels decreased in the entrenched sludge with time, and leached through the soil profile past the lowest sampling point, which was 100 cm below the trench bottom. Nitrate-N was formed and migrated to the deepest sampling point, and direct evidence that denitrification occurred was lacking. Heavy metal losses from the entrenched sludge were negligible probably because the pH of the sludge after 45 months was above 7.0. A predictive equation based on decreases in sludge total N was developed for use as a tool for determining the age when the entrenched sludge was stablized. Fecal coliform concentrations were very low. Ascaris ova were not detected in the sludge prior to entrenchment or in samples taken during the monitoring period which, in part, may have been due to analytical limitations. Pathogen hazard associated with the entrenched, limed sludge appeared to be minimal. The major environmental effect of sludge entrenchment is possible contamination of ground water by N leached from the sludge.