Complementary feeding patterns among ethnic groups in rural western China

Objective： This study investigated complementary feeding practices among four ethnic groups（Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang） based on a cross-sectional survey in rural western China. Methods： In 2005, a stratified multistage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit 9712 children（7411 Han, 1032 Uygur, 678 Tibetan, and 591 Zhuang） between 6 and 35 months of age and their mothers from 45 counties in 10 provinces（autonomous regions, municipalities） in western China. Results： The rates of early introduction（before 6 months） of complementary foods in four ethnic groups（Han, Uygur, Tibetan, and Zhuang） were 71.30%, 95.95%, 82.40%, and 72.30%, respectively. The Infant and Child Feeding Index（ICFI） for Uygur and Tibetan children was lower than that for Han children at all age groups. Uygur children were more likely to have unqualified ICFI compared with Han children in a multivariate logistic regression（odds ratio（OR）=5.138, 95% confidence interval（CI）： 4.340–6.084）. A higher level of maternal education, greater family wealth, and the availability of complementary feeding educational materials decreased the likelihood of an unqualified ICFI. The nutritional status of children（Han, Tibetan, and Zhuang） with qualified ICFI was better than that for children with unqualified ICFI. Conclusions： Appropriate interventions are required to improve complementary feeding practices in rural western China.

Automatic feeding mechanism of a vegetable transplanter

An automatic feeding mechanism consisting of a timing shaft,an actuating device and a clutch for feeding paper pot seedlings from a horizontal slat type chain conveyor to a horizontal pusher type chain conveyor of a vegetable transplanter,was developed.The slat type chain conveyor carried the pot seedlings in upright orientation in the form of a rectangular array with each linear array of pot seedlings on a slat.The pusher type chain conveyor received a linear array of pot seedlings and delivered them to the seedling drop tube.Feeding of each linear array of pot seedlings to the pusher type conveyor at appropriate times was done using an automatic feeding mechanism.The laboratory evaluation indicated that the feeding rate of 33 to 50 pot seedlings per minute can be achieved with single set of conveyors.The feeding mechanism also worked effectively under actual field conditions with 98%to 99%of all the pot seedlings,which were properly separated and fed for planting when the forward speed of the vegetable transplanter was 0.9 km/h.The feeding mechanism has the general application of singulating rectangular array of items on the slat type chain conveyor in any industry and machine in motion on a level surface.