Food Consumption Rates Research Articles

Technology of storage of bee pollen and its effects on the development of honey bees

The article presents data on changes in the protein content of bee pollen due to different storage methods. In May, during the collection of bee pollen by bee colonies, in the conditions of the farm located in the Stryi district of the Lviv region, more than 30 types of flower pollen entered the nest. At the same time, for species identification, acetolysis of seven types of flower pollen was carried out, which differed in the maximum amount of arrival: apple (Malus), dandelion (Taráxacum), winter rape (Brassica napus), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), clover (Trifolium pratense), chestnut (Castánea) and raspberry (Rúbus idáeus). To study the nitrogen content according to the Kjeldahl method, all pollen was divided into three groups according to the storage method. Bee pollen of the first group was considered fresh. In it, the nitrogen content was determined immediately after determining the species. Calculations showed the maximum crude protein content in this group. Of all types of bee pollen that were determined to be fresh, the maximum amount of protein was found in bee pollen collected during the flowering of winter rape (Brassica napus) and apple (Malus). Its average content is 24.9 ± 2.09 and 23.4 ± 1.77 %, respectively. As a result of freezing at a temperature of 18 ºС and its storage for 8–12 months, the protein content practically did not change and decreased by only 0.3–0.9 %. A slight tendency to decrease the amount of nitrogen in bee honey was also found when stored in a dried state. Bee pollen, stored for 8–12 months under different conditions, was fed to newborn honey bees and kept in entomological boxes. It was found that bee pollen storage conditions affect honey bees' food consumption rate. The minor attractiveness of the feed was found in the dried bee pollen. The absence of a connection between the content of crude protein in feed and the rate of its consumption by bees was investigated.

Main problems of food processing enterprises and ways to solve them

The stability and security of the food system directly affects the socio-economic factors necessary for the survival of people. The purpose of the study is to provide the main mechanisms for its development and effective organization, conducting a scientific study of current problems in food processing enterprises of Kazakhstan. In order to analyze the current state of development of processing enterprises in the country applied the methods of statistical and economic, analytical, comparative analysis. To summarize the result obtained, systematic, monographic, and constructivist approaches were used. The article analyzes the prices of socially important food products in Kazakhstan for 2016– 2022, by socially important types of products for 2016–2022. The differences between the volume of production per capita and the rate of food consumption per capita have been studied. In addition, possible ways of solving the problem of food security of the country in the coming years are considered. In order to adequately provide the population with socially important types of food, it is important to strengthen the work of processing enterprises with the support of the state, taking into account the level of specialization of the regions. This proposal will simultaneously solve several problems in the country: a unique tool in improving the quality of products and the formation of price stability, increasing the share of domestic products on the domestic market, increasing export potential, creating a stable source of income for the rural population, an effective way to market products at favorable prices for farmers and small farms, the effective use of science and technology for agricultural specialists, high possibility of linking production.

MAIN PROBLEMS OF FOOD PROCESSING ENTERPRISES AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

The stability and security of the food system are key factors in the quality of life of the population. The purpose of the study is to develop mechanisms to ensure the stability and security of the food system of Kazakhstan, taking into account the solution of current urgent problems. To achieve the goals, the authors used methods of statistical, expert and comparative analysis. The results obtained were achieved through the use of systematic and constructive approaches. The analysis of changes in prices for socially significant food products in the Republic of Kazakhstan for the period 2016-2022 was also carried out, the ratio between the volume of production per capita and the rate of food consumption per capita was studied. In conclusion, the authors make proposals for sufficient provision of the population with socially significant types of food on the basis of strengthening the activities of processing enterprises with the support of the state, taking into account the level of specialization of the regions. It is assumed that the authors' recommendations will solve such urgent problems as the low share of domestic agricultural products in the domestic market, the decline in the country's export potential, the lack of stable sources of income for rural budgets, the inefficiency of the mechanism for the sale of agricultural products, the low share of the introduction of innovative technologies in the development of the agro-industrial complex.

Increasing Hemoglobin (Hb) Levels in Pregnant Women with Green Spinach Vegetable Decoction for Pregnant Women

Anemia in general is a condition where the body has too few red blood cells, where the red blood cells contain hemoglobin which functions to carry oxygen to all body tissues (Astrian, 2023:3). Serang Regency with pregnant women has a consumption rate of food containing only iron without Fe 90 as much as 94.7%. This causes anemia in pregnant women to remain high. Objective: analyzed the effectiveness of consuming boiled spinach on increasing hemoglobin levels in pregnant women in the second and third trimesters at the Cinangka Community Health Center. Method: type of quantitative research, the research design is a cross-sectional survey or cross sectional, sampling technique, namely total sampling. Results: parity characteristics of pregnant women: 5 people (41.7%) were primigravida and 7 people (58.3%) were multigravida. After the intervention, hemoglobin levels were carried out, the majority of pregnant women experienced an increase of 12 (100%) to normal hemoglobin levels. The average value of increase in hemoglobin before and after consuming green spinach was 0.67 and results Asymp. Sig. (2 Tailed) of 0.008 that there is a difference in hemoglobin levels before and after being given spinach. Conclusion: respondents in the study before eating green spinach experienced anemia and after the research was carried out there was an increase in pregnant women

Toxic temperatures: Bee behaviours exhibit divergent pesticide toxicity relationships with warming.

Climate change and agricultural intensification are exposing insect pollinators to temperature extremes and increasing pesticide usage. Yet, we lack good quantification of how temperature modulates the sublethal effects of pesticides on behaviours vital for fitness and pollination performance. Consequently, we are uncertain if warming decreases or increases the severity of different pesticide impacts, and whether separate behaviours vary in the direction of response. Quantifying these interactive effects is vital in forecasting pesticide risk across climate regions and informing pesticide application strategies and pollinator conservation. This multi-stressor study investigated the responses of six functional behaviours of bumblebees when exposed to either a neonicotinoid (imidacloprid) or a sulfoximine (sulfoxaflor) across a standardised low, mid, and high temperature. We found the neonicotinoid had a significant effect on five of the six behaviours, with a greater effect at the lower temperature(s) when measuring responsiveness, the likelihood of movement, walking rate, and food consumption rate. In contrast, the neonicotinoid had a greater impact on flight distance at the higher temperature. Our findings show that different organismal functions can exhibit divergent thermal responses, with some pesticide-affected behaviours showing greater impact as temperatures dropped, and others as temperatures rose. We must therefore account for environmental context when determining pesticide risk. Moreover, we found evidence of synergistic effects, with just a 3°C increase causing a sudden drop in flight performance, despite seeing no effect of pesticide at the two lower temperatures. Our findings highlight the importance of multi-stressor studies to quantify threats to insects, which will help to improve dynamic evaluations of population tipping points and spatiotemporal risks to biodiversity across different climate regions.

Reactivity to food cues in spicy food cravers: Physiological and behavioral responses

In China, the rate of spicy food consumption is rising, and chili pepper is among the most popular spicy foods consumed nationwide. According to the ‘cued overeating’ model, visual and olfactory cues of food can lead to changes in physiological responses and increase the likelihood and amount of food intake. However, no studies have explored the role of spicy food cues in cue reactivity among spicy food cravers. The exploratory study aimed to investigate cue-induced physiological responses, subjective cravings, eating behaviors and their associations in spicy food cravers. A group of spicy cravers (n = 59) and a group of age- and sex-matched non-cravers (n = 60) were exposed to food cues that contained or did not contain chili, during which physiological responses and food consumption were measured. The results revealed that spicy food cravers showed increased salivation and heart rate in response to food cues that contained chili compared to cues without chili and consumed significantly more chili oil after chili exposure. For cravers, heart rate during chili exposure was positively correlated with changes in subjective spicy food craving, and increases in subjective spicy food craving during chili exposure positively predicted subsequent chili oil consumption. The current exploratory study confirms the ‘cued overeating’ model and extends previous findings on food cravings, showing that even though chili peppers can elicit aversive oral burns and pain, they share the same physiological mechanism underlying cue reactivity as other kinds of cravings.

Food taboo and dietary habits among low-income people in Kedah, Malaysia

Food beliefs and taboos about certain foods influence the use and consumption of food in the household. Today, especially in rural areas, some people believe certain foods affect health. This practice has resulted in the non-optimized intake of some food categories. As a result, it is not easy to diversify the types of food for daily diet. This study aims to investigate the beliefs and convictions of rural communities in Kedah regarding certain foods that may influence health. This study also identified the pattern of food intake among residents in rural areas of Kedah State following the belief that some foods can affect health. This study focuses on the rural areas of Kedah State, which include Kubang Pasu, Baling, Pendang, Alor Setar, and Kuala Muda districts. A total of 225 farmers in the rural areas of the selected districts were selected using stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and food intake results. The results of the study show that low-income residents in rural areas of Kedah believe that some foods have an impact on health. A total of 37.11% believe that coffee, carbonated drinks, fresh milk, and low-fat milk cause headaches, stomach aches, heartburn, and nausea, followed by 18.66% who admit that spicy foods such as mutton, beef, and durian cause headaches, high blood pressure and skin problems. The impact of the food taboo has resulted in an overall food consumption rate below 29.9 in households of low-income residents in rural areas in Kedah State. The study's findings suggest that the Malaysian Ministry of Health should develop nutrition and health awareness programs and activities for the rural population. At the same time, there is a need for a comprehensive restructuring of the curriculum and syllabus by addressing the need for healthy eating as early as primary school so that nutrition and health awareness can be embedded in early childhood education.

Estimation of the Distribution of Dietary Exposure to Lead Using Two-Dimensional Monte Carlo Simulation: An Attempt to Apply to Total Diet Samples

The average dietary exposure to lead (Pb) in male and female Japanese individuals >1 year of age was estimated using 280 total diet samples representing 14 food groups from 10 areas over a two-year period. A probabilistic exposure estimation was performed using a two-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation (2D-MCS) with a Bayesian estimation that consided the uncertainty of the estimation process. The Bayesian estimation was performed using the likelihood function with cumulative distribution function between the lower and upper boundary values for no-detected values. The median dietary exposure to Pb was estimated as 5.82 μg/person/day. The 90% interval was 2.51-16.9 μg/person/day. Comparison with previously reported Pb exposure values indicates that the estimation of Pb exposure distribution using total diet samples is reasonable. The contribution to Pb exposure was highest in the order of food group 8 (light-colored vegetables, mushrooms, and seaweeds: 20.0±16.1%)>food group 1 (rice and rice products: 12.3±19.0%)>food group 10 (fish and shellfish: 10.5±13.9%). Owing to the high uncertainties of contribution ratios, it was not possible to identify dominant food groups contributing to Pb exposure. However, it was evident that the uncertainty of the estimation of Pb exposure was influenced by the uncertainty of Pb concentration than the uncertainty of food consumption rate. In particular, the effect of uncertainty from the Pb concentration of the food group 1 was 68.2%. When the margin of exposures were calculated, the estimated probabilities that a value would be <1 were 14.5% for developmental neurotoxicity to children (1-6 years old), 0.13% for blood pressure and 0.93% for kidney disease in Japanese individuals ≥1 year of age. The findings suggest that the health risk due to dietary Pb exposure is small but not negligible.

Extremely low seasonal prey capture efficiency in a deep-diving whale, the narwhal.

Successful foraging is essential for individuals to maintain the positive energy balance required for survival and reproduction. Yet, prey capture efficiency is poorly documented in marine apex predators, especially deep-diving mammals. We deployed acoustic tags and stomach temperature pills in summer to collect concurrent information on presumed foraging activity (through buzz detection) and successful prey captures (through drops in stomach temperature), providing estimates of feeding efficiency in narwhals. Compared to the daily number of buzzes (707 ± 368), the daily rate of feeding events was particularly low in summer (19.8 ± 8.9) and only 8-14% of the foraging dives were successful (i.e. with a detectable prey capture). This extremely low success rate resulted in a very low daily food consumption rate (less than 0.5% of body mass), suggesting that narwhals rely on body reserves accumulated in winter to sustain year-round activities. The expected changes or disappearance of their wintering habitats in response to climate change may therefore have severe fitness consequences for narwhal populations.

Effect of Sirolimus/Metformin Co-Treatment on Hyperglycemia and Cellular Respiration in BALB/c Mice.

Sirolimus (SRL) is widely used as an immunosuppressant to prevent graft rejection, despite the risk of impairing glucose metabolism. Metformin (MET) can reduce the detrimental effects of SRL in many patients, including diabetes and renal transplant recipients. Limited in vivo studies have reported on SRL and MET therapy, particularly in relation to cellular bioenergetics, glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of SRL and MET co-treatment in BALB/c mice over 4 weeks. Balb/c mice (4-6 weeks old) were divided into four groups and injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with water (control, CTRL), MET (200 µg/g), SRL (5 µg/g), or MET (200 µg/g) +SRL (5 µg/g) over a period of one month. We evaluated the body weight, food consumption rate, random blood glucose (BG), insulin levels, serum biochemistry parameters (ALT, Albumin, BUN, Creatinine), and histomorphology in all groups using standardized techniques and assays. All drug-treated groups showed a statistically significant decrease in weight gain compared to the CTRL group, despite normal food intake. Treatment with SRL caused elevated BG and insulin levels, which were restored with SRL + MET combination. Serum biochemical parameters were within the normal range in all the studied groups. SRL+ MET co-treatment decreased liver cellular respiration and increased cellular ATP levels in the liver. In the pancreas, co-treatment resulted in increased cellular respiration and decreased cellular ATP levels. Liver and pancreatic histology were unchanged in all groups. This study showed that co-treatment of SRL with MET alleviates hyperglycemia induced by SRL without any deleterious effects. These results provide initial insights into the potential use of SRL + MET therapy in various settings.

Intake of main food among the children aged 6-17 years in different regions of China in 2019-2021

To analyze the intakes of main food among the children of 6-17 years in different regions of China from 2019 to 2021, and to provide a scientific basis for evaluation and guiding Chinese children to make reasonable diet. Multistage stratified random sampling method was used to collect data in east China, north China, central China, south China, southwest, northwest and northeast seven areas of each random two provinces, randomly selected from each province one urban survey site and one rural survey site, 28 sites of the 13th Five Year National Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Project-Chinese children aged 0-18 investigation and application of nutrition and health system in 14 provinces of China. The study included 6413 children aged 6 to 17. Three consecutive 24-hour recalls method combined with weighing were used to collect the information of food intake. According to the food classification in the standard version of the food composition list, the food was divided into cereals, tubers, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, meat and poultry, fish and shrimp, eggs, milk, etc. , and the intake of various foods was calculated for boys and girls aged 6-8, 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 in different regions. Compared with the average daily food intake of children of the same sex and age in the urban and rural, The average daily intake of cereals and tubers for boys aged 9-17, cereals for girls aged 9-17, tubers for girls aged 12-17, and fish and shrimp for boys of edible population aged 15-17 were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. There were differences in the average daily food intake and consumption rate of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, meat and poultry, eggs and milk of the same sex and age, which were higher in urban than in rural areas(P&lt;0.05). Compared with the average daily food intake of children of the same sex and age in the south and the north, the average daily intake of cereals and eggs for boys aged 9-14, cereals for girls aged 6-8, and fresh fruits for boys and girls of edible population aged 6-17 were higher in the north than in the south. There were differences in average daily intake and consumption rates of tubers, fresh vegetables, meat and poultry, milk and fish and shrimp of the same sex and age, which were higher in the south than in the north(P&lt;0.05). Compared with the average daily food intake of children of the same sex and age in the eastern, central and western regions, the average daily intake of cereals for boys aged 6-14, cereals for girls aged 6-17, fresh fruits for boys and girls of edible population aged 6-17, and fish and shrimp for boys and girls of edible population aged 15-17 were lower in the eastern region than in the central and western regions. The average daily intake of tubers for boys aged 9-11 and 15-17, for girls aged 9-17 were higher in the western regions than the eastern and central regions. The average daily intake of eggs for boys and girls aged 12-17 was lower in western regions than the eastern and central regions. There were differences in average daily intake and consumption rates of fresh vegetables, meat and poultry and milk of the same sex and age, which were higher in the eastern region than in the central and western regions. (P&lt;0.05). The proportion of coarse grains to cereals was low, between 3.7% and 10.1%. The proportion of pork to meat and poultry was high, between 56.1% and 71.4%. In China, there are differences in daily intake of main food for children aged 6 to 17 years old in urban and rural areas, north and south areas, east, central and west areas.

Photosynthesis: Theory and Experiment

The approach we developed earlier to describe the chains of conjugate enzymatic reactions of the photosynthesis process for the first time made it possible to propose a strict mathematical model of non-rectangular hyperbola, which describes the dependence of the speed of photosynthesis on the intensity of light (I), the concentration of CO2 and the interaction of these two factors. The fundamental parameters of this model are light (IK) and carbon dioxide (CK) substrate constants, as well as hyperbola curvature (), conjugation parameters (rIP and rCP) and maximum photosynthesis rate (Pm). Special straightening coordinates are proposed, in which the entire hyperbole family has the form of a straight line. The main parameters can only be found when constructing experimental data in straightening coordinates. The proposed non-rectangular hyperbola model is applicable both for describing the process of photosynthesis in seaweed and higher plants, and for absorbing vitamin B12 by algae, and the dependence of the rate of food consumption by zooplankton and fish.

Cereal Consumption, Production, and Prices in West Pakistan (Notes &amp; Comments)

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, several Punjab Settlement Officers attempted to estimate food consumption rates. These estimates, based on direct observation and ad hoc guesses, were made partly out of academic curiosity, but more urgently, as an aid in establishing the land revenue (i.e., tax) rates. The pre-1926 estimates are summarized in Table I, expressed in pounds of wheat and other foodgrain consumption per person per year1. Broadly speaking, the later, more systemtic observers (e.g., Sir Ganga Ram and C. B. Barry), found lower consumption levels than the earlier observers. It was generally accepted that the rural populace ate better than urban dwellers. Despite the ingenuity of the early Settlement Officers, their compiled estimates suffer from all the difficulties of haphazard small sample observation. Given the revenue purpose of the estimates, they may be biased towards the able-bodied, economically active, population. Further, the very early estimates may have confused dry weight with cooked weight, including water.

Effects of acute resistance exercise with different loads on appetite, appetite hormones and autonomic nervous system responses in healthy young men

Although the effect of continuous aerobic exercise on the appetite has been widely explored, the influence of resistance exercise (RE) with different variables, including training loads, training volume, and inter-set rest, on appetite responses requires further investigation. This study examined the importance of training load in RE-induced appetite regulation, with the total training volume and inter-set rest equalized. In total, 11 healthy young men (age = 23 ± 2 years, body mass index = 22 ± 2 kg/m2) were included. Participants completed 3 trials, namely moderate-load RE (MOD; 4 sets of 8 repetitions at 85% 8RM), low-load RE (LOW; 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 45% 8RM), and a control (CON; no exercise), in a randomized, crossover design. Subjective appetite ratings; concentrations of ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), and lactate; and the autonomic nervous system activity were evaluated before exercise and 1 h after exercise. The hunger and predicted food consumption ratings, and ghrelin concentrations immediately after exercise were significantly lower in the MOD and LOW trials (p < 0.05 vs. CON). The PYY and lactate concentrations immediately after exercise were significantly higher in the MOD and LOW trials (p < 0.05 vs. CON). Heart rate variability recovery was slower in the MOD trial. These findings suggest that both moderate-load and low-load RE at equal training volumes and inter-set rest induce similar responses on hunger suppression and orexigenic signals, except for the slower recovery of autonomic modulation after moderate-load RE. Our results suggest that when individuals aim to potentiate appetite suppression after a bout of RE, both moderate- and low-load RE could be applied.

A study on water intake and food consumption in animals treated with Thyroxine followed by Bauhinia Purpurea and Withania Somnifera - Original Research

Background: There has been a tremendous range of interest in drugs obtained from medicinal plants that are believed to be safer with significant efficacy in the treatment of thyroid disorders Objective: to observe the water intake and food consumption in animals treated with Thyroxine followed by Bauhinia Purpurea and Withania Somnifera. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 adult female Albino rats of Wistar Strain weighing 150-230 grams were utilized for the present study. The animals were maintained and the protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethical Committee (No.878/ac/05/CPCSEA/23/11) from Raghavendra Institute of Pharmaceutical Education &amp; Research (RIPER), Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. The animals were divided into 5 groups and each group consisted of 6 animals in our study Results: The mean water intake rate was significantly decreased (25.94+0.42) in the rats treated with thyroxine (0.5 mg/kg b.w) followed by Bauhinia purpurea (150mg) and Withania somnifera (1000mg) when compared control group was 29.44+0.27. The food consumption rate was significantly increased in the rats treated with Thyroxine(0.5 mg/kg b.w) 21.33+1.71 when compared to the control group in our study Conclusion: The animals treated with thyroxine alone showed increased food consumption compared with other experimental and control groups, whereas water intake was significantly higher in control animals than other experimental groups.

The different aspects of attractive toxic baits containing fipronil for control of the German cockroach (Blattella germanica).

The use of Attractive Toxic Baits (ATBs) is considered to be a low-risk practical method for controlling cockroaches. This study evaluates the attractiveness of a lab-made, fipronil-containing bait, and its effect on the food consumption and mortality of the German cockroach Blattella germanica, under field and laboratory conditions. Different developmental stages of the cockroach were used to determine their preferred carbohydrate/protein rich foods and examine the effectiveness of lab-made baits. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's Test was determined using SAS 9.1 and GraphPad Prism software programs. The significance level was considered at p<0.05. The most-consumed foods were carbohydrate-rich foods (biscuit and banana powder) and food consumption rate was highest in non-gravid females. The most attractive bait ingredients were 20% roasted peanut butter, 50% biscuit and 30% banana powder. The highest lethality was recorded from the baits containing 0.02% fipronil under laboratory conditions, while infested houses baited with the lab-made bait showed 76.5% and 100% decline, respectively, in cockroach numbers in the first- and fourth-week post-baiting. In conclusion, palatable foods with a pleasant odour, like biscuit powder, banana powder and peanut butter were the most effective ingredients for the ATBs. The ATBs impregnated with 0.02% fipronil provide a promising approach for control of the German cockroach. However, there is a need to evaluate the potentials of the lab-made baits, under laboratory and field conditions, in the control of other health-important cockroaches.

Development and Evaluation of Wild-Derived Rats as Potential Experimental Models for Research

Wild rodents have been used as animal models in experimental studies of cellular aging, cerebral malaria, schistosomiasis, and leishmaniasis. Since they are the reservoirs of these diseases, recent studies have shown that research involving wild rodents is more efficient in giving a mirror image of the disease progression outside the laboratory setting. The study design was an analytic experimental study where observations were made between two groups of animals i.e. the wild-derived and lab-bred rats. The outcome of the intervention was obtained by comparing the two groups. This study sought to determine the usability of wild-derived rats as potential experimental animal models for biomedical research. Wild rats were randomly captured in areas with high transmission of Schistosoma mansoni and Leishmania donovani in Kisumu and Kitui counties, in Kenya and maintained in the animal house at Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi. Breeding was carried out, and the subsequent generations were used to assess schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis disease progression between the wild-derived, and laboratory-bred rats. We further monitored behavior patterns and food consumption rate for 3 months in a total of 6 experimental trials. The results on feed consumption capacity indicated that consumption was significantly higher in laboratory-bred groups (p=0.001) compared to wild-derived rats. Overall, laboratory-bred rats were significantly heavier than wild rats. In the use of rats to assess schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis disease progression, the wild-derived rats were more susceptible to leishmaniasis and may be considered for S. mansoni compared to wild (worms recovered p=0.031). In conclusion, the study indicated that wild rats are potential reservoir hosts for both schistosomiasis and leishmaniasis and have the potential to maintain cycles of infection until after successful chemotherapeutic intervention. Therefore, wild rats may provide natural means for parasites like S. mansoni and L. donovani to re-infect humans in endemic areas.

Evolved reductions in body temperature and the metabolic costs of thermoregulation in deer mice native to high altitude.

The evolution of endothermy was instrumental to the diversification of birds and mammals, but the energetic demands of maintaining high body temperature could offset the advantages of endothermy in some environments. We hypothesized that reductions in body temperature help high-altitude natives overcome the metabolic challenges of cold and hypoxia in their native environment. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) from high-altitude and low-altitude populations were bred in captivity to the second generation and were acclimated as adults to warm normoxia or cold hypoxia. Subcutaneous temperature (Tsub, used as a proxy for body temperature) and cardiovascular function were then measured throughout the diel cycle using biotelemetry. Cold hypoxia increased metabolic demands, as reflected by increased food consumption and heart rate (associated with reduced vagal tone). These increased metabolic demands were offset by plastic reductions in Tsub (approx. 2°C) in response to cold hypoxia, and highlanders had lower Tsub (approx. 1°C) than lowlanders in both environmental treatments. Empirical and theoretical evidence suggested that these reductions could together reduce metabolic demands by approximately 10-30%. Therefore, plastic and evolved reductions in body temperature can help mammals overcome the metabolic challenges at high altitude and may be a valuable energy-saving strategy in some non-hibernating endotherms in extreme environments.

116 The Effects of Dietary Phenylalanine on Gastric Emptying, Macronutrient Metabolism and Feed Intake in Healthy Adult Cats

Abstract Phenylalanine (Phe) consumption may delay gastric emptying (GE) and feed intake. Two studies were conducted using a 2*2 latin square design with 12 healthy male cats to evaluate effects of 1) dietary Phe (PHE, 44mg/kg-BW) compared with an isonitrogenous amount of alanine (ALA, 23.7 mg/kg-BW) on feed intake, and 2) PHE and ALA on GE and GE rate (GER). In study 1, cats were given PHE or ALA 15 minutes before 120% of their daily food and intake was measured. Treatment, day, and their interaction were evaluated using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Treatment did not affect rate of food consumption (p &amp;gt;0.05). For study 2, cats were provided PHE or ALA 15 minutes before receiving 100% of their daily food intake for 3 days. On d4, cats received PHE or ALA and subsequently received [1-13C] octanoic acid (5mg/kg BW) on 10g of feed before being fed 50% of their daily food intake. Breath samples were collected to measure 13CO2 enrichment for 12 hours post-meal using indirect calorimetry. Data from cats that returned to baseline enrichment were evaluated for total AUC (GE) and time to peak enrichment (GER). The effect of treatment, body condition score (lean vs. overweight), and their interaction were evaluated using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS. Cats receiving PHE had later peaks (445±71 min) in 13CO2 enrichment (p&amp;lt; 0.05) than cats receiving ALA (244±71 min) but had similar total GE (p &amp;gt;0.10). Obese cats tended (P=0.09) to have greater total GE than lean cats, regardless of treatment. Lean cats on PHE had slower (p&amp;lt; 0.05) emptying rates than lean cats on ALA, but both were similar to obese cats (p &amp;gt;0.05). Overall, Phe did not reduce feed intake or total GE but did delay GE and thus reduced GER. A longer study is warranted to understand whether PHE can control food intake in cats.

Seasonal fluctuation in the length-weight relationship of groupers in the Goto Islands, Japan

The length-weight relationships (LWRs) of 13 commercially important grouper species inhabiting the Goto Islands in southwestern Japan were established. The samples were collected between June 2007 and December 2013. We determined the monthly LWRs for the seven abundant species to determine whether these LWRs changed seasonally. Generalized additive models demonstrated significant differences in body weight compared to total length for all seven species during the year. Smoothing splines indicated that four species of groupers (Epinephelus awoara, E. fasciatus, E. areolatus, and Plectropomus leopardus) gained weight relative to the total length in a few months of spring to summer (April–September), corresponding to the spawning period of each species. Therefore, this increase was presumably due to the energy stored in the body for upcoming spawning events, followed by gonadal development for spawning. E. akaara decreased its weight relative to its length in September, indicating that it may exhaust energy during the spawning season and then reduce its weight. The remaining two species (E. bruneus and Hyporthodus septemfasciatus) gained weight from December to March and in October, respectively, which did not coincide with their spawning period. The increment of body weight in October for H. septemfasciatus may indicate that they stored energy in preparation for the upcoming winter because lower temperatures in winter decrease the food consumption rate. E. bruneus might be able to acquire sufficient energy during December–March despite a lower food consumption rate, possibly because of the abundance of prey inhabiting the Goto Islands.