Food Resources Research Articles

Differing Within-Household Food Security Statuses Are Associated with Varied Maternal Mental Health Outcomes.

Household food insecurity is not necessarily equally experienced by all household members, with mothers often changing their intake first when food resources are limited. The purpose of this study was to understand the association between maternal mental health and intrahousehold differences in food security statuses. A cross-sectional survey was administered to Virginia mothers with low income (August-October 2021), assessing validated measures of food security, mental and physical health and related factors. Participants (n = 570) were grouped according to the food security status of adults and children within the household. Linear regression was used to assess the outcomes of interest by group and controlled for key demographic variables. Mothers in households with any food insecurity reported worse overall mental health and used 3-4 more food coping strategies than households experiencing food security (p < 0.05). Only mothers in households where adults experienced food insecurity reported significantly greater anxiety and depressive symptoms (61.5 and 58.1, respectively) compared to households experiencing food security (55.7 and 52.4, p < 0.001). While any experience of household food insecurity is associated with worse maternal mental health, there were differences by the within-household food security status. Future research should explore screening measures that capture specific household members' food security to connect households with available resources.

Growth Patterns, Status of Well-Being and Trend Analysis of Three Commercially Important Clupeid Species from Selangor Landing Port

Length-weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factors are vital to quickly understanding the fitness and well-being of fish. There is currently no available evidence on LWRs, condition factors and landing trend for these three species and an absence of this information will result in improper management and monitoring of fish species. In this study, the growth patterns, status of well-being and trend analysis of commercially important clupeid species from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia were studied. Sardinella lemuru, Amblygaster sirm and Nematalosa japonica were selected due to high commercial value and conservation status. S. lemuru was specifically categorized as near threatened by the IUCN with decreasing global populations. Total length (cm) and body weight (g) of S. lemuru, A. sirm and N. japonica were accounted for in this study, which was obtained from the wet market in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The relationships between length and, weight and, condition factors (Fulton’s, KF; relative condition factor, Kn; Allometric) were assessed. The allometric equation; W = aLb was used to evaluate the length-weight relationships while KF = 100W/Lb and Kn = W/aLb were used to estimate fish condition factor. ARIMA (1,1,1) and ARIMA (0,1,0) models were utilised to forecast the fish landing pattern until 2030. The results showed that the coefficient of determination R2 values varied between 0.263 (Sardinella lemuru), 0.5187 (Amblygaster sirm) and 0.8443 (Nematalosa japonica) and b values ranged from 0.0959 to 2.1005. From this, all three fish species have shown a negative allometric growth pattern b&lt;3, reflecting a relatively slow growth rate and size of fish. No positive allometry was detected for any of the sampled fish species. A low value of relative condition factor (Kn &lt; 1) suggests that all the fish species in this study have poor physical characteristics due to inadequate food resources, and unsuitable habitats for expansion of the fish population. Prediction based on Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model showed that N. japonica would increase gradually in the coming years, while S. lemuru would remain constant. This study contributes to the knowledge base for S. lemuru, A. sirm and N. japonica in the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and is crucial in terms of understanding the ecology of the habitat for supporting conservation strategies, and the restoration and management of these species in future.

Pottery spilled the beans: Patterns in the processing and consumption of dietary lipids in Central Germany from the Early Neolithic to the Bronze Age.

The need to better understand economic change and the social uses of long-ago established pottery types to prepare and consume food has led to the study of 124 distinct ceramic vessels from 17 settlement and funerary sites in Central Germany (present day Saxony-Anhalt). These, dated from the Early Neolithic (from 5450 cal. BCE onwards) to the Late Bronze Age (1300-750 cal. BCE; youngest sample ca. 1000 BCE), include vessels from the Linear Pottery (LBK), Schiepzig/Schöningen groups (SCHIP), Baalberge (BAC), Corded Ware (CWC), Bell Beaker (BBC), and Únětice (UC) archaeological cultures. Organic residue analyses performed on this assemblage determined the presence of vessel contents surviving as lipid residues in 109 cases. These were studied in relation to the changing use of settlement and funerary pottery types and, in the case of burials, to the funerary contexts in which the vessels had been placed. The obtained results confirmed a marked increase in the consumption of dairy products linked to innovations in pottery types (e.g., small cups) during the Funnel Beaker related Baalberge Culture of the 4th millennium BCE. Although the intensive use of dairy products may have continued into the 3rd millennium BCE, especially amongst Bell Beaker populations, Corded Ware vessels found in funerary contexts suggest an increase in the importance of non-ruminant products, which may be linked to the production of specific vessel shapes and decoration. In the Early Bronze Age circum-Harz Únětice group (ca. 2200-1550 BCE), which saw the emergence of a highly hierarchical society, a greater variety of animal and plant derived products was detected in a much more standardised but, surprisingly, more multifunctional pottery assemblage. This long-term study of lipid residues from a concise region in Central Europe thus reveals the complex relationships that prehistoric populations established between food resources and the main means to prepare, store, and consume them.

Addressing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in the context of climate change: The case of Bagré dam in Burkina Faso

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus concept highlights the interdependencies between water, energy, and food resources. Assessing these interdependencies can lead to a better understanding and their exploitation to improve people's access to water, energy, and food. This study aims to highlight the links between the water resource and the current and future water requirements for agricultural and hydropower production in the context of climate change. The bagré dam which is a multi-usage reservoir located in Burkina Faso is considered as the case study. This dam is used for agricultural production, livestock, and hydroelectricity production. To achieve this objective, the surface water resources of the study area and the different water uses have been first estimaded. Then, a model has been developed and implemented using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) tool, with the reference year 2020. Finally, the developed model was used to study four relevant plausible scenarios in the Bagré area up to 2050, namely: (1) expansion of irrigated schemes, (2) the drinking water needs of a neighbouring town, (3) climate change effects on the dam's water capacity, and (4) combinaison of the three other scenarios. The results show that all the water requirements for different uses are fully met for all the scenario except the combined scenario by 2050. For this last scenario, the unmet water demands reach up to 100 % specially during dry season. So, to improve the coverage rate of water demands for the combined scenario, it is crucial to explore other alternatives such as the use of groundwater and the implementation of best practices in agronomic management.

Modeling Climate Change Scenarios for Spring Barley in Southeast of Almaty in Kazakhstan Using the LINTUL Approach

Barley stands as a cornerstone in agricultural landscape of Kazakhstan, weaving through diverse climate zones, and annually gracing over 1.5 million hectares. The intricate interplay between climate and food systems necessitates thorough analysis and strategic measures to food safety and nutritional security, as the evolving climate significantly influences both the quantity and quality of our food resources. This study aims to employ the LINTUL-MULTICROP Model to assess how spring barley adapts to both today’s climatic conditions and potential climate change scenarios to elevated levels of carbon dioxide and temperature under the specific conditions of southeast of Almaty. Three different global climate change models were studied (GCMs); i) GFDL-ESM2M, ii) HadGEM2-AO, and iii) MPI-ESM-MR for historical period (1986-2005) under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 during the periods of i) 2040-2059 years scenarios, ii) 2060-2079 years scenarios, and iii) 2080-2099 years scenarios. Overall, the HADGEMAO and MPIESMMR models exhibited promising results in simulating yield, projecting an increase in spring barley yield for both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios in GFDL-ESM2M model case also demonstrated stable increase in rainfed conditions. In conclusion, it should be noted that in the conditions of Kazakhstan, the cultivation of spring barley tends to change to growth in the southeast of Almaty.

Short rotation willow to restore degraded marginal land and enhance climate resiliency within the Prairie Pothole Region: A potential nature-based solution

Short rotation willow (SRW) is a land management strategy involving the cultivation of rapidly growing, biomass-rich herbaceous-woody plants. This practice holds promise for renewable energy production, water quality preservation, carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, enhancement of soil extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs), and promotion of overall soil health. The rapid growth of SRW demands substantial water and nutrient resources, posing concerns when cultivated in marginal riparian lands within the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), potentially leading to alterations in groundwater table (GWT) depth fluctuations, elevated soil salinity levels, and disruptions to biogeochemical cycles. Hence, this study comprehensively evaluated the effects of establishing SRW as a degraded marginal riparian land use practice in the PPR and attempted to answer several vital questions in the field and microcosm scale on soil hydrology, salinity, nutrients, soil organic carbon (SOC), GHG emissions, and EEAs involved in biogeochemical cycling. In a field experiment, the effects of SRW were evaluated by measuring the depth to GWT, groundwater and soil electrical conductivity (EC), macronutrients (N, P, K, and S), and SOC content in different fractions and chemical compositions during the first rotation (3-year cycle) compared with adjacent annual crop and pasture in two semi-arid PPR sites. In a microcosm experiment, GHG (CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions and EEAs [β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetyl glucosaminidase (NAG), and alkaline phosphatase (AP)] were measured in intact soil cores treated with declining water tables and different groundwater salinity levels. No consistent land use impacts on GWT or soil EC were observed between sites. Land use in site B significantly impacted GWT depth, implying site-specific factors, such as topography and soil characteristics, may be dominant over land use effects. Under SRW, the levels of macronutrients in the soil varied but did not significantly reduce the overall nutrient content of the soil. Total SOC was highest in pasture; light fraction organic carbon and particulate organic carbon followed a similar land use pattern, i.e., pasture > SRW = annual crop. Land uses affected GHG emissions significantly in the order of pasture > annual crop = SRW. GHG emission varied with salinity and GWT but there was no interaction with land use practices. Soil EEAs were significantly impacted by different land uses, i.e., pasture > annual crop = SRW, suggesting that the effects resulted from associated SOC. Our microcosm experiment suggests that the SRW land use practice holds promise as a sustainable Nature-Based Solution for enhancing climate resiliency in PPR. It exhibits a lower global warming potential compared to annual crop and pasture. Therefore, widespread implementation of the SRW land use practice in degraded marginal land could help mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.

Organic Agriculture in Turkey and the World

Organic agriculture is an alternative production system that supports soil structure, fertility and conservation by protecting the ecological balance, using biological control methods against diseases and pests; based on the sustainability of living life, aiming for the highest yield with the maximum use of natural energy resources. In this context, it covers a different production process from conventional agriculture. While intensive input applications in conventional agriculture aim for the highest yield, organic agriculture prioritizes sustainability. Sustainable agriculture is defined as an agricultural practice that protects soil, water and biodiversity while meeting food, energy and natural resource needs. To ensure that organic agriculture contributes to sustainability goals, organic regulations need to focus more on environmental and best practices. Increasing demands day by day have positively affected the sustainability of organic agriculture. The common feature of most of the definitions of organic agriculture is that the products should be produced in accordance with the basic standards and that every stage from the land to the table is regularly controlled. The fact that every stage of organic agriculture is audited and documented, and that the practices operate in accordance with legal procedures are other noteworthy elements. These legal procedures provide protection at many points. Organic agriculture is not only limited to safe food production to protect human health; it is also an agricultural and ecosystem management that is environmentally friendly, effective in reducing ecological pollution, protection of water resources, prevention of erosion, protection of biodiversity, agricultural sustainability and agricultural development.

Spawning fish maintains trophic synchrony across time and space beyond thermal drivers.

Increasing ocean temperature will speed up physiological rates of ectotherms. In fish, this is suggested to cause earlier spawning due to faster oocyte growth rates. Over time, this could cause spawning time to become decoupled from the timing of offspring food resources, a phenomenon referred to as trophic asynchrony. We used biological data, including body length, age, and gonad developmental stages collected from >125,000 individual Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) sampled between 59 and 73° N in 1980-2019. Combined with experimental data on oocyte growth rates, our analyses show that cod spawned progressively earlier by about a week per decade, partly due to ocean warming. It also appears that spawning time varied by more than 40 days, depending on year and spawning location. The significant plasticity in spawning time seems to be fine-tuned to the local phytoplankton spring bloom phenology. This ability to partly overcome thermal drivers and thus modulate spawning time could allow individuals to maximize fitness by closely tracking local environmental conditions important for offspring survival. Our finding highlights a new dimension for trophic match-mismatch and should be an important consideration in models used to predict phenology dynamics in a warmer climate.

Composition of Large Prey Species of Irrawaddy Dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Mekong River: Implications for Conservation of the Prey Resources

Information on the feeding habits of the critically endangered Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris) in the Mekong River and how their diet overlaps with that of the species targeted by fisheries is limited. The information provided herein will be helpful for evaluating and protecting important dolphin food resources. The composition of large prey species of Irrawaddy dolphins and the extent of fish resources were surveyed in the Mekong River, Cambodia, using local ecological knowledge. The results showed that Irrawaddy dolphins fed on 13 species of large fish, with Pangasius conchophilus, Cyclocheilichthys enoplos, and Hemibagrus wyckii the most frequently consumed prey. Twelve of the 13 reported prey species were usually caught by fishers. The results also revealed that the average weight of fish caught daily by fishers was significantly lower in 2019 than about five years before that, regardless of the season. A significant decline in fish resources and a high overlap of dolphin diets with fishery target species indicate that Irrawaddy dolphins may also be threatened by prey depletion, especially during the dry season when dolphins are concentrated in deep pools.

Carbon nanotubes: a novel innovation as food supplements and biosensing for food safety.

Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as an extensively growing field. Several important fabricated products including Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are of great importance and hold significance in several industrial sectors, mainly food industry. Recent developments have come up with methodologies for the prevention of health complications like lack of adequate nutrition in our diet. This review delves deeper into the details of the food supplementation techniques and how CNTs function in this regard. This review includes the challenges in using CNTs for food applications and their future prospects in the industry. Food shortage has become a global issue and limiting food resources put an additional burden on the farmers for growing crops. Apart from quantity, quality should also be taken into consideration and new ways should be developed for increasing nutritional value of food items. Food supplementation has several complications due to the biologically active compounds and reaction in the in vivo environment, CNTs can play a crucial role in countering this problem through the supplementation of food by various processes including; nanoencapsulation and nanobiofortification thus stimulating crop growth and seed germination rates. CNTs also hold a key position in biosensing and diagnostic application for either the quality control of the food supplements or the detection of contagions like toxins, chemicals, dyes, pesticides, pathogens, additives, and preservatives. Detection such pathogens can help in attaining global food security goal and better production and provision of food resources. The data used in the current review was collected up to date as of March 31, 2024 and contains the best of our knowledge. Data collection was performed from various reliable and authentic literatures comprising PubMed database, Springer Link, Scopus, Wiley Online, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Research related to commercially available CNTs has been added for the readers seeking additional information on the use of CNTs in various economic sectors.

PGRFA Management of Outcrossing Plants Propagated by Seed: From On-Farm to Ex Situ Conservation and Some Italian Maize Case Studies

In this review, the main issues related to the conservation and valorization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) will be primarily addressed. The conservation of PGRFA concerning outcrossing plants poses a significant challenge. For this reason, this review will cover the key challenges related to all stages, starting from in situ sampling, collection in the germplasm bank, and conservative reproductive methods. Integrated approaches involving the combined use of classical and molecular techniques will be described for the characterization of accessions. Within this framework, some successful Italian case studies focused on maize will be reported as well.

Cozy den or winter walk: the effects of climate and supplementary feeding on brown bear winter behavior

AbstractHibernation is a key adaptation for coping with unfavorable climatic conditions and low food availability in areas with severe winter conditions. While understanding the physiology and phenology of this adaptation has received considerable attention, comparatively little information is available on how hibernation will be affected by changing climate conditions. We used GPS telemetry data from 20 free‐ranging brown bears monitored over 31 winters between 2007 and 2022, to identify behavioral strategies of bears during winter. We applied behavioral change point analysis to quantify brown bears’ hibernation phenology in a population close to the bear's southern latitudinal range limit in Europe where supplementary food is available to bears year‐round. We observed winter behavior patterns that varied across age and reproductive classes but also within individuals between winters. Among 31 winter events, we registered six cases in which bears exhibited a single hibernation/stationary period and 19 events where hibernation was split into up to five stationary periods. Moreover, six winter events did not show behaviors consistent with hibernation and individuals remained partly or completely active throughout winter. The movement of these active bears decreased with increasing snow depth. In addition, these winter‐active bears showed higher fidelity to supplementary feeding sites during the winter period compared to the rest of the year. Our data suggest that an abundance of human‐provided food resources during winter may facilitate the emergence of different wintering strategies in brown bears. Furthermore, supplemental feeding sites in combination with predicted mild winters and prolonged natural food availability suggest that the use of hibernation as an energy‐saving strategy to overcome severe environmental conditions may decrease in the future.

Addressing food insecurity in rural primary care: a mixed-methods evaluation of barriers and facilitators

BackgroundFood insecurity (FI) is associated with negative health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. Rural populations face increased rates of FI and encounter additional barriers to achieving food security. We sought to identify barriers and facilitators to screening and interventions for FI in rural primary care practices.MethodsWe conducted a mixed-methods study using surveys and semi-structured interviews of providers and staff members from rural primary care practices in northern New England. Survey data were analyzed descriptively, and thematic analysis was used to identify salient interview themes.ResultsParticipants from 24 rural practices completed the survey, and 13 subsequently completed an interview. Most survey respondents (54%) reported their practices systematically screen for FI and 71% reported food needs were “very important” for their patients and communities. Time and resource constraints were the most frequently cited barriers to screening for and addressing FI in practices based on survey results. Interview themes were categorized by screening and intervention procedures, community factors, patient factors, external factors, practice factors, process and implementation factors, and impact of FI screening and interventions. Time and resource constraints were a major theme in interviews, and factors attributed to rural practice settings included geographically large service areas, stigma from loss of privacy in small communities, and availability of food resources through farming.ConclusionsRural primary care practices placed a high value on addressing food needs but faced a variety of barriers to implementing and sustaining FI screening and interventions. Strategies that utilize practice strengths and address time and resource constraints, stigma, and large service areas could promote the adoption of novel interventions to address FI.

Codesigning Online Continuing Medical Education on Social Health Integration and Social Risk-Informed Care for Primary Care Providers.

Adapting clinical care decisions for patient-reported social risks is essential to social health integration and patient-centered care. Most research in this area focuses on awareness and assistance (social-needs-targeted care), such as screening and referral to food, financial, and other resources. Limited evidence for adjustment strategies (social risk-informed care) or adapting care for social risks made it difficult for Kaiser Permanente to implement new initiatives. This article describes a codesign process to build a novel, adjustment-focused continuing medical education course. The authors codeveloped the online continuing medical education course with patients and clinicians using user-centered design. Transcripts from codesign activities were coded and analyzed by thematic analysis to identify major themes, including perceptions of social risk-informed care and barriers to care adjustment. Practical hurdles for implementing social risk-informed care emerged, including clinicians' concerns about the ethics of adjustment as substandard care, particularly without robust assistance activities. However, patients expressed a desire for their care to be adapted to their social circumstances, to allow for more realistic care plans. Implementation barriers identified from the codesign were addressed through an interactive, case-study approach. Existing evidence on contextualized care and shared decision making informed a general framework for primary care providers to engage in awareness and adjustment activities, paired with 3 interactive case studies based on real-world, clinician-supplied scenarios. The authors recommend that multiple stakeholder perspectives be incorporated during the development of social health integration initiatives, particularly adjustment. Education complemented by active, nuanced, flexible implementation strategies may be necessary for the successful uptake of care-delivery-based social health integration activities.

Insights into Impact: Evaluating an Adult Leadership Program Offered through Michigan State University Extension

Agriculture, food, and natural resource (AFNR) systems need leaders to catalyze positive change. Thus, Extension professionals have consistently developed innovative and impactful leadership programming. In the current study, the alumni of one such program in Michigan were surveyed to evaluate the sustained impact of the program. Program alumni rated themselves highest in Empowerment and Perspective Development and perceived the strongest programmatic impact in Empowerment and Emotional Resilience. These data were further analyzed to create a “Leadership Impact Factor,” which illuminates the impact of a program using a single number. Recommendations are made for Extension professionals facilitating similar leadership education programming.

Informing conservation management of the bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the Pilbara: a review of research and future directions

For threatened species that occur across multi-use landscapes, a coordinated cross-tenure management approach is desirable to achieve long-term conservation outcomes. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the progress towards achieving conservation priorities for the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA), and inform ongoing research and funding investment, we review a research program that has focused on the species over the past decade. Priorities were initially established at a stakeholder workshop in 2013, and research targeting key areas has greatly enhanced ecological knowledge of the bilby in the Pilbara and elsewhere in WA. Highlights include the development of a non-invasive scat DNA-based abundance monitoring technique, an improved understanding of habitat use and diet, including the importance of Acacia spp. that host root-dwelling larvae, and the threat posed by introduced predators. Proposed future research directions focus on better understanding habitat requirements and the association between key food resources and fire, evaluating genetic structure and gene flow at the landscape-scale and examining threat interactions. Management to mitigate a range of threats including introduced predators, grazing livestock/feral herbivores and fire is recommended, with consideration for an integrated approach.

Coexisting in the Surf Zone: Age and Feeding Habits of the Spotted Seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) and European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) on the Gulf of Cádiz Beaches (Southwest Iberian Peninsula)

Various commercial fish species utilize different coastal habitats as nurseries in their juvenile stages, with surf zones being particularly crucial due to the protection and abundant food resources they offer. Among the species that rely on these areas are the spotted seabass (Dicentrarchus punctatus) and the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). This study aimed to investigate the age and feeding habits of surf zone specimens of these species and explore their environmental adaptations. The average size for D. punctatus was 16.94 ± 4.05 cm, and for D. labrax, it was 23.23 ± 6.30 cm. The length–weight relationship for D. punctatus was TW = 0.013*TL2.885 (parameter a: 95% CI: 0.012–0.014; parameter b: 95% CI: 2.854–2.917), and for D. labrax, it was TW = 0.008*TL3.095 (parameter a: 95% CI: 0.006–0.009; parameter b: 95% CI: 3.040–3.151). In both D. punctatus (79.20%) and D. labrax (75.92%), the predominant age classes were 1+ and 2+. Significant variations in age class abundance were observed in D. punctatus based on the time of day, lunar phase, and season, while D. labrax showed variations only by season. A diet analysis revealed that both species primarily consume mysids and fish, with D. punctatus showing dietary variations related to the time of day, lunar phase, and season, and D. labrax showing variations with the time of day and season.

Effect of The Ratio of Purple Sweet Potato Flour and Rice Crust Flour on The Physical, Chemical, and Sensory Properties of High-Fiber Snack Bar

Dietary fiber, an indigestible component of plants, offers significant health benefits for humans. Creating a high-fiber snack bar can be a substitute for meeting daily requirements for dietary fiber. This research aimed to create snack bar products utilizing locally sourced ingredients, specifically rice crust flour and purple sweet potato flour, with the goal of optimizing the utilization of local food resources and enhancing the diversity of Indonesian cuisine. This study aimed to investigate how the proportion of purple sweet potato flour and rice crust flour influenced the chemical, physical, and sensory characteristics of the high-fiber snack bars that were created. The proportions of purple sweet potato flour to rice crust flour differed across the four snack bar formulas: FI (100%:0%), F2 (90%:10%), F3 (80%:20%), and F4 (70%:30%). The effectiveness index method was employed to determine the optimal formulation for the snack bar. The results indicated that lowering the proportion of purple sweet potato flour would enhance the firmness and color of the snack bar. The dietary fiber content (%db) of each formula was as follows: F1 (18.92 ± 1.43%), F2 (18.33 ± 0.79%), F3 (18.56 ± 2.73%), and F4 (19.48 ± 0.40%). The sensory test results showed a direct correlation between the panelists' preference level and the decrease in the proportion of purple sweet potato flour. Formula F4, consisting of a 70% proportion of purple sweet potato flour and a 30% proportion of rice crust flour, is the optimal formula for creating a snack bar.

Differential consumption pattern of traditional and packed food among rural children

The food consumption pattern of an individual reflects their food choices rather than nutrient intake in their diet. These patterns are strongly related to the health outcomes of the individuals. Home-cooked traditional food items are rapidly replaced by packed food items. As children being the future of any nation, thus their health is very important Therefore, improving the nutrition of these children would help to reduce health risks by promoting healthy food consumption. Present study was carried out during 2021–23 to understand the differential consumption pattern of traditional and packed food items among children in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The data pertaining to study were collected using food frequency questionnaire with 2–5 years and 6–14 years old children. The key results indicated that packed food item consumption was dominant among 2–5-year-old children in their diets in NSV (Nutri-SMART villages), and non-NSV as explained maximum variation. However, among 6–14 years old children traditional and packed food items consumption was dominant in NSV, while packed food items were dominant in non-NSV as explained by maximum variation. There is a need to design local food resources based strategies to make aware the children about healthy food items and encourage them to consume by targeting access and availability of such foods.

Female black bear home range and resource selection in relation to West Virginia mine lands

AbstractWildlife space use is a key component to consider when determining effective conservation and management practices. Home range size and resource selection can vary temporally and spatially depending on mortality risks in the area and access to food resources. Lands used for coal mining can contain unique mortality risks and food resources for American black bears (Ursus americanus) relative to surrounding landscapes due to hunting restrictions, vegetation planted as part of the reclamation process, and other anthropogenic food resources. We examined the influence of mining sites on resource selection of female black bears in southern West Virginia, USA, during 2007 and 2008. We estimated home range size with Brownian Bridge movement models and evaluated variation in home range size with mixed‐effects linear regression. We evaluated resource selection with mixed‐effects Poisson point process models. On mine sites, the mean 95% home range for female black bears was 1,996 ha (SD = 2,633) in the autumn and 544 ha (SD = 238) in the spring, and on non‐mine sites the mean 95% home range was 1,926 ha (SD = 1,292) in the autumn and 771 ha (SD = 480) in the spring. Our resource selection model indicated black bears used nonhunting zones associated with mine lands much greater than their availability, and that black bears in mine areas disproportionately used areas in close proximity to anthropogenic structures. Interannual variation in home range size was likely associated with mast conditions, because smaller home ranges were associated with high mast production. Our data suggest black bears may be using non‐hunting zones within mine lands as refugia from hunting and are using anthropogenic food sources available at refuse sites on mine lands, which may increase regional black bear populations in areas with high mining activity.