Low Food Research Articles

The Status of Food and Nutrition Literacy and its determinants among Elementary School students in Egypt: community nursing-led design

AimTo assess food and nutrition literacy status and its determinants among elementary school students in El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt.BackgroundDeveloping strategies to enhance food and nutrition literacy necessitates a deeper understanding of the food and nutrition literacy situation among elementary school students and associated factors.DesignA cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted.MethodsA final sample of 400 primary school students (aged 6–12 years) at Itay El Barud public elementary schools in El-Beheira Governorate were administered (1) a socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements questionnaire developed by the researchers, and (2) the Food and Nutrition Literacy Scale. The derived data were analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric tests.ResultsThe majority (61%) of students had low food and nutrition literacy scores. The results have shown that overall socio-demographic variables were significant in predicting understanding food and nutrition information, nutritional health knowledge, interactive functional and nutritional literacy, critical food and nutritional literacy, and food labeling.ConclusionThe study reveals that elementary school students in Egypt have poor knowledge and skills in food and nutrition literacy, largely due to a lack of nutrition education and family awareness. Factors like residential location, income, and education level also contribute to this disparity.Implications for the professionTo improve nutrition literacy among students, a nursing approach involving community stakeholders and school nurses is recommended. This includes integrating nutrition-related topics into the school curriculum, organizing workshops, and conducting age-appropriate health education sessions. Active engagement between community health and school nurses is crucial for raising awareness about healthy nutritional choices.ImpactThese findings hold an important impact on the education system and those designing curricula, emphasizing the need for significant incorporation of knowledge and skills related to food and nutrition within schools.Reporting methodCompliance with the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies was maintained throughout the research.Patient or public contributionNo Patient or Public Contribution.

Abundance, diet and food availability of Citreoline Trogon (Trogon citreolus) in a regenerating tropical dry forest in the Central Pacific, Mexico

Trogonidae make up a family of birds with a mixed diet composed of fruit and animal matter. However, there is little research examining the foraging ecology of Trogon citreolus in regenerating tropical forest. We studied T. citreolus abundance and diet from November 2020 to April 2022 in a regenerating dry tropical forest of Central Pacific Mexico. Also, we investigate the relationship between food availability and trogon abundance. The relative trogon abundance was 2.6 ± 2.3 individuals per point count, which varied temporally. The species consumed the fruits of 14 plant species from 10 families. The three most consumed species were Ficus cotinifolia, Comocladia engleriana, and Randia gentlei. Trogon citreolus displayed a moderate niche breadth (Best = 0. 420) whit low food diet diversity (H’ = 0.94), and the dominance of a particular type of food (λ = 0.85). Our results demonstrated a positive correlation between trogon abundance and food resource availability. The dietary breadth of T. citreolus enable the species to adapt to fluctuations in fruit availability in regenerating forests. These findings highlight the ecological importance of forest regeneration in providing food resources for T. citreolus and other frugivorous birds.

Overall and race-specific associations between state-level minimum wage policy and food insecurity in the United States

BackgroundIn the USA, states can set higher minimum wages than the federal government. We investigated the association between state minimum wages and racial/ethnic inequities in food insecurity.MethodsHousehold-level food insecurity and...

Food insecurity and other barriers to adherence to a gluten-free diet in individuals with coeliac disease and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity in the Netherlands: a mixed-methods study

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of food insecurity among individuals with coeliac disease (CeD) and non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) in the Netherlands and explore its association with diet quality and other...

Effects of recrystallization degree on structure and digestibility of debranched starch

This study developed a novel method for the facile, green and efficient fabrication of highly crystalline and heat-resistant starch via recrystallization with high concentrations of debranched starch (DBS), which greatly reduced the complexity and period compared to conventional preparation methods. The structural, thermal, and digestive properties of recrystallized DBS obtained from different concentrations (0–50 %) have been systematically investigated. For instance, the peak melting temperature of recrystallized DBS increased from around 77.8 °C to 114.7 °C with increasing DBS concentration. Moreover, the crystallinity of the recrystallized DBS increased from around 23.5 % to 73.6 % when the DBS concentration was raised. In addition, the resistant starch content of the recrystallized DBS increased from around 30.8 % to 72.1 % as the DBS concentration increased. These results show that the DBS concentration in water during recrystallization plays a critical role in determining the molecular, physicochemical, and digestion properties of DBS, which may be an economical and effective method for large-scale production of highly crystalline starch and provides a new method for preparing heat-resistant type-3 resistant starch, which can be used in low glycemic index foods designed to prevent diabetes and obesity.

Engineered ε-Polylysine hydrochloride aerogel with tailored hierarchical structure and affinity sites for efficient iodide removal from concentrated algae juice

Algae are rich in nutrients and have great benefits for the human body. However, its enriched iodine can be harmful to the human body if consumed in large quantities. Due to the fact that iodide (I−) is the main form of existence in algae, herein, a new type of ε-Polylysine hydrochloride aerogel with tailored hierarchical structure and multitudinous amino active sites was successfully synthesized by a simple one-pot method to adsorb I− in aqueous solution firstly. When the adsorbent dosage was 1.0 g/L, between pH 3 and pH 9, the adsorption capacity of I− by the adsorbent basically exceeded 90 %. The adsorbent exhibited excellent adsorption capacity for I−, reaching 1.5684 ± 0.0559 mmol/g. In addition, I− was removed by the adsorption method in concentrated algae juice for the first time, along with 36.27 ± 0.01 % adsorption rate, further indicating that the safety adsorbent had practical significance in developing low iodine foods.

Differential impact of financial hardship on food security between lesbian, gay, and bisexual and heterosexual cancer survivors in the United States.

137 Background: Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) cancer survivors experience more food insecurity as well as financial hardship than heterosexual cancer survivors. However, how financial hardship impacts food security differently between LGB and heterosexual survivors has not been explored. Methods: National Health Interview Survey data from 2019-2022 were pooled and weighted. Outcomes included a food insecurity measure (food secure, low food security, very low food security) and the manifestations of food insecurity (e.g., cutting size of meals, losing weight due to lack of food). Financial hardship was captured as a binary measure, dichotomized from an 11-item scale which included ability to pay medical bills, worry about paying bills, and delayed or foregone care due to costs. Bivariate analyses were conducted using Chi-Squared tests. Multinomial logistic regression models with an interaction between LGB status and financial hardship status were used to generate relative risk ratios controlling for age, time since last cancer diagnosis, sex, race, region, and year. Results: Of N=13,131 cancer survivors, 2.8% (n=374) identified as LGB. Low/very low food security was reported by 15.6% of LGB survivors in comparison to 6.1% of heterosexual survivors (p<0.001). When stratified by financial hardship, LGB survivors were more likely to report food insecurity in the presence of (22.3% vs. 11.2%, p<0.001) and absence of (6.8% vs. 2.2%, P<0.001) financial hardship. LGB survivors with very low food security often reported cutting the size/cutting meals (93.4%), eating less than they should (94.7%), and being hungry because they could not afford food (80.7%). In the multinomial model, LGB survivors with financial hardship had 5.6 (95%CI:2.9-10.7) times the relative risk of low food security, while heterosexual survivors with financial hardship had 3.9 the relative risk of low food security (95%CI: 2.9-5.2) in comparison to heterosexual survivors with no financial hardship. Furthermore, LGB survivors with financial hardship had 11.8 (95%CI:6.2-22.5) the relative risk of very low food security, LGB survivors with no financial hardship had 6.4 (95%CI: 2.0-20.2) the relative risk of very low food security, and heterosexual survivors with financial hardship had 5.3 the relative risk of low food security (95%CI: 3.6-7.7) in comparison to heterosexual survivors with no financial hardship. Conclusions: Experiencing financial hardship was associated with an increased risk of food insecurity among LGB and heterosexual cancer survivors. However, LGB survivors were more likely to experience food insecurity than heterosexual survivors even when controlling for financial hardship.

Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) alter activity and spatial cohesion across a continuous forest and forest fragment in Costa Rica.

Habitat loss due to deforestation is a primary threat to global biodiversity. Clearing tropical rainforests for agriculture or development leads to forest fragmentation. Forest fragments contain fewer large trees and provide lower food availability for primates compared to continuous forests. Mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) inhabit fragmented rainforests and may need to alter their activity budgets and spatial cohesion to mitigate competition and conserve energy in fragments where food quality is lower. We compared howler monkey activity and spatial cohesion across a small forest fragment (La Suerte Biological Research Station, LSBRS) and a large, continuous forest (La Selva Research Station) in Costa Rica. We predicted that monkeys at LSBRS would rest more, feed more, travel less, and be less spatially cohesive compared to La Selva to contend with fewer resources in the small fragment. Using instantaneous scan sampling at 2-min intervals during 30-min focal samples, we recorded activity and the number of individuals within 5m of the focal animal. We collected 1505h of data from 2017-2024. Monkey activity and spatial cohesion differed significantly across sites. As predicted, monkeys at LSBRS spent more time feeding than at La Selva, but contrary to our predictions, they rested less and traveled more. The mean number of individuals within 5m was significantly lower at LSBRS compared to La Selva. The ability to modify their activity and spatial cohesion in response to fragmentation provides insight into how primates can contend with fewer resources and higher competition in changing ecosystems worldwide.

Biofortification: Future Challenges for a Newly Emerging Technology to Improve Nutrition Security Sustainably

Biofortification was coined as a term to define a plant breeding strategy to increase the micronutrient content of staple food crops to reduce the burden of micronutrient deficiencies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In 2003, the HarvestPlus program, based in the centers comprising the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), was initiated to implement the biofortification strategy. This paper discusses what has been achieved, what has been learned, and the key challenges to embed biofortification in food systems and to expand its impact.Cost-effectiveness is key to the biofortification strategy. Biofortification piggybacks on the agronomically-superior varieties being developed at agricultural research centers. Central plant breeding research discoveries can be spread globally. Farmers have every motivation to adopt the latest high-yielding, high profit crops. High productivity leads to lower food prices. As a consequence, consumers can increase their mineral and vitamin intakes at no additional cost by substituting biofortified staple foods one-for-one for non-biofortified staple foods. After twenty years of investment, biofortified staple food crops are being produced by farmers in over 40 countries and are eaten by hundreds of millions of people. Published nutrition trials have shown nutrient-rich crops to be efficacious. The biofortification strategy is now recognized by the international nutrition community as one effective approach among several interventions needed to reduce micronutrient deficiencies. This is a promising beginning. However, biofortification is still a newly emerging technology. A limitation of biofortification as implemented to date is that densities of single nutrients have been increased in given staple food crops. To reach a higher trajectory, the impacts of biofortification can be multiplied several-fold using genetic engineering and other advanced crop development techniques to combine multiple-nutrient densities with climate-smart traits.

Individual- and environmental-level determinants of fruit and vegetable intakes in rural Georgia.

To investigate the ways in which food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, and perceived and objective food access influence fruit and vegetable intakes among rural Georgians. A population-based survey was merged with USDA's Food Access Research Atlas, and multilevel modeling was used to determine individual-level (eg, food insecurity, food acquisition behaviors, perceived access) and environmental-level (eg, census tract food access) predictors of fruit and vegetable intakes. Twenty-four rural census tracts in 6 counties in Georgia, USA. One thousand four hundred and seventy-four adults. Residing in a low food access census tract was not associated with fruit or vegetable intake. Food insecurity had negative effects on both fruit and vegetable intakes. Perceived access to fresh fruits and vegetables was positively associated with fruit intake, and obtaining fresh fruits and vegetables from community or home gardens was positively associated with both fruit and vegetable intakes. Findings are unique from previous research on census tract-level fruit and vegetable determinants, underscoring the need for a better understanding of influences on fruit and vegetable intakes among rural populations. Interventions to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in rural areas should prioritize food security.

Characterization and in vitro bioaccessability of optimized chia oil-Capsul-sodium alginate microparticles obtained by 3 nozzle spray-drying

The influence sodium alginate (SA) as an outer layer agent on bioaccessibility and matrix food release of purified chia oil (PCO) microencapsulated was investigated. PCO microparticles with Capsul were elaborated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM), and then as an encapsulating agent and SA as an outer layer (PCO-Capsul/SA) were designed by mini spray-drying with 2 fluid nozzle (2-N) and 3 fluid nozzle (3-N). The optimal conditions obtained for PCO-Capsul system were: dryer inlet temperature of 114 °C and PCO:Capsul relation of 1:5.42. After the addition of SA out layer, PCO-Capsul/SA microparticles were subjected to in vitro static gastrointestinal digestion. PCO-Capsul/SA occurred mainly in the intestinal phase, showing the suitability of SA as an intestine-site release polymer. However, when PCO-Capsul/SA was incorporated into a yoghurt (Y), microparticles showed a significantly lower PCO matrix food release and bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion than PCO-Capsul-Y microparticles, due to their interaction between SA and Y. SA spray-dried by 3-N showed great potential for vehiculation of omega-3 rich oils in the future incorporation and develop of functional foods. Tweetable abstractThis research shows the role of the sodium alginate incorporation by 3 nozzle spray dryer when the design of an intestine-delivery food ingredient is intended.

Exploring aquaculture related traits of the grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus) in relation to other bivalve species using Dynamic Energy Budget theory

To assess the potential of the grooved carpet shell (Ruditapes decussatus) for aquaculture in Europe, we used Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory to perform extensive parametrization on the species and compared its energy allocation strategy with those of commonly farmed bivalve species: mussels (Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis), oysters (Ostrea edulis and Magallana gigas), the common cockle (Cerastoderma edule), and great scallop (Pecten maximus). The comparison was based on DEB primary parameters relevant to aquaculture production, such as maximum assimilation rate and kappa, which represents the fraction of energy allocated to maintenance and growth, and compound parameters like the von Bertalanffy growth coefficient and maximum storage density. Furthermore, we evaluated the production efficiency at the population level, which represents the ratio of assimilated energy converted into biomass. Our results revealed notable differences in energy utilization strategies among species. However, uncertainties in parameter estimation and environmental factors challenge the direct translation of these parameters to real-world aquaculture, therefore our interpretation focuses on how these parameters might influence a species’ potential for aquaculture. The grooved carpet shell exhibits a balanced energy allocation strategy with a low growth coefficient and low maintenance costs, leading to high production efficiency. Similarly, the common mussel focuses on growth with significant biomass investment over reproduction, while the Pacific oyster and Mediterranean mussel prioritize reproductive development. The flat oyster and scallop demonstrate rapid growth at the cost of the low production efficiencies. The grooved carpet shell and mussels face constraints such as limited reserves, making them comparatively more susceptible to low food quality and quantity. In contrast, high storage densities in species like the common cockle, scallop, and Pacific oyster suggest resilience to fluctuating food conditions. These findings, along with both agreements and discrepancies with existing literature, highlight the need for further experimental research to refine DEB parameters and enhance their application in aquaculture. Overall, the DEB framework proves effective for exploring aquaculture traits across species and underscores the need for additional work on temperature-related processes, life-history events, and morphological variation.

Diet quality and blood lead levels in Uruguayan first graders

ObjectiveFoods are a potential source of lead but also contain nutrients that counteract the intestinal absorption of lead. Translatable evidence is needed to better understand the relationship between whole diets and blood lead levels (BLLs) in children. In this cross-sectional study we investigated the association between dietary variety, adequacy, moderation, and overall diet quality with children's BLLs. MethodsFirst graders (~ 7 years) from Montevideo, Uruguay were evaluated in years 2009–13 (Phase I, n = 303) and 2015–19 (Phase II, n = 443). Lead was measured in fasting blood via atomic absorption spectrometry and primary caregivers completed two non-consecutive 24-h recalls. Indices of dietary variety (maximum score of 20), adequacy (maximum 40), moderation (maximum 30), and overall diet quality were calculated from food and nutrient intakes averaged over two recall days. The indices were adapted from the Diet Quality Index-International based on dietary recommendations for children. Missing covariate data were imputed. The associations between diet quality measures and BLLs were modeled separately in Phase I and II with multivariable linear models, testing for sex differences via interaction terms and stratified models. ResultsThe median[IQR] BLLs were 3.8[2.6, 4.9] and 1.3[0.7, 3.6] μg/dL in study Phases I and II, respectively. All diet quality scores were <60 % of the maximum values and daily intakes of key food groups fell below recommended levels. There was little evidence of an association between measures of diet quality and children's BLLs overall. On the other hand, higher diet variety, adequacy, and overall diet quality were associated with slightly higher BLLs among girls in Phase I only. ConclusionsIn the context of low lead exposure and food consumption patterns that fall short of recommended levels, the relation of diet quality to children's BLLs may depend on lead exposure levels.

Changes in unhealthy food consumption among vulnerable elementary-aged children in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic: a serial cross-sectional analysis.

Several studies suggest that during the early pandemic, amidst socioeconomic instability, children from underserved families were more likely to resort to consuming cheaper, lower-quality foods with longer shelf lives. This study investigated the change in unhealthy food consumption across different phases (pre, early, mid) of the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether the strength of association between unhealthy food consumption and household socioeconomic disadvantage (HSED) varied across phases of the pandemic. This study utilized serial cross-sectional data collected from low-income families enrolled in a school-based food co-op, Brighter Bites. Secondary data analysis included 5,384 surveys from families who had complete data: 3422 pre-pandemic, 944 from the early pandemic, and 1,018 mid-pandemic. Outcome measures included sugary food intake and convenience/fast food intake, each of which was operationalized as a scale using pre-validated items from the surveys. HSED was operationalized as a composite of parent employment, parent education, food insecurity, and participation in government programs; responses were categorized into low, medium, and high HSED groups for analysis. We examined the interaction between HSED and time period to explore how HSED and its association with dietary measures changed over the course of the pandemic. A significant linear negative trend, i.e., a decrease in consumption from pre-to-mid-pandemic period was seen in sugary food intake (p < 0.001), but not in convenience food intake. In data pooled across time-periods, both sugary food and convenience/fast food consumption were inversely associated with HSED, and low unhealthy food consumption was observed among high-disadvantage groups. No significant interaction between time period and HSED was observed on either scale. However, the post-regression estimates from the adjusted interaction model showed a significant association between convenience/fast food consumption and HSED in pre- and mid-pandemic periods. The study highlights the nuances of socioeconomic dynamics on the diet behaviors of children from low-income families during a natural disaster.

Why Are so Many Remote Workers Reluctant to Endure the Politics of Organizational Culture?

A recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article dated May 31, 2023, titled “Why Workers Aren’t Coming Back to the Office Full-Time” (Smith &amp; Carpenter, 2023), examines reasons employees prefer remote work, such as rising childcare costs, avoidance of micro-management, low interpersonal conflict, wardrobe requirements, food costs, commute time, and parking expenses. The WSJ has recently published multiple articles on remote work, including one on January 11, 2024, stating “Remote Workers Are Losing Out on Promotions, New Data Shows” (Chen, 2024), which claims remote workers were promoted 31% less frequently than office workers. Understanding the politics of organizational culture related to remote work preferences is crucial. We conducted a literature review using Google Scholar with key terms “remote work” and “office” OR “politics” OR “culture” from 2019 to 2023, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. There is a pressing need for a cultural shift within organizations to adopt remote and hybrid work models, driven by professionals' increasing demand for remote work options.

The response of gray mouse lemurs to acute caloric restriction before reproduction supports the "Thrifty Female Hypothesis".

The Thrifty Female Hypothesis states that females preserve more of their energy reserves during winter than males because of the sex-specific time frame of energy allocation for reproduction. As males reactivate their reproductive axis before the mating period, while females mainly allocate energy during gestation and lactation, we hypothesized that males would have to use shorter torpor bouts and longer periods of normothermic activity to promote spermatogenesis during winter, a period of low food availability. Here, we applied an acute two-week 80% caloric restriction in male and female gray mouse lemurs shortly before the mating period. We found evidence of thriftier phenotypes in wintering females, which performed deeper and longer torpor bouts than males and ultimately lost less body mass. Our results thus support the thrifty female hypothesis in a seasonally breeding primate and reinforce the concept of a sex-biased trade-off in using torpor, which might ultimately benefit reproduction and survival.

Reward and Inhibitory Control as Mechanisms and Treatment Targets for Binge Eating Disorder.

Recent research has highlighted alterations in reward and inhibitory control among individuals with binge eating disorder, identifying both constructs as potential targets for treatment. Treatments targeting reward and inhibitory control for binge eating disorder are emerging. This review aims to summarize the recent literature evaluating reward and inhibitory control in binge eating disorder compared to weight-matched controls using behavioral paradigms and neuroimaging. This review also aims to summarize recent literature evaluating treatments for binge eating targeting these mechanisms and highlights additional work needed in these areas. Reward hypersensitivity and impaired inhibitory control are mechanisms underlying binge eating disorder. Individuals with binge eating disorder experience higher initial reward to food, and later, higher anticipatory reward but lower experienced food reward which maintains binge eating behavior. Treatments targeting reward and inhibitory control for binge eating include behavioral, computerized trainings, pharmacological, and neuromodulation treatments. The majority of trials are small but demonstrate promise in reducing binge eating and targeting theorized mechanisms. Larger, randomized trials are needed. Changes in reward and inhibitory control are present in individuals with binge eating disorder and treatments targeting these mechanisms demonstrate initial promise. Greater research is needed evaluating reward and inhibitory control simultaneously and with weight-matched comparison groups, as well as larger randomized trials that target both processes simultaneously.

Insecticide and low food quality treatments reduce health and pollination services of two key pollinator taxa

Abstract Pesticides and the lack of floral resources are key drivers of insect decline in agricultural areas. Both land‐use stressors can have a variety of synergistic and sublethal effects on pollinators, affecting their health and foraging behaviour. Pollinating insects include species with vastly different life histories, giving them potentially different vulnerability and resilience to stressors. However, most research has generally focused on bees. Here, we contrast synergistic effects of nutritional stress and pesticide use on social bumblebees and solitary hoverflies. We experimentally tested the effects of the neonicotinoid acetamiprid and low‐quality food on health traits of Bombus terrestris workers and Episyrphus balteatus adults (ovarian development, body size and colony development or survival). The foraging behaviour of treated pollinators was recorded in a semi‐field setup and, for B. terrestris, we measured the pollen amount on the body surface and the pollen deposited on stigmata after a single floral visit. Both stressors affected bumblebee health. Additionally, insecticide‐treated workers showed increased flower handling times and flight durations, while low‐quality food reduced the amount of pollen on the surface of bumblebees and the pollen deposited on stigmata. Syrphids were mostly affected by low‐quality food, which decreased their survival probability and changed their foraging behaviour. Furthermore, we found an interactive effect between the two stressors, reducing E. balteatus ovary development. Synthesis and applications. Insecticide and food stress affected fitness traits of both bumblebees and syrphid flies, possibly reducing pollinator populations under natural conditions. Especially for bumblebees, long‐term exposure led to a reduction in the provision of pollination services, both by changing their behaviour and reducing pollen transfer. We found differences between the two pollinator groups, showing that results gained from single groups like bees should not be extrapolated to all pollinators. Interactive effects indicate potential buffering effects of high‐quality food against other stressors and highlight the importance of considering synergies between multiple stressors in risk assessments. This further emphasizes the relevance of floral resources such as wild flower strips in agricultural areas to conserve pollinators and pollination services.

Optimal Application of Biogas Slurry in Paddy Fields under the Dual Constraints of Agronomy and Environment in the Yangtze River Delta Region

The production of huge amounts of biogas slurry during livestock breeding has resulted in pressing environmental issues. Although paddy fields can be potential sinks for the disposal of biogas slurry, the impacts of biogas slurry on rice production, grain quality, and relevant environmental risks in the Yangtze Delta region remain unclear. Herein, we conducted a field trial from 2021 to 2023 which involved different gradients of biogas slurry utilization, including CK (no fertilizer), CN (100% chemical nitrogen (N) of 240 kg ha−1), NBS (biogas slurry replacing 50% chemical N), BS1 (replacing 100% chemical N), BS1.5 (replacing 150% chemical N), and BS2 (replacing 200% chemical N). The results showed that there were no significant differences in average rice yields between CN, NBS, BS1.5, and BS2 over the three-year study period, with an average yield of 8283 kg ha−1, and the average yields of BS1 and CK were 7815 kg ha−1 and 6236 kg ha−1, respectively. However, heavy utilization of biogas slurry (BS1.5 and BS2) not only significantly reduced the rice seed-setting rate, the 1000-grain weight, and the processing quality, but also significantly increased the protein, amylose, Cu, and Zn content in rice grains; additionally, higher N losses occurred via surface water and increased NH3 volatilization was observed, finally resulting in lower nitrogen-use efficiency. Meanwhile, moderate utilization of biogas slurry (NBS and BS1) led to better rice quality and nitrogen-use efficiency, lower potential food safety risk, and N loss. Further, compared to BS1, NBS showed higher yield, harvest index, processing quality, gel consistency, palatability scores, and nitrogen-use efficiency, but lower N losses were present. Overall, the NBS treatment balanced the agronomic benefits and environmental risks in the Yangtze River Delta region. In the future, more attention should be paid to food safety and environmental risks when using biogas slurry.

The Individual Division of Food Hoarding in Autumn Brandt's Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii).

Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), one of the main non-hibernating rodent species in the typical grassland of Inner Mongolia, live in groups and have the behavioral habit of hoarding food in underground warehouses in autumn to prepare for the winter food shortage ahead. The division of labor and cooperation are typical behavior patterns of gregarious mammals, but it is unclear whether Brandt's voles exercise a division of labor in food hoarding before overwintering. To explore the division of food hoarding in Brandt's voles during the autumn period, three treatments, namely added food, added food + competition, and control, were set up with three replicates. An infrared camera was positioned to observe and record the behavior of Brandt's voles under different treatments. Next, behavioral experiments regarding food-hoarding division were performed on individuals. The results showed that (1) Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior, namely high food hoarding and low food hoarding, but not all individuals displayed hoarding behavior. (2) In all treatments, feeding behavior, which was the most important type of behavior, accounted for the highest proportion of all behaviors. (3) There was no significant difference in body weight and sex between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals of Brandt's voles, and there was no significant difference between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals in other divisions of labor either. (4) There was no significant difference in inquiry ability between high- and low-food-hoarding groups, but there was a significant difference in spatial memory. High-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory. In summary, Brandt's voles had two types of hoarding behavior: high food hoarding and low food hoarding. Furthermore, high-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory.