Use Of Food Resources Research Articles

Marker Peptides for Indicating the Spoilage of Milk-Sample Preparation and Chemometric Approaches for Yielding Potential Peptides in a Raw Milk Model.

The diminishing of food waste is gaining increasing importance, especially in context with a growing population and a need for the sustainable use of food resources. A more precise determination of the best-before date can contribute to this general aim. As proteoforms can be regarded as indicators for ecophysiological influences, their suitability for determining the spoilage and, consequently, the shelf-life of food is suggested. Proteoforms reflect the spoilage of food more accurately. The aim of the present study was to develop an efficient proteomics workflow to determine the shelf-life of milk as a prominent target. In this case, raw milk was chosen as model, as it degrades much faster. The integration of different multivariate analysis techniques was used to analyze the spoilage of raw milk with regard to aspects of its proteome. As the feasibility of such an approach has already been demonstrated in previous studies, it is further necessary to enable a robust and reproducible workflow, primarily gaining appropriate numbers and amounts of peptides when the research question differs and other dairy products are evaluated. In the present study, two approaches for gaining peptides were considered: In addition to a direct hydrolysis of a protein-rich sample solution, in-gel hydrolysis is another common approach in proteomics. By separating the proteins in a traditional gel electrophoresis before hydrolysis, the change in the individual proteins and, consequently, potential peptides can be monitored more specifically during storage. However, the traditional approach offers not only possibilities but also limitations that must be considered. The study showed that it is beneficial to apply a combination of different application strategies, as they complement each other and can thus increase the information content of a sample or confirm a theory. Mass spectrometric features, which represent a chemical-structural change of all kinds of compounds during storage, were selected, and three of them were identified as peptides, originating from α-s1-casein.

How do water, food, and energy resources impact environmental conditions in Ghana? A novel dynamic ARDL simulation approach

Rising water, food, and energy demands pose significant resource risks and environmental threats. Despite the critical nature of this issue, there is a notable absence of empirical research linking the consumption of these resources to environmental degradation in Ghana. To fill this gap, this study investigates the short-term and long-term effects of water, food, and energy resource consumption on environmental degradation in Ghana, analyzing data from 1994 to 2020. Ghana's increasing environmental degradation accentuates the urgency of this research, its vulnerability to climate change, and the imperative to sustain human life and protect the environment. Utilizing the novel dynamic ARDL simulation method, this research offers new perspectives that diverge from previous findings. The study's findings demonstrate that water resource consumption positively impacts environmental degradation in the short and long term. However, food and energy resource consumption mitigates environmental degradation in the short and long term. Therefore, the study advocates adopting resource management strategies emphasizing efficiency and sustainability. It calls for policies that improve water efficiency, boost renewable energy uptake, and encourage sustainable farming practices. These measures are intended to lessen the negative impacts of resource exploitation and aid in environmental preservation efforts.

Evidence for resource partitioning in weakfishes from a coastal upwelling ecosystem

Resource partitioning plays an important role in supporting species coexistence. In a coastal upwelling ecosystem two weakfish species, Cynoscion guatucupa and C. jamaicensis co-occur and are key commercial species. The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the feeding ecology of both species, including to; (i) quantitatively assess diet, (ii) evaluate ontogenetic and seasonal diet variations, and (iii) estimate dietary overlap in the context of competition or resource partitioning, using an integrated approach combining stomach content (SCA) and stable isotope analyses (SIA). Our results revealed that both C. guatucupa and C. jamaicensis prey mainly on pelagic fish and shrimp with ontogenetic and seasonal changes in diet detected. Weakfishes consume a large proportion of similar prey throughout the year and high isotopic niche overlap confirmed the SCA results. Despite the similar use of food resources by both species, the availability and abundance of prey promoted by seasonal upwellings and the possible spatial segregation between C. guatucupa and C. jamaicensis may promote their co-occurrence in an upwelling ecosystem. Due to their commercial value and fisheries importance in the southwestern Atlantic, these results contribute insights to support sustainable fisheries management.

Distance From Nest and Climate Explain Geographical Trends of Harvester Ant's Food Resource Use: A Multi‐Species Approach

ABSTRACTMainAnimals not only forage for abundant and nearby resources, but their diets can also be influenced by abiotic and geographic factors. This often results in non‐random interactions among species. We investigate how seed density, distance from nest, abiotic (e.g., climate stability, temperature, precipitation) and geographic factors (e.g., latitude, elevation and continental hemisphere) influence the removal of food items (i.e., seeds and dead arthropods) by Pogonomyrmex species.LocationSouth and North America, from Patagonia to the Rocky Mountains.TaxonGenus Pogonomyrmex (Formicidae: Hymenoptera).MethodsConducting standardised experiments, we performed a seed removal experiment and an assessment of the items retrieved by ant workers of 160 nests from eight Pogonomyrmex spp. at 16 sites extending the American continent.ResultsPogonomyrmex ants native to North America removed more seeds than their South American counterpart. In general, results align with optimal foraging theory, indicating a higher probability of seed removal near ant nests. High climate stability correlated with lower seed predation rates, emphasising seed consumption's significance in historically arid environments. Increased precipitation and temperature led to reduced removal of food resources, suggesting reduced water availability and lower mean temperatures increases the consumption of seeds by harvester ants.ConclusionsOverall, Pogonomyrmex ants' food resource use is influenced by a combination of factors such as region, distance from the nest and climate. This study underscores harvester ants' potential impact on plant distribution over large spatial scales consuming seeds from the immediate proximity of their nest and preventing establishment.

Bioguided Optimization of the Nutrition-Health, Antioxidant, and Immunomodulatory Properties of Manihot esculenta (Cassava) Flour Enriched with Cassava Leaves.

Manihot esculenta (cassava) roots is a major food crop for its energy content. Leaves contain nutrients and demonstrate biological properties but remain undervalorized. In order to develop a bioguided optimization of cassava nutrition-health properties, we compared the phytochemistry and bioactive potential of cassava root flour extract (CF) with cassava flour extract enriched with 30% leaves powder (CFL). Cassava flour supplementation impact was explored on flour composition (starch, fiber, carotenoids, phenolic compounds), in vivo glycemic index, and bioactivity potential using macrophage cells. We assessed the impact of cassava flour supplementation on free radicals scavenging and cellular production of pro-inflammatory mediators. CFL showed higher levels of fiber, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and lower glycemic index. Significantly higher bioactive properties (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant) were recorded, and inhibition of cytokines production has been demonstrated as a function of extract concentration. Overall, our results indicate that enrichment of cassava flour with leaves significantly enhances its nutrition-health and bioactive potential. This bioguided matrix recombination approach may be of interest to provide prophylactic and therapeutic dietary strategy to manage malnutrition and associated chronic non-communicable diseases characterized by low-grade inflammation and unbalanced redox status. It would also promote a more efficient use of available food resources.

Individual dietary specialization and intraspecific morphological divergence of an endemic fish species: the case of Glanidium ribeiroi in the Iguassu ecoregion

ABSTRACT Because of the importance of information about endemic species and global biodiversity ecoregion, we tested the hypothesis that individuals of Glanidium ribeiroi (endemic species in the Iguassu ecoregion) are specialists and that this specialization decreases with increasing body size, especially concerning the size of the mouth and head, which can be limiting for the quantity and size of prey consumed by smaller individuals. Fish sampling was conducted monthly using gill nets and longlines from 2013 to 2016 in the main channel of the Iguaçu River and two tributaries. We observed the consumption of aquatic insects by smaller individuals and seeds, unidentified fish, and Decapoda by larger individuals. Individual dietary specialization was high and related to head width. The morphological traits of smaller-sized individuals were related to displacement and movement (larger peduncle), and the larger-sized individuals were related to high performance in the exploitation and prey acquisition (larger head and mouth, dorsal eyes, longer intestines). Our results highlight the importance of assessing individual variations within a population, favoring an understanding of population dynamics. In addition, morphological differences may imply differences in the use of habitat and food resources between individuals of larger and smaller body sizes and influence individual specialization.

Food Insecurity and Community-Based Food Resources Among Caregivers of Hospitalized Children.

Children's hospitals are implementing interventions to connect families to community-based resources. This study describes food insecurity (FI) and food resource knowledge, need, and use among families with a hospitalized child. Between November 2020 and June 2022, 637 caregivers of hospitalized children in an urban 42-ZIP-code area were surveyed as part of a randomized controlled trial. The United States Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey was used to evaluate 12-month food security (food secure [score of 0=FS]; marginally secure [1-2=MFS]; insecure [3-18=FI]). Food resource knowledge, need, and use were described by food security status and examined using Cochran-Armitage tests. The distribution of local resources was obtained from a database and mapped by ZIP code. Comparing FI (35.0%) with MFS (17.6%) and FS (47.4%) groups, the rates of resource knowledge were lower (70.2% vs 78.5%, 80.5%), and the rates of need (55.1% vs 30.6%, 14.2%) and use (55.3% vs 51.4%, 40.8%) were higher. Rates of food resource knowledge increased linearly with increasing food security (FI to MFS to FS; P = .008), whereas the rates of resource need (P < .001) and use (P = .001) decreased with increasing food security. There were 311 community-based organizations across 36 ZIP codes with participants (range/ZIP code = 0-20, median = 8). Half of families with a hospitalized child experienced FI or MFS. Although families exhibited high food resource knowledge, nearly half of families with FI had unmet food needs or had never used resources.

Trophic niche partitioning and intraspecific variation in food resource use in the genus Pangasianodon in a reservoir revealed by stable isotope analysis of multiple tissues.

Understanding the mechanism by which non-native fish species integrate into native communities is crucial for evaluating the possibility of their establishment success. The genus Pangasianodon, comprising Pangasianodon gigas and Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, has been introduced into reservoirs, which are non-native habitats, for fishery stock enhancement. P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus often successfully establish and co-occur in several Thai reservoirs, but there is little information on differences in food resource use between the two species. To investigate the trophic niche width of P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus in a Thai reservoir, we conducted stable carbon and nitrogen ratio (δ13C and δ15N) analyses. We examined the degree of individual specialization in both species using the δ13C and δ15N values of muscle and liver tissues, which provides long- and short-term diet information. The isotopic niches did not overlap between P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus. The δ15N value of P. gigas was significantly higher than that of P. hypophthalmus, whereas the δ13C value did not significantly differ between the two species. The isotopic niche sizes were larger in P. hypophthalmus than in P. gigas. Individual specialization was observed in P. hypophthalmus but not in P. gigas, indicating that intraspecific variation in food resource use was larger in P. hypophthalmus compared to P. gigas. These findings suggest that trophic niche partitioning was one of the factors facilitating the establishment success of P. gigas and P. hypophthalmus in a reservoir, but the establishment process may differ between the two species.

Patterns in Food Resource Use by Butterflies in an Experimental Macrocosm

Patterns in Food Resource Use by Butterflies in an Experimental Macrocosm

Understanding consumer acceptance of 3D-printed food in Japan

The global market for innovative food technologies is expanding. 3D-printed food is one such technology, presenting benefits such as personalized nutrition and optimized use of food resources, which can reduce waste. This study explores the factors that influence consumer acceptance of 3D-printed food in Japan, offering essential insights for developing market strategies. We conducted a survey among Japanese residents and developed a consumer acceptance model using structural equation modeling. This model emphasizes the significant influence of social media usage, environmental consciousness, perceived benefits, and interest in innovative foods on the intention to purchase 3D-printed food. Our results indicate that a strong affinity for information through social media can heighten environmental awareness and perceived benefits, leading to increased purchase intent. Furthermore, an interest in new foods can boost the intention to buy 3D-printed food. Notably, environmental consciousness can indirectly affect acceptance through perceived benefits. The potential to reduce food loss may appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Based on these findings, we recommend that future marketing strategies for 3D-printed food in Japan underscore its environmental advantages and utilize digital media to improve consumer acceptance.

Screening for Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Healthcare Setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Non-Medicaid Insured Adults in an Integrated Healthcare Delivery System.

Healthcare screening identifies factors that impact patient health and well-being. Hunger as a Vital Sign (HVS) is widely applied as a screening tool to assess food security. However, there are no common practice screening questions to identify patients who are nutrition insecure or acquire free food from community-based organizations. This study used self-reported survey data from a non-Medicaid insured adult population approximately one year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (2021). The survey examined the extent to which the HVS measure might have under-estimated population-level food insecurity and/or nutrition insecurity, as well as under-identified food and nutrition insecurity among patients being screened for social risks in the healthcare setting. Data from a 2021 English-only mailed/online survey were analyzed for 2791 Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC) non-Medicaid insured members ages 35-85 years. Sociodemographics, financial strain, food insecurity, acquiring free food from community-based organizations, and nutrition insecurity were assessed. Data from respondents' electronic health records were abstracted to identify adults with diet-related chronic health conditions. Data were weighted to the age × sex × racial/ethnic composition of the 2019 KPNC adult membership. Differences between groups were evaluated for statistical significance using adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) derived from modified log Poisson regression models. Overall, 8.5% of participants reported moderate or high food insecurity, 7.7% had acquired free food from community-based organizations, and 13% had nutrition insecurity. Black and Latino adults were significantly more likely than White adults to have food insecurity (17.4% and 13.1% vs 5.6%, aPRs = 2.97 and 2.19), acquired free food from community-based organizations (15.1% and 15.3% vs 4.1%, aPRs = 3.74 and 3.93), nutrition insecurity (22.1% and 23.9% vs 7.9%, aPRs = 2.65 and 2.64), and food and nutrition insecurity (32.4% and 32.5% vs 12.3%, aPRs = 2.54 and 2.44). Almost 20% of adults who had been diagnosed with diabetes, prediabetes, ischemic CAD, or heart failure were food insecure and 14% were nutrition insecure. Expanding food-related healthcare screening to identify and assess food insecurity, nutrition insecurity, and use of community-based emergency food resources together is essential for supporting referrals that will help patients achieve optimal health.

Examining Factors Associated with the Use of Community Food Resources: An Application of the Andersen Model to Inform Future Interventions.

The role of the food environment in shaping nutrition and health has gained substantial attention from policymakers, public health researchers, and advocacy groups. To promote equities in food access and nutrition outcomes, understanding factors linked with the utilization of local community food resources is crucial. Using Andersen's service utilization model, we explained how adults use their neighborhood food resources. In a cross-sectional study design, an online survey was conducted in REDCap Version 13.4.0 via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) involving 1830 adults with a mean age of 37.9 ± 12.1 years. Participants answered questions on predisposing, enabling, and need factors that influence their use of different community food resources. The predisposing factors that were statistically significant included age, family size, marital status, race, and ethnicity. The enabling factors included travel time, travel mode, income, and shopping decision motivators (such as being able to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vouchers, delivery services, great sales, and coupons). Food security and community food resources need for lower food price were the significant need factors. However, these factors vary by the types of food resources. In conclusion, enhancing the utilization of community-based food access initiatives and programs among underserved families requires consideration of family composition, racial and ethnic diversity, and transportation access.

FOOD SECURITY OF THE REGION: CURRENT TRENDS AND THREATS

Food security is a very significant aspect of development for regions around the world, as it concerns the availability, accessibility, use, and stability of food resources. The purpose of this article is to explore the features of the conceptual framework of food security and study the multifaceted factors that influence it in the regional context. Analysis of current trends and threats also comes to the fore. A full understanding of these factors, trends, and challenges is necessary for politicians and stakeholders to develop effective strategies aimed at ensuring food security of the population in a particular region. The methods used in the article are comparison, analysis of scientific publications and statistical method.&#x0D; Based on the results of the article, it is substantiated that trends in food security in the region are determined by a complex interaction of factors. A complex set of threats is at play and addressing them requires a multifaceted approach that combines sustainable agricultural practices, investment in infrastructure and the promotion of stability and peace.

Comparison of feeding niches between Arctic and northward-moving sub-Arctic marine mammals in Greenland

The climate change-induced northward movement of sub-Arctic marine mammals increases their range overlap and interactions with native Arctic species. We compared feeding patterns of 11 marine mammal species (4 Arctic and 7 sub-Arctic) in Greenland using stable isotope ratios and fatty acid signatures, and also assessed the effects of lipid extraction on stable isotope ratios. Lipid extraction showed limited increases in δ13C, intermediate effects on δ15N, and significant depletion of δ34S in muscle of some marine mammals. Arctic and sub-Arctic species differed in stable isotope ratios, indicating some use of separate food resources, while likely also reflecting baseline isotopic variation. Proportions of some of the most abundant fatty acids (20:1n9, 22:1n11, 20:5n3, 22:6n3) varied between Arctic and sub-Arctic species, indicating that sub-Arctic species rely mostly on a pelagic food web, while Arctic species exploit an ice-associated and benthic food web, although the sub-Arctic harp and hooded seals and Arctic narwhal showed opposite patterns. Sub-Arctic species had the largest niche breadths, implying diet flexibility and potential to adapt to further changes. Overall patterns in dietary tracers demonstrate separation of feeding niches between most Arctic and sub-Arctic marine mammals, but potential niche overlap and shared food resources for some species. Sub-Arctic seal species overlap the feeding niches of native Arctic species the most of all range-shifters, and of Arctic species, narwhal appear to be the most vulnerable to niche overlap and potential food competition with northward-shifting species.

Exploration of Barriers to Use of Community Food Resources in Community College Students in Rural Appalachia

ABSTRACT Food insecurity in college students, worsened during the COVID pandemic. However, students are often hesitant to access food assistance The purpose of this study was to explore students’ perceptions of barriers to the use of food assistance. In 2021, students (n = 13) were recruited from a Kentucky college. Virtual interviews were conducted. Further research is needed to explore other barriers to use of food assistance. Research is needed to evaluate interventions aimed at decreasing the stigma of food assistance in college students.

Similar seed preferences explain trophic ecology of functionally distinct, but co-occurring and closely related harvester ants.

To understand how food resource use and partitioning by closely related species allows local coexistence, it is key to determine whether a species' diet reflects food availability or food preferences. Here, we analysed the diets, seed selection, and seed preferences of three closely related harvester ants: Messor barbarus, M. bouvieri, and M. capitatus. Sympatric within a Mediterranean shrubland, these species differ in foraging behaviour and worker polymorphism. For 2 years, we studied the ants' diets and seed selection patterns as well as the local availability of seeds. Additionally, we performed a seed-choice experiment using a paired comparison design, offering the ants seeds from eight native plant species. The three ant species had the same general diet, which was primarily granivorous. Although they all consumed a wide variety of seeds, they mostly selected seeds from a small subset of plant species. Despite their morphological and behavioural differences, the ants displayed similar seed preferences that were highly consistent with their diets and seed selection patterns. Our results support the idea that the trophic ecology of these three harvester ants is driven by similar seed preferences rather than by their morphological and behavioural differences. Seed diversity and abundance were high near the ants' nests, suggesting that seed availability is not limiting and could in fact favour local species coexistence.

Dietary habits of pastoralists on the Tibetan plateau are influenced by remoteness and economic status

In general, dietary habits of pastoralists are livestock-derived, but are also influenced by external food sources under globalization. We hypothesized that dietary habits of pastoralists would be influenced by their remoteness, and that changes from the traditional diet would result in deviations in the local ecological chain. To test this hypothesis, we determined the δ13C and δ15N values of soil, plants, and hair of animals and pastoralists (n = 885). The δ13C value in human hair reflects the proportions of protein originating from C3 and C4 plants; whereas, the δ15N value reflects the proportions of protein derived from plants and animals, with higher values indicating a greater consumption of meat. The isotopic signatures enabled us to estimate the variation in dietary habits of pastoralists across a socio-economic gradient of easily accessible to remote areas on the Tibetan plateau, and to determine the trophic transfer of the isotopes along an ecological chain. The trophic magnification factor (TMF) evaluated the trophic transfer of δ15N in the soil-plants-animals-pastoralists ecological chain. The high δ15N values in soil and plants were not recovered in animals and pastoralists in easily accessible and developed areas, indicating the use of external feed and food resources, and that they deviated from the ecological chain. The mean δ13C (−22.0 ‰) and δ15N values (6.9 ‰) of pastoralists indicated diets consisting mainly of local C3 plants and animal products. However, pastoralists in remote areas relied more on meat protein and on the local ecological chain than pastoralists in easily accessible areas, as their δ15N values and trophic magnification factor of δ15N in the ecological chain were greater. In addition to remoteness, per capita GDP influenced dietary changes in pastoralists, with richer pastoralists consuming more external food. We concluded that dietary changes of pastoralists in the easily accessible areas were due to external food resources and alterations in the local ecological chain of animals and plant-based foods available to the pastoralists.

Analysis of Potential Evapotranspiration in Heilongjiang Province

As the global temperature has been increasing, an intriguing phenomenon has emerged wherein the potential evapotranspiration (PET) in many areas does not show a clear positive correlation with the temperature. Instead, PET is decreasing in various areas, giving rise to the “evaporation paradox”. This phenomenon also occurs in Heilongjiang province. Heilongjiang province is a province in China with a large agricultural output, so it is necessary to explain the mechanism of decreasing pan evaporation in order to cope with the rational use of food and water resources in China. In this paper, the Mann–Kendall (M-K) parameter test and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the trends and correlation between PET and climate change in Heilongjiang province from 1961–2020. The results show that the potential evaporation in Heilongjiang province had a decreasing trend of 7.776 mm/10 a, and there was a fluctuation in the decreasing trend during 1985–1995 and 2000–2020. Temperature, wind speed, vapor pressure, and solar radiation contributed −87.23%, 88.25%, 65.87%, and 42.53% to PET variation, respectively, highlighting wind speed as the main factor in the decrease in PET, followed by the vapor pressure and solar radiation, whereas temperature-induced changes in PET were neutralized by the former.

Explorative behavior allows the successful finding of ephemeral food resources in the wild

AbstractThe repeatable among-individual variation in behavior (animal personality) is considered to affect fitness. The variation in personality traits is shaped by complex evolutionary mechanisms involving energy allocation and resource acquisition. However, an association between personality and individual performance in energy gain in the natural environment still seems underexplored. The aim of our study was to test a hypothesis that consistent individual variation in behavior affects the energy acquisition of unpredictable food resources. We predicted that more explorative individuals would be finding ephemeral food resources with higher probability than those less explorative. The quasi-experiment with ‘random-walking-feeders’ was performed to assess the use of unpredictable food resources in the natural habitat occupied by free-ranging arboreal rodents — edible dormice Glis glis. A repeated open field test at laboratory conditions was conducted to assess whether male dormice show consistent among-individual variation in behavior. The open field test analysis indicated two main components of dormice behavior: exploration and boldness, from which only the first one was repeatable and thus considered as a component of animal personality. The probability of finding a feeder increased with exploration, independently of dormice age and body size. The results indicate that exploration can be considered an adaptive trait that improves energy acquisition. We suggest that the behavioral among-individual variation within populations persists due to the usage of distinct foraging strategies in the face of fluctuations in food resources availability.

Indigenous Foodways as Persistence in the Alta California Mission System

AbstractThis article investigates Indigenous persistence within Mission Santa Clara de Asís in central California through the analysis of animal food remains. The Spanish colonial mission system within Alta California had a profound social and ecological impact on Indigenous peoples, altering traditional subsistence strategies and foodway patterns. Past research has highlighted the continued use of precolonial foods within the Alta California mission system alongside the daily consumption of colonial-style beef stews. This article expands on that literature to consider how Indigenous and colonial residents differentially acquired ingredients and prepared daily meals within the Alta California colonial mission system. This assessment demonstrates a sharp divergence between Indigenous and colonists’ daily diet, manifested in the continued use of wild food resources by Indigenous people as well as the maintenance of precolonial culinary practices in the preparation of cattle meat for daily stews. These findings complicate our understanding of foodways within the Spanish mission system and expand our understanding of Indigenous autonomy within conditions of colonialism.