Vegetable proteins proved to be good emulsifiers for food emulsions with dietetic advantages. The use of these emulsions as car- riers for healthy ingredients, such as colourings, with antioxidant and other beneficial properties, is an interesting subject. In this work, the capacity of the biomass of the microalga Chlorella vulgaris (which has been widely used as a food supplement) as a fat mimetic, and its emulsifier ability, was evaluated. Pea protein emulsions with C. vulgaris addition (both green and orange – carotenogenic) were prepared at different protein and oil contents. The rheological properties of the respective food emulsions were measured in terms of the viscoelastic properties and steady state flow behaviour and texture properties. It was observed that the two microalgal forms evidenced a fat mimetic capacity in these emulsions, the performance of the green stage of this C. vulgaris organism was significantly (p < 0.05) better than the orange stage.

For the purpose of examining on role of irrigation and cultivation system to paddy ecosystem, we study species and number of Odonata larvae and analyze the stable isotope ratios of the Odonata larvae and the plankton/detritus in water of paddy fields and irrigation ponds. As a results, cultivation system clearly effects to composition of species and number of Odonata larvae. delta sup(13)C indicates that Orthetrum albistylum speciosum larvae and Coenagrionidae spp. larvae which are dominant species in paddy water, depend on specified food sources, each other. delta sup(15)N shows that the trophic level of Odonata larvae is higher than that of the plankton/detritus in paddy water. It is considered that analyze the stable isotope ratios application is effective to examine water ecosystem and food web in paddy.

The availability of multiple sources of food and drink has a profound influence on choice behavior in rodents. It is not known how other taxa might respond to the same kind of variation in availability. We tested European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) with various combinations of unadulterated and repellent-treated (0.025% citronellyl acetate) resources. In Experiment 1, birds drank more plain than repellent-treated water than when given (a) 2 bottles of plain water and 2 of repellent-water, or (b) 3 bottles of plain water and 1 of repellent-water. However, they drank more repellent than water when given 3 bottles of repellent-water and 1 of plain water. Thus, the aversion to the repellent became indifference when repellent-water was abundant. In Experiment 2, birds ate more untreated than treated food when given (a) 1 cup of untreated food and 1 cup of treated food or (b) 2 cups of untreated food and 1 of treated food. They ate equal amounts of untreated and treated food when given 1 cup of untreated food and 2 cups of treated food. These results demonstrate the effect of relative availability on choice, and imply that availability should be considered when using repellents.

The ability of camels to cope with food or water shortage is exceptional, thanks to several mechanisms of adaptation, including mobilization of body fat reserves during underfeeding and regeneration when food is available. In camel, the adipose tissues are mainly located in the hump (external) and around the kidney (internal perirenal fat, PF) and consist mainly of cells able to store lipids (adipocytes). However, the measurement of adipocyte size was scarcely performed, and no data are available on the variations of plasma leptin, an hormone which is secreted by adipocytes in mammalian species and could play a major role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Recent experiments showed that the mean adipocyte size is similar between hump and PF, and was 100-700 picoliters in 70 adult male or female camels, in the range of values observed in cattle and sheep. Hump or PF weights were positively correlated and better explained by adipocyte size than number. Hump adipocyte size was positively correlated to hump height-hemicircumference and to hump lipid content. Hump biopsies during experiments with different levels of food or water allowance showed that adipocyte size decreased during a 2-month underfeeding, and this decrease was more marked when camels were previously overfed, whereas adipocyte size was not affected by 3 weeks of water deprivation. However, dehydration increased fat mobilization, with an increase in plasma non-esterified fatty acids and a decrease in hump lipid content. A radioimmunoassay was developed for camel leptin, using antibodies raised against sheep leptin. Plasma leptin concentration was 2-9 ng/ml, and positively correlated to hump lipid content or adipocyte size, but less closely than in cattle. It was not affected by underfeeding nor overfeeding, contrary to what was observed in cattle and sheep. Plasma leptin increased steadily (+ 20%) during 3 weeks of water deprivation, and returned rapidly to the control level after 6 hours of rehydration. Further studies will precise the role of leptin in the adaptation of camels to desert conditions. (Résumé d'auteur)

"For many people, particularly in developing countries, water scarcity will become a part of their livelihoods. The business-as-usual (BAU) scenario shows that in the year 2025, food insecurity and water scarcity will increase. If demand from industry and domestic sectors grows further, and if no more resources are made available for irrigated agriculture, agriculture, poorer economies, and particularly the poorest population in these economies, will be confronted with lower food production and reduced access to agricultural markets. In principle, supply constraints could be substituted by food imports, but only if adequate financial resources are made available. Since this is not likely, water policy changes and institutional reforms are needed such as the implementation of economic incentives to enhance the productivity of water." -- from online abstract | PR | IFPRI3; GRP22; Theme 3; Environment and Natural Resource Management; IMPACT | EPTD

IFPRI3; GRP22; Theme 3; Environment and Natural Resource Management; IMPACT | Ringler Claudia et al., 'Auswirkungen der zunehmenden Wasserverknappung auf die globale und regionale Nahrungsmittelproduktion [Implications of growing water scarcity on global and regional food production]', Zeitschrift fur Angewandte Umweltforschung , IFPRI, 2005

For many people, particularly in developing countries, water scarcity will become a part of their livelihoods. The business-as-usual (BAU) scenario shows that in the year 2025, food insecurity and water scarcity will increase. If demand from industry and domestic sectors grows further, and if no more resources are made available for irrigated agriculture, agriculture, poorer economies, and particularly the poorest population in these economies, will be confronted with lower food production and reduced access to agricultural markets. In principle, supply constraints could be substituted by food imports, but only if adequate financial resources are made available. Since this is not likely, water policy changes and institutional reforms are needed such as the implementation of economic incentives to enhance the productivity of water.