The endangered giant water bug Lethocerus deyrolli (Vuillefroy) is frequently attracted in large numbers to artificial lights in Japan. To examine factors enhancing flight migration for L. deyrolli, we carried out field work in western Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan, in September during the nonreproductive and prewintering season. The body weight of specimens collected under flight migration (flight bugs) was significantly less than that of those collected in ponds (pond bugs). A field experiment using open cages in a rice paddy field was carried out with two treatments, with and without a food supply. The remaining rate of L. deyrolli for the food present treatment was significantly higher than that for the food absent treatment for the first two days. These results suggest that L. deyrolli would fly in search of food when the food supply of the present habitat becomes unsuitable.

Background: Estimating dietary intake is important for both epidemiological and clinical studies, but often lacks accuracy. Objective: To investigate the accuracy and validity of energy intake estimated by an easy-to-use semiquantitative food record (EISQFR) compared to total energy expenditure ( TEE) estimated by doubly labelled water technique (EEDLW). Design: TEE was measured in 29 nonobese subjects using the doubly labelled water method over a period of 14 days. Within this period, subjects reported their food consumption by a newly developed semiquantitative food record for 4 consecutive days. Energy intake was calculated using the German Food Code and Nutrition Data Base BLS II.3. Results: A good correlation was observed between EISQFR and EEDLW (r = 0.685, P<0.001). The mean difference between EISQFR and EEDLW was - 1.7 +/- 2.6 MJ/ day ( - 14 +/- 21%, P = 0.002). An underestimation of EISQFR <10% was observed in nine subjects (31%), of 10 - 20% in six subjects (21%), and of >20% in nine subjects (31%). In five subjects (17%), an overestimation of EISQFR was observed. Conclusions: The easy-to-use semiquantitative food record provided good estimates of EI in free-living and nonobese adults without prior detailed verbal instructions. The presented food record has limitations regarding accuracy at the individual level

The main aim of this paper is to address the impact of irrigation water scarcity on the socio-economics of agricultural sector and the Jordanian food security. The rapid increase in Jordan population have placed unprecedented demand on water sources. The main findings of this paper were that decreasing water supply by 20 percent will be followed by a reduction in the total cultivated area by about 14 percent . This will lead to a decrease in the total net income generated by 15 percent . As a policy implication of this paper, it is suggested that irrigated land base must be maintained in good order to sustain relatively low food prices. New strategies for water development and management are urgently needed and to continue searching means and methods to increase water supply by increasing the investment in the irrigation sector, which can increase water supply and irrigation use efficiency.

Vegetable proteins proved to be good emulsifiers for food emulsions with dietetic advantages. The use of these emulsions as carriers 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.

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 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)

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.

A modificação dietética tem sido estudada e empregada no controle e prevenção da Doença do Trato Urinário Inferior dos Felinos. Este trabalho estudou a influência do teor de água e da digestibilidade das rações sobre a ingestão, excreção urinária e excreção fecal de água. Utilizaram-se 10 gatas adultas castradas, alojadas em gaiolas metabólicas.Testaram-se quatro tratamentos: ração enlatada; seca super-premium; seca econômica e seca econômica acrescida de 50% de água. Determinou-se a ingestão de água via alimento e bebedouro, a excreção de água via fezes e urina e o coeficiente de digestibilidade das rações. Foi empregado um quadrado latino com repetições no tempo. Os resultados foram avaliados por análise de variância seguido pelo teste de Tukey para a comparação de médias e a Correlação de Pearson para se verificar a associação entre variáveis (p<0,05). O consumo de ração enlatada proporcionou uma maior ingestão total de água e uma maior excreção de urina, que apresentou menor densidade. Os gatos compensaram a maior ingestão de água alimentar bebendo menos água. Quanto menor a ingestão de matéria seca e maior a digestibilidade do alimento, menor a excreção fecal de água, pois as rações secas de baixa e alta digestibilidade obtiveram, respectivamente, relação excreção de urina:excreção de água fecal de 0,7:1 e 1,6:1. A ingestão de gordura apresentou correlação positiva com o volume urinário. Rações de maior digestibilidade promovem menor perda fecal de água, mas somente a ração enlatada (alta relação água:matéria seca) proporcionou maiores ingestão total de água e volume urinário.