During the first millennium ad, Europe saw much socio-environmental change, which is reflected in the archaeological and palaeoecological evidence. Using published and new isotope data from across western Europe, the author examines changing resource use from c. ad 350 to 1200. The geographical limits of millet and substantial marine consumption are identified and comparisons between childhood and adult diets made across regions. Cross-cultural interaction at a broad scale is emphasized and patterns within early medieval England form the subject of an in-depth case study. While doubt is cast onto the uptake of marine resource consumption in England following the Fish Event Horizon, changes in agricultural practices, the impact of Christianization, and the role of freshwater fish in diets are explored. The author's hierarchical meta-analytical approach enables identification of human–environment interactions, with significant implications for changing foodways in Europe during the first millennium ad.

L’impact de la psychopathologie des parents sur le développement des enfants est un sujet particulièrement actuel, dans cette période de développement de la transversalité des soins (Communautés Hospitalières de Territoire, Contrats Locaux de Santé…). La dynamique de promotion de la santé et de prévention insufflée par ces nouvelles organisations doit se fonder sur une compréhension longitudinale et croisée des interactions entre trajectoires évolutives des troubles parentaux et du développement de l’enfant, afin d’adapter l’offre de soins au plus près des besoins de santé de ces deux populations. De grandes cohortes prospectives françaises ont été mises en place ces dernières années, permettant un accès à cette dynamique interactive et développementale (ELFE, EDEN, MATQUID…).

Cette session fera un point sur les connaissances actuelles et les résultats issus de ces populations à propos des liens entre troubles de l’adaptation, dépression périnatale, conduites addictives parentales, et développement des enfants, ainsi que sur l’impact de la nutrition des enfants sur l’évolution des TDA/H. Chaque intervention s’attachera à mettre en perspective la déclinaison des résultats en termes de santé publique, notamment dans une perspective de préventions primaires et secondaires.

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the quality of mastication and dietary intake among community-dwelling older adults (67-84 years). A secondary analysis of data collected upon entry of participants in the NuAge study was effected. Perceived masticatory efficiency (n=1793) was measured using a questionnaire inspired by the Oral Health Impact Profile. Direct assessment of masticatory efficiency was carried out in a subsample (n=94), using a validated clinical test (Swallowing Threshold Test Index, 0-100%). Dietary intake was calculated from three non-consecutive 24h recalls. Mean scores indicate good perceived masticatory efficiency (Men:26.22±0.19/28;Women:25.81±0.21/28), but weak assessed efficiency (Men:60.8% [CI(57.3-64.2)]; Women:61.2% [CI(57.7-64.7)]). Multivariate regression analysis, adjusting for confounding variables (age, sex, schooling, living alone, income, smoking, chronic conditions, functional autonomy), showed that masticatory efficiency (measured or perceived) was not associated with intake of fruits/vegetables, protein, vitamin C or folic acid.

Older-adult community programs are significant partners in the identification of need and delivery of health care for seniors. At present there is no systematic screening for nutritional risk in Ontario, and the interest and resources of community programs to screen is unknown. From three Ontario organizational membership lists, 200 programs were randomly selected; 136 key informants completed and returned the survey. A diverse sample of programs was included. Most were providing some form of nutrition programming, with the most common being meal provision. Two thirds (67.7%) were collecting some form of nutrition information: 56.4 per cent had an assessment questionnaire with nutrition information, and 21.8 per cent had clients subjectively assess their own nutritional risk. Most providers were interested in the nutritional health of their clients, and over half were interested in formally screening for nutritional risk. Barriers to screening were also identified. It is clear that nutrition is an area of priority for community programs and that nutrition screening is desired. Barriers to ethical screening need to be addressed prior to implementation of a systematic screening program.

Multiple isotopic systems (C, N, O, S, Sr, Pb) are applied to investigate diet and mobility amongst the Middle Neolithic populations at Schipluiden and Swifterbant (Netherlands). A review of carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of European Mesolithic and Neolithic populations shows a shift in diet from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic, but also great variety in Neolithic diets, several of which incorporate fish. At Swifterbant (c. 4300–4000 BC) the population had a diet largely based on terrestrial and freshwater resources, despite proximity to tidal waters. Only one individual (of 10) showed evidence for migration. In contrast at Schipluiden (c. 3600–3400 BC) there were migrants who had a diet lower in marine resources than those without evidence for migration. The faunal spectrum and isotopic similarities with sites in the Iron Gates Gorge suggest that sturgeon may have been important. There is some evidence that migrants at Schipluiden were not accorded the formal burial given to locally born people.

Stable isotope measurements and radiocarbon dates on 54 burials from northern Scotland document trends in marine protein consumption from the late Iron Age to the end of the Middle Ages. They illuminate how local environmental and cultural contingencies interrelated with a pan-European trend towards more intensive fishing around the end of the first millennium AD. Little use was made of marine foods in late Iron Age Orkney despite its maritime setting. Significant fish consumption appeared in the Viking Age (ninth to eleventh centuries AD), first in the case of some men buried with grave-goods of Scandinavian style but soon among both sexes in ‘Christian’ burials. There was then a peak in marine protein consumption from approximately the eleventh to the fourteenth centuries AD, particularly among men, after which the importance of fish-eating returned to Viking Age levels. The causes of these developments probably entailed a complex relationship between ethnicity, gender, Christian fasting practices, population growth, long-range fish trade and environmental change.

From Neolithic Malta, there is evidence of increasing population size accompanied by increasingly elaborate material culture, including the famous megalithic architecture. Stoddart et al. (1993) argued that social tensions and controls increased as food resources diminished. One important requirement of this argument is that the Neolithic inhabitants of Malta depended entirely on domesticated plants and animals for subsistence and therefore, with increased population sizes, the poor agricultural potential of these islands was stretched. However, it is possible that the consumption of wild foods, particularly marine resources, in the Neolithic would make up any shortfall in the agricultural foods. A direct way of measuring the amounts of marine protein in human diets is through chemical analysis of human bone. Stable isotope analyses undertaken on seven Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon dated humans from the Neolithic at the Brochtorff Circle indicated that there is no evidence for the significant use of marine foods by these Neolithic individuals. These new data indicate that agricultural foods were the dietary staple for this sample of the Maltese Neolithic population and therefore support the argument that increasing population during the Neolithic could have resulted in increasing resource stress.

The leaf miner Coelaenomenodera lameensis Berti and Mariau (Coleoptera: Chrysomeiidae, Hispinae) is the main oil palm pest in Africa. A study of variations in its fecundity, in space and time, was carried out at 7 plantations and 19 sites in Côte d'lvoire. Fluctuations in fecundity, which could vary from almost 300 eggs to just a few eggs per 90-day period, were very similar at the various sites of the same plantation, and at the sites of different plantations, even when these were very far apart from each other. Fecundity increased with temperature, but other climatic factors were also important, with air saturation deficit playing a decisive role. The drier the air, the lower was the fecundity, which could even reach almost zero. As this parameter had a considerable impact on palm leaves' stomatal opening, a highly significant correlation was established between the latter and fecundity. Food supplies for larvae and adults can also affect fecundity, which seems to vary with the potassium content of the leaves.

The effects of neem seed kernel extract (NSKE), neem oil (NO) and nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) of the Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on the mortality, feeding and development of S. litura were evaluated in the laboratory. Dose-dependent mortality was evident after NPV treatment, which also depended on larval age at treatment. Upon combining NPV with neem products, the percentage mortality was enhanced threefold even at reduced concentrations. The NSKE and NO significantly inhibited the growth and development of S. litura, and extended the duration of its larval and pupal stages. Oviposition period, adult longevity and fecundity were significantly reduced following treatment with neem products and with neem + NPV treatment. The efficiencies of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and digested food (ECD) were also significantly decreased by treatment with NSKE, NO and NPV, either alone or in combination.

Larvae of Cirina forda (Westwood) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), a popular food insect in the southern parts of Nigeria were raised in the laboratory on cut foliage as well as on a growing Vittelaria paradoxa tree at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Comparative observations were made on the insect's biology and behaviour in both rearing systems in order to ascertain if the larvae could be reared in captivity on cut foliage. Egg eclosión began 24–48 hours after egg-laying and lasted 10 days. First instars initially aggregated after egg hatch, then migrated in single file to feed after approximately 12 hours after emergence. The first and second instars fed as an aggregate, while the third and subsequent instars fed separately. The first two instars did not exhibit any defensive response when disturbed, but the subsequent four instars emitted a green fluid which may act as a repellant to potential predators. High mortalities were suffered by the first and the penultimate instars. Results have shown that Cirina larvae could be easily reared artificially on V. paradoxa to serve as source of food for humans.

The searching behaviour of two coccinellid predators, Coccinella transversalis Fab. and Cheilomenes (Menochilus) sexmaculatus Fab. at different hunger levels and larval stage was studied on eggplant infested with Aphis gossypii Glov. Females of both predators required more prey to return to a state of complete satiation. As the period of starvation increased, more aphids were consumed by both the beetles, reaching a maximum at 24 h starvation. In first, second, third and fourth instars of both the predators, the searching time and the number of eggplant leaf veins visited increased with increasing hunger levels. A high positive correlation between searching time and hunger level of tested predators was obtained.

Wild Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, were kept in net cages and fed a high energy salmon diet rich in (n–3) polyunsaturated fatty acids for 8 months. Analyses of whole body and muscle were performed at regular intervals on 1 and 2-year-old fish. The percentage of lipid and dry matter increased in whole body and muscle as the fish weight incrcased from catch to market size over the course of the following year. In all groups of fish examined the sum of fatty acids (n–3) as the percentage of total lipid in muscle decreased from 33 to 26%, while the sum of monoenoic acids increased with 10% from 39 to 49%. Vitamin E concentration of muscle increased substantially during feeding. The oxidation status of the fish muscles was very good at the end of the feeding period, with thiobarbituric acid values of less that 3 µmol kg−1. At theend of the feeding experiment large fish to be sold at market were starved for two weeks. Analyses of the nutritional and oxidative state of muscle showed that transport, slaughter and storage did not affect the lipid content or the fatty acid composition. Low and stable thiobarbituric acid values were observed, while vitamin E content significantly decreased during processing and storage at −30 °C, which indicates that vitamin E was an effective antioxidant in mackerel muscle.

Gastrointestinal evacuation of inert X-ray dense marker by turbot, Psetta maxima, was followed by use of radiography. Groups of individually tagged turbot aged 1 + years (136.5 g), were held at 16 °C and acclimatized to a feeding period of 4 hours per day. Fish were fed on pelleted feed in excess. The experimental design allowed a test of the effects of handling stress and post-prandial feeding on gastrointestinal evacuation. Repeated handling affected feed intake, but there were no significant treatment effects on gastrointestinal evacuation rate. Fish that ingested large meals displayed higher evacuation rates of markers than fish which ingested smaller meals, but total evacuation time was longer for the fish that consumed the largestmeals. Marker particles started to be voided from the gastrointestinal tract approximately 10 hours following initiation of a meal. and evacuation of marker was completed within 52 hours under the holding conditions employed in the present study.

Long-term effects of constant exogenous ammonia concentrations were investigated in two different batches of turbot juveniles (53 and 73 g) under controlled environmental and feeding conditions. Over the 84-day experiments, ambient un-ionized ammonia (UIA-N, NH3) concentrations were steady (coefficient of variation, 12-16%) and water pH range was 7.88-7.99. Survival was maximum up to 0.33 mg.l−1 UIA-N and at 0.73, 50% mortalities were observed on day 52 (73 g) or day 77 (53 g). No-growth concentration was 0.73 mg.l−1 UIA-N in the two groups and the 84-day lowest-observable-effect oncentration range 0.14-0.33 mg.l−1. In the most tolerant group (53 g), the 84-day no-observable-effect concentration was 0.14 mg.l−1 UIA-N. The estimated 28-day efficient concentration that gave 50% of the specific growth rate of controls ranged from 0.60 to 0.75 mg.l-1 UIA-N. Specific growth rate to ambient ammonia concentration patterns were different in the two groups for the lowest concentrations (0.14-0.34) and similar to food intake to ammonia pattern. Food efficiency was negatively correlated to ambient ammonia concentration, with major changes in food conversion ratio, and protein utilisation observed above 0.33-0.70 mg.l−1 UIA-N. The main change in body composition was an increase in water content in all ammonia-exposed fish. A significant increase in urea-N excretion rate was also observed over 0.33 mg.l−1 UIA-N. Thresholds for growth were affected by exposure duration. Turbot juveniles growth capacity may be depressed by usual ambient ammonia concentrations under intensive farming conditions.

Successful commercial production of most cultured fish species has been facilitated by the intensification of larval rearing techniques. Siluroidei species are no exception and early attempts at larval rearing in ponds were soon superseded by intensive hatchery production, at least for those species that are farmed on a commercial scale. The review focuses on alternative life history strategies and how these may provide clues to the early nutrition and feeding of siluroid fishes, as well as on the development and efficacy of practical feeds and feed application. The paper highlights several commonalities in terms of the nutritional and feeding requirements of the larvae of the various species cultured on a commercial and subsistence basis. The requirement for live feed for some species appears to be of short duration and all species can be successfully weaned onto dry feed at a relatively early stage. This is considered to be one of thereasons why the intensification of larval rearing of Siluroidei fishes has, in general, been highly successful. The review also comments on the live food/dry food debate and clearly reveals that our knowledge of Siluroidei larval nutrition and feeding is sorely lacking for many species, in comparison to other groups of fish. This emphasises the need for a concerted fundamental research effort.

Les Siluroidei sont connus pour avoir, en milieu naturel, une activité trophique essentiellement nocturne. Ceci a été confirmé au cours d'expériences réalisées en conditions d'accès constant à une source de nourriture, ou encore à l'aide de distributeurs d'aliments à la demande. Cependant, en conditions limitantes en température ou en oxygène, l'activité trophique de certains Siluroidei devient dépendante de ces deux facteurs, et n'est plus synchronisée par l'alternance jour/nuit. Le rythme nycthéméral d'activité trophique des espèces étudiées présenterait donc une acrophase préférentiellement nocturne, mais posséderait une certaine plasticité. L'existence d'un contrôle d'origine endogène de ce rythme est aussi discuté. Rares sont les poissons Siluroidei qui refusent de s'alimenter lors de distributions diurnes d'aliments. Il convient d'évaluer les conséquences que pourraient avoir sur la croissance des horaires d'alimentation non synchrones avec les rythmes alimentaires. L'effet de l'heure des repas sur les performances de croissance montrent une tendance générale à une croissance supérieure chez les animaux nourris de nuit par rapport aux animaux nourris de jour. Cependant, le mode de distribution choisi (en repas ou en continu) semble avoir plus d'influence que l'heure de distribution sur les performances de croissance. Certains auteurs ont aussi montré une augmentation de l'adiposité des poissons lorsqu'ils n'étaient pas nourris en phase avec leur rythme alimentaire.

Specificities of the structural, chemical, physical and sensory characteristics of the flesh are reviewed and related to different aspects of flesh quality. Potential for processing of catfish is high in terms of mechanization but rather low in terms of processing yields. The variability observed in body conformation traits supports the possibility to improve processing yields by genetic selection. Little is known on the structure of catfish flesh but a higher cohesiveness due both to greater connective tissue strength and probably a greater homogeneity of muscle tissues is observed, compared to other freshwater species. Although the presence of adipose tissues has not been demonstrated, intermuscular adipose tissues contributes with red muscle to lipid deposits in commercial size. Lipid content in catfish flesh increases with age but even at commercial size it is still lower than what is reported in other cultured fish. There is however a tendency in recent years for an increase in lipid content in catfish flesh due to increasedlipid content in the diet. Thus, further information on the control of lipid deposits is required in future especially in a view to improve taste and processing yields. The lipid composition of neutral lipids reflects that of the diet with high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and a low w3/w6 ratio.Flesh colour is very subtle but it could be controlled either by the use of pigment supplementation in the diet or by rearing non pigmented catfish. Other physical characteristics of the flesh are very stable during the cooking process. Cooked flesh has a relatively low water-holding capacity and a low resistance to mechanical stress (compression, extrusion) thus contributing to the juiciness and tenderness of the flesh. The sensory characteristics of the flesh are somewhat neutral but consumers are able to detect thespecific characteristics of different species such as Channel catfish, African catfish and European catfish. Significant efforts to standardize the sensory evaluation of Channel catfish have been made in the USA but flavor and aroma of catfish seem to be more related to the fish itself than to other factors such as the diet composition. New data is available on off-flavors related to geosmin and methyl-iso-borneol. Specific control of the phytoplankton species which produce these compounds appears to be possible.Storage on ice affects the flesh acceptability as it does for other fish species, but catfish flesh seems to be stable at least physically during freezing. Traditional processing is used for preservation of the flesh. New processing methods have been tested for the diversification of catfish products or to produce substitutes for other animal products. Catfishes are generally shown to be suitable for processing.

Deux expériences ont été réalisées pour tester la valeur alimentaire, pour le mâchoiron (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus), de dérivés de poissons de mer conservés par la méthode de l'ensilage. Le premier essai a concerné des déchets de conserveries de thons conservés par la méthode de l'ensilage acide (3 % d'acide formique). L'hydrolysat, renfermant 66,7 % de protéines brutes (N × 6,25) sur la base de la matière sèche (MS) a été incorporé dans un aliment expérimental en substitution à la farine de poisson sur une base iso-azotée. Les aliments ont été distribués à 6 lots de 50 mâchoirons, d'un poids initial de 34 g, pendant 56 jours à raison de 3 % (sec) du poids vif. Les performances zootechniques procurées par cet aliment sont meilleures, pour ce qui concerne le gain de poids (0,86 g.j−1) et l'indice de consommation (IC : 1,79) et le coefficient d'efficacité protéique (CEP: 1,46), par rapport à celles obtenues avec l'aliment témoin (pas de différence significative). Lors du deuxième essai il a été réalisé un complexe hydrocarboné à base de maïs pour conserver des sardinelles broyées par fermentation lactique. Ce mélange (coensilage), à pH stabilisé à 4,18, et renfermant 35,65 %, de protéines brutes (N × 6,25) en matière sèche (MS), a également été testé contre un témoin farine de poisson dans des conditions expérimentales identiques à celles décrites plus haut. L'aliment à base de coensilage a procuré de meilleurs gains, de poids (0,94 g.j−1, IC (1,77) et CEP (1,61) que l'aliment témoin. Les produits de la pêche ou leurs dérivés conservés par la méthode de l'ensilage acide ou du coensilage biologique apparaissent ainsi constituer une bonne source azotée pour l'alimentation du mâchoiron.

Two feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate growth and survival rates of African catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis Valenciennes, 1840) larvae fed with different diets: live Artemia nauplii, frozen Artemia nauplii, live zooplankton (Moina micrura), frozen zooplankton (Moina micrura), a dry diet based on yeast powder and beef liver, and a commercial trout starter diet. The larvae were fed in excess, six timesper day every 4 hours, from the onset of exogenous feeding up to an age of 14 days. In both experiments the final mean weight and specific growth rate of fish fed live Artemia nauplii were significantly higher than those of fish fed other diets (p > 0.05). Survival rates of fish fed Artemia (live or frozen), Moina micrura (live or frozen) and dry diet did not significantly differ (p > 0.05) and ranged from 79 to 92% and 61 to73% for experiment 1 and experiment 2, respectively. The commercial trout diet led to significantly lower growth and survival rates in comparison to all other diets tested. Although it led to a lower growth rate than that obtained with Artemia, Moina micrura proved suitable for first feeding of H. longifilis larvae. Locally available in West African waters, this cladocera could constitute a valuable alternative for larval rearing when a shortage of Artemia is expenenced. The results also showed that the artificial feed based on yeastpowder and beef liver leads to survival rates as high as those obtained with living diets and thus represents a promising way for feeding H. longifilis fry. However, further studies on the nutritional requirements of the larvae remain necessary in order to improve the efficiency of dry diet in terms of growth performance.

Juveniles of the common dentex (Dentex dentex) (2.4 g mean weight), were grown over a 6 week period, fed exclusively on a commercial sea bream diet or an isocaloric moist pellet diet, which was produced on site. Ambient temperature (24.4-26.2 °C) and oxygen content (4.8-5.9 mg/L), as well as the relatively low stocking density (max. 2.62 kg/m3) provided favourable rearing conditions. Survival (63.8% vs 51.6%), specific growth rates (6.1% vs 4.5%) and food conversion efficiency (115.8% vs 76.3%) were considerably elevated in the group fed on moist pellets. The growth performance parameters recorded are considered to be favourable for aquaculture requirements. Agonistic behaviour (particular biting of the tail) was found to be the main cause of the continuous mortality that occurred in both feed groups (78% and 64.8% of total mortality in the dry- and moist-pellet group, respectively). These biting attacks targeted the smallest individuals in a tank, whose mean individual weight made up 49-62% (with dry pellet diet) and 28.9-46.6% (with moist pellet diet) of the respective mean weights. The results indicate a strong relationship between nutrition, size variation and agonistic behaviour in the rearing of cornmon dentex juveniles.