RESULTS OF ANALYSIS OF OSTEOLOGICAL MATE RIALS OF SCYTHIAN TIME FROM THE HILLFORT BOLSHOE STOROZHEVOE: LATEST RESEARCH

The article analyzes osteological materials obtained during the latest excavations of one of the largest hillforts of the Middle Don culture of the Scythian time – Bolshoye Storozhevoe. The collection under study dates back to the end of the 5th - 4th centuries BC. and has 3650 bones, 1180 of which have been identified to species. The bones are kitchen remains associated with the butchering and consumption of animal meat directly on the site. The analyzed samples are represented exclusively by the bones of domestic animals. Among them, the remains of cattle (36.4%) predominate, fragments of the skeleton of a horse (23.1%) and small ruminants (23.2%) were found equally, pig bones (15.8%) were found somewhat less frequently. The bones of a dog were found, almost all of which were found in one of the household pits. Among the slaughtered animals, as a rule, adults prevailed, which indicates that people were engaged in animal husbandry directly on the hillfort. According to the proposed by E. E. Antipina method, the volume of consumption of meat products was calculated and the herd composition was reconstructed. The basis of the meat diet was beef and horse meat. Goat, lamb and pork supplemented the meat diet. The herd apparently consisted mainly of horses and cattle. There were few pigs, goats and sheep in it.

The Fecal Microbiota of Dogs Switching to a Raw Diet Only Partially Converges to That of Wolves

The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet compared with their ancestor wolves. Diet is a key element to shape gut microbial populations in a direct way as well as through coevolution with the host. We investigated the dynamics in the gut microbiota of dogs when shifting from a starch-rich, processed kibble diet to a nature-like raw meat diet, using wolves as a wild reference. Six healthy wolves from a local zoo and six healthy American Staffordshire Terriers were included. Dogs were fed the same commercial kibble diet for at least 3 months before sampling at day 0 (DC), and then switched to a raw meat diet (the same diet as the wolves) for 28 days. Samples from the dogs were collected at day 1 (DR1), week 1 (DR7), 2 (DR14), 3 (DR21), and 4 (DR28). The data showed that the microbial population of dogs switched from kibble diet to raw diet shifts the gut microbiota closer to that of wolves, yet still showing distinct differences. At phylum level, raw meat consumption increased the relative abundance of Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes at DR1, DR7, DR14, and DR21 (q < 0.05) compared with DC, whereas no differences in these two phyla were observed between DC and DR28. At genus level, Faecalibacterium, Catenibacterium, Allisonella, and Megamonas were significantly lower in dogs consuming the raw diet from the first week onward and in wolves compared with dogs on the kibble diet. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) showed a higher abundance of Stenotrophomonas, Faecalibacterium, Megamonas, and Lactobacillus in dogs fed kibble diet compared with dogs fed raw diet for 28 days and wolves. In addition, wolves had greater unidentified Lachnospiraceae compared with dogs irrespective of the diets. These results suggested that carbohydrate-fermenting bacteria give way to protein fermenters when the diet is shifted from kibble to raw diet. In conclusion, some microbial phyla, families, and genera in dogs showed only temporary change upon dietary shift, whereas some microbial groups moved toward the microbial profile of wolves. These findings open the discussion on the extent of coevolution of the core microbiota of dogs throughout domestication.

Meat Reduction in 5 to 8 Years Old Children—A Survey to Investigate the Role of Parental Meat Attachment

It is by now well established that a plant-based and meatless or reduced-meat diet is an important contribution to a sustainability and healthy diet. This work discusses important determinants for parents of implementing a meat reduced diet for their children. A questionnaire was conducted with 90 parents of children aged 5–8 years living in Germany, where they had to choose one out of three options of a dish, namely meaty, reduced meat and no meat, for their child. The results show that the parent’s attachment to meat and the associated attitudes and habits play a crucial role in their meal choice and therefore eating behaviour, including consumed amounts of meat, of their child. Moreover, perceived tastiness, healthiness and balanced serving style, as well as the child’s preferences influences the parent’s decision. The findings of this work provide valuable insights to the food industry and food producers, health professionals and public health, as it highlights the background, as well as some drivers and barriers for parents choosing a dish with less meat for their children.

Vegan versus meat-based pet foods: Owner-reported palatability behaviours and implications for canine and feline welfare

Consumer suspicion of conventional pet foods, along with perceived health benefits of alternative diets, are fuelling development of the latter. These include raw meat diets, in vitro meat products, and diets based on novel protein sources such as terrestrial and marine plants, insects, yeast and fungi. However, some claim vegan diets may be less palatable, or may compromise animal welfare. We surveyed 4,060 dog or cat guardians to determine the importance to them of pet food palatability, and the degree to which their animals displayed specific behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times. Guardians were asked to choose one dog or cat that had been within their household for at least one year, and not on a prescription or therapeutic diet. Of 3,976 respondents who played some role in pet diet decision-making, palatability was the third most important among 12 factors cited as important when choosing pet diets. For 1,585 respondents feeding conventional or raw meat diets, who stated they would realistically consider alternative diets, palatability was the fourth most important among 14 desired attributes. For the 2,308 dogs included, reported observations of 10 behavioural indicators of palatability at meal times reliably indicated significant effects of increased reports of appetitive behaviour by dogs on a raw meat diet, as opposed to a conventional diet. There was no consistent evidence of a difference between vegan diets and either the conventional or raw meat diets. For the 1,135 cats included, reported observations of 15 behavioural indicators indicated that diet made little difference to food-oriented behaviour. Based on these owner-reported behaviours, our results indicate that vegan pet foods are generally at least as palatable to dogs and cats as conventional meat or raw meat diets, and do not compromise their welfare, when other welfare determinants, such as nutritional requirements, are adequately provided.

An Analysis Of The Strategic Effect Of Lnformation System On The Lmmunity Enhancement Of Gallbladder Patients

This paper is to conduct a strategic analysis of the information system to improve the immunity system of gallbladder cancer patients. The subjects of the study were 146 people who visited internal medicine clinics located in Chungcheong Province from March 11 to May 13, 2019. The group of people who mediated the information system was classified as 53 people and those who did not mediated the information system were classified as 53 people. The change in patient condition was analyzed as t-test following the application of the information system. The application of the body’s immune system to the information system was measured at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks. The results of this study are as follows. First, LDL, a bad cholesterol decreased significantly after the information system was applied(t=3.72, p<.05). Second, the physical immunity continued to increase after the application of the information system. However, the body's immunity has tended to decline since the 16th. Therefore, to prevent the incidence of gallbladder cancer, diet management such as greasy and meat diet is required.

Wolffia globosa–Mankai Plant-Based Protein Contains Bioactive Vitamin B12 and Is Well Absorbed in Humans

Background: Rare plants that contain corrinoid compounds mostly comprise cobalamin analogues, which may compete with cobalamin (vitamin B12 (B12)) metabolism. We examined the presence of B12 in a cultivated strain of an aquatic plant: Wolffia globosa (Mankai), and predicted functional pathways using gut-bioreactor, and the effects of long-term Mankai consumption as a partial meat substitute, on serum B12 concentrations. Methods: We used microbiological assay, liquid-chromatography/electrospray-ionization-tandem-mass-spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and anoxic bioreactors for the B12 experiments. We explored the effect of a green Mediterranean/low-meat diet, containing 100 g of frozen Mankai shake/day, on serum B12 levels during the 18-month DIRECT-PLUS (ID:NCT03020186) weight-loss trial, compared with control and Mediterranean diet groups. Results: The B12 content of Mankai was consistent at different seasons (p = 0.76). Several cobalamin congeners (Hydroxocobalamin(OH-B12); 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin(Ado-B12); methylcobalamin(Me-B12); cyanocobalamin(CN-B12)) were identified in Mankai extracts, whereas no pseudo B12 was detected. A higher abundance of 16S-rRNA gene amplicon sequences associated with a genome containing a KEGG ortholog involved in microbial B12 metabolism were observed, compared with control bioreactors that lacked Mankai. Following the DIRECT-PLUS intervention (n = 294 participants; retention-rate = 89%; baseline B12 = 420.5 ± 187.8 pg/mL), serum B12 increased by 5.2% in control, 9.9% in Mediterranean, and 15.4% in Mankai-containing green Mediterranean/low-meat diets (p = 0.025 between extreme groups). Conclusions: Mankai plant contains bioactive B12 compounds and could serve as a B12 plant-based food source.

Meat reduction, vegetarianism, or chicken avoidance: US omnivores’ impressions of three meat-restricted diets

PurposeMeat consumption has a variety of implications in society. While various types of meat-restricted diets exist to address this, not enough is known about how the average meat consumer views different avenues to lessening their intake. In response, this study aims to assess US omnivores’ impressions of three meat-restricted diets.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was administered to a cross-sectional, census-balanced sample from Nielsen of 30,000+ US adults. Omnivores (N = 928) were randomized into one of the three conditions where they were asked about their perceptions of a vegetarian diet, a reduced-meat diet or a chicken-free diet as individuals not currently following that dietary pattern.FindingsThe findings showed that omnivores had a more favorable perception of a reduced-meat diet on a greater number of study variables as compared to the vegetarian or chicken-free diets. The research also demonstrated that a majority of omnivores were in the precontemplation stage of cognitive change, suggesting that most American omnivores are not actively demonstrating a readiness to alter their meat consumption in the ways presented.Originality/valueThis research is the first to examine the comparative trends around these three diets among omnivores. It also speaks to how the desirability of meat restriction varies by type of approach, i.e. elimination or reduction, and if the latter, what type. The findings may be of relevance for efforts to reduce global meat consumption for ethical, health, or environmental reasons.

The Cherniakhov Culture in Olbia Pontica in the light of Polish-Ukrainian excavations 2016-2018

In the paper will be presented the results of archaeological research done by a Polish-Ukrainian team in the years 2016-2018 at the archaeological site Olbia Pontica. The main result of this excavations is the thesis, strongly documented in the archaeological finds, that the last inhabitants of Olbia left this place at the beginning of the 5th century AD and that during the last period of its existence Olbia was strongly connected with the Cherniakhov culture. Additionally, thanks to major concentration of animal bones, the finds allowed research into the meat diet of the inhabitants of Olbia in the 4th century AD. The bone finds also seem to confirm a climate change in that century too.