Search Results (974)

Agrivoltaic systems, which enable simultaneous crop production and solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation on the same land, can support climate mitigation, food security, and rural development. Leguminous crops like beans are globally important, yet there is limited performance studies on diverse agrivoltaic trials. This limits appropriate policy guidance. To overcome these limitations, this study assessed organic green bush bean performance under thirteen PV configurations with varying transparency and spectral properties, comparing both agricultural outcomes against national yields and policy standards. The results in vegetative metrics indicated that blue-spectrum thin-film and intermediate-transparency c-Si modules supported growth near German productivity thresholds. Although no agrivoltaic system matched national average yields, combining crop and energy revenues revealed substantial benefits: the 44%—transparent c-Si configuration generated 340% more total revenue than traditional farming, and the blue 70%—transparent thin-film system achieved 94% of national yield but 164% of conventional farm revenue per acre. Electricity generation gains outweighed modest crop reductions, highlighting strong synergies between food and energy. The results of this study highlights the potential of agrivoltaic systems to enhance land-use efficiency, support renewable energy expansion, and improve rural economic resilience, while underscoring the need for multi-year trials and site-specific controls to validate long-term sustainability outcomes. Full article

Agri-food byproducts are increasingly recognized as sustainable feedstocks for high-value bioactive compounds; but their practical valorization requires integrated evidence on recovery conditions; chemical composition; bioactivity; and application readiness. This review critically examines green recovery strategies and chemical profiling platforms for bioactive compounds recovered from peels; pomace; seed residues; hulls; vegetation waters; and pruning waste. Emphasis is placed on how extraction variables shape chemical profiles; extract quality; and reported biological activities. Ultrasound- and microwave-assisted extraction; enzyme- and fermentation-assisted recovery; supercritical fluid extraction; pressurized liquid extraction; pulsed electric field-assisted pretreatment; and green solvent-based extraction are discussed in terms of target-compound selectivity; solvent and energy demand; process safety; scalability; and sustainability-related evidence. Chromatographic; mass-spectrometric; spectroscopic; and metabolomics-based profiling approaches are evaluated for identification; annotation; quantification; fingerprinting; quality-marker selection; and standardization; with confidence levels distinguished according to authentic-standard matching; tandem mass spectrometry evidence; spectral libraries; or fingerprint-level evidence. Circular valorization pathways in food; nutraceutical; cosmetic; pharmaceutical, and biopesticide-related applications are further considered with attention to feedstock heterogeneity; process standardization; stability; safety; regulatory feasibility; scalability; and techno-economic feasibility. Overall; this review provides a linkage-oriented framework for developing standardized; application-readiness-oriented bioactive candidates from agri-food byproducts. Full article

This study assesses improved maize variety (IMV) adoption, as well as yield effects among smallholder farmers in Benue State, Nigeria, having implications for sustainable crop management and resource-use efficiency. Benue state is commonly known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” but the average maize yield remains less than 2 t/ha, compared to 7–10 t/ha when achieved under improved technologies, and it shows a key sustainability challenge for food security and land-use efficiency. With primary cross-sectional survey data from 205 smallholder farmers with 107 adopters and 98 non-adopters, selected across Local Government Area (LGAs) in Benue State, this study adopts Propensity Score Matching (PSM) for controlling selection bias and estimating the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATET). Nearest Neighbour Matching acts as a primary estimator through robustness checks while using Radius and Kernel Matching. However, the logit model shows that IMV is greatly determined by gender, use of fertilizer, formal education, cooperative membership, access to irrigation, and extension contact, highlighting the crucial parts of human capital, complementary inputs, and institutional support in promoting sustainable adoption of technology. Following the control for observable differences across matching, a 0.399 log-unit yield gain was achieved by adopters, which is equivalent to approximately 49% higher output per hectare compared to non-adopters, an effect that is robust throughout alternative matching algorithms, and it surpasses the 38.7% national-level yield increase, indicating a regional sustainability premium in Benue State. The gains in productivity can promote land-use efficiency, decrease pressure for agricultural intensification on vulnerable lands, and enhance the case for integrated crop management. But adoption remains limited by access to quality seeds, complementary inputs, credit, and sustained gender barriers. Improving input supply chains, extension services, and institutional support is therefore crucial for developing productivity, resource-use efficiency, and food security across smallholder farming systems. Full article

Food waste research often applies the Motivation–Opportunity–Ability (MOA) framework, yet conventional aggregate measures may obscure the distinct roles of physical context and cognition-related capacity. Using a macro-contextual, micro-primary dual-layer design, this study first uses World Bank data from 176 countries to provide structural context; this macro layer is not statistically linked to the student-level model. The main behavioral inference comes from matched plate-weighing and questionnaire data from 170 students across two purposively selected ordinary higher education institutions in northern and southern China. Within this exploratory and context-specific micro-level sample, the baseline three-dimensional MOA model explains only 4.1% of variance in log-transformed plate waste, whereas decomposing Opportunity into social and physical components and representing the Ability extension through behavioral ability and a two-item cognitive-capacity proxy improves model fit. The five-dimensional model explains 44.1% of variance ($F=26.2$, $p<0.001$). Johnson relative weight analysis indicates that Physical Opportunity (51.1%) and the two-item cognitive-capacity proxy (46.3%) account for most explained MOA variance in this sample. Item-level sensitivity checks further suggest that portion estimation and nutrition knowledge should be interpreted as distinct cognition-related indicators rather than as a validated latent scale. Robustness checks across raw, log-transformed, winsorized, logistic, and quantile specifications indicate consistent positive associations for Physical Opportunity and consistent negative associations for cognition-related indicators. Because the design is cross-sectional, these findings identify associations rather than causal effects; physical-environment redesign and cognitive-capacity support should therefore be treated as candidate directions for future intervention testing rather than as confirmed intervention effects. By linking objectively measured plate waste to institutional dining conditions, the study contributes to sustainability research on responsible consumption, resource efficiency, low-carbon campus operations, and practical pathways for reducing avoidable food-related environmental burdens in university settings. Full article

The water–energy–food (WEF) system acts as a critical nexus of social–ecological systems. However, rapid urbanization has intensified the regional imbalance in the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs). Clarifying the spatiotemporal matching of ecosystem services supply and demand (ESSD) within the WEF framework and revealing the driving mechanisms behind such imbalances are essential to formulating reasonable zoning schemes and targeted optimization strategies for the coordinated development of the regional WEF system. Taking Zhejiang Province as a case study, this research uses water yield (WY), carbon sequestration (CS), and grain production (GP) to characterize the WEF nexus system. It uses the InVEST model to assess WY and CS, applies spatial allocation methods to characterize GP, and integrates socioeconomic data to quantify the demand for the above three ESs. All indicators were standardized and integrated with equal weights to further clarify the comprehensive levels of ESSD. By integrating the Geodetector and K-Means clustering methods, the study analyzes the supply–demand matching of ecosystem services and its driving mechanisms in Zhejiang Province during this period, thereby exploring ecological management zoning and optimization strategies within the WEF system. The study findings indicate that: (1) From the supply perspective, Zhejiang Province’s WY services demonstrate a trend of elevated activity in the southwest and diminished presence in the northeast; high values for CS services are predominantly found in the vegetation-rich areas of the northwest, while high values for GP services are clustered in the northern Zhejiang Plain; from the demand perspective, high values for all three ESs in Zhejiang Province are primarily located in economically active, densely populated urban areas. (2) The correlation between ESSD within Zhejiang Province’s WEF system exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and is driven by the combined effects of natural and socioeconomic factors, with the interaction between these two factors often producing a synergistic effect. Specifically, annual average precipitation and population density are the dominant factors influencing WY services, NDVI and human footprint are the dominant factors influencing CS services, and population density and GDP are the dominant factors influencing GP services. (3) From 2000 to 2020, the supply–demand ratio for comprehensive ESs in Zhejiang Province generally followed a pattern of being lower in the east and higher in the west. The supply–demand imbalance of ESs intensified in the core areas of eastern cities, whereas the western regions maintained a relatively sound supply–demand balance. (4) The study classifies the counties in Zhejiang Province into four ecological management zones—ecological stable zones, ecological conservation zones, ecological control zones, and ecological restoration zones—and explores differentiated approaches to optimizing these zones and implementing control strategies. Full article

Ampicillin residues in animal-derived foods may cause allergic reactions and promote antimicrobial resistance in consumers; however, data on residue behavior in poultry remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the depletion of ampicillin in muscle and skin plus fat of broiler chickens. Thirty birds were treated with ampicillin intramuscularly (20 mg kg⁻¹ every 24 h for three days) and sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 9 days post-administration. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, a method successfully validated according to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808, VICH GL49 and GL2. Quantification was performed by linear regression from matrix-matched calibration curves. Residue depletion was evaluated following the European Medicines Agency guidelines. Ampicillin residues in muscle were detected only during the first 24 h post-administration (6.50–8.48 µg kg⁻¹). Residues in skin plus fat remained detectable until day 5 post-administration (6.87–59.88 µg kg⁻¹). Based on this, the withdrawal period calculated for skin plus fat was 9 days considering EU maximum residue limit (MRL) and 19 days considering method limit of quantification, with 95% confidence. These results provide critical data on ampicillin residue kinetics under controlled experimental conditions, supporting risk assessments and the establishment of MRLs in broiler chickens by the Codex Alimentarius. Full article

Street-food grilling is a common occupation in Asia, yet the occupational health risks associated with cooking-generated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure, occurring alongside plausible unmeasured co-exposures such as ambient heat and physical workload, remain under-researched. This study investigated the internal dose of PAH exposure and its association with early biological effects and physiological strain among grill restaurant workers. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving grill workers and 20 age/BMI-matched controls. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was utilized as the primary exposure biomarker. The study assessed early biological effects such as oxidative stress (8-OHdG, F₂-isoprostanes), lung epithelial integrity (CC16), and genotoxicity (BPDE-DNA adducts) via ELISA. Physiological parameters, including blood pressure and heart rate, were recorded to evaluate acute cardiovascular strain. Workers had significantly elevated urinary 1-OHP levels compared to controls (Hodges–Lehmann ratio = 3.66, 95% CI: 1.68–7.12, representing a 3.7-fold median increase), with exposure levels increasing proportionally to smoke proximity. Notably, workers demonstrated a significantly higher median resting heart rate (HL ratio = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.23; +12.9%) and systolic blood pressure (HL ratio = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00–1.18; +8.9%) compared to their office-based peers. Although strong correlations were observed among biological effect biomarkers (r_s = 0.42–0.63), there were no significant differences between groups for 8-OHdG, CC16, or BPDE-DNA adducts, suggesting that cardiovascular parameters reflect acute short-term responses, while genomic damage markers may require higher cumulative exposure thresholds to become detectable. The study revealed that grill restaurant workers face substantial internal PAH exposure and significant cardiovascular strain, occurring alongside plausible unmeasured co-exposures including ambient heat and physical workload. The prevalence of chronic cough and elevated heart rate is a critical early warning sign for occupational health. Our findings indicate that current general ventilation is inadequate, highlighting an urgent need for localized engineering controls and comprehensive health surveillance, including cardiovascular monitoring in the service sector. Full article

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is prevalent in hospitalized geriatric and neurological populations and constitutes a major driver of disease-related malnutrition. Conventional texture-modified diets frequently rely on diluting solid foods with liquid agents to achieve safe swallowing consistency, a process that reduces caloric and protein density per gram and creates a so-called volume paradox, whereby large meal volumes deliver inadequate nutrients. This retrospective observational study, conducted at the Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, compared nutritional intake in 208 hospitalized dysphagic adults receiving either a traditional homogenized standard diet (THSD; n = 58) or a density-enriched dysphagia-prepared diet (DPD; n = 150). Following propensity-score matching, total daily energy intake was significantly higher with the DPD compared to the THSD (1024 ± 307 kcal vs. 523 ± 161 kcal; p < 0.0001), as was total protein intake (37.3 ± 12.9 g vs. 26.2 ± 12.7 g; p < 0.0001). Clinically meaningful differences were observed across all meal components, including a more than twofold advantage in breakfast protein content (6.6 ± 1.7 g vs. 3.0 ± 1.5 g). Despite these improvements, total energy and protein intake remained below estimated daily requirements in both groups, highlighting the need for systematic nutritional monitoring alongside catering optimization. These findings support density-enrichment as a practical and safe strategy for improving nutritional adequacy in dysphagic inpatients, with implications for reducing reliance on oral nutritional supplements and mitigating disease-related malnutrition in clinical settings. Full article

Aflatoxins (AFs) are among the most hazardous mycotoxins in food, yet their occurrence in legume-based products remains poorly investigated, and official standardized analytical methods validated by international regulatory bodies are still limited for these specific matrices. This study evaluates the effectiveness of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) coupled with HPLC-FLD for the determination of AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2 in pea flour (Pisum sativum), with a particular focus on assessing the necessity of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cleanup step. Two analytical workflows were compared: direct MAE and MAE followed by SPE purification. The optimized MAE conditions (60 °C, 5 min, acidified acetonitrile) provided good repeatability (RSD < 8.7%) and acceptable recoveries (70–73% at 10 µg/kg), while the inclusion of SPE improved recoveries up to 95–103% but did not yield a noteworthy reduction in matrix effects for AFB1 and AFG1. Matrix-induced signal suppression (up to −24.6%) was observed in both approaches, highlighting the necessity of matrix-matched calibration. Limits of quantification ranged from 0.09 to 0.25 µg/kg (MAE) and from 0.12 to 0.43 µg/kg (MAE + SPE), with no statistically significant differences between the two protocols. Application to commercial pea flours (n = 7) revealed no quantifiable contamination, with only one sample showing AFB1 below the LOQ. Overall, the results demonstrate that under the tested conditions, the direct MAE approach, combined with trifluoroacetic acid derivatization and HPLC-FLD analysis, provides a reliable and efficient alternative to conventional cleanup-based methods for routine AF analysis in pea flour. The application to a small batch of commercial samples confirms the method’s fitness-for-purpose as a preliminary screening tool. Full article

Community-based tourism (CBT) destinations are increasingly expected to align visitor experiences with climate responsibility, yet local managers often lack product-level carbon evidence that can guide practical route redesign and service decisions. This study addresses this aggregation-to-action gap by developing a route-level carbon footprint baseline for a CBT itinerary in Ban Boonjaem, Phrae Province, Thailand. Using an exploratory and applied case study design, the study treats one completed six-hour, non-overnight itinerary as the functional unit and applies a life-cycle-informed operational boundary covering transportation, food and beverage consumption, and solid waste generated during the route test. Primary activity data were collected from one organized route test involving 20 Thai domestic volunteer tourists and were matched with relevant emission factors to estimate total and per-tourist emissions. The tested itinerary generated 0.2234 tCO2e, equivalent to 223.4 kgCO2e in total and approximately 11.2 kgCO2e per tourist per trip. Transportation was the largest emission domain, accounting for 55.89% of total route emissions, followed by food and beverage consumption at 38.55%, while waste contributed 5.56%. Together, transportation and food and beverage represented 94.44% of measured emissions, indicating that the route’s carbon profile was shaped mainly by mobility arrangements and service provisioning rather than waste generation alone. The study contributes a transparent, route-specific operational baseline for low-carbon CBT management. The findings should be interpreted as case-specific decision-support evidence rather than as a destination-wide carbon inventory or statistically generalizable estimate. Full article

Primary mitochondrial diseases (PMD) are rare disorders with limited therapeutic options. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation is widely used, although formulation differences can affect absorption and efficacy. This open-label pilot feasibility trial evaluated a food for special medical purposes (FSMP) containing high-dose CoQ10 (250 mg per capsule) in patients with PMD. Ten patients (mean age: 55.5 ± 8.6 years) were enrolled. Serum/plasma biomarkers, including CoQ10, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total sulfhydryl groups (t-SH), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), were assessed at baseline (T0, after ≥30 days of conventional ubidecarenone) and after 30 days of FSMP administration (T1). Fatigue severity scale (FSS) and 5-times sit-to-stand test (5xSST) were evaluated at both timepoints. FSMP was administered at 250 or 500 mg/day. Twenty sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included for CoQ10 comparison. Absolute CoQ10 concentrations remained stable overall at T1, with all patients maintaining levels above 390 ng/mL (100% vs. 60% at T0), although concentrations remained lower than in healthy controls (p < 0.01). Dose-normalized CoQ10 exposure was significantly higher with FSMP versus conventional ubidecarenone (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 7.31). FGF21, GDF15, AOPP, and t-SH remained unchanged, whereas FRAP increased at T1 (p < 0.01). No significant changes were observed in 5xSST and FSS. Exploratory analyses indicated inter-individual variability in functional responses. FSMP was associated with higher dose-normalized systemic CoQ10 exposure, more consistent circulating CoQ10, and increased FRAP levels. Its simplified dosing regimen may support long-term adherence. Larger studies are warranted to validate these preliminary findings. Full article

In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum XHQ-007, sourced from fermented pineapple pomace, was investigated using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and systematic phenotypic assays to evaluate its biosafety and functional potential in food applications. The strain showed a 79.94% reduction in detectable tyramine under complex fermentation conditions. In the absence of pH-matched abiotic controls, this reduction cannot be exclusively attributed to enzymatic degradation and may also involve chemical or acid-mediated matrix effects. Further studies are required to distinguish biological degradation from physicochemical contributions. Genomic analysis suggested that this capability may be associated with a putative candidate tyramine-associated metabolic pathway involving the multicopper oxidase cueO and the putative hpa gene cluster, rather than conventional amine oxidases. Furthermore, the isolate displayed strong resilience against gastrointestinal stressors, such as acidic conditions and bile salts. Safety assessments confirmed the absence of hemolytic activity and mobile antibiotic resistance genes. Notably, WGS also identified a plantaricin (pln) operon containing regulatory elements (plnABCD) and structural genes (plnMNOP), suggesting genomic potential for bacteriocin-related functions. The identification of poxL and nox2 may further indicate energy metabolism and redox homeostasis. Overall, this study provides a genome-informed and phenotype-supported characterization of L. plantarum XHQ-007 in a fermentation context. However, all mechanistic interpretations remain putative and require further experimental validation. Full article

Global salinization affects approximately one billion hectares of land in more than 100 countries, posing a severe threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability. Microbial remediation using plant growth-promoting microorganisms offers an eco-friendly alternative to physicochemical methods. However, bridging the gap between laboratory cultivation of single strains and field-scale application of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) remains difficult, owing to inconsistent efficacy and a lack of unified design frameworks. This review examines the evolution from single strains to rationally designed SynComs for saline soil remediation. A ‘structure–function–mechanism’ framework is proposed, integrating five core microbial modules, namely ion regulation and osmotic stabilization, ethylene and phytohormone modulation, antioxidant activation, nutrient cycle activation, and systemic resistance induction. The review elucidates key determinants of synthetic community success, including functional complementarity, strain compatibility, and host–environment matching, while revealing a marked quantitative gap between controlled experiments and field performance. Key bottlenecks are identified, including the lack of high-throughput compatibility screening, poorly quantified long-term ecological risks, and the absence of standardized application guidelines across agro-ecological zones. Finally, emerging avenues are discussed, such as microbial–microalgal symbiosis and AI-assisted design, outlining a roadmap for next-generation smart microbial products integrated into climate-resilient farming systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Elastin-derived peptides (EPs) from food sources may be multifunctional dietary components that support metabolic and vascular health. However, their in vivo physiological actions remain incompletely understood. This study investigated the effects of bonito bulbus arteriosus-derived EPs on glucose metabolism, GLP-1 elevation associated with enhanced early-phase insulin secretion, and renal vascular integrity in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) with glucose intolerance. Methods: Male SHRSP were administered EPs orally as a single dose (1000 mg/kg) or 4-week regimen (600 mg/kg/day). Glucose tolerance, plasma GLP-1 and insulin levels, and blood glucose levels were measured following glucose loading. Renal morphology was assessed histologically. Dpp4, Icam-1, and Agtr1 expression was quantified in glomerular and leukocyte fractions. Leukocyte oxidative signaling was evaluated by quantifying reactive oxygen species production associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Age-matched Wistar–Kyoto rats were included as normotensive controls. Results: A single dose increased plasma GLP-1 and insulin levels and improved glucose tolerance compared with controls. The 4-week regimen resulted in sustained improvements in glucose tolerance, without changes in blood pressure, a lower nephrosclerosis incidence, and reduced renal and leukocytic inflammatory marker expression. Dpp4, Icam-1, and Agtr1 expression was downregulated, and leukocyte iNOS-driven oxidative signaling was reduced. These effects occurred despite the modest DPP4 inhibitory activity of EPs. Conclusions: Food-derived EPs may exert multi-target physiological actions, including GLP-1 elevation with enhanced early-phase insulin secretion and leukocyte oxidative and inflammatory response suppression, which potentially improve metabolic and renal vascular outcomes. EPs warrant further exploratory investigation as candidate functional food ingredients for metabolic and vascular health. Full article

Single-use plastics (SUPs) impose substantial environmental costs. Following Directive (EU) 2019/904, Austria introduced producer charges and mandatory participation in collection and recycling systems. This paper exploits a monthly aggregated and disaggregated panel of retail offer spells drawn from a price-comparison platform to estimate the extent to which compliance costs pass through to posted online prices in Austria. The treated sample comprises keyword-matched SUP products—balloons, to-go cups, wet wipes, plastic bags, food containers, tobacco-filter items, beverage bottles, and plastic wraps—observed alongside a control group of non-SUP listings over 2020–2024. A two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) specification places the average post-treatment price increase at approximately 4.1 percent. A sequential TWFE model that disaggregates the administrative reporting phase (from March 2023) from the payment-due phase (from March 2024) reveals that the larger adjustment occurs during the earlier reporting stage, with a reporting-only effect of approximately 8.1 percent and an incremental payment-phase effect of 5.6 percent. For balloons—a category subject to pronounced regulatory fee exposure—event-study estimates exceed 50 percent in the months immediately following the initial payment date and remain elevated throughout most of the post-treatment window. Taken together, these findings indicate that Austrian online retailers began adjusting prices in advance of fee-payment deadlines, a pattern consistent with anticipatory pass-through of expected compliance costs rather than a discrete response to realized payments. As the data contain price observations but not quantity data, the analysis speaks to price incidence and does not extend to consumption or environmental outcomes. Full article