Search Results (11,768)

Livestock plays a crucial role in the global food system, not only as an important source of nutrients but also as a means of economic and social well-being. It constitutes a critical parameter of agricultural production in Mediterranean countries, with the majority of farms still having a relatively small herd size and depending largely on family labor. The purpose of this study is to record and evaluate the perceptions of livestock farmers in the Region of Western Macedonia, Greece (which represents a typical paradigm of an agricultural region), regarding the future prospects and the actions taken to ensure the sustainability of their farms. The research is based on a survey carried out from May to October, 2024, on ruminant farmers. Selective breeding and crossbreeding with higher-productivity breeds are some of the genetic improvements that are generally applied to increase productivity and were, therefore, investigated in this study. Through gradual crossbreeding, farmers attempt to improve the composition of their initial herds by incorporating high-productivity traits—although without officially participating in any recognized improvement program. This increases the risk of extinction for indigenous breeds, which are abandoned for use by the farmers. Our results also showed that most livestock farms derive from inheritances, with many livestock farmers practicing grazing mainly in mountainous areas and still rearing indigenous breeds. From the farmers’ point of view, more information and education regarding market conditions are needed. Furthermore, the sustainability of farms largely depends on subsidies, which are crucial due to difficulties in economic viability, particularly in mountainous areas. Encouraging the support of market differentiation and public awareness for the nutritional value of products derived from local breeds may serve as a promising agrobiodiversity conservation strategy. Full article

Chad, a Sub-Saharan country, has some of the worst child mortality and health indicators. A lack of recent and accurate health records in Béré, rural Chad, due to decades of strife compromises the development of relevant health interventions by Project 21, a community health program. This study investigates child mortality, weight gain ability, and related factors in 0–2-year-olds through a cross-sectional study completed by trained community health workers using a survey questionnaire. Most household heads are Nangtchéré Christian males with secondary-level education. Male infants have the highest mortality rate. Infant mortality is predicted by non-exclusive breastfeeding started within 6 days after birth and by the number of household children who experienced and received treatment for meningitis. Toddlers’ mortality is predicted by the number of household adults who experienced and received treatment for meningitis and the number of household adults and children who were vaccinated. The odds of children having no difficulty gaining weight vary with their gender, age, the food or liquid given to them, the source of breastfeeding advice, handwashing and vaccination practices, and experiences with infectious diseases and their treatments. These findings provide targets for future health interventions towards achieving SDG3 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

Understanding the intricate relationship between sensory perception and physicochemical properties of cacao-based products is crucial for advancing quality control and driving product innovation. However, effectively integrating these heterogeneous data sources poses a significant challenge, particularly when sensory evaluations are derived from low-quality, subjective, and often inconsistent annotations provided by multiple experts. We propose a comprehensive framework that leverages a correlated chained Gaussian processes model for learning from crowds, termed MAR-CCGP, specifically designed for a customized Casa Luker database that integrates sensory and physicochemical data on cacao-based products. By formulating sensory evaluations as regression tasks, our approach enables the estimation of continuous perceptual scores from physicochemical inputs, while concurrently inferring the latent, input-dependent reliability of each annotator. To address the inherent noise, subjectivity, and non-stationarity in expert-generated sensory data, we introduce a three-stage methodology: (i) construction of an integrated database that unifies physicochemical parameters with corresponding sensory descriptors; (ii) application of a MAR-CCGP model to infer the underlying ground truth from noisy, crowd-sourced, and non-stationary sensory annotations; and (iii) development of a novel localized expert trustworthiness approach, also based on MAR-CCGP, which dynamically adjusts for variations in annotator consistency across the input space. Our approach provides a robust, interpretable, and scalable solution for learning from heterogeneous and noisy sensory data, establishing a principled foundation for advancing data-driven sensory analysis and product optimization in the food science domain. We validate the effectiveness of our method through a series of experiments on both semi-synthetic data and a novel real-world dataset developed in collaboration with Casa Luker, which integrates sensory evaluations with detailed physicochemical profiles of cacao-based products. Compared to state-of-the-art learning-from-crowds baselines, our framework consistently achieves superior predictive performance and more precise annotator reliability estimation, demonstrating its efficacy in multi-annotator regression settings. Of note, our unique combination of a novel database, robust noisy-data regression, and input-dependent trust scoring sets MAR-CCGP apart from existing approaches. Full article

Glycitin is a kind of compound found in soybeans that has attracted increasing attention as a good source of nutrients due to its potential applications in medicine, cosmetics, and food. However, a comprehensive review of glycitin is lacking to help readers understand the current state of research on isoflavones. The present review summarizes recent progress made on the structures and functions of glycitin, with future perspectives to maximize their value and applications using bibliometric analysis methods. The health effects attributed to glycitin include estrogenic effects and anti-osteoporosis effects, as well as antioxidant, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic effects. This review can not only deepen the understanding of the functions of glycitin, but also lay an important foundation for the further development and utilization of soybean resources. Full article

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for the human body and plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Plants serve not only as a major dietary source of selenium but also as natural biofactories capable of synthesizing a wide range of organic selenium compounds. The bioavailability and toxicity of selenium are highly dependent on its chemical form, which can exert varying effects on human physiology. Among these, organic selenium species exhibit higher bioavailability, lower toxicity, and greater structural diversity. In recent years, plant-derived selenium-containing compounds—selenium-enriched proteins, peptides, polysaccharides, polyphenols, and nanoselenium—have garnered increasing scientific attention. Through a systematic search of databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, this review provides a comprehensive overview of selenium uptake and transformation in plants, selenium metabolism in humans, and the classification, composition, structural features, and biological activities of plant-derived selenium compounds, thereby providing a theoretical basis for future research on functional foods and nutritional interventions. Full article

Sesame oil extraction byproduct (SOEB) contains a high percentage of protein (49.81 g/100 g), making it a suitable plant-based source for producing protein hydrolysates with nutraceutical potential. In this study, albumins, globulins, glutelins, and prolamins fractions were extracted and characterized from SOEB. These fractions were then enzymatically hydrolyzed with alcalase, yielding high soluble protein content (>90%) and hydrolysis degrees ranging from 34.66 to 45.10%. The hydrolysates were fractionated by molecular weight (<5 kDa, 3–5 kDa, 1–3 kDa, and <1 kDa). These fractions demonstrated potential for inhibiting the DPPH radical (25.19–95.79%) and the α-glucosidase enzyme (40.14–55.63%), particularly the fractions with molecular weight <1 kDa. We identified 28 peptides, with molecular weights between 332.20 and 1096.63 Da, which showed potent antioxidant activities (IC₅₀ = 90.18 µg/mL), as well as inhibitory effects on key enzymes such as α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 61.48 µg/mL), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (IC₅₀ = 12.12 µg/mL), and pancreatic lipase (IC₅₀ = 6.14 mg/mL). These results demonstrate the antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity potential of SOEB peptides, highlighting their use in the formulation of new functional foods or nutraceuticals. Full article

The growing emphasis on sustainability and circular economy strategies has driven increasing interest in the valorization of agro-industrial by-products. Among these, the peel and seed of avocado (Persea americana), typically discarded during processing, have emerged as promising sources of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic constituents with recognized antioxidant capacity. This review critically examines the current scientific literature on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and potential health benefits associated with avocado peel and seed. In addition, it explores recent technological advances in extraction methods and highlights the applicability of these by-products in the formulation of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and other health-related products. Challenges related to safety, bioavailability, and regulatory aspects are also discussed. By consolidating available evidence, this work supports the potential of avocado peel and seed as valuable functional ingredients and contributes to sustainable innovation in the food and health industries. Full article

Fruit pomace, generated as a by-product of juice processing, is a valuable source of bioactive compounds but requires sustainable extraction approaches to enable its valorisation. Supercritical CO₂ extraction (SFE-CO₂) represents a promising green technology due to its efficiency, solvent-free character, and tuneable selectivity. In this study, the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to evaluate the effects of pressure, temperature, and time on the recovery of fat, protein, and total phenolic compounds (TPCs) from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) and redcurrant (Ribes rubrum) pomace subjected to conventional- and freeze-drying. The highest protein content (14.5%) was obtained in freeze-dried blackcurrant at 400 bar, 60 min, and 30 °C, while the maximum TPCs (24.60 mg GAE/g d.w.) was reached at 500 bar, 60 min, and 40 °C. The redcurrant samples consistently showed lower extractable values across all the responses. Pressure and time were identified as the most influential process variables, enhancing the solvent density and mass transfer during extraction. These results demonstrate that both the drying pre-treatment and raw material type significantly affect the SFE efficiency and confirm the potential of optimised SFE-CO₂ as a viable strategy for converting fruit pomace into functional ingredients for food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic applications. Full article

Herbs and spices are a rich source of bioactive compounds that exhibit multidirectional health-promoting effects. Their bioactivity is mainly related to the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, essential oils, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and other plant bioactive compounds. The potential of herbs and spices in preventing oxidative stress, inflammation, bacterial infections and metabolic disorders is increasingly highlighted in the scientific literature, making them a valuable addition to functional foods. Confectionery products belong to a group of food products characterised by high consumer acceptance due to their attractive sensory qualities. Unfortunately, despite high popularity, traditional confectionery mainly provides empty calories in the form of simple sugars and saturated fats while lacking valuable nutrients such as vitamins, minerals or bioactive compounds. This review focuses on the composition and bioactive properties of selected herbs and spices, presenting current knowledge on their potential use in the production of functional confectionery products. Full article

Industrial processes like farming, food processing, petroleum refinery, and leather manufacturing produce a lot of high-salinity wastewater. This wastewater presents serious environmental risks, such as soil degradation, eutrophication, and water salinization, if it is released without adequate treatment. The sources and features of high-salinity wastewater are outlined in this review, along with the main methods for removing organic pollutants, such as physicochemical, biological, and combined treatment approaches. Membrane separation, coagulation–flocculation, and advanced oxidation processes are the primary physicochemical techniques. Anaerobic and aerobic technologies are the two categories into which biological treatments fall. Physicochemical–biological combinations and the fusion of several physicochemical techniques are examples of integrated technologies. In order to achieve sustainable and effective treatment and resource recovery of high-salinity wastewater, this review compares the effectiveness and drawbacks of each method and recommends that future research concentrate on the development of salt-tolerant catalysts, anti-fouling membrane materials, halophilic microbial consortia, and optimized hybrid treatment systems. Full article

Background: Balancing nutrition security with environmental sustainability is a key priority in global food policy, with Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHDs) serving as a critical framework aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Traditional Japanese cuisine reflects SHD principles through its emphasis on plant-based, seasonal, and minimally processed dishes. However, modern, globalized dietary patterns increasingly feature ultra-processed foods, raising concerns about health risks such as high sodium intake. Methods: This study adopts a novel dish-level content analysis of 120 contemporary recipes from NHK Today’s Cooking between 2023 and 2025, a TV program by Japan’s national public broadcaster that is widely regarded as reflecting the practices of Japanese home cooking, to examine how SHDs pillars—nutritional diversity (e.g., varied protein sources), environmental sustainability (e.g., low-carbon ingredients), and cultural continuity (e.g., traditional techniques)—are embedded in Japanese home cooking. Unlike macro-level consumption or nutrition data, this dish-level approach reveals how individual dishes embody sustainability through ingredient selection, preparation methods, and cultural logic. Results: Quantitatively, pork (33.3%) and seafood (19.2%) together dominated main protein sources, with minimal beef (2.5%) and a notable presence of soy-based foods (12.5%), supporting lower reliance on environmentally intensive red meat; mean salt content per person in main dishes was 2.16 ± 1.09 g (28.9% for men, 33.3% for women of Japan’s daily salt targets), while recipe patterns emphasizing fermentation and seasonal alignment highlight possible pathways through which Japanese dietary practices can be considered ecologically efficient. Simultaneously, the analysis identifies emerging challenges, encompassing environmental issues such as overfishing and public health concerns like excessive sodium consumption. Conclusions: By centering dishes as culturally meaningful units, and using media recipes as reproducible, representative datasets for monitoring dietary change, this approach offers a reproducible framework for assessing dietary sustainability in evolving global food systems. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a global concern due to their persistence, ubiquity, and accumulation in living organisms. Found in soils, biosolids, water, and the food chain, they pose health risks such as hormone disruption, immune damage, reproductive issues, and cancer. Regulations mainly target older PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, while many newer PFAS, including breakdown products, are poorly understood in terms of distribution, behavior, and toxicity. To address this complex issue, this review offers a detailed overview of human exposure to PFAS and their toxic effects. It highlights biosolids as a key, understudied source of PFAS in the environment. The review also discusses limitations of testing, missing long-term cleanup data, and regulatory issues that neglect total exposure and vulnerable populations. Additionally, it evaluates, in the specific context of biosolids management, the effectiveness, scalability, benefits, and drawbacks of various treatment technologies, such as thermal processes (pyrolysis, incineration, smoldering combustion), advanced oxidation, adsorption, hydrothermal liquefaction, and biological degradation. This work combines environmental science, toxicology, and engineering to outline PFAS management in biosolids and proposes a research and policy plan. Focusing on regulating PFAS as a group, validating real-world results, and employing adaptable treatment strategies underscores the need for a coordinated, science-based effort to reduce PFAS risks worldwide. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a widespread estrogenic mycotoxin that poses serious health risks to both humans and animals through the contamination of cereals and feeds. In this study, a novel Bacillus strain X13 was isolated from volcanic rock soil and demonstrated the unique ability to utilize ZEN as the sole carbon source for growth and metabolism. Under optimized conditions (37 °C, pH 8.0, and 5% inoculum in M9 minimal medium), strain X13 achieved a ZEN degradation efficiency of 98.57%. LC-MS analysis identified 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-6′-hydroxy-1′-undecen-10′-one as the primary degradation product, indicating enzymatic hydrolysis of the lactone ring. Enzymatic assays revealed that the active components were extracellular, proteinaceous, and metal ion-dependent. Furthermore, the strain reduced ZEN content in mold-contaminated corn flour by 74.6%, effectively lowering toxin levels below regulatory limits. These findings suggest that Bacillus sp. X13 is a promising candidate for the bioremediation of ZEN-contaminated agricultural products, with significant potential for application in food and feed detoxification strategies. The robust degradation performance of strain X13 under simulated environmental conditions, combined with its adaptability to agricultural substrates, positions it as a viable solution for large-scale mycotoxin mitigation in the food industry chain, from pre-harvest field management to post-harvest storage processing. Full article

The limited data on biological potential of the genus Hypericum sect. Drosocarpium species initiated the current research aimed at the chemical characterization of samples of six selected taxa (H. barbatum, H. montbretii, H. richerii subsp. grisebachii, H. rochelii, H. rumeliacum, and H. spruneri) and the evaluation of their biological potential (antioxidant and antihyperglycaemic potential, acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidases inhibition). The obtained results suggest greater abundance of biologically active compounds, hypericin (H. rochelii, H. barbatum, and H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), amentoflavone (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), quercetin and rutin (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii), and chlorogenic acid (H. richerii subsp. grisebachii, H. barbatum, H. rumeliacum), when compared to H. perforatum. Also, the scavenging potential of DPPH (median RSC₅₀ = 3.34 µg/mL), NO (median RSC₅₀ = 26.47 µg/mL) and OH radicals (median RSC₅₀ = 76.87 µg/mL) of evaluated species was higher, or at least comparable to H. perforatum, while the same trend was noticed in the case of anti-MAO-A (median IC₅₀ = 19.41 µg/mL) and antihyperglycaemic potential (inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase (median IC₅₀ = 29.47 µg/mL)). The study results highlight sect. Drosocarpium species as a valuable source of biologically active secondary metabolites and suggest a wide spectrum of possible applications in the food and medicine industries. Full article

Bats are a taxa of high conservation concern and are facing numerous threats including widespread mortality due to White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in North America. With this decline comes increasing difficulty in monitoring imperiled bat species due to lower detection probabilities of both mist-netting and acoustic surveys. Lure technology shows promise to increase detection while decreasing sampling effort; however, to date research has primarily focused on increasing physical captures during mist-net surveys using sound lures. Because much bat monitoring is now performed using acoustic detection, there is a similar need to increase detection probabilities during acoustic surveys. Ultraviolet (UV) lights anecdotally have been shown to attract insects and thereby attract foraging bats for observational studies and to experimentally provide a food source for WNS-impacted bats before and after hibernation. Therefore, we constructed a field-portable and programmable UV lure device to determine the value of lures for increasing acoustic detection of bats. We tested if the lure device increased both the echolocation passes and feeding activity (feeding buzzes) across a transect of bat detectors. There was an increase in feeding activity around the UV light, with a nuanced, species-specific and positionally dependent effect on echolocation passes received. The UV light lure increased echolocation passes for the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), and evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), but decreased passes of the North American hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus). The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) showed a negative response within the illuminated area but increased echolocation activity outside the illuminated area during lure treatment and activity was elevated at all positions after the lure was deactivated. Our study demonstrates some potential utility of UV lures in increasing the feeding activity and acoustic detection of bats. Additional research and development of UV lure technology may be beneficial, including alternating on and off periods to improve detection of light-averse species, and improving echolocation call quality along with the increase in received passes. Full article