Search Results (4,553)

Bioeconomy policy requires timely, economy-wide evidence; however, two persistent measurement constraints remain: official input–output (IO) tables are published with time lags, novel start-up and novel prospective or hybrid bio-based activities are rarely identified as separate sectors in national accounts. This study develops an applied framework that combines IO nowcasting with an accounting-consistent sector-embedding procedure under limited data availability. Using Ireland’s national IO system and an existing bioeconomy IO framework as the accounting backbone, we update the 2015 table to 2022 through calibration to macroeconomic control totals, providing a timely structural baseline. We then introduce a transparent method for constructing new bioeconomy sectors based on dominant input shares, import intensity, and output allocation, while preserving national accounting identities. The approach is demonstrated for aquaculture systems, anaerobic digestion scenarios, and plant-based protein value chains. Demand-driven Leontief multipliers reveal heterogeneity in domestic propagation effects across activities and development stages. The framework offers a resource-efficient and replicable tool for evaluating bioeconomy strategies under real-world data constraints. The paper finds that the bioeconomy is structurally heterogeneous rather than a single uniform sector. Aquaculture is strongly transport- and service-linked, anaerobic digestion is more manufacturing-oriented, and plant-based protein production combines agricultural and industrial inputs while showing relatively high import dependence. Full article

The present study investigated the effects of low-protein (LP) diets on growth performance, intestinal morphology, apparent ileal digestibility (AID), and jejunal amino acid (AA) transporter mRNA expression in heat-stressed Pekin ducks. A total of 108 fourteen-day-old male ducks were randomly allotted to three treatments, each with six replicates of six birds: a thermoneutral (TN) group fed a control (CON) diet, a heat stress (HS) group fed the CON diet, and an HS-LP group fed the LP diet. Ducks were maintained at 22 °C (TN) or 30 °C (HS and HS-LP) for 3 wk. The CON and LP diets contained 17.5% and 16.0% CP, respectively, with similar AA profiles. Compared with the TN group, the HS group showed reduced BW, ADFI, and ADG and increased F:G (p < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, the HS-LP group showed higher BW and ADG and lower F:G (p < 0.05), although BW and ADG remained lower than in the TN group. HS decreased villus height (VH), jejunal villus height-to-crypt depth (VH:CD) ratios, and goblet cell counts (p < 0.05). Compared with the HS group, the HS-LP group showed higher jejunal and ileal VH:CD ratios and lower ileal CD (p < 0.05), whereas VH and goblet cell counts were not restored to TN values. Although AID of CP and AAs did not differ between the TN and HS groups, the HS-LP group showed higher AID of CP and AAs than the HS group (p < 0.05). In addition, the HS-LP group showed lower PEPT1 and higher LAT1 mRNA expression (p < 0.05). In conclusion, a reduction in dietary CP from 17.5% to 16.0% partially alleviated HS-induced growth depression and intestinal morphological impairment and was accompanied by increased AID of AAs and altered mRNA expression of jejunal AA transporters. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the compensatory effects of amino acid (AA) supplementation on laying hens fed a low-protein diet, focusing on production performance, egg quality, blood immunity, total tract retention, and intestinal health. A total of 180 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (35 weeks old) were randomly allocated to three dietary treatments with 12 replicates (5 hens/replicate): (1) control diet (15.90% crude protein, CON), (2) reduced-protein diet (15.20% crude protein, NG), and (3) reduced-protein diet supplemented with 400 g/t methionine, 400 g/t lysine, and 300 g/t threonine (15.20% crude protein, LAA). Over the 12-week experimental period, production parameters were monitored weekly. The results showed that compared to the NG group, AA supplementation significantly increased laying rates during weeks 1–4 (p < 0.05) and reduced the feed-to-egg ratio during weeks 9–12 (p < 0.05), with a 3.10% decrease in feed conversion ratio (FCR). By week 12, the NG group exhibited lower Haugh unit values than both the CON and LAA groups (p < 0.05), indicating improved egg quality with AA supplementation. Serum analysis revealed elevated immunoglobulin Y levels and upregulated expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the LAA group (p < 0.05). Total tract retention of crude protein (CP) and phosphorus (P) was significantly enhanced in the LAA group compared to CON and NG groups (p < 0.05). However, in terms of cecal microbiota, no significant differences were observed among the experimental groups. These findings demonstrate that AA supplementation alleviates the adverse effects of low-protein diets by enhancing nutrient utilization and immune modulation, thereby improving productive performance, egg quality, and total tract retention in laying hens. Full article

In this study, we examined whether dietary ADY improves growth, digestibility of feed nutrients, meat quality, and rumen microbial ecology in lambs. This experiment enrolled 90 healthy, similarly weighted (29.0 ± 0.5 kg) four-month-old Duhan lambs, which were randomly and evenly distributed into two treatment groups: a control group fed the basal diet and an ADY group fed the basal diet supplemented with 0.3 g/d per lamb of active dry yeast. The supplementation amount was adjusted weekly according to feed intake to maintain a constant daily dose. The results showed that, compared with the control group, ADY significantly increased the lambs’ average daily gain (ADG) and enhanced the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) (p < 0.05), and significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio (F/G) (p < 0.05). These improvements were accompanied by a shift in rumen fermentation toward propionate production, evidenced by higher NH₃-N, Total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs) and propionate proportion and a lower acetate proportion and acetate-to-propionate ratio (p < 0.05). ADY also altered the rumen microbiota, increasing Proteobacteria and Succinivibrionaceae_UCG-001 while decreasing norank_o_Clostridia_UCG-014 (p < 0.05). In muscle, ADY significantly increased the proportions of C14:0 and C18:3n-3 (p < 0.05). In addition, the proportion of C13:0, C18:0 and C18:2n-6t were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with ADY enhanced rumen fermentation, improved rumen microbial composition, and promoted nutrient utilization in lambs, thereby improving growth performance and meat quality. In addition, certain rumen microbial taxa may be associated with the formation of specific muscle fatty acids. Full article

This study investigated the effects of replacing soybean meal with fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM) in the diets of sika deer (Cervus nippon) during the pre-antler growth period. A single-factor experimental design was employed. A total of 24 male sika deer aged 2–3 years were randomly divided into four groups with six deer per group, including a control group (0% substitution) and three treatment groups fed diets containing 2.8%, 5.6%, and 8.4% fermented rapeseed meal (FRSM), defined as the low (L-FRSM), medium (M-FRSM), and high (H-FRSM) substitution groups, respectively. The feeding trial lasted 63 days, with measurements collected on days 30 and 63. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical indices, and rectal fecal microbiota were determined. The results showed that the final body weight, total weight gain, and average daily gain L-FRSM were higher in the L-FRSM group than in the control group and other substitution groups (p < 0.05), accompanied by a reduced feed conversion ratio (p < 0.05). In addition, body height and chest circumference were improved in the L-FRSM group. Regarding nutrient digestibility, the apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and dry matter at day 30, as well as calcium digestibility at day 63 were higher in the L-FRSM group compared to the control and higher-substitution groups (p < 0.05). In contrast, crude fat and dry matter digestibility were significantly lower in the H-FRSM group (p < 0.05). No statistical differences were observed among treatments in serum biochemical indices related to energy metabolism, protein metabolism, liver function, lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, or humoral immunity (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant differences were detected in core microbial composition or α-diversity of rectal fecal microbiota among groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, substituting soybean meal with 2.8% fermented rapeseed meal effectively improves growth performance and nutrient utilization without compromising health status or intestinal microbial stability in sika deer during the pre-antler growth period. The findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing dietary strategies and support the rational application of fermented rapeseed meal in sika deer production. Full article

Maize biomass production and quality are influenced by numerous factors, including fertilization, soil characteristics, and climatic conditions. The aim of our study was to evaluate how different fertilization treatments ((1) Control, (2) farmyard manure (FYM), (3) FYM with added mineral nitrogen (FYM + N), and (4) FYM with added NPK mineral fertilizers (FYM + NPK)) affect the biomass yield and quality parameters (crude protein (CP), fiber content (FC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), starch content (STR), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (DNDF)) of silage maize under various soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic (Caslav—degraded Chernozem, Ivanovice na Hané–Chernozem, Lukavec–Cambisol). The experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2023. Additionally, the study analyzed the effects of fertilization on soil chemical properties (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, C, N). The highest average biomass yields were recorded in Ivanovice (23.8 t ha⁻¹, A), followed by Lukavec (19.7 t ha⁻¹, B) and Caslav (18.1 t ha⁻¹, B). Comparing fertilizer treatments, no significant differences were observed among FYM, FYM + N, and FYM + NPK; however, all three treatments significantly outperformed the Control at all sites. Conversely, fertilization did not affect the quality parameters. For silage maize, FYM represents the optimal fertilization strategy, providing yields and quality comparable to the combined application of mineral N, P, and K, which are more costly (in terms of purchase and application) and, under certain conditions, may negatively impact the environment. Nevertheless, the application of mineral fertilizers increased soil nutrient content, thereby improving conditions for subsequent crops. Full article

This study investigated whether these contrasting environments are associated with the development of coherent, organism-wide phenotypic–physiological syndromes reflecting a fundamental life-history trade-off. A controlled 60-day trial was conducted comparing crayfish from a high-input pond system (fed to satiation) and a low-input rice paddy system (primarily natural diet). Pond crayfish were fed a commercial formulated feed twice daily to satiation (approximately 3% of biomass per day). Rice paddy crayfish primarily consumed natural food webs and received a once-daily supplement of 30% of the pond feed amount (approximately 0.9% of biomass per day). Results revealed two distinct syndromes. Pond-cultured crayfish exhibited a growth-oriented syndrome: they were 33% heavier with a compact, volumetrically enhanced body shape, coupled with elevated lipid-anabolic enzyme activities (lipase and ACC), higher hemolymph protein and cholesterol concentrations, but also significantly increased levels of a stress-related endocrine factor (cortisol-like immunoreactivity) and oxidative damage (MDA). Conversely, rice paddy-cultured crayfish displayed a stress-resistance-oriented syndrome: a streamlined, deeper-abdomen morphology, fortified antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GST) and immune (lysozyme and phenoloxidase) capacities, enhanced carbohydrate digestion (amylase), and lower systemic stress. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the hepatopancreas of paddy-cultured crayfish was enriched in pathways related to lipid metabolism, detoxification, and endocrine regulation, notably with upregulation of the SULT1E1 gene. Our findings demonstrate that the distinct environmental and nutritional conditions of each aquaculture system are linked to specific multi-level adaptation syndromes, presenting a clear trade-off between rapid biomass production and systemic stress resistance (within the 60-day trial period), providing a mechanistic basis for optimizing sustainable practices: integrated systems enhance stock robustness, while intensive systems require strategies to mitigate physiological load. Full article

Organic acid supplementation in aquafeed plays a crucial role in enhancing fish health and performance, contributing to sustainable aquaculture practices amid growing global demand for protein sources. In a feeding trial lasting 8 weeks, 360 juvenile fish (43.5 ± 0.23 g) were randomly assigned to four groups (three replicates per group; 30 fish per replicate), following one of four dietary regimens: the control (CON), or the control diet supplemented with 0.3% citric acid, 0.3% fumaric acid, or 0.3% malic acid. The supplementation of diets with the three organic acids significantly promoted weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR). Additionally, a significant increase in the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, AKP) was recorded, with concomitant decreases observed in hepatic parameters (TG, GLU, ALT, AST) and the serum lipid peroxidation product MDA. Similarly, the organic acids supplementation also enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity (CAT, T-AOC, GSH-PX) and their gene expression levels, and decreased hepatic lipid and glycogen levels. Additionally, dietary organic acid supplementation significantly enhanced the activities of both digestive and antioxidant enzymes in the intestine. Furthermore, it improved intestinal morphology, as evidenced by increases in villus height, villus width, and muscular thickness. Moreover, supplementation with organic acids improved intestinal permeability, mediated through the suppression of serum DAO activity and LPS levels, accompanied by upregulated intestinal expression of junction complex components (Claudin-1, ZO-1, Occludin-1) and downregulated pro-inflammatory mediators (tnf-α, il-1β). The 16S rRNA sequencing demonstrated that CA induced a significant shift in the intestinal microbiota composition, marked by an elevated relative abundance of Firmicutes (including Streptococcus) and Acinetobacter, along with a decreased abundance of Aeromonas. These findings demonstrate that organic acids may enhance fish growth performance and intestinal health through their modulating effects on gut microbiota, intestinal development, immune responses, and antioxidant capacity. Notably, the dietary CA supplementation exhibited the most pronounced efficacy. Full article

This study reports a self-assembled ternary delivery system composed of bovine serum albumin (BSA), Fe^(III), and 8-Shogaol (BSA-Fe^(III)-8S) to enhance the stability of this labile ginger-derived bioactive compound. Optimized nanoparticles prepared via one-pot coprecipitation exhibited a particle size of 115.14 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.084, zeta potential of +52.23 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 94.93%, and loading capacity of 23.73%. Spectroscopic analyses (FT-IR, UV–Vis, XPS) and fluorescence quenching confirmed the formation of a core–shell metal–phenolic network, where Fe^(III) coordinates with 8-Shogaol and BSA forms the outer protein shell. Compared to free 8-Shogaol, the BSA-Fe^(III)-8S MPN nanoparticles demonstrated significantly enhanced thermal, UV, and storage stability. During simulated gastrointestinal digestion, the nanoparticles retained 64.04% of 8-Shogaol, compared to only 51.38% for the free compound. Cytotoxicity assays on HEK293 cells confirmed the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. This BSA-Fe^(III)-8S delivery system offers a promising strategy for protecting bioactive phenolic compounds, with potential applications in functional foods and nutraceutical formulations. Full article

This critical review examines the evolution of mathematical modeling approaches for aerobic digestion processes in food industry waste management, highlighting their role in operational optimization and dynamic prediction. In recent years, increasing pressure for sustainable waste management, circular bioeconomy strategies, and process intensification in the food industry has accelerated the development of mathematical tools for describing complex biological treatment systems, making a critical synthesis of available modeling approaches particularly timely. Starting from mass conservation principles, simple kinetic models such as first-order and Monod models are analyzed. These models assume homogeneity and perfect mixing but fail to capture the heterogeneity of effluents rich in variable carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Structural limitations, including numerical rigidity, parametric non-identifiability, and idealized assumptions that underestimate spatial gradients and stochastic fluctuations, are examined. In continuous systems, coupled substrate–biomass–oxygen dynamics, washout phenomena, and extensions toward partial differential equations for representing real heterogeneity are explored. Structured models such as Activated Sludge Models (ASMs) incorporate multicomponent fractions but face parameterization challenges exacerbated by limited industrial data availability, as less than 25% of treatment plants currently employ formal modeling frameworks. Emerging paradigms include hybrid mechanistic–machine learning approaches for prediction under perturbations, multiscale modeling, and spatially explicit modeling. Unlike previous reviews that focus primarily on technological aspects of waste treatment, this study provides a critical comparison of modeling frameworks and their applicability to different food waste matrices. A classification table distributes approaches by food matrix, revealing the dominance of simple kinetics in composting and ASMs in activated sludge systems. Finally, a progressive model selection framework based on operational objectives is proposed, balancing model complexity with predictive robustness and experimental validation to support sustainable industrial adoption. Full article

The practical application of protein hydrolysates as functional food ingredients is frequently obstructed by their inherent structural instability. To circumvent this limitation, liposomal encapsulation has emerged as a sophisticated strategy to bolster the bioactivity and integrity of cricket-derived proteins. In this study, varying concentrations (1–4% w/v) of defatted cricket protein hydrolysate (DCPH) were integrated into vesicles composed of soy lecithin and cholesterol. The highest encapsulation efficiency (EE) was observed at a 2% DCPH loading capacity, yielding a significant result of 88.18% (p < 0.05). Subsequent coating with sodium alginate (SA) at 0.1–0.3% (w/v) resulted in an increase in particle size and a more pronounced negative surface charge. When maintained at 4 °C over a 24-day duration, the SA-coated liposome (SA-L-2%DCPH) exhibited superior stability compared to its uncoated (L-2%DCPH) counterpart. Also, the digest derived from the SA-L-2%DCPH exhibited significantly enhanced transepithelial permeability across the Caco-2 cell monolayer, indicated by the higher protein content and ABTS radical scavenging activity. Thus, sodium alginate-coated liposomes serve as a promising delivery system for encapsulating DCPH both during storage stability and in the gastrointestinal digestion system. Full article

Corn, paddy, wheat, sorghum, and cassava serve as the primary energy sources in both human and animal diets. This study aimed to evaluate their nutrient release patterns in a simulated gastrointestinal environment and to assess the in vitro biological activity of the metabolites produced during digestion. The results showed that wheat exhibited the highest dry matter degradation in the stomach–jejunum–ileum digestion stage, while wheat and paddy showed the highest crude protein degradation compared with the other starch sources. In addition, wheat had a higher total free sugar concentration than paddy, sorghum, and cassava. Among the individual free sugars, such as D-sorbitol and D-(+)-trehalose, were found to have the highest concentrations in wheat, whereas cassava had the highest D(−)-fructose concentration. Several differential metabolites, including valeric acid, caproic acid, octanoic acid, and azelaic acid were highly released in paddy, whereas glucaric acid, threonic acid, phenylacetic acid, and shikimic acid were highly released in cassava, and 4-hydroxycinnamic acid was highly released in paddy and sorghum. Four unique metabolites were identified during the digestion process of five starch sources. Particularly, isocitric acid and trans-cinnamic acid were released only from cassava; caffeic acid was released only from sorghum and corn; and pimelic acid was released only from paddy and wheat. Furthermore, cassava was distinct from the other starch sources, displaying a higher abundance of differential metabolites within the glucagon signaling pathways as mapped in KEGG pathway analysis. In summary, compared with other starch sources, wheat provides more dry matter, protein, and sugars for the body. Cassava is unlikely to offer any advantage in glycemic regulation, while paddy and cassava possess stronger biological activity in terms of differential metabolites. Full article

Saponins, the primary bioactive constituents with immunomodulatory activities in Baoyuan decoction—a traditional Chinese medicine formula composed of ginseng, astragalus, licorice, and cinnamon—are limited by low extraction yield, poor stability, and easy degradation. In this study, cellulase and pectinase were used for the extraction of saponins from Baoyuan decoction and optimized by response surface methodology. Subsequently, the optimal extracts were microencapsulated by spray drying with soy protein isolate (SPI) or high-oleic acid soy protein isolate (HOSPI) and pectin (PE) as composite wall materials, followed by application evaluation in gummies and in vitro digestion. After optimization, the total saponin yield was 63.68 ± 0.15 mg/g. HOSPI-PE microcapsules (HBP) had a higher encapsulation efficiency (90.38%), smaller particle size, and lower hygroscopicity than SPI-PE ones (SBP). Furthermore, both microcapsules showed good stability during storage and controlled release, with 60.9% of saponins in SBP and 65.8% in HBP being delivered to the intestinal phase during in vitro digestion of microparticles. When applied in gummies, microcapsule gummies retained satisfactory sustained-release in vitro digestion (23.0% released in the stomach and 66.2% in the small intestine). In contrast, the unencapsulated gummies exhibited a burst release (74.4%) at 30 min in gastric digestion. This study provides theoretical and technical insights into the development of plant-derived functional foods and promotes the practical application of microencapsulation in functional gummy candies. Full article

Elaeagnus mollis oilseed (EMO) meal is a protein-rich by-product that may serve as a novel source of food-derived α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides. This study aimed to obtain EMO peptide fractions with enhanced α-glucosidase inhibition and to clarify the activity, stability and mechanism of the most active fraction. Fourteen proteases were compared, and 3.350 acidic protease was selected to establish an optimized hydrolysis process. The resulting EMO hydrolysate showed an IC₅₀ of 9.11 mg/mL against α-glucosidase and no detectable cytotoxicity towards HEK-293T cells at 0.1–12.0 mg/mL. Ultrafiltration yielded four fractions, among which the 3–10 kDa fraction exhibited the highest inhibition and maintained substantial activity under acidic pH (2–6), −20–50 °C, NaCl ≤ 5% and simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Kinetic analysis indicated mixed-type inhibition, while fluorescence, circular dichroism and molecular docking suggested that peptides in this fraction bind near the catalytic site of α-glucosidase and induce local conformational changes. These findings support EMO-derived 3–10 kDa peptides as stable, non-cytotoxic α-glucosidase inhibitors with potential as functional ingredients for dietary management of type 2 diabetes. Full article

Astaxanthin (AST), despite its high bioactivity, exhibits poor stability and low bioavailability due to its strong lipophilicity and inherent degradation susceptibility. To overcome such a challenge, we developed a food-grade oleogel delivery system using a soy protein–arabinoxylan (SA) glycosylated complex modulated by different concentrations (0.5–3%) of sucrose ester (SE) or soy lecithin. We show that the emulsifier concentration has a non-linear effect on the oleogel microstructure: an optimal level of 1% had a significant impact on the interfacial compactness and network density, giving rise to improved thermal stability, rheological strength and AST encapsulation efficiency (81.27%). During in vitro digestion, the SA matrix in combination with emulsifiers allowed gastric protection and intestinal-targeted release of AST with a bioaccessibility of up to 88.84% (SAO-SE-AST). This controlled release profile directly translated into enhanced in vivo antioxidant efficacy in wild-type Bristol N2 Caenorhabditis elegans, as evidenced by reduced lipofuscin accumulation, elevated thermotolerance (survival rate: 64.44–73.33%), suppressed reactive oxygen species levels and activation of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase as well as glutathione peroxidase). Collectively, this research has uncovered that food-grade emulsifiers are not only stabilizers, but also key regulators of oleogel architecture and bioactive functionality. These results provide a structure–digestion–bioactivity correlation for protein–polysaccharide oleogels, representing a rational design strategy for high-performance delivery systems of lipid-soluble nutraceuticals. Full article