Search Results (759)

A critical distinction often overlooked, yet rudimentary to the sustainable infrastructure of a complex and generative industry, is the fundamental difference between animal health and welfare in aquaculture. While these terms are frequently used interchangeably by producers, advocates, and policymakers, understanding how they both correlate and deviate from one another in commercial farming practices is an essential element of sustainable development with animal welfare as a priority, rather than a mere formality. This review represents a turn of the tide where we aggregate effective examples of actionable blueprints the seafood industry can use to elevate and replicate responsible practices in modern aquaculture. These practices must be designed to respect the interests of all stakeholders, including the animals farmed, and ensure that their quality of life in captivity is not just maintained but enhanced. The importance of incorporating animal welfare into decision-making processes, as it is closely tied to public health and environmental sustainability, has garnered attention in recent years with no indication of fleeting interest. Articulating the observed benefits in farming operations that have adopted positive welfare processes can expose a more sustainable, harmonious relationship between producers and animals in the seafood industry and help facilitate meaningful progress with collective buy-in. Full article

Coffee silverskin, a by-product of coffee processing, was studied using microscopic (SEM), spectroscopic (FTIR), and thermogravimetric (TGA, DSC) methods to assess its use as a substitute filler in the manufacturing of plywood. TGA showed that the material was compatible with plywood hot pressing temperatures (140 °C) and that it was thermally stable up to 50 °C, with a notable decomposition event at 335 °C. Functional groups like hydroxyl and carbonyl were detected by FTIR analysis, indicating possible hydrogen bonds and chemical adaptability. DSC analysis confirmed structural alterations by highlighting endothermic processes associated with dehydration and an exothermic transition over 150 °C. Coffee silverskin substituted rye flour in plywood adhesive compositions at different concentrations (0%, 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20%). Due to the structural and chemical constraints of the filler, larger concentrations (10% and 20%) dramatically lowered bonding strength, whereas low silverskin amounts (1% and 5%) attained strengths equivalent to rye flour, reaching up to 5 N mm⁻², according to internal bond strength tests. SEM images revealed smaller, more fragmented, and porous silverskin particles than larger, compact rye flour particles, which affected mechanical interlocking and adhesion. The findings point to coffee silverskin as an environmentally friendly and performance-balancing substitute for conventional fillers, especially at medium levels. Full article

Background: Vitamin K is a cofactor necessary for the biological activity of proteins like Matrix Gla Protein (MGP), which reduce calcification and help preserve lung function. This study aims to determine, first, whether low vitamin K status is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and secondary, whether the level of vitamin K is associated with COPD severity, smoking exposure, or mortality. Methods: The plasma concentration of dephosphorylated uncarboxylated (dp-uc) MGP was used as an inverse biomarker for vitamin K in 98 COPD patients from the CODEX-P COPD study and 986 controls from the DanFunD study. Low vitamin K status was defined as the upper quartile of dp-ucMGP (>589 pmol/L). Using a logistic regression model, we examined whether low vs. high/moderate vitamin K status increased the odds ratio (OR) of having COPD. Secondary analyses, in the COPD cohort only, examined the association between low vitamin K status and COPD severity, smoking exposure in packyears and all-cause mortality, using a Welch’s t-test and log-rank test, respectively. Results: Low vitamin K status was associated with increased odds of having COPD, OR 9.7 (95% CI [5.5 to 17.5], p < 0.001). We found no associations between low vitamin K and COPD severity (est. −0.03, p = 0.7; 95% CI [−0.2 to 0.1]), smoking exposure (p = 0.7), or all-cause mortality (p = 0.5). Conclusions: Low vitamin K status was associated with substantially higher odds of having COPD compared to high/moderate vitamin K status. No association was found between low vitamin K status and COPD severity, smoking exposure, or all-cause mortality. Further studies are needed to determine if vitamin K plays a role in the pathophysiology of COPD and whether supplement therapy is indicated. Full article

It has been assumed that the long-term impact of a diversified soil use system (SUS) and the continuous application of manure and/or mineral fertilizers (NPK) affects the sustainability of soil fertility components. This influence is manifested through the content and distribution of nutrients, as well as some bioavailable heavy metals in the soil. This hypothesis was verified in 2022 in a long-term field experiment that started in 1957. It consisted of a seven-course crop rotation: potato–spring barley–winter triticale–alfalfa–alfalfa–winter wheat–winter rye and monocultures of these crops plus black fallow. The studies were carried out on three separate fields: black fallow (BF), winter wheat grown in monoculture (WW-MO), and crop rotation (WW-CR). Each of these experimental objects consists of five fertilizer variants (FVs) fertilized in the same way every year: absolute control (AC)—variant without fertilizers for 75 years; farmyard manure—FM; mineral fertilizers—NPK; mixed variant—NPK + FM; mineral fertilizers plus annually applied lime—NPK + L. The second factor was the soil layer: 0.0–0.3 m, 0.3–0.6 m, or 0.6–0.9 m. The obtained results clearly indicate that long-term fertilization with NPK + FM, especially in rotation with legumes, strengthens the eluviation/illuviation processes, decreasing the sustainability of soil fertility. Liming is a factor stabilizing the content and distribution of silt and clay particles in the soil. The key factor determining the content and distribution of micronutrients and heavy metals in the soil was the content of organic carbon (C_org). Its content decreased in the following order: WW-CR (13.2 ± 5.8) ≥ WW-MO (12.3 ± 6.9) > BF (6.6 ± 2.8 g·kg⁻¹). The large variability resulted from a distribution trend with soil depth, which increased as follows: MO ≥ CR > BF. FVs with FM had the highest C_org content. NPK, regardless of the long-term soil use system (SUS), had the lowest content. Among the elements studied, the key one impacting the content of both micronutrients and heavy metals was iron (Fe). The Fe content decreased in the order BL (100%) > WW-MO (90.5%) > WW-CR (85%). The opposite tendency was found for the remaining elements, the content of which was consistent with the content of C_org, which was the highest in CR. The strongest impact of Fe, modified by the SUS, was found for Zn, Pb, and Cd. Despite the differences observed between SUSs, fertilization variants, and soil layers, the content of Fe and Mn was in the medium class, while Zn and Cu were in the high class of availability. The content of Ni was the highest for NPK + FM in WW-CR. The content of Pb was weakly affected by the long-term SUS but showed a strong tendency for accumulation in the topsoil layer. The content of Cd was the highest in BF, where it exceeded the threshold of 0.27 mg·kg⁻¹. The long-term diversified SUS, as the main factor determining the sustainability of soil fertility, makes it possible to indicate the directions of humus accumulation and its distribution in the soil. It turned out to be a key factor, but in cooperation with Fe, it determined the content of micronutrients and bioavailable heavy metals in the soil. Full article

Rye (Secale cereale L.) from Matese mountains is a local landrace cultivated in Southern Italy. To promote the benefits for the mountain economy, we report on the nutritional values (crude proteins, lipids, moisture, ash and total amino acids), metabolic traits (free amino acids, fatty acids and bioactive organic compounds) and mineral content of ‘segale del Matese’ seeds. Seeds were collected in 2023 and 2024 at two altitudes (~1000 and 150 m a.s.l.); these were analyzed, and the results were compared. Average data from two sites (crude proteins (9.6 g/100 g), lipids (1.3 g/100 g), ash (1.8 g/100 g), moisture (9.3 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (78.3 g/100 g)) show few significant statistical differences. The same trend was observed for total amino acid content, except for Glx (glutamic and glutamine), while statistical differences between the two sites were found among proteinogenic free amino acids. Moreover, segale del Matese’ is rich in polyunsaturated (linoleic and linoleic) and monounsaturated (oleic) fatty acids. Furthermore, total phenolic content, some bioactive compounds (i.e., gallic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid) and radical scavenging activity were estimated. Finally, the seeds subjected to thermal treatment showed a decrease in anti-trypsin and anti-chymotrypsin activities, resulting in a favorable depletion of antinutritional factors. Full article

This study investigates the effect of extended rye scald fermentation times (12–48 h) on its biochemical properties and rye bread’s nutritional and sensory qualities. Traditional rye bread production in Latvia involves prolonged fermentation with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), a process that influences the bread’s acidity, sugar content, and concentrations of organic acids, fructans, and phytates. Scald fermentation was analyzed at intervals of 0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h to monitor microbial activity, particularly LAB population dynamics. Organic acids and sugar profiles were analyzed using HPLC, while phytic acid and fructan concentrations were determined using the Phytic Acid Assay Kit (K-PHYT) and Fructan Assay Kit (K-FRUC). Sensory evaluation assessed attributes including aroma, sour and sweet taste, stickiness, and floury aftertaste. A rapid pH decrease and increased total titratable acidity (TTA) after 12 h confirmed scald’s suitability as a substrate for Lactobacillus delbrueckii metabolism. Lactic acid content increased 13.8-fold after 48 h. Combined scald and dough sourdough fermentation reduced phytic acid by 20% and fructans by 49%, improving mineral bioavailability. Extending fermentation beyond 24 h showed no significant differences in physicochemical parameters, although it improved sensory quality, reduced stickiness, balanced sweet–sour flavors, enhanced aroma, and minimized floury aftertaste. Full article

An annual relay intercropping of grasses and legumes (LGI) (50:50) was compared with the sole crops, respectively, to determine the effect of the mixtures on the yield and quality of them as fodder in the Mediterranean region. The treatments were sole Rye (Secale cereale; G1), Ryegrass (Lolium perenne; G2), Faba bean (Vicia faba L.; L1), Berssem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.; L2), inoculated Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.; L3), and all the combinations of grasses and legumes. The experiment used a randomized block design with three blocks. ANOVA showed significant effects of intercropping on the biomass yield (BY) and the forage quality. Monocrops L2 and L3 showed better fodder quality than LGI and L1. The relative land-use efficiency (RLI) was higher for four out of six intercrops, while G2L1 and G2L3 had an RLI < 1, indicating lower efficiency than their monocrops. The Aggressivity Index (AG) showed that L1 was competitive against the grasses. The Relative Yield Maximization (RYM) demonstrated that intercropping significantly improved the biomass yield. The competition indices revealed that G1 with legumes had the highest efficiency and economic viability (ELER > 1), while the G2 combinations were less profitable. The study highlights the importance of selecting species based on soil fertility and climatic conditions to optimize intercropping outcomes. Full article

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of gut–brain interaction, with a multifactorial pathophysiology involving gut–brain axis dysregulation, visceral hypersensitivity, microbiota imbalance, and immune dysfunction. Traditional IBS management emphasizes dietary modifications and pharmacologic therapies. However, increasing attention has been directed toward functional foods, nutraceuticals, and herbal remedies due to their potential to target IBS pathophysiological mechanisms with favorable safety profiles. This clinical review explores the role of these adjunctive therapies, evaluating evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. Functional foods such as kiwifruit, prunes, and rye bread demonstrate benefits in bowel habit regulation through fiber content and microbiota modulation. Nutraceuticals like peppermint oil, palmitoylethanolamide, and herbal mixtures exhibit anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and analgesic effects. Prebiotics provide substrate-driven microbiota changes, although dosage is key, as given their fermentative properties, when used at high dosages, they can exacerbate symptoms in some individuals. Probiotics and postbiotics offer microbiota-based interventions with promising symptom relief in IBS subtypes, although factors for personalized treatment still need to be further elucidated. These strategies highlight a paradigm shift in IBS management, integrating diet-based therapies with evolving nutraceutical options to improve patient outcomes. Despite promising findings, challenges in standardizing definitions, mechanisms, and safety profiles still remain. Rigorous, large-scale trials to validate the therapeutic potential of these interventions are needed, to enhance the benefits of these compounds with an individualized treatment approach. Full article

Wheat is a crucial food crop, and low-temperature stress can severely disrupt its growth and development, ultimately leading to a substantial reduction in wheat yield. Understanding the cold-resistant genes of wheat and their action pathways is essential for revealing the cold-resistance mechanism of wheat, enhancing its yield and quality in low-temperature environments, and ensuring global food security. Rye (Secale cereale L.), on the other hand, has excellent cold resistance in comparison to some other crops. By studying the differential responses of different rye varieties to low-temperature stress at the transcriptome level, we aim to identify key genes and regulatory mechanisms related to cold tolerance. This knowledge can not only deepen our understanding of the molecular basis of rye’s cold resistance but also provide valuable insights for improving the cold tolerance of other crops through genetic breeding strategies. In this study, young leaves of two rye varieties, namely “winter” rye and “victory” rye, were used as experimental materials. Leaf samples of both types were treated at 4 °C for 0, 6, 24, and 72 h and then underwent RNA-sequencing. A total of 144,371 Unigenes were reconstituted. The Unigenes annotated in the NR, GO, KEGG, and KOG databases accounted for 79.39%, 55.98%, 59.90%, and 56.28%, respectively. A total of 3013 Unigenes were annotated as transcription factors (TFs), mainly belonging to the MYB family and the bHLH family. A total of 122,065 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and annotated in the GO pathways and KEGG pathways. For DEG analysis, 0 h 4 °C treated samples were controls. With strict criteria (p < 0.05, fold-change > 2 or <0.5, |log₂(fold-change)| > 1), 122,065 DEGs were identified and annotated in GO and KEGG pathways. Among them, the “Chloroplast thylakoid membrane” and “Chloroplast” pathways were enriched in both the “winter” rye and “victory” rye groups treated with low temperatures, but the degrees of significance were different. Compared with “victory” rye, “winter” rye has more annotated pathways such as the “hydrogen catabolic process”. Although the presence of more pathways does not directly prove a more extensive cold-resistant mechanism, these pathways are likely associated with cold tolerance. Our subsequent analysis of gene expression patterns within these pathways, as well as their relationships with known cold-resistance-related genes, suggests that they play important roles in “winter” rye’s response to low-temperature stress. For example, genes in the “hydrogen catabolic process” pathway may be involved in regulating cellular redox balance, which is crucial for maintaining cell function under cold stress. Full article

Attitudes toward sexual and gender minority people is a generative field of study leading to theoretical and practical advances. Adding to this body of literature, we sought to investigate relationships between attitudes toward different sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minority groups. University student participants (N = 495) were asked to rate 11 targets using a 101-point feeling thermometer scale. The targets included trans, bisexual, asexual, and polyamorous men and women, along with lesbians, gay men, and gender non-conforming persons. Heterosexual men and women targets were included for comparison. Analyses addressed two main question areas: (1) Were the various SOGI minority targets rated similarly/differently? (2) Do ratings of the targets differ as a function of target and participant demographic characteristics? Generally, SOGI ratings were favourable (78–85%) except for polyamorous targets (66%). While there were some statistically significant rating differences between some SOGI targets (e.g., lesbians were rated more favourably than asexual women; 85% versus 83%, respectively), data reduction analyses (i.e., Principal Components Analysis) with the 11 SOGI target ratings supported the possibility of aggregating attitudes into a single SOGI target group variable. The second research goal involved exploring whether ratings differed as a function of participant characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender, and religiosity. The analysis revealed that attitudes significantly differed based on all three participant factors. In general, those who rated the targets most favourably were those who were queer, women, or not-at-all religious. However, the SOGI target gender did not result in differences in target ratings (e.g., asexual women and asexual men were equal). The findings further the literature on attitudes toward various SOGI minorities, providing support for the theory that there is a latent factor underlying perceiver attitudes toward SOGI minorities and indicating a need to consider demographic characteristics of social perceivers. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of partial rye flour (RF) replacement with white bean malt (WBM) and red bean malt (RBM) on the baking and the nutritional quality of bread. The addition of white and red bean malts to the rye flour reduced the falling number and the maximum viscosity of the paste. Significant differences in the color of the crust and crumb of baked bread were shown. The addition of malt from bean seeds did not cause significant changes in the consumer assessment of bread. In some cases, a 30% increase in the polyphenols content was observed and an improvement in the antioxidant properties of bread with WBM and RBM was noted. Also, the overall protein and essential amino acids content in the bread was significantly increased. Due to WBM and RBM addition, the quantity of volatile compounds was higher than it was in the control sample, and in specific instances, it had doubled compared to the control sample. Full article

Due to climate change and the development of sustainable foods, protein vegetable sources are being considered as promising food commodities. Fermentation is an ancient tool for obtaining bioactive compounds, and has been exploited for bioactive peptide production from different sources. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate growth and the antidiabetic peptides released from a rye-enriched medium fermented by probiotics. The culture was made with 7.5% rye protein isolate and 1% glucose, with buffering at pH = 6.8. Fermentation began with 1% inoculum addition and was performed for 24 h. The proposed medium allowed the growth of L. rhamnosus GG and L. casei Shirota to reach concentrations of 9.72 and 10.52 log cfu/mL, respectively, superior to those recommended to obtain beneficial effects on humans. In addition, the nitrogen demands of each strain tested produced peptides capable of inhibiting the DPP-IV enzyme at percentages between 20 and 27%, which converted the hydrolysates into an interesting tool for glycemic control. Finally, rye fermentation by probiotics is a promising process for developing plant-based products with functional properties. Full article

Background: Prebiotics are non-digestible dietary compounds, defined as substrates that are utilised by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. Although fructo-oligosaccharides (FOSs) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOSs) are among the most studied prebiotics and support intestinal normobiosis, comprehensive data on their content in foods remain limited. Objectives: The objective was to quantify the content of FOSs (kestose, nystose, and 1 F-β-fructofuranosylnystose) and GOSs (raffinose and stachyose) in 35 foods, including fruit and nuts, legumes, and cereals. We also estimated the intakes of prebiotics in an Italian population. Methods: We analysed the prebiotic content in foods using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). We estimated the prebiotic intake of 100 healthy controls from a case-control study on colorectal cancer conducted in Italy between 2017 and 2019. We used dietary information collected through a food frequency questionnaire and the prebiotic data quantified in this and a previous study. Results: FOSs were mostly detected in cereal products, with wheat bran and whole-meal rye flour containing the highest amount (around 0.7 g/100 g each). GOSs were most abundant in legumes, especially in dried soy products (around 4.0 g/100 g each). Mean daily intake was 0.236 g for total FOSs and 0.371 g for total GOSs. Wheat bran, raspberries, chestnuts, walnuts, raisins, soy milk, and soy yoghurt overall accounted for 3.9% of kestose, 1.2% of nystose, 0% of 1F-β-fructofuranosylnystose, 15.5% of raffinose, and 8.3% of stachyose total intakes. Conclusions: The present study enables the development of a comprehensive database on prebiotic content in foods through a consistent analytical method. This makes prebiotic intake assessments more accurate than previously available data and facilitates future epidemiological studies investigating their potential effects on health. Full article

The development of biological pesticides is rapidly becoming an integral aspect of pest management in sustainable agriculture. This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Bacillus halotolerans strain B33 against three common seedborne fungal pathogens—Fusarium graminearum, Alternaria alternata, and Aspergillus flavus. B33 strain identity was determined using the 16S rRNA and tuf gene sequences. Commercial wheat, barley, oat, and rye seeds were artificially infected by fungal isolates and then treated with B33 overnight culture in Nutrient Broth. The obtained results indicate high efficacy against F. graminearum (83.55–94.38%) and A. alternata (85.05–96.70%), whereby the highest efficacy was noted on wheat seed and the lowest was detected on rye seed. On the other hand, B33 achieved 100% efficacy against A. flavus on barley, rye, and oat seeds, while being 96.24% effective against this pathogen on wheat. Principal component analysis indicated the highest treatment influence on A. flavus. The effect of all tested treatments on seed germination was statistically significant compared to the controls, whereby the number of germinated seeds declined as the seed infection rate increased. B. halotolerans strain B33 effectively managed seedborne fungal pathogens, thereby enhancing seed germination. Full article

Conservation Agriculture practices in Organic Farming can enhance the sustainability of these farming systems. However, these practices have economic and environmental implications for farmers, which must be considered. In the present study, eight technical itineraries were compared in tomato cultivation. These differed in how reduced and no-tillage practices were used to manage four soil cover types and to control weeds. The itinerary’s gross salable production (GSP), gross income (GI), and CO₂ emissions were evaluated. In the second growing season, the no-tillage itinerary values of both GSP and GI were lower than those based on reduced tillage (34,681.03 and 71,891.58 EUR ha⁻¹, respectively). The use of cover crops tendentially resulted in an increase in GSP in both growing seasons compared to cultivation on bare soil (8190.00 and 41,959.89 EUR ha⁻¹ in 2020 and 2021, respectively), particularly with clover monoculture and a clover–rye mix in 2020 (25,326.60 and 25,818.97 EUR ha⁻¹, respectively) and with clover monoculture in 2021 (69,310.18 EUR ha⁻¹). A similar trend was also observed for GI. Cover crop adoption was related to a higher CO₂ emissions (642.73 and 234.84 kg ha⁻¹ in 2020 and 353.23 and 213.30 kg ha⁻¹ in 2021, for itineraries based on reduced-tillage and no-tillage, respectively). Further studies could focus on the economic and environmental evaluation of these systems in the same pedoclimatic conditions but over the long term, quantifying the various environmental benefits of cover crops. Full article