Search Results (25)

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic stressors have profoundly reshaped consumer eating behaviors, presenting an urgent and underexplored challenge for the academic community. This interdisciplinary review critically examines how these disruptions have influenced both food approach and food avoidance patterns, offering a structured analysis of eight key behavioral parameters: Hunger (H), Food Responsiveness (FR), Emotional Overeating (EOE), Enjoyment of Food (EF), Satiety Responsiveness (SR), Emotional Under Eating (EUE), Food Fussiness (FF), and Slowness in Eating (SE). Drawing on recent literature, we highlight significant shifts in these traits—such as heightened hedonic hunger, age-related changes in food preferences, and gender-specific emotional-satiety dynamics—underscoring the complex interplay between emotional states, physiological cues, and behavioral tendencies. Grounded in the systematic examination of peer-reviewed studies in the post-COVID period, this review offers a robust and comprehensive synthesis of current evidence. The novelty of this work lies in its integration of findings into targeted proposition statements for each parameter, visually supported by original flow charts. These culminate in the development of a “Consumers’ Eating Behavior Index”—a conceptual tool designed to guide researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in understanding and responding to post-pandemic dietary transformations. By emphasizing the emotional and psychological dimensions of eating, this index offers a timely framework for designing tailored public health interventions that promote sustainable nutritional habits. This study calls for renewed academic attention to the behavioral consequences of global crises, positioning eating behavior research as a critical frontier in post-COVID recovery and resilience. Full article

Rapid and reliable detection of pesticide residues in vegetables is essential for food safety and sustainable agriculture. This work presents a four-port closed-loop ring resonator (CLRR) sensor for quantitative detection of carbamate residues in leafy vegetables. Operating through the S₃₁ transmission path, the sensor enhances electric-field coupling and sensing resolution in the high-field region. Four resonance modes were identified at 1.05, 2.10, 3.12, and 4.11 GHz, with the third mode (3.12 GHz) showing the most stable and linear response. Vegetable extracts of Chinese kale and Choy sum were prepared with carbamate concentrations of 0–8% (w/v). Increasing concentration caused a red-shift in resonance frequency corresponding to a reduction in dielectric constant. Regression analysis revealed a strong linear correlation between frequency shift and concentration (R² = 0.9855–0.9988). The CLRR achieved average normalized sensitivities of 6.39% and 6.54% per unit dielectric variation, outperforming most planar and metamaterial sensors. Fabricated on a single-layer FR-4 substrate, the sensor combines high sensitivity, low cost, and excellent repeatability, offering a practical, label-free, non-destructive tool for on-site monitoring of pesticide contamination in leafy vegetables. Full article

The potential of inland valleys to enhance food security and improve agricultural resilience to climate change in Africa is constrained by a limited understanding of their hydrological functioning and inadequate water management. In order to synthesize knowledge on hydrological responses in inland valley areas, this work reviewed 275 studies from tropical Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data from the literature search were collected from Scopus™, ScienceDirect™, Web of Science™, Google Scholar™, and doctoral theses repositories such as ZEF, HAL, and Theses.fr, covering studies published from the inception of these databases through 31 May 2023. Our approach involved, firstly, a bibliometric analysis of all papers to gain insights into research trends and interests. Secondly, we performed a quantitative synthesis of results from 66 studies examining stream flows in a set of 79 inland valleys to better understand factors that govern runoff dynamics in these environments. Correlative analyses and clustering methods were applied to identify potential links between runoff and watershed physical parameters. The findings highlight the varied responses of inland valleys over both time and space, influenced by a combination of catchment drivers. The correlation matrices between hydrological indices and physical parameters indicate a strong relationship among runoff and a range of parameters, of which the most significant are rainfall (R² = 0.77) and soil silt content (R² = 0.68). Challenges in accurately spatializing information related to potential determining components of the water cycle, such as groundwater dynamics and soil moisture, seem to have limited the exploration of interactions between river flow, soil moisture, and groundwater. Future works should prioritize the development of accurate and user-friendly hydrological models that balance complexity and data availability to enhance the understanding of inland valley behavior at fine scales and consolidate food security in Africa. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic gastrointestinal disorders often involve nutritional management strategies. On the one hand, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition in which most of the patients experience frequent diet manipulation in order to obtain long term remission. On the other hand, for celiac disease (CelD), diet is the only known treatment strategy so far, requiring a life-long gluten-free diet. We aimed to evaluate the comparative food-related quality-of-life (FR-QoL) in light of these dietary interventions between these two conditions. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, involving children aged 7–18 years diagnosed with IBD and CelD. Assessment of this aspect was performed using the self-reported FR-QoL 29 questionnaire. For CelD, the questionnaires were modified with “CelD” instead of “IBD”. Results: Fifty-one patients were included, 17 in each subgroup (Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Celd). FR-QoL scores were negatively correlated with age at inclusion (Spearman’s ρ = −0.284, p = 0.04) and also with age at diagnosis (Spearman’s ρ = −0.291, p = 0.038). The scores were significantly lower in the CD group (64.1 ± 13.4) compared with CelD patients (78.6 ± 20.3), p = 0.036 and UC, p = 0.294. For the IBD group, the scores were not influenced by disease activity. Furthermore, we identified a negative significant correlation between anthropometric indices and FR-QoL scores. Conclusions: The burden of dietary intervention is highest for the CD patients, regardless of their disease activity when compared with UC and CelD patients, most probably because of the unpredictable course and fast response to dietary changes. Although it requires incessantly vigilant eating behavior, CelD has apparently become more “manageable” in recent years. Full article

This research presents the development and analysis of a microwave sensor designed with a microstrip band-stop filter, aimed at applications in electrical engineering and food quality assessment. The sensor employs parallel-coupled lines within the microstrip, integrating a band-stop filter at 2.45 GHz on an FR4 substrate. The primary objective is to evaluate preserved fish samples to demonstrate the sensor’s efficacy and applicability. Measurements were conducted using a KEYSIGHT model E5063A network analyzer, covering a frequency range from 0.1 GHz to 3 GHz. The analysis focuses on the frequency response of the insertion loss (S₂₁) across specified frequencies. The results indicate a significant correlation between the percentage shift in the transmission coefficient and the frequency, even when the sample range was meticulously adjusted. These findings underscore the potential of microwave sensors in monitoring the physical properties of preserved food, particularly within food production and quality control processes. The sensor facilitates rapid and precise assessments of food properties, highlighting its broad applicability in various sectors of the food industry. Furthermore, this research contributes to the advancement of microwave technology, suggesting new pathways for future studies and applications in engineering and industrial contexts. The integration of microstrip technology with band-stop filters in sensor design presents a novel approach that enhances the accuracy and efficiency of food quality monitoring systems. This study not only establishes a foundation for further technological developments but also emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of modern engineering solutions, combining principles of electrical engineering with practical applications in the food industry. This innovative approach could lead to more sophisticated and reliable methods for ensuring food safety and quality. Full article

It is well established that cold storage results in increased resistant starch and a reduced glycemic index in carbohydrate food. However, the effects of cold storage on the glycemic response of the second meal of cereals remain unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the postprandial glycemic responses between the paired glutinous and non-glutinous grains, either fresh-cooked or refrigerated, after both the first and second meals. In this randomized crossover trial, eighteen healthy female participants consumed eight test meals, each containing 50 g of carbohydrate, including fresh-cooked non-glutinous and glutinous rice, non-glutinous and glutinous millet, and their refrigerated counterparts (4 °C for 24 h). Postprandial blood glucose and insulin were measured at 240 min and 120 min after breakfast. After a standard lunch, the participants’ blood glucose concentrations were measured within 180 min. The rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS), and resistant starch (RS) contents of the samples were determined by in vitro enzymatic analysis. Cold-stored non-glutinous rice (CR) and cold-stored non-glutinous millet (CM) had a 24.4% and 29.5% lower incremental area under the curve (iAUC_glu) of glucose within 240 min compared to the control (fresh-cooked rice non-glutinous, FR), respectively (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between either the cold or hot glutinous grains and FR with respect to postprandial glycemic and insulinemic parameters. After a standard lunch, the fresh-cooked non-glutinous millet (FM) achieved a 39.1% lower iAUC_glu0–180 compared to the FR (p < 0.05). FM had the highest percentage of SDS (64.8%, p < 0.05) among all grain samples. Refrigeration treatment reduced the glycemic excursion only in non-glutinous grains at the first meal, but the FM instead of CM demonstrated a significant second meal effect. Full article

Complementary feeding (CF) may influence later eating behaviour and growth. Our previous Randomised Control Trial (RCT) reported that new CF guidelines (NCFGs) implemented in 6–12-month-old infants in Bogota, Colombia, had positive short-term effects on red meat, vegetable and fruit consumption. Here, we assessed the effects of the NCFGs on food consumption, eating behaviour and growth at 6 years of age. Weight and height were measured using 50 children (58.8%) from the cohort. Feeding behaviour was measured using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and maternal and child food consumption was measured using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The control group (CG) had a significantly higher weekly consumption of chocolate milk drinks (p = 0.05). The mean food responsiveness (FR) score was significantly higher in the CG (p < 0.001). Although HAZ (height for age Z-score) at 6 years of age was significantly higher in the CG (p < 0.02), there was no significant difference between groups in the change in HAZ from 6 months and 12 months to 6 years of age. BMIZ (body mass index Z-score) and % overweight (CG 18.5% versus NCFG 13%) or obese (3.7% versus 0%) were not significantly different between groups. BMIZ was positively predicted by FR (β 0.293; p = 0.014) and negatively predicted by weekly red meat consumption episodes per week at 12 months (β −0.169; p = 0.020). Although there was no direct effect of an intervention on BMIZ at 6 years of age, the results were consistent with an indirect effect via intervention effects on meat consumption at an age of 12 months and FR at 6 years of age. However, further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size are needed. Full article

Dogs with protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) caused by inflammatory enteritis, intestinal lymphangiectasia, or both, have a guarded prognosis, with death occurring as a result of the disease in approximately 50% of cases. Although dietary therapy alone is significantly associated with a positive outcome, there is limited ability to differentiate between food-responsive (FR) PLE and immunosuppressant-responsive (IR) PLE at diagnosis in dogs. Our objective was to determine if a transfer learning computational approach to image classification on duodenal biopsy specimens collected at diagnosis was able to differentiate FR-PLE from IR-PLE. This was a retrospective study using paraffin-embedded formalin-fixed duodenal biopsy specimens collected during upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy as part of the diagnostic investigations from 17 client-owned dogs with PLE due to inflammatory enteritis at a referral teaching hospital that were subsequently classified based on treatment response into FR-PLE (n = 7) or IR-PLE (n = 10) after 4 months of follow-up. A machine-based algorithm was used on lower magnification and higher resolution images of endoscopic duodenal biopsy specimens. Using the pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network model with a 70/30 training/test ratio for images, the model was able to differentiate endoscopic duodenal biopsy images from dogs with FR-PLE and IR-PLE with an accuracy of 83.78%. Our study represents an important first step toward the use of machine learning in improving the decision-making process for clinicians with regard to the initial treatment of canine PLE. Full article

The development of new processing methods is required in order to meet the continuous demand for thinner films with excellent barrier properties for food packaging and other applications. In this study, rice husk organosolv lignin nanoparticles were prepared using the electrospray method, which were applied to produce polylactic acid (PLA)-based films for food packaging. The effect of the following electrospray parameters has been investigated: lignin concentration (LC) ranging from 5–50 mg/mL, flow rate (FR) from 0.5–1 mL/min, applied voltage from 10–30 kV, and tip-to-collector distance (TCD) from 10–25 cm, on the morphology, size, polydispersity index (PDI), and Zeta potential (ZP) of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs). The response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize these parameters, while dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses were used to characterize the controlled LNPs. The results showed that the LNPs shape and sizes represent a balance between the solvent evaporation, LC, applied voltage, TCD and FR. The application of optimal electrospray conditions resulted in the production of LNPs with a spherical shape and a minimal size of 260 ± 10 nm, a PDI of 0.257 ± 0.02, and a ZP of −35.2 ± 4.1 mV. The optimal conditions were achieved at LC = 49.1 mg/mL and FR = 0.5 mL/h under an applied voltage of 25.4 kV and TCD = 22 cm. Then, the optimized LNPs were used to improve the properties of PLA-based films. Three types of PLA-lignin blend films were casted, namely lignin/PLA, LNPs/PLA and PLA-grafted LNPs. PLA-grafted LNPs exhibited a more uniform dispersion in PLA for lignin contents of up to 10% than other composite samples. Increasing the lignin content from 5% to 10% in PLA-grafted LNPs resulted in a significant increase in elongation at break (up to four times higher than neat PLA). The presence of PLA-grafted lignin led to a substantial reduction in optical transmittance in the UV range, dropping from 58.7 ± 3.0% to 1.10 ± 0.01%, while maintaining excellent transparency to visible light compared to blends containing lignin or LNPs. Although the antioxidant capacity of unmodified lignin is well-known, a substantial increase in antioxidant capacity was observed in LNPs and PLA-grafted LNP films, with values exceeding 10 times and 12 times that of neat PLA, respectively. These results confirm the significant potential of using studied films in food packaging applications. Full article

The agri-food industry generates tons of waste rich in dietary fiber, a nutrient that can be recovered to be reused in the development of fiber-enriched foods and beverages. This could be a strategy to achieve resource-use efficiency and to promote adequate intakes of this nutrient, since a large part of the world population does not get the recommended daily amount. In this sense, this work was carried out to optimize the extraction of dietary fiber from quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) peel, using the response surface methodology. A 20-run experimental design was implemented, combining the factors time, temperature, and ethanol percentage at five levels. The yield of fibrous residue (FR) and its dietary fiber content and color parameters were used as dependent variables. The developed predictive models were statistically validated and used to determine optimal extraction conditions. The process was significantly affected by temperature and ethanol percentage, and the highest dietary fiber content (67% of FR) was obtained using 36% ethanol at 92 °C. Overall, these results showed that C. oblonga fruit peel could be upcycled into dietary fiber-rich food ingredients. Full article

Cultivating red-stalked rhubarb plants is an important source of raw materials for producing health-promoting foods. The quality and quantity of rhubarb crops are significantly dependent on planting material. To obtain high-quality planting material for the value selection of the rhubarb ‘Raspberry’, we evaluated the morphological and physiological responses of micropropagated plantlets to different growth substrates and light quality during early growth ex vitro in the greenhouse. The plantlets were grown in high-EC (GM1) and low-EC (GM2) peat substrates under four light-emitting diodes (LED) light treatments as supplementary lighting (SL) in the wintertime: 100% red (R), 100% blue (B), white light [44.4% green (G), 24.4% B, 28.9% R; 2.2% far red (FR)] and R+B+G+FR (49.4/16.3/10.3/23.8%) light. Compared to the control (natural sunlight), applied LED lighting significantly increased all growth parameters, but only in plantlets grown in GM1 substrate. Among LED treatments, R+B+G+FR light had the most stimulative effect on all growth parameters (length of leaf petioles, leaf area, biomass) and soluble sugar production. Still, it decreased the levels of phenolic compounds in the leaf petioles. Phenolic synthesis, mainly anthocyanins, was the highest under white light (622.8 mg·100 g⁻¹ dry mass), followed by red (601.8 mg·100 g⁻¹), blue (464.4 mg·100 g⁻¹), and R+B+G+FR light (416.4 mg·100 g⁻¹). High anthocyanin accumulation under R-LED light was associated with high antioxidant activity and growth cessation. Hence, for optimal effects related to plant growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis, the use of W-LED lighting is recommended for the early growth ex vitro of micropropagated rhubarb plantlets. Full article

Rice is the major staple food crop for more than 50% of the world’s total population, and its production is of immense importance for global food security. As a photophilic plant, its yield is governed by the quality and duration of light. Like all photosynthesizing plants, rice perceives the changes in the intensity of environmental light using phytochromes as photoreceptors, and it initiates a morphological response that is termed as the shade-avoidance response (SAR). Phytochromes (PHYs) are the most important photoreceptor family, and they are primarily responsible for the absorption of the red (R) and far-red (FR) spectra of light. In our endeavor, we identified the morphological differences between two contrasting cultivars of rice: IR-64 (low-light susceptible) and Swarnaprabha (low-light tolerant), and we observed the phenological differences in their growth in response to the reduced light conditions. In order to create genomic resources for low-light tolerant rice, we constructed a subgenomic library of Swarnaprabha that expedited our efforts to isolate light-responsive photoreceptors. The titer of the library was found to be 3.22 × 10⁵ cfu/mL, and the constructed library comprised clones of 4–9 kb in length. The library was found to be highly efficient as per the number of recombinant clones. The subgenomic library will serve as a genomic resource for the Gramineae community to isolate photoreceptors and other genes from rice. Full article

A non-contact method for detecting salt concentration in water using a microstrip patch sensor is presented in this work. The microstrip patch sensor, which has a low cost and simple build process, consists of a circular split ring resonator (SRR) with a hole drilled through the substrate in the middle area, and a microstrip patch antenna. The sensor was designed and fabricated using a printed circuit board (PCB) technique based on a negative dry film photoresist and photolithography method. It was built on an Arlon DiClad 880 substrate with a thickness of 1.6 mm and a relative permittivity of 2.2. The resonant frequencies (F_r) and reflection coefficients (S₁₁) in the frequency range from 0.5 GHz to 0.8 GHz were recorded for analysis, both through simulation and experiment. The concentration of chloride and carbonate salts was varied from 0 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL in the tests using the sensor. The statistical analyses of S₁₁ and F_r data obtained from measurements of five different salts at seven different concentrations (using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Bartlett test, and Kruskal–Wallis H test) were conducted using R version 4.2.0 to determine the relationship between the individual salts. The experimental results showed that the frequency response and resonance amplitude are functions of the concentration of each salt. The proposed method has the potential to be used for the non-contact measurement of industrial products, food quality, and health in the future. Full article

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) proteins are taxonomically homologous to wheat proteins and react with sera from patients with baker’s asthma. In the current work, the crude extract of barley proteins was divided into six fractions on DEAE-Sepharose. Their immunoreactivity in reacting with sera from patients with a confirmed food allergy varied, and the 15-kDa fraction (B–FrVI) showed the strongest response. In silico analysis confirmed that 15-kDa B-FrVI protein belongs to the trypsin/amylase inhibitor family and to a group of MHC type II allergens. In the next step, the immunogenicity of the B-FrVI was examined in a mouse model. It was shown that, compared to the PBS group, administration of B-FrVI to mice induced almost 2× higher amounts of specific IgG, ~2¹⁷, and IgA ~2⁹, as early as day 28 after immunization, regardless of the route (intraperitoneal or oral) of antigen administration (p < 0.0001). An ELISpot for B-cell responses confirmed it. Stimulation of mesenteric lymphocytes with pure B-FrVI significantly increased (p < 0.001) the proliferation of lymphocytes from all groups compared to cells growing in media only and stimulated with lyophilized beer. The experiments prove the strong immunogenicity of the 15-kDa B-FrVI protein and provide a basis for future studies of the allergenic nature of this protein. Full article

Pinus koraiensis is a valuable plant source of functional health foods and medicinal materials. Hypertriglyceridemia affects about 15–20% of adults and is related to stroke, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes mellitus. Dietary fructose, a risk factor for developing hypertriglyceridemia, significantly increases postprandial triglyceride (TG) levels and aggravates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effect of ethanol extract from P. koraiensis needles (EPK) on fructose (Fr)-induced cell culture and animal models, respectively. Our team determined the bioactivity, such as anti-cancer, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-hyperlipidemic functions, of P. koraiensis needle extract. The EPK markedly reduced TG levels in the liver and serum and enhanced TG excretion through feces in high-fructose-fed rats. Furthermore, the EPK inhibited de novo lipogenesis and its markers—carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), fatty acid synthase (FAS), 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-CoA Reductase (HMGCR), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory marker. Consistent with the results of the in vivo experiment, the EPK decreased SREBP-1, ChREBP, HMGCR, FAS, TNF-α, and iNOS expression levels, resulting in slower lipid accumulation and lower TG levels in Fr-induced HepG2 cells. These findings suggest that EPK mitigates hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic TG accumulation by inhibiting de novo lipogenic and pro-inflammatory factors. Full article