Search Results (329)

In order to fulfil SDG 13—taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impact—SDG 2—ending hunger and poverty—and the African Union CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026–2035, which’s goal is ending hunger and intensifying sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and trade, the resilience of commercial livestock farmers to agricultural droughts needs to be enhanced. Agricultural drought has affected the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, including South Africa, and still poses a challenge to commercial livestock farming. This study identifies and determines the factors affecting commercial livestock farmers’ level of resilience to agricultural drought. Primary data from 123 commercial livestock farmers was used in a principal component analysis to estimate the agricultural drought resilience index as an outcome variable, and the probit model was used to determine the factors influencing the resilience of commercial livestock farmers in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. This study provides a valuable contribution towards resilience-building strategies that are critical for sustaining commercial livestock farming in arid regions by developing a formula for calculating the Agricultural Drought Resilience Index for commercial livestock farmers, significantly contributing to the pool of knowledge. The results showed that 67% of commercial livestock farming households were not resilient to agricultural drought, while 33% were resilient. Reliance on sustainable natural water resources, participation in social networks, education, relative support, increasing livestock numbers, and income stability influence the resilience of commercial livestock farmers. It underscores the importance of multidimensional policy interventions to enhance farmer drought resilience through education and livelihood diversification. Full article

Earthworms are valued as a dietary protein source in many regions. Earthworm protein can yield bioactive peptides, but enzymatic hydrolysis is inefficient by commercial proteases, and bioactivity development is still inadequate. This study developed a novel efficient method for degrading earthworm protein and investigated the lipid-lowering activity and mechanism of earthworm peptides. It was found that combining autolysis and alcalase exhibited a higher hydrolysis degree of earthworm protein of 43.64 ± 0.78% compared to using autolysis or alcalase only. The hydrolysate significantly reduced lipid accumulation in steatotic hepatocytes. LC-MS/MS results showed that the primary lipid-lowering peptides (EWPs) in the hydrolysate were small molecule peptides with molecular weights of 500–1000 Da and chain lengths of 4–7 amino acid residues. Western blot results demonstrated that EWP regulated the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins, including APOC3, HMGCR, PCSK9, SREBP1, C/EBP-α, NPC1L1, PPAR-γ, and CYP7A1. Transcriptomic analysis and validation experiments indicated that the lipid-lowering activity of EWP was associated with its suppression of inflammatory factors, such as IL-6. This study presents an efficient enzymatic hydrolysis strategy for earthworm protein utilization, laying the foundation for its application in functional foods such as protein supplements, nutraceutical capsules, hypoallergenic infant formulas, and sports nutrition products. Full article

When breastfeeding is not possible, infant formulas may be used instead of human milk. However, harmful advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) may be formed during thermal processing of infant formulas. The exposure to AGEs at such an early age can lead to chronic diseases in the future. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a sensitive method to determine the content of AGEs in infant formulas. Twenty commercial infant formulas (initial and follow-on) in liquid and powder form were investigated using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with a multistep sample pretreatment procedure. Five selected glycation products were analyzed: N^ε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), N^ε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), furosine, glyoxal lysine dimer (GOLD), and methylglyoxal lysine dimer (MOLD). The mean contents of the tested glycation products did not differ significantly between the initial and follow-on formulas. No significant differences were found in the concentrations of the analyzed compounds from different manufacturers. However, the liquid formulas contained significantly more CML. The estimated dietary exposure to the tested compounds was in the range of 42.5–92.6 μg/day, except for furosine (almost 2 mg/day). The developed method enabled the determination of selected AGEs in complex matrices such as infant formulas. Consumption of liquid infant formulas can result in higher exposure to some AGEs. Full article

Specialty coffee commercialization has experienced a consistent upward trend over the past several years. The prevalence of specialty coffee consumption has increased considerably, particularly among younger demographics and people who engage in physical activities. Sellers are actively involved in the development of innovative formulas and modifications to maintain the competitiveness of their product in the market. Here, we propose a naturally infused caffeine drink with cascara extract as an alternative social beverage. This beverage was formulated using extracts derived from Arabica Ethiopia coffee beans and coffee cherry shells. The final cascara-infused caffeine drink comprises a 50% Ethiopian Arabica coffee infusion and a 50% coffee cherry shell infusion. This beverage is characterized by an average caffeine content of 0.28 mg/mL, a caffeic acid content of 0.24 mg/mL, and a chlorogenic acid content of 0.13 mg/mL. Furthermore, 100 mL of the cascara-infused coffee drink is enriched with polyphenol compounds at an amount of 80.6 mg of Gallic Acid Equivalents per liter (mg GAE/L), including 67.6 mg of catechin equivalent per liter (mg CAE/L) flavonoids. The formulation of the infused caffeine drink contains natural sugars such as glucose, sucrose, and fructose, in amounts of 0.17 mg/mL, 0.97 mg/mL, and 1.66 mg/mL, respectively. The developed procedure has the potential to enhance the coffee-sale market. Full article

To commercialize supersonic and hypersonic passenger aircraft and reusable spaceplanes, we are developing a small-scale supersonic flight experiment vehicle as a flying testbed for technical demonstrations in high-speed flight environments. This experiment vehicle is equipped with a fuel tank and an oxidizer tank, and the propellants inside the tanks slosh due to changes in acceleration during flight. In this situation, there is a risk of gas entrainment during liquid discharge, which could potentially cause an engine malfunction. To avoid such a situation, we considered installing a propellant management device (PMD) inside the tank to suppress the gas entrainment. In this study, a capillary type PMD with a screen channel structure, commonly used in satellites featuring no moving parts, was adopted due to its applicability to a wide acceleration range. The PMD was designed with a structure featuring cylindrical mesh screen nozzles installed at the top and bottom of a cylindrical tank. A one-dimensional flow analysis model was developed taking into account factors such as the pressure loss across the mesh screens and the flow loss within the mesh screen nozzles, which enabled the identification of conditions under which gas entrainment occurred. In this analytical model, separate formulations were developed using Hartwig’s and Ingmanson’s formulas for evaluating the flow losses through the mesh screens. Furthermore, by applying the flow analysis model, the specifications of the mesh screens as key parameters of the PMD, together with the nozzle diameter and nozzle length, were selected. Moreover, we fabricated prototype PMDs with each nozzle and conducted visualization tests using a transparent tank. The tests were conducted under static conditions, where a gravitational acceleration acted downward, and the effects of the cylindrical mesh screen length and discharge flow rate on the free surface height at which gas entrainment occurred were investigated. This experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of the propellant acquisition mechanism of the present PMD. The height of the free surface was also compared with the experimental and analytical results, and it was shown that the results obtained by using Ingmanson’s formula for pressure loss through the screen mesh were closer to the experimental results. These findings demonstrated the validity of the one-dimensional flow analysis model. Full article

The water-based binder has the advantages of non-toxic, non-flammable, small odor, and no pollution to the environment. However, there are problems such as low bond strength and poor battery cycle life of commonly used binders on the market. In this paper, the acrylic binder is modified. In addition, acrylic acid/methacrylic acid, acrylonitrile, and octadecyl acrylate/octadecyl methacrylate are copolymerized at high temperature, and a new binder for graphite anode is successfully developed. The binder can significantly improve the affinity between the graphite anode and the electrolyte and the integrity of the graphite particles during the cycle, so that the battery has better electrochemical performance. During the charge and discharge cycle of 1 C, the graphite anode coated with PAANa as a binder was able to cycle 360 cycles and remain stable, which is far better than the 192 cycles of the commercial binder LA133. It is proved that the experimental formula has a certain commercial application prospect. Full article

Background: Nail gels are decorative fingernail coatings based on (meth)acrylates that are photopolymerized on the nail surface. After polymerization, these coatings typically retain an uncured layer of monomers at the air interface due to oxygen inhibition, which may pose a risk of skin sensitization unless removed. No-wipe topcoats are formulated to address this issue by curing fully; however, no standard test method exists to verify a complete cure. This study presents a method to quantify residual uncured traces of several common nail gel monomers extracted from polymerized commercial no-wipe nail gels. Method: Commercially available no-wipe nail gels were formed into films of controlled thickness and polymerized using a standard UV-curing nail lamp. Solvent extraction was employed to eliminate residual uncured monomers, namely diethylene glycol dimethacrylate (DEGDMA), isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). These monomers were quantified utilizing GC-FID and HPLC techniques. Method validation was conducted with samples of known monomer identity and concentration, thereby establishing specificity, linearity, precision, and detection limits. Results: Validated test protocols were established for the analysis of residual uncured traces of three commonly used monomers in nail gel coatings. In all instances, levels of monomer residue in a cured gel coating were found to range from 56 µg/g to 800 µg/g. Tests conducted on commercial products indicated that levels of these monomers fell within the expected normal ranges for such products. Conclusions: Through the utilization of two chromatographic techniques, three analytical methods were established for the simultaneous determination of ingredient concentrations and residual monomer quantities in unreacted bulk formula and cured UV-gel film. These methods and the resultant data facilitate the evaluation of curing completeness, which is essential for product development and safety assessments. Full article

In this study, a novel ocean current energy converter is proposed. The energy converter is composed of two crossflow turbines. The two turbines rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions; therefore, the summation of the hydrodynamic torques applied to the two turbines is equal to zero, which can make the converter self-stabilizing. A channel is designed to guide a large amount of water flowing through the turbine, thereby increasing the incident velocity, power, and efficiency of the turbine. The guide vanes are positioned in front of the turbine to guide the ocean current, producing the optimal flow incident angle and thereby increasing the performance of the turbine. A novel empirical formula for determining the power and efficiency of the converter is derived. Moreover, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the energy converter is conducted using the commercial software Star CCM+ in the standard κ-ω turbulence model with wall functions. The accuracy of the empirical formula is verified by comparing the theoretical results with those obtained using the CFD method. Finally, the effects of several parameters on the performance of the energy converter are investigated. The optimal parameters are obtained as follows: (1) The optimal setting angles of vanes γ₁ = 78°, ${\gamma }_2={\gamma }_1+10°$, and ${\gamma }_3={\gamma }_1-5°$. (2) The optimal blade angle β = 44°. (3) The optimal rotating speed N = 2.6 (V_cur/1.6) rpm. (4) The optimal ratio of turbine center distance r_L4 ≥ 2.50. (5) The optimal ratio of turbine shaft length is approximately 5.5 < (r_shaft = W_shaft/D_tur)_opt < 5.7. (6) The performance of each turbine with N_blade = 31 blades is significantly better than that with N_blade = 23 blades. Full article

Aragonite calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), derived from cockle shell waste, was successfully used as a renewable calcium source to synthesize calcium citrate (CCT) using citric acid (C₆H₈O₇). The three CCT products (CCT-2, CCT-3, and CCT-4) were prepared using three different acid concentrations: 2, 3, and 4 M. The physicochemical characteristics of the newly synthesized CCT were investigated. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed the vibrational modes of the citrate anionic group (C₆H₅O₇³⁻), which preliminarily confirmed the characteristics of CCT. However, X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the concentration of citric acid altered the structural property and the chemical formula of the synthesized CCT. Employing 2 M citric acid, a pure tetra-hydrated phase (Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂·4H₂O, earlandite mineral) was obtained. However, a mixture of hydrated (Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂·4H₂O) and anhydrous (Ca₃(C₆H₅O₇)₂) phases was precipitated when 3 and 4 M citric acid was used in the preparation process. The lower mass loss observed in the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of CCT-3 and CCT-4 compared to that of CCT-2 further confirmed that CCT-3 and CCT-4 were composed of hydrated and anhydrous CCTs. The synthesized CCT decomposed in four major processes: the first dehydration, the second dehydration, CaCO₃ formation, and decarbonization, generating calcium oxide (CaO) as the final product. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) results showed that the CCT mainly consisted of CaO with a quantity of >98%. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) image revealed the irregular plate-like CCT crystallites. The concentration of citric acid is a key factor that influences the productive parameters of CCT, including production yield, reaction time, and solubility. 2 M citric acid provided the optimal balance between productivity and cost-effectiveness, with the highest yield and soluble fraction and the lowest reaction time. The results suggest that the preparation of CCT from cockle shell waste can potentially replace the use of commercial calcite from mining, which is a limited and non-renewable resource. Full article

Background/Objectives: Optimal infant growth is reliant on the sufficient intake of human milk. Studies in animal models speculate that multiparous mothers produce a higher milk yield compared to primiparous mothers. We aimed to examine if there are relationships between consecutive lactations and infant demographics and both maternal 24 h milk production (MP) and infant milk intake (MI). Methods: Lactating mothers 1–6 months postpartum (n = 36; 25 fully breastfeeding (FBF), 11 supplementing with commercial milk formula (partly breastfeeding (PBF)) test-weighed their infants for 24 h during two consecutive lactations and provided demographic information. Twenty-four-hour MP by breast, infant MI (including mothers’ own expressed milk and formula), breastfeeding and expressing frequencies were measured. The statistical analysis used linear mixed modelling accounting for infant birth weight (FBF) or time postpartum (PBF) and for the random effect of the participant. Results: In the FBF group, there were no differences between lactations in terms of MP (p = 0.31) or the infant mother’s own MI (p = 0.14). The birth weight was higher for consecutive lactation infants (p = 0.008). Infant sex was not associated with MP (p = 0.12) or the infant mother’s own MI (p = 0.090). In the PBF group, the breastfeeding frequency (p = 0.042), MP (p = 0.025) and infant mother’s own MI (p = 0.019) were higher in consecutive lactations whilst formula intake was lower (p = 0.004). Conclusions: This study suggests that in fully breastfeeding women, there is no significant effect of consecutive lactation or infant sex on MP or infant MI during established lactation. Full article

Nowadays, there is a lack of high-performing genetic materials specifically developed to thrive under low-input conditions and meet the demands of organic agriculture. This study aims to evaluate seven improved Greek tomato landraces and their (F1) hybrids designed for low-input farming systems as a potential solution to the shortage of superior varieties for organic farming in specific environments. This evaluation focuses on yield components and fruit quality parameters. According to the results, experimental genetic material matches or exceeds the performance of the commercial (F1) hybrid Formula and outperforms the control variety cv. Macedonia (pure line), indicating that selected inbred lines (S.I.L.s) originated from landraces that developed under low-input conditions and are better suited to organic farming systems. For instance, the improved line (S.I.L.) from landrace Pantaroza pink has only a 13% lower total yield compared to (F1) commercial hybrid Formula, whereas the (F1) hybrid between Pantaroza pink × Kardia vodiou surpasses it, by 23%. In conclusion, tomato landraces are an important gene pool for seed development for organic or low-input farming systems, especially under the circumstances of climate change, presenting increasing challenges. Improving these local genetic materials using mild breeding approaches under low-input conditions leads to the production of new selected pure lines (S.I.L.s) along with their (F1) hybrids, which could ensure high-quality products with satisfactory yield and low requirements, offering an innovative pathway toward sustainable agriculture. Full article

The purpose of this paper is to analyze different valuation methods for commercial land with multiple street frontages to formulate a valuation method with the route price of main street frontage and sub-street frontage as the main valuation indicators. This paper is based on the route price valuation method of Quanzhou and Japan, through comparing and analyzing the valuation indicators and calculation formulas, it can be found that the differences between the two valuation methods for commercial land with multiple street frontages exist. In the case of Quanzhou, the valuation method only corrects the main street frontage route price, while the valuation method in Japan corrects the route price of each street frontage separately. As a result, according to the results of the comparative analysis, the current valuation method in Quanzhou is adjusted, and a valuation method is proposed that takes the route price of the main street frontage and sub-street frontage as the main valuation indicators. First, this research identifies the valuation indicators and calculation formulas related to multiple street frontages based on the documents related to the route price valuation methods of Quanzhou and Japan in order to clarify the current valuation methods and provide the foundation for the subsequent comparative analyses. Secondly, the comparative analysis of the different valuation methods for commercial land with multiple street frontages is based on the valuation indicators and calculation formulas. Among them, the current valuation method in Quanzhou corrects the main street frontage route price through the street frontage situation correction coefficient, whereas the valuation method in Japan corrects the route price of the main street frontage and sub-street frontage (side and back). Finally, according to the results of the comparative analysis and based on the current valuation method in Quanzhou, a valuation method is proposed with the route price of the main street frontage and sub-street frontage as the main valuation indicators. Full article

Background/Objectives: There is extensive evidence that breastfeeding saves lives, improves health, and provides value to the economy and societies worldwide. The Philippines and Viet Nam have progressive policies to enable breastfeeding, and breastfeeding rates in these countries have substantively improved. In the Philippines, exclusive breastfeeding under six months (EBF) increased from 35.9% (2008) to 60.1% (2021) and, in Viet Nam, in just over a decade, EBF has more than doubled, from 17.0% (2010) to 45.4% (2021). We aimed to use an evidence synthesis to consolidate learnings from policy support to enable breastfeeding in the Philippines and Viet Nam, to identify insights to improve future programming to improve breastfeeding practices in these two countries, and glean learnings that can potentially be adapted for similar contexts. Methods: This manuscript presents a qualitative evidence synthesis of seven purposively selected research articles from the Philippines and Viet Nam. Results: Since the 1960s, the Philippines and Viet Nam have notably improved policies protecting breastfeeding. Both countries have implemented legislation that is substantially aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions. Both countries have improved paid maternity leave provisions, with Viet Nam providing 6 months of paid leave, yet insufficient coverage to informal workers, and the Philippines providing 3.5 months of paid maternity leave while expanding maternity protection coverage to informal workers. From 2006–2021, breastfeeding rates increased in both countries alongside policy improvements yet barriers to implementation remain. Conclusions: Implementation research has documented policy progress and improved breastfeeding rates in the Philippines and Viet Nam. Our analysis offers valuable lessons potentially applicable beyond these contexts, emphasizing the need for addressing policy gaps and targeted cross-sectoral policy actions to enhance breastfeeding practices. Learnings from implementing national marketing restrictions of commercial milk formula and associated products and maternity protection policies in these countries could inform the implementation of newly developed regional standards together with supportive policies, facilitating the harmonization of regional regulatory environments. Full article

In the manufacture of infant formulas, from raw materials to the final product, the ingredients are subject to high temperatures which favor the formation of undesirable compounds, some of them from the Maillard reaction, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and acrylamide, and others from thermal processing, such as the compound 3-monochloro-1,2-propanoldiol (3-MCPD). Finally, there is also a risk that the product may be adulterated with undesirable components such as melamine and cyanuric acid. Due to the vulnerability of infants during the first stage of life, this review answers the main question: How much of these undesirable compounds are present in commercial infant formulas, and what do we know about them? Accordingly, the review is divided into three sections: (1) Maillard reaction products (HMF and acrylamide), (2) products contained in vegetable oils (3-MCPD), and (3) fraudulent and/or adulterant compounds (melamine and cyanuric acid). The objective is to report on the occurrence of HMF, acrylamide, 3-MCPD, melamine, and cyanuric acid in infant formulas in order to support more solid public health policies related to infant feeding. These undesirable compounds represent a risk to infants, possibly contributing to kidney and neurological damage and causing mutations that increase the development of childhood cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to promote breastfeeding and establish stricter controls, with scientific evidence on the effects of HMF, acrylamide, 3-MCPD, melamine, and cyanuric acid in infant formulas to reduce their short- and long-term effects on infants’ health. Full article

Climate change worsens abiotic stresses, primarily due to high temperatures, which have a negative impact on avocado productivity, leading to reduced crop yields, affecting fruit set and abscission. To tackle these challenges, antioxidants such as glycine, choline, and proline can enhance plant tolerance to these stressors and minimize plant cell damage. This work aimed to use these antioxidants to improve avocado commercial yield and quality under challenging environmental conditions. This study was conducted at the experimental farm of the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain, to evaluate the effects of glycine, choline, and proline on ‘Hass’ Persea americana plants. The research took place during the 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 seasons in a 2.0 ha orchard, using a randomized design with two treatments: one with antioxidants and the other without. Substances were applied at specific phenological phases, as the BBCH code indicated. Tree growth parameters, including trunk diameter, height, crown diameter, and tree canopy volume, were measured using geometric formulas. Leaf samples were collected to analyze the nutrient concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn using atomic emission spectrometry. Marketable fruit yield and quality parameters such as fat, fiber, and protein content were evaluated using the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) methods. The results showed that antioxidants did not significantly affect tree growth but altered leaf mineral nutrient composition. N and P concentrations were reduced, while K and Ca concentrations were increased. Mn and Zn levels were higher in the treated plants, whereas Cu levels were higher in the control plants. Productivity significantly improved, with a 49% increase in fruit yield, larger fruit size, and a 7% increase in fat content, though fiber and protein remained unchanged. These results show the selective benefits of antioxidants in optimizing avocado yield and quality under stress. Full article