Search Results (24,874)

Skin cells exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation may experience reduced elasticity in skin tissue due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the overexpression of collagen type I-degrading enzymes (MMP-1). Beyond preventing UV exposure with sunscreen, components that protect the inner surface of skin tissue may suppress the expression of ROS and their subsequent effects. In this study, the suppression of ROS production from UV-A-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) using Chaga-derived polyphenol decoction (CPD) was examined with confocal laser scanning microscopy. Pretreatment with CPD reduced ROS expression to less than 5% compared to the blank. The evaluation of MMP-1 expression levels induced by ROS production from UV-A-irradiated NHDFs using an ELISA showed that MMP-1 expression in CPD-pretreated NHDFs was suppressed by more than 30% compared to untreated NHDFs. Furthermore, three-dimensional collagen gels containing NHDFs were prepared, and a dynamic mechanical analysis of the elasticity of UV-A-irradiated gels revealed that pretreatment with CPD maintained elasticity at more than five times that of the CPD-untreated gel. These findings suggest that CPD may be promising as a functional food for protecting skin tissue. Full article

Aspergillus flavus and its primary secondary metabolite, aflatoxin B1, pose a persistent threat to global food security and public health, highlighting the need to identify novel molecular targets for the development of highly specific fungicides. In this study, the transcription factor Aflrpn4 was investigated by constructing gene deletion and complementation strains to elucidate its regulatory mechanisms in controlling the growth, development, and pathogenicity of A. flavus. Phenotypic analysis revealed that, compared with the wild-type and complemented strains, loss of Aflrpn4 severely restricted radial colony growth, reduced conidial yield, and caused structural defects in conidiophores. Furthermore, AFB1 content was reduced by 52% compared with the wild-type. In storage simulation assays using peanut and maize kernels, the ΔAflrpn4 strain exhibited significantly compromised colonization capacity, reduced biomass, and lower AFB1 accumulation. Under aflatoxin-inducing YES culture conditions, deletion of Aflrpn4 was associated with significant downregulation of key pathway-specific regulatory and structural genes, including aflR, aflS, and aflP. Furthermore, under osmotic stress induced by 1.2 M NaCl and KCl, the growth inhibition rates of the ΔAflrpn4 strain reached 70% and 59%, respectively, and cell membrane integrity was severely compromised. Loss of Aflrpn4 also disrupted intracellular redox homeostasis, characterized by a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, compensatory increases in catalase and peroxidase activities, and substantial accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that Aflrpn4 acts as a pivotal regulator coordinating vegetative growth, asexual development, stress adaptation, and aflatoxin biosynthesis in A. flavus. Consequently, Aflrpn4 represents a promising molecular target for developing targeted interventions to control A. flavus and aflatoxin contamination during grain storage. Full article

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Enterococcus faecium is an opportunistic pathogen. Its resistance and virulence genes can spread through the food chain, posing risks to public health. This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance and genomic characteristics of MDR E. faecium isolated from milk samples from cows with mastitis in Ningxia between 2019 and 2024. From 2019 to 2024, 1341 milk samples were collected in Yinchuan, Yinnan, and Yinbei. MDRE. faecium was identified using plate screening, mass spectrometry, broth microdilution, and hemolysis detection. Whole-genome sequencing enabled SNP, MLST, pan-genome, and COG analyses, focusing on ARGs and MGEs. MRPP, AMOVA and PCoA were applied to compare gene communities and identify driver genes. Ninety-one E. faecium strains were isolated. Resistance to florfenicol, ceftiofur, and chloramphenicol exceeded 60%, while resistance to vancomycin and linezolid showed an overall increasing trend over the study period. Phylogenetic clustering revealed two subtypes, three clades, and 10 novel STs. Spearman correlation analysis revealed strong positive correlations among the resistance genes optrA, cfr(A), and vanF. Antibiotic resistance, particularly MDR, increased over time, and strains carried diverse ARGs and MGEs. Overall, strengthened surveillance of mastitis-derived E. faecium is warranted to support the control of bovine mastitis and safeguard public health. Full article

Aflatoxins and fumonisins are two of the most prevalent and toxicologically significant mycotoxins contaminating global food supplies, particularly maize and groundnuts. Although several regulated mycotoxins contribute to food safety concerns, this review focuses on aflatoxins and fumonisins because they frequently co-occur in maize and maize products. Their widespread prevalence, distinct toxicological mechanisms, and combined health effects necessitate an integrated exposure and risk assessment. This review critically evaluates the current state of exposure assessment and its implications for human health. We examine the evolution of sample preparation techniques, highlighting the transition from traditional liquid–liquid extraction to advanced approaches such as QuEChERS and green extraction technologies that can handle the divergent physicochemical properties of lipophilic aflatoxins and hydrophilic fumonisins. Analytical methods are compared, from the robust but limited HPLC-FLD to the multi-analyte capabilities of LC-MS/MS and the emerging potential of aptamer-based biosensors. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical challenge of modified mycotoxins that evade routine detection yet may contribute to total toxicity. By synthesizing data on biomarkers of exposure and the mechanisms of co-exposure, we discuss the complex interplay between these toxins in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and neural tube defects. The review concludes that mitigating the public health burden of mycotoxins requires a holistic strategy that integrates HRMS for non-targeted analysis with human biomonitoring to capture the accurate individual-level exposure. Full article

Can China feed itself by 2100? This study begins with a critical reexamination of the bayesTFR recovery assumption embedded in UN WPP 2024 and reconstructs population scenarios using an “empirical-base ± empirical-offset” methodology anchored at China’s 2023 official TFR of 1.01. For food security analysis, we narrow the population to three scenarios (low, medium, and policy target), and we set three scenarios each for the demand side and the supply side, producing an integrated 27-scenario analysis. The demand side comprises three trajectories: East Asian saturation type (650 kg/person/year), EU type (780 kg/person/year), and EU + $\alpha$ type (850 kg/person/year). The supply side comprises three trajectories: optimistic (cropland area maintains the red line, with yield reaching the technological ceiling), medium (climate change reduces yield by $-10\%$, and cropland area breaches the red line by $-5\%$), and pessimistic (climate change reduces yield by $-20\%$, and cropland area breaches the red line by $-10\%$). Based on NBS empirical data, projection results show that all 27 scenarios achieve surplus by 2100 (even the worst case retains 0.265 Gt surplus), confirming the robustness of long-term food security. However, during the medium term (2030–2050), the worst case scenario retains 26% import dependency. Even under the U.S.-type full emulation scenario (1100 kg/person/year) examined as a supplementary stress test, all nine sub-scenarios maintain surplus. The challenge for China’s food security lies not in long-term absolute shortage but in medium-term import dependency management and policy transition to the surplus era. By integrating demographic projection, agricultural-economic demand modeling, and a layered food-system accounting framework, this study offers a transferable cross-disciplinary methodology for long-term food security assessment under demographic transition, relevant beyond China to other aging, post-peak societies. Full article

Fresh fruits are prone to spoilage due to microbial contamination and moisture loss, highlighting the need for effective packaging materials with strong barrier and antimicrobial functions. In this work, a bilayer composite film with antimicrobial and preservative properties was fabricated using the solution casting method, consisting of an inner chitosan (CS) layer and an outer complex layer of chitosan-2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde-Ag(I) (CS-PCA-Ag(I)). Preparation conditions were optimized via single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology. The resulting composite film showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties, with tensile strength of 38.52 ± 2.07 MPa and elongation at break of 67.32 ± 1.47%, as well as a low water vapor permeability of 2.81 × 10⁻⁷ g·m⁻¹·h⁻¹·Pa⁻¹. It also exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, with inhibition zone diameters of 19.8 ± 0.3 mm and 15.6 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. Strawberry preservation tests demonstrated that the CS/CS-PCA-Ag(I) film effectively suppressed microbial growth and reduced fruit weight loss (8.27 ± 0.42% after 5 days), thereby extending the shelf life of strawberries. Cytotoxicity evaluation and silver ion migration analysis further confirmed the film’s good biocompatibility and safety. Collectively, the CS/CS-PCA-Ag(I) composite film holds considerable promise for fresh food preservation applications. Full article

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced primarily by molds of the genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. These widespread food and feed contaminants can cause significant risks to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of reference chromatographic methods (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with either fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) or tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)) with two commercially available rapid tests from two manufacturers. To that end, 90 randomly selected grain samples (barley n = 10, wheat n = 21, triticale n = 10, maize n = 49) collected in 2025 were analyzed for deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN), ochratoxin A (OTA), and the sum of T-2 and HT-2 toxins. None of the samples exceeded the maximum levels established by the European Union (EU); however, widespread contamination with one or more mycotoxins was observed. Results showed that although rapid test strips offer advantages such as low cost, short analysis time, and operational simplicity, their considerably higher limits of detection and quantification values make them unsuitable for advanced laboratory analysis. Therefore, HPLC-FLD and HPLC-MS/MS remain the gold-standard methods for reliable, sensitive, and precise mycotoxin determination. Full article

Plant lecithins are complex mixtures of phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidic acid (PA) and lysophospholipids. They are increasingly demanded as natural, non-allergenic emulsifiers and as nutraceutical carriers. Quantitative data on the phospholipid (PL) fraction of less-commodity oilseeds, however, remain dispersed. This review compares the PL composition, processing-dependent extractability, and functional behavior of six oils: hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), corn/maize (Zea mays L., germ), pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), flax/linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.), and camelina (Camelina sativa L.). Across the six oils, total PL content varies by more than an order of magnitude (c.a. 0.25% in camelina oil bodies; >1% in solvent-extracted hemp and c.a. 0.5–1.0% in Styrian pumpkin oil), and PC fraction ranges from 30% (hemp seed tissue) to 56% (rapeseed-comparable sunflower). Flax stands out for both an exceptionally high PE share (22.7%) and a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content in the PL fraction (53.3%) that exceeds rapeseed, sunflower and soy by an order of magnitude. We integrate recent extraction (cold pressing, supercritical CO₂, microwave-assisted, aqueous enzymatic) and degumming data (water, acid, enzymatic with phospholipases A1/A2/C) with functional evidence in emulsions, oil bodies, and bioactive delivery. Full article

This article offers a case-illustrative socio-legal analysis of five decisions of German ordinary courts concerning Muslim prayer and halal food in prison, Islam-coded public performance in urban space, minority community mediation in criminal justice and male circumcision as a ritual controversy involving Muslim and Jewish communities. Building on comparative work on “moderate secularism” and using cases identified through the CUREDI database, it develops a focused account of selective secularism by examining how courts translate minority claims into legal categories within Germany’s formally cooperative framework for governing religion. The analysis distinguishes this wider Christian-centred recognition architecture from the more specific legal and institutional baselines operative in the selected disputes. Within this framework, the argument examines how, in the selected decisions, minority practices are assessed through arena-specific legal standards and institutional routines presented within legal reasoning as neutral, administrative or secular, including security, public order, ordinary institutional diet, restorative justice, bodily integrity and child welfare. Non-religion is approached as an implicit baseline within disputes legally framed as religious. The article contributes to debates on Islam and religious diversity in Germany by analysing prison accommodation, urban public order, criminal mediation and bodily-integrity controversies together. It shows how each legal arena defines what counts as ordinary, which minority claims require justification, and which forms of accommodation or restriction become possible. It argues that, across these decisions, minority claims receive less restrictive legal treatment when they can be translated into goals legible to state institutions, such as order, repair, child welfare or regulated inclusion. Full article

Repeated heat–moisture treatment (RHMT) is an efficient approach for modifying starch. However, the role of treatment temperature, a critical parameter, remains poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of RHMT temperatures (80, 100, 120 °C) and cycles (1, 3, 5, 7) on the multi-scale structure and in vitro digestibility of hard proso millet starch, using native starch as a control. Compared with the severe 120 °C treatment, processing at 100 °C better preserved double-helical organization (supported by moderately retained enthalpy, ΔH) and short-range order, while maintaining granule integrity. These structural retentions restricted swelling, improved pasting stability, and reinforced the macroscopic gel network. Furthermore, multivariate analysis suggested that the rigidified internal granular architecture delayed initial enzymatic hydrolysis, maximizing slowly digestible starch (SDS) formation (47.44% in 100-RHMT-5). Conversely, 120 °C caused severe granular collapse and a drastic drop in ΔH, diminishing gel elasticity and triggering a surge in rapidly digestible starch (RDS, 59%). Overall, 100 °C RHMT yields an SDS-enriched starch, which may be a promising ingredient for the development of starch-based foods with slower in vitro digestibility. Full article

To address yield uncertainties from contrasting hydrothermal events in black soil regions, this study developed a universal estimation framework integrating multi-dimensional features. The universal yield estimation framework leveraged data from contrasting flood (2024) and drought (2025) scenarios in Youyi Farm in the Northeast Black Soil Region. And we fused multi-dimensional environmental features, including remote sensing, soil, and micro-topography factors, to identify “Regime Shifts” in yield-driving mechanisms across contrasting years. We evaluated four ML algorithms (RF, XGBoost, MLP, and TabNet) using Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV) for variable optimization. Results showed the following: (1) The Universal RF model achieved superior robustness (R² = 0.80), overcoming inter-annual fluctuations. (2) Mechanistic analysis identified a “Regime Shift” in yield drivers, transitioning from micro-topography-governed “drainage limitation” during flooding to soil-texture-dominant (SAND) “linear limitation” during drought. (3) Dynamic growth-stage differential features successfully corrected asymmetric spectral responses, resolving slope inversion and overestimation driven by “non-productive greenness” during flooding. (4) Spatio-temporal yield mapping revealed a transition from topography-constrained linear distributions (2024) to soil-moisture-driven “patchy mosaic” structures (2025). Moran’s I increased from 0.21 to 0.45, reflecting intensified yield clustering and intensified spatial clustering under drought. This study provides a robust tool for food security monitoring and site-specific management in climate-vulnerable intensive agricultural zones. Full article

The paper analyses the key challenges and threats to contemporary food security, highlighting the interconnections between large-scale agricultural production and environmental degradation. Selected issues are only a part of this complex phenomenon. The main aim is to initiate a discussion and identify the risks and challenges currently facing agriculture in the context of ensuring food security, and to highlight the potential consequences of treating current agricultural land management practices as a chance for food security. The paper discusses, among other things, the relationship between high-production efficiency and system resilience, and the evolution of the policy framework within the Common Agricultural Policy, which reflects the challenges facing the agricultural sector. A key theme concerns the currently dominant model of agriculture. Particular attention is paid to its negative effects, such as high water consumption, the widespread use of monocultures, the loss of biodiversity, and the excessive use of chemicals and antibiotics. The analysis is further complemented by a discussion of challenges related to safeguarding food security. Overall, the paper underlines the necessity of transforming ways of thinking about food security in the long-term perspective (now and for the future generation) in order to protect natural resources and public health, as well as for reorienting agricultural subsidies towards the support of environmentally sustainable practices. Such a perspective on complex phenomena like food security is essential for maintaining it in the context of escalating crises, including climate change and other global and local challenges. Full article

Citrus aurantium L. is a citrus-derived functional food rich in various phenolic compounds, including flavonoids. However, the bioavailability of its phytochemicals and sensory quality remain limited. This study investigated the effects of ultrasound-assisted fermentation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on microbial growth, phytochemical transformation, antioxidant activity, and metabolic profiles of C. aurantium. Ultrasound treatments were applied at different fermentation stages and power levels, among which treatment at 100 W during the exponential growth phase (ULP4) exhibited the best overall performance. Compared with conventional fermentation by L. plantarum (LP), ULP4 significantly promoted microbial growth, accelerated acidification, enhanced carbohydrate utilization, and stimulated β-glucosidase activity compared with conventional fermentation. Consequently, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacities were markedly improved. Untargeted full-MS/MS metabolomic analysis revealed extensive metabolic alterations following ultrasound treatment, with 335 metabolites significantly altered between LP and ULP4. Differential metabolites were mainly associated with flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. These metabolic changes were closely associated with improved antioxidant properties and functional quality. Overall, ultrasound treatment during the exponential growth phase effectively enhanced microbial metabolism and phytochemical transformation, offering a promising strategy to improve the functional value of fermented C. aurantium products. Full article

With the continuous evolution of the food industry, extending the shelf life of products while maintaining quality and safety has become a major challenge, alongside growing environmental concerns related to conventional plastic packaging. This study aims to provide an overview of recent advances in active biodegradable films as sustainable alternatives for food applications. A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was conducted, including bibliometric analysis to identify key research directions, emerging trends, and technological developments in the field. Our findings highlight the growing interest in biodegradable polymers incorporated with active compounds, such as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents, which contribute to delaying degradation processes and preserving food freshness. Additionally, the analysis emphasizes the mechanisms of action of these active substances and the factors influencing the biodegradability of packaging materials. The results also reveal a shift toward environmentally friendly solutions driven by the need to reduce plastic waste and improve sustainability. In conclusion, active biodegradable films represent a promising approach to enhancing food preservation while minimizing environmental impact, although further research is needed to optimize material performance, scalability, and industrial applicability. Full article

Gamma irradiation is one of the techniques widely authorized for the decontamination of dried herbs and spices. Its effect on the functional properties of essential oils, however, remains incompletely characterized. In this study, we examined the impact of gamma irradiation (at 5, 15, and 25 kGy) on the phytochemical composition, antimicrobial activity, antioxidant capacity, and insect-repellent activity of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil. The GC-MS analysis revealed that the citral-dominant chemotype remained stable across all irradiation doses, with geranial and neral constituting approximately 62–63% of the volatile profile. The antibacterial assays were done on five bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae). Inhibition zones showed no statistically significant differences across irradiation doses (p ≥ 0.05), while MIC (75–100 µg/mL) and MBC (125–150 µg/mL) values remained constant across all doses. DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP antioxidant assays revealed no dose-dependent changes (DPPH IC₅₀: 688–703 µg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀: 18–22 µg/mL; FRAP: 505–517 µg/mL ascorbic-acid equivalents). The essential oil exhibited pronounced repellent activity (87–99%) against adult Tribolium confusum beetles at 0.125 µL/cm², persisting for 24 h and unaffected by irradiation. Molecular docking of the major constituents (geranial, neral, geraniol, and β-myrcene) against key target proteins (3N7H, 3NVY, 4URM, and 8BN6) provided predictive support consistent with the observed activities, indicating plausible molecular interactions rather than confirmed target engagement. In silico ADME and toxicity profiling indicated favorable predicted pharmacokinetic properties and no major in silico toxicity alerts for the four modeled constituents. Taken together, these findings indicate that, under the conditions tested, gamma irradiation at food-decontamination doses produced no major shifts in composition and no statistically detectable changes in the measured bioactivities of C. citratus essential oil. Full article