Search Results (340)

Food–medication interactions can occur when medicines are taken with foods, drinks, herbs, or supplements that influence drug absorption, exposure, or activity. Screening these combinations is challenging because the available evidence is imbalanced, prescription text may be recognized incorrectly, unsupported inputs may produce unreliable predictions, and altered software artifacts may change the recommendation presented to the user. iMediFood-Shield addresses these concerns through an evidence-first edge-AI framework that combines structured diet–drug interaction evidence, prescription-assisted medication confirmation, coverage-aware rejection, calibrated five-class prediction, false-safe-aware confidence gating, and software-based tamper-evident verification. The DDID preparation process began with 23,950 evidence records and produced 16,644 canonical medication–food/herb pairs, including 16,165 single-effect model-eligible pairs and 479 multi-effect conflict pairs. A leakage-free 70%–15%–15% split was applied after canonicalization, and the deployed lookup was restricted to training-supported and conflict records. On the operational locked-test AI branch of 2259 supported unseen pairs, the final calibrated LinearSVC with the validation-selected MedSafe-GATE threshold of 0.65 achieved 91.72% accuracy, 80.57% balanced accuracy, and a macro F1-score of 0.8359. The gate reduced calibrated false-safe predictions from 55 to 28, corresponding to a 49.09% reduction and a final false-safe rate of 1.35% among interaction-bearing AI-branch pairs. RxOCR-Guard achieved 94.67% candidate recall and 100.00% candidate precision on a controlled synthetic prescription benchmark, while mandatory user confirmation was retained because top-1 candidate accuracy was 51.33%. The unchanged baseline and all ten adverse software-bundle conditions produced the expected verification outcomes for artifact-modification, missing-file, key-mismatch, manifest-alteration, and rollback cases. Raspberry Pi deployment reproduced all 2259 reference predictions without mismatch, completed covered AI inference in 1.737 ms on average, and verified the protected software bundle in 80.249 ms on average. These results show that iMediFood-Shield can combine evidence-grounded screening, conservative AI decision control, prescription confirmation, and software-integrity verification within a resource-constrained edge research prototype. Full article

Antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria poses a global health threat, and poultry farming provides an important reservoir for multidrug-resistant pathogens. Our study aimed to characterize the faecal microbiota and acquired resistome of Ross-308 roosters in Hungary. Amplicon and shotgun metagenomics revealed a faecal microbiota dominated by the Firmicutes, Bacteroidota, and Proteobacteria and a diverse faecal resistome, including qnrB and an aadA1-bearing integron. Culture-based screening of an antibiotic-free rooster yielded the MDR Escherichia coli strain K1G, displaying resistance also to third-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. Whole-genome sequencing classified K1G as a serotype O23:H16-ST453 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strain featuring a set of chromosomal virulence factors (including astA, hlyE, lpfA, and iss) and three plasmids: a phage-like plasmid, a mosaic virulence plasmid (carrying bla_TEM-1b, hlyF, iutA, ompT, iucD, and cvaC), and an IncC type 1 resistance plasmid harbouring bla_CMY-2. The detection of identical or closely related ST453 E. coli strains also in broiler meat in Hungary highlights a potential risk of transmission to humans through the food chain. Moreover, the carriage of multiple acquired antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli K1G indicates that individual chickens can harbour or transmit antibiotic resistance even in the absence of direct antibiotic exposure. Full article

Energy efficiency interventions are typically evaluated and implemented at the single-firm level, yet energy use and savings are shaped by interdependent decisions distributed across the supply chain, spanning sourcing, production, inventory, logistics, and financing. A foundational observation motivating this paper is that some energy efficiency actions are only possible through inter-firm cooperation: they require changes to partners’ processes or technologies, create benefits that accrue to different actors than those bearing the investment costs, and demand governance mechanisms (e.g., cost-sharing contract, buyer-financed supplier development, supply chain finance instruments) to be financially viable. This paper proposes CHAIN-EE (Collaborative Holistic Approach for Integrated Network Energy Efficiency), an action-oriented framework that operationalizes systems thinking into a practical roadmap for supply chain decision-makers. CHAIN-EE integrates three interconnected phases: (A) supply-chain energy diagnosis, covering boundary definition, baseline construction, and hotspot identification across nodes and flows; (B) action portfolio design, structured around a six-lever intervention taxonomy and multi-criteria evaluation embedding a cost–benefit alignment map that makes governance feasibility an explicit selection criterion; and (C) governance and continuous improvement, including incentive alignment, investment architecture and ISO 50001-compatible performance management. Evidence from four European research projects spanning the food cold chain, dairy, food-and-beverage/transport value chains, and HORECA illustrates how each phase operates in practice across different sectors and governance contexts. The paper contributes an integrative, sector-adaptable structure for supply chain energy efficiency programmes, grounded in both analytical research and applied project experience, and a targeted research agenda on cross-node rebound effects, data-enabled energy flow mapping, and multi-tier coordination mechanisms. Full article

The demand for sustainable nutrients and bioactive compounds has increased interest in underutilized wild plants. Forestiera tomentosa, a Mexican drupe-bearing species, is largely unexplored. This study evaluated the proximate composition, physicochemical and functional properties, phenolic profile, antioxidant capacity, and toxicological safety of F. tomentosa fruit. The fruit showed high carbohydrate content [71.94% dry weight (DW)], with notable crude fiber (7.90% DW), protein (7.39% DW), and lipid (4.30% DW) contents. Analysis revealed a mildly acidic pH (5.66), titratable acidity of 0.32%, and total soluble solids of 2.33 °Brix. The fruit powder had a low water activity (0.42) and a favorable water solubility index (56.10%), oil absorption (4.54%), and foaming capacity (19.71%). The fruit contained high levels of soluble phenols (280.42 mg GAE/g DW), flavonoids (98.89 mg CE/g DW), anthocyanins (54.53 mg C3G/g DW), and condensed tannins (94.05 mg CE/g DW). High-performance liquid chromatography identified 20 phenolic compounds, with 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid, syringic acid, catechin, epicatechin, and gallocatechin being predominant. The fruit showed significant radical scavenging and reducing potential (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Toxicological evaluation using the Artemia salina bioassay showed a 100% survival rate across all concentrations, indicating no acute toxicity. In silico ADMET predictions revealed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, including high intestinal absorption and compliance with Lipinski’s rule of five. These findings position F. tomentosa as a promising, non-toxic source of functional ingredients for the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries, supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential health benefits of this fruit in vitro and in vivo. Full article

Background/Objectives: Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for bone mineral accrual and future skeletal reserve. Milk intake, sun exposure and caffeinated energy drink consumption are familiar lifestyle concepts, but they differ substantially in biological proximity and evidential strength. This structured narrative review critically evaluates these exposures in relation to peak bone mass accrual in youth. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched from database inception to 23 June 2026. Search terms combined pediatric population terms with bone outcomes and exposure terms related to milk/dairy, calcium, vitamin D, sun exposure, physical activity, sleep, caffeine and energy drinks. A literature collection flowchart and a GRADE-informed evidence appraisal table are provided to improve transparency and clinical interpretability. Results: Evidence is strongest for adequate calcium intake, calcium-rich foods and weight-bearing physical activity as modifiable contributors to skeletal accrual. Vitamin D is essential for mineral homeostasis, but supplementation effects on bone density in otherwise healthy children are context-dependent and appear most relevant for deficiency prevention or treatment. Milk intake is best interpreted as a practical marker of calcium-rich dietary patterns rather than as the only route to calcium adequacy. Sun exposure is an indirect determinant of vitamin D status and is modified by season, latitude, skin pigmentation, clothing, sunscreen, adiposity and outdoor behavior. Direct evidence linking caffeinated energy drinks to impaired pediatric bone accrual is very limited. The relevance of caffeinated energy drink intake is better framed as indirect and hypothesis-generating, through possible displacement of calcium-rich beverages, sleep disruption and clustering with poorer lifestyle patterns. Conclusions: A prevention framework for pediatric bone health should emphasize calcium adequacy, avoidance of vitamin D deficiency, mechanical loading and correct pediatric DXA interpretation using Z-scores. Energy drinks can be included as a lifestyle concern, but conclusions should remain cautious because direct skeletal evidence is limited. Full article

Electron beam irradiation, extensively used for suppressing a wide range of pathogens contaminating food products, pharmaceuticals and biological raw materials, inevitably damages the surrounding proteins, stripping the product of its essential nutritional and functional properties. This issue can be addressed by adjusting the electron beam irradiation dose, bearing in mind the concentration of proteins in the product since it can affect the rate of radiation-induced modifications in proteins. The study investigates the impact of 7.5 MeV electron-beam irradiation on modifications in bovine serum albumin (BSA) molecules in 0.9% NaCl solution in the concentration range of 0.5–70 mg/mL, encompassing a wide range of protein concentrations in food products, pharmaceuticals and biological raw materials. Conformational changes and aggregation of BSA were evaluated using UV–Vis spectrophotometry at λ = 350 nm. Peptide bond rupture in protein native structures was assessed by performing HPLC-MS/MS analysis after trypsin hydrolysis using three selected peptides located in different domains of the BSA amino acid sequence. It was found that the rate of radiation-induced modifications increased with an increase in the irradiation dose but decreased markedly as BSA concentration increased. While at the BSA concentration of 0.5 mg/mL over 87% of BSA molecules underwent peptide bond rupture under irradiation with a dose of 5 kGy, a two-fold increase in the BSA concentration and irradiation dose enabled bond rupture in only 20% of BSA molecules. Our experimental approach resulting in the development of the dose and concentration model allows us to quantify the degree of radiation-induced protein modifications depending on the irradiation dose and protein concentration in food products, pharmaceuticals and biological raw materials. Full article

Soil contamination by heavy metals (HMs) [or potential toxic elements (PTEs)] poses serious risks to ecosystems and human health. Metals persist in the environment and can reach groundwater and freshwater as part of the food-chain. In soils, anthropogenic inputs dominate over geogenic sources. Metal mobility is strongly controlled by factors such as pH, mineralogy, and erosion processes that transport metal-bearing clay fractions. Wind and water can transport soil, mainly clay particles that can usually bind contaminants such as HMs. Using waste material is a tool suggested from the circular economy, so waste becomes a valuable resource. This study evaluates the immobilization efficiency of several heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using phosphate amendments—synthetic hydroxyapatite, phosphatic rock from Florida and Morocco—applied to a brownfield site. Heavy metal immobilization followed a two-step mechanism: first rapid surface complexation and secondly partial dissolution of hydroxyapatite and ion exchange with Ca, leading to the precipitation of metal-substituted hydroxyapatite phases. Synthetic hydroxyapatite generally shows the best efficiency, whereas phosphatic rocks were less effective but still provided a measurable immobilization. From a circular economy perspective, however, phosphatic rocks remain attractive due to their lower cost, availability, and waste-valorization potential. Full article

Olive pomace is a major side stream originating from olive processing for the production of olive oil. This waste material bears a load of polyphenolic antioxidants, and thus it might serve as a source of precious phytochemicals. This work had as its objective the development of an extraction process for the efficacious recovery of polyphenols from dried olive pomace (dOP), employing eco-friendly extraction media. To this end, environmentally benign solvents were first compared for their efficiency in obtaining increased yields in total polyphenols, and 40% aqueous isopropanol was selected as the best-performing mixture. Further examination of the role of acidification showed that mineral acid addition (sulfuric, hydrochloric) had a rather negative effect on polyphenol yield. To the contrary, incorporation of oxalic acid into the solvent at a 10% level provided significantly higher extraction yield (p < 0.05), which reached 27.1 ± 1.1 mg caffeic acid equivalents (CAE) per g dOP. This solvent system (40% isopropanol/10% oxalic acid) was additionally scrutinized for its effectiveness by studying the role of process severity and response surface optimization. Out of both approaches, it was demonstrated that polyphenol extraction yield, but also antiradical activity, was directly correlated with residence time and temperature, within the limits tested. Moreover, a high correlation between polyphenol concentration and antiradical activity was also revealed. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses showed that the extract obtained with the solvent system used (40% isopropanol/10% oxalic acid) was characterized by the presence of both hydroxytyrosol and the flavone luteolin (242.1 and 178.6 μg g⁻¹ dOP, respectively), but, in the absence of isopropanol, the extract produced was largely dominated by hydroxytyrosol (4629.7 μg g⁻¹ dOP). Thus, it was concluded that the solvent system could fundamentally diversify extract composition. It is proposed that, when combined with integrated biorefinery technologies, this approach could effectively contribute to reducing environmental impacts while enabling the production of valuable natural antioxidants or platform chemicals that are vital for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Within the broader context of sustainable food waste management, such strategies might be key elements of a circular economy framework. Full article

Successful management of agricultural nitrogen (N) during crop growth has major implications for food supply, energy and environment. Need for N during crop growth is not a linear function. As an example, for corn growth, the need for N is S-shaped (sigmoid) during the growing stage, which suggests that for optimum use of the fertilizer, continual adjustment of the amount of fertilizer as the plant is growing is necessary. The most common practice is to add extra fertilizer, well beyond what the plant needs, even though the extra fertilizer results in significant environmental damage. Sustainable practice would balance crop productivity and profitability with negative environmental effects. The challenge for developing sustainability is to meet the N requirements of the growing crop with fertilizer, as well as timing of irrigation and additives application, proper dosing, and related management actions during a crop season. In this review article, we begin with the role of fertilizers in ensuring food supply for the burgeoning human population. Soil parameters, including soil biochemistry, determine the transformation of N in the fertilizer to nutrients suitable for plant uptake. There are several options for applying fertilizer to soil, and this has a bearing on the fertilizer fate. We examine current methods and technologies that farmers can use to optimize fertilizer use, keeping abreast of the temporal dependence for N needed for a growing crop. The widespread adoption of technologies for sustainable agriculture is lacking. Why such strategies are not being used extensively and a discussion of what is needed to enhance fertilizer optimization concludes the article. Full article

The presented study aimed to fully characterise berry powders derived from raspberry, blackberry and strawberry (RB, BB, SB) as well as raspberry and blackberry seed powders (RBS, BBS) in terms of proximate composition, the individual profile of minerals, sugars, organic and fatty acids, and phenolic and volatile compounds. Additionally, testing of powders’ colour and antioxidant activity, as well as spectroscopic analysis, were also performed. Higher total and individual sugars, organic and phenolic acids, flavonols and anthocyanins content distinguished berry powders from the seed powders. Individually, RB contained significant amounts of citric and chlorogenic acids, BB was superior in cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside content, while SB was characterised by high sucrose, fructose, omega-3, and mineral (Ca, Mg, Fe) content. Berry seed powders exhibited remarkable TDF content, beneficial PUFA/SFA ratio, lighter colour, higher individual flavan-3-ols quantity, TPC and DPPH activity compared to berry powders. Mentioned discrepancies between berry and berry seed powders on a compositional level were also visible on ATR-FTIR spectra across all detected regions reflecting bonds attributed to cellulose, lipids, phenols and sugars. Pleasant, predominantly green, fruity and floral aromas were associated with berry powders, whilst additional herbal notes were characteristic of berry seed powders, all derived from the alcohols, aldehydes, esters and ketones as paramount volatile compounds. All examined powders can bear a nutritional claim of “high in” fibre (20.47–65.33%) and Mg (114.52–128.70 mg/100 g), enabling the design of food products packed with nutrients and bioactives while simultaneously reducing fresh fruit and fruit-processing waste. Full article

Background: Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy and 5-fluorouracil (FU) remains a mainstay of chemotherapy despite its toxicity. As an important part of comprehensive tumor treatment, dual-protein (DP) nutritional intervention is attracting more and more attention. Methods: This study preliminarily evaluated the regulatory effects of DP intervention on colorectal cells of CT26 tumor-bearing mice, examining the dosage and administration methods of DP, as well as the anti-tumor effects of FU alone or in combination with DP. Results: The results showed that low- and medium-dose DP numerically increased spleen index and showed trends toward alleviating FU-induced thymic atrophy, splenic damage, nephrotoxicity, and myocardial injury. It also partly mitigated muscle wasting, prevented FU-induced shortening of the colorectal tract, and reduced intestinal injury. In addition, DP was associated with increased lymphocyte, monocyte, and platelet counts and decreased granulocytes, suggesting possible alleviation of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression and a potential effect on hematopoietic function. Flow cytometry results indicated possible effects of DP on CD4⁺ T and CD8⁺ T cell proliferation or apoptosis, modulation of effector and memory phenotypes, reduced splenic neutrophil levels, balanced B cell function, and maintained natural killer cell activity. In addition, DP intervention also showed trends toward regulating hepatic lipid metabolism and partially alleviating FU-induced dyslipidemia and muscle damage. In addition, DP and FU could increase IL-2, IL-10, GM-CSF and IFN-γ and decrease IL-6 and TNF-α. Conclusions: In conclusion, a moderate dose (0.67 g/kg) of DP had the most favorable trends, and the pre-intervention mode was more effective. This study also provided exploratory data on the potential of DP in reducing chemotherapy-related toxicity. These findings will provide preliminary scientific support for nutritional therapy in colorectal cancer patients, as well as for the research, development, and application of dual-protein foods for special medical purposes. Full article

Benthic foraminifera, single-cell marine organisms found worldwide, represent an important component of seabed ecosystems. Due to their sensitivity to environmental pollution, they are often used as bioindicators, providing an efficient tool in toxicity studies. Among the pollutants affecting marine coastal and estuarine environments, persistent flame retardants, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), are frequently found. Low-level exposure to BDE-47, a PBDE congener, is known to affect organismal development. In this framework, this study aims to assess the effects of BDE-47 exposure on benthic foraminifera from coastal marine environments. Foraminifera specimens belonging to the symbiont-bearing Peneroplidae family were sampled and exposed to two different BDE-47 concentrations for up to 48 h. Vitality indicators such as changes in pseudopodial activity, movement, reproduction, loss of symbiont algae, and occasional mortality events were monitored during the experiment. Exposure to BDE-47 induced alterations in pseudopodial activity, movement, reproduction, and symbiont retention, with the progressive loss of vitality and limited mortality at increasing exposure levels, highlighting the sensitivity of this species to BDE-47. These findings suggest the harmful repercussions of PBDE pollution on marine coastal ecosystems, affecting benthic organisms and potentially contributing to biomagnification processes within the food web, with possible implications for human health. Full article

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous combustion-derived contaminants that represent a significant cross-cutting threat to human, animal, and environmental health. Viewed through an explicit One Health lens, this review shows how the shared combustion sources, evolutionarily conserved toxicological mechanisms, and food-web linkages connecting environmental contamination to wildlife and human exposure justify an integrated, cross-domain approach to PAH risk assessment and management. PAHs are generated predominantly through incomplete combustion of organic materials and are globally distributed through atmospheric transport, aquatic runoff, and food-web transfer, persisting in soils and sediments for decades. The present review synthesizes current knowledge on PAHs through an explicit One Health lens, examining shared sources, environmental fate, and convergent health effects across species and health domains, while also highlighting the need to move beyond the classical US EPA priority PAHs to include high-molecular-weight PAHs (>302 Da), alkylated homologues, and transformation products such as oxy- and nitro-PAHs. Common pathways such as dietary intake of grilled and smoked foods, inhalation of contaminated air, and occupational exposure create parallel toxicological burdens in both human and wildlife populations, particularly through genotoxic mechanisms mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation and CYP1A1/CYP1B1-catalyzed bioactivation to reactive diol epoxides. The resulting DNA adduct formation links environmental PAH exposure to carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, immunosuppression, and developmental impairment across vertebrate species with remarkable mechanistic consistency. Wildlife, especially fish, marine mammals, and seabirds, serve as critical sentinels for environmental PAH contamination, while simultaneously facing direct health impacts on immune function, reproduction, and population viability. Vulnerable human populations, including children, subsistence communities, occupational workers, and residents near combustion-intensive industries, bear disproportionate burdens reflecting underlying environmental justice concerns. Integrated intervention strategies encompassing source control, dietary exposure reduction, site remediation, and coordinated biomonitoring are urgently needed. By incorporating emerging PAH classes with distinct persistence, trophic behavior, and toxicological potency, the One Health paradigm provides a more comprehensive conceptual framework for modern environmental surveillance, food safety, and integrated risk assessment, recognizing that the health of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is inseparable from that of the animals and humans within them. Full article

Linezolid represents a critical last-resort treatment for severe multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-positive bacterial infections. Rising linezolid resistance in Enterococcus isolates threatens its efficacy; this study characterized the molecular features and transfer potential of plasmid-encoded linezolid resistance genes optrA and poxtA in a linezolid-resistant Enterococcus asini isolate from chickens. An E. asini strain was isolated during a surveillance program focusing on drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria in poultry. PCR screened linezolid resistance genes, conjugation and plasmid stability assays evaluated gene transferability and stability, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed using both the Illumina and Nanopore platforms. We present the first detection of optrA and poxtA genes in E. asini recovered from chicken feces in China. Sequence analysis of the complete genome showed that poxtA and optrA were situated on two distinct plasmids. The poxtA positive plasmid, pHNGXN23C145Ea-1, also carried multiple resistance genes, including tet(S), fexB, erm(B), ant(6)-Ia, aph(3′)-III. Furthermore, the poxtA gene was flanked by IS1216E mobile elements. The optrA bearing plasmid, pHNGXN23C145Ea-2, harbours a common genetic array of ‘IS1216E fexA-optrA-erm(A)-IS1216E’. Conjugation experiments indicated that neither the poxtA- nor the optrA-bearing plasmid was transferred to recipient strains, which was consistent with sequence analysis showing that both plasmids lacked intact conjugative transfer regions. Stability assays confirmed that poxtA and optrA remained highly stable in the absence of selective pressure. Notably, this discovery was made in a livestock sample, despite the non-use of linezolid in food animals, suggesting that such niches may act as silent reservoirs for resistance genes, which could persist and potentially transfer to clinically relevant MDR pathogens. Full article

The application of autonomous robotics in food production is still in its infancy but bears significant potential, especially in the sector of precision farming. Here we present the results of a survey conducted during the years 2022–2023 with local farmers in Northern Germany to identify the challenges that are being faced by both conventional and organic farming practices due to climate change and increased food production regulations in the EU region. Additionally, a pilot study with a medium-sized (Demeter) farm is presented, identifying the real needs and problems organic farmers face during their food production chain from seeding, weeding, and maintaining the equipment till bringing in the harvest. The results indicate a strong demand for modular, autonomous, and digitized solutions to address key challenges in agricultural production. To address these challenges we propose a novel mechanical robotic platform design that has been developed in accordance with the Fab City principles of open and local production resulting in a low-cost open-source solution. Full article