Search Results (77)

Background: South Asian Americans (SAA) are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the U.S. and face significant health disparities, particularly regarding chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Dietary patterns play a crucial role in these disparities, with acculturation to Western diets linked to poorer health outcomes. Despite this, the impact of food insecurity on dietary habits among SAAs remains underexplored. This study aims to examine the availability, cost, and quality of ethnic food items and how food insecurity influences dietary practices in Southern California’s SAA population. Methods: The study was conducted in San Bernardino County, California, with field data collection focused on five South Asian ethnicity-specific grocery stores and three Western grocery stores. We assessed the availability and cost of key ingredients for commonly prepared SAA dishes. Additionally, focus group interviews were held with South Asian immigrants to understand food insecurity challenges and dietary adaptations. Results: The study found significant disparities in food availability and cost between SAA-ethnic grocery stores and Western stores. SAA stores were less accessible and more widely dispersed, with an average distance of 10 miles between them. While ingredients like ginger paste and cumin powder were available in both types of stores, items such as ghee, fenugreek seeds, and black gram were harder to find in Western stores. Focus group participants noted that ethnic foods, especially vegetarian ingredients, were more expensive than Western alternatives, leading many to substitute traditional meals with cheaper, less nutritious options. Participants also raised concerns about the poor quality of items in ethnic stores, such as expired produce, which further limited their food choices. Conclusions: Food insecurity, driven by limited availability, high cost, and poor quality of ethnic foods, poses significant challenges to the SAA community’s diet and health. Addressing these barriers could improve food security and health outcomes among SAA immigrants. Full article

The aim of the current study was to determine the scale and underlying causes for the waste of raw and processed fruits and vegetables in Polish households. A survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1100 respondents. The collected empirical data were analyzed using statistical tools such as non-parametric tests, multiple regression methods, and logistic regression. This study assessed the level and determinants of waste of raw and processed fruits and vegetables, identified the reasons for this waste and their impact on its extent, and analyzed the effect of waste prevention methods (including processing) on the scale of product losses. This study showed that the scale of waste of processed fruits and vegetables in Polish consumer households is significantly lower than that of raw products. The level of waste for both raw and processed products vary depending on place of residence, education, income, household size, and, in the case of processed fruits and vegetables, also the age of respondents. The main reason for fruit and vegetable losses in households is missing the product’s expiration date. Logistic regression analysis showed that the most effective strategies for reducing the waste of raw fruits and vegetables include purchasing the right quantities and freezing them. In contrast, practices such as donating food to others or composting were linked to a statistically significant decrease in the likelihood of reducing waste. Full article

The manuscript introduces an innovative framework for expiration date recognition aimed at improving accessibility for visually impaired individuals. The study underscores the pivotal role of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in addressing complex challenges, such as variations in typography and image degradation. The system attained an F1-score of 0.9303 for the detection task and an accuracy of 97.06% for the recognition model, with a total inference time of 63 milliseconds on a single GeForce GTX 1080 GPU. A comparative analysis of quantized models—FP32, FP16, and INT8—emphasizes the trade-offs in inference speed, energy efficiency, and accuracy on mobile devices. The experimental results indicate that the FP16 model operating in CPU mode achieves an optimal equilibrium between precision and energy consumption, underscoring its suitability for resource-constrained environments. Full article

This publication presents raw data from an online survey in Latvia that reflects households’ practices, opinions, attitudes, and social responsibility regarding food waste. A total of 1336 respondents (households) participated in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of three parts, with the first part focusing on daily food habits and shopping habits, the second part focusing on respondents’ opinions and social responsibility on food waste management, and the third part containing questions on the frequency of shopping for different product groups. The dataset presented in the publication includes survey questions and response options, as well as raw survey data that can be used to compare households’ food waste behavior across countries. The data can help policy makers make data-driven decisions or serve as the basis for further research. Full article

Agri-food safety issues have received widespread attention globally. The emergence of blockchain technology (BCT) effectively addresses trust issues in the agri-food supply chain traceability system (AFSCTS). However, the append-only feature of blockchain has led to continuous linear data growth in BCT-based AFSCTSs, which increases the equipment requirements and has become a bottleneck for BCT-based AFSCTS applications. The storage capacity required by BCT-based AFSCTSs can be effectively reduced by deleting expired data, thereby reducing the storage pressure on blockchain devices and lowering the device requirements. In this paper, we propose an AFSCTS architecture that incorporates redactable blockchain and InterPlanetary file system (IPFS) technologies to achieve traceability with low storage pressure, using the wheat supply chain as a proof of concept. Firstly, the key links were analyzed in agri-food traceability and the demand was proposed for agri-food blockchain traceability based on the timeliness of traceability data. Secondly, a lightweight accountable parallel blockchain architecture called LAP-chain is proposed. This architecture utilizes redactable blockchain technology to offload expired agri-food traceability data to IPFS, thereby reducing the storage pressure on blockchain devices and ensuring data accountability through IPFS. Finally, we evaluate the correctness, collision resistance, and storage performance of the LAP-chain built on the Ethereum private chain. The results show that when expired agri-food traceability data are permanently retained, the storage capacity of the proposed architecture is only 52.38% of that of the traditional blockchain traceability architecture, after running continuously for 36 months. When traceability data of expired agri-food are deleted in accordance with the food laws and regulations of various countries, the storage capacity of the proposed architecture can be reduced from a linear level to a constant level compared to the traditional blockchain traceability architecture. The proposed architecture has the potential to contribute to improving the safety and quality of agri-food. Full article

Unmanaged waste can cause environmental pollution, as well as hygiene and health problems. Sitimulyo Piyungan Bantul at the coordinates of −7.86409, 110.42888 was established in 1994 and is the final waste repository area in Yogyakarta, and it is now completely closed; consequently, causing joblessness in the surrounding community. There are activities that can be undertaken to recycle waste such as managing rubbish. Waste can be divided into four categories scrapping, composting, and producing maggot food. However, unmanaged and useful waste, namely, inorganic and hazardous waste, remains a big problem. This research work aims to solve the problem by re-engineering and making an initial simulation using computational fluid dynamics of an incinerator to complete unmanaged inorganic and hazardous rubbish. The incinerator was produced to process non-organic solid and medical waste, which should be combusted at temperatures higher than 800 °C to reduce combustible rubbish that can no longer be recycled, and toxic chemicals, to kill bacteria and viruses. The main incinerator frame is made of an iron elbow. Construction of the incinerator is divided into the chamber, recirculation zone, and chimneys. The wall of the incinerator machine is made of refractory stone and insulators. To measure and control the temperature, thermocouples and a thermocontrol are placed at the inner wall of the incinerator machine. The function of the incinerator machine was tested, and it ran normally. Initial operation of an incinerator for solid hazardous waste such as infusion bottles, pets, glass bottles, pampers, and expired medicines was undertaken. The performance showed that the achieved temperature was 705 °C during the process of the operation, and all of the hazardous waste became ash and the recycled material became a paving block that is economically worthwhile. Hence, the incinerator can be operated as a household industrial tool for a solid medical waste processing apparatus. An initial computational study of the incinerator was also carried out briefly using the student version of commercial software. Full article

Lipid peroxidation is a major process that determines the quality of various oil samples during their use and storage, in which the primary products are hydroperoxides (HP’_S). HP’_S are very stable compounds at ambient conditions and are harmful to human health. Therefore, the evaluation of the degree of oil oxidation is an excellent tool for ensuring food safety. The peroxide value (PV) is the main parameter used for quality control in oils. Herein, we propose an alternative electrochemical method to the classical iodometric titration method most widely used for determining the PV. Our approach is based on the electrochemical quantification of hydroperoxides/peroxides in an organic solvent medium (acetonitrile and organic ammonium salt) using a composite electrocatalyst–glassy carbon electrode modified with 2D-nanomaterial graphitic carbon nitride doped with Co₃O₄. Calibration was made by the method of standard addition using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a model peroxide compound, dissolved in chloroform and added to fresh Rivana-branded anti-cellulite oil, used as a model oil sample. Calibration plots showed a linear response and the very good reproducibility of the analytical result (R² ˃ 0.99). Further, in terms of accuracy, the method showed good results, since the BPO quantitative analysis was close to the theoretical response. In addition, the accuracy of the electrochemical method was compared with that of the standard iodometric titration method for determining the PV of vegetable fats (according to a standard method). Finally, using the electrochemical method, the concentration of peroxides was determined in a real sample—an anti-cellulite oil of the trademark Rivana with an expired shelf life. Full article

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) is involved in the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines that mediate several chronic inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In recent years, the therapeutic armamentarium in dermatology has expanded with the introduction of PDE4 inhibitors, both in oral and topical formulations. PDE4 inhibitors have gained increasing interest due to their remarkable safety record and ease of prescription, as evidenced by the recent influx of literature detailing its off-label uses. Apremilast was the first PDE4 inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers of Behcet’s disease. Off-label use has been reported in diverse dermatological conditions, including aphthous stomatitis, chronic actinic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, cutaneous sarcoidosis, hidradenitis suppurativa, lichen planus, and discoid lupus erythematosus. Roflumilast is a PDE4 inhibitor that was approved by the FDA and the EMA as an oral treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Since patent expiration, several generic formulations of oral roflumilast have become available, and various studies have documented its off-label use in psoriasis and other dermatological conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa, recurrent oral aphthosis, nummular eczema, lichen planus, and Behçet’s disease. Topical roflumilast has received FDA approval for treatment of plaque psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. The favorable safety profile encourages its long-term use as an alternative to corticosteroids, addressing the chronic nature of many dermatological conditions. New oral PDE4 inhibitors are being developed, such as orismilast (LEO-32731), mufemilast (Hemay005), difamilast (OPA-15406) or lotamilast (E6005/RVT-501), among others. This narrative review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety profile, and practical considerations regarding the oral and topical use of PDE4 inhibitors in dermatology. Full article

The outbreak of war in Ukraine has severely disrupted global food and agricultural markets and affected commodity prices. The grain agreement, also known as the Black Sea Initiative, was concluded on 22 July 2022 by Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, and the United Nations, to alleviate the global food crisis caused by the conflict. This study aims to ascertain whether the agreement has resulted in the stabilization of cereal markets, examining the evolution of prices of wheat and corn, which are of significant importance in Ukrainian exports, throughout the duration of the agreement, including its signing, implementation, and expiration. The analysis, based on the GARCH model and using daily quotations of corn and wheat futures contracts of the European futures exchange Euronext from December 2021 to May 2024, indicates that prices were characterized by exceptionally high volatility in the period preceding the signing of the agreement, and at the time of its expiration. The uncertainty regarding cereal trade conditions has triggered shocks, with a long-lasting impact on price volatility. Full article

This paper presents a review of the technologies and services associated with online grocery shopping. The progress in the field of online grocery shopping has been very rapid in recent years. Hence, there was a need to systematize knowledge about the latest various solutions used in this topic. The authors searched the internet, focusing on websites of different supermarkets, shops, and other services that offer online shopping, as well as reviewed scientific papers. Based on the collected material, the authors created four thematic parts, which include: (1) supermarket services; (2) dedicated grocery delivery services and farm-to-table; (3) shopping in Virtual Reality and the metaverse; smart devices and (4) AI in food ordering—the last part includes smart devices, such as smart refrigerators, ovens, their functionality, and the services connected with them. The authors refer to 243 sources. The research includes the three following objectives: (1) exploring and presenting the emerging applied ways of online grocery shopping, (2) exploring and presenting the latest technological advances related to the digitalization of grocery shopping, (3) discussing the upcoming technologies, services, and methods in online grocery shopping. This paper provides knowledge about a wide range of solutions offered by both supermarkets and stores (e.g., shopping applications, VR applications, metaverse shopping) and other companies (e.g., deliveries, product tracking), highlighting the numerous functions available thanks to smart devices (e.g., voice control, own shopping lists, control of products, their quantities and expiration dates, management of user preferences, and many more). This paper also discusses social issues related to the presented solutions, such as their influence on consumer behavior, barriers to adoption, and the associated challenges. Full article

Biogas production offers an alternate method for managing agricultural waste and contributes to sustainable renewable energy generation. Anaerobic digestion (AD) enables the transformation of organic waste, including agricultural substrates, into biogas, mostly consisting of methane, carbon dioxide, and trace gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. The objective of this study was to employ a 30 L semi-continuous stirred tank reactor to evaluate the effects of organic loading rate, temperature, and speed of stirring on biogas production. The reactor was inoculated with 8.6 L and filled with 11.4 L of a mixed substrate including cattle manure, potato waste, potato starch waste, fruit waste, and expired dry dog food. The reactor was evaluated with organic loading rates (OLRs) of 11.2, 12.2, and 13.2 g VS/L d, and stirring speeds of 25.5, 35.5, and 45.5 rpm. The results indicated that the maximum yield was 12.2 g VS/L d at 45.5 rpm, and in thermophilic conditions, the biogas yield surpassed that of mesophilic conditions, measuring 105,860 NmL/g VS compared to 69,800 NmL/g VS. This study emphasises the significance of optimising operational parameters to improve biogas output, thereby contributing to sustainable energy resources and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

Ustekinumab is a fully human IgG1k monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity and specificity to the p40 subunit of interleukins (IL-) 12 and 23, inhibiting their activity by preventing binding to their receptors. The European extension of the patent (Supplementary Protection Certificate) of ustekinumab expired on 20 July 2024. Biosimilar alternatives to ustekinumab are now an additional option for treating patients. The efficacy data for this drug in moderate-to-severe psoriasis obtained both from clinical trials and indirect comparisons through meta-analyses, are superior to those of etanercept and adalimumab, and its safety profile is more favorable than that of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Several ustekinumab biosimilars have already been approved by regulatory agencies: between October 2023 and October 2024, Wezlana^® (Amgen ABP 654), Uzpruvo^® (Alvotech AVT04) and Pyzchiva^® (Samsung/Bioepis SB17) have been approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). SteQeyma^® (Celltrion Healthcare CT-P43) was approved by the EMA in August 2024. Otulfi^® (Fresenius Kabi/Formycon) was approved by the FDA in October 2024. Several other potential biosimilar candidates are under development, including BAT2206 (Bio-Thera), DMB-3115 (Dong-A ST), QX001S (Qyuns Therapeutic), BFI-751 (BioFactura), NeuLara (Neuclone), ONS3040 (Oncobiologics), and BOW090 (Epirus Biopharmaceuticals). In most cases, these monoclonal antibodies are expressed in cell lines (e.g., Chinese Hamster Ovary, CHO) different from those used for the originator (Sp2/0 spleen cell murine myeloma); of note, the cell line of origin is not a requirement for biosimilarity in the totality-of-evidence comparison exercise and may facilitate the production and reduce the immunogenicity of biosimilars originated in CHO cultures. This narrative review summarizes the available data on characteristics of the full comparability exercises and comparative clinical trials of these drugs. Full article

Tea is central to the culture and economy of the Middle East countries, especially in Iran. At some levels of society, it has become one of the main food items consumed by households. Bioactive compounds in tea, known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, have proven to confer neuroprotective effects, potentially mitigating diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and depression. However, the popularity of black tea has also made it a target for fraud, including the mixing of genuine tea with foreign substitutes, expired batches, or lower quality leaves to boost profits. This paper presents a novel approach to identifying counterfeit Iranian black tea and quantifying adulteration with tea waste. We employed five deep learning classifiers—RegNetY, MobileNet V3, EfficientNet V2, ShuffleNet V2, and Swin V2T—to analyze tea samples categorized into four classes, ranging from pure tea to 100% waste. The classifiers, tested in both patched and non-patched formats, achieved high accuracy, with the patched MobileNet V3 model reaching an accuracy of 95% and the non-patched EfficientNet V2 model achieving 90.6%. These results demonstrate the potential of image processing and deep learning techniques in combating tea fraud and ensuring product integrity in the tea industry. Full article

In the present work, four different wastewaters from the food industry were used in parallel, in four identical dual-chamber MFCs, with graphite granules as anodic electrodes. Specifically, a mixture of hydrogenogenic reactor effluents (effluents from a dark fermentation reactor fed with cheese whey (CW), for hydrogen production), CW, and a mixture of expired fruit juices and wastewater from the confectionery industry were simultaneously used in MFCs to evaluate the effect of the type of effluent/wastewater on their efficiency. An electrochemical characterization was performed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements under open- (OCP) and closed-circuit conditions, at the beginning and end of the operating cycle, and the internal resistances were determined and compared. The results showed that the highest OCP value, as well as the highest power density (P_max) and Coulombic efficiency (ε_cb) at the beginning of the operating cycle, was exhibited by the MFC, using a sugar-rich wastewater from the confectionery industry as substrate (sugar accounts for almost 92% of the organic content). This can be correlated with the low internal resistance extracted from the Nyquist plot at OCP. In contrast, the use of CW resulted in a lower performance in terms of OCP, ε_cb and P_max, which could be correlated to the high internal resistance and the composition of CW, a substrate rich in lactose (disaccharide), and which also contains other substances (sugars account for almost 72% of its organic content, while the remaining 28% is made up of other soluble compounds). Full article

Background: Achalasia is an esophageal motor disorder characterized by aperistalsis and the failure of the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. We want to find out whether external compression or recurrent micro-aspiration of undigested food has a functional effect on the airway. Methods: The aim of this research was to analyze the influence of achalasia on the peak expiratory flow and flow–volume curve. All of the 110 patients performed spirometry. Results: The mean diameter of the esophagus was 5.4 ± 2.1 cm, and nine of the patients had mega-esophagus. Seven patients had a plateau in the inspiratory part of the flow–volume curve, which coincides with the patients who had mega-esophagus. The rest of the patients had a plateau in the expiration part of the curve. The existence of a plateau in the diameter of the esophagus of more than 5 cm was significant (p 0.003). Statistical significance between the existence of a plateau and a lowered PEF (PEF < 80) has been proven (p 0.001). Also, a statistical significance between the subtype and diameter of more than 4 cm has been proved. There was no significant improvement in the PEF values after operation. In total, 20.9% of patients had a spirometry abnormality finding. The frequency of the improvement in the spirometry values after surgery did not differ significantly by achalasia subtype. The improvement in FEV1 was statistically significant compared to the FVC values. Conclusions: Awareness of the influence of achalasia on the pulmonary parameters is important because low values of PEF with a plateau on the spirometry loop can lead to misdiagnosis. The recognition of various patterns of the spirometry loop may help in identifying airway obstruction caused by another non-pulmonary disease such as achalasia. Full article