Search Results (1,883)

Background: The relationship between sports participation and food preferences in adults, as well as the influence of gender, is still unclear. Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sports participation and individual food preferences and to explore potential gender differences among sports participants in a large group of Italian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 2665 adults (aged ≥ 18 years) who lead normal lives and underwent a routine lifestyle and dietary assessment at a clinical centre specialising in nutrition, metabolic health, and lifestyle counselling in Rome. Participants completed an online questionnaire on food preferences (19 foods) and sports practice. Multivariate logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, and smoking, were used to assess associations. Results: Sports participation was defined as engaging in structured physical activity at least once per week and was reported by 53.5% of subjects (men: 60.1%; women: 49.0%; p < 0.0001). After adjustment, active individuals were significantly more likely to prefer plant-based drinks, low-fat yoghurt, fish, cooked and raw vegetables, fruit, whole grains, tofu, and dark chocolate (all p < 0.05) and less likely to prefer cow’s milk (p = 0.018). Among sport participants, males were more likely to prefer meat (general, white, red, processed) and eggs, while females preferred plant-based drinks. No significant gender differences were observed for dairy products, legumes, or fish. Differences in food preferences were also observed according to the type of sport, with bodybuilders showing higher preference for tofu and dark chocolate. The strongest associations were found in the 25–44 age group. Conclusions: Sports participation is independently associated with specific food preferences, characterised by greater preference for plant-based and fibre-rich foods, and gender differences in food choices persist even among active adults. These findings highlight the need to consider both sports participation and gender when designing nutritional interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Health education plays a vital role in training health professionals and caregivers, supporting both prevention and the promotion of self-care. In this context, technology serves as a valuable ally by enabling continuous and flexible learning. Among the various domains of health education, nutrition stands out as a key element in the management of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), helping to prevent malnutrition and enhance patient well-being. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching and learning processes within a learning pathway focused on food and nutrition in the context of ALS. Methods: This study adopted a longitudinal, quantitative design. The learning pathway, titled “Food and Nutrition in ALS,” consisted of four self-paced and self-instructional Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), offered through the Virtual Learning Environment of the Brazilian Health System (AVASUS). Participants included health professionals, caregivers, and patients from all five regions of Brazil. Participants had the autonomy to complete the courses in any order, with no prerequisites for enrollment. Results: Out of 14,263 participants enrolled nationwide, 182 were included in this study after signing the Informed Consent Form. Of these, 142 (78%) completed at least one course and participated in the educational intervention. A significant increase in knowledge was observed, with mean pre-test scores rising from 7.3 (SD = 1.8) to 9.6 (SD = 0.9) on the post-test across all courses (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The self-instructional, technology-mediated continuing education model proved effective in improving participants’ knowledge about nutrition in ALS. Future studies should explore knowledge retention, behavior change, and the impact of such interventions on clinical outcomes, especially in multidisciplinary care settings. Full article

The growing concern over environmental sustainability has intensified the focus on consumers’ perceptions of eco-friendly food packaging, especially among younger generations. This study aims to investigate the attitudes, preferences, and barriers faced by Greek university students regarding sustainable food packaging, a demographic considered pivotal for driving future consumption trends. An online questionnaire assessing perceptions, preferences, and behaviours related to sustainable packaging was administered to students, with responses measured on a five-point Likert scale. Three hundred and sixty-four students took part in this survey, with the majority (60%) of them being female. Principal component analysis was employed to identify underlying factors influencing perceptions, and k-means cluster analysis revealed two consumer segments: “Innovatives”, including one hundred and ninety-eight participants (54%), who demonstrate strong environmental awareness and willingness to adopt sustainable behaviours, and “Sceptics”, including one hundred sixty-six participants (46%), who show moderate engagement and remain cautious in their choices. Convenience, affordability, and clear product communication emerged as significant factors shaping student preferences. The findings suggest that targeted educational campaigns and transparent information are essential to converting positive attitudes into consistent purchasing behaviours. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and marketers looking to design effective sustainability strategies tailored to the student population. Full article

Fumonisins, primarily produced by Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus section nigri, are common contaminants in maize, cereal grains, and other processed and derived products, representing a significant risk to food safety and public health. This study presents the development and optimisation of a high-performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) for the quantification of fumonisin B1 (FB1) and B2 (FB2) in various food matrices. In contrast with conventional protocols employing potassium phosphate buffers as the mobile phase, the proposed method utilises formic acid, offering enhanced compatibility with liquid chromatography systems. An automated online precolumn derivatisation with o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) was optimised through experimental design and response surface methodology, enabling baseline separation of FB1 and FB2 derivatives in less than 20 min. The method demonstrated high sensitivity, with limits of detection of 0.006 µg mL⁻¹ for FB1 and 0.012 µg mL⁻¹ for FB2, and excellent repeatability (intraday RSD values of 0.85% and 0.83%, respectively). Several solid-phase extraction (SPE) strategies were evaluated to enhance sample clean-up using a variety of food samples, including dried figs, raisins, dates, corn, cornmeal, wheat flour, and rice. FumoniStar Inmunoaffinity columns were the only clean-up method that provided optimal recoveries (70–120%) across all tested food matrices. However, the MultiSep™ 211 column yielded good recoveries for both fumonisins in dried figs and raisins. Additionally, the C18 cartridge achieved acceptable recoveries for both fumonisins in dried figs and wheat flour. Full article

pH is a critical parameter requiring precise monitoring across scientific, industrial, and biological domains. Fluorescent pH probes offer a powerful alternative to traditional methods (e.g., electrodes, indicators), overcoming limitations in miniaturization, long-term stability, and electromagnetic interference. By utilizing photophysical mechanisms—including intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), photoinduced electron transfer (PET), and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)—these probes enable high-sensitivity, reusable, and biocompatible sensing. This review systematically details recent advances, categorizing probes by operational pH range: strongly acidic (0–3), weakly acidic (3–7), strongly alkaline (>12), weakly alkaline (7–11), near-neutral (6–8), and wide-dynamic range. Innovations such as ratiometric detection, organelle-specific targeting (lysosomes, mitochondria), smartphone colorimetry, and dual-analyte response (e.g., pH + Al³⁺/CN⁻) are highlighted. Applications span real-time cellular imaging (HeLa cells, zebrafish, mice), food quality assessment, environmental monitoring, and industrial diagnostics (e.g., concrete pH). Persistent challenges include extreme-pH sensing (notably alkalinity), photobleaching, dye leakage, and environmental resilience. Future research should prioritize broadening functional pH ranges, enhancing probe stability, and developing wide-range sensing strategies to advance deployment in commercial and industrial online monitoring platforms. Full article

To enhance the performance of online food delivery (OFD) services, it is essential to strengthen consumers’ intentions to use OFD apps, which are the core interface of this business. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the cognitive mechanisms that shape consumers’ intentions to use OFD apps and explore strategies to encourage their adoption. To achieve this, the study develops a research model that incorporates segmented dimensions of service convenience as key motivational factors, along with variables from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A survey was conducted among OFD consumers in China, and the proposed research model was empirically tested using data from 478 valid responses. The analysis revealed that all six dimensions of service convenience serve as significant motivational drivers of OFD app usage. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that consumers’ coupon proneness and user-generated online reviews have significant moderating effects that reinforce the mechanism by which consumers adopt and use OFD apps. The findings and implications discussed in this study are expected to provide valuable insights and practical guidance for formulating effective strategies to promote more active consumer engagement with OFD apps in the future. Full article

The current proceedings summarize the presentations delivered during the third International Electronic Conference on Microbiology (ECM 2025), which was held online from 1 to 3 April 2025, via the SciForum platform. This virtual event brought together researchers from around the world to share recent advances in microbiological sciences. The ECM 2025 highlighted recent developments across a broad spectrum of microbiological research, including antimicrobial resistance, gut microbiota, infectious diseases, and environmental microbiomes. Participants shared their work through online presentations and abstracts, with selected submissions invited for full publication. The event fostered global collaboration, promoted open-access science, and showcased innovative tools for studying and managing microbial systems in health, agriculture, and industry. The multidisciplinary program was organized into several thematic sessions: S1. Gut Microbiota and Health Disease. S2. Foodborne Pathogens and Food Safety. S3. Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance. S4. Emerging Infectious Diseases. S5. Microbiome and Soil Science. S6. Microbial Characterization and Bioprocess. S7. Microbe–Plant Interactions. This conference report presents summaries of the contributions made by participating authors over the three-day event. Full article

Background/Objective: Food insecurity refers to social or economic challenges that limit or create uncertainty around access to enough food. Among college students, food security status is usually determined with the USDA 10-item Food Security Survey Module, which has not been validated for this population. Nutrition security refers to consistent access to food and beverages that promote well-being, prevent disease, and emphasize equitable access to healthy, safe, and affordable foods. Currently, there is no standardized measure that assesses food and nutrition security tailored to the unique experiences of college students. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of a newly developed College Student Food and Nutrition Security Survey Module (CS-FNSSM). Methods: A mixed-methods approach that combined an online survey with semi-structured cognitive interviews. Participants were students aged 18 and older from U.S. public universities. Quantitative data were analyzed using RStudio (version 4.4.1), and interview transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results: Survey responses were collected from 953 participants, including a subset of 69 participants for reliability testing and 30 participants for cognitive interviews. Rasch analysis showed good item performance and structural validity. The CS-FNSSM demonstrated strong sensitivity (89.09%), specificity (76.2%), moderate test–retest reliability (0.59), and good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79). Qualitative findings confirmed participant understanding of the items. Conclusions: The CS-FNSSM effectively identifies food and nutrition insecurity, with nutrition security emerging as a key issue. Addressing both is crucial for promoting the overall health and well-being of college students. Full article

Seafood processing byproducts (SB) such as bones and skin can be safely used as food ingredients to increase profitability for the seafood sector and provide nutritional value. An online survey of 716 US adult seafood consumers was conducted to explore SB trial intent, responsiveness to health and safety information, and associated elicited emotions (nine-point Likert scale). Consumers’ SB-elicited emotions were defined as those changing in reported intensity (from a baseline condition) after the delivery of SB-related information (dependent t-tests). As criteria for practical significance, a raw mean difference of >0.2 units was used, and Cohen’s d values were used to classify effect sizes as small, medium, or large. Differences in willingness-to-try, responsiveness to safety and health information, and SB-elicited emotions were found based on self-reported gender and race, with males and Hispanics expressing more openness to SB consumption. SB-elicited emotions were then used to model consumers’ willingness-to-try foods containing SB via logistic regression modeling. Traditional stepwise variable selection was compared to variable selection using raw mean difference > 0.2 units and Cohen’s d > 0.50 constraints for SB-elicited emotions. Resulting models indicated that extrinsic information considered at the point of decision-making determined which emotions were relevant to the response. These new approaches yielded models with increased Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) values (lower values indicate better model fit) but could provide simpler and more practically meaningful models for understanding which emotions drive consumption decisions. Full article

Research on human–animal relationships suggests that close bonds with animals can enhance empathy, reduce speciesism, and improve human physical and psychological health. This study investigated whether pet ownership—particularly attachment to a companion animal during childhood—is associated with differences in moral concerns toward all animals in adulthood. It also aimed to explore the potential effects of empathy and speciesism on overall moral concerns toward animals. Using self-report questionnaires among 72 participants recruited online, the analyses revealed a significant effect of animal categories on moral concerns, F(1, 1.98) = 59.37, p < 0.001. Mean moral concern scores were significantly higher for companion animals (M = 6.04, SD = 1.15) than for food animals (M = 4.90, SD = 1.44), unappealing wild animals (M = 4.20, SD = 1.87), and appealing wild animals (M = 5.73, SD = 1.32), p < 0.05. Additionally, childhood pet owners reported greater moral concerns for all animals, F(1, 1.98) = 4.87, η² = 0.065, p < 0.05. Attachment to a companion animal in childhood was positively correlated with moral concerns for all animal categories. Finally, although attachment and empathy were both positively related to moral concern, only attachment was a significant predictor (p < 0.05). Further research is needed to understand the psychological mechanisms influencing views on animal rights and welfare. Full article

Q Fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii that affects domestic and wild ruminants, leading to reproductive disorders. In humans, the disease can manifest with acute and chronic clinical manifestations. Veterinarians, as healthcare professionals in close contact with animals, serve both as the first line of defence in preventing infection at the animal–human interface and as an important sentinel group for the rapid detection of outbreaks. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, perception, and attitude of veterinarians in Southern Spain regarding Q Fever. To this end, an online survey was designed, validated, and conducted among veterinarians in the province of Malaga, with a final participation of 97 individuals, predominantly from the private sector (clinic, livestock, agri-food, etc.). The data obtained reflected a general lack of knowledge about the disease, particularly concerning its epidemiology and infection prevention. Regarding perception and attitude, a significant percentage of respondents stated they did not use protective equipment when handling susceptible animals and only sought information about the disease in response to outbreak declarations. The study emphasised the significance of promoting training in zoonotic diseases during and after graduation, the relevance of official channels in occupational risk prevention, and the utility of epidemiological surveys as a tool to identify and address potential gaps in knowledge related to this disease. Full article

Background: Culinary herbs and spices are potent sources of bioactive compounds such as (poly)phenols that confer health benefits to consumers. Observational studies have quantified (poly)phenol intake levels from foods and beverages but not herbs and spices. Hence, the contribution of herbs and spices to (poly)phenol intakes is unclear. Methods: The current study measured herb and spice total (poly)phenol consumption in a convenience sample of adults (n = 212) using a validated online herb and spice questionnaire. Respondents reported the frequency and amount of consumption of 27 herbs and spices during the past month. Total (poly)phenol concentration (mg) for each herb and spice was calculated using the online database Phenol-Explorer. Results: Responses showed monthly intakes of 679.92 (1134.06) (median, IQR) mg total (poly)phenols from 47.44 (60.71) g herbs and spices. Cinnamon, black pepper and cloves were the largest contributors to total (poly)phenol intakes from herbs and spices. Conclusions: These findings suggest that herbs and spices contribute potentially meaningful amounts of (poly)phenols to total dietary (poly)phenol intakes and that existing reports of (poly)phenol consumption for populations may underestimate actual levels by 3–12%. Full article

Objective: To explore the relationship between type of grocery store used (chain vs. independent), transportation access, food insecurity, and fruit and vegetable intake in Detroit, Michigan, USA, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from December 2021 to May 2022. Setting: Detroit, Michigan. Participants: 656 Detroit residents aged 18 and older. Results: Bivariate analyses showed that chain grocery store shoppers reported significantly greater fruit and vegetable intake (2.42 vs. 2.14 times/day for independent grocery store shoppers, p < 0.001) and lower rates of food insecurity compared to independent store shoppers (45.9% vs. 65.3% for independent grocery store shoppers, p < 0.001). Fewer independent store shoppers used their own vehicle (52.9% vs. 76.2% for chain store shoppers, p < 0.001). After adjusting for socioeconomic and demographic variables transportation access was strongly associated with increased odds of shopping at chain stores (OR = 1.89, 95% CI [1.21,2.95], p = 0.005) but food insecurity was no longer associated with grocery store type. Shopping at chain grocery stores was associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake after adjusting for covariates (1.18 times more per day, p = 0.042). Qualitative responses highlighted systemic barriers, including poor food quality, high costs, and limited transportation options, exacerbating food access inequities. Conclusions: These disparities underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve transportation options and support food security in vulnerable populations, particularly in urban areas like Detroit. Addressing these structural challenges is essential for reducing food insecurity and promoting equitable access to nutritious foods. Full article

Ensuring sustainable food systems is an urgent global priority as populations grow and environmental pressures mount. Technological innovations such as genetic engineering (GE) and nanotechnology (nano) have been promoted as promising pathways for achieving greater sustainability in agriculture and food production. Yet, the sustainability of these technologies is not defined by technical performance alone; it hinges on how they are perceived by key stakeholders and how well they align with broader societal values. This study addresses the critical question of how expert stakeholders evaluate the sustainability of GE and nano-based food and agriculture (agrifood) products. Using a multi-method online platform, we engaged 42 experts across academia, government, industry, and NGOs in the United States to assess six real-world case studies—three using GE and three using nano—across ten different dimensions of sustainability. We show that nano-based products were consistently rated more favorably than their GE counterparts in terms of environmental, economic, and social sustainability, as well as across ethical and societal dimensions. Like prior studies, our results reveal that stakeholders see meaningful distinctions between nanotechnology and biotechnology, likely due to underlying value-based concerns about animal welfare, perceived naturalness, or corporate control of agrifood systems. The fruit coating and flu vaccine—both nano-enabled—received the most positive ratings, while GE mustard greens and salmon were the most polarizing. These results underscore the importance of incorporating stakeholder perspectives in technology assessment and innovation governance. These results also suggest that responsible innovation efforts in agrifood systems should prioritize communication, addressing meaningful societal needs, and the contextual understanding of societal values to build trust and legitimacy. Full article

Background: Promoting sustainable eating is gaining increasing attention, yet the transition from intentions to actual behaviors remains unclear. This study compares the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the theory of behavioral choice (TBC) in predicting such intentions and examines the moderating role of distress, psychological well-being, and dysfunctional eating styles in the intention–behavior relationship. Methods: A total of 223 participants from the general population (29.49 ± 9.30 years; 68.6% females) completed an online survey assessing TPB and TBC predictors, the Sustainable and Healthy Dietary Behaviors (SHDB) questionnaire, the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWBS), and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). Results: The TBC model explained a significantly greater variance in intention (R² = 0.45, ΔR² = 0.28, F(215,4) = 27.27, p < 0.001) compared to the TPB, with TBC-affect (β = 0.48, p < 0.001) and felt obligation (β = 0.23, p < 0.001) being the strongest predictors. Moderation analyses revealed that the intention–behavior link was stronger in participants with lower external eating and autonomy. Conclusions: Both internal and external factors play a crucial role in predicting intentions. In addition, the intention–behavior link is stronger in individuals who are less reactive to external food stimuli and more influenced by social pressure. Promoting more balanced psychological well-being and functional eating habits may foster more sustainable diets. Full article