Search Results (23,487)

Functional fresh cheeses can serve as effective carriers of bioactive compounds and probiotic cultures. This study developed a Casu Axedu cheese fortified with olive leaf phenolics and a probiotic-candidate Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) strain. Three formulations were produced from thermised sheep milk: a control (CA-I), a cheese with LP (CA-IL) and a cheese combining olive leaf extract (OLE; 20 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ milk) and LP (CA-IOL). In all experimental cheeses, inulin was included as a dietary fibre, and lactose hydrolysis was performed to improve product accessibility for lactose-intolerant consumers. Cheeses were stored at 3 ± 1 °C for 30 days and analysed for polyphenol profile, antioxidant capacity, physicochemical and nutritional characteristics, microbiological quality, sensory properties and consumer acceptance. OLE fortification approximately doubled the total polyphenols and produced a more than threefold increase in FRAP antioxidant capacity in CA-IOL, with a high percentage of the main olive leaf phenolics retained after 30 days. Composition, fatty acid profile, vitamin A/E and cholesterol contents were unaffected by OLE and LP addition; all formulations met “high in protein” and lactose-free label criteria (according to the guidelines issued by the Italian Ministry of Health DGISAN Communication No. 27673 of 7 July 2015), and the inulin-based “source of fibre” claim was supported by formulation and mass-balance calculation. Presumptive lactobacilli remained at high counts throughout storage in the LP-containing cheeses, and OLE neither impaired the lactic microflora nor promoted coliform growth. OLE addition increased perceived bitterness, astringency and olive-like notes in CA-IOL, moderately reducing liking scores relative to those of the control among the tested consumer panel (5.25 ± 1.7 at 30 d); mean liking nonetheless remained above the neutral point of the 9-point hedonic scale. Overall, combining inulin, olive leaf extract and a probiotic-candidate L. plantarum strain enabled the production of a Casu Axedu cheese with enhanced antioxidant properties and improved nutritional features while retaining acceptable sensory quality. This approach represents a promising strategy for the valorisation of olive by-products and the development of innovative sheep milk dairy products consistent with circular economy principles. Full article

Raw-milk and raw dairy products remain a high-sensitivity One Health interface because they bypass a major microbial control step and may carry viable foodborne pathogens, bacteria exhibiting antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and AMR genes from dairy animals, farm environments, milking equipment, handlers, storage systems, and informal or direct-sale chains. This narrative review synthesizes verified scientific evidence on raw milk as a potential vehicle pathway for resistant foodborne pathogens, clinically relevant opportunistic bacteria, indicator organisms, and AMR determinants, and evaluates AMR-related emerging public health risks through a One Health perspective. The review integrates evidence from outbreak investigations, raw milk and raw dairy surveillance, culture-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole-genome sequencing (WGS), metagenomics, metaproteomics, risk assessment, and the consumer-risk literature. The synthesis shows that raw-milk-associated AMR evidence should be interpreted by inference level rather than by a single organism or global prevalence estimate. Public health concern becomes stronger when detection or occurrence is supported by viable recovery, plausible consumer exposure, transmission linkage, infection or colonization evidence, source-attribution data, or quantified burden estimates. Evidence is strongest for exposure pathways involving Campylobacter, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Salmonella, Listeria, Enterococcus, Yersinia, and raw-milk resistomes, although causal strength differs across organism groups and study designs. The review distinguishes detection or occurrence, viable recovery, potential exposure, transmission, infection or colonization, source attribution, and attributable AMR burden. One Health control requires mastitis prevention, prudent antimicrobial use, milking hygiene, environmental monitoring, pasteurization or equivalent exposure barriers, WGS-supported outbreak investigation, integrated surveillance, and targeted risk communication. Full article

Background/Objectives: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic psychiatric condition associated with substantial emotional and psychosocial burden. Social media platforms provide an opportunity to examine how BD is discussed and emotionally framed outside clinical settings. Although Spanish-language public discourse on BD remains underexplored, this gap is particularly relevant given that linguistic and cultural factors may influence how mental health conditions are expressed, perceived, and communicated. Understanding these differences is essential for developing culturally sensitive public health strategies, improving mental health literacy, and addressing stigma in diverse populations. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using Spanish-language tweets referring to BD posted between 2007 and 2023. After preprocessing, 170,411 unique tweets were analyzed. Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) was applied to identify dominant thematic domains, and emotional tone was classified using a RoBERTa-based model adapted from Ekman’s basic emotions. Statistical analyses were performed to examine associations between topics, emotional categories, and the presence of clinical terminology. Results: Tweet activity related to BD remained low until 2019, followed by a marked increase peaking in 2020 and remaining elevated thereafter. Topic modeling identified seven main themes, predominantly centered on symptoms, illness-related life crises, social anxiety, help-seeking, and the impact of BD on romantic relationships, while diagnosis- and treatment-related topics were less frequent. Emotional analysis showed a clear predominance of sadness across all topics, accounting for approximately 75% of tweets. Anger, joy, and optimism were present at lower frequencies and varied across thematic domains. Clinical terminology was significantly more common in diagnosis- and treatment-related topics, whereas experiential and affective narratives dominated the remaining themes. Conclusions: Spanish-language discourse on BD on Twitter is largely characterized by emotional expression and lived experience rather than biomedical language. These findings highlight cultural relevance of social media as a complementary source for understanding public perceptions of BD and underscore the importance of culturally and linguistically specific analyses in digital mental health research. Full article

Background: Mental health conditions remain a major yet underrepresented public health concern in Pakistan and globally, highlighting the need for innovative and complementary interventions. Nature-based interventions (NBIs), which involve structured engagement with natural environments to enhance health and wellbeing, offer a promising approach, particularly in the Hazara Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a region renowned for its Himalayan forests, scenic valleys, and rich biodiversity. Methods: This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore mental health clinicians’ perceptions of NBIs in community mental health settings. Fourteen clinicians from the Hazara Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling between February and March 2026. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and audio-recorded. Transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke’s framework, supported by HyperRESEARCH software. Results: Participants generally perceived engagement with nature as calming, restorative, and therapeutically beneficial, and many reported informally encouraging clients to participate in nature-related activities. Clinicians expressed willingness to integrate NBIs into routine practice and identified potential benefits including improved mood, relaxation, empowerment, and enhanced social connectedness. However, several barriers were also identified, including client-related factors such as anxiety, low motivation, and skepticism, as well as contextual and organisational constraints such as gender-based limitations in access to natural spaces and safety-related policies. Conclusions: Despite these challenges, clinicians demonstrated strong support for NBIs, suggesting their potential as a feasible adjunct to mental health care in Pakistan. Addressing identified barriers may facilitate integration into routine services and enhance access to holistic mental health support in community settings. Full article

This community-engaged qualitative study co-defined digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) priorities with First Nations communities in Manitoba, Canada, including those with disabilities. Grounded in Indigenous research methodologies and community-based participatory research, the project responded to persistent inequities in rehabilitation and health service access shaped by geography, colonial legacies, and jurisdictional fragmentation. These inequities are especially important in the context of aging, as older adults and Elders may experience compounded barriers related to disability, chronic conditions, mobility limitations, and digital exclusion. Over approximately 12 months, an interdisciplinary team consisting of First Nations scholars and partners, disability organizations, clinicians, and researchers conducted relationship-building visits and meetings with First Nations leadership, Elders/Knowledge Keepers, health providers, and community members to inform the design of a Gathering focused on disability, digital health, and AI. A one-day community-engaged Gathering was held on Treaty 1 and 2 Territory in Winnipeg and convened approximately 70 participants from multiple First Nations communities and disability/health organizations. Five facilitated roundtables explored: (1) health and research priorities for First Nations persons with disabilities; (2) primary care and disabilities; (3) digital access and cultural safety; (4) culturally safe and ethical AI use; and (5) health system challenges, disability, and digital health. Data consisted of facilitator-produced, de-identified table summaries, facilitator reflection forms, and participant-validated plenary notes; no recordings or individual sociodemographic data were collected. Using qualitative description and team-based content analysis, three interrelated domains emerged: (1) relationships, identity, trust, and cultural safety; (2) system, infrastructure, and equity conditions required for accessible care and digital inclusion (e.g., connectivity “dead zones,” device access, transport, and culturally safe services); and (3) opportunities, risks, and governance principles for AI and data use (e.g., AI literacy, privacy, bias, Indigenous data sovereignty, and Nation-specific governance). Findings emphasize that equitable digital health and AI must be relational, disability-informed, culturally safe, and led under First Nations authority, with AI positioned to support, rather than replace, human care relationships. The findings also highlight the importance of designing digital health and AI initiatives that remain accessible and trustworthy for older adults and Elders, particularly where aging, disability, and rural or remote living intersect. Full article

Kombucha is a reservoir of health-promoting yeast strains. In this study, molecular characterization of the Kombucha microbiota led to the identification of 52 distinct yeast isolates, highlighting a complex community, where Brettanomyces anomalus was identified as the dominant yeast species. Other key species were identified, such as Pichia membranifaciens, Torulaspora delbrueckii, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, Starmerella bacillaris, and Meyerozyma guilliermondii. These isolated yeasts were screened for essential probiotic requirements, demonstrating excellent functional traits showing over 80% survival rate under simulated gastric and gastrointestinal conditions. Regarding the surface properties, wide cell hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation capabilities were seen. Broad antioxidant ability and robust antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were observed, highlighting a protective function. Two strains of T. delbrueckii and one strain of Z. bailii stood out as probiotic candidates and were technologically evaluated in different culture combinations: yeast formulation pools using a specialized “probiotic pool” (PP) and a broader “yeast pool” (YP) both yielded successful analytical and sensory profiles. A strain of Lachancea thermotolerans, isolated from a distinct natural matrix, was employed as a technological booster to drive a yeast-based, bacteria-free kombucha. This study confirmed that specialized kombucha yeasts were not just fermentation drivers, but sustainable assets for developing novel functional plant-based probiotic beverages. Full article

Recent advancements in the field of communications and cryptology have attracted significant research efforts in studying randomness of bit sequences. Randomised bit sequences play a vital role in sensor applications by ensuring security (i.e., protecting against brute-force, replay, and eavesdropping attacks in wireless networks) and reliable signal processing (i.e., in sensor multiplexing schemes such as code-division or time-division schemes). Such bit sequences enable spread-spectrum techniques, which allow an improved signal separation in dense networks such as structural health monitoring. Furthermore, unpredictability is essential for secure communication among sensors, as seen in fiber Bragg grating systems. The mentioned studies have led to the development of different test methodologies, such as the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) test suite, whose main objectives are to verify the independence of the individual elements in the sequence and to test their distribution within the bitstream. In this article, industry-relevant use cases are discussed for the application of random bit sequences and a gap-based approach for analysing bit sequences is presented and used together with a NIST-specified test. We introduce a simplified non-IID test approach (independent and identical distribution) to indicate whether the commonly considered IID characteristics of random variables are violated. To validate the proposed approach, this study employs different polynomial and nonpolynomial sequence generation methods. Furthermore, random sequences generated by different methods in hardware are included in the verification tests. The results confirm that the proposed methods of randomness assessment effectively indicates the non-IID characteristics of randomised bit sequences. Full article

Background: Immigrant working women’s well-being is shaped not only by formal health and settlement services but also by everyday opportunities for rest, social connection, cultural expression, and participation in community life. This study examined how three community-based leisure activities were experienced by Farsi-speaking Iranian immigrant women aged 30 to 55 living in Ottawa, Canada. Methods: Organized in partnership with PAND Settlement Services, the activities included a group walk along the Rideau Canal, a Classical Persian dance workshop, and a group visit to the National Gallery of Canada. Data were drawn from 32 post-activity evaluation surveys, researcher field notes, and two follow-up semi-structured feedback sessions. Structured items were analyzed descriptively; open-ended responses and feedback sessions notes were analyzed thematically following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase approach. Results: Participants rated all three activities positively across enjoyment, accessibility, and social contact. Leisure was experienced as a meaningful break from routine, a source of emotional relief, an opportunity to meet other women, and a setting in which shared language and migration experience made participation easier and more comfortable. Sustained participation remained shaped by time pressure, caregiving demands, weather, transportation, cost, and access to clear and trusted information. Conclusions: Leisure activities contributed to the well-being and sense of belonging for the women who participated in the study. Full article

Introduction: Storytelling is gaining interest as a potentially useful research and communication approach in health. However, there remains a huge gap in synthesized evidence in relation to its use in vaccination. We set out to map existing evidence on the use of storytelling in vaccination practice. Methods: This review was conducted in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Databases were searched for eligible studies using search strings in PubMed, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Africa Wide Information, PsycINFO, ERIC, Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, and SciELO Citation Index via Web of Science. The gray literature was searched on Primo and Google Scholar. References from other sources were identified through a manual search using Google. Identified citations were uploaded into Covidence for screening and data extraction. Qualitative content analysis was used to summarize data in conceptual categories, including frequency counts. Results: Overall, 6236 studies were identified and imported into Covidence. Following removal of duplicates, 3804 studies were screened for title and abstract. 386 studies met eligibility criteria for full-text screening, which led to 110 included studies. Storytelling was used in immunization between 1997 and 2025 as a communication intervention (96/110 studies), research method (12/110 studies), and therapeutic approach (3/110 studies). Most studies originated from North America (67/110 studies), while six originated from Africa. Two-thirds of included studies (64/110 studies) were randomized controlled trials. Among the 62 studies reporting vaccine-related outcomes, 80.6% (50/62 studies) reported changes in one or more vaccine-related outcomes following exposure to storytelling interventions. The trustworthiness of these outcome findings is unknown. Reported changes were more frequently observed for cognitive, affective, and intentional outcomes than for behavioral outcomes such as vaccine uptake. Again, these findings have not been subject to critical appraisal. Conclusions: Storytelling is emerging as an adaptable approach with potential for addressing contextual vaccine challenges. Although several studies reported changes in cognitive, affective, and intentional outcomes, this scoping review cannot ascertain whether these changes were attributed to storytelling itself. Full article

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay is a high-quality legume forage, but most previous studies have evaluated a single fixed inclusion level or alfalfa as a replacement for other forages. How growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation and rumen microbiota jointly respond to graded alfalfa supplementation in growing Angus cattle remains undefined. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of two fixed supplementation levels of alfalfa hay (1 and 2 kg/day) on growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients, serum biochemical parameters, rumen fermentation characteristics and rumen microbial community composition in growing Angus cattle. Fifteen Angus (407.4 ± 34.15 kg; 11–14 months) were randomly distributed to the three treatments: control (C; basal TMR), low alfalfa (AlfL; 1 kg/d), and high alfalfa (AlfH; 2 kg/d), and fed for 70 days with 10 days of adaptation. Intake, body weight, nutrient digestibility, serum parameters, rumen fermentation and microbiota were determined. Feed-to-gain ratio was improved (p = 0.002) with AlfH (8.04) being more efficient than C (8.93). The digestibility of DM (p = 0.013) and CP (p = 0.001) were significantly increased. The rumen pH and NH₃-N tended to rise (p = 0.059 and 0.060, respectively) and acetate, propionate, and TVFA concentrations were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the alfalfa groups. There was increase in serum total protein (p = 0.018) and serum GSH-Px activity (p < 0.001), and decrease in serum MDA (p < 0.001) in AlfH. The bacterial community structure in the rumen remained largely consistent across treatments, with Bacillota and Bacteroidota as the two dominant phyla, and only two low abundance phyla differing significantly, both higher in AlfH, Patescibacteria (p = 0.009) and Thermodesulfobacteriota (p = 0.003); the dominant phyla and genus level composition were unaffected. These findings provide new evidence that moderate supplementation with alfalfa hay can enhance nutrient utilization, rumen fermentation, and antioxidant status without adversely affecting metabolic health. From a practical perspective, supplementation with 2 kg/day of alfalfa hay may represent an effective feeding strategy for improving feed efficiency in growing Angus cattle, particularly in production systems relying on low-quality forage resources. Full article

Spitting is commonly treated in legal contexts as a minor physical or public health offence; however, this classification reflects a broader doctrinal tendency to prioritise contact-based and biohazard models of harm. This paper argues that contemporary assault doctrine often privileges visible and measurable injury, resulting in the under-recognition of symbolic and dignity-based harms. Using a purposive doctrinal and sociolegal analysis of selected legal authorities, the analysis advances the central claim that spitting may produce legally significant harm through its communicative function as an act of humiliation, degradation, and social exclusion. Drawing on dignity jurisprudence, vulnerability theory, trauma scholarship, and comparative legal analysis, the paper conceptualises spitting as a form of symbolic violence capable of producing psychologically significant impacts and legally relevant forms of harm independent of physical injury. Across custodial, clinical, and public settings, selected authorities suggest that legal reasoning often prioritises infection risk and physical contact while giving comparatively limited attention to humiliation, identity threat, and other non-physical dimensions of harm. The paper argues that existing legal and human rights principles may provide a doctrinal basis for recognising communicative and dignity-based harms, but that these principles remain inconsistently operationalised within assault law. Reframing spitting within a communicative and dignity-based model of harm may enhance doctrinal coherence and align legal interpretation more closely with the lived and relational realities of harm. In doing so, the paper contributes to broader sociolegal debates concerning dignity, vulnerability, and the recognition of non-physical injury within contemporary legal frameworks. Full article

NM averages 450 new cases of melanoma annually. Promotoras are community health workers in NM that provide health education and resources to the community. The project aims to determine if promotora education can improve the recognition of suspicious lesions, encouraging community members to seek care. Current literature focuses on the self-reported confidence of CHWs in recognizing skin cancer. A total of 54 promotoras were sampled through a Qualtrics quiz asking whether skin lesion photos are suspicious. Participants were also asked to rate their confidence in recognizing a suspicious skin lesion and comfort in addressing it from 1 to 5. Participants then read an educational flyer about the “ABCDEs” of melanoma before repeating the quiz/ratings. Wilcoxon signed-rank testing revealed significant increases in quiz scores (W = 220.5, p = 0.045), confidence (W = 44.0, p < 0.001), and comfort (W = 8.5, p < 0.001). Promotoras could be an additional line of defense against melanoma, helping save lives. Healthcare personnel with limited skin lesion knowledge could be an ideal future population for education. Full article

Interactions among the gut, brain, and skin are increasingly understood as a systemic regulatory network connecting intestinal activity, neuroimmune communication, and cutaneous homeostasis. Microbiota-derived metabolites, immune mediators, and neuroendocrine pathways can influence central nervous system activity and subsequently regulate skin homeostasis. This review summarizes current evidence on how functional ingredients modulate the gut–brain–skin axis in the context of aging and skin health. Polyphenols, probiotics, and omega-3 fatty acids appear to act through overlapping biological routes, including reshaping microbial communities, supporting epithelial barrier function, regulating immune activity, and limiting oxidative stress. These gut-derived signals may affect the brain through neural, endocrine, and immune pathways, thereby modulating neuroinflammation, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity, and neurotransmitter balance. Through brain–skin communication, these changes may influence inflammation, epidermal barrier integrity, collagen remodeling, and skin aging processes. Emerging clinical evidence suggests potential improvements in skin-related outcomes and systemic inflammatory markers; however, studies remain heterogeneous, and integrated assessments of gut, brain, and skin endpoints are limited. Further studies that integrate multi-omics profiling with carefully designed clinical trials will be required to define causal pathways and support the development of evidence-based nutritional approaches targeting this axis. Full article

Background: Visceral obesity is increasingly recognised not as a simple excess of adipose tissue, but as a systemic pathological condition characterised by profound metabolic, endocrine, and immune dysregulation. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) operates as an autonomous neuro-immune-endocrine organ whose dysfunctional expansion drives insulin resistance, atherogenesis, and accelerated cellular ageing through mechanisms converging on chronic low-grade sterile inflammation, referred to as inflammaging. Objectives: This narrative review integrates evidence across four domains: (1) the multi-system clinical complications of visceral obesity and the methodological controversies surrounding its measurement; (2) the cellular heterogeneity, immunometabolic reprogramming, and molecular mechanisms through which excess VAT accelerates biological ageing, with a focus on genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, the NAD⁺/sirtuin regulatory axis, cellular senescence, and inter-organ communication; (3) the role of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)—particularly phase angle—as a non-invasive functional biomarker of biological age and longevity, positioned critically against alternative assessment methods; and (4) current knowledge gaps and priorities for future research. Methods: A narrative review of PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library was conducted using MeSH terms and free-text keywords including visceral obesity, bioelectrical impedance analysis, phase angle, sarcopenia, inflammaging, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, epigenetic clocks, NAD⁺, sirtuin, and longevity, supplemented by citation-tracking of retrieved reviews. English-language articles published up to April 2025 were considered, prioritising systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and prospective cohort studies; formal risk-of-bias tools and quantitative synthesis were not applied, consistent with a narrative review design. Results and Discussion: BIA-derived phase angle constitutes a macroscopic electrobiological correlate of inflammaging: low phase angle values in visceral obese subjects overlap with those of frail elderly individuals, reflecting impaired membrane integrity, loss of active cell mass, and altered ICW/ECW balance. However, this evidence base remains largely cross-sectional and correlative; the directionality and population-specific calibration of BIA-derived indices constitute the principal unresolved methodological questions. Integration with epigenetic clocks, circulating NAD⁺ levels, and gut microbiome indices offers a framework for dynamic biological age assessment, though prospective interventional validation is still lacking. Sarcopenic obesity, evaluated through EWGSOP2 combined with BIA-derived skeletal muscle mass index and handgrip dynamometry, represents a critical comorbidity demanding integrated therapeutic targeting. Conclusions: BIA provides a quantitative, accessible correlate for translating cellular metabolic health into clinically actionable parameters, complementary to rather than a replacement for anthropometric and imaging-based methods. Optimising phase angle and reducing VAT through anti-inflammatory nutrition, exercise, and nutraceutical strategies targeting the NAD⁺/sirtuin and mTOR/AMPK axes constitutes a measurable objective for the promotion of healthy longevity, contingent on the longitudinal, mechanistic studies identified as priorities in this review. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent “forever chemicals” associated with environmental and public health risks. Despite increasing concern, policies and mitigation strategies often lag behind PFAS contamination, and many communities lack accessible solutions for reducing exposure. Effective risk communication is needed to develop public awareness of, engagement with, and adoption of PFAS mitigation practices. This study examined how risk message framing may influence behavioral intentions to reduce PFAS contamination in everyday living environments. A between-subjects experiment (N = 296) exposed participants to one of four PFAS messages varying in threat (high vs. low) and efficacy (high vs. low) levels. Participants reported very limited prior exposure to PFAS risk messaging. High-threat messages generated greater fear than low-threat messages, but high-efficacy messages did not produce significantly greater perceived efficacy than low-efficacy messages. The interaction between threat and efficacy significantly predicted emotional flow, with the high-threat/high-efficacy condition generating greater emotional flow than the low-threat/low-efficacy condition. Fear, perceived efficacy, and emotional flow were significant positive predictors of PFAS mitigation behavioral intentions. Findings suggest that PFAS risk communication should pair credible threat information with actionable efficacy cues that help audiences move from fear toward agency, hope, and protective intentions. Full article