Search Results (1,471)

Background/Objectives: Poor dietary habits are a major contributor to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the leading cause of mortality worldwide. To promote healthier eating, governments and stakeholders have implemented various nutrition policies, including front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPNL). The Choices International Foundation (Choices), through its criteria, supports these efforts through its standardized nutrient profiling system (NPS). Originally developed to underpin a positive FOPNL logo, in 2021, the criteria were expanded into a globally oriented five-level profiling system covering 23 basic and 10 discretionary food groups, addressing key nutrients such as trans-fatty acids, saturated fat, sodium, sugar, fiber, and energy. To ensure continued scientific relevance, the Choices criteria are periodically reviewed by an independent International Scientific Committee (ISC). Methods: This paper presents the 2025 revision of the Choices criteria, focusing on priority areas identified through stakeholder consultation and recent scientific developments. Results: Key updates include the introduction of nutrient-based equivalence criteria for plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy, based on protein and selected micronutrient thresholds. Non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs) were newly included as a factor that lowers a product’s health classification and makes it ineligible for a positive FOPNL. Additionally, the industrially produced trans-fatty acid (iTFA) criteria were revised and aligned with the latest World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, improving both technical feasibility and policy coherence. While options for incorporating whole-grain and micronutrient criteria were explored, these were not included in the current revision. Conclusions: The 2025 update system enhances the scientific rigor, policy alignment, and global applicability of the Choices system. By providing a harmonized and evidence-based tool, it aims to support national policies that foster healthier food environments and, ultimately, improve public health outcomes worldwide. Full article

As agricultural labor shifted toward non-farm sectors and the farming population aged, innovative production arrangements became essential to sustain land productivity. While partial agricultural production chain management (PAPM) was widespread, the productivity impact of whole-process agricultural production chain management (WAPM)—a comprehensive model integrating all production stages—remained empirically underexplored. Using nationally representative panel data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey (CLDS, 2014–2018) for grain-producing households, this study estimates the differential impacts of WAPM and PAPM with a two-way fixed-effects (TWFE) model, supplemented by propensity score matching (PSM) as a robustness check. The results show that WAPM significantly enhanced land productivity. Notably, the effect size of WAPM (coefficient: 0.486) is substantially larger than that of PAPM (coefficient: 0.214), indicating that systematic integration of service chains offers superior efficiency gains over fragmented outsourcing. Mechanism analysis suggests that WAPM improves productivity primarily by alleviating labor constraints and mitigating the disadvantages of small-scale farming. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis demonstrated that these benefits are amplified in major grain-producing regions and hilly areas. These findings support policies that facilitate a transition from single-link outsourcing toward whole-process integrated service provision. Full article

Understanding the genetic basis of agronomic traits in quinoa adapted to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is essential for developing high-yield cultivars, as conventional breeding is constrained by limited molecular tools. In this study, 300 cultivated accessions were evaluated for five quantitative traits, and whole-genome resequencing generated 3.69 million high-quality SNPs. Population structure analysis and genome-wide association study (GWAS) were conducted, with integration of seed developmental transcriptomes to refine trait-associated loci. A highly admixed genetic background (K = 7) was revealed, and 11 significant QTLs across seven chromosomes were identified, involving genes related to metabolism, transport, and cell-wall formation. Among these, CesA4 (CQ042210) showed a strong association with thousand grain weight (TGW) and a distinct expression maximum at the early seed-filling stage. These results provide a genomic framework for understanding trait variation in plateau-adapted quinoa and highlight promising targets for marker-assisted breeding. Full article

Background: University students are often exposed to environments that encourage unhealthy eating, but universities can promote better health and sustainability by making sustainable food options more accessible. Methods: Temporal changes in dietary patterns and environmental footprints of 1684 students at the University of Rijeka, Croatia, over a 16-year period (2009–2025) were retrospectively analyzed using data from 3 cross-sectional studies. Results: A significant transition toward less sustainable diets, increased consumption of animal-based foods, and proinflammatory eating habits was observed (both p < 0.001). Adherence to the Mediterranean and Planetary Health Diet declined over time (p < 0.001), followed by increased prevalence of overweight and obesity. Three dietary patterns were identified: high fruit and vegetable intake, consistently high milk and dairy consumption, and lower-to-moderate intake of all other food groups with temporal variation. Consumption of most food groups increased, leading to higher water and ecological footprints. Only the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish declined, which corresponded with reduced carbon footprints for these and a few other food groups, while the environmental impact of other foods significantly increased (all p < 0.001). Gender, diet quality, and a proinflammatory diet were significant predictors of dietary environmental footprints. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for systemic changes and addressing barriers at the university level to support sustainable eating behaviors. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and researchers, which aim to help students become health-conscious and environmentally responsible consumers. Further research is needed to explore the broader factors influencing dietary choices and the long-term impact of future institutional interventions. Full article

Strip intercropping improves productivity through enhanced light interception. In this study, we quantified the effects of strip width on light interception of soybean across six strip widths (2.2 m, 2.5 m, 2.8 m, 3.1 m, 3.4 m, 3.7 m) when intercropped with maize. Results showed that photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in western rows of intercropped soybeans peaked at 11:30 a.m., whereas in eastern rows, it occurred at 1:00 p.m. Across 2.2 m to 3.7 m, PAR in the western rows of intercropped soybeans was 6.1% higher than that of the eastern rows for the whole growth period. During the R5 stage, compared to eastern rows, radiation use efficiency (RUE), dry matter accumulation, and leaf area of soybean in western rows increased by 4.0%, 7.4%, and 6.7%, respectively. Compared to the 2.2 m strip width, grain yields in eastern rows of 2.5–3.7 m strip widths were 8.5%, 54.7%, 56.5%, 63.4%, and 69.0% higher than those of the 2.2 m strip width, respectively. PAR had the strongest influence on dry matter and leaf area at a 3.7 m strip width, while RUE had the strongest influence at 3.1 m strip widths. These findings advance our understanding of light partitioning in strip intercropping and support future climate-adaptive intercropping systems’ modeling. Full article

Water scarcity is a major constraint to upland rice production, and optimizing drought management to balance yield and quality is critical for sustainable agriculture. This study investigated the effects of three soil water potential (SWP) levels—0 kPa (control), −20 kPa (moderate drought), and −40 kPa (severe drought)—on grain quality, nitrogen metabolism, and endosperm structure in two upland rice varieties (Brazilian upland rice and Zhonghan 3). Compared with the control, moderate drought significantly improved grain quality: whole milled rice recovery increased by 5.3–7.8%, chalky grain rate decreased by 16.1–29.6%, amylose content declined by 8.65–12.19%, and glutelin content rose by 9.3–12.9%. Under moderate drought, nitrogen metabolism appeared to be upregulated, as indicated by increased activities of glutamine synthetase (GS, +18.6%) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, +14.2%) and higher glutamate content (+21.4%) in Zhonghan 3, with similar but slightly attenuated responses in Brazilian upland rice. Moderate drought was associated with elevated glutelin accumulation and a more compact endosperm microstructure, suggesting a potential link between nitrogen metabolism and grain development. In contrast, severe drought impaired both grain quality and yield. Correlation analysis (n = 12) revealed that the GS/GDH ratio and glutelin content were significantly correlated with improved grain quality—positively with milled rice recovery (r = 0.58 * to 0.82 **, p < 0.05 or 0.01) and negatively with chalkiness, amylose content, and setback viscosity (r = −0.58 * to −0.93 **, p < 0.05 or 0.01). These findings indicate that maintaining SWP at −20 kPa represents a feasible strategy to enhance upland rice grain quality, offering a theoretical basis for water-saving, quality-oriented production systems. Full article

Background/Objectives: Within public health and preventive nutrition, food labeling plays a critical role in supporting healthier dietary behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the behaviors, perceptions, and nutritional literacy of young adults from Iași, Romania, regarding simple carbohydrates (SCHO) consumption and food label-reading habits. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May–June 2023 using 20-item Likert-scale questionnaire completed by 150 participants aged 18–30 years. Statistical analysis included descriptive metrics, Chi-square tests, and Pearson’s correlation, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The cohort consisted of 72% females (N = 108) and 28% males (N = 42), with 42.7% (N = 64) holding university degrees. Although 22% (N = 33) considered SCHO consumption highly important, only 13.3% (N = 20) frequently read nutrition labels (p ≤ 0.05). Dietary patterns showed that 27.3% primarily consumed sweets, while others combined sweets with carbonated beverages, dairy products, or whole grains; overall, 44% (N = 66) reported frequent sweet consumption. Label reading was highest for sweets (40.7%), lower for dairy products (19.3%) and soft drinks (9.3%). Additionally, 30.7% (N = 46) checked only expiration dates, whereas just 11.3% (N = 17) reviewed nutritional content. Trust in label accuracy was low: 48% (N = 72) expressed neutrality and 14% (N = 21) disagreed. Although 77.3% (N = 116) recognized the link between sugar intake and dental caries, only 23.3% (N = 35) felt well informed about oral health risks. Taste dominated food selection (68.7%), while nutritional value was cited by 16.7% (N = 25). Conclusions: Young adults from Iași demonstrated notable gaps in nutritional literacy and suboptimal dietary behaviors, emphasizing the need for structured educational strategies to improve preventive practices relevant to systemic and oral health. Full article

Understanding how supplemental nitrogen (N) interacts with biological N₂ fixation (BNF) in modern soybean cultivars is essential for designing fertilization strategies that avoid unnecessary N inputs. We investigated N partitioning among soil, fertilizer and symbiotic sources in soybean grown in a greenhouse pot experiment on a tropical Oxisol. Plants were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and subjected to four N managements: no external N, soil-applied ¹⁵N-urea (20 kg N ha⁻¹), foliar ¹⁵N-urea (2 kg N ha⁻¹, 0.7% w/v), and the combination of soil + foliar N. Using ¹⁵N isotope dilution, we quantified N derived from the atmosphere (NDFA), fertilizer (NDFF) and soil (NDFS) at organ and whole-plant scales, and related these fractions to nodulation, nitrogenase activity and yield. In the absence of external N, NDFA exceeded 97% in all organs, indicating a strong reliance on BNF and efficient internal N remobilization during grain filling, accompanied by higher leaf nitrate reductase activity. Soil and soil + foliar N markedly increased NDFF and NDFS while suppressing nodulation (particularly at V4) and reducing nitrogenase activity, yet they did not improve grain yield or vegetative biomass. Foliar N alone had only modest effects on N partitioning and did not enhance yield. Under these tropical soil conditions, symbiotic fixation and internal N remobilization were sufficient to meet grain N demand, highlighting the limited agronomic benefit and potential ecological cost of supplemental N during reproductive growth. Full article

Maize, as the global highest-yield grain crop, can impact social stability and security based on its annual yield. Given that maize viruses have caused up to 91% yield reductions, investigating maize virus diseases is of the utmost importance. In July 2020, a suspected maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV) was discovered in a maize field, and a MaYMV detection protocol was established. The MaYMV isolate MA70, discovered in a maize plant from Wuri District, Taiwan, in November 2022, was shown to infect both maize 42 days post-inoculation (dpi) and wheat (35 dpi), causing mosaic symptoms, through aphid transmission with corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis). To determine the whole genome sequence of MA70, a 5642 bp sequence was obtained using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. Sequencing results indicated a 94.8–96.8% nucleotide sequence similarity with 54 MaYMV isolates from GenBank and with amino acid sequence identities exceeding 90% for all MaYMV proteins. Phylogenetic analysis showed the relationship of MA70 is closest to the Chinese isolate. The nucleotide sequence identity was lower among isolates of more distinct geographical clusters. Between October 2023 and January 2024, survey results indicated that MaYMV prevalence in corn fields across six areas in Taichung reached 17.5% (130/743 plants) and was present in all the sampled fields. MaYMV was present in all sampled fields affirming its ubiquitous presence. This study establishes the first documented case of MaYMV in Taiwan; however, survey findings hint at a potential pre-existing presence in Taiwanese maize fields. Therefore, this research also develops a practical diagnostic tool for field monitoring of MaYMV prevalence, which is crucial for informing future disease management strategies, including the critical need for cross-strait between Taiwan and China collaboration on viral disease surveillance. Full article

Background: Cardiometabolic diseases are among the leading causes of mortality worldwide and are strongly influenced by lifestyle factors. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association between a healthy lifestyle and cardiometabolic risk in higher education students in the San Martín region, Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic convenience sampling was conducted among 1054 students from higher education institutions in the San Martín region, Peru. The Healthy Diet and Lifestyle Scale (DEVS) was applied, and anthropometric indicators (BMI and waist circumference) were assessed by trained nutritionists. Descriptive statistics, association tests (chi-square and Wilcoxon), and Poisson regression models with robust variance were used. Results: Obesity was significantly associated with higher vitamin B12 intake (PR = 2.39; 95% CI: 1.16–4.91) and with higher water consumption (>8 glasses/day) (PR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.20–5.66), although these findings may reflect reverse causality given the cross-sectional nature of the data. Greater whole grain consumption was associated with a lower risk of elevated waist circumference (PR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.40–0.91). Similarly, engaging in ≥30 min of daily physical activity was significantly associated with reduced central adiposity (PR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.56–0.86). Conclusions: The findings suggest that whole grain consumption and regular physical activity act as protective factors, whereas certain dietary patterns—despite being considered healthy—may be associated with higher cardiometabolic risk depending on the dietary context. Full article

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, are among the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Dietary patterns have emerged as modifiable risk factors that may influence disease onset and progression. The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, fish, and extra virgin olive oil, has been consistently associated with better cognitive outcomes and reduced risk of neurodegeneration. Aim: This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the role of the MedDiet in slowing the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on polyphenols such as resveratrol and oleuropein as key bioactive mediators. Methods: We synthesized findings from epidemiological studies, clinical trials, and mechanistic research to provide an integrated overview of how adherence to the MedDiet and its polyphenol components affects neurodegenerative disease trajectories. Results: Epidemiological studies suggest that higher MedDiet adherence is associated with slower cognitive decline, reduced conversion from mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease, and better motor and non-motor outcomes in Parkinson’s disease. Mechanistically, the MedDiet modulates oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function, vascular health, and the gut–brain axis. Polyphenols such as resveratrol and oleuropein exert neuroprotective effects through antioxidant activity, modulation of amyloid aggregation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and activation of signaling pathways (e.g., SIRT1). Clinical studies, although limited, indicate beneficial effects of polyphenol-rich interventions on cognitive and metabolic biomarkers. Conclusions: Current evidence supports the Mediterranean diet as a promising dietary strategy to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Polyphenols, including resveratrol and oleuropein, may play a role in mediating these effects. Further well-designed, long-term clinical trials are needed to establish causal relationships, optimize dosage, and explore biomarker-driven personalized nutrition approaches. Full article

This paper presents the detailed comparisons of solute macro-segregation pictures predicted by different meso-macroscopic simulations, based on the single-domain enthalpy–porosity approach coupled with distinct models of flow resistance in the two-phase zone. In the first, the whole zone is treated as a Darcy’s porous medium (EP model); in the other two, the columnar and equiaxed grain structures are distinguished using either the coherency point (EP-CP model) approach or by tracking a virtual surface of columnar dendrite tips (EP-FT model). The simplified 2D model of a solidifying cast in a centrifuge is proposed, and calculations are performed for the Pb-48wt. % Sn cast at various hypergravity levels and rotation angles. It is shown, in the example of Sn-10wt. % Pb alloy, that the predicted macro-segregation strongly depends on the mesoscopic model used, and the EP-FT simulation (validated with the AFRODITE benchmark) provides the most realistic solute inhomogeneity pictures. The EP-FT model is further used to investigate the impact of the hyper-gravity level and the cooling direction on the compositional nonuniformity developing in centrifuge casting. The hyper-gravity level visibly impacts the macro-segregation extent. The region of almost uniform solute distribution in the slurry zone rises with the increased effective gravity, though the solute channeling is more severe for higher gravity and rotation angles. A-channeling and V-channeling were observed for angles between the gravity vector and cooling direction lower than 120° and higher than 120°, respectively. Full article

Plants are sources of compounds with important effects on health, but plant-based food industry generates substantial waste amounts, especially in oil production. This study aimed to characterize flours derived from oilseed by-products, pumpkin, sunflower, and apricot seed residues, and compare them with conventional grain flours (white and whole wheat). Nutritional composition was analyzed with emphasis on amino acid profiles performed by ion chromatography. Mineral profiles were determined by ICP-MS. Total phenolics and antioxidant activity were assessed using in vitro colorimetric microassays. Oil press cake flours showed significantly higher levels of protein and fiber compared to wheat flours (p < 0.05), while the latter contained more carbohydrates. Among the examined flours, pumpkin and apricot seed flours stood out with the highest potassium, while sunflower seed flour led in calcium content. Despite higher polyphenol content in wheat flours, apricot seed flour exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity, likely due to its diverse profile of hydrophilic and lipophilic bioactive compounds. These findings highlight oil press cakes as nutritionally valuable ingredients for protein-enriched and other innovative food products, aligning with circular economy principles and promoting resource efficiency in the agri-food sector. Full article

Background/Objectives: Low physical activity (PA) is becoming an increasingly serious health problem among overweight school-age children. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of elevated PA during school hours on the nutritional behavior and fat mass of overweight and obese children. Methods: The study involved 11-year-old children (n = 148) who were overweight and obese. In the control group, children received physical education lessons in the standard dimension (4 h a week) while the intervention group received 10 h. Body mass index (BMI), fat mass (FM), and nutritional behavior were analyzed. Results: Compared to baseline, at the end of the intervention, the proportion of obese children increased in the control group and decreased in the intervention group. Regarding nutritional behavior, low consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, poultry, and fish was observed. After a 12-month period, the intervention group showed a slight decrease in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, cold cuts, fried dishes, sweets, and fast food, and an increase in the consumption of white bread, whole-grain bread, poultry, red meat, and dairy products (milk, yogurt). In the control group, children exhibited an average increase in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, poultry, red meat, sweets, and fast food Conclusions: Although extended physical activity during school hours was correlated with a decrease in the number of obese children, the observational nature of the study precludes the drawing of definitive conclusions. The intervention may have contributed to an increase in energy expenditure, which could account for the improvements in BMI and FM. Nevertheless, the impact on nutritional behavior was limited. Full article

Northern japonica rice holds a significant position in China’s food security. However, the traditional nitrogen fertilizer management model (nitrogen application rate > 225 kg/ha, base fertilizer proportion > 50%) has led to serious sustainability problems: the nitrogen utilization rate is only 25–30%, resulting in a large amount of fertilizer waste and economic losses. At the same time, it causes a decline in rice quality, manifested as a 15–20% increase in chalkiness and an 8–12% decrease in palatability value. It has also brought about environmental problems such as soil acidification and eutrophication of water bodies. As an important japonica rice production area, the Liaohe Plain has significant differences in the response of semi-upright and curved panicle varieties to nitrogen fertilizer. However, the agronomic physiological mechanism for the coordinated improvement of yield and quality of japonica rice with different panicle types is still unclear at present, which limits the sustainable development of rice production in this region. For this purpose, in this study, the typical semi-upright spike variety Shendao 47 and the curved spike variety Shendao 11 from the Liaohe Plain were used as materials, and five nitrogen fertilizer treatments were set up: N1, no nitrogen application; N2–N4, conventional nitrogen application rate of 165–225 kg/ha; and N5, and optimized nitrogen application rate of 195 kg/ha allocated in the proportion of 40% base fertilizer, 15% tillering fertilizer, 25% tillering fertilizer, 15% panicle fertilizer, and 5% grain fertilizer. The synergistic regulatory effect of nitrogen fertilizer management on yield and rice quality was systematically explored, and the key agronomic physiological mechanisms were analyzed. The research results show that: (1) The optimized nitrogen fertilizer treatment (N5) achieved a significant increase in yield while reducing the input of nitrogen fertilizer. The yields of Shendao 47 and Shendao 11 reached 10.71–11.82 t/ha and 9.50–10.62 t/ha, respectively, increasing by more than 35% compared with the treatment without nitrogen. (2) The N5 treatment simultaneously improved the processing quality (the whole polished rice rate increased by 4.11%) and the appearance quality (the chalkiness decreased by 63.8% to 77%). (3) The dry matter accumulation during the tillering stage (≥3.2 t/ha) and the net assimilation rate during the scion development stage (≥12 g/m²/d) were identified as key agronomic physiological indicators for regulating the yield-quality synergy. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer management ensures an adequate supply of photosynthetic products through the high photosynthetic rate of flag-holding leaves and the extended lifespan of functional leaves. The phased nitrogen application strategy of “40% base fertilizer + 25% tillering fertilizer + 15% panicle fertilizer + 5% grain fertilizer” proposed in this study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the sustainable development of japonica rice production in the Liaohe Plain. This plan has achieved the coordinated realization of multiple goals including resource conservation (reducing nitrogen by 13%), environmental protection (lowering the risk of nitrogen loss), food security guarantee (stable increase in yield), and quality improvement (enhancement of rice quality), effectively promoting the development of the northern japonica rice industry towards a green, efficient and sustainable direction. Develop in the right direction. Full article