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Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony. A questionnaire survey was implemented in fourteen countries (Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey), and globally, 7222 adult participants responded to the questionnaire. SPSS software (version 28) was used to process the data and carry out chi-square tests and Factor Analyses (FA). The obtained results showed significant differences between countries for all the questions included in the survey, either those regarding the habits of the participants or their opinions about the facts linked with EI tradition or cultural aspects. It was found that participants from Mexico consume EIs more than in all other countries and that strong motivations that would lead to consumption among those who do not consume include curiosity and food shortage. The solution obtained with FA considering the ten statements of the scale consisted of two factors: F1-Culture and Tradition of EIs (α = 0.675) and F2-Acceptance of EIs (α = 0.614). In conclusion, the consumption of EIs and the perceptions of people are highly variable according to geographic location and cultural environment.

In this paper, a simple, bottom up, bioinspired technique is proposed for the synthesis of highly stable colloids of silica supported spherical silver nanoparticles (SiO 2 @Ag) that act as efficient catalytic and antimicrobial coatings for an organic substrate, filter paper. The core - shell structure and the highly branched dendritic polymer, poly(ethylene)imine, enabled the precise control of growth rate and morphology of silica and silver nanoparticles. The polymer also enabled the deposition of these nanoparticles onto an organic substrate, filter paper, through immersion by modifying its surface. The catalytic and antibacterial properties of these samples were assessed. The results obtained from this analysis showed a complete degradation of an aqueous pollutant, 4-nitrophenol, for 6 successive catalytic cycles without intermediate purification steps. Furthermore, the polymeric silica-silver suspension proved to express antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial properties were evaluated according to the disk diffusion method, whereas the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was also determined. The samples were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, z-potential analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Ultraviolet-visible Spectroscopy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Earlier research focuses primarily on the cognitive changes due to Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, little is known with regard to changes in language competence across the lifespan., Objective: The present study aims to investigate the decline of language skills at the grammatical and syntactic levels due to changes in cognitive function., Methods: We administered the Litmus Sentence Repetition Task (SRT) to 150 native speakers of Greek who fall into five groups: 1) young healthy speakers, 2) cognitively intact elder healthy speakers, 3) speakers with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), 4) speakers with mild cognitive impairment (MCI); and 5) speakers with AD dementia at the mild/moderate stages. All participants underwent a physical and neurological examination and cognitive screening with a standardized neuropsychological battery to assess cognitive status comprehensively and evaluate aspects like working memory, executive function, attention and memory to appropriately classify them., Results: The data analysis revealed that the SRT had high discriminatory value in the development of AD; specifically, both accuracy and grammaticality indices were related to cognitive decline. Additionally, syntax significantly affected the performance of speakers with structures such as clitics being particularly challenging and in most structures the performance of speakers with MCI drops significantly compared to speakers with SCI., Conclusions: Linguistic indices revealed subtle early signs of cognitive decline that can be helpful in the early detection of AD, thus facilitating the clinical process offering support to language-based assessment tools such as sentence repetition, a non-invasive type of assessment to evaluate symptoms of AD., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interest to report., (© 2024 – The authors. Published by IOS Press.)

Context: There are limited comparative studies between one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) versus Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on body composition and musculoskeletal health., Objective: To compare changes in body composition, areal bone mineral density (aBMD), muscle strength, and physical function in the first year following OAGB, RYGB and SG within a UK-based healthcare setting., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the BARI-LIFESTYLE trial in 119 adults (77% women; mean±SD, age: 45.9±10.3 years; BMI: 43.6±5.5 kg/m2) who underwent OAGB (n=19), RYGB (n=39) and SG (n=61). Body composition and aBMD by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, handgrip strength, sit-to-stand (STS) test and 6-minute walking test (6MWT) were assessed pre-surgery and at 12 months post-surgery., Results: OAGB, RYGB, and SG exhibited similar reductions in body weight, body fat and lean mass (within-group comparisons, p<0.001). All surgery types were associated with reductions in aBMD at the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine, which were more pronounced after OAGB and RYGB compared to SG (all p<0.03), though no difference between OAGB and RYGB. Despite reductions in absolute handgrip strength, relative handgrip strength, STS test and 6MWT improved post-surgery (all p<0.02), with no differences by surgical procedure., Conclusion: OAGB, RYGB, and SG resulted in comparable weight loss, changes in body composition and improvements in relative muscle strength and physical function. OAGB and RYGB, compared with SG, led to greater BMD reductions at clinically relevant sites. Future long-term studies should explore whether these BMD reductions translate into a greater fracture risk., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Insects have been consumed for time immemorial in many regions of the globe. However, in other parts, they are not traditionally eaten. Because they are a more sustainable source of animal protein and provide valuable nutrients as well as bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on the human body, their consumption is encouraged. Knowledge can serve as a tool for better acceptance of insects as food. In this context, the present work investigated the knowledge about the nutritional value and health effects of edible insects in different countries. Data were collected by employing a questionnaire survey translated into the different languages of all participating countries and were treated using statistical tools. A total of 7222 responses were obtained. The results indicated that for many issues, the participants manifested a neutral opinion (neither agree nor disagree), but the participants who manifested agreement/disagreement were generally well informed. They were also able to identify untrue facts and answer accordingly by disagreeing. Factor analysis showed four groups of questions: nutritive value, negative perception and risks, safety and benefits of insects and contamination and harmful components. Finally, significant differences were observed according to the sociodemographic variables studies (sex, age, education, living environment and country), with age and country being the most influential of the sociodemographic factors on knowledge. Therefore, increasing knowledge is envisaged as an essential factor in augmenting the recognition of edible insects as a nutritional food, presenting health benefits apart from being a more sustainable source of animal protein when compared with beef or pork meats.

Introduction: Patient awareness of postoperative lymphedema in the field of gynecologic oncology has been poorly documented in the international literature. We wished to capture and document the awareness among gynecological cancer survivors about postoperative lymphedema, including aspects such as the adequacy of perioperative counseling, management, and quality of life., Methods: A web-based survey comprising 25 multiple-choice questions was distributed to gynecological cancer advocacy groups within the European Network of Gynecological Cancer Advocacy Groups (ENGAGe) group. The survey was validated in a pilot group of gynecological patients prior to distribution., Results: Overall, 386 women from 20 countries completed the questionnaire. Only half of the patients ( n = 211) knew what lymphedema is, whereas 52% of the respondents stated that they were never informed at their pre-operative assessment about the potential risk of developing lymphedema. Fifty-three percent of those women who were informed about the risk and management of lymphedema received information through self-initiative, connecting mainly with patient groups or online. Approximately 84% of patients with lymphedema reported that they informed their doctor about their symptoms. Ninety-four patients (55.3%, which is not 55% of the 386) were treated for lymphedema. Forty-five women out of 136 reported that lymphedema significantly affected their everyday lives., Discussion: We report a large lack of awareness and a significant gap of knowledge about the risks and treatment options related to postoperative lymphedema among gynecological cancer survivors. Institutional practice routines and awareness among professionals need to be urgently recalled and adapted to adequately inform and support gynecological cancer patients.

Antibiotics, recognized as Emerging Contaminants (ECs), have raised concerns due to their pervasive presence in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and subsequent release into aquatic environments, posing potential ecological risks and contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant genes. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted an unprecedented surge in antibiotic consumption, necessitating a comprehensive assessment of its impact on antibiotic levels in wastewater. In this light, a four-year monitoring study (2020-2023) was conducted in a WWTP located in the Northern Greece (Thessaloniki), employing High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) technology to monitor twenty antibiotics, during distinct phases pre-, during, and post-COVID-19. Our findings revealed that macrolides and fluoroquinolones were among the most often detected categories during the sampling period. Among the compounds detected, azithromycin and clarithromycin showed the most significant increases during the pandemic, doubling their average concentrations. This establishes a clear correlation between the rise in their concentrations and the incidence of COVID-19 cases. A general downward trend after 2021 was attributed to the new restrictions posed in Greece during this year, regarding the liberal prescription of antibiotics. Seasonal variation revealed a minute augmentation of antibiotics' use during the months that infections are increased. Additionally, the study highlights the ecological risks associated with elevated antibiotic presence and emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and regulatory measures to mitigate potential ecological repercussions. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between antibiotic consumption, environmental presence, and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on antibiotic pollution in WWTPs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Arguments by Sorkin (Impossible measurements on quantum fields. In: Directions in general relativity: proceedings of the 1993 International Symposium, Maryland, vol 2, pp 293-305, 1993) and Borsten et al. (Phys Rev D 104(2), 2021. 10.1103/PhysRevD.104.025012) establish that a natural extension of quantum measurement theory from non-relativistic quantum mechanics to relativistic quantum theory leads to the unacceptable consequence that expectation values in one region depend on which unitary operation is performed in a spacelike separated region. Sorkin [1] labels such scenarios 'impossible measurements'. We explicitly present these arguments as a no-go result with the logical form of a reductio argument and investigate the consequences for measurement in quantum field theory (QFT). Sorkin-type impossible measurement scenarios clearly illustrate the moral that Microcausality is not by itself sufficient to rule out superluminal signalling in relativistic quantum theories that use Lüders' rule. We review three different approaches to formulating an account of measurement for QFT and analyze their responses to the 'impossible measurements' problem. Two of the approaches are: a measurement theory based on detector models proposed in Polo-Gómez et al. (Phys Rev D, 2022. 10.1103/physrevd.105.065003) and a measurement framework for algebraic QFT proposed in Fewster and Verch (Commun Math Phys 378(2):851-889, 2020). Of particular interest for foundations of QFT is that they share common features that may hold general morals about how to represent measurement in QFT. These morals are about the role that dynamics plays in eliminating 'impossible measurements', the abandonment of the operational interpretation of local algebras A ( O ) as representing possible operations carried out in region O , and the interpretation of state update rules. Finally, we examine the form that the 'impossible measurements' problem takes in histories-based approaches and we discuss the remaining challenges., Competing Interests: Competing interestsDF and MP gratefully acknowledge support from a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Insight Grant number 435-2019-0548. MP acknowledges support of the ID# 62312 grant from the John Templeton Foundation, as part of the ‘The Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime’ Project (QISS)., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Background: The assessment of language deficits can be valuable in the early clinical diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD)., Objective: The present study aims to explore whether language markers at the macrostructural level could assist with the placement of an individual across the dementia continuum employing production data from structured narratives., Methods: We administered a Picture Sequence Narrative Discourse Task to 170 speakers of Greek: young healthy controls (yHC), cognitively intact healthy elders (eHC), elder participants with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and with AD dementia at the mild/moderate stages. Structural MRIs, medical history, neurological examination, and neuropsychological/cognitive screening determined the status of each speaker to appropriately groupthem., Results: The data analysis revealed that the Macrostructure Index, Irrelevant Info, and Narration Density markers can track cognitive decline and AD (p < 0.001; Macrostructural Index: eHC versus AD Sensitivity 93.8%, Specificity 74.4%, MCI versus AD Sensitivity 93.8%, Specificity 66.7%; Narration Density: eHC versus AD Sensitivity 90.6%, Specificity 71.8%, MCI versus AD Sensitivity 93.8%, Specificity 66.7%). Moreover, Narrative Complexity was significantly affected for subjects with AD, Irrelevant Info increased in the narrations of speakers with MCI and AD, while Narration Length did not appear to indubitably differentiate between the cognitively intact groups and the clinical ones., Conclusions: Narrative Macrostructure Indices provide valuable information on the language profile of speakers with(out) intact cognition revealing subtle early signs of cognitive decline and AD suggesting that the inclusion of language-based assessment tools would facilitate the clinical process.

Two different levels (5 and 10%) of male honey bees (drones) in powder form were incorporated into wheat flour, and their impact on dough properties and on bread-quality characteristics were investigated. The incorporation of the drone powder to the wheat flour caused a decrease in the extensibility and energy of the dough in the extensograph and an increase in the dough's maximum resistance with increasing levels of the added drone powder. The elongational viscosity values of the dough fortified with drone powder were significantly higher than those of the control wheat flour dough. The breads supplemented with 10% drone powder exhibited lower lightness (L*) values compared to the control bread. The addition of drone powder led to an increase in the total dietary fiber content and insoluble dietary fiber content in the fortified bread. Significant differences in the specific volume values were observed between the control bread and the corresponding ones with 10% drone powder. Upon storage, the moisture content of the crumb of the control bread and of the fortified breads were both significantly decreased, while the addition of the drone powder to the wheat flour bread increased the crumb hardness and gumminess but decreased the cohesiveness of the breads.

Background: This investigation provides an important insight into Eurasian consumers' food safety beliefs and trust issues influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted in 15 European and Asian countries involving more than 4000 consumers., Results: It has confirmed that different socioeconomic characteristics, cultural aspects and education levels shape food safety perceptions within Eurasian countries. The COVID-19 pandemic influenced their beliefs and trust in food safety, which is relatively low on average. However, it is significantly higher for European consumers (especially European Union ones) compared to their Asian counterparts. Both Asian and European respondents agreed that food fraud and climate changes represent a food safety issue. However, European consumers were less concerned regarding the food safety of genetically modified foods and meat and dairy analogs/hybrids. Asian consumers were, to a greater extent, worried about the risk of getting COVID-19 from food, restaurants, food retail establishments and home food deliveries., Conclusion: Eurasian consumers have put their greatest extent of trust, when food safety assurance is concerned, into food scientists and food producers holding a food safety certificate. Broadly, they are uncertain to what extent their federal governments and food inspectors are competent, able and efficient in ensuring food safety. Higher education of Eurasian consumers was followed by increased food safety confidence in all parts of the food chain. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Cereal grains serve as the cornerstone of global nutrition, providing a significant portion of humanity's caloric requirements. However, the presence of fungal genera, such Fusarium , Penicillium , Aspergillus , and Alternaria , known for their mycotoxin-producing abilities, presents a significant threat to human health due to the adverse effects of these toxins. The primary objective of this study was to identify the predominant fungal contaminants in cereal grains utilized in breadmaking, as well as in flour and bread. Moreover, a systematic review, including meta-analysis, was conducted on the occurrence and levels of mycotoxins in wheat flour from the years 2013 to 2023. The genera most frequently reported were Fusarium , followed by Penicillium , Aspergillus , and Alternaria . Among the published reports, the majority focused on the analysis of Deoxynivalenol (DON), which garnered twice as many reports compared to those focusing on Aflatoxins, Zearalenone, and Ochratoxin A. The concentration of these toxins, in most cases determined by HPLC-MS/MS or HPLC coupled with a fluorescence detector (FLD), was occasionally observed to exceed the maximum limits established by national and/or international authorities. The prevalence of mycotoxins in flour samples from the European Union (EU) and China, as well as in foods intended for infants, exhibited a significant reduction compared to other commercial flours assessed by a meta-analysis investigation.

Because edible insects (EI) have been, in recent years, recommended as a nutritious animal protein food with enormous environmental advantages over other sources of animal protein for human consumption, studies aimed at investigating the consumer perspective have become more prominent. Hence, this study intended to examine the perceptions of participants from different countries about the commercialization and economic and social impacts of edible insects. The study was made using a questionnaire survey, and data were collected in Brazil, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey. The final number of received answers was 7222 participants. For the treatment of the results, different statistical techniques were used: factor analysis, internal reliability by Cronbach's alpha, cluster analysis, ANOVA to test differences between groups, and Chi-square tests. The results obtained confirmed the validity of the scale, constituted by 12 out of the 14 items initially considered, distributed by 4 factors: the first related to the economic impact of EIs, the second related to the motivation for consumption of EIs, the third related to the places of purchase of EIs, and the fourth corresponding to a question presented to the participants as a false statement. A cluster analysis allowed identifying three clusters, with significant differences between them according to all the sociodemographic variables tested. Also, it was found that the participants expressed an exceptionally high level of agreement with aspects such as the difficulty in finding EIs on sale, knowledge acting as a strong motivator for EI consumption, and the role of personalities and influencers in increasing the will to consume EIs. Finally, practically all sociodemographic variables were found to be significantly associated with perceptions (country, sex, education, living environment, and income), but not age. In conclusion, the perceptions about EI commercialization were investigated and revealed differences among samples originating from different countries. Moreover, the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants were found to be strongly associated with their perceptions.

Eight wines, four semisweet rosé and four sweet red, produced on Kos Island in Greece, were analyzed. Wines produced following different winemaking procedures were characterized based on their physicochemical parameters, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and chromatic properties. Moreover, their elemental composition was studied with ICP-OES. Differences were observed among the measurements performed. All of the samples were below the levels set for SO 2 content. The sweet red wines had higher alcoholic strength than semisweet rosé ones, and were characterized by a higher yellow proportion. The vinification process significantly affected SO 2 levels, phenolics, and antioxidant activity. The red wines were high in Na content, with one sample exceeding the level set by OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine). The levels of all the other elements related to quality (Fe, Cu, Zn) or safety (Pb, Cd) were far below the limits set. Rosé wines contained less Mg, but were higher in Na than the red ones. The obtained data suggest that sweet and semisweet wines produced with traditional procedures are safe and of high quality, holding antioxidant capacity beneficial to health. The information reported contributes to a better understanding of these types of wines.

We performed an open-label, randomised controlled trial to compare the effects of a very-low-calorie diet (VLCD) vs. moderate energy deficit approach on body weight, body composition, free androgen index (FAI), and metabolic markers in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Forty eligible patients were randomly assigned to a VLCD ( n = 21) or a conventional energy deficit approach ( n = 19) over the same period. After eight weeks, both groups experienced significant weight loss; however, this was greater in the VLCD arm (-10.9% vs. -3.9%, p < 0.0001). There was also a trend towards a reduction in FAI in the VLCD group compared to the energy deficit group (-32.3% vs. -7.7%, p = 0.07). In the VLCD arm, two women (18%) had a biochemical remission of PCOS (FAI < 4); this was not the case for any of the participants in the energy deficit arm. There was a significant within-group increase in the sex-hormone-binding globulin ( p = 0.002) and reductions in fasting blood glucose ( p = 0.010) and waist to hip ratio ( p = 0.04) in the VLCD arm, but not in the energy deficit arm. The VLCD resulted in significantly greater weight reduction and was accompanied by more pronounced improvements in hyperandrogenaemia, body composition, and several metabolic parameters in obese women with PCOS as compared to the energy deficit approach.

Interactions between fisheries and marine mammals have been well documented in almost all existing fishing gears around the world, often associated with detrimental consequences. Interactions of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal ( Monachus monachus ) with small-scale fisheries have been previously documented in the Mediterranean; this is a problem that seems to be growing in recent years. The present study aims to understand for the first time the nature and extent of interactions between the Mediterranean monk seal and small-scale fisheries in the Republic of Cyprus. The data were collected by conducting in-person semi-structured interviews, between November and December 2020, with 90 fishermen operating from nine different ports, extending throughout the entire coastline of the Republic of Cyprus. The results revealed minimal interactions between the Mediterranean monk seals and small-scale fisheries. The findings indicate that interactions are more likely to occur at depths of less than 10 m, closer to the coast, with the use of trammel nets and gillnets, and during the spring and summer months. The encounter, depredation and incidental capture rates were calculated at 0.01 (0.95%), 0.005 (0.51%) and 0.0004 (0.04%) per fisher, respectively. Spatiotemporal closed areas are proposed as a potential solution to mitigate these interactions.

Introduction: The term tenosynovial giant cell tumor encompasses a group of rare soft-tissue tumors. A new classification divides the group in localized and diffuse type, depending on the involvement of the surrounding tissues. Due to the unclear origin and heterogeneity in extend of the diffuse-type giant cell tumors, there is only limited evidence on the tumor-specific treatment. Thus, every case report has an added value toward setting disease-specific guidelines., Case Report: Presentation of a diffuse type tenosynovial giant cell tumor encircling the first metatarsal. The tumor had mechanically eroded the plantar aspect of the distal metaphysis, with no signs of tumor spread. After an open biopsy, resection of the mass was performed without debriding or resecting the first metatarsal. Repeat imaging postoperatively showed no recurrence at 4-year follow-up and a bony remodeling of the lesion., Conclusion: Bone remodeling is possible after complete resection of diffuse tenosynovial giant cell tumor when the erosion is caused by mechanical pressure and no intraosseous expansion of the tumor is present., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: Nil, (Copyright: © Indian Orthopaedic Research Group.)

Although weight loss results in significant improvements in most comorbidities in people with overweight/obesity, one possible side effect is its negative impact on bone health. This review summarizes the effects of intentional weight loss achieved by non-surgical (lifestyle changes, drugs) and surgical (bariatric surgery) interventions on bone outcomes in individuals with overweight/obesity and discusses strategies to monitor and preserve bone health during weight loss., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Besides organic growing, ancient wheats and landraces are attracting the attention of scientists who are reassessing the healthy and dietary properties attributed to them by popular tradition. A total of eleven wheat flours and whole meal samples were analyzed, of which, nine originated from the organic farming of five Greek landraces (one einkorn, one emmer, two durum, and one soft wheat) and a commercial organically grown emmer cultivar. Two commercial conventional flours of 70% and 100% extraction rate were examined for comparison purposes. Chemical composition, micronutrients, phenolic profile, and quantification, and antioxidant activity of all samples were determined. Moreover, dough rheology and breadmaking quality were studied; Flours from local landraces were higher in micronutrients, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity than the commercial samples. The 90% extraction flour of the landrace, besides the highest protein content (16.62%), exhibited the highest content of phenolic acids (19.14 μg/g of flour), whereas the commercial refined emmer flour was the lowest (5.92 μg/g of flour). The same milling of the einkorn landrace also showed a higher specific volume (1.9 mL/g vs. 1.7 mL/g) and lower bread crumb firmness than the whole meal commercial emmer sample (33.0 N vs. 44.9 N). The results of this study showed that the examined Greek wheat landraces could be considered as a possible source of microelements, phenolics, and antioxidants with a beneficial effect in human health, and by using an appropriate breadmaking procedure, they could produce high-quality breads.

The regrouping of ruminants is a common practice in dairy farms and is targeting at the improvement of milk production efficiency. However, changing the established hierarchy in a group affects both productivity and behavioral attributes. The aim of the present study was therefore to examine the possible effects of regrouping on milk yield, composition and several behavioral indices in dairy ewes. The experimental period was divided into two sub-periods of 20 days each. During the first period, 30 Chios ewes were used, while 15 Chios and 15 Karagouniko ewes were mixed during the second period. Milk yield, composition, oxidative stability, flow rate and number of kick responses during milking were recorded for each ewe. An isolation-flight distance test was also performed on a weekly basis. As indicated, the parameters recorded during the behavioral tests, such as the number of bleats, heart rate and flight distance, and the milk oxidation rate and number of kick responses were significantly increased immediately after regrouping compared to the following days during both sub-periods ( p < 0.05). Moreover, milk yield was reduced in the second sub-period by 8.61% ( p < 0.05). It can be concluded that regrouping could negatively influence productive and behavioral traits, and the effect was more pronounced when sheep of different breeds were mixed.

Sourdoughs (SDs) are spontaneously formed microbial ecosystems composed of various species of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and acid-tolerant yeasts in food matrices of cereal flours mixed with water. To date, more than 90 LAB species have been isolated, significantly impacting the organoleptic characteristics, shelf life, and health properties of bakery products. To learn more about the unique bacterial communities involved in creating regional Bulgarian sourdoughs, we examined the metacommunities of five sourdoughs produced by spontaneous fermentation and maintained by backslopping in bakeries from three geographic locations. The 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that the former genus Lactobacillus was predominant in the studied sourdoughs (51.0-78.9%). Weissella (0.9-42.8%), Herbaspirillum (1.6-3.8%), Serratia (0.1-11.7%), Pediococcus (0.2-7.5%), Bacteroides (0.1-1.3%), and Sphingomonas (0.1-0.5%) were also found in all 5 samples. Genera Leuconostoc , Enterococcus , Bacillus , and Asaia were sample-specific. It is interesting to note that the genus Weissella was more abundant in wholegrain samples. The greatest diversity at the species level was found in the former genus Lactobacillus, presented in the sourdough samples with 13 species. The UPGMA cluster analysis clearly demonstrated similarity in species' relative abundance between samples from the same location. In addition, we can conclude that the presence of two main clusters-one including samples from mountainous places (the cities of Smolyan and Bansko) and the other including samples from the city of Ruse (the banks of the Danube River)-may indicate the impact of climate and geographic location (e.g., terrain, elevation, land use, and nearby water bodies and their streams) on the abundance of microbiome taxa. As the bacterial population is crucial for bread standardization, we expect the local bakery sector to be interested in the relationship between process variables and their effect on bacterial dynamics described in this research study.

Introduction: Some but not all women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) develop the metabolic syndrome (MS). The objective of this study was to determine if a subset of women with PCOS had higher androgen levels predisposing them to MS and whether routinely measured hormonal parameters impacted the metabolic syndrome score (siMS)., Methods: We included data from a discovery (PCOS clinic data) and a replication cohort (Hull PCOS Biobank) and utilized eight routinely measured hormonal parameters in our clinics (free androgen index [FAI], sex hormone-binding globulin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), androstenedione, luteinizing hormone [LH], follicular stimulating hormone, anti-Müllerian hormone and 17 hydroxyprogesterone [17-OHP]) to perform a K-means clustering (an unsupervised machine learning algorithm). We used NbClust Package in R to determine the best number of clusters. We estimated the siMS in each cluster and used regression analysis to evaluate the effect of hormonal parameters on SiMS., Results: The study consisted of 310 women with PCOS (discovery cohort: n = 199, replication cohort: n = 111). The cluster analysis identified two clusters in both the discovery and replication cohorts. The discovery cohort identified a larger cluster (n = 137) and a smaller cluster (n = 62), with 31% of the study participants. Similarly, the replication cohort identified a larger cluster (n = 74) and a smaller cluster (n = 37) with 33% of the study participants. The smaller cluster in the discovery cohort had significantly higher levels of LH (7.26 vs. 16.1 IU/L, p < .001), FAI (5.21 vs. 9.22, p < .001), androstenedione (3.93 vs. 7.56 nmol/L, p < .001) and 17-OHP (1.59 vs. 3.12 nmol/L, p < .001). These findings were replicated in the replication cohort. The mean (±SD) siMS score was higher in the smaller cluster, 3.1 (±1.1) versus 2.8 (±0.8); however, this was not statistically significant (p = .20). In the regression analysis, higher FAI (β = .05, p = .003) and androstenedione (β = .03, p = .02) were independently associated with a higher risk of SiMS score, while higher DHEAS levels were associated with a lower siMS score (β = -.07, p = .03) CONCLUSION: We identified a subset of women in our PCOS cohort with significantly higher LH, FAI, and androstenedione levels. We show that higher levels of androstenedione and FAI are associated with a higher siMS, while higher DHEAS levels were associated with lower siMS., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Emotion can reflect in the perception of food consumption. An increase in food intake during emotional and psychological conditions may have a negative impact on human health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between food consumption, emotional eating behavior, and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, boredom eating, maintaining vigilance and alertness, and emotional food consolation. We used a Motivations for Food Choices Questionnaire (Eating Motivations, EATMOT) to determine the emotional aspects of food consumption in 9052 respondents living in 12 European countries between October 2017 and March 2018. Ordinal linear regression was used to identify the associations between the emotional eating behavior and emotional conditions such as stress, depression, loneliness, emotional consolation, and reasons to improve physical and psychological conditions. The regression models confirmed the associations between food consumption, emotional conditions, and emotional eating behavior. Associations were found between the emotional eating behavior and stress (odds ratio (OR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.07-1.60, p = 0.010), depressive mood (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.40-1.43, p < 0.001), loneliness (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.58-1.62, p < 0.001), boredom (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.36-1.39, p < 0.001), and emotional consolation (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.54-1.57, p < 0.001). Emotional eating was associated with an effort to improve physical and psychological conditions, such as controlling body weight (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.10-1.12, p < 0.001), keeping awake and alert (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.19-1.20, p < 0.001) and consumption to feel good (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.21-1.22, p < 0.001). In conclusion, emotions might provoke emotional eating behavior. The appropriate way to handle stress, depression, or other emotional states is important in conditions of being emotionally overwhelmed. The public should be educated on how to handle different emotional states. The focus should be moved somehow from emotional eating and the consumption of unhealthy food to healthy lifestyle practices, including regular exercise and healthy eating habits. Thus, it is necessary to halt these negative health effects on human health through public health programs.

Objective: This study explored the impact of time-restricted eating (TRE) versus standard dietary advice (SDA) on bone health., Methods: Adults with ≥1 component of metabolic syndrome were randomized to TRE (ad libitum eating within 12 hours) or SDA (food pyramid brochure). Bone turnover markers and bone mineral content/density by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry were assessed at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Statistical analyses were performed in the total population and by weight loss response., Results: In the total population (n = 42, 76% women, median age 47 years [IQR: 31-52]), there were no between-group differences (TRE vs. SDA) in any bone parameter. Among weight loss responders (≥0.6 kg weight loss), the bone resorption marker β-carboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen tended to decrease after TRE but increase after SDA (between-group differences p = 0.041), whereas changes in the bone formation marker procollagen type I N-propeptide did not differ between groups. Total body bone mineral content decreased after SDA (p = 0.028) but remained unchanged after TRE (p = 0.31) in weight loss responders (between-group differences p = 0.028). Among nonresponders (<0.6 kg weight loss), there were no between-group differences in bone outcomes., Conclusions: TRE had no detrimental impact on bone health, whereas, when weight loss occurred, it was associated with some bone-sparing effects compared with SDA., (© 2022 The Authors. Obesity published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Obesity Society.)

It remains uncertain which skeletal sites and parameters should be analyzed in rodent studies evaluating bone health and disease. In this cross-sectional mouse study using micro-computed tomography (µCT), we explored: (1) which microstructural parameters can be used to discriminate female from male bones and (2) whether it is meaningful to evaluate more than one bone site. Microstructural parameters of the trabecular and/or cortical compartments of the femur, tibia, thoracic and lumbar vertebral bodies, and skull were evaluated by µCT in 10 female and 10 male six-month-old C57BL/6J mice. The trabecular number (TbN) was significantly higher, while the trabecular separation (TbSp) was significantly lower in male compared to female mice at all skeletal sites assessed. Overall, bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) was also significantly higher in male vs. female mice (except for the thoracic spine, which did not differ by sex). Most parameters of the cortical bone microstructure did not differ between male and female mice. BV/TV, TbN, and TbSp at the femur, and TbN and TbSp at the tibia and lumbar spine could fully (100%) discriminate female from male bones. Cortical thickness (CtTh) at the femur was the best parameter to detect sex differences in the cortical compartment (AUC = 0.914). In 6-month-old C57BL/6J mice, BV/TV, TbN, and TbSp can be used to distinguish male from female bones. Whenever it is not possible to assess multiple bone sites, we propose to evaluate the bone microstructure of the femur for detecting potential sex differences.

In November 2021, a female bigeye thresher shark was incidentally caught by a pelagic drifting longline off southern Cyprus, corresponding to the second documented species record at country level. Main biological features and an extended list of morphometric measurements are presented in comparison with the previous species records in the Mediterranean. The diet analysis highlighted the impact of marine species invasion in the Mediterranean food webs and documented the presence of the angel squid in Cypriot waters for the first time. The species presence in the basin is revised and discussed., (© 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles.)

Silica-organic matrix-silver, nano-catalysts, were synthesized employing four different hyperbranched poly(ethylene imines) (MW 2000 to 750,000) to reduce Ag + to metal nanoparticles and the formation of formation SiO 2 shells. The latter is performed at pH 7,5 employing three different pH regulating agents Hepes, Trizma, and Phosphate Salts. Characterization of the resulting materials with spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ζ-potential is reported. Kinetic studies of standard reactions, 4-nitrophenol and 4-nitroaniline reduction to 4-aminophenol and p-phenylenediamine, respectively by UV-Visible spectroscopy are also included. This data in brief article is related to the "Investigation of two Bioinspired Reaction Mechanisms for the Optimization of Eco Composites-Nano Catalysts Generated from Hyperbranched Polymer Matrices" manuscript submitted to reactive & functional polymers., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships which have or could be perceived to have influenced the work reported in this article., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Production of gluten-free bread (GFB) with good quality characteristics represents a technological challenge. Our study aimed to obtain nongluten bread from cereals and pseudocereals with applying single cultures of Pediococcus acidilactici , Pediococcus pentosaceus and Enteroccocus durans as sourdoughs. The effect of sourdoughs on the quality traits of gluten-free (GF) dough and GFB was explored. The structural and baking properties of GF dough composed of teff, rice, corn, and sorghum flours were improved by adding xanthan gum (0.6%), guar gum (1.0%) and carboxymethyl cellulose (1.0%). The tested strains reached 10 8 cfu/g in teff flour and produced sourdoughs with a pleasant lactic aroma. The sourdough-fermented doughs were softer and more elastic compared to control dough and yielded reduced baking loss. Strain Enterococcus durans ensured the best baking characteristics of GF dough and the highest softness of the GFB during storage. Strain Pediococcus pentosaceus had the most pronounced positive effect on aroma, taste and aftertaste. Pan baking was found to be more appropriate to obtain stable shape and good-looking products. A careful starter culture selection is necessary for GFB development since a significant effect of strain specificity on dough rheology and baking characteristics was observed.

Promoting calcium intake is a cornerstone for osteoporosis management. Some individuals limit dairy product consumption, a major calcium source, due to their high content in saturated fats and their perceived negative impact on lipid profiles. This study explored the associations of calcium from various sources with blood lipids in community-dwelling elderly ( n = 717) from the GERICO cohort. Dietary calcium intake was assessed at several timepoints using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and calcium supplement use was recorded. Blood lipids were treated as categorical variables to distinguish those with normal and abnormal levels. Increasing total calcium intake was associated with lower risks for high total cholesterol ( p = 0.038) and triglycerides ( p = 0.007), and low HDL-cholesterol ( p = 0.010). Dairy calcium ( p = 0.031), especially calcium from milk ( p = 0.044) and milk-based desserts ( p = 0.039), i.e., low-fat ( p = 0.022) and non-fermented ( p = 0.005) dairy products, were associated with a lower risk of high total cholesterol. Greater calcium intakes from total dairies ( p = 0.020), milk ( p = 0.020) and non-fermented dairies ( p = 0.027) were associated with a lower risk of hypertriglyceridemia. No association was observed between calcium from non-dairy sources, cheese or high-fat dairies and blood lipids. Increasing calcium through supplements was associated with lower risks for hypertriglyceridemia ( p = 0.022) and low HDL-cholesterol ( p = 0.001), but not after adjustments. Our results suggest that higher calcium intakes from dietary sources or supplements are not adversely associated with blood lipids in the elderly, whilst total, and particularly low-fat, dairy products are valuable calcium sources potentially related to favorable lipid profiles.

Background: The prioritization of public funds in an equitable and ethically sound manner along with efficient budget allocation are key challenges for governments and budget holders. Following the introduction of generics/biosimilars, the potential total budget made available for reallocation resulting from the loss of exclusivity (LOE) in a given market has not been estimated. Objectives: This study investigated the impact of generic/biosimilar entry on drug budget in 4 countries. Methods: Pharmaceutical sales data, drug costs and LOE dates were modeled and forecast using an analytical framework (Affordability by ReallocaTing Funds model [ART]) to estimate future incremental budget availability using scenario analyses in Greece (GR), the Netherlands (NL), Norway (NO) and Sweden (SW). Results: During 2020-2022, 166 (GR), 222 (NL), 145 (NO) and 93 (SW) products facing LOE were identified. This equated to release of an estimated cumulative budget during 2020-2024 of €218 million (GR), €1319 million (NL), €340 million (NO) and €876 million (SW). The estimated average budget released per year during 2020-2024 was 1.8% (GR), 4.6% (NL), 3.4% (NO) and 3.9% (SW) of each country's total annual drug budget. Discussion: These analyses showed that LOE for pharmaceutical products between 2020 and 2022 can result in significant increase in budget availability. LOE in the retail channel was the main driver of budget availability in GR and SW, compared to LOE in the hospital channel in the NL and NO. Conclusion: Estimation of future release of budget capacity using the Affordability by ReallocaTing Funds model supports discussion on resource allocation to fund innovation and may help inform policy changes., Competing Interests: None reported.

Introduction: There is conflicting data on the effect of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk. Recent genetic data suggest that men may also carry genetic risk factors for PCOS; the associations of these factors with parameters of bone health remains unknown. We aimed to investigate if the genetic risk of PCOS is associated with BMD and fracture risk in women and men in the UK Biobank dataset., Methods: We used Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to test the association of genetic risk of excess testosterone in PCOS with BMD and fractures in the UK biobank study. The MR analysis was performed using linear regression analysis with the weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) as an independent variable adjusting for age, BMI and population eigenvectors. The horizontal pleiotropy in the MR analysis was tested using MR-Egger regression analysis., Results: The study consisted of 221,086 Caucasian women (mean age ± SD: 56.7 ± 7.9 years, mean body mass index [BMI] ± SD: 27.0 ± 5.1 kg/m 2 , mean BMD ± SD: 0.50 ± 0.11 g/cm 2 ) and 187,816 Caucasian men (mean age ± SD: 57.1 ± 8.1 years, mean BMI ± SD: 27.7 ± 4.1 kg/m 2 and mean BMD ± SD: 0.56 ± 0.12 g/cm 2 ). Women and men self-reported 24,797 (11%) and 17,076 (10%) fractures over the last 5 years, respectively. The MR analysis showed that one SD increase in the wGRS for clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism in PCOS was associated with significantly higher heel BMD (Beta = 0.0007 [±0.0002], P-value = 0.001) and a significantly reduced risk of fractures (OR = 0.97, P-value = 0.003) in women. A similar wGRS in men was not associated with BMD or risk of fractures., Conclusion: In this study, we showed that the excess genetic risk for hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS is associated with a higher BMD and reduced risk of fractures., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Food consumption involves several dimensions, being some of them directly associated with the consumers' characteristics. The interrelationships between these domains impact consumer behaviour for food choice and the consequent decisions for food consumption. In these frameworks, economic motivations are determinant. On the other hand, the scientific literature highlights that the economic-based stimuli to choose food is still underexplored. In this perspective, the objective of this study was to assess the main sociodemographic and anthropometric determinants of the economic motivations for food choice. For that, a questionnaire survey was carried out involving 11,919 respondents from 16 countries. A validated questionnaire was used, translated into the native languages in all participating countries, using a back-translation process. First, the information obtained was assessed through factor analysis to reduce the number of variables associated with the economic motivations and to identify indexes. After, and considering the indexes obtained as dependent variables, a classification and regression tree analysis was performed. As main insights, it is highlighted that the main determinants of the economic motivations are country of residence, age, gender, civil state, professional activity, educational level, living environment, responsibility for buying food, weight, height, body mass index, healthy diets and physical exercise practices. Additionally, the results also reveal that economic motivations may be associated with two indexes, one related to convenience attitudes and the other to quality concerns. Finally, the younger persons and the women are the social groups more concerned with healthy diets and food quality. In conclusion, this work confirmed that food choice is to a high extent influenced by several sociodemographic and behavioural factors.