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IntroductionCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of movement development that may cause activity limitations. In this context, robot-assisted therapy might play a key role in clinical management. This comprehensive systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of robotic systems in improving upper limb (UL) functions in children with CP.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PEDro were searched from inception to February 2024. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools battery.ResultsOf 756 articles identified, 14 studies involving 193 children with CP with a judged to be of good methodological quality, but with a lack in the study design, were included in the final synthesis. In the included studies a wide range of devices was used, both exoskeletons and end-effectors, both wearable and non-wearable. The CP children who underwent robot-assisted therapy reported a significant overall increase in clinical assessment, specifically in UL movements and manual dexterity. The clinical improvement was often accompanied by a gain also in instrumental assessments (i.e., kinematic analysis, EMG).DiscussionThe present review suggested that robot-assisted therapy can improve UL motor functions in children with CP. Moreover, the availability of different devices with adjustable parameters can represent an important resource in proposing patient-centered-personalized rehabilitation protocols to enhance the efficacy of rehabilitation and integration into daily life. However, the limited sample size and lack of standardized and clearly reproducible protocols impose to recommend the use of robot-assisted therapy as an integration to usual rehabilitation and not as a replacement.Systematic review registrationhttps://osf.io/a78zb/.

In this work, a completely green method was applied for the extraction of lycopene from tomato skins waste. The combination of the ultrasound-assisted technique (UAE) and the use of volatile natural deep eutectic solvent (VNADES) menthol: thymol 1:1 allowed to obtain a green extraction process. Lycopene content was assessed by HPLC-DAD and compared with the lycopene extraction yields obtained using α-pinene and n-hexane as extraction solvents. The evaporation of the DES menthol:thymol was conducted using a Vacuum Vortex Evaporator. The highest concentration of extracted lycopene was obtained with n-hexane (735.9 mg/g of dried extract (DE)) compared to terpene-based solvents; 468.1 mg/g and 358.7-484.2 mg/g DE were recovered from α-pinene and DES menthol/thymol as azeotropic mixture and as such, respectively.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world due to its unique aroma and psychostimulant effects, mainly due to the presence of caffeine. In recent years, experimental evidence has shown that the moderate consumption of coffee (3/4 cups per day) is safe and beneficial to human health, revealing protective effects against numerous chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and hepatic diseases. This review focuses on two of coffee’s main bioactive compounds, i.e., caffeine and chlorogenic acids, and their effects on the progression of chronic liver diseases, demonstrating that regular coffee consumption correlates with a lower risk of the development and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In particular, this review analyzes caffeine and chlorogenic acid from a pharmacological point of view and explores the molecular mechanism through which these compounds are responsible for the protective role of coffee. Both bioactive compounds, therefore, have antifibrotic effects on hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes, induce a decrease in connective tissue growth factor, stimulate increased apoptosis with anti-cancer effects, and promote a major inhibition of focal adhesion kinase, actin, and protocollagen synthesis. In conclusion, coffee shows many beneficial effects, and experimental data in favor of coffee consumption in patients with liver diseases are encouraging, but further prospective studies are needed to demonstrate its preventive and therapeutic role in chronic liver diseases.

Honey and bee pollen offer potential health benefits due to their nutrient and bioactive molecules, but they may also harbor contaminants such as heavy metals. This study aimed to assess the content of different metals, including Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, As, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Tl, Pb and U, in honey and bee pollen collected from different Abruzzo region (Italy) areas (A1, A2, A3, A4), characterized by different anthropic influences described by Corine Land Cover maps. Differences were observed in the mineral and heavy metal content associated with the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. Honeys were found to be safe in regard to non-carcinogenic risk in all the consumer categories (THQm < 1). A particular carcinogenic risk concern was identified for toddlers associated with Cr (LCTR > 1 × 10−4) in A1, A2 and A3 apiaries. Pb and Ni represent potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in children and adults due to bee pollen consumption, showing high values of THQm and LCTR. The results suggest the advantages of utilizing bee products to screen mineral and heavy metal content, providing valuable insights into environmental quality and potential health risks.

The olive oil industry recently introduced a novel multi-phase decanter with the “Leopard DMF” series, which gives a by-product called pâté, made up of pulp and olive wastewater with a high content of phenolic substances and without pits. This study aims to create a new culture medium, the Olive Juice Broth (OJB), from DMF pâté, and apply it to select bacteria strains able to survive and degrade the bitter substances normally present in the olive fruit. Thirty-five different bacterial strains of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum from the CREA-IT.PE Collection of Microorganisms were tested. Seven strains characterized by ≥50% growth in OJB (B31, B137, B28, B39, B124, B130, and B51) showed a degradation of the total phenolic content of OJB ≥ 30%. From this set, L. plantarum B51 strain was selected as a starter for table olive production vs. spontaneous fermentation. The selected inoculant effectively reduced the debittering time compared to spontaneous fermentation. Hydroxytyrosol, derived from oleuropein and verbascoside degradation, and tyrosol, derived from ligstroside degradation, were produced faster than during spontaneous fermentation. The OJB medium is confirmed to be useful in selecting bacterial strains resistant to the complex phenolic environment of the olive fruit.

Introduction: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent disorders of movement development that may cause activity limitations. In this context, robot-assisted therapy might play a key role in clinical management. This comprehensive systematic review aimed to investigate the efficacy of robotic systems in improving upper limb (UL) functions in children with CP. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and PEDro were searched from inception to February 2024. The risk of bias was assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools battery. Results: Of 756 articles identified, 14 studies involving 193 children with CP with a judged to be of good methodological quality, but with a lack in the study design, were included in the final synthesis. In the included studies a wide range of devices was used, both exoskeletons and end-effectors, both wearable and non-wearable. The CP children who underwent robot-assisted therapy reported a significant overall increase in clinical assessment, specifically in UL movements and manual dexterity. The clinical improvement was often accompanied by a gain also in instrumental assessments (i.e., kinematic analysis, EMG). Discussion: The present review suggested that robot-assisted therapy can improve UL motor functions in children with CP. Moreover, the availability of different devices with adjustable parameters can represent an important resource in proposing patient-centered-personalized rehabilitation protocols to enhance the efficacy of rehabilitation and integration into daily life. However, the limited sample size and lack of standardized and clearly reproducible protocols impose to recommend the use of robot-assisted therapy as an integration to usual rehabilitation and not as a replacement. Systematic review registration: https://osf.io/a78zb/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extra virgin olive oil is a food product from the Mediterranean area that is particularly and continuously experiencing to increasing instances of fraudulent geographical labeling. Therefore, origin protection must be improved, mainly based on its intrinsic chemical composition. This study aimed to perform a preliminary chemical characterization of Abruzzo extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) using rare earth elements (REEs). REEs were evaluated in EVOO samples of different varieties produced in different geographical origins within the Abruzzo region (Italy) in three harvest years using ICP-MS chemometric techniques. Principal component, discriminant, and hierarchical cluster analyses were conducted to verify the influence of the variety, origin, and vintage of the REE composition. The results of a three-year study showed a uniform REE pattern and a strong correlation in most EVOOs, in particular for Y, La, Ce, and Nd. However, europium and erbium were also found in some oil samples. Compared with cultivar and origin, only the harvest year slightly influenced the REE composition, highlighting the interactions of the olive system with the climate and soil chemistry that could affect the multielement composition of EVOOs.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a representative green leafy vegetable commonly consumed fresh or as a ready-to-cook frozen product, with increasing consumption because of its many health-related properties. Among leafy vegetables, spinach poses a major concern in terms of pesticide residue detection due to common phytotechnical practices. In this study, spinach leaves were treated in the open field with three commercial pesticide formulations containing propamocarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, fluopicolide and chlorantraniliprole at the highest concentration. The effects of the successive processing steps of washing, blanching, freezing and frozen storage were evaluated on the levels of the four pesticide residues and the degradation product (propamocarb n-desmethyl). The washing step caused a reduction of fluopicolide and chlorantraniliprole of −47% and −43%, respectively, while having a mild effect on lambda-cyhalothrin content (+5%). A two-minute blanching step allowed for the reduction of pesticides content ranging from −41% to −4% with respect to the washed sample. Different behaviors were depicted for longer blanching times, mainly for propamocarb, reaching −56% after 10 min of treatment. Processing factors higher than 1 were reported mainly for lambda-cyhalothrin and fluopicolide. Frozen storage led to a slight increase in the pesticide content in samples treated for 6 and 10 min. The optimal blanching treatment for spinach, submitted to freezing and frozen storage, seems to be 2 min at 80 °C.

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by some Aspergillus species. They are remarkably toxic and included among the most known carcinogenic substances. Article 139 of the Italian presidential decree of 30 June 1965, no. 1204 and subsequent amendments, includes hepatocellular carcinoma due to exposure to aflatoxin B1 the list of diseases for which reporting is mandatory. Aflatoxins could contaminate food of plant and animal origin, therefore the areas of work most at risk are the agro-food and, in general, all the activities carried out in humid and poorly ventilated areas, subject to fungal contamination. Although the procedures for controlling aflatoxins in food are now fairly well established, there is still no full knowledge of the risk of workplace exposure. A review of the risks relating to exposure to aflatoxin of workers in the agri-food sector is presented here based on bibliographic data and surveys conducted in some Italian regions by local health authorities and by the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work. To protect the health of workers in the sectors considered, we therefore consider it necessary to evaluate the presence of aflatoxins and inform workers about the application of good prevention practices and the use of adequate personal protective equipment.

The transition to a sustainable economic and environmental management of olive oil sector needs to be implemented in both national and regional territories through the introduction and development of innovative growing systems and variety. In this study, the olive oil quality parameters of local and allochthonous varieties cultivated in different orchards located in the Abruzzo region (Italy), using traditional and super high-density systems, were analyzed. Frantene, Lecciana, Koroneiki, and a mix of Arbequina and Lecciana provided olive oils rich in flavonoids and secoiridoids compounds with respect to the local varieties Frantoio, Leccino, and a mix of Dritta, Leccino, and Pendolino. Oleic/linoleic ratio was influenced by cultivar and training systems with super high-density olive oils rich in oleic acid. Frantene showed a peculiar fatty acid profile different from cultivars grown in the same location; moreover, interesting similarities were found between Frantene and the mix of Dritta, Leccino, and Pendolino in terms of health-related compounds. The potential development of innovative sustainable training system to improve olive oil quality was highlighted. The study’s results identify olive varieties suitable for super high-density systems spread in the Abruzzo region, representing a valid alternative for the olive growers to improve both the quality of the olive oil, as well as the company’s income.

This research was performed on marketed table olives. We investigated possible correlations among textural parameters obtained using both sensory assessment and instrumental textural analysis. The purpose of this research study was to find out any possible correlation between the two different analysis methods, especially in relation to acoustic compression. Up to now, there are no available studies on this topic. Samples from different olive cultivars and different processing methods were analysed, and a data matrix resulting from four textural/acoustic and six sensorial kinaesthetic parameters was processed. The two parameters “S_crunch” and “T_noise” (the “S” letter is for “sensorial”, and the “T” letter is for “textural”) showed complementarity, but they did not discriminate properly. The textural values of “T_flesh_h” and the sensory values of “S_flesh_h” were directly correlated to “S_crunch”, and as an unexpected result, the textural values of “T_skin_bs” and the sensory values of “S_skin_h” were closely linked to each other. Regarding the analysed parameters, the results showed that the two techniques are clearly complementary and could constitute a valid tool for varietal characterization and for determining the instrumental and organoleptic qualities of the product; it was not possible to proceed with the characterization by type of processing method, as the dataset was not large enough.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world due to its unique aroma and psychostimulant effects, mainly due to the presence of caffeine. In recent years, experimental evidence has shown that the moderate consumption of coffee (3/4 cups per day) is safe and beneficial to human health, revealing protective effects against numerous chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and hepatic diseases. This review focuses on two of coffee's main bioactive compounds, i.e., caffeine and chlorogenic acids, and their effects on the progression of chronic liver diseases, demonstrating that regular coffee consumption correlates with a lower risk of the development and progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In particular, this review analyzes caffeine and chlorogenic acid from a pharmacological point of view and explores the molecular mechanism through which these compounds are responsible for the protective role of coffee. Both bioactive compounds, therefore, have antifibrotic effects on hepatic stellate cells and hepatocytes, induce a decrease in connective tissue growth factor, stimulate increased apoptosis with anti-cancer effects, and promote a major inhibition of focal adhesion kinase, actin, and protocollagen synthesis. In conclusion, coffee shows many beneficial effects, and experimental data in favor of coffee consumption in patients with liver diseases are encouraging, but further prospective studies are needed to demonstrate its preventive and therapeutic role in chronic liver diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a well-established relationship between different subsets of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs, myositis) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), with lung complications sometimes presenting prior to myopathic manifestations. The subtypes of myositis include those that are strongly associated with ILD, such as polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). Research has shown that in certain patients, these can then be further divided into subtypes using myositis-specific antibodies (MSAs), which are specific for myositis, and myositis-associated antibodies (MAAs), which can be found in myositis in overlap syndromes with other connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Notably, certain MSAs and MAAs are associated with ILD in patients with myositis. The clinical presentations of ILD in patients with myositis can vary widely and can be insidious in onset and difficult to diagnose. As ILD can progress rapidly in some cases, it is essential that clinicians are able to identify and diagnose ILD in patients with myositis. For this reason, the aim of this review is to highlight the clinical features, diagnostic criteria, important histopathologic, laboratory, and radiographic features, and treatment modalities for those patients with myositis-associated ILD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Evaluating the psychometric and clinical performances of the RM-18, the shorter version of the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ), in Italian people with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) as a time-saving and clinically useful method of assessing disability. Methods. This cross-sectional study included 74 people (52 females and 22 males, 53.03 ± 15.25 years old) with NSLBP. The RM-18, the RMQ, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and a pain intensity numerical rating scale (NRS) were administered. Psychometric testing included reliability by internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and test–retest measurement (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, ICC2.1), and concurrent validity by comparing the RM-18 with the RMQ and the ODI (Pearson's r correlation). Two separate regression analyses were performed to investigate the different impact of RM-18 and RMQ on NRS. Results. Cronbach's α of RM-18 was 0.92 and ICC (2,1) = 0.96. Strong correlations were found with the RMQ and the ODI (r = 0.98; r = 0.78, respectively). The regression models showed that the RM-18 and the RMQ similarly impacted the NRS (p < 0.001). Conclusion. The RM-18 showed satisfactory psychometric testing and similarly impacted the NRS when compared to the RMQ. It can be recommended for clinical and research purposes in Italian people with NSLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey and bee pollen offer potential health benefits due to their nutrient and bioactive molecules, but they may also harbor contaminants such as heavy metals. This study aimed to assess the content of different metals, including Mg, Al, K, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, As, Rb, Sr, Cd, Cs, Tl, Pb and U, in honey and bee pollen collected from different Abruzzo region (Italy) areas (A1, A2, A3, A4), characterized by different anthropic influences described by Corine Land Cover maps. Differences were observed in the mineral and heavy metal content associated with the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. Honeys were found to be safe in regard to non-carcinogenic risk in all the consumer categories (THQm < 1). A particular carcinogenic risk concern was identified for toddlers associated with Cr (LCTR > 1 × 10−4) in A1, A2 and A3 apiaries. Pb and Ni represent potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in children and adults due to bee pollen consumption, showing high values of THQm and LCTR. The results suggest the advantages of utilizing bee products to screen mineral and heavy metal content, providing valuable insights into environmental quality and potential health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a review on health hazards involving operators that cultivate and handle mushrooms. Intensive production of edible and medicinal fungi is a common agricultural management all over the world and involves a number of operators whose health must be safeguarded due the number of risks. Growth techniques and environmental conditions for producing and handling mushrooms expose workers to several types of allergens that possibly cause occupational diseases. Namely, mushroom workers suffer from allergic pulmonary diseases and, more rarely, from forms of contact dermatitis. The cause of these clinical manifestations may be found in the exposure to several factors, such as the peculiar production conditions leading to the presence of many allergens (bacteria, moulds, mycotoxins, endotoxins) and the direct contact of workers with some fungal species, which are themselves allergens.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) represents one of the most famous foods with antiobesity activity showing a significant efficacy against fat accumulation, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. In this work, two Italian varieties of common bean, i.e., Tondino del Tavo and Cannellino Bio, from the centre of Italy were studied to characterise their phenolic profile by HPLC-PDA in relation to different fractions after a straightforward extraction procedure. Antioxidant property and enzymatic inhibition power were also evaluated in order to delineate a possible biological profile. Results show a considerable phenolic content (0.79 and 1.1 µg/mg of 3-hydroxybenzoic acid for hexane extract of Tondino del Tavo and Cannellino Bio, respectively; 0.30 µg/mg p-coumaric acid for n-hexane extract of Tondino del Tavo) for both varieties, and a strong antioxidant activity according to the major phenolic concentration of the extracts. The anti-inflammatory activity of the decoction extracts was also investigated through a zymosan-induced edema formation assay, revealing a moderate ability for both of them. These preliminary data prompt us to further explore the nutrient components of these two varieties in the future.

Despite the growing interest in the sensory and healthy properties of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), the topic of oil-food pairing is practically unexplored. This study systematically explores sensory effects on the flavor and harmony obtained by combining two ingredients (EVOOs and vegetables) and aims to provide practical indications for harmonic oil-vegetable combinations. The approach considered an optimal pairing of five EVOOs combined with five typical raw Italian vegetables characterized by different degrees of bitter­ness (Artichoke, Late Treviso radicchio, Chioggia radicchio, rocket, Early Treviso radicchio). An Index of Disharmony was computed for each pairing, using intensity ratings given by a trained panel that described EVOOs, vegetables and pairings. The results suggested a flavor congruency principle to enhance the oil-pairing harmony. EVOOs with intense green and bitter flavor maximise harmony when combined with very bitter or very pungent vegetables. EVOOs with moderate green flavor and bitterness seemed best paired with vegetables with low/intermediate bitterness.

This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties, antinociceptive, and antioxidant activities of rubiscolin-6, soymorphin-6, and their C-terminal amides. Rubiscolin-6 and soymorphin-6 are two exhorphins derived from spinach and soybean, respectively. The four peptides were synthesized following Fmoc-SPPS strategy to give the final peptides in excellent overall yields, and purity following an analytical RP-HPLC analysis. Rubiscolin-6-amide exhibits a significative antinociceptive effect after i.c.v. and s.c. administration. Rubiscolin-6 shows the best in vitro intestinal bioavailability in the CaCo2 cell monolayer, and stability to the brush border exopeptidases in the apical compartment. In silico experiments show the interaction of rubiscolin-6 and rubiscolin-6 amide at the binding cavity of DOR compared with the crystallographic ligand TIPP-NH2.

Grape pomace is commonly considered a waste product of monovarietal red wine production. Methods: HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to determine the polyphenol and flavonoid contents of all the extracts obtained from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo red wine and grape skins whereas, GC-MS was applied to the determination of fatty acid composition in grape seeds oil. Biological characterization involves antioxidant and antimicrobial assays for all the extracts and seeds oil; Their ability to inhibit α-glucosidase, α-amylase, α-tyrosinase, and ChE enzymes was also detected, together with anti-inflammatory activity on wine, grape skin extracts, and seeds oil by lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and LPS-stimulated macrophage release assays. Data indicate significative polyphenols content (199.31 ± 7.21 mgGAE/g), antioxidant (CUPRAC assay (1036.98 mgTE/g)), enzymatic inhibition (α-tyrosinase: 151.30 ± 1.20 mgKAE/g) and anti-inflammatory activities for wine-organic extract 2, while the antimicrobial activity of grape skin decoction is higher than those reported by wine extracts on three bacterial strains. Interestingly only dealcoholized wine and wine-aqueous extract exerts inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase (20.62 ± 0.23 mmolACAE/g and 19.81 ± 0.03 mmolACAE/g, respectively), while seeds oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acids. These results confirm the strong antioxidant properties of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape pomace, suggesting the potential use of this waste product as functional food supplements in the human diet and in cosmeceutics.

A hairpin DNA (hpDNA) piezoelectric gas sensors array with heptamer loops as sensing elements was designed, realized, and challenged with pure volatile organic compounds VOCs and real samples (beer). The virtual binding versus five chemical classes (alcohols, aldehydes, esters, hydrocarbons, and ketones) of the entire combinatorial library of heptamer loops (16,384 elements) was studied by molecular modelling. Six heptamer loops, having the largest variance in binding the chemical classes, were selected to build the array. The six gas sensors were realized by immobilizing onto gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) via a thiol spacer the hpDNA constituted by the heptamer loops and the same double helix stem of four base pairs (GAAG at 5′ and CTTC at 3′ end). The HpDNA-AuNP was used to modify the surface of 20 MHz quartz crystal microbalances (QCMs). The realized E-nose was able to clearly discriminate among 15 pure VOCs of different chemical classes, as demonstrated by hierarchical cluster analysis. The analysis of real beer samples during fermentation was also carried out. In such a challenging matrix consisting of 23 different VOCs, the hpDNA E-nose with heptamer loops was able to discriminate among different fermentation times with high success rate. Class assignment using the Bayes theorem gave an excellent 98% correct beer samples classification in cross-validation.

Extra virgin olive oil is a food product from the Mediterranean area that is particularly and continuously experiencing to increasing instances of fraudulent geographical labeling. Therefore, origin protection must be improved, mainly based on its intrinsic chemical composition. This study aimed to perform a preliminary chemical characterization of Abruzzo extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) using rare earth elements (REEs). REEs were evaluated in EVOO samples of different varieties produced in different geographical origins within the Abruzzo region (Italy) in three harvest years using ICP-MS chemometric techniques. Principal component, discriminant, and hierarchical cluster analyses were conducted to verify the influence of the variety, origin, and vintage of the REE composition. The results of a three-year study showed a uniform REE pattern and a strong correlation in most EVOOs, in particular for Y, La, Ce, and Nd. However, europium and erbium were also found in some oil samples. Compared with cultivar and origin, only the harvest year slightly influenced the REE composition, highlighting the interactions of the olive system with the climate and soil chemistry that could affect the multielement composition of EVOOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and monitoring of volatiles is a challenging and fascinating issue in environmental analysis, agriculture and food quality, process control in industry, as well as in ‘point of care’ diagnostics. Gas chromatographic approaches remain the reference method for the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); however, gas sensors (GSs), with their advantages of low cost and no or very little sample preparation, have become a reality. Gas sensors can be used singularly or in array format (e.g., e-noses); coupling data output with multivariate statical treatment allows un-target analysis of samples headspace. Within this frame, the use of new binding elements as recognition/interaction elements in gas sensing is a challenging hot-topic that allowed unexpected advancement. In this review, the latest development of gas sensors and gas sensor arrays, realized using peptides, molecularly imprinted polymers and DNA is reported. This work is focused on the description of the strategies used for the GSs development, the sensing elements function, the sensors array set-up, and the application in real cases.

An unhealthy diet is considered to be one of the main causes for increases in obesity and chronic diseases. Food choices are frequently influenced by food systems and environments along with the availability and affordability of healthy and sustainable food. In this context, a major contemporary challenge lies in improving these aspects in order to support healthy dietary choices. Hence, to address this issue, here, we propose a small-scale approach called SANI (Italian for “healthy”) which involves experts in science and marketing. Two typical agri-foods of the Abruzzo area (center of Italy), tomato sauce and extra virgin olive oil, are characterized as high-quality products in terms of their nutrient content, absence of chemical contaminants (chromatographic, spectrophotometric, and magnetic resonance techniques), and ecological footprint (lifecycle assessment and carbon footprint). Hence, their consumption is promoted, with strict attention being paid to several aspects of the food system, such as production, processing, distribution, labeling, and promotion, as well as marketing strategies and dissemination activities. Overall, these SANI actions, especially labeling and dissemination, have proven to be a valuable learning tool for consumers moving toward more conscious consumption, which can be extended and applied to additional food products. Future applications of similar research strategies in a wider context could positively affect human and environmental health.