Hasil untuk "Home economics"

Roland Stucki, S. Homer

Eun J. Lee, Kyung Y. Yoon

This study investigated the bioactivities of maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) leaf extract fractions obtained using deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by macroporous resin chromatography. Four fractions (Fr. 1 – Fr. 4) were obtained by elution with ethanol of varying concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%, v/v ), and subsequently total phenolic content (TPC), total saponin content (TSC), and individual phenolic contents as well as their anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidant activity were determined. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that TSC and TPC were strongly associated with biological activities, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) cation radical scavenging activities, as well as α-glucosidase and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. Fr. 4, characterized by a high TSC (260.95 mg oleanolic acid equivalents (OAE)/g dry weight, DW), exhibited notable anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting NO production by 36.30% at 60 μg/mL. Fr. 3, with TSC of 219.37 mg OAE/g DW and TPC of 53.45 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g DW, showed strong antidiabetic activity with an IC50 value of 0.24 mg/mL for α-glucosidase inhibition. Fr. 2, enriched in phenolic compounds and with high TPC of 104.78 mg GAE/g DW, demonstrated potent antioxidant activity, with IC 50 values of 0.52 mg/mL and 0.38 mg/mL in DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. These results indicate that macroporous resin chromatography is effective in obtaining fractions enriched in phenolic compounds and saponins from maca leaf extracts prepared by DES-based UAE, highlighting their potential application as functional food ingredients.

Alex Eeman Aule, Aspasia Werner, Irmgard Jordan et al.

IntroductionAgroecological farming is increasingly promoted as a climate-smart strategy for drylands, yet evidence on its effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability in pastoral and agropastoral contexts remains limited. This study examined constraints to vegetable production and assessed the feasibility of selected agroecological practices in Turkana County, Kenya.MethodsThe study combined 12 gender-disaggregated Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with Trials of Improved Practices (TIPs). FGDs identified locally relevant agroecological techniques, which were subsequently tested by 50 households. Two follow-up visits conducted two weeks apart assessed uptake, adaptations, and willingness to continue.ResultsKey constraints identified during FGDs included pest infestation (83%), water scarcity (75%), and poor soil health (67%). The most adopted practices during TIPs were animal manure (59%), intercropping (51%), and use of ash (45%). Bottle irrigation (2%) showed minimal adoption due to material and technical limitations. Adoption rates were higher among agropastoralists than pastoralists. By the third visit, 79% of farmers were willing to continue at least one practice.DiscussionThe findings highlight that adoption of agroecological practices in semi-arid drylands is shaped by practical feasibility, resource availability, and livelihood strategies. TIPs proved effective for identifying context-appropriate, low-cost practices aligned with farmers' needs and constraints. These results provide empirical support for participatory, farmer-led evaluation approaches in dryland agroecology.

Marilyn A. Brown, Anmol Soni, M. Lapsa et al.

In an era of U.S. energy abundance, the persistently high energy bills paid by low-income households is troubling. After decades of weatherization and bill-payment programs, low-income households still spend a higher percent of their income on electricity and gas bills than any other income group. Their energy burden is not declining, and it remains persistently high in particular geographies such as the South, rural America, and minority communities. As public agencies and utilities attempt to transition to a sustainable energy future, many of the programs that promote energy efficiency, rooftop solar, electric vehicles, and home batteries are largely inaccessible to low-income households due to affordability barriers. This review describes the ecosystem of stakeholders and programs, and identifies promising opportunities to address low-income energy affordability, such as behavioral economics, data analytics, and leveraging health care benefits. Scalable approaches require linking programs and policies to tackle the complex web of causes and impacts faced by financially constrained households.

R. Dietz, D. Haurin

A. Rodríguez‐Pose, M. Storper

Urban economics and branches of mainstream economics – what we call the ‘housing as opportunity’ school of thought – have been arguing that shortages of affordable housing in dense agglomerations represent a fundamental barrier to economic development. Housing shortages are considered to limit migration into thriving cities, curtailing their expansion potential, generating rising social and spatial inequalities and inhibiting national growth. According to this dominant view, relaxing zoning and other planning regulations in the most prosperous cities is crucial to unleash the economic potential of cities and nations and to facilitate within-country migration. In this article, we contend that the bulk of the claims of the housing as opportunity approach are fundamentally flawed and lead to simplistic and misguided policy recommendations. We posit that there is no clear and uncontroversial evidence that housing regulation is a principal source of differences in home availability or prices across cities. Blanket changes in zoning are unlikely to increase domestic migration or to improve affordability for lower-income households in prosperous areas. They would, however, increase gentrification within metropolitan areas and would not appreciably decrease income inequality. In contrast to the housing models, we argue that the basic motors of all these features of the economy are the current geography of employment, wages and skills.

RJ Krista Raye Y. Leocadio, Beth A. Polidoro, Thomas M. Cahill et al.

The growing population in the Philippines pressures its agriculture sector, leading farmers to use pesticides to boost crop productivity. However, this results in pesticide residues on produce, posing potential health risks. This study assessed pesticide levels in fruits and vegetables from selected farms in Bukidnon using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy. All 67 samples tested positive, with 10 out of 14 target pesticides detected. Eggplant, broccoli, and bittergourd had the highest residue levels (60%), while chayote and string beans had the least (10%). Most samples were within maximum residue limits (MRLs), except broccoli and cabbage, which exceeded the MRL for indoxacarb. Dietary risk assessment of 410 consumers showed exposure levels below the U.S. EPA’s reference dose, suggesting no immediate noncancer health effects. However, lifetime exposure to multiple pesticides remains a concern. Consumers should be educated on proper handling, storage, and consumption practices to minimize pesticide-related health risks.

Sung-eun Park, On Lee

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the traditional stationary stand type (T-wall) test and the newly developed mobile seated type (Touch pods) test for visual-motor coordination assessment, and to propose a new method for the evaluation of coordination in the National Fitness 100 for adolescents. METHODS A total of 99 adolescents, with an average age of 12.8 years, participated in this study. They were assessed for visual-motor coordination using two types of test tools (T-wall, Touch pods). The correlations between the two tools were examined to verify their reliability. An estimation formula, which applied test equivalency, was derived to apply the results of the Touch pods test to the evaluation standards of the National Fitness 100. RESULTS A significant correlation was observed between the two test tools (r=0.527). When the estimation formula that applies test equivalency was used to apply the results of the two tests to the evaluation standards of the National Fitness 100, the age-grade classification and annual grade ratio appeared to be similar. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the newly developed mobile seated test can be considered a reliable tool for measuring visual-motor coordination compared to the traditional stationary stand-type test, as well as a valid tool that can be applied to National Fitness 100 evaluation. However, further research is required to determine their general application.

Fabiana Cannella, Elisa Assunta Algaria, Kashi Brunetti et al.

ObjectivesMenopause marks the cessation of ovarian function, preceded by perimenopause, a transitional phase characterized by hormonal fluctuations and metabolic changes, including dyslipidemia. Therefore, a targeted nutritional approach is essential. In this retrospective, observational, pilot study, we evaluated the impact of a Mediterranean-based dietary regimen supplemented with specific natural compounds on lipid profiles and body composition in perimenopausal and menopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.MethodsAn individual dietary plan based on the Mediterranean diet, supplemented with a phytosterol-based formula containing bergamot, prickly pear extract, and vitamin B1, was recommended for each study participant. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was recommended due to its well-documented benefits in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors, including elevated lipid levels. Lipid profile, body composition, and anthropometric values were recorded and carefully analyzed.ResultsOur findings indicated that this combined dietary approach significantly improved lipid profiles, as evidenced by reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides and by an increment in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values. Furthermore, the dietary plan positively impacted overall body composition and morphometric parameters.ConclusionThese preliminary findings suggest that a personalized, nutritionally targeted approach may be an effective non-pharmacological strategy for managing cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors during the menopausal transition and postmenopausal period. Further large-scale, controlled studies are warranted to confirm these results and explore long-term outcomes.

Aaisha Al-Saadi, Pankaj B. Pathare, Mohammed Al-Rizeiqi et al.

Abstract The drying process is a critical heat treatment widely used in the food industry due to the increasing global demand for dried foods. Anchovies, being highly perishable yet nutritionally valuable, require effective drying to extend their shelf life. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of three drying methods namely, open sun drying (OSD), solar greenhouse tunnel dryer (GTD), and forced convective solar dryer (FCD) on the drying kinetics and color changes of anchovies. A total of 20 kg of anchovies were dried using each method to compare drying rates, moisture content, and color kinetics. Results revealed that GTD achieved the highest drying rate and required the shortest drying time (6 h), compared to 9 h for OSD and FCD. The drying rate was dependent on moisture content, and the Henderson and Pabis model accurately described the moisture ratio of anchovies dried using OSD. In contrast, the Midilli et al. model best fitted the moisture ratio data for GTD and FCD. The lightness (L*) of dried anchovies exhibited the highest reduction in GTD, followed by FCD and OSD, with a first-order kinetic model effectively fitting the lightness data. Effective moisture diffusivity values were 6.43737 × 10–10, 7.44735 × 10–10, and 1.02148 × 10–09 m2/s for OSD, FCD, and GTD, respectively. This study highlights the advantages of solar drying methods, particularly GTD, in enhancing drying efficiency, reducing drying time, and preserving product quality.

Tugce Ozlu Karahan, Dila Cakmakci, Eylül Kurtoglu et al.

IntroductionDigitalization, through smartphones and online platforms, has become deeply embedded in daily life, beginning to exert significant effects on eating habits and psychological health. Online food delivery (OFD) applications (app) provide easy access to fast food and processed products, exposing individuals to a constant digital food environment. Examining the relationship of these applications with eating behaviors and conditions such as depression is particularly important in the context of increasing mental health problems among young adults. This study aims to examine the relationship between the frequency of use of OFD apps and user attitudes toward these apps, with depression level and eating behaviors in young adults.MethodsParticipants’ demographic information, frequency of use of OFD apps, and attitudes toward these apps were determined by questionnaire questions; depression status was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory; and eating behaviors were assessed using the Three-Factor Eating Scale (TFEQ-R21).ResultsA total of 383 young adults aged 18–35 years participated in our study. The group with the lowest frequency of OFD apps use (21.2 ± 0.4) had significantly lower uncontrolled eating scores than the other groups (23.4 ± 0.7 and 23.3 ± 0.6; p = 0.005). In addition, a significant decrease in cognitive restraint levels was observed as the frequency of OFD apps use increased (p = 0.031). In addition, depression scores of individuals with more OFD apps (4–6) on their phones (14.1 ± 1.3) were found to be higher than those of individuals who did not use any apps (8.8 ± 1.4; p = 0.025).DiscussionThe findings of our study suggest that the digital food environment can be a determinant not only of individuals’ physical health but also of their psychological health and behavioral eating habits.

Xiaowei Xu, Thomas Wernham, T. Waters et al.

We review the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on inequalities in education, the labor market, household living standards, mental health, and wealth in the United Kingdom. The pandemic has pushed up inequalities on several dimensions. School closures, in particular, disrupted the learning of poorer children, leading to lower attainment. Mental health worsened for those groups (women and younger adults) who had poorer mental health pre-pandemic. Lockdowns and social distancing particularly reduced the ability of younger, lower-earning, and less educated people to work. However, job-support programs combined with the expanded welfare system meant that, if anything, disposable income inequality fell. Rising house prices have benefited people around the middle of the wealth distribution. In the longer term, lower work experience for the less educated and missed schooling could push up some inequalities. Increased rates of working from home seem likely to persist, which may increase some inequalities and decrease others. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Economics, Volume 14 is August 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Alejandro Justiniano, Giorgio E. Primiceri, Andrea Tambalotti

J. Hammel, S. Magasi, A. Heinemann et al.

Zi Hua, Mei-Jun Zhu

Food-contact surfaces showing signs of wear pose a substantial risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination and may serve as persistent sources of cross-contamination in fresh produce packinghouses. This study offers a comprehensive exploration into the influence of surface defects on the efficacies of commonly used sanitizers against L. monocytogenes biofilms on major food-contact surfaces. The 7-day-old L. monocytogenes biofilms were cultivated on food-contact surfaces, including stainless steel, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, low-density polyethylene, and rubber, with and without defects and organic matter. Biofilms on those surfaces were subjected to treatments of 200 ppm chlorine, 400 ppm quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), or 160 ppm peroxyacetic acid (PAA). Results showed that surface defects significantly (P < 0.05) increased the population of L. monocytogenes in biofilms on non-stainless steel surfaces and compromised the efficacies of sanitizers against L. monocytogenes biofilms across various surface types. A 5-min treatment of 200 ppm chlorine caused 1.84–3.39 log10 CFU/coupon reductions of L. monocytogenes on worn surfaces, compared to 2.79–3.93 log10 CFU/coupon reduction observed on new surfaces. Similarly, a 5-min treatment with 400 ppm QAC caused 2.05–2.88 log10 CFU/coupon reductions on worn surfaces, compared to 2.51–3.66 log10 CFU/coupon reductions on new surfaces. Interestingly, PAA sanitization (160 ppm, 1 min) exhibited less susceptibility to surface defects, leading to 3.41–4.35 log10 CFU/coupon reductions on worn surfaces, in contrast to 3.68–4.64 log10 CFU/coupon reductions on new surfaces. Furthermore, apple juice soiling diminished the efficacy of sanitizers against L. monocytogenes biofilms on worn surfaces (P < 0.05). These findings underscore the critical importance of diligent equipment maintenance and thorough cleaning processes to effectively eliminate L. monocytogenes contamination on food-contact surfaces.

Kit-Leong Cheong, Keying Liu, Wenting Chen et al.

Porphyra haitanensis, a red seaweed species, represents a bountiful and sustainable marine resource. P. haitanensis polysaccharide (PHP), has garnered considerable attention for its numerous health benefits. However, the comprehensive utilization of PHP on an industrial scale has been limited by the lack of comprehensive information. In this review, we endeavor to discuss and summarize recent advancements in PHP extraction, purification, and characterization. We emphasize the multifaceted mechanisms through which PHP promotes gastrointestinal health. Furthermore, we present a summary of compelling evidence supporting PHP's protective role against oxidative stress. This includes its demonstrated potent antioxidant properties, its ability to neutralize free radicals, and its capacity to enhance the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The information presented here also lays the theoretical groundwork for future research into the structural and functional aspects of PHP, as well as its potential applications in functional foods.

Yun-Jeong Ji, Min Hye Kang, Min Hye Kang et al.

Background/objectivesPlatycodon grandiflorum (PG) is used in traditional oriental medicine to treat several ailments.MethodsThe study investigated the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of PGW (P. grandiflorum) extract in Aβ25-35-induced inflammation in BV2 microglia cells.ResultPGW demonstrated significant inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, with reductions of 30.4, 36.7, and 61.2% at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, PGW effectively suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 and exhibited significant inhibitory activity against TNF-α at 200 μg/mL. Furthermore, PGW treatment mitigated apoptosis in Aβ-induced BV2 cells by modulating the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, regulating Bcl-2 family protein synthesis, and inhibiting caspase activation. Mechanistically, PGW attenuated the activation of the MAPK (JNK, ERK, p38) pathway induced by Aβ, showing a concentration-dependent decrease in phosphorylation levels of these proteins. Additionally, PGW inhibited the NF-κB pathway activation by reducing the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκBα in a concentration-dependent manner.ConclusionPGW demonstrated anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in Aβ-induced neuronal cells, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for neuroinflammatory associated with neurodegenerative diseases.

Franz-Ferdinand Roch, Monika Dzieciol, Narciso M. Quijada et al.

Abstract A reduction in animal-based diets has driven market demand for alternative meat products, currently raising a new generation of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs). It remains unclear whether these substitutes are a short-lived trend or become established in the long term. Over the last few years, the trend of increasing sales and diversifying product range has continued, but publication activities in this field are currently limited mainly to market research and food technology topics. As their popularity increases, questions emerge about the safety and nutritional risks of these novel products. Even though all the examined products must be heated before consumption, consumers lack experience with this type of product and thus further research into product safety, is desirable. To consider these issues, we examined 32 PBMAs from Austrian supermarkets. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, the majority of the products were dominated by lactic acid bacteria (either Leuconostoc or Latilactobacillus), and generally had low alpha diversity. Pseudomonadota (like Pseudomonas and Shewanella) dominated the other part of the products. In addition to LABs, a high diversity of different Bacillus, but also some Enterobacteriaceae and potentially pathogenic species were isolated with the culturing approach. We assume that especially the dominance of heterofermentative LABs has high relevance for the product stability and quality with the potential to increase shelf life of the products. The number of isolated Enterobacteriaceae and potential pathogens were low, but they still demonstrated that these products are suitable for their presence.

Johannes Abeler, Anke Becker, A. Falk

A central assumption in economics is that people misreport their private information if this is to their material benefit. Several recent models depart from this assumption and posit that some people do not lie or at least do not lie maximally. These models invoke many different underlying motives including intrinsic lying costs, altruism, efficiency concerns, or conditional cooperation. To provide an empirically-validated microfoundation for these models, it is crucial to understand the relevance of the different potential motives. We measure the extent of lying costs among a representative sample of the German population by calling them at home. In our setup, participants have a clear monetary incentive to misreport, misreporting cannot be detected, reputational concerns are negligible and altruism, efficiency concerns or conditional cooperation cannot play a role. Yet, we find that aggregate reporting behavior is close to the expected truthful distribution suggesting that lying costs are large and widespread. Further lab experiments show that this result is not driven by the mode of communication.

Ben Clark, K. Chatterjee, S. Melia

It has been suggested that commuting behaviours become resistant to change and that changes to commute mode may be more likely at the time of major life events. This paper presents for the first time a robust quantification of the effect of life events on the likelihood of changing commute mode, controlling for demographics, socio-economics, spatial context and environmental attitude. This is conducted for a large, representative sample of the English working population using data from the first two waves of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Changes in commute mode are found to be most strongly associated with changes in distance to work which occur in association with moving home or changing job. The distance relationship is asymmetric with increases in distance being far more likely to prompt switches to car commuting than reductions in distance are to prompt switches to non-car commuting. Residential relocations that involve an increase in population density and reduced journey times to employment by public transport are found to increase the likelihood of switching to non-car commuting. The results support a theoretical conception put forward in the paper of how travel behaviour is influenced by events over the life course and indicate there are opportunities for behavioural change interventions to be targeted at population groups experiencing life events.