Hasil untuk "Home economics"

Mehmet Zahid Malasli

Since cherries are a seasonal product, it is not possible to obtain them at all times of the year. Due to their high moisture content, they cannot be stored for long periods of time. For these reasons, the drying of sweet cherries is of great importance in preventing product losses and preserving market value. In this study, cherries were dried with different solar energy using passive (without fan; P1), active (with three fan speed; F1, F2, F3) and open (exposed to the sun) methods in order to extend the shelf life and provide access in all seasons. The kinetics of the drying processes, energy consumption parameters, thermophysical properties and their effects on color parameters were investigated. Drying rate in drying processes changed in the range of 6.09–13.98 × 10−4 g moisture/g dry matter min. It was determined that effective moisture diffusion values ranged between 1.43 × 10−8–9.62 × 10−9 m2/s. The highest average specific heat, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific mass of the dried samples were obtained at activated type-F1 fan speed. The dry product closest to fresh according to all color values was determined in the open drying method. According to the results, it is recommended that solar drying at a single fan speed (F1) be prioritized as a promising approach for sweet cherry drying in future applications and studies, while further optimization of active systems can improve specific moisture extraction rate (SMER) and specific energy consumption (SEC) performance.

Paul X. McCarthy, Xian Gong, Marieth Coetzer et al.

This study explores the relationship between personality diversity and national economic performance, introducing the Global Personality Diversity Index ($Ψ$-GPDI) as a novel metric. Leveraging a dataset of 760,242 individuals across 135 countries, we quantify within-country diversity based on the Big Five personality traits. Our findings reveal that personality diversity accounts for 19.9% of the variance in GDP per capita and provides an additional 2.8% explanatory power beyond institutional quality and immigration, underscoring its unique contribution to economic vitality. Through multi-factor analysis, we demonstrate how personality diversity complements existing economic frameworks, offering actionable insights for policymakers seeking to enhance innovation, productivity, and resilience. This research positions psychological diversity as a critical yet under explored factor in driving economic growth, bridging the fields of psychology and economics.

Miguel Alves Pereira

This article proposes predictive economics as a distinct analytical perspective within economics, grounded in machine learning and centred on predictive accuracy rather than causal identification. Drawing on the instrumentalist tradition (Friedman), the explanation-prediction divide (Shmueli), and the contrast between modelling cultures (Breiman), we formalise prediction as a valid epistemological and methodological objective. Reviewing recent applications across economic subfields, we show how predictive models contribute to empirical analysis, particularly in complex or data-rich contexts. This perspective complements existing approaches and supports a more pluralistic methodology - one that values out-of-sample performance alongside interpretability and theoretical structure.

César A. Hidalgo, Viktor Stojkoski

We provide a mechanistic foundation for economic complexity methods. In our model, an economy's ability to produce an activity depends on the joint presence of required factors. We analytically derive the Economic Complexity Index for this model and show that it is a monotonic function of the probability an economy holds many factors, validating it as an agnostic measure of productive capabilities. We also show that this model explains differences in the shape of networks of related activities, such as the product space or research space. These findings solve long standing puzzles in the literature on economic complexity.

Phyllis Waruguru, Dasel Mulwa, Michael Okoth et al.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively suppresses HIV viral load. However, people living with HIV (PLWH) fail to achieve optimal viral suppression and especially in resource limited settings. Nutritional supplements such as Moringa oleifera have been traditionally used to improve health outcomes in PLWH, yet their effects on viral load remain under researched. Objective: To evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera seed flour on HIV viral load among adult women receiving ART in a resource-limited setting. Methods: This was a crossover clinical trial involving 70 HIV-positive women with viral loads ≤1000 copies/mL at Marigat Sub-County Hospital, Kenya. First, Mothers living with HIV were subjected to 6 months of standard care followed by 6 months of dietary supplementation with Moringa oleifera seed flour alongside standard care. Viral load assessments were done at baseline, after 6 months of standard care, and after another 6 months of Moringa supplementation. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and regression models. Results: Both standard care and supplementation phases yielded statistically significant reductions in viral load (p < 0.001). Supplementation with Moringa oleifera showed a slightly greater reduction in absolute mean viral load than standard care alone, though the difference between the two was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). No statistically significant associations were found between viral load and age, education, marital status, employment, or BMI. Conclusion: Supplementation of the diet with Moringa oleifera seed flour alongside ART may enhance viral suppression, the observed effects were not statistically significant compared to standard care alone. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term efficacy and dosage optimization.

Ameni Abdi, Emna Gatri, Pasquale Filannino et al.

In the original publication [...]

Xiao-Li Ren, Wei Chen, Ya Chen et al.

Abstract Background Immune-inflammatory deregulation in depression may contribute to elevated risk of subsequent mortality. While dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are known to confer neuroprotective effects for their anti-inflammatory properties, population-based evidence regarding their survival benefits and underlying mechanisms in depression remain scarce. This study aimed to investigate association between dietary omega-3 PUFAs and mortality risk in depressed individuals and identify immune-inflammatory mediation underlying mortality reductions. Methods Totally, 6,782 depressed individuals aged 20 years and above in 10 cycles (1999–2018) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed. Omega-3 PUFAs intake (total and individual) was assessed through 24-hour dietary recalls. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for morality risk across omega-3 PUFA quartiles. Quantile-based g-computation model determined individual PUFA contributions, while mediation analysis evaluated the role of Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) in mortality reductions. Results Over the follow-up period of 679,294 person years, 1,281 deaths were documented. The HRs for the highest versus lowest quartile of omega-3 PUFAs were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.94) for total mortality, 0.72 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.02) for CVD mortality, 0.82 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.35) for cancer mortality, and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.59, 1.00) for other-cause mortality. DPA showed the strongest association (58.40% weight for total mortality reduction, P = 0.002; 59.80% for other causes, P = 0.011), while EPA contributed most to cardiovascular mortality reductions (60.4%, P = 0.046). Mediation analysis revealed GNRI accounted for 8.1% of PUFA-mortality association (10.5% for DPA), with SII mediating 6.9% of DPA-specific benefit. Conclusion Higher intake of omega-3 PUFAs, predominantly EPA and DPA, were associated with a lower mortality risk in depressed individuals, partially mediated by immune-nutritional pathways. These findings underscore omega-3 PUFAs as potential dietary adjuncts for improving survival in depression through immunomodulation. Further long-term clinical studies are warranted to validate the survival benefits of omega-3 PUFAs in patients with depression.

Eduard Baladia, Manuel Moñino, Martina Miserachs et al.

Introduction: Perceptions and practices of healthcare professionals regarding the nutritional and dietary value of yogurt can play a crucial role in developing effective strategies to promote healthier and more sustainable dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions, attitudes, and practices of nutrition professionals regarding yogurt and its role in a healthy diet. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 355 nutrition professionals in Spain was conducted. The survey was administered online and explored professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding yogurt. Statistical analysis included descriptive and correlational techniques, with a significance level set at p < 0,05 to validate observations. Results: The study revealed that 62,8% of participants recognized yogurt as a key food in a healthy diet, while 31,8% adopted a neutral position. In addition to its nutritional contribution, over 80% associated yogurt consumption with the prevention or treatment of some health outcomes. The most important factors for recommending yogurt consumption were its nutritional value and demonstrated health benefits (96,1% and 70,1%, respectively). Knowledge about yogurt was significantly associated (p < 0,05) with a greater willingness to include it in the diet, and a positive attitude correlated with more intensive recommendation practices. Conclusions: The study unveils a predominantly positive attitude towards yogurt among nutrition professionals, supported by knowledge of its nutritional value and health benefits. The need for specific national guidelines and greater ongoing education to guide professionals and the population towards healthier and more sustainable practices was highlighted. Additionally, there is a future interest in considering the environmental sustainability of yogurt as an important factor for decision-making. Funding: This research has been funded by DANONE. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The research protocol was registered on the platform Open Science Framework (OSF): https://osf.io/ef97b

Peihua Ma, Si Chen, Wenfan Su et al.

This study explores the application of GPT models for automating consumer food survey analysis, focusing on Chinese consumers' acceptance of plant-based foods, cultured meat, insect-based proteins, and microbial proteins. Traditional survey analysis methods face limitations in handling large-scale, open-ended responses, whereas GPT's natural language processing capabilities offer efficient, bias-reduced alternatives. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), we investigate how food technophobia (FTN) and food values (FV) affect perceived benefits (PB) and perceived risks (PR), ultimately influencing consumer acceptance. Results show that acceptance is highest for plant-based foods and lowest for cultured meat, with PB positively and PR negatively impacting consumer willingness to these foods. Mediation analysis reveals that PR and PB mediate the effects of FTN and FV on acceptance, indicating that attitudes toward food safety, naturalness, and production processes shape consumer choices. The findings underscore the value of using GPT for comprehensive, real-time survey analysis and suggest marketing strategies and policies that emphasize product safety, environmental benefits, and consumer education to enhance acceptance of alternative proteins.

Lorenz Gschwent, Björn Hammarfelt, Martin Karlsson et al.

This paper explores the evolving role of health economics within economic research and publishing over the past 30 years. Historically largely a niche field, health economics has become increasingly prominent, with the share of health economics papers in top journals growing significantly. We aim to identify the factors behind this rise, examining how health economics contributes to the broader economic knowledge base and the roles distinct subfields play. Using a combination of bibliometric methods and natural language processing, we classify abstracts to define health economics. Our findings suggest that the mainstreaming of health economics is driven by innovative, high-quality research, with notable cyclicality in quality ratings that highlights the emergence and impact of distinct subfields within the discipline.

Bogdan Oancea

The term of big data was used since 1990s, but it became very popular around 2012. A recent definition of this term says that big data are information assets characterized by high volume, velocity, variety and veracity that need special analytical methods and software technologies to extract value form them. While big data was used at the beginning mostly in information technology field, now it can be found in every area of activity: in governmental decision-making processes, manufacturing, education, healthcare, economics, engineering, natural sciences, sociology. The rise of Internet, mobile phones, social media networks, different types of sensors or satellites provide enormous quantities of data that can have profound effects on economic research. The data revolution that we are facing transformed the way we measure the human behavior and economic activities. Unemployment, consumer price index, population mobility, financial transactions are only few examples of economic phenomena that can be analyzed using big data sources. In this paper we will start with a taxonomy of big data sources and show how these new data sources can be used in empirical analyses and to build economic indicators very fast and with reduced costs.

Sunniva B. Sheffield, Taylor A. Hoefer, John E. Petersen

Positive relationships have been documented between the amount of biochar added to soils and various aspects of plant growth and fertility such as root, shoot, and fruit production. However, these effects depend on biochar source materials, soil characteristics and species of plant examined. This makes it impossible to systematically compare and generalize findings across previous studies that have used different soils and biochar. We conducted a novel investigation to assess the effects of a single source of biochar (hazelnut wood), in a constructed organic soil, on the different plant tissues in three functionally distinct species: tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicon), green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), and willow (Salix sp.). Five levels of biochar soil amendment were assessed: 0% (control), 3, 9, and 26% by dry weight. We found a highly significant positive relationship between biochar concentration and total plant biomass (roots + shoots + fruits) in all species, with no significant difference in total biomass response among species. Fruit production increased with increased biochar in both beans and tomatoes. However, tomatoes exhibited significant differences in response among plant tissues; fruit production and shoot biomass increased significantly with biochar, but root tissue did not. Bean germination success increased significantly with biochar concentration. Date of first flowering was earlier with increasing soil biochar in beans but not in tomatoes. Control over both sources of biochar and soil composition in this experiment enables us to conclude that biochar addition can have different impacts on different plants and, in some cases, species-specific impacts on different plant tissues and other measures of fertility. Our results are contrary to prior research that found inhibiting effects of biochar at levels comparable to our 26% treatment. Biochar impacts on soil properties such as CEC and percent base cation saturation do not explain our findings, leading us to conclude that microbial interaction with biochar is an important factor that may explain the positive impacts of soil biochar on plant fertility observed. Further research that repeats this experiment in other soil types, with other biochar sources, and with other plant species is necessary to determine the generalizability of these important findings.

Alice Sharples, Rob Duffield, Jarrod Wade et al.

Introduction Rugby league is a physically demanding sport that necessitates considerable nutritional intake, focusing on quality and type, in order to optimize training and competition demands. However, rugby league athletes are reported to have inadequate nutrition intake to match these demands. Some factors that may determine an athlete’s nutrition intake have been reported in other sports, including (but not limited to, knowledge, time, cooking skills, food costs, income, belief in the importance of nutrition, body composition goals, and family/cultural support). However, these potential factors are relatively unexplored in rugby league, where a range of personal (age, body composition) or social (ancestry) influences could affect nutritional intake. Further exploration of these factors is warranted to understand the knowledge, attitudes and behavior underlying rugby league athletes’ nutritional intake that can provide practitioners with a more detailed understanding of how to approach nutrition behaviors and attitudes in rugby league athletes.Objectives The primary aim was to describe the nutrition behaviors and knowledge of rugby league athletes. A secondary aim was to compare nutrition knowledge and behavior based on age, body composition and self-identified ancestry.Methods Fifty professional rugby league athletes anonymously completed a seventy-six-question online survey. The survey consisted of three sections : 1) sports nutrition knowledge, 2) attitudes toward nutrition on performance , and 3) nutrition behaviors. All participants completed the online survey without assistance using their own personal device, with data entered via REDCap during pre-season. Nutrition knowledge was compared based on age (years), body composition (body fat percentage (%)) and ancestral groups (Pasifika, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Anglo- European).Pearson correlation was used for the relationship between nutrition knowledge, age and body composition. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine nutrition knowledge differences between ancestral groups with age and body composition as covariates. Attitudes and behaviors were compared based on age groups (<20, 20–24 and >25 y), ancestry and body composition. Attitudes and behaviors were analyzed by Pearson correlation for body composition, one-way ANOVA for age groups and ANCOVA for ancestry with covariates age and body composition.Results Overall athletes’ nutrition knowledge score was reported as 40 ± 12% (overall rating “poor”). Nutritional behaviors were significant for body composition, as those with lower body fat percentage had higher intakes of vegetables and dairy products (p = 0.046, p = 0.009), and ate more in the afternoon (lunch p = 0.048, afternoon snack p = 0.036). For ancestry, after adjustment for both age and body composition, Pasifika athletes were more inclined to miss breakfast and lunch compared to their Anglo-European (p = 0.037, p = 0.012) and ATSI (p = 0.022, p = 0.006) counterparts and ate more fruit than Anglo-Europeans (p = 0.006, p = 0.016). After adjustment for body composition, ATSI athletes also viewed the impact of nutrition on mental health and well-being significantly lower than Pasifika (p = 0.044).Conclusion These findings suggest differences exist within rugby league athletes based on ancestral backgrounds and body composition for nutrition attitudes, behaviors and knowledge. Such outcomes could be used when designing nutrition education interventions, with consideration given to these factors to optimize long-term positive behavior change.

Fan Zhang, Xue-de Wang, Ke Li et al.

This study developed a novel and green method to produce fragrant sesame oil using microwaves and subcritical extraction (SBE). Sesame seeds were microwaved at 540 W for 0–9 min before subcritical propane extraction at 40 °C and 0.5 MPa. SBE caused less deformation to the cellular microstructure of sesame cotyledons while dramatically improving oil yield (96.7–97.1 %) compared to screw processing (SP) (53.1–58.6 %). SBE improved extraction rates for γ-tocopherol (381.1–454.9 μg/g) and sesame lignans (917.9–970.4 mg/100 g) in sesame oil compared to SP (360.1–443.8 μg/g and 872.8–916.8 mg/100 g, respectively). Microwaves generated aroma-active heterocyclics and phenolics faster than hot-air roasting in sesame oil with a better sensory profile. SBE had a higher extraction rate for aroma-active terpenes, alcohols, and esters while reducing the concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs and HCAs in sesame oil. The novel combination process of microwaves and subcritical extraction is promising in producing fragrant sesame oil with superior qualities.

Zhiyuan Bo, Zhiyuan Bo, Ziyan Chen et al.

BackgroundSarcopenia has a remarkable negative impact on patients with liver diseases. We aimed to evaluate the impact of preoperative sarcopenia on the short-term outcomes after hepatectomy in patients with benign liver diseases.MethodsA total of 558 patients with benign liver diseases undergoing hepatectomy were prospectively reviewed. Both the muscle mass and strength were measured to define sarcopenia. Postoperative outcomes including complications, major complications and comprehensive complication index (CCI) were compared among four subgroups classified by muscle mass and strength. Predictors of complications, major complications and high CCI were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Nomograms based on predictors were constructed and calibration cures were performed to verify the performance.Results120 patients were involved for analysis after exclusion. 33 patients were men (27.5%) and the median age was 54.0 years. The median grip strength was 26.5 kg and the median skeletal muscle index (SMI) was 44.4 cm2/m2. Forty-six patients (38.3%) had complications, 19 patients (15.8%) had major complications and 27 patients (22.5%) had a CCI ≥ 26.2. Age (p = 0.005), SMI (p = 0.005), grip strength (p = 0.018), surgical approach (p = 0.036), and operation time (p = 0.049) were predictors of overall complications. Child-Pugh score (p = 0.037), grip strength (p = 0.004) and surgical approach (p = 0.006) were predictors of major complications. SMI (p = 0.047), grip strength (p &lt; 0.001) and surgical approach (p = 0.014) were predictors of high CCI. Among the four subgroups, patients with reduced muscle mass and strength showed the worst short-term outcomes. The nomograms for complications and major complications were validated by calibration curves and showed satisfactory performance.ConclusionSarcopenia has an adverse impact on the short-term outcomes after hepatectomy in patients with benign liver diseases and valuable sarcopenia-based nomograms were constructed to predict postoperative complications and major complications.

Victor Olkhov

Accuracy of economic theories and efficiency of economic policy strictly depend on the choice of the economic variables and processes mostly liable for description of economic reality. That states the general problem of assessment of any possible economic variables and processes chargeable for economic evolution. We show that economic variables and processes described by current economic theories constitute only a negligible fraction of factors responsible for economic dynamics. We consider numerous unnoted economic variables and overlooked economic processes those determine the states and predictions of the real economics. We regard collective economic variables, collective transactions and expectations, mean risks of economic variables and transactions, collective velocities and flows of economic variables, transactions and expectations as overlooked factors of economic evolution. We introduce market-based probability of the asset price and consider unnoticed influence of market stochasticity on randomness of macroeconomic variables. We introduce economic domain composed by continuous numeric risk grades and outline that the bounds of the economic domain result in unnoticed inherent cyclical motion of collective variables, transactions and expectations those are responsible for observed business cycles. Our treatment of unnoticed and overlooked factors of theoretical economics and policy decisions preserves a wide field of studies for many decades for academic researchers, economic authorities and high-level politicians.

Sándor Juhász, Gergő Pintér, Ádám Kovács et al.

Cities host diverse people and their mixing is the engine of prosperity. In turn, segregation and inequalities are common features of most cities and locations that enable the meeting of people with different socio-economic status are key for urban inclusion. In this study, we adopt the concept of economic complexity to quantify the sophistication of amenity supply at urban locations. We propose that neighborhood complexity and amenity complexity are connected to the ability of locations to attract diverse visitors from various socio-economic backgrounds across the city. We construct the measures of amenity complexity based on the local portfolio of diverse and non-ubiquitous amenities in Budapest, Hungary. Socio-economic mixing at visited third places is investigated by tracing the daily mobility of individuals and by characterizing their status by the real-estate price of their home locations. Results suggest that measures of ubiquity and diversity of amenities do not, but neighborhood complexity and amenity complexity are correlated with the urban centrality of locations. Urban centrality is a strong predictor of socio-economic mixing, but both neighborhood complexity and amenity complexity add further explanatory power to our models. Our work combines urban mobility data with economic complexity thinking to show that the diversity of non-ubiquitous amenities, central locations, and the potentials for socio-economic mixing are interrelated.

Jussi Heikkilä, Timo Ali-Vehmas, Julius Rissanen

We analyze the link between standardization and economic growth by systematically reviewing leading economics journals, leading economic growth researchers' articles, and economic growth-related books. We make the following observations: 1) No article has analyzed the link between standardization and economic growth in top5 economics journals between 1996 and 2018. 2) A representative sample of the leading researchers of economic growth has allocated little attention to the link between standardization and economic growth. 3) Typically, economic growth textbooks do not contain "standards" or "standardization" in their word indexes. These findings suggest that the economic growth theory has neglected the role of standardization.

Richard H. Day, Oleg V. Pavlov

Existence theory in economics is usually in real domains such as the findings of chaotic trajectories in models of economic growth, tatonnement, or overlapping generations models. Computational examples, however, sometimes converge rapidly to cyclic orbits when in theory they should be nonperiodic almost surely. We explain this anomaly as the result of digital approximation and conclude that both theoretical and numerical behavior can still illuminate essential features of the real data.

Ajay Kumar, Shaik Abdul Hussain, Writdhama Prasad et al.