Variety Of Foods Research Articles

Drug-resistant epilepsy and ketogenic diet therapy – a qualitative study of families’ experiences.

BackgroundA diagnosis of drug-resistant epilepsy is life changing for a family. Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) can offer hope when other treatments have failed. However, it often requires a significant change in daily routine and dietary habits. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore families’ experiences of epilepsy and KDT. MethodsParents of a child aged ≤18 years with epilepsy, currently or recently treated with KDT, were recruited from the UK and internationally via UK Ketogenic Diet (KD) centres, charities, and social media. Semi-structured interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, coded using Nvivo (V12), and inductive thematic analysis undertaken. ResultsTwenty-one parents participated. Four themes and 12 subthemes emerged: 1. ‘Epilepsy is all consuming’ explored the impact of epilepsy on the family. 2. ‘KD provides a window to new opportunities’ explores the motivators for KDT and positive outcomes. 3. ‘The reality of KD’ explores day to day life and how families adapt to KD. 4. ‘Looking to the future’ explores the factors that may make KD easier for families. All were glad their child trialled KD, even when less successful. The importance of a support network including family, friends, charity organisations and the KD team was evident across all themes. ConclusionsWe conclude with five recommendations to help support families in their management of KDT; Improved access to KDT and transition to adult services, access to quality education and support, enhanced variety of KD foods, regular social education and finally consideration of peer mentoring.

Synthetic analysis of trophic diversity and evolution in Enantiornithes with new insights from Bohaiornithidae.

Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of the Mesozoic, but understanding of their diet is still tenuous. We introduce new data on the enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for their large size and powerfully built teeth and claws. In tandem with previously published data, we comment on the breadth of enantiornithine ecology and potential patterns in which it evolved. Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis of the jaw, and traditional morphometrics of the claws and skull are compared between bohaiornithids and living birds. We find bohaiornithids to be more ecologically diverse than any other enantiornithine family: Bohaiornis and Parabohaiornis are similar to living plant-eating birds; Longusunguis resembles raptorial carnivores; Zhouornis is similar to both fruit-eating birds and generalist feeders; and Shenqiornis and Sulcavis plausibly ate fish, plants, or a mix of both. We predict the ancestral enantiornithine bird to have been a generalist which ate a wide variety of foods. However, more quantitative data from across the enantiornithine tree is needed to refine this prediction. By the Early Cretaceous, enantiornithine birds had diversified into a variety of ecological niches like crown birds after the K-Pg extinction, adding to the evidence that traits unique to crown birds cannot completely explain their ecological success.

Synthetic analysis of trophic diversity and evolution in Enantiornithes with new insights from Bohaiornithidae

Enantiornithines were the dominant birds of the Mesozoic, but understanding of their diet is still tenuous. We introduce new data on the enantiornithine family Bohaiornithidae, famous for their large size and powerfully built teeth and claws. In tandem with previously published data, we comment on the breadth of enantiornithine ecology and potential patterns in which it evolved. Body mass, jaw mechanical advantage, finite element analysis of the jaw, and traditional morphometrics of the claws and skull are compared between bohaiornithids and living birds. We find bohaiornithids to be more ecologically diverse than any other enantiornithine family: Bohaiornis and Parabohaiornis are similar to living plant-eating birds; Longusunguis resembles raptorial carnivores; Zhouornis is similar to both fruit-eating birds and generalist feeders; and Shenqiornis and Sulcavis plausibly ate fish, plants, or a mix of both. We predict the ancestral enantiornithine bird to have been a generalist which ate a wide variety of foods. However, more quantitative data from across the enantiornithine tree is needed to refine this prediction. By the Early Cretaceous, enantiornithine birds had diversified into a variety of ecological niches like crown birds after the K-Pg extinction, adding to the evidence that traits unique to crown birds cannot completely explain their ecological success.

The Role of Price, Taste, and Brand Image in Purchasing Decisions

The Role of Price, Taste, and Brand Image in Purchasing Decisions

Diet quality and nutritional status of HIV-exposed children aged between 6 and 18 months in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana

IntroductionHIV-exposed children, even when uninfected, have a greater risk of malnutrition than unexposed counterparts. WHO guidelines recommend children aged 6–23 months be fed a variety of foods to meet nutrient requirements. This study aimed to determine infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among HIV-exposed children under 2 years old enrolled in a dietary intervention and to explore correlates of the IYCF indicators and associations between IYCF and nutritional status.MethodologySix hundred and eighty mother–child pairs were recruited from 19 health facilities from the Greater Accra Region. The sociodemographic data, anthropometry, hemoglobin, and dietary intake were recorded.ResultsNinety-five percent of HIV-positive mothers breastfed their babies, and 53% initiated breastfeeding in a timely manner. Around one in five mothers (21%) introduced liquids other than breastmilk to their children within the first 2 days of birth, and only around one in four children (26%) aged 12–23 months had received breast milk on the day before assessment. Ninety-three percent of babies between 6 and 8 months had been introduced to solid, semi-solid, or soft foods. Eighteen percent of children reached the threshold for Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) by eating from over five of eight food groups. Fifty-four percent received Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), eating between 2 and 4 meals in a day. Eleven percent received the Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). Thirty-two percent were anemic. Underweight and stunting were 12 and 11%, respectively. Children of mothers aged 31–40 years were more likely to meet the MDD and MAD [OR = 2.8, 95%CI (1.185, 6.519), p < 0.05 and OR = 2.8, 95%CI (1.256, 6.279), p < 0.05] compared to children of mothers aged 30 years or less or aged above 40 years. Children from households earning more than GHS 500 were more likely to meet MMF than those from households earning less. No associations were found between IYCF and nutritional status.ConclusionFindings highlight the need for nutrition programs to educate HIV-exposed children’s caregivers on optimal feeding practices. The importance of continued breastfeeding and dietary diversity needs to be highlighted. Affordable, iron-rich foods should be promoted. Special attention should be paid to younger, less educated, and lower socioeconomic status mothers.

Nutrition profiles of farm households across different farming systems in Ethiopia: Unpacking the determinants and implications for nutrition‐sensitive interventions

AbstractTackling nutrition insecurity remains a critical challenge in developing countries. In the predominantly rain‐fed and smallholder‐based farming systems of Ethiopia, production diversity and livelihood strategies of the farm households vary across geographic areas. However, the effects of household socioeconomic characteristics, production diversity, and household incomes on nutrition profiles in distinct settings have been inadequately understood. Therefore, this study was undertaken to examine the association of farming system type, sources of income, and household wealth status with household nutrition profiles in three remote locations such as Mennisa, Welmel Tiqa, and Agam Wuha that represent root crops‐based farming, maize‐based semi‐pastoral farming, and teff‐based cereal farming systems, respectively. A combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques was employed. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select a total of 265 smallholder households for the structured survey interviews. Standard statistical tests and Tobit regression analyses were performed after determining the wealth category of each household. Results revealed a diversity of income sources used by each of the farm households with average values of 9 in Mennisa, 10 in Agam Wuha, and 11 in Welmel Tiqa, with the contributions of each income source varying by household wealth category and location. As expected, expenditures on food significantly exceeded those on non‐food categories for poor households and vice versa for rich wealth households. The average total food variety score (FVS) for Welmel Tiqa was twice that for Agam Wuha, confirming the need for site‐specific nutrition profile assessments. Despite the observed differences in household nutrition profiles among wealth categories and locations, the apparent intakes of vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and calcium were consistently below the population‐level estimated average requirements across all locations. The number of adequately consumed nutrients by farm households was negatively associated with family size, age of household heads, livestock holdings, wealth categories, and irrigation use, and positively associated with crop production diversity, income diversity, and FVS. The negative association between irrigation use and nutrition security was likely due to the focus on producing crops with a high market value on land under irrigation, coupled with ineffective allocation of generated income for enhancing household nutritional outcomes. Therefore, programs that include irrigated agriculture investments should consider adopting a more integrated nutrition‐sensitive interventions, including consideration of locally adapted nutritious crops, such as orange‐flesh sweet potato, to address critical deficiency of Vitamin A, nutrition training coupled with development of recipes and cooking demonstrations, and marketing and promotion for nutritious crops.

Integrated molybdenum single atom array sensors with multichannels for nitrite detection in foods

Nitrite (NO2−) is present in a variety of foods, but the excessive intake of NO2− can indirectly lead to carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenicity and other risks to the human body. Therefore, the detection of NO2− is crucial for maintaining human health. In this study, an integrated array sensor for NO2− detection is developed based on molybdenum single atom material (IMSMo-SAC) using high-resolution electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing technology. The sensor comprises three components: a printed electrode array, multichannels designed on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and an electronic signal process device with bluetooth. By utilizing Mo-SAC to facilitate electron transfer during the redox reaction, rapid and efficient detection of NO2− can be achieved. The sensor has a wide linear range of 0.1 μM–107.8 mM, a low detection limit of 33 nM and a high sensitivity of 0.637 mA−1mM−1 cm−2. Furthermore, employing this portable array sensor allows simultaneously measurements of NO2− concentrations in six different foods samples with acceptable recovery rates. This array sensor holds great potential for detecting of small molecules in various fields.

β-Glucan Extraction from Hull-Less Barley by a Novel Approach: Microwave-Assisted Pressurized CO2/H2O

AbstractΒ-glucans (BGs) are dietary fibers with human health benefits. Due to their emulsifying, thickening, and water-holding properties, they are frequently utilized in food formulations. Hull-less barley is one of the important sources of BGs. This research was performed to extract BGs from hull-less barley using microwave-assisted pressurized CO2/H2O (MW-PCO2) extraction, a combination that had never been employed before. The MW-PCO2 extraction conditions (temperature, time and water: barley flour ratio) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design for the maximum BG yield (%). Temperature of 47.74 °C, time of 19.92 min, and water: barley flour ratio of 10.10:1 (g/g) were found to be the optimum conditions for extraction with a BG yield of 62.43%. Additionally, MW-PCO2 extraction was compared with conventional water extraction (CE) and BG extracts obtained by both methods were characterized. Chemical composition, molecular weight, thermal properties, water solubility, water holding capacity, surface morphology, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FTIR) of the BG extracts were determined. MW-PCO2 extraction gave higher BG yield and purity, molecular weight, and water holding capacity using less solvent in a shorter time. Furthermore, both extracts have similar morphological images, FTIR spectrum, and thermal properties. The results of this work demonstrate the potential of the MW-PCO2 approach for extracting BGs from hull-less barley with improved selectivity and recovery, which can then be added to a variety of food and drug formulations.

Traditional Foods as a Way to Preserve the Genetic Diversity of the Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) in Tunisia

Tunisia has a long tradition of viticulture, and the grapevine is used for a variety of traditional foods. The country has many plant-based dishes, which may have different compositions and names depending on the region of origin. Unfortunately, over the years, traditional preparations are no longer as popular as they used to be, due to both changing lifestyles and the introduction of new crops and foods. For example, the use of grapevine in traditional dishes has declined as traditions have been lost and habits have changed in favor of new, ready-to-eat foods. The close link between grapevine, culture and territory requires an appropriate evaluation and characterization of traditional foods in order to enhance and extend their use, ensure their sustainability and preserve the varieties used to produce them. This review analyzes the use of local grapevine varieties in different traditional dishes as a means to preserve an invaluable natural and cultural resource and heritage.

The role of rcpA gene in regulating biofilm formation and virulence in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) is a common seafood-borne pathogen that can colonize the intestine of host and cause gastroenteritis. Biofilm formation by V. parahaemolyticus enhances its persistence in various environments, which poses a series of threats to food safety. This work aims to investigate the function of rcpA gene in biofilm formation and virulence of V. parahaemolyticus. Deletion of rcpA significantly reduced motility, biofilm biomass, and extracellular polymeric substances, and inhibited biofilm formation on a variety of food and food contact surfaces. In mice infection model, mice infected with ∆rcpA strain exhibited a decreased rate of pathogen colonization, a lower level of inflammatory cytokines, and less tissue damage when compared to mice infected with wild type strain. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 374 genes were differentially expressed in the rcpA deletion mutant, which include genes related to quorum sensing, flagellar system, ribosome, type VI secretion system, biotin metabolism and transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, rcpA plays a role in determining biofilm formation and virulence of V. parahaemolyticus and further research is necessitated to fully understand its function in V. parahaemolyticus.

A dynamic, multilevel process evaluation of a produce prescription program at a federally qualified health center: 2017-2021 description, implementation, and infrastructure.

The "Food as Medicine" (FAM) movement encourages public health and medical professionals to recognize the importance of dietary patterns and food access. The purpose of this work wasto describe patient and physician engagement with a produce prescription (PRx) program to improve access to fresh vegetables in a healthcare setting. A Federally Qualified Health Center, regenerative farm, and academic institution partnered for the PRx program (2017-21). During harvest seasons, patients redeemed "prescriptions" for initial and "refill" produce boxes. Baseline food insecurity surveys were embedded in electronic medical records. Refill surveys assessed satisfaction and confidence. Electronic surveys to prescribing physicians assessed program knowledge, expectations, and motivations. Across 8 biannual harvests generating 9986 produce boxes, 8046 patients received prescriptions, 6227 redeemed prescriptions for ≥1 box, and 720 redeemed for ≥2 boxes. Seasonally, initial redemption rates ranged from 64.5% to 82.7%; refill rates ranged from 6.8% to 16.7%. Among participants, 70.8% sometimes/often worried food would run out and 66.7% sometimes/often ran out of food. Among those with refills, there was high satisfaction with food quality (95.8%) and variety (97.2%), and 94.2% were confident preparing meals from produce. Among physicians (n = 22), 100% self-reported adequate knowledge about PRx for patient recommendations, and 100% believed PRx had benefit for patients. Chronic conditions (77%), low socioeconomic status (64%), and food insecurity (59%) were common motivating factors for prescriptions. We demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a cross-sector, seasonal PRx program within a multisite healthcare system. More research is needed to refine implementation toward greater patient refill rates.

Food security and dietary diversity patterns amongst female handloom workers: a cross sectional study from Kerala, India

IntroductionThe onset of COVID-19 in December 2019 bought the entire world to a standstill and had a major impact on the social and economic sectors in India. One of the most affected groups in this pandemic has been the female handloom workers.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to assess food security and dietary diversity amongst female handloom workers in Kerala.MethodsAfter obtaining informed consent, data was collected from 140 respondents working in handloom cooperative societies across Ernakulum, Kerala. Data regarding the food security and dietary diversity status of female handloom workers were collected using the validated Household Food Insecurity Access Scale and the Individual Dietary Diversity Scale respectively. Descriptive statistics was used to calculate the mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage while the independent t-test and Chi-Square test were used to compare means and examine the relationship between continuous and categorical variables respectively.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was reported to be 53.69 ± 8.39. Majority of the respondents (91.4%) had co-morbidities with the most prevalent one being occupational hazards (45.7%). 96.4% and 53.5% of respondents were found to be food insecure and have poor dietary diversity respectively. In unadjusted analyses, statistical relationships were found between several variables and food security status, like milk and milk products (p = 0.045), flesh meats (p = 0.007), and history of disease and limited variety of foods due to lack of resources (p = 0.003). A strong relationship was also established between receiving extra rations through the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and food security status (p = 0.002).ConclusionThe results revealed the bleak state of nutrition in the community. Further research into their nutritional knowledge, attitudes and practices needs to be carried out to recognize efficient variables for comparison from an Indian context.

Relationship of Nutritional Intake to Nutritional Status and Teenagers Learning Concentration in the Ahludz Dzikri Al-Qur’an Assembly

Adolescence, which lasts from ten to twelve years, is a period of growth and development of the body that requires adequate nutritional intake to prevent problems such as malnutrition and decreased concentration in studies. According to basic data collected in October 2020, 30% of teenagers had normal nutritional status and 70% had poor nutritional status or were underweight. The purpose of this study is to ascertain how nutritional status and intake are related the focus of adolescent learning at the Ahludz Dzikri Al-Qur'an Assembly. This research uses an analytical observational method with a cross-sectional approach. Thirty students from the Ahludz Dzikri Al-Qur'an Council participated in this study. The Spearman test was employed to examine the non-probability sampling methods used in this investigation. The research results showed that there is a relationship between nutritional status and nutrient intake, and that nutrient intake and nutritional status are related, and then learning should be focused, so it is better for students to consume a variety of foods to improve the students' nutritional status and concentration.

Recent Progress in Intestinal Toxicity of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: Systematic Review of Preclinical Evidence

The tremendous plastic production and poor post-use management are current and future sources of environmental and human contamination due to their degradation products: microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs). Methodological developments have allowed MNPLs to be detected in an increasing variety of human foods, as well as in stool and colonic mucosa. It was suggested early that the direct contact between MNPLs and intestinal tissues could represent a potential risk for human health. In order to assess this, over the last 3 years, numerous studies have evaluated the impact of MNPL ingestion on intestinal homeostasis in rodents. This comprehensive review reports the preclinical studies published between January 2021 and January 2024, and analyzes their contributions as well as their shortcomings. It shows that evidence is accumulating of the intestinal toxicity of spherical MNPLs, which lead to pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidative, barrier-disruptive and dysbiotic effects. However, the available literature has addressed only a minor part of the potential health issues of MNPLs. Many parameters contributing to MNPL toxicity need to be better taken into account in future studies. Particular attention should be paid to improve the representativeness of MNPLs, as well as to better consider the susceptibility factors of MNPL toxicity, generated especially by an underlying pathology or pathological imprinting.

Review on novel approaches for controlling aflatoxin B1: Harnessing nature's defenses against food toxins

Aflatoxin B1 is the most harmful food toxin for humans and animals. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it is ranked as one of the most carcinogenic substances in the world, directly connected to hepatocarcinoma in both humans and animals. Aflatoxin B1 is also involved in the occurrence of pathologies, and aflatoxicoses. Aflatoxin B1 can be produced by fungi from the genus Aspergillus section Flavi in a variety of foods during storage. Once aflatoxins are present, food processing cannot eradicate them. The damage and lack of complete elimination of aflatoxins from foodstuffs make them the most monitored and controlled substances in the world. Given the high-risk of Aflatoxin B1 on both animal and human health, it is important to study their worldwide distribution and existing control methods through a systematic review. Articles published from 1945 to 2022 found on several databases as Scopus, PubMed, Dimensions, Google Scholar and an extraction sieve was used to select the relevant articles. Of the two hundred and twenty-eight (228) French and English scientific articles on aflatoxins identified, forty of the most relevant original articles were selected for inclusion in this review following a rigorous selection process. Several genes are involved in the synthesis of aflatoxin B1. Moreover, certain environmental conditions, in particular oxidative stress are propitious for fungus by over-expressing aflatoxins. However, the fungi defences can be controlled by several methods. Articles showed efficiency of various of them. Good cultural practices and awareness raising are part of the preventive control. Synthetic chemicals such as insecticides and fungicides are chronically used in chemical control of fungal growth and prevent aflatoxins from being produced. Biological control is based on allelic recombination between toxic and atoxic strains. The use of microbial competition is focused on the natural predators of aflatoxic molds, most often lactic acid bacteria, and the natural control relies on the use of natural plant substances. Natural substances like aqueous or organic plant extracts that contain proteins, polyphenols, tannins, antioxidants, flavonoids, terpenes, and chelating ion as well as caffeic acid, gallic acid and ascorbic acid can be used to control fungal contamination currently. These molecules interfere with free radicals to slow down or even inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species significantly reducing the production of aflatoxins making them inactive. Implementation of the means of controlling fungal growth and producing aflatoxins will help make agriculture globally competitive and ensure food security. Key words: Natural substances, Aflatoxin B1, food poisoning, alternative control, biocontrol

Validation of putative biomarkers of furan exposure through quantitative analysis of furan metabolites in urine of F344 rats exposed to stable isotope labeled furan.

Humans are chronically exposed to furan, a potent liver toxicant and carcinogen that occurs in a variety of heat-processed foods. Assessment of human exposure based on the furan content in foods is, however, subject to some uncertainty due to the high volatility of furan. Biomarker monitoring is thus considered an alternative or complementary approach to furan exposure assessment. Previous work suggested that urinary furan metabolites derived from the reaction of cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA), the reactive intermediate of furan, with glutathione (GSH) or amino acids may serve as potential biomarkers of furan exposure. However, some metabolites were also reported to occur in urine of untreated animals, indicating either background contamination via animal feed or endogenous sources, which may limit their suitability as biomarkers of exposure. The overall aim of the present study was to accurately establish the correlation between external dose and concentration of furan metabolites in urine over time and to discriminate against endogenous formation and furan intake via feed. To this end, the furan metabolites GSH-BDA (N-[4-carboxy-4-(3-mercapto-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1-oxobutyl]-L-cysteinylglycine), NAcLys-BDA (R-2-(acetylamino)-6-(2,5-dihydro-2-oxo-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)-1-hexanoic acid), NAcCys-BDA-NAcLys (N-acetyl-S-[1-[5-(acetylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-L-cysteine) and NAcCys-BDA-NAcLys sulfoxide (N-acetyl-S-[1-[5-(acetylamino)-5-carboxypentyl]-1H-pyrrol-3-yl]-L-cysteine sulfoxide) were simultaneously analyzed by stable isotope dilution ESI-LC-MS/MS as unlabeled and [13C4]-furan dependent metabolites following oral administration of a single oral dose of isotopically labelled [13C4]-furan (0.1, 1, 10, 100 and 1000µg/kg bw) to male and female F344/DuCrl rats. Although a linear correlation between urinary excretion of [13C4]-furan-dependent metabolites was observed, analysis of unlabeled NAcLys-BDA, NAcCys-BDA-NAcLys and NAcCys-BDA-NAcLys sulfoxide revealed substantial, fairly constant urinary background levels throughout the course of the study. Analysis of furan in animal feed excluded feed as a source for these background levels. GSH-BDA was identified as the only furan metabolite without background occurrence, suggesting that it may present a specific biomarker to monitor external furan exposure. Studies in humans are now needed to establish if analysis of urinary GSH-BDA may provide reliable exposure estimates.

Recent Advances and Future Perspectives in the E-Nose Technologies Addressed to the Wine Industry.

Electronic nose devices stand out as pioneering innovations in contemporary technological research, addressing the arduous challenge of replicating the complex sense of smell found in humans. Currently, sensor instruments find application in a variety of fields, including environmental, (bio)medical, food, pharmaceutical, and materials production. Particularly the latter, has seen a significant increase in the adoption of technological tools to assess food quality, gradually supplanting human panelists and thus reshaping the entire quality control paradigm in the sector. This process is happening even more rapidly in the world of wine, where olfactory sensory analysis has always played a central role in attributing certain qualities to a wine. In this review, conducted using sources such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science, we examined papers published between January 2015 and January 2024. The aim was to explore prevailing trends in the use of human panels and sensory tools (such as the E-nose) in the wine industry. The focus was on the evaluation of wine quality attributes by paying specific attention to geographical origin, sensory defects, and monitoring of production trends. Analyzed results show that the application of E-nose-type sensors performs satisfactorily in that trajectory. Nevertheless, the integration of this type of analysis with more classical methods, such as the trained sensory panel test and with the application of destructive instrument volatile compound (VOC) detection (e.g., gas chromatography), still seems necessary to better explore and investigate the aromatic characteristics of wines.

Exploring consumer segments for online food provisioning services: Online supermarkets vs. alternative food networks

Recent years have witnessed a surge in online food provisioning services spanning from online mass retail to alternative food networks with digital sales platforms. Hence, enhancing our understanding of consumer preferences in the digital food space is vital, as digitalization holds significant potential to alter consumer habits within the food sector. To address this, we surveyed a representative sample of Norwegian consumers. We employed best-worst scaling to assess their preferences for eighteen characteristics derived from a variety of online food provisioning services. The characteristics covered business model elements such as key partners, resources, activities, distribution channels, and customer relations. Our findings identify two consumer segments. The first segment, labeled the Convenience segment, prioritizes efficient delivery and user-friendly interfaces, characteristics that resonate with online supermarket services. The second segment labeled the Local segment, prioritizes a wide range of locally and sustainably produced food in line with the ethos of alternative food networks. Notably, the latter segment, accounting for 48 % of the respondents, views several of the convenience characteristics derived from online mass retail as important. Taking the convenience preferences of the Local segment into account could broaden the appeal of alternative food networks and other sustainability-oriented niche providers to a wider range of consumers.

Deciphering heterogeneous enzymatic surface reactions on xylan using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

Xylans' unique properties make it attractive for a variety of industries, including paper, food, and biochemical production. While for some applications the preservation of its natural structure is crucial, for others the degradation into monosaccharides is essential. For the complete breakdown, the use of several enzymes is required, due to its structural complexity. In fact, the specificity of enzymatically-catalyzed reactions is guided by the surface, limiting or regulating accessibility and serving structurally encoded input guiding the actions of the enzymes. Here, we investigate enzymes at surfaces rich in xylan using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The influence of diffusion and changes in substrate morphology is studied via enzyme surface kinetics simulations, yielding reaction rates and constants. We propose kinetic models, which can be applied to the degradation of multilayer biopolymer films. The most advanced model was verified by its successful application to the degradation of a thin film of polyhydroxybutyrate treated with a polyhydroxybutyrate-depolymerase. The herein derived models can be employed to quantify the degradation kinetics of various enzymes on biopolymers in heterogeneous environments, often prevalent in industrial processes. The identification of key factors influencing reaction rates such as inhibition will contribute to the quantification of intricate dynamics in complex systems.

Pengaruh Citra dan Tata Ruang Cafe dalam Peningkatan Jumlah Pelanggan pada Caf E Ej33 di Kota Tarakan

The rapid development of the coffee business in Indonesia, particularly in major and minor cities, has attracted many entrepreneurs to open coffee shops. Customer impressions inside cafes are influenced by spatial arrangement, cafe image, and other factors such as products, services, and physical environment. Modern cafes offer a variety of food and beverages while creating a comfortable environment. The cafe's spatial arrangement plays a significant role in creating comfort and attraction that affect customer choices. This research focuses on Cafe EJ33 in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, which has a unique concept with spacious indoor and outdoor areas, including a VIP space. The study employs a survey method with 100 respondents to explore whether the cafe's image and spatial arrangement influence customer preferences at Cafe EJ33. The analysis results indicate a positive influence of the cafe's image on customer preferences, suggesting that Cafe EJ33 is perceived by respondents as a place that provides a positive experience and image. The study also validates the questionnaire and measures the reliability of the variables used in this research, with results supporting validity and reliability..