Food Poverty, Health, and Innovation: the Impact of new food frontiers on the social context

Food preferences have long been increasingly influenced by sensitivity to ethics and the sustainability of production processes, from the beginning of the supply chain to the table. All this must be considered the food poverty that affects a large segment of the population. In fact, the propensity for healthy products is growing, with methods of use and purchase based on sustainability and a shared concept of well-being. However, the main obstacle to the development of new food systems continues to be inequality in access to food. To respond to the needs arising from food poverty, which has predominantly social and not only economic or nutritional characteristics, research, with the aim of defining an indicator for evaluating the phenomenon, has identified three fundamental indicators dimensions of analysis with respect to nutrition: material and/or social food deprivation index (DAMS), risk of food poverty index, relative food poverty index. We proceeded with a comparative analysis within the Italian regions, through a Gaussian Mixture cluster analysis. The analysis highlighted problems such as malnutrition and incorrect nutrition, two opposing problems whose paradoxical correlation is typical of our era. The study, therefore, highlighted how it is necessary to put people’s needs at the center, with a synergic and non-substitutive welfare system with respect to the public and contractual one, focused on social Globalization, Social innovation, beyond the list of services and benefits provided. The objective is therefore to satisfy real individual needs, supporting people in identifying a customized service

Liposome-metal nanoparticle based sensing systems for (bio)analytical applications

Liposome-metal nanoparticle (MeNP) hybrids have emerged as promising platforms for biosensing due to their low toxicity, enhanced stability, and ability to improve selectivity and signal amplification. This review comprehensively explores the state-of-the-art applications of these hybrid systems in the (bio)analytical domain. Depending on the particular bioassay, MeNPs can be strategically positioned within liposomes in three distinct regions: encapsulated in the aqueous core, embedded in the lipid bilayer, or attached to the phospholipid membrane surface. These configurations enable MeNP-liposome hybrids to operate as (i) signal-generating labels, (ii) carriers for bioreagents, (iii) entities for target sequestration or interference mitigation, and (iv) signal readout amplification. We delve into various analytical applications based on the signal transduction system, including electrochemistry, fluorescence, colorimetry, electrochemiluminescence, photoelectrochemistry, surface plasmon resonance, and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Representative examples from the last decade illustrate the diverse and innovative uses of these composite materials in the field of biosensing

A Poincar\'e-Hopf formula for functionals associated to quasilinear elliptic systems

We consider the functional \begin{align*} J_{\alpha,\beta}(z) =& \frac{1}{p} \into \left(\alpha+ |\nabla u(x)|^2\right)^{\frac p 2} \ dx + \frac{1}{q}\into \left(\beta + |\nabla v(x)|^2\right)^{\frac q 2} \ dx \nonumber \\ &- \into F(u(x),v(x)) \ dx, \quad z=(u,v) \in X, \end{align*} where $\Omega$ is a smooth bounded domain of $\mathbb{R}^N$, $

Heat treatments for the control of postharvest decay of fresh fruit: Case studies of peach brown rot, kiwifruit gray mold and citrus green and blue molds

The increase in restrictions on the use of synthetic fungicides has led to the adoption of new eco-friendly strategies that guarantee high quality and food safety standards, such as heat treatment (HT). This review focuses on the main HTs used to preserve peach, kiwi and citrus fruits from fungal infections during the postharvest phase. The mechanisms of action of HTs on fruits rely on induced resistance through genes regulation, and with a direct inhibition of fungal pathogens. Among the HTs, hot water (HW) and air treatments are mainly considered alongside 'curing' to manage postharvest infections caused by Monilinia spp., Botrytis cinerea, and Penicillium spp. The HTs were effective in controlling fungal diseases and improving fruit quality, nutritional value and shelf life. Consumer safety is ensured by HT, but this strategy should always be considered as part of an integrated management of postharvest fungal diseases, since HT alone does not provide complete decay control. The development of time × temperature combination remains the main challenge of HTs, to keep fruit quality and resistance during postharvest stage, even considering the evolution of the effects of agronomical approaches and of the phytosanitary management

Investigating corporate sustainability disclosure: a text mining analysis of non-financial reporting

In recent years, the European Union (EU) has strengthened its legal framework for the disclosure of sustainability information, culminating in the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). This follows on from the previous Non-financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), which was implemented in Italy by Legislative Decree 254/2016 and requires large public interest entities to disclose non-financial information annually in the form of a non-financial statement (NFS). This study analyzes how the content of Italian companies’ NFS has evolved from 2019 to 2022, focusing on a preliminary analysis of 15 companies from the energy and textile sectors. The aim is to assess whether the reporting obligation has led to real improvements in sustainable communication or whether companies have limited themselves to formal compliance. Text mining techniques were used to analyze a corpus of NFSs using tools such as the term-document matrix, the term frequency – inverse document frequency (TF-IDF) algorithm, network graph analysis, and the structural topic model. The results show that the content of the NFS is increasingly enriched in both quantitative and qualitative terms, reflecting a stronger alignment with stakeholder expectations and regulatory objectives. Differences between sectors were also identified using dissimilarity indices, which show how sector-specific dynamics shape the representation of sustainability. This study contributes to the literature on non-financial reporting by demonstrating how automated text analysis can uncover meaningful patterns in corporate reporting. The methodology provides useful insights for regulators, policymakers, and companies seeking to improve sustainable reporting practices. Benchmarking based on such analyses can support the development of more transparent and effective sustainability strategies

On the use of the principle of maximum entropy to improve the robustness of bivariate spline least-squares approximation

We consider fitting a bivariate spline regression model to data using a weighted least-squares cost function, with weights that sum to one to form a discrete probability distribution. By applying the principle of maximum entropy, the weight distribution is determined by maximizing the associated entropy function. This approach, previously applied successfully to polynomials and spline curves, enhances the robustness of the regression model by automatically detecting and down-weighting anomalous data during the fitting process. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the method, we present applications to two image processing problems and further illustrate its potential through two synthetic examples. Unlike the standard ordinary least-squares method, the maximum entropy formulation leads to a nonlinear algebraic system whose solvability requires careful theoretical analysis. We provide preliminary results in this direction and discuss the computational implications of solving the associated constrained optimization problem, which calls for dedicated iterative algorithms. These aspects suggest natural directions for further research on both the theoretical and algorithmic fronts

A blow-up result for the semilinear Euler-Poisson-Darboux-Tricomi equation with critical power nonlinearity

In this paper, we prove a blow-up result for a generalized semilinear Euler-Poisson-Darboux equation with polynomially growing speed of propagation, when the power of the semilinear term is a shift of the Strauss' exponent for the classical semilinear wave equation. Our proof is based on a comparison argument of Kato-type for a second-order ODE with time-dependent coefficients, an integral representation formula by Yagdjian and the Radon transform. As byproduct of our method, we derive upper bound estimates for the lifespan which coincide with the sharp one for the classical semilinear wave equation in the critical case

Efficacy and mode of action of the biocontrol yeast Meyerozyma caribbica BBJ against blue mold and patulin production by Penicillium expansum

Penicillium expansum is one of the main postharvest pathogens of several fruits including apples, resulting in decay and causing severe economic losses. Furthermore, it might represent a safety issue as the main producer of the mycotoxin patulin. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and related mode of action of the strain BBJ of the yeast Meyerozyma caribbica in controlling blue mold by P. expansum and consequent patulin contamination. The yeast M. caribbica BBJ was selected within a screening of the epiphytic population of apple fruit. It was found to significantly control the incidence of blue mold in apples, apricots, and sweet cherries, reducing in vitro P. expansum growth and patulin presence, showing toxin-degrading abilities. In addition, the results of this study showed that M. caribbica strain BBJ induced resistance in the host tissues, causing an up-regulation of apple defense-related genes, particularly coding chitinase enzyme. These experiments also indicated that yeast BBJ's biocontrol ability against P. expansum relied on competition for nutrients and production of volatile compounds. When tested on a semi-commercial scale, M. caribbica BBJ proved to be effective against apple rots, particularly as a preharvest treatment. In summary, although further large-scale trials are needed, M. caribbica BBJ has the potential to be used as antagonistic yeast against postharvest blue mold of apples and other fruits susceptible to P. expansum infection

Soil calcium deficiency in Sorana bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) ecotype reveals adaptive strategies through differential physiological and yield responses

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), a key crop within the Fabaceae family, is one of the most widely grown and consumed legumes in the world. However, many genotypes and landraces remain understudied, including the Sorana ecotype, traditionally cultivated in Italy along the Pescia river. It is well-adapted to alluvial, sandy soils with low calcium content. To investigate its adaptive mechanisms to calcium deficiency, we grew Sorana bean plants under control (2 mM Ca2+), moderate (0.4 mM), and severe (0.2 mM) calcium deficiency conditions, from sowing to pod harvest. Both calcium-deficient conditions negatively affected plant biomass, photosynthetic pigment levels, polyphenol content, and stomatal conductance. Interestingly, moderate calcium deficiency enhanced yield, harvest index, and pod harvest index, indicating great sink strength and a shift in resource allocation. Bean skin thickness, a defining trait of this ecotype, was also influenced by calcium availability. At the molecular level, abscisic acid-related genes showed differential expression depending on calcium concentration, suggesting a threshold-dependent activation of stress-response pathways. Our results indicate that Sorana adapts to calcium-poor environments by prioritizing seed production over vegetative growth. This strategy, along with its distinctive agronomic traits, positions Sorana as a valuable genetic resource for breeding programs aimed at improving crop resilience and yield under suboptimal soil conditions

Triazole-benzodiazepine derivatives: One-pot synthesis, characterization, hirshfeld surface analysis, and computational insights into anticancer potential as KIF11 inhibitors

In this study a [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction of the benzodiazepine BZD1 with N-aryl-C-ethoxycarbonylnitrilimines 3(a-b) was explored. The reaction was carried out in a basic medium to obtain new triazole-benzodiazepine derivatives 4(a-b) with improved selectivity. Structural characterization was performed using 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction analysis. A comprehensive theoretical study was conducted to elucidate the electronic structure and reactivity of two newly synthesized triazole-benzodiazepine derivatives (4a and 4b). Frontier Molecular Orbital (FMO), Electrostatic Potential (ESP), Fukui function, and global descriptor analyses consistently revealed that the triazole-benzodiazepine core drives charge transfer, while the ester and triazole groups are the main sites of nucleophilic and electrophilic attacks. According to Hirshfeld surface analysis, there was no significant π–π stacking interactions were observed, and weak hydrogen bonding between oxygen and nitrogen atoms play a critical directing function, even if dispersion forces (H···H contacts) predominate. Drug similarity and in silico ADMET studies indicated that both compounds exhibit high predicted oral bioavailability, blood-brain barrier crossing, and good gastrointestinal absorption all of which suggest that the central nervous system may be activated. Docking simulation results demonstrated that both compounds represent promising prospects for the development of oral bioavailable KIF11 inhibitors with potential anticancer effects