The role of information quality in designing effective nutrition education programs for pecans

Pecans have many health benefits and are known for being part of a heart-healthy diet.Nutrition education is a key component in increasing pecan consumption among young consumers.In an effort to improve the efficacy of nutrition education targeting a younger demographic,this study aims to investigate how the information quality of a nutrition education program affects consumers'nutrition knowledge,trust,and intentions to recommend and try pecans.A total of 271 usable questionnaires were collected from college students at a southeast university.Our findings indicate that information quality could directly influence consumer knowledge and trust in an information source and indirectly influences consumers'willingness to recommend or try a product.This study also showed that improved consumer knowledge and trust in an information source could strongly affect their willingness to recommend pecan products.The findings of this study can be used to increase the efficacy of educational marketing strategies in the pecan industry and drive an increase in consumption among younger populations.

Correlation of gut microbiota and neurotransmitters in a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder

Objective:To determine the effect of gut microbiota on a rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)and explore the correlation of gut microbiota with behavior and neurotransmitters.Methods:We established a single prolonged stress(SPS)model to examine the pathogenesis of PTSD on rat behavior,gut microbiota,and neurotransmitter levels.Rats were separated into control and model groups,and neurotransmitter levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Then,16 S rRNA sequencing was used to compare the gut microbiota between the control and model groups.Results:Compared with those in the control group,freezing time significantly increased,while number of standing upright,crossing frequency,time spent in the central arena,and total distance traveled were significantly reduced in the model group after exposure to SPS(all P<.05).Meanwhile,serotonin,or 5-hydroxytryptamine,levels in the brain in the model group were significantly lower than those the control group(P紏.0332).In addition,changes were observed in the gut microbiota diversity and relative abundances of bacterial phyla,orders,families,and genera in the model group.Especially,changes in Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria levels were most pronounced after SPS exposure.Correlation analysis showed that the strongest positive correlation was found between Bacteroidaceae and 5-HT(P?.0009).Moreover,RF32 abundance was the most negatively related to 5-HT(P?.0009),crossing frequency(P?.0007),and total distance(P?.0003).Conclusion:Our results suggest that SPS model rats showed differences in behavior,neurotransmitter levels,and gut microbiota with control rats.Moreover,Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Cyanobacteria,and Proteobacteria were most relevant to the exhibited fear-like and anxiety-like behaviors and significant serotonin content reduction in SPS model rats.

Antioxidant properties and sensory evaluation of microgreens from commercial and local farms

Microgreens are young and tender vegetables or herbs that provide attractive color,flavor,and nutrition.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and sensory qualities of broccoli microgreens grown by different methods(hydroponically vs.soil grown)and from different sources(commercial vs.local farm).No significant difference in total phenolic concentration and antioxidant capacity was found in all broccoli microgreens,but a significantly higher chlorophyll concentration was found in farm microgreens than the commercial ones.Moreover,the soil-grown farm microgreens possessed a significantly higher vitamin C concentration than hydroponically-grown farm sample and commercial sample.Participants in the sensory study favored farm samples regardless of growing method,and their overall liking was significantly correlated with taste of the microgreens.In addition,six other microgreens from the local farm were analyzed for their nutritional quality.These conclusions suggested a potential for consumers to still benefit nutritionally by purchasing commercial microgreens at a lower cost;however,it may be worthwhile for consumers to purchase microgreens from local farms for a better sensory experience.

Nutritional quality and health benefits of microgreens,a crop of modern agriculture

Microgreens are young,tender greens that are used to enhance the color,texture,or flavor of salads and main dishes.They can be grown in small scales and indoors,making them widely adopted by controlled environment agriculture,an indoor farming practice is particularly important for feeding increasing urban populations.Besides,microgreens are attracting more consumers’attention due to their high nutritional value and unique sensory characteristics.This review focuses on the nutrition quality,sensory evaluation,pre-and post-harvest interventions,and health benefits of microgreens.Microgreens are rich in vitamins(e.g.,VC),minerals(e.g.,copper and zinc),and phytochemicals,including carotenoids and phenolic compounds,which act as antioxidants in human body.Pre-harvest interventions,such as illumination,salinity stress,nutrient fortification,and natural substrates,infl uence the photosynthetic and metabolic activities of microgreens and were shown to improve their nutritional quality,while the effects varied among species.After harvesting,packaging method and storage temperature can infl uence the nutrient retention in microgreens.Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that microgreens have anti-infl ammatory,anti-cancer,anti-bacterial,and anti-hyperglycemia properties,making it a new functional food beneficial to human health.The sensory attributes and overall acceptability and liking of microgreens are primarily infl uenced by their phytochemical content.Microgreens are only getting popular during the last decades and research on microgreens is still at its early stage.More studies are warranted to optimize the pre-and post-harvest practices for nutrient enhancement and retention and to explore the potential health benefits of different microgreens for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.