<p dir="ltr">Specialty crop growers in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada have been struggling for decades to manage the carrot weevil (<i>Listronotus oregonensis</i>). In carrot, parsley, and celery production, growers may experience 40-100% yield loss, despite the intensive use of insecticides (Boivin, 1999; Jasinski, 2008; Telfer et al., 2019). To improve sustainable management of this native pest in commercial vegetable production, we must address existing knowledge gaps in carrot weevil mate-finding behavior, population genetic diversity and gene flow, and grower adoption and efficacy of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies, like cultivar selection, to combat this pest. To date, these factors have not been evaluated in the carrot weevil system, yet together they have significant implications for developing novel monitoring tools, grower decision making, and the potential evolution of insecticide resistance in this damaging pest.</p><p dir="ltr">To address knowledge gaps in grower adoption and the efficacy of IPM strategies, such as cultivar selection, I investigated the influence of carrot cultivar on the oviposition preference of carrot weevil in the laboratory and quantified the diversity of insect assemblages on carrots in Ohio and Indiana. In tandem, I delivered an online survey to specialty crop growers in Indiana and Ohio to measure their knowledge and use of insect-resistant cultivars as a part of an IPM strategy. I found that carrot cultivar did not impact carrot weevil oviposition preference, but rather the number of petiole trichomes was positively correlated with the cumulative number of egg scars found on a given carrot cultivar. Similarly, cultivar did not influence the diversity of insect assemblages associated with carrot foliage, but hemipterans were the dominant group found across cultivars. Moreover, insect diversity across all carrot cultivars was high, with Shannon-Weiner diversity indices ranging from 2.14 to 2.45.</p><p dir="ltr">I analyzed survey responses from vegetable growers regarding their knowledge, current use, and future use of insect-resistant cultivars and found no significant differences between conventional or organic growers, in either Indiana or Ohio, or across experience levels regarding their knowledge and current or future use of insect-resistant cultivars. Although a greater number of organic growers were aware of insect-resistant cultivars, they were not incorporated into their IPM plans. In contrast, half of responding conventional growers indicated implementing insect-resistant cultivars in current IPM plans. Growers indicated that more information about the efficacy, costs, and benefits of insect-resistant vegetable cultivars would be most helpful in informing their decision to incorporate this IPM tactic on their farms.</p><p dir="ltr">To address knowledge gaps regarding carrot weevil mate-finding behavior, I investigated behavioral response to conspecific frass using Y-tube bioassays and the volatiles of frass samples were analyzed using gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS) as starting points to assess the presence of volatile chemical cues that might function as sex or aggregation pheromones. I found that male and female weevils oriented strongly towards volatiles from male frass. However, conspecifics were not attracted to mixed or female frass, suggesting male frass contains behaviorally relevant chemical cues that are unique or present in greater abundance than in female frass. When I analyzed the chemical abundance and composition of the male frass volatiles, I found 16 common compounds across all samples and no compounds were unique to the male volatile blend. Specifically, (1S)-6,6-dimethyl-2-methylene-Bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane and (1R)-2,6,6-Trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-2-ene were present in significantly higher abundance in extracts of males frass compared to those of female frass.</p><p dir="ltr">Finally, to address knowledge gaps in the genetic diversity and gene flow of carrot weevil populations in the Great Lakes Region of the U. S., I used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to compare genetic diversity and structure of agricultural populations of carrot weevil in Michigan and Ohio. I found limited genetic differentiation between three carrot weevil populations collected from celery and parsley fields located in Michigan and Ohio. I also found high inbreeding coefficients and heterozygote deficiency in all populations, suggesting that all carrot weevil populations are locally confined. These results suggest significant gene flow between populations, which has implications for management, specifically the mitigation and management of insecticide resistance.</p><p dir="ltr">Together, the results from my dissertation can be applied to the improvement of carrot weevil IPM across the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Further investigations into the impact of physical characteristics, specifically petiole trichomes, on carrot weevil oviposition behavior can inform the breeding and development of resistant carrot cultivars. Results from my behavioral bioassay studies represent a critical first step towards the identification of an aggregation or sex pheromone, which would greatly improve detection of resident carrot weevil populations when used in conjunction with current monitoring traps. My results also suggest that monitoring and mitigation of insecticide resistance in carrot weevil populations should be considered at the regional scale, at minimum, with significant gene flow between carrot weevil populations within the Great Lakes Region.</p>

<p>The  Pakistan  poultry  industry  has  developed  into  the  11thlargest  poultry  industry  in  the world  and  poultry  products  provide  high-quality  and  affordable  protein  sources  to  communities throughout the country. However, <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum, the etiological agent for fowl typhoid, is  endemic  in  Pakistan  with  infections  leading  to  high  mortality  and  substantial  economic  loss. Currently, <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum  infectionsin  Pakistan  poultry  are  controlled  with  antibiotics. The continued emergence of antibiotic resistance, however, has led to global initiatives to reduce the  use  of  antibiotics  in  both  human  and  veterinary  medicine.  Concurrently,  the  Pakistan government  recently  introduced  new  national  policies  that  limit  the  use  of  antibiotics  for performance  in  livestock  and  poultry  production.  As  such,  controlling  bacterial  infections  in poultry  without  increasing  the  likelihood  of  antibiotic use could  ensure  the  sustainability  of Pakistan  poultry  production  without  posing  risks  to  public  health.  Toward  this  end,  we hypothesized that <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum infections inchickens could be prevented or otherwise controlled through the use of phages. To test this hypothesis, wastewater samples were collected from Lahore, Pakistan and different cities of Indiana, US and processed to isolate bacteriophages. The  phages  were  characterized  in  terms  of  morphology,  host  spectra,  lytic  capacity,  genomic sequencing,  and  survivability  in  different  environments. Transmission  electron  microscopy showed these phages belonged to myoviridae (n = 5) and podoviridae (n = 1) families. Spectrum analysis  revealed  that  each  phage  lysed  at  least  8  out  of  10  different  strains  of <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum and significantly reduced (P < 0.05) <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum when co-cultured in liquid medium with the bacterium. Stability of the phages was tested insimulated gastric fluid (SGF; pH= 2.5) andsimulated intestinal fluid (SIF; pH~6.8). Results showed that phage concentrationswere reduced to undetectable levels when exposed to SGF for more than 5 minutes. However, exposure to SIF did not result in appreciable reductions in phage concentrations. To mitigate potential effects of  gastric  environments,  phages  were  encapsulated  using  a  sodium  alginate-based  method.  In contrast  to  unprotected  phages,  encapsulated  phages  remained  viable  (~100%)  after  30  minutes exposure to SGF. Additionally, encapsulation efficiencies ranged between 90-99%. Encapsulated phages were sequentially incubated in SGF (30 minutes) and SIF(120 minutes) to determine the rate  of  release  of  the  phages  from  capsules. All  phages  were  released from  capsules after  60 minutes  of  exposureto  SIF. To  determine  if  the  phages  effectively  controlled <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum infections in chickens, 100, day-old Jumbo Cornish Rock Cross birds were randomly assigned  to  one  of  four  treatments:  1)  Control 1  (bacterial  challenge,  no  phage  treatment);  2) Control 2 (no phage or bacterial challenge); 3) challenged with SalmonellaGallinarum and treated with  unprotected  phages;  and  4)  challenged  with <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum  and  treated  with encapsulated phages. At7 d of age, chicks receiving the bacterial challenge were administered 5 X106CFU (500 μL) of <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum. For birds in phage treatment groups, the phages were administered (500 uL; 5 X108 PFU/mL or g) at 0, 12, and 24 hours post-challenge. Six birds from each group were euthanized at 1, 2, and 4 days post-challenge (dpc) and cecal SalmonellaGallinarum  concentrations  were  quantified.  At 1  dpc, birds  treated  with  unprotected  and encapsulated  phages  had significantly lower (P  <  0.05) SalmonellaGallinarum concentrations(4.36 ± 0.20and 5.05 ± 0.22 logCFU/g, respectively) than those found in untreated birds (5.71 ± 0.13). Likewise,  at4  dpc, <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum concentrationsin  ceca  of  birds  treated  with encapsulated and unprotected phages were significantly lower (P < 0.05; 3.26 ± 0.62 and 4.02 ± 0.15 log  CFU/g,  respectively)  than  those  found  in untreated  birds(4.65  ±  0.08log  CFU/g). A second trial was conducted with higher challenge doses (1 mL at 1× 109CFU) and an additional treatment including a mixture (1:1) of unprotected and encapsulated phages. At1dpc, <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum concentrations  in the ceca  of  birds  treated  with unprotected  phages,  encapsulated phages, and a mixture of unprotected  and encapsulated phages  were significantly lower(4.28 ± 0.11, 3.72 ± 0.40, and 3.81 ± 0.36log CFU/g, respectively) than found in those of untreated birds (5.26 ± 0.19log CFU/g). At 2 dpc, concentrations of<em> Salmonella </em>Gallinarumin the ceca of birds treated  with  unprotected,  encapsulated,  and  a mixture  of  unprotected  and  encapsulated  phages were significantly  lower  (P  <  0.05; 4.31  ±0.53, 3.96  ±0.61,  and 4.38  ±  0.44logCFU/g, respectively) than those found in the ceca of untreated birds (5.72 ± 0.27logCFU/g).However, no significant differences were found in concentrations of <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum in the ceca of birds treated with encapsulated phages versus those treated with unprotected phagesor a mixture of   encapsulated   and   unprotected   phages.   Similarly,   at   4   dpc, <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum concentrations in the ceca  of  birds  treated  with unprotected  phages, encapsulated  phages,  and  a mixture of unprotected and encapsulated phages were significantly lower (3.17 ± 0.45, 3.56 ± 0.51, and 3.81 ± 0.54log CFU/g, respectively) than found in those of untreated birds (5.79 ± 0.08log CFU/g). At  7  d  post-challenge,  concentrations of <em>Salmonella</em> Gallinarum in  the  ceca  of  birds treated  with mixture  of  unprotected  and  encapsulated phages(2.40  ±  0.55log  CFU/g)  were significantly lower (P  <  0.05) than  those  found  in the ceca  of  untreated  birds(7.08  ±  0.19log CFU/g). Similarly,  concentrations of<em> Salmonella</em> Gallinarum  in the  ceca of  birds  treated  with encapsulated and unprotected phages were significantly lower (P < 0.05; 4.29 ± 0.39and 4.60 ± 0.37 log  CFU/g,  respectively)  than  those  found  in  untreated  birds.  Taken  together,  these  data indicate that <em>Salmonella </em>Gallinarum infections could be controlled with phage-based treatments. Additionally, the use of a mixture of unprotected and encapsulated phages may be more effective, presumably  by  allowing  unprotected  phages  to  act  immediately  in  the  proximal  gastrointestinal tract  (GIT;  e.g.,  crop)  with  encapsulated  phages  having  greater  activity  once  released  from capsules in the distal small intestine. While no deleterious effects of the phages were observed on the chickens themselves, continuing studies should more comprehensively assess host-response to phage treatment including potential impact on microbial communities throughout the chicken GIT.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Improving animal health, production, and reproductive performance is of great relevance in breeding programs. The integration of pedigree, large-scale phenotypic data, and genomic information for breeding purposes can lead to a more sustainable livestock industry. In this context, the main objectives of this dissertation were to develop background knowledge for improving livestock welfare and understand the genetic and genomic background of welfare indicators in livestock using quantitative genomic strategies.</p><p dir="ltr">This dissertation includes five original studies. The first study objective aimed to estimate genetic parameters of vaginal temperature (T_V) across time and environments in lactating sows under hot conditions and identify genomic regions associated with T_V variability. We evaluated multiple random regression models. The random regression model fitting fourth order Legendre orthogonal polynomials had the lowest BIC (best model) and required relatively lower computational time. The heritability estimates for T_V ranged from 0.09 to 0.20 across time and environments. Two important genomic regions located on chromosomes 10 (59.370–59.998 Mb) and 16 (21.548–21.966 Mb) were identified.</p><p dir="ltr">The second study objective proposed 15 novel climatic resilience indicators based on variability in automatically recorded T_V and investigated their genomic background. Our findings showed that most of these novel indicators are heritable and could be used for selecting pigs with improved climatic resilience during lactation. We also found that individuals with a higher climatic resilience are more likely to exhibit better physiological responses, have higher body condition score, and enhanced reproductive performance under hot conditions.</p><p dir="ltr">The third study aimed to identify genomic regions and biological mechanisms underlying climatic resilience indicators in lactating sows under heat stress conditions. The genomic regions identified were located at SSC6:16,449,770 bp and SSC7:39,254,889 bp. Many heat tolerance or heat stress related genes were identified, including <i>HSP90AB1</i>, <i>DMGDH</i>, and <i>HOMER1.</i></p><p dir="ltr">The fourth study aimed to systematically investigate population structure and genetic diversity of worldwide Duroc subpopulations and other selected pig breeds based on genomic information. Significant differences were found in the genetic diversity levels, population structure, and ancestry within Duroc subpopulations and between Duroc and other selected pig breeds. High linkage disequilibrium levels were observed in Durocs. The objective of the fifth study was to investigate the genetic relationship between longitudinal trait functional longevity and other economically important traits, including growth, carcass, management and teat health-related traits, in American angus cattle using bivariate random regression model. The genetic correlations between functional longevity and other traits were mostly different in primiparous and multiparous cattle, which indicates parity has important impact on functional longevity. Also, Older animals with longer functional longevity tend to have lower growth performance, more ideal foot health, better temperament, bigger ultrasound fat thickness and ultrasound ribeye area, smaller teat size, and tighter udder suspension would have longer functional longevity.</p><p dir="ltr">This dissertation focuses on improving livestock welfare and sustainability by integrating genomic, phenotypic, and pedigree information in breeding programs. Key findings include the heritability of traits like climatic resilience, vaginal temperature, and functional longevity in pigs and cattle, as well as identifying genomic regions and diversity patterns critical for breeding decisions. These insights contribute to developing more resilient, productive, and welfare-oriented livestock populations.</p>

<p dir="ltr">With the accelerating pace of Baby Boomer retirements from the workforce, agricultural companies need to understand how to recruit and retain the upcoming generation of workers. The generation currently entering the workforce has been labeled Generation Z. The purpose of this study was to describe workplace attractiveness factors for FFA members belonging to Generation Z. Research questions were: 1) What factors of employer attractiveness is considered important to FFA Alumni belonging to Gen. Z and 2) What is the relationship between the respondents’ demographics and the factors/values of employer attractiveness?</p><p dir="ltr">The population for this study were past FFA members between the ages of 18 and 25 who were a part of one of three groups: American Degree recipients, FFA Alumni, or Forever Blue Network. This study was conducted in the spring of 2023 using Qualtrics. Conclusions from this study include agricultural employers must incorporate the five workplace attractiveness values into their organizational culture, policies, and practices; Generation Z employees who are unwilling to move for the job are less likely to be willing to meet company expectations beyond a typical work week; and Generation Z employees with a BS degree value a supportive company.</p><p dir="ltr">Agricultural employers can use the findings from this study to tailor their recruitment strategies and the findings can also guide School-Based Agricultural Education in its preparation of students for agricultural careers while ensuring the industry's continual growth and relevance by aligning education, career pathways, and employer engagement with the preferences of Generation Z.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Gut microbiota dysbiosis is a hallmark of inflammatory disorders such as ulcerative colitis (UC). Flavonoids, recognized for their anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulatory properties, offer a safer alternative to conventional drugs. While gut microbiota play a critical role in flavonoid efficacy, most studies rely on murine-native microbiota, limiting insights into interactions with human-associated microbiota. This dissertation addresses this gap by investigating how human microbiota influence the anti-colitic effects of 3-deoxyflavonoids (3-DF) and 3-hydroxyflavonoids (3-HF).</p><p dir="ltr">In the first study, germ-free IL-10−/− mice were colonized with microbiota from healthy human donors and supplemented with diets enriched in 3-DF, 3-HF, or both. While pooling the data from different donors for each diet showed no significant effects on inflammatory markers or microbial diversity. Anthocyanin-containing diets (3-HF) improved gut barrier function. Importantly, 3-HF effects varied by donor microbiota, with significant benefits in specific recipients.</p><p dir="ltr">The second study used UC-associated microbiota to colonize mice. Flavonoids either ameliorated or aggravated colitis symptoms depending on the microbiota composition. Improvements in gut barrier function and inflammation positively correlated with short-chain fatty acid and bile acid levels.</p><p dir="ltr">In the third study, fecal supernatants (FS) were evaluated <i>in vitro</i>. FS from healthy microbiota attenuated NF-κB activation and maintained barrier integrity, while FS from UC-associated microbiota exacerbated inflammation and permeability. Temporal analysis revealed constrained modulation of dysbiotic microbiota compared to healthy microbiota.</p><p dir="ltr">These findings underscore the pivotal role of microbiota composition and health status in flavonoid activity. They lay the foundation for personalized dietary interventions targeting inflammation based on individual microbiota profiles.</p>

<div>Shifts in the human diet to more refined foods and ingredients have contributed to the rise in metabolic disease rates associated with long-term consumption of foods causing swift rises in blood glucose response. Foods which result in a more moderate blood glucose curve are considered healthier by increasing satiety and reducing oxidative stress. Sorghum products contain naturally slowly digested starch. The matrix of sorghum porridges contains kafirin protein bodies which cross link around gelatinizing starch molecules, while similar nascent matrices in other cereals aggregate and collapse. The 3-deoxyanthocyanidin pigments unique to sorghum may be accountable for the difference in matrix stability. The density of the starch entrapped in the matrices is thought to partially inhibit α-amylase access to the starch, reducing overall starch digestion and thereby mitigating glucose response. The purpose of this work was to increase our understanding of how phenolic compounds in sorghum interact with endosperm proteins to create a stable matrix, and to explore if the knowledge might be translated to other starchy cereal products. In the first study, phenolic extracts from flours (sorghum, corn masa, white rice) were characterized for phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phenolic components, and their ability to interact with a model protein system (ovalbumin) in order to examine protein polymerization. In the second study, specific phenolic compounds in sorghums (<i>p</i>-coumaric, sinapic, and gallic acids; (+)-catechin; and apigeninidin, a 3-deoxyanthocyanidin found in sorghums) were interacted in the model protein system at different concentrations to observe extent and type of protein polymerization, and promising compounds subjected to fluorescence quenching spectroscopy to examine the nature of the interactions. The final study explored the effects of apigeninidin addition to a yellow corn flour and naturally present anthocyanin (blue corn) on starch digestion and microstructure of porridges by utilizing an <i>in vitro</i> α-amylase assay and confocal microscopy. </div><div>The slow digestion of starch in cooked sorghum products can be attributed to the 3-deoxyanthocyanidin compounds present in the grain participating in sulfhydryl-disulfide interchanges which results in extensive kafirin cross-linking surrounding starch granules. While other phenolic and redox-active components may affect matrix formation and stability, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins appear to have the most direct influence, and their ability to modify food protein matrices appears to have a direct result on starch digestion <i>in vitro</i>.</div>

<p>Successful adoption of biofortified orange maize in developing countries requires careful consideration of factors across the chain from farm to fork. This includes consideration of post-harvest storage conditions optimal for the retention of both proviatamin A carotenoids and cooking quality critical to consumers. In these considerations, identification of economical storage methods is critical considering the limitations within specific countries that biofortified maize is being disseminated. To address these points, this dissertation research focused on evaluation of the utility of the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags as a post-harvest storage solution for biofortified maize. The specific focus of this research was to monitor retention of provitamin A and other carotenoids in two biofortified maize genotypes (OPVI and OPVII) as well as storage effect on flour functionality. Finally, a preliminary assessment of the impacts of storage on carotenoid bioaccessibility was completed to begin to translate findings to practice.</p><p>Maize grain from 2016 harvest was stored at ambient conditions for eight months in either PICS bags with or without an O₂ scavenger, (PICS-oxy) and (PICS-noxy), respectively and compared to storage in common polypropylene woven bags (control). After 4 months of storage carotenoid content was significantly higher (p<0.05) in PICS-oxy compared to PICS-noxy and woven bags demonstrating the importance of entrapped oxygen on maize carotenoid degradation. Furthermore, differences in carotenoid stability between maize genotypes were observed with OPVI having higher retention than OPVII. After 8 months, carotenoid retention remained dependent on storage bag and genotype with retention being greater in PICS-oxy and PICS-noxy compared to woven bags. However, final levels after 8 months were more similar between storage methods. Overall, oxygen content and genotype were found to be determining factors in the effectiveness of PICS to mitigate carotenoid degradation during post-harvest storage of maize.</p><p>While reducing the rate of carotenoid degradation during postharvest storage of biofortified maize is important, success of biofortified maize is also dependent on consumer adoption of these grains and their performance in traditional food preparation. Assessment of the rheological and functional properties of these two biofortified maize genotypes as a function of post-harvest storage was completed to assess the impact of post-harvest storage in PICS bags on flour functionality and rheological properties for the two biofortified orange maize genotypes and a control white maize genotype. Flour pasting profiles were assessed initially and at 4 and 8 months. After 8 month storage in woven and PICS bag, OPVI and OPVII produced porridges with similar viscosities to their initial viscosities regardless of postharvest storage type. White maize viscosities progressively decreased with storage and were significantly lower (p<0.05) in woven compared to PICS storage. Sequestration of oxygen (PICS-oxy) had modest but significant effects (p<0.05) on key pasting parameters including peak and final viscosities. These results suggest that oxygen sequestration has a critical effect on final flour functionality. DTT treatment partially restored flour pasting profiles suggesting disulfide linkages may modify pasting profiles of flour. There was also an increase in free ferrulic and <i>p</i>-coumaric acids during storage which may have contributed to observed decreases in porridge viscosities. Evidence of this was found through Raman spectroscopy with spectral intensity at both 478cm^-1 and 2911cm^-1 decreasing with storage suggesting the potential for structural changes induced by storage on starch polymer. While storage in PICS bags does not seem to adversely affect flour functionality it may provide some additional economic benefit resulting from requiring proportionally less flour to achieve similar final viscosities as flour from woven bag stored grains. </p><p>Finally, the effect of postharvest storage on bioaccessibility of carotenoids was explored using experimental wet cooked porridges made from ‘fresh’ and stored grains using an established three stage in-<i>vitro</i> digestion model. Relative carotenoid bioaccessibility (% micellarization) was generally higher in less viscous porridge made from grains stored in woven bags compared to porridge from initial or PICS bags stored grains suggesting that higher viscosity might partly explain lower relative bioaccessibility in porridge from grains stored in PICS bags. Absolute carotenoid bioaccessibility from experimental porridge was dependent on carotenoid species and storage system. Extrapolation of relative bioaccessibility (%) to absolute bioaccessibility (µg/g flour) suggests that fresh grains and their corresponding porridges would provide more absolute bioaccessible carotenoids compared to stored grains despite some improvement in relative accessibility. As such, storage losses remain the main factor impacting total available carotenoids and should continue to be an area of focus for future mitigation. With the potential to minimize post-harvest losses, improve carotenoid retention and provide a product with improved cooking performance, PICS bags do appear to offer a viable storage alternative to improve both food and nutrition security in developing countries.</p><p></p>

Agri-food production is necessary to sustain the growing global population, but it adversely impacts the environment in various ways, including climate change, eutrophication, acidification, land and water uses, and loss of biodiversity, etc. These environmental impacts can also negatively affect human health, which could in theory outweigh the health benefits of nutritious food. While better agricultural practices need to be developed and applied to minimize the environmental burdens associated with the production chains, consumers are expected to implement more sustainable lifestyles and eat more environment-friendly foods. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an analytical tool to evaluate the sustainability of a product by examining all the resources used and emissions generated during its life cycle. The first part of this work focused on the upstream production. An LCA of organic blueberry production was conducted to evaluate the trade-off between seasonal and local options and answer the question of whether imported fresh or domestic frozen blueberries are more sustainable. Fresh blueberries from Chile showed superior environmental performance within 2-week storage, due to lower electricity use associated with refrigeration and higher farming yield. Furthermore, length of storage and transportation distance were also found important; if farming yields are comparable, consumption of locally produced, fresh blueberries will be a better choice because of less energy use and shorter transportation distance. The second part of this work targeted at the downstream consumption and aimed to reduce the U.S. environmental footprint through changing adult eating habits. Supplemental functional units were applied in the LCA to incorporate the functions of food to provide nutrition and satiety. With controlled caloric intake, vegetarian diets were found overall more sustainable. However, large possible variations in the environmental impacts of the compared diets were observed due to wide range of nutritional quality of selected foods. Animal products, including meat and dairy especially, and discretionary foods were identified as hotspots in the American diet, that is, reducing the consumption of these foods or deliberately choosing more sustainable alternatives within the same food categories, like chicken and low-fat milk, can significantly improve the sustainability of current American dietary patterns. <br>

<p>Low calorie sweeteners (LCS) provide sweetness with little to no energy. Each sweetener has a unique chemical structure that possesses unique sensory and functional characteristics. While LCS are generally considered in aggregate, these unique chemical structures have potential implications for sensory, metabolic, and behavioral differences that may impact body weight and glycemia. Therefore, two, twelve-week experiments were conducted to determine the effect of chronic LCS consumption on body weight, glycemia, and ingestive behaviors. </p> <p>The first experiment investigated the differential effects of four LCS (saccharin, aspartame, rebaudioside A, and sucralose) and sucrose consumed for twelve weeks on body weight, glycemia, and ingestive behaviors among healthy adults with overweight or obesity (body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 40 kg/m²). In a parallel-arm design, 154 participants were randomly assigned to consume 1.25 to 1.75L of beverage sweetened with 1 of the 5 sweeteners daily for 12 weeks. Body weight was measured every two weeks; energy intake, energy expenditure, and appetite were assessed every 4 weeks; and glucose tolerance was measured at baseline and week 12. Every four weeks, participants completed 24-hour urine collections to determine study compliance via PABA excretion. Sucrose and saccharin consumption led to increased body weight across the 12-week intervention (Δ weight = +1.85 and +1.18kg, p ≤ 0.02) and did not differ from each other. While there was no significant change in body weight with consumption of the other LCS treatments compared to baseline, changes in weight in comparison to the sucrose treatment (sucrose – LCS) were significantly different for aspartame, rebA, and sucralose after 12 weeks (weight difference = 1.13, 1.25, 2.63kg, respectively; p ≤ 0.03). In addition, change in body weight at week 12 was significantly lower between sucralose and all other LCS (weight difference ≥ - 1.37 kg, p=0.008).</p> <p>The second experiment investigated the effect of daily aspartame ingestion on glycemia, body weight, and appetite. One hundred lean (BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m²) adults were randomly assigned to consume 0, 350, or 1050 mg aspartame/day for twelve weeks in a parallel-arm design. This experiment followed a similar protocol but measured body weight and blood pressure weekly and contained a 240-min glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) with measurements of selected hormones at baseline and week 12. Participants also collected 24-h urine samples every four weeks. There were no group differences for glucose, insulin, resting leptin, glucagon-like peptide 1, or gastric inhibitory peptide at baseline or week 12. There also were no effects of aspartame ingestion on appetite, body weight, or body composition. </p> <p>These trials demonstrate that all LCS contribute negligible energy but should not be aggregated because of their differing effects on body weight. Sucrose and saccharin consumption significantly increased body weight compared to aspartame, rebA, and sucralose. This differential change in body weight among LCS indicates individual LCS likely exert different physiological responses beyond the contribution of sweetness with negligible energy. Saccharin, rebA, sucralose, and aspartame (ingested at three doses) for twelve weeks had no effect on glycemia. These data do not support the view that LCS are problematic for the management of glycemia. If substantiated through additional testing, findings from this trial have implications for consumers, food industry, clinicians, and policy makers. Some LCS may not hold the anticipated beneficial effects on body weight (e.g., saccharin) and positive effects of one LCS (sucralose) may be attenuated if combined with select other LCS. Going forward it will be important to consider each LCS as a distinct entity with respect to its potential health effects.</p>

<div> <p>Proper understanding of materials science is critical in understanding the functionality of ingredients in food products, as well as their behavior in these products over time. Amorphous materials are metastable, eventually rearranging to the thermodynamically stable crystalline state. Amorphous materials have properties which are beneficial in some food products: they are softer in texture and dissolve more rapidly. The amorphous state of sucrose might provide an increase in quality in applications like powdered beverages where rapid dissolution is preferred. A number of classes of compounds have been shown to delay the crystallization of amorphous sucrose; however, polyphenols, particularly their glycosylated forms, have been little explored. Glycosylated polyphenols contain two distinct structural regions: a more hydrophilic sugar unit(s) and a more hydrophobic polyphenol backbone. While the sugar unit should be able to easily associate with sucrose molecules, the polyphenolic backbone may not and might provide hindrance to crystal nucleation and growth.</p> <p> </p> <p> Thiamine is an essential nutrient that is found naturally in foods such as whole grains and pork. The processing of grains removes nearly the entirety of the natural thiamine content; thus, foods are often enriched with synthetic thiamine. Two salts of thiamine are used commercially: thiamine mononitrate and thiamine chloride hydrochloride. The two forms have specific applications driven by their specific properties, specifically their aqueous solubility and hygroscopicity. While these two salts provide adequate functionality, it is possible new salts may have properties beneficial in certain food applications. A method making use of silver nitrate was developed to produce new salt forms. An intermediate in this reaction, TCl·H₂O, was characterized including measurements of stability in aqueous solutions and solid state properties.</p> </div> <br>