The intersection of nutrition and digital innovation is rapidly reshaping approaches to dietary assessment, behavior change, and public health promotion. This study integrates findings from a comprehensive narrative literature review, expert opinion synthesis, a case study of digital nutrition interventions in Syria, and a quantitative cross-sectional needs assessment involving 900 residents of Damascus Governorate. The quantitative survey is reconceptualized as a foundational stage identifying the prevailing nutrition challenges and behavioral patterns among Damascus residents. The subsequent narrative review and Syrian case study build on these baseline insights, critically evaluating how current digital interventions align with, or fall short of, addressing these empirically defined local needs. The qualitative component identifies emerging trends in personalized nutrition platforms, mobile food tracking applications, and tele-nutrition counseling, highlighting their diverse functionalities and potential benefits in both developed and humanitarian settings. The Syrian case study illustrates how context-specific digital initiatives—such as e-Nutrition platforms and mobile apps—can yield documented positive impacts on nutrition knowledge and dietary habits, even amidst crisis conditions. The quantitative needs assessment reveals significant health concerns, including an estimated high prevalence, based on self-reported data, of physical inactivity (58% not meeting WHO recommendations), suboptimal dietary intake, and overweight/obesity (55%). These estimates, derived from a convenience sample with likely education and digital engagement biases, highlight notable disparities by sex, age, and education. Multivariate regression analysis confirms key sociodemographic predictors of these behaviors. Specifically, females were significantly associated with low physical activity and overweight/obesity (AORs 1.80 and 1.45, respectively), while males were associated with low fruit/vegetable intake (AOR 1.60). Collectively, the findings underscore the promise of digital technologies in advancing nutrition equity and health outcomes, while also emphasizing the need for culturally adapted, targeted, and evidence-informed interventions that specifically address the identified local disparities. Addressing barriers such as digital literacy, infrastructure limitations, and privacy concerns is essential for equitable implementation. The study calls for targeted policies and future research to formally validate local digital tools and enhance their scalability in resource-constrained and conflict-affected settings. Graphical Abstract

Municipal solid waste incineration generates by-products like nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen chloride, contributing to environmental issues such as acid rain, ozone depletion, and photochemical smog. While industrial sites use desulfurization and denitrification to reduce emissions, no studies have modeled the formation mechanisms and influencing factors of these pollutants from a pollution reduction perspective. This study first analyzes the municipal solid waste incineration process to identify the main factors affecting the concentration of pollutants related to desulfurization and denitrification. A coupled numerical simulation model for the whole life cycle desulfurization and denitrification process in real municipal solid waste incineration power plants is then constructed using a method that couples two software tools. Next, based on a double orthogonal experimental design, virtual simulation data are generated using the numerical simulation model. Finally, an improved interval type-II fuzzy broad learning algorithm is applied to construct a mechanism model for the whole process of desulfurization and denitrification-related pollutant concentration, using the obtained virtual simulated data. Using a Beijing incineration plant as a case study, the whole life cycle model is successfully established. The research provides data for optimizing pollutant reduction, examines influencing factors, and lays the groundwork for future intelligent control.

Colorectal cancer ranks as the fourth most frequent cause of cancer-related fatalities on a global scale. The present study aims at assessing the anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of Solenostemma argel extract on colorectal cancer cells (HCT-116). The antiproliferative activity was investigated using Sulfo-Rhodamine-B (SRB) assay and the apoptotic effects were demonstrated utilizing acridine orange/ ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining method. The antiproliferative results demonstrated that the extract exhibited dose-dependent antiproliferative activity, with an IC50 value of 85.3 μg/ml. The apoptosis results clearly demonstrated the ability of the methanolic extract of Solenostemma argel in inducing apoptosis in HCT-116 cancer cells. In conclusion, the investigation highlights the considerable antiproliferative and apoptotic impacts of Solenostemma argel leaf extract on HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. This underscores its potential as a promising chemopreventive agent specifically targeting HCT-116 colon cancer cells.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and optimize modified millet starches as pharmaceutical excipients in paracetamol tablet formulations, using factorial experimental designs to compare them against commonly used excipients in the industry. Methods: Paracetamol tablets containing Carboxymethyl Millet Starch (CMMS) and Pregelatinized Millet Starch (PGMS) were evaluated through official quality control tests such as hardness, friability, disintegration time, and dissolution profile. Compatibility studies were performed using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The formulations were optimized based on statistical analysis using design expert V8.0.6. Results: Tablets formulated with Carboxymethyl Millet Starch (CMMS) and Pregelatinized Millet Starch (PGMS) as excipients demonstrated a hardness range of 6.1–8.8 kg/cm² and disintegration times of 1.0–7.5 min. CMMS-based tablets showed slower drug release, reaching 80% release within 60 min. Statistical optimization indicated optimal binder concentrations of 6% for CMMS, resulting in a friability of 0.7%, hardness of 8.8 kg/cm², and disintegration time of 2.3 min, and 11% for PGMS, with a friability of 0.75%, hardness of 7.7 kg/cm², and disintegration time of 5.9 min. The optimized dissolution profile for PGMS formulations showed a similarity factor (f2) of 62, while CMMS tablets had an f2 value of 38 compared to Humadol. Conclusion: The modified millet starches, CMMS and PGMS, can serve as potential alternatives to conventional excipients in immediate-release formulations and show promising results in optimizing tablet properties.