Background/Objectives: Although Drosophila melanogaster is widely used in genetics and nutrition research, developmental kinetics are rarely analyzed using formal mathematical modeling. Most dietary studies present developmental curves without rigorous fitting, limiting quantitative interpretation. This study applies and compares three primary models, as well as develops secondary models, to characterize the effects of high-sugar diets on egg-to-adult (life cycle) development. Methods: Standardized husbandry and an embryo-to-pupa feeding assay were performed across 11 sucrose concentrations. Synchronized embryo collection and high-resolution monitoring were used for this assay. Three primary models—dose–response, Gompertz, and logit-based linearization—were fitted to developmental curves to extract timing (t_mid) and synchrony (s_dvp) parameters. Secondary modeling was used to evaluate how these parameters change with respect to sucrose concentration. Results: Increasing sucrose concentration markedly delayed pupariation and reduced viability at the highest levels. All models showed increasing t_mid and decreasing s_dvp with rising sugar concentration, with the Gompertz model providing the best overall performance. Secondary modeling revealed a consistent bilinear response with a breakpoint at 0.52–0.62 M, separating low-, medium-, and high-sucrose conditions. Reduced sampling frequency decreased model robustness, while twice-daily observations remained sufficient. Conclusions: Mathematical modeling provides a robust, practical framework for quantifying the effects of diet on D. melanogaster development. The Gompertz model provided the best fit and yielded biologically interpretable parameters. The bilinear secondary model effectively captured sucrose-dependent stress responses and quantified plasticity through environment-dependent changes in developmental timing and synchrony. Overall, this work establishes a quantitative practical framework for modeling developmental kinetics under nutritional perturbations, and the approach can be extended with additional secondary environmental factors to improve predictive analyses of nutritional effects.

Background/Objectives: Food insecurity remains a growing public health concern among university populations, particularly international students who often face financial constraints, limited social support, and cultural adaptation challenges. This study investigated the association between food insecurity and dietary diversity among international students in Hungary, a population for whom empirical evidence remains limited. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 380 international university students using a structured questionnaire comprising sociodemographic items, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), and a quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary diversity was assessed through Food Group Diversity Score (FGDS) and Food Variety Score (FVS). Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, ANOVA, correlation analyses, and multiple regression using IBM SPSS 28.0. Results: Overall, 62% of participants experienced food insecurity, with 25% moderately and 20% severely food insecure, while 17% were classified as mildly food insecure. While 97% achieved high dietary diversity, only 31% exhibited high food variety. Group comparisons indicated differences in FGDS across food security categories (p = 0.006), whereas FVS did not differ significantly (p = 0.411). In multivariable regression models adjusting for socioeconomic and behavioural factors, food security status was not independently associated with FGDS or FVS. However, scholarship status, monthly income, employment, and meal skipping were significant predictors of dietary diversity indicators. Conclusions: These findings suggest that while food insecurity is prevalent among international students, socioeconomic resources and behavioural factors may play a more prominent role in shaping dietary diversity outcomes. Universities and policymakers should prioritise equitable food access, culturally inclusive meal services, and ongoing monitoring of student food security to promote nutrition equity and academic well-being.

Background: International students are exposed to new food environments that may influence their dietary behaviours. While dietary diversity has been widely studied, less attention has been given to food variety, which reflects the number of individual food items consumed. This study assessed food variety, its relationship with unhealthy food consumption, and associated sociodemographic and behavioural factors among international students in Hungary. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 380 international students enrolled in Hungarian higher education institutions. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). FVS and UFCS were calculated, and associations were examined using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multivariable linear regression analyses. Results: The mean FVS was 62.7 ± 26.7. Cereals, vegetables, and milk and dairy products were consumed by all participants, whereas fish and other seafood (61.6%) and white tubers and roots (67.9%) were the least frequently consumed food groups. A very strong positive correlation was observed between FVS and UFCS (r = 0.930, p < 0.001). This association remained strong after excluding unhealthy food items from the FVS (aFVS; r = 0.862, p < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, higher monthly income and employment were positively associated with FVS and UFCS, whereas scholarship status, postgraduate study, and following a special diet were negatively associated with both outcomes. Conclusions: Food variety among international students in Hungary varied considerably and was strongly associated with unhealthy food consumption, indicating that greater food variety did not necessarily correspond to healthier dietary patterns. These findings highlight the importance of considering both the diversity and nutritional quality of foods consumed when assessing dietary behaviours and designing nutrition interventions for international students.

Rapid urbanization, social inequalities, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy eating habits are contributing factors to the increasing prevalence of diabetes in South Africa. Data was collected from 99 residents in Madadeni, South Africa. The analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V.29. The sample had a mean age of 67.4±9.4 years, with 73.74% females and 26.26% males. Majority had Grade 10 as their highest level of education (31.31%) and were retired (51.52%). The average number of household members was 6.35±2.57. The average estimated total income was R5681.82±R2585.73 per month, with 2.13±0.92 members contributing to household income. Majority (72.72%) had T2DM, while 27.27% had T1DM. The quantitative results highlight the importance of increasing awareness and providing health education to empower the affected population with self-management knowledge.

Background: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), the superfood of the present era, is widely recognized for its high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. However, dietary products and by-products derived from different parts of the fruit differ markedly in their biochemical composition, which may influence their nutritional and biological effects. Drosophila melanogaster represents a well-established in vivo model for studying the impact of dietary components on nutritional status, development, and viability under defined nutritional conditions. Methods: Four sea buckthorn-derived matrices—seed flour, seed oil, pulp, and fruit pomace powder—were analyzed for fatty acid, amino acid, polyphenol, and antioxidant contents. Their effects were evaluated in D. melanogaster under zero-nutrient, normal-nutrient, and high-sugar diets, assessing viability and developmental dynamics across various product types and concentrations. Results: Substantial compositional differences were observed between the samples. Seed flour and fruit pomace powder were rich in proteins, essential amino acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins, whereas seed oil predominantly contained fatty acids with limited antioxidant capacity. Consistent with these compositional profiles, diet- and product-specific biological effects were observed. Under zero-nutrient conditions, high concentrations of fruit pomace powder (100 g/L) supported larval and adult viability and resulted in developmental patterns comparable to those observed under a normal-nutrient diet. Under normal-nutrient and high-sugar diets, the matrices modulated development and viability without apparent toxicity, with fruit pomace powder consistently showing the most favorable effects. Conclusions: The biological responses of D. melanogaster are closely linked to the biochemical composition of the matrices and the dietary context. Fruit pomace powder emerged as the most effective product, highlighting its potential as a functional dietary ingredient and a valuable source of nutrients and bioactive compounds.