Assessment of water and energy footprint for eight bottled water industries was carried out. The investigation showed that one litre of bottled water has a water footprint of 17.41 litres and energy footprint of 7.08 ...Assessment of water and energy footprint for eight bottled water industries was carried out. The investigation showed that one litre of bottled water has a water footprint of 17.41 litres and energy footprint of 7.08 MJ. Water consumption by the industry comprises 61% during material production, 17% in processes, 16% in energy and only 6% in the actual product. Hence, maximum consumption of water is in material production, while the processes required a smaller fraction of the total water and energy consumed. Therefore, water footprint can be reduced through optimization of water consumption in material production.展开更多
The pursuit of alternative safe water has increased dramatically the world trade in bottled water. Events happened in Canada which changed the population’s perception about the quality of tap water, despite all gover...The pursuit of alternative safe water has increased dramatically the world trade in bottled water. Events happened in Canada which changed the population’s perception about the quality of tap water, despite all government efforts. Media has an important role to pass on information because there is value judgment in its reports. As a result, this study aims to present recent data from two Canadian newspapers of national circulation, which refer to tap water and bottled water. It used quantitative and qualitative data for this analysis. The study concludes that the media, taken into consideration, provides its readers with important information, but the information can also be ambiguous. Nevertheless, it arouses interest in further research about this subject matter and about protecting water resources.展开更多
In this study</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> nineteen different brands of bottled mineral waters (7 brands local a...In this study</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> nineteen different brands of bottled mineral waters (7 brands local and 12 brands imported) were collected from supermarkets and independent food stores throughout Djibouti. The chemical composition mentioned on the labels of the nineteen bottled mineral waters ha</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> made the subject of a first verification by Ionic Balance Error (IBE). It was found out of the nineteen brands selected, 12 brands (2 brands local and 10 brands imported) had acceptable charge balance error. Correlation Analysis (CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were used to analyze the data collected from the labels of bottled water. The obtained results showed that the 12 brands of studied waters can be grouped in 4 distinct classes with similar chemical characteristics. Two local and one imported brands have the same chemical composition but marketed under different names. It was observed that the chemical content local water brands w</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> within the normal range prescribed by both WHO and USEPA except five imported water brands that have concentration values Ca, HCO</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">3</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Mg and SO</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">4</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> beyond acceptable standards. Total hardness values classified most of the studied brands from moderate to very hard water.展开更多
Concentrations of nitrate and trace elements such as arsenic,cadmium,chromium,copper,manganese,nickel,lead,selenium,antimony and mercury in 18 different brands of bottled water were investigated.For comparison,samples...Concentrations of nitrate and trace elements such as arsenic,cadmium,chromium,copper,manganese,nickel,lead,selenium,antimony and mercury in 18 different brands of bottled water were investigated.For comparison,samples of tap and well water from three different places of Tehran were also analyzed.UV/VIS spectrophotometer and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer were used for the analysis of nitrate and trace elements,respectively.Results obtained were compared to Iranian,World Health Organization(WHO)and Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)guideline for drinking water.Nitrate concentration in bottled,tap and well water samples were in maximum safe nitrate concentration of Iranian and WHO standards.However,70%of bottled water samples and one sample of tap water were below the standard level proposed by EPA and probably remedial action should be taken.Concentration levels of all analyzed elements investigated in all examined water samples were below the maximum contaminant level prescribed by Iranian,WHO and EPA regulations.展开更多
The aim of this exploratory research and comparative numerical pilot study was to investigate any significant differences in the microbiological content of tap and bottled water through the measurement of risk indicat...The aim of this exploratory research and comparative numerical pilot study was to investigate any significant differences in the microbiological content of tap and bottled water through the measurement of risk indicator parameters including Enterococci, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and colony-forming units (CFUs). This study to investigate storage conditions and compare consumer options of public water supply and bottled water using microbiological limits was carried out for public health research. This was a unique pilot study to Northern Ireland with global relevance due to the increase in the bottled water market and the need to address the lack of consumer awareness regarding storage and microbiological content. No E. coli or Enterococci were found in any of the 31 tap or bottled water samples. Three unrefrigerated bottled water samples exceeded the threshold in Colony Counts 22°C & 37°C (degrees Celsius) and failed in line with Drinking Water Directive guidelines. This indicated a link between storage conditions and microbiological quality. No link between prices or microbiological quality was indicated. This research recommends the creation of a regulator for the bottled water industry, the need for clearly labelled microbiological content and daily testing. Water suppliers such as Northern Ireland (NI) Water should promote the quality of tap water. Recommendations are also outlined for consumers. There is no statistically significant difference in the microbiological quality of tap and bottled water in Northern Ireland despite marketing claims.展开更多
Strontium has four naturally occurring stable isotopes,84Sr,86Sr,87Sr,and 88Sr,with abundances of 0.56,9.87,approximately 7.04,and 82.53 atomic %,respectively.The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio is variable due to the additio...Strontium has four naturally occurring stable isotopes,84Sr,86Sr,87Sr,and 88Sr,with abundances of 0.56,9.87,approximately 7.04,and 82.53 atomic %,respectively.The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio is variable due to the addition of radiogenic 87Sr produced by the beta decay of 87Rb with a half-life of 4.88 ± 0.05 Ga.Thus,展开更多
This paper presents findings of an experiment for the comparison of sugar concentration in extracted juice of fresh fruit to that of commercially-bottled 100% fruit juice with a “no sugar added” attribute. The goal ...This paper presents findings of an experiment for the comparison of sugar concentration in extracted juice of fresh fruit to that of commercially-bottled 100% fruit juice with a “no sugar added” attribute. The goal of the study was to determine if the sugar content of bottled 100% fruit juice with a “no sugar added” label is equivalent to that of extracted juices of fresh fruits. The reported study was performed to address the potential concern that commercially-bottled 100% fruit juices with “no sugar added” may contain higher sugar content than extracted juice of fresh fruit. The fruit juices that were tested included apple, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, pomegranate, red grape and white grape. All bottled juices and fresh fruits were purchased in Toledo, Ohio, USA during the winter of 2012. The fresh fruits were juiced and three samples were tested for sugar concentration using a Brix refractometer. The same testing protocol was also applied to the bottled 100% fruit juice. Application of the Mann-Whitney test on the experimental data demonstrated no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The results suggested that the sugar content in the commercially bottled 100% fruit juice with the “no sugar added” label is an accurate representation of sugar content in the freshly-extracted juice of the corresponding fruit.展开更多
Arsenic and fluoride are elements known to cause human health problems and it has been documented that both elements are found in high concentrations in the Guadiana Valley aquifer, in the state of Durango, Mexico. Si...Arsenic and fluoride are elements known to cause human health problems and it has been documented that both elements are found in high concentrations in the Guadiana Valley aquifer, in the state of Durango, Mexico. Since underground water is the source for potable water bottling companies commercialized in Durango City;such high concentrations reduced the quality of bottled water for human consumption according to NOM-041-SSA1-1993. Legislation establishes a maximum permissible limit (MPL) of 0.7 mg/L for fluoride and 0.025 mg/L for arsenic. In this research the main objective was to evaluate the quality of bottled water expended in Durango City with respect to the well from which water is extracted. Findings showed that the highest fluoride concentration was 5.86 mg/L (8.4 times MPL), with 100% of sampled brands exceeding the MPL (range: 1.09 to 5.86 mg/L). On the other hand, for arsenic, the highest concentration was 0.076 mg/L (threefold), with 38% exceeding the MPL (range: 0.001 to 0.076 ppm). Statistical analysis showed significant differences only for fluoride, according to Fisher LSD (Least Significant Difference) test, with an F value of 14.5 at a p value of 0.0005. According to the comparison between the quantified concentrations in bottled water and groundwater, it was found that groundwater was subjected to treatment;however, although a significant decrease in fluoride and arsenic concentration was observed, the removal processes used were not efficient to meet set standards.展开更多
For this study, bromide and bromate ions in various commercial brands of Indian bottled water samples were estimated using ion chromatography. The measured mean concentration of bromide and bromate ions in water sampl...For this study, bromide and bromate ions in various commercial brands of Indian bottled water samples were estimated using ion chromatography. The measured mean concentration of bromide and bromate ions in water samples was found to be 28.13 μg/L and 11.17 μg/L respectively. The average level of bromate in Indian bottled water was found to be slightly higher (~ 12%) than the acceptable limits (10 μg/L) recommended by USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). Though, kinetically, it is predicted that 62.5% (6.25 μg/L) of bromide in bottled water is needed to convert into bromate upon ozonation to exceed the minimum acceptable limits, but the average formation of bromate determined to be only 26.77% of the predicted concentration. Bromate concentration in bottled water showed a strong correlation with bromide suggesting that its formation in water is very much influenced and controlled by bromide content. The objective of the present study was to determine the BrO3–) content of commercially available different brands of bottled drinking water in India and to estimate the health risks to population due to ingestion. Results of estimated excess cancer risk and chemical toxicity risk to Indian population due to ingestion of bottled water were presented and discussed.展开更多
The majority of the population in developing countries have limited access to clean energy. <span>To increase access to clean energy, the governments and other stakeholders have been working hard to create enabl...The majority of the population in developing countries have limited access to clean energy. <span>To increase access to clean energy, the governments and other stakeholders have been working hard to create enabling environments for their adoption and utilization. For the household cooking sector, technological innovations such as improved biomass fuels, improved biomass cookstove, solar cooking, biogas and recently bottled gas service have been or are being deployed to scale up clean cooking. </span><span "=""><span>Nevertheless, a good number of the </span><span>innovations intended for upscaling clean cooking in developing countries</span><span> have failed to meet the desired goals due to limited support from the national governments or the international community. Pay-Go is among the recent innovations in the East African region intended for promoting the use of bottled </span><span>gas (liquefied petroleum gas-LPG). This study evaluates the practicality of</span> <span>Pay-Go innovation on bottled gas, popularly known as Pay-as-you-Cook.</span><span> Specifically, the article examines the evolution of Pay-as-you-Cook, its execu</span><span>tion, usefulness and challenges;and its implications on household energy</span><span> sector development. The study was conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between 2018 and 2020. The study used both qualitative </span><span>and quantitative approaches. Purposive and non-random sampling tech</span><span>niques were used in selecting respondents. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants while snowball sampling was used to find house</span><span>hold respondents. Information was gathered from KopaGas (Pay-as-you-Cook</span><span> innovator) headquarter-Kinondoni Morocco;and from Pay-as-you-Cook clients in Kinondoni Moscow, Mkwajuni and Hananasif. Methods of data collection involved semi-structured interviews and observation. Instruments of data collection included interview guides and observation checklists. Data </span><span>analysis was accomplished with Nvivo 12. Findings show that Pay-as-you-Cook</span><span> innovation was intended for promoting bottled gas adoption mainly to low-income households. The innovation was discovered to be convenient to many low-</span></span><span "=""> </span><span>income households as it enabled them to use bottled gas for cooking without necessarily climbing the economic ladder. Yet, the innovation presents several challenges which are doubtful to its practicality.</span>展开更多
There is increasing concern for public health over inadvertent human exposure to MPs due to potential adverse health effects linked to MPs polymeric composition,toxic chemical additives,and/or harmful microorganisms a...There is increasing concern for public health over inadvertent human exposure to MPs due to potential adverse health effects linked to MPs polymeric composition,toxic chemical additives,and/or harmful microorganisms adsorbing onto their surfaces.While numerous studies have reported MPs occurrence and risk in the freshwater aquatic environment and drinking water sources(e.g.,rivers,lakes,and reservoirs),the current state-of-knowledge on MPs pollution in drinking water(i.e.,tap water and bottled water)remains limited at a global level.This paper provides the first comprehensive study of the occurrence,concentrations,size distribution,shape,and polymer type of MPs in 177 tap water samples from 13 cities in the United Kingdom,as well as 85 samples of bottled water from 17 popular brands,with various packaging materials,on the UK market.MPs were detected in all tap water samples(range 6e100 MP/L)and bottled water samples(range 12 e62 MP/L).Average MPs concentration in tap water(40±16 MP/L)was statistically indistinguishable from that in bottled water(37±11 MP/L).However,the average MPs particle size in tap water(32.4 mm)exceeded significantly(p<0.05)that in bottled water(26.5 mm),indicating the various purification processes applied to bottled water may help remove larger MPs,but raises concern over the potential adverse health effects from exposure to smaller MPs.The most frequently detected polymer types were:polypropylene(PP),polyethylene(PE),and polyvinyl chloride(PVC)in tap water,and PE,PP and polyethylene terephthalate(PET)in bottled water.A strong correlation was observed(r?0.68,P?0.049)between the plastic cap material(PE)and the predominant polymer type in the bottled water.In terms of morphology,fragments and fibres were the most abundant MPs,together constituting 92%and 96%of MPs detected in tap and bottled water samples,respectively.Using EFSA(European Food Safety Authority)recommended daily water intakes,the corresponding exposures to MPs in different UK age groups were estimated.On a body weight(BW)basis,infants and toddlers were exposed(4 MP/kg BW/day)at a higher level than adults(1 MP/kg BW/day).This raises concern,given the former's incompletely developed immune/nervous systems rendering them at higher risk of adverse health effects from such exposure.展开更多
This communication looks at the photo-oxidation of polythene and polypropylene plastic bottle tops that are placed on soil in a hot arid environment. The degree of oxidation of the plastic is monitored by FT-IR spectr...This communication looks at the photo-oxidation of polythene and polypropylene plastic bottle tops that are placed on soil in a hot arid environment. The degree of oxidation of the plastic is monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. It is noted that while different bottle top types photo-oxidize at different rates, all show an appreciable level of oxidation after half a year of exposure to the environment. The oxidation leads to brittleness of the plastic, which leads to fissure formation in bottle tops of little thickness. This leads to fragmentation of the material upon impact, making plastic bottle tops an appreciable source of microplastics.展开更多
Background:Previously,a chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)model has been widely-adopted for assessing depressive-like behaviors in animals.However,there is still room for improvement in the CSDS model to safeguard stu...Background:Previously,a chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)model has been widely-adopted for assessing depressive-like behaviors in animals.However,there is still room for improvement in the CSDS model to safeguard study accuracy and the wel-fare of lab rodents.Our study team developed a novel,standardized apparatus to induce CSDS in rodents and assessed the model's practical adaptability.Methods:An innovative CSDS cage apparatus and water bottle was designed.To evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed tools,a variety of animal models,including the tail suspension test(TST),sucrose preference test,forced swimming test(FST),novelty-suppressed feeding test,female urine sniffing test,and open field test(OFT),were adopted to assess depressive-like behaviors in mice.Fluoxetine treat-ment was also administered to observe the reversal effect,as part of the validation.Results:The CSDS cage apparatus resulted in the manifestation of depressive-like behaviors in the model mice.Significant reductions in sucrose preference and urine sniffing time were observed,while the OFT revealed decreased central zone total distance,residence time,and frequency of entry.Moreover,increased immobility was found in the FST and TST.Fluoxetine treatment was found to successfully reverse the modeling effect.Conclusion:The CSDS cage apparatus was validated for enhanced usability and ad-dressed the previous challenges of water bottle leakage and lab rodent welfare is-sues.The consistent results from multiple behavioral tests also supported real-world application of the apparatus,offering researchers a promising alternative to conven-tional rodent cages.展开更多
The term“nipple confusion”accurately describes the confusion newborns experience between their mother’s nipple and an artificial nipple during feeding.Specifically,it refers to the feeding habits infants develop ba...The term“nipple confusion”accurately describes the confusion newborns experience between their mother’s nipple and an artificial nipple during feeding.Specifically,it refers to the feeding habits infants develop based on their initial feeding experiences after birth.Infants accustomed to the maternal nipple often resist bottle-feeding;conversely,those accustomed to bottle-feeding may reject the maternal nipple.This confusion is particularly common among infants receiving mixed feeding.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction presents numerous clinical cha-llenges,notably pain management and inflammation control.Conventional thera-pies provide limited relief,prompting investigation int...BACKGROUND Cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction presents numerous clinical cha-llenges,notably pain management and inflammation control.Conventional thera-pies provide limited relief,prompting investigation into complementary approa-ches.This study compares the efficacy of bottle gourd moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy(BGM-UT)plus standard palliative care vs standard Wes-tern palliative care alone in symptom alleviation and inflammation reduction.AIM To compare the efficacy of BGM-UT plus standard palliative care vs standard pa-lliative care alone in reducing inflammatory cytokine levels,alleviating symp-toms,and improving gastrointestinal recovery in cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 109 patients aged 18-75 years with cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction treated at the Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October 2023 and September 2024.The participants were categorized into two groups:(1)Regular group receiving stan-dard palliative care;and(2)BGM-UT group receiving additional moxibustion therapy.The inclusion criteria included ongoing opioid use and a Karnofsky per-formance status score below 60.The treatments were evaluated for 3 weeks in terms of opioid consumption,gastrointestinal function recovery,brief pain inven-tory scores,traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores,and inflammatory cytokine levels.RESULTS Initially,the groups were demographically and clinically comparable.Post-treatment,the BGM-UT group showed significant reductions in opioid intake(P=0.027),improved gastrointestinal recovery times,and enhanced pain management as reflected by their lower brief pain inventory scores(P<0.05).Similarly,the improvement in traditional Chinese medicine scores was greater in the BGM-UT group than in the regular group(P<0.05).Inflam-matory markers including interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,and C-reactive protein decreased significantly in the BGM-UT group,indicating the superior anti-inflammatory effects of this treatment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The addition of BGM-UT to standard palliative care enhances pain relief,accelerates gastrointestinal recovery,and effectively reduces inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction.This combination therapy offers a promising complementary approach to managing this challenging condition.Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.展开更多
Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) is considered as one of the major constraints to the productivity of small ruminants in Sudan. Presently, control measures for PPR are primarily reliant on vaccination using an attenua...Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) is considered as one of the major constraints to the productivity of small ruminants in Sudan. Presently, control measures for PPR are primarily reliant on vaccination using an attenuated PPR strain Nigeria 75/1 that has been produced in monolayers of Vero cells grown in static flasks. This study investigates the potential for scaling up PPR vaccine production using roller bottle technology, a more advanced method. A live, homologous vaccine against PPR in sheep and goats was successfully produced on a large scale in roller culture bottles, with DMEM supplemented with ten percent fetal bovine serum serving as the growth medium. The cells were infected with a multiplicity of infection of 0.01, and the vaccine was harvested when the cytopathic effect reached 80%. The vaccine was then freeze-dried to preserve its stability. A series of tests were conducted to ensure the safety and quality of the vaccine. Using PCR, the identity of vaccine was confirmed. It was found to be safe in both single and 100-times dose inoculations in sheep, with the produced batches showing a high titre of 6.4 ± 0.11 log10 TCID50/ml. All batches met the criteria of sterility, passing tests for bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma. Furthermore, the vaccine proved effective in small ruminants, with antibodies persisting for over a year post-vaccination. The residual moisture content remained below 2.5%, and the vaccine successfully passed vacuum testing. Stability tests indicated that the vaccine has a shelf-life of at least one year when stored at temperatures of 2˚C - 8˚C and −20˚C. These results demonstrate the potential for applying roller bottle culture technology to PPR vaccine production, significantly streamlining the existing process and enhancing its efficiency. Further research is warranted to address the economic analyses of adopting roller bottle technology with existing PPR control program.展开更多
Nipple confusion,a term that accurately describes the confusion that occurs between the mother’s nipple and the artificial teat during feeding in newborns.Specifically,it refers to the fact that babies develop specif...Nipple confusion,a term that accurately describes the confusion that occurs between the mother’s nipple and the artificial teat during feeding in newborns.Specifically,it refers to the fact that babies develop specific breastfeeding habits after birth,based on their initial feeding experience.For babies who are accustomed to their mother’s nipple,they tend to show resistance to bottle feeding;on the contrary,those who have adapted to bottle feeding may refuse to accept their mother’s nipple.This confusion is particularly common among mixed-feeding babies.展开更多
Listening to Bottled in China,you can immediately grasp Emilie Steckenborn's passion for F&B and,in particular,wine.Steckenborn has lived in China now for almost 10 years and originally came to explore an oppo...Listening to Bottled in China,you can immediately grasp Emilie Steckenborn's passion for F&B and,in particular,wine.Steckenborn has lived in China now for almost 10 years and originally came to explore an opportunity working with a wine importer.In addition to the podcast,she has worked with established wine brands and distributors to build wine education programs across China.She shares with us some top Chinese wine producers at the moment,her favorite podcast episode and,of course,her favorite wine(s).展开更多
文摘Assessment of water and energy footprint for eight bottled water industries was carried out. The investigation showed that one litre of bottled water has a water footprint of 17.41 litres and energy footprint of 7.08 MJ. Water consumption by the industry comprises 61% during material production, 17% in processes, 16% in energy and only 6% in the actual product. Hence, maximum consumption of water is in material production, while the processes required a smaller fraction of the total water and energy consumed. Therefore, water footprint can be reduced through optimization of water consumption in material production.
文摘The pursuit of alternative safe water has increased dramatically the world trade in bottled water. Events happened in Canada which changed the population’s perception about the quality of tap water, despite all government efforts. Media has an important role to pass on information because there is value judgment in its reports. As a result, this study aims to present recent data from two Canadian newspapers of national circulation, which refer to tap water and bottled water. It used quantitative and qualitative data for this analysis. The study concludes that the media, taken into consideration, provides its readers with important information, but the information can also be ambiguous. Nevertheless, it arouses interest in further research about this subject matter and about protecting water resources.
文摘In this study</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">,</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> nineteen different brands of bottled mineral waters (7 brands local and 12 brands imported) were collected from supermarkets and independent food stores throughout Djibouti. The chemical composition mentioned on the labels of the nineteen bottled mineral waters ha</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> made the subject of a first verification by Ionic Balance Error (IBE). It was found out of the nineteen brands selected, 12 brands (2 brands local and 10 brands imported) had acceptable charge balance error. Correlation Analysis (CA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were used to analyze the data collected from the labels of bottled water. The obtained results showed that the 12 brands of studied waters can be grouped in 4 distinct classes with similar chemical characteristics. Two local and one imported brands have the same chemical composition but marketed under different names. It was observed that the chemical content local water brands w</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ere</span><span style="font-family:""><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> within the normal range prescribed by both WHO and USEPA except five imported water brands that have concentration values Ca, HCO</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">3</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, Mg and SO</span><sub><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:Verdana;">4</span></sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> beyond acceptable standards. Total hardness values classified most of the studied brands from moderate to very hard water.
文摘Concentrations of nitrate and trace elements such as arsenic,cadmium,chromium,copper,manganese,nickel,lead,selenium,antimony and mercury in 18 different brands of bottled water were investigated.For comparison,samples of tap and well water from three different places of Tehran were also analyzed.UV/VIS spectrophotometer and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometer were used for the analysis of nitrate and trace elements,respectively.Results obtained were compared to Iranian,World Health Organization(WHO)and Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)guideline for drinking water.Nitrate concentration in bottled,tap and well water samples were in maximum safe nitrate concentration of Iranian and WHO standards.However,70%of bottled water samples and one sample of tap water were below the standard level proposed by EPA and probably remedial action should be taken.Concentration levels of all analyzed elements investigated in all examined water samples were below the maximum contaminant level prescribed by Iranian,WHO and EPA regulations.
文摘The aim of this exploratory research and comparative numerical pilot study was to investigate any significant differences in the microbiological content of tap and bottled water through the measurement of risk indicator parameters including Enterococci, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and colony-forming units (CFUs). This study to investigate storage conditions and compare consumer options of public water supply and bottled water using microbiological limits was carried out for public health research. This was a unique pilot study to Northern Ireland with global relevance due to the increase in the bottled water market and the need to address the lack of consumer awareness regarding storage and microbiological content. No E. coli or Enterococci were found in any of the 31 tap or bottled water samples. Three unrefrigerated bottled water samples exceeded the threshold in Colony Counts 22°C & 37°C (degrees Celsius) and failed in line with Drinking Water Directive guidelines. This indicated a link between storage conditions and microbiological quality. No link between prices or microbiological quality was indicated. This research recommends the creation of a regulator for the bottled water industry, the need for clearly labelled microbiological content and daily testing. Water suppliers such as Northern Ireland (NI) Water should promote the quality of tap water. Recommendations are also outlined for consumers. There is no statistically significant difference in the microbiological quality of tap and bottled water in Northern Ireland despite marketing claims.
文摘Strontium has four naturally occurring stable isotopes,84Sr,86Sr,87Sr,and 88Sr,with abundances of 0.56,9.87,approximately 7.04,and 82.53 atomic %,respectively.The 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratio is variable due to the addition of radiogenic 87Sr produced by the beta decay of 87Rb with a half-life of 4.88 ± 0.05 Ga.Thus,
文摘This paper presents findings of an experiment for the comparison of sugar concentration in extracted juice of fresh fruit to that of commercially-bottled 100% fruit juice with a “no sugar added” attribute. The goal of the study was to determine if the sugar content of bottled 100% fruit juice with a “no sugar added” label is equivalent to that of extracted juices of fresh fruits. The reported study was performed to address the potential concern that commercially-bottled 100% fruit juices with “no sugar added” may contain higher sugar content than extracted juice of fresh fruit. The fruit juices that were tested included apple, grapefruit, orange, pineapple, pomegranate, red grape and white grape. All bottled juices and fresh fruits were purchased in Toledo, Ohio, USA during the winter of 2012. The fresh fruits were juiced and three samples were tested for sugar concentration using a Brix refractometer. The same testing protocol was also applied to the bottled 100% fruit juice. Application of the Mann-Whitney test on the experimental data demonstrated no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The results suggested that the sugar content in the commercially bottled 100% fruit juice with the “no sugar added” label is an accurate representation of sugar content in the freshly-extracted juice of the corresponding fruit.
文摘Arsenic and fluoride are elements known to cause human health problems and it has been documented that both elements are found in high concentrations in the Guadiana Valley aquifer, in the state of Durango, Mexico. Since underground water is the source for potable water bottling companies commercialized in Durango City;such high concentrations reduced the quality of bottled water for human consumption according to NOM-041-SSA1-1993. Legislation establishes a maximum permissible limit (MPL) of 0.7 mg/L for fluoride and 0.025 mg/L for arsenic. In this research the main objective was to evaluate the quality of bottled water expended in Durango City with respect to the well from which water is extracted. Findings showed that the highest fluoride concentration was 5.86 mg/L (8.4 times MPL), with 100% of sampled brands exceeding the MPL (range: 1.09 to 5.86 mg/L). On the other hand, for arsenic, the highest concentration was 0.076 mg/L (threefold), with 38% exceeding the MPL (range: 0.001 to 0.076 ppm). Statistical analysis showed significant differences only for fluoride, according to Fisher LSD (Least Significant Difference) test, with an F value of 14.5 at a p value of 0.0005. According to the comparison between the quantified concentrations in bottled water and groundwater, it was found that groundwater was subjected to treatment;however, although a significant decrease in fluoride and arsenic concentration was observed, the removal processes used were not efficient to meet set standards.
文摘For this study, bromide and bromate ions in various commercial brands of Indian bottled water samples were estimated using ion chromatography. The measured mean concentration of bromide and bromate ions in water samples was found to be 28.13 μg/L and 11.17 μg/L respectively. The average level of bromate in Indian bottled water was found to be slightly higher (~ 12%) than the acceptable limits (10 μg/L) recommended by USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency). Though, kinetically, it is predicted that 62.5% (6.25 μg/L) of bromide in bottled water is needed to convert into bromate upon ozonation to exceed the minimum acceptable limits, but the average formation of bromate determined to be only 26.77% of the predicted concentration. Bromate concentration in bottled water showed a strong correlation with bromide suggesting that its formation in water is very much influenced and controlled by bromide content. The objective of the present study was to determine the BrO3–) content of commercially available different brands of bottled drinking water in India and to estimate the health risks to population due to ingestion. Results of estimated excess cancer risk and chemical toxicity risk to Indian population due to ingestion of bottled water were presented and discussed.
文摘The majority of the population in developing countries have limited access to clean energy. <span>To increase access to clean energy, the governments and other stakeholders have been working hard to create enabling environments for their adoption and utilization. For the household cooking sector, technological innovations such as improved biomass fuels, improved biomass cookstove, solar cooking, biogas and recently bottled gas service have been or are being deployed to scale up clean cooking. </span><span "=""><span>Nevertheless, a good number of the </span><span>innovations intended for upscaling clean cooking in developing countries</span><span> have failed to meet the desired goals due to limited support from the national governments or the international community. Pay-Go is among the recent innovations in the East African region intended for promoting the use of bottled </span><span>gas (liquefied petroleum gas-LPG). This study evaluates the practicality of</span> <span>Pay-Go innovation on bottled gas, popularly known as Pay-as-you-Cook.</span><span> Specifically, the article examines the evolution of Pay-as-you-Cook, its execu</span><span>tion, usefulness and challenges;and its implications on household energy</span><span> sector development. The study was conducted in Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between 2018 and 2020. The study used both qualitative </span><span>and quantitative approaches. Purposive and non-random sampling tech</span><span>niques were used in selecting respondents. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants while snowball sampling was used to find house</span><span>hold respondents. Information was gathered from KopaGas (Pay-as-you-Cook</span><span> innovator) headquarter-Kinondoni Morocco;and from Pay-as-you-Cook clients in Kinondoni Moscow, Mkwajuni and Hananasif. Methods of data collection involved semi-structured interviews and observation. Instruments of data collection included interview guides and observation checklists. Data </span><span>analysis was accomplished with Nvivo 12. Findings show that Pay-as-you-Cook</span><span> innovation was intended for promoting bottled gas adoption mainly to low-income households. The innovation was discovered to be convenient to many low-</span></span><span "=""> </span><span>income households as it enabled them to use bottled gas for cooking without necessarily climbing the economic ladder. Yet, the innovation presents several challenges which are doubtful to its practicality.</span>
文摘There is increasing concern for public health over inadvertent human exposure to MPs due to potential adverse health effects linked to MPs polymeric composition,toxic chemical additives,and/or harmful microorganisms adsorbing onto their surfaces.While numerous studies have reported MPs occurrence and risk in the freshwater aquatic environment and drinking water sources(e.g.,rivers,lakes,and reservoirs),the current state-of-knowledge on MPs pollution in drinking water(i.e.,tap water and bottled water)remains limited at a global level.This paper provides the first comprehensive study of the occurrence,concentrations,size distribution,shape,and polymer type of MPs in 177 tap water samples from 13 cities in the United Kingdom,as well as 85 samples of bottled water from 17 popular brands,with various packaging materials,on the UK market.MPs were detected in all tap water samples(range 6e100 MP/L)and bottled water samples(range 12 e62 MP/L).Average MPs concentration in tap water(40±16 MP/L)was statistically indistinguishable from that in bottled water(37±11 MP/L).However,the average MPs particle size in tap water(32.4 mm)exceeded significantly(p<0.05)that in bottled water(26.5 mm),indicating the various purification processes applied to bottled water may help remove larger MPs,but raises concern over the potential adverse health effects from exposure to smaller MPs.The most frequently detected polymer types were:polypropylene(PP),polyethylene(PE),and polyvinyl chloride(PVC)in tap water,and PE,PP and polyethylene terephthalate(PET)in bottled water.A strong correlation was observed(r?0.68,P?0.049)between the plastic cap material(PE)and the predominant polymer type in the bottled water.In terms of morphology,fragments and fibres were the most abundant MPs,together constituting 92%and 96%of MPs detected in tap and bottled water samples,respectively.Using EFSA(European Food Safety Authority)recommended daily water intakes,the corresponding exposures to MPs in different UK age groups were estimated.On a body weight(BW)basis,infants and toddlers were exposed(4 MP/kg BW/day)at a higher level than adults(1 MP/kg BW/day).This raises concern,given the former's incompletely developed immune/nervous systems rendering them at higher risk of adverse health effects from such exposure.
文摘This communication looks at the photo-oxidation of polythene and polypropylene plastic bottle tops that are placed on soil in a hot arid environment. The degree of oxidation of the plastic is monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy. It is noted that while different bottle top types photo-oxidize at different rates, all show an appreciable level of oxidation after half a year of exposure to the environment. The oxidation leads to brittleness of the plastic, which leads to fissure formation in bottle tops of little thickness. This leads to fragmentation of the material upon impact, making plastic bottle tops an appreciable source of microplastics.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:82204958 and 82305065Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province,Grant/Award Number:ZR2020ZD17+2 种基金Traditional Chinese Medicine Emotional Disease and Brain Steady State Regulation Innovation Team,Grant/Award Number:2023KJ191Medical and Health Science and Technology Development Plan Project of Shandong Province,Grant/Award Number:202105010467Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project of Shandong Province,Grant/Award Number:Q-2022059。
文摘Background:Previously,a chronic social defeat stress(CSDS)model has been widely-adopted for assessing depressive-like behaviors in animals.However,there is still room for improvement in the CSDS model to safeguard study accuracy and the wel-fare of lab rodents.Our study team developed a novel,standardized apparatus to induce CSDS in rodents and assessed the model's practical adaptability.Methods:An innovative CSDS cage apparatus and water bottle was designed.To evaluate the effectiveness of the newly developed tools,a variety of animal models,including the tail suspension test(TST),sucrose preference test,forced swimming test(FST),novelty-suppressed feeding test,female urine sniffing test,and open field test(OFT),were adopted to assess depressive-like behaviors in mice.Fluoxetine treat-ment was also administered to observe the reversal effect,as part of the validation.Results:The CSDS cage apparatus resulted in the manifestation of depressive-like behaviors in the model mice.Significant reductions in sucrose preference and urine sniffing time were observed,while the OFT revealed decreased central zone total distance,residence time,and frequency of entry.Moreover,increased immobility was found in the FST and TST.Fluoxetine treatment was found to successfully reverse the modeling effect.Conclusion:The CSDS cage apparatus was validated for enhanced usability and ad-dressed the previous challenges of water bottle leakage and lab rodent welfare is-sues.The consistent results from multiple behavioral tests also supported real-world application of the apparatus,offering researchers a promising alternative to conven-tional rodent cages.
文摘The term“nipple confusion”accurately describes the confusion newborns experience between their mother’s nipple and an artificial nipple during feeding.Specifically,it refers to the feeding habits infants develop based on their initial feeding experiences after birth.Infants accustomed to the maternal nipple often resist bottle-feeding;conversely,those accustomed to bottle-feeding may reject the maternal nipple.This confusion is particularly common among infants receiving mixed feeding.
基金Supported by Medical Research Project of Foshan Health Bureau in 2024,No.20240243.
文摘BACKGROUND Cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction presents numerous clinical cha-llenges,notably pain management and inflammation control.Conventional thera-pies provide limited relief,prompting investigation into complementary approa-ches.This study compares the efficacy of bottle gourd moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy(BGM-UT)plus standard palliative care vs standard Wes-tern palliative care alone in symptom alleviation and inflammation reduction.AIM To compare the efficacy of BGM-UT plus standard palliative care vs standard pa-lliative care alone in reducing inflammatory cytokine levels,alleviating symp-toms,and improving gastrointestinal recovery in cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 109 patients aged 18-75 years with cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction treated at the Foshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between October 2023 and September 2024.The participants were categorized into two groups:(1)Regular group receiving stan-dard palliative care;and(2)BGM-UT group receiving additional moxibustion therapy.The inclusion criteria included ongoing opioid use and a Karnofsky per-formance status score below 60.The treatments were evaluated for 3 weeks in terms of opioid consumption,gastrointestinal function recovery,brief pain inven-tory scores,traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores,and inflammatory cytokine levels.RESULTS Initially,the groups were demographically and clinically comparable.Post-treatment,the BGM-UT group showed significant reductions in opioid intake(P=0.027),improved gastrointestinal recovery times,and enhanced pain management as reflected by their lower brief pain inventory scores(P<0.05).Similarly,the improvement in traditional Chinese medicine scores was greater in the BGM-UT group than in the regular group(P<0.05).Inflam-matory markers including interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,and C-reactive protein decreased significantly in the BGM-UT group,indicating the superior anti-inflammatory effects of this treatment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The addition of BGM-UT to standard palliative care enhances pain relief,accelerates gastrointestinal recovery,and effectively reduces inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with cancer-induced incomplete bowel obstruction.This combination therapy offers a promising complementary approach to managing this challenging condition.Further prospective studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore underlying mechanisms.
文摘Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) is considered as one of the major constraints to the productivity of small ruminants in Sudan. Presently, control measures for PPR are primarily reliant on vaccination using an attenuated PPR strain Nigeria 75/1 that has been produced in monolayers of Vero cells grown in static flasks. This study investigates the potential for scaling up PPR vaccine production using roller bottle technology, a more advanced method. A live, homologous vaccine against PPR in sheep and goats was successfully produced on a large scale in roller culture bottles, with DMEM supplemented with ten percent fetal bovine serum serving as the growth medium. The cells were infected with a multiplicity of infection of 0.01, and the vaccine was harvested when the cytopathic effect reached 80%. The vaccine was then freeze-dried to preserve its stability. A series of tests were conducted to ensure the safety and quality of the vaccine. Using PCR, the identity of vaccine was confirmed. It was found to be safe in both single and 100-times dose inoculations in sheep, with the produced batches showing a high titre of 6.4 ± 0.11 log10 TCID50/ml. All batches met the criteria of sterility, passing tests for bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma. Furthermore, the vaccine proved effective in small ruminants, with antibodies persisting for over a year post-vaccination. The residual moisture content remained below 2.5%, and the vaccine successfully passed vacuum testing. Stability tests indicated that the vaccine has a shelf-life of at least one year when stored at temperatures of 2˚C - 8˚C and −20˚C. These results demonstrate the potential for applying roller bottle culture technology to PPR vaccine production, significantly streamlining the existing process and enhancing its efficiency. Further research is warranted to address the economic analyses of adopting roller bottle technology with existing PPR control program.
文摘Nipple confusion,a term that accurately describes the confusion that occurs between the mother’s nipple and the artificial teat during feeding in newborns.Specifically,it refers to the fact that babies develop specific breastfeeding habits after birth,based on their initial feeding experience.For babies who are accustomed to their mother’s nipple,they tend to show resistance to bottle feeding;on the contrary,those who have adapted to bottle feeding may refuse to accept their mother’s nipple.This confusion is particularly common among mixed-feeding babies.
文摘Listening to Bottled in China,you can immediately grasp Emilie Steckenborn's passion for F&B and,in particular,wine.Steckenborn has lived in China now for almost 10 years and originally came to explore an opportunity working with a wine importer.In addition to the podcast,she has worked with established wine brands and distributors to build wine education programs across China.She shares with us some top Chinese wine producers at the moment,her favorite podcast episode and,of course,her favorite wine(s).
