Elemental Characterization of Ciders and Other Low-Percentage Alcoholic Beverages Available on the Polish Market

Seventy-three samples of alcoholic beverages and juices that were purchased on the Polish market and home-made were analyzed for their elemental profiles. The levels of 23 metals were determined by ICP-MS (Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr and Tl), ICP-OES (Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ti and Zn) and CVAAS (Hg) techniques in twenty-five samples of ciders widely available on the Polish market; six samples of home-made ciders; two samples of juices used in the production of these ciders; and forty samples of low-percentage, flavored alcoholic beverages based on beer. The gathered analytical data confirmed that the final elemental fingerprint of a product is affected by the elemental fingerprint of the ingredients used (apple variety) as well as the technology and equipment used by the producer, and in the case of commercial ciders, also the impact of type of the packaging used was proven. These factors are specific to each producer and the influence of the mentioned above parameters was revealed as a result of the performed analysis. Additionally, the inclusion of the home-made ciders in the data set helped us to understand the potential origin of some elements, from the raw materials to the final products. The applied statistical tests revealed (Kruskal–Wallis and ANOVA) the existence of statistically significant differences in the concentration of the following metals: Ag, Al, B, Bi, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Na, Ni, Ti and Zn in terms of the type of cider origin (commercial and home-made). In turn, for different packaging (can or bottle) within one brand of commercial cider, the existence of statistically significant differences for Cu, Mn and Na was proved. The concentrations of all determined elements in the commercial cider from the Polish market and home-made cider samples can be considered as nontoxic, because the measured levels of elements indicated in the regulations were lower than the allowable limits. Moreover, the obtained results can be treated as preliminary for the potential authentication of products in order to distinguish the home-made (fake) from the authentic products, especially for premium-class alcoholic beverages.

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Chemotypical diversity of Mentha longifolia L. oil

Bulletin of the State Nikitsky Botanical Gardens ◽

10.36305/0513-1634-2021-140-130-139 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 130-139

Author(s):

O. M. Shevchuk ◽

S. A. Feskov ◽

N. A. Bagrikova ◽

I. V. Tania

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Mass Fraction ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Three Samples ◽

Two Samples ◽

Mentha Longifolia ◽

Wet Weight

The article presents data on the content and composition of the essential oil of Mentha longifolia (L.) L. plants growing in natural phytocenoses on the territory of Crimea and Abkhazia. It was found that dry raw materials in two samples from natural phytocenoses of Crimea contain 1.27 and 1.76% of essential oil per wet weight, three samples from phytocenoses of Abkhazia contain less essential oil - 0.68, 0.98 and 1.19 %. About 60 components have been identified. Two new chemotypes were identified for Crimea: carvone-piperitone (mass fraction of carvone is 66.65%, piperitone oxide - 14.37%) and piperitone-sabinene (mass fraction of piperitone oxide - 55.19% and cis-sabinene hydrate - 23.51%), and two for Abkhazia: terpene-caryophyllene (α-terpinyl acetate - 51.48%; β-caryophyllene - 9.26%), piperitone-non-petalactone (piperitone oxide - 46.29%; nepetalactone 4aa, 7a, 7aa - 34.85%). These Mentha longifolia chemotypes are promising for use in the food, chemical, pharmaceutical and perfume industries.

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SEM-EDX and FTIR analysis of archaeological ceramic potteries from southern Italy

Microscopy ◽

10.1093/jmicro/dfaa034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 371-380

Author(s):

Tania Dey ◽

Joseph Coleman Carter ◽

Keith Swift

Keyword(s):

Firing Temperature ◽

Southern Italy ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Silica Nanoparticle ◽

Glassy Matrix ◽

Processing Temperature ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Sem Image ◽

Three Samples ◽

Two Samples

Abstract Sherds of ancient ceramics potteries, dating back to the seventh century BC and excavated from southern Italy, were analyzed in terms of microstructure and porosity (SEM), elemental composition (EDX), chemical bonding and mineralogical components (FTIR) in order to establish correlation with firing temperature, firing condition and provenance. Si/Al ratio from EDX analysis showed three major categories of raw materials (illite/montmorillonite, kaolinite and mullite), suggesting difference in provenance. Uniformly sized silica nanoparticle (0.7 μm diameter) and trace amount of silver are being reported for the first time in one sample. Anorthite mineral and quartz inclusion was detected by FTIR in certain samples. All samples showed a prominent band for Si-O stretching, which shifted from 1062 cm−1, broadened and appeared as doublet, relative to processing temperature. FTIR results proved incomplete dihydroxylation and undissociated carbonate in three samples, indicating a firing temperature of 700–800°C, whereas other samples were fired above 900°C. Only one sample among these three showed bloating pores in between interconnecting glassy matrix in SEM image, indicating a firing temperature of 1100–1200°C. The absence of magnetite along with significant Fe and Mn content indicated the formation of jacobsite, an iron manganese spinel complex, MnFe2O4, which is responsible for the black gloss effect in two particular samples and can be further confirmed by XRD. The presence of numerous small pores in SEM image of one of these two samples (1.2 μm diameter) was indicative of extended vitrification at higher temperature than the other one. However, magnetite was responsible for black gloss effect in two other samples, proving difference in provenance. Therefore, SEM-EDX and FTIR results can offer valuable insight into the firing conditions, gloss decoration and provenance of ancient ceramic potteries.

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Among-environment heteroscedasticity and genetic autocorrelation: implications for the study of phenotypic plasticity.

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/139.4.1815 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 139 (4) ◽

pp. 1815-1829

Author(s):

P Dutilleul ◽

C Potvin

Keyword(s):

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Variance Component ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Genotype By Environment Interaction ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Data Set ◽

Genotype By Environment ◽

Sample Covariance ◽

The Impact

Abstract The impact of among-environment heteroscedasticity and genetic autocorrelation on the analysis of phenotypic plasticity is examined. Among-environment heteroscedasticity occurs when genotypic variances differ among environments. Genetic autocorrelation arises whenever the responses of a genotype to different environments are more or less similar than expected for observations randomly associated. In a multivariate analysis-of-variance model, three transformations of genotypic profiles (reaction norms), which apply to the residuals of the model while preserving the mean responses within environments, are derived. The transformations remove either among-environment heteroscedasticity, genetic autocorrelation or both. When both nuisances are not removed, statistical tests are corrected in a modified univariate approach using the sample covariance matrix of the genotypic profiles. Methods are illustrated on a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii data set. When heteroscedasticity was removed, the variance component associated with the genotype-by-environment interaction increased proportionally to the genotype variance component. As a result, the genetic correlation rg was altered. Genetic autocorrelation was responsible for statistical significance of the genotype-by-environment interaction and genotype main effects on raw data. When autocorrelation was removed, the ranking of genotypes according to their stability index dramatically changed. Evolutionary implications of our methods and results are discussed.

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Quality of commonly used fertilizers collected from different areas of Bangladesh

Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University ◽

10.3329/jbau.v15i2.35066 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

Author(s):

KM Mohiuddin ◽

FR Era ◽

MSH Siddiquee ◽

MM Rahman

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Nutrient Status ◽

Lower Amount ◽

Cadmium Content ◽

Allowable Limit ◽

Standard Procedures ◽

Three Samples ◽

Two Samples ◽

Standard Limit ◽

The Impact

Total 54 fertilizer samples were randomly collected from the markets of four districts ofBangladeshto assess nutrient and heavy metal (Cd, Cr & Pb) contents in different fertilizers. The chemical analyses of fertilizers were conducted at the Department of Agricultural Chemistry,BangladeshAgriculturalUniversity, Mymensingh. Nutrient status of fertilizers was determined using the standard procedures and heavy metals in the fertilizer extract were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Nitrogen (N) content in urea collected from different areas ranged from 41.37 to 46.27%. Biuret content of the collected urea samples varied from 1.40 to 2.80%, where the maximum allowable limit (MAL) is 1.50%. Among the six urea samples, biuret content exceeded the MAL in five samples. Phosphorous (P) content in most of the triple superphosphate (TSP) samples was higher than the specified amount. Out of eight samples, only two samples contained less than 20% P. Out of eight diammonium phosphate (DAP) samples, only three samples contained lower amount of P than the specified amount and five samples contained lower amount of N than the specified amount. Chromium content in all theDAPsamples were much higher than the MAL. Potassium (K) content in all five collected muriate of potash (MoP) samples were lower than the specified amount with an average of 45.81% K. The concentration of sulphur (S) in fertilizer samples in the investigated area varied from 16.50 to 21.60%. Out of six magnesium sulphate samples, five samples contained lower than the specified amount (9.5%) of Mg. The concentration of boron (B) in solubor samples varied from 13.55 to 19.56%, which are lower than the standard limit (20.90%). The concentration of zinc (Zn) in all the collected zinc sulphate heptahydrate samples had lower amount of Zn than the standard limit (23%). Only one out of six collected copper sulphate samples, met the specified limit of Cu (25.40%). Total 42 fertilizer samples (77.80%), out of 54, had less than the specified amount of nutrients. Heavy metals like Pb and Cr content exceeded the MAL in 67% and 47% of collected fertilizer samples, respectively. Cadmium content was below the detectable limit of flame in AAS in all the samples. In order to minimize the impact of fertilizer adulteration on food security and safety, continuous monitoring of fertilizer quality is required.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 15(2): 219-225, December 2017

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Impact of global sourcing and exports on US manufacturing inventories

International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management ◽

10.1108/09600030810893517 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 475-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Chaodong Han ◽

Martin Dresner ◽

Robert J. Windle

Keyword(s):

Raw Materials ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Global Sourcing ◽

Data Set ◽

Content Type ◽

Random Effects Models ◽

Inventory Costs ◽

Percentage Point Increase ◽

Global Operations ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of global sourcing and exports on US domestic manufacturing inventories and quantify the additional inventory costs associated with global operations.Design/methodology/approachA panel data set of 19 US manufacturing sectors is constructed over the period 2002‐2005. Data are collected from the US economic census and other government statistics. Fixed and random effects models in both linear and LOG terms are estimated and the estimated coefficients used to calculate the cost to US manufacturing industries of additional inventories attributed to global operations.FindingsImports and exports have a positive, significant impact on raw materials inventory and finished goods inventory, respectively, in terms of days of supply. Based on estimations using 2005 data, a 10 percentage point increase in the import and export ratios for all US manufacturers is estimated to be accompanied by $3.03 billion additional costs for raw materials inventory and $5.33 billion for finished goods inventory, respectively.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to quantify the impact of global sourcing and exports on US domestic inventories using secondary data. To macroeconomic policy makers and industry managers, the results may serve as a benchmark to how domestic inventories are affected by global outsourcing and exports, and as a reminder that the benefits of global activities may be overestimated if inventory costs are not explicitly taken into consideration.

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Genomic Investigation of Hepatitis E Virus in Persian Gazelle

Jentashapir Journal of Cellular and Molecular Biology ◽

10.5812/jjcmb.111737 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Mahnaz Amiri Dehnoyi ◽

Azam Mokhtari

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis E Virus ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Rna Extraction ◽

Hepatitis E ◽

Virus Identification ◽

Infection Age ◽

Reverse Transcription Reaction ◽

Three Samples ◽

Two Samples ◽

One Year

Background: Numerous studies have shown that a variety of animal species can be the hosts of the hepatitis E virus. In addition to pigs, wild boars, deer, and rats, new types of hepatitis E virus have been found in ferrets and bats. Objectives: Due to the limited reports of virus identification in deer and the potential role of this animal as a reservoir in maintaining the virus, in the present study, the genome of the virus was investigated in the samples of feces and gastrointestinal swabs of Gazelle. Methods: Samples were collected from 50 Gazelle in the protected area of Moteh and the lands around Maymeh City from winter, 2017 to winter, 2019. After RNA extraction and reverse transcription reaction, the genomic identification of the virus was performed by RT-PCR. Results: The results of the present study showed that out of 50 samples taken, three samples were positive for the hepatitis E virus, including one sample from female Gazelle under one year of age and two samples from female animals over one year of age. Conclusions: No statistically significant relationship was found between hepatitis E infection, age, and sex using statistical tests. The present study indicated the contamination of Iranian wildlife animals and the importance of these animals as the potential reservoirs of the disease.

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Job satisfaction in developing countries

Journal of Economic Studies ◽

10.1108/jes-04-2017-0096 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 192-210

Author(s):

Nguyen Anh ◽

Ngoc-Minh Thi Nguyen ◽

Nguyen Thi Tuong Anh ◽

Phuong Mai Thi Nguyen

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Logit Model ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Wage Policy ◽

Data Set ◽

Content Type ◽

The North ◽

Training Plan ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to this literature on developing countries by investigating the determinants of job satisfaction in Vietnam where the economics literature on this issue is virtually non-existent. The authors also contribute to the literature on income comparison by extending beyond the within-firm co-worker income comparison.Design/methodology/approachThe authors estimate a generalized order logit model for job satisfaction as statistical tests suggest that the parallel-lines assumption, which is often invoked in previous studies using the standard logit model, does not hold.FindingsFor Vietnam, the authors find that absolute and relative incomes as well as human resource practices such as efficiency wage and training policy have an impact on workers’ satisfaction. Workers in the foreign direct investment (FDI) sectors behave a bit differently from their peers in the domestic sector.Originality/valueTaking advantage of a unique matched employer–employee data set collected in 2008 by the North-South Institute (Canada) and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the authors are able to investigate the impact of a number of important job characteristics on job satisfaction such as absolute and reference incomes, wage policy, training plan for workers, union membership and job position, and, at the same time, to disentangle the possible differences in job satisfaction of workers in domestic vs FDI firms.

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Methanol in Grape Derived, Fruit and Honey Spirits: A Critical Review on Source, Quality Control, and Legal Limits

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8121609 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 1609

Author(s):

Goreti Botelho ◽

Ofélia Anjos ◽

Letícia M. Estevinho ◽

Ilda Caldeira

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Legal Aspects ◽

Grape Pomace ◽

Raw Material ◽

Alcoholic Beverages ◽

Legal Limits ◽

Different Types ◽

The Impact

Spirits are alcoholic beverages commonly consumed in European countries. Their raw materials are diverse and include fruits, cereals, honey, sugar cane, or grape pomace. The main aim of this work is to present and discuss the source, quality control, and legal limits of methanol in spirits produced using fruit and honey spirits. The impact of the raw material, alcoholic fermentation, and the distillation process and aging process on the characteristics and quality of the final distilled beverage are discussed. In addition, a critical view of the legal aspects related to the volatile composition of these distillates, the origin and presence of methanol, and the techniques used for quantification are also described. The methanol levels found in the different types of spirits are those expected based on the specific raw materials of each and, almost in all studies, respect the legal limits.

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Age at Exposure to Parental Suicide and the Subsequent Risk of Suicide in Young People

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000468 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (1) ◽

pp. 27-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kuan-Ying Lee ◽

Chung-Yi Li ◽

Kun-Chia Chang ◽

Tsung-Hsueh Lu ◽

Ying-Yeh Chen

Keyword(s):

Young People ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Birth Registry ◽

Data Set ◽

Parental Suicide ◽

The Impact ◽

Age At Exposure

Abstract. Background: We investigated the age at exposure to parental suicide and the risk of subsequent suicide completion in young people. The impact of parental and offspring sex was also examined. Method: Using a cohort study design, we linked Taiwan's Birth Registry (1978–1997) with Taiwan's Death Registry (1985–2009) and identified 40,249 children who had experienced maternal suicide (n = 14,431), paternal suicide (n = 26,887), or the suicide of both parents (n = 281). Each exposed child was matched to 10 children of the same sex and birth year whose parents were still alive. This yielded a total of 398,081 children for our non-exposed cohort. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the suicide risk of the exposed and non-exposed groups. Results: Compared with the non-exposed group, offspring who were exposed to parental suicide were 3.91 times (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.10–4.92 more likely to die by suicide after adjusting for baseline characteristics. The risk of suicide seemed to be lower in older male offspring (HR = 3.94, 95% CI = 2.57–6.06), but higher in older female offspring (HR = 5.30, 95% CI = 3.05–9.22). Stratified analyses based on parental sex revealed similar patterns as the combined analysis. Limitations: As only register-based data were used, we were not able to explore the impact of variables not contained in the data set, such as the role of mental illness. Conclusion: Our findings suggest a prominent elevation in the risk of suicide among offspring who lost their parents to suicide. The risk elevation differed according to the sex of the afflicted offspring as well as to their age at exposure.

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