Consumption of Food Supplements during the Three COVID-19 Waves in Poland—Focus on Zinc and Vitamin D

Food supplements (FS) are a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals, or other ingredients with nutritional or other physiological effects. Due to their easy availability, widespread advertising, and sometimes low price, increased consumption of this group of preparations has been observed. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and intake of FS during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, with particular reference to FS containing zinc and vitamin D. It was noted that both of the above ingredients were used significantly more often by people with higher education (59.0%), with a medical background or related working in the medical field (54.5%), and/or exercising at home (60.1%). Preparations containing vitamin D were used by 22.8% of the respondents in the first wave, 37.6% in the second wave, and 32.9% in the third wave. To sum up, we showed the highest consumption of vitamin and mineral supplements, and preparations containing zinc and vitamin D were taken significantly more often by people with higher medical and related education. This indicates a high awareness of health aspects and the need for preventive measures in these groups.

Red and Purple Flesh Potatoes a Healthy and Attractive Alternative Associated with New Market Trends

The potato is the fourth most important crop in the world in terms of human food, after maize, wheat and rice (FAOSTAT, 2019). The cultivated potato is a vital food-security crop considering its worldwide growth, from latitudes 65° Lat N to 53° Lat S, high yield, and great nutritive value. The potato is a good source of dietary energy and micronutrients, and its protein content is high in comparison with other roots and tubers. The cultivated potato is also a concentrated source of vitamin C and some minerals such as potassium and magnesium. Tuber flesh color generally ranges from white to dark yellow in cultivated potato; however, the high potato diversity shows tuber flesh color varies from white to dark purple. Red and purple-flesh potatoes are an interesting alternative for consumers due to phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. The goal of this publication is to show the advances in red and purple flesh potato, in terms of anthocyanin profile, color extraction and stability in simulated in vitro digestion.

Numerical modeling of clogging of landfill leachate collection systems with co-disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and incinerator ash

The influence of co-disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) and incinerator ash used as daily cover on the clogging of leachate collection systems (LCSs) from landfills is examined. The “BioClog” model is used to simulate the fate and transport of the nine leachate constituents most responsible for clogging the LCSs as they move through the porous media. It then calculates the thicknesses of five films that attach to the porous media and the effect of this clog mass–volume on the porosity and hydraulic conductivity of the granular material. Then it models the consequent growth in the leachate mound with increasing clog mass over time until the service life of the LCS is reached. The modeling shows that the concentrated source of leachable minerals in the incinerator ash accelerates the clogging rate and reduces the service life of the LCSs compared to inert daily cover. If an LCS is not designed to accommodate these higher concentrations of cations in the influent leachate during the landfill operating period, the ash can significantly reduce the LCS service life. Means of extending LCS service life are discussed. A practical technique is also utilized to estimate the service life of LCSs with conservative and reasonable agreement with BioClog.

Analytical Evaluation of the Dendritic Structure Parameters and Crystallization Rate of Laser-Deposited Cu-Fe Functionally Graded Materials

The paper is devoted to the direct energy deposition (DED) of functionally graded materials (FGMs) created from stainless steel and aluminum bronze with 10% content of Al and 1% of Fe. The results of the microstructure analysis using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) demonstrate the existence of a dendritic structure in the specimens. The crystallization rate of the gradient binary Cu-Fe system structures was investigated and calculated using the model of a fast-moving concentrated source with an ellipsoid crystallization front. The width of the secondary elements of the dendrites in the crystallized slab was numerically estimated as 0.2 nm at the center point of the circle heat spot, and the two types of dendrites were predicted in the specimen: the dendrites from 0.2 to approximately 50 nm and from approximately 0.1 to 0.3 μm in width of the secondary elements. The results were found to be in good accordance with the measured experimental values of the dendritic structure geometry parameters.

Importance of Public Health Control of Metals as Chemical Risks in Dietary Supplements

Popularity and use of dietary supplements are constantly growing. Dietary supplements are food products intended to supplement the usual diet and are concentrated source of nutrients or other substances with nutritional or physiological effecst. The purpose of the Paper is to determine frequency of presence of cadmium, lead and mercury metals in dietary supplements based on protein and amino acids that were analyzed during 2018 and 2019 at the Public Health Institute of Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka. Content of metal was determined by the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry method. No health defective samples were identified by public health control, but due to modern frequent use of dietary supplements in various population groups (children, adolescents, pregnant women, athletes, etc.), the aim of the Paper is to raise people’s awareness of the risks, such as heavy metals and artificial sweeteners, colors, prohormones and other chemical risks from dietary supplements since they may be associated with chronic health risks.

Fish proliferation and rare-earth deposition by topographically induced upwelling at the late Eocene cooling event

The deep-sea clay that covers wide areas of the pelagic ocean bottom provides key information about open-ocean environments but lacks age-diagnostic calcareous or siliceous microfossils. The marine osmium isotope record has varied in response to environmental changes and can therefore be a useful stratigraphic marker. In this study, we used osmium isotope ratios to determine the depositional ages of pelagic clays extraordinarily rich in fish debris. Much fish debris was deposited in the western North and central South Pacific sites roughly 34.4 million years ago, concurrent with a late Eocene event, a temporal expansion of Antarctic ice preceding the Eocene–Oligocene climate transition. The enhanced northward flow of bottom water formed around Antarctica probably caused upwelling of deep-ocean nutrients at topographic highs and stimulated biological productivity that resulted in the proliferation of fish in pelagic realms. The abundant fish debris is now a highly concentrated source of industrially critical rare-earth elements.

Caffeine content in energy drinks

Convenient caffeine sources include energy drinks that are increasing in popularity among recreational and professional athletes, military personnel, young adults, and other consumers seeking ‘’energy boosters’’. Since energy drinks are a relatively concentrated source of caffeine, there is a risk of missing individually targeted caffeine intake or risk of inadvertently high intake with adverse effects. Therefore, the accuracy of declared caffeine content of energy drinks is highly important, especially from a consumer point. The purpose of this study was to determine caffeine content of 15 beverages available on the Croatian market and compare the analytical with the declared value. Caffeine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography technique with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-PDA). In 5 of total 15 products, a higher caffeine content was determined in average of 3.01 % than the one declared, resulting with increased intake of 4.75 mg caffeine/serving. In another 10 analysed products the content of caffeine was lower in average of 5.33 % (4.79 mg caffeine/serving) in compare to the one declared. Therefore, only with accurate information about the caffeine content in energy drinks may consumers and clinicians be assured of safe usage.