Being a product consumer during the COVID-19 pandemic: profile of the Polish consumer in the organic dairy market

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to determine the profile of dairy product consumers in the organic market.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a survey questionnaire developed by the author and administered to a total of 1,108 respondents. The statistical analysis (including descriptive statistics, the analysis of the discriminative function and the Chi2 test was performed with the use of Statistica 13.1 PL. The respondents' gender was the factor behind the differences in how they behaved.FindingsThe consumers indicated the channels they rely upon to find information on organic dairy products;in addition to trusting the opinions of their family members and experts, they also use web platforms. Further, they specified their preferred locations for buying favorite products during the pandemic: specialized organic food shops, large distribution chains and online stores.Practical implicationsThese outcomes will help in identifying target consumer segments and information channels for specific information and advertising messages. They also form an important resource for developing some potential strategies which the supply chain stakeholders could implement to promote organic consumption of dairy products.Originality/valueThis study identifies consumers' preferred dairy products;motives for purchasing organic dairy products;barriers that consumers believe exist in the market;sources of knowledge about products purchased by consumers;and consumers' preferred channels for purchasing organic dairy products. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study of dairy product consumers in the organic market in Poland.

Is the Packaging Supply Chain Ready?

[...]SCHOTT, which operates a global validated production network with 20 plants and more than 600 production lines for pharma glass and packaging, already has delivered millions of glass vials to SARS-CoV-2 programmes including supplying three out of every four COVID-19 vaccine projects undergoing Phase I, II, and III testing (3). Since we produce the pharmaceutical glass tubing for the packaging ourselves, we are also able to adjust the capacities for glass production in advance, which also benefits packaging manufacturers who do not have their own glass production facilities." "Since our sites are already validated by the authorities and by major pharma companies, our expansion is happening at a very fast pace," reports Stöcker. Per the agreement ... with BARDA [Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response], Corning will provide priority access to designated BARDA vaccine and drug development partners."

Analytics, Properties and Applications of Biologically Active Stilbene Derivatives.

Stilbene and its derivatives belong to the group of biologically active compounds. Some derivatives occur naturally in various plant species, while others are obtained by synthesis. Resveratrol is one of the best-known stilbene derivatives. Many stilbene derivatives exhibit antimicrobial, antifungal or anticancer properties. A thorough understanding of the properties of this group of biologically active compounds, and the development of their analytics from various matrices, will allow for a wider range of applications. This information is particularly important in the era of increasing incidence of various diseases hitherto unknown, including COVID-19, which is still present in our population. The purpose of this study was to summarize information on the qualitative and quantitative analysis of stilbene derivatives, their biological activity, potential applications as preservatives, antiseptics and disinfectants, and stability analysis in various matrices. Optimal conditions for the analysis of the stilbene derivatives in question were developed using the isotachophoresis technique.

‘In a mist?’ – What is ‘brain fog’?

ObjectivesThe term ‘brain fog’ is increasingly used in social and other media. But what is brain fog? What sort of experiences do people talk about when they talk about brain fog? And, in turn, what might this tell us about potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms? In this study we examined first-person descriptions of brain fog in order to better understand a) the phenomenology of brain fog, and b) the causal attributions of those describing brain fog. We use this information to consider implications for clinical research.MethodsData were scraped from the social media platform Reddit using Python. Posts containing ‘brain fog’ were identified between 27thOctober 2021 and 3rd November 2021. Those not describing or discussing brain fog as a symptom or experience were excluded. Potentially identifying information was removed prior to analysis. We undertook thematic analysis of containing subreddits (topic-specific discussion forums), causal attributions, and discrete brain fog experiences.Results1663 posts including the term ‘brain fog’ were identified, of which 717 met inclusion criteria.44% (315/717) posts originated from subreddits concerned with illness and disease: including COVID-19 (87 posts), autoimmune, functional, neurodevelopmental, major psychiatric, and endocrine disorders. Brain fog was also discussed in subreddits about prescribed and non-prescribed drug use, and subreddits concerned with intentional restriction of masturbation (‘nofap’).141 first person descriptions of brain fog described overlapping concepts including: forgetfulness (51), difficulty concentrating (43), dissociative phenomena (34), perceived cognitive ‘slowness’ and excessive effort (26), communication difficulties (22), a feeling of ‘fuzziness’ or pressure in the head (10), and fatigue (9).570 posts described a perceived cause of brain fog, of which half attributed brain fog to illness or disease (282/570) (the most common single attribution being ‘long COVID’ in 59/570 (10%)), followed by psychiatric conditions in 38/570 (7%). The second most common single attribution of brain fog, in 24/570 (24%), was restriction or excessive masturbation.ConclusionsBrain fog is discussed on the Reddit social media platform in association with a wide range of illnesses, diseases, drugs, and activities. The term is used to describe heterogeneous experiences, which do not map in a straightforward way to the domains enquired about during a ‘cognitive’ clinical examination, but include experiences of dissociation, fatigue, and excessive cognitive effort. Encouraging detailed description of subjective experiences – moving away from a psychometric testing approach and towards a phenomenological approach – might open new routes into understanding cognitive difficulties in health and disease.

Multifunctional properties of probiotic strains Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis

The analysis of the literature of the RSCI and Web of Science on the multifunctionality of useful properties of mesophilic lactic acid bacteria Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, which have been used by humans for centuries in the preparation of fermented products as a way to preserve milk and food raw materials. Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactiscan become a resource for various biologically active substances - potential metabiotics, such as: bacteriocins, organic acids, short-chain fatty acids, antioxidants, adhesins, neurotransmitters. New areas of their application as suppliers of bioprotective agents for preventive therapy and the development of oral vaccines are described, which is important for the prevention and control of infections that pose an additional danger to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Determining the effects of some bacteria on wooden toys treated with antibacterial protective coatings

Several protective coatings enhanced by antimicrobial agents and/or pigments were considered for the wooden toy market: water-based matte varnish, an ultra-hygiene water-based matte varnish (WBV-UH), a polyurethane matte varnish (PUV), and an ultra-hygiene antiviral polyurethane matte varnish (PUV-UH), as well as a water-based dye (WBV 5%K), an ultra-hygiene water-based dye (WBV-UH 5%K), a polyurethane dye (PUV 5%K), and an ultra-hygiene polyurethane dye (PUV-UH 5%K), which contain 5% red nano-pigment (K). By utilizing 7 kinds of bacteria and 2 types of yeast that are commonly detected in routine, daily settings, the efficacy of the different protective coatings on wooden toy surface was investigated. The antibacterial and antimicrobial activities of the tested dye samples were based on the agar-well diffusion method. Ultimately, the study found that the addition of antimicrobial agents to several different protective coatings and dyes resulted in the presence of antimicrobial activity vs. the lack thereof with protective coatings and dyes alone. Additionally, some of the dyes with added antimicrobial agents were found to be effective against biofilm formation. Overall, the addition of pigment into the coating, alongside the addition of antimicrobial agents, proved to be highly effective in inhibiting growth and spread of microorganisms on wooden toy surface.

Circular Economy of Construction and Demolition Wood Waste—A Theoretical Framework Approach

A considerable amount of construction and demolition wood waste (CDWW) is generated, mostly landfilled, contributing to severe environmental effects. The management of CDWW is a significant challenge as it is a hazardous contaminated waste. In this context, the circular economy (CE) concept is a solution as it comprises waste minimisation and efficient recovery of resources. Although much research is found in the literature on CDWW end-of-life management, research on CE implementation considering every life cycle stage is still scarce. In this review, we endeavour to integrate CE in CDWW to identify the waste management strategies involved in the life cycle phases. The databases were searched from 2009 to 2020 and were analysed using CiteSpace version 5.7.R1 software. Forty-nine articles were identified, and the six life cycle stages were explored. The analysis shows that CE for wood waste is essential and has greater growth potential. While the LCA studies are limited to environmental viewpoints, combining economic and social perspectives is necessary for sustainable development. Overall, based on the research findings, a theoretical framework was proposed. This study, as a consequence, promotes the application of recycled wood into multiple valuable products and thus encourages waste management to boost CE and sustainability.

Development of Salmon Protein Based Shelf Stable Snacks and Improving Their Storage Quality Using Solanum nigrum, a Natural Immune Booster

The aim of the present study was to develop salmon protein-based shelf stable snacks and to improve their storage quality using Solanum nigrum extract. The products were developed by incorporating different levels of salmon protein powder viz. 20% (T-1), 30% (T-2), 40% (T-3), and 0.0% (control). The snacks containing optimum level of protein powder (30%) were incorporated with S. nigrum extract (1.0%) and stored at room temperature (25 +/- 1 degrees C) for 75 days. Incorporation of salmon protein powder significantly increased the protein and fat contents and decreased the carbohydrate content. The snacks containing 30% salmon protein powder showed highest scores for all sensory characteristics. The total phenolic content and DPPH-radical scavenging (% inhibition) of S. nigrum extract was 380 mg GAE/100 g and 79.0, respectively. Addition of S. nigrum extract significantly (P < .05) improved the lipid stability (reduced TBARS and free fatty acids) and microbial quality (total-plate and yeast/moulds), while enhancing the sensory quality of the snacks during storage. Salmon protein powder and S. nigrum can be used for the development of highly nutritive shelf stable snacks with improved lipid oxidative and microbial stability. The immune boosting properties of S. nigrum can be of health importance during this pandemic of SARS-CoV-2.

Biological Resistance of Acetylated Radiata Pine, European Beech, and MDF against Marine Borers at Three Italian Sites after Five Years Immersion

The aim of this research was to determine the resistance of acetylated wood against marine biodeterioration in use class 5 for use in temperate waters. The resistance of acetylated radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) on solid and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) panels was compared with untreated wood of European species, such as European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), European oak (Quercus robur L.), and marine plywood. As a reference control, untreated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood was used. The field tests were carried out in accordance with EN 275, and started in April 2015. The three Italian exposure sites were Marine of Scarlino private harbor, Port of Genoa, and the Venice Lagoon. Final evaluation in 2021 showed a greater resistance to marine borers of acetylated wood, radiata pine, and beech and MDF panels. However, the untreated European species showed low resistance against marine organisms, with complete decay after the first year of exposure.

Influence of Thermal Modification and Impregnation with Biocides on Physical Properties of Italian Stone Pine Wood (Pinus pinea L.)

Featured ApplicationIn recent decades, the importance of wood has also been increasing for outdoor intended use. A more sustainable approach has turned the attention from faraway tropical forests to local wood, that is, European species. Unfortunately, most of the species are not durable;thus, in order to utilize them in outdoor conditions, protection must be provided. Stone pine (Pinus pinea) is one of the most common tree species in the Mediterranean region, with a great potential in applications with higher added value, instead of being used only for burning or packaging. This investigation explores methods for an improvement of the service life of stone pine sapwood using impregnation and modification techniques.The sudden availability of Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) wood due to the infestation of pathogenic fungi and insects highlighted the need to promote its use as a short supply chain resource in Italy and other Mediterranean countries. However, the durability of stone pine sapwood must be enhanced if outdoor use is to be considered. The impregnability of stone pine wood was studied following the standard EN 351-1:2008, using immersion, vacuum, and high-pressure methods with natural waxes and organic solvent-based and copper-amino-based preservative solutions. The efficacy of the impregnation was determined by calculating the kilos of preservative absorbed per cubic meter of wood and by measuring the penetration depth of the preservative. Thermal modifications were carried out using five different maximum temperatures, and their efficacy was determined by measuring the mass loss and color change. Subsequent to thermal treatments, the wood was exposed to a water-vapor-saturated atmosphere, and the increase in mass was calculated for different periods. Stone pine and Scots pine sapwoods showed similar response to the treatments with the exception of soaking impregnation methods where stone pine showed higher uptake, in particular when Silvanolin was used. Our investigation shows that stone pine can be a suitable short supply chain resource in Italy that, when impregnated, could be tested for outdoor use, exactly as is the case with Scots pine.

Improving the lipid oxidative and microbial stability of chicken protein-based shelf-stable snacks using Solanum nigrum, a natural immune booster

An attempt was made to develop chicken protein-based shelf-stable snacks and to improve their lipid-oxidative and microbial-stability using Solanum nigrum extract. The snacks were developed using different levels of chicken protein-powder viz. 20% (T-1), 30% (T-2), 40% (T-3), and 0.0% (control). Products containing optimum level of protein-powder (40%) and S. nigrum extract (1.0%) were stored for 75 days (25 +/- 1 degrees C). The addition of protein-powder significantly decreased the carbohydrate whereas increased protein and fat contents. Products containing 40% protein-powder showed the highest scores for all sensory attributes. The 1,1 diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging and total-phenolic content of S. nigrum extract was 79.0% and 80 mg GAE/g, respectively. The extract significantly reduced the free-fatty acids, thiobarbituric acid reacting substances, and microbial counts while improving the sensory quality of the products during storage. S. nigrum and protein-powder improved the nutritive value and storage stability of the shelf-stable snacks. S. nigrum-based snacks can have health importance during the pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 due to their strong immune-boosting properties. Novelty impact statement Chicken protein-based shelf-stable snacks were developed and Solanum nigrum extract was used to improve their storage quality and functional value. The extract improved the lipid oxidative and microbial stability of the developed products.

COVID-19 Vaccine-associated Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions: Consensus Statements of the KAAACI Urticaria/Angioedema/Anaphylaxis Working Group.

In the era of novel coronavirus epidemics, vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been recognized as the most effective public health interventions to control the pandemic. An adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is defined as any untoward occurrence following immunization, and the majority of AEFIs are caused by protective immune responses stimulated by vaccines. Most of the reported AEFIs are not serious, and many are not immunologically mediated or even reproducible on re-exposure. However, uncommon severe allergic adverse reactions, such as anaphylaxis or other allergic reactions, can occur after vaccinations. Confirmed allergic reactions to vaccines may be caused by residual non-human protein, preservatives, or stabilizers in the vaccine formulation (also known as excipients). There are 2 main potential allergenic/immunogenic excipients in COVID-19 vaccines, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polysorbate 80. PEG, also known as macrogol, is an ingredient in various laxatives and injectable formulations, such as depot steroids. Polysorbate 80 is present in various medical products, creams, ointments, lotions, and medication tablets. Contraindications to the administration of COVID-19 vaccines include a previous history of severe allergic reactions to the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine or proven hypersensitivity to a vaccine component, such as PEG or polysorbate 80. Anaphylaxis or other allergic reactions following immunization can cause fear and loss of confidence in the safety of vaccines among the public. A better understanding of these events is thought to help alleviate concerns about the current COVID-19 vaccines and provide reassurance to the general population by analyzing the exact incidence of anaphylaxis and potential risk factors. COVID-19 vaccine-associated anaphylaxis could be prevented and managed by risk stratification based on our local and global experience.