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Wine spirits are typically aged in wooden barrels. Recently, alternative ageing technologies, such as those using wood fragments in wine spirits stored in stainless steel tanks, have been investigated. However, a significant lack of information regarding the potential evolution of these beverages after bottling still remains. This study assessed the 12-month evolution of aroma in bottled wine spirits aged with chestnut wood using different technologies, including fragment application with several micro-oxygenation strategies and barrels (traditional). Chemical analysis using GC-FID and GC–MS methods, along with sensory analysis, was conducted on all sampled aged wine spirits. Significant changes in volatile compounds were detected over time, including volatile phenols, acids, and esters. Multivariate data analysis distinguished traditional and alternative aged samples, with slight sample discrimination based on bottle storage. Regarding the sensory results, a significant effect of the time in bottle in several sensory attributes was found, while the ageing technologies mainly affected the gustatory attributes. The tasters were also asked to rate the overall quality of the samples, which seems to be favoured by the time in the bottle. This initial assessment of the impact of 1 year of glass bottle storage on the volatile and sensory composition of aged wine spirits highlights that this stage must be considered as an additional technological factor in their production process. However, the differences induced by the wood ageing technologies applied remained evident after 1 year of glass bottle storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improper waste management is causing global environmental problems. Waste glass may have adverse impacts on the ecosystem. While a substantial amount of soda-lime glass bottle (SGB) undergoes recycling to create new glass items, a significant volume still ends up in landfills. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the potential use of SGB in foamed concrete (FC) production as an aggregate replacement. SGB was substituted for sand in different weight fractions, ranging from 5 to 50%. The fresh state, mechanical, thermal, pore structure, and transport properties were examined. The findings showed a significant enhancement in the FC's mechanical properties when SGB replaced 20% of sand. The compressive, flexural, and splitting tensile strengths exhibited a rise of up to 17.7, 39.4, and 43.8%, respectively. The findings also demonstrated that the addition of SGB improved the thermal conductivity, sorptivity, water absorption, and porosity. The scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated that the inclusion of 20% SGB caused a substantial decrease in void diameter and enhanced its uniformity. A comparison was made between the experimental data and predictions of the mechanical properties using various models of international standards, such as IS 456, ACI 318, NZS-3101, EC-02, AS 3600, and CEB-FIB, along with several references in the literature. The findings implied a strong correlation between the strength properties. The outcomes of this research offer valuable insights into both the possible advantages and constraints of using SGB in FC. Furthermore, this extensive laboratory investigation may serve as a guideline for future study and aid in the advancement of greener and more environmentally friendly FC alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing interest in hemp and cannabis poses new questions about the influence of drying and storage conditions on the overall aroma and cannabinoids profile of these products. Cannabis inflorescences are subjected to drying shortly after harvest and then to storage in different containers. These steps may cause a process of rapid deterioration with consequent changes in precious secondary metabolite content, negatively impacting on the product quality and potency. In this context, in this work, the investigation of the effects of freeze vs tray drying and three storage conditions on the preservation of cannabis compounds has been performed. A multi-trait approach, combining both solid-phase microextraction (SPME) two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (SPME-GC × GC–MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), is presented for the first time. This approach has permitted to obtain the detailed characterisation of the whole cannabis matrix in terms of volatile compounds and cannabinoids. Moreover, multivariate statistical analyses were performed on the obtained data, helping to show that freeze drying conditions is useful to preserve cannabinoid content, preventing decarboxylation of acid cannabinoids, but leads to a loss of volatile compounds which are responsible for the cannabis aroma. Furthermore, among storage conditions, storage in glass bottle seems more beneficial for the retention of the initial VOC profile compared to open to air dry tray and closed high-density polyethylene box. However, the glass bottle storage condition causes formation of neutral cannabinoids at the expenses of the highly priced acid forms. This work will contribute to help define optimal storage conditions useful to produce highly valuable and high-quality products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Head trauma is frequently related to the misuse of drinking vessels as weapons. Forensic reports usually evaluate these blunt injuries as having occurred in scenarios where the alcohol intake is high. Fatal consequences are seen in blows with glass bottles aiming at the head. To prove the outcome that a glass bottle thrown to the head could cause, three intact human cadaver heads were impacted with 1-liter glass bottles at 9.5 m/s using a drop-tower. The impact location covered the left temporal bone, sphenoid bone, and zygomatic arch. The contact between the head and the bottle was produced at an angle of 90° with (1) the valve of the bottle, (2) the bottom of the bottle, and (3) with the head rotated 20° in the frontal plane touching again with the bottom of the bottle. The three bottles remained intact after the impact, and the injury outcomes were determined by computed tomography (CT). The alterations were highly dependent on the impact orientation. The outcome varied from no injury to severe bone fractures. In the most injurious case (#3), fractures were identified in the cranial base, sphenoid bone, and zygomatic bone. These testing conditions were selected to replicate one specific legal case, as required by the plaintiff. Physical disputes with bar glassware can lead to complex combinations of blunt and sharp-force injuries. Controlled biomechanical studies can benefit forensic analyses of violence involving glassware by providing a better understanding of the underlying injury mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Carbon nanotube modified cellulose nonwovens: superhydrophobic, breathable, and sensitive for drowning alarm and motion monitoring." The authors of the original article discovered an error in their data processing, which resulted in a deviation in the results. They have updated the sensitivity section in Figures 4 and 6, as well as the relative resistance values in Figures 5, 8, and 9. The authors apologize for any inconvenience or confusion caused by this error. The corrected version of the figures is provided in this correction. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, systematical analyses were employed to determine that which period the historical artifact belonged, and evaluations were based on the glass-making technology of the period. In addition, since organic substances were carried in these glass bottles, they are likely to be the medicine or ornaments at that time; by using recently developed techniques as NMR-SEM–EDX and interpret them in the correct way, it was possible to predict what the yellow oily looking organic substance might be in. As the mouth of the glass bottle is completely closed with clay, the characterization of this organic material was made on the clay sample taken from the underneath of the environment without damaging the historical artifact. The trace organic matter residues on the clay were isolated and characterized by NMR spectrometry; this sample was characterized with FT-IR. Finally, the surface morphology of the clay–oil mixture was examined morphologically with SEM, and with EDX, elemental analysis was performed. In the results obtained, it was concluded that the organic material in the historical artifact could be olive oil with a high content of palmitic acid. With this study, the content of the artifact could be clarified by making a structural examination of the remains without damaging the historical artifact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate biomass generation and determine the total lipid content of a microalgae isolated from a lagoon of the Ecuadorian Amazon. The morphological identification of the isolated microalgae was done through bibliographic comparisons and molecular identification by PCR followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. A 10-day batch culture was operated in 1-L glass bottles, and nutrient removal was determined daily. After harvesting, biomass was centrifuged to remove most of the water content. Half of the obtained biomass was kept wet and the other half was dried for further analysis. Cell growth, optical density, and dry weight were measured during cultivation time. In addition, total lipid and free fatty acid (FFA) percentages were evaluated. Removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates (NO3−), and phosphates (PO43−) was 33.12%, 67.77%, and 76.73%, respectively. The biomass concentration was 2.19 ± 0.12 g/L with a productivity of 0.22 g/L per day. The best extraction percentages of total lipids and FFA were 18.43% and 61.46%, respectively. Although the results of lipids and FFA do not reach the required limits, the productivity of biomass and lipids is comparable with species that are cultivated for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blow and blow forming process for glass bottle is already validated for 2D axisymmetrical bottles. Current research evaluates the capabilities of the 3D simulations with more complex geometries. This article presents the results of a numerical and experimental study of a non-axisymmetrical glass bottle. In this study, a perfume bottle with a square-based prism geometry and a new set of industrial process conditions have been evaluated. To validate the numerical results, the predicted temperatures in the glass domain have been correlated with experimental infrared measurements of the glass at various stages of the forming process. A comparison of the predicted glass thickness distributions with the section profiles obtained from the manufactured glass bottles is also provided. Finally, transition from the 2 Da to 3D model resulted in new difficulties and capabilities that are also discussed. This study validates simulations with experimental results to help in the design process of molds to avoid undesired thickness distributions and even fracture of glass containers for low thickness 3D corners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, waste glass obtained from a discarded green glass bottle and unexploited natural red soil (RS) were prepared to get glass–ceramic foams. Red soil is an earthy material, which is used as a foaming agent. A mixture of starting powders containing different mass fractions (5–16 wt.%) of RS with particle size smaller than 20 μm was uniaxially pressed (at 30 MPa), and the obtained compacts were fired at different temperatures (750–850 °C) and holding time (30–120 min). Furthermore, the influences of temperature, holding time, and natural rock additions on the structure, type, and size of pores, besides physical and mechanical properties of the processed foamed glass–ceramic samples, were investigated. The results show that the optimum foaming temperature was found to be 800 °C leading to a maximum value of porosity as high as 90%, while the bulk density and compressive strength reached the values 0.26–0.75 g·cm−3 and 1.2–6.1 MPa, respectively. Based on the present data, the obtained glass–ceramic allowed the preparation of different porosity types. Therefore, they provide practical value for specific applications where thermal insulation is desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PET (polyethylene terephthalate) being widely used in the manufacturing of bottles, especially in the beverages industry, has obvious advantages over glass bottles and cans, including but not limited to its transparency, robustness, and light weightiness, etc. However, its permeability is a major concern for scientists as it evidently affects the quality of packaged food, especially beverages. The fact that it easily allows gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through them makes it less effective and least cost-efficient when compared with its substitutes. Alternatively, if its permeability is ameliorated, this can drastically improve the overall statistics of profits in the beverage industry. This paper attempts to improve the gas barrier property of PET via a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) permeation. Through temperature-induced solution processing, WS2 (tungsten disulfide) is disseminated in PET. The decrease in CO2 permeability in WS2 nanosheets/PET composites is assessed. After an 11-h test run, free-standing composite membranes demonstrated a maximum 99.9% permeability decrease at extremely low filler loading (0.005 wt% WS2) in contrast to the polymer. It is interesting to note that WS2 loading over 0.005 wt% completely reduced permeation. High-aspect-ratio WS2, homogenous dispersion inside PET, and jiggling effect surrounding nanosheets per flake have all contributed to the gas flow's winding path's complexity. Through the use of models developed by Bharadwaj, Neilson, Lape, and Cussler, experimental findings have been confirmed. SEM evaluates the dispersion state, and X-ray diffraction has validated the formation of composites. Higher mechanical resilience of WS2 nanosheets/PET composites and adhesion property was demonstrated by tensile testing and tribology technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active packaging which deliberately incorporated with releasing or absorbing components into or from packaged foods, was developed in order to extend the shelf life of products by stalling the degradative reactions The most significant factor affecting the shelf life of olive oil is oxidation. In this study a new oxygen scavenger called cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles powder was in the incorporated in glass and PET bottle screw-caps. It improves the shelf life of retailed olive oil packaging during storage. The effect of oxygen scavenger system on olive oil acidity, peroxide value and spectrophotometric indices (K232, K270) was evaluated at 6 intervals (monthly) at 25 ° C in light conditions. Chemical and physical properties of cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles adsorbent were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscope and X-ray Diffraction analyses. The results showed that 1 g of cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles powder decreased packaged olive oil peroxide value and acidity by about 30%. Olive oil packaged in glass containers (sealed with cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles), significantly, showed less peroxide value and acidity by 95% more likely than in PET containers. Physical properties of synthesized cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles approved the pure β-cobalt oxalate formation. This study showed that cobalt (II) oxalate nanoparticles have potential to be used in the food packaging industry as a new oxygen scavenger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of further impact tests with various striking weapons against the skull, it turned out that the manufacturer had incorrectly calibrated the force measuring plate, which was used in our earlier experiments. When the tests were carried out again under the same conditions, the measurement results were significantly higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass bottle mouth localization is an essential procedure for quality inspection based on machine vision. However, the real center of the bottle mouth is difficult to detect with traditional methods in the presence of continuous noises. To overcome this problem, a novel circle detection method based on a model fitting and least-squares technique named MFLS is proposed to improve accuracy. First, the edge points of the bottle mouth are obtained by radial scanning which is a simple and fast operation. Second, the mathematical model of the circle in polar coordinates is built according to the geometric features of the circle. We use this model to delete the noise points to improve the positioning accuracy. Finally, the bottle mouth location is obtained by least-squares circle detection. This method is tested using our designed machine vision system. A total of 144 bottle mouth images obtained by our machine vision system are used to evaluate the performances of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results show that the proposed method has strong anti-interference capability and high detection accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A practical solution to the problems caused by the water, air, and soil pollution produced by the large volumes of waste is recycling. Plastic and glass bottle recycling is a practical solution but sometimes unfeasible in underdeveloped countries. In this paper, we propose a high-performance real-time hardware architecture for bottle classification, that process input image bottles to generate a bottle color as output. The proposed architecture was implemented on a Spartan-6 Field Programmable Gate Array, using a Hardware Description Language. The proposed system was tested for several input resolutions up to 1080 p, but it is flexible enough to support input video resolutions up to 8 K. There is no evidence of a high-performance bottle classification system in the state-of-the-art. The main contribution of this paper is the implementation and integration of a set of dedicated image processing blocks in a high-performance real-time bottle classification system. These hardware modules were integrated into a compact and tunable architecture, and was tested in a simulated environment. Concerning the image processing algorithm implemented in the FPGA, the maximum processing rate is 60 frames per second. In practice, the maximum number of bottles that can be processed would be limited by the mechanical aspects of the bottle transportation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dairy market is one of the most important sectors worldwide, and milk packaging contributes to over one-third of the global dairy packaging demand. The end of life of the disposable packages is a critical stage of their life cycle, as demonstrated by the fact that disposable bottles are one of the litter items that are most found on beach shores. The aim of this paper is to analyse the performance of bioplastic bottles compared to other alternatives currently in use in the milk packaging sector, using the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. Bio-compostable plastic can be a powerful means to create a circular economy for disposable items. A PLA-based bottle is compared to a PET bottle, a HDPE bottle, a multilayer carton, and a glass bottle. In the analysis, also secondary and tertiary packaging is included. The functional unit chosen is "the packaging needed to contain 1 L of ESL milk and to guarantee a shelf life of 30 days". Two sensitivity analyses are also performed in order to assess the influence of the end-of-life stage on the total impact. The results show that, in accordance with the assumptions of an ideal scenario, bioplastic system has a better performance than fossil-based systems and multilayer carton in the categories of climate change, ozone depletion, human toxicity, freshwater eutrophication, particular matter, and land use. The recycling scenario strongly changes the impact of the glass packaging system in the considered categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The methane production rate of high solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) was poor although it was a promising technology with the advantages of small reactor, low energy consumption, and less digestate. In our research before, thermal treatment was proved to enhance HSAD's methane production rate via both batch experiments and continuous experiments of swine manure. However, the effect or investigation of thermal treatment's temperature-time combinations was not yet reported. In this study, swine manure was firstly thermally treated in 500-mL glass bottles with 400-mL work volume at 45–65 °C for 1–4 days. HSAD experiment of 10% solid content was then set up. The VS ratio of substrate to inoculum was 1:1. Thermal treatment at 45 °C (3 days), 55 °C (1 day), and 65 °C (3 days) could obtain the highest methane production rate, which was around 40% higher. Kinetics analysis suggested that the degradation of swine manure was quite different at different temperatures. Furthermore, energy assessment indicated that "thermal treatment + HSAD" had significant advantages in improving HSAD economic feasibility, because the improved methane production rate could compensate for the extra energy utilized for thermal treatment. Heat treatment at 45 °C (4 days) was preferred when the heating equipment was limited. Heat treatment at 55 °C (1 day) was preferred when the floor space and reactor volume were restricted. Heat treatment at 65°C (3 days) was preferred when the requirement of the digestate's sanitary condition is strict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical and biomechanical assessment of injuries from blows to the head is a common task in forensic medicine. In the context of a criminal justice process, the injury potential of different striking weapons is important. The article at hand compares the injury potential of assaults with a 0.5-l beer bottle and a 0.33-l Coke bottle, both made of glass. The research team hit 30 used empty 0.5-l beer bottles and 20 used empty 0.33-l Coke bottles manually on an aluminum dummy skull set on a force measuring plate, using acrylic and pork rind as a scalp surrogate. There was no significant difference in fracture threshold and energy transfer between the examined beer and Coke bottles. Both glass bottles are able to cause fractures to the facial bones while cranial bone fractures are primarily not to be expected. Blows with a 0.5-l beer bottle or with a 0.33-l Coke bottle to the head can transfer up to 1.255 N and thus are able to cause severe blunt as well as sharp trauma injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation process of fuels during storage affects their quality and has been a recurring problem in the use of neat biodiesel or diesel/biodiesel blends. One of the most significant and undesirable change that occurs due to deterioration is the formation of sediments and gums (SG’s). SG’s are degradation products resulting from oxidation process of fuels and have a negative effect on the fuel atomization process, reducing its calorific value and ignition quality (cetane number). Diesel fuel sold in Brazil is a diesel/biodiesel blend containing 14% by volume of biodiesel (B14), which increases fuel degradation during storage time. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the biodiesel content in diesel/biodiesel fuel blends on the SG content formed after storage period using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Blends were prepared using methyl soybean biodiesel (B100) and S10 diesel with different volumetric biodiesel percentage, from 10% (B10) to 50% (B50). The samples were stored in amber glass bottles (similar to ASTM D4625), at room temperature and protected from light. Every 30 days, bottles of each mixture were opened and a sample collected for analysis. This procedure was repeated for six consecutive months. Blends oxidized and not oxidized (immediate age) were analyzed using thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The physicochemical properties of blends were also evaluated, such oxidation stability, kinematic viscosity at 40 °C and specific mass a 20 °C. Size exclusion chromatography analyses (SEC) were also performed. Thermogravimetry shows that, as the B100 content increases regarding diesel, the interactions between the two fuels are distinct, which result in changes in the TG/DTG curve profile. It is also observed that the increase in B100 promotes the retardation of the mass loss steps of the blends to higher temperatures. The final (Tendset) and the maximum (Tonset) degradation temperatures are affected as well. The TG/DTG curves of the sample showed that increasing biodiesel content in the blend, the percentage of SG formed for the same aging age increases. Moreover, the formation of SG is correlated with the proportion of the blend constituents. The profiles of TG/DTG curves for each blend are a function of the added percentages of biodiesel in the mixture. The experimental results obtained showed that the degradation products formed during the storage of fuels, sediments/gums (SG’s), can be quantified using thermogravimetric techniques.Graphical abstract: The oxidation process of fuels during storage affects their quality and has been a recurring problem in the use of neat biodiesel or diesel/biodiesel blends. One of the most significant and undesirable change that occurs due to deterioration is the formation of sediments and gums (SG’s). SG’s are degradation products resulting from oxidation process of fuels and have a negative effect on the fuel atomization process, reducing its calorific value and ignition quality (cetane number). Diesel fuel sold in Brazil is a diesel/biodiesel blend containing 14% by volume of biodiesel (B14), which increases fuel degradation during storage time. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the biodiesel content in diesel/biodiesel fuel blends on the SG content formed after storage period using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Blends were prepared using methyl soybean biodiesel (B100) and S10 diesel with different volumetric biodiesel percentage, from 10% (B10) to 50% (B50). The samples were stored in amber glass bottles (similar to ASTM D4625), at room temperature and protected from light. Every 30 days, bottles of each mixture were opened and a sample collected for analysis. This procedure was repeated for six consecutive months. Blends oxidized and not oxidized (immediate age) were analyzed using thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG). The physicochemical properties of blends were also evaluated, such oxidation stability, kinematic viscosity at 40 °C and specific mass a 20 °C. Size exclusion chromatography analyses (SEC) were also performed. Thermogravimetry shows that, as the B100 content increases regarding diesel, the interactions between the two fuels are distinct, which result in changes in the TG/DTG curve profile. It is also observed that the increase in B100 promotes the retardation of the mass loss steps of the blends to higher temperatures. The final (Tendset) and the maximum (Tonset) degradation temperatures are affected as well. The TG/DTG curves of the sample showed that increasing biodiesel content in the blend, the percentage of SG formed for the same aging age increases. Moreover, the formation of SG is correlated with the proportion of the blend constituents. The profiles of TG/DTG curves for each blend are a function of the added percentages of biodiesel in the mixture. The experimental results obtained showed that the degradation products formed during the storage of fuels, sediments/gums (SG’s), can be quantified using thermogravimetric techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to assess if plastic containers could decrease the overall procedure time for paracentesis relative to more commonly used glass containers. Methods: In this IRB exempt study, initial pilot data comparing filling time of glass and plastic containers in an ex vivo setting under identical conditions revealed power calculations that n = 37 patients per group would be needed to achieve standard deviation (SD) = 60 s, difference (diff) = 40 s, two-tailed alpha-level 0.05, and power 80%. Total of 43 patients (93 containers) were enrolled and randomized to glass or plastic bottles at enrollment. Timing of bottle filling was assessed using standardized sonographic screen captures. Results: An interim look at statistics at n = 20 patients indicated that original conjectures from pilot data were conservative and smaller sample size was sufficient to stop the study and conduct the analyses. Specifically, SD = 54 s, diff = 49 s, two-tailed alpha-level 0.05, and power 80% required n = 21 patients per group. Plastic containers had a statistically significantly lower average filling time per bottle (162.7 ± 53.3 s) compared to glass (212.2 ± 50.4 s) (p = 0.003). Viscosity was calculated for each specimen and did not affect the statistical significance of the results (p = 0.32). Conclusion: Plastic containers have 50 s time savings of per bottle filling time as compared to glass bottles as theorized based on their faster flow rate. This holds true in both an ex vivo setting and in patients and can have important downstream impacts on patient throughput, provider efficiency and system wide cost savings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to carry out a Product Environmental Footprint study of a Lebanese red wine, "Coteaux Les Cedres" by HF S.A.L company (Couvent Rouge winery) produced in the west Beqaa Valley and consumed in the UK. This study is done by implementing the draft Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) of wine. The purpose is to identify the most relevant life cycle stages and processes, in order to improve its environmental performance. Methods: The consumption of materials and energy and the emission to air, soil and water from the red wine campaign of 2014 were reported to the functional unit, 0.75 l of Coteaux Les Cedres. The company provided the specific life cycle data for the stages of grape production and wine making. The use phase and end of life were modelled in the UK, which is one of the most important markets of Coteaux Les Cedres. The SimaPro® software and the Ecoinvent database were used to model the Lebanese wine under study by respecting the drafty PEFCR ON WINE version 5.2. A scenario analysis for a set of selected parameters was performed. Results: Results show that the most relevant life cycle stages for 0.75 L of packaged red wine are: grape production, primary packaging and distribution. These stages are contributing in average 39%, 34% and 13% to the impact categories respectively. The environmental impacts for grape production are mainly related to the waste management produced by pruning and diesel consumption by agriculture machinery. As for the packaging, the production of glasses bottles is the process with higher environmental impacts associated. As for the distribution, the transportation from retail to retail is the most impacting process. Within the End-of-Life, the collection of packaging waste is the process with the highest environmental impacts. According to the scenario analysis composting the biomass, using lighter glass bottles and implementing a water saving system were identified as critical for improving the environmental performance of the wine product assessed in this study. Conclusion: The company under study has already shown interest in environmental issues and has made it clear by opting for an organic grape production. Thus, it agreed to take specific actions, in the grape production and packaging stages, that have reduced the environmental impacts. This experience has certainly enhanced management and staff awareness of the importance of making strategic choices with respect to environmental performance throughout the entire product life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Declining biodiversity of marine ecosystems is impairing the functionality of seas and shore and their capability to provide ecological services and recover from perturbations due to human pressure. The European Union issued the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), providing criteria and methods to analyse the dominant pressures on marine and coastal environments. Anthropogenic litter is among the main sources of impact on coastal habitats. On the other hand, sand-dwelling beetles are among the most sensitive taxa to habitat disturbance. Aims: Applying MSFD criteria and metrics for community analyses, we studied the impact of anthropogenic litter on sand-dwelling beetle, focusing our attention on beach litter traps (BLTs): discarded containers that act as traps. Our aims were to identify and quantify period, beach zone and beetle taxa affected by entrapment effect. Methods: Three monthly surveys were carried out along the Ionian coast (Southern Italy) over the spring season, recording material, shape and position of buried and not buried BLTs along dune habitats and identifying entrapped beetle species. Results: The highest density of containers was observed on hind dunes (13 items/100 m2), with glass bottles as the most frequent container (41%), entrapping more than 50% of individuals. Buried and not buried BLTs acted as traps, with no difference in trapping frequency regarding their material type and shape. A total of 2811 individuals were analysed, identifying 14 families and 18 species: Anthicus fenestratus (Anthicidae), Scarites buparius (Carabidae) and Pachychila frioli (Tenebrionidae) were the most affected species. Discussion: The entrapment effect interests a large set of species, from detritivorous to carnivorous and saprophagous beetles, possibly altering the sand-dwelling beetle community. Implications for insect conservation: Our results represent a starting point to define and compare the magnitude of entrapment effect on arthropods. Besides, they could be useful to devise proper management strategies to reduce BLT effect on sand beetle community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased urbanisation is leading to littering of the environment. However, some animals may adapt to live in such altered habitats. The aim of this study was to assess whether discarded containers can serve as a suitable microhabitat for spiders. The study was conducted in 10 woodland areas in the city of Wrocław, Poland. In September 2018, a total of 939 containers were collected, of which 33.5% contained evidence of spiders having resided therein: webs, dead or living spiders, exuviae or cocoons. A total of 22 species and several other taxa that could not be recognised so accurately were detected. The most common of these belonged to Linyphiidae and Theridiidae. Juveniles (N = 103) dominated over adults (N = 58), and females (N = 34) were more numerous than males (N = 24). In 15 containers, interspecies pairs were found. Among ecological guilds, sheet web spiders dominated (60%) followed by space web spiders (24%), ground hunters (9%), ambush hunters (3%), specialists (3%), and other hunters (2%). Spiders were significantly more often found in colourless (38.3%) and green (35.5%) than in brown bottles (25.2%). They were also more numerous in glass bottles for sweet drinks (50.0%) than in beer bottles (28.0%), and slightly more frequent than in glass vodka bottles (33.3%). Our study showed that discarded containers are fully exploitable microhabitats for spiders and are used by these animals for at least three different purposes: hunting, hiding and breeding, however the effect on their fitness remains unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Today plastic is the most used material for food packaging, but its incorrect disposal is creating environmental issues to oceans, soil and air. Someone believes that the solution is to ban plastic and substitute it with glass packaging. Is it the right choice? This study aims at comparing the environmental impact of bottles made of PET, R-PET, non-returnable glass and returnable glass in order to understand which is the most environmental friendly packaging solution. Methods: A literature analysis on the environmental impact of glass and PET bottles is carried out, taking into account their production, transport and disposal phase. Then, an environmental assessment of PET, R-PET, glass and returnable glass bottles, used to package 1 l of pasteurized milk, has been carried out using the life cycle assessment methodology and a new indicator. Inventory data were provided by an important milk processing and packaging factory located in Italy. Results were estimated using some relevant impact categories of the ReCiPe 2016 MidPoint (H) method, then a marine litter indicator (MLI) has been proposed in order to evaluate the polluting potential of milk bottles dispersed into the Mediterranean Sea. Results and discussion: LCA results show that R-PET bottle gives the lowest contribution to global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, terrestrial acidification, fossil resource scarcity, water consumption and human carcinogenic toxicity, followed by PET bottle, returnable glass bottle, and finally non-returnable glass bottle. Glass is the worst packaging option because of high energy demand in the bottle production and its weight and in the transport phase. Some improvements can be obtained with returnable glass, but even if we consider that a bottle could be reused eight times, results are not comparable to the PET or R-PET bottles used only once. However, according to the MLI, returnable glass bottles become the first option, because a lot of plastic bottles could potentially be dispersed into the sea. Conclusions: The substitution of plastic with glass does not help to reduce the GWP and others LCI categories, while could contribute to reduce the marine litter: overall it is important to dispose correctly packaging materials, investing in recycling and reusing. In particular, great improvements can be obtained using bottles made with recycled materials, as R-PET. In conclusion, it is necessary to disadvantage waste dispersion, giving incentives to returnable packaging and raising people awareness of environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crenotherapy is a natural treatment and health protection method, thus using natural mineral water are gaining popularity as an alternative to pharmacotherapy or as additional support in many types of diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of germanium (Ge) in mineral non-geothermal waters from Low Beskid area, Poland. The collected mineral water samples from natural springs and wells were analyzed using total X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (TXRF). In total, 25 mineral water samples and 4 commercially available mineral waters (PET and glass bottled) used in crenotherapy were analyzed to determine the levels of Ge and 11 other indicators (total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, Br, As, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Sr, Ba and Cl/Br index). Moreover, relations between: Ge concentration and total mineralization and Br concentrations, likewise assessments of Ge origin and on the potential impact of Ge in mineral water on human health, were performed. The results demonstrated that in 22 out of 25 samples Ge was detected, in the range from 0.99 μg/l to 123.83 μg/l. The results indicate that the relic waters, which remain in contact with deposits of sediments containing high quantities of organic compounds indicate the highest Ge concentration collected in Wysowa-Zdrój. The findings of the current work conclude that the quantity of germanium consumed with the analysed curative non-geothermal waters form Low Beskid taken directly at the source has no negative impact on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-native invasive plant species influence plant community composition and competitively eradicate native species. However, there is doubt regarding how global invasive species increase and explosively interfere with native plants. Invasive plants always have strong allelopathic potential. In this study, allelopathic effects of switchgrass on redroot pigweed and crabgrass growth were investigated by field and laboratory experiments. Within a 0.4-m distance of switchgrass, density and shoot biomass of native species were significantly suppressed in the field, with 95.1% and 93.0% inhibition on density of redroot pigweed and crabgrass and with 99.0% and 97.7% inhibition on shoot biomass, respectively, during the third growing season. Significant inhibitory effects on shoot and root biomass were observed at the 5:5 (switchgrass–native species) proportion in glass bottles, by 41.57% and 51.21% for shoot and root biomass of redroot pigweed and by 33.42% and 56.95% for shoot and root biomass of crabgrass, respectively. Results of a glass bottle experiment showed that shoot and root biomass of redroot pigweed and crabgrass could be significantly inhibited by contact with switchgrass root. Results of a Petri dish experiment showed that aqueous extracts of switchgrass significantly inhibited germination process of both species at high concentrations, with 90.74% and 18.62% inhibition on germination rate and plumule length of redroot pigweed and with 63.59%, 16.38%, and 19.92% inhibition on germination rate, plumule, and radicle lengths of crabgrass, respectively, at the concentration of 0.1 g·mL−1. This report demonstrated that switchgrass had allelopathic effects on redroot pigweed and crabgrass growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain wines produced in specific mountain areas and following singular practices have gained popularity over the last few decades. During this time, the environmental impacts associated with the food and beverage manufacturing sector have become a question of interest. However, the environmental impacts derived from the production of this peculiar wine have scarcely been studied until now. A mountain winery in north Spain has been analyzed as representative of PDO "Cangas" winemaking by means of life cycle assessment (LCA). High-quality inventory data for one year of operation was obtained directly from this facility and two steps have been considered, the vineyard and the winery phases. The main factors involved in grape cultivation and wine production were included. In common with standard winemaking processes, the use of fertilizers and the production of glass bottles were the principal hotspots in the grape cultivation and wine production phases, respectively. Additionally, in the winery here evaluated, waste management also contributed notably to several impacts, mainly due to the employment of traditional practices such as the incineration in situ of vineyard pruning wastes. The carbon footprint obtained for "Cangas" PDO wine was 2.35 kg of CO2eq per 0.75-l bottle, a value within the range reported in the literature for different wines around the world (0.2–2.5 kg CO2eq per bottle). A sensitivity analysis has shown that changes in vineyard productivity and the amount of fertilizers applied to the land would strongly affect the environmental performance of the wine manufacturing process. Some alternative scenarios have been proposed, modifying the management of pruning wastes in the vineyard and the packaging material in the winery. Results showed that environmental impacts associated with the production of this mountain wine could be notably reduced simply by reusing a percentage of the bottles and/or composting the organic wastes. Specifically, the carbon footprint would be 40% lower if these two improvements were implemented. Considering the lack of similar studies, further research on the production of mountain wines should be carried out in other regions to increase the knowledge about the environmental impacts associated with the manufacturing of this singular type of wine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of probiotics has varying effects on rotifer culture. These effects can either be directly on their growth and reproduction or indirectly by affecting the culture environment. The role played by specific probiotic candidates is still indistinct and further research is required to ascertain their significance in rotifer culture. In this study, euryhaline rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis (SS-type) was used to evaluate the effect of two commercial probiotic products on rotifer density, reproductive parameters and unionized ammonia concentration for a twelve-day culture period. To estimate these parameters, rotifers were cultured in glass bottles containing dilute sterilized sea water with the following five diet treatments: Nannochloropsis oculata (control), Igsign (PB1), Toaraze Aqua (PB2) or the combination of N. oculata with either PB1 or PB2. The rotifer density was significantly affected by the addition of probiotic. N. oculata + PB2 treatment resulted in higher rotifer density and specific growth rate compared to the control treatment. Mixis induction was unaffected by N. oculata + PB2 while it was repressed by N. oculata + PB1. Ammonia concentration was not significantly affected with the addition of probiotics. These results indicate that probiotics have synergetic effects with microalgae diet that resulted in the highest rotifer densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glass bottles were a valuable commodity in colonial Australia, and the commercial reuse of these vessels ensured that they were used to their full potential. The 2009 excavations at 19–37 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, uncovered architectural features and occupation deposits associated with four bottle merchant businesses operating from Lot 35–37 between 1875 and 1914, providing a rare opportunity to study this little-known but significant light industrial trade. This paper draws on archaeological data from 35–37 A’Beckett Street to examine the role of bottle merchants and marine store dealers in nineteenth-century Melbourne. It also seeks to determine an archaeological signature for bottle merchants through comparison with other contemporary sites, and briefly touches on the implications of bottle reuse when identifying patterns of consumption in archaeological assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the excavation of the Loyalist-period Butler Homestead site in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario a small cache of glass condiment bottles was discovered in a space identified as a larder or pantry. The form of the bottles suggests that they once contained dry mustard powder, the bottles of which are usually recovered from military sites when found in Canada. This paper examines the cultural history of mustard as a food and medicine, its role in eighteenth-century British cookery and agriculture, and demonstrates how this specific form of glass container tied a Loyalist household to local and international trade networks in British North America and England. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injuries and assaults related to alcohol consumption are a growing concern in many countries. In such cases, the use of impulsive weapons, an object from the immediate environment, such as a glass bottle, is not uncommon. This current study utilises a material testing system to measure the force required to push a broken glass bottle into a skin simulant with the displacement of the bottle into the skin simulant being recorded simultaneously, using a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). From this data, load versus displacement plots were produced. Multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) was also used to analyse bottle wall thickness to determine if a relationship could be found between force required for penetration and bottle wall thickness. The forces required for the penetration of the skin simulant ranged from 9.8 to 56.7 N. The range was found to be independent of bottle type with the variation in force for penetration being attributed to the varying fracture points, with some fractures presenting a sharper point on first contact with the skin. Although the dangers associated with the use of broken bottles as weapons is apparent, there is a paucity of information in this area in the current English literature, which this study has addressed. The results of this study also highlight the risks of attempting reconstructions of broken bottle stab events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is increasingly becoming an important tool for ecological evaluation of products or processes. In this study the environmental impacts associated with the returnable and the non-returnable glass beer bottles were assessed in order to compare different reuse percentages. The inventory analysis is performed with data obtained from two Portuguese companies (a glass bottles producer and a brewery) and completed with the BUWAL database. It includes all operations associated with the bottles’ manufacture, the brewery and the wastewater treatment plant. The environmental impact assessment considers both the potential ecological and ecotoxicological effects of the emissions. The environmental impact categories included and discussed in this study are the contribution to ecological and human health, global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical ozone creation. The first category is divided into three subcategories that are human toxicity, critical air volume and critical water volume. This study was performed for several reuse percentages and returnable bottle cycles, and is comprised of a sensitivity analysis. The general output is that the relative importance of the impacts associated with the use of returnable and/or non-returnable bottles depends on the number of cycles performed by the returnable bottles. According to the impact index defined in this study, the most significant impacts are the eutrophication and the final solid wastes generated, and the least significant impact is the ozone depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract-Results of long term investigations of the Naftusya type medicinal mineral water from the Zbruchanske deposit dealing with variations of its the main indicator (organic carbon content) under conditions of its storage in glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle are presented. It has been found out that the storage of mineral water in PET containers results in intense decomposition of medicinal organic substances in water and only 6 months later the organic carbon concentration drops below the specified norm. The mineral water preserves its medicinal properties for up to one year if it is stored in glass bottles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]