Brown Containers Research Articles

Coloration in a Praying Mantis: Color Change, Sexual Color Dimorphism, and Possible Camouflage Strategies.

Background matching, an important form of camouflage, can be challenging for animals that range across heterogeneously colored habitats. To remain cryptic in such habitats, animals may employ color change, background choice, or generalist coloration, and the efficacy of these strategies may be influenced by an animal's mobility. We examined camouflage strategies in the praying mantis Stagmomantis limbata. We reared mantids in green or brown containers to test whether mantids change color over development to match their background. Additionally, we tested whether adult mantids (i) employ behavioral background choice, (ii) exhibit sexual color dimorphism, and (iii) differ in mobility in the field. Mantids changed color during development in response to their background, but the effect was small and variable. Adult mantids did not show background choice. In the field, adult males moved greater distances than females. Adults exhibited sexual color dimorphism: Males were heterogeneous in coloration (green body with brown pronotum), while females were more homogeneous in color, ranging continuously from green to brown. We suggest a hypothesis that differences in mobility between the sexes have led to the sexual color dimorphism observed and that this dimorphism reflects different camouflage strategies, with highly mobile males showing a generalist coloration and more sedentary females showing a specialist coloration.

Caffeoylquinic acid profiling: comparative analysis in yerba mate, Indian camphorweed, and stevia extracts with emphasis on the influence of brewing conditions and cold storage in yerba mate infusion.

Herbal infusions exhibit diverse pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antineurodegenerative activities, which can be attributed to the high content of phenolic compounds (e.g., caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs)). In this study, we used ultraperformance liquid chromatography to determine the content of CQAs in the methanolic extracts of model herbs, namely, yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), and Indian camphorweed (Pluchea indica (L.) Less.). The results revealed that yerba mate had the highest total CQA content (108.05 ± 1.12 mg/g of dry weight). Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of brewing conditions and storage at 4 °C under dark and light conditions on the antioxidant property and total phenolic and CQA contents of a yerba mate infusion. The analysis of the yerba mate infusions prepared with different steeping times, dried leaf weights, and water temperatures revealed that the amount of extracted CQAs was maximized (∼175 mg/150 mL) when 6 g of dried leaves were steeped in hot water for 10 min. A total of 10-day refrigerated storage resulted in no significant changes in the antioxidant activity and total phenolic and CQA contents of an infusion kept in a brown container (dark). However, the antioxidant properties and total phenolic and CQA contents were negatively affected when kept in a clear container, suggesting the detrimental effect of light exposure. Our study provides practical recommendations for improving the preparation and storage of herbal infusions, thus catering to the needs of consumers, food scientists, and commercial producers. Moreover, it is the first study of the influence of light exposure on the content of crucial quality attributes within plant-based beverages.

Efficiency of a pilot scheme for the separate collection of the biowaste from municipal solid waste in Spain

According to EU regulations, member states shall take measures to encourage the recycling of biowaste in a way that fulfils a high level of environmental protection. In Spain, the separate collection of biowaste is only implemented in some regions. For this reason, a pilot scheme based on an information campaign and the location of a specific brown container for biowaste in specific zones of the city was carried out in Castelló de la Plana (Spain) over a period of six months. In this period, the collection and composition of the biowaste was monitored in depth with the goal of determining the evolution of the efficiency of the new collection system over time. In the zones, the quality rate in the biowaste container increased as the pilot study progressed, finally reaching 90%. The rate of biowaste separation also increased in the three zones over time, although in different ways, which means that there is greater collaboration on the part of citizens. On the other hand, an analysis of the rate of net biowaste daily collection from zones 2 and 3 has shown that their value increases as the rate of containerization of biowaste decreases. Therefore, to obtain better results it will be necessary to increase the containerization of biowaste, that is, to reduce the distance from the citizen to the container. It can thus be said that there is a positive evolution of the experience, which boosts confidence when it comes to implementing the system throughout the city.

GROWTH OF ORNAMENTAL PEPPER IN COLORED CONTAINERS UNDER PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT Ornamental pepper plants produced in containers under protected environments have high added value. We carried out research with an aim to evaluate the growth and development of ornamental pepper in containers of different colors under two protected environments, both with thermal-reflective screens under a polyethylene film: one with 18–22 % shading and the other with 42–50 % in colored containers (brown, blue, black, and red). The treatments formed by a 2 × 4 factorial (environments × container colors) were arranged in a completely random pattern with 4 replications and 5 plants per plot, and a joint analysis of experiments was used to compare environments. The protected environment covered with low-density polyethylene film having 42–50 % of shading promoted higher initial growth of pepper plants, including early maturity, compared to the protected environment with 18–22 % of shading. The colored containers, namely, the brown container in a protected environment with 42–50 % shading and red container with 18–22 % shading formed plants with better growth and yield characteristics compared to the black container. The seedlings in the blue container had delayed flowering.

ТЕХНОЛОГИЯ ПОЛУЧЕНИЯ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ СТЕКЛОКРИСТАЛЛИЧЕСКИХ ОБЛИЦОВОЧНЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ НА ОСНОВЕ СМЕШАННОГО СТЕКЛОБОЯ

An effective energy-saving technology for producing composite glass-crystal facing materials based on fractionated cullet of sheet and container glasses, cullet of porcelain and sodium liquid glass has been developed. The use of fine porcelain powder in the composition of composite glass-crystal facing materials in an amount of up to 10 wt is justified. % and liquid sodium glass up to 5 wt. %. It is shown that the optimal fractional composition of granulated mixed cullet is 35 wt. % fraction 0.63-0.80 mm; 35 wt. % - fractions of 0.80-1.25 mm and 30 wt. % fraction of 1.25-3.15 mm. Polytherms of viscosity of colorless, green and brown container glasses, as well as sheet glass, are calculated. The possibility of using mixed cullet for obtaining composite glass-crystal facing materials is on the basis of obtained dependencies. The chemical composition of sheet and container glasses and porcelain is studied using x-ray fluorescence analysis. Optimal charge compositions have been developed to obtain glass-crystal materials with compressive strength up to 79 MPa. The technology of obtaining composite glass-ceramic facing material includes the following technological operations: milling of glass breakage; grinding cullet of porcelain; drying of sodium liquid glass; the screening of crushed cullet on fractions; the grind of crushed cullet of China; grinding the dried sodium silicate glass; weighing the components in accordance with the developed formulations, the averaging of the graded cullet with fine porcelain; averaging the mixture of finely ground dried sodium silicate glass; stacking the mixture in a metal mold; compaction of the mixture in metal molds; heat treatment in a muffle furnace (sintering); extraction of facing tiles from molds; trimming the edges of the tiles with a diamond saw; quality control of finished products.

Stability and bactericidal activity of chlorine solutions.

To determine the stability of sodium hypochlorite (diluted household bleach) when stored for 30 days in various types of containers and to determine the efficacy of low concentrations of free available chlorine to inactivate test bacteria. Laboratory-based study. Solutions of standard household bleach were prepared using tap water or sterile distilled water at dilutions of 1:100, 1:50, and 1:5. Chlorine concentrations were measured, and then the solutions were placed into five polyethylene containers and left at room temperature (20 degrees C) under various conditions (translucent containers with light exposure and with or without air; brown opaque container without light or air exposure). Samples for chlorine and pH determinations were taken at time 0 and on days 7, 14, 21, 30, and 40. Bactericidal activity of chlorine solutions was assessed using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Use-Dilution Method. Test bacteria included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella choleraesuis. Chlorine concentrations at 30 days varied from the 40% to 50% range for 1:50 or 1:100 dilutions stored in containers other than closed brown containers to 83% to 85% for the 1:5 dilution stored in closed but non-opaque containers to 97% to 100% for 1:50 or 1:5 solutions stored in closed brown containers. The lowest concentration of sodium hypochlorite solution that reliably inactivated all the test organisms was 100 ppm. These data suggest that chlorine solutions do not need to be prepared fresh daily, as is recommended currently, and the lowest concentration of chlorine that reliably inactivates S aureus, S choleraesuis, and P aeruginosa is 100 ppm.

Stability and Bactericidal Activity of Chlorine Solutions

To determine the stability of sodium hypochlorite (diluted household bleach) when stored for 30 days in various types of containers and to determine the efficacy of low concentrations of free available chlorine to inactivate test bacteria.Laboratory-based study. Solutions of standard household bleach were prepared using tap water or sterile distilled water at dilutions of 1:100, 1:50, and 1:5. Chlorine concentrations were measured, and then the solutions were placed into five polyethylene containers and left at room temperature (20 degrees C) under various conditions (translucent containers with light exposure and with or without air; brown opaque container without light or air exposure). Samples for chlorine and pH determinations were taken at time 0 and on days 7, 14, 21, 30, and 40. Bactericidal activity of chlorine solutions was assessed using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Use-Dilution Method. Test bacteria included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella choleraesuis.Chlorine concentrations at 30 days varied from the 40% to 50% range for 1:50 or 1:100 dilutions stored in containers other than closed brown containers to 83% to 85% for the 1:5 dilution stored in closed but non-opaque containers to 97% to 100% for 1:50 or 1:5 solutions stored in closed brown containers. The lowest concentration of sodium hypochlorite solution that reliably inactivated all the test organisms was 100 ppm.These data suggest that chlorine solutions do not need to be prepared fresh daily, as is recommended currently, and the lowest concentration of chlorine that reliably inactivates S aureus, S choleraesuis, and P aeruginosa is 100 ppm.

Color and Height Affects Oviposition Site Preferences of Toxorhynchites splendens and Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Laboratory

Oviposition site preferences of two predatory mosquitoes, Toxorhynchites splendens (Wiedemann) and Toxorhynchites rutilus rutilus (Coquillet), were compared in the laboratory using eight oviposition cup colors affixed 0 and 1 m from the cage floor. T. splendens females preferred to oviposit in black containers. Secondary preferences were for dark red and brown rather than green, blue, orange, yellow, or white containers. Substantial oviposition occurred in containers of all colors except white and yellow. Over 96% of all eggs were deposited at ground level. T. r. rutilus females had a stronger preference for ovipositing in black containers but did deposit eggs in red, blue, and brown containers at ground level. More than 25% of all eggs were deposited 1 m from the cage Roorduring choice tests. Oviposition by T. r. rutilus rarely took place in containers painted white, yellow, orange, and green. On the basis of these results, T. splendens appears to be the better candidate for mosquito control in heavily urbanized areas where discarded containers on the ground serve as developmental habitat for pest mosquitoes. T. r. rutilus appears to be the better candidate for treeholes. It is suggested that consistent means of comparing the characteristics of Toxorhynchites species for biological control programs be developed.