Hot Running Water Research Articles

FOOD SAFETY CULTURE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES OF FOOD HANDLERS AT ORPHANAGES IN TERENGGANU

Earlier studies suggest that foodborne illness may be related to the food safety culture of the food handlers (Griffith et al., 2010; Towns et al., 2006; Abdullah Sani and Siow, 2014). Food safety culture is a contribution of the aggregation of the prevailing, shared attitudes, value, learned belief towards hygiene behaviour in a food preparation environment (Griffith et al., 2010). Besides, in term of food safety only, it also can be related as the food that is sustained their nutritional values that are physically, microbiologically and chemically clean without any contamination (Uçar et. 2016). However, attitudes of food safety also one of the crucial factors that affect the practices of the food handlers while preparing and handling food. Towns et al. (2006) indicated that proper refrigeration and freezer food storage techniques not typically practised in their homes, even the individuals completing the survey were concerned about proper refrigeration and freezer storage practices. They also have the perception that safety of food is not a crucial thing rather than delicious food even at some point, they still assume that checking the temperature, is unnecessary things to do. Hence, it proved that they lack awareness of food safety, especially towards the proper handling of temperature. Buccheri et al. (2007), indicated that about 78.3 % of respondents have a good perception that they raw food need to be separate, and 16.0 % denied the perception. However, food handler's practices also associated with their knowledge and attitudes. Abdullah Sani and Siow (2014), reported that even 86.4 % wash their hand with soap, but there are still a few of them do not practice the knowledge. Especially for someone who is handling and preparing ready-to-eat food, they should wash their hand under hot running water with soap or any sanitizer and dry it with a clean towel instantly after finish handling the food. This practices should be emphasized daily by food handlers to avoid contamination from the pathogen. Also, based on the previous study, it proved that 29.3 % of food handlers do not separate their raw food with cook food (Egan et al., 2007). The contamination occurs according to two situations either they do not know about this knowledge, or they take it for granted. According to that statement, it shows that most of the food handlers in orphanages are lack of educational background. Based on the previous study, it showed that about 3.6 % of food handlers have no formal education background and the highest percentage of education level among food handlers are an only secondary school which are about 63.4% (Abdullah Sani and Siow, 2014). Besides, the lack of exposure to food safety among local food handlers in orphanages also might be contributing to foodborne illness, especially to the children in the orphanages.

Selfishness, Greed and Capitalism

It is often asserted that supporters of a market economy believe that ‘greed is good’. This is simply not true. Economists know that people are capable of a range of thoughts, feelings, motivations and emotions and a market economy works regardless of whether people are selfish or altruistic. A further straw man often erected by opponents of market economies is that free-market economists assume that individuals always behave with perfect rationality. Again, this is not true, though it is assumed that individuals are better placed to know their own preferences than government planners or officials. It is frequently suggested that the rich are getting richer while the poor get poorer. For example: ‘[the] late 70s saw the most equal time in British history, but since then the rich have got richer and the poor poorer’ (Polly Toynbee writing in 2012). This is false. Between 1977 and 2011/12, the incomes of the poorest fifth of the population have risen by 93 per cent. It is also not true that median earnings have stagnated. Median earners saw their hourly wage rise by 62 per cent between 1986 and 2011. The average number of hours worked by British workers continues to fall. It fell from 37.7 hours a week in 2000 to 36.4 per week in 2011, having fallen from 38.1 hours in 1992. Fewer than 12 per cent of British employees work more than fifty hours a week. Working hours in Britain are neither much longer nor much shorter than those in other wealthy countries. The reason we have not reduced our working hours to the extent that Keynes, for example, believed likely is that we aspire to a lifestyle that is better than a typical 1930s working class lifestyle without central heating, hot running water, a telephone, wall-to-wall carpets, a car, an indoor toilet, a computer, a television and so on. Many commentators argue that the UK is suffering from growing inequality. For example, Deborah Hargreaves, director of The High Pay Centre, asserts that ‘Inequality has been rising rapidly in Britain for the past 30 years … If the growth in inequality continues at its current rate, we are heading towards Victorian extremes in the next 20 years.’ Such statements are not true. The peak in inequality was in 1990 and the income gap has been flat or in decline ever since. Between 1990 and 2006–7, those in the bottom quintile increased their disposable income by 40 per cent, a faster rate than was seen among the top quintile, whose disposable income rose by only 29 per cent. In 2011–12, income inequality in Britain fell to its lowest level since 1986. It is only within the top 10 per cent of income earners that incomes are becoming more unequal. Once income has been redistributed through tax, cash payments and benefits in kind, the ratio between the incomes of the top and bottom fifth of the population is reduced from 14 to 1 to 4 to 1. This is almost exactly the same ratio as in 1987. Many claims have been made about the relationship between inequality and various social outcomes such as murder rates, health outcomes and so on, especially in The Spirit Level. However, the claims do not stand up to thorough scrutiny. They are often reliant on outliers within the data or the particular way in which the relevant countries were selected. These issues have been studied much more thoroughly by specialists who come to more nuanced conclusions about how social outcomes can be improved. The authors of The Spirit Level argue that there is a relationship between reduced inequality and happiness. However, there is a stronger relationship between happiness and higher average incomes. While there is good reason to be sceptical about ‘happiness economics’ it would seem just from these figures that the best strategy to increase happiness would be to reduce poverty through faster national income growth – even if this led to higher inequality. It is not true that social mobility has ground to a halt, nor is Alan Milburn correct when he says that ‘we still live in a country where, invariably, if you’re born poor, you die poor’. Over the last generation, if the income of a boy’s parents was in the poorest quarter of the income distribution, the probability of the boy moving into the top half of the income distribution is 37 per cent. If the income of a boy’s parents was in the top quarter of the income distribution, the probability of the boy moving into the bottom half of the income distribution is 33 per cent. There is substantial mobility within society.

Cervical and anal human papillomavirus infection in adult women in American Samoa.

The prevalence of cervical and anal human papillomavirus (HPV) and risk factors associated with infections were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of 211 adult women in American Samoa. Overall, 53% of women reported ever having a Pap smear. Cervical and anal HPV was detected in 10% and 16% of women, respectively; 4% of women had concurrent cervical and anal HPV. The most common cervical genotypes were HPV 6, HPV 16, and HPV 53. Cutaneous HPV types were detected in 40% of anal infections. Cervical HPV infection was associated with anal HPV (age-adjusted odds ratio = 3.32, 1.10-10.00). After age adjustment, cervical HPV was associated with being unmarried, postsecondary education, hot running water at home, multiple sexual partners, nulliparity, condom use, and other contraceptive methods. In multivariate analyses, only age remained associated with cervical HPV and anal HPV. Cervical and anal HPV was more prevalent among younger women; only anal HPV was detected in older women.

Mounting Partially Edentulous Casts

Mounting Partially Edentulous Casts

The Nest Architecture of the AntOdontomachus brunneus

The architecture of the subterranean nests of the ant Odontomachus brunneus (Patton) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was studied by means of casts with dental plaster or molten metal. The entombed ants were later recovered by dissolution of plaster casts in hot running water. O. brunneus excavates simple nests, each consisting of a single, vertical shaft connecting more or less horizontal, simple chambers. Nests contained between 11 and 177 workers, from 2 to 17 chambers, and 28 to 340 cm2 of chamber floor space and reached a maximum depth of 18 to 184 cm. All components of nest size increased simultaneously during nest enlargement, number of chambers, mean chamber size, and nest depth, making the nest shape (proportions) relatively size-independent. Regardless of nest size, all nests had approximately 2 cm2 of chamber floor space per worker. Chambers were closer together near the top and the bottom of the nest than in the middle, and total chamber area was greater near the bottom. Colonies occasionally incorporated cavities made by other animals into their nests.

Microbial Contamination of Suction Tubes Attached to Suction Instruments and Preventive Methods

We investigated the microbial contamination of suction tubes attached to wall-type suction instruments. Microbial contamination of suction tubes used for endoscopy or sputum suction in hospital wards was examined before and after their disinfection. In addition, disinfection and washing methods for suction tubes were evaluated. Suction tubes (n=33) before disinfection were contaminated with 102-108 colony-forming units (cfu)/tube. The main contaminants were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The suction tubes were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (n=11) or hot water (n=11), or by an automatic tube cleaner (n=11). After 2-h immersion in 0.1% (1,000 ppm) sodium hypochlorite, 103-107 cfu/tube of bacteria were detected in all 11 tubes examined. After washing in hot running water (65℃), 103-107 cfu/tube were detected in 3 of the 11 examined tubes. The bacteria detected in the suction tubes after disinfection with sodium hypochlorite or hot water were P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and S. maltophilia. On the other hand, after washing with warm water (40℃) using the automatic tube cleaner, contamination was found to be <20 cfu/tube (lower detection limit, 20 cfu/tube) in all 11 tubes examined. These results suggest the usefulness of washing with automatic tube cleaners.

Multidimensional housing deprivation indices with application to Spain

The main aim of this article is to define a multidimensional housing deprivation index and identify the main determining characteristics of this phenomenon, using Spain as reference. A latent variable model is used in order to overcome some of the traditional difficulties encountered in multidimensional deprivation studies. The construction of a latent structure model has allowed a set of partial housing deprivation indices to be grouped together under a single index. It has also enabled each individual to be assigned to a different class depending on the level and type of deprivation. Results show that the vector of observed variables (having hot running water, heating, a leaky roof, damp walls or floor, rot in window frames and floors and overcrowding) and the correlations among such variables can be explained by a single latent variable. There are also specific characteristics that differentiate the population affected by housing deprivation.

Effect of fabrication parameters on the pore concentration of the aluminum metal foam, manufactured by powder metallurgy process

In this paper, the effect of fabrication parameters on the pore concentration of aluminum metal foam manufactured by powder metallurgy process is studied. Aluminum metal foam specimens were fabricated from the mixture of aluminum powders (mean particle size 60 μm) and NaCl at 10,20,30,40(wt) % content under 200, 250, 300, MPa Pressures. All specimens were then sintered at 630°C for 2.5 hours in an argon atmosphere. For pore formation (foaming), sintered specimens were immersed into 70°C hot running water. Finally the pore concentration of specimens was recorded to analyze the effect of fabrication parameters (namely NaCl ratio, NaCl particle size and compacting pressure) on the foaming behavior of compacted specimens. As a result of the study, it has been recorded that the above mentioned fabrication parameters are effective on pore concentration profile while pore diameters remained unchanged.

Application of ANN in the prediction of the pore concentration of aluminum metal foams manufactured by powder metallurgy methods

In this work, the effect of fabrication parameters on the pore concentration of aluminum metal foam, manufactured by the powder metallurgy process, has been studied. The artificial neural network (ANN) technique has been used to predict pore concentration as a function of some key fabrication parameters. Aluminum metal foam specimens were fabricated from a mixture of aluminum powders (mean particle size 60 μm) and NaCl at 10, 20, 30, 40(wt)% content under a pressure of 200, 250, and 300 MPa. All specimens were then sintered at 630°C for 2.5 h in argon atmosphere. For pore formation (foaming), sintered specimens were immersed into 70°C hot running water. Finally, the pore concentration of specimens was recorded to analyze the effect of fabrication parameters (namely, NaCl ratio, NaCl particle size, and compacting pressure) on the foaming behavior of compacted specimens. It has been recorded that the above-mentioned fabrication parameters are effective on pore concentration profile while pore diameters remain unchanged. In the ANN training module, NaCl content (wt)%, NaCl particle size (μm), and compacting pressure (MPA) were employed as inputs, while pore concentration % (volume) of compacts related to fabrication parameters was employed as output. The ANN program was successfully used to predict the pore concentration % (volume) of compacts related to fabrication parameters.

Access to water in the countries of the former Soviet Union

During the Soviet period, authorities in the USSR invested heavily in collective farming and modernization of living conditions in rural areas. However, many problems remained, including poor access to many basic amenities such as water. Since then, the situation is likely to have changed; economic decline has coincided with migration and widening social inequalities, potentially increasing disparities within and between countries. To examine access to water and sanitation and its determinants in urban and rural areas of eight former Soviet countries. A series of nationally representative surveys in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine was undertaken in 2001, covering 18,428 individuals (aged 18+ years). The percentage of respondents living in rural areas varied between 27 and 59% among countries. There are wide urban-rural differences in access to amenities. Even in urban areas, only about 90% of respondents had access to cold running water in their home (60% in Kyrgyzstan). In rural areas, less than one-third had cold running water in their homes (44% in Russia, under 10% in Kyrgyzstan and Moldova). Between one-third and one-half of rural respondents in some countries (such as Belarus, Kazakhstan and Moldova) obtained their water from wells and similar sources. Access to hot running water inside the homes was an exception in rural households, reflecting the lack of modern heating methods in villages. Similarly, indoor access to toilets is common in urban areas but rare in rural areas. Access to all amenities was better in Russia compared with elsewhere in the region. Indoor access to cold water was significantly more common among rural residents living in apartments, and in settlements served by asphalt roads rather than dirt roads. People with more assets or income and living with other people were significantly more likely to have water on tap. In addition, people who had moved in more recently were more likely to have an indoor water supply. This was the largest single study of its kind undertaken in this region, and demonstrates that a significant number of people living in rural parts of the former Soviet Union do not have indoor access to running water and sanitation. There are significant variations among countries, with the worse situation in central Asia and the Caucasus, and the best situation in Russia. Access to water strongly correlates with socio-economic characteristics. These findings suggest a need for sustained investment in rebuilding basic infrastructure in the region, and monitoring the impact of living conditions on health.

A Simple Colloidal Silver Method (Autometallographic Technique) for Demonstrating Inorganic Mercury in Brain Sections

Standard methods for mercury measurement estimate total mercury burden in tissues but are not informative about cellular localization, for which histochemical techniques are needed. Because the main target of the toxic effects of mercury is the nervous system, it is of particular interest to localize its reservoir within the brain. This paper presents a simple, autometallographic method for demonstrating inorganic mercury in paraffin sections of brain by utilizing a buffered colloidal silver solution that contains hydroquinone. Formalin fixed, paraffin processed brain sections are cut at 7 μm and hydrated with deionized water. The sections are placed in a buffered colloidal silver nitrate solution containing hydroquinone and kept in a 37°C oven for 18 to 20 min. They are then washed immediately in hot running water and rinsed in deionized water. Following treatment with 2% sodium thiosulfate for 1 min, they are rinsed in deionized water and counterstained with nuclear fast red for 3 min or with cresyl violet acetate for 5 min. After the slides are rinsed in deionized water, they are dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in xylene, and mounted with synthetic resin. Mercury stains black and the results are consistent and reliable. (The J Histotechnol 23:337, 2000)

A Simple Colloidal Silver Method (Autometallographic Technique) for Demonstrating Inorganic Mercury in Brain Sections

Standard methods for mercury measurement estimate total mercury burden in tissues but are not informative about cellular localization, for which histochemical techniques are needed. Because the main target of the toxic effects of mercury is the nervous system, it is of particular interest to localize its reservoir within the brain. This paper presents a simple, autometallographic method for demonstrating inorganic mercury in paraffin sections of brain by utilizing a buffered colloidal silver solution that contains hydroquinone. Formalin fixed, paraffin processed brain sections are cut at 7 μm and hydrated with deionized water. The sections are placed in a buffered colloidal silver nitrate solution containing hydroquinone and kept in a 37°C oven for 18 to 20 min. They are then washed immediately in hot running water and rinsed in deionized water. Following treatment with 2% sodium thiosulfate for 1 min, they are rinsed in deionized water and counterstained with nuclear fast red for 3 min or with cresyl violet acetate for 5 min. After the slides are rinsed in deionized water, they are dehydrated in alcohol, cleared in xylene, and mounted with synthetic resin. Mercury stains black and the results are consistent and reliable. (The J Histotechnol 23:337, 2000)

Appendicectomy and childhood hygiene: different sides of the same coin?

See article on page494 The aetiology of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease remains an enigma. There is, however, a growing consensus that early events/exposure are of importance and constitute a...

A NEW RETARDING AGENT OF BUILDING GYPSUM HARDENING/NAUJAS STATYBINIO GIPSO KIETĖJIMO LĖTIKLIS

In order to inhibit the process of setting and hardening of building gypsum, retarding agents are used. They: decrease the solubility of gypsum semihydrate (e.g. ammonia) form compounds of lower solubility on the surface of gypsum grains (sodium and potassium phosphates, tetraborate, boric acid) are absorbed on gypsum grain surface and inhibit the formation of crystal nuclei (sulphite alcohol ferment, keratin). The materials mentioned above have some disadvantages: long duration of preparation (lying, boiling, filtering) and uncertainty of formulae (glue solutions) layering of gypsum additions mixtures and decrease of mechanical resistance of hardened gypsum (phosphates, borates) process complications caused by necessity of water heating that leads to uncertain influence of additions when the conditions for maintaining constant temperature of the mixture are absent (hot running water). New retarding agent, inhibiting the hardening of building gypsum without disadvantages listed above is created. The effect of the retarding agent is caused by the formation of clathrate compounds. The retarding agent consists of carbamide and inorganic stabilising addition, in ratio 40:1. The duration of the complete hardening of building gypsum can be prolonged by the retarding agent up to 90 min.

A NEW RETARDING AGENT OF BUILDING GYPSUM HARDENING

Summary In order to inhibit the process of setting and hardening of building gypsum, retarding agents are used. They: i. decrease the solubility of gypsum semihydrate (e.g. ammonia)ii. form compounds of lower solubility on the surface of gypsum grains (sodium and potassium phosphates, tetraborate, boric acid)iii. are absorbed on gypsum grain surface and inhibit the formation of crystal nuclei (sulphite alcohol ferment, keratin). The materials mentioned above have some disadvantages: i. long duration of preparation (lying, boiling, filtering) and uncertainty of formulae (glue solutions)ii. layering of gypsum additions mixtures and decrease of mechanical resistance of hardened gypsum (phosphates, borates)iii. process complications caused by necessity of water heating that leads to uncertain influence of additions when the conditions for maintaining constant temperature of the mixture are absent (hot running water). New retarding agent, inhibiting the hardening of building gypsum without disadvantages listed...

Rehabilitation and Conservation

Urban blight has emerged with increasing clarity as one of the less agreeable consequences of urban growth and change. It is presently one of the most serious problems facing American cities. Since the First Decennial Census in i79o, the proportion of urban population has increased from five per cent of the total to sixtyfour per cent in the I950 Census, and final I960 Census figures will probably show a still higher proportion. The rapid growth of large cities has been characteristic; and, during the last three decades, the growth has been even more rapid in the suburbs and unincorporated fringes. Because city boundaries have changed little and areas for development within them have mostly disappeared, new developments have generally been beyond these boundaries. According to the preliminary I960 Census figures, the suburban population has jumped almost fifty per cent in the last decade. Concentrated urban living has focused attention upon the physical deterioration of cities, particularly central portions, and the social and economic conditions of slum and blighted areas. In I956 slightly less than twenty-four per cent of all the dwelling units in the nation were found to be either dilapidated or deficient in plumbing. This represents a numerical total of 12.6 million dwelling units. Only seventy-six per cent of all occupied dwelling units in the nation in 1956 were in good condition and provided bath, private toilet, and hot running water.1 The clearance and prevention of slums and blight are primarily local problems which require local solutions varying in detail from place to place. It is only because of the vast accumulation of blight and the limitations of available local resources that the problem has attracted national attention and demanded federal participation. The federal government's role has been to furnish necessary financial assistance to those cities meeting the objectives set up by the Congress. Legislation primarily intended to assist American communities in coping directly with local problems of urban blight was first enacted in the Housing Act of I949.2 After more than ten years of operation under the federal statute, with its subsequent amendments-particularly the major amendments in the Housing Act of I9543-