Storage Practices Research Articles

Modeling and parametric analysis of low-temperature oxidative self-heating in coal stockpiles driven by natural convection

To accurately ascertain the behavior of oxidation heating and emission of oxidation products in fully enclosed coal storage yards under the influence of natural convection, comprehensive adiabatic oxidation experiments were conducted, encompassing coal particles of multiple grain sizes. Linear regression analysis was applied to deduce the heating characteristics of coal particles within real coal stockpiles from the experimental data. Subsequently, numerical simulations were executed, leveraging the acquired oxidation parameters specific to the stored coal. These simulations unveiled that natural convection triggers the formation of spiral airflow on both sides of the stockpile, with the strength of this airflow increasing in tandem with rising temperatures. An inflection point becomes evident during the impact assessment of porosity on maximum temperature variation, whereby its augmentation improves the heating rate when below the critical threshold, but conversely diminishes it when surpassing that threshold. Furthermore, coal particles smaller than 3 mm effectively isolate oxygen. As the degree of metamorphism increases, the rate of temperature rise decreases, and the high-temperature region penetrates deeper into the coal stockpile. The genetic algorithm-optimized random forest algorithm emerges as a highly effective tool for the precise prediction of the efficient storage duration of the coal stockpile. Keeping porosity below 0.25 proves effective in oxygen isolation. Lower heights and steeper slope angles exhibit the capacity to decelerate oxidation during high-temperature phases, thereby minimizing the loss of coal calorific value and greenhouse gas emissions. This study is paramount for the achievement of secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly coal storage practices in the context of natural convection.

Compliance with cocoa quality management practices in Ghana; To what extent are cocoa farmers complying?

Despite the fact that adhering to cocoa quality management practices (QMPs) is crucial to satisfy consumer food safety standards and receive premium cocoa pricing, evidence of cocoa farmers' compliance with these recommended QMPs is scanty in Ghana. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent and antecedents of farmers’ compliance with six QMPs including pest and disease, harvesting and pod storage, pod breaking and bean removal, fermentation, drying, and bagging and storage practices in Ghana. Data from 200 farmers was solicited and analyzed using a compliance index as well as a seemingly unrelated regression (SURE) model to account for cross-correlation effects among six recommended QMPs. The results show an overall index of 2.46, implying that the cocoa farmers moderately comply with the six QMPs. Specifically, compliance levels for fermentation (index = 2.90) and drying (index = 2.92) practices are high, while farmers showed low compliance with bagging and storage practices (index = 1.33). The SURE model exhibits heterogeneous covariates that influence farmers’ compliance across the six QMPs. However, extension access, sex of the farmer, and to some extent awareness of quality management practices, as well as education, are significant determinants of compliance across all six quality management practices. These findings have implications for strengthening the Extension Services Division of COCOBOD and gender mainstreaming of cocoa quality improvement training to address the challenges of women cocoa farmers.

Microbial, Physicochemical Profile and Sensory Perception of Dry-Aged Beef Quality: A Preliminary Portuguese Contribution to the Validation of the Dry Aging Process.

Beef dry-aging consists of a selection of unpackaged prime cuts placed in a controlled environment cold room for several weeks. The goals are to concentrate flavors like nutty and beefy and to improve tenderness. The aim of this study was to verify the microbiological and physicochemical behavior and sensory perception of meat during a sample process example of meat dry-aging. Twelve beef loins were selected for 90 days of dry aging and placed in a cold room with average temperature, relative humidity and forced air 3.2 ± 0.7 °C, 60.7 ± 4.2% and 0.5-2 m/s, respectively. Samples of crust and lean meat were collected on days 1, 14, 21, 35, 60 and 90 of the dry aging process for microbiological, physicochemical (pH, aw, color L*a*b*) and sensory analysis. During drying, no pathogenic bacteria were detected, and the average counts were higher for the crust. The average values for water activity (aw) and pH were 0.98 ± 0.02 and 5.77 ± 0.015, respectively. A slight decrease in aw and an increase in pH were observed over the aging period (p < 0.05). The lower microbial counts on the lean meat and the overall assessment of freshness confirm the importance of good manufacturing and storage practices during dry aging.

Cannabinoid home storage practices among a national Qualtrics panel of adult users of cannabinoid products in the USA

IntroductionThe presence of cannabinoid products in the home may increase the likelihood of unintended adverse consequences for children and adolescents. Secure storage of these products is one prevention method to...

Unintentional Firearm Injury Deaths Among Children and Adolescents Aged 0-17 Years - National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003-2021.

In the United States, unintentional injury is the fourth leading cause of death among infants (i.e., children aged <1 year) and is the top cause of death among children and adolescents aged 1-17 years; firearms are a leading injury method. Unsecured firearms (e.g., unlocked and loaded) are associated with risk for unintentional childhood firearm injury death. Data recorded during 2003-2021 by the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were used to characterize unintentional firearm injury deaths of U.S. infants, children, and adolescents aged 0-17 years (referred to as children in this report). NVDRS identified 1,262 unintentional firearm injury deaths among children aged 0-17 years: the largest percentage (33%) of these deaths were among children aged 11-15 years, followed by 29% among those aged 0-5 years, 24% among those aged 16-17 years, and 14% among persons aged 6-10 years. Overall, 83% of unintentional firearm injury deaths occurred among boys. The majority (85%) of victims were fatally injured at a house or apartment, including 56% in their own home. Approximately one half (53%) of fatal unintentional firearm injuries to children were inflicted by others; 38% were self-inflicted. In 9% of incidents, it was unknown whether the injury was self- or other-inflicted. Approximately two thirds (67%) of shooters were playing with or showing the firearm to others when it discharged. Overall, firearms used in unintentional injury deaths were often stored loaded (74%) and unlocked (76%) and were most commonly accessed from nightstands and other sleeping areas (30%). Unintentional firearm injury deaths of children are preventable. Secured firearm storage practices (e.g., storing firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition) have been identified as protective factors against child firearm injuries and deaths, underscoring the importance of policymakers, health care professionals (e.g., pediatricians), and others partnering with parents, caregivers, and firearm owners to promote secure firearm storage.

Medium-term storage of calf beddings affects bacterial community and effectiveness to inactivate zoonotic bacteria

Land-spreading of animal faecal wastes -such as animal beddings- can introduce zoonotic enteropathogens into the food system environment. The study evaluated the effectiveness of animal beddings naturally contaminated by calf manure to reduce E. coli O157:H7 or Salmonella enterica. The two pathogens were introduced separately as a four strains-cocktail and at high (&gt;6.5 Log10 g-1) concentration into bedding materials, and their inactivation over a 10 weeks-period was monitored by using a Most Probable Number (MPN) enumeration method. Inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 was more effective in the bedding inoculated immediately after collection from calf pens than in the beddings inoculated after a 2 months-pre-storage period: E. coli O157:H7 levels were reduced by 6.6 Log10 g-1 in unstored bedding (0.5 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 0.0–1.2), and by 4.9 Log10 g-1 in pre-stored bedding (2.2 Log10 g-1 recovered; 95%CI: 1.5–2.8) with a significant (p&lt;0.05) difference between unstored and pre-stored. S. enterica was inactivated less effectively as counts were reduced by one order of magnitude, with no significant difference in inactivation between unstored and pre-stored beddings. Low levels of naturally occurring E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were detected in the non-inoculated beddings, as well as in the straw prior to use in the animal facility. To better understand the possible biological processes involved, the bacterial community present in the beddings was characterised by short-read 16S rRNA sequencing. Pre-storage of the bedding affected the composition but not the diversity of the bacterial community. Analyses of the key bacterial phyla suggested that the presence of a diverse and stable bacterial community might facilitate inactivation of the introduced pathogens, and a possible role of bacterial orders associated with lignocellulolytic resources. Overall, the study contributed to the understanding of the fate of zoonotic bacteria introduced in animal beddings during storage and identified bedding storage practices pre-and post-use in animal facilities that could be important to prevent the risk of zoonosis dissemination to the environment or to the dairy herds.

Aflatoxins Contamination in Animal Feeds and Fresh Milk in Kondoa District, Tanzania

Abstract: The occurrence of aflatoxins in animal feeds and milk is common around the World as most livestock keepers are not aware of aflatoxins.&#x0D; Aims: This study was conducted to assess storage and feeding practices, and assessment of aflatoxin B1 and M1 contamination in animal feeds and fresh milk samples in Kondoa.&#x0D; Study Design: The study involved a survey using semi-structured questionnaires and Laboratory analysis of aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin M1 in animal feeds and fresh milk samples collected from among smallholder dairy farmers.&#x0D; Methodology: Purposive selection of 120 respondents among smallholder dairy farmers in six wards purposively selected due to having larger number of dairy cattle was conducted. Likewise, 20 samples of animal feeds and 25 composite milk samples from among 120 interviewed farmers were analysed for aflatoxin B1 and M1 using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).&#x0D; Results: The results indicates that, aflatoxin B1 in feeds was 55%, with mean concentration of 8.6 ±5.9 μg/kg ranging from the lowest limit of detection (LOD) to 21.1 μg/kg with 5% samples above the maximum level stipulated by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and European Union (EU) of 20 μg/kg. Likewise, about 44% of the milk samples revealed to contain traces of aflatoxin M1 with a mean amount of 0.07 ±0.08 μg/L, ranging from the limit of detection (&lt;LOD) to 0.23 μg/L, and 12% exceeding the TBS and EU standards of 0.05 μg/kg.&#x0D; Conclusion: There is need to scale up aflatoxin awareness campaigns and regular monitoring throughout the food system in Tanzania.&#x0D; GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: &#x0D;

Heavy Metals in Poultry Chicken and Human Health Threat: A Mini Review

It has been shown that the most hazardous heavy metals that are constantly emitted into the environment are arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). These metals can be found in both naturally occurring and artificially produced fertilizers, industrial processes, and waste disposal. Due to ongoing exposure to heavy metals, bioaccumulation of As, Pb, Cd, and Hg takes place in a variety of organs in chickens, primarily the kidneys, liver, reproductive organs, and lungs. Chemical, biological, or physical risks can be connected to animal feed. Poultry feed contamination can come from negligent or intentional handling, storage, and transportation practices. Because of the increased concentration of these heavy metals in these tissues—primarily the brain, liver, kidneys, and reproductive organs—chronic exposure to low doses of As, Pb, Cd, and Hg can alter the microscopic structure of these tissues. This puts human health at risk when consuming chicken or poultry. Risks to food safety should be carefully considered in order to reduce unfavorable side effects in both people and animals. Governments should therefore implement stringent measures to prevent any harmful contamination that could endanger public health. This review presents a discussion of bioaccumulation of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in poultry with the associated problem of consumption of poultry and human health.

Effect of Cash Storage on the Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya

Purpose: The study sought to establish the effect of cash storage and on financial performance of commercial banks of Kenya.&#x0D; Methodology: The research was carried out through a descriptive survey research design. Descriptive design was used because it focused on complex analysis to bring out the correlation of variables. The study population was all the 43 commercial banks registered and licensed to operate in Kenya. These commercial banks formed the unit of analysis. A census was conducted on all the banks. The sampling frame of the survey of the banks was one head of operations and head of finance from each of the 43 commercial banks located in Nairobi County. The target respondents was hence 86. The study used both primary and secondary data for analysis. Inferential analysis techniques including correlation, regression and t-tests were used to achieve the study objectives. SPSS version 21 was used for analysis.&#x0D; Findings: The study findings indicated that the correlation between, cash storage and financial performance is positive. Further results indicated cash storage had a positive significant effect on cash storage and ROA is positive and significant.&#x0D; Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was anchored on cash management theory to evaluate the effect of cash storage on the financial performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya. The study recommends that commercial banks and other financial institutions involved in handling of cash should put in place proper reconciliation practices for instance increasing the frequency of reconciling books. The study also recommends that advanced practices of cash storage for instance investing in fire proof safes for storing cash and also in closed circuit television security cameras for surveillance of cash storage areas and also invest in alarm system in cash storage areas and also restricted access to cash storage areas by lock, key, passwords and other security measures so as to reduce fraud arising as a result of poor cash storage practices.

The recent burden of dengue infection in Bangladesh: A serious public health issue

Dengue is a rapidly increasing vector-borne disease with a high burden in South and Southeast Asia. This article presents an overview of the current dengue situation in Bangladesh, highlighting the critical public health challenges caused by this infectious disease. Between January and September 2023, a total of 203406 people were infected, and 989 people died, with a case fatality rate of 0.49%. Of these, 96.1% of infections and 95.2% of deaths occurred between July and September. Both infection and mortality rates showed a significant and positive correlation with population density and air quality index. Other environmental and socioeconomic factors may influence the burden of dengue infection. These include temperature, rainfall, humidity, unplanned urbanization, and water storage and waste management practices. To reduce transmission and mortality rates, it is urgent to prioritize early treatment of dengue cases and take measures to address the risk factors associated with dengue infection in the country.

Applications of hybrid structure light three‐dimensional scanning in neurodegenerative disease autopsy brain banking

AbstractBackgroundPostmortem magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three‐dimensional (3D) printing has been demonstrated to be a feasible approach for the creation of tissue matrices to aid in postmortem brain dissection. We aimed to extend this approach using hybrid structure light technology (visible and infrared) 3D scanning to generate brain models as a digital resource and operational tool for human neurodegenerative disease brain banks.MethodA consecutive series of 56 brains accessioned into the Glenn Biggs Institute Brain Bank were imaged using an EinScan H handheld 3D scanner. Five brains were selected for generation of tissue matrices, with infratentorial structures removed using 3D object post‐processing software tools. Matrices were printed using a Raise3D Pro2 printer and 1.75‐mm polylactic acid premium filament.ResultEach scan was approximately an hour to complete, including capture and alignment of a lateral and a medial surface scan for each brain. Raw scan files (DAT and BRAP‐PRJ) averaged 5.47 GB and 3D object files were 12,991 KB for 3MF and 18,067 KB for OBJ file types. For cases with tissue matrices, average print time was 42 hours with an average filament consumption of 338 g. Brain cutting with the tissue matrices was performed in a standardized manner, with superb control for section thickness and planar orientation compared to brains cut without a matrix.Conclusion3D scanning of postmortem autopsied brains is a simple and useful strategy to generate models with utility in guided tissue sectioning and storage (practice), surface area volumetric analysis (research) and virtual reality/augmented reality neuroanatomy training (education) for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Estimation of Shelf Life of Pegagan Tea (Centella asiatica (L) Urban) using Accelerated Shelf Life Testing (ASLT) Method with Arrhenius Model

This research aimed to evaluate the shelf life of pegagan (Centella asiatica (L) Urban) tea using the Accelerated Shelf Life Testing (ASLT) method by applying the Arrhenius Model since its widely known for its various health benefits, including its ability to enhance cognitive function and exhibit antioxidant effects. The ASLT method was employed to accelerate the chemical and physical changes in the product, thereby enabling a shorter estimation of shelf life compared to conventional methods. In this research, samples of pegagan tea were packaged in paper sacks, aluminum foil, and vacuum-sealed plastic and stored at temperatures of 15, 30, and 45 °C for 28 days, with observations conducted every 7 days. The Arrhenius Model was utilized to predict the rate of chemical reactions in the product, taking into account the temperature's influence on these changes. The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at a 5% confidence level. If the ANOVA results showed significant differences, Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was further conducted. The results of the observations indicated that storage temperature and packaging type significantly influenced the yield value and pH value, but had no significant effect on the moisture content of pegagan tea. The estimated shelf life of pegagan tea for 28 days using paper sack packaging at temperatures of 15, 30, and 45 °C was 173, 616, and 195 days, respectively. For aluminum foil packaging, the estimated shelf life was 189, 661, and 205 days at the same temperatures. As for vacuum-sealed plastic packaging, the estimated shelf life was 551, 192, and 597 days at the respective temperatures. The findings of this research are expected to provide valuable information for manufacturers and consumers regarding the shelf life of pegagan Tea. Additionally, the research aims to offer a scientific basis for appropriate packaging and storage practices to better maintain the product's quality.

Perceptions of the utility of secure firearm storage methods as a suicide prevention tool among firearm owners who currently store their firearms loaded and unlocked.

Although secure firearm storage can prevent firearm injury and death, secure storage is relatively rare. This tendency may be driven in part by a perceived lack of utility for secure storage in preventing suicide and other gun violence-related outcomes. We recruited a large (n = 3510) representative sample of residents from five US states and assessed the degree to which those who do and do not store their firearms securely perceive different utility in specific firearm storage practices for suicide prevention. To test for specificity, we examined if those differences hold when considering unintentional shooting and firearm theft prevention. Those who currently store their firearms unsecured reported lower perceived utility in several firearm storage practices, particularly for suicide and theft prevention. Our findings highlight that a lack of perceived utility in secure firearm storage may partially drive unsecure firearm storage. Efforts to promote secure storage must address this misperception.

Evaluation of a participatory citizen approach to monitor microbial water quality of self-supply in urban Indonesia

ABSTRACT A participatory citizen approach was established to monitor microbial water quality in household self-supply in Bekasi, Indonesia, and evaluated using a conceptual framework for context analysis, process evaluation and impact assessment (CPI). Households tested their self-supplied water for Escherichia coli presence every two weeks for six months, accompanied by pre- and post-monitoring surveys. The approach provided reliable water quality results, and increased awareness of water quality; however, nearly half of the households dropped out of the monitoring and increased awareness did not translate into actions that improved water quality within the study period. Contamination rates ranged from 11% to 70% at source and from 15% to 44% at point-of-use. Household-led testing could fulfil an important monitoring role in self-supply contexts, however it may have little impact on the drinking water safety unless accompanied by support to improve source protection and strengthen household water treatment and storage practices.

Electrifying Green Logistics: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles

Green logistics is an approach aimed at reducing the environmental impact of transport, storage, and distribution practices, through low-emission vehicles, optimized routes, clean energy tech in warehouses, and efficient waste management. These solutions can contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals of the European Green Deal. The main research question of this paper is whether an electric vehicle has a lower environmental impact compared to a gasoline vehicle. This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of an electric vehicle using lithium-ion battery technology (BEV) and compares it to an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV), considering the transportable load within the context of Italy. Through a gate-to-grave approach, both vehicles’ life cycle use and disposal phases were evaluated to identify the hotspots of environmental impact. The LCA methodology allows for an objective comparison and the results show that BEV emits slightly less kgCO2eq than ICEVs. The primary contributor to the vehicles’ impact is the dependency of the electric energy primary source from fossil fuels. Therefore, a second analysis was conducted to analyse the benefit of photovoltaic panels to generate the electric energy, showing that it can result in a significant 50% reduction in impact, making the electric vehicle a valid solution for achieving green logistics objectives. However, the questions of electric energy production, management, and distribution together with the supply of raw material and disposal of lithium batteries remain open. This issue raises a concern regarding the BEV in a country like Italy where the lack of recharging points limits the adoption of electric vehicles in green logistics.

Influence of Entrepreneurship Practices on Agribusiness Transformation in Tanzania: A Vertical Integration Role on Grains

The study examined the influence of entrepreneurship practices on agribusiness transformation among agribusiness owners in the Mbeya region. Specifically, it examined the effect of agricultural production technologies on postharvest storage and assessed the effect of marketing practices and agro-processing practices on agribusiness transformation. It explored the effect of vertical function on agribusiness transformation on grains. A cross-sectional study design consisting of both qualitative and quantitative data was applied. A sample of 254 agribusiness owners involved in grain production was purposively selected. The study used interviews and structured questionnaires to collect primary data. The reliability and validity test generated an estimated Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.889, which indicates good internal consistency. Multiple Ordinal Logistic Regression was used to determine the influence of entrepreneurship practices on agribusiness transformation. The finding shows that there is insignificant influence (p &gt; 0.05) of agricultural production technology practices on agribusiness transformation, whereas postharvest storage, marketing and agro-processing practices indicate significant influence on agribusiness transformation (P&lt;0.05). However, the moderation role of vertical function reveals significant negative prediction (-1.193) on agribusiness transformation. Correlation analysis reveals a significant positive, strong correlation between marketing practices and total agribusiness transformation. Government and key actors in the agribusiness value chain are advised to formulate and implement appropriate policies, programs, and strategies to enhance appropriate entrepreneurship practices necessary for agribusiness transformation

Impacts of storage practices on the physical, culinary and sensory quality of Kponan yam (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) from Côte d'Ivoire during storage.

Kponan is the most popular yam (Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata) variety in Côte d'Ivoire. Unfortunately, losses due to rotting during storage do not ensure a regular supply to markets. This study aimed to identify the impacts of cultivation and storage practices in the main production areas on physical, cooking and sensory characteristics of Kponan. To this end, yams grown in Bondoukou were stored in straw huts, those grown in Bouna in pits and those grown in Kouassi-Kouassikro in the open air, according to the practices of each producer. Findings showed that yams grown in Kouassi-Kouassikro and stored in the open air recorded the highest rot rate (58.09%) compared to the rot rate of yams grown and stored in pits in Bouna (26.67%) and those grown and stored in straw huts in Bondoukou (53.34%). However, the weight losses were respectively 10.47% (Bouna), 28.57% (Kouassi-Kouassikro) and 36.19% (Bondoukou). Loss rates varied significantly from 43.80% (pits) to 100% (huts and open air). Furthermore, the browning indices were higher for yams grown in Kouassi-Kouassikro and freshly harvested (26.09) compared to the browning index recorded for yams grown and freshly harvested in Bouna (23.43) and in Bondoukou (24.73). Concerning the hardness of yams, it decreased during storage for yams grown and stored in pits in Bouna (38.94 to 25.20 N) and for those grown and stored in straw huts in Bondoukou (39. 39 to 26.42 N). The shelf life and culinary and sensory characteristics of Kponan depend on the cultivation and storage practices of each producer. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Policy and regulatory context for self-supplied drinking water services in two cities in Indonesia: Priorities for managing risks

Self-supply is the dominant drinking water service model for urban Indonesia. This paper examines its governance arrangements to identify risks due to the inexistence or implementation gaps of laws and regulations. The research applied a socio-ecological perspective to analyse interactions between water resources, governance, infrastructure and users and related-water security outcomes. We adopted a case study approach focused on two self-supply dominant urban areas by reviewing relevant regulations and conducting interviews with stakeholders.The findings show that water security outcomes for self-supplied services were at risk. Overarching laws exist to support groundwater preservation. However, in practice over-extraction and contamination are common, resulting in environmental risks. Governance of groundwater use and associated permits demonstrate fragmented responsibilities and lack of a coordinated institutional framework to guarantee water safety and availability. Whilst construction standards define minimum distance of wells to pollution sources, non-compliance is common, pointing to technical risks. Users are formally responsible for storage, treatment and monitoring water quality but practice varies across households. The result is a range of potential social and health risks.The study demonstrates a need for strengthened and coordinated implementation of the existing laws and regulations as well as increased acknowledgement of self-supply in policies in a concerted effort to ensure accessibility, safety and reliability of those services. We propose a modified governance framework to support further analytical and practical efforts to address risks to self-supplied services, towards improving safe and equitable water service delivery in Indonesia and elsewhere.

Fuel-flexible biomass off-gassing: The impact of antioxidant spent coffee grains on emissions of CO2, CO, CH4, and VOCs, physical deposits, and combustion in wood pellets

The surging global demand for sustainable energy has propelled the solid biofuel industry, particularly wood pellets. However, the industry grapples with persistent challenges involving off-gassing during storage and transportation. This study introduces an alternative: harnessing a biogenic extract from spent coffee grains (SCG) to manage emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our approach involves applying SCG extract to pinewood sawdust pellets in controlled volumes (0.1 L) and concentrations (0.05 %, 0.1 %, 0.2 %, and 0.4 employing an airbrush compressor for even distribution. To assess emissions, triplicate 0.1 kg samples were placed in gastight chambers at regulated temperatures (25, 35, and 50 °C) and humidity levels (30 %, 60 %, and 90 %). They were measured at five-day intervals over six months. Pellets with the antioxidant additive at 0.05 % exhibited approximately 18,269 ppm of gases (CO2, CO, CH4, and VOCs), compared to 21,039 ppm in untreated pellets, indicating a consistent 13.2 % reduction in total off-gassing. Specifically, CO concentrations in treated and untreated pellets were 3795 ppm and 5012 ppm, respectively, translating into a 24.3 % reduction. Significant reductions were also observed in CO2 (12.95 %), CH4 (19.35 %), and VOCs (5.45 %). Environmental factors, particularly humidity levels above 60% and elevated temperatures within the range of 35–50 °C, were identified as influencing factors in these emissions. This insight was elucidated through a conditional inference tree (CIT) analysis. Stakeholders can leverage these findings to optimize pellet storage and transportation practices, aligning with the global commitment to advancing sustainable energy solutions.

Engagement with Preventive Health Behaviors and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Using the 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

"Behavioral bundling" is a theory that explains how some health behaviors reinforce one another. This study aims to investigate the relationship between preventive health behaviors (PHBs) and safe firearm storage. This study used a cross-sectional design using 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data. Survey participants resided in California, Idaho, Kansas, Oregon, Texas, and Utah. There were 12,817 people living in households with a firearm included in this study. We classified individuals' engagement in 5 PHBs: cholesterol screening, influenza immunization, physical activity, primary care, and seatbelt use. We defined safe firearm storage as storing a firearm unloaded, or loaded but locked. Using Poisson regression models, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to estimate the association between engagement in the five PHBs with safe firearm storage. Most firearm owners reported safe firearm storage (80.3%). The prevalence of safe firearm storage was 3% higher for each additional PHB engaged in (aPR = 1.03 [1.01, 1.05]). There was a higher prevalence of safe firearm storage among those who always wore a seatbelt while driving or riding in a car compared to those who did not (aPR = 1.12 [1.05, 1.18]). This study found preliminary evidence to suggest that engagement in seatbelt usage may be bundled with safe firearm storage, though we are not able to determine causality.