Soft Drinks Research Articles

Temporal trend of food consumption markers, breakfast consumption and association with overweight/obesity in schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years between 2007 and 2019.

Obesity has a multifactorial origin. Among the behavioural risk factors, excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, skipping breakfast and reduced physical activity stand out. The main objective of this article was to identify trends in dietary habits and their association with overweight/obesity over a 12-year period in schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. A cross-sectional panel analysis study, using anthropometric, sociodemographic, physical activity and food consumption data of schoolchildren aged 7 to 10 years, collected in three waves of the Study of Prevalence of Obesity in Children and Adolescents (EPOCA), carried out during the years 2007, 2012/2013 and 2018/2019, was performed. To analyse the trend in dietary variables over the years, the 95% CIs were compared with the non-overlap of intervals indicating statistical significance. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to test the association of weight status with dietary markers. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 34.4%, 37.2% and 34.2% in 2007, 2012/2013 and 2018/2019, respectively, and there were no statistically significant differences among waves. There was a progressive and significant reduction in the consumption of soft drinks and sweets and in eating breakfast by schoolchildren, from 2007 to 2019. Breakfast consumption was inversely associated with the chance of overweight/obesity (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.93), and female students were less likely to have overweight/obesity when compared to boys (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81). The reduction in the consumption of soft drinks and sweets over the years might be caused by efforts in public policies that intended to reduce the consumption of unhealthy foods among schoolchildren. The progressive and significant reduction in having breakfast should be better elucidated in future studies, to minimise the potential impact of this practice on schoolchildren's bodyweight.

Own price elasticities of the demand for sugar-sweetened beverages in Bangladesh

BackgroundConsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is a major global public health problem. Increasing the price of SSBs through taxation is an effective tool to reduce SSB consumption. Price-elasticity estimates are useful in measuring the effect of taxation on consumption. We estimated the own price elasticities of demand for SSBs in Bangladesh, which will inform how SSB taxes could affect behaviour.MethodsWe used Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016 data, which is a nationally representative dataset at the household level across the country and is conducted using stratified random sampling method. Deaton’s method was used to estimate the price elasticities for SSBs in Bangladesh.ResultsWe found that the own price elasticity for SSBs varied between − 0.53% to -1.17% by types of SSBs in Bangladesh. The price elasticity for soft drinks was − 1.17, indicating that if the price of soft drinks increases by 10% via taxes, the quantity consumed of these beverages would reduce by 11.7%.ConclusionThis is the first study that estimates the own price elasticities of demand for SSBs in Bangladesh. Our results suggest to raise SSB prices through increased taxation in order to reduce SSB consumption and ensure public health gains in Bangladesh.

Clustering of lifestyle risk factors in relation to suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adolescents: a cross-national study of 45 low- and middle-income countries

BackgroundPrior research has reaffirmed lifestyle risk behaviors to cluster among adolescents. However, the lifestyle cluster effect on suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) was unclear among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). No comparison of such associations was conducted across nations.MethodsData from 45 LMICs were obtained from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) between 2009 and 2019. Lifestyle behavior factors were collected through a structured questionnaire. Suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt were ascertained by three single-item questions. Lifestyle risk scores were calculated via a sufficient dimension reduction technique, and lifestyle risk clusters were constructed using a latent class analysis. Generalized linear mixed models with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the lifestyle-STB associations.ResultsA total of 229,041 adolescents were included in the final analysis. The weighted prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt was 7.37%, 5.81%, and 4.59%, respectively. Compared with the favorable lifestyle group, the unfavorable group had 1.48-, 1.53-, and 3.11-fold greater odds of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.30–1.69), plan (OR = 1.53, 95%CI 1.34–1.75), and attempt (OR = 3.11, 95%CI 2.64–3.65). Four clusters of lifestyle risk behaviors were identified, namely healthy lifestyles (H–L), insufficient intake of vegetables and fruit (V-F), frequent consumption of soft drinks and fast food (D-F), and tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking (S-A) clusters. Compared with H–L cluster, V-F cluster was associated with 43% and 42% higher odds of suicidal ideation and plan, followed by S-A cluster (26% for ideation and 20% for plan), but not significant in D-F cluster (P > 0.05). D-F cluster was associated with 2.85-fold increased odds of suicidal attempt, followed by V-F cluster (2.43-fold) and S-A cluster (1.18-fold).ConclusionsClustering of lifestyle risk behaviors is informative for risk stratification of STBs in resource-poor settings. Lifestyle-oriented suicide prevention efforts should be initiated among school-attending adolescents in LMICs.

Longitudinal association between soft drink consumption and handgrip strength in adults: a prospective analysis from the Tianjin Chronic Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation and Health (TCLSIH) cohort study.

Soft drink consumption has become a highly controversial public health issue. Given the pattern of consumption in China, sugar-sweetened beverage is the main type of soft drink consumed. Due to containing high levels of fructose, a soft drink may have a deleterious effect on handgrip strength (HGS) due to oxidative stress, inflammation and insulin resistance. However, few studies show an association between soft drink consumption and HGS in adults. We aimed to investigate the association between soft drink consumption and longitudinal changes in HGS among a Chinese adult population. A longitudinal population-based cohort study (5-year follow-up, median: 3·66 years) was conducted in Tianjin, China. A total of 11125 participants (56·7 % men) were enrolled. HGS was measured using a handheld digital dynamometer. Soft drink consumption (mainly sugar-containing carbonated beverages) was measured at baseline using a validated FFQ. ANCOVA was used to evaluate the association between soft drink consumption and annual change in HGS or weight-adjusted HGS. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, the least square means (95 % CI) of annual change in HGS across soft drink consumption frequencies were -0·70 (-2·49, 1·09) for rarely drinks, -0·82 (-2·62, 0·97) for < 1 cup/week and -0·86 (-2·66, 0·93) for ≥ 1 cup/week (Pfor trend < 0·05). Likewise, a similar association was observed between soft drink consumption and annual change in weight-adjusted HGS. The results indicate that higher soft drink consumption was associated with faster HGS decline in Chinese adults.

Analysis of Coca Cola Company's Global Marketing Strategy: Literature Review

Since 1886, Coca Cola has been known as one of the major aggressor companies, until now the company has operated in more than 200 countries around the world and is best known for its innovative types of soft drinks. Coca-Cola Company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, America. 70% of the company's volume and 80% of the company's profits come from outside the United States. The main idea behind Coca Cola's marketing strategy is the ability to read consumers' minds across geographic boundaries. Coca Cola began to establish relationships with various food chains that spread widely not only in its home country but also in the world as a whole. From the above, the author is interested in conducting research through Global Marketing Strategy Analysis carried out by Coca Cola in more depth. Search for articles on Google Scholar and ProQues with keywords based on Global Marketing Strategy and Dynamics. 95 articles were found in the 2013-2023 period, then screening was carried out and 11 articles were found that were relevant to be discussed and analyzed. The results of this research found that Coca-Cola is one of the most representative companies that implements global partnership and marketing strategies for its greatest achievements, is able to maintain its product lines competitive, adapts to changes and market needs, creates customer value to gain consumer loyalty and is able to beat its competitors. Keywords: Coca Cola, Global Marketing Strategy, Partnership Strategy, Marketing Mix, SWOT Analysis, Pestel Matrix

#junkfluenced: the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages by social media influencers popular with Canadian children on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok

BackgroundMarketing of unhealthy foods to children on digital media significantly impacts their dietary preferences and contributes to diet-related noncommunicable diseases. Canadian children spend a significant amount of time on digital devices and are frequently exposed to unhealthy food marketing on social media, including by influencers with celebrity status who endorse products. This study aimed to examine the frequency, healthfulness, and power of unhealthy food marketing in posts by influencers popular with Canadian children on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.MethodsThe top 9 influencers popular amongst Canadian children aged 10–12 years were identified from the 2021 International Food Policy Study Youth Survey. A total of 2,232 Instagram, YouTube and TikTok posts made by these influencers between June 1st 2021 and May 31st 2022 were examined for instances of food marketing. Food products/brands were identified and frequencies were calculated for the number of posts promoting food products/brands, posts promoting products/brands classified as less healthy according to Health Canada’s Nutrient Profile Model (2018) and marketing techniques utilized.ResultsYouTube had the highest average rate of food marketing instances per post, at a rate of 1 food marketing instance every 0.7 posts, while TikTok and Instagram had instances every 10.2 posts and 19.3 posts, respectively. Overall, fast food restaurants was the most promoted food category (21%), followed by regular soft drinks (13%), snacks (11%), candy and chocolate (11%) and water (8%). The most frequently used marketing techniques were appeals to fun/cool (37%), the use of songs or music (28%) and the product being consumed (25%). In terms of healthfulness, 83% of the products/brands (87% of brands and 82% of products) promoted were classified as less healthy.ConclusionsSocial media influencers play a substantial role in promoting unhealthy food products to children, primarily fast food items. Given the significant impact of such marketing on children, there is a need for ongoing government-led monitoring, and it is crucial to include social media and influencer marketing in marketing restrictions targeting children in Canada to safeguard this vulnerable demographic.

UPCYCLING FOR REPURPOSING WASTE INTO CREATIVE PRODUCTS

Upcycling is the process of repurposing non-used materials or products to make them more valuable or usable, with increased quality and value. However, truly little research has been conducted on the design process and/or creative ideation of upcycling in order to produce higher-quality and more valuable products. This study presents the four stages of the design process, consisting of selecting the waste products, emerging conceptions, generating ideas, and rendering a series of creative ideas. SCAMPER (substitute, combine, adjust, modify, put to other uses, eliminate, reverse), one of the practical and effective techniques to create various creative ideas, was applied in the stages of emerging conceptions and generating ideas. With the upcycling concept of waste product design utilizing SCAMPER, the results demonstrated that waste soft drink cans could be converted into five creative products: a desk watch, a picture frame, a spring paper clip, a pencil holder, and a lamp. The five products featured the upcycling of waste soft drink cans, removing the need to recycle or send them to landfills at that point in their lifecycle. Consideration was given to the design process’ compatibility with creative concept generation and design. The study indicated that upcycling should be viewed as an essential component of waste management and repurposing in order to provide an intelligent answer to escalating product waste problems.

Association of the habitual dietary intake with the fatty liver index and effect modification by metabotypes in the population-based KORA-Fit study

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging threat for public health with diet being a major risk factor in disease development and progression. However, the effects of habitual food consumption on fatty liver are still inconclusive as well as the proposed role of the individuals’ metabolic profiles. Therefore, the aim of our study is to examine the associations between diet and NAFLD with an emphasis on the influence of specific metabotypes in the general population.MethodsA total of 689 participants (304 men and 385 women) of the KORA-Fit (S4) survey, a follow-up study of the population-based KORA cohort study running in the Region of Augsburg, Germany, were included in this analysis. Dietary information was derived from repeated 24-h food lists and a food frequency questionnaire. The intake of energy and energy-providing nutrients were calculated using the national food composition database. The presence of fatty liver was quantified by the fatty liver index (FLI), and metabotypes were calculated using K-means clustering. Multivariable linear regression models were used for the analysis of habitual food groups and FLI; for the evaluation of macronutrients, energy substitution models were applied.ResultsA higher consumption of nuts and whole grains, and a better diet quality (according to Alternate Healthy Eating Index and Mediterranean Diet Score) were associated with lower FLI values, while the intake of soft drinks, meat, fish and eggs were associated with a higher FLI. The isocaloric substitution of carbohydrates with polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with a decreased FLI, while substitution with monounsaturated fatty acids and protein showed increased FLI. Statistically significant interactions with the metabotype were observed for most food groups.ConclusionThe consumption of plant-based food groups, including nuts and whole grains, and diet quality, were associated with lower FLI values, whereas the intake of soft drinks and products of animal origin (meat, fish, eggs) were associated with a higher FLI. The observed statistically significant interactions with the metabotype for most food groups could help to develop targeted prevention strategies on a population-based level if confirmed in independent prospective studies.

Effectiveness of visual nudges for encouraging healthier beverage choices from vending machines.

Research suggests visual nudging techniques can subtly encourage healthier consumption. Two experiments explored the effect of four visual primes for nudging drink choices from a vending machine display. Participants (17-25 years) were randomly assigned to view vending machine advertising posters containing pictorial nudges of water, soft drink, general health (runner), or a text-only control, for nudging vending machine choices. Participants then selected an item from a vending machine display containing drinks only (Experiment 1; n = 164), or both drinks and snack foods (Experiment 2, n = 684). In both experiments, nudging condition predicted beverage choice. Specifically, the water image nudged healthier beverage choices in both experiments. However, there was no effect on food choice in Experiment 2. Furthermore, in both experiments, liking and habitual consumption of chosen items were also significant predictors of choice, but condition predicted beverage choice over and above these. A water prime may be an effective means of encouraging healthier beverage choices in a vending machine environment. SO WHAT?: Findings have the potential to inform strategies for encouraging healthier beverage choices from vending machine environments.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes among the general community of Pakistan

This study sought to evaluate the influence of knowledge, attitude, and practices assessment on diabetes related to obesity in Pakistani society. Data was collected both through door to door and online survey approaches from 518 participants by using a pre-validated questionnaire. A total of 15.6% were underweight, 61.2% were normal weight, 17.2% were overweight and 5.8% were in obesity class I and 2.9% were classified as obesity class II. The co-occurrence of obesity and diabetes was 29% (n = 22) among diabetic individuals (n = 84). A majority of the residents (59.1%) were from cities. While 94% of the participants responded to what obesity was, 83.8% knew what diabetes was. Fast food, soft drinks, and mayonnaise were deemed to be healthy by 75.1% of the respondents. Obesity was viewed as a disease by 94.8%, a major health issue by 78.2%, and a weight-loss necessity by 44.6% of participants. Only 24.9% exercised every day, and only 23.9% engaged in any physical activity daily. The majority of respondents (50.6%) never tried to lose weight and 23.2% ate junk food daily. The sociodemographic variables showed that the age ranges of 25–34 years (P < 0.001; OR 0.531), 45–54 years (P < 0.05; OR 0.527), and urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 0.128) had a significant association with knowledge. The factors of urban residency (P < 0.001; OR 3.996), being unmarried (P < 0.001; OR 1.95), and having an income of 51,000–70,000 (P < 0.001; OR 11.29) showed a very highly significant association with a good attitude regarding the relationship of obesity with diabetes (P < 0.05). Similarly, practices of the participants showed significant association with BMI range of 18.5–24.9 and 25–29.9 (P < 0.001). Our study revealed significant knowledge and understanding of the relationship between obesity with diabetes. However, while it was observed that majority of respondents exhibited fundamental knowledge regarding obesity and diabetes, there was a notable absence of understanding regarding crucial elements, such as the significance of maintaining a healthy body weight, participating in physical activity, and implementing appropriate dietary strategies for weight control. We recognize the necessity for education initiatives and strongly encourage them to assist individuals in managing diabetes resulting from obesity.

Energy drink consumption among medical students in Jordan - prevalence, attitudes, and associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

Energy drinks (ED) are popular beverages that contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and other supplements, such as vitamins, which are marketed to enhance mental alertness and physical performance. Studies have shown that energy drink consumption is prevalent among medical students. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence, attitudes, and factors associated with energy drink consumption among medical students in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students from six public universities in Jordan. A total of 307 students were included in the study, and data were collected using an expert-validated questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. The study found that 50% of the sample had consumed ED, half of them started consuming them at the age of 16-18, and learned about them from friends. The primary reasons for consuming ED were to stay awake at night and the majority of them increase their consumption during exams to increase alertness. Regular energy drink consumption was significantly associated with being a student at the university located in the south governorate of Jordan (P=0.021), living alone (P=0.000), drinking alcohol (P=0.049), drinking coffee daily (P=0.043), and consuming more than 10 cans of soft drinks weekly (P=0.001). However, sex, age, academic achievement, and smoking status had no significant association with regular energy drink consumption. Students with regular energy drink consumption experienced daytime sleepiness, decreased concentration, fatigue, and reduced performance more than students with no regular energy drink consumption. The prevalence of energy drink consumption among medical students in Jordan is high, with factors such as social influences, lifestyle behaviors, and academic pressure being significant contributors. This study highlights the need for interventions to promote healthy behaviors and raise awareness about the potential harms of ED among medical students.

Country-level sociocultural context and socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent dietary behaviours: A multilevel analysis in 21 European countries

Studies to date have predominantly focused on countries' socioeconomic conditions (e.g., income inequality) to explain cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescent health (behaviours). However, the potential explanatory role of sociocultural contexts at country-level remains underexamined. This study examined whether the country-level sociocultural context and changes thereof were associated with adolescent socioeconomic inequalities in dietary behaviours. International comparative data of 344,352 adolescents living in 21 countries participating in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 waves of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey were combined with aggregated levels of openness-to-change from the European Social Survey (ESS). Four dietary behaviours (i.e., fruit, vegetable, sweets and soft drink consumption) and two measures of socioeconomic status (SES) on the individual level (i.e., family affluence scale [FAS] and occupational social class [OSC]) were studied. Multilevel logistic regression analyses returned contrasting results for the two SES measures used. In countries with higher levels of openness-to-change, smaller FAS inequalities in daily fruit, sweets and soft drink consumption were observed, but no such inequalities were found for vegetable consumption. Conversely, in these countries, larger OSC inequalities in soft drink consumption were found. Country-specific changes in openness-to-change over time were not associated with the magnitude of adolescent dietary inequalities. Findings underscore the importance of including country-level sociocultural contexts to improve the understanding of cross-national differences in socioeconomic inequalities in adolescents’ diets. Future studies, spanning a longer timeframe, are required to examine whether such associations exist within countries over time since our timeframe might have been too small to capture these long-term trends.

Shenyu ningshen tablet reduced neuronal damage in the hippocampus of chronic restraint stress model rat by inhibiting A1-reactive astrocytes

ContextShenyu Ningshen (SYNS) tablet is the first pure Chinese medicinal small compound preparation approved for clinical trials for the treatment of depression in China. Clinical experiments confirmed that the formulation had a significant Improvement effect against depression due to the deficiency of both qi and yin. It has been shown to exhibit noticeable anti-inflammatory effect in an animal model of depression. Our previous study showed that SYNS could effectively inhibit the inflammatory response in a depression model. Aim of the studyThe purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of SYNS on neurons and explore whether the underlying mechanism was associated with A1s. Materials and methodsThe depression model of solitary raising-chronic restraint stress (CRS) rats was established; body weight examination, sugar water preference test, open field test, and histological analysis were performed to preliminarily verify the efficacy of the formulation. Subsequently, neuronal nucleus (NeuN) and synaptic-associated proteins (MAP2 and PSD95) were labeled, and the protective effect of SYNS on hippocampal neurons was observed based on the fluorescence intensity of the above indicators. Western blotting, histological examination, and immunofluorescence were used to evaluate the inhibitory effects of SYNS on neuroinflammation and activation of A1s in CRS depression model. ResultsSYNS improved behavioral indicators such as weight loss, pleasure loss, and reduced exercise volume in CRS rat model. SYNS restored the CRS-induced histopathological changes in the hippocampus. SYNS showed a certain degree of protective effect on synapses. Further, SYNS inhibited the activation of A1s by inhibiting neuroinflammatory factors in the hippocampus. ConclusionOur results showed that SYNS had a certain degree of neuroprotective effect, which might be related to its inhibition of the inflammatory response and A1s.

TACE inhibition: a promising therapeutic intervention against AATF-mediated steatohepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis-driven hepatocellular carcinoma (MASH-HCC) is a global clinical challenge for which there is a limited understanding of disease pathogenesis and a subsequent lack of therapeutic interventions. We previously identified that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) upregulated apoptosis antagonizing transcription factor (AATF) in MASH. Here, we investigated the effect of TNF-α converting enzyme (TACE) inhibition as a promising targeted therapy against AATF-mediated steatohepatitis to hepatocarcinogenesis. A preclinical murine model that recapitulates human MASH-HCC was used in the study. C57Bl/6 mice were fed with chow diet normal water (CD) or western diet sugar water (WD) along with a low dose of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4; 0.2 μL·g-1, weekly) for 24 weeks. TACE activity, TNF-α levels, and AATF expression were measured. The mice were treated with the TACE inhibitor Marimastat for 12 weeks, followed by analyses of liver injury, fibrosis, inflammation, and oncogenic signaling. In vitro experiments using stable clones of AATF control and AATF knockdown were also conducted. We found that AATF expression was upregulated in WD/CCl4 mice, which developed severe MASH at 12 weeks and advanced fibrosis with HCC at 24 weeks. WD/CCl4 mice showed increased TACE activity with reduced hepatic expression of sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (Timp3). The involvement of the SIRT1/TIMP3/TACE axis was confirmed by the release of TNF-α, which upregulated AATF, a key molecular driver of MASH-HCC. Interestingly, TACE inhibition by Marimastat reduced liver injury, dyslipidemia, AATF expression, and oncogenic signaling, effectively preventing hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, Marimastat inhibited the activation of JNK, ERK1/2, and AKT, which are key regulators of tumorigenesis in WD/CCl4 mice and in AATF control cells, but had no effect on AATF knockdown cells. This study shows that TACE inhibition prevents AATF-mediated inflammation, fibrosis, and oncogenesis in MASH-HCC, offering a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Improvement in Electrochemical Performance of Waste Sugarcane Bagasse-Derived Carbon via Hybridization with SiO2 Nanospheres.

Sugar industries generate substantial quantities of waste biomass after the extraction of sugar water from sugarcane stems, while biomass-derived porous carbon has currently received huge research attention for its sustainable application in energy storage systems. Hence, we have investigated waste sugarcane bagasse (WSB) as a cheap and potential source of porous carbon for supercapacitors. The electrochemical capacitive performance of WSB-derived carbon was further enhanced through hybridization with silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a cost-effective pseudocapacitance material. Porous WSB-C/SiO2 nanocomposites were prepared via the in situ pyrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-modified WSB biomass. The morphological analysis confirms the pyrolytic growth of SiO2 nanospheres on WSB-C. The electrochemical performance of WSB-C/SiO2 nanocomposites was optimized by varying the SiO2 content, using two different electrolytes. The capacitance of activated WSB-C was remarkably enhanced upon hybridization with SiO2, while the nanocomposite electrode demonstrated superior specific capacitance in 6 M KOH electrolyte compared to neutral Na2SO4 electrolyte. A maximum specific capacitance of 362.3 F/g at 0.25 A/g was achieved for the WSB-C/SiO2 105 nanocomposite. The capacitance retention was slightly lower in nanocomposite electrodes (91.7-86.9%) than in pure WSB-C (97.4%) but still satisfactory. A symmetric WSB-C/SiO2 105//WSB-C/SiO2 105 supercapacitor was fabricated and achieved an energy density of 50.3 Wh kg-1 at a power density of 250 W kg-1, which is substantially higher than the WSB-C//WSB-C supercapacitor (22.1 Wh kg-1).

Combined effect of silicon and nitrogen doses applied to planting furrows on sugar, biomass and energy water productivity of sugarcane (Saccharum spp.)

Brazil has the largest cultivated area for sugarcane in the world, with a predominance of rain-fed production systems (64%) and marginal areas that are subject to frequent water deficits. The remaining 36% under cultivation is equipped with irrigation systems; however, a significant portion of these irrigation systems (76%) is dedicated to crop maintenance. Their primary purpose is to provide water for initial plant maintenance during planting and regrowth of ratoons, which helps to alleviate drought stress caused by water scarcity during dry periods. The remaining 24% of the irrigated sugarcane production areas use deficit and full irrigation strategies to partially (50%) and fully (100%) meet the plants’ water demands, respectively. Therefore, a large part of the cultivated area for sugarcane in Brazil is subject to a water deficit at one or more stages of the crop's development cycle, which can retard plant growth, nutrient use and productivity. One potential strategy for mitigating these harmful effects is the application of silicon (Si) in the furrow at planting, which can also increase crop water productivity (WPc). The objective of this research was to determine the effects of different applications of Si and nitrogen (N) on WPc, in terms of sugar (SWPc), biomass (BWPc) and energy (ENWPc) for sugarcane crop. The research was conducted at the University of São Paulo (USP/ESALQ), Piracicaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The experimental design involved randomized blocks, with four blocks and 12 treatments. The treatments consisted of three applications of Si, 175, 350 and 525 kg·ha−1 and four N treatments of 15, 30, 60 and 90 kg·ha−1. Biometric responses, effects on juice quality, and indices related to yield and WPc were determined. The water consumption and agricultural yield (AY) of sugarcane were clearly influenced by the treatments. The lowest water consumption was obtained with the 15Nx350Si treatment, 561 mm per year. The treatment with the highest AY value was 60Nx350Si (162.3 Mg·ha−1). The SWPc, BWPc and ENWPc of the sugarcane crop were affected by the different application rates of N and Si. In general, the highest average WPc values were obtained with the 15Nx350Si treatment (SWPc=2.6 kg·m−3, BWPc=10 kg·m−3 and ENWPc=224.5 MJ·m−3). The different N and Si treatments did not significantly affect biometric variables (except for fresh biomass and leaf area) or juice quality; therefore, Si application did not compromise the quality of the end-product.

Life style, health seeking behaviour and nutritional status of commercial vehicle drivers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

BackgroundHealth seeking behaviour, lifestyle characteristics and the working conditions of commercial vehicle drivers often foster unhealthy habits and increase their vulnerability to health inequalities, including overweight, obesity, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the life style, dietary habit, health seeking behaviour and nutritional status of commercial vehicle drivers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.MethodsThis descriptive and cross-sectional study adopted a simple random sampling technique to recruit 202 commercial vehicle drivers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographics, life style and health care characteristics of the commercial vehicle drivers. The anthropometric indices (weight and Height) of the drivers were obtained and their body mass index (BMI) was determined using WHO classification. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and level of significance was set at p= 0.05.ResultsMean age of the drivers was 43 ± 5.2 years and majority (86%) of them have completed secondary education. The majority (59%) consume soft drinks at least once per week and 85% eat at least one meal outside their home daily, while 16% and 49% patronize herbal medicine/concoction and visit the pharmacy or chemist store to purchase drugs respectively as first point of care when sick. The prevalence of overweight and obesity among the commercial drivers was 20% and 33% respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between elevated BMI and respondent’s age (p&lt;0.05), level of education (P=0.05), physical inactivity (P&lt;0.01) and frequency of alcohol consumption (P&lt;0.05).ConclusionsThis study confirms high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the commercial vehicle drivers and its associated factors of poor nutritional habits, health and life style characteristics. Therefore, a comprehensive nutritional programme including behavioural change and communication that is context-specific targeted at commercial drivers should be implemented.

Impact of warning labels on sugary beverages on risk perception, attention, and purchase intentions

The issue of warning labels on sweet beverage product packaging needs to be tested to determine its role in reducing product consumption. This study aims to examine the impact of warning labels on attention, risk perception, and purchase intention for sweet drink products. The paper conducted an experiment involving 120 participants. Most respondents fall within the age range of 25 to 34 years (38.30%). The analysis was conducted at sports facilities, schools, and playgrounds – in three major cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya). Two stimuli, sugar content labels and visual warning labels, were used after a pilot study. For data analysis, the study used univariate analysis of variance to assess the significance of each label stimulus interaction. Furthermore, this paper employed t-tests to check the significance of comparisons between cells. Through the difference test, the three hypotheses were accepted and had a significant effect. The findings reveal that the influence of visual warning labels on attention (t-value = 66.015), perceived risk (t-value = 68.064), and purchase intention (t-value = 60.483) is more significant than sugar content labels. These findings can serve as a set of innovative policies to support the success of demarketing strategies for sweet beverage products by governments and social marketing activists.

Concurrent removal of carbon and nutrients in a one-stage dual internal circulation airlift A2O bioreactor from milk processing industrial wastewater: Process optimization, sludge characteristics and operating cost evaluation

In this work, a one-stage dual internal circulation airlift anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (DCAL-A2O) bioreactor was continuously operated for concurrent removal of nutrients and organics from milk processing wastewater (MPW). Special configuration of the airlift A2O bioreactor created possibility of the formation of desired anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones in a single unit. The process functionality of the bioreactor was examined under three influential operating variables i.e. hydraulic retention time (HRT; 7–15 h), air flow rate (AFR; 1–3 L/min) and aerobic volume ratio (AVR; 0.324–0.464). The optimum region was identified at HRT of 13h, AFR of 2L/min and AVR of 0.437, leading to TCOD, TN and TP removal efficiency of 94.5 %, 59.6 %, and 62.2 %, respectively, and effluent turbidity of 8 NTU. The impact of feed biodegradability on the process performance of the bioreactor treating the MPW, soft drink wastewater (SDW) and soybean oil plant wastewater (SOW) was also assessed. From the results, the feed characteristics affected significantly the nutrients removal. Moreover, the feeding location played an effective role in the nutrient removal while treating the MPW at optimum operating conditions. In this study, the change in residual organic matters as soluble microbial products (SMP) was monitored at various operating conditions. In addition, the impact of SMP extracted from sludge, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) comprising of loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) and tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS) was analyzed on sludge characteristics as bio-flocculation and settleability properties. According to the obtained data, the increase in operating variables led to the reduction in contents of effluent SMP, sludge SMP, LB-EPS, turbidity, and SVI, thereby, the enhancement in the sludge characteristics. Meanwhile, analysis of microbial communities verified the presence of various functional bacterial species. The cost operating evaluation confirmed the cost effectiveness of the airlift A2O bioreactor in reduction of energy consumption for the MPW treatment.

Changing food preferences and choices – A framework for analyzing households food purchases over time

Scientific interest in food consumption has grown significantly in recent decades due to its profound implications for individuals’ and societies’ health and wellbeing and implications for domestic and global systems sustainability. Food purchases can be directly and indirectly related to household and consumer characteristics. While food purchase habits may be dynamic and influenced by changing circumstances over the years, most related research presents a snapshot of the studied issues within a single year or period or focus on a specific social group or food commodity. This paper introduces and illustrates a framework for analyzing household food purchasing clusters over a period of time. It uses data from over 120,000 households in Israel to analyze household food purchases over two decades. The analysis segments the population into clusters and accounts for their food purchases through an extensive bottom-up approach. It identifies several major clusters, including small and large families and young and elderly households, each representing a unique range of food purchase patterns and a different share of the overall society. It analyses different levels of consumption, from broad categories to specific products, and examines the relationships between food purchases and household characteristics. Examining specific food categories and commodities illustrates a complex trend over the research period, including rising demand for beef, poultry, and soft drinks, steady patterns of consumption of frozen and canned vegetables and oils, and a clear decline in demand for dairy, grain, and sugar products.