Product Usage Research Articles

Role of life and usage characteristics, technical attributes and crowdsourced product reviews in smartphone exchange prices

Purpose Smartphone demand has been driving people towards refurbished electronic products. However, a lack of transparency in refurbished product pricing makes purchases time-consuming and reduces customer trust. Thus, our research aims to help practitioners and researchers understand how product life and usage characteristics, technical attributes and crowdsourced product reviews and sentiments affect exchange prices for refurbished/remanufactured smartphones.Design/methodology/approach Our five-stage exchange price predictive framework begins with data gathering and predictor variable identification. Thereafter, customer review data were scraped to populate both customer ratings and textual content, enabling sentiment analysis for the various smartphone configurations. Stepwise regression was used to find statistically significant factors and validate the predictive model. Testing for nonlinear effects, normality, outliers and homoskedasticity warrants power transformation of the target variable. The analysis used data from GSMArena.com and Amazon.com.Findings Our study validates extant findings and provides several novel insights for functional yet hedonistic products like smartphones. Unlike other pure hedonistic products, refurbished phone buyers care more about usage duration than life. Besides having a strong affinity for the sleekness of the phone, such customers are strongly dissuaded by the presence of negative textual content in the customer reviews.Originality/value Our study augments the current understanding of exchange price modelling by bringing in perspectives from life cycle characteristics, technical attributes and product reviews.

Evaluation of the Effects of Age, Sex, and Dexpanthenol-Containing Skin Care on the Facial and Body Skin Microbiome

Given the pivotal role played by the microbiome in skin health, it is important to understand how its composition varies with age, sex, and body site and regular use of topical products. Four studies were carried out to determine the effects of long-term (4-week) use of different dexpanthenol-containing topical products on the skin microbiome of a varied population with cosmetically dry skin. The skin microbiome composition was assessed before and after product usage. No significant changes in microbiome richness or diversity were found for the individual test products; however, a meta-analysis of the combined dataset did show changes in microbiome composition as a function of the subject’s sex, age, and body site. The work presented here demonstrates how the use of carefully formulated topical products on skin, when used in a way that is representative of real-life usage conditions, can respect the microbial diversity present on skin across a widely varied study population.

Estimation and Control of WRRF Biogas Production

The development of resource-efficient digital technologies is a critical challenge in the wastewater sector. This industrial case study, conducted in collaboration with the Veas Water Resource Recovery Facility in Norway, focused on creating data pre-processing methods and resource-efficient control strategies. Using data from the Veas biogas plant, dynamic models were developed to compare control outcomes. The primary objective was to maximize biogas production and hot water usage while maintaining optimal temperature and hydraulic retention time by adjusting inlet sludge and hot water flow rates. Sequential operations were approximated as continuous operations using a 30-min moving minimum/maximum for bimodal data and a 2-h moving average for noisy data. The data-driven dynamic models achieved an accuracy of up to R2 of 0.85. The control strategy, which included one feedback controller, one ratio controller, and flow rate restrictions, was compared to real production data (baseline) and tested across six scenarios. The best improvement over the baseline scenario resulted in a 3% increase in total biogas production, a 6% increase in total organic loading, a 13% increase in hot water use, and a one-day reduction in hydraulic retention time. Future work should focus on control studies using extended datasets and nonlinear models.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' National Ophthalmology Database study of cataract surgery: report 19, a comparative study of the cost and carbon footprint of local anaesthesia techniques for cataract surgery.

Understanding the financial and environmental impact of clinical pathways is important for designing sustainable services. This study aimed to compare the cost and carbon footprint of sub-Tenon's and topical anaesthesia for cataract surgery, benchmark minimum topical anaesthesia utilisation rates, and quantify the benefits of increased topical anaesthesia usage in the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS). The cost and carbon footprint of products and staffing for topical and sub-Tenon's anaesthesia for cataract surgery were calculated and applied to National Ophthalmology Database audit data. A mainly process-based approach was used to estimate the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) of product production, usage, and waste disposal. The typical CO2e per case was 0.71 kg for topical anaesthesia and 1.19 kg for sub-Tenon's anaesthesia. Around a third of CO2e was generated by usage of unneccesary equiptment and wasteful practices. The typical cost per case was £14.60-£17.14 for topical anaesthesia, £27.74 for sub-Tenon's anaesthesia performed by an operating department practitioner and £56.15 for sub-Tenon's anaesthesia performed by a consultant anaesthetist. It is estimated that around 25,000 NHS cataract cases could annually be converted from sub-Tenon's to topical anaesthesia, which would reduce the CO2e emissions of services by 12,000 kg while saving £265,000 on product usage and between £63,500 and £773,750 on staffing. Topical anaesthesia is a cheaper and more environmentally sustainable alternative to sub-Tenon's anaesthesia for cataract surgery. Increased topical anaesthesia usage in cataract services could contribute towards the NHS aspiration of becoming "net zero" by 2040.

A Study on the Barriers in Usage of Formal Financial Products/ Services by Women in the Rural Area of Kabrai Block of Mahoba District of Uttar Pradesh

A Study on the Barriers in Usage of Formal Financial Products/ Services by Women in the Rural Area of Kabrai Block of Mahoba District of Uttar Pradesh

Beyond Lux: methods for species and photoreceptor-specific quantification of ambient light for mammals

BackgroundLight is a key environmental regulator of physiology and behaviour. Mistimed or insufficient light disrupts circadian rhythms and is associated with impaired health and well-being across mammals. Appropriate lighting is therefore crucial for indoor housed mammals. Light is commonly measured in lux. However, this employs a spectral weighting function for human luminance and is not suitable for ‘non-visual’ effects of light or use across species. In humans, a photoreceptor-specific (α-opic) metrology system has been proposed as a more appropriate way of measuring light.ResultsHere we establish technology to allow this α-opic measurement approach to be readily extended across mammalian species, accounting for differences in photoreceptor types, photopigment spectral sensitivities, and eye anatomy. We develop a high-throughput method to derive spectral sensitivities for recombinantly expressed mammalian opsins and use it to establish the spectral sensitivity of melanopsin from 13 non-human mammals. We further address the need for simple measurement strategies for species-specific α-opic measures by developing an accessible online toolbox for calculating these units and validating an open hardware multichannel light sensor for ‘point and click’ measurement. We finally demonstrate that species-specific α-opic measurements are superior to photopic lux as predictors of physiological responses to light in mice and allow ecologically relevant comparisons of photosensitivity between species.ConclusionsOur study presents methods for measuring light in species-specific α-opic units that are superior to the existing unit of photopic lux and holds the promise of improvements to the health and welfare of animals, scientific research reproducibility, agricultural productivity, and energy usage.

The use of cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT This study was planned to determine the use of cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products containing chemicals during pregnancy and the affecting factors. The study is quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional. The sample size was calculated using the G*Power program. 287 puerperant women were reached. Data were obtained with the Introductory Information Form and Cosmetic and Chemical Product Usage Form. In the study, number and percentage values were given and chi-square and regression analysis were performed. In cosmetics and personal care products, shampoo, toothpaste and deodorant/perfume are among the top three most commonly used products, while dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent and bleach are among the cleaning products. The products that are most restricted in use are hair dye and descaling. It has been determined that education level, occupation, income and number of pregnancies are effective in the use of some products. Taking measures to protect pregnant women is important for improving maternal and newborn health.

Phyto-pharmaceuticals as a safe and potential alternative in management of psoriasis: a review.

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease with a worldwide prevalence of 1-3 % results from uncontrolled proliferation of keratinocytes and affects millions of people. While there are various treatment options available, some of them may come with potential side effects and limitations. Recent research has shown that using bioactive compounds that originate from natural sources with a lower risk of side effects are relatively useful in safe management psoriasis. Bioactive compounds are molecules that are naturally available with potential therapeutic efficacy. Someof bioactive compounds that have shown promising results in the management of psoriasis include curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, etc., possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-proliferative properties, with capabilities to suppress overall pathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, these bioactive compounds are generally considered as safe andare well-tolerated, making them potential options for long-term use in the management of various conditions linked with psoriasis. In addition, these natural products may also offer a more holistic approach to treat the disease, which is appealing to many patients. This review explores the bioactive compounds in mitigation of psoriasis either innative or incorporated within novel drug delivery. Moreover, recent clinical findings in relation to natural product usage have been also explored.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis Associated With Men's Personal Care Products: A Review of Allergens.

Personal care product usage is becoming increasingly prevalent among men due to evolving attitudes surrounding appearance, aging, and masculinity. Given the specific characteristics of male skin compared with female skin and varying product use between males and females, the occurrence of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) due to men's personal care products needs to be better characterized. The purpose of this review was to identify specific product types and ingredients causing ACD in males. PubMed search was conducted from conception to present day using keywords pertaining to male personal care product use. Case reports, case series, and case-control studies reporting a diagnosis of ACD due to a personal care product ingredient were analyzed. Products resulting in ACD included aftershave, cologne, deodorant, hair dye, hair gel, hair loss preparation, hand cleanser, lip balm, moisturizer, shampoo, and sunscreen. Although >90 allergens resulting in ACD were identified, the 5 most common allergens included para-phenylenediamine, minoxidil, musk ambrette, methylisothiazolinone, and cocamidopropyl betaine. Following this review, clinicians should be better able to recognize men's personal care products that commonly result in ACD, as well as specific allergens present across multiple product types. Doing so will lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of ACD due to personal care product usage in men and, in doing so, guide both clinical practice and future investigation in this area.

Environmental Footprints of Yogurt Production: A Case Study of a Small-Scale Manufacturing Process in Sri Lanka

This study investigated the life cycle environmental impacts of yogurt production from cradle to gate at the Pulathisi milk factory in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. The functional unit considered was one kilogram of yogurt produced in the factory using existing technology. The defined system boundary encompassed raw milk production and transportation, machinery fabrication, standardization of milk, and standard unit operations of yogurt production. Material and energy usage data were collected through a series of observations, literature and Ecoinvent 3.7.1 databases. The ReCiPe 2008 method was employed for impact analysis, considering eighteen impact categories with SimaPro software. The inventory analysis included material consumption for machinery fabrication, energy consumption, and emissions for each unit operation in yogurt production. Results were characterized using midpoint indicators, and normalized impacts were calculated. The characterized outcomes of the yogurt production process contributed 2.48 kgCO2eq to climate change, 0.0297 kgSO2eq to acidification, 0.0002 kgPeq to eutrophication, and 6.9199 kg 1,4-DBeq to human toxicity. The study identified hotspots, emphasizing the significant contributions of cow milk production and electricity usage to environmental impacts. Potential mitigations, such as improved waste management in dairy farming and switching to renewable energy sources, are proposed to address these impacts. The normalized impacts provided insights for decision-makers and stakeholders to compare environmental performances and guide sustainable practices in yogurt production. The total impact was recorded as 0.014-person equivalent per year per one kilogram of yogurt.

Incorporating Singaporean habits and practices for cosmetics and personal care products into a global consumer aggregate exposure model

Understanding consumer habits and practices of cosmetics and personal care products (PCP) is essential to generate realistic product exposure data for the safety assessment of ingredients such as fragrance materials. Product usages can vary across regions due to differences in cultural norms, seasonal and climate conditions, and the availability of different product forms, yet there is limited data published on cosmetics and PCP use outside of North America and Europe. This study reports the habits and practices of cosmetics and PCP (such as frequency and amount of use) in Singapore where participants (n=494, aged 21-64 years) recorded their product usages and had their products weighed over a two-week period. Overall, similar use patterns were observed across demographic groups within the Singapore population for most of the products surveyed, as were the expected usage amounts. Additionally, the Singaporean dataset was mapped onto the Creme-RIFM aggregate exposure model to assess exposure estimates. Preliminary comparisons with product exposures observed in the United States (US) and Europe suggest that exposures in Singapore are comparable. Findings from this study will contribute to the Creme-RIFM model, expanding its geographic scope and applicability for the global safety assessment of fragrance ingredients and fragranced products.

Evaluating the accuracy of an automatic counting system to detect dispensing of hand hygiene product

BackgroundHand hygiene (HH) is an essential element of infection prevention and control programs. Direct observation of adherence to the 5 moments for HH is considered the gold standard in compliance monitoring. However, as direct observation introduces potential bias, other strategies have been proposed to supplement HH compliance data in healthcare facilities. This study evaluated the accuracy of an automatic counting system (MEZRIT™) to detect when a HH product (soap or alcohol-based hand rub) was dispensed, and thus measure product usage as opposed to compliance with the 5 moments for HH. MethodsA quasi-experimental study was conducted in a nursing simulation lab where seven participants undertook basic nursing tasks which included performing HH. Sensors were attached to soap and alcohol-based hand rub dispensers to record the time at which a product was dispensed. HH events were video recorded (time-stamped) and validated against timestamps from the automatic counting system. Results260 HH events were detected by the automatic counting system and confirmed by video recordings. 5182 non-HH events were calculated from analysis of the video recordings. The automatic counting system had 90 % sensitivity (95%CI 85.8–93.1 %), and 100 % specificity (95%CI 99.9–100 %). This model generated a positive predictive value of 100 % (95%Cl 98.4–100 %), and a negative predictive value of 99.5 % (95%CI 99.3–99.7 %). ConclusionThe MEZRIT™ system accurately identified 90 % of HH events and excluded 100 % of non-HH events. The real-time monitoring of HH product usage may be beneficial in responding quickly to changes in product usage.

Pregnant women’s lifestyles and exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals: a machine learning approach

Women have ubiquitous exposure to various endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) present in personal care products, food packaging, and processing. Pregnancy is a phase of increased vulnerability to environmental stressors. Therefore, we aimed to identify questionnaire based variables of pregnant women’s lifestyle factors affecting the prenatal concentrations of EDCs: bis-phenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), parabens, and phthalates. We also aimed to explore the association between these lifestyle factors and EDC exposure in pregnant women in South Korea. This study is a part of Korean CHildren’s ENvironmental health Study (Ko-CHENS). The following lifestyle factors: usage of personal care products, eating habits, cooking practices, food storage practices, and chemical exposure were evaluated through questionnaire. We examined prenatal EDCs: phenols (BPA), TCS, parabens (MEP, ETP, and PRP), and phthalates (MEHHP, MEOHP, MECPP, MBZP, MCOP, MCPP, MCNP, and MNBP). The random forest and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression machine learning models were used to predict the important lifestyle factors affecting the prenatal EDC concentrations in pregnant women. Next, we calculated the lifestyle score and evaluated its association with prenatal EDCs, respectively. Our results show that pregnant women who used makeup [β: 1.01, 95% C.I.: 0.01,2.00] >6 times/week had a significant increase in early-pregnancy (EP) ΣParaben exposure. Using perfume up to 3 times/month was significantly associated with EP TCS exposure (β: 0.05, 95% C.I.: 0.01,0.23). While, using perfume >6 times/week was significantly associated to late-pregnancy (LP) ΣParaben exposure, and consuming cup noodles significantly increased LP ΣDEHP exposure. Linear model analysis showed that the lifestyle score significantly increased the EP (β: 0.24, 95% C.I.: 0.07,0.40) and LP (β:0.10, 95% C.I.: 0.01,0.20) ΣParaben exposure. Therefore, pregnant women’s lifestyle factors, such as using makeup and perfume and eating habits (e.g., cup noodle consumption), were associated with prenatal EDC exposure.

Does early transfusion of cold-stored whole blood reduce the need for component therapy in civilian trauma patients? A systematic review.

Civilian acute trauma care has advanced in recent decades; however, traumatic injury remains the leading cause of death in individuals aged 15 to 29 years in the United States and worldwide. Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading preventable cause of death in trauma patients, with up to half of these deaths occurring before reaching a medical facility. The timely application of hemorrhage control measures is critical to enhance the survivability of trauma patients and is one of the major challenges faced by medical providers in austere environments. The purpose of this review is to explore if early resuscitation with cold-stored whole blood therapy reduces the need for component therapy in the first 24 hours postinjury in the civilian population. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we performed a systematic literature search in Medline, EMBASE, and Transfusion Evidence Library for studies reporting data on 24-hour blood product usage in trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock receiving initial therapy with whole blood. Two reviewers independently performed the selection of eligible studies. Of a total of 2,150 identified studies, 11 studies (n = 4,792) met the inclusion criteria. There was heterogeneity in the study design, interventions, and outcomes. Seven studies reported a statistically significant decrease in 24-hour transfusion requirements in the whole blood intervention group in comparison with the control component therapy group. Three studies reported no significant difference between the two groups. One of the studies reported an increase in 24-hour transfusion requirements in the whole blood group. Overall, there appears to be a decrease in component therapy use following initial resuscitation with whole blood in trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. However, further research is needed to address this important practical question (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42023422173). Systematic Review; Level IV.

Acquired hemophilia A: a narrative review and management approach in the emicizumab era

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by inhibitory autoantibodies to factor (F)VIII. The goals of treatment are 2-fold, namely immunosuppressive therapy to eradicate the inhibitor and hemostatic management to control bleeding. Emicizumab, a bispecific antibody that acts as a FVIIIa-mimetic, has seen growing use in AHA following its approval for congenital hemophilia A. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of AHA. Registry, trial, and case series data are assimilated and summarized with an emphasis on a standardized approach that integrates the use of emicizumab. With recent registry data suggesting the need to focus on immunosuppression-related mortality in AHA, we provide treatment recommendations in an algorithmic format that have become the standard of care at our institution. These recommendations are intended to minimize hemostatic product usage and potential toxicity related to immunosuppressive therapy while reducing morbidity and rehospitalization rates for bleeding. The proposed treatment algorithm, which includes key interventions by phase of therapy, can be readily implemented at centers that have rapid access to plasma FVIII activity using a one-stage assay. A case is presented to illustrate the proposed diagnostic and management considerations.

Development of MAILI 21 (Lectora inspire 21 interactive learning media) to improve student learning outcomes in elementary schools

Learning Pancasila and Citizenship Education which is less varied and innovative causes students to be less enthusiastic and bored quickly. Therefore, it is necessary to combine learning with IT-based media with conventional media to improve student learning outcomes. This study aims to develop interactive learning media Lectora Inspire and determine the feasibility, practicality, effectiveness, and able to improve student learning outcomes in the subject of Pancasila and Citizenship Education material united in diversity in grade III SD. This research uses the Borg and Gall model which is limited to stage eight. Starting with data collection, planning, product design, expert validation of products, product revision, product trials, product usage trials and final product revision. The research subjects consisted of 1 material expert, 1 media expert, 1 class teacher, 9 students for small-scale trials, and 13 students for large-scale trials. Data collection techniques used interviews, validation sheets, response questionnaires, and tests. The material expert validation results reached 90% with the "very feasible" category, the media result validation value reached 85% with the "feasible" category, and the media practicality value reached 90% with the "very practical" category. The media was also declared effective which can be seen from the pretest and posttest results with an average difference of 19 and the T-test results. Thus, the development of Lectora Inspire interactive media is concluded to be very feasible, practical, and effective in improving student learning outcomes.

Effect of plastic-free diet, education and Bisphenol A exposure feedback on urine BPA in adolescent

Abstract Background BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical and is mostly taken orally. Adolescence is the critical sensitivity to these chemicals is maximum. This study was conducted to compare the effects of a plastic-free diet program, plastic-free diet education program and BPA exposure feedback on urine BPA levels in adolescents with high use of packaged products. Methods The first phase of the two-phase study is descriptive, the second phase is a single-centre, single-blind, three-arm non-randomized experimental design. The study was conducted at Antalya/Türkiye in the 2022-2023 academic year, and in the first stage, adolescents with high use of plastic packaged products and low attitudes towards healthy nutrition were identified. In the second stage, participants were assigned to the group-1 (n = 36), group-2 (n = 36) and group-3 (n = 36) by simple random sampling method. An eight-week plastic-free diet program was applied to the group 1, plastic-free diet education program and BPA exposure feedback was given to the group-2, and only BPA exposure feedback was given to the group-3. Plastic Packaged Product Usage Survey, Attitude Scale towards Healthy Nutrition, and spot urine samples were used to collect data. Results It was found that 2% of adolescents used low plastic packaging, 34% medium, 57% high, and 7% very high. Pre-posttest urine BPA levels ng/ml (µg/g creatinine) were 1.98 (2.54), 1.43 (1.51) in the intervention1 group, respectively; 1.91 (2.35), 1.43 (1.47) in the intervention2 group; It was found to be 1.97 (2.49) and 1.49 (1.66) in the intervention3 group. The effect sizes of pre-posttest BPA/creatinine values were calculated as 1.38, 1.13 and 1.09 in intervention1-2-3 groups, respectively. Conclusions All three interventions (plastic-free diet program, plastic-free diet education program and BPA exposure feedback) were effective in reducing urinary BPA levels, reducing plastic-packaged product use levels, and increasing attitudes towards healthy eating. Key messages • Since all three interventions are effective in reducing adolescents’ urinary BPA levels, it may be recommended to use the intervention appropriate to the field conditions. • In the post-tests, the use of plastic packaged products by adolescents in all three groups decreased and their attitudes towards healthy nutrition increased.

3-Factor prothrombin complex concentrate versus 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the reversal of oral factor Xa inhibitors.

Multiple agents exist for the reversal of oral Factor Xa inhibitor (FXa) associated bleeding, including Coagulation FXa Recombinant, Inactivated zhzo (andexanet alfa) and 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC). While classified as a 3F-PCC product, Profilnine contains up to 35IU of Factor VII (per 100IU of Factor IX) in addition to therapeutic levels of Factors II, IX, and X, and has demonstrated a similar impact on prothrombin time and blood product usage in non-warfarin related bleeding. This was a retrospective, multicenter study at four medical centers of adult patients who presented with major bleeding associated with oral FXa inhibitors and received either 4F-PCC (n = 64) or 3F-PCC (n = 61). The primary outcome was hemostatic effectiveness. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of thromboembolism, in-hospital mortality, and length of stay. The most common indication for reversal was intracranial bleeding. For the primary outcome, 84% of all patients were rated as effective with no difference noted between the groups (p = 0.81). No significant difference between groups was found in the multivariable analysis adjusting for baseline differences between groups including race, total body weight, type of bleeding, and the use of antiplatelet therapy. There was no difference in the length of stay, in-hospital mortality, or the incidence of thromboembolism between the groups. Overall, no significant differences were found in the effectiveness or safety of 4F-PCC and 3F-PCC use in the management of oral FXa inhibitor-associated bleeding. Further investigations are warranted to explore the use of 3F-PCC for this indication and its safety and effectiveness.

Hyperspectral Imaging Reveals Differential Carotenoid and Chlorophyll Temporal Dynamics and Spatial Patterns in Scots Pine Under Water Stress.

Drought-related die-off events have been observed throughout Europe in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Such events are exacerbated by carbon starvation that is, an imbalance of photosynthetic productivity and resource usage. Recent evidence suggests that optically measurable photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophylls and carotenoids respond to water stress (WS). However, there is a lack of measurements using imaging spectroscopy, and the mechanisms linking xanthophyll-related changes in reflectance captured by the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and chlorophyll changes in red edge position (REP) to WS are not understood. To probe this, we conducted a greenhouse experiment where 3-year-old Pinus sylvestris saplings were subjected to water limitation and followed using hyperspectral imaging (HSI) spectroscopy, water status and photosynthetic measurements. Carotenoids (e.g., xanthophyll cycle) and chlorophylls responded to WS, which was observed using the HSI-derived indices PRI and REP respectively. The spatial-temporal response in these two pigment-reflectance groupings differed. The spatial distribution of PRI represented the light intensity around the time of the measurement, whereas REP reflected the daily averaged light intensity over the experimental course. A further difference was noted upon rewatering, where the carotenoid-related PRI partially recovered but the chlorophyll-related REP did not.

From environment to free-range chickens: Broad exposure to short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in rural Tibetan Plateau, China

Chlorinated paraffins (CPs) are widely employed in various consumer products. Rapid socioeconomic development drives the elevation of CPs contamination by increasing the usage of modern lifestyle products, but limited information exists about their occurrence in remote rural areas. In this study, the occurrence, and profiles of short- and medium-chain CPs (SCCPs and MCCPs) in soils, plants, chicken feeds, eggs, and free-range chicken tissues in the rural Tibetan Plateau were investigated. The median concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs were 108 and 141 ng/g dry weight (dw) in soils, 1.76 × 103 and 1.16 × 103 ng/g dw in plants, 43.6 and 24.3 ng/g dw in chicken feeds, 299 and 251 ng/g lipid weight in free-range chicken eggs, and 182 −3.45 × 103 and 396 −7.75 × 103 ng/g lipid weight in chicken tissues, respectively. Correlation analysis demonstrated that soil was the primary source of CPs, and free-range chicken eggs were effective bioindicators for SCCPs and MCCPs contamination. Tissue distribution showed that SCCPs and MCCPs were highly accumulated in chicken tissues that local resident preferred to consume (such as muscle and stomach). Our findings lay the foundations for further evaluation of the potential risks of CPs on the ecosystem and human health in remote rural areas.