A consumer behavioural approach to food waste

Purpose Food waste occurs in every stage of the supply chain, but the value-added lost to waste is the highest when consumers waste food. The purpose of this paper is to understand the food waste behaviour of consumers to support policies for minimising food waste. Design/methodology/approach Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a theoretical lens, the authors design a questionnaire that incorporates contextual factors to explain food waste behaviour. The authors test two models: base (four constructs of TPB) and extended (four constructs of TPB plus six contextual factors). The authors build partial least squares structural equation models to test the hypotheses. Findings The data confirm significant relationships between food waste and contextual factors such as motives, financial attitudes, planning routines, food surplus, social relationships and Ramadan. Research limitations/implications The data comes from an agriculturally resource-constrained country: Qatar. Practical implications Food waste originating from various causes means more food should flow through the supply chains to reach consumers’ homes. Contextual factors identified in this work increase the explanatory power of the base model by 75 per cent. Social implications Changing eating habits during certain periods of the year and food surplus have a strong impact on food waste behaviour. Originality/value A country is considered to be food secure if it can provide its citizens with stable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. The findings and conclusions inform and impact upon the development of food waste and food security policies

Managing food security through food waste and loss: Small data to big data

This paper provides a management perspective of organisational factors that contributes to the reduction of food waste through the application of design science principles to explore causal relationships between food distribution (organisational) and consumption (societal) factors. Qualitative data were collected with an organisational perspective from commercial food consumers along with large-scale food importers, distributors, and retailers. Cause-effect models are built and “what-if” simulations are conducted through the development and application of a Fuzzy Cognitive Map (FCM) approaches to elucidate dynamic interrelationships. The simulation models developed provide a practical insight into existing and emergent food losses scenarios, suggesting the need for big data sets to allow for generalizable findings to be extrapolated from a more detailed quantitative exercise. This research offers itself as evidence to support policy makers in the development of policies that facilitate interventions to reduce food losses. It also contributes to the literature through sustaining, impacting and potentially improving levels of food security, underpinned by empirically constructed policy models that identify potential behavioural changes. It is the extension of these simulation models set against a backdrop of a proposed big data framework for food security, where this study sets avenues for future research for others to design and construct big data research in food supply chains. This research has therefore sought to provide policymakers with a means to evaluate new and existing policies, whilst also offering a practical basis through which food chains can be made more resilient through the consideration of management practices and policy decisions

Gonioscopy-assisted transluminal trabeculotomy for congenital glaucoma secondary to Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome: A case report

Purpose: To describe the case of a 9-year-old boy with congenital glaucoma secondary to Klippel – Trenaunay - Weber Syndrome (KTW) with a history of trabeculotomy in both eyes (BE) and further trabeculectomy in the left eye (LE) presented with high intraocular pressure (IOP) and progression in the LE despite maximum tolerated medical therapy. Observations: GATT surgery was performed firstly in the LE, followed by the right eye (RE) two months apart since the IOP in the RE started to increase later on. First post-operative day the IOP was under 15 mmHg. In the last visit, 6 months after the first surgery, IOPs were 10 and 11 mmHg RE and LE, on one fixed combination; slit lamp examinations were normal with wide open angles and a good view of the Schlemm's Canal (SC) posterior wall. Conclusions and Importance: GATT surgery can be done after failed incisional surgery in children with glaucoma secondary to KTW syndrome

Hemostatic Effects Of Adrenaline And Ankaferd (Blood Stopper) During Orthodontic Attachment Bonding

Background/aim: Moisture prevention during the bonding of orthodontic attachments on impacted teeth is crucial for accomplishment. It was aimed to compare the hemostatic effects of adrenaline and Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) during the surgical exposure of the impacted maxillary canine. Materials and methods: The study consists of 20 patients, whose orthodontic treatments were outlined with the surgical exposure of maxillary impacted canine. Patients were divided into groups of 10; where each group was treated with one of the two medicines to control bleeding. Group A was treated with adrenaline, and group B was treated with Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS). The bleeding period was recorded as the time from the exposure of the crown until the inception of bonding. Results: It was observed that both the bleeding period and the cumulative duration were significantly shorter in group B (the ABS group) than in group A (the adrenaline group) (P < 0.05), but no significant deviation in bonding times was recorded. Conclusion: ABS is a good alternative hemostatic agent for the prevention of bleeding at the surgical exposure of impacted teeth without affecting the bonding.WoSScopu

The Effect of Systemic Erythropoietin Treatment on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Parameters in Patients With Chronic Renal Failure Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis

Purpose:To evaluate the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) treatment on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) parameters in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).Methods:Fifty-eight eyes of 29 patients with CRF undergoing PD were evaluated. Fifteen patients have been treated with EPO (group 1), 14 patients without EPO treatment (group 2), and 30 eyes of 15 age-matched normal control subjects were assessed in group 3. A complete ophthalmologic examination and RNFL measurements were performed for each patient after PD. Anemia parameters were also measured. RNFL thickness protocol was used to acquire circular scans of 3.4 mm in diameter around optic nerve. RNFL thicknesses were evaluated in 4 quadrants. Only the left eyes were recruited for statistical analysis. The mean and quadrantal RNFL thickness values in group 1 were compared with those of groups 2 and 3.Results:The mean RNFL thickness values in patients undergoing PD were statistically lower than the control group at superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrant, respectively (P=0.03, 0.04, 0.04, and 0.03). Differences between the RNFL thickness values in group 1 and group 2 were statistically significant only in the temporal quadrant (P=0.02).Conclusions:In patients with CRF undergoing PD, RNFL thickness parameters were found to be significantly reduced. The effect of EPO on RNFL parameters was statistically significant only in the temporal quadrant

Trabeculectomy with large area mitomycin-C application as a first-line treatment in advanced glaucoma:retrospective review

<b>AIM:</b>To evaluate the outcomes of trabeculectomy with large area mitomycin-C (MMC) application as a first line treatment in advanced glaucoma.<b>METHODS:</b>The records of 55 patients with severe visual field defects undergoing trabeculectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were classified as first-line therapy to either early trabeculectomy (initial trabeculectomy-Group 1) or long term medical therapy followed by trabeculectomy (primary trabeculectomy-Group 2). Trabeculectomy was performed with large-area MMC application. Intraocular pressure (IOP) values, visual acuities, mean deviations, morphology and function of the blebs, necessity for anti-glaucomatous medications and surgical complications were reported.<b>RESULTS:</b>There were 20 eyes of 18 patients in Group 1 and 37 eyes of 37 patients in Group 2<b>.</b> The mean preoperative IOPs in Groups 1 and 2 were 40.2±10.0mmHg (27-68mmHg) and 29.0±4.4mmHg (21-41mmHg), respectively (<i>P</i>=0.001). Average preoperative mean deviations (MD) in Groups 1 and 2 were 17.4±2.8dB (13.3-23dB) and 17.9±2.4 dB (13.7-23.2dB), respectively (<i>P</i>=0.441). Postoperative IOPs significantly decreased and were comparable in both Groups. The mean number of medications was significantly higher in Group 2 (<i>P</i>=0.005)<i><b>.</b></i> No cystic bleb formation was observed in Group 1, whereas 4 patients from Group 2 (10.8 %) developed cystic bleb (<i>P</i>=0.040). No visually devastating complication has occurred in both Groups.<b>CONCLUSION:</b>Initial trabeculectomy with large area MMC application might be applied in patients with advanced glaucoma with low complication rates. Long-term topically applied anti-glaucomatous medications seem to increase the risk of cystic bleb formation

In vivo confocal microscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography follow-up of cysteamine treatment in corneal cystinosis

A 36-year-old female presented initially with photophobia and visual deterioration. After examination and laboratory tests, patient was diagnosed with cystinosis. Cysteamine drops 4 × 1 drops/day was given as treatment for 1 year. During follow-up, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) was performed. Photophobia was relieved and IVCM obtained the decrease in size and density of corneal crystals 1 year after. Depth of corneal crystals did not change but crystal density score reduced with cysteamine treatment

Effects of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on some physiological and biochemical parameters in rabbits

The effects of propofol and sevoflurane anesthesia on heart rate and respiratory rate, body temperature, plasma Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, creatinine, urea, ALT, APT, ALP, GGT, LDH in rabbits have been assessed. This study was carried out on 12 New Zealand White rabbits. Anesthesia induction was performed using propofol, which was slowly administered via IV injection at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Sevoflurane inhalation was administered at an initial concentration of 5%, followed by 2% for anesthesia maintenance. While causing a decrease in heart rate and respiratory frequency, propofol application but did not affect body temperature and hematocrite value. Sevoflurane did not alter heart rate, although it caused respiratory depression and a decrease in body temperature. Propofol-sevoflurane anesthetic combination caused some alterations in ALT and GGT liver enzymes and plasma phosphorus levels. In the light of the findings, the animals had a reliable and controlled anesthesia with the propofol-sevoflurane combination. However, it should be taken into consideration that this combination may impair the electrolyte balance and cause respiratory depression. Thus it has been concluded that a diligent monitorization and an electrolyte support is essential during the period of anesthesia

The expression of CD44, CD90 and CD133 in response to cisplatin in hepatocellular cancer cells

Introduction. Cancer is a leading cause of mortality. Hepatocellular cancer is one of the malignancies associated with poor outcome and resistance to pharmacotherapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) contribute to resistance to therapy and hence lead to the treatment failure of tumors. Aim. This study aims to explore the expression of CSCs in response to cisplatin treatment in HepG2 hepatocellular cancer cell line. Material and methods. Cell proliferation test, CCK-8, was used to evaluate the cell proliferation following cisplatin treatment for 72 hours. The expressions of CSC markers CD44, CD90, and CD133 were assessed by flow cytometric analysis. Results. The results showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and increased expression of CSC markers CD44 and CD90 in response to cisplatin. Conclusion. Understanding the roles of CSC markers may point to new targets and therapeutic strategies to predict and overcome cisplatin resistance