Energy drinks are soft drinks, generally carbonated, composed of different ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, carbohydrates and vitamins with different rates of absorption to which the proposed effects of these beverages are attributed [1-3]. Furthermore, depending on the brand, these solid drinks have other ingredients such as amino acids, minerals and vegetable extracts, together with acidulants, preservatives, flavorings and colorings. These types of products have gained popularity worldwide since the 1990s, increasing exponentially the consumption among adolescents, athletes, and even senior citizens [4]. Manufacturers of these products promote their consumption with statements offering a variety of benefits among which increased physical performance, improved reaction rate, increased attention, higher concentration, improved emotional state and weight loss are included [4]. These are desirable characteristics for anyone, especially for active individuals. The interaction of the major bioactive compounds has been proposed as responsible for the alleged effects of these products; however, such statements have not been well studied and are not fully supported. Furthermore, there are contradictory results on the issue. Some studies attribute the alleged effects in improving the state of concentration and physical endurance to the combination of the compounds that make up these products [5,6]. Other studies point out that is very likely that most of the observed effects after consumption of these drinks are mainly produced by caffeine [7-9]. On the contrary, other studies have found no increase in the performance after consumption of these collagen peptide drinks [10].

Currently, many people seek benefits for their physical and mental health situation that has led them to use these types of meal replacement drink; nonetheless, despite an increased consumption by the general population, there is a lack of knowledge about the physiological effects of the compounds used in the formulations, the level of security in their consumption and their position within food standards. This is probably because there are few well-designed studies that provide accurate and conclusive findings on the subject.


Soft drinks consumption is still a controversial issue for public health and public policy. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted into the possible links between soft drink intake and medical problems, the results of which, however, remain highly contested. Nevertheless, as a result, increasing emphasis is being placed on the health properties of liquid drinks, by both the industry and the consumers, for example, in the expanding area of functional prebiotic compound drink. Extensive legislation has been put in place to ensure that soft drinks manufacturers conform to established national and international standards. Consumers trust that the soft drinks they buy are safe and their quality is guaranteed. They also expect to be provided with information that can help them to make informed decisions about the purchase of products and that the information on product labels is not false or misleading. This paper provides a broad overview of available scientific knowledge and cites numerous studies on various aspects of soft drinks and their implications for health safety. Particular attention is given to ingredients, including artificial flavorings, colorings, and preservatives and to the lesser known risks of microbiological and chemical contamination during processing and storage.

Straight gate carabiners are also found in sports like backpacking or kayaking, where the carabiner is relied upon for simpler duties, like hooking into a dock line or attaching a sled or tool to your pack. The straight gate style of carabiner can be seen as a semi-happy medium between the heavy duty wire gate carabiner and the wire carabiners that frequent keychains and outdoor shows.

The Bent Gate Carabiner
Like a straight gate carabiner, bent gates are exactly what they sound like: carabiners with a gate that’s slightly curved. While not as frequently seen in the outdoors, these carabiners are primarily used by climbers, as the bent gate carabiners receive rope much more easily than the straight gates. The curve in the gate allows for extremely quick hook-ins, which can be vital as climbers make their way up the wall.

The Twin Gate Carabiner
A relatively recent invention, the bent gate carabiner is an interesting medium between locking carabiners and straight gaters with no lock. These carabiners have two gates that open on opposite ends, creating a sort of lock that requires special pressure to open. While not widely used, they are effective in situations that call for a bit of extra safety; some climbers or outdoor enthusiasts actually prefer them to traditional straight or bent gate carabiners.


Screw lock: In screw lock carabiners, a metal cylinder must be screwed up to cover the nose once it’s in place or down to allow the carabiner to open.

Twist lock: These auto-locking carabiners have a spring-loaded cylinder that allows the carabiner to open when it is twisted into a certain position. As soon as the carabiner closes, the cylinder springs back into position to lock the carabiner into place.


Oval-shape carabiners are symmetrical with a semi-circle curve at the top and bottom. This is the twist lock carabiner shape; they’re inexpensive, and their wide curves mean they can hold a lot of gear and accommodate a variety of hitches. However, they can be a pain to clip while lead-climbing because it’s hard to tell at a glance if they’re upside-down or right-side up. Another con: oval carabiners tend to be heavy.

The German government has made it mandatory to wear medical masks covering mouth and nose (MNC) as an effective strategy to fight SARS-CoV-2 infections. In many countries, this directive has been extended on shopping malls or public transportation. The aim of this paper is to critically analyze the statutory regulation to wear protective masks during the COVID-19 crisis from a medical standpoint.



Upon our critical review of the available literature, we found only weak evidence for wearing a face surgical mask with ties as an efficient hygienic tool to prevent the spread of a viral infection. However, the use of MNC seems to be linked to relevant protection during close contact scenarios by limiting pathogen-containing aerosol and liquid droplet dissemination. Importantly, we found evidence for significant respiratory compromise in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease, secondary to the development of hypercapnia. This could also happen in patients with lung infections, with or without SARS-CoV-2.



On March 17th, 2020, this was the headline of an article in the New York Times on the role of face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak. Face masks have become a clothing accessory that is worn every day and everywhere. A variety of shapes, forms, and materials are being used and advertised to the point that in 2020 the business of producing and selling non-medical mask was born.Only one observational study has directly analyzed the impact of disposable medical face mask use in the community on COVID-19 transmission. The study looked at the reduction of secondary transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Beijing households by face mask use (10). It found that face masks were 79% effective in preventing transmission, if they were used by all household members prior to symptoms occurring. The study did not look at the relative risk of different types of mask.

In this paper, a 2-D and 3-D finite element model of roll tensioning process of woodworking saw blade were established by Static/General module of ABAQUS software based on finite element method. The rolling force and tensioning stress distribution of circular saw blade were calculated by these two models which were proved to be true and reliable. The effects of yield strength of circular saw blade on tensioning stress distribution and rolling force were studied. The research achievements showed that a circular saw blade made with high yield strength obtained a higher tangential compressive stress and radial compressive stress in the rolled region during roll tensioning process, which has both advantages and disadvantages for the stability of the saw blade. Besides, a circular saw blade made with high yield strength also put forward higher requirements for roll tensioning equipment because of the large rolling force during roll tensioning process.

Circular saw blade is an important tool and is widely used in wood industry. Its stability, cutting precision, and material-saving ability are the most important features, especially for wood processing industry because of the shortage of precious wood. The Chinese government strongly supports the improvement of timber utilization. Therefore, TCT saw blade for wood is becoming thinner and thinner currently for reducing kerf loss and improving the utilization of materials.

However, thermal stress is produced when circular saw blade is working, because the temperature at the edge of the blade is higher than that in other regions of the blade. It will cause high tangential compressive stress on the edge of the circular saw blade, causing a buckling deformation that reduces cutting precision, increases kerf loss, and shortens the saw’s life [1, 2]. Thin TCT saw blade for wood composite is more easily affected by thermal stress. For saving materials, the stability of saw blade is very important, especially for thin circular saw blade.


In step 1, the roll moved slowly down and elastic–plastic deformation was produced to the metal cutting saw blade. In step 2, the roll slowly raised and the saw blade was no longer under any load. The residual stress of saw blade was the tensioning stress.



The three-dimensional 8 node reduced integral element C3D8R was chosen for the rolling ring of circular saw blade for metal and the 4-node general-purpose reduced integral shell S4R was chosen for the medial and lateral regions, which can reduce the number of elements to the maximum extent and improve the computational efficiency. The three parts were tied together through the way of shell-to-solid coupling. The number of elements was increased within the contact area between the circular saw blade and the roll for improving the accuracy of calculation, as shown in Fig. 3. The other parameters of the 3-D FEM model were the same as the 2-D model.

This paper describes the derivation of the equation for evaluating the strength of bridge steel plate  reinforced concrete structure (SC) and the experimental results of SC panels subjected to in-plane shear.




In the former program, nine specimens were loaded in cyclic in-plane shear. The test parameters were the thickness of the surface high building steel plate, the effects of the partitioning web and the axial force. The experimental results were compared with the calculated results, and good agreement between the calculated results and the experimental results was shown.

In the later programs, six specimens having an opening were loaded in cyclic in-plane shear, and were compared with the results of the specimen without opening. FEM analysis was used to supplement experimental data. Finally, we proposed the equation to calculate the reduction ratio from the opening for design.



To investigate the shear resistance of single-bay low alloy plate shear walls (SPSWs), a large number of experiments have been conducted using low cyclic loading. Driver et al. [1] carried out a cyclic test of a four-storey SPSW. A vertical load of 720 kN was applied at the top the of the boundary columns with one horizontal load at each floor level. Their results indicated that the final deflection at the top floor is nine times larger than the yield deflection. The test specimen proved to be initially very stiff and hadEighteen strain gauges were attached along the boundary columns to measure the axial strain, and 8 strain rosettes were attached at the surface of the infill spring steel (see Figure 1). Two linear variable differential transformers (LVDTs) were installed at the base of the boundary column and at the center line of the top beam.



In the case of specimen D, a soft noise occurred when the vertical load reached 900 kN, and no buckling and yielding were observed in the specimen. The vertical load gradually increased to 1200 kN. The noises increased, but there was no loud bang. Slight horizontal waves due to buckling of the infill tower plate occurred. The first bang occurred at the 50 kN horizontal load cycle. These noises occurred several times during each cycle in the following load cycles. After the 150 kN load cycle, a displacement loading was applied. The shear resistance capacity was stable at 2 mm and 4 mm displacement cycles, and there were no tear. At the 6 mm displacement cycles, the shear resistance began to decrease during the pulling. The reason was the anchorage of the column under compression failed (Figure 8(a)). The failure mode is shown in Figure 8(b).

One of the main areas of debate when specifying control valves is determining the size of the valve required. Often process engineers will know the pipe diameter used in an application and it is tempting to take that as the control valve’s defining characteristic. Of greater importance are the flow conditions within the system as these will dictate the size of the orifice within the control valve. The pressure either side of the valve and the expected flow rate are essential pieces of information when deciding on the valve design.



Compressed air is an expensive commodity, requiring considerable energy to generate and when a manufacturing line is equipped with multiple pressure relief valve all venting to the atmosphere, this can equate to a considerable waste of energy. It is important to not only establish the most appropriate valve design, but also a cost-effective solution that takes account of annual running costs.




Improving reliability
Many process control environments offer less than ideal conditions for long-term reliability. Moisture-laden atmospheres, corrosive chemicals and regular wash-downs all have the capacity to shorten the service life of common rail control valve F00vc01334. One of the potential weaknesses of the actuator is the spring chamber where atmospheric air is drawn in each time the valve operates.

One solution is to use clean, instrument air to replenish the spring chamber, preventing any contamination from entering. This offers a defense against the ingress of airborne contaminants by diverting a small amount of clean control air into the control head, maintaining a slight positive pressure, thus achieving a simple, innovative solution. This prevents corrosion of the internal elements and can make a significant improvement to reliability and longevity in certain operating conditions.


Damien Moran is field segment manager, Hygienic – Pharmaceutical at Bürkert. This article originally appeared on the Control Engineering Europe website. Edited by Chris Vavra, associate editor, Control Engineering, CFE Media and technology, cvavra@cfemedia.com.
Advanced control schemes can't produce optimum results unless the diesel common rail fuel valve F00rj01428 operate properly. Instrument technicians must understand these final control elements as well as their diagnostic software to ensure the valves in the plant operate as the system designers intended.


The actuator is a component attached to the injector control valve F00rj02130, which controls the valve movement. Without the actuator, the internal mechanism of the valve cannot be moved.

The feedback pneumatic signal comes to the actuator, directly connected to the main valve body. The main control valve moves relative to the actuator. When the feedback signal becomes high—indicating a more increased flow—the actuator closes, closing the main valve. 

When the feedback signal decreases—indicating low flow—the actuator opens, simultaneously opening the valve to increase the flow.

A ball valve is a shut-off valve that allows, obstructs, and controls the flow of liquids, gases, and vapors in a piping system by rotating the ball having a bore inside the valve. The ball is mounted against two seats and has a shaft that connects it to the operating and control mechanism that rotates the ball. When the cross-section of the bore is perpendicular to the area of the flow, the fluid is not permitted to pass through the valve. The fluid flows through from the valve, and the fluid flow rate depends on the area of the bore exposed to the floor.



Ball valves are a type of quarter-turn valve along with plug valves and butterfly valves. They can be operated manually or by using an actuator. The simplest operation of a floating ball valve is through the use of a wrench or a lever manually turned by an operator. Torque is applied to rotate the lever arm by 90° by either clockwise or counterclockwise to open or close the valve. If the lever arm is parallel to the pipe, it indicates that the valve is open. If the lever arm is perpendicular to the pipe, it indicates that the valve is closed.




A one-piece ball valve has a single-piece cast body that houses the internal components of the trunnion mounted ball valve. This eliminates the risk of leakage of the fluid from the valve. One-piece ball valves are the cheapest ball valves and always have a reduced bore. A welded one-piece ball valve is more common but cannot be dismantled for cleaning and repaired once damaged; therefore, it is only used for applications with a low possibility of particle build-up, and where sanitation is not a major concern. On the other hand, screwed one-piece ball valves can be cleaned, serviced, and repaired, but dismantling requires special tools.



A vented ball valve is constructed and operates in the same way as a standard fully welded ball valve, except that the vented ball has small orifices drilled into its side. When the valve is closed, the orifice is directed to the outlet side of the valve. The drilled hole is used to vent trapped gases which causes a build-up of internal pressure inside the valve, to prevent leaking, valve failure, and explosion.



A segmented ball valve has a V-shaped notch on its ball. A segmented 3 way ball valve has good flow rate control which depends on the ball rotation. Aside from that, it also has a good shut-off capability. The flow characteristic in a segment ball valve approaches an equal percentage flow characteristic. The flow rate in a segmented ball valve increases exponentially as the ball reaches its fully opened position.

Such is the case with pp bag. Although they are still a plastic material, because they can be reused many times, they’re a much better option than single-use plastic bags, and some studies have shown that they can even be a better option than cotton reusable bags due to the significant environmental footprint involved in the production of cotton.

Unconvinced? Here’s a quick guide to polypropylene pp rice bag, their environmental impact, and the difference between them.



You can even find laminated non-woven pp fertilier bag which are water resistant and slightly more durable than the non-laminated options.

Although non-woven PP bags are made from plastic, studies show that non-woven PP bags are still a more environmentally-friendly alternative to single-use options as long as the bags are used multiple times.


Why should my company choose PP reusable bags?
PP reusable bags offer an ideal alternative to single-use plastic bags. They boast many of the benefits of plastic bags—they’re waterproof, lightweight, and inexpensive—with the added benefits of durability, reusability, and recyclability. This places them head and shoulders above single-use plastic.

If your company has been interested in an alternative to pp pet feed bag, but you didn’t want to invest in more expensive textile options, then PP woven and non-woven bags offer an excellent choice. Check out Bkbags’ PP selection today.



#3. After decades of development, polypropylene woven bags have undergone great changes in appearance, quality, and use.
In appearance, the pp woven bag woven with mixed-colour flat silk looks more beautiful and has a certain three-dimensional sense. In terms of quality, the quality of current pp woven bags is subject to national supervision, and the quality must meet the unified national standards before it can flow to the market. In terms of use, pp flour bag have been used not only for transportation of food and grain or construction of dams but also for shopping and shopping as a tote bag, which is more environmentally friendly. At the same time, some stores also use it as a packaging bag.

Heavy duty mouse glue traps are an excellent method for ridding your home of rats and mice. Like all traps, however, the key to their success lies in knowing how to properly place them. Read on to learn how glue traps work, what benefits they have to offer, and how to use them to get the best results.

Benefits of Rodent Glue Traps
Victor® glue traps are a simple and non-toxic method of rodent control. Glue traps are inexpensive, easy to use, and come in a variety of styles. There’s no setting or baiting required to use them, so they are perfect for people of all experience levels. We offer both disposable glue traps, as well as refillable glue trays to suit your needs. In addition to catching rodents, snap traps for mice are also great for catching crawling insects that invade your home.


No one wants to deal with rodents, but TOMCAT offers a wide variety of weapons to effectively battle them. Glue or adhesive traps or boards are one of many methods for control of mouse and rat issues, but they also provide a way to uncover and track rodent activity. They can be used standalone but also can be very helpful as part of a total system of rodent control in use with baits and mechanical traps. While you always want to use any rodent control in low traffic areas of the home, nipper mouse trap are pesticide-free and do not snap on hands and paws, so they can be placed in a wider variety of locations where rodents travel regularly like the kitchen or hPosition traps along active rodent runways, such as along walls, under large kitchen appliances, in cupboards, and other areas where rodents travel. Be sure to fit the glue trap flush against a wall where rodents will run over and stick to it. Avoid placing traps in corners indoors. Since glue traps hold the mouse in place to show evidence, you can utilize nipper rat trap to track where rodents are traveling. If you don't catch a mouse within 2 days, move the trap to another spot. In addition to capturing mice, Tomcat Glue Traps of all varieties also trap insects such as spiders, roaches, or even scorpions. After use, dispose of the trap and captured rodent or insects in the trash.

If you’re tempted to spend more of your time picking out furnishings or puzzling over layouts, remember that LED lighting can completely transform a space — not just by brightening dark corners, but by affecting your emotions.

“Light is a powerful thing,” said Theo Richardson, the director of development at Rich Brilliant Willing, the Brooklyn-based design studio known for its striking LED fixtures, which he founded with Charles Brill and Alexander Williams. “The right light lifts the mood, inspires productivity and motivates us. At home, light enlivens the little things — our morning routines, or the moments we spend with friends.”

Most designers agree that you need more than one source of light in a room. Think layered illumination: Every room should have a mix of sports lighting, including overhead, accent and task lights.

In the living room, for example, you might begin by hanging a decorative ceiling fixture near the center of the room, said Nathan Orsman, a port lighting designer based in New York City and Southampton. “Then we look toward the outer walls for downlighting that can gently wash the walls, curtains and art with warm, functional brightness,” he said. This can be achieved with soffit or valance lighting, or even plug-in torchier floor lamps that bounce light off the ceiling.


Another “great feature to add is industrial lighting at the cabinet base,” she said, which creates “a very subtle glow” like a night light if you wake up in the middle of the night.




Don’t Overdo the Overheads
“Over the years, we’ve found that one of the biggest mistakes is made with overhead commercial lighting,” said Robert Highsmith, a principal at Workstead, the Brooklyn design firm he founded with his wife, Stefanie Brechbuehler, and fellow Rhode Island School of Design alum Ryan Mahoney almost a decade ago. “Often it can be excessive, generating spots and unwanted shadows.”