Search Results (120)

The quality of water in households can be affected by plumbing design and materials, water usage patterns, and source water quality characteristics. These factors influence stagnation duration, disinfection residuals, metal release, and microbial activity. In particular, stagnation can degrade water quality and increase lead release from lead service lines. This study employs numerical modeling to assess how combined corrosion control and flushing strategies affect lead levels in household taps with lead service lines under reduced water use. To estimate potential health risks, the U.S. EPA model is used to predict the percentage of children likely to exceed safe blood lead levels. Lead exceedances are assessed based on various regulatory requirements. Results show that exceedances at the kitchen tap range from 3 to 74% of usage time for the 5 µg/L standard, and from 0 to 49% for the 10 µg/L threshold, across different scenarios. Implementing corrosion control treatment in combination with periodic flushing proves effective in lowering lead levels under the studied low-consumption scenarios. Under these conditions, the combined strategy limits lead exceedances above 5 µg/L to only 3% of usage time, with none above 10 µg/L. This demonstrates its value as a practical short-term strategy for households awaiting full pipe replacement. Targeted flushing before peak water use reduces the median time that water remains stagnant in household pipes from 8 to 3 h at the kitchen tap under low-demand conditions. Finally, the risk model indicates that the combined approach can reduce the predicted percentage of children with blood lead levels exceeding 5 μg/dL from 61 to 6% under low water demand. Full article

There is still a need to develop scenarios and models aimed at substituting fuelwood and reducing the use of fossil fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), on which low-income rural households in the Global South often depend. The use of these fuels for cooking and heating in domestic and productive activities poses significant health and environmental risks. This study validated, in three different phases, the sustainability of a model for the production and use of biogas from the treatment of swine-rearing wastewater (WWs) on a community farm: (i) A Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA), incorporating environmental, social/health, technical, and economic criteria, identified the main weighted criterion to C8 (use of small-scale technologies and low-cost access), with a score of 0.44 points, as well as the Tubular biodigester (Tb) as the most suitable option for the study area, scoring 8.1 points. (ii) Monitoring of the Tb over 90 days showed an average biogas production of 2.6 m³ d⁻¹, with average correlation 0.21 m³ Biogas kg Biomass⁻¹. Using the experimental biogas production rate (k = 0.0512 d⁻¹), the process was simulated with the BgMod model, achieving an average deviation of only 10.4% during the final production phase. (iii) The quantification of benefits demonstrated significant reductions in firewood use: in Scenario S1 (kitchen energy needs), biogas replaced 83.1% of firewood, while in Scenario S2 (citronella essential oil production), the substitution rate was 24.1%. In both cases, the avoided emissions amounted to 0.52 tons of CO_2eq per month. Finally, this study proposes a synthesised, community-based rural biogas framework designed for replication in regions with similar socio-environmental, technical, and economic conditions. Full article

This research explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to optimize packaging design, reduce operational costs, and enhance sustainability in e-commerce. As packaging waste and shipping inefficiencies grow alongside global online retail demand, traditional methods for determining box size, material use, and logistics planning have become economically and environmentally inadequate. Using a three-phase framework, this study integrates data-driven diagnostics, AI modeling, and real-world validation. In the first phase, a systematic analysis of current packaging inefficiencies was conducted through secondary data, benchmarking, and cost modeling. Findings revealed significant waste caused by over-packaging, suboptimal box-sizing, and poor alignment between product characteristics and logistics strategy. In the second phase, a random forest (RF) machine learning model was developed to predict optimal packaging configurations using key product features: weight, volume, and fragility. This model was supported by AI simulation tools that enabled virtual testing of material performance, space efficiency, and damage risk. Results demonstrated measurable improvements in packaging optimization, cost reduction, and emission mitigation. The third phase validated the AI framework using practical case studies—ranging from a college textbook to a fragile kitchen dish set and a high-volume children’s bicycle. The model successfully recommended right-sized packaging for each product, resulting in reduced material usage, improved shipping density, and enhanced protection. Simulated cost-saving scenarios further confirmed that smart packaging and AI-generated configurations can drive efficiency. The research concludes that AI-based packaging systems offer substantial strategic value, including cost savings, environmental benefits, and alignment with regulatory and consumer expectations—providing scalable, data-driven solutions for e-commerce enterprises such as Amazon and others. Full article

Asymmetric double-suction centrifugal fans are commonly employed in home kitchens to remove cooking pollutants, and their performance is critical to maintaining a healthy indoor environment. However, inlet condition variations significantly influence the aerodynamic efficiency and noise levels. This study utilizes a combination of performance testing and a large eddy simulation to analyze the impact of different inlet conditions on the performance curve, impeller outlet pressure pulsation, unsteady flow structures, and sound quality of an asymmetric double-suction centrifugal fan. A non-uniform air distribution at the inlet is proposed to enhance the fan’s aerodynamic and noise characteristics. The findings reveal that when the inlet area is reduced to less than 70% of its fully open state, the aerodynamic performance declines with decreasing intake area. The amplitude of the superimposed blade-passing frequency is minimized when only the left inlet is open; the pressure coefficient’s fluctuation amplitude in the time domain reaches 0.4, with sharpness peaking at 3.1. In the optimized design, the maximum deviation in total pressure efficiency is limited to 1.96%, with loudness reduced by four sones and improved sharpness and roughness. These results provide valuable insights into the design and noise reduction of asymmetric double-suction squirrel-cage fans. Full article

With the extensive use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the catering industry, leakage explosions have become frequent. This study employs numerical simulations to investigate the diffusion patterns of LPG leakage under various ventilation conditions. The results show that there is a logarithmic relationship between the wind speed and the volume of a propane gas cloud under natural ventilation. In the wind speed ranges of 1.5 to 3.3 m/s and 7.9 to 10.7 m/s, a small increase in wind speed leads to a significant reduction in gas cloud volume (97.2% and 95.05%, respectively). Under forced ventilation, the volume of the gas cloud decreases by 90.6%, from 6.67 m³ at higher air exchange rates (22.1 and 24.3 times/h), reducing explosion risks. When leakage occurs at the stove, the optimal combination for dispersing the propane combustible gas cloud is window opening at position 1 and fan at position a. The volume of the gas cloud at window position 1 increases exponentially with the distance between the fan and the leak source. The fan is installed within 2.786 m from the leak source to ensure that the gas cloud volume remains below 0.5 m³. These findings provide valuable insights for the design and the optimization of ventilation systems and layouts in commercial kitchens. Full article

Background: Food allergies represent a growing public health concern, with accidental exposures in dining establishments posing significant risks. Although various guidelines and interventions have been proposed, practical implementation remains challenging. Objectives: This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on major hazards in allergen management within dining settings and to evaluate emerging solutions designed to protect allergic consumers. Methods: A comprehensive literature search of peer-reviewed articles, surveillance reports, guidelines, and policy documents published in April 2025 was undertaken in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies were selected based on relevance to allergen management in dining establishments. An inductive thematic synthesis was performed, and a basic quality appraisal was conducted to prioritize stronger evidence. Results: Three major hazard themes—hidden allergens, cross-contamination during food preparation, and poor communication between staff and allergic consumers—were identified from the reviewed literature. Emerging interventions included enhanced staff training, improved allergen labeling practices, and the application of digital technologies such as smartphone apps and rapid allergen detection devices. However, inconsistencies in implementation and a lack of systematic validation limit the effectiveness of these approaches. Conclusions: Mitigating food allergy risk in dining establishments requires an integrated approach that combines strict kitchen controls with continuous staff education, transparent labeling, clear communication, and supportive policies. While promising interventions exist, more research is required to validate their effectiveness and to encourage standardized, widespread implementation to ensure the safety of individuals with food allergies. Full article

This study aims to implement the concept of education for sustainable development by 2030, which can be applied in the context of hospitality education in the Asia–Pacific region. Specifically, this study focuses on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12, which pertains to responsible consumption and production, particularly in relation to food. A case study was conducted using a learner-centered approach, wherein students, as active agents, can solve problems using professional skills such as cooking, baking, and beverage preparation. Through participant observations, students learn about sustainability, starting from natural farming and extending to banquet planning and entrepreneurship simulation in a green restaurant. The program was designed as a farm-to-table process for sustainability learning. A conceptual framework of a hospitality–health supply chain was constructed to understand how the program supports the goal of education for sustainable development for 2030—societal transformation. The study has several important implications. Students are trained to be responsible producers in a green dining setting, starting from practical classroom experiences in the kitchen of a green restaurant, which will enhance their becoming the critical human resources in the hospitality industry. This program offers a successful vocational education opportunity, teaching students how to responsibly run an enterprise with low-carbon products and services. Full article

Large-scale Visual-Language Models have demonstrated powerful adaptability in video recognition tasks. However, existing methods typically rely on fine-tuning or text prompt tuning. In this paper, we propose a visual-only prompting method that employs watermark and trademark prompts to bridge the distribution gap of spatial-temporal video data with Visual-Language Models. Our watermark prompts, designed by a trainable prompt generator, are customized for each video clip. Unlike conventional visual prompts that often exhibit noise signals, watermark prompts are intentionally designed to be imperceptible, ensuring they are not misinterpreted as an adversarial attack. The trademark prompts, bespoke for each video domain, establish the identity of specific video types. Integrating watermark prompts into video frames and prepending trademark prompts to per-frame embeddings significantly boosts the capability of the Visual-Language Model to understand video. Notably, our approach improves the adaptability of the CLIP model to various video action recognition datasets, achieving performance gains of 16.8%, 18.4%, and 13.8% on HMDB-51, UCF-101, and the egocentric dataset EPIC-Kitchen-100, respectively. Additionally, our visual-only prompting method demonstrates competitive performance compared with existing fine-tuning and adaptation methods while requiring fewer learnable parameters. Moreover, through extensive ablation studies, we find the optimal balance between imperceptibility and adaptability. Code will be made available. Full article

The increasing demand for childcare facilities in Dubai, UAE, which is driven by urban expansion and workforce growth, calls for a focus on establishing standardized environmental and safety benchmarks. This study evaluated 28 daycare centers categorized by size (large, medium, and small), focusing on indoor environmental quality (IEQ), cleanliness, safety, and space utilization. Findings revealed that while air pollutants like carbon monoxide (0.57 ppm) and formaldehyde (45.8 µg/m³) remained within acceptable limits, carbon dioxide levels (averaging 1048.2 ppm, particularly in large centers) exceeded regulatory standards due to high occupancy rates and inadequate ventilation. Large facilities demonstrated better compliance with kitchen safety (8.8/10) and lighting efficiency, while small centers scored higher in restroom cleanliness (20.8/24, evaluated using eight criteria on a structured 3-point scale). However, spatial accessibility remained a critical challenge across all facility sizes, particularly regarding accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, excessive lighting levels (717.2 lux) and high indoor temperatures (27–28 °C) further highlighted the need for tailored guidelines. The study emphasizes improving ventilation systems, promoting universal design principles, and targeted investments to address these disparities. By aligning regulatory frameworks with actionable recommendations, this study provides insights for policymakers to enhance the safety, inclusivity, and environmental quality of daycare infrastructure in Dubai. Full article

This article considers issues related to air pollution in residential apartments equipped with gas stoves. The combustion products from gas stoves are released directly into the indoor air, where people can spend a significant part of their time. Even relatively low concentrations of harmful substances contained in combustion products can pose serious health risks and potentially threaten lives. The detrimental effects of nitrogen oxides (NO_x) on human health and the environment are briefly analyzed. A comparison and analysis of legal regulations and standards regarding the maximum permissible concentration of NO_x in the air across various countries are conducted. Theoretical calculations estimating the potential NO_x levels in gas-equipped kitchens are presented. Additionally, the results of experimental studies measuring the NO_x concentrations in the air of apartments with different gas stove designs, burner types, and ventilation methods are presented. The authors’ data are compared with existing data from other similar studies. Full article

This paper systematically discusses the impact of kitchen environment design on users’ well-being. Based on the user-centered design concept, this paper focuses on the theoretical framework of positive psychology and combines quantitative and qualitative research methods. Firstly, using bibliometric analysis tools (CiteSpace 6.1.R1 and VOSviewer 1.6.20), 1256 related articles in the Web of Science Core database were analyzed to reveal the multidimensional association between kitchen design and user well-being. It was found that improving kitchen air quality, optimizing space layout design, intelligent design, and family interaction significantly improve users’ mental health and happiness. Then, based on the PERMA model of positive psychology, this paper discusses the support path of kitchen design to users’ psychological needs from five dimensions: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. Optimizing the kitchen environment can enhance user experience by creating an immersive experience and positive feedback and promoting family communication, social interaction, cultural heritage, and sustainable development. Based on research results and cutting-edge design cases in the discussion section, a home kitchen design strategy for improving user welfare through the PERMA model is proposed. Finally, follow-up research can further explore the differentiated needs of different cultural backgrounds and user groups to promote the combined application of innovative kitchen technology and positive psychology and further focus on kitchen environment and health equity, especially for developing and vulnerable countries—group-specific needs. Full article

The Kitchen God has always been regarded as the protector of Chinese families and one of the most common and far-reaching gods in Chinese folk beliefs. The emergence and development of the Kitchen God are inseparable from the material carrier of the stove. The Han Dynasty was a critical period for the development and integration of stoves and the Kitchen God belief. Based on archaeological discoveries of cultural relics, characters and images, as well as relevant historical documents and records, this paper focuses on the interactive and symbiotic relationship between the spiritual belief in the Kitchen God and the material culture of kitchen stoves and its influence during the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty combined stoves with high cooking benches, large stove chambers, multiple burners, and functional designs that incorporated images of the Kitchen God, making them both practical and spiritual. The Kitchen God’s identity and functions were transformed from ancestor to household god, from giving food to monitoring merits and demerits, along with the renewal of stoves. These developments laid the foundation for the Chinese people’s earnest hope for a prosperous life and a peaceful and harmonious family. Full article

The relationship between indoor air quality and public health remains under-researched. WellHome is a transdisciplinary community-based study that will engage with residents to co-design feasible and acceptable research to quantify air pollution exposure in 100 homes in West London and examine its potential to exacerbate asthma symptoms in children. Sampling strategies such as using air quality monitors and passive samplers placed in kitchens, children’s bedrooms, and living rooms, will be developed in collaboration with local ambassadors and participating households to measure multiple physical, chemical, microplastic, and biological contaminants. This will provide a comprehensive understanding of indoor air quality across the city’s socio-economic gradient. Other data collected will include housing types and tenure, ventilation practices, occupant behaviours, time-activity, and airway symptoms. Epidemiological analysis will examine air pollution exposure impacts on children’s respiratory health. The particulate mixture’s relative hazard will be evaluated in toxicity studies based on source profiles and activity patterns of participants, focusing on asthma exacerbation related pathways. The study’s findings will be communicated to participants through co-designed reports and inform evidence-based recommendations for reducing indoor air pollution in London and urban areas worldwide. By raising awareness and providing actionable insights, WellHome seeks to contribute to global efforts to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable communities. Full article

Background/Objectives: Norovirus is one of the primary causes of foodborne illness in South Korea. This study aimed to identify the cause of a norovirus outbreak in a daycare center in a city in February 2023 and to prevent further spread through an epidemiologic investigation. Methods: A total of 93 individuals, including daycare staff, children, and kitchen staff, were included. A field epidemiologic investigation was conducted, consisting of case definition, collection of environmental and preserved food samples, and human specimens, along with interviews. A matched case-control study (1:3 ratio) was designed to analyze risk factors, and a statistical analysis, including odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and chi-square tests, was performed to identify associations between food consumption and infection. Person-to-person transmission was also assessed through epidemiological data analysis. Results: Among the 93 individuals, 16 (17.2%) were identified as cases, of which nine (9.7%) were confirmed cases. The same genotype of norovirus (GII) was detected in eight human samples. No significant association was found between specific food items and infection. The epidemic curve and transmission network analysis suggested that the primary mode of transmission was person-to-person contact within the daycare center. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical role of hygiene practices in daycare settings to prevent person-to-person transmission of norovirus. Regular public health education, environmental disinfection, and early symptom recognition are essential preventive measures. Full article

On 6 August 2022, a fire devastated 80% of the Punta del Este Shopping Center in Maldonado, Uruguay. Originating in the kitchen of a supermarket, the fire ravaged the shopping center for 72 h before being brought under control. This article outlines the studies conducted to assess the fire’s impact on the building’s structure, as well as the strategies and rehabilitation project aimed at ensuring its stability and performance. An in-depth analysis of the concrete, reinforcements, and foundations was carried out using destructive and non-destructive testing. In total, over 150 concrete samples were collected for analysis, and the foundations were studied using indirect methods. Based on these analyses, actions were planned for each area, including structural repairs, reinforcements, or demolition. Due to the tight deadline for resuming commercial activity, special innovative structural solutions were designed to rehabilitate large severely damaged areas with the specific feature of avoiding demolition. This involved altering the static scheme of the structure, incorporating reinforcements and using slabs of the damaged structure as formworks. Complete demolition and subsequent reconstruction would have required timelines incompatible with the clients’ expectations, while the adopted solutions enabled the project to meet its objectives. Full article