They’ve accounted for about four per cent of the plastic litter that Mason and her students have collected from the Great Lakes.Scientists who have reported that the Great Lakes are awash in tiny bits of plastic are raising new alarms about a little-noticed form of the debris turning up in sampling nets: synthetic fibres from plastic kitchenware Over the past couple of years, Ms Mason and colleagues have documented the existence of microplastic litter — some too small to see with the naked eye — in the Great Lakes.But when Ms Mason’s team and a group from the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant program took samples from southern Lake Michigan in 2013, about 12 percent of the debris consisted of microfibres. Among the particles are abrasive beads used in personal care products such as facial and body washes and toothpastes.A number of companies are replacing microbeads with natural substances such as ground-up fruit pits. Similar measures were proposed in California and New York. The group drags finely meshed netting along the lake surfaces, harvesting tens of thousands of particles persquare mile, and study them with microscopes. Other researchers have made similar finds in the oceans. Illinois imposed a statewide ban on microbeads last year."When we launder our clothes, some of the little microfibres will break off and go down the drain to the waste water treatment facility and end up in our bodies of water," Sherri "Sam" Mason, a chemist with the State University of New York at Fredonia, said. They also found fibres inside a double-crested cormorant, a fish-eating bird.About three-quarters of the bits they’ve found are fragments of larger items such as bottles.But microfibres have got comparatively little attention. Microbeads and fragments that fish eat typically pass through their bodies and are excreted. But fibres are becoming enmeshed in gastrointestinal tracts of some fish Ms Mason and her students have examined. It’s unclear why the fibres were three times as prevalent in that area as elsewhere in the lakes, although currents and wave actions may be one explanation, said Laura Kammin, pollution prevention specialist with Sea Grant. The fibres are so minuscule that people typically don’t realise their favourite pullover fleece can shed thousands of them with every washing, as the journal Environmental Science & Technology reported in 2011.Ominously, the fibres seem to be getting stuck inside fish in ways that other microplastics aren’t. Smaller portions consist of microbeads, Styrofoam and other materials.jpg Scientists who have reported that the Great Lakes are awash in tiny bits of plastic are raising new alarms about a little-noticed form of the debris turning up in sampling nets: synthetic fibres from garments, cleaning cloths and other consumer products.They are known as "microfibres" — exceedingly fine filaments made of petroleum-based materials such as polyester and nylon that are woven together into fabrics

Latex mattresses combined with an upper layer of gel memory foam are an interesting China Office organizer Suppliers upcoming concept which allows the mattress to mold itself perfectly according to the shape of the body, irrespective of the sleeping position. Thickness and firmness of a mattress plays an important role. When Priya Khanna, a housewife from Bengaluru, decided to change her mattress, it made a world of a difference. "Most mattress companies offer a trial period during which one can test the mattress and assess whether it is the right one or not. Take your budget and requirement into consideration and build your way up from there. "You should always know the feeling you want from your mattress since you will be spending seven to eight hours sleeping on it each day. A current customer favourite is the re-bonded with foam mattresses since they are not only preferable for orthopedic purposes being recommended for people with back problems but are durable and not too heavy on the wallet," explains Mansur Z.Read the charts that most mattress companies have ready for the right mattress advice." Primarily one needs to identify what their body needs before making a purchase. Photograph credit: SleepyCat A good night’s sleep is the best way to destress, relax and prepare yourself for the next day, and a good mattress can do exactly that and more. Also, there is very little standardisation of bed and mattress sizes in India hence prominent mattress brands offer options of customisable sizes. "Unlike the perception, mattress purchases should not be a one-size-fits-all decision. This is important in order to maintain a good hygiene level as the mattress is exposed to dust, germs, sweat, and lot of external factors.Tips for the best buyComfort is key, buy a mattress depending on your age, physical build and sleeping position. For many city folk who find sleep illusive, Uttam Malani, executive director, Centuary Mattresses explains further, "The two main things to keep in mind are the correct size of the mattress (depending on the size of the bed frame), and the firmness level. "Innovations around spine support, temperature control, comfortable fabrics and different formulation are all happening, and very few new-age brands are utilising them to make their products better.Always procure goods from an authorised dealer to guarantee authenticity. The ideal mattress should support your back along its natural curves, and should not end up giving you back sores in the morning. "The market is filled with so many options which can be quite confusing. There are types of mattresses available in the market such as memory foam — which is loved by the younger Gen. Ashutosh Vaidya, chief marketing officer, Kurl-on explains, "A typical mattress consists of three layers and additional layers are added to increase functionality and comfort levels. Ltd. So do your own research and then take a well-informed decision," says Ankit Garg, co-Founder of Wakefit. Sleep is one of the most important aspects of our lives, even though at times it feels the most neglected. It moulds to the shape and curves the body to provide good support. Merchant, managing partner, AKZ & Co. With a change in the way we sleep, many people are opting for sleep solutions that are perfect for that snooze routine, and scientifically proven as well.co. Today, providers give smart features like smart zipper covers and memory foam too," says Kabir Siddiq, founder and CEO — SleepyCat.New-age mattress solutions are ensuring that both ergonomics and comfort are kept in mind to get optimal rest for that snooze fest."New VistasTraditionally, factory-made coir mattresses have replaced unbranded cotton mattresses across India. In recent times, baby and child mattresses also have been introduced in India, apart from orthopedic mattresses, and high-end hybrid mattresses. Anushka Contractor, an interior designer stresses on the use more than just the style, "A mattress should be about quality and not only style since you spend most of your time on the bed. Sleep is after all a basic need, so choose the right mattress for a good night’s sleep."The SpecificsConsidering body ache is a part and parcel of existence, isn’t it time to concentrate on a good mattress as we spend most of our nights on it? For lower back ache, a mattress that adjusts itself to one’s back is ideal.Do it RightDo you know that on average, we spend almost one-third of our lives sleeping? Clearly then, there should be no compromise when it comes to comfort. Different weight and sleep postures result in different pressure points created in the body.Here’s some trivia for insomniacs to bite into: Even though branded mattresses are quite durable, it is advisable to change your mattress at least once every five to seven years, and pillows every year. The role of an optimum mattress is to reduce the excessive pressure built in one region, and distribute it across the mattress," elaborates Subodh Mehta, senior vice president (B2C), Godrej Interio.The density of the mattress, material and composition must be checked physically. So, I decided to do online research and went to a store and lay down on many mattresses, experiencing the comfort level myself," says Priya. "This allows the spine to align in its natural position, reducing excess pressure on certain points and ensuring healthy blood circulation. New mattresses can take a while to adjust to you, and hence the trial period can help ascertain the appropriateness of a mattress on each individual," avers K Madhavan, managing director, Peps Industries Pvt

(Photo: Pixabay) After nearly a century building a company worth $125 billion based on injectable drugs, Denmark’s Novo Nordisk (NOVOb. Gaglia in Boston said price would be critical in determining its uptake both among U. While diabetics with advanced disease need daily insulin shots, those at a less serious stage start on simple tablets, with GLP-1s added as a potent new option since 2005. But Clifford Bailey, professor of clinical science at Britain’s Aston University and Dr. Representational Image.BR)."If the data stack up from 10 pivotal Phase III studies reporting results in 2018, the new drug could grab more than $5 billion in annual sales, Deutsche Bank analysts believe.CO) - the world’s biggest insulin maker - wants to prove this year it can transform the diabetes market with a pill. This is a big, complex molecule, known as a peptide, which would normally be destroyed by stomach acid and it requires protection with a special compound to boost absorption. But the needle is still a barrier.Denmark’s Novo Nordisk wants to prove it can transform the diabetes market with a pill.Today, GLP-1s are embraced as a highly effective diabetes therapy and semaglutide, which was approved as a once-weekly injection in December, has out-gunned rivals in efficacy. "There is resistance in some patients to move to an injectable medication," said Dr.Novo’s oral semaglutide medicine is important for ensuring the group’s long-term growth - a critical mission after 2017 results last week revealed mounting price pressure in a crowded market targeting the world’s 450 million diabetics.That represents a life-line for Novo as it tries to differentiate itself in diabetes at a time when its smaller biopharma division is also struggling, prompting last month’s abortive attempt to buy Belgian biotech Ablynx (ABLX. Jason Gaglia, a diabetes expert at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. What’s more, the drug must be in close contact with the stomach wall, which means patients cannot eat for 30 minutes after taking it and the pill can also cause nausea, raising questions about its practicality. Still, the devil will be in the details of the 10 Phase III trials, the first of which will deliver results this quarter.O), which has a product in early-stage trials. "It will certainly be welcomed by those patients who prefer to go without their breakfast for half an hour rather than have an injection," said Bailey.S. "The highest limit of where we could consider taking the pricing would be injectable GLP-1 and the lowest level would be somewhere in between current oral drugs and injectable GLP-1," Thomsen said.Novo’s nearest rival in developing an oral GLP-1 is Israel’s Oramed (ORMP. "If we get the balance between the drug’s profile and the drug’s price and market access right then we can do phenomenally well," he told Reuters.The once-daily pill belongs to a blockbuster class of treatments known as GLP-1s that stimulate insulin production, the first of which were derived from the venomous bite of North America’s Gila monster lizard.If Novo gets over the pricing hurdle, Bailey and Gaglia believe the new pill is set to reshuffle treatment regimens, with oral semaglutide being used as a second or third treatment option after cheap, generic metformin.Chief Science Officer Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen said Novo would pay close attention to such factors as it tries to reach the three-quarters of diabetics who are not yet on injections." That may be sour grapes by Novo’s arch-rival, whose own work on developing an oral GLP-1 is only at the preclinical stage.SHUFFLING TREATMENTSDoctors hope oral semaglutide will provide a new weapon to tackle diabetes earlier with a highly effective therapy.LATE BREAKFASTBut oral semaglutide is no simple tablet.N) Januvia will report later in 2018. So far, all have been injections.But making patients wait half an hour for breakfast could affect adherence and is a concern for investors - as is the question of what Novo will charge for a drug that may perform as well as a pricey injection but looks like rival pills that cost half as much.Getting this far with oral GLP is already a notable achievement, especially after an earlier oral insulin project was abandoned as uneconomic in 2016. "Once an oral is available I think there will be significant interest in it.N), are watching Novo’s final-stage oral semaglutide trials closely, ahead of the drug’s potential 2020 launch. Related StoriesAre you eating your way to diabetes?Find out what to eat to beat diabetesHeavy smoking tied to higher diabetes risk for black adults.Most analysts expect oral semaglutide to beat these rivals in controlling both blood sugar and weight. The size of the benefit will feed into Novo’s final pricing decision.Eli Lilly research chief Jan Lundberg told analysts last week: "It’s really a sub-optimal oral agent. Rivals, especially Eli Lilly (LLY. Others are more cautious but investors overall are betting oral and injectable semaglutide combined will supply around two-thirds of Novo’s revenue China plastic cutlery Suppliers growth over the next five years, according to Thomson Reuters consensus data. insurers and cost-conscious European healthcare systems. Key trials against Lilly and Boehringer Ingelheim’s pill Jardiance and Merck & Co’s (MRK