by Fern Shaw | Jan 30, 2024 | Water, water boiler, Water Boilers, water cooler, Water Coolers
You might be thinking that Aquaporins are a new product from AquAid. You’d be wrong – although the name is reminiscent of pouring water, so perhaps not such a stretch.
But what are they exactly?
Dumb bunny explanation:
Membranes which replicate the way nature removes salt from water, for example in the kidneys or in mangroves.
Slightly less dumb bunny explanation:
An aquaporin is a specialized protein located in the cell membrane of body cells. It forms the mechanism responsible for pumping water into and out of the cell as needed. Aquaporins are part of the large family of major intrinsic proteins, proteins that form pores or channels in the cell membrane, and work to regulate the composition of the inside of the cell.
The aquaporin was discovered by Peter Agre of Johns Hopkins University in 1992. Agre won the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery. He discovered aquaporins serendipitously during a study on the Rh blood group antigen, confirming long-held suspicions by the scientific community that a mechanism for transporting water across the cell membrane existed.
Aquaporins conduct water into and out of the cell, but prevent the movement of ions and other solutes across the cell wall. A specialized form of aquaporin, called an aquaglyceroporin, does allow the movement of some solutes into and out of the cell, but like regular aquaporins, it does not allow charged particles, or ions, to pass through. Some solutes that aquaglyceroporins allow to cross the cell membrane are ammonia, carbon dioxide, and urea. The types of solutes allowed through by aquaporins depend on the size of the protein channel.
How else could Aquaporins benefit mankind?
They could dramatically reduce the energy needed in desalination and the scope there is far reaching – think space suits.
Remember, with AquAid’s water coolers; water; boilers – you won’t need any desalination set up – as you’ll have a consistent supply of refreshing drinking water (and of course, your clever body will take care of the rest).
by Fern Shaw | Dec 3, 2023 | water cooler, Water Coolers
Now we’re in the New Year and skating full tilt in winter, as we gear up for the colder weather and perhaps, we’re already cutting back on our exercise and gearing up for more indoors and less out and about.
You may also think that with the colder temperatures this means that you shouldn’t be drinking as much water as you were during the (hot!) summer months. Reducing our water intake during autumn and winter, however, is a common error, as irrespective of the seasons, adequate hydration is necessary throughout the year.
To maintain optimal health, your body needs a regular and sufficient water intake as water literally feeds your entire body and is responsible for your get up and go – to maintain your basic health and body functions, you must remain hydrated.
Every single atom of your body consists of a high-water component e.g. as much as 83% of your lungs and overall, 73% of your entire body is made up of water.
So, whereas you might be adding on more layers and opting for Netflix marathons instead of exercise marathons, you still need to maintain your water ‘habit’.
That’s why, now, as with each season, is not the time to be ignoring your water cooler, or indeed, cutting back on refilling your water bottle every day, whether you’re at home, work, school or play.
Maintaining your water ‘fix’ not only helps keep you in good health during the colder weather, but it will also ease the transition when you begin upping your water consumption for the warmer months.
by Fern Shaw | Dec 3, 2023 | instant tap, water boiler, Water Boilers, water cooler, Water Coolers
December is a month chock full of occasions, annual observances and traditions.
A brief glance:
03 – 04 Dec –Tree Dressing Day
06 Dec – St. Nicholas Day
11 Dec – International Mountain Day
21 Dec – Winter Solstice
the list goes on.
This may be due to December being a pivotal period of the year as we enter the final transition from late autumn to winter and the close of yet another year. Although the dropping temperatures and increase in blustery weather may make it difficult to believe, it’s still officially autumn until 21 December.
With so many observances, traditions and events on the go this month it’s easy to understand that we may let our changing hydration needs slip by the wayside despite there being a simple and cost-effective solution. A solution as simple as switching from a chilled drinking water dispenser to a cool and piping hot drinking water dispenser.
With AquAid, you’re spoilt for choice – we supply a wide range of top-quality water coolers, water boilers and Instant Taps – all backed by our superlative services pre, during and post installation.
We invite you to visit our informative website and browse our water cooler selection, suitable for all industries and any size staff contingent, then contact our helpful team via e-mail, telephone or at the website.
by Fern Shaw | Nov 29, 2023 | bottle fed water coolers, mains fed water cooler, water cooler
Quite some time ago we recounted stories of some of the oddest recorded road spills around the globe. Read about them here.
Time for an update we thought. So off we flew to the ether gathering information. Turns out, the best spill stories happen to come from an unexpected source!
20 tonnes of yeast extract
*A lot of yeast extract ended up across the M1 in South Yorkshire in 2011.
Specialist clean-up teams were needed to help clear the sticky black stuff off the motorway. It took 12 hours to clean up and fix the damage.
Thousands of lager cans
When a lorry shed its load of lager cans following an incident in Coventry in 2011, highways teams had to pick up every beverage by hand before reopening the motorway.
Powdered cement
Cement poses problems after a motorway spill. Specialist teams were called out to help clear the road before the cement could get wet and start to set. It eventually took 18 hours to clear the road.
I suppose, in this sea of rather sticky accounts of spills and mishaps, it’s nice to know that should your water cooler malfunction to such a degree, the worst thing spilling will be water – really not hard to clean up and no sticky, messy residue.
Even better and more reassuring though is that as per WHA guidelines, AquAid’s WHA accredited service technicians sanitise all bottle-fed water coolers every 3 months and all mains-fed water dispensers every 6 months, thus ensuring these high-quality water dispensers continue with their seamless delivery of refreshing drinking water.
*source: from an article at GOV.UK
by Fern Shaw | Oct 24, 2023 | aquaid, water boiler, water cooler, Water Coolers, water dispenser
There are a number of positives to installing an AquAid Hot & Cold Water Dispenser or Hot Water Boiler. The most common reasons are piping hot water constantly available for whatever hot drink you enjoy – tea, coffee, hot chocolate, hot lemon water – the list goes on.
Often though there seems to be a hot water drink (meal?) that is oft forgot but just as vital to getting you through the working or school day, albeit in a heated hydration method.
Nothing equates to a soup made from scratch, but as we go about our daily business or busy school day, there often is only a minute or two available to dispense piping hot water for a nourishing mug of soup. And instant soups hit the spot perfectly.
Instant soup has been around for decades, with firm favourites remaining popular however, tastes have broadened where we now have soup from further afield gaining popularity. Although there may be plenty people for whom a spoonful of Bovril or Marmite in hot water will suffice, there are other consommés that are just as nourishing and healthy. Think miso soup for example!
Whatever your favourite hot water brew, AquAid has a boiling hot water drink dispenser to meet your requirements.
If you’d like know more about AquAid hot & cold dispenser and water boiler products as well as our life-saving charity partnerships, please * e-mail or ☏ us on 0800 772 3003. It will be our pleasure to assist you.
by Fern Shaw | Sep 28, 2023 | water cooler, Water Coolers
As I have said – okay, typed – before, drinking water = power (or energy) but who would have thunk it, apparently, naps too = power.
Before you get the idea that I’m trying to propagate my ‘Sloths Rule!’ philosophy, let me assure you, this power nap deal is not only true, but also a fact!
From the blogista’s friend Wiki:
A power nap is a short sleep that terminates before the occurrence of deep sleep or slow-wave sleep (SWS), intended to revitalise the subject. The expression was coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas.
Characteristics
The power nap is thought to maximise the benefits of sleep versus time. It is used to supplement normal sleep, especially when a sleeper has accumulated a sleep deficit.
Various durations are recommended for power naps, which are very short, compared to regular sleep. The short duration of a power nap is designed to prevent nappers from sleeping so long that they enter a normal sleep cycle without being able to complete it. Going beyond sleep stages I and II but failing to complete a full sleep cycle, can result in a phenomenon known as sleep inertia, where one feels groggy, disoriented, and even sleepier than before beginning the nap. Brief naps can improve alertness directly after awakening without the detrimental effects of sleep inertia associated with longer naps.
Scientific experiments and anecdotal evidence suggest an average power nap of around 30 minutes is most effective. Any more time, and the body enters into its usual sleep cycle. People who regularly take power naps may develop a good idea of what duration works best for them, as well as what tools, environment, position, and associated factors help induce the best results.
To this, I can certainly attest.
I’ll come clean though, I have never actually had a power nap at work – what I have had though, is a power nap when I’ve been running on empty between Job A and Job B in one day. I leave Job A, zoom home and have a gap of an hour or so before needing to leave for Job B.
Perhaps I’ve been remiss about my water intake for the day (yes, it does happen) and my battery is blinking red. It has happened where I’ve sat down, leant back and closed my eyes on the (most comfortable) sofa. When I magically wake up, 20 to 45 minutes later, without any type of alarm, I definitely feel better, not groggy or tired at all.
I can’t say that it will work for everyone, as I believe everyone’s make-up is different, but I can say that it most definitely does work. So, more power to you, fellow nappers, as you embark on the Journey of the Power Nap.
Oh, whether you have or don’t have power nap opportunities, might I suggest that you, at least, aim towards drinking a good few bottles or glasses of water every day.
