Product Identity Research Articles

Rapid Cycle and Extreme Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Rapid cycle polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies DNA in 10-30min, while extreme PCR is complete in less than 1min. These methods do not sacrifice quality for speed; sensitivity, specificity, and yield are equivalent or better than conventional PCR. What is required (and not widely available) is rapid, accurate control of reaction temperature during cycling. Specificity improves with cycling speed, and efficiency can be maintained by increasing polymerase and primer concentrations. Speed is aided by simplicity, dyes that stain double-stranded DNA are less expensive than probes, and one of the simplest polymerases, the deletion mutant KlenTaq, is used throughout. Rapid amplification can be coupled with endpoint melting analysis to verify product identity. Instead of commercial master mixes, detailed formulations for reagents and master mixes compatible with rapid cycle and extreme PCR are described.

Desain Kemasan Minuman Sari Buah Mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) untuk Meningkatkan Pemasaran di UD Manjur Makmur

One of the variant of Morinda citrifolia fruit drink is called noni juice and known as Noni Super Power’s brand name at UD Manjur Makmur. This beverage is naturally fermented by spontaneous fermentation at 28-30°C during six months in a bottle that has been cleaned and tightly closed. During the marketing process to consumers, the design packaging of noni drink is needed to attract consumers buying. Meanwhile, the primary packaging of noni juice at UD Manjur Makmur is less attractive to consumers, there is also no secondary and tertiary packaging and it became the product's packaging weakness. So, label and packaging for noni juice products are needed to design to promote product identity and display product visuals to raise the consumers’ interest. This study was conducted to solve these problems. In this research, benchmarking of products, the Guide on Labeling of Processed Food Agency for National Drug and Food Control (2020), and the observation, imitation, modify methodology were applied. This research resulted in the design of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging for noni fruit juice drinks. Following the benchmarking, the guide of processed food label requirements, and evaluating the packaging and labels (2020), the new design packaging and labels were better than before. As packaging of noni juice, plastic bottles with new design label are used for primary packaging, followed by rectangles (boxes) made from samson paper (size of 6,3 × 6,3 × 18 cm) for secondary packaging, and cardboard boxes made from corrugate (size of 30 × 20 × 40 cm) for tertiary packaging. Furthermore, the new design packaging (especially tertiary packaging) can accommodate a large amount of noni juice bottles during the marketing and distribution of its product.
 Keywords: consumers’ interest, noni juice, label, packaging

Product Packaging Design "Mamam Roti" in Purwodadi, Central Java

Mamam Roti's food business product from Purwodadi, Central Java Province, which was initiated in 2018 considers that packaging is not a priority in increasing product sales, but only focuses on the quality of the taste of the bread. The purpose of this design is to design product packaging from Mamam Roti, as an effort to build a brand and product identity that is able to display an image to consumers, especially to competitors, so that it becomes a special attraction when the product is sold in the people of Purwodadi City. The design is carried out using qualitative research methods by conducting observations, interviews, documentation and literature studies. The data is then analyzed using SWOT analysis for products and Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to analyze packaging. This Mamam Roti product packaging design concept displays a simple and elegant design impression, namely by displaying visuals that do not use many illustrations or images, only [p1] with flat vector shapes that highlight the Mamam Roti logo visually. In the visual packaging there is text in the form of Instagram social media information. The use of red, peach, and white colors with a bright and clean impression is shown in the Mamam Roti packaging design. [p1]please format according to the journal template

FAMILY OF CONGRUENCES FOR (2, β) REGULAR BIPARTITION TRIPLES

Though congruences have their limitations, they have significant impor- tance in the field of number theory and helps in proving many interesting results. Thus, this article has adopted the technique and properties of congruences to iden- tify and prove a set of congruent properties for integer partition. The partition of a positive integer is a way of expressing the number as a sum of positive in- tegers. One such partitions known as regular bipartition triple are discussed in this article. New congruences modulo even integers and modulo prime (p 5) powers are derived for (2, β) regular bipartition triples. Also infinite families of congruences modulo 2 for some (2, β) regular bipartition triples are derived. The theorems stated in this article are proved using the q series notation and some of the prominent results such as Euler’s pentagonal number theorem and Jacobi’s triple product identities. There are certain lemmas which are derived using these results that help in proving the major results of this article.

Visibility of Scientific Production and Digital Identity of Researchers through Digital Technologies

The research process does not end with the publication of the results; on the contrary, it has to continue even further, when results are disseminated and scientific disclosure on the Web begins. The purpose of this article is to promote visibility of the scientific production and digital identity of the faculty and researchers at the Universidad Técnica del Norte (Ibarra-Ecuador). By implementing a quantitative documentary, descriptive, and quasi-experimental comparative approach, it was possible to determine the importance of scientific visibility, the most suitable digital platforms for this task (ORCID, Google Scholar, Academia, ResearchGate, ResearcherID (WoS), Author ID (Scopus), Sciprofiles, Mendeley, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Impactstory), and the level of knowledge that professors have of these platforms. With the results, a pilot training-course was planned and implemented for researchers and university professors of the Faculty of Education Science and Technology, with the purpose of registering their author profiles and incorporating their scientific production onto the platforms with the greatest impact and visibility. The results from the two stages (pre-test and post-test) of the pilot course show a significant difference regarding the creation and management of the research profiles; therefore, this strategy puts forward an alternative way to make research and digital/identity visible in the academic, scientific and social community.

Brand and Business Model Building from Community Identity for Competitive Advantages of Mae Win Sub-District, Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai Province

The main objectives of this research were to create a brand, business model, and storytelling and to study opinions on identity for community-based tourism and community products in Mae Win Sub-district. Qualitative data was collected using in-depth interviews and focus group with one group of community-based tour operators and five groups of Mae Win sub-district product communities. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Quantitative data were collected by using a questionnaire about tourist behavior regarding community products purchasing and factors effecting traveling and purchasing products in Mae Win sub-district. The data was collected from 600 tourists and a questionnaire of opinion on outstanding identity of Mae Win sub-district from 110 context experts who have lived in Mae Win sub-district for at least 10 years. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The results regarding branding found that the brand structure used a unique brand that reflected the story of the community's traditions, culture, wisdom, and lifestyle. The results regarding business modeling showed that business models must be created to understand the customer's journey and customer insights. Moreover, this business model emphasized the value of society over business profit. The results regarding storytelling found that creating a story was a form of travel to guide travel tourists in decision-making to travel to the community. The results of the study showed that opinions on group activities' identity in the area were highly distinctive with a mean of 3.79. The group of physical characteristics indicated a distinctive level with a mean of 3.78 and a group of symbols and wisdom showed a distinctive level with an average of 3.73.

Circular material passports for buildings – Providing a robust methodology for promoting circular buildings

The construction sector is responsible for about 50% of all extracted raw material and for over 35% of the EU’s total waste generation. To transition to a circular construction model, reliable and standardized information on the material composition of buildings is required. A Circular Material Passport (CMP) can organize and store such information. It provides an identity for a certain product and assigns value to it, enabling the recovery of materials by providing information for maintenance, recovery, reuse and recycling. A set of various CMPs can also be turned into a Building Materials Passport. This paper proposes a new structure for a CMP. The new CMP distinguishes itself from previous efforts to define material passports since it is aligned with the EU Level(s) framework of core sustainability indicators for office and residential buildings. This paper, firstly, reviews the relevant indicators from the Level(s) framework. Secondly, analyzes the current barriers in the development and use of material passports and proposes mitigation measure. Thirdly, identifies parameters to provide relevant information to promote circularity in the built environment. Fourthly, summarizes the findings and proposes a new structure for a lean CMP. The proposed CMP structure can be divided into three sections: 1) general data, 2) product context use and location, and 3) circularity potential. It can be concluded that indicators provided by the CMP could have the potential to be used for public procurement, as well as to define building permit criteria and assessment. Moreover, CMPs should be integrated with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and as a support tool for pre-demolition audits for identifying reusable and recyclable construction products and materials. The importance of policy development for the promotion of a standardized and regulated use of this tool needs to be highlighted.

Surface treatment of red painted and slipped wares in the middle Yangtze River valley of Late Neolithic China: multi-analytical case analysis

Red slipped and painted wares (RSW and RPW) were manufactured to cook, serve, or store foods and liquids in the middle Yangtze River valley (MYRV) of China some 8500 and 7800 years ago, respectively. Their primary use narrowed down to serving and drinking in the Upper Qujialing (5300–4500 cal BP) and Shijiahe (4500–4200 cal BP) periods when initial states (bang guo) took shape and developed in the region. The increasing social complexity in MYRV correlated with the formation of community and neighborhood identity through rituals and socio-economic ties involving the widespread use of RSW and RPW. How the two wares were produced and used helps us understand the relationships among productive activities, identity, and social inequality in MYRV. This paper presents the first overview of RSW and RPW in the Neolithic MRYV. It introduces a multi-analytical study of the two wares—mostly dating to the Shijiahe period—unearthed from the site of Fenghuangzui in Xianyang City of Hubei Province, China. Optical microscopic examination revealed that the paint of RPW—50 μm thick on average—was applied using a brush while the slip of RSW is thinner and finer and possibly formed by self-slipping. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (hhXRF) and benchtop micro-XRF analyses ascribed the red paint or slip to iron and iron oxide. Raman and X-ray absorption fine structure analyses confirmed that iron was present in the paint or slip in the form of hematite with a poorly developed crystalline structure. Furthermore, thin-section petrography implied that different pastes were used to produce RPW and RSW, and hhXRF data indicated that the Upper Qujialing and Shijiahe pottery differ in the concentrations of five elements (Zr, Fe, Mn, Ti, and Ba), which might be helpful in future provenance studies of RSW and RPW. Our study discloses the complexity of the manufacture of RSW and RPW at Fenghuangzui. More details of RSW and RPW production and use from our ongoing project shall reveal the role of the two wares in the social dynamics of the Late Neolithic MYRV.Graphic

Role of Human Aldo-Keto Reductases in the Nitroreduction of 1-Nitropyrene and 1,8-Dinitropyrene.

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) and 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP) are diesel exhaust constituents and are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as probable (Group 2A) or possible (Group 2B) human carcinogens. These nitroarenes undergo metabolic activation by nitroreduction to result in the formation of DNA adducts. Human aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) 1C1-1C3 catalyze the nitroreduction of 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-nitro-7H-benz[de]anthracen-7-one, 3-NBA), but the extent of AKR contribution toward the nitroreduction of additional nitroarenes, including 1-NP and 1,8-DNP, is currently unknown. In the present study, we investigated the ability of human recombinant AKRs to catalyze 1-NP and 1,8-DNP nitroreduction by measuring the formation of the respective six-electron reduced amine products in discontinuous ultraviolet-reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography enzymatic assays. We found that AKR1C1-1C3 were able to catalyze the formation of 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) and 1-amino-8-nitropyrene (1,8-ANP) in our reactions with 1-NP and 1,8-DNP, respectively. We determined kinetic parameters (Km, kcat, and kcat/Km) and found that out of the three isoforms, AKR1C1 had the highest catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) for 1-AP formation, whereas AKR1C3 had the highest catalytic efficiency for 1,8-ANP formation. Use of ultra-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry verified amine product identity and provided evidence for the formation of nitroso- and hydroxylamino-intermediates in our reactions. Our study expands the role of AKR1C1-1C3, which are expressed in human lung cells, in the metabolic activation of nitroarenes that can lead to DNA adduct formation, mutation, and carcinogenesis.

A Universal Eluent System for Method Scouting and Separation of Biotherapeutic Proteins by Ion-Exchange, Size-Exclusion, and Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography.

Characterization and quality control of biotherapeutic proteins commonly require the application of several orthogonal separation techniques in order to establish product identity and purity. Many of the techniques used rely on a buffered aqueous mobile phase system to maintain the native conformation of the protein and its variants. Optimal pH, buffer substance(s), and chromatography methods vary with each protein of interest and result in tedious method development for each new drug product. Linear controlled pH gradient systems from pH 5.6 to pH 10.2 has been shown to provide a global method for the separation of charge variants of monoclonal antibodies. This can be realized using two balanced zwitterionic buffer blends. The pH linearity of the resulting system, with a cation ion exchange column in place, can generate any pH value in this accessible pH range. This study expands the scope of this buffer system and demonstrates its application in conjunction with a quaternary HPLC pump for several analytical techniques: the pH optimization of salt gradient-based anion and cation exchange during method development, as well as performing pH gradient elution. In addition, the same universal buffers are used for hydrophobic interaction and size exclusion chromatography. This eluent system omits the need to prepare different buffers for each method and flushing of the HPLC system between method changes. The implementation of this concept is further demonstrated to allow an automated method scouting approach and selection of different methods that requires minimal manual intervention.

Development and validation of a novel cosmetics safety assessment scale (CSAS): Factual understanding of cosmetic safety and fostering international awareness

Falsified cosmetics are increasingly common especially online through social media networks and mobile applications. This study developed and validated a novel tool to evaluate the safety of cosmetics and personal care products in the United Araba Emirates (UAE). This is methodological validation study and the data were derived from a cross-sectional study conducted on students and staff at Ajman University (AU) in the UAE. The study sample was selected via simple random sampling. The link to the survey was sent to potential respondents via email, and the responses were analysed using SPSS version 26. Content validity, factor analysis, and known group validity were employed to construct and validate an instrument that will enable the identification of cosmetics safety. The instrument's reliability was evaluated using test-retest reliability, internal consistency, item internal consistency (IIC), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The study sample included 978 participants. The content validity index for the final 24-item scale was 0.84. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.959 with a statistically significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (p <0.001). Factor analysis presented a three-component model. PCFA analysis found good fit values with 0.960 for the normed fit index, 0.977 for the comparative fit index, and 0.987 for the Tucker Lewis Index. All values were in excess of 0.95, and the root mean square error of approximation was below 0.06 (0.03); thus, the model had a good fit. Cronbach's alpha also showed good consistency of the overall instrument (0.963), and all factors had a Cronbach's alpha above 0.70. Each item on the instrument met the IIC correlation standard of ≥ 0.40, and there were good overall ICC statistics of 0.963 (0.959-0.966) for the instrument as a whole with statistical significance (p < 0.001). The instrument's test-retest reliability was assessed by correlating the respondents' identification scores at two time points with a four-week gap revealing a correlation coefficient of 0.870 (p-value <0.01). Participants holding a bachelor's degree were more likely to be able to identify safe and authentic cosmetics than those with a high-school educational level (p = 0.015). This study developed a novel validated instrument to determine the safety of cosmetics. The final questionnaire uses 24 items on three dimensions (13 items on hazard information, eight items on product identity, and three items on product handling and storage). The tool is concise and easy to complete, and it is suitable for use among the general population. The use of this instrument can promote greater collaboration between the consumer health regulatory authorities and inspection authorities thus increasing consumer satisfaction and public participation.

Letter: Difficulty in Tracing Manufacturer and Brand Names on Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Catheters and Valves.

Letter: Difficulty in Tracing Manufacturer and Brand Names on Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Catheters and Valves.

Expanding the analytical toolbox to address complex cell-based therapies

Today’s innovators of cell-based therapies are working with increasingly complex technology platforms to develop treatment strategies that are more precisely controlled and address broader patient populations. Such innovations are built upon an increased understanding of disease pathophysiology that helps to identify the cellular and molecular players that underlie disease progression and drive recovery. Moreover, the emergence of improved ex vivo engineering strategies has enabled production of specific cell types with targeted or enhanced functional attributes. While these scientific and technological advances are empowering the next generation of cell-based therapies, they also demand more comprehensive analytical testing strategies to ensure product efficacy and safety. This article explores the current analytical testing landscape for cell-based therapies, highlighting key analytical objectives, challenges, and emerging strategies. Analytical objectives discussed in this article include characterization of product identity and potency as indicators of efficacy, and key measures of product safety, such as monitoring for cellular impurities and genome integrity. In the context of these analytical objectives, challenges and current mitigation strategies that are specific to autologous versus allogeneic cell-based products are described. Finally, emerging analytical methods that stand poised to disrupt existing industry standards in analytical testing and address remaining challenges are considered.  

NATIONAL NARRATIVES AND CULTURAL DIPLOMACY. THE SPANISH PAVILION AT THE VENICE BIENNALE DURING THE FRANCO DICTATORSHIP'S APERTURA IN THE FIFTIES

This article proposes an approach to the Spanish presence at the Venice Biennale from the perspectives of Art History and International Relations. The article examines the image conveyed by Spanish participation in the Biennale, always via the Spanish Pavilion and in the political context of the Franco dictatorship's aperturismo [openness] in the fifties, to prove how the dictatorship favoured the attainment of political interests through a carefully planned soft power cultural diplomatic strategy. The text introduces the distinctive features of the Venice Biennale and examines its unique layout in national pavilions, which makes it an appropriate case study for addressing the connection between artistic production and national identity, on the one hand, and for analysing the role played by art and culture in international relations, on the other. What role did the Spanish Pavilion play at the Venice Biennale in the construction of national narratives during the Franco regime? How did the dictatorship use cultural diplomacy to construct its image on the international stage?

NATIONAL NARRATIVES AND CULTURAL DIPLOMACY. THE SPANISH PAVILION AT THE VENICE BIENNALE DURING THE FRANCO DICTATORSHIP'S APERTURA IN THE FIFTIES

This article proposes an approach to the Spanish presence at the Venice Biennale from the perspectives of Art History and International Relations. The article examines the image conveyed by Spanish participation in the Biennale, always via the Spanish Pavilion and in the political context of the Franco dictatorship's aperturismo [openness] in the fifties, to prove how the dictatorship favoured the attainment of political interests through a carefully planned soft power cultural diplomatic strategy. The text introduces the distinctive features of the Venice Biennale and examines its unique layout in national pavilions, which makes it an appropriate case study for addressing the connection between artistic production and national identity, on the one hand, and for analysing the role played by art and culture in international relations, on the other. What role did the Spanish Pavilion play at the Venice Biennale in the construction of national narratives during the Franco regime? How did the dictatorship use cultural diplomacy to construct its image on the international stage?

Fast and biphasic 8-nitroguanine production from guanine and peroxynitrite.

Guanine (Gua), among purines, is a preferred oxidation/nitration target because of its low one-electron redox potential. The reactive oxygen/nitrogen species peroxynitrite (ONOO-), produced in vivo by the reaction between nitric oxide (•NO) and superoxide radical (O2•‒), is responsible for several oxidative modifications in biomolecules, including nitration, nitrosation, oxidation, and peroxidation. In particular, the nitration of Gua, although detected, as well as its reaction kinetics have been seldom investigated. Thus, we studied the concentration- and temperature-dependent formation of 8-nitroguanine (8-NitroGua) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.40) using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. Traces showed a biexponential behavior, with best-fit rate constants: kfast=4.4 s-1 and kslow=0.41 s-1 (30°C, 400μM both Gua and ONOO-). kfast increased linearly with the concentration of both reactants whereas kslow was concentration-independent. Linear regression analysis of kfast as a function of Gua and ONOO- concentration yielded values of 2.5-6.3×103M-1s-1 and 1.5-3.5 s-1 for the second-order (slope) and first-order (ordinate) rate constants, respectively (30°C). Since ONOO- is a short-lived species, its decay kinetics was also taken into account for this analysis. The 8-NitroGua product was stable for at least 4h, so no spontaneous denitration was observed. Stopped-flow assays using antioxidants and free-radical scavengers suggested a mixed direct/indirect reaction mechanism for 8-NitroGua formation. Gua nitration by ONOO- was also observed in the presence of physiologically relevant CO2 concentrations. The reaction product identity, its yield (∼4.2%, with 400μM ONOO- and 200μM Gua), and the reaction mechanism were unequivocally determined by HPLC-MS/MS experiments. In conclusion, 8-NitroGua production at physiologic pH reached significant levels in a few hundred milliseconds, suggesting that the process might be kinetically relevant in vivo and can likely cause permanent nitrative damage to DNA bases.

Sustainable Design As An Effort To Develop Bali Special Woven-Bamboo Packaging

The Bali Provincial Government through PERGUB (Governor Regulation) Number 97 of 2018 has regulated the Limitation of Disposable Waste Generation. The implementation of these regulations has been implemented among Small and Medium Industries (IKM) that produce Balinese souvenirs. The IKM sector has begun to switch to using bamboo packaging, which is commonly used to package banten pejati (Balinese traditional offerings) sold in traditional markets. However, this condition causes the appearance of food packaging designs that package Balinese souvenirs to look uniform, lacking a touch of local Balinese culture that can be used as an identity for Bali's superior products branding to tourists. This creation aims to design bamboo packaging as Balinese souvenir packaging which has the concept of eco-friendly design. The research method was used to formulate the motif design concept and the method of creation to design the bamboo packaging design by adopting the woven bamboo technique at the bamboo craft center in Bali. The novelty of this bamboo packaging design can be seen in the motif design inspired by Geringsing Cemplong weaving motif which is formed with the woven bamboo technique. This motif has never existed before and is able to represent the identity of the local Balinese culture. The color material used as paint is a natural color material. Derived from mixing mango leaves and strobilanthes/indigo leaves through an environmentally friendly process to produce a green color. The creation of environmentally friendly bamboo packaging is expected to inspire woven-bamboo craftsmen to start switching to environmentally friendly products that are safe to use in food packaging.

Considerations When Brewing with Fruit Juices: A Review and Case Study Using Peaches

Beer is traditionally brewed using barley, hops, water, and yeast. Historically, fruit has been utilized in brewing operations as a source of carbohydrates, color, and/or flavor. This practice has been increasing in recent years due to economic and market factors. While many scientific studies have shown that it is both possible and desirable to include fruits in brewing operations, there is little research published on how to properly evaluate their potential for use in brewing. This review aims to introduce and discuss the ways in which fermented products are impacted by the addition of fruit with respect to the following characteristics of the fruit and final product: sugars, volatiles, color, product identity, and microbial factors. To support this review, a case study is included in which peaches were evaluated for potential use as a fruit additive in a commercial brewing application. The peach juice, pre-addition beer, and final product were assessed based upon processing characteristics, sugar content and composition, color, volatile profile, and economic suitability for various applications in fermented beverages. This paper details the methods used to evaluate fruit as a guide for considering fruit as an addition to brewing formulations.

Two generalizations of Jacobi’s triple product identity and their applications

Two generalizations of Jacobi’s triple product identity and their applications

Cause-Related Marketing and Attitude Toward Corporate Image: An Experimental Study

In a world of attention scarcity, cause-related marketing strategies generate a substantially greater impact. The neurophysiological mechanisms that support favorable consumer attitudes toward cause-related marketing messages are, however, rather little understood. This study attempts to comprehend how a marketer may employ cause-related marketing initiatives to improve the company’s reputation as well as how program, company, and product identities affect consumers’ attitude toward the corporate image. Following the classical experimental design, this study uses four stimuli to investigate the effects of cause type and cause category on attitude toward corporate image. The four different stimuli used in this study are exposure to a negative corporate image of a fictitious brand, exposure to a negative corporate image with exposure to cause-related marketing message on Save Amazon Rainforest, exposure to a negative corporate image, and exposure to cause-related marketing message on Educate Homeless Children project, and exposure to a negative corporate image and exposure to cause-related marketing message on feeding the hungry homeless children with a description about the gravity of hunger among the poor homeless children of India. For this study, 1,171 urban Indian consumers were used as the sample. The study suggests that empathy-embedded cause-related marketing communications are characterized by primary need-based humanitarian causes. This study thus validates the mirror neuron hypothesis, which confirms that customer-centricity increases with the degree to which the communication content is similar to that of the respondent. A higher degree of customer-centricity results in a better advertisement attitude, which improves consumer attitude toward the corporate image.