Industry Quality Standards Research Articles

Drying and quality characteristics of intact-shell, cracked-shell and kernel walnuts under sequential infrared pre-drying and hot air drying

The conventional walnut drying method by using hot air exhibits low drying efficiency. Prolonged drying processes at low temperatures decrease drying performance and lead to high energy use, cost and product loss. This research employed sequential infrared (IR) pre-drying followed by hot air drying to investigate the drying and quality characteristics of intact-shell, cracked-shell, and kernel walnuts. The obtained results revealed that the drying time for conventional hot air-dried intact-shell walnuts, IR pre-dried intact-shell walnuts, IR pre-dried cracked-shell walnuts, and IR pre-dried kernels were 240, 130, 70, and 40 min, respectively. The quality characteristics of all dried walnuts conformed to industrial quality standards (with lightness, L > 40; peroxide value, PV < 1.0 meq/kg oil; and acidity value, AV < 1.2%), thereby improving the microbial safety of the dried products in comparison to the fresh walnuts. The conventional hot air drying resulted in increased specific energy consumption (31.56 MJ/kg) and kernel energy cost (0.041 $/kg), while the sequential IR pre-drying followed by hot air drying ranged between 26.81 and 7.76 MJ/kg and 0.022–0.013 $/kg, respectively. In conclusion, IR pre-dried cracked-shell walnuts and IR pre-dried kernels maintained the product quality and safety with reduced drying time and energy use. This work provided valuable insights for the walnut industry to improve the drying efficiency and produce walnuts with preserved quality and safety.

Energy saving in milling of electron beam–melted Ti6Al4V parts: influence of process parameters

Additive manufacturing (AM) is claimed to be a green technology because of its potential in improving material use efficiency. Electron beam melting (EBM) is among the most popular AM techniques adopted to manufacture titanium parts for medical and aerospace applications, as the technology offers an effective way of producing lightweight and complex parts. Nevertheless, additively manufactured parts hardly ever meet industrial quality standards, so post-treatments are always required resulting in additional resources and energy consumption. Moreover, still few works exist on joint analysis of energy consumption and roughness in milling EBMed parts by means of a non-typical tool, and this study aims to fill this gap of knowledge. Three EBM Ti6Al4V cylindrical samples were manufactured into a single job of the ARCAM A2X machine in the same process conditions. Three lengths, 120° apart from each other, were defined along the direction parallel to the axis of each cylinder to perform the milling by varying spindle speed, depth of cut, and machining speed. A high-performance complex-shaped insert has been used to perform the milling process to improve the surface finishing of the Ti6Al4V EBMed samples. Total energy consumption has been calculated as the sum of the machining time and the non-machining time. A joint investigation of both the surface roughness and the energy consumption in machining led to understanding which the best cut strategies are to perform milling with a complex cutting tool from a sustainability perspective. Results showed that it is not sustainable to choose the minimum depth of cut to obtain a fixed total depth of material removed as non-machining time showed to play a crucial role in the total energy consumption of the milling process.

Study of the Potential of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) at the Cipayung Final Disposal Site (TPA) to Meet Industrial Quality Standards and Environmentally Friendly

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The increased demand for energy is impacted by the growing population. As a result, new energy sources must be developed to replace the diminishing supplies. Waste to Energy (WTE) is a concept that can be used as an alternative to recycling waste into raw materials for Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). Due to their combustibility, inorganic waste and plastic have the potential to be employed as source materials for RDF. In light of this discussion, RDF is required for both domestic and commercial purposes. chosen by classifying the garbage into different sizes and types. In order to demonstrate the huge potential for RDF treatment of active zone waste at the Cipayung Final Disposal Site (TPA), research has been conducted on the potential of RDF that meets industry standards and is environmentally friendly. From the analysis of available data, it is found that without using plastic and rubber waste, the calorific value of the RDF produced meets the required industry standards.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Efisiensi Penurunan Nilai BOD, COD, dan TSS oleh Instalasi Pengolahan Air Limbah PT. Indah Kiat Pulp And Paper Tbk Tangerang Mill

The number of industries that continue to grow in Indonesia is directly proportional to the increase in waste generation. The pulp and paper industry is one of the largest forest product management industries in the world, producing 178 million tons of pulp, 278 million tons of paper and cardboard, and consuming 670 million tons of wood. The resulting waste will be wasted into the environment, but if the concentration is excessive it will damage the environment. This prompted PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper treats waste, especially liquid waste, so that when it is discharged into water bodies it conforms to the quality standards that have been set. Waste water treatment activities need to be monitored with the aim of avoiding the quality of the wastewater effluent that exceeds quality standards. Industrial wastewater quality standards are adjusted to the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2014 concerning Wastewater Quality Standards, Attachment XXXV. The method used in this research is quantitatively by conducting field observations at the WWTP PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper and daily analysis of wastewater quality laboratory data. The results of this study are the efficiency of reducing the quality of effluent wastewater from WWTP PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper for BOD, COD, and TSS parameters. The results of the average processing efficiency of BOD5 parameters are 98.14%, COD parameters are 97.27%, and TSS parameters are 99.34%.

Analytical performance validation and clinical application of blood gas analyzer on the detection of neonatal bilirubin.

BackgroundIt is not yet clear whether the trace blood gas analyzer can be used for biochemical detection of newborns. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the method for the detection of bilirubin in infants.MethodsBased on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) EP15-A2 document, the analytical performance of the blood gas analyzer method for bilirubin detection in neonates was validated. The resulting data of 363 simultaneous bilirubin detection with blood gas analyzer (optical method) and biochemical analyzer (enzymatic method) were reviewed. According to the CLSI EP9-A3 document, the relevance and consistency of the measurement results were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis, Passing-Bablok regression, and Bland-Altman deviation analysis.ResultsThe precision and accuracy of the Werfen GEM 4000 blood gas analyzer for the detection of different levels of bilirubin samples adhered to the manufacturer's statement and industry quality standards. The bilirubin detection values of the 2 methods showed a good correlation, and both of them were significantly correlated (P<0.001). Passing-Bablok regression results showed that the regression equation of the bilirubin detection value of the 2 methods is y = −21.00 + 1.17x, with the slope as 1.17 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15 to 1.19], and the intercept was −21.00 (95% CI: −23.62 to −18.71), the data of the 2 sets were not consistent in each concentration range. The Bland-Altman plot demonstrated that the bilirubin detection value of 16/363 cases (4.4%) for the 2 methods exceeded the 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA); of which the maximum bias was −30.34 (95% CI: −38.48 to −22.26) and there were 5/76 cases (6.6%) outside the 95% LoA in the >300 μmol/L group.ConclusionsThe method for detecting neonatal total bilirubin by trace blood gas analyzer basically meets the clinical requirements and can be used for the preliminary screening of neonatal jaundice. However, for severe hyperbilirubinemia that requires close monitoring of dynamics, a precise enzymatic quantification is required.

Influence of Harvester and Rotation of the Primary Extractor Speed in the Agroindustrial Performance of Sugarcane

This study aimed to evaluate the amount of vegetable and mineral impurities, and the industrial quality standards of the sugarcane, under different harvester speeds and rotations of the primary extractor, in the first cut from a sugarcane field in a terrain with 7% declivity. The experiment took place in the city of Pacaembu, in the western region of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The space between plant rows was 1.4 m, and the field had an estimated productivity of 75 t ha−1 and low weed incidence. The sugarcane variety planted was RB96-5902, and the treatments were the combination of two harvester speeds (3 and 6 km h−1) and two primary extractor rotation speeds (700 and 1200 rpm). Besides, the standard speed of 5 km h−1 and 950 rpm, commonly used by the industry, was used as control treatment, which made a total of 5 different treatments analyzed. The response variables studied were vegetable impurities (IV, %), mineral impurities (IM, %), total impurities (IT, %), fiber (%), brix, pol (%), corrected sugarcane pol (PCC, %), apparent juice purity (PZA, %), reducing sugars (AR, %) and total recoverable sugars. According to the results obtained, the factor, which presented major influence over the level of impurities and the technological characteristics of the raw matter, was the rotation speed of the primary extractor. In this scenario, the highest rotations decreased the impurity levels and improved the industrial qualities. Considering the treatments applied, the most efficient rotation speed was at 1200 rpm.

The Spatial Variation of &lt;em&gt;Mugil cephalus&lt;/em&gt; in the Negombo Estuary in Relation to Physico-chemical Parameters

Analysis of physico - chemical parameters gives an insight to the spatial distribution of Mugil cephalus in Negombo estuary. The present study was carried out to the spatial distribution of Mugil cephalus that is governed by the physico - chemical parameters in bottom overlying surface water in Negombo estuary, Sri Lanka. Samplings at selected sites were done during one year study period from January 2017 to December 2017. During this study, fish (Mugil cephalus) and water samples were collected at Sea mouth, Duwa, Pitipana, Munnakkaraya, Dungalpitya, Dandugam Oya and Katunayake sites. Physico - chemical parameters such as the water temperature, salinity, pH, DO, electrical conductivity, BOD, COD and nutrients levels in the bottom overlying water were measured and analyzed using employing standards methods. The results revealed that salinity, pH, EC, BOD and nutrient levels were below the maximum permissible limits of the discharge industrial wastewater quality standards of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), Sri Lanka. The COD levels were higher than the permissible threshold limits. The seasonality in the physico - chemical levels of water were observed with a peak period from May/June and October/November, which apparently coincided with the inter monsoonal periods of the island.

Similarities in adaptations of scripted television formats: The global and the local in transnational television culture

The current rise in the circulation of audiovisual products has led to the transnational convergence of industry practices, quality standards and language conventions, which may affect the diversity of television discourses and representations worldwide. The present research identifies the similarities in Scripted Television Formats (STF) produced in different cultural contexts by undertaking a case study of the Spanish fictional STF, Los Misterios de Laura, and its US and Italian adaptations. Using a qualitative analysis model that was designed for this study, the context and script of the three adaptations are observed. The results show that the similarities between the versions are related to three aspects: the specific traits that characterize the series as a television format, the process of searching for equivalences among cultural contexts, and the use of audiovisual language with a certain universal value. The study concludes that it is the similarities between STF contents that best describe the tension between local and global aspects.

Blockchain-based human resource management practices for mitigating skills and competencies gap in workforce

Skills gap between company needs and competencies occupied by the workforce can be the source of inefficiencies. The purpose of this research is to develop a blockchain-based human resource (HR) framework to match the needs from the company and workforce competencies This framework will help Corporate Training Centre to standardized the competencies which then used by HR Department to develop the training material. In order to get valid information regarding skills that are needed from the company, we develop a prototype based on Blockchain. Hence, blockchain-based HRM is built to improve the quality of workforce competency in an organization. The current organizations are struggling to fulfil the needs of the workforce in accordance with industry quality standards. Therefore, this will help all parties to create a consensus between the needs of the industry with the labour market. Corporate Training Centre through the competent institution will be the mediator or intermediary to unite the information from companies, training institutions, and Professional Certification Institutions. As a result, in the long term, the needs of the workforce with the qualification required by the company in such industries will always fit the current situation. Blockchain helps to process the information and data needed by each party so that the connection between parties will be assisted efficiently and effectively.

Pelletization of torrefied biomass with solid and liquid bio-additives

Biomass commonly presents poor physical properties and low energy density that need to be enhanced. Torrefaction and densification are two of the most suitable techniques to this aim. In this work the pelletization of torrefied pine, blended with solid (raw pine and grape pomace) and liquid (glycerol) additives at low temperature (i.e., 40–80 °C) was carried out in a continuous bench-scale flat die pellet mill that simulates the features of a production-scale system. Among all the tested blends, four formulations fulfilled the requirements of the EN-Plus and ISO 17225-2 Industrial Pellets quality standards, which make them suitable fuels for both residential heating systems and power plant boilers. The produced pellets hold higher heating values between 18.8 and 21.7 MJ/kg, energy densities in the range 12.18–15.33 GJ/m3 and optimum physical properties (L = 20–25 mm, Ø = 6.1–6.2 mm, ρp = 1.1–1.2 g/cm3), in line with the reference pine pellets.A preliminary economic analysis was pursued proving that the improvements observed in formulations of torrefied pine, with 20 wt.% glycerol and with 10 wt.% grape pomace and 10 wt.% glycerol, may provide savings up to 20% in construction and transport costs.

Optimization of a novel liquid-phase plasma discharge process for continuous production of biodiesel

The conventional transesterification process employed in biodiesel production from vegetable oils is not only a time-consuming process but operated under raised temperatures. A novel liquid-phase plasma discharge process was developed and evaluated in this study. The process could continuously convert soybean oil to biodiesel under room temperature at a much faster rate than the conventional method. Two feeding flowrates (2.7 ml s−1 and 4.1 ml s−1) were used in the experiments. Methanol to oil molar ratio, Rmomr, and NaOH to oil weight ratio, RNaOWR, were each examined at five levels (3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 for Rmomr, and 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 wt% for RNaOWR). Central Composite Design and Response Surface Methodology to optimize the conversion rate and applied voltage was conducted. At the flowrate of 2.7 ml s−1, the optimal values of Rmomr, RNaOWR, conversion rate, and applied voltage were 5.08, 0.79 wt%, 97.2%, and 1.17 kV, respectively. While at 4.1 ml s−1, these values became 5.18, 0.70 wt%, 99.74%, and 1.27 kV. All regression models generated by the Central Composite Design and Response Surface Methodology fitted the experimental data well. The biodiesel produced by the novel liquid-phase plasma discharge process met the industrial quality standards (ASTM Standards).

Quality Standards in Hospitality Industry: Ionian Region

The paper demonstrates the lack of implementation of quality standards in hospitality industry in Ionian Region. Hospitality industry in our days is one of the important parts of the global economic revenue dominated by high competition. The tourist market demands for better quality services while European regulation promotes the conformance of enterprises to a standard series of facilities. The research is primarily concerned with the need for the hospitality enterprises in Ionian region of Greece to adjust in a continuous competitive tourist environment and examines the representation of knowledge, implementation and conclusion from practice, during the certification procedure of a quality system. The information on the advantages of quality standards is the new challenge as presented in this project. This research showed that the vice majority of hotels ignore the existence of quality standards while a small part implements them.

Quality in Non-GxP Research Environment.

There has been increasing evidence in recent years that research in life sciences is lacking in reproducibility and data quality. This raises the need for effective systems to improve data integrity in the evolving non-GxP research environment. This chapter describes the critical elements that need to be considered to ensure a successful implementation of research quality standards in both industry and academia. The quality standard proposed is founded on data integrity principles and good research practices and contains basic quality system elements, which are common to most laboratories. Here, we propose a pragmatic and risk-based quality system and associated assessment process to ensure reproducibility and data quality of experimental results while making best use of the resources.

Socioeconomic and Geographic Disparities in Accessing Nursing Homes With High Star Ratings

ObjectivesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nursing Home Compare (NHC) serves as the most comprehensive repository of Medicaid- and/or Medicare-certified nursing homes providing services to approximately 1.4 million US residents. A gap in the literature exists in understanding on the national level whether residents from socioeconomically disadvantaged counties experience disparities in the access to nursing homes with higher NHC star ratings. The study aimed to examine nursing home quality variations with regard to county-level socioeconomic, geographic, and metropolitan status, while adjusting for nursing home facility-level characteristics. DesignCross-sectional ecological study. Setting and participants15,090 Medicaid/Medicare-certified nursing homes with nonmissing star ratings. MeasuresStudy outcomes were NHC overall, health inspection survey, nurse staffing, and quality measure star ratings. County-level measures included SES index, geographic regions, and metropolitan status. Facility-level characteristics included ownership, chain affiliation, type and length of Medicaid/Medicare certification, hospital affiliation, continuing care retirement community status, number of certified beds, and occupancy. ResultsCounties with average adjusted overall, nurse staffing, and quality measure star ratings below 3 stars appeared to be clustered in the South. Nursing homes located in counties with lower SES were associated with lower overall star ratings [adjusted mean stars: 3.66 to 3.84, 95% confidence interval (CI): (3.54, 3.79) to (3.73, 3.95)]. A similar pattern was observed in staffing [adjusted mean stars: 3.75 to 4.23, 95% CI: (3.54, 3.97) to (4.10, 4.35)] and quality ratings [adjusted mean stars: 3.29 to 3.52, 95% CI: (3.12, 3.47) to (3.35, 3.69)]. ConclusionsResidents in socioeconomically disadvantaged counties experience disparities in accessing nursing homes with higher star ratings. These areas may lack sufficient resources to adequately staff the facility and deliver care that meets industry quality standards. These issues are likely to persist and possibly even worsen for the lower- and middle-class geriatric population given the current uncertainty around healthcare reform.

The role of interaction for corporate sustainability

PurposeMost scholars acknowledge the role of firm-stakeholder relationship for enabling corporate sustainability (CS), but existing literature tends to apply a superficial understanding of interaction. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to advance knowledge by challenging classical stakeholder theory with fundamental insights from the IMP perspective, which in turn leads to a deeper conceptualization of interactive CS.Design/methodology/approachA typology framework is developed through an abductive research design grounded in the concepts of actors, resources, and activities. The authors illustrate the potential of the framework through a longitudinal case study. The empirical case revolves around an initiative for recycling of plastic material in a partly beforehand established supply chain, and the study reveals three main findings.FindingsFirst, recycling solutions can result in major technological challenges. For example, using recycled material can jeopardize industrial quality standards. Second, third-party stakeholders represent critical knowledge and competence that can remedy technological challenges. Finally, R&D projects are important means for developing firm-stakeholder relationships.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper introduces IMP concepts to the CS debate, which can illuminate the emerging literature on tensions and paradoxes related to CS phenomena. Further research is needed on the role of non-business actors as capacity generators for social and environmental change in traditional business networks.Practical implicationsThe proposed framework can be used to analyze why some stakeholders (individuals and groups) turn into contributing actors in inter-organizational relationships, while others remain latent.Originality/valueThis paper illustrates the usefulness of actor bonds, resource ties and activity links as explanatory concepts. Moreover, developed relationships in terms of collaboration and networks represent a capacity to change, which is overlooked in current CS debates.

Milk hygiene in small ruminants: A review

Somatic cell count (SCC), mammary pathogens prevalence, total and specific bacterial counts, antimicrobial residues, macroscopic sediment, water addition, aflatoxins and other contaminants constitute the basis for milk payment-schemes, monitoring and improvement of flock hygiene and health management, and development of analytical surveillance programs in the dairy small ruminants. The present work reviews factors influencing the variation of these variables, including milk analytical methods, storage and preservation, along with management implications during the last two decades. Following farmer and cooperative educational programs, progressive reductions have been reported for total bacterial count and antimicrobial residue occurrence in bulk tank milk. These results were consistent, however, with high values for SCC and specific bacterial populations. Thus, mastitis control programs should be intensified to increase hygiene in milk and economic returns for producers and processors. In addition, the implementation of programs to reduce specific bacterial counts (i.e., psychrotrophs, coliforms, Clostridium spp. spores) and mammary pathogen prevalence (i.e., Staph. aureus, Mycoplasma spp.), as well as the use of combined screening methods for an increased rate of antimicrobial detection, are currently required strategies which are positively valuated by milk processors, industry and consumers. Other contaminants may also be present, but cost-effective screening and analytical systems have not yet been implemented. This review aims to be helpful for troubleshooting milk quality and safety, developing future premium payment systems and industry quality-standards, optimizing management, on-farm risk traceability systems and consumer acceptance.

Effects of variable-row-spacing harvesting picker platform scraping plates on cotton fiber quality and quantity

There have been increasing demands for high-quality cotton fibers that meet the textile industry quality standards. Concurrently, there have been efforts to reduce contaminants during harvesting to reduce harvesting costs. The goal of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of the picker platform with Variable-Row-Spacing (VRS) for harvesting cotton in narrow rows, over two harvest seasons in two regions within the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. In this study, how the presence vs. absence of scraping plates and variations in travel speed was related to quantifiable levels of impurities the harvested fibers was examined. The research was divided into three experiments (Exp. I, II, and III), using cotton varieties FM 975 WS, IMA 5672 B2 RF, and IMA 5675 B2 RF, with row spacing of 0.45 m. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 2 ? 3 factorial design, using the presence/absence of the plate and three speeds (0.61, 1.0, and 1.42 m·s-¹), with seven repetitions, totaling 42 experimental plots. The plot size was 108 m² (3.6 ? 30 m). The data were analyzed using the F test in ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey test (p &lt; 0.05). The results showed that scraping plates increased the number of stems and cones, and reduced the harvest efficiency of cotton planted in narrow rows in the region of Sorriso-MT during the 2013/2014 harvest. For the 2014/2015 harvest, the highest speed and the presence of the scraping plates increased the number of cones in the cotton samples. In the experiment conducted in Serra da Petrovina, the removal of the scraping plates decreased the amount of cones in the harvested cotton.

Use of Natural Diversity and Biotechnology to Increase the Quality and Nutritional Content of Tomato and Grape.

Improving fruit quality has become a major goal in plant breeding. Direct approaches to tackling fruit quality traits specifically linked to consumer preferences and environmental friendliness, such as improved flavor, nutraceutical compounds, and sustainability, have slowly been added to a breeder priority list that already includes traits like productivity, efficiency, and, especially, pest and disease control. Breeders already use molecular genetic tools to improve fruit quality although most advances have been made in producer and industrial quality standards. Furthermore, progress has largely been limited to simple agronomic traits easy-to-observe, whereas the vast majority of quality attributes, specifically those relating to flavor and nutrition, are complex and have mostly been neglected. Fortunately, wild germplasm, which is used for resistance against/tolerance of environmental stresses (including pathogens), is still available and harbors significant genetic variation for taste and health-promoting traits. Similarly, heirloom/traditional varieties could be used to identify which genes contribute to flavor and health quality and, at the same time, serve as a good source of the best alleles for organoleptic quality improvement. Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) produce fleshy, berry-type fruits, among the most consumed in the world. Both have undergone important domestication and selection processes, that have dramatically reduced their genetic variability, and strongly standardized fruit traits. Moreover, more and more consumers are asking for sustainable production, incompatible with the wide range of chemical inputs. In the present paper, we review the genetic resources available to tomato/grape breeders, and the recent technological progresses that facilitate the identification of genes/alleles of interest within the natural or generated variability gene pool. These technologies include omics, high-throughput phenotyping/phenomics, and biotech approaches. Our review also covers a range of technologies used to transfer to tomato and grape those alleles considered of interest for fruit quality. These include traditional breeding, TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes), genetic engineering, or NPBT (New Plant Breeding Technologies). Altogether, the combined exploitation of genetic variability and innovative biotechnological tools may facilitate breeders to improve fruit quality tacking more into account the consumer standards and the needs to move forward into more sustainable farming practices.

Combination of Methoprene and Controlled Aeration to Manage Insects in Stored Wheat

A commercial formulation of the insect growth regulator methoprene was applied to wheat stored in small bins either alone or in combination with controlled aeration of the bins, to lower grain temperature for insect pest management of stored wheat. Grain temperatures were monitored and modified by a computer-controlled thermocouple system that also activated the aeration system at programmed set-points to move cool ambient air through the grain mass to lower grain temperature. Results from sampling insect populations in experimental storage bins along with laboratory mortality bioassays of insects placed on wheat taken from the bins over the course of the storage period showed that methoprene was very effective in controlling infestation by the externally-feeding stored grain insects Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), the Indian meal moth Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), the red flour beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), the rusty grain beetle, and also for the internal-feeding pest Rhyzopertha dominica( Fauvel), the lesser grain borer. Methoprene did not give good control of the internal-feeding pest Sitophilus oryzae (L.), the rice weevil. Aeration alone was somewhat effective in suppressing insect population development, while methoprene alone or when combined with aeration greatly enhanced insect control. Commercial grain grading for industry quality standards at the end of the storage period confirmed the impact of insect suppression on maintaining high quality of the stored wheat. This field experiment shows that methoprene combined with aeration to cool grain can be effective for pest management of stored wheat in the southern plains of the United States of America.

Power Through Problem Solving: Latino Immigrants and the Inconsistencies of Economic Restructuring

ABSTRACTEmployment restructuring is a transformative process that brings about significant changes in how work is organised and experienced. Scholars who study restructuring in industries that employ large numbers of immigrant workers, including construction, food processing, or janitorial services, often point to the undermining effects of this transformation on industry wage standards, working conditions, and training supports. But often missing from these accounts is a recognition that restructuring is uneven and incomplete at best and often produces shortcomings and limitations that continue to frustrate and perplex immigrant and native‐born workers alike. Drawing on a multi‐year study of construction workers in Raleigh‐Durham, North Carolina, we find Latino immigrants are far from passive inheritors of the problems of restructuring that they and others encounter during their daily work. Rather, they respond to these challenges with innovative and lasting solutions, developing new work structures and routines that support industry skill development, knowledge sharing, and quality standards. Equally important, their native‐born supervisors and co‐workers have learned to value these solutions and ultimately have stepped in as influential allies, helping immigrant workers leverage these contributions to secure improved working conditions and higher compensation levels. These exchanges have tethered immigrant and non‐immigrant workers together and in ways that challenge standard narratives of native dominance and immigrant exploitation. The result is intensified interdependency and ultimately the creation of an enduring relational resource for promoting worker rights and also for guiding further immigrant advocacy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.