Low-quality Materials Research Articles

Los Enebrales rock-shelter (Tamajón, Guadalajara, Spain): First Gravettian site in central Iberia

The stratigraphy and materials from a survey carried out in 1994 and 1995 in a rock-shelter in Tamajón (southwestern Iberian Central Range) are studied here. The Pleistocene deposits were generated by high-energy channelled fluvial flows and dense currents of debris flow and mud flow type. The recovered lithic industry, created mainly in low-quality local materials, can be associated with Gravettian technocomplexes. Three radiocarbon dates obtained from the stratigraphic sequence are located in a temperate interstadial of OIS 3a and in a cold episode at the beginning of OIS 2. The faunal remains, which come from human consumption, display cut and percussion marks. They reveal a predominance of equines, followed by deer, in a mosaic environment. A shale plaque-pendant, worked and decorated, was found outside the stratigraphy. The human occupations of the shelter must have been sporadic, but reflect, with the growing evidence nearby, a thriving population in this area of anatomically modern humans. The association of pre-Solutrean archaeological materials, together with the dates obtained, establishes the human occupation of the Los Enebrales shelter as the oldest evidence of the Upper Palaeolithic in the inner Iberian Plateau.

The purity premium effect: The asymmetrical value change around pure products

AbstractThis research documents a purity premium effect, showing that consumers perceive a greater value difference between a pure product containing 100% of a single material (e.g., 100% wool) and a non‐pure product containing lower quality material (e.g., 80% wool + 20% cotton), compared to two non‐pure products with the same composition difference (e.g., 80% wool + 20% cotton vs. 60% wool + 40% cotton), suggesting a nonlinear value change. However, the value change is linear in the higher‐quality direction, suggesting an asymmetrical change in value distance around pure products. This effect happens because consumers use pure products to categorize products into different quality groups such that pure products belong to a different quality category from the lower quality non‐pure products, but to the same quality category as the higher quality non‐pure products. Based on this theorizing, the perceived quality difference between the pure and non‐pure products, which integrates both the objective material quality difference and the categorical difference, serves as the mechanism to drive the asymmetrical change of value around pure products. Five studies support this asymmetrical purity premium effect and the proposed process. The findings offer direct implications for pricing decisions around pure products. A price premium can be extracted when pricing a higher quality pure product compared to the non‐pure products. However, such a price premium does not apply when the pure product is of lower quality than the non‐pure products.

Kajian Kes: Kebocoran Antara Tingkat di Bangunan Kediaman Bertingkat Malaysia

Building defects are a common issue in the construction industry. Defects of high-rise buildings, such as cracks and leaks, are often caused by poor workmanship, and insufficient and low-quality building materials. Other contributing factors to building defects are inadequate cooperation during construction, poor design and improper installation. Inter-floor leakage is a widespread matter in new homes, leaks are detected late and repeated leaks occur even after repairs have been carried out. Inter-floor leakage often occurs in new homes. Leaks are detected late and repeated ones occur even after repairs are carried out. This study aims to diagnose buildings with inter-floor leakage problems by using several diagnostic tools and techniques like visual, destructive and non-destructive tests. Experts use testing equipment to determine moisture and appropriate maintenance or repair. A case study is carried out on a residential unit with a leak in the ceiling due to a crack on the rooftop. The findings of the study can provide knowledge about building diagnosis to property owners and property managers, identifying the cause of leaks and enabling early detection of building defects and suggested repairs to prevent similar leaks from occurring. By utilizing diagnostic tools and techniques, owners and property managers can detect problems early, minimizing damage and expenses in the long run. Based on the study, existing cracks can be converted into expansion joints, white paint can be used on the walls to control heat, installed thermal insulation to control solar energy stress and waterproof membrane can be applied to prevent moisture penetration.

Effects of Long-Term Soaking on the Load-Bearing Capacity of Bitumen-Treated Saline Sabkha Soil Subgrade

This study delves into the potential of using modified sabkha soil, a low-quality material, as a cost-effective solution for road construction in Kuwait, a country grappling with resource limitations. The research evaluates the effects of adding different percentages of bitumen (0%, 4%, 8%, and 10%) to sabkha soil samples, specifically looking at their load-bearing capacity under long-term soaking conditions. The findings indicate that adding up to 8% bitumen enhances the soil's geotechnical properties and its load-bearing capacity. However, any further addition leads to a decline in these properties. Importantly, the soil's load capacity shows significant improvement under soaked conditions. These encouraging laboratory results suggest that utilizing waste sabkha soil could pave the way for effective soil waste management techniques, thereby addressing environmental concerns related to sabkha soil disposal.

Concepts, Uncertainties, and Reaction to Financial Risk in the Sudanese Manufacturing Sector

The study aimed to highlight the uncertainties about, reactions to, and perceptions of the financial risks which prevail in the manufacturing sector in Sudan. The study adopted the descriptive analytical approach to examine the coherence between concepts, reactions, and doubts to manage financial risks in the Sudanese manufacturing sector. Manufacturers from Khartoum were asked to fill out the study questionnaire. At a later time, responses were analyzed using the statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. The results chiefly focused on developing an effective risk management system in the manufacturing sector. The study on the other hand focused on identifying the manageable financial risks that the manufacturing sector in Sudan suffers from. The potential results showed that 95.6% of manufacturers believe that effective risk management is combined with appropriate financial management. Moreover, 3.1% of manufacturers considered risk management as a separate function. While 1.3% believe that risk management is related to the rate of production in the manufacturing sector. The main uncertainties prevailing in the Sudanese manufacturing sector were due to low manpower, machinery, and low-quality materials.

Selected Chemical and Physical Properties of Pine Wood Chips Inoculated with Aspergillus and Penicillium Mold Fungi

Mold fungi representing genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus commonly develop on the surface of freshly harvested wood chips during storage. As a result, they are often considered as low-quality material and intended for incineration. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of wood chips infestation with mold fungi representing genera of Aspergillus and Penicillium on their basic chemical and physical properties, such as: chemical structure (evaluated with FTIR spectroscopy), mass loss and hygroscopicity, after an incubation of 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Based on the visual assessment and ergosterol content analysis, it was found that inoculation of wood chips with molds led to the intense fungal development on their surface. However, as observed in FTIR spectra, the presence of molds caused no changes in wood chemical structure. Furthermore, no mass loss and no significant increase in the hygroscopicity of wood were observed. Therefore, pine wood chips overgrown by studied genera of fungi seem to be a valuable material for various applications.

Evaluation of Turkish Seismic Codes and Observed Damages in Reinforced Concrete Structures by 2020 Samos/İzmir Earthquake

ABSTRACT On October 30, 2020, an Mw = 7.0 earthquake hit Izmir, Turkey, causing the loss of 118 lives and injuries of over a thousand people while producing a high monetary loss in the region. In this study, field observations in the earthquake-struck area have demonstrated that the damages were localized on reinforced concrete (RC) structures, related to low quality of materials, improper workmanship, not fulfilling the design and seismic code requirements, and lack of inspection and the characteristics of the site displayed a significant impact. The critical problem in the region is the lack of proper inspection by authority during the construction stage.

Effect of quality of separately collected glass, paper plus cardboard and lightweight packaging waste on environmental, energetic and economic sustainability of the material recovery facility operations

Low-quality materials contained in separately collected (SC) packaging waste generate environmental and economic burdens associated to both sorting operations of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and landfilling of non-recyclable materials. In this study, based on quantification of both impurities and recyclable fractions, the quality of SC municipal packaging waste streams was determined by compositional analysis of the waste entering a MRF throughout a year. Foreign materials (% w/w) found in the monitored SC glass, paper plus cardboard and lightweight packaging waste, were on average 5.0, 14.7 and 23.0, respectively, while landfilled materials (% w/w) after MRF sorting operations were on average 4.3, 10.3 and 22.0, respectively. A Life Cycle Assessment study was conducted to determine the environmental impact of SC packaging waste streams quality of three different scenarios: current situation (CS), better (BS) and ideal (IS) scenario with reduced presence and absence, respectively, of improper materials in the three examined SC packaging waste streams. Emission of 32.1 kg CO2eq/twaste was calculated for the current situation with a reduction by 66.1% and 98.0% in CO2eq emission for BS and IS scenario, respectively. Similar emission reductions were calculated for ozone depletion, ionizing radiations, particle matter formation, fossil fuel depletion and primary energy demand impact categories. The environmental life cycle costing study demonstrated that total savings of € 35.2 and € 66.6 for each ton of SC packaging waste stream entering the MRF could be obtained for BS and IS scenario, respectively.

Qualitative identification of lonicerae japonicae flos in traditional chinese medicine using metabarcoding combined with specific mini-barcodes.

Lonicerae japonicae flos, also known as Jinyinhua (JYH), is an important component of traditional Chinese patent medicine (TCPM) products. However, the potential for adulteration and substitution with low-quality materials highlights the need for a reliable and sensitive approach to identify the species composition of TCPM products for consumer safety. We used universal ITS2 primers to amplify TCPMs containing JYH. However, the results were inconclusive, as only one operational taxonomic unit (OTU) was identified as Lonicera sp., which could not be identified at the species level. To confirm the species identification of Lonicera sp. in TCPM, we developed a short mini-barcode primer based on the psbA-trnH region, which, in combination with DNA metabarcoding technology, allowed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of artificially mixed samples. We applied the mini-barcode to distinguish TCPMs containing JYH and demonstrated its relatively accurate quantitative ability in identifying two Lonicera species. Our study presents a method for qualitative and quantitative identification of JYH, providing a promising application of DNA metabarcoding technology in the quality control of TCPM products.

A content analysis of YouTube videos on tinnitus in South Korea

More people use the internet for medical information, especially YouTube. Nevertheless, no study has been conducted to analyze the quality of YouTube videos about tinnitus in Korea. This study aims to review the contents and quality of YouTube videos on tinnitus. The top 100 Korean YouTube videos on tinnitus were reviewed by a tinnitus expert. This study assessed video details: title, creator, length, and popularity indicators—subscribers, views, and likes. The contents of the video clips were analyzed to determine the relevance, understandability, actionability, and quality of information. Out of 100 tinnitus videos, 27 were created by otolaryngologists, 25 by traditional Korean medicine doctors, 25 by other medical professionals, and 3 by lay persons. Sensorineural tinnitus was frequently dealt, and hearing loss, stress, and noise were introduced as main causes of tinnitus. Otolaryngologists' videos covered verified treatments, but others suggested unproven therapies including herbal medicine or acupressure. Otolaryngologists' videos showed significantly higher understandability and quality of information compared to others (p < 0.001). This study found that tinnitus YouTube videos frequently present low-quality and incorrect material, which could have an adverse effect on patients. Results highlight the need for tinnitus specialists to provide accurate information.

Controlled germination of grain crops is an effective way to processing low-quality raw materials

Relevance. The development of technologies of cereal crops germination and obtaining of raw ingredients with increased antioxidant properties, containing in their composition biologically active substances of natural origin, will allow to form a modern domestic market of useful food products to maintain the health of the country in the long term. One such approach could be controlled germination of grain crops by ultrasonic treatment during the soaking stage. This technology will maximise the yield of finished products per unit of processed raw material, process low-quality raw materials and create products with increased nutritional value.Methods. The objects of the study were three samples of grain crops: wheat, barley, oats. At the initial stage, incoming quality control of raw materials and their disinfection by physical method of exposure were carried out. For experimental samples of cereal crops at the stage of soaking the impact of ultrasound (22 ± 1.25 kHz) 245 W/l for 5 min, then the grain was soaked for 8 hours (wheat grain) and 12 hours (barley and oats grain), the process of germination was carried out until reaching the sprout size 1.5–2 mm in more than 90% of grains. All operations with control samples were performed in the same sequence, excluding the process of ultrasound exposure. The total content of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds was determined in all tested samples using spectrophotometric method, total antioxidant activity using DPPH-method, and γ-aminobutyric acid content using automated liquid chromatography system.Results. The studies showed that all germinated samples of cereal crops are characterized by sufficiently high values of flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds. At the same time, the samples obtained by ultrasound exposure showed an increase in the content of flavonoids by an average of 7.3–8.9 times, polyphenols by 2–5.6 times. In the process of intensified controlled germination, the total antioxidant activity increased by 31.6–40.0%, relative to the control samples of grain crops. The increase in GABA content in samples after ultrasound exposure averaged 360–490%. The results confirmed the possibility and feasibility of using the proposed technology of controlled germination in obtaining raw ingredients from germinated cereal crops. The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation Grant 23-26-00290.

TYPICAL EXPERT ERRORS CONDUCTING NON-IDENTIFICATION BALLISTIC RESEARCH AND WAYS TO OVERCOME THEM

Based on the study of judicial and expert practice, the article identifies typical expert errors when conducting non-identification ballistics research: of a procedural nature (expert going beyond the scope of competence; errors caused by improperly formulated questions to the expert; independent collection of objects and examination materials, etc.); epistemological (incorrect application of logical methods and operations, violation of the logic of substantiation of intermediate and final conclusions; imperfect knowledge of the subject of research); operational (use of outdated methods; violations in the sequence of expert procedures; incorrect use of technical means of research or use of unsuitable means, equipment, etc.; obtaining and using low-quality comparative material). It was concluded that proper operational control of the entire technological chain, starting from the appointment of an expert and the sending of an examination from an expert institution, will also contribute to the reduction of the described shortcomings when conducting non-identification ballistics research. It is emphasized that under such conditions, the departmental control of the head of the expert institution becomes especially important, a thorough check of the validity, reliability and scientific validity of the relevant research will contribute to the reduction of identified and potential errors of subordinate ballistic experts. It was established that the process of evaluating the conclusion of forensic ballistics examinations, in which diagnostic and situational tasks are solved, includes the analysis of its legal and factual aspects. The assessment of such studies from a legal point of view requires the analysis of the procedural order of preparation, appointment and examination. The evaluation of the factual side of the conclusion consists in establishing the reliability and scientific validity of the factual data discovered by the expert, their relationship and attitude to the event under investigation.

Analisis Pengendalian Kualitas Paving Block Menggunakan Metode Statistical Quality Control (SQC)

The development of an increasingly competitive industrial world makes companies to be innovative and pay attention to the quality of the products they produce. CV. ABS is a company that produces construction complementary materials in building manufacture. The research aims to reduce the damage level of paving blocks using the Statistical Quality Control method which produces Central Line (CL) = 0.313, Upper Control Limit (UCL) = 0.409, and Lower Control Limit (LCL) = 0.217. The results of the P-Chart graphic data show that there is an average non-conformity or declared in an uncontrolled state at four points below the LCL (0.217) namely on the second day (0.13), seventh (0.18), ninth (0.43 ), and eleventh (0.50) One of the factors causing defective products is the lack of experience of workers, the use of low quality materials, the method of mixing materials is not according to standards and the printing equipment used is in old condition.

Justification of road structures during the restoration of the disrupted section of the road

This article examines the current state and future prospects for the development of the road network in the Russian Federation. It focuses on the implementation of the national project «Safe High-Quality Roads», which aims to achieve new qualitative standards in the construction and operation of the country’s road network. The author analyzes the elements of road maintenance and operation. A comparative analysis is provided, comparing the understanding of road maintenance and operation in the Russian Federation with regulatory documents from the World Bank. The concept of road restoration (rehabilitation) as an allocation criterion by the World Bank is discussed. The study reveals that the domestic approach to selecting repair strategies is based on temporary road operation criteria, while the World Bank’s approach is based on the specific nature of the work and the financial costs associated with repair and road restoration. The author considers various aspects related to repair work on highways. The analysis focuses on groups of factors that contribute to road pavement destruction. External causes, including climatic, geographical, geological, and operational factors that affect road conditions, are identified as the most common causes. Internal causes are also discussed, including outdated technologies, low-quality materials, and errors made during the calculation and construction stages of the road. Different types of pavement destruction leading to complete road damage and the necessity for complete restoration are described and distinguished. Based on this, the article argues that improving quality performance indicators is possible through continuous monitoring of road surface conditions and timely repairs. The author suggests that the use of complex mobile diagnostic laboratories equipped with necessary tools and an information-computing system based on a specialized information-statistical model can significantly reduce the time and financial costs associated with monitoring the condition of roadways. Furthermore, a calculation example is provided to estimate the pavement elasticity index based on traffic intensity and vehicle type. Finally, the article discusses the main initial requirements for justifying road structures.

Using Cement as Filler to Enhance Asphalt Mixes Performance in Hot Climate Regions

This paper investigates the addition of different percentages of ordinary Portland cement as a filler in conventional asphalt concrete for a range of heavy traffic. Road pavement agencies in hot areas face the daunting challenge of preserving their pavements in a fair to good condition to increase their lifespan. This challenge is due to the high occurrence of permanent pavement deformation via rutting, which is one of the major distress factors influencing pavements. This is a particularly serious issue in hot and arid countries which are closely associated with various aggravating factors. These aggravating factors include the choice of bitumen binder viscosity, the type of bitumen, the available low-quality materials, and the high environmental temperatures. Ultimately, poor performance will show within the first few years of service as permanent deformations such as rutting, shoving, and depressions. The examined properties include the resilient modulus and the resistance to rutting. Findings indicate that the resistance to rutting and the rigidity of the asphalt concrete are both substantially increased as the cement content is increased. Moreover, to meet the heavy traffic spectrum requirements, increasing the embedded cement content in the asphalt concrete improves pavement structural capacity. Finally, based on the rigidity expected for different cement levels, design curves are provided for pavement design in hot climates using low quality aggregate materials.

Functional adaptive resources for large herbivores in African savannas: an ecological-gradient based framework

The viability of large herbivore populations in the face of climate change, environmental variability, disease and predation will be determined by their freedom to assess and respond to these factors through access to a range of functional seasonal resources and habitats. Their responses will be contingent upon various organismal traits, such as body size, mouth and digestive anatomy, which also facilitate coexistence among sympatric species. In this paper we develop a functional adaptive forage resource framework based on plant biomass, quality and phenology responses on ecological productivity gradients. We show how large herbivores coexist and respond to environmental variability, disease and predation by their foraging responses in relation to functional adaptive resources, as mediated by their anatomical traits. Below a critical body size, where predation limits population size, large herbivores adopt a variety of predation avoidance strategies, which are linked to their anatomical traits and foraging strategies. Mouth anatomy, and its interaction with body size, appears to be the major anatomical trait determining large herbivore selection for grass height. Body size is the major trait determining vulnerability to predators. Ecological productivity gradients underlain by variation in soil moisture availability over the annual cycle support high quality forage in the least productive (driest) regions, which promote growth and reproduction (a fecundity resource). Reserves of adequate quality forage in moderate productivity regions and buffers of low-quality forage in wetter and more productive regions of the gradient prevent loss of body stores over the dry season and starvation during droughts. Fire and grazing contribute towards providing high quality forage by removing old, low-quality material and preventing forage maturation. Consuming a high diversity of plant species distributed across ecological gradients promotes phytochemical diversity in the diet, which functions as medicinal resources to promote health while combating disease and parasites. Large herbivores are becoming increasingly restricted by ecosystem fragmentation in their access to the full range of these functional resource classes. The negative consequences for large herbivore populations of reduced access to these resource classes is compounded by climate change, where conditions are hotter and drought frequency and intensity is expected to be higher.

The problem of quality and safety of alcohol products

This article considers the main problems of quality and safety of alcohol products, as well as possible ways to solve this problem. Alcohol is one of the most common psychoactive substances in the world. The quality and safety of alcohol products and ethyl alcohol are often threatened and cause serious concerns from consumers, government agencies, and the general public. Many alcohol producers are interested in creating products with the maximum amount of alcohol and the minimum cost. This leads to the use of low-grade ingredients, the mixing of different types of alcohol, and a significant increase in alcohol content to critical levels. This can cause even more serious consequences for people's health, especially for those who already have problems with alcohol addiction. One of the urgent problems of Russian consumer market is adulteration of alcohol products sold to population through retail trade network. Consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages is dangerous to life due to high content of toxic impurities. Even a slight excess of impurities can cause intoxication of the human body, having toxic, allergenic, immunomodulatory, genotoxic effect that negatively affects the reproduction function, hormonal regulation. In order to solve the problem of quality and safety of alcohol products, it is necessary to carry out its qualitative control at each stage of production. This will help to exclude the use of low-quality raw materials, improper combination of components and violation of technological processes. To combat unlicensed production, it is necessary to toughen penalties for its implementation. It is also necessary to monitor the market and identify cases of sale of illegal products.

Materials and device designs for thermophotovoltaic power conversion

AbstractTwo IV–VI semiconductor alloys, Pb0.81Sn0.19Se and Pb0.8Sr0.2Se, are proposed for use in designing multiple quantum well (MQW) materials and devices for thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power conversion. These materials can be epitaxially grown on silicon substrates, so they offer the potential for a low cost TPV device manufacturing technology. MQW materials examples are provided for fabricating triple junction TPV devices for power conversion with a 1400°C radiator. Optimal n‐type and p‐type layer thicknesses for each junction were determined using internal quantum efficiency expressions derived assuming all photogenerated charge collection is by diffusion. Depending on MQW material quality and assumed optical absorption levels, predicted power generation for current matched triple junction devices ranged from 1.7 to 4.6 W/cm2 and power conversion efficiencies ranged from 15.9% to 35.7%. These device performance parameters were used in a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) calculation to predict the cost of energy provided by TPV devices with a molten silicon thermal energy storage system. Results show that even for TPV devices fabricated from low quality materials, such energy storage systems will have a low enough LCOE to be competitive with other forms of energy storage and power generation.

Small-scale coffee farmers’ perception of climate-adapted attributes in participatory coffee breeding: A case study of Gayo Highland, Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract Small-scale coffee farming in Indonesia faces low productivity due to poor farming practices and low-quality planting materials. It highlights the need for improved coffee varieties that meet farmers’ preferences. Given the vulnerability of coffee farming to climate change, participatory breeding programs that involve collaboration between researchers and farmers to develop a climate-adapted variety are essential. This study used survey data from Gayo Highland, Aceh, Indonesia, to investigate farmers’ perception of the importance of climate-related attributes in a coffee variety, including those developed through a participatory breeding program, and the determinant factors. The result shows that farmers rated climate-related attributes as the least important (average score 0.36) compared to others, such as coffee productivity (1.57) and quality (1.22), resistance to pests and diseases (0.96), and input-use efficiency (0.57). This finding suggests a lack of awareness among farmers about the importance of climate issues in coffee farming. The estimation results also indicate that coffee extension activities have a negative association with farmers’ perceptions of the importance of climate attributes. This study recommends inclusive and targeted climate campaigns to increase farmers’ concern, awareness, and knowledge about the threats of climate change to coffee farming through strengthening advisory services.

The Hit of Two Earthquakes in Turkey-Syria: Mw=7,8 Giziantep-Mw=7,5 Kahramanmaras

Turkey-Syria were shaken by two large earthquakes Mw=7,8 and the other with Mw=7,5. The seismic moment shows the amount of energy accumulated due to the seismic gap in the region. Giving researchers a guideline on which they can rely on the different interpretations of data provided by different stations around the world. In addition to understanding the type of problem caused by the use of low-quality materials for the construction of buildings. The seismic moment that was calculated using the seismic moment formula can be found in the results where the moment graph is also evident; the peak seismic release at the time of the onset of the event, however many researchers will have discrepancies because they have reported the same ones that could be verified later