Product Development Research Articles

Early Planning, Collaboration and the Role of Social Media: A Model for Future Event Success and Lessons Learned from Eclipse 2024

A total solar eclipse is a natural astrological phenomenon that is a special event in the infrequent interludes when it occurs. Two recent total solar eclipses in the United States occurred on August 21st, 2017, and April 8th, 2024. As was initially learned in 2017, such events are best experienced and handled if deliberate and detailed planning takes place before they occur. This paper examines the process that many cities, towns, brands, and companies across the country went through to prepare for and better handle the expected massive influx of interested observers and the important lessons learned that may have significant implications for local communities as well as business practices related to product development and promotion. The total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, showcased the potential for organizations and brands to create impactful campaigns that educate, engage, and drive brand awareness while promoting scientific inquiry and a sense of community.

ОПЫТ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ ФУНКЦИИ ЖЕЛАТЕЛЬНОСТИ ХАРРИНГТОНА ПРИ ВЫБОРЕ ОПТИМАЛЬНОГО СОСТАВА ПЛЁНОК И ГЕЛЯ С НАФТОХИНОНОВЫМ КОМПЛЕКСОМ

When a new pharmaceutical product development comes to the stage of selecting the optimal combination of components, researchers often need a comprehensive assessment method for experimental samples. The difficulty is caused by overall complexity of choosing the correct qualitative and quantitative parameters expressed in different units of measurement and establishing priorities between the criteria for the combined assessment. In this case membership functions can help, for example the generalized Harrington desirability function, which allows to combine individual indicators that differ in value and dimension. The article provides examples of the practical application of the generalized Harrington desirability function in assessing several parameters of experimental samples of films and gel developed by us with a naphthoquinone complex of Lithospermum erythrorhizon in order to determine the best composition of these forms. The chosen method made it possible to calculate the generalized desirability for each experimental sample, taking into account all the studied criteria and to determine the most successful experimental samples for further work.

Sistem Pengelolaan dan Pengembangan Wakaf secara Produktif di Pondok Pesantren Al-Uswah Kuala Kabupaten Langkat: Studi Analisis Menurut Undang-Undang No. 41 Tahun 2004 tentang Wakaf

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the productive waqf management and development system at the Al-Uswah Kuala Islamic Boarding School, Langkat Regency, and also to find out the forms of productive waqf management and development at the Al-Uswah Kuala Islamic Boarding School, Langkat Regency. This type of research includes empirical research with a qualitative approach. The subject of this study involved the Chairperson of the Al-Uswah Kuala Islamic Boarding School Foundation, Nazhir Waqf, and the Community, with a qualitative descriptive research analysis. The results of the research conducted show that the waqf management and development system productively at the Al-Uswah Kuala Islamic Boarding School, Langkat Regency is carried out by administering and collecting data on waqf assets, then recording them in a notarial deed so that they have permanent legal force, and carrying out maximum supervision so that the utilization Waqf assets are in accordance with their function and main objective, which is to develop Islamic education as a place to nurture true Muslims. Then, the productive management and development of waqf at the Al-Uswah Kuala Islamic Boarding School in Langkat Regency is carried out in two forms, namely the physical form in which waqf assets are developed by adding and constructing various buildings needed in the educational process at the institution. Apart from that, it is also being developed in the form of waqf management policies especially for the needs of the students, for example providing free tuition fees for orphans and high achieving students so as to help the Muslim community (santri's parents). While the form of waqf assets is distributed to the surrounding community in the form of donations such as groceries and so on at certain moments. So that the productive management and development of waqf assets is in accordance with Law no. 41 of 2004 concerning Waqf. Keywords: Management, Development, Productive Waqf.

Integration and Evaluation of a Digital Support Function for Space Claims in Factory Layout Planning

Planning and designing factory layouts are frequently performed within virtual environments, relying on inputs from various cross-disciplinary activities e.g., product development, manufacturing process planning, resource descriptions, ergonomics, and safety. The success of this process heavily relies on the expertise of the practitioners performing the task. Studies have shown that layout planning often hinges on the practitioners’ knowledge and interpretation of current rules and requirements. As there is significant variability in this knowledge and interpretation, there is a risk that decisions are made on incorrect grounds. Consequently, the layout planning process depends on individual proficiency. In alignment with Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0 principles, there is a growing emphasis on providing practitioners involved in industrial development processes with efficient decision support tools. This paper presents a digital support function integrated into a virtual layout planning tool, developed to support practitioners in considering current rules and requirements for space claims in the layout planning process. This digital support function was evaluated by industry practitioners and stakeholders involved in the factory layout planning process. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to provide advanced digital support to layout planners, enhancing objectivity and efficiency in the layout planning process while bridging cross-disciplinary gaps.

Stability Studies of a Tetraethyl Orthosilicate-Based Thixotropic Drug Delivery System

Background/Objectives: This study assessed the effects of formulation components on the long-term stability of a previously described tetraethyl orthosilicate-based drug delivery system. Early stability studies of a product concept are crucial not only to provide information on the overall system stability and individual components’ contributions to it, but also to identify opportunities for dosage form optimization and to define its use case. Methods: We assessed the time-dependent thixogel properties—specifically, mechanical strength, thixotropy, release of model drug, and dry substance—in both real-time and accelerated shelf-life determination set-ups. Results: Our findings indicate that the concentration and molecular weight of hyaluronic acid, one of the main constituents of the investigated thixotropic systems, are key determinants of formulation stability. We further showed that changes in both of these parameters reflect on the drug release properties and stiffness of the formulation and could inform subsequent product development based on several use cases. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides an understanding of some key factors that would need to be considered prior to and in the final product development process of thixogels in preparation for commercialization.

Effects of Crystallinity and Branched Chain on Thermal Degradation of Polyethylene: A SCC-DFTB Molecular Dynamics Study

As a widely used plastic, the aging and degradation of polyethylene (PE) are inevitable problems, whether the goal is to prolong the life of PE products or address the issue of white pollution. Molecular simulation is a vital scientific tool in elucidating the mechanisms and processes of chemical reactions. To obtain the distribution and evolution process of PE’s thermal oxidation products, this work employs the self-consistent charge–density functional tight binding (SCC-DFTB) method to perform molecular simulations of the thermal oxidation of PE with different crystallinity and branched structures. We discovered that crystallinity does not affect the thermal oxidation mechanism of PE, but higher crystallinity makes PE more susceptible to cross-linking and carbon chain growth, reducing the degree of PE carbon chain breakage. The branched structure of PE results in differences in free volumes between the carbon chains, with larger pores leading to a concentrated distribution of O2 and chemical defects subsequently formed. The breakdown of PE is slowed down when chemical defects are localized in low-density regions of the carbon chain. The specifics and mechanism of PE’s thermal oxidation are clearly revealed in this paper, which is essential for understanding the process in depth and for the development of anti-aging PE products.

Heat-resistant concretes based on cement binders and waste from the metallurgical industry

The main direction of the development of heat-resistant concrete production is the use of new materials, ensuring mechanization and industrialization of construction, increasing the performance characteristics of refractory compositions, reducing material consumption, introducing waste-free technologies in the production of concrete with increased physical and mechanical characteristics under prolonged exposure to high temperatures on cement binders and waste from the metallurgical industry and reducing environmental pollution. A significant environmental impact on the environment is exerted by large-tonnage technogenic waste produced by JSC «Aluminum of Kazakhstan» – bauxite sludge obtained by processing bauxite into alumina containing 42.7% Fe2O3. The prospects of its application as a filler in heat-resistant concretes are considered, which makes it possible to increase the physico-mechanical and thermal characteristics. The composition and properties of this waste and the change in the properties of heat-resistant concrete during the introduction of filler have been studied. Reactive alumina has been studied, which is 99.9% submicron alumina with a very low content of Na2O oxide. It is shown that the properties of concrete change after the introduction of iron-containing waste in the amount of 5% and reactive alumina – 37.5% and 38.8%. Their volumetric weight, control strength, and other properties are increased. The improvement of physical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics depends on the structure and neoplasms in the obtained samples. Samples of heat-resistant concrete were analyzed using electron probe X-ray spectral qualitative and quantitative microanalysis and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and it was shown that the iron-alumina waste contributes to the compaction of the structure due to its resistance to delamination and has increased fluidity at low humidity in the cementing mass. For further investigation of the physical-thermal characteristics, depending on the structure and neoplasms in the obtained samples, a petrographic method using a polarization microscope in transmitted and reflected light is required.

The dynamic relation between fertilization, precipitation and the diffusion of agricultural non-point pollution in Hainan Island

With the increasing demand for crops, the excessive application of fertilizers has gradually become a significant factor affecting water quality. Therefore, studying the relationship between agricultural fertilizer runoff and water quality is crucial for the sustainable development of agricultural production. The present study sets up a new dynamic model of nitrogen fertilizer loss, introducing variables such as precipitation, fertilization application during dry and rainy seasons, and their lagged and interaction terms. The paper analyzed the issue of fertilizer runoff under the complex interactions of various factors, including spatial and temporal scales and climatic conditions, and explored the relationship between agricultural activities and water quality changes in the context of sustainable development. Due to Hainan Island’s independent river system, which is free from transboundary pollution, and its low level of industrial pollution, it provides an excellent sample for assessing the impact of agricultural non-point source pollution on water quality. Based on watershed monitoring data from Hainan Island, this study draws the following conclusions: 1. Precipitation exhibits a pronounced seasonal influence on total nitrogen concentration. 2. Nitrogen fertilizer enters into water bodies through precipitation, resulting in a lag effect on total nitrogen concentration. 3. The influence of grain and tropical crops on nitrogen loss is less significant, while cash crops will trigger the nitrogen overloading of rivers in scenarios where they account for a high proportion of the planting structure of the sown area.

Research on the Market Development of Cultural Peripheral Products: A Case Study of Animation Derivative Products

Today, animation and comic derivative products are one of the most popular branches of cultural and creative peripheral products. With the rapid development of the foreign animation industry, animation derivative products have made much profit for people. At the same period, it also becomes one of the vital research topics. Researchers found rich progress in derivative products. However, the issue of improving the development of Chinese animation and comics is still a lack of unified explanation and cognition. Therefore, this thesis aims to research the item of animation and comic derivative products market development through literature analysis and case study. The research found that the changes in consumers’ purchase intention, imperfect industrial chains, narrow audience groups, and difficult animation propagation are the main factors leading to the dilemma of animation derivative products. Therefore, Chinese animation should perfect the animation and comic industry chain by promoting content, derivative products’ marketing approaches, and breaking down single industrial barriers and limitations.

First-year evaluation of a campus-wide, cross-disciplinary scholarly writing development program supported by a center for biomedical research excellence (COBRE).

Scholarly publications are important indicators of research productivity and investigator development in Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBREs). However, no information is available to describe implementation and evaluation of writing development programs within COBREs. Therefore, this paper aimed to evaluate the first year of a campus-wide COBRE-supported writing program. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design (QUAN + QUAL) was used. All writing program participants were invited to complete post-participation surveys, and a subgroup was selected using purposive sampling to complete individual semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize survey data, and qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze interview data. Self-determination theory served as the theoretical framework by which themes were developed and interpreted. Professional staff, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty from all academic ranks (n = 29) participated in the writing program during its first year. Survey respondents (n = 18, response rate 62%) rated social support (89%), group accountability (89%), hearing group members' writing goals (78%), receiving group advice (67%), and setting a weekly writing schedule (56%) as beneficial program components. Participants rated program benefits such as breaking away from other responsibilities, staying on task with writing goals, and receiving social support as most beneficial. During interviews, participants (n = 14) described five major themes related to the benefits received: 1) belonging to a community of writers; 2) managing writing-related emotions; 3) improved productivity; 4) establishing helpful writing habits; and 5) improved motivation for scholarly writing. This first-year programmatic evaluation demonstrates the writing program's effectiveness as a campus-level development resource supported by a research center. Both survey and interview data affirmed that participants perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness were supported through participation in the writing program. Participants placed particular emphasis on the writing program's successful development of a community of scholarly writers.

Environmental Assessment of Forest-Based Industry Products with CAD-Integrated LCA Tools: A Comparative Case Study of Selected Software

The study evaluates how the environmental impacts of wooden products could be assessed in the early stages of product development using CAD-integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) tools. Focusing on a wooden chair design, the study compares the environmental impact results derived from LCA tools integrated in SolidWorks, NX and Fusion against a traditional LCA analysis performed using SimaPro. Methods involve analysing a chair model to measure the environmental impacts across different life cycle phases, such as material extraction and manufacturing. The results reveal that manufacturing processes, particularly electricity use, significantly contribute to environmental impacts, especially marine and freshwater ecotoxicity. Comparisons between LCA tools integrated into commercial CAD software and SimaPro 9.5.0.1. showed that while the tools deliver comparable results for global warming potential and other categories, they struggle with certain impact categories. The main distinguishing features of the results were methodological. Overall, the results aligned the most with the impact values calculated in Solidworks Sustainability. The study concludes that CAD-integrated tools are useful for early-stage environmental assessments but have limitations, particularly in their material databases and life cycle scope. For a comprehensive assessment, combining these tools with more detailed analysis methods may be necessary. The research suggests improvements for CAD-based tools to enhance their effectiveness in evaluating the environmental impact of wooden products.

Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral Factors that Influence Consumer Behavior

Investing in understanding consumer behavior is one the approaches companies can reliably use to thrive in the highly competitive business environment. In a fiercely competitive business environment, understanding consumer behavior is essential for companies aiming to succeed. While traditional studies emphasize social, cultural, economic, personal, and psychological influences on consumer behavior, this study delves deeper into the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors that also play significant roles. Analyzing Apple’s iphone purchase behavior reveals that cognitive factors, such as rationalizing the purchase, are crucial in justifying the decision to buy. Emotional factors, including the feelings and motivations that drive consumers, are key in triggering the purchase. Behavioral factors, on the other hand, encompass how the product is consumed and how customers interact with it and with each other. Marketers should carefully examine each of these factors and utilize their insights strategically. Businesses should foster close collaboration between marketing and product development teams to ensure they not only communicate the brand’s promise effectively but also deliver on it consistently.

Perception of food quality among Saudi consumers

Consumers’ perceptions of quality of food products increase their purchasing likelihood. This study provides a framework for exploring consumers’ perceptions of food quality for food product development and food market-ing strategies by providing vital information related to consumer behavior and food choice. It establishes a method for measuring food quality perceptions through a validated questionnaire. It was found that adult consumers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, perceive intrinsic food characteristics higher than of extrinsic food characteristics. Characteristics related to product safety, nutritional value, and sensory attributes were the most highly valued aspects. Sociodemographic factors such as age, marital status, education, occupation, income, and work/study in the food field were found to affect Saudi consumers’ perceptions of food quality. Furthermore, marital status, education, occupation, and income were the major classification factors for perception trends. Food identity and processing, food health prosperity, food safety and presentation, and food sensory attributes were the major qual-ities perceived by Saudi consumers.

Material Technologies for Improved Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) Treatment: A Questionnaire Study of Healthcare Professionals’ Needs

Background/Objectives: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and severe complication of diabetic patients, with significant global prevalence and associated health burdens, including high recurrence rates, lower-limb amputations, and substantial associated economic costs. This study aimed to understand the user needs of healthcare professionals treating diabetic foot ulcers for newly developed material technologies. Methods: An open-ended questionnaire was used to identify user needs, identify the limitations of current treatments, and determine the specific requirements for ideal treatment. This information was used to develop a list of key considerations for creating innovative material technologies to improve diabetic wound treatment results. Results: Most respondents indicated that they followed published treatment guidelines for DFUs but noted that treatment often required a case-specific approach. Antibiotics and surgical debridement were commonly used for infection control. The participants showed a strong preference for wound dressings with lasting antibacterial properties. Respondents identified ideal properties for new products, including ease of use, enhanced antibacterial properties, affordability, and targeted biological activity. The respondents also highlighted the importance of a holistic approach to DFU management, integrating product development with comprehensive care strategies and patient education. Conclusions: This study highlights the complexity of DFU care, emphasizing that no single product can address all treatment needs. Future materials could focus on combination therapies and specific use cases. Additionally, understanding global variations in treatment practices and educating users on the proper application of newly developed material technologies is crucial for improving the management of DFUs and patient outcomes.

Three-Dimensional Printing Technology in Drug Design and Development: Feasibility, Challenges, and Potential Applications

Background/Objectives: The present investigation evaluates the impact of 3D-printing technology on the design of pharmaceutical drugs, considering the feasibility issues and problems concerning technological, pharmaceutical, and clinical matters. This paper aims to review how 3D printing can modify the traditional manufacturing of drugs with personalized medicine-therapy outcomes being individualized and optimized, hence improving patients’ compliance. Methods: The historical development of 3D printing from rapid prototyping to advanced pharmaceutical applications is discussed. A comparison is then made between traditional drug manufacturing approaches and the different techniques of 3D printing, including stereolithography, material extrusion, and binder jetting. Feasibility is assessed based on clinical trials and studies evaluating the efficacy, safety, bioavailability, and cost-effectiveness of 3D-printed drugs. Results: Current evidence indicates that material selection, regulatory barriers, and scalability issues are some of the major challenges to be overcome for wider acceptance. Other matters, such as ethical issues concerning patient data privacy, the misuse of 3D-printing technology, and technical complexities related to pharmaceutical 3D printing, are discussed further. Future applications also include bioprinting and in situ printing together with their implications for personalized drug delivery, which will also be discussed. Conclusions: This review stresses that intersectoral collaboration and the updating of regulatory frameworks are a must to overcome the barriers that confront 3D-printing applications in drug development. can could be an opportunity for innovative licensing and manufacturing techniques in pharmaceutical product development that can change the paradigm of personalized medicine through modern printing techniques.

Phytochemistry, antibacterial and antioxidant properties from Adinandra hongiaoensis and Polyspora huongiana (Theaceae)

Adinandra hongiaoensis and Polyspora huongiana are the rare and native species found in Vietnam. Firstly, the present studies demonstrated the chemical components, antioxidant and antibacterial effects of the acetone extracts from these plants. Here, a total of 54 constituents are identified in the leaf extracts of 2 studied species using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. The P. huongiana extract displayed activity against 3 Staphylococcus strains, including S. saprophyticus, S. aureus ATCC 29213 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 while the A. hongiaoensis extract was not active any studied bacteria. In addition, A. hongiaoensis and P. huongiana extracts was found effective against the DPPH radical scavenger with IC50 value of 213.31 and 47.60 µg/mL respectively. Hopefully, the results of this report will provide a premise further research to apply these species in pharmaceutical product development in the future.

Contributing Factors to Quail Farming Failures in Brebes and Potential Mitigation Strategies

This study aims to identify the determinant factors leading to failure and to explore potential solutions for small-scale quail farmers in Brebes Regency. The research employs a quantitative approach, distributing questionnaires directly to 59 quail farmers in the Brebes region, including both active and inactive participants in quail farming. The questionnaire instrument is designed comprehensively to identify various factors contributing to failure in quail farming enterprises. The survey indicates that quail farmers face several major challenges, including high feed costs, low egg prices, and high quail mortality due to disease. All farmers also experience difficulties in marketing, limited capital, and threats from natural disasters. Lack of knowledge and poor farm management are additional issues, while competition with large-scale farmers makes it difficult for small-scale farmers to survive. Value-added products are considered highly profitable by all respondents. quail farmers in Brebes express a significant need for and strong support of government subsidies for feed costs, marketing assistance, training programs provided by veterinary departments, and the reinforcement of farmer organizations. Additionally, they concur that the adoption of advanced technologies, the enhancement of consumer awareness, the development of value-added products, and the expansion into new markets will contribute to greater efficiency and profitability within their operations.

ANALISIS KUANTITATIF KANDUNGAN PROTEIN PADA OLAHAN KERIPIK BUAH

Fruit chips are a popular snack among the public, as they have a long shelf life and are easy to carry. This study aims to analyze the protein content in various types of fruit chips, including banana chips, papaya chips, and pineapple chips, using the Kjeldahl method. This method was chosen for its ability to measure nitrogen levels, which can be converted into protein content. The results showed that the protein content in papaya chips ranged from 5.150% to 5.462%, in banana chips from 3.250% to 3.762%, and in pineapple chips from 3.169% to 3.919%. Based on these findings, papaya chips have the highest protein content compared to banana and pineapple chips. Factors influencing the difference in protein content include the composition of the fruit, the processing methods, and the drying techniques used in making the chips. The conclusion of this study is that the Kjeldahl method is effective for analyzing the protein content in various types of fruit chips. Papaya chips have the highest protein content, making them a superior choice in terms of nutritional value compared to banana and pineapple chips. This research is expected to serve as a reference for the development of more nutritious fruit chip products.

Maternal and Paternal Education on Italian Monolingual Toddlers’ Language Skills

Background. Language development in toddlers can be influenced by social interactions in environments and proximal contexts with mothers and fathers. We present the literature on mothers’ and fathers’ education level and socioeconomic status on the child’s language development; further evidence is needed in the Italian-speaking context. Aims. The study aims to confirm the role of mother and father education level on toddlers’ language skills assessed with direct and indirect measures. Methods and Procedures. Participants were 51 Italian-speaking children aged 33 to 41 months. Children were tested with a lexical test (PinG test) for comprehension and production of nouns and predicates and a morpho-syntactic test for grammar comprehension (PCGO). Parents of the children completed a demographic form and the Italian adaptation of the MacArthur-Bates CDI long version. Two series of one-way ANCOVAs were performed to study the role of mothers’ and fathers’ level of education on separate measures of their child’s language. Outcomes and Results. Findings suggest that in most families, mothers’ level of education is higher than fathers’ level of education. There was no significant difference between children of parents with low–middle level of education and children of parents with high level of education for the grammar comprehension tasks (PCGO) and indirect measure of vocabulary production (MacArthur-Bates CDI). However, both mothers’ and fathers’ level of education appears to be significant for the direct measurement of word production. Conclusions and Implications. This study provides new evidence for the role of mothers’ and fathers’ education on the development of word production in children aged 33 to 41 months, contributing to enriching the literature on the Italian context; it lays the groundwork for future research on the social and environmental factors that can affect language development.

Development of digital learning media based on augmented reality to improve student learning outcomes of elementary school

Based on observations that have been made at SDN Agungmulyo, there are problems with student learning outcomes, one of which is monotonous learning. The purpose of this study was to develop and see the effect of using Augmented Reality media on student learning outcomes. The type of research in this study is Research and Development (RnD) research that uses the ADDIE research model with the stages of analysis, design, development, implementation, evaluation. The development of Augmented Reality digital-based learning media products in IPAS subjects is considered valid with an average value from experts of 88%. The results showed an increase in student learning outcomes in grade V IPAS subjects there was an increase of 0.8000 with High criteria on a small scale, and an average increase of 0.5384 with Moderate criteria on a large scale, by the N Gain Test which shows an increase in the average before and after implementing learning, then digital Augmented Reality-based learning media can improve student learning outcomes in IPAS Class V subjects at SDN Agungmulyo Pati. Researchers suggest that education in Indonesia is increasingly able to develop application-based learning media for the advancement of education.