Product Mix Research Articles

Developing Excel VBA Functions for the Mathematical Modeling of Three-Dimensional Vectors

The current computer support for operations involving three-dimensional vectors is insufficient, even in widely used programs like Excel. These programs lack customised features specifically designed for vector operations. However, this limitation can be overcome by using the options provided by Visual Basic for Applications. By creating user functions, we can effectively calculate various results related to the mathematical application of vectors. These functions include determining the magnitude and absolute value of a vector, calculating the angle between two vectors or the cosine of that angle, finding the scalar product and vector product of two vectors, and evaluating the mixed product of three vectors. By incorporating these custom functions into the spreadsheet program, users can easily perform mathematical calculations pertaining to three-dimensional vectors.

Cross-sectional study of factors related to declining participation in community gathering places providing communal meals: A social marketing framework

Objectives While Community gathering places known as "kayoi-no-ba" providing communal meals play a crucial role in promoting the health of older adults, the researches supporting their operations and maintenance is limited. Social marketing has been successful in implementing strategic public health programs. This study aimed to identify factors associated with declining participation in kayoi-no-ba providing communal meals using a social marketing framework based on the 4Ps marketing mix (product, promotion, place, and price).Methods In November 2019, this cross-sectional study surveyed kayoi-no-ba providing communal meals nationwide via a mail. A total of 580 kayoi-no-ba organizers with complete data participated. Changes in the number of participants were assessed using a questionnaire in order to determine the decrease since their establishment. Survey items were organized based on the 4Ps marketing mix framework and treated as independent variables. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis was conducted with participant decrease as the dependent variable, and prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated. The opening period and the number of participants at the time of the survey were included as covariates.Results A total of 154 kayoi-no-ba experienced the decline in participants (26.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed the following. For product variables, a high frequency of monthly events was significantly associated with a lower PR for participant decrease (0.92). Among promotion variables, kayoi-no-ba with a registration system had a significantly higher PR for participant decrease (1.49). For place variables, a higher population density in the region was significantly associated with a lower PR (0.90), whereas a higher ratio of the population aged 65 years and older was significantly associated with a higher PR (1.05). The price variables did not show a significant association with the decrease in participants.Conclusions Except price, the other three marketing 4Ps were significantly associated with decreases in participants at kayoi-no-ba providing communal meals. Future efforts should focus on developing and evaluating kayoi-no-ba strategies to ensure sustained participant engagement and promote the health of older adults through communal meals.

Shift of bacterial and fungal communities upon soil amelioration is driven by carbon degradability of organic amendments

The structural response of bacterial and fungal soil communities to four carbon-rich organic amendments of increasing recalcitrance was investigated. Wheat straw, green compost, a mixed product based on biogas residues, and a fermented biochar were applied to a sandy agricultural soil of low organic carbon content. After laboratory incubation for 6 months, the community structure was investigated via DNA sequencing. All amendments caused changes in the communities of bacteria and fungi, but to different extents, with the communities exposed to more recalcitrant amendments showing the least variation compared to the non-amended soil. Changes in species composition as well as their relative abundances were observed. While the straw had a pronounced effect on bacteria (e.g., the highest number of indicator species), effects of the composted, fermented, or pyrolyzed materials were minor. Hierarchical clustering showed that the fungal communities were more different from each other than the bacterial ones with the straw-soil being most different and the biochar-soil least different from the non-amended soil. While the abundant fungal species in biochar-soil and non-amended soil were very alike, especially rare fungal species shifted upon addition of biochar. An indicator species analysis identified specific taxonomic groups which were triggered by the different organic materials. We conclude that bacterial and fungal communities strongly change upon input of degradable carbon (straw), while fungi in particular respond to the application of processed organic materials. With this study, we report the consequences of applying organic materials for the microbial community in one soil. We provide these data for meta-analyses that are required to unravel all relevant interactions across different soils, organic materials, and time. This will allow to better understand and predict the effects of organic soil amelioration measures on soil microorganisms.

Revolutionizing Textile Manufacturing: Sustainable and Profitable Production by Integrating Industry 4.0, Activity-Based Costing, and the Theory of Constraints

The textile industry, a cornerstone of daily life and a highly globalized sector, faces significant environmental challenges due to its high water and energy consumption and extensive chemical usage. This study proposes a comprehensive green production planning and control model integrating Industry 4.0 concepts, activity-based costing (ABC), and the theory of constraints (TOC). The model utilizes mathematical programming to optimize product mix, maximize profitability, and minimize environmental impact. It leverages real-time sensing technologies and ERP systems to facilitate waste recovery, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve energy savings. Various carbon emission cost models, including continuous and discontinuous tax functions, are explored to balance corporate profitability with environmental sustainability. The findings demonstrate the model’s potential in optimizing resource utilization, reducing the environmental footprint, and enhancing profitability.

Assessing the integration of agroecological principles in smallholder farming systems in North African irrigated plains

ABSTRACT This study assesses the extent to which growers integrate the 13 principles of agroecology within their farm activities. This is a first step that helps to determine the changes required in different farm components to foster the adoption of agroecology. We used the holistic Farm-Level Agroecology Criteria Tool (F-ACT) to assess the alignment with agroecological principles of 31 farms representative of smallholder irrigated family farms in the Merguellil Plain region of central Tunisia. Although various agroecological practices were implemented, the results revealed little integration of agroecological principles at the farm level, estimated at 34% of the full transition. In a difficult production resource access context, recycling and reducing inputs were the principles mostly applied, with the goal of improving resource use efficiency and farm system resilience. More specialized and market-oriented farms tended to rely on conventional practices, while diversified farms, often cultivating their own land, exhibited more sustainable practices. Although producers’ dominant rationale was to improve their market access, thereby often resorting to more conventional practices, we nevertheless noted interesting practices such as mixed crop and livestock production, which could facilitate the transition to more agroecological systems in these lowlands where production factors are scarce.

Potential Impacts of Diversification of Food Retail Working Hours on Consumer Behaviour and the Benefits for Local Producers in Latvia

The capability of large food retail chains to respond quickly to changes in consumer behaviour and their dominant market position affects all food market players and often conflicts with the interests of national food producers, which can reduce the presence of locally sourced products in the food product mix in the country. Accordingly, the present research aims to identify the impacts of the diversification of opening hours of food supermarkets on consumer shopping habits and the implications for creating an advantage for small and medium agri-food producers in selling their products. The research applied a quantitative approach to identify the main trends in society (n = 2738), with a survey including 31 variables to quantify consumer behaviour, values, and opinions and seven socio-demographic variables. If a decision was made in Latvia to close grocery shops on Sundays or reduce their opening hours on weekends, 85% of consumers indicated that they would be unlikely to change their usual shopping location and would plan to shop at a supermarket on other days. The choice between farmers’ markets and local food shops on Sundays would be made by 45% of consumers, with more than half (53%) of them shopping at local food shops at least a few times a month. The research uniquely investigated the impact of reducing supermarket opening hours on the competitive advantage of small and medium-sized agri-food producers. The findings revealed that reducing supermarket opening hours does not confer a competitive advantage to the producers or significantly shift consumer preferences towards their products.

Viral Diversity in Mixed Tree Fruit Production Systems Determined through Bee-Mediated Pollen Collection

Commercially cultivated Prunus species are commonly grown in adjacent or mixed orchards and can be infected with unique or commonly shared viruses. Apple (Malus domestica), another member of the Rosacea and distantly related to Prunus, can share the same growing regions and common pathogens. Pollen can be a major route for virus transmission, and analysis of the pollen virome in tree fruit orchards can provide insights into these virus pathogen complexes from mixed production sites. Commercial honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollination is essential for improved fruit sets and yields in tree fruit production systems. To better understand the pollen-associated virome in tree fruits, metagenomics-based detection of plant viruses was employed on bee and pollen samples collected at four time points during the peak bloom period of apricot, cherry, peach, and apple trees at one orchard site. Twenty-one unique viruses were detected in samples collected during tree fruit blooms, including prune dwarf virus (PDV) and prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) (Genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae), Secoviridae family members tomato necrotic ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), tobacco necrotic ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus), prunus virus F (genus Fabavirus), and Betaflexiviridae family member cherry virus A (CVA; genus Capillovirus). Viruses were also identified in composite leaf and flower samples to compare the pollen virome with the virome associated with vegetative tissues. At all four time points, a greater diversity of viruses was detected in the bee and pollen samples. Finally, the nucleotide sequence diversity of the coat protein regions of CVA, PDV, and PNRSV was profiled from this site, demonstrating a wide range of sequence diversity in pollen samples from this site. These results demonstrate the benefits of area-wide monitoring through bee pollination activities and provide new insights into the diversity of viruses in tree fruit pollination ecosystems.

Socio-Economic Characteristics of Producers and Economic Size Classes of Enterprises According To Typologies and Risk Attitudes in TR21 Region

The aim of this study was to determine the typologies of agricultural enterprises operating in the TR21 Region according to the Farm Accounting Data Network methodology and the risk attitudes of the producers. According to the typologies and risk attitudes of the enterprises, the socio-economic characteristics of the producers and the economic size classes of the enterprises were determined. As a result of sampling based on a 95% confidence interval and a 10% margin of error, the number of enterprises surveyed was determined as 334. While 63.77% of the enterprises were specialized in field crops, 25.45% engaged in mixed livestock and plant production. Additionally, 7.49% were specialized in pasture livestock and 3.29% were in the perennial plant farming group. In the enterprises examined, 55.09% of the producers were classified as risk-averse and 44.91% as risk-lover. Of the average land holdings, 71.25% was property and 28.75% was rented land. It was noteworthy that the land rental rate in risk-lover enterprises was higher than in risk-averse enterprises. It was concluded that risk-lover enterprises had higher production value in both plant production and animal production, and risk-averse enterprises were engaged with product and animal diversity as they avoided taking risks. On average, in risk-lover enterprises, 53.64% of the operating expenses were vegetative special expenses and 46.36% were animal special expenses. In risk-averse enterprises, the share of vegetative special expenses in total expenses was 47.15%, and the share of animal special expenses was 52.85%. Compared to the average of enterprises and all enterprise typologies, standard gross profit was found to be higher in risk-lover enterprises. In enterprise typology groups, the average ESU values of the enterprises varied between 10.88 and 33.80 ESU. According to enterprise typologies, risk-averse agricultural enterprises in specialized field crop farming and perennial plant farming were in the below-medium enterprise class, while other enterprise groups were in the above-medium enterprise class.

Spatiotemporal analysis of rainfall and temperature variability and trends for a mixed crop-livestock production system: its implications for developing adaptation strategies

Spatiotemporal analysis of rainfall and temperature variability and trends for a mixed crop-livestock production system: its implications for developing adaptation strategies

Technology innovation to improve SMEs sustainability

Purpose This study aims to analyze the determinants of small and medium enterprise (SME) sustainability through online marketing technology innovation. Design/methodology/approach The study was conducted through a survey in Siak Regency and Dumai City, Riau Province, Indonesia. The study population is small entrepreneurs doing online marketing. The determination of this survey area is by considering: the use of online marketing technology in this area is relatively more developed than other regions; Siak Regency and Dumai City are very prospective to be used as small business development areas based on online marketing; and the sample was determined by purposive random sampling with the criteria of small entrepreneurs who have tried to do online marketing for at least six months. Based on these criteria, there are 301 small entrepreneurs who conduct online marketing as a sample. Findings The sustainability of SMEs is directly and indirectly influenced by government support, human resource quality, innovation costs, economic conditions and business partners through online marketing technology innovations. Online marketing strategy through targeting, segmentation and positioning marketing strategies. Implementation of online marketing technology innovation models: increased government support; improvement of human resources; provision of innovation cost allocation; government policies in maintaining economic stability; and increase in business partners. Research limitations/implications Limited access to data can limit the interpretation of correlations between the variables studied. This limitation is because the available data is limited to certain periods and certain geographical regions. In addition, research time constraints limit the ability to conduct more in-depth interviews and obtain additional data relevant to the topic being studied. Practical implications Practical implications: 1) Targeting marketing strategy is a staged strategy to select a target market. The target market for SME products is intermediary consumers (agents) and end consumers; 2) Segmenting marketing strategy is a stage strategy to determine market segments. The market segment of SME products is based on consumer characteristics, namely, the local market and markets outside the region. SME product market segments based on consumer response characteristics, namely, market segments based on product benefits and consumer loyalty; 3) Positioning marketing strategy is a strategy for the development stage of each product detail placement and the development of a 4P mix strategy, namely, product, price, place and promotion. Social implications The implementation of this research policy is: increased government support in facilitating online marketing; increased human resources in online marketing; provision of cost allocation of innovation in online marketing; government policy in maintaining economic stability; and increased business partners in online marketing. Model implementation requires mentoring and training through cooperation with business partners. Originality/value The sustainability of SMEs requires online marketing technology innovation. These findings can help provide an alternative solution to the weak resources of SMEs. With the discovery of the determining factor for the sustainability of SMEs, it can accelerate the SME digitalization program.

Production of mRNA lipid nanoparticles using advanced crossflow micromixing.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) play a crucial role in RNA-based therapies, and their production is generally based on nanoprecipitation and coalescence of lipids around an RNA core. This study investigated crossflow micromixing to prepare LNPs across various mixing ratios and production speeds. A range of LNPs were prepared using crossflow micromixing across production speeds of 10-500ml/min, and their physico-chemical characteristics (size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and mRNA encapsulation), in vitro mRNA expression and in vitro efficacy (protein expression and antibody and cytokine responses). Our results demonstrate the reproducible production of mRNA-LNPs with controlled critical quality attributes, including high mRNA encapsulation from the initial screening scale through to GMP-scale production, where the same mixing ratio can be adopted across all product speeds from 30 to 500ml/min used. We confirm the applicability of stainless-steel crossflow membrane micromixing for the entire spectrum of mRNA-LNP production, ranging from initial discovery volumes to GMP-production scale.

Accessing the growth of heat‐resistant mold ascospores in potato dextrose agar, isolated from a processed fruit jam—Dependence of temperature, pH, and sugar concentration

AbstractHeat‐resistant molds (HRM) pose a significant threat to food industries due to their ability to survive in high temperatures (pasteurization range) and grow in a variety of environments. To understand how inhibiting variables affect HRM growth, this study evaluated the impact of high sugar concentration (50–60°Brix), low pH (3.5–4.5), and temperature (5–15) on the time (tv) to develop detectable colonies (colony diameter = 2 mm) of three HRM strains (Byssochlamys nivea, Byssochlamys fulva, Neosartorya fischeri) isolated from mixed fruit products. The study found that all HRM strains had relatively short periods of time to develop detectable colonies at 50°Brix, while no visible growth was observed at 60°Brix. Byssochlamys nivea was found to be the most susceptible to low temperatures, requiring up to 43 days to develop detectable colonies at 10°C and unable to grow at colder temperatures. The tv varied from 6 to 27 days based on pH and isolates. HRM's resistance to high sugar concentrations and ability to grow in cold environments pose a threat to the microbiological safety of fruit products. The evaluated data were fitted to several statistical distribution models to support further research on the quantitative microbiological risk in processed fruit products. This study provides valuable insights into how inhibiting variables affect HRM growth and can inform efforts to minimize their impact on fruit‐based product quality and safety.

Black Sea Rising

_ Saipem’s flagship vessel Castorone was contracted to start work this summer on Turkey’s offshore deepwater Sakarya gas field while neighboring Romania prepared to enter Phase 2 of its Neptun Deep gas project. Blessed with some of the same source rock as the hydrocarbon-prolific Caspian Sea (they were one sea in the geologic past), the Black Sea has long been regarded as a frontier basin of great promise, but with unique challenges—earthquakes, sheer slopes plunging to 2200-m depths where sediments are unstable, its bottom-water harbors H2S instead of oxygen, and complex life is nowhere to be found. Straddling Europe and Asia, the Black Sea is surrounded by Turkey, Russia, and other remnants of the USSR and the czarist empire before it: Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Georgia. There is also only one way in and one way out, via Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait whose width varies from 3.7 km (2.3 miles) to 750 m (2,450 ft). The Bosphorus has long been the southern export route for Russian (and Soviet) oil loaded on tankers at Novorossiysk for transport to the Mediterranean, and over years the Black Sea has become crisscrossed by gas pipelines, most notably the Blue Stream and TurkStream, which seemingly cemented Turkey’s role as a transit state and major consumer of Russian gas. Times, though, have changed. With energy security through diversity of supply now top of mind, Romania and Turkey are driving their own exploration and production projects to identify and develop deepwater gas reserves to supply domestic needs as they simultaneously strategize to become future exporters through such infrastructure as the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and liquified natural gas (LNG). Ukraine and Russia, meanwhile, are the wildcards in the region, considering that the largest deepwater deposits in the Black Sea are believed to lie in the unexplored waters of Ukraine. Neptun Deep To Position Romania as Largest EU Gas Producer In June 2023, 50/50 partners Austria’s OMV Petrom and Romanian state-owned Romgaz Black Sea Ltd. took a final investment decision (FID) to proceed with their $4.4-billion Neptun Deep gas project, which data and analytics provider Wood Mackenzie (Woodmac) notes, will make Romania the largest gas producer in the EU. Neptun Deep is the first deepwater development on the Romanian shelf which is part of the northwestern Black Sea Continental Shelf (Fig. 1). According to Woodmac, it was the EU’s largest upstream FID in 2023. With an estimated 100 Bcm in reserves, Neptun Deep aims to produce first gas in 2027 from two fields: the deepwater Domino gas field at 1000-m depth and the shallow-water Pelican Sud (South) at 120-m depth. The project’s 10 wells will tie back to an unmanned shallow-water platform and will deliver 8 Bcm/yr (775 Mcf/D) of gas at plateau for about 10 years (Fig. 2). Neptun Deep’s plateau output will boost OMV Petrom’s production mix to 70% gas from the current 50%, a goal the Austrian operator has set for itself by 2030.

Post-pandemic pursuits: Activity preferences of rural tourists in Western Transdanubia

This study examines the changing preferences of rural tourists in Western Transdanubia, Hungary, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to uncover how rural tourism has changed and identify the new winners of the shifting demand. In 2021, we conducted a comprehensive survey with 925 participants and introduced a novel activity-based segmentation of rural tourists, revealing a strong preference for complex service packages. Practically, our findings highlight that village caterers who have strategically segmented the market have emerged as winners, successfully attracting different age groups and genders with customized packages. Cluster analysis revealed a segment of rural tourists who, without exception, were enthusiastic about diverse activities. In particular, our cross-cluster analysis points to a significant amount of potential demand among middle-aged tourists. These findings help practitioners develop a targeted product mix and marketing strategy to meet the changing demands of rural tourism.

Benefits and challenges of the public food procurement program: Perspectives of technicians and managers of family farmer organizations in Brazil

Public food purchase programs are a useful tool for promoting food security through rural development, supporting family farmers, and encouraging sustainable and healthy food production. The study aimed to analyse the characteristics of family farmer organizations associated with the Brazilian Public Food Procurement (PFP) program and the opinion of technicians and managers of the organizations regarding the benefits and challenges of the program. A cross-sectional study was conducted through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire contained questions regarding the characteristics of the organization and the food sales process, as well as the opinion about the benefits and challenges of PFP. The results were stratified according to the organization’s participation in the PFP. The chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test was applied. A total of 293 managers and technicians from family farmer organizations participated in the study. The majority of participants (71.7 %) reported their involvement in the PFP program. The study revealed that farmer organizations and public technical assistance agencies with larger memberships and employing conventional or mixed production methods were found to be more actively engaged in the PFP program across Brazil. Participants highlighted that direct sales under the program offer benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment. However, challenges identified include seasonal production constraints, bureaucratic hurdles in sales procedures, inadequate infrastructure for food storage and processing within farmer organizations, insufficient information from restaurants about purchasing opportunities, and a lack of support and technical assistance. These factors pose implementation challenges for the PFP program. While the PFP program shows promise in promoting direct sales and supporting local farmers, addressing the identified challenges will be crucial for its sustained success and broader adoption across different regions.

THE IMPACT OF RECYCLED FINE AGGREGATE ON SELECTED PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE

The use of recycled fine aggregate in the production of concrete mixes is one of the elements of a circular economy. However, it is important to ensure that such a modification does not significantly affect the durability of the produced concrete elements. One possible criterion to check whether this condition is met is the practical application of the concept of equivalent concrete properties. The presented studies analyzed the properties of concrete with multi-component cement CEM V/A (S-V) and with recycled fine aggregate. The conducted analyses of the research results showed that with a 15% replacement level of natural sand with recycled sand, it is possible to maintain durability characteristics compared to concrete using only natural sand.

Persepsi Konsumen Terhadap Bauran Pemasaran Produk Se’i Babi pada Rumah Makan Baun, Kecamatan Amarasi Barat

Pork is one of the commodities that is widely consumed by people in East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), with se'i meat as one of its superior processed products. Se'i pork, which goes through a traditional smoking process, has a distinctive taste and aroma that makes it favored by many consumers. Based on data from the Kupang City BPS in 2021, the pig population in NTT reached 2.6 million heads, and pork production reached 26.81 million tons. This makes NTT one of the regions with the highest pork production in Indonesia. Along with the increase in the pig population, the consumption of processed pork products, especially se'i, has also increased, driving the growth of the pork se'i agroindustry in the region. The city of Kupang and its surroundings has many restaurant businesses that offer pork se'i, including Baun pork se'i restaurant, which is known for its location in the West Amarasi area. However, marketing factors such as price, location, product, and promotion in the marketing mix of pork products in Baun have not been analyzed in detail. Therefore, this study was conducted to understand consumer perception of the marketing mix of pork products in Baun and the factors that affect purchase decisions. This study aims to analyze consumer perception of the marketing mix of pork in baun, analyze factors that affect consumer decision-making. Price, location, product, and promotion are factors that affect the marketing mix of pork products in Baun. The sampling method uses an accidental sampling technique, while the data collection for primary data uses a list of questions that have been prepared and secondary data is taken from related agencies. Meanwhile, the data analysis method uses binary logistics analysis. The results of the study show that the consumer perception of pork sausage is included in the level of very fondness, and the factors that affect the marketing mix of pork sausage are price, location, and promotion while the product has no effect on the marketing mix of pork sausage in Baun.

Efficient glycosylation of polyphenols via dynamic complexation of cyclodextrin and synchronous coupling reaction with cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase in water

Glycosylation is an effective way to promote the total intake of polyphenols in humans by increasing the solubility of polyphenols. In this study, an efficient glycosylation system was built via the dynamic complexation of CD with polyphenols and synchronous coupling reaction with cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) in water. The glycosylation efficiencies of quercetin, naringenin, rutin, resveratrol and caffeic acid were 20.9, 3.6, 2.7, 3.4 and 1.5 times higher than the non-complexed system. To quantify conversion rate and determine the rate-limiting step, the mixed product was treated with amyloglucosidase to obtain α-glucosyl rutin, which was identified as rutin 4”-O-α-D-glucopyranoside with purity of 93.6 % and yield of 34.8 % from NMR, MS and HPLC analysis. The results of half-reaction kinetics showed that the catalytic efficiencies of ring-opening of γ-CD (k1) and glycosylation reaction of rutin (k2) were 621.92 and 9.43 mM−1·s−1. The rate-limiting step was clarified for the first time, showing that the ring-opening ability of CGTase to CD was much higher than its glycosylation ability to polyphenols. It is speculated that the rapid ring-opening reaction of CD affected its dynamic complexation, releasing many polyphenols which were not utilized by CGTase in time. Therefore, adjusting the ratio and concentration of CD resulted in an optimal glycosylation molar yield of 84.1 % for rutin, which was the highest yield reported so far in water. This study established a universal system and clarified the rate-limiting step in the enzymatic glycosylation, providing theoretical guidance for efficient production of polyphenol glycosylation.

Linear Programming and Product Mix of Paint Manufacturing Firms in Port Harcourt

This study examined the relationship between linear programming and product mix of paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. This study adopted a correlational survey research design. The population of the study was 10 selected paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt as retrieved from Nigerian business directory (2024). 3 managers were selected from each firm multiplied by 10 firms gives us a total of 30 respondents. Structured questionnaire was used in data collection. The result of the Cronbach's Alpha reliability test indicates .804 which is above .70 which implies that the items are reliable. Pearson product moment correlation was used to test the hypotheses using SPSS (statistical package social sciences). The study revealed that there is a significant relationship between Ellipsoid Linear Programming and Product Mix of paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. There is a significant relationship between Graphical method Linear Programming and Product Mix of paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. There is a significant relationship between Simplex Linear Programming and Product Mix of paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt. In conclusion, Linear programming is a powerful mathematical tool that can be effectively utilized by paint manufacturing firms in Port Harcourt to optimize their product mix and maximize profits. The paint manufacturing firms should conduct a thorough analysis of market demand for different types of paint products to identify profitable opportunities for product mix optimization.

Sacrificial ceramics powders mix for titanium alloys complex shapes production by hybridization of SPS and 3D printing

The production of complex shapes via Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is challenging due to intricate die configurations. The “DEFORMINT” approach combines 3D printing with SPS and sacrificial powder to fabricate fully dense shapes. Using the same powder for both the component and sacrificial part avoids distortions, but high costs of titanium alloys like Ti-6Al-4 V are limiting. This study tested a low-cost ceramic powder that mimics Ti-6Al-4 V's behavior, forming a pseudo-isostatic configuration above 1250 K. SPS experiments established a densification model and predicted distortions in a thick cone and a thin, complex turbine blade, showing good correlation with experimental results. The new sacrificial mix does not imply additional deformation and allows the fabrication of turbine blades. The only defect is a 600 μm skin effect at the contact interface.