Related Products Research Articles

Digital innovation and automation of business processes using quick response code: advancing the means-end chain theory

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to investigate customer shopping behaviour for Italian market, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) using the quick response (QR) code. The study uses means-end chain (MEC) theory to explore the connections between product attributes, personal values and consumer preferences.Design/methodology/approachThe theory of means-end chain helps to uncover the underlying reasons why consumers choose specific products by examining the links between tangibles. There is a conceptual model developed with the help of MEC. The conceptual framework comprises product information and marketing communication, which constitute the sensory and non-sensory aspects of consumption behaviour, and it is empirically tested by CB-SEM technique. QR code usefulness and loyalty are treated as mediators to evaluate shopping behaviour to purchase EVOO.FindingsThe study has used MEC theory and has extended this theory. This study found that there is a profound impact of technology (QR code) on the buying behaviour of EVOO for the Italian customers. This study has also found that product information and product communication play a critical role towards shopping behaviour of Italian consumers regarding EVOO related products.Research limitations/implicationsInnovation and technology adoption, especially the use of QR codes in understanding product features, has been an attractive area for research exploration. This could include details about the product’s origin, production methods and nutritional information. Such technology and innovation can change the business process management landscape of food-product distribution process. Not many studies are available which examine customers’ interest and shopping behaviour using QR codes, especially in the context of EVOO. Thus, this research study has a profound impact on the Italian and other European market.Originality/valueIn the Italian market, EVOO is more than just a product, it is a symbol of tradition, quality and cultural heritage. EVOO is not just a condiment, it is an essential ingredient that contributes to the overall flavour of dishes. This study explores the usage of QR code for EVOO related products. This is a unique study as there are a very few research studies available in this area of business process management and technology usage related to EVOO products. Moreover, this research study adds values to the body of literature of business process management, technology usage, innovation and food technology. Thus, this study is unique and adds value to the existing literature.

The Emergence of a Novel Synthetic Nicotine Analog 6-Methyl Nicotine (6-MN) in Proclaimed Tobacco- and Nicotine-Free Pouches Available in Europe.

A new nicotine delivery system in the form of tobacco-free nicotine pouches was introduced in Europe in 2019. These nicotine bags did not fall under the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) II, which brought forward regulatory requirements for both cigarettes, related products, and e-liquids. As these pouches did not fall under the scope of the TPD, it was up to the member states to decide which action to be taken if any. Some EU member states banned these nicotine pouches, while others put restrictions on the amount of nicotine, warning messages, and presentation and packaging of the product, and some member states did not take any action. Likely as a result of the ban or restrictions, soon after also, tobacco and nicotine-free pouches became available in the European Union (EU). Early 2024, "NoNIC" pouches, claiming to be tobacco- and nicotine-free, became available on the European market. These pouches are promoted online and clearly target a younger population with a youth-appealing package design and enticing flavors. Upon analysis of different samples utilizing gas chromatography coupled to MS (GC-MS), liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (HRAM LC-MS2), and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), it was demonstrated that these pouches were indeed devoid of nicotine but contained the synthetic nicotine homolog 6-methyl nicotine (6-MN) and this up to 20 mg per pouch. Nonetheless, a part of a likely unaware/misled young adult subpopulation has easy access to these products, containing a novel molecule for which limited to no clinical effects are known.

Unearthing the code of Gondwana VR

ABSTRACT This paper explores the intersection of computer code and virtual environments through the lens of Critical Code Studies (CCS). By examining the virtual ecosystem Gondwana, I uncover the layers of meaning embedded in its code by the programmer. The theoretical framework of CCS provides a foundation for interpreting code as a text that carries cultural, social, and philosophical interpretations. Through this analysis, I evidence not only what the code does but also what it signifies within the context of digital artworks and related production pipelines. By focusing on the underlying code, I highlight the impact of developers on the conceptualization of virtual environments and the potential for code interpretation as a tool for critique in the field of Virtual Reality (VR).

Hidden Giant of Embedded Plastics in China.

Combating plastic pollution requires an understanding of the complex intersectoral flows of plastics and related products. In this study, we develop an inventory of 150 categories of products consisting of/containing plastics based on bottom-up analysis and establish a plastics input-output material flow analysis (PIO-MFA) model that reveals intersectoral flows, sectoral consumption, exports, and stocks of embedded plastics. In 2018, consumption-based plastic usage in China reached 140 million tons (Mt), with 123.5 Mt being embedded plastics. Approximately 75.5% of embedded plastics were consumed domestically, and 21.3% were exported. Among the plastics exported, embedded plastics accounted for 68.5%, indicating the importance of the implicit transfer of embedded plastics through global trade. Furthermore, based on ambitious recycling targets, the amount of recycled plastics in China is expected to increase by 27.8 Mt. Plastics embedded in containers and packaging have the highest reduction potential, while joint efforts from the entire supply chain are crucial to reduce the amount of such plastics as industrial sectors consume 32.4% of embedded plastics. Identifying high plastic consumption sectors is critical for balancing economic and social goals with pollution control and ensuring comprehensive plastic treaty compliance. The PIO-MFA method's foreseeable future expansion to a global level is expected to inform plastic treaty obligations and support the development and implementation of national action plans.

Ring opening of epoxides: a facile approach towards the synthesis of polyketides and related stereoenriched natural products: a review.

Epoxides are significant heterocycles in the structural makeup of a variety of natural products. Their ring-opening reactions have emerged as a versatile and efficient strategies for synthesizing a variety of functionalized molecules. Such reactions have been extensively applied towards the preparation of complex naturally occurring products. The focus on epoxide ring-opening reactions within the scientific community has been increased, influenced by the goal to understand the synthesis of compounds that are important for their biological and structural significance. In this article, we have provided a concise account on the applications of epoxide's ring cleavage towards the syntheses of polyketides and related naturally occurring compounds, documented since last decade (2014-2023).

Optimizing integrated distributed flexible job-shop scheduling and customer order delivery

ABSTRACT This study addresses the Distributed Flexible Job-Shop Scheduling Problem (DFJSP) while considering the delivery of customer orders and transportation time. To tackle the problem, a mathematical model is presented, and a novel variant of the Genetic Algorithm (GA), called Time-Travel GA (TTGA), is developed. The optimization objectives include minimizing the total orders’ delivery time to the related customers, reducing transportation and production costs, reducing manufacturing pollution, and maximizing the quality of completed orders. The performance of TTGA is tested by implementing it in a real-life manufacturing setting. Additionally, TTGA results are compared with those of four other algorithms over a set of test problems. Furthermore, the solutions obtained by TTGA are compared with the optimal solutions obtained by a commercial solver for small-size problems. The results of these comparisons collectively demonstrate the promising performance of TTGA in addressing the DFJSP.

Use of multiple reference data sources to cross-validate gridded snow water equivalent products over North America

Abstract. We use snow course and airborne gamma data available over North America to compare the validation of gridded snow water equivalent (SWE) products when evaluated with one reference dataset versus the other. We assess product performance across both non-mountainous and mountainous regions, determining the sensitivity of relative product rankings and absolute performance measures. In non-mountainous areas, product performance is insensitive to the choice of SWE reference dataset (snow course or airborne gamma): the validation statistics (bias, unbiased root mean squared error, and correlation) are consistent with one another. In mountainous areas, the choice of reference dataset has little impact on relative product ranking but a large impact on assessed error magnitudes (bias and unbiased root mean squared error). Further analysis indicates the agreement in non-mountainous regions occurs because the reference SWE estimates themselves agree up to spatial scales of at least 50 km, comparable to the grid spacing of most available SWE products. In mountain areas, there is poor agreement between the reference datasets, even at short distances (< 5 km). We determine that differences in assessed error magnitudes result primarily from the range of SWE magnitudes sampled by each method, although their respective spatiotemporal distribution and elevation differences between the reference measurements and grid centroids also play a role. We use this understanding to produce a combined reference SWE dataset for North America, applicable to future gridded SWE product evaluations and other applications.

Investigating the Optimal Membrane‐Based Separation of Cynaroside From Peony Seed Meals and Assessing Its Biomedical Implications

ABSTRACTThis comprehensive study focused on evaluating and selecting seven distinct commercial membranes to develop BTESE/PA membranes. This method effectively facilitated the extraction of cynaroside from the complex composition of peony seed meal. We subsequently conducted a thorough investigation into its biological properties. These findings establish a robust foundation for future research and the development of related products. The peak concentration achieved by peony seed meal filtration (PSMF) was 234.84 ± 1.17 μg/mL. Among the commercial membranes evaluated, the PA membrane exhibited superior separation capabilities, leading to its selection for BTESE loading. Compared with BTESE treated with HCl and NH3, the HCl variant, once incorporated into the BTESE/PA membrane, enhanced cynaroside separation, achieving an impressive 90.23% recovery rate. A comprehensive investigation of the biological effects of cynaroside revealed its crucial antioxidant role, especially in SOD binding. Additionally, cynaroside has the potential to induce apoptosis in K562 cells through interactions with BCL‐2 and CDK‐2 enzymes. Pharmacophore screening revealed the affinity of cynaroside for the PDE5A, TNKS2, and DAPK1 proteins, suggesting that it has diverse potential applications.

Assessment of extreme climate stress across China’s maize harvest region in CMIP6 simulations

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of climate extremes, which will negatively impact crop production. As one of the main food and feed crops, maize is also vulnerable to extreme climate events. In order to accurately and comprehensively assess the future climate risk to maize, it is urgent to project and evaluate the stress of extreme climate related maize production under future climate scenarios. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the spatio-temporal changes in the frequency and intensity of six extreme climate indices (ECIs) across China’s maize harvest region by using a multi-model ensemble method, and examined the capability of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) to capture these variations. We found that the Independence Weight Mean (IWM) ensemble results calculated by multiple Global Climate Models (GCMs) with bias correction could better reproduce each ECI. The results indicated that heat stress for maize showed consistent increase trends under four future climate scenarios in the 21st century. The intensity and frequency of the three extreme temperature indices in 2080s were significantly higher than these in 2040s, and in the high emission scenario were significantly higher than these in the low emission scenario. The three extreme precipitation indices changed slightly in the future, but the spatial changes were more significant. Therefore, with the uncertainty of climate change and the differences of climate characteristics in different regions, the optimization of specific management measures should be considered in combination with the specific conditions of future local climate change.

Socio-economic impact of Woodfuel production in dryland environment of Ethiopia

Policymakers and other planners often discuss woodfuel production in relation to environmental sustainability, energy, and livelihood. There is a growing awareness of the negative environmental impacts of woodfuel, such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the relationship between woodfuel production and other socio-economic and livelihood issues has been less explored. This study aims to investigate the socioeconomic implications of woodfuel production in Ethiopia's dry woodlands. A total of 1114 respondents were selected from households that produce woodfuel and those that do not. Data was collected through key informant interviews, focus groups, and household surveys. The study examined the impact of woodfuel production on total annual cash income and overall livelihood assets using a propensity score matching (PSM) model. Woodfuel contributes significantly to household income, with charcoal accounting for 35.9% and firewood for 6.6% of total yearly cash income. On average, woodfuel makes up between 4.5% and 70% of total yearly cash revenue for households. The impact of woodfuel production on households' yearly cash income and overall livelihood assets was Ethiopian Birr 21,673.63($387) and Ethiopian Birr 10,304.21($184), respectively. The findings suggest that organizations and planners should prioritize sustainable woodfuel production by balancing socioeconomic, institutional, and technological with environmental impacts.

Episodic marine anoxia, primary production, and weathering controls on carbon‑sulfur cycling in the Early Cambrian Yangtze Block

The Early Cambrian Period has received significant attention for decades owing to its geological records of unprecedented skeletal fossils, suggesting a major bio-event known as “the Cambrian Explosion.” Notwithstanding, related primary production and marine redox variation with respect to evolution of biota remain elusive. These factors are intimately linked to marine carbon‑sulfur cycling, promoting an extensive use of related isotopes (e.g., δ13C and δ34S) as paleoenvironmental proxies. Nevertheless, bulk-rock δ34S and δ13C may reflect multigenerational 34S/32S and 13C/12C isotopic fractionations. Herein, we analyzed drill cores from continuous depth profiles in the recently discovered Qingchuan-Ziyang-Yibin intrashelf basin for δ34S of sedimentary sulfate (δ34Ssulf), δ13C of carbonates (δ13Ccarb), and bulk-rock elements. We find that highly positive (+23.60 ‰ to +29.90 ‰) and negative (as low as −12 ‰) δ34Ssulf V-CDT are associated with samples exhibiting low and high detrital inputs, respectively. In contrast, total sulfur and δ13Ccarb V-PDB show no relationship with terrigenous materials. Enrichment factors of molybdenum (MoEF) and uranium (UEF), biogenic contents of nickel (Nibio) and copper (Cubio), as well as total organic carbon (TOC), are all widely distributed among the samples. Integration of these findings with existing data from shallow to deep marine environments in the Yangtze Block, supports the following conclusions: (1) Five episodes of widespread marine anoxia coincide with extensive primary production. (2) Inputs of terrigenous materials promote 32S-enriched sulfate, which adds to subsequent biochemical fractionations, resulting in generally complex pathways for δ34S of pyrite. (3) Terrigenous nutrients were critical to extensive marine primary production.

Unveiling the influence of open metal sites in quasi ZIF-67 for eco-friendly catalysis of solvent-free aldehyde cyanosilylation

Quasi metal–organic frameworks (Q-MOFs) containing a high density of open metal centers are considered as an effective method of expanding the effectiveness of defective MOF-based catalysts. To achieve this, quasi ZIF-67 (Q-ZIF-67), having large scale structural defects in the framework, is produced through partial deligandation of ZIF-67 under controlled thermal treatment at 310 °C in air. This generates many unsaturated cobalt centers as Lewis acid sites, and results in the coexistence of micro and meso-pores within the Q-ZIF-67 network. Subsequently Q-ZIF-67 was employed in the catalytic cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde with trimethylsilyl cyanide, resulting in the corresponding cyanohydrin within 30 min under solvent free-conditions in air at 40 °C and room temperature with TOF values of 1.62, 1.53 min−1, respectively. The related cyanohydrin product was identified via 1H NMR. Importantly, Q-ZIF-67 displayed a highly efficient heterogeneous Lewis acid catalyst for the cyanosilylation of benzaldehyde compared to the pristine ZIF-67 and related cobalt oxide. Furthermore, investigating the impact of the electron-donating and electron-withdrawing para-substitutions on benzaldehyde revealed that electron-withdrawing groups are suitable for nucleophilic reactions. It was also observed that there was no significant decrease in catalytic activity after five catalytic runs. Thus, the Q-ZIF-67 has considerable potential as environmentally friendly catalyst for wide range of practical application in aldehyde cyanosilylation reactions.

Finding Effective Factor for Circular Economy Using Uncertain MCDM Approach

The paper aims to analyze the efficiency of the related criterion for adopting the circular economy concepts. The five related criteria, namely sustainability, resource management, product lifespan, collaboration and partnerships, and technology-innovation, are considered to formulate the decision-making models. For methodology, interval-valued DEMATEL is considered. Multi expert’s data sets are taken to reach the final decision. Finally, analysis of the result in an uncertain environment and the scatter diagram to examine the dependency among the criteria.

Application of biogenic silver nanoparticle incorporated nanofibers in biomedical science

The applications of nanotechnology are expanding into medical science for designing new medical devices related products. These products can deliver targeted therapies to diseases such as cancer and peripheral artery treatment. Therefore, with the goal to treat peripheral artery disease, we integrated biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PEG-PCL) nanofibrous (NFs). The AgNPs-NFs mats were successfully fabricated using a blended electrospinning process. AgNPs with average sizes of 35–55 nm were produced and characterized using multiple techniques such as UV–Vis spectroscopy, TEM, SEM and FTIR. Nanofibrous membranes containing 1 %, 2 %, and 3 % AgNPs by weight were developed, showing a reduction in fiber diameter from 473 nm to 179 nm due to the introduction of charged particles. The scaffold’s suitability and drug release profile were critically analyzed, revealing results consistent with optimal biomedical applications. Preliminary studies indicated that AgNPs dose-dependent inhibition of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) may potentially help prevent atherosclerosis. These findings underscore the potential of AgNPs integrated PEG-PCL NFs mats for advanced biomedical applications.

Medicinal potential of adventitious root cultures of Hypericum perforatum: study on antioxidant stress and anti-melanogenic properties.

Adventitious root (AR) culture is an effective method for the production of Hypericum perforatum raw materials. However, the ARs are seldom utilized in practical applications. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of H. perforatum ARs on antioxidative stress and anti-melanogenesis, aiming for future applications in the development of related products. In the antioxidative stress experiment, tert-butyl hydroperoxide-stimulated HepG2 cells were pre-treated with 12.5-50 μg mL-1 of AR ethanolic extract (HpE), which significantly increased (P < 0.05) cell viability and reduced reactive oxygen species levels. In alcohol-stimulated mice, pre-treatment with HpE (2.5-10 mg kg-1) enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, ethanol dehydrogenase, and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, while reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and triglycerides. In the anti-melanogenesis experiment, α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16-F10 mouse melanoma cells were pre-treated with 25-100 μg mL-1 of HpE, resulting in increased tyrosinase activity and melanin content, along with a decrease in the expression levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase-related proteins, and tyrosinase. HpE efficiently protects HepG2 cells from oxidative stress and safeguards the liver in mice by mitigating oxidative damage. Additionally, HpE inhibits melanin synthesis in B16-F10 cells by suppressing tyrosinase activity. These findings suggest that H. perforatum ARs hold potential for use in the development of healthy foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products aimed at antioxidative stress and anti-melanogenesis. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Research on Sustainable Design of Smart Charging Pile Based on Machine Learning

With the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, the importance of the user experience and product sustainability requirements for intelligent charging stations has become increasingly significant. However, accurately capturing the complex associations between design features and sustainability elements remains challenging. Therefore, this study aims to balance user needs and environmental standards in designing smart charging piles, ensuring adherence to symmetry principles. This balance addresses the growing demand for personalization and ensures sustainability. In this paper, the semiotic approach to product construction (SAPAD) model is introduced to analyze the user behavioral process in depth and clarify the core needs of users. Subsequently, these core needs are translated into specific technical requirements for products, and a correlation matrix linking user needs with product technical requirements is constructed using fuzzy quality function deployment (FQFD) to identify design features that fulfill the user requirements. The sustainability factors are then comprehensively evaluated and prioritized based on three dimensions: economic, environmental, and social, i.e., the triple bottom line (TBL). Furthermore, a mapping matrix is developed to connect the design features and sustainability factors, which is combined with the particle swarm optimization–random forest (PSO-RF) algorithm to predict the sustainability factors associated with design features that meet users’ needs. The number of branches m and the maximum depth d of the random forest (RF) algorithm are optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method. The results indicate that the SAPAD-FQFD model effectively identifies the user needs and relevant product design features. In contrast, the PSO-RF model adeptly manages the nonlinear relationships between charging pile design features and various sustainability factors, e.g., aesthetics and material selection, ensuring that the intelligent charging pile meets users’ core needs in terms of form and function, while embodying the principles of design symmetry. This integrated approach effectively bridges the gap between user needs analysis and product functional design, ensuring the sustainability of the design solution. This study contributes a sustainable framework for the development and design of smart charging piles and related products, further promoting the adoption of green design principles and symmetry design concepts within the supporting infrastructure of new energy vehicles.

Catalytic Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of β,γ-Unsaturated α-Diketones.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) has been recognized as a highly valuable strategy that allows access to enantioenriched substances and has been widely applied in the industrial production of drug molecules. However, despite the great success in ATH of ketones, highly efficient, regio- and stereoselective ATH on enones remains underdeveloped. Moreover, optically pure acyloins and 1,2-diols are both extremely useful building blocks in organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials science, but concise asymmetric approaches allowing access to different types of acyloins and 1,2-diols have scarcely been discovered. We report in this paper the first highly efficient ATH of readily accessible β,γ-unsaturated α-diketones. The protocol affords four types of enantioenriched acyloins and four types of optically pure 1,2-diols in highly regio- and stereoselective fashion. The synthetic value of this work has been showcased by the divergent synthesis of four related natural products. Moreover, systematic mechanistic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have illustrated the origin of the reactivity divergence, revealed the different roles of aromatic and aliphatic substituents in the substrates, and provided a range of unique mechanistic rationales that have not been disclosed in ATH-related studies.

Clam diet and production in relation to the spatial pattern of food source inputs and quality: A stable isotope approach

We used four stable isotopes to determine the spatial variability in the diet of Mya arenaria in the Plum Island Sound estuary, Massachusetts, USA and compared diet to the production rate of dietary food sources. Clams were collected for a year along the estuary and their diet determined at each site with four stable isotopes, δ13C, δ15N, δ34S and δ2H, using the Bayesian mixing model (MixSIAR). We compared diet composition and its quality to patterns of clam production. The results showed that M. arenaria depended on locally produced organic matter, the availability of which varied along the estuary. For the lower estuary, the dominant food source for clams was ocean/estuarine unicellular algal particulate organic matter followed by salt marsh detritus. Brackish and riverine organic matter sources were of secondary importance. For the upper estuary, the relative importance of brackish marsh and riverine organic matter increased. The net inputs of organic matter from the river, tidal marshes and unicellular algae were closely matched with the dietary composition of clams. The down estuary pattern of increasing clam productivity was best predicted by a similar pattern in suspended particulate organic matter quality as indicated by the ratio of C:N. The C:N ratio decreased from about 10.5:1 to 7.4:1 along the region of clam growth. We also found that δ2H was a useful tracer, effectively discriminating between marsh-derived and aquatic algae-derived organic matters and significantly increasing the predictive power and reliability of the mixing model. Our study provides fundamental knowledge on suitable habitats for the M. arenaria growth in the Plum Island estuary and insights into selecting stable isotopes for elucidating feeding ecology and trophic dynamics of estuarine organisms.

Contact Lens Regulation: Where Have We Been, Where are We Going?

The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission influence the contact lens (CL) market, with the Food and Drug Administration regulating CLs as medical devices and the Federal Trade Commission dictating how they are prescribed and sold. Legislative oversight came to the forefront in 2004, when the Contact Lens Rule was introduced, drastically changing how CLs are prescribed and distributed. This article examines the evolution of CL regulations over the past two decades and discusses how regulation, such as allowing passive verification, has shaped the current and evolving CL market. We also explore how related products (decorative CLs, artificial tears) are regulated and compare US regulations with those abroad. Finally, we discuss how future technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, promise to change the CL industry and its regulation worldwide.

Integrating Kansei engineering, analytic hierarchy process, and quality function development in elderly-oriented seating design

To deeply understand the psychological and emotional needs of the elderly population, this study proposes a seat design method combining Kansei engineering (KE), analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and quality function development (QFD). The method aims to fulfill the functional needs of the seat and focuses on capturing the emotional imagery of the elderly group, thus enhancing the emotional experience of the users. Factor analysis (FA) was used to conceptualize the user’s perceptual vocabulary data, AHP to assess the relative importance of these perceptual words, and morphological analysis to deconstruct the characteristics of the seat components. Finally, the mapping relationship between user perceptual data and design features was established through QFD. The FA and AHP results showed that the emotional needs of the elderly for seating are primarily focused on the sense of lightness (32.5%), simplicity (45.7%), and sophistication (21.8%); and QFD analysis results show that among seating components, the No. 6 seat back, No. 1 seat cushion, No. 2 door post, and No. 2 seat leg have the highest importance and can best meet the emotional needs of elderly users. This design method effectively improves the product’s suitability for the elderly and provides a valuable reference for related product design.