Industrial Products Research Articles

THE IMPACT OF THE CARBON BORDER ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM (CBAM) ON EXPORT ACTIVITIES INTO THE EU MARKET

This study clarifies the impact of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) on the export activities of enterprises that produce six main affected industrial products: iron and steel, cement, fertilizer, aluminium, electricity, and hydrogen. Secondary data is included in descriptive statistics, thereby analyzing the context, current situation and economic-technical impact on the export activities of each item, especially the 05 items that Vietnam exports to the EU market. From there, the article proposes recommendations and strategies to respond to the opportunities and challenges brought by CBAM. Research results show that CBAM puts pressure on export businesses at an early stage. However, in the long term, this policy will help businesses increase competitiveness and create surplus value with reduced costs. Keywords: CBAM; export; EU; sustainable development.

Oral mucosal changes caused by nicotine pouches: case series

Oral nicotine pouches are the latest products in the tobacco industry. They are manufactured by large tobacco companies and entice tobacco or nicotine addicts, although the products are presented as a ‘harmless choice.’ Nevertheless, dentists and oral health specialists worry about oral mucosal changes due to product interactions with the oral mucosa. Unfortunately, there are no case reports of oral mucosal changes from nicotine pouches that are also investigated histopathologically. The aim of the present study was to visually and histopathologically investigate oral mucosal changes in nicotine pouch users. An online retrospective survey regarding medical and dental health, dietary habits, and tobacco consumption habits was conducted (n = 50). Respondents were selected for further intraoral and histopathological investigation based on the inclusion criteria. All five respondents had oral lesions that were histopathologically analyzed. Visually, the lesions varied in form and intensity, but all appeared white at the location where the pouches were placed. Histopathological analyses revealed parakeratosis with acanthotic epithelium, intraepithelial and connective tissue oedema, and chronic inflammatory infiltration with lymphocytes and macrophages. Participants received information about nicotine cessation and oral health recommendations. In conclusion, nicotine pouches significantly impacted oral mucosa with white lesions that revealed important changes at the cellular level.

TAFENet: A Two-Stage Attention-Based Feature-Enhancement Network for Strip Steel Surface Defect Detection

Strip steel serves as a crucial raw material in numerous industries, including aircraft and automobile manufacturing. Surface defects in strip steel can degrade the performance, quality, and appearance of industrial steel products. Detecting surface defects in steel strip products is challenging due to the low contrast between defects and background, small defect targets, as well as significant variations in defect sizes. To address these challenges, a two-stage attention-based feature-enhancement network (TAFENet) is proposed, wherein the first-stage feature-enhancement procedure utilizes an attentional convolutional fusion module with convolution to combine all four-level features and then strengthens the features of different levels via a residual spatial-channel attention connection module (RSC). The second-stage feature-enhancement procedure combines three-level features using an attentional self-attention fusion module and then strengthens the features using a RSC attention module. Experiments on the NEU-DET and GC10-DET datasets demonstrated that the proposed method significantly improved detection accuracy, thereby confirming the effectiveness and generalization capability of the proposed method.

Photocatalytic dihydroxylation of light olefins to glycols by water

Aliphatic diols such as ethylene and propylene glycol are the key products in the chemical industry for manufacturing polymers. The synthesis of these molecules usually implies sequential processes, including epoxidation of olefins using hydrogen peroxide or oxygen with subsequent hydrolysis to glycols. Direct hydroxylation of olefins by cheap and green oxidants is an economically attractive and environmentally friendly route for the synthesis of diols. Here, we report a photocatalytic reaction for the dihydroxylation of ethylene and propylene to their glycols at room temperature using water as the oxidant. The photocatalyst contains Pd clusters stabilized by sub-nanometric polyoxometalate with TiO2 as the host material. Under light irradiation, it results in production rates of ethylene glycol and propylene glycols of 146.8 mmol·gPd−1·h−1 and 28.6 mmol·gPd−1·h−1 with liquid-phase selectivities of 63.3 % and 80.0 %, respectively. Meanwhile, green hydrogen derived from water is produced as another valuable product. Combined spectroscopy investigation suggests that the reaction proceeds via π-bonded adsorption of olefins over Pd clusters with hydroxylation by hydroxyl radicals formed by photocatalytic dissociation of water.

Natural polymers for emerging technological applications: cellulose, lignin, shellac and silk

AbstractIn an effort to stave off the growth of electronic waste (e‐waste) that poses a critical environmental dilemma, scientists often look into nature as an unending inspirational pool of materials and chemical processes that ensure functionality, performance and safe dissolution at the end of life cycle. This short review highlights only four organic polymer materials of natural origin (i.e. cellulose, lignin, shellac and silk) from the very large pool of natural (bio)polymeric materials and looks not only into the recent developments at the industrial scale but also into the emerging niche applications of these materials, while highlighting their implementation into electronics and sensor development. This review exemplifies that natural polymeric materials have great potential for the development of eco‐friendly electronics, in other words the class of industrial products that has carefully considered the important issues of biocompatibility, biodegradability (even compostability), cost of production and energy expanded in production (i.e. the carbon footprint). © 2024 The Author(s). Polymer International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Triple Enzyme-Embedded Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanoflowers (hNFs) in Comparison with Powerful Antimicrobial Agent Chitosan.

Organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs) have high stability, reusability, low production cost, and overcome substrate/product inhibition. Antimicrobial activity of various hNFs has been reported to overcome environmental microbial contaminations and infections, which are considered major public health problems. α-amylase, protease, and lipase are the most common industrial enzymes exerting antimicrobial activity; therefore, we synthesized triple enzyme (α-amylase, protease, and lipase)-embedded hNFs by using pancreatin to evaluate their antimicrobial activity in comparison with one of the most potent antimicrobial polymer chitosan. The broad spectrum of the antimicrobial properties of chitosan is used in industrial products, including cosmetics, food, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. SEM analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the degree of deacetylation (%DD) were performed for chitosan characterization, where SEM, FTIR, EDX, and XRD analyses were performed for the characterization of hNFs. The catalytic activity of pancreatin and hNFs was evaluated by measuring lipase, α-amylase, and protease enzyme activities at 37°C. Antibacterial activities of hNFs, pancreatin, and chitosan were tested on gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, compared to the pancreatin and chitosan via agar and broth dilution methods. hNFs showed enhanced catalytic activity for protease, lipase, and α-amylase compared to pancreatin at different pH values (pH 8, 9). hNFs showed catalytic activity after being washed and reused up to six times, indicating their reusability and recoverability. hNFs showed significant antimicrobial activity, such as chitosan, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, compared to pancreatin. Our novel hNFs can be used to develop antimicrobial technologies to fight against environmental microbial contaminations and antibiotic resistance-driven environmental pathogens.

The impact of export controls on international trade: Evidence from the Japan–Korea trade dispute in semiconductor industry

In July 2019, the Japanese government announced export controls to South Korea of three chemical inputs essential in semiconductor production. This paper investigates the short- to middle-run effect of the Japan–Korea export controls on the trade patterns of the restricted and other related products of the semiconductor industry. The results show that the export controls caused a large decline in Japanese exports to South Korea of one of the three restricted inputs, hydrogen fluoride, but not in the other two restricted inputs, photoresist and fluorinated polyimide. Second, South Korea reallocated the sourcing of the restricted chemical inputs from Japan to other economies such as Belgium, the U.S., and Taiwan. Third, there was negative spillover effect on the South Korean imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipments, which is used complementarily with the restricted inputs in the semiconductor production. These results suggest a potential role of export controls in sourcing patterns and production relocation in the semiconductor industry.

Matters of assuring functional dependability compliance of digital manufacturing

Aim. To propose a methodological approach to ensuring the functional dependability of industrial facilities using SMART documents in the context of import-independent digital processes. Methods. The evolving applicability of the dependability theory and information systems design has defined the methodological provisions for algorithmising the application of SMART standards for minimising functional faults and failures of industrial processes. Digital models of production lines were examined as tools for machine-recognisable representation of standards. The proposed form of regulatory documents is intended to enable the transition from machine-readable data to machine-understandable content. Findings. The application of the proposed methods of content systematisation in the context of manufacturing process standardisation shows that the classification of process data based on standardised characteristics of digital information exchange processes is one of the key methodological provisions ensuring unambiguous interpretation of regulatory requirements. Specialised projects often use individual provisions rather than complete regulatory documents. In this case, in order to ensure machine-understandability of the developed content, it is proposed using special identifiers, e.g., «paragraph», «graphic object», «table cell». The deployment of such identification tools will allow creating a class of SMART standards that collect into a single document the provisions regarding the delivery of intended results in situations when the operating equipment is diverse. Publications created using intelligent processing of SMART documents are considered as containers of structured and unstructured data that take into account the conditions of particular projects. The existing dynamics of the demand for advanced industrial products often determines the admissibility of its industrial production by various companies with the parallel use of unique technologies. The conditions of such an organisation impose their limitations on the comparability of various process requirements, therefore, it is proposed to harmonise the presentation of the results of managerial, design, and process engineering solutions using the term «manufacturing system asset». The introduction of relative result estimates as part of the digital format is an efficient mechanism for ensuring management consistency. In this context, the importance of a uniform regulatory framework as the foundation for such assessments is growing. As one of the ways of minimising faults and failures of industrial equipment, it is proposed to create a situation centre with a decision support system based on the regulatory data with harmonised manufacturing system asset requirements. An experience of Industry 4.0 regulation is described in the review of the ISA digital manufacturing series of standards. It was shown that the deployment of SMART standards improves the stability of interaction between information management systems and the functional dependability of production lines. The introduction of provisions regulating the use of algorithms for the development, editing, and examination of draft regulatory documents into the content machine-understandability facilities is an important factor in ensuring the functional dependability of products. Conclusions. The presented approach is focused on the methodology for developing standards that take into account requirements from various subject areas. In the context of ongoing import substitution in manufacturing, the paper examines the feasibility of minimizing digital process faults and failures caused by the use of regulatory frameworks that are not equivalent to the provisions of international documents and take into account the specificity of Russian industrial systems.

A Smartphone-Integrated Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensor for the Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of 5-Heneicosylresorcinol in Whole Wheat Foods.

Precise on-site monitoring of alkylresorcinols, a vital biomarker, is crucial for verifying whole wheat foods and accurately quantifying the whole wheat content in various consumer and industrial products. Herein, for the first time, we introduce a novel ratiometric fluorescence sensor (CDs@ZIF-8/CdTe@MIP) for ultrasensitive and selective detection of alkylresorcinols. 5-Heneicosylresorcinol (C21:0 AR), the primary alkylresorcinol homologue in whole wheat grains, was selected as the target analyte. This analyte was specifically and selectively recognized by the incorporation of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) layer. Within this nanoreactor, blue-emitting carbon dots embedded in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (CDs@ZIF-8) and orange-emitting CdTe quantum dots served as the self-calibration signal and response signal, respectively. Exploiting a photoinduced electron transfer effect between CdTe and C21:0 AR, the established fluorescence sensor exhibited remarkable sensing performance, offering wide linear responses in 0.005-1 μg·mL-1 and 1-80 μg·mL-1 concentration ranges, and achieving a low detection limit of 1.14 ng·mL-1. The proposed assay effectively detected C21:0 AR in real samples, including 8 whole wheat foods and 19 whole wheat grains, demonstrating good recoveries and relative standard deviation. Furthermore, an intelligent sensing platform was established by integrating CDs@ZIF-8/CdTe@MIP with a smartphone-assisted device, thus validating the feasibility of visual and on-site monitoring of C21:0 AR. Because of its rapid response, portability, cost-effectiveness, superior sensitivity, and high selectivity, the proposed sensor serves as a reliable method for the analysis of C21:0 AR, thus having substantial potential for on-site monitoring of whole wheat foods.

Assessment of safety: In vitro reverse mutation and in vivo acute oral toxicity tests of three biomass products from amino acid-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum

Microbial fermentation has emerged as a pivotal process for sustainable production of essential goods and chemicals. Corynebacterium glutamicum is a proficient platform organism that contributes significantly to amino acid production through microbial fermentation. Despite its recognized safety, challenges persist in efficiently biosynthesizing natural products compared with other organisms. This study evaluated the safety of biomass products from bioengineered C. glutamicum through two different toxicological studies: a bacterial reverse mutation test (AMES test) and an acute oral toxicity test in rats. Three types of dried fermentation biomass products, each engineered for the enhanced production of specific amino acids (L-lysine, L-threonine, and L-tryptophan), were examined. The tests were conducted in compliance with Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines and revealed no mutagenicity or acute toxicity at the tested doses. These findings suggest the safety of biomass products from bioengineered C. glutamicum as potential feed materials, although further toxicity studies are recommended for comprehensive evaluation. This study underscores the importance of stringent safety assessments for advancing biotechnological applications and provides valuable insights into the potential utilization of microbial fermentation products in various industries. Moreover, this study highlights the significance of regulatory compliance and adherence to international standards to ensure the safety and efficacy of novel biotechnological products.

Consumption of ultra-processed foods and the incidence of hypertension: a cohort study.

The incidence of hypertension (HTN) and consumption of ultra-processed foods are increasing worldwide. However, only a limited amount of research has assessed the causality between ultra-processed foods and the risk of HTN. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between ultra-processed foods and the risk of HTN in a prospective cohort study. In the present study, we included 2399 individuals, aged approximately 19 years, who participated in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). The participants had complete dietary data and were free from HTN at baseline. We used the Cox proportional hazards model to determine the association between ultra-processed food intake and the risk of HTN occurrence, reporting the results as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The mean age of participants was 37.6 years, and we followed them up for an average of 9.21 years. Our results indicated that participants in the highest tertile of ultra-processed foods had a 48% higher risk of HTN development (HR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.23, 1.79) than those in the lowest tertile. We found a significant association between age and ultra-processed food intake in relation to the risk of HTN. The HR for developing HTN in participants aged <47 years was 1.99 (95% CI: 1.53, 2.58) and in participants aged ≥47 years was 1.26 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.68). Among the ultra-processed food components, consumption of industrial fat products had a positive correlation with the risk of HTN (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.06). Our results suggest that consuming ultra-processed foods is associated with an increased incidence of HTN in adults. This association varied by age and was significant for adults younger than 47 years.

Unconventional Edible Plants of the Amazon: Bioactive Compounds, Health Benefits, Challenges, and Future Trends.

The pursuit of an improved quality of life is a major trend in the food market. This is driving the reformulation of the industry's product portfolio, with the aim of providing nourishment while also contributing to beneficial health metabolic processes. In this context, the use of local biodiversity and the recovery of the traditional knowledge associated with the consumption of vegetables that grow spontaneously in nature emerge as more sustainable and nutritionally adequate concepts. The Amazon region is known for its abundant biodiversity, housing numerous unconventional food plants whose nutritional and biological properties remain unknown due to a lack of research. Among the different species are Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Acmella oleracea, Talinum triangulare, Pereskia bleo, Bidens bipinnata, and Costus spiralis. These species contain bioactive compounds such as apigenin, syringic acid, spilanthol, and lutein, which provide various health benefits. There are few reports on the biological effects, nutritional composition, bioactive compounds, and market prospects for these species. Therefore, this review provides an overview of their nutritional contribution, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and current market, as well as the use of new technologies that can contribute to the development of functional products/ingredients derived from them.

Identification of Omitted Pollutants in Environmental Water via In Situ Thin-Film Microextraction.

Sample preparation is an inevitable step in the screening workflow for the identification of unknown pollutants in the aquatic environment. However, the possible loss of pollutants during sample preparation has aroused serious concern but remains not effectively resolved. This study shows that high-risk pollutants omitted in solid-phase extraction (SPE) can be identified via in situ thin-film microextraction (TFME) coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. It was observed that a total of 541 features showed higher mass spectrometry signal intensity by using in situ TFME in comparison with SPE. Subsequently, 28 compounds were identified from the features with higher intensity by comparing the recorded tandem mass spectra with the online database and validating with standards. Notably, six out of these compounds were completely omitted using SPE, including a dye, drug, and industrial product. It was confirmed that the lower extraction efficiencies of SPE were attributed to the limited sample volumes, the losses of compounds during sample transportation and storage, and the entrapment of compounds in SPE columns. This study demonstrates that in situ TFME should be used as a supplementary technique to SPE for extending the coverage of pollutants in the screening workflows.

Integration of functionality in industrial product design between smart and traditional control

يتناول البحث الموسوم (تكاملية الأداء الوظيفي في تصميم المنتج الصناعي ما بين التحكم الذكي والتقليدي) دراسة أثر التقنيات الرقمية على المنتجات الصناعية وعملية التكامل بين منظومات المنتجات الصناعية من خلال تداخل واشتراك وظيفة كل منظومة مع المنظومات الأخرى، فهو يهدف الى إيجاد مقارنة في ادائية المنتج الصناعي ما بين التحكم الذكي والتقليدي. واشتملت حدود الدراسة على المنتجات الصناعية ذات التحكم التقليدي والتحكم الذكي والمنتجة من شركة LG في عام 2019، وتضمن الإطار النظري والذي اشتمل على ثلاثة مباحث، تناول الأول منها الأداء الوظيفي للمنتج الصناعي، فيما تناول المبحث الثاني مفهوم التحكم الذكي والتقليدي، وتناول المبحث الثالث تأثير الرقمنه على تكاملية الأداء الوظيفي.اما إجراءات البحث ومنهجيته، فقد اعتمد المنهج الوصفي في وصف وتحليل نماذج العينة. فضلا عن وصف وتحليل العينة بنماذجها الثلاثة حسب استمارة محاور التحليل التي وضعت بناءا على ما أفرزته مؤشرات الإطار النظري. وكانت أبرز النتائج والاستنتاجات التي تم التوصل اليها:1- حقق التطور الوظيفي اشباع لحاجات المستخدم وسد الحاجة الإنسانية بنسبة (100%) في جميع النماذج.2- ظهر التكامل التقني في تنفيذ آلية الوظيفة متحققا بنسبة (50%) تمثلت في النماذج (4،2) فيما لم تتحقق بنسبة (50%) تمثلت في النماذج (3،1).

Topological analysis of the industrial product body

تعنى الطوبولوجيا بدراسة البنى التصميمية من خلال ابعاد مختلفة مما يتيح للمصمم التحكم بسلوكيات تلك البنى ، لذلك يعتبر مفهوم الأبعاد أحد اساسيات تكوين المنتج الصناعي ومحاولته للسيطرة على المادة في التصميم وبالتالي فإن توجيه هذه ألابعاد إحدى أدوات الطوبولوجيا الهندسية ؛ والذي يعبر عن مفهوم أساسي في دراسة السطوح من خلال التمييز بين ما هو خارجي وداخلي . مشكلة البحث: ماهية الاساليب التقنية الحديثة والمطبقة بخصائص طوبولوجية في تصميم هيئة المنتج الصناعي؟ هدف البحث: الوصول الى خصائص تقنيات التشكيل الطوبولوجي لهيئة المنتج الصناعي . تضمن الاطار النظري : التعرف على ماهية الطوبولوجيا ومدى أهميتها في النظام التصميمي ، وماهو المفهوم الشكلي للمنتج الصناعي طوبولوجيا، وماهية أهم تقنيات التصميم الطوبولوجي . أما اهم النتائج والاستنتاجات التي وصلت اليها الباحثة فكانت : 1- تعتبر المرونه من أهم خصائص التصميم الطوبولوجي ضمن ثنائية الثبات والتغيير ، ومن ثم خاصية التكامل مابين المستوى الشكلي والمستوى الوظيفي لأشكال إتسمت بالمالانهاية ، لتأتي خاصية السيولة التي تراعي رغبة الفرد وتتغير مع تغيير الزمان والمكان. 2- تنوعت التقنيات تبعا لتنوع الخصائص فأصبحت المنطويات والملتويات هيئة تقنيات طوبولوجية يتعامل معها المصمم ،فلا وجود للأشكال المنتظمة ولا وجود للحواف المحددة والسطوح المستوية .

LCA analysis for assessing environmenstal sustainability of new biobased chemicals by valorising citrus waste

The global shift towards using biomass for biofuels and chemicals is accelerating due to increasing environmental concerns and geopolitical strategies. This study investigates a biorefinery model using citrus-processing-waste, specifically citrus pulp, to produce high-value products for various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, flavours, fragrances, and food packaging. In Italy, particularly Sicily region, citrus processing generates significant amounts of waste, often improperly disposed of, contributing to environmental problems. Researchers have demonstrated that citrus waste can yield commercially valuable compounds. This study specifically focuses on orange peel waste (OPW), which constitutes about half of the fruit's weight, aiming to extract pectin and limonene through a combined process. The extraction process was carried out on a laboratory scale, and its sustainability was evaluated using a life cycle assessment (LCA) with SimaPro 8.1 software and the Impact 2002 + method. The functional unit adopted for this study is 300 g of OPW, obtained after the pre-treatment phase, from which 0.14 g of limonene and 8.22 g of pectin were extracted. The LCA results revealed that pectin extraction has a significantly higher environmental impact compared to limonene extraction, primarily due to the use of ethanol as a solvent, followed by electricity consumption. To mitigate this impact, the LCA assessed alternative, more sustainable solvents, resulting in a 73.4% reduction in the environmental footprint of the pectin extraction process. These findings underscore the critical role of LCA, even at the laboratory scale, in identifying environmental hotspots and providing insights for improving and optimizing processes for potential industrial-scale applications.

Development, validation, and clinical assessment of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry serum assay for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) recommended by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry, residential, and consumer products. Studies have shown associations between high PFAS exposure and adverse health effects. In 2022, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-up providing laboratory and clinical direction. The Guidance suggests nine PFAS should be measured in serum or plasma specimens and summed to provide a total PFAS concentration using a NASEM-recommended method. Follow-up clinical recommendations are based on the calculated PFAS NASEM summation. We developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method in accordance with NASEM recommendations but distinguished by the ability to separate closely related structural isomers. As part of our validation, PFAS prevalence was evaluated in a population survey comprised of clinical donor and remnant specimens (n = 1023 in total). In this study, 82.2% of the specimens had PFAS NASEM summations of 2 to < 20 ng/mL and 2.5% had a summation ≥ 20 ng/mL. The median PFAS NASEM summation was 4.65 ng/mL in this study, lower than the 7.74 ng/mL median observed in the 2017–2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 3072). This lower median PFAS NASEM summation may reflect a decline in PFAS population levels over time or sample population exposure differences.Graphical

ISOLATION AND ANALYSIS OF NATIVE DNA AND RNA FROM ROOTS OF RUBBER-PRODUCING SPECIES SCORZONERA TAU-SAGHYZ LIPSCH. ET G.G. BOSSE

Scorzonera tau-saghyz Lipsch. et G.G.Bosse, is endemic species, growing in South Kazakhstan and alternative (to Hevea brasilians) source of natural rubber, related to the Asteraceae Family. Natural rubber (NR) is an indispensable raw material for the production of different products for medicine, automotive and aviation industries. The introduction of tau-saghyz into the culture will make it possible to obtain NC not only in Kazakhstan, but also on the territory of the countries of the Northern latitudes. At the growing phases of ontogenesis of tau-saghyz (April-June) latex is actively synthesized in the leaves and transported to the roots. In our experiments it was necessary to conduct molecular genetic studies of the selected forms of tau-saghyz with high rubber concentration. In this regard, it became necessary to isolate and analyze native DNA and RNA from dry roots. Samples with the highest rubber content were used for DNA extraction. The main problem in the isolation of DNA from the dry roots of tau-saghyz is the significant content of natural rubber. In this research the following commercial kits were used: 1) DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagene); 2) GenElute Plant Genomic DNA Miniprep Kit (Sigma); 3) NucleoSpin® Plant II / Midi / Maxi kit (Macherey-Nagel). Further DNA isolation was carried out in accordance with the kit manufacturer's protocol. Quantitative DNA analysis was performed using both UV spectrophotometry (Nanodrop) and fluorometric analysis (Qubit) method. DNA extracted by the 2 kit (Sigma) was further purified by precipitation with ethanol and demonstrates satisfactory quality. Functional analysis of isolated DNA samples was performed both by restriction analysis and by DNA amplification. It is worth to mention that for reaction primers that are characteristic of gene AACT (ACETOACETYL-COA TRANSFERASE) Cucumis melo were used. This enzyme catalyzes the first reaction of biosynthesis in the mevalonate pathway, which the final product is IDP (isopentenyl diphosphate). The cis-prenyltransferase (CPT) enzyme catalyzes the biosynthesis of rubber by the sequential addition of IDP to the terminal group of the initiating allylic pyrophosphate (APP). As a result of PCR analysis a putative 1200 bp AAST gene for tau-saghyz was identified. In this study two methods of RNA isolation were chosen: 1. A method widely used for plants of the Cucurbitaceae family; 2. A method approved for plants with a high content of polyphenols. The RNA isolation was carried out as described in the relevant protocols with minor modifications (Verwoerd TC, Dekker BMM, Hoekema A (1989) A small-scale procedure for the rapid isolation of plant RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 17:2362). The final precipitates were dissolved in 50 µl of water pretreated with diethylpyrocarbonate. Quantitative analysis of RNA was carried out using UV spectrophotometry (Nanodrop). Functional analysis of extracted RNA samples was conducted by cDNA synthesis with usage of reverse transcriptase Superscript IV with the following amplification in PCR. In this reaction the primers specific for CPT gene of Taraxacum kok-saghyz were used. The prospective CPT gene was excised from the gel, purified and cloned into the pJET vector. In the further research it is planned to perform its sequencing and comparison with the CPT gene of Taraxacum kok-saghyz and Hevea brasiliensis.

Predicting demand for new products in fashion retailing using censored data

In today’s highly competitive fashion retail market, it is crucial to have accurate demand forecasting systems, namely for new products. Many experts have used machine learning techniques to forecast product sales. However, sales that do not happen due to lack of product availability are often ignored, resulting in censored demand and service levels that are lower than expected. Motivated by the relevance of this issue, we developed a two-stage approach to forecast the demand for new products in the fashion retail industry. In the first stage, we compared four methods of transforming historical sales into historical demand for products already commercialized. Three methods used sales-weighted averages to estimate demand on the days with stock-outs, while the fourth method employed an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to account for potential substitute products affected by stock-outs of preferred products. We then evaluated the performance of these methods and selected the most accurate one for calculating the primary demand for these historical products. In the second stage, we predicted the demand for the products of the following collection using Random Forest, Deep Neural Networks, and Support Vector Regression algorithms. In addition, we applied a model that consisted of weighting the demands previously calculated for the products of past collections that were most similar to the new products. We validated the proposed methodology using a European fashion retailer case study. The results revealed that the method using the Expectation-Maximization algorithm had the highest potential, followed by the Random Forest algorithm. We believe that this approach will lead to more assertive and better-aligned decisions in production management.

Public opinion and Chinese exports: evidence from Twitter sentiment analysis

This paper employs web-crawling and sentiment analysis techniques to quantify public opinion and then investigates its effects on Chinese exports to trading partners during 2007–2019. The empirical results show that, after the control of possible reverse causality, negative China-related public opinion is associated with decreased exports. This relationship could be nurtured through three channels namely consumer preference, economic policy uncertainty and political conflicts. Further analysis reveals that the observed relationship is especially prevalent in developed markets and non-participatory countries of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as for industrial and capital-intensive products. In addition, it is found that political relation is positively associated with exports and plays a mitigating role in the negative relationship between public opinion and exports. Our findings have important policy implications. Policy makers are encouraged to think outside the box and exploit soft power of country image to promote exports.