Quantity Of Packages Research Articles

Exploring hybrid vulcanization system in high‐molecular weight EPDM rubber composites: A statistical approach

AbstractElastomeric compound development is a multi‐objective optimization task, and it contains vulcanization packages that crosslink the matrix. The deciding factors for vulcanization systems are the nature of elastomer, service temperature, processing methods and vulcanizate properties. Accelerated sulfur and organic peroxide are examples of vulcanization systems; each has its advantages and shortcomings. The peroxide‐based system shows a high level of temperature stability while its flexibility is inferior to sulfur vulcanization. This study is fine‐tuning a hybrid vulcanization system containing a combination of ultra‐fast accelerated sulfur and a peroxide system; it also optimizes the vulcanization package ratios concerning various rheological and vulcanizate properties with the help of the Taguchi method. Ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM) is chosen as the basic matrix due to its excellent viability and commercial application with both the vulcanization systems. The formulations are optimized to combine the advantages of both the vulcanization systems. The results indicate that the vulcanization is sulfur‐driven, but peroxide influences by selecting the crosslink sites and type. The hybrid system uses more components, but proper optimization helps to reduce the quantity of vulcanization packages with an improvement in physio‐mechanical properties; it also helps to reduce the discharge of carcinogenic accelerator by‐products, such as nitrosamine.

Association between purchasing behaviors and cigar use: A longitudinal analysis of Waves 1-3 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.

Over 120 US jurisdictions have implemented policies mandating minimum cigar pack quantities, yet little empirical research exists on the relationship between pack quantity and use. We examined whether cigar use was associated with purchasing cigars by the box/pack or as singles, purchase quantity, and price paid per cigar. Data are from Waves 1-3 (2013-2016) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, analyzed in 2019. The sample included adults who reported current use of any type of cigars (cigarillos [N = 3,051], traditional cigars [N = 2,586], and filtered cigars [N = 1,295], including with marijuana) at Wave 1. For each cigar type, a generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the population-averaged effects of purchasing behavior on cigar use. Cigar users of each type who purchased by the box or pack smoked more per day than users who purchased singles (cigarillos: β = 1.02, p<0.0001; traditional cigars: β = 1.40, p<0.0001; filtered cigars: β = 2.55, p<0.01). Cigar users who purchased larger quantities smoked more per day (cigarillos: β = 0.16, p<0.0001; traditional cigars: β = 0.04, p<0.0001; filtered cigars: β = 0.24, p<0.0001). Higher price per cigar was significantly associated with smoking fewer traditional cigars (β = -0.12, p<0.01) and filtered cigars (β = -0.86, p = 0.02), but not cigarillos (β = 0.08, p = 0.62). Smaller pack quantities and higher price per cigar were associated with smoking fewer cigars per day. Given the authority of the Food and Drug Administration and local jurisdictions over cigar pack quantity, this study provides data pertinent to potential minimum and maximum package quantity regulations and policies.

An Optimal Purchase Decision of Reusable Packaging in the Automotive Industry

Among the many components of material delivery operations, packaging is one of the foundations of secure and cost-efficient on-time delivery. Current environmental concerns have increased the popularity of returnable packaging over disposable packaging. This study considers a supply chain in the automotive industry where a single supplier adopts returnable packages for delivery operations to a single recipient. If a returnable package is not available, then an expendable package will be used as a more expensive alternative. Thus, an investment decision on the number of returnable packages must be made prior to launching a returnable packaging system. Using the actual data from an automotive supply chain, this study conducts simulated experiments, under the uncertainty of future demand and required lead time of reverse logistics, to identify the optimal quantity of returnable packages. Sensitivity analysis is then performed by varying the assumptions on operation duration, demand variability, and lead time variability. In general, the results indicate that a greater initial purchase of returnable packages is desirable for longer operation duration, higher demand variability, and higher lead time variability. However, if operation duration is short and the uncertainty is high, then there may be little benefit in using reusable packages. These results generalize the findings from previous studies. This approach and solution can enhance reliable and efficient supply chain operations in the automotive industry and may be applied to other industries where packaging is important and expensive.

The Role of Marketing Practices and Tobacco Control Initiatives on Smokeless Tobacco Sales, 2005–2010

Background: Little is known about how policies and industry activities impact smokeless tobacco demand. We examined how tobacco control policies and retail promotion may affect smokeless tobacco sales. Methods: We used Nielsen market-level retail scanner data for smokeless tobacco sales in convenience stores in 30 US regions from 2005 to 2010. Tobacco policy variables, including excise taxes, state tobacco control program expenditures, and clean indoor air laws, were merged to Nielsen markets. We estimated regression models for per capita unit sales. Results: Higher cigarette tax was significantly associated with lower sales volume of smokeless tobacco. Sales of smokeless tobacco in markets with a weight-based SLT excise tax were higher than in markets with an ad valorem tax. A higher average product price was associated with decreased sales overall but results varied by package quantity and brand. Conclusions: This study observed that smokeless tobacco products were both complements and substitutes to cigarettes. Thus, smokeless tobacco may act as complements for some population segments and substitutes for others. A weight-based tax generally favors premium smokeless tobacco products.

Cigar package quantity and smoking behavior

BackgroundSeveral jurisdictions in the US and abroad limit the minimum number of cigars that can be sold per package. Research has not evaluated whether small packages might result in cigar use initiation, or whether adding cigars to packages might result in purchasers smoking more cigars.MethodsUsing nationally representative US adult data from Waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, we assessed links between cigar package quantity (number of cigars in the package a person usually buys) and (1) price, and (2) cigar and cigarette use over time, for three cigar types: filtered cigars, cigarillos, and large cigars.ResultsSmaller quantity packages (i.e., packages with fewer cigars) were cheaper per-pack than larger quantity packages but more expensive per-stick for all three cigar types. For filtered cigars, past-year starters tended to buy smaller quantity packages compared to longer-term users (geometric mean = 6.31 vs. 11.75, respectively; b = −.18, 95%CI: −.32, −.04). Also, those who bought smaller quantity packages of filtered cigars tended to smoke fewer cigars over time compared to those who bought larger quantity packages (b = 1.16, 95%CI: 0.45, 1.87). Neither of these associations was observed for cigarillos or large cigars. We also found little evidence that buying larger quantity packages predicted continuing to use cigars or using cigarettes.ConclusionsAlthough we found consistent associations between package quantity and price, we found few associations between package quantity and changes in cigar smoking behaviors over time, particularly for cigarillos and large cigars. Key limitations include our adult-only analyses and inability to determine the package quantity that cigar users initiated with. Future studies could examine whether package quantity plays a causal role in filtered cigar use initiation or consumption rates.

The Influences of Portion Size, Context and Package Characteristics on Snack Food Consumption: Evidence from a U.S. Rolling Cross-Sectional Survey

ABSTRACTUsing a rolling cross-sectional sample of over 40,000 U.S. snack food consumers during 2004–2010, we build a three-dimensional model to study how portion sizes, consumption context, and package characteristics jointly affect the amount of food consumed. As with prior research, we find that consumption does increase with larger portions. However, this effect diminishes significantly when accounting for the consumption context and packaging characteristics as consumption drivers. Most important is how the snack is presented to consumers at the point of consumption (type, size, and quantity of packages). We also find that snacking on impulse, alone, with a beverage, or while watching television increases the amount consumed, whereas socializing or snacking at home decrease consumption. We test our model over seven snack types (potato chips, crackers, cheese puffs, nuts and seeds, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn), and find that our results hold even for products with different cross-category granularity, palatability, and satiety.

RBiomirGS: an all-in-one miRNA gene set analysis solution featuring target mRNA mapping and expression profile integration.

BackgroundWith the continuous discovery of microRNA’s (miRNA) association with a wide range of biological and cellular processes, expression profile-based functional characterization of such post-transcriptional regulation is crucial for revealing its significance behind particular phenotypes. Profound advancement in bioinformatics has been made to enable in depth investigation of miRNA’s role in regulating cellular and molecular events, resulting in a huge quantity of software packages covering different aspects of miRNA functional analysis. Therefore, an all-in-one software solution is in demand for a comprehensive yet highly efficient workflow. Here we present RBiomirGS, an R package for a miRNA gene set (GS) analysis.MethodsThe package utilizes multiple databases for target mRNA mapping, estimates miRNA effect on the target mRNAs through miRNA expression profile and conducts a logistic regression-based GS enrichment. Additionally, human ortholog Entrez ID conversion functionality is included for target mRNAs.ResultsBy incorporating all the core steps into one package, RBiomirGS eliminates the need for switching between different software packages. The modular structure of RBiomirGS enables various access points to the analysis, with which users can choose the most relevant functionalities for their workflow.ConclusionsWith RBiomirGS, users are able to assess the functional significance of the miRNA expression profile under the corresponding experimental condition by minimal input and intervention. Accordingly, RBiomirGS encompasses an all-in-one solution for miRNA GS analysis. RBiomirGS is available on GitHub (http://github.com/jzhangc/RBiomirGS). More information including instruction and examples can be found on website (http://kenstoreylab.com/?page_id=2865).

PCV38 - Budget Impact Analysis of Cosyrel for The Treatment of Hypertension in Italy

The objective of the study was to perform a Budget Impact Analysis (BIA) assessing the introduction of Cosyrel for the treatment of hypertension into the Italian market. Cosyrel is a single pill combination of a beta-blocker (bisoprolol fumarate) and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (perindopril arginine) indicated as substitution therapy for the treatment of hypertension and/or stable coronary artery and/or stable chronic heart failure with reduced systolic left ventricular function in adult patients adequately controlled with bisoprolol and perindopril. BIA compared two different scenarios: Scenario 1 without a dual fixed combination therapy vs. Scenario 2 with the introduction of Cosyrel. Population data were obtained from IMS database. The time horizon was 3 years from the introduction of Cosyrel. Total number of patients was the same for the two scenarios, as the model allows only the switch of patients from monotherapy (bisoprolol) or dual combination (perindopril+bisoprolol) to Cosyrel. The perspective of the Italian National Healthcare Service was considered. The study showed that the introduction of Cosyrel leads to a reduction in the quantity of packages (13.369.949, 11.175.633 and 8.213.623 in Scenario 1 and 11.815.421, 8.615.834 and 5.604.864 in Scenario 2, respectively in year 1, 2 and 3). At a cost of 6,27 €/month, the introduction of Cosyrel generates savings for the Italian NHS of 512.994, 844.733 and 860.890 € respectively in year 1, 2 and 3 over a total expenditure of 43.238.583, 36.689.857 and 27.064.154 € related to year 1, 2 and 3 in the first scenario. The present study indicates that the introduction of Cosyrel generates savings for the Italian NHS, also improving the adherence to the therapy, thanks to the reduction in the number of pills taken by patients. Better adherence is also linked to a reduction in the number of hospitalizations and related costs.

Shock-Resistance Research of Ship Structural Subjected to Underwater Explosion

A finite element model ships, for example design test condition of the underwater explosion, selection of explosive package quantity is 1000KG TNT, the explosive location along the direction of the ship with the bow, midship and stern, the angle of attack in three exploded cross section have 90 degrees, 60 degrees, 45 degrees, 30 degrees and 0 degrees. According to the current standard to calculate the ship damage radius, critical radius and safety radius of specific values under the effect of underwater explosion, interpolation calculation and draw the envelope. Analysis shows that the vitality of ships and shock-resistance is not only related to the explosive distance, also related to the attack position.

Evaluation of Use of ERP in E-commerce: Methods and Strategies

Irrespective of whether the company is a multi-national, multi-million dollar organization or a small company with single digit million turnover, the goal of system selection is to source a system that can provide functionality for all of the business processes; that will get complete user acceptance; management approval and, most importantly, can provide significant return on investment for the shareholders. Accordingly, a significant number of packages purporting to be ERP systems have entered into the marketplace since 1990. There are packages at the upper end of the market and a vast quantity of other packages that vendors claim to be ERP Systems. There are also packages that claim to be best of breed for certain processes [such as planning] and sold merely as an add-on to an ERP System. The options are many and this, in reality, creates a problem for the company who has to make a decision. In the last decade, companies have also become interested in enhanced functionality such as customer relationship management and electronic commerce capability. In this study we want to study methods and strategies that have been used in ERP for E-commerce.