Single Product Research Articles

Analisis Diversifikasi, Merger, dan Akuisisi Perusahaan

This research aims to analyze the diversification, mergers and acquisitions of manufacturing companies in Indonesia. The research method used is descriptive qualitative analysis with a literature study approach. The results show that the diversification analysis was developed with various objectives including increasing growth when the existing market/product has reached a maturity stage, maintaining stability by spreading the risk of profit fluctuations, increasing credibility in the capital market, to avoid dependence on a single item or product in circulation. in the market, fulfill the wishes of unsatisfied consumers, increase the attractiveness or interest of consumers, increase sales turnover, increase profits by using the same ingredients, and prevent consumer boredom. Keywords: Diversification, Mergers, and Company Acquisitions.

Constructing Ag/Cu2O interface for efficient neutral CO2 electroreduction to C2H4.

Neutral CO2 electroreduction to multi-carbons (C2+) offers a promising pathway to reduce the CO2 and energy losses originating from the carbonate formation. However, the sluggish kinetics of C-C coupling brings a significant challenge of achieving high selectivity of a single product (such as ethylene), especially at industrial-relevant current densities (> 300 mA cm-2). Here, we reported an optimized Ag-Cu2O interfacial catalyst that exhibited C2+ Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 73.6% at 650 mA cm-2 in a flow cell. Remarkably, it obtained FEC2H4 of 66.0% with a partial current density of 429.1 mA cm-2, making it stand out among the reported Cu-based electrocatalysts. In situ Raman spectra uncovered that the Ag/Cu2O interfaces enabled a high coverage of *CO around the partially reduced Cu+/Cu0 active sites. Furthermore, theoretical calculations demonstrated the enhanced CO formation and C-C coupling at the Ag/Cu2O interface. This work reported an unprecedented neutral CO2 electroreduction to C2H4 performance and provided an in-depth comprehension of the role of the bimetallic interface.

An analysis of drug approvals in India over past 5 years

Background: Drug development is a tedious process and takes a long time for approval by regulatory authorities. With time, Indian authorities have revised rules and regulations for conducting clinical trials as well as for the marketing of drugs, impacting the number of drugs being approved. Method: The information about drug approvals from 2019–2023 was obtained from the CDSCO website. The single drug products were classified into 14 main anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) groups, while Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) were classified based on the system they act upon. Descriptive statistical analysis was done. The findings of our observational study were expressed as absolute numbers and percentages. Results: Total 362 drugs were approved. Out of these, 135 were single drug products, and the rest were FDCs. The highest & lowest number of drugs were approved in the year 2022 and 2019 respectively. Maximum single drug product approvals were seen in Category L-antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents, while maximum FDC approvals were for drugs acting on the endocrine system. Conclusion: There is a rising trend of approval for FDCs. The pattern of single drug products approval flattened over the years, coinciding with the implementation of new rules and regulations.

Desires and Needs for Quitting Both e-Cigarettes and Cigarettes Among Young Adults: Formative Qualitative Study Informing the Development of a Smartphone Intervention for Dual Tobacco Cessation.

Dual use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes is popular among young adults and may lead to greater nicotine dependence and additive adverse health effects than single-product use. However, existing cessation programs target quitting either e-cigarettes or cigarettes, highlighting a need for interventions to help young adults quit both products (ie, dual tobacco cessation). This formative study is part of a larger project to develop a smartphone intervention for dual tobacco cessation among young adults. This study aimed to (1) explore desires for and experiences with quitting both e-cigarettes and cigarettes and (2) identify needs and preferences for dual tobacco cessation intervention programming. Semistructured interviews were conducted to elicit the need for and experience with dual tobacco cessation among 14 young adults (18-29 years old) recruited through Instagram (Meta) advertisements in 2023. We conducted a thematic analysis to identify common themes related to quitting experiences and cessation needs. Participants expressed a strong desire for dual tobacco cessation and had attempted to quit both tobacco products, mostly "cold turkey." The priority product for quitting first varied by the individual's perceived harm or level of consumption. Targets for dual tobacco cessation interventions included (1) highlighting the health effects of dual tobacco use compared with single product use, (2) providing cessation support to quit one prioritized product while cutting down the other product with the explicit goal to quit both, (3) emphasizing unique facilitators and barriers to quitting each product (eg, unpleasant smell of cigarettes facilitating smoking cessation and accessibility and flavors of e-cigarettes hindering vaping cessation), and (4) addressing co-use of tobacco with alcohol or cannabis. Participants wanted personalized interventions through smartphone apps that would tailor support to their tobacco use patterns and unique quitting goals and needs. They also suggested presenting intervention content in multimedia (eg, videos, graphic pictures, quizzes, and games) to increase engagement. This study provides important insights into young adults' experiences, needs, and preferences for dual tobacco product cessation. We highlight important targets for future smartphone apps to deliver personalized and tailored support to meet the heterogeneous needs and preferences of young people who want to quit using both e-cigarettes and cigarettes.

Nanostructural evolution by applying various fuels in combustion design of CuZnAl mixed-oxides over HZSM-5 used in one-step production of CH3–O–CH3

The influence of different fuels (urea, ethylene glycol and citric acid) in combustion-based design of nano-structured CuO–ZnO–Al2O3/HZSM-5 catalyst was investigated. The catalytic performance were evaluated in a single step production of dimethyl ether form syngas. The X-ray diffraction, Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Energy-dispersive x-ray, Temperature Programmed Reduction-H2, N2 Adsorption and Desorption isotherms and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy techniques were used to characterize physico-chemical properties of prepared nanocatalysts. The X-ray diffraction results clarified that application of citric acid increased relative crystallinity of Cu and Zn oxides existed in catalyst structure. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated that the zeolite structure was not destroyed after CuO–ZnO–Al2O3/HZSM-5 introduction. The Field emission scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy images illustrated that the nanocatalyst synthesized with citric acid has the highest porosity and less population of particle agglomerations. The highest amount of surface area was obtained when citric acid was used as fuel. According to Temperature Programmed Reduction-H2 profiles, the reducibility of nanocatalyst synthesized with citric acid is higher than other samples. The activity of the fabricated nanocatalysts for syngas to Dimethyl ether process were tested at temperature and pressure range of 225–300 °C and 10–40 bar, respectively. Using citric acid as fuel led to achieve greater amount carbon monoxide conversion and Dimethyl ether yield. Furthermore, stability test represented that the activity of this nanocatalyst remained quite stable during 1060 min.

GRAIN Study - Granulocytes Against Infections - Use of granulocyte transfusion in haematopoietic stem cell transplant

Granulocyte transfusions (GTx) combat infections in neutropenic patients. However, immune-mediated off-target effects in transplant settings are unknown. Between January 2020 and December 2021, all transplants that used GTx during the peri-transplant period were analysed. Engraftment, infections, and days to clearance were retrieved from clinical records. Overall survival is compared with the mean total PMN count and the different products. Pooled buffy coat was used in 110 patients (98 %), of which 38 (34 %) additionally received an apheresed product. The median days of GTx was 4. The median bags pooled to prepare a single buffy coat product was 4. The mean total PMN count was 0.98 × 1010/ L granulocytes per pooled buffy coat and 1.93 × 1010/L granulocytes per apheresis product. A higher PMN count (>1 × 1010/L) was achieved in 48 % with pooled buffy coat versus 85 % with apheresis. Respiratory worsening occurred in 39 % receiving GTx. All patients who received granulocytes had engrafted with a median time of 14 days for neutrophil and 20 days for platelet engraftment. Blood cultures cleared in 81 %, whereas only 28 % cleared other cultures. Fungal pneumonia cleared in 25 %, and invasive fungal sinusitis or otitis cleared in 50 %. Overall survival was 47 %, non-significantly higher (57 % vs 39 %, P = 0.1) with a higher PMN dose. The pooled buffy coat is an affordable alternative to apheresis for an effective PMN dose. Ease of availability and low cost of pooled buffy coat, with comparable overall survival points toward a safe and efficacious product, in the peri-transplant period.

Neutral-Current Single π0 Production on Argon

We interpret the recent MicroBooNE data on neutral-current single π0 production on argon with the hypothesis that this process occurs via Delta excitation. We calculate the flux-integrated total cross section with our RPA-based model which allows for a simultaneous description of Delta-mediated resonant and coherent pion production. We also discuss the ratio between the two exclusive measurements with one proton and zero protons in the final state.

Pricing and Replenishment Decision System Based on LSTM

Fresh supermarket vegetables have a very short shelf life, and the quality of vegetables will also be affected by the storage time. If most of the goods are not sold on that day, they will not be sold on the next day. From the demand side, the sales volume of vegetables is related to the supply side of vegetables from April to October. At the same time, the sales space of the supermarket is limited, which makes a reasonable sales portfolio extremely important. The commercial overpricing replenishment decision system based on LSTM analyzes the relationship between daily sales volume and cost-plus pricing for each vegetable category and single product over three years. It predicts the sales volume and wholesale price of each category for the next week, determining replenishment volume and pricing strategy based on forecasted sales volume and average loss rate. The system considers limited sales space and uses the entropy method to calculate weights for key indicators like total profit. It employs the TOPSIS method to sort items, considering forecasted wholesale prices, to select items for pricing decisions. The system aims to maximize total profit while ensuring the supermarket meets minimum display conditions. By assisting supermarkets in formulating more reasonable pricing strategies, it aims to reduce overstock, backlog, or stock shortages, ultimately improving sales volume and operational efficiency.

Characterisation of Antimicrobial Resistance in Special-Fed Veal Production Environments.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading public health threats globally. AMR genes can be transferred between bacteria through lateral gene transfer, and AMR organisms can spread through environments by contaminated water, agriculture and animals. Thus, widespread environmental dissemination of bacteria and lateral gene transfer facilitate AMR transmission pathways. Farm environments in dairy and calf production are known to harbour AMR bacteria that pose a risk for food contamination and to workers in direct or indirect contact with animals. Escherichia coli is present in farm environments and is known to participate in lateral gene transfer, providing a good marker of resistance genes in each environment. In this study, E. coli from nine cohorts of calves was isolated at different time points from nine barns, nine trailers and one slaughterhouse environment in a single special-fed veal calf production facility. The antimicrobial susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials, classified as highly or critically important by the World Health Organization, was characterised for E. coli isolates using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion. The highest proportion of isolates showing multidrug resistance was present in barn environments (51.7%), where calves were housed from their arrival at < 2 weeks of age until they were transported to slaughter. Additionally, 15 E. coli isolates were resistant to 11 of the 15 antimicrobials tested. Trailer and slaughterhouse environments had greater prevalence of resistance after accommodating calves, including resistance to third-generation cephalosporins. These data highlight the importance of calf environments in the dissemination of resistant bacteria and gives insight into where interventions could be most effective in combatting antimicrobial-resistant bacteria that could infect humans and livestock.

Reduction of carbon dioxide to methane and ethanol on the surface of graphyne-like boron nitride (BNyen) monolayer: A DFT study

Recently, scientists have created a novel type of boron nitride material known as BNyen. This material is similar in structure to Graphyne and has a higher N:B ratio than traditional boron nitride due to the addition of boron and nitrogen connecting segments within its units. This material has been studied for its potential as a photocatalyst for reduction of CO2 using DFT approaches. Optical and electronic attributes of BNyen suggest that it has a wider visible-light range and a band gap of 5.69 eV. By adding boron to BNyen, patial distributions of LUMO and HOMO indicate that π network has been extended, resulting in significantly greater photocatalytic efficiency. Upon the adsorption of CO2 on BNyen monolayer, the band gap significantly decreases, indicating a strong interaction between the BNyen and CO2. DFT computations were employed to explore the mechanism of CO2 reduction to a single carbon product catalyzed by BNyen. Based on the ΔG values, the optimized pathway for this reduction is from CO2 to CH4. Additionally, the potential formation of di-carbon products was considered, and based on the free energy values, CH3CH2OH is identified as the final di-carbon product. The Gibbs free energies for potential CO2 reaction pathways on BNyen were calculated, revealing that CO2 can be reduced to CH4 with a low limiting potential of −0.37 V and to CH3CH2OH with a low limiting potential of −0.57 V, both processes being powered by solar energy. In CO2RR, the competing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) must be considered. The free energy of HER (ΔG = 0.96 eV) is significantly higher than the ΔG of the rate-determining steps for the mono-carbon product (0.37 eV) and the di-carbon product (0.57 eV) on BNyen. Therefore, BNyen effectively suppresses HER during the CO2RR process. This research can serve as a valuable guide for developing novel types of BNyen as appropriate photocatalysts for CO2 reduction reactions (CO2RR).

Ultrasound-assisted Co-extraction and characterization of saponin-rich Co-extracts from fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and quinoa husk (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and their hydrolysates

The co-extraction of steroidal and triterpenoid saponins, followed by hydrolysis to produce sapogenin-rich extracts, offers an efficient strategy to enhance the multi-bioactive potential of extracts. The resulting chemical composition modifications, including the presence of other co-extracted or co-hydrolyzed compounds, must also be considered. In this study, ultrasound-assisted co-extraction of fenugreek seeds and quinoa husk using methanol and 50% aqueous methanol was conducted to obtain extracts and co-extracts with varying proportions of steroidal and triterpenoid saponins, in ratios of 0:100, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0, respectively. Aqueous methanol produced the highest extraction yields (15–25%) and saponin contents (40–70%) in the extracts and co-extracts. The conversion by microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis of saponins to sapogenins was more efficient for triterpenoid saponins, leading to a higher triterpenoid sapogenin content in all co-extracts, accounting for over 70% of the total sapogenins. The co-extracts also contained other bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds (3–4 g/100 g), with their content being favored by the presence of fenugreek. Hydrolysis altered the overall composition of the saponin-rich co-extracts, enriching the resulting hydrolyzed products in both types of sapogenins, along with fatty acids, carbonyls, non-protein nitrogen compounds and organic acids, while reducing monoglycerides, removing carbohydrates and significantly modifying the phenolic profile by eliminating many original phenolic compounds and generating new ones. Therefore, co-extraction and post-extraction hydrolysis of fenugreek and quinoa allowed the combination of triterpenoid and steroidal saponins or sapogenins into single products, along with other specific compounds from both sources.

Release note: VBFNLO 3.0

Vbfnlo is a flexible parton level Monte Carlo program for the simulation of vector boson fusion (VBF), QCD-induced single and double vector boson production plus two jets, and double and triple vector boson production (plus jet) in hadronic collisions at next-to-leading order (NLO) in the strong coupling constant, as well as Higgs boson plus two and three jet production via gluon fusion at the one-loop level. For the new version – Version 3.0 – several major enhancements have been included. An interface according to the Binoth Les Houches Accord (BLHA) has been added for all VBF and di/tri-boson processes including fully leptonic decays. For all dimension-8 operators affecting vector boson scattering (VBS) processes, a modified T-matrix unitarization procedure has been implemented. Several new production processes have been added, namely the VBS Zγjj\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$Z\\gamma jj$$\\end{document} and γγjj\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma \\gamma jj$$\\end{document} processes at NLO, γγjj\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma \\gamma jj $$\\end{document}, WWj and ZZj production at NLO including the loop-induced gluon-fusion contributions and the gluon-fusion one-loop induced Φjjj\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varPhi jjj$$\\end{document} (Φ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\varPhi $$\\end{document} is a CP-even or CP-odd scalar boson) process at LO, retaining the full top-mass dependence. Finally, the code has been parallelized using Openmpi.

The intestinal microbiome, but not clinical aspects of inflammatory bowel disease, is impacted by lactose malabsorption compared to lactose digestion in children

BackgroundDietary exclusion of lactose from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) persists with speculation that deleterious effects are mediated through intestinal microbes. ObjectivesTo compare IBD characteristics and changes in the intestinal microbiome (IM) at diagnosis in children with and without lactose malabsorption (LM). MethodsA cross-sectional cohort of children (8–17 y of age) diagnosed with Crohn’s disease [n = 149 (63%)] or ulcerative colitis (n = 86) that had undergone lactose breath hydrogen testing was evaluated. The IM of mucosal luminal aspirates was profiled at the time of diagnosis using 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene amplicon sequencing of the V6 hypervariable region. ResultsOf the 235 children, 61 (26%) had LM. Microbial characterization yielded differences in bacterial differential abundance between children who could and could not absorb lactose, which varied by intestinal site and between subtypes of IBD. There were no differences in the ages [13.2 ± 3.0 y (mean ± standard deviation) compared with 12.7 ± 3.4 y; P = 0.25], sex (P = 0.88), extent of disease involvement or severity of disease at presentation (P = 0.74) when comparing those that could or could not absorb lactose nor was there a difference in the need for initiation of biological agents (P = 0.43) during 2 y of follow-up. ConclusionsLM does not affect the clinical presentation or outcomes of children with IBD. However, this study establishes that a single nonabsorbed fermentable food product can alter the IM in both a regional and disease-specific manner. As we continue to learn more about the pathophysiology of IBD and the role of the IM in disease onset and progression, it would be of benefit to examine the impact of other potential fermentable nutrients and their products on IBD outcomes.

Biodegradable packaging with natural colorants added to increase the consumption of eco-friendly packaging

The development of biodegradable packaging is relevant for the environment, society, and industry. In parallel, using natural colorants has also emerged as a current topic in research, for its appeal to both human and environmental health. Combining the concepts of biodegradable packaging and natural colorants in a single product presents as a strategy to increase the potential use of biodegradable packaging. In this sense, this project starts with the following hypothesis: the offer of biodegradable packaging with a natural colorant added improves the positive perception of biodegradable packaging by the consumer. To this end, using the Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), the present work seeks to understand the effect of the construct natural content on the importance given by consumers to foods that are packaged in an environmentally friendly way, and using Word Association (WA) technique, to investigate the influence of color, and awareness of the presence of natural colorants on biodegradable packaging. The study was designed using two approaches: (i) Developing a model using Partial Least Squares-Path modeling (PLS-PM) to explain the whole set of relationships between FCQ constructs of interest in eco-friendly packaging, being mediated by the construct natural content; and (ii) using WA technique under two conditions: blind condition (unaware) and informed condition (aware) to explore the holistic perception of colored biodegradable packaging. Results showed that Ethical concerns and Health, had positive effects on Natural Content, while “weight control” had a positive effect on Natural Content. On the other hand, Mood was found to have a negative effect on Natural Content. Natural content has a high effect on the importance given by consumers to foods packaged in an environmentally friendly way. Word Association revealed a positive perception of the presentation of colored biodegradable packaging and a more positive perception, defined by happiness, of the awareness of its being biodegradable packaging colored by natural colorants. From a practical point of view, results showed that not only the use of natural colorants by the packaging industry can serve as an incentive to consume biodegradable packaging, but that consumers' awareness that the color is from a natural colorant can increase the consumption of eco-friendly packaging.

Thermoeconomic modeling of new energy system based on biogas upgrading to multigenerational purpose

The following article outlines an integrated approach toward the valorization of biogas for energy, chilled water, hot water, freshwater, and liquid carbon dioxide production. The suggested system includes a biogas upgrading unit with a biomethane-fueled burner, a Kalian cycle, an LNG regasification process, and a multi-effect desalination unit that can provide CO2, electricity, cooling, and heating. The new ideas in the proposed system include a cryogenic biogas upgrading process that can be used in many industrial settings, the production of liquid carbon dioxide through biogas upgrading, and the use of biomethane in the integrated combustion process. Furthermore, the grey wolf optimization technique is applied in various multi-objective optimization contexts to achieve optimal operating conditions and preferred performance outcomes. In this simulation, the generation of electricity reaches a value of 755 kW. Attached to it is a cooling load of about 5102 kW, with a heating load of 4725 kW, freshwater capacity about 1.33 kg/s, production rate of liquid CO2 at 0.58 kg/s, and natural gas at 3.1 kg/s. Thermodynamic results reveal that the proposed multigeneration performance scheme providently enhances energy and exergy efficiencies up to 59.82 % and 5.74 %, respectively, compared to the condition of a single product. The performed exergy analysis shows that the overall irreversibility of the suggested configuration is equal to 18,047 kW while about 42.6 % of this value is contributed from the heat exchanger E-104. Moreover, the CO2 emission intensity of the process can be kept as 0.35 kg/kWh. Cryogenic separation can obtain about 88 % of CO2 in biogas and turn it into its liquid phase. The performed economic assessment has resulted in the following total cost rate as well as cost per unit exergy: 321.38 $/h and 83.06 $/GJ, respectively. Under optimal conditions, an exergy efficiency of 13.40 % and a net power output of 2034.39 kW are attained.

Research on accurate prediction of vegetable commodity pricing strategy and dynamic replenishment quantity based on optimization model

Based on the characteristics of timeliness, fast price change and easy loss, this paper deeply studies the automatic pricing and replenishment strategy of fresh suppliers, in order to maximize the profit of the supermarket. We propose and solve the number of related problems, and fit the linear and nonlinear models, and the results have limited effect. Therefore, this study translated the replenishment problem into sales volume prediction, using LSTM and predicting future sales by random forest model. At the same time, based on the periodicity of vegetable commodity sales, this study proposes the single product replenishment volume and pricing strategy. Finally, in view of the poor fitting effect of a single factor in this study, the improvement &amp;nbsp;method &amp;nbsp;of &amp;nbsp;collecting &amp;nbsp;data &amp;nbsp;from &amp;nbsp;multiple &amp;nbsp;dimensions &amp;nbsp;is &amp;nbsp;proposed &amp;nbsp;to &amp;nbsp;deeply &amp;nbsp;explore &amp;nbsp;the relationship &amp;nbsp;between &amp;nbsp;replenishment &amp;nbsp;and &amp;nbsp;pricing, &amp;nbsp;so &amp;nbsp;as &amp;nbsp;to &amp;nbsp;improve &amp;nbsp;the &amp;nbsp;accuracy &amp;nbsp;of &amp;nbsp;prediction &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;and supermarket revenue.

Applications of capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C4D) for the determination of glucosamine, vitamin B6 and minerals

Capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detector (CE-C4D) is renowned for its numerous advantages, such as compact equipment, low cost of setup and operation, simplicity in functionality, and minimal use of samples and chemical solvents. This method has been applied across various fields, including environmental analysis, forensic science, biochemistry, pharmaceuticals, and food science. In this study, the CE-C4D method was applied to determine the presence of glucosamine, vitamin B6, and certain minerals in dietary supplements. Notably, glucosamine was simultaneously determined with calcium, and vitamin B6 with magnesium. The method was validated to meet the requirements of AOAC. The detection limits achieved for calcium, glucosamine, vitamin B6 and magnesium were 0.05 ppm; 0.50 ppm; 0.10 ppm and 1.00 ppm, respectively. The concurrent determination of active substances with different properties within a single product is crucial, optimizing analytical efficiency and yielding high accuracy for the analysis.

Probing bottom-associated production of a TeV scale scalar decaying to a top quark and dark matter at the LHC

A minimal non-thermal dark matter model that can explain both the existence of dark matter and the baryon asymmetry in the universe is studied. It requires two color-triplet, iso-singlet scalars with OTeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left(\ extrm{TeV}\\right) $$\\end{document} masses and a singlet Majorana fermion with a mass of OGeV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$ \\mathcal{O}\\left(\ extrm{GeV}\\right) $$\\end{document}. The fermion becomes stable and can play the role of the dark matter candidate. We consider the fermion to interact with a top quark via the exchange of QCD-charged scalar fields coupled dominantly to third generation fermions. The signature of a single top quark production associated with a bottom quark and large missing transverse momentum opens up the possibility to search for this type of model at the LHC in a way complementary to existing monotop searches.

Adaptive Simultaneous Stochastic Optimization of the Escondida Mining Complex, Chile

AbstractThis paper presents the application of adaptive simultaneous stochastic optimization with a representative branching framework to generate a strategic mining plan for the Escondida mining complex, the world’s largest copper-production operation. This adaptive stochastic optimization considers geological uncertainty while integrating investment and operational alternatives in the production schedule of a mining complex. Mining complexes are comprised of interconnected components affected by multiple sources of uncertainty. Thus, they must be optimized simultaneously in order to maximize their value, manage environmental impacts, and minimize risk. Additionally, due to the extensive lives of assets and the dynamic and uncertain environment in which mining complexes operate, it is not reasonable to assume that the current strategic plan will remain optimal. Thus, an operationally feasible method to embed alternatives in the mine plan is used. The method utilized provides a strategic plan with representative branches for future possible investment decisions. Adaptive decisions are made sequentially over time, activating costs and effects over the model. The optimization process chooses the optimal strategic production plan accordingly, as well as the investments made and their timing. The Escondida mining complex is a multi-element, multi-pit operation with nine different processing destinations. Investment options considered herein are truck and shovel fleet sizing, adding a secondary crusher in one of the plants, and investing in a main crusher assigned to one of the pits. Additionally, operational alternatives at the mine and plant levels are included. The adaptive solution shows a substantial probability that the mine plan might change its design substantially due to geological uncertainty, presenting an increased expected net present value when compared to the previously developed stochastic mathematical programming formulation that does not consider adaptive decisions, thus generating a single static strategic production plan for the related mining complex. Further studies at the Escondida mining complex can consider adoptive solutions integrating capital investments pertinent to climate change issues.

Production of High-Value Green Chemicals via Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis of Eucalyptus urograndis Forest Residues

Lately, pyrolysis has attracted significant attention due to its substantial potential for bio-oil production, with the ability to serve as a renewable energy source and/or facilitate the production of valuable chemical compounds. The chemical compounds generated and their amounts are completely influenced by the traits and chemical makeup of the initial biomass. In this work, the catalytic fast pyrolysis of Eucalyptus urograndis canopy was carried out using a pyrolyzer coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) at different temperatures and in the presence and absence of catalysts. Elemental composition analysis was employed to characterize the chemical composition of the biomass. The results showed a biomass with a carbon percentage of 50.20%, oxygen of 43.21%, and hydrogen of 6.34%, as well as a lower calorific power of 17.51 MJ/kg. The Py-GC/MS analyses revealed the presence of several noteworthy compounds, including acetic acid (C2H4O2) and, in smaller quantities, hydrogen (H2), furfural (C5H4O2), and levoglucosan (C6H10O5). The technical-economic evaluation revealed that the production of acetic acid, furfural, hydrogen, and levoglucosan commands a high market price. Additionally, a single production cycle is anticipated to yield a favorable technical-economic balance, generating approximately USD 466.10 /ton of processed biomass. This outcome is achieved through the process of catalytic fast pyrolysis, where CuO has been identified as the most suitable catalyst.