Traceability Chain Research Articles

Preventing poaching in marine protected areas: A crime script analysis to inform interventions

Ubiquitous poaching poses a persistent challenge to marine protected areas (MPAs) management. The global consensus to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 has heightened the importance of effective MPA management. However, the law enforcement capacity for open-access common pool issues is frequently constrained. There remains an ongoing imperative to expand the knowledge on how to combat poaching. Drawing from environmental criminology approaches, this paper illustrates crime scripts of documented poaching cases in Taiwan's MPAs over the past decade to detail crime commission process and develops prevention strategies. We identify that poachers were often involved shore-based diving, shoreline handpicking and poaching by boats during clear summer evenings in easily accessible MPAs. To prevent marine poaching, suggested key interventions include managing access and exists, controlling fishing equipment, rationally deploying patrolling capacity and natural surveillance measures, creating traceable seafood supply chains, and increasing public vigilance and awareness. Environmental criminology approaches make poaching predictable and enable the precise allocation of law enforcement resources at a certain level. To further improve effectiveness of prevention strategies, we highlight the need to periodically review crime scripts and associated policies when new cases are identified. In addition, incorporating techniques from the best practices in MPA management into prevention strategies can also enhance the effectiveness of environmental criminology approaches in MPA poaching. This paper can inform the development of interventions and enhancing the management of MPAs toward global objectives.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY: A PANACEA FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK REFORMS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Livestock production plays a vital role in ensuring food security, economic stability, and social wellbeing in many communities worldwide. However, traditional livestock practices often face numerous challenges, such as unsustainable resource management, conflict arising from resource scarcity, limited access to information and support systems. This paper explores the potential of digital technology as a panacea for sustainable livestock reforms and conflict resolution in our community. Digital technology offers transformation opportunities to address these challenges and promote sustainable livestock practices. The intergration of digital tools, precision agriculture, data analytics, internets of things (10T), and artificial intelligence, enables the collection and analysis of real-time data on animal health, nutrition, and environmental conditions. These advancements facilitate evidence-based decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, digital platforms and mobile application provide accessible and user-friendly interfaces for livestock farmers, extension workers and community members. Moreover digital technology can contribute to conflict resolution within the livestock sector. By enabling transparent and traceable supply chains. Block chain technology helps prevent fraud, reduce theft, ensures fair market transactions, enhance security and mitigate conflicts related to land use, grazing area and resource allocation. However the successful implementation of digital technology for sustainable livestock reforms and conflict resolution will ensure equitable access to digital infrastructure, addressing the digital divide, fostering digital literacy, and considering the specific needs and contexts of different communities. In conclusion, digital technology holds immense potential as a panacea for sustainable livestock reforms and conflict resolution in our community. Embracing digital tools and fostering digital inclusion will pave the way for a resilient and thriving livestock industry that contributes to sustainable development and community well-being.

Characterisation of Dry-Salted Violino and Bresaola from Grass-Fed Bergamasca Sheep

This study focuses on characterising two seasoned products, violino and bresaola, derived from grass-fed Bergamasca sheep monitored with a GPS system. The evaluation includes both nutritional and sensory aspects. Results reveal that both products boast a high protein content (approximately 40%) and a beneficial fatty acid profile, endorsing a healthy n-6/n-3 ratio (2.2), along with rumenic acid (92–184 mg/100 g) and branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) (237–621 mg/100 g). The sensory evaluation highlights distinctive ovine characteristics in aroma and flavour. Violino and bresaola from grass-fed Bergamasca sheep showcase positive attributes for human consumption. The study emphasises the potential for added value to seasoned products from Bergamasca sheep through a traceable, sustainable, and health-conscious supply chain.

Calibration Techniques for Water Content Measurements in Solid Biofuels

This paper presents methodologies and equipment for SI-traceable inline measurements of water content (a critical quality parameter) in solid biofuels. Inline measurement systems for water content are commonly used at CHP plants, providing continuous real-time data. However, the accuracy of these systems is in most cases unsatisfactory, mainly because the systems are not calibrated representatively for the relevant material, and until now, calibrations traceable to the SI system have not been available. To provide reliable and accurate inline water content data, new procedures and equipment for calibrating measurement systems were developed. Two reference methods for the determination of water content were developed; one measures the airflow and dewpoint of desorbed water in the air passing a test sample, while the other uses a P2O₅-sensor. Additionally, a transfer standard based on a cavity resonance sensor was developed for fast onsite calibration of the inline sensor at the power plant. This new instrument allows for quick and accurate measurements. The transfer standard is made metrologically traceable to the primary measurement standards. The entire system was demonstrated by calibrating an inline microwave-based (MW) sensor at the CHP plant of VERDO in Randers, Denmark. Thus, a complete metrological traceability chain was established from an industrial to a primary standard.

Traceable frequency measurements with counters

Received signals from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are nowadays widely used by industry laboratories for ensuring metrological traceability for their respective range of calibration services in the field of time and frequency. Usually, a local frequency standard is steered by continuous GNSS signal reception providing at its output stable and accurate reference signals for the laboratory measurement equipment, in general for synthesizers and counters. Reception of GNSS signals is surely an adequate and practical tool for the purpose, however further steps are needed to establish traceability in a strict metrological sense. Based on already available guidelines and publications, this paper is a contribution to the discussion how metrological traceability to internationally accepted standards can be established in a calibration laboratory. We restrict the discussion to equipment in common use which may not necessarily be of the highest sophistication. In this spirit, we develop a detailed scheme for an uncertainty budget comprising all links of the traceability chain from the device under test to the SI second, the scale-unit of Coordinated Universal Time. Then we go through and apply this scheme step by step to a demonstration setup for frequency measurements with a counter with varying operational parameters. In this framework, a novel approach to distinguish between components of statistical measurement uncertainty is introduced. Furthermore, the limiting uncertainty contributions are discussed and based on a suitable set of parameters an expression for the best measurement capability is given. With this scheme at hand a user may develop an uncertainty budget adapted to his own setup, especially if acceptance from a national accreditation body is sought.

Blockchain based transparent and reliable framework for wheat crop supply chain.

The wheat crop that fulfills 35% of human food demand is facing several problems due to a lack of transparency, security, reliability, and traceability in the existing agriculture supply chain. Many systems have been developed for the agriculture supply chain to overcome such issues, however, monopolistic centralized control is the biggest hurdle to realizing the use of such systems. It has eventually gained consumers' trust in branded products and rejected other products due to the lack of traceable supply chain information. This study proposes a blockchain-based framework for supply chain traceability which provides trustable, transparent, secure, and reliable services for the wheat crop. A crypto token called wheat coin (WC) has been introduced to keep track of transactions among the stakeholders of the wheat supply chain. Moreover, an initial coin offering (ICO) of WC, crypto wallets, and an economic model are proposed. Furthermore, a smart contract-based transaction system has been devised for the transparency of wheat crop transactions and conversion of WC to fiat and vice versa. We have developed the interplanetary file system (IPFS) to improve data availability, security, and transparency which stores encrypted private data of farmers, businesses, and merchants. Lastly, the results of the experiments show that the proposed framework shows better performance as compared to previous crop supply chain solutions in terms of latency to add-blocks, per-minute transactions, average gas charge for the transaction, and transaction verification time. Performance analysis with Bitcoin and Ethereum shows the superior performance of the proposed system.

Ensuring metrological traceability of the gas flow measurements at high pressure in Ukraine

Described is the PVTt primary measurement standard used to calibrate primary standard critical flow nozzles with throat diameters from 2 mm to 8 mm over a flow rate range of 100 m3/h up to 1800 m3/h. Means and methods of the working standard critical flow nozzles calibration are considered. The metrological traceability chain for the gas flow measurements is presented. In the metrological traceability chain, the primary standards are the primary standard critical flow nozzles, the metrological characteristics of which are established through calibration using the primary measuring system and the primary measurement procedure. The secondary standards are working standard critical flow nozzles, the metrological characteristics of which are established by comparing them with primary standard nozzles. The metrological traceability chain has a branched structure, as the measurement model includes various physical quantities: pressure, temperature, volume, time, and gas properties.

On Standardization and Evaluation of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems are often used to monitor blood glucose levels. Most commercially available CGM systems continuously measure glucose concentrations in the interstitial fluid of subcutaneous adipose tissue. However, there is currently no internationally accepted reference method for measuring interstitial fluid glucose, which is a prerequisite for metrological traceability of glucose measurements obtained using CGM. Since manufacturers do not provide information about the traceability chain and measurement uncertainty of their systems, CGM-derived glucose values cannot currently be adequately traced to standards or higher order reference measurement procedures. Additionally, the «mean absolute relative difference» (MARD) often used to describe the analytical performance of CGM systems is dependent on many factors. For example, the MARD can be significantly affected by the «lag time» between the change in blood glucose and interstitial glucose, especially at high rates of change in glucose. Finally, modern automated insulin delivery (ADI) systems with integrated CGM can automatically suspend or increase insulin infusion in response to current and/or predicted hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic phenomenon in children and adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). The purpose of the review is justification of the necessity to establish metrological traceability of glucose measurements with CGM systems, as well as a discussion of the analytical and clinical characteristics of CGM systems proposed by various professional communities. Based on the results of the review, it was concluded that it is necessary to 1) develop metrological support for glucose measurements performed using CGM systems, 2) solve the problems of ensuring the accessibility and usability of CGM systems by patients in real conditions.

Conceptualization of a digital product passport to enable circular and sustainable automotive value chains – the combustion engine use case

Despite stricter emission controls and the planned reduction of newly sold Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars, adequate repairing and recycling of old ICE cars remains vital, reflected also by the recent EURO7 standard that explicitly refers to repairability. Digital Product Passports (DPPs) have gained attention as enablers of transparent and traceable value chains and improved product lifecycle management. While the focus has been put on creating DPPs for electric vehicle batteries, research on the potentials and requirements for DPPs for the ICE and its well-known components, like the exhaust gas turbocharger, does not exist. Thus, this study systematically investigates what information such DPP needs to contain to support value chain actors’ sustainability/circularity-related decision-making. A mixed-method approach is applied. The Supply Chain Oriented Process to Identify Stakeholders (SCOPIS) method, as well as two expert workshops (N = 8 and N = 6) and an expert survey (N = 8) served for identifying the stakeholders and their most relevant information requirements. The results consist of a refined and prioritized list of information requirements, a conceptual model of a DPP for the turbocharger, and the presentation of two use cases: refurbishment and recycling. This contribution serves as the foundation for handling ICEs sustainably and circularly.

Uncertainty-based determination of recalibration dates

Traceability is of vital importance in metrology and is achieved by an unbroken chain of calibrations that relate the measurement result to a reference. Less clear is the temporal aspect of traceability, namely the determination of recalibration dates. Relevant standards require the conduction of recalibrations in a planned manner, and thus in general there is a calibration history consisting of a number of past calibrations for measurands that are part of the traceability chain. Nevertheless, commonly only the results of the last calibration of the standards of the traceability chain are considered when determining a measurement result. Furthermore, recalibration dates are often determined in a rather unscientific manner. Within this paper, a method is proposed to predict the current value of a measurand along with its uncertainty, taking into account all past calibrations. Based on the predetermined target measurement uncertainty of the measurand, it is possible to recognize the need for and thus to date recalibrations. The applicability of the method is investigated by examining the metrological compatibility of the predicted results with the results of subsequent calibrations of the calibration histories of a number of different standards. There is an explainable limitation of the applicability of the method to calibration histories that exhibit a correlation of time and the chosen calibration laboratory. However, the paper leads the way of future research to remedy the currently unsatisfying state regarding the handling of calibration histories and the determination of recalibration dates.

Optimization and fabrication of chromium grating in self-traceable interferometer

Metrological methods rooted in natural constants present a robust strategy for ensuring traceability in nanometric measurements. A Chromium (Cr) grating, meticulously constructed through atom lithography and possessing a pitch of d = 212.7705 ± 0.0049 nm intrinsically traceable to the Cr transition frequency 7S3→7P40, exhibits promising potential as a self-traceable length standard in nano-length metrology via a grating interferometer. The objective of this research is to elucidate and optimize the diffraction characteristics that augment the Cr grating's functionality as a self-traceable length standard within the length traceability chain predicated on the Cr transition frequency. To this end, we explore the geometric morphology and diffraction characteristics of the Cr grating. This investigation also dissects the influence of the grating's polarization-sensitive traits on the Littrow configuration grating interferometer and establishes the criteria for Cr grating fabrication. Empirically, we fabricate an enlarged Cr grating through scanning atom lithography, delineate its diffraction performance, and perform an initial verification of length measurement in a self-traceable grating interferometer. This investigation aligns with the global progression towards a more streamlined metrology development, offering a valuable benchmark for propelling future advancements in metrological technologies within the new traceability chain.

Development of cancer biomarker heat shock protein 90α certified reference material using two different isotope dilution mass spectrometry techniques.

Heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α) has been regarded as an important indicator for judging tumor metastasis and prognosis due to its significant upregulation in various tumors. Therefore, the accurate quantification of HSP90α is of great significance for clinical diagnosis and therapy of cancers. However, the lack of HSP90α certified reference material (CRM) leads to the accuracy and consistency of quantification methods not being effectively evaluated. Besides, quantitative results without traceability make comparisons between different studies difficult. In this study, an HSP90α solution CRM was developed from the recombinant protein raw material. The recombinant protein is adimer, and the purity of the CRM candidate reached 96.71%. Both amino acid analysis-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (AAA-IDMS) and unique peptide analysis-isotope dilution mass spectrometry (UPA-IDMS) were performed to measure the content of HSP90α in the solution CRM candidate, and the certified value was assessed to be 66.2 ± 8.8µg/g. Good homogeneity of the CRM was identified, and the stability examination suggested that the CRM was stable for at least 4months at - 80°C and for 7days at 4°C. With traceability to SI unit (kg), this CRM has potential to help establish ametrological traceability chain for quantification of HSP90α, which will make the quantification results standardized and comparable regardless of the quantitative methods.

Characterisation of the Performance of a Structured Light Digitising Sensor by Using Different Materials and Surface Finishes

The advantages of non-contact digitising systems over contact systems are undeniable. They allow capturing more information per unit of time with less accessibility problems and without alter the digitised surface. Although many of these systems have been developed with the aim of replacing contact systems in metrological verification tasks, generalist techniques such as photogrammetry, structured light, etc., have been developed over the years for digitising archaeological remains, works of art or living biological systems, among others. As is the case for non-contact measurement-oriented systems, for these generalist systems there are still difficulties in positioning them along a metrological traceability chain if they are required for any kind of measurement. This is due to the lack of specific standards, as well as the strong influence of the optical properties of the digitised surface on the quality of the results obtained. It is therefore necessary to develop calibration procedures and characterisation work to analyse this influence. The aim of this work is to characterise the metrological performance of one of these generalists structured light devices, Einscan-SP by Shining 3D, in the digitising of different calibration spheres made of different materials (WC, Al2O3, ZrO2, etc.) with different surface finishes (shot-blasted, polished, coated). As quality indicators, the number of points captured, the quality of the point cloud as well as the dimensional and geometrical deviation from the results obtained with a high-performance contact measurement system shall be used. Apart from the raw data, the influence of applying filtering to the captured clouds is analysed. The results of this work allow recommendations to be made regarding the material and finish of the spheres to be used, as well as the filtering to be applied, if necessary, in order to assess the metrological performance of this type of equipment.

B-129 Uncertainty Calculations for Reference Measurement Procedures

Abstract Background Quantitative results based on reference measurement procedures (RMP) require the calculation of the uncertainty of the result. In order to take the uncertainty of the full traceability chain into account a modularisation of the different execution steps is needed, starting from the primary reference material until the final concentration value. Different strategies have to be applied and combined to obtain the final uncertainty.We combine different ways for calculating the uncertainty of an isotope dilution -liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) based reference measurement procedure for Cortisol, and explain the differences between Type A and Type B uncertainties and best strategies to choose from them. In addition, combinations of results from subsequent steps to a final overall uncertainty are presented. Methods An ID-LC-MS/MS based reference measurement procedure requires as a starting point a primary reference material with known purity of the analyte under consideration. Nowadays this purity assessment is often done with quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy. The qNMR uncertainty calculation is a Type A approach, based on replicate sample preparations and measurements. With this primary material a first set of primary calibrators is produced, often through multiple steps of weighings, preparation of stock solutions and dilutions. For these steps balances, volumetric flasks, or pipettes are used, all of them coming with an error budget which has to enter the uncertainty budget of the primary calibrator preparation. We will show how this can be done through Type B uncertainty calculation. Based on the primary calibrators the LC/MS instrument is calibrated and measurements of individual samples are carried out. We will introduce a hierarchical variability experiment, which takes into account the most important error sources and results in a Type A uncertainty for the LC/MS measurements.Finally, the errors of the LC/MS measurements have to be combined with those of the primary calibrator preparation to obtain the overall uncertainty of an LC/MS reference measurement procedure. Results We show the approaches and calculation strategies based on the Cortisol candidate reference measurement procedure, developed within the Roche LC/MS Reference Measurement Procedure project. The purity assessment by qNMR carries an uncertainty of 0.18%. This is incorporated into the uncertainty calculations of the primary calibrators, where in addition uncertainties from weighing and dilutions are incorporated resulting in uncertainties of the primary calibrator values between 0.6% and 1.1%. Combining these uncertainties with the variabilities of the LC/MS measurement procedure results in final uncertainties between 1.6% and 2.8%. Conclusion We have developed a sound framework for uncertainty calculation of reference measurement procedures, taking into account the different procedure steps, and included this into a process for the management of the different input variables up to comprehensive reports of the calculations.

Product Traceability and Supply Chain Sustainability of Black Soybeans as Raw Materials for Soy Sauce in Maintaining Quality and Safety

Black soybeans are a necessary raw material for the soy sauce industry in Indonesia, with the reason being that they are preferred because they have a natural black color and a delicious and savory taste. As a source of raw material for soy sauce, the industry ensures that the black soybean supply chain is sustainable and can meet production requirements in quality and quantity. This research aims to trace the product and supply chain of sustainable black soybeans as raw materials for soy sauce. The selection of data sources or informants in this study in Indonesia comprised 122 farmer groups that assisted or collaborated with cooperatives that sent black soybeans to be used as raw materials for making soy sauce; 1 field assistant; and 4 cooperatives that collaborated with the industry. The data collection techniques used in this study were observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The types of documentation were research notes based on interview guides, research photos, and official institutional documents. The data analysis method used in this study was a qualitative approach with the help of QSR NVivo version 12 Plus software. The results of this study show that traceability in production is necessary to maintain safety, quality, and sustainability. Product traceability requires a monitoring system and regulations established by the industry that all stakeholders must follow, starting with farmer groups and cooperatives that supply raw materials to the industry. A good monitoring system places employees from the industry as agricultural assistants. As such, it will also determine the sustainability of the economic, social, environmental, technological, institutional, and infrastructural dimensions. Traceability in the production of black soybeans used as raw materials for making soy sauce, namely those of the Mallika variety that are round/whole and unbroken, will be accepted by the industry. The process carried out by farmer groups from planting to harvesting black soybeans is controlled by agricultural assistants and follows regulations set by the industry. The cooperative lends black soybean seeds to grade-A-seed-quality farmer groups. The farmer group repays the loan at harvest time and returns it to the cooperative in cash sums of 10,000 IDR/kg.

Key technologies research and application of green power traceability based on blockchain

Green power traceability is a crucial link to ensure the green power transactions’ authenticity, effectiveness and credibility. It’s an essential means to promote the large-scale development of green power. However, there are many links in the whole chain of green power. The data involves multiple departments and institutions. So it is not easy to trace the authenticity. This paper first introduces the entire chain of green power traceability and critical information. Secondly, it proposes the green power traceability scheme and key technologies. Then, it designs the system and functional architecture of green power traceability based on blockchain. Finally, it analyses the application effect of the system in green power trading and the Winter Olympics. This research provides the technical reference for the authenticity and traceability of green power. It helps the green-low-carbon transformation of energy consumption structure.

Meta-analysis of food supply chain: pre, during and post COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDespite the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the food supply chain since 2020. Understanding the current trends of research and scenarios in the food supply chain is critical for developing effective strategies to address the present issue. This study aims to provide comprehensive insights into the pre, during, and post COVID-19 pandemic in the food supply chain.MethodologyThis study used the Scopus database from 1995 to November 6, 2022, to analyse the food supply chain. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer software to create knowledge maps and visualizations for co-occurrence, co-authorship, and country collaboration. Biblioshiny, a shiny app for the Bibliometrix R package, was then used to explore theme evaluation path maps in the research domain.ResultsThe bibliometric analysis of 2523 documents provides important insights into present and future publication trends. Top author keywords included blockchain, traceability, food safety, sustainability, and supply chain management. The Sustainability (Switzerland) journal ranked first in productivity, and the International Journal of Production Economics received the highest citations. The United Kingdom was the most productive country, collaborating with partners in Europe, Asia, and North America. The Netherlands had the highest percentage of documents with international authors, while India and China had the lowest. The thematic evaluation maps revealed that articles focused on important research topics including food processing industry, information sharing, risk assessment, decision-making, biodiversity, food safety, and food waste.ConclusionThis study contribute to the growing body of literature on the food supply chain by providing a comprehensive analysis of research trends during different phases of the pandemic. The findings can be used to inform policymakers and industry leaders about the measures required to build a more resilient and sustainable food supply chain infrastructure for the future. This study considered only Scopus online database for bibliometric analysis, which may have limited the search strategy. Future studies are encouraged to consider related published articles by linking multiple databases.

Precision measurement of an electron pump at 2 GHz; the frontier of small DC current metrology

A well-characterised sample of silicon tunable-barrier electron pump has been operated at a frequency of 2 GHz using a custom drive waveform, generating a pump current of 320 pA. Precision measurements of the current were made as a function of pump control parameters, using a blind protocol, over a 7 week campaign. The combined standard uncertainty for each h measurement was in the range parts per million (ppm). The pump current exhibits a plateau along the exit gate voltage flat to approximately 0.15 ppm, but offset from ef by 0.2 ppm. This offset may be a sign of errors in the current traceability chain, indicating a limit to the accuracy of small current scaling using existing methods based on cryogenic current comparators.

Supply chain digitalization and performance improvement: a moderated mediation model

PurposeLeveraging the benefits of supply chain digitalization is a big challenge for many firms. To address this issue, this study aims to use information processing theory to explore the mechanisms between supply chain digitalization and supply chain performance.Design/methodology/approachBased on survey data from 223 Chinese companies, the authors tested the moderated mediation model using the Process program in SPSS.FindingsThe empirical results reveal that supply chain traceability and supply chain agility partially mediate the supply chain digitalization–supply chain performance relationship. More interestingly, the above significant mediation effects show differences across industries. In particular, manufacturing firms rely more on supply chain traceability, whereas supply chain agility contributes more to service firms. Lastly, supply chain dynamism is a significant moderator that enhances the mediation effect of supply chain traceability in the supply chain digitalization–supply chain performance relationship.Originality/valueThis study offers new insights into the growing literature on supply chain digitalization by proposing a new moderated mediation model that demonstrates the relative importance of different mediators. The findings also help managers boost their supply chain performance in the digital era.

Metrology infrastructure for radon metrology at the environmental level

Since 2020 a large consortium has been engaged in the project EMPIR 19ENV01 traceRadon to develop the missing traceability chains to improve the sensor networks in climate observation and radiation protection. This paper presents results in the areas of: Novel 226Ra standard sources with continuous controlled 222Rn emanation rate, radon chambers aimed to create a reference radon atmosphere and a reference field for radon flux monitoring. The major challenge lies in the low activity concentrations of radon in outdoor air from 1 Bq∙m-3 to 100 Bq∙m-3, where below 100 Bq∙m-3 there is currently no metrological traceability at all. Thus, measured values of different instruments operated at different locations cannot be compared with respect to their results. Whin this paper, new infrastructure is presented, capable of filling this gap in traceability. The achieved results make new calibration services, far beyond the state of art, possible.