Traditional Production Techniques Research Articles

Agarose, Alginate and Chitosan Nanostructured Aerogels for Pharmaceutical Applications: A Short Review.

In this short review, drug delivery systems, formed by polysaccharide-based (i.e., agarose, alginate, and chitosan) aerogels, are analyzed. In particular, the main papers, published in the period 2011–2020 in this research field, have been investigated and critically discussed, in order to highlight strengths and weaknesses of the traditional production techniques (e.g., freeze-drying and air evaporation) of bio-aerogels with respect to supercritical CO2 assisted drying. Supercritical CO2 assisted drying demonstrated to be a promising technique to produce nanostructured bio-aerogels that maintain the starting gel volume and shape, when the solvent removal occurs at negligible surface tension. This characteristic, coupled with the possibility of removing also cross-linking agent residues from the aerogels, makes these advanced devices safe and suitable as carriers for controlled drug delivery applications.

An integrated approach of Ecological Footprint (EF) and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) in human ecology: A base for planning toward sustainability.

Environmental challenges to natural resources have been attributed to human behavior and traditional agricultural production techniques. Natural resource degradation in agriculture has always been a prime concern in agro ecological research and sustainability analysis. There are many techniques for assessing environmental performance; one of which, ecological footprint (EF), assesses human pressure on the environment and natural resources. The main purpose of this study was calculation of ecological indices including biocapacity (BC) and EF of rural areas of Fars province of Iran. The study was accomplished using survey and structured interviews consisting of three main questionnaires in two different steps. Different agricultural stakeholders, including farmers (for the first step) as well as the policymakers, extension managers and authorities (for the second step) were interviewed. Based on multi-stage stratified random sampling, 50 villages and 423 farmers were selected. Face validity and reliability of the questionnaires were assessed by a panel of specialists as well as conducting a pilot study, respectively. The paradigmatic perspectives of agricultural policy makers and managers (22 individuals) were also analyzed using another specific questionnaire by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Findings revealed that most of the studied villages faced a critical environmental condition due to the results of ecological indicator which was calculated in the study. According to the four main components of human ecology (POET model) including Population, Organization, Environment and Technology, village groups that differed in terms of sustainability level also showed significantly differences due to population, social participation, use of green technologies and attitude towards diverse environmental management paradigms. The causal model also revealed that population, green technology, social participation and attitude toward frontier economics, which were in accordance with the elements of human ecology model, were the main factors affecting the ecological index. Finally, AHP results determined the dominant economic perspectives of agricultural authorities. A paradigm shift toward the comprehensive paradigm of eco-development plus consideration of the results of the ecological indicator calculation as the base of agricultural planning at the local level were recommended.

Erzincan Geleneksel Dut Pekmezinin Bazı Fiziksel, Kimyasal ve Antioksidan Özelliklerinin Belirlenmesi

Bu araştırmada, geleneksel yöntemle üretilen Erzincan dut pekmezinin bazı kalite özelliklerinin belirlenmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bu amaçla, 2018 ve 2019 yıllarında geleneksel olarak üretilen 10 adet dut pekmezi örneğinde, çeşitli fiziksel ve kimyasal özellikler ile antioksidan aktivite tespit edilmiştir. Pekmez örneklerinde; pH 4,86-5,17, titrasyon asitliği %0,53-0,85, toplam kuru madde %71,91-84,07, suda çözünür kuru madde %70,60-83,80, toplam kül %1,44-3,47, protein %1,47-3,19, su aktivitesi 0,59-0,75, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) 5,70-72,62 mg/kg, toplam şeker %64,04-71,40, invert şeker %40,46-56,15, sakkaroz %7,76-26,59, kalori 262,01-294,54 kcal/100 g, viskozite 745-15275 cP, L* değeri 19,19-32,64, a* değeri 5,68-17,53, b* değeri 2,46-9,01, H° değeri 15,78-52,10 ve C* değeri 8,74-19,72 aralığında belirlenmiştir. Toplam fenolik madde (TFM), 1,1diphenyl-2picyrlhydrazyl (DPPH) antioksidan aktivite ve % inhibisyon değerleri ise sırasıyla; 3,92-10,05 mg GAE/g, 1,31-6,25 mg TE/g ve %7,96-30,69 aralığında bulunmuştur. Araştırma sonuçları değerlendirildiğinde; genel olarak pekmez örneklerinin besin değerlerinin yüksek olduğu, antioksidan ve TFM açısından iyi birer kaynak oldukları ve HMF miktarlarının TS 12001 Pekmez Standardı‘nda bildirilen limitlerin oldukça altında kaldığı görülmektedir. Sonuç olarak, Erzincan yöresine ait geleneksel üretim tekniği ile doğal, besin değeri yüksek ve sağlığa yararlı pekmezlerin üretilebildiği ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu araştırma sonuçlarının, Erzincan geleneksel dut pekmezinin önemi, tanıtımı, değer kazanması ve koruma altına alınmasında katkı sağlayacağı düşünülmektedir.

REFLECTION OF TYPOGRAPHIC PATTERN DESIGN ON PRINTED TEXTILES

Printed textile design is an integral process to decorate both our clothing and design objects. Printed textiles have been displaced by modern production techniques such as transfer print in their historical process starting with traditional production techniques like tie dye, block printing and natural dying. This progress enabled forming detailed patterns and using limitless colors on the surface design of textiles. With the new communication media that arose with technology and artistic manner of expression, typography makes possible different expressions in terms of content and aesthetics on textile surface. How the craft-based design feeds typography and the new dimensions that it has brought to textile design have been researched in this article. How and in which way crafts, arts and design togetherness turn into practice has been examined over design objects composed using traditional production techniques such as quilt technique and modern production techniques such as sublimation printing and digital drawing.

A β-cyclodextrin Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Au Co-Catalyst for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Production.

Photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production has attracted considerable attention as a renewable and environment-friendly method to replace other traditional production techniques. The performance of H2O2 production remains limited by the inertness of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) towards the adsorption and activation of O2. In this work, a photocatalyst comprising of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified CN with supporting Au co-catalyst (Au/β-CD-CN) has been utilized for effective H2O2 production under visible light irradiation. The static contact angle measurement suggested that β-CD modification increased the hydrophobicity of the CN photocatalyst as well as its affinity to oxygen gas, leading to an increase in H2O2 production. The rate of H2O2 production reached more than 0.1 mM/h under visible-light irradiation. The electron spin resonance spectra indicated that H2O2 was directly formed via a 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) over the Au/β-CD-CN photocatalyst.

Environment-friendly preparation of exfoliated graphite and functional graphite sheets

Exfoliated graphite (EG) is promising oil sorbent as well as an intermediate product for the preparation of flexible graphite films (FGFs). It has been a critical challenge to energy conservation and pollution abatement for the traditional EG production technique. Here, we propose a simple and effective preparation method to acquire EG in which flake graphite is intercalated and exfoliated at room temperature, not involving any pollutant emission. The influence factors in the preparation process were explored, such as the amount of H2SO4 and H2O2, the temperature for the preparation of room temperature exfoliated graphite (RTEG). In contrast to the EG by high temperature exfoliation (HTEG), RTEG exhibits a homogeneous structure and a significantly increased volume and surface area. Moreover, EG blocks with high oil sorption capacity and excellent reuse performance can be obtained by RTEG method. Especially, FGFs fabricated by RTEG has high flexibility, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. It suggests that this environment-friendly technology is suitable for large-scale industrial implementation of graphite-based oil sorbents and flexible materials.

Does fertilizer adoption enhance smallholders\u2019 commercialization? An endogenous switching regression model from northern Ethiopia

BackgroundTheory of development economics emphasizes how individuals transit out of poverty. Adoption of improved agricultural technologies is one of the means that enables to facilitate the transition in developing countries. The application of yield-enhancing technologies is potentially likely to produce crop income more than what farm households consume compared to farming activities with more traditional production techniques. Inorganic fertilizer is one of modern agricultural technologies that can enhance agricultural productivity. However, the increase in crop production by itself is insufficient to improve the welfare of farm households; rather, it has to be linked to the market. Therefore, I am motivated to evaluate the potential impact of adoption of inorganic fertilizer on smallholders’ commercialization as technological change enhanced land-use intensification and crop productivity in a land-scarce economy like in rural Tigrai, northern Ethiopia.MethodologyThe study utilizes cross-sectional farm household data collected in the 2014–2015 cropping season from a randomly selected 626 farm households in rural Tigrai, northern Ethiopia. Plot-level productivity is estimated using OLS with a control function approach. The causal impact of fertilizer adoption on smallholders’ commercialization is estimated using an endogenous switching regression model to control for selection problems associated with adoption decision. While factors affecting the probability and extent of inorganic fertilizer adoptions are analyzed using a double-hurdle model (hurdle 1 for probability of adoption and hurdle 2 for the extent of adoption).ResultsThe double-hurdle results show that large family size, a higher number of male and female adults affect positively and significantly adoption probability of inorganic fertilizer, while long plot distance, households headed by illiterate are key constraints for inorganic fertilizer adoption. Fertilizer adoption has positive and significant effect on plot-level productivity. Finally, adoption of inorganic fertilizer has a strong and positive impact on smallholders’ commercialization through productivity gain.ConclusionThe finding of this study confirms the potential role of technology adoption in facilitating rural transformation as higher production from adoption of improved agricultural technologies translates into surplus products and greater ability to integrate with the output market.

Alkane-, alkene-, alkyne-γ-lactones and ryanodane diterpenes from aeroponically grown Persea indica roots

This work presents the study of the roots of the Macaronesian paleoendemism Persea indica (L.) Spreng. The root biomass of this protected tree species has been produced by soil-less aeroponic culture under controlled environment. This system has important advantages over traditional plant production techniques because it provides opportunities to optimize the yield of metabolite production under well-controlled conditions, thereby facilitating commercial-scale production of bioactive compounds. Thus, for the first time a study of this type has permitted the isolation from the roots of seven undescribed dextrorotatory lactones: the alkane-γ-lactones (+)-majoranolide and (+)-dihydromajorenolide, the alkene-γ-lactones (+)-majorenolide and (+)-majorenolide acetate, and the alkyne-γ-lactones, (+)-majorynolide, (+)-majorynolide acetate and (+)-isomajorynolide. In addition, thirteen known compounds were also isolated including two possible avocadofurane precursors, avocadynone acetate and avocadenone acetate, the monoterpene esters cis- and trans-p-coumarate of (−)-borneol, and the ryanoid diterpenes cinnzeylanone, anhidrocinnzeylanine, cinnzeylanine, cinnzeylanol, epiryanodol, perseanol, cinncassiol E, perseaindicol and secoperseanol. The configuration at C-14 de two ryanodane diterpenes has also been revised in this work. Furthermore, (−)-borneol cis-p-coumarate has showed to be insecticidal to S. littoralis and cytotoxic to insect (Sf9) cells, (+)-majorenolide antifeedant to aphids and cytotoxic to Sf9, cinnceylanol antifeedant and insecticidal to S. littoralis, and (+)-majorynolide (2), insecticidal against S. littoralis, cytotoxic to Sf9 and nematicidal, suggesting a defensive role for these compounds.

Subject-specific finite element analysis of a lumbar cage produced by electron beam melting.

The aim of this study was the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of a partially porous lumbar custom-made cage by means of a subject-specific finite element analysis (FEA). The cage, made of Ti6Al4V ELI alloy, was produced via electron beam melting (EBM) process and surgically implanted in a female subject, 50 years old. The novelty of this study was the customized design of the cage and of its internal structure, which is impossible to obtain with the traditional production techniques. The 3D model of the spine was obtained from the computed tomography (CT) of the patient. Moreover, high-resolution industrial CT was also used to reconstruct a 3D model of the cage, with its real (as-produced) features, such as superficial roughness, morphology of the bulk and of the porous structure. The workflow was divided in several steps: the main finite element analyses were non-linear and quasi-static regarding: the rhombic dodecahedron (RD) unit cell of the porous structure; the device; the whole L4-L5 motion segment with the implanted cage. Stress distribution was calculated under compression load for all models. For the RD unit cell, the maximum stress appeared at the connected cross nodes, where notch effect was present. For the cage subjected to a load of 1 kN, the porous structure did not present any functional failure. For the whole biomechanical system subjected to a physiological load of 360 N, the calculated stress in the bone was smaller than its yield strength value. On the axial view, a zone with higher compressive stresses was present on the L5 vertebral body. This was due to the contact stress between the cage and the vertebra. From the comparison between FE results and the CT images of the spine, bone remodelling was supposed, with the formation of new bone. Graphical abstract Workflow showing the phases of the research.

Millifluidic Synthesis of Biocompatible Protein-Loaded Nanocapsules.

Protein nanocapsules have been demonstrated to be an intracellular protein platform for protein drug delivery. However, traditional production techniques of nanocapsules are not quite suitable for obtaining high protein load efficiency and uniformity of the nanocapsules because of their existing difficulties in homogeneously mixing nanocapsule precursors and heat transfer. Herein, we report a simple way to produce protein nanocapsules using a low cost, easy-to-use millifluidic device that we designed to improve the protein load efficiency as well as the uniformity of the nanocapsules while maintaining the bioactivity of their inner protein and good biocompatibility. The synthesized nanocapsules were carefully characterized and the biocompatibility of these nanocapsules was verified. Besides, acute toxicity test, blood compatibility assay and vascular stimulation test were performed to prepare for clinical applications in the future. The results showed that the nanocapsules synthesized by the device were about 18 nm in size and had a higher protein load efficiency as well as a narrower size distribution (PDI: 0.343) than those of the nanocapsules synthesized by the commonly used bulk mixing method. Moreover, these nanocapsules can well ensure the functions of their inner protein and have high biocompatibility. In short, with our elaborately designed millifluidic device, we provide an alternative way to synthesize high-quality protein nanocapsules.

Characterization of Dairy Value Chains in the Case of Urban and Peri-Urban Area of Southern Tigray

The study aimed at analyzing of the existing dairy value chain in the southern zone of Tigray. Primary data were collected from multiple sources including a total of 120 dairy producers, value chain actors: 24 traders, 20 consumers and 8 service providers in Edamehoni and Alamata districts. The collected data was analyzed using application of appropriate statistical tools and simple descriptive statistics. Dairying accounted 53.33 and 23.33% of the total generated family income for urban and peri-urban dairy producers; respectively. The finding indicated that input suppliers, producers, traders, consumers and service providers are involved directly and/or indirectly along dairy value chains in the study areas. Accordingly, producing and processing, collecting, storing and marketing dairy products are the major activities which were performed by the actors. Out of all milk value chain actors about 61% retailers (café and restaurant) and 39% milk producer, were involved in the value addition of milk in both study areas. Most of the smallholder dairy producers in the study sites have been using traditional dairy production technique that results in low milk production. Creating awareness and other capacity building intervention of smallholder dairy producer for quality and quantity milk production are one of the ways to assist dairy producers in building on their resources to create more income by managing their dairy farm skillfully and get a good price in the market. Hence, all concerned organizations (chain enablers) should focus on the provision of appropriate training for both dairy producer farmers and extension agents on how to manage improved breed dairy cattle and incorporate new technologies profitably into farm level production strategies.

A Study of Japanese Traditional Rice Production Technique in Warm Areas and Its Modern Ecological Value

A Study of Japanese Traditional Rice Production Technique in Warm Areas and Its Modern Ecological Value

Art restoration, protection and education in China-Murals, materials study in humid areas in South China

This paper introduces the museum development history and cultural heritage education in China. The number of museums and precious collections increases tremendously, the professionals specially trained to perform Art administration, repair and restoration are next to non-existence. Facing the challenge of well-qualified teaching and researching staff, China Academy of Art (CAA) in Hangzhou China strived to offer graduate and undergraduate programs in Art Administration, Art Education and Art Appreciation in 2015. The efforts are expected to train students in an interdisciplinary approach so that they will be equipped with art knowledge, scientific techniques and practical skills. It also discusses an interesting recent studies and findings performed by the professor and his students. This paper describes special historical materials of southern Murals in China, and analyzes the traditional materials, production techniques and artistic characteristic of these Murals. The plan is to rebuild an old wall with murals as a laboratory for future studies in CAA.

Wearable Platform for Real-time Monitoring of Sodium in Sweat.

A fully integrated and wearable platform for harvesting and analysing sweat sodium concentration in real time during exercise has been developed and tested. The platform was largely produced using 3D printing, which greatly simplifies fabrication and operation compared to previous versions generated with traditional production techniques. The 3D printed platform doubles the capacity of the sample storage reservoir to about 1.3 ml, reduces the assembly time and provides simple and precise component alignment and contact of the integrated solid-state ion-selective and reference electrodes with the sorbent material. The sampling flowrate in the device can be controlled by introducing threads to enhance wicking of sweat from the skin, across the electrodes to the storage area. The platform was characterised in the lab and in exercise trials over a period of about 60 minutes continuous monitoring. Sweat sodium concentration was found to rise initially to approximately 17 mM and decline gradually over the period of the trial to about 11-12 mM.

Characterization and optimization of an inkjet-printed smart textile UV-sensor cured with UV-LED light

For the development of niche products like smart textiles and other functional high-end products, resource-saving production processes are needed. Niche products only require small batches, which makes their production with traditional textile production techniques time-consuming and costly. To achieve a profitable production, as well as to further foster innovation, flexible and integrated production techniques are a requirement. Both digital inkjet printing and UV-light curing contribute to a flexible, resource-efficient, energy-saving and therewith economic production of smart textiles. In this article, a smart textile UV-sensor is printed using a piezoelectric drop-on-demand printhead and cured with a UV-LED lamp. The UVcurable ink system is based on free radical polymerization and the integrated UVsensing material is a photochromic dye, Reversacol Ruby Red. The combination of two photoactive compounds, for which UV-light is both the curer and the activator, challenges two processes: polymer crosslinking of the resin and color performance of the photochromic dye.Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to characterize the curing efficiency of the prints. Color measurements are made to determine the influence of degree of polymer crosslinking on the developed color intensities, as well as coloration and decoloration rates of the photochromic prints. Optimized functionality of the textile UV-sensor is found using different belt speeds and lamp intensities during the curing process.

Color Structure in the Persian Painting

Written manuscripts and literary treatises are among the most important documents of knowledge on traditional color production techniques related to painting, and as they have survived thanks to desirable maintenance and preservation from the ancient times to the present time, they can be good sources for identifying and extracting traditional color production methods related to paining. Especially, the illustrated books simultaneously with their writing are an evidence of the contents presented in those manuscripts and treatises. Therefore, by an aim to identify and revive traditional color production techniques, the present descriptive-analytic research examines some of the available handwritten manuscripts and literary treatises. Then, with emphasis placed on the knowledge acquired and the modern facilities, some of the colors are made. The present study was performed by raising the major question that what ancient literary books are the sources of production colors used in Persian painting, and what were the nature of color production techniques and traditional color characteristics in the past. Thus, the study population includes Golestan Honar, Qanun al-Sovar, Majmoueh al-Sanaye’ and 14 other treatises relevant to this issue, and the data collection was performed in a library- and experimental-based manner. The result of this study was the extraction, preparation and remaking of seven main mineral colors in Persian painting.

Combining amenity with experience

Industry and government bodies have recommended augmentation of traditional production and marketing techniques as ways of increasing an industry’s profitability. This article values the amenity of the wine industry, a sensory experience that provides an array of opportunities both culturally to the tourist and economically to many regions across the world. Using the wine industry in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, we use input–output analysis to assess the economic impacts of this industry and the amenity hidden within. The industry not only provides jobs and commerce supporting local prosperity but also supplies a mixed production and consumption amenity from an agricultural product that meets the tourist’s leisure desire – an amenity that transcends from its origin in the vineyard to its destination at the table.

Organic Farming Education in Azerbaijan, Present and Future

In our days as a result of the rapid increase in world population, organic agriculture is gaining more importance. Initially organic farming was known as a form of agriculture that mainly relies on traditional production techniques, without use of fertilizers and pesticides. However, recent developments show that an organic agriculture can combine tradition, innovation and science to benefit from the modern techniques and knowledge. Organic farming methods take into account all stages of production, starting from the production to the end user. With the introduction of organic farming throughout the world the specialized educational and training programs are initiated and become very popular. Organic farming in Azerbaijan began with the adoption of State Program in year of 2009. Each and every region of our country due to its features like location, landscape, unpolluted nature, and clime constitutes a unique source for organic farming. However, organic farming as a new agriculture production method is still commonly unknown. This work studies the level and degree of awareness of producers and consumers about the educational programs on organic farming and the importance of the design and promotion of educational activities and training programs, in the example of Azersun Holding.

Physical and mechanical characterization of sun-dried bricks. A case history: the galeb of Kebili

The galeb of Kebili is a sun-dried brick belonging to the construction tradition of the homonymous “oasis city” of southern Tunisia, obtained by mixing water, fired gypsum-rich Sahara sand and palm wood ash. In recent years, great efforts have been made to enhance the features of these construction materials while preserving the traditional production techniques. In order to evaluate possible improvements in the brick’s physical and mechanical properties, both different firing techniques of raw materials and various ash content in the composition, have been considered. Experimental results showed that modifying the traditional method of combustion by firing the sand at a controlled temperature (160 °C) in a standard oven, allows to obtain a galeb brick with improved mechanical and physical properties. Moreover, keeping the traditional method of combustion, mechanical and physical properties may be optimized by adding a controlled amount of raw ash (about 5 %) in the galeb bricks composition.

Quantifying greenhouse gases from the production, transportation and utilization of charcoal in developing countries: a case study of Kampala, Uganda

This study aims to quantify greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the production, transportation and utilization of charcoal and to assess the possibilities of decreasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) from the charcoal industry in general in Uganda. It also aims to assess the emission intensity of the Ugandan “charcoal production” sector compared to that of some other major charcoal producing nations. This work was done in accordance with ISO 14040 methodology for life-cycle assessment (LCA), using GABi 4.0—a software for life-cycle assessment. A cradle-to-grave study was conducted, excluding emissions arising from machinery use during biomass cultivation and harvesting. The distance from charcoal production locations to Kampala was estimated using ArcGIS 10.0 software and a GPS tool. Emission data from a modern charcoal production process (PYREG methane-free charcoal production equipment), which complies with the German air quality standards (TA-Luft), was compared with emissions from a traditional charcoal production process. Four coupled scenarios were modelled to account for differences in the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted from the “traditional charcoal production phase”, “improved charcoal production phase (biomass feedstock sourced sustainably and unsustainably)”, “transportation phase” and “utilization phase”. Data for this study was obtained via literature review and onsite measurements. The results showed that greenhouse gases emitted due to charcoal supply and use of traditional production technique in Kampala was 1,554,699 tCO2eq, with the transportation phase accounting for approximately 0.15 % of total greenhouse gases emitted. The utilization phase (charcoal cookstoves) emitted 723,985 tCO2eq (46.6 %), while the charcoal production phase emitted 828,316 tCO2eq (53.3 %). Changing the charcoal production technology from a traditional method to an improved production method (PYREG charcoal process) resulted in greenhouse gases reductions for the city of 230,747 tCO2eq; however, by using sustainably sourced biomass, this resulted in reductions of 801,817 tCO2eq. This study showcased and quantified possible GHG emission reduction scenarios for the charcoal industry in Uganda. The result of 3 tCO2eq emitted per tonne of charcoal produced, using earth mound method, can be applied to other countries in Eastern Africa where similar charcoal production methods are used; this will allow for somewhat better regional estimates of the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from the production of charcoal. The results of this study also suggests that the primary use of charcoal for cooking will lead to increases in GHG emissions and increases in deforestation on the long term, if legal frameworks are not made to ensure that biomass used for charcoal production is obtained via sustainable sources or if alternative cheap energy-generating technologies for cooking are not developed and deployed to the masses.