Production Value Research Articles

Profiling and Improvement of Grain Quality Traits for Consumer Preferable Basmati Rice in the United States.

Basmati rice is a premium aromatic rice that consumers choose primarily because of its distinct aroma and excellent grain quality. The grain quality of Basmati rice (GQBR) reflects the perspectives of producers, processors, sellers, and consumers related to the production, processing, marketing, and consumption of Basmati rice. Consumers, an invaluable part of the production demand and value chain of the Basmati rice industry, have the freedom to choose from different types of aromatic rice. Consumers expect their preferred Basmati rice to possess all superior rice grain qualities, including the physical, biochemical, and physiological properties. Gene functional analysis explained that a 10-base pair deletion in the promoter region of the OsSPL16 gene causes the slender grains in Basmati rice, whereas an 8-base-pair deletion in exon 7 of the OsBadh2 gene (located in the fgr region on rice chromosome 8) results in the distinct aroma. Furthermore, a combination of the genetic characteristics of the gw8 and gs3 genes has led to the creation of a long-grain Basmati-type rice cultivar. It has also been demonstrated that agricultural, genetic, and environmental conditions significantly influence GQBR. Hence, research on improving GQBR requires a multidimensional approach and sophisticated elements due to the complexity of its nature and preference diversity. This review covers the basic definitions of grain quality traits, consumer preference criteria, influencing factors, and strategies for producing superior-quality Basmati rice in the United States. This knowledge will be useful in improving the grain quality of Basmati and Basmati-type rice, as well as developing appropriate breeding programs that will meet the preferences of different countries and cultures.

Spillover effects of structure-adjustment pollution reduction measures in China's iron and steel industry

The iron and steel industry (ISI) is a significant source of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter pollution in China. Existing research on regional environmental regulation or ISI emission reduction strategies tends to overlook spillover effects and the enterprise perspective. During the heating season, production limitations in ISI are potential policy measures for achieving structural emission reductions in heavily polluted cities in China's Jing-Jin-Ji and surrounding regions. We adopt a bottom-up modeling approach, incorporating effective production time to describe enterprise behavior and establishing a quantitative trade model based on trade theory. By modeling three types of production restriction policies outlined in policy documents, we evaluate the emission reduction effects of structure-adjustment measures using the example of reduced effective production time for steel-producing enterprises in the air pollution transmission channel in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. The results indicate the following: (1) Reducing the effective production time of ISI enterprises can help decrease domestic production value and total factor productivity in pollution-intensive industries, including but not limited to ISI. It also leads to reduced emissions of various pollutants in the implementation regions. (2) Due to interprovincial trade and input-output linkages, structural reduction measures in certain regions have implications for almost all other provinces' industrial structures. Differences in initial industrial structures, factor endowments, and geographical locations contribute to varying directions and magnitudes of industrial structural changes. Pollution-intensive industries' share tends to increase higher in less developed regions. (3) Our estimated pollution reduction is smaller compared to the literature evaluating clean air policies in similar regions using top-down strategies. This discrepancy arises because we analyze a single policy tool rather than modeling industry-wide emission fluctuations from the top down. Additionally, our modeling approach allows us to examine dynamic changes in comparative advantages. The increase in production scale for certain industries in policy-affected regions partially offsets the decline in pollution emissions. These findings enhance our understanding of structure-adjustment reduction measures' role and highlight their potential advantages and limitations.

Adoption of Coffee Technologies: A Multivariate Probit Model

The sector of agriculture in Ethiopia is a source of livelihood for over 80% population residing in rural areas. It contributes about 50% to the national value of production. The country has huge potential to increase coffee production as it endowed with suitable elevation, temperature, and soil fertility, indigenous quality plantation materials, and sufficient rainfall in coffee growing belts of the country. Adoption of improved coffee varieties and recommended coffee management practice together have a significant effect on annual coffee production. The study was aimed to see the adoption rate and intensity of coffee technologies which are improved coffee Varity and coffee management practice, determinant of adoption of coffee technologies in Jima zone south western Ethiopia. A total of 196 sampled households from three woreda in the zone and 430 plots of 196 farmers household is considered in the survey. The study develops a multivariate probit model econometric model of farmers' choice of combination of coffee technologies. And two primary results were found. First, adoption rate and intensity of Improved coffee variety is greater than adoption of coffee management practice. Secondly adoption of coffee technologies determined by many institutional, resource and other related factor. This implies that policy makers and other stakeholders promoting a combination of technologies can enhance coffee yield through reducing production costs and decreasing coffee vulnerability to disease.

Physicochemical and sensory properties of fermented milk supplemented with sundried African horned melon

AbstractAfrican horned melon (AHM) (Cucumis metuliferus), indigenous to Kenya. It contains high polyphenol and antioxidant content, yet remains underutilized in food products. This study sought to increase the utilization of AHM by developing a supplemented milk product and evaluating the effects of sundried AHM powder on the physicochemical and sensory properties of the fermented milk product. The fermented milk was supplemented with three different forms of AHM powder: whole fruit, peel, and seed, at concentrations of 0.5%, 0.7%, and 1% w/v. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), syneresis, texture, and viscosity were measured, alongside sensory acceptability assessments. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences (p < 0.05) in physicochemical and sensory properties between the control (did not contain AHM) and supplemented samples, particularly at higher concentrations and extended storage periods. The inclusion of AHM powder markedly influenced the fermented milk's properties, with increased TTA and syneresis in samples with higher melon powder concentrations. TTA ranged between 0.32% and 0.46% among all samples during storage which were comparatively higher than the recommended values for fermented milk products at 0.3%. pH findings range was 4.22 and 4.58. The pH range between 4.2 and 4.6 is recommended by FDA for fermented milk. Syneresis were between 2% and 13%. Texture was between 1.24 and 3.95 N. Viscosity was between 1.67 and 3.87 cP. Sensory scores ranged from 8.00 to 2.67 during storage. Fruit seed powder (FSP1) recorded the lowest amount of pH. Control maintained a higher score in the sensory attributes.

A low-cost approach to upskilling tutors in frontline health care worker production value chain.

Nigeria, like many countries, struggles with a shortage of healthcare professionals including frontline healthcare providers at the primary healthcare (PHC) level. While the country is pitched towards producing more healthcare professionals, the existing infrastructure to produce them is inadequate. Producing healthcare professional with the required skills to deliver quality services is impeded by several factors including the use of outdated curricula for their training, low application of technology in teaching, and weak tutor capacity that is worsened by the paucity and high cost of opportunities for tutor continuing professional development. To address these issues, the Health Workforce Management Activity (HWM), an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in 2023 designed and implemented a low-cost programme called TutorConnect that offered low-cost continuing professional development to tutors. TutorConnect is a Zoom-based monthly training programme that is facilitated by subject matter experts. The programme offered topics spanning effective learning, enhanced instructional design, and improved student engagement in the 14 months of its operation with over 700 tutors from more than 10 states in Nigeria that benefited from it. Utilising WhatsApp for additional support and peer-to-peer learning was crucial to providing more hands-on support, and institution-specific solutions. This low-cost approach to build competencies enabled access to continuing professional development by tutors, limiting effects of location and finances as barriers to continuing professional development. Developing the teaching capacity of tutors is pivotal to enhancing the quality of frontline healthcare worker training.

A Malmquist fuzzy data envelopment analysis model for performance evaluation of rural healthcare systems

The primary purpose of this article is to measure the relative efficiency and productivity change over time in rural healthcare systems in the presence of fuzzy data. First, a novel ranking function based on the lower and upper bounds of alpha-cut of the trapezoidal fuzzy numbers (TrFNs) is proposed to compare the TrFNs. The suggested ranking technique is used to construct the fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA), Malmquist fuzzy DEA (Mal-FDEA), and undesirable Malmquist fuzzy DEA (UN-Mal-FDEA ) models. The proposed models evaluate the efficiency and productivity of decision-making units (DMUs) when the input and output data are given in the form of TrFNs. In addition, a case study of the rural healthcare system in a developing country has been considered to demonstrate the applicability of the developed models. The work considers number of sub-centers (SCs), the number of primary health centers (PHCs), the number of community health centers (CHCs), nursing Staff at PHCs, an auxiliary nurse and midwives (ANM) at SCs, doctors at PHCs, pharmacists at PHCs, laboratory technicians at PHCs, radiographers at CHCs, and specialists at CHCs as input parameters and average population covered by CHCs, average village covered by CHCs, number of patients, and infant mortality rates as output parameters to analyze the performance of the rural healthcare systems. We show the UN-Mal-FDEA model has a higher production value than the Mal-FDEA model. The results of our proposed models enable us to recognize inefficiencies that states may rectify without compromising healthcare quality.

An assessment of the vulnerability and adaptation potential of sugarcane production to water stress, southern Africa

The high spatial variability of precipitation, heightened frequency of droughts and concomitant increases in exposure to water stress across southern Africa due to climate change, presents significant challenges for sugarcane production and the regional sugarcane production value chain. While production has intensified in the past few decades, yields have declined due to increased climatic variability and agronomic management approaches. Increased precipitation variability has enhanced sugarcane vulnerability to water stress and is likely to negatively affect yields. Combining crop simulations and relationships between sugarcane water use and observed rainfall, we introduce a crop productivity ratio (CPR) which assesses sugarcane water stress for six sugarcane mills across southern Africa. The CPR and simulation results were used to assess the adaptation potential or ‘space’ for mill areas that have varying rates of exposure and abilities to adapt to water stress. Simulation results were used to determine the long-term adaption potential of mill areas and to surmise the causes of yield declines. The results were used to offer recommendations to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance adaptation to water stress. We conclude that the amplification of inter-annual precipitation variability will enhance the exposure of sugarcane to water stress and require adaptation interventions. Adapting to external shocks is a multifaceted exercise that requires a holistic approach that includes every aspect of the sugarcane value chain.

Women of Influence: interdisciplinary participatory approaches to understanding female leadership in the Peruvian Amazon

The Mujeres que influyen (Women of Influence) project is a collaboration between researchers at University of East Anglia and PUCP, and young women from the Junín area of Peru who are members of the National Council of Indigenous Women of Peru. It takes its starting point from an acknowledgement that although women play a fundamental role in the preservation of biodiversity and ancestral knowledge, these contributions often go unrecognized and underdeveloped (Ketty Marcelo, 2018), to the detriment of the very culture and environment that should be preserved. Our women-led participatory project, uses film (production, screening, analysis) to highlight the potential and importance for active and organised participation by these young women in their communities in order to protect and nurture their natural resources. Working alongside Asháninka and Yanesha young women, we seek to demonstrate the value of young female involvement in community decision-making, addressing the cultural and societal inequalities that may disrupt their path to leadership and influence. In this paper, we focus on the methods developed in the project, particularly the value of participatory video production as a form of activism, with the outputs serving as creative manifestos in themselves. The co-designed activities have led us to reframe fieldwork as auto-ethnographic digital collaborations that have sought to disrupt power hierarchies and facilitate the co-production of new knowledge. We reflect on how our Indigenous partners have helped us rethink issues of sustainability, resilience and alternative strategies to respond to gender dynamics, political ecologies and environmental challenges.

Gender gap in agricultural productivity: evidence from Burkina Faso

PurposeWomen make a major contribution to the agricultural sector, especially in developing countries. Despite this, women still face many obstacles in carrying out their agricultural activities. These obstacles have a negative impact on their productivity and create a gender gap. This paper analyses the difference in agricultural productivity between male-headed and female-headed households in Burkina Faso.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from the Permanent Agricultural Survey (EPA), we applied the Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition method to determine the size of the gender gap and identify the variables explaining this gap. In this study, we used the value of production per farm worker as a measure of productivity.FindingsThe results indicate a gender gap of 43.8 percentage points in favor of male-headed households. Around 131% of this difference is explained by differences in observable household characteristics. The factor that most explains this difference in productivity is the difference in the total area of land available to households.Practical implicationsThis finding calls for women’s access to land to be considered in the design and implementation of agricultural development policies.Originality/valueOne of the main contributions of this article in relation to previous studies lies in the unit of analysis. Rather than focusing on individual producers, as in previous studies, we have instead considered the household as the unit of analysis, since in developing countries such as Burkina Faso, production decisions are taken at household level. It contributes to inform economic policy decisions by providing decision-makers with the factors on which they can act to bring about an increase in agricultural productivity by reducing the gap between male-headed households and female-headed households.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0923

Methods and data needs to estimate the economic market value of livestock at different spatial scales.

Assessing the economic value of livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and fish can offer information about their financial performance and economic importance at farm, national and global scale. Such information is needed for decision-making surrounding livestock finance, investment and strategic development. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the key livestock valuation methods and associated data requirements. The study was conducted using a literature review. Five key livestock valuation methods were identified and described: historical costs, net current market value, replacement costs, net present value and cost of production. The findings of this study may be of interest to livestock scientists, veterinarians, policy-makers and other stakeholders who aim to assess the economic value of livestock herds. The Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme relied on the outcomes of this study to identify methods for the estimation of the economic value of livestock at the global scale and for its Ethiopia and Indonesia case studies.

The productivity cost of mortality due to lung cancer, breast cancer and melanoma in Europe across 2010, 2015 and 2019

BackgroundCancer caused an estimated 2.2 million deaths across Europe in 2020. This analysis estimated the cost of lost productivity due to premature deaths associated with lung, breast and melanoma cancer and investigated the temporal trends across European regions across 2010, 2015 and 2019. MethodThe human capital approach was used to estimate the indirect costs from lung, melanoma, and breast cancers (ICD-10 code: C33–34, C43, and C50, respectively) in Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Europe. Age-specific mortality, and country-specific wages and employment rates were used to calculate years of productive life lost (YPLL), YPLL/death and present value of future lost productivity (PVFLP). Data were sourced from the World Health Organization, Eurostat, and the World Bank. ResultsThe number of cancer deaths remained relatively stable from 2010 to 2019. YPLL/death decreased across all European regions and for all cancers between 2010 and 2019 (reported ranges across European regions; lung cancer: 25–42 %; breast cancer: 18–21 %; melanoma: 31–37 %). In Europe, the decrease in PVFLP in 2019 compared to 2010 was €2995M for lung cancer, €295M for melanoma, and €466M for breast cancer, with an overall reduction of productivity cost of €3756M in these cancer types. ConclusionThe results from this study illustrate a decreased trend in productivity costs from 2010 to 2019 which could be driven by deaths occurring at an older age, suggesting that advances in cancer prevention and the treatment landscape have extended the life of cancer patients, yielding less productivity losses. Policy summaryThe indirect economic costs modelled show the impact of past effective health policies and new treatments. Continued efforts to improve public health policies in supporting public awareness of risk factors and value of early diagnosis could lead to further reduction in these losses. Prevention, early diagnosis, and activation of early treatment pathways could serve to reduce loss of life and improve productivity.

A Collective Fantasia of the Financial Age in Early 1990s China: Erotic-Speculative Sensation, Neoliberal Labor Heroine, and Presentist Worldly Wisdom

When the notion of “finance” reentered ordinary Chinese people's lives since the “Reform and Opening Up,” how were “finance and economics” (caijing) perceived and felt? This essay focuses on the mainland critics’ reviews of the “finance-themed” novels by the Hong Kong entrepreneur-cum-writer Leung Fung Yee (b. 1949) and discusses how “Leung fever” (1992 – 93) provided a medium for a collective imagination of the financial age. Leung's fiction introduced “sensuous and lively” financial knowledge particularly attractive to a financially uneducated mainland readership who nonetheless desired to engage in adventurous economic activities. This essay is situated in the intersection of finance and literary practice and highlights the ways these critics’ interpretations of Leung's novels helped instruct readers in how to feel, experience, and survive the financial age and legitimize the new economic behaviors in everyday life. This new age was first and foremost experienced as an “erotic-speculative sensation” in which an erotic adventure was experienced similar to the financial behavior of speculation. The mainland critics envisioned the figure of “the neoliberal labor heroine,” one who creatively utilizes the intervals to maximize productive value and who performs “presentist worldly wisdom” to strategically navigate life and achieve optimal outputs and success in a disorienting world.

Strategy Studies Tiered Value Chain By Samsung In The Era of Global Competition

In the era of globalization, the smartphone industry has become one of the most competitive and dynamic sectors in the world. This paper aims to examine the tiered value chain as a strategy undertaken by Samsung with its suppliers in global market competition. This research uses descriptive qualitative research methods through literature studies from various sources relevant to the case study discussed. The result of this research is that Samsung chose to produce its own smartphones due to several factors. First, Samsung smartphone products have complex specifications, making it difficult for suppliers to produce them independently. Second, Samsung's smartphone products are difficult to codify, which means they are difficult to document and communicate clearly to suppliers. Third, the capability or ability of suppliers to produce smartphones that comply with Samsung's standards is considered low. Thus, the hierarchy value chain strategy implemented by Samsung in its smartphone production value chain aims to maintain control over the production process and maintain the quality of the products produced, so that it can compete effectively in the global market

Effect of landraces on Musa micropropagation

This work aimed at assessing the performance of two landraces of Musa spp in micropropagation. Tissues from Owom and Efol were sterilized by soaking the explants in 70 % ethanol for 30 sec, 8 % NaOCl for 5 min, 5 g/L benlate for 5 min, and in 1.2 g/L HgCl2 for 10 min before being thoroughly washed with distilled water. Tissue exposure to U. V. light for 5 min was done before they were cultured in a shooting MS-based culture medium supplemented with 5.00 mg/L concentration of 6-Benzylaminopurine, and later to a rooting MS-based culture medium supplemented with indoleacetic acid (IAA) of 2.00 mg/l concentration. Data were collected on number of shoots, shoot height, shoot’s health, days to rooting, root number, and root length. The result from shooting medium showed that the plants’ heights were highly significantly different at P ≤ 0.01, with Owom producing marginal mean heights of 3.59 cm and 5.05 cm at 3 and 5 weeks respectively, after initiation. A very high significant difference was observed with plant health at P ≤ 0.001 whereby Owom landrace reduced in health status as the week increased, unlike Efol which increased in health status across the weeks. For rooting medium, significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 for days to rooting, root length, health performance, and plant height were observed. While high significant difference was observed for the number of roots at P ≤ 0.01. Owom performed significantly better than Efol and has shown value for commercial production and breeding programs.

Influence of calcination temperature and particle size distribution on the physical properties of SrFe12O19 and BaFe12O19 hexaferrite powders

The paper deals with the economic optimisation of ferrite powder preparation during producing hard ferrite magnets. The magnetic properties of ferrites are investigated by replacing feedstock and reducing calcination temperature and particles in the order of tens of microns. The granulates about 8–10 mm in size were calcined for 2 h in the temperature range from 1100 °C to 1300 °C and additionally crushed and milled to an average particle size of about 80–90 µm. The scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the agglomerates of particles with different shapes and sizes in tens of µm. The X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that, besides the SrFe12O19 and BaFe12O19 phases, there was also the presence of 2–39% hematite. The highest values of maximum energy product (BH)max = 930 J/m3 and remanent magnetic induction Br = 72.8 mT were obtained at a calcination temperature of 1300 °C. The Henkel plots confirmed the presence of exchange-coupling and dipolar magnetic interactions at lower and higher magnetic fields, respectively. The strength of interactions was also dependent on the calcination temperature. Replacing strontium with barium led to a deterioration of the magnetic parameters, which were optimal at a lower calcination temperature (1100 °C). This phenomenon was partly overcome by reducing the mean particle size of Ba-based hexaferrites to 45–50 µm.

Kontribusi perikanan pukat cincin yang berpangkalan di Pelabuhan Perikanan Pantai Tumumpa terhadap PDRB Kota Manado di masa Covid-19

Covid-19 brought their intensive effects in marine fishery subsector in Manado by the end of 2019. The research aimed at finding out how far the effect of purse seine fishery contribute on Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) Manado between before and after Covid-19. Secondary data collected from of BPS Manado dan North Sulawesi in 2018 - 2022, while primary data i.e purse seiner’s catches and its value production from the annual reports of Tumumpa coastal fishing port by direct observation on board. Data was analyzed using Location Quotient (LQ) approach. The result of data analysis showed, there was a declining production during Covid-19 due to a lack of fishing operation activities, having a consequence in fish production value decreasing, because the fish distribution obstruction from the centres of producer to the centres of consumer. Before Covid-19 period, it gained the average catches of 10,7 million tons.yrs-1 (increasing 17,46% yrs-1), with production value of Rp. 159,6 billion yrs-1 (increase 23,23% yrs-1). During Covid-19, average cathes of purse seiner was 11,3 billion tons yrs-1 (decline 8,25% yrs-1) and production value of Rp. 204,3 billion yrs-1 in average (decline of 8,30% yrs-1). Purse seine fishery contribution on GRDP Manado decrease from 0,10% yrs-1 before Covid-19 (2017-2019) to - 0.42% yrs-1 during Covid-19 (2020-2012). During these two periods, (marine) fishery subsector had a LQ < 1, meant that this subsector was really not a basis of the subsector. To fulfill the Manado society consumption on fishes, it is required to supply fishes from other locations. The other side, the business of purse seiner fishery brought an agreeable advantage.

Black soldier fly oil-based diets enriched in lauric acid enhance growth, hematological indices, and fatty acid profiles of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fry

A 90-day trial was conducted to investigate the effect of a diet containing Black Soldier Fly Oil (BSFO) on performance, feed efficiency, hematological indices, and fatty acid profiles of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus fry. BSFO, which naturally contains lauric acid (LA, 12:0), was utilized to create five isonitrogenous (300 g kg−1 CP), isolipidic (62 g kg−1 EE), and isocaloric (19.27 MJ kg−1 GE) experimental diets. The basal experimental diet (control diet, SBO100) had no BSFO added. Diets 2–5 were formulated by substituting soybean oil (SBO) with BSFO at 25 % (SBO75-BSFO25), 50 % (SBO50-BSFO50), 75 % (SBO25-BSFO75), and 100 % (BSFO100), resulting in LA content of 0, 0.4, 0.81, 1.21 and 1.61 mg g−1 fatty acid (FA), respectively. A total of 375 fish, weighing an average of 0.16 g, were stocked at a stocking density of 25 fish tank−1 the fish were separated into five treatments in triplicate and the experiment lasted 90 days. Diets supplemented with BSFO had a significant (P ≤ 0.05) influence on performance inducers and FCR. The fish fed with SBO75-BSFO25 had the highest performance parameters and best FCR values as compared to other treatments, but these values decreased when BSFO was added to more than 25 % of the diet. Total body FA contents increased as dietary BSFO levels increased. The opposite pattern was observed with n-6 PUFAs, n-3 PUFAs, and n-3/n-6 ratios. Fish-fed SBO75-BSFO25 exhibited the lowest levels of ΣSFAs, ΣMUFAs, Σn-3 PUFAs, and Σn-6 PUFAs compared to other treatments. Increasing dietary BSFO levels resulted in higher FA productive value (FAPV) for ΣMUFAs, Σn-3 PUFAs, and Σn-6 PUFAs. The opposite pattern was observed for ΣSFA values compared to fish fed with SBO75-BSFO25. All hematological indicators were within normal levels for healthy tilapia, indicating that BSFO had little or no impact on their health. The current study concluded that BSFO can substitute soybean oil (SBO) by up to 25 %. LA is especially beneficial, for improving growth performance, feed utilization efficiency, fatty acid profile, and hematological homeostasis in Nile tilapia, O. niloticus fry.

Classification of pineapples from different origins by chemometric analyses on carotenoid profiles

Geographical indication has played a vital role in sustaining the values of local products. From a chemical perspective, using the chemical profiles of products to differentiate them based on origins is highly useful due to its unbiased nature. Herein, we demonstrated that carotenoid profiles obtained from simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses can effectively classify pineapples by their cultivars and origins. Principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and self-organizing map (SOM) analysis were used to uncover interesting features of the data. Proper data pre-processing enabled PCA and LDA to differentiate pineapples by cultivars with prediction accuracies exceeding 90% in LDA. One-vs-all identifications of each pineapple origins achieved prediction accuracies above 70% with sufficient principal components (PCs). Importantly, SOM analysis significantly improved classification performance, increasing accuracies by at least 10%, and offered the added benefit of not requiring pre-selection of the numbers of PCs. Overall, this method has great potential for widespread adoption given the prevalence of carotenoids in various agricultural products.

A new concept for bioenergy yield in anaerobic digestion process: Highlighting current yield challenges

The development of sustainable energy sources including biogas produced from urban and industrial wastes has received much attention over the past few years. Given that biogas can be an alternative to fossil fuels before long, its yield, representing the value of energy production from the substrate, has been of utmost importance. With reference to the current definition, biogas yield simply depends on the maximum biogas produced per unit mass of the substrate. In this line, anaerobic digestion (AD) is a time-consuming process, whose duration affects the biogas production yield as well as the maximum biogas production rate. Against this background, the present study dedicated focus on the time factor to present a new definition of biogas/methane (CH4) production yield in AD. In light of this, the time entailed for the AD process (T95%), including the lag phase time (Tlag), the time in proportion to the logarithmic production of biogas (Tlog), and the biogas stabilization time (reaching 95 % of the maximum biogas production rate, T→95%) were taken into account. In accordance with previous research, four modes, viz., (i) equal maximum biogas-different time, (ii) different maximum biogas-equal time, (iii) different maximum biogas-different time (receding yield) and (iv) different biogas maximum-different time (approaching yield) were assessed. For this purpose, the kinetic models, namely, modified Gompertz (MG) and logistic function (LF), were recruited to determine the maximum biogas production rate (Rm) and the lag phase time (λ). Among the mentioned modes, the yield difference between the samples investigated according to the current and time-based yields was 24 % on average, and reached 85 % in the first and third modes. Evaluating the data from 32 studies, using the Python programming language, correspondingly revealed that the correlation coefficient between the AD process time (T95%) and the current and time-based yields augmented from 7 % to 51 %. This demonstrated the impact of the time factor on the biogas yield. Based on the MG model, the significance level of the Rm parameter increased from 52 % to 94 %, highlighting the value of the logarithmic phase time of biogas in the AD reactor.

Kajian Pustaka Metode Optimasi Respons Surface Methods dan Thin Layer Equation pada Produk Pengeringan Rempah Rimpang (Jahe, Kunyit, Temulawak)

Ginger, turmeric, and curcuma are rhizome spices that have the highest production value in Indonesia. Fresh products from rhizomes have high water content and are often damaged by microorganisms. For this reason, proper and efficient processing is needed so that the quality of the rhizome spices is maintained and under the standards set by the Indonesian National Standards. One of the appropriate processing methods for rhizome spices is the drying method. Drying is the oldest technique for food preservation and is an indispensable process in the food industry. The drying process aims to reduce water content and activity to safe limits that can extend shelf life, minimize packaging demands, and reduce weight during distribution. Various conventional and modern drying techniques have been applied to spices, namely solar drying, oven drying, and microwave drying. To obtain final drying results in good quality and high drying efficiency, it is necessary to optimize the drying method process conditions, including mathematical modelling using the RSM (Response Surface Method) method and the Thin Layer Drying Equation. From the optimum conditions for each drying method, a regression analysis was then carried out on several drying quality parameters for ginger, turmeric, and ginger. The higher the value of the regression coefficient (R2) and the closer it is to 1 in the mathematical modelling obtained, then this mathematical modelling is the best.