Variety Of Products Research Articles

Benchmarking a universal smoking machine adaptor for tobacco product testing

SignificanceCharacterisation of tobacco product emissions is an important step in assessing their impact on public health. Accurate and repeatable emissions data require that a leak-tight seal be made between the...

Strategi Pemasaran Produk UMKM Pada Era New Normal Covid-19 Di Kabupaten Luwu

This study aims to determine the marketing strategy of MSME products in the new normal Covid 19 era in Luwu Regency. The results showed that the marketing strategy of MSME products in the new normal Covid 19 era in Luwu Regency, namely: increasing the variety of products offered to consumers, utilizing technology in marketing products, providing fast and good service to consumers, and conducting effective promotions.

РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ОЦЕНКИ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТИ НОВЫХ СОРТОВ ЯРОВОГО ЯЧМЕНЯ В УСЛОВИЯХ ПРЕДКАМСКОЙ ЗОНЫ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

Spring barley is widely cultivated in the Republic of Tatarstan for grain feed and food purposes. Interest in expanding the assortment of this crop is due to the wide range of soil and climatic conditions of the region, which requires a set of highly productive plastic varieties capable of producing stable yields. This paper presents the results of two years of research to assess the productive potential of new varieties of spring barley sold in the Predkamsk zone of the Republic of Tatarstan, and their resistance to root rot. The years of research were characterized by instability of hydrothermal conditions during growing seasons. Genetically and ecologically diverse varieties of Tatarstan, Moscow, Samara selection and the Republic of Belarus were taken for study. It was revealed that the degree of development of helminthosporium infection on spring barley plants is influenced by both year conditions and varietal characteristics. The Cornet resistant and Tevkech varieties showed the least susceptibility to pathogenic infection. On other varieties, the development of root rot exceeded the standard variety by 1.5-2 times. On average, over two years in the Predkamsk zone of Tatarstan, two-row barley Cornet persistent and multi-row barley Tevkech showed consistently high yields, exceeding the standard for grain yield by 21...24%. In 2023, the Kamashevsky, Rafael and Soratnik varieties were also significantly more productive. In terms of the weight of 1000 grains, most varieties exceeded the level of 50 g; the multi-row barley Tevkech (31–35 g) was distinguished by its fine grain, and the grain of the Finist variety (43–45 g) can be classified as medium-sized. Varieties Rafael and Finist showed minimal variability in the 1000 grain weight trait over the years.

Decentralised protocols for autonomous mobile robots in material handling: inductive learnings from centralised controller

As customer demands for personalised items continue to grow, flexible material handling systems are becoming indispensable in manufacturing to accommodate the increasing product variety and demand fluctuations. Consequently, the adoption of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) is on the rise, driven by their capability to autonomously respond to changes in demand. However, the myopic nature of AMRs’ autonomous decision-making may limit their ability to consider a system-wide perspective. To address this challenge, we propose an AI-based platform that extracts knowledge from a centralised agent, which makes system-wide decisions offline, and integrates this knowledge into decentralised AMRs operating online. We develop a mixed-integer linear programming model, a genetic algorithm, and a scheduling algorithm to generate centralised solutions. Additionally, we design features to convert these solutions into training instances and employ artificial neural networks to derive knowledge from them. This knowledge is then integrated into each AMR as a protocol. Through experiments, we evaluate the performance of the developed protocol, demonstrating its superiority over other dispatching rules in minimising the total weighted tardiness of transportation requests and the total waiting time of transportation requests at storages.

Combining Ability and Hybrid Breeding in Tunisian Melon (Cucumis melo L.) for Fruit Traits

A half-diallel cross study of seven melon inbred lines was carried out. The seven parents and their 21 F1 hybrids were evaluated for precocity of maturity, average weight per fruit, and fruit quality (fruit size, rind thickness, and soluble solids). The Diallel analysis was investigated for breeding values of these melon genotypes via general and specific combining ability, relationships between general and specific combining ability, and heterosis for the evaluated traits. The analysis of variance of the traits evaluated indicated highly significant differences among genotypes, suggesting the presence of adequate genetic variation for breeding. Additive genetic effects were most important with respect to fruit weight, while genetic dominance and epistasis effects mainly controlled fruit quality traits (fruit size, rind thickness, and TSS). Parent 1 (P1) and parent 3 (P3) had significant positive general combining ability effects for fruit weight. Also, P3 had positive general combining ability effects for fruit length and diameter, and cavity diameter. P3 was found to show maximum significant GCA in the desirable direction for all the traits except for TSS. Evaluation of heterosis (%) revealed that hybrid P1 × P3 can be considered as the best-performing hybrid for average fruit weight, TSS, and precocity, which also exhibited the highest positive and significant SCA effect for these traits. These results suggested that, among the melon genotypes studied, there is the potential to generate superior new varieties in hybrid production.

Factors Affecting the Clothing Purchase Intention of Young Consumers through Online

This research paper was conducted for the purpose of identifying the factors that influence the clothing purchase intention of young consumers who are used to shopping through online market. To serve the purpose of the study, a total of 100 (one hundred) respondents were selected through convenience sampling. The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The authors found that all factors namely time & convenient, perceived past experience, perceived security; product variety, Website design and Service quality have significant impact on online clothing purchase intention of young generation. Through this study the authors suggest that social media has a beneficial effect on how customers behave while buying clothing companies. Social media experiences online are influencing study participants' decisions to purchase intention of clothing from a certain brand. The authors expect that this study will help the clothing brands to understand the purchase intention of their young consumers through online and it will help them to take necessary step to increase their online sales based on the significance level of each factor and contribute to the clothing industry.

Assessing Potential Bias in PFAS Concentrations in Groundwater and Surface Water Samples

AbstractPer‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) encompass a large group of recalcitrant anthropogenic compounds that have been used in a variety of consumer and industrial products and processes over many decades. Drinking water standards were recently finalized for two PFAS at low nanogram per liter concentrations. Due to the widespread use of PFAS and low health‐based thresholds, a literature review and laboratory and field studies were conducted to assess several potential sources of bias in PFAS concentrations. Fluoropolymers are commonly present in equipment, products, and materials used during field sampling, potentially leading to false positive results. Laboratory results confirmed the presence of PFAS in multiple commonly used field materials. However, best practices can be used to limit pathways for cross contamination. Laboratory‐specified hold times and sample storage temperatures are scientifically founded and adequately prevent bias due to PFAS sorption to sampling containers or partial degradation of some PFAS to form others. PFAS are also known to accumulate at the air‐water interface and other interfaces. Results from laboratory and field studies indicate that PFAS enrichment in foam and in the surface microlayer does occur. However, the effect of this phenomenon is within the range of analytical and spatial sampling variability and therefore a change in sampling procedures is not needed. Findings were distilled into science‐based and practical recommendations to minimize bias during PFAS sampling without incurring unnecessary cost and effort.

Evaluation of the Physicochemical Properties of Spray-Dried Coconut Flower Nectar Powder

This study aimed to determine the physicochemical properties of coconut flower nectar (CFN) powder produced by spray drying. The powder product of the best sample (with maltodextrin–CFN ratio of 26%, w/v) appeared as white, spherical, or oval particles. Its physicochemical properties were as follows: recovery yield (42 ± 2 %), moisture content (3.1 ± 0.6 %), particle size (3–12 μm), bulk density (0.380 ± 0.006 g mL-1), hygroscopicity (22 ± 2 %), water solubility index (97 ± 1 %), angle of repose (42.2 ± 0.7°), and wettability (366 ± 11 s). The obtained results offer valuable insights for future research on spray drying of food products and pave the way for potential large-scale use of spray-dried CFN in a great variety of products due to easier preservation and longer shelf life.

Improvement of soil health and leaf nutrient status in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) using bioorganic formulations

In strawberry cultivation, a variety of factors influence production and fruit quality. Yield is the most crucial component in fruit production. Chemical fertilizers are typically used to boost yields, however because of their high production costs, negative effects on the environment and human health, organic fertilizers or natural amendments are being utilized instead of chemical fertilizers. The primary goals of substituting chemical fertilizers with bioorganic formulations made from natural sources for fruit production are to lower costs of production and maintain fruit production sustainability. Therefore, to study the impact of these bioorganic formulations the current investigations were conducted in open field conditions under sub humid mid hills conditions of Himachal Pradesh with 12 treatment combinations and three replicate plots. The tested plants were given various combinations of bioorganic formulations [Jeevamrit (JE) and Ghanjeevamrit (GHA)] as a source of nutrients. When compared to conventional practices, statistically significant improvements were discovered in the parameters of yield and nutrient content in the soil and plant. Significant higher yield (21.13 tonnes/ha), soil nutrients and total microbial content was recorded in T4. The results of this study provide support to the recommendation that bioorganic formulations, such as the tested ones, be used on their own or in combination as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in plant nutrition for the production of strawberries.

Nutritional and techno-functional properties of the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula

With the increasing need to promote healthy and sustainable diets, seaweeds emerge as an environmentally friendly food source, offering a promising alternative for food production. The aim of this study was to characterize the brown seaweed Sargassum filipendula from the coast of São Paulo, Brazil, regarding its nutritional and techno-functional properties using two dehydration methods, oven drying and lyophilized. A commercial dried sample was used as a control. Analyses of proximate composition, mineral determination, amino acid determination, antioxidant capacity, pH, color, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal properties, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and techno-functional properties were performed. Seaweed flours showed significant differences in physicochemical composition, with dietary fiber content of seaweed flours exceeding 70 %. Glutamic and aspartic acids were the most abundant amino acids, with contents of 88.56 and 56.88 mg/g of protein in Sargassum oven drying. Both for antioxidant potential and bioactive compounds, Sargassum lyophilized flours showed the highest levels of compounds. Sargassum lyophilized exhibited lighter color compared to Sargassum oven drying and Sargassum commercial. Emulsion formation, foam formation capacity and stability were higher in Sargassum lyophilized, as well as water and oil absorption. The results suggest that seaweeds can be used to formulate a wide variety of food products, such as sausages, bread, cakes, soups, and sauces.

Modulating acid sites in Y zeolite for valorisation of furfural to get γ-valerolactone.

Furfural is a biomass-derived platform molecule that can be converted into a variety of useful products. Catalysts having appropriate balance between Lewis and Brønsted acid sites are suitable for valorisation of furfural. Lewis acidic metal ion incorporated zeolites were studied for this purpose. However, incorporating Lewis acidic metal ions into an alumino-silicate framework of a zeolite is a cumbersome process. Hence, an attempt has been made in this work to modulate the acid sites of Y zeolite via thermal treatment to effect controlled dealumination and use it for valorisation of furfural using isopropyl alcohol, which is a cascade transformation. The thermal treatment of zeolites changed the distribution of acid sites and increased the weak plus moderate to strong acid site ratio. Among the thermally dealuminated Y, beta and mordenite zeolites, with SiO2/Al2O3 ratio 5.2, 25 and 20, only Y zeolite could yield γ-valerolactone, the final product of the aimed cascade transformation. Complete conversion of furfural and 52% γ-valerolactone yield could be achieved under the optimized conditions using NH4Y zeolite thermally dealuminated at 700 °C (TY700). The better catalytic activity of TY700 could be correlated to a combination different factors such as framework structure, suitable weak plus moderate to strong acid site ratio, presence of both penta-coordinated and octahedral Al sites and balance between Brønsted and Lewis acid sites.

Analisis Persaingan Pasar Tradisional dan Pasar Modern dalam Prespektif Daya Minat Beli Pengunjung

The development of the trade industry, the competition between the Traditional Market and the Modern Market has become increasingly significant in competing for the buying power of visitors. This study aims to find out the competition that occurs between modern markets and traditional markets based on the perspective of visitors' purchasing power. This research uses a descriptive approach which is an effort to understand social phenomena that occur through in-depth interpretation and analysis. Data collection was carried out through observation and direct interviews. Data analysis is carried out qualitatively consisting of data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The results of the analysis show that the differences in characteristics between the two markets are that traditional markets offer unique cultural characteristics and traditional shopping experiences, while Modern Markets offer convenience, a wide variety of products, and modern facilities. Visitors' purchasing power is influenced by consumers' personal preferences, where traditional markets are more attractive to those who value interpersonal relationships and intimate shopping experiences, while modern markets are preferred by consumers who are looking for convenience and a diverse selection of products. The role of branding, marketing, and product innovation has a significant impact on the purchasing power of visitors in both types of markets. Traditional markets tend to rely on seller reputation and interpersonal relationships, while modern markets are more focused on digital marketing strategies and social media influencers

Transformative Influence of Shopping Malls on Albanian Consumer Behavior

The emergence of shopping malls in Albania has had a remarkable impact on the behavior of Albanian consumers. Initially, people visited these malls out of curiosity, then for entertainment, and eventually for shopping purposes. The new retail format has started changing the way customers shop. By offering products and services that appeal to customers they simultaneously provide a friendly and pleasant environment. This study delves into the impact of shopping malls on consumer behavior in Albania, focusing on factors such as product availability, accessibility, and atmosphere. A quantitative approach was utilized, emphasizing deductive reasoning. Primary data was collected through face-to-face surveys and analyzed with SPSS. According to the results, customers love shopping malls for their variety of products, exclusive items, and safe environment. They find malls accessible, thanks to easy navigation and parking, and they highly value cleanliness. The study highlights the significant impact of shopping malls on Albanian consumer behavior, driven by product variety, convenience, and amenities. Received: 5 March 2024 / Accepted: 21 June 2024 / Published: 02 July 2024

Bio-entrepreneurs’ bugbear: Regulatory rigmarole

Abstract Indian biotech startup sector – a rapidly growing business segment focused on the development of innovative products has the potential to make significant contributions to the country’s economy. Indian bio-entrepreneurs’ optimistic expectation of rapidly moving product development from bench to bedside faces tremendous challenges of the complex Indian regulatory system, which is shaped by a diversity of regulatory authorities, rules, guidelines, and processes. This brief review discusses specific regulatory issues faced by bio-entrepreneurs investing in a variety of innovative products – new drugs, vaccines, medical devices, cell, and gene therapy and suggests approaches which can ease Indian entrepreneur’s endeavors.

Alternative green application areas for olive pomace catalytic pyrolysis biochar obtained via marble sludge catalyst.

Evaluating industrial wastes in the system with minimum preprocessing and generation economically valuable products from them have critical importance. In this regard, especially cheap, wieldy, and readily available catalysts have been researched to increase variety of useful products in pyrolysis systems, to reduce process time, and to increase quality and diversity of products. Therefore, in this study, marble sludge (named K1) was evaluated as catalyst at different dosages (10%, 20%, 30%, 50%) and pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, 700°C) in olive pomace (OP) pyrolysis and; the potential green applications of produced new biochars at new usage areas with different purposes based on characteristics were investigated. ANOVA test results showed that temperature and catalysts ratio had significant effect on pyrolysis product yields since significance value for K1 and temperature was lower than 0.05 for pyrolysis products. OP-K1 biochars had alkaline properties and high earth metal quantities. Moreover, increment in K1 ratio and temperature resulted in decrement of the biochar surface acidity. Therefore, it can be indicated that these biochars can have a potential usage for anaerobic digestion processes, lithium-ion batteries, and direct carbon solid oxide fuel cell (DC-SOFC) but further electrochemical property test should be performed. Moreover, produced biochars can be alternative fuels in some processes instead of coal since they have low S content and high heat values. Consequently, it is foreseen that produced biochars will have an important place in the development of potential usage areas with a new and environmentally friendly approach in different areas apart from the conventional uses of catalytic pyrolysis chars.

Roles of soil minerals in the degradation of chlorpyrifos and its intermediate by microwave activated peroxymonosulfate

Soil mineral is one of the important factors that affecting oxidant decomposition and pollutants degradation in soil remediation. In this study, the effects of iron minerals, manganese minerals and clay minerals on the degradation of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and its intermediate product 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) by microwave (MW) activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were investigated. As a result, the addition of minerals had slight inhibitory effect on the degradation efficiency of CPF by MW/PMS, but the degradation efficiency of TCP was improved by the addition of some specific minerals, including ferrihydrite, birnessite, and random symbiotic mineral of pyrolusite and ramsdellite (Pyr-Ram). The stronger MW absorption ability of minerals is beneficial for PMS decomposition, but the MW absorption ability of minerals cannot be fully utilized because of the weaker MW radiation intensity under constant temperature conditions. Through electron spin resonance test, quenching experiment and electrochemical experiment, electron transfer, SO4− and OH, SO4− dominated TCP degradation by MW/PMS with the addition of birnessite, Pyr-Ram and ferrihydrite, respectively. Besides, the adsorption effect of ferrihydrite also enhanced the removal of TCP. The redox of Mn (III)/Mn (IV) or Fe (II)/Fe (III) in manganese/iron minerals participated in the generation of reactive species. In addition, the addition of minerals not only increased the variety of alkyl hydroxylation products of CPF, causing different degradation pathways from CPF to TCP, but also further degraded TCP to dechlorination or hydroxylation products. This study demonstrated the synergistic effect of minerals and MW for PMS activation, provided new insights for the effects of soil properties on soil remediation by MW activated PMS technology.

A New Hybrid Approach for Product Management in E-Commerce

Nowadays, due to the developments in technology and the effects of the pandemic, people have largely switched to e-commerce instead of traditional face-to-face commerce. In this sector, the product variety reaches tens of thousands, which has made it difficult to manage and to make quick decisions on inventory, promotion, pricing, and logistics. Therefore, it is thought that obtaining accurate and fast forecasting for the future will provide significant benefits to such companies in every respect. This study was built on the proposal of creating a cluster-based–genetic algorithm hybrid forecasting model including genetic algorithm (GA), cluster analysis, and some forecasting models as a new approach. In this study, unlike the literature, an attempt was made to create a more successful forecasting model for many products at the same time inside of single product forecasting. The proposed CBGA model success was compared separately to both the single prediction method successes and only genetic algorithm-based hybrid model successes by using real values from a popular B2C company. As a result, it has been observed that the forecasting success of the model proposed in this study is more successful than the forecasting made using single models or only the genetic algorithm.

IMPACT OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY KRISHIBHAVAN ON THE FARMERS

India is currently known as the global agricultural power house. Agriculture provides food, fodder, employment opportunities and business. Panchayats and Municipalities in a state establish Krishibhavans to improve the production and productivity of crops through implementation of various government schemes. Each Krishi bhavan consists of agriculture officers and agriculture employees. In each state Krishi bhavans was established to support and endure theactive functioning of agriculture department at the grassroots level. Krishibhavan provideshighly productive modern variety seeds, plant protection devices and formulate programs and policies relating to credit to farmers. This department provides subsidies and provisions of insurance to reduce risk in the cultivation. The objective of the present study was to determine the factors which helps to channelize the agricultural information for farming community and also compare the services provided by Krishi bhavans at panchayath and municipality. The study has revealed that most of the sample respondents are unaware of the facilities of Krishi bhavan. Krishibhavans at Municipality give better benefits to farmers compared to panchayath Krishi bhavan.

Analysis of consumer characteristics on retail business with clustering analysis method and association rule for selling improvement strategy recommendations

In the highly competitive retail industry, companies must continually innovate and develop unique business strategies to enhance their sales performance. The ABC Store, a mini market in Yogyakarta, has experienced fluctuating sales over the past year, failing to meet its targets. This study aims to analyze consumer purchasing behavior at the ABC Store and provide strategic recommendations to boost sales. The data analyzed in this study comprises three months of transaction records. The methods used include Association Rule - Market Basket Analysis (AR-MBA) with the FP-Growth algorithm and Clustering Analysis with K-Means. The clustering analysis identified four distinct customer segments: Mid-Morning Moderates, Diverse Afternoon Buyers, Evening Moderates, and High-Value Customers. Cluster 2, comprising Diverse Afternoon Buyers, was selected for AR analysis due to its relatively high transaction value and the variety of products purchased, indicating its potential to evolve into a High-Value Customers cluster. The analysis yielded 104 rules. The findings can inform marketing strategies to increase sales, including product bundling and customer loyalty programs such as a point system.In the highly competitive retail industry, companies must continually innovate and develop unique business strategies to enhance their sales performance. The ABC Store, a mini market in Yogyakarta, has experienced fluctuating sales over the past year, failing to meet its targets. This study aims to analyze consumer purchasing behavior at the ABC Store and provide strategic recommendations to boost sales. The data analyzed in this study comprises three months of transaction records. The methods used include Association Rule - Market Basket Analysis (AR-MBA) with the FP-Growth algorithm and Clustering Analysis with K-Means. The clustering analysis identified four distinct customer segments: Mid-Morning Moderates, Diverse Afternoon Buyers, Evening Moderates, and High-Value Customers. Cluster 2, comprising Diverse Afternoon Buyers, was selected for AR analysis due to its relatively high transaction value and the variety of products purchased, indicating its potential to evolve into a High-Value Customers cluster. The analysis yielded 104 rules. The findings can inform marketing strategies to increase sales, including product bundling and customer loyalty programs such as a point system.

Peranan Kreativitas dan Inovasi dalam Meningkatkan Volume Penjualan Produk ‎Chick’n Mentai Burger, Pada Pranita Rasa Vegetarian

Pranita Rasa Vegetarian Restaurant, located in Pluit, North Jakarta, has its own challenges in increasing the sales volume of its products, one of which is a non-animal (vegetarian) burger product called Chick'n Mentai Burger.The purpose of this study is to see whether creativity and innovation have an influence in increasing the sales volume of Chick'n Mentai Burger products. The research method used is quantitative. The population in this study is customers and consumers of Pranita Rasa Vegetarian Restaurant whose number is not known exactly. The sampling technique used in this study is n probability sampling. The results showed that creativity and innovation had a significant influence on the sales volume of Chick'n Mentai Burger products at Pranita Rasa Vegetarian Restaurant, Pluit, North Jakarta. Therefore, it is important for Pranita Rasa Vegetarian Restaurant to continue to encourage creativity and innovation in its product development as a strategy to maintain and increase competitiveness in the vegetarian fast food market. The results of the analysis show that efforts to introduce variety and innovation in products, including the development of new recipes, attractive presentations, and creative marketing strategies, provide a boost to increased consumer interest and sales volume.