The current emergency due to the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 is a great concern for global public health. Already in the past, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 demonstrates the potential of coronaviruses to cross-species borders and further underlines the importance of identifying new-targeted drugs. An ideal antiviral agent should target essential proteins involved in the lifecycle of SARS-CoV. Currently, some HIV protease inhibitors (i.e., Lopinavir) are proposed for the treatment of COVID-19, although their effectiveness was not yet assessed. The main protease (Mpro) provides a highly validated pharmacological target for the discovery and design of inhibitors. We identified potent Mpro inhibitors employing computational techniques that entail the screening of a Marine Natural Product (MNP) library. MNP library was screened by hyphenated pharmacophore model, and molecular docking approaches. Molecular dynamics and re-docking further confirmed the results obtained by structure-based techniques and allowed to highlight some crucial aspects. Seventeen potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitors have been identified among the natural substances of marine origin. As these compounds were extensively validated by a consensus approach and by molecular dynamics, the likelihood that at least one of these compounds could be bioactive is excellent.

Sharding shows great potential for extending the blockchain. The current challenge facing sharded blockchain technology lies in addressing the extended transaction confirmation times caused by isolated states between shards and unbalanced transaction allocation strategies. These factors contribute to an increase in cross-shard transactions and disproportionate shard workload, ultimately resulting in indefinite confirmation delays for cross-shard transactions. A critical priority for sharded blockchain systems is to conduct a comprehensive qualitative analysis to better understand and mitigate the prolonged transaction confirmation times. We introduce a Product-Form Queue Network (PFQN) model to address the transaction confirmation time problem in sharded blockchains and incorporate a new confirmation queue to more accurately simulate the actual transaction confirmation process in the blockchain. In addition, we provide a detailed quantitative analysis of the relationship between network load, consensus efficiency, and security in sharded blockchains, laying a theoretical foundation for achieving robustness and efficiency in sharded blockchains. This research not only contributes to addressing the scalability issues in sharded blockchains but also offers a new perspective for future research directions.

Brand trust holds significant importance in the Mongolian cashmere industry. This study examines the primary predictors of customer brand trust among Mongolian cashmere users. Our research includes a survey with 800 participants and 20 individual interviews conducted among both Mongolian cashmere users and non-users. We utilized an online platform to reach participants, employing convenience sampling. The study investigates the relationship between various factors and brand trust within the context of Mongolian cashmere brands. Through a combination of in-dividual interviews and statistical analysis, we test six hypotheses. The findings indicate that higher brand quality, a strong reputation, greater transparency, effective issue resolution, commitment to environmental and social responsibility, and pre-purchase research on such commitments positively impact brand trust. Key insights gleaned from the interviews emphasize the importance of quality, reputation, transparency, customer service, and environmental responsibility in shaping consumer trust. These results offer valuable implications for cashmere brands aiming to bolster consumer trust and foster loyalty.

Freeze drying (FD) is a technique used to preserve the bioactive content and flavor of samples. Foods with a short shelf life due to nature have been preserved by FD in recent years. The success of the drying technique is thanks to the high retention ability of the bioactive compounds and the flavor of the sample. However, the high cost and energy consumption of the FD limit its usage in several fields. Freezing, primary drying, and secondary drying, which take place in the same device, are the stages of the FD. In addition, several parameters, including pretreatment, size, temperature, sample species, time, and pressure, affect the FD process. These parameters are controlled to increase the effectiveness of the FD on the samples. Moreover, FD was compared with other drying techniques including hot-air drying, microwave drying, vacuum drying, and solar drying to determine its protective capability. It has also been applied to the valorization of waste products, which is a common problem worldwide. For valorization, microencapsulation and powder production have been achieved by FD. In recent years, studies on the effects and use of the FD on various materials increased, providing new aspects for the future of science and food industry.

The article continues the author's publications about the matrix-tensor study of universal rules of stochastic (probabilistic) organization of long single-stranded DNA sequences in eukaryotic and prokaryotic genomes. The author reveals that corresponding matrices of probabilities of n-plets in n-textual representations of each genomic DNA are numerically interrelated each with other in such algebraic form, which has analogies with formalisms of the known tensor-matrix theory of digital antenna arrays. These arrays combine many separate antennas into a single coordinated ensemble with unique emergent properties, due to which antenna arrays are widely used in devices of medicine, astrophysics, avionics, etc. The noted analogies allow putting forward the author's hypothesis that the stochastic organization of genomic DNAs is connected with bio-antenna arrays. From the point of view of this hypothesis, many known facts about using principles of antenna arrays in inherited physiological phenomena are collected in a single grouping with genomic DNAs. This new topic about the biological meaning of profitable properties of antenna arrays includes problems of biological evolution, the origin of the genetic code, regenerative medicine, and the development of algebraic biology. These issues are discussed jointly with the author's results of quantum information analysis of stochastic features of genomic DNAs.

This article investigates the information matching efficiency of the sponsored auction mechanism of search engine platform by implementing consumer purchase strategy. Then we examine the incentive mechanism for sellers to report product quality truthfully under information asymmetry and the reason how product quality signal could improve information matching efficiency of the sponsored auction mechanism. Using the data collected from Baidu search engine, we empirically test the theoretical research results. Our main research finding: under information asymmetry and without product quality signal mechanism, the equilibrium of bidding rank cannot match the consumer purchase strategy at all, causing the consumer welfare to suffer double losses due to the adverse selection of sellers. In the contrast, the search engine could improve partially the information matching efficiency of the sponsored search auction mechanism by identifying the product quality signal brought by the sellers with the highest product quality. However, the search engine has no incentive to design product quality signal for sellers.

Product introductions play a pivotal role in the success and competitiveness of manufacturing, particularly in the context of new product development. Low-volume manufacturing companies exhibit distinct characteristics that significantly influence the product introduction process. Notably, the quality of information exchange between product design and production interfaces becomes paramount in this high-mix and low-volume industry. Consequently, there exists a pressing need to explore various methods for adapting and customizing management mechanisms and strategies to align with the unique requirements and characteristics of low-volume manufacturing and its associated product introduction processes. While the need for this knowledge is critical in the context of low-volume manufacturing, a majority of existing studies predominantly focus on the management aspects within high-volume manufacturing. Therefore, the primary aim of this study is to investigate the customization of product introduction management strategies to enhance the quality of information content within the realm of low-volume manufacturing. Drawing upon a longitudinal analysis of new product introductions within a low-volume manufacturing company, this study narratively elucidates how the examined company implemented product introduction management strategies to facilitate the enhancement of information content quality during the product introduction phase. The study presents its findings on management strategies across three key stages: pre-implementation, post-implementation, and subsequent modification and refinement of strategies following the initial round of implementation. By shedding light on these strategies, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of management approaches in the context of low-volume product introduction. As a result, it makes a valuable contribution to the discourse on information management and interface management in the high-mix, low-volume manufacturing literature.

This paper is devoted to the study of reproducing kernels on 2-inner product Hilbert spaces. We focus on a new structure to produce reproducing kernel Hilbert and Banach spaces. According to multi-variable computing, this structures can be useful in electrocardiographs, machine learning and economy

Adulteration of food products, including honey, is a serious problem in today’s economy. Honey has become the third most counterfeited food product in the world, which requires effective authentication methods. This article presents considerations regarding the development of meteorology to test the quality of honey based on the analysis of bee pollen. The justification for conducting such analyses is the relatively high need for the authentication of honey and its derivatives. It turns out that the honey market and honey itself are the third products in the world in which undesirable, inappropriate, and quality-reducing components may appear, affecting the final quality of a product such as honey. The analyses mentioned above thus come down to issues related to the analysis and processing of images. A certain novelty of the approach to this analysis is an attempt to parameterize them using the so-called Hjorth descriptors, which have been a tool known for almost 50 years from the analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. In this paper, after an introduction to the issues related to testing honey, the issues related to the method of obtaining bee pollen images, improving their quality by applying appropriate filtration, performing normalization, and finally calculating Hjorth distributors such as: Activity, Mobility, and Complexity will be discussed. In the next stage described in this article, the authors perform a detailed statistical analysis leading to the initial construction of a simple classifier that distinguishes defined gropus of bee pollen images.

Objective: To investigate the use of blood levels of N-(2 cyanoethyl)valine (CEVal), a haemoglobin adduct of acrylonitrile, to assess lack of compliance with smoking cessation. Methods: We report CEVal concentrations and percentiles over time for 2 cessation groups, compliance was established using NNAL concentrations. CEVal half-life was estimated. Optimal thresholds were calculated based on receiver operating characteristics analysis. Results: At 180 days, among 67 participants in the continued smoking group and 159 assigned to smoking cessation or sole THP use. CEVal half-life was estimated to be approximately 30 days and the optimal thresholds were for NNAL at 40 pg/mL and CEVal at 35 pmol/g globin (81% sensitivity and specificity). Conclusions: A new generation of biomarkers of compliance is required, specific to the new generation of nicotine products. Methodological validation and standardisation could allow robust assessment of effects across clinical and observational studies while promoting comparability between studies. CEVal could play an important role as biomarker of compliance for smoking cessation and switching studies.

Saikosaponin (SS) a is a compound with various pharmacological properties and easily degraded into SSb1 and SSg in acid condition. In present work another two new degradation products of SSa formed under acid hydrolytic condition were detected and isolated by analytical and semi-preparative liquid chromatography technology, furthermore their structures were characterized as hydroxyl-saikosaponin a and SSb2 by spectral analysis, which is not only essential in stability-indicating method development and validation but also could be used as a worst case to assess the analytical method performance of SSa. Moreover their structural transformation pathways were also proposed.

Background: a supplement containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae DSM 34246 (Canobios-BL) var. boulardii was tested to demonstrate its efficacy as a gut flora stabilizer in two breed of dogs, West Highland White Terrier (WT) and German Shepherd (GS). Methods: a total of 53 healthy adult dogs, 28 WT and 25 GS, were included in the study. The animals were randomly assigned to a control group (CTR: WT 14/28, GS 12/25) and to a treated group (SACC; WT 14/28, GS 13/25). The CTR Group was fed with dry commercial food, while the SACC one was fed with the same food but supplemented with the feed additive S. boulardii at the concentration of 5 X 10⁹ CFU/kg. The study lasted 35 days and included six evaluation time points (T₀-T₅). Body Weight (BW), Body Condition Score (BCS), Fecal Score (FS), FS measured with a penetrometer (FSp), Fecal Dry matter (DM), Fecal Humidity (UM) and Fecal IgA (IgA) were measured at each time point. Results: a significant improvement (p<0.05) in BCS, FS, FSp, MCS, DM, UM and IgA of the treated group with respect to the control one for both WT and GS were reported. Conclusions: the positive effect of S. boulardii supplementation on the improvement of the fecal parameters and on the maintenance of good physiological as well as biological conditions in healthy adult dogs in breeding conditions.

"Suero costeño" a type of sour cream, is a traditional dairy product made mainly in the Colombian Caribbean region and has a variety of uses. The objective was to characterize the physicochemical and rheological properties of “suero costeño” produced in department of Córdoba-Colombia. Samples of " suero costeño " were obtained from local producers, characterized physicochemically (protein, fat, crude fiber, moisture, ash, carbohydrates, chlorides, pH and acidity), and rheologically (stationary tests), adjusting their behavior to the power-law model. The results show great variability in the physicochemical characteristics of the “suero costeño” made by the different artisanal producers, classifying it as a full-fat sour cream or light sour cream, and values of protein, pH and acidity similar to similar traditional dairy products from other countries, such as Reindeer sour cream and Curd or cottage cheese. “Suero costeño” can be classified as a pseudoplastic fluid and depending on the raw materials used and the production process, some present thixotropy, which may be the product of interactions between proteins and fats, which cause changes in the internal structure. Due to this great variability in its physicochemical and rheological characteristics, it is necessary to standardize the process of producing to improve the marketing of this Colombian culinary product.

In this paper, we define the consumer preference relation from scratch. We study algebraic and topological properties for the preference magma that reflects the consumer. We also consider the influence of society on an individual's preference.

The effects of reaction temperature, reaction time, heating rate, nitrogen flow rate and catalyst quality on the oil yield and oxygen content in the oil were investigated by using the single factor principle. Too high and too low reaction temperature, nitrogen flow rate, heating rate and reaction time have improved the yield of bio-oil, but the oxygen content in bio-oil is higher. The reduction of catalytic dose is beneficial to the increase of oil yield but not conducive to the increase of aromatic compound content. The optimal reaction conditions were observed as reaction temperature of 500℃, nitrogen flow rate of 110 mL/min, heating rate of 20℃/min, reaction time of 15min, mass ratio of catalyst to coconut coat powder was 1, and the oil yield was 4.97%, aquatic yield was 35.80%, and solid yield was 30.78%. The gas yield was 28.45%, the oxygen content was 10.3%, and the aromatic compound content was 89.7%.The analysis of catalytic cracking mechanism shows that most of the oxygen-containing compounds in the bio-oil are generated into water and aromatic compounds by catalytic cracking reaction at high temperature, thus removing oxygen.

Nowadays circular economy trend drives researchers in the recovery of various bioactive compounds from agri-food by-products. Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) is shown as an innovative green technology for the effective extraction of various phytochemicals from agri-food section by-products, therefore this study aimed to evaluate the application of EAE as green technology to obtain extracts from olive leaves (Olea europaea) for potential industrial production. EAE was conducted under various enzyme dose combinations, and incubation time (120 min). Obtained extracts were characterized in terms of total polyphenols (TP) and Total Antioxidant Activity (AA). Firstly, the enzyme synergistic effect in enzymatic extraction of polyphenols was evaluated. TP optimal extraction conditions (468.19 mg GAE/L) were achieved after EAE (50-50%) and for AA (69.85 AA%). According to the above results, a second experimental part occurred for the incubation time (min.) and enzyme dose (mL) of optimal extraction conditions of olive leaves. Results indicated EAE as an excellent choice for green extraction of polyphenols from the olive leaves.

Floor traps were placed in a feed mill in Greece, for a period of approx. 13 months to illustrate the relative abundance and the distribution of the stored product insects found. More than 20 taxa were found, with most of them belonging in Coleoptera. The most abundant species found were the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and the granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.) which are common primary colonizers of grains, and the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), which are secondary colonizers that usually occur in processed amylaceous commodities. Interestingly, the highest population densities of all four species were recorded during the same period, with the secondary colonizers slightly preceding those of the primary ones. Although competition among these species has been recorded in previous studies, we found that these four species could coexist during the entire trapping period in the same sampling units, that indicates possible spatial segregation and different colonization patters in space and time. Our results demonstrate that trapping in storage and processing facilities is an essential component in making decisions for stored product pest management strategies in localized applications, and can drastically reduce the need for treating the entire facility.

Recently, we studied CR-slant warped products B1×fM⊥, where B1=MT×Mθ is the Riemannian product of holomorphic and proper slant submanifolds and M⊥ is a totally real submanifold in a nearly Kaehler manifold. In the continuation, in this paper, we study B2×fMθ, where B2=MT×M⊥ is a CR-product of a nearly Kaehler manifold and establish Chen’s inequality for the squared norm of the second fundamental form. Some special cases of Chen’s inequality are given.

This paper investigates the possible failure modes of the product development process in production companies that are active in the B2C markets with a focus on household products. Since these cases require short lead times and are difficult to differentiate, in many instances the end result will not be the desired one and could affect profitability for a season or for good. A model of these possibilities is created and an approach to plan contingencies for their solutioning is proposed in the article. The main guideline is to switch from failure probability determination to accepting failure as inevitable and using digital solutions to reinforce the development process in order to offset its impact. For this goal, an Industry 5.0 Abatement Factor (abbreviated IFAF) is introduced in the contingency planning approach, that factors in the evaluation the low cost of digital instruments and the proper mix of Technology, Humans and AI (abbreviated THAI). The new working procedure based on these concepts and their interlinkages is discussed based on specific examples.

This study delves into the intricate interplay of economic growth components, specifically focusing on Consumption and investment in Saudi Arabia from 2000 to 2022. Employing vector error correction models and cointegration techniques, we analyze the short- and long-term dynamics within the relationship of Consumption, investment, and economic growth. Granger causality analysis is also used to discern these pivotal variables' causal connections. Our empirical analysis reveals a persistent long-term cointegration relationship among the variables, underscoring the enduring nature of their interdependency. Furthermore, our findings highlight Consumption and investment's statistically significant positive impact on economic growth. Notably, the short-term analysis unveils a stable model characterized by an annual adjustment to equilibrium of 100%.Moreover, the Granger causality study demonstrates unidirectional causal linkages between Consumption, investment, and economic growth. These findings hold substantial implications for policy formulation in Saudi Arabia. Policymakers must grasp the ramifications of burgeoning prosperity and evolving private consumption patterns on future environmental outcomes. Achieving sustainable long-term results necessitates equal emphasis on bolstering private Consumption and fostering other facets of economic growth.

This paper focuses on studying the mapping properties of singular integral operators on product spaces. The boundedness of such operators is established on Triebel-Lizorkin spaces whenever their kernel functions belong to Grafakos and Stefanov class. Our results generalize and improve some previously known results.

Due to the influence of factors such as user consumption habits and manufacturer service quality, e-commerce platforms cannot push personalized product information to any consumer. This project studies the push of product information on e-commerce platforms based on deep neural networks. It mines the data of users' online shopping behaviors such as browsing, collecting, and adding to cart on e-commerce platforms, and pre-processes the mined user behavior data by cleaning, integrating, and normalizing them. It builds a deep bidirectional Transformer model to learn users' historical behavior data and predict the most probable products that meet users' behavior needs, thereby realizing the automatic push of product information on e-commerce platforms. The experimental results show that the F1 value of the push result of product information on e-commerce platforms under the method designed by this algorithm is 0.97, which confirms the effectiveness and superiority of this method.

Abstract: Steamed ginseng water (SGW), the by-product generated from the heated processing of red ginseng, with high content of active substances, better skincare activities, and large amount output ineffective utilization, resulted in environmental pollution and resource waste. In current study, UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to characterize the compositional features of the repeated thermal-treated SGW. The total sugar content, total sugar content, total reducing sugar content, total non-reducing sugar content, DPPH, ABTS+, Fe3+ reducing capacity, and the hydroxyl radical scavenging abilities were employed to evaluate the gross contents variation connect with anti-oxidant activities during heat processes. The result revealed the SGW content and antioxidant activity were highly correlated, the 7th SGW sample showed the highest content and the strongest ability on anti-aging capacities. 38 significant common differential markers were screened, by the four compared SGW groups (1- and 3-, 1- and 5-, 1- and 7-, and 1- and 9) through OPLS-DA analysis. The current study showed that the thermal proceeding times could be a vital index value during the recycling operation quality control of SGW, which has a huge potential in anti-aging cosmetic raw materials, In the meanwhile, our results provided a green, sustainable, low-cost thinking of rational application on ginseng resource.

This bibliographic study addresses key aspects related to fishing, product safety, and climate change in the Adriatic Sea region. The examination of product safety focuses on the assessment of contaminants originating from human activities such as industry, mining, agriculture, and household waste disposal. The contamination of the aquatic environment has emerged as a pressing global concern, extending to the Adriatic subbasin. Aquatic organisms, including fish, are prone to accumulating pollutants directly from polluted water sources and indirectly through the food web. The bio-accumulation of potentially hazardous substances, particularly heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs, PAHs, and antibiotic resistance in aquatic organisms, poses a significant threat to human health. Climate change effects will deplete our seafood supply in terms of quantity and safety owing to negative consequences such as higher levels of pollution, parasites, viruses, infections, acidification, and toxicities such as shellfish poisoning. Global food safety strategies should be developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmentally friendly technology, which indirectly affects seafood quality and microbiological safety, especially for Adriatic Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea, characterized by the most polluted waters in the world.

This paper proposes a product design model for internalising users’ positive experiences through attachment. First, the research commences with a literature review to define the concepts and research status of positive experience design (PED) and product attachment. Subsequently, the design model is constructed, accompanied by relevant formulas for concept generation. Finally, the model’s validity is verified through a workshop, and its effectiveness is evaluated and discussed using the USE questionnaire. This study incorporates the seven factors of product attachment to activate positive states within the user–product relationship and facilitate the cultivation of positive thinking. Grounded in theories of PED and embracing a product attachment perspective, the attachment-driven PED model offers a systematic approach for generating design concepts that are relevant to user experience.

Usage of novel non-tobacco oral nicotine delivery products (ONDP) has been increasing among adolescents in the United States. It is presumed that they are less toxic than their tobacco containing counterparts, but that has not been examined in controlled studies. Most of the studies have focused on non-renal manifestations of tobacco consumption via different means. The renal manifestations of non-tobacco ONDPs are not very well known, especially in immunocompromised patients. Here, we describe a 19-year-old adolescent with kidney transplant who sustained acute tubular necrosis leading to advanced chronic disease apparently following the usage of non-tobacco ONDP. Further larger studies are needed to study the renal manifestations of these next generation products to raise awareness among public.

The textile processing sector is accountable for the extensive utilisation and pollution of freshwater resources. Due to heightened consumer awareness of environmental legislation regarding freshwater contamination, the textile sector is compelled to review and improve their current water consumption practices. Foan dyeing technique is a highly promising alternative that has the ability to contribute to a more sustainable future. This review paper discussed the current state of foam dyeing technology, highlighting its advantages in terms of re-duced consumption of water and energy, as well as minimal usage of dyes and chemicals compared to conventional methods. The foam configuration allows for more effective application of dyes. As a result, there is a decrease in dye consumption and a reduction in processing time. The process is environmen-tally sustainable since it significantly reduces water pollution. Furthermore, foam dyeing method consumes less energy due to its lower dying temperature need compared to conventional processing technology. Additionally, this paper highlights the continued investigation of foam dyeing on many types of textile substrates (such as fibres, yarns, and fabric) and compositions including cotton, polyester, and their mixtures. In addition, the techno-economic comparison of foam dyeing and conventional dyeing is also given. This review paper addi-tionally endorses the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 6, clean water and sanitation) by examining the preservation of usable water and the decrease in wastewater discharge through foam dyeing technology. Lastly, the potential advantages of foam dyeing in terms of significantly reducing water consump-tion and the generation of waste in the textile industry were also addressed.

Automobile industry is recognized as one of the most influential sectors shaping the global economies, societies, and individual lifestyles. Therefore, fierce competitions among different companies are continuously undergoing, and innovations deserve special attention to improve the competitiveness. In the past several years, additive manufacturing (AM) is emerging as an innovative technology in the applications of automobile industry with significant advantages over traditional techniques. As a result, increasing attention has been attracted to combining AM technology with the development of automobile industry. Currently, many automobile players are optimizing their industrial layout by incorporating with innovative AM techniques, and meanwhile, many research progresses have been achieved to meet the market demand. This article aims at presenting a timely review to conclude the recent advances in the application of AM techniques in automobile industry, focusing on the available AM techniques, printable materials, and the industry applications. The future research opportunities and challenges are also outlooked. Hopefully, this work can be useful to the related researchers, as well as the game players in the industry of this field.

We provide a generalisation of Pythagoras’ theorem, which enables us to calculate the absolute value of a hypersurface of arbitrary dimensions in terms of its projections. For a one dimensional hyperplane the theorem reduces to Pythagoras’ theorem.

Statistical modeling lies at the heart of product design and development throughout numerous engineering disciplines, especially since processing large amounts of data has become increasingly ubiquitous. While mathematical statistics provide elegant guidance pertaining to the question of whether or not some particular underlying modeling assumptions are justified and appropriate, when pursuing a more comprehensive assessment of product design and development other considerations often increase in significance. Therefore, we will examine and analyze the tedious interactions and implications of statistical modeling choices and product liability exposure. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to draw attention to and explore some often overlooked or oversimplified dangers and pitfalls that enter the equation when product design heavily relies on statistical modeling. In particular, through a diligent analysis of both statistical and legal aspects we will explore how statistically optimal procedures may yield far from optimal outcomes in terms of product liability when applied to actual real life problems and why suboptimal nonparametric or robust approaches may constitute better alternatives.

Global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 have united nations around common sustainability goals, prompting critical discussions about the true nature of sustainability. A significant concern highlighted by the United Nations is greenwashing—a practice where companies or organisations mislead the public about the environmental benefits of their products or services. Tactics employed in greenwashing include using unclear or misleading labels like “green” and “eco-friendly” or emphasising a single aspect of the product’s lifecycle that appears sustainable while ignoring others. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have gained prominence in response to these challenges, particularly in New Zealand, where government climate declaration regulations have fuelled their demand. This study aims to comprehensively analyse existing EPDs for construction products by identifying and evaluating EPD programs, categorising product types, assessing the completeness of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) information modules, and verifying the accuracy of declared impact values. The research methodology involves a systematic literature review, drawing data from reputable databases, including Scopus, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, MDPI, and Emerald Insight, with data analysis conducted using ATLAS.ti 9 software. Examining the current state of EPDs in New Zealand’s construction sector, this study aims to highlight best practices, identify areas for improvement, and provide a foundation for enhancing the transparency and reliability of environmental impact assessments. The findings will contribute to ongoing efforts to combat greenwashing and promote genuine sustainability in construction projects, ultimately supporting the development of more environmentally responsible building practices.

The Riemann Hypothesis (RH) is proved based on a new absolutely convergent expression of $\xi(s)$, which was obtained from the Hadamard product, through paring $\rho_i$ and $\bar{\rho}_i$, and taking the possible multiple zeros into consideration with their real (unique and unchangeable) multiplicities, i.e. $$\xi(s)=\xi(0)\prod_{\rho}(1-\frac{s}{\rho})=\xi(0)\prod_{i=1}^{\infty}(1-\frac{s}{\rho_i})(1-\frac{s}{\bar{\rho}_i})=\xi(0)\prod_{i=1}^{\infty}\Big{(}\frac{\beta_i^2}{\alpha_i^2+\beta_i^2}+\frac{(s-\alpha_i)^2}{\alpha_i^2+\beta_i^2}\Big{)}^{m_{i}}$$ where $\xi(0)=\frac{1}{2}$, $\rho_i=\alpha_i+j\beta_i$ and $\bar{\rho}_i=\alpha_i-j\beta_i$ are the complex conjugate zeros of $\xi(s)$, $0<\alpha_i<1$ and $\beta_i\neq 0$ are real numbers, $m_i\geq 1$ is the real multiplicity of $\rho_i$, $0<|\beta_1|\leq|\beta_2|\leq|\beta_3|\leq \cdots$. Then, according to the functional equation $\xi(s)=\xi(1-s)$, we have $$\prod_{i=1}^{\infty}\Big{(}1+\frac{(s-\alpha_i)^2}{\beta_i^2}\Big{)}^{m_{i}}=\prod_{i=1}^{\infty}\Big{(}1+\frac{(1-s-\alpha_i)^2}{\beta_i^2}\Big{)}^{m_{i}}$$ which, owing to the uniqueness and unchangeableness of $m_i$, is finally equivalent to (for more details, see the proof of Lemma 3.) $$\Big{(}1+\frac{(s-\alpha_i)^2}{\beta_i^2}\Big{)}^{m_{i}}=\Big{(}1+\frac{(1-s-\alpha_i)^2}{\beta_i^2}\Big{)}^{m_{i}} \Leftrightarrow \alpha_i=\frac{1}{2}, 0<|\beta_1|<|\beta_2|<|\beta_3|<\cdots$$ Thus, we conclude that the RH is true.

New class of biologically active and non-active compounds can be synthesized via transition metal mediated Suzuki cross coupling reaction that has a great impact on the advancement of organic chemistry. These resulted products can lend a helping hand in pharmaceutical and polymer chemistry for the betterment of mankind. Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction is one of the best tools through which many natural and non-natural compounds can be synthesized.

The purpose of this article is to present a proposal to call a tourist destination a magical town using a multi-criteria approach. To this end, its application is approached as a real multi-criteria classification problem with the use of the ELECTRE III method and is built from the components, considered from the importance they represent for the agents involved in the tourism sector, which contemplates the tourism supply, demand and management, infrastructure, services, natural and cultural resources, economic benefits and social impact. The results obtained with the use of this approach allowed us to evaluate and compare the tourist destinations that wish to be recognized under this nomination. In conclusion, the ELECTRE method turned out to be a success, since it allows us to explain and understand the competitive order of the tourist destinations under study. For future work, this procedure could be used to identify which factors are most important or attractive to decision makers.

In the realm of autonomous driving tort, a significant disparity exists in the parties' access to autonomous driving data and essential technical information, resulting in challenges in unilateral proof. The traditional burden of proof framework in driving litigation is inadequate for direct application in the autonomous driving sphere. As we approach the era of widespread autonomous driving operations, there is an urgent need to clarify and redefine the allocation of the burden of proof in specific litigations. Utilizing comparative legal analysis and case studies, this paper delves into the disparities in legislative provisions concerning the burden of proof for autonomous driving in Germany and China. China can learn from Germany's legislative precedence in shifting the burden of proof for 'product defect' and 'fault' onto the manufacturer, thereby requiring the infringed party to merely furnish preliminary evidence indicating a 'causal relationship between the defect and the damage.' This approach mitigates the evidentiary burden on the aggrieved party, clarifies litigation procedures, incentivizes manufacturers to enhance technology, reinforces risk management, and ultimately, facilitates the progression of autonomous driving technology.

ABSTRACT Lubricants play a crucial role in reducing friction and wear between surfaces in relative motion. Engine oil, as a lubricant, is specifically designed to minimize friction and wear between the moving parts of different equipment and machinery. Engine oil blending serves the purpose of adjusting the variety of lubricants available to meet specific performance requirements. Through blending, it is possible to tailor the characteristics of the lubricating oil, such as viscosity, stability, and additive content, to optimize its effectiveness in reducing friction, protecting engine components, and enhancing overall equipment performance. By customizing lubricant formulations through blending, manufacturers can address the diverse lubrication needs of modern engines and machinery, ensuring smooth operation, longevity, and efficiency.To enhance the quality of the lubricant and achieve the desired high-performance multi-grade engine oil, a systematic approach was followed. The process began with testing the specific gravity of the oil using a hydrometer and thermometer to ensure accurate measurements. Subsequently, 5 liters of base oil were carefully measured and poured into a stainless steel reactor pot to serve as the blending vessel. Following this, 1 liter of paraffin oil (100N) was added to the base oil to introduce specific properties to the blend. To further optimize the formulation, 0.42 kg (7% of the total blend) of additives, including a selection of specific performance-enhancing compounds, was incorporated. These additives, such as Aspen, Tackifier, and other essential components like anti-wear, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, dispersants, and antioxidants, were meticulously measured and added to the mix. Through this precise blending process, the goal was to craft a high-quality multi-grade engine oil that meets the stringent performance requirements for various operating conditions and equipment types. After the melted Aspen and dissolved tackifier were added to the mixture, thorough stirring was carried out to ensure uniform distribution until a homogeneous blend was achieved. The mixture was then exposed to heat to facilitate the reaction between the base oil and additives, reaching a temperature of 70°C for optimal blending. Subsequently, 0.5 kg of viscosity index improver was introduced into the mixture and stirred continuously for a period of 5 minutes to ensure proper integration. Following this step, 5 grams of dye were carefully added to the mixture, and stirring was continued to evenly disperse the coloring agent throughout the blend. This meticulous process aimed to ensure that all components were effectively incorporated, facilitating the production of a high-quality, customized multi-grade engine oil with enhanced performance characteristics and optimal lubricating properties. After subjecting the mixture to a temperature of 70°C, the heat source was removed, allowing the product to gradually cool down to room temperature, which was estimated to be around 30°C. Following this cooling process, the product underwent a filtration step to remove any residual impurities present in the mixture. A sample of the purified product was then extracted for further analysis. Quality control tests were meticulously carried out on the sample to ensure that the product met the rigorous standards set by the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). The results obtained from the quality control tests were highly promising, indicating that the product indeed complied with the stringent specifications outlined by the regulatory body. This adherence to quality standards is essential in ensuring the product's reliability and performance in various applications. The successful outcome of the quality control test underscores the meticulous attention to detail and commitment to excellence in the production process. The rigorous quality control procedures implemented in the analysis of the product highlight the commitment to upholding high standards of quality and safety in the manufacturing process. By consistently meeting and exceeding industry regulations and standards, the product not only demonstrates its reliability but also reflects a dedication to customer satisfaction and product excellence. The adherence to the SON standards showcases a commitment to producing top-quality products that meet the needs and expectations of consumers and industry stakeholders alike.

In this paper, several classes of rough Marcinkiewicz integral operators along surfaces of revolution on product spaces are investigated. We prove the Lp boundedness of these operators when their kernels functions belong to a class of functions related to a class of functions introduced by Grafakos-Stefanov. The results in this paper extend and improve several known results on Marcinkiewicz integrals.

The paper considers two models of queuing with a varying structure based on the introduction of additional transient intensities into known models or their combinations, which create stationary distributions convenient for calculation. In the first model, it is a probabilistic mixture of known stationary distributions with given weights. In the second model, this uniform distribution is repeatedly used in physical statistics. Both models are based on the selection of states, between which additional transient intensities are introduced. The algorithms used in the paper for introducing new transient intensities are closely related to the concept of flow in a deterministic transport network. The introduced controls are selected so that the marginal distribution of the combined system is a mixture of the marginal distributions of the combined systems with different weights determined by the introduced transient intensities. As a result, the process of functioning of the combined system is obtained by switching processes corresponding to different combined systems at certain points in time.

For a long time, a company's Product Development Process (PDP) was seen as supporting the operations department, although PDP decisions and mistakes have a considerable impact on market performance. This is critical even in agriculture where bad habits and practices in the PDP can lead rural producers to great losses. Therefore, this research investigated the effect on the market performance of rural products (banana) in the southern region of Brazil, based on two analyses: (i) how sustainability practices support the PDP phases and (ii) how the phases of the Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) mediate sustainability practices and PDP phases. This study presents a quantitative analysis using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and hierarchical ordinary least squares (OLS) regression of data obtained from a survey of 110 rural producers who directly participate in the banana production and planning process in southern Brazil. Our results shows that sustainability practices support the PDP, and we confirm that the product development and post-development phase has an effect on market performance. In addition, we identified that in the pre-development phase of the PDP, dealing with rural products (bananas), the maturity stage of the LCA mediates sustainability. In the PDP development phase, we concluded that rural families that develop economic and environmental practices with their products in the market growth phase may have reduced results. As for the post-development phase of the PDP, we conclude that when companies invest in environmental and social practices, there is a complete mediation of the effect, where these practices lose strength if the product is in the introduction and maturity phases in the market. As originality, our study contributed to demonstrate value on the product life cycle for the product development process in agriculture using sustainability practices through a systemic approach, filling the gap in the literature due to the lack of research on these areas seen in an integrated way.

This qualitative research explores the dynamics of collaborative marketing and supply chain strategies for enhanced product lifecycle management. Through in-depth interviews with industry stakeholders, key themes, challenges, and implications of collaboration emerge. Trust, communication, technology, strategic alignment, and sustainability are identified as critical factors driving successful collaboration. The study highlights the transformative potential of collaboration in driving innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Despite challenges such as aligning objectives and ensuring data security, collaborative strategies offer significant opportunities for value creation and differentiation. The findings underscore the importance of building trust, leveraging technology, and integrating sustainability considerations in collaborative efforts. Strategic alignment and cultural fit among partners are essential for overcoming differences and achieving common goals. The implications of the research extend to practitioners seeking to enhance collaboration in their organizations and researchers exploring collaborative practices in different industries and contexts. Future research could further explore the impact of collaboration on stakeholder perspectives and outcomes. By addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities, organizations can maximize the benefits of collaborative marketing and supply chain strategies to drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage in today's dynamic business landscape.

Solid waste management is a global issue that affects every individual living in the world directly or indirectly. Failing to manage the waste properly will cause harm on public health, our natural environment, and even our happiness and prosperity. When asked about the reason behind the failure of third time plastic ban in Bhutan, one of the Bhutanese said it’s because of the lack of cooperation from public to support the move of government. Clean Bhutan, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that aims Zero Waste Bhutan by 2030, has collected around 5,900 metric tons of waste from December 2014 to February 2018. This project will create some awareness regarding the management of waste at individual level when people come in contact with the family of the researcher. It also talks abot how waste management and biodiversity conservation can go side by side.

All departments in a business work separately, but for the same purpose.In this article, a system that allows not only the mechanical design department but also the manufacturing, storage, process planning, quality control, electrical design, purchasing departments, etc. to have access to the required information has been developed. Initially, current manufacturng result informations is collected from the project attandees. Secondly, a workflow is designed dependent on the current data flow. All the project stakeholders are introduced to join and use product data management system. In the absence of this kind of system, loss of time, scraps and loss of engineering time would be investigated. This allowed the company owners to be sure that no faulty revision of design will be produced after the system started. On the other hand automation of bill of materials generation provided the purchasing department correct and up to date information about outsourced parts. Allowing different engineering disciplines to work together provided more suitable environment. Gradually this conditions allowed all the departments work faster and market the new product much faster than before the system. Tracing the workflows for management purposes would be handled by the system. A ‘Validation of Design’ process is modelled for the company.

Stunting is a major public health issue in Aceh, Indonesia, requiring advanced analytical techniques for effective interventions. This study presents a novel hybrid machine learning framework designed to enhance the analysis of stunting through improved classification, predic-tive modeling, and clustering optimization. The framework utilizes Support Vector Machines (SVM) with Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Sigmoid kernels for classification. The RBF kernel achieved an accuracy of 91.3%, significantly outperforming the Sigmoid kernel's 85.6%. Linear Regression was employed for predictive modeling, yielding a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.137, which indicates strong predictive accuracy. In clustering, the optimized K-Medoids method, in-corporating a weight product approach, demonstrated superior efficiency by requiring only 3 iterations for convergence, compared to 7 iterations for the conventional K-Medoids method. Additionally, it achieved a higher Calinski Harabasz Index of 93.7, compared to 85.2 for the conventional method. This comprehensive approach enhances accuracy and efficiency across classification, prediction, and clustering tasks, providing valuable insights for targeted interventions and policy development to address stunting in Aceh.

There is a growing recognition of the need to incorporate sustainability considerations early-on in the product development (PD) process (PDP). As part of a case study at an engineering consultancy firm, this paper identifies considerations that influence the integration of sustainable design practices into real-world PD practices. This is informed by the first author getting embedded in the firm as an intern, and closely observing the PD workflow across various projects, conducting interviews and group discussions with a wide range of practitioners, and iteratively designing and testing various potential interventions. From literature and observation, we find that designers and engineers often struggle to identify and apply the right sustainable design methods and tools (SDMTs) to tackle the environmental impacts associated with their products. Through a human-centered design process, we co-created a reusable, modular framework of practices that aids the selection of relevant strategies, based on the environmental hotspots, stage of the PD process, and the client’s sustainability priorities. The paper further presents insights related to the framework’s real-world application and impacts in the firm, based on results of longitudinal engagement with the firm.

In this paper we introduce the hypo-q-norms on a Cartesian product of inner product spaces. A representation of these norms in terms of inner products, the equivalence with the q-norms on a Cartesian product and some reverse inequalities obtained via the scalar Shisha-Mond, Birnacki et al., Grüss type inequalities, Boas-Bellman and Bombieri type inequalities are also given.

In this paper, some mixed type bounds on the spectral radius $\rho(A\circ B)$ for the Hadamard product of two nonnegative matrices ($A$ and $B$) and the minimum eigenvalue $\tau(C\star D)$ of the Fan product of two $M$-matrices ($C$ and $D$) are researched. These bounds complement some corresponding results on the simple type bounds. In addition, a new lower bound on the minimum eigenvalue of the Fan product of several $M$-matrices is also presented: $$ \tau(A_{1}\star A_{2}\cdots\star A_{m})\geq \min_{1\leq i\leq n}\{\prod^{m}_{k=1}A_{k}(i,i)-\prod^{m}_{k=1}[A_{k}(i,i)^{P_{k}}-\tau(A_{k}^{(P_{k})})]^\frac{1}{P_{k}}\}, $$ where $A_{1},\ldots, A_{k}$ are $n\times n$ $M$-matrices and $P_{1},\ldots, P_{k}>0$ satisfy $\sum^{m}_{k=1}\frac{1}{P_{k}}\geq 1$. Some special cases of the above result and numerical examples show that this new bound improves some existing results.

This qualitative study explores supplier collaboration in e-commerce product development, examining motivations, challenges, strategies, outcomes, and ethical considerations. Through in-depth interviews with stakeholders from diverse e-commerce sectors, the study identifies key themes shaping collaboration dynamics. Motivations include innovation, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships, driving companies to integrate supplier expertise early in product development. Challenges such as global supply chain complexities, goal misalignment, and communication barriers underscore the need for robust governance and cultural sensitivity. Strategies for success include technology adoption, supplier development programs, and collaborative decision-making, enhancing supply chain visibility and mutual benefits. Effective collaboration yields improved product quality, cost efficiencies, and enhanced customer satisfaction, supporting competitive advantage. Ethical sourcing practices and sustainability initiatives are crucial for maintaining trust and regulatory compliance. Cultural and organizational factors, including leadership support and change management, significantly influence collaboration outcomes. The study concludes with implications for theory and practice, emphasizing the role of innovative strategies and continuous improvement in supplier relationships. Future research could explore digital transformation, sustainability trends, and technological impacts on supplier collaboration in e-commerce. Practical applications include optimizing supply chain strategies to navigate complexities and capitalize on market opportunities.

Material selection for product design is a complex task. Thus, one of the objectives of this work is to analyze, understand and promote the importance of selection of materials to conceive quality products with help of designers' that promote green self-identity in the early stage of the conception of new products. A questionnaire was sent to professional designers and engineers. 38 responses were validated, this being the sample of our study. The aspects that influence the complex selection of materials and the final quality of the products through the design and production process is presented. As a result of the answers carried out with product designers who work in the market, with students who are graduating and with some engineers, a new approach for the selection of materials was developed. Based on a collection of main ideas from traditional and non-traditional methods of material selection, seeking to group the maximum requirements of both methods, inspired by the "Canvas" model on the basic modular methodology, a new model for a project of new product is presented. Our study focuses on the selection of materials, since this aspect is one of the most relevant steps in early stage of the prototyping phase of new products, with a view to reducing CO² from the air in the atmosphere that we all breathe. The classification of materials is complex, due to the diversity of available options. The novelty of this model is that all properties of the newly designed product, such as technical, aesthetic, productive, environmental and other properties, are all grouped in a model, which serves as an innovative support. Thus, the designer has at his disposal a tool that can help him in the selection of the best material for the products he designs. This study intends to make a contribution in the field of material selection, quality and design of new products, promoting a green self-identity for designers in the initial phase of product design. Consequently, all consumers in search of a sustainable planet will profit from it.

Natural compounds have diverse structures and are present in different forms of life. Metabolites such as tannins, anthocyanins, and alkaloids, among others, serve as a defense mechanism in live organisms and are undoubtedly compounds of interest for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Plants, bacteria, and insects represent a source of biomolecules with diverse activities, poorly studied in many cases. To use these molecules for different applications, it is essential to know their structure, concentrations, and biological activity potential. In vitro techniques that evaluate the biological activity of the molecules of interest have been developed since the 1950s. Currently, different methodologies have emerged to overcome some of the limitations of these traditional techniques, mainly the reduction of time and costs. However, emerging technologies continue to appear due to the urgent need to expand the analysis capacity of a growing number of reported biomolecules and the lack of therapeutic options to treat various diseases. This review presents an updated summary of the conventional and current methods to evaluate natural compounds' biological activity, including a diagram that summarizes the minimum techniques essential for correctly assessing molecules with biological potential.

The importance of continuously emerging new distribution is a mandate to understand the world and environment surrounding us. In this paper, the author will discuss a new distribution defined on the interval (0,1) as regards the methodology of deducing its PDF, some of its properties and related functions. A simulation and real data analysis will be highlighted.

Aligning supply chain and marketing functions is crucial for high-tech startups aiming to successfully launch new products in competitive markets. This qualitative research explores the strategies, challenges, benefits, and best practices associated with supply chain and marketing alignment in high-tech startups. Through a detailed analysis of case studies and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, the study identifies key insights into how startups can effectively integrate these functions to enhance operational efficiency, market responsiveness, customer satisfaction, and risk management. The findings reveal that successful alignment requires the formation of cross-functional teams, leveraging integrated technologies like CRM and ERP systems, establishing regular inter-departmental communication, and developing joint performance metrics. These strategies foster collaboration and ensure that supply chain and marketing efforts are coordinated towards shared goals. However, startups face challenges such as differing departmental objectives, resource constraints, communication barriers, and technological limitations, which hinder effective alignment. Benefits observed from effective alignment include improved operational efficiency through streamlined processes, enhanced market responsiveness to adapt quickly to changing demands, increased customer satisfaction by delivering products that meet market expectations, and better risk management through proactive identification and mitigation of supply chain and market risks. Best practices identified include fostering a culture of collaboration, investing in technology for data integration and transparency, aligning strategic objectives across functions, and continuously monitoring and adjusting alignment strategies. Integration of broader elements such as sustainability, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, marketing, and supplier relationship management further enriches the alignment framework. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of how high-tech startups can strategically align their supply chain and marketing functions to achieve competitive advantage and sustainable growth in dynamic market environments.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the disruptive potential to transform patients’ lives via innovations in pharmaceutical sciences, drug development, clinical trials, and manufacturing. However, it presents significant challenges, ethical concerns, and risks across sectors and societies. AI’s rapid advancement has revealed regulatory gaps as existing public policies struggle to keep pace with the challenges posed by these emerging technologies. The term AI itself has become commonplace to argue that greater “human oversight” for “machine intelligence” is needed to harness the power of this revolutionary technology for both potential and risk management, and hence to call for more practical regulatory guidelines, harmonized frameworks, and effective policies to ensure safety, scalability, data privacy, and governance, transparency, and equitable treatment. In this review paper, we employ a holistic multidisciplinary lens to overview the current regulatory landscape with a synopsis of the FDA workshop perspectives on the use of AI in drug and biological product development. We discuss the promises of responsible data-driven AI, challenges and related practices adopted to overcome limitations, and our practical reflections on regulatory oversight. Finally, the paper outlines a path forward and future opportunities for lawful ethical AI. This review highlights the importance of risk-based regulatory oversight, including diverging views in the field, in reaching a consensus.

As matrix representations of magic labelings of related hypergraphs, magic squares and their various variants have been applied to many domains. Among various subclasses, trimagic squares have been investigated for over a hundred years. The existence problem for trimagic squares with singly even orders and orders 16n has been solved completely. However, very little is known for the existence of trimagic squares with other even orders except for the only three examples and three families. We construct normal trimagic squares by using product constructions, row-square magic rectangles, and trimagic pairs of orthogonal diagonal Latin squares. We give a new product construction: For positive integers p, q, and r having the same parity other than 1, 2, 3, 6, if normal p × q and r × q row-square magic rectangles exist, then a normal trimagic square with order pqr exists. As its application, we construct normal trimagic squares of orders 8q^3 and 8pqr for all odd integers q not less than 7 and p,r ∈ {7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37}. Our construction can easily be extended to construct multimagic squares.

Handwriting is a complex perceptual-motor task that requires years of training and practice before complete mastering. Its acquisition is crucial since handwriting is the basis, together with reading, for the acquisition of higher-level skills such as spelling, grammar, syntax, and text composition. Despite correct learning and practice of handwriting, some children never master this skill to a sufficient level. These handwriting deficits, referred to as developmental dysgraphia, can seriously impact the acquisition of other skills and thus the academic success of the child if they are not diagnosed and handled early. In this review, we present a non-exhaustive listing of the tools which are the most reported in the literature for the analysis of handwriting and the diagnosis of dysgraphia. Tools focusing on both the final handwriting product and the handwriting process will be considered. We will then discuss the pros and cons of the existing tools, and the perspectives for the development of future tools.

The extract of the fruit chasteberry has phytotherapeutic effects, making it an important ally in women's well-being during premenstrual syndrome (PMS); however, it contains alcohol in the composition, has a bitter taste and spicy flavor, and can also cause a burning sensation. Encapsulation techniques can minimize these problems. In this context, the present study aimed to encapsulate the concentrated extract of chasteberry and develop dark chocolate with the potential for minimizing PMS symptoms by adding 2.5% free or microencapsulated chasteberry extract in the chocolate bar formulation. Microparticles loaded with chasteberry extract were produced by spray drying and covered by spray-chilling using Arabic gum and vegetable fat as the carriers, respectively. The particles were characterized by morphology, size, X-ray diffraction, TGA, and stability of total phenolics and casticin – the molecule responsible for phytotherapeutic effects-. The best particle was added to a dark chocolate mixture. The chocolate samples produced with free and encapsulated extracts were submitted to sensory trials. The two paired comparison tests proved that particles efficiently for masking the chasteberry extract burning sensation and bitterness in the chocolates. Besides, particles were also efficient in protecting casticin. In this context, the encapsulation using the combination of both techniques was efficient in promoting casticin and total phenolics stability and producing chocolate with good sensory aspects. Therefore, it was possible to develop a product that can be used in clinical trials to evaluate its potential to minimize PMS symptoms.

For the purpose of improve the sustainability of products sold in the EU, Digital Product Passports is a mandatory solution. These passports would systematically gather information about products, such as detailing the materials involved to aid recycling and remanufacturing efforts, or recording the emissions produced throughout the manufacturing process. The overall goal is the establishment of a circular economy in the EU. Current research on Digital Product Passports is focused on collating content for sector-specific applications. However, achieving sustainability goals through Digital Product Passports will require new methods and technical solutions for digital collaboration between supply chain participants, especially in the manufacturing sector. Collaborative work on Digital Product Passports requires trust and traceability in data and access management to ensure privacy over the data contained. One way to enable this securely and confidentially is through the use of blockchain technology, in which stored data cannot be concealed, which is key to the traceability of digital product data documentation. This paper therefore presents a concept for the implementation of generically applicable cross-industry blockchain-based digital product passports. To this end, generic supply chain processes have been abstracted and condensed into the architecture of smart contracts. Great attention is paid to the establishment of traceability as well as privacy through the selection of the blockchain technology Secret Network in combination with Gaia-X functionalities. An illustrative use case for digital product passports in manufacturing is used to demonstrate the applicability of the presented concept. In this use case information about the digital nameplate and carbon footprint is exchanged securely and confidentially in a multi-tenant supply chain network based on the Industry 4.0 infomation model of the Asset Administration Shell.

Kronecker products of matrices have some striking operation properties, one of which is called the mixed-product property $(A \!\otimes\! B)(C \!\otimes\! D) = AC \!\otimes\! BD$. In view of this property, the two-term Kronecker product $A_1 \otimes A_2$ can be rewritten as $A_1 \otimes A_2 = (A_1 \otimes I_{m_2})(I_{m_1} \otimes A_2)$ of dilation forms of $A_1$ and $A_2$, and three-term Kronecker product $A_1 \otimes A_2 \otimes A_3$ can be rewritten as the products $A_1 \otimes A_2 \otimes A_3 = (A_1\otimes I_{m_2} \otimes I_{m_3})(I_{m_1} \otimes A_2 \otimes I_{m_3})(I_{m_1} \otimes I_{m_2} \otimes A_3)$ of the dilation forms of $A_1$, $A_2$, and $A_3$, respectively, where the matrices on the right-hand sides of the two factorizations are commutative. In this note, we approach the commutative Kronecker products on the right-hand sides of the two factorization equalities, and present a variety of new and useful analytical formulas for calculating the ranks, dimensions, orthogonal projectors, and ranges of matrices composed of these Kronecker products.

Pollen, a remarkably versatile natural compound collected by bees for its abundant source of proteins and nutrients, represents a rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds with noteworthy chemical and therapeutic potential. Its large range of biological effects has been known and exploited since ancient times. Today, there is an increased interest in finding natural compounds agaisnt oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to various diseases. Recent research has unraveled a multitude of biological activities associated with bee pollen, ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties to potential antiviral and anticancer applications. Comprehending the extensive repertoire of biological properties across various pollen sources remains a challenge. By investigating a spectrum of pollen types and their chemical composition, this review produces an updated analysis of the bioactive constituents and the therapeutic prospects they offer. The findings of this review emphasize the necessity for further exploration and standardization of diverse pollen sources and bioactive compounds that could contribute to the development of innovative therapies.

The recent past has witnessed a growing interest in technologies for creating chatbots. Advances in Large Language Models for natural language processing are underpinning rapid progress in chatbot development, and experts predict revolutionary changes in the labour market as many manual tasks are replaced by virtual assistants in a range of business functions. As the new technology becomes more accessible and advanced, more companies are exploring the possibilities of implementing virtual assistants to automate routine tasks and improve service. This article reports on qualitative inductive research undertaken within a chatbot development team operating in a major international enterprise. The findings identify critical success factors for chatbot projects, and, based on the in-depth case study, a model is put forward to aid the manageability of chatbot implementation. The presented model can serve as an exemplar guide for researchers and practitioners working on the design, development and implementation of virtual assistants. It is flexible and applicable in a wide range of business contexts, linking strategic business goals with execution steps. It is particularly applicable for teams with no experience of chatbot implementation, reducing uncertainty and managing decisions and risks throughout the project lifecycle, thereby increasing the likelihood of project success.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of olive cake on the diet of autochthonous Bísaro pigs in processed products. To this purpose, loins and “cachaços” were used and subjected to a manufacturing flowchart to obtain a dry-cured product. Both products were subjected to the same formulation, ingredients, and curing steps. Regarding the physicochemical composition, there were significant differences between the two products for the parameters of aw (p&lt;0.001), moisture (p&lt;0.001), total fat (p&lt;0.001), protein (p&lt;0.001), and haem pigments (p&lt;0.001). As for the diet, it only significantly influences the NaCl content (p&lt;0.05). Neither the product nor the diet had any influence (p&gt;0.05) on the fraction of saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). However, there is a significant difference when it comes to omega 3 (p&lt;0.05). These fatty acids increased with the addition of olive cake, and the diet with olive cake centrifuged by 25% had the highest value for both products. The increase in this omega 3 resulted in a decrease in the PUFA n-6/n-3 ratio (p&lt;0.01) in the diets with olive cake, compared to the control diets.

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are used in the manufacturing process of the semiconductor and display industries, and the need for emission reduction is growing as a greenhouse gas with a very large global warming potential. The decomposition characteristics of etch type and water film (WF) type plasma-wet scrubbers were investigated. The PFCs used in the study were CF4, SF6, NF3, CHF3, C2F6, C3F8, and C4F8, and the destruction removal efficiency (DRE) and by-product gas generation rate according to the changes in the parameters (total flow rate and power) of the plasma-wet scrubber were confirmed. When the total flow rate was 100 L/min and the measured maximum power (11 kW), the reduction efficiency of CF4 in the etch type was 95.60 % and the DRE of other PFCs was 99.99 %. And, in the WF type, the DRE of CF4 was 90.06 %, that of SF6 was 96.44 %, and that of other PFCs was 99.99 %. When the total flow rate was 300 L/min and 11 kW, the DRE of SF6 in the etch type was 99 %, and the DRE of NF3, CHF3, C2F6, C3F8, and C4F8 were 99.80 %, 95.34 %, 85.38 %, 88.49 %, and 98.22 %, respectively. And, in the WF type, the DRE of SF6 was 94.39 %, and the DRE of NF3, CHF3, C2F6, C3F8, and C4F8 were 99.80 %, 95.34 %, 85.38 %, 88.49 %, and 98.22 %, respectively. The by-product gas generation rate was significantly lower in the WF type.

In this paper, we propose the definition of block tensors and the real representation of tensors. Equipped with the simplification method, i.e., the real representation along with the M-P inverse, we demonstrate the conditions that are necessary and sufficient for the system of dual split quaternion tensor equations (A*NX,X*SC)=(B,D) when its solution exists. Furthermore, the general expression of the solution is also provided when the solution of the system exists and we use a numerical example to validate it in the last section. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that the aforementioned tensor system has been examined on dual split quaternion algebra. Additionally, we provide its equivalent conditions when its Hermitian solution X=X* and η-Hermitian solutions X=Xη* exist. Subsequently, we discuss two special dual split quaternion tensor equations. Last but not least, we propose an application for encrypting and decrypting two color videos and we validate this algorithm through a specific example.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is increasingly prevalent in the quantification of environmental status in the building sector, following new legislative frameworks. Countries need to quantify and assess their environmental impacts as a previous base for regulation and decision making. In this context, standardised national data sets are being developed, based on consensus with manufacturers: sectoral Environmental Product Declarations. This study focuses on assessing these EPDs with the aim of providing relevant information for global decision-making, focusing on consistency and pointing out shortcomings. An assessment has been carried out both at national level, considering all sectoral EPDs and declared products, and at international level, with three common building materials (brick, steel and concrete). The results highlight the lack of traceability in the development and assessment of uncertainty, resulting in substantial discrepancies in reported impacts, especially in the later stages of the life cycle (up to 90% difference). Meanwhile, impacts such as Global Warming Potential or total renewable and non-renewable primary energy use show homogeneous values in the cradle-to-gate stages with differences generally less than 10%. The analysis of sectoral EPDs should be a design guide with environmental sustainability criteria, as the last section of this study attempts to focus on.

Biological polymers such as tissue-engineered scaffolds and skin grafts with improved properties are very required in the pharmaceutical field. The wound-dressing gelatin/chitosan/moringa leaf extract (G-CH-M biopolymer) was synthesised and characterised. The blood compatibility, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities of the biopolymer were investigated. Our results showed that S. aureus swarming motility was drastically affected. However, the biopolymer had no significant effect on the swarming motility of E. coli compared to the control. In addition, biopolymers showed high antibacterial capacities, especially against S. aureus. The biopolymer was also found to be effective in protecting plasmid DNA against oxidative stress. Furthermore, the biopolymer exhibits greatly suppressed hemolysis (lower than 2%), even at a high concentration of 50 mg/mL. These results indicated that this novel biopolymer formulation could be further developed for wound care and contamination prevention.

Clustering coefficient measures are key complex network analysis tools. We examine local and global clustering coefficient measures with respect to the lexicographic graph product. As a preliminary condition, we analyze the $K_3$ subgraph structure focused on vertex inclusion with respect to the product graph. From this structure, we determine both the clustering coefficient for the product graph vertices and the average clustering coefficient for the product graph.

Binary switches, which are the primitive units of all digital computing and information processing hardware, are usually benchmarked on the basis of their ‘energy-delay product’ which is the product of the energy dissipated in completing the switching action and the time it takes to complete that action. The lower the energy-delay product, the better the switch (supposedly). This approach ignores the fact that lower energy dissipation and faster switching usually come at the cost of poorer reliability (i. e. higher switching error rate) and hence the energy-delay product alone cannot be a good metric for benchmarking switches. Here, we show the trade-off between energy dissipation, energy-delay product and error-probability, for both an electronic switch (a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) and a magnetic switch (a magnetic tunnel junction switched with spin transfer torque). As expected, reducing energy dissipation and/or energy-delay-product generally results in increased switching error probability and reduced reliability.

This paper examines the marketing mix of rattan canes businesses, with a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Rattan cane enterprises rely on both domestic and international sources for raw materials, and the market is largely unorganized, with individual-level operations dominating the industry. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the marketing mix in relation to the 7Ps framework, which includes price, product, place, promotion, people, process, and physical evidence. A simple random sampling method was employed to select participants from rattan processing enterprises. A questionnaire survey was then conducted among 46 rattan entrepreneurs, representing a total of 66 enterprises, including rattan processing industries, rattan traders, and Community Forest User Groups. The findings of the study indicate that, among the seven Ps, place and process are relatively stronger aspects of service delivery, while price and people are considered moderate. However, product, promotion, and physical evidence are identified as weak areas in terms of service delivery within the rattan business. It is concluded that rattan processing industries continue to rely on traditional tools and technologies, which has resulted in a lack of competitiveness in penetrating both national and international markets. Furthermore, poorly segmented distribution channels have hindered their sales efforts, while limited promotional activities have restricted awareness of their products among potential customers. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for rattan businesses to modernize their operations and adopt more effective marketing strategies in order to enhance their competitiveness and expand their market reach.

The widespread use of the herbicide glyphosate has resulted in the global presence of its degra-dation product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), in the global environment. AMPA is commonly found in water bodies, including freshwater systems. We investigated the effects of chronic and acute AMPA exposure on the survivorship, regenerative abilities, and locomotion of the brown planarian (Girardia tigrina), a water-dwelling flatworm commonly found in freshwa-ter ecosystems. We exposed planarians to two concentrations of AMPA, consistent with the high and low ranges of concentrations observed in US water systems. We measured endpoints includ-ing survivorship, regenerative abilities of head and tail segments, eyespot regeneration, and swimming speed. Compared to the control group, we found that planarians chronically exposed to AMPA exhibited (1) modestly reduced survivorship while regenerating and (2) slower regen-eration from the tail segment. No significant differences were observed in intact body growth during chronic exposure. Our findings highlight the potential ecological impacts of AMPA con-tamination on planarian populations. Understanding the effects of AMPA exposure on planarians contributes to our understanding of the ecological consequences of glyphosate use in freshwater ecosystems.

Spinors are used for the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. They are treated as elements of a complex vector space in contrast to a real vector space. Spinor theory is abstract mathematics with an ambiguous interpretation. The overall phase of spinors does not affect the computation of probability in quantum mechanics. If two spinors have an overall phase of imaginary number i, then they can be treated like vectors in a real vector space. The square of the magnitude of the number, which is the sum of dot product and the term having basis vector i of cross product of two such vectors, is equal to the probability computed using the corresponding spinors. Therefore, the geometry of such spinors can be easily depicted in a three-dimensional space like vectors in a real vector space. Spinors are not isotropic vectors in Hilbert space. The sum of dot product and cross product of two complex numbers is equivalent to the quotient of the division of one complex number by another. Similarly, the sum of dot product and cross product of two vectors is the quotient of the division of one vector by another. Using the rules of division of vectors, we can find the rules of multiplication of vectors. The rules of multiplication and division of basis vector i match the rules of multiplication and division of imaginary number i. Therefore, basis vector i is nothing but imaginary number i. Multiplication of dot and cross product of two vectors to the second vector will give us the components of the first vector that are parallel and orthogonal to the second vector. Vectors are also made up of complex numbers like spinors. The reason for finding dot product of complex numbers in the process of computing the probability is to ignore the overall phase in contrast to the phase difference. This is misconstrued as complex vector space in quantum mechanics. 3-D number which is nothing but a spinor with new notation is an extension of vector algebra. It can have a real number as a term in addition to the terms i, j and k. In all other respects, it is a vector. 3-D numbers are part of the number system like real numbers and complex numbers. The real numbers are one dimensional numbers, the complex numbers are two-dimensional numbers and the 3-D numbers as well as vectors and spinors are three-dimensional numbers. As polarisation and spin are one and the same, we can straight away apply 3-D numbers to polarisation of light. 3-D numbers will greatly simplify the study of areas of science where three-dimensional space is involved.

Dilation of contractions on Hilbert space and Banach space is classical. Recently, dilations theory has been put in the setting of sets, vector spaces, p-adic Hilbert spaces and modules. In this paper, we derive important dilation results for self-adjoint morphisms on indefinite inner product modules over *-rings of characteristic 2. More precisely, we prove indefinite inner product versions of Halmos dilation, Egervary N-dilation and Sz.-Nagy dilation.

This manuscript describes the construction and validation of high resolution daily gridded (0.05° × 0.05°) rainfall and maximum and minimum temperature data for Bangladesh : the Enhancing National Climate Services for Bangladesh Meteorological Department (ENACTS-BMD) dataset. The dataset was generated by merging data from weather stations, satellite products (for rainfall) and reanalysis (for temperature). ENACTS-BMD is the first high-resolution gridded surface meteorological dataset developed specifically for studies of surface climate processes in Bangladesh. Its record begins in January 1981 and is updated in real-time monthly and outputs have daily, decadal and monthly time resolution. The Climate Data Tools (CDT), developed by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Columbia University, is used to generate the dataset. This data processing includes the collection of weather and gridded data, quality control of stations data, downscaling of the reanalysis for temperature, bias correction of both satellite rainfall and downscaled reanalysis of temperature, and the combination of station and bias-corrected gridded data. The ENACTS-BMD dataset is available as an open-access product at BMD’s official website, allowing the enhancement of the provision of services, overcoming the challenges of data quality, availability, and access, promoting at the same time the engagement and use by stakeholders.

For the particular selected type of fractals, i.e., the Kronecker product based fractals, the introductory common classification is proposed. It essentially relies on the size and content of the initial fractal matrix. In turn, it gives one of the possible explanation of the phenomenal ability to produce a few of the most popular fractals using many different algorithms, languages and tools. Also, it paves the way to discover on the regular basis thousands of the new fractals, and this gives researchers a wider range of fractal models to choose from.

The antifungal efficacy of coffee residues extracts (CRE) and chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) alone and with coffee residue extracts (CNP-CRE) were assessed on growth of Rhizopus stolonifer. Two nanostructured edible coatings, one based on chitosan nanoparticles (CCNP) another on coffee residue extracts encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (CCNP-CRE), were elaborated, characterised and applied on inoculated Naples tomatoes to evaluate their fungicidal activity and the effect on fruit quality. The tests consisted of evaluating physicochemical variables in tomato previously sprayed with CCNP and CCNP-CRE for 30 days preharvest and 14 days at 10°C postharvest. A CNP with a spherical shape and particle size of 2.4 ± 0.24 nm with a Z potential of −1.62 mV was observed, while CNP-CRE showed irregular and spherical shapes of 3.9 ± 0.55 nm with a Z potential of −0.89 mV. The FTIR spectrum showed the integration of CRE into the CCNP-CRE. A synergistic effect between CNP and 1 % CRE was observed since the greatest inhibition of mycelial growth (43%) was obtained. In the preharvest trials, the CCNP and CCNP-CRE showed differences with respect to the control in the variables of colour, total carotenoids and ethylene. In the postharvest test, both coatings showed differences in colour and CO2 production. The severity of the infection decreased 33% in tomatoes with coatings.

Methodologies for the synthesis and purification of metabolites, which have been developed following their discovery, analysis and structural identification, have been involved in numerous life science milestones. The renewed focus on the small molecule domain of biological cells has also created an increasing awareness of the rising gap between the metabolites identified and the metabolites which have been prepared as pure compounds. Due to the large number and molecular diversity of metabolites the design and engineering of resource-efficient and straightforward synthetic methodologies for their production have attracted much interest. The variety of metabolic pathways in biological cells provide a wonderful blueprint for designing simplified and resource-efficient synthetic routes to desired metabolites. Therefore, biocatalytic systems have become key enabling tools for the synthesis of an increasing number of metabolites, which can then be utilized as standards, enzyme substrates, inhibitors or products, or for the discovery of novel biological functions.

Background: This study aimed to develop a highly consumable collagen-containing bar that contributes to enriching the diets of elderly individuals in terms of energy and nutrients. Method: For this purpose, after the development of 5 different bar samples (C, P1, P2, D1, D2) containing different amounts of collagen, date puree, and pumpkin puree, they were evaluated in terms of sensory and nutritional properties. Results: The highest flavor score bars were those with high levels of pumpkin puree (P2) and date puree (D2). By applying the TOPSIS technique, which is used when there are multiple crite-ria among multiple samples, to the snack bar samples with different contents, the most liked sample was found to be the snack bar (D2) with a high level of date puree. One serving of the developed bars contains approximately 300-400 kcal of energy and 6.8-8.8 g of protein. Consid-ering age-related decreased appetite and chewing and swallowing problems in elderly individ-uals, regular consumption of nutrient-rich small meals or snacks with enhanced sensory charac-teristics will contribute to improving their nutritional and functional status.

A number of chemical modifications were carried out in order to synthesize new compounds based on the triterpenoid betulonic acid. Triazolation reactions were carried out for the synthesis of new 1,2,3-triazole derivatives based on betulonic acid. Chemical changes were made on the carbonyl group at the C-3 position of the initial molecule and on the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups at the C-28 position. Chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the formed products. Spectroscopic (NMR-, mass-) methods were used to establish the structure of synthesized compounds. As a result of the chemical transformations carried out, a number of new derivatives of betulonic acid were obtained. All synthesized compounds were tested for antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. As a result, compounds with pronounced antimicrobial activity were identified.

The increase in greenhouse gas emissions fosters the transport sector towards new technological perspectives on personal mobility. Addressing sustainable mobility through electric micromobility requires interdisciplinary design research methods and approaches. In the context of the LEONARDO project, funded under the Horizon 2020 framework, the paper addresses a critical literature review on the design thinking, design research models, tools, and mixed methods to be undertaken for driving product mobility innovation in a cross-disciplinary context. Following the “research through design” research strategy, the authors applied the Double-Diamond design thinking model to frame the design research process in 4 phases, aligning with 3 general objectives, 12 specific research objectives, and 24 tasks, supported by a total of 71 mixed methods and tools. As a result, the transdisciplinary process provides a co-designed energy-efficient stand-alone microvehicle and a scalable interdisciplinary design model for urban transport product innovation. In conclusion, this case study suggests the value of the Double-Diamond design thinking model as a design research instrument capable of addressing sustainable mobility and guiding interdisciplinary design research, design practice, and education in the Industrial Engineering and Design disciplinary sectors.

China faces a persistent deficiency in feed protein resources. Enhancing the utilization efficiency of indigenous feed protein resources emerges as a viable strategy to alleviate the current deficit in protein feed supply. Corn gluten meal (CGM), characterized by high proportion of crude protein and glutamine, is predominantly employed in animal feed. Nonetheless, the water-insolubility of CGM protein hampers its protein bioavailability when utilized as feed material. This study aimed to augment protein bioavailability, liberate glutamine peptides from CGM, and produce gluta-mine-enriched CGM fermented feed. We executed a co-fermentation protocol using Bacillus subtilis A5, Lactobacillus 02002, and acid protease to generate the CGM fermented feed. Subsequent in vivo experiment with broilers were conducted to assess the efficacy of the fermented product. Findings revealed that the soluble protein, glutamine, small peptides, and lactic acid contents in the fer-mented feed increased by 69.1%, 700%, 47.6%, and 125.9%, respectively. Incorporating CGM fermented feed into the diet markedly enhanced the growth performance and intestinal health of broilers, positively modulated the cecal microbiota structure, and augmented the population of beneficial bacteria, specifically Lactobacillus. These results furnish both experimental and theoretical foundations for deploying CGM fermented feed as an alternative protein feed resource.

Plant species with anti-inflammatory properties might play an essential role in combatting COVID-19 via reducing cytokine storms. We aimed to review the extant evidence of the potential therapeutic efficacy of natural products against cytokine storms by inhibiting interleukin-6 (IL-6) as a major pathological mediator. Data were collected following an electronic search in major databases (Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar) and also preprint articles on preprint and medRxiv servers by using a combination of relevant keywords. Seventeen active compounds and medicinal plants were found and reviewed in the present review. Results of both in-vivo and in-vitro experiments conducted on these compounds showed that Phillyrin, SMFM, Qiangzhi decoction, curcumin, Shen-Fu, Forsythia, and Alpha-Mangostin inhibit the production of IL-6. Andrographolide and Liu Shen Wan have an inhibitory effect on releasing this agent, while Ilex Asprella and Deoxy-11,12-didehydroandrographolide and naringin reduce the expression of IL-6. Theaflavin and Cholorogenic acid inhibit the secretion of IL-6, Xuebijing, and Chai-Hu-Gui-Zi-Gan-Jiang-Tang and Lipanpaidu prescription can reduce the serum level of IL-6. These agents also effectively improve infected lungs, increase survival rates, and minimize tissue damage. Medicinal plants and their phytochemical ingredients with down-regulatory effects on the expression of IL-6 have a potential influence on the inhibition of cytokine storms during viral infection caused by COVID-19. Therefore, phytochemicals could be regarded as promising candidates for managing cytokine storm inflammatory responses due to COVID-19 infection.

Product innovation is a crucial factor in enterprise survival. Even though there are sources from strategic theory that guides the clear comprehension towards appreciating the nexus between these two variables (product innovation and enterprise survival), there are still many lacunas that should be addressed and filled. Consequently, the need for additional empirical corroboration or support is pertinent. This study aimed at verifying the nexus between product innovation and enterprise survival, and how they are affected by the existence of antecedent variables such as competitive intensity and competitive advantage. In the methodology, this study adopts the conduct of explanatory and cross-sectional investigations through the use of structural equation modelling (SEM) to a sample of selected food and beverages enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria. Regarding the food and beverage enterprises in Lagos, Nigeria, this study discovered that competitive intensity has huge positive implication on product innovation at (0.39; t = 5.69, p < 0.05). This gives numerical evidence that, in the face of more market competition, enterprises will be pressured to adopt the model of costs reduction on products which will enhance the reduction of product prices, and will have significant impact on profit. However, the findings reveal that there is no significance between competitive advantage and product innovation at (0.002; t = 0.203, p > 0.05), and there is no significance between product innovation and enterprise survival at (-0.035; t = -1.583, p > .05). As a result, the food and beverage enterprises should concentrate more on product innovation so that they will be able to stand the intensity of competition. The results emanated from the study is germane as it make significant contribution to literature and the body of knowledge and on strategic management by enlightening that competitive intensity is a necessary inducement for product innovation.

A specific HPLC method has been developed and validated for the determination of vanillyl butyl ether in cosmetic products. The extraction procedure with an isopropanol water 1:1 mixture is described. The method uses a RP-C-18 column with isocratic elution and a UV detector. The mobile phase consists of a mixture of acetonitrile and buffer (Na2HPO4 20mM in water) (30:70 v/v) with a variable flow rate. The method was validated with respect to accuracy, precision (repeatability and reproducibility), specificity and linearity. The procedure described here is simple, selective and reliable for routine quality control analysis and stability tests of commercially available cosmetic products.

Enzymes used in the synthesis of natural products are potent catalysts, capable of efficient and stereoselective chemical transformations. Lsd18 catalyzes two sequential epoxidations during the biosynthesis of lasalocid A, a polyether polyketide natural product. We performed protein engineering on Lsd18 to improve its thermostability and catalytic activity. Utilizing structure-guided methods of FoldX and Rosetta-ddG, we designed 15 mutants of Lsd18. Screening of these mutants using thermal shift assay identified stabilized variants Lsd18-T189M, Lsd18-S195M, and the double mutant Lsd18-T189M-S195M. Trypsin digestion, molecular dynamic simulation, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography provided insights into the molecular basis for the improved enzyme properties. Notably, enhanced hydrophobic interaction within the enzyme core and interaction of the protein with the FAD cofactor appear to be responsible for better thermostability.

The textile sector is responsible for a number of environmental impacts. Due to the in-creasing quantities of textiles, their share is rising and a trend reversal from a linear to a circular textile chain is needed. This article presents the background, methodological approach and results of a participatory textile development model. In the commercial B2B sector, three textile prototypes were developed together with users and trialled over several months in three application areas. Textile development took into account the requirements of fibre regeneration in the product design and focused on innova-tive chemical recycling solutions. The three sustainably aligned textiles were subject-ed to spectroscopic and textile-technological tests. Screening life cycle assessments an-alysed their environmental profile and compared it with reference textiles that are used as standard. Overall, it is clear that the three textiles can match conventional ref-erence textiles in terms of quality and have considerable environmental benefits com-pared to the reference textiles. The user survey did identify concerns about a high arti-ficial fibre content, although a general rejection of recycled fibres was not observed. The results show that a transformation is possible, but must start with the fibre com-position; recycling, on the other hand, is of minor importance.

One main objective of this study was to increase the utilization of the raw material in the rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) essential oil industry by application of membrane technologies. A new ultrafiltration-based process for green recovery of polyphenols from distilled (de-aromatized) rose petals, the primary by-product in essential oil production, was created. The process includes enzyme-assisted extraction and subsequent membrane separation for partial concentration. Following a green membrane technology strategy, the newly developed process proposes an environmentally-friendly alternative to the conventional processing, comprising organic solvent ex-traction and adsorber resin purification. The results showed that the permeate flux decreased with volume reduction ratio’s rise and increased with the transmembrane pressure and feed flow rate rises. At the beginning of the process the highest flux was with UF1-PAN membrane, but at the end of the process with UF10-PAN membrane. Total polyphenols of the retentates in-creased by 27-39% and 26-67% during ultrafiltration with UF1-PAN and UF10-PAN membrane, respectively, with the highest value obtained for UF10-PAN membrane at VRR 6. The highest concentration factor and rejection of total solids, total polyphenols, redox-active antioxidants and radical scavenging antioxidants were obtained at VRR 6 with UF10-PAN membrane. This membrane and concentration level at transmembrane pressure of 0.4 MPa and feed flow rate of 330 dm3/h are recommended to be used for application of ultrafiltration of rose-petals by-product for potential use in the food industry.

The consumer’s acceptability of hamburgers elaborated with the flank of culling cows in which the content of salt or fat had been partially replaced was studied. A mixture of potassium chloride, potassium ferrocyanide and sodium ferrocyanide was used as substitutes for the salt. Oat flakes or a mixture of chia and flax seeds were used as substitutes for the fat. The hamburgers were tasted by 34 consumers. Consumers did not detect significant differences between the control and the rest of the formulations. Neither the gender nor the age of the consumers influenced the sensory appraisal. However, many comments regarding texture failures were recorded. Therefore, the substitution of salt and / or fat in the composition of hamburgers made with the flank of cows is a viable alternative for the commercialization of these pieces of low commercial value as long as the texture of the same is adjusted to resemble it to the control.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects about 20–40% of the adult population in high-income countries and is now a leading indication for liver transplantation and can drive to hepatocellular carcinoma. The link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and NAFLD is now clearly established. Through analyses of the gut microbiota with shotgun metagenomics, we observed that compared to healthy controls, Adlercreutzia equolifaciens is depleted in patients with liver diseases such as NAFLD. Its abundance also decreases as the disease progresses and eventually disappears in the last stages indicating a strong association with disease severity. Moreover, we show that A. equolifaciens possesses anti-inflammatory properties, both in vitro and in vivo in a humanized mouse model of NAFLD. Therefore, our results demonstrate a link between NAFLD and the severity of liver disease and the presence of A. equolifaciens and its anti-inflammatory actions. Counterbalancing dysbiosis with this bacterium may be a promising live biotherapeutic strategy of liver diseases..

Global attention to climate change has surged since the advent of the Paris Agreement, intensifying the importance of measuring and managing carbon productivity indicators on a national level. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding the reliability of such measurements because of inherent discrepancies in implementing and operating national-level carbon productivity indicators, coupled with their inherent uncertainty. This study proposes a multiple regression model to address these issues aimed at refining national-level carbon productivity indicators metrics, accounting for factors such as the gross domestic product and total greenhouse gas emissions by sectors. The objective was to offer insights into enhancing and effectively utilizing current indicators, enabling a more nuanced interpretation of the variation in the carbon productivity indicators across diverse industrial landscapes. This study showed that adjustments of the carbon productivity metrics reflect disparities in emissions across industrial structures, with countries characterized by high emissions from non-service industries showing improving trends. In addition, this paper proposes an auxiliary indicator estimating method for carbon productivity, emphasizing its utility in interpreting productivity indicators within the context of varying industrial compositions across OECD countries. This study underscores the inadequacies of the current national productivity estimating method, pinpointing areas requiring refinement. Specifically, the method for estimating the auxiliary indicator for carbon productivity guarantees enhanced rationality when integrated with current methodologies. Moreover, by elucidating the nuances of industrial structures, this study advocates for more sophisticated approaches to interpreting and managing the productivity indicators tailored to each unique economic landscape of each country. Nevertheless, the limitations stemming from data availability underscore the need for further research, particularly in refining the national-level carbon resource productivity indicators analyses and exploring the thematic productivity variations in greater depth. By addressing these gaps, future studies will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of national-level carbon resource productivity indicators dynamics and reveal targeted strategies for sustainable development.

Concern for global health security and the environment due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic residues in meat and other livestock products has led many countries to restrict the use of antibiotics in animal feed. This experiment was performed to assess the impact of dietary supplementation with a probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) and a postbiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product) on growth performance, carcass traits, blood haemato-biochemical profile, gut microbiome, gut morphology, and immune response in broilers as an alternative to antimicrobials in poultry production system to minimize the effect on global health security. A total of 324-day-old Ven Cobb 400 broiler chicks were randomly divided into three dietary groups, each containing 12 replicated pens (n = 12), .and each replicate contained nine broiler chickens. The dietary groups consisted of 1) a basal diet without any growth promoting (T1), 2) the basal diet augmented with Bacillus subtilis at 200 g/MT feed (T2), and 3) the basal diet supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product at 1.25 kg/MT feed (T3). To calculate body weight gain, all birds and residual feed were weighed on a replicated basis over days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42; mortality was recorded daily. Each replicate's mortality percentage was calculated and used to adjust BW, ADFI, and FCR calculations at the trial's end. At the end of the trial (42 d), two chickens from each replicate (24 chickens per group) were slaughtered for carcass traits, gut microbiome, and morphology measurements. Blood samples were collected for the haemato-biochemical profile on 35d and antibody titer on 28d and 35d.Feeding with SCFP (T3 group) significantly improved average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain (ADG) of chickens compared to the T1 (control) and T2 (probiotic) groups from 1 to 14 days of age. FCR was significantly improved (P<0.05) in SCFP-fed birds (T3) relative to the control (T1)over the entire experimental period (1-42 days). Carcass traits and blood haemato-biochemical parameters remained unaffected (P>0.05) by any diets. However, cholesterol levels and concentrations of corticosterone were significantly lower (P<0.05) in SCFP-fed birds (T3) compared to those of the probiotic (T2) and control (T1) groups. Total E. coli, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and Salmonella counts were significantly higher in the T1group compared to T3 and T2 groups (P<0.05) and Salmonella counts were lower in T3 when compared to T2 (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in Lactobacillus count among treatment groups. PCR based characterization of ESBL- producing Enterobacteriaceae revealed maximum presence of blaCTX-M-Type (6/15, 40%), followed by blaSHV-Type (5/15, 33.3%) and blaTEM-Type (4/15, 26.6%). No variation in the occurrence pattern of ESBL/beta-lactamase associated genes in the studied ESBL- producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates was observed between the treatment groups. A significant increase in villi height and villi height to crypt depth ratio (VH: CD) (P<0.05) was observed in both T3 and T2 groups. Contrarily, villi widths did not vary across the dietary groups (P>0.05). The control group (T1) displayed a notable deeper in crypts when compared to the T3 and T2 groups (P<0.05). On day 28, the SCFP-fed birds (T3) and those fed the probiotics (T2) exhibited a significant increase (P<0.05) in antibody titers against Newcastle disease virus and Infectious bursal disease virus. Increase in antibody titre against IBDV in birds with the addition of SCFP in the diet was detected for the first time. However, there were no significant differences observed on day 35. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils and lymphocytes in broiler chickens did not show any noticeable variations among the different groups at day 35(P>0.05).It can be concluded that Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product and Bacillus subtilis probiotic could be viable alternatives to antimicrobials in poultry production considering beneficial impacts in broilers fed antibiotic-free diet.

Water is essential for all living things however its pain has become serious. Many industrial activities cause its pollution by the release of polluting byproduct. Waste water treatment is hence necessary. In this context, the waste water of the textile industry containing Red Acid 52 was treated by the solid waste of the washed natural phosphate byproduct. Natural phosphate was also studied. The solid materials were first characterized by chemical analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The phosphate materials were after that, tested in the adsorption of the Red Acid 52. The experimental data indicated that the phosphate waste rock allowed the removal of Red Acid 52. Its maximum retention capacity attained 18.4 mg.g-1. Calcinations of materials inhibits the removal capacity found reduced by 60 to 70%. The adsorption kinetics of the Red Acid 52 on the material is well described by the pseudo second order model while the adsorption isotherms are identified by the Langmuir model. Hereafter, the thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic. Keywords: Waste water, Phosphate co-product, Adsorption, Red Acid 52.

Numerous studies in the literature have investigated the effect of financial development on poverty, and tend to report a poverty reduction effect of financial development. The present paper considers the issue in the other way around, by examining the effect of poverty on financial development. In particular, it has investigated the financial development effect of poverty that passes through three main channels, including the education level, the level of trade openness, and the degree of export product concentration. The analysis is carried out using a sample of 97 developing countries over the period 1980-2017, and the two-step Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM). Results have shown that poverty genuinely affects financial development through these three channels. Specially, lower poverty rates induce greater financial development in countries that experience higher education levels. Similarly, a rise in poverty rates in the context of restrictive trade policies (that eventually result in lower levels of trade openness) undermines the development of the financial sector. Finally, higher poverty levels adversely affect financial development in countries that experience an increase in the level of export product concentration.

Although Lov\'{a}sz introduced the graph exponential $G^K$ in 1967, this product has received little attention. This paper focuses on the number of components in $G^K$ when exponent $K$ is a complete graph $K_n$. For a connected bipartite $G$, when $K$ is $K_2$, $G^{K_2}$ has three components; and when $K$ is $K_n$ with $n>2$, $G^{K_n}$ produces $\lceil\frac{n+1}{2}\rceil$ components. A connected $G$ with an odd cycle produces one component in $G^{K_n}$.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) processing generates a by-product (CB) with potential for health benefits and could be a favorable ingredient to be added to a probiotic food matrix. This study aimed to assess the functional attributes of CB in fermented milk with a probiotic and a starter culture using in vitro- gastrointestinal conditions. Using a standardized fermentability assay, two strains more adapted to the dehydrated CB were chosen and applied in: Test Formulation (TF, with CB) and Control Formulation (CF, without CB). TF and CF were fermented by the probiotic strain Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei F19® and the starter Streptococcus thermophilus ST-M6®. During a 28-day refrigerated (6-8 °C) shelf-life study, both strains used in CF and TF were resistant and maintained a population above 8.0 log CFU/mL in the fermented milk. TF had significant increase in total phenolic compounds and greater antioxidant potential during shelf life, along with improved survival of F19® after in vitro-simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The cashew by-product revealed to be promising as a substrate for the strains studied and the presence of CB increased the content of phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage, as well as the gastric resistance to the probiotic., leading to a promising healthy product.

Mill scale is the by-product of iron and steel industry. It can be recycled via sinter plant or solid as sinter feed materials. 85 to 90% of the constituent particles are more than 0.008 inches. The iron content is near around 70 %, with a very small amount of alkaline compounds and non-ferrous metals. Mill scale is polluted and contaminated with lubricants, oils and greases from the equipment. In this experiment for recovering of oil from mill scale, it is treated with three different methods. Then all methods were compared according to the ability of oil elimination and iron recovered. After washing and boiling with surfactants, large amount of polluted waste water becomes a problem for environment so this wastewater was utilized for making of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), production of electricity in MFC depends on the biodegradation of organic materials, so different waste were added in wastewater for making MFC. The remaining of MFC was converted in bioethanol, biodiesel and biofertilizer. So this research is economical and environmentally friendly and fulfilled the important aspect of green environment with zero waste. It will be a mile stone in the research of metallurgy, environmental engineering, recycling technology and zero waste management.

The fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, has led to an increased transition towards automation and reliance on data-driven innovations and strategies. Companies in the manufacturing sector are heavily integrating Industry 4.0 technologies, including cloud compu-ting, cyber-physical systems (CPS), big data analytics, horizontal and vertical system integration, the internet of things (IoT), and additive manufacturing (3d printing). The interconnected systems and processes have significantly increased operational efficiency, enhanced organizational capacity to monitor and control functions, reduced costs, and improved product quality. One significant way that companies have achieved these benefits is by integrating diverse sensor technologies within these innovations, allowing critical data collection on products, equipment performance, and maintenance. The sensors connect systems and machines, allowing them to communicate and track operations for enhanced operations. While numerous research has been conducted to show the role of sensors in industry 4.0, limited studies show how these innovations can leverage product design to maximize benefits and opportunities. Given the rapidly changing market conditions, Industry 4.0 requires new products and business models to ensure companies adjust to the current and future changes. These requirements call for the evolutions in product design processes to accommodate design features and principles applicable in the current dynamic business environment. This research paper employs a systematic bibliometric literature review (LRSB) methodology to explore and synthesize data on how Industry 4.0 and sensors can leverage product design. The results show that various product design features create opportunities to be leveraged to guarantee the success of Industry 4.0 and sensor technologies. However, the research also identifies numerous challenges that undermine the ongoing transition towards intelligent factories and products.

A remarkable, unquestioned assumption in studies measuring the association between national average Intellectual Quotients (IQ) and Gross Domestic Products (GDP) per capita is that a supposedly immutable genetic factor (IQ) may be correlated with a markedly fluctuant one (the wealth of nations). Using historical GDP per capita data produced by the Maddison project, we find that, over history, the (Pearson productmoment) correlation coefficient (r) between average IQ and GDP per capita is highly variable and ranges from strong negative values to strong positive values. The correlation between national IQ and GDP per capita is thus a snapshot of the world order at some point in time, and historical data allow us to identify several other eras. Moreover, global GDP at any point in time is never difficult to predict in the first place. We show that arbitrary ad-hoc scores based on a country’s continental location present a more significant correlation with contemporary GDP per capita. We conclude this paper by a call to clarify the purpose of IQ studies in Macroeconomics and for the consideration of GDP as a time-series in this line of research.

Background: the nature of alpha-D-mannose - natural aldohexose sugar, C-2 glucose epimer, whose intended use is for preventing urinary tract infections - in the interaction with E. coli is addressed in order to drive the issue of its regulatory classification as a medicinal product or medical device. Methods: PRISMA systematic review approach was applied; Delphi Panel method used to target consensus on statements retrieved from evidence. Results: Based of regulatory definitions and research evidences, the mechanism of D-mannose does not involve a metabolic or immunological action while there is an uncertainty regarding the pharmacological action. Specific interaction between the product and the bacteria within the body occurs, but its nature is inert: it does not induce a direct response activating or inhibiting body processes. Moreover, the action of D-mannose takes place, even if inside the bladder, outside the epithelium on bacteria that have not yet invaded the urothelial tissue. Therefore, its mechanism of action is not directed to host structures but to structures (bacteria) external to the host's tissues. Conclusions: From a regulatory perspective, D-mannose maintains the current medical device classification: new regulations and legal judgments can add further considerations. From a pharmacological perspective, research is driven versus synthetic mannosides: no further considerations are expected on alpha-D-mannose.

The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, following which a global genetic vaccination program has been rapidly implemented as a fundamental solution. However, it has been reported worldwide that the modified mRNAs encoding spike proteins and lipid nanoparticles, which are used as drug delivery systems, not only cause thrombosis and cardiovascular disorders post vaccination, but might also cause diverse diseases involving all organs and systems, including the nervous system. Furthermore, the toxicity and pathogenicity of spike proteins may necessitate defining these proteins as nonbiological infective material. Based on these reports and the abundant evidence that has come to light in the past few years, this paper aims to draw the attention of medical professionals to the various risks associated with transfusion using blood products derived from long COVID patients or from genetic vaccine recipients, and to make proposals regarding specific inspection items, testing methods, regulations, etc. This paper provides insights to address the post-vaccination syndrome and its consequences following such genetic vaccination programs.

This note addresses a fundamental problem in matrix theory on establishing and characterizing range equalities for matrix expressions that involve generalized inverses. We first establish a group of necessary and sufficient conditions for the matrix range equality ${\rm range}(D_1 - C_1A_1^{\dag}B_1) = {\rm range}(D_2 - C_2A_2^{\dag}B_2)$ to hold, where $(\cdot)^{\dag}$ denotes the Moore--Penrose inverse of matrix. We then give several groups of range equalities with extrusion properties for multiple matrix products associated with two matrices and their conjugate transposes and Moore--Penrose inverses.

Prime numbers are the building blocks of number theory, and their properties have intrigued mathematicians for centuries. In this paper, we explore a specific categorization of primes, which we refer to as "twin primes", “cousin primes” and "sexy primes". We begin by examining the form of prime numbers greater than 7 and analyze their potential to be expressed in terms of $6n + 5$ or $6n + 7$. This investigation leads to the identification of conditions under which prime numbers can form twin, cousin and sexy pairs. We further develop a general framework to characterize the product of all twin (except 15), cousin (except 21) and sexy primes, providing insights into their algebraic structure.

A simple undirected graph $\Gamma=(V_\Gamma,E_\Gamma)$ admits an $H$-covering if every edge in $E_\Gamma$ belongs to at least one subgraph of $\Gamma$ that isomorphic to a graph $H$. For any graph $\Gamma$ admitting $H$-covering, a total Labelling $\beta: V_\Gamma \cup E_\Gamma \longrightarrow \{1,2,\dots,p\}$ is called an $H$-irregular total $p$-labelling of $\Gamma$ if every two different subgraphs $H_1$ and $H_2$ of $\Gamma$ isomorphic to $H$ have distinct weights where the weight $w_\beta(K)$ of subgraph $K$ of $\Gamma$ is defined as $w_f(K):=\displaystyle \sum_{v\in V_K} f(v) + \sum_{e\in E_K} f(e)$. The smallest number $p$ for which a graph $\Gamma$ admits an $H$-irregular total $p$-labelling is called the total $H$-irregularity strength of $\Gamma$ and is denoted by $ths(\Gamma)$. In this paper, we determine the total $H$-irregularity strength of edge comb product of two graphs.