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Background: Musculoskeletal pain and disability are leading causes of reduced health and significant economic costs worldwide. Individualised, and evidence-based treatment approaches for specific musculoskeletal conditions aimed at improving patient outcomes and costs have not been successful. Recently authors have suggested that the 'process' of how care is implemented within a health system needs to be considered as an influencer on patient outcomes. With the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions and the burgeoning costs associated with their treatment, it seems timely that new research focusing on process variables and their influence on patients with musculoskeletal conditions is explored. Before such studies can take place, a modern definition of a process variable within a musculoskeletal care pathway is needed to anchor future research endeavours. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a consensus-based definition of a process variable within a musculoskeletal care pathway, based on a New Zealand setting. Methods: This study used a virtual nominal group technique and took place in July 2023 using a Microsoft Teams platform. A nominal group technique employs a structured approach to generate information and solutions to problems that can then be prioritised through group discussion and consensus. It is unique because it allows expert participants to explore using in-depth inquiry, areas previously unidentified or not yet investigated. There was an inclusion criterion and the participants completed pre-work before the two-hour five stage virtual meeting. The Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee (AUTEC) approved this study (AUTEC 23/94). Results: The study included eight participants (five male, three female) who had extensive experience with the New Zealand ACC insurance scheme and the design, implementation, and administration of musculoskeletal care pathways. The consensus definition was 'A health process variable is any modifiable factor in a health process or pathway that can be quantified and measured and that if varied may achieve a different operational or patient outcome'. Conclusions: This study of New Zealand-based experts has formed a consensus-based agreement for a definition of a process variable in a musculoskeletal care pathway. This is an important first step in developing our understanding of process variables, and further research is needed to establish the link between process variables and their influence on the outcomes of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal pain and disability are leading causes of reduced health and significant economic costs worldwide. Individualised, and evidence-based treatment approaches for specific musculoskeletal conditions aimed at improving patient outcomes and costs have not been successful. Recently authors have suggested that the ‘process’ of how care is implemented within a health system needs to be considered as an influencer on patient outcomes. With the rising prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions and the burgeoning costs associated with their treatment, it seems timely that new research focusing on process variables and their influence on patients with musculoskeletal conditions is explored. Before such studies can take place, a modern definition of a process variable within a musculoskeletal care pathway is needed to anchor future research endeavours. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a consensus-based definition of a process variable within a musculoskeletal care pathway, based on a New Zealand setting. Methods This study used a virtual nominal group technique and took place in July 2023 using a Microsoft Teams platform. A nominal group technique employs a structured approach to generate information and solutions to problems that can then be prioritised through group discussion and consensus. It is unique because it allows expert participants to explore using in-depth inquiry, areas previously unidentified or not yet investigated. There was an inclusion criterion and the participants completed pre-work before the two-hour five stage virtual meeting. The Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee (AUTEC) approved this study (AUTEC 23/94). Results The study included eight participants (five male, three female) who had extensive experience with the New Zealand ACC insurance scheme and the design, implementation, and administration of musculoskeletal care pathways. The consensus definition was ‘A health process variable is any modifiable factor in a health process or pathway that can be quantified and measured and that if varied may achieve a different operational or patient outcome’. Conclusions This study of New Zealand-based experts has formed a consensus-based agreement for a definition of a process variable in a musculoskeletal care pathway. This is an important first step in developing our understanding of process variables, and further research is needed to establish the link between process variables and their influence on the outcomes of patients with musculoskeletal conditions.

ObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study explored the extent to which within-patient changes in processes targeted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Behavioral Activation Therapy for Depression (BATD) are associated with changes within-patient in pain intensity and depressed mood and evaluated the extent that process-outcome relationships differed between patients.An idiographic analysis embedded within a randomized controlled trial comparing ACT, BATD, and treatment-as-usual (TAU) was conducted to examine the strength of the relationship between outcomes and process variables in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) plus depressive symptoms. Based on data from ecological momentary assessment in patients (n = 82), the level of heterogeneity and the pooled effects of these relationships during the intervention period (70 days) were explored.Overall, a high level of heterogeneity was identified in the relationship between pain intensity or depressed mood and psychological inflexibility or behavioral activation. Individual differences in the relationships between outcomes and process variables were identified in individual people during the intervention period. These individual differences appear independent of the group (ACT, BATD, and TAU) and other definable differences (responders/non-responders, completers/non-completers, and clinical depression/non-clinical depression).These findings suggest the potential utility of personalizing psychological interventions according to the therapeutic needs of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a preferred hydrophilic matrix former for controlled release formulations produced through continuous twin-screw wet granulation. However, a non-homogeneous API distribution over sieve fractions with underdosing in the fines fraction (<150 µm) was previously reported. This could result in content uniformity issues during downstream processing. Therefore, the current study investigated the root cause of the non-homogeneous theophylline distribution. The effect of process parameters (L/S-ratio and screw configuration) and formulation parameters (matrix former and filler type) on content uniformity was studied. Next, the influence of the formulation parameters on tableting and dissolution behavior was investigated. Altering the L/S-ratio or using a more aggressive screw configuration did not result in a homogeneous API distribution over the granule sieve fractions. Using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as filler improved the API distribution due to its similar behavior as HPMC. As excluding HPMC or including a hydrophobic matrix former (Kollidon SR) yielded granules with a homogeneous API distribution, HPMC was identified as the root cause of the non-homogeneous API distribution. This was linked to its fast hydration and swelling (irrespective of the HPMC grade) upon addition of the granulation liquid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the film manufacturing process, process variables, such as temperature and pressure, are measured and controlled to manage the film properties, such as thickness and optical characteristics. Each film property is regulated by the product specifications, and having all film properties adhere to the specifications is important. In this study, soft sensors were utilized to predict film properties and the importance of the variables that affect the film property variations for each soft sensor was calculated. Different process states were considered in the soft sensor modeling, a different soft sensor was constructed for each state, and soft sensor models with film property prediction accuracies higher than those of the conventional ones were achieved. The importance of the process variables was calculated by adding random variables to identify the truly important variables. The appropriate process variables were confirmed to be detected from the perspective of on-site process engineers. This study contributes to the application of soft sensors in film manufacturing processes.

• Carbon black (CB) was successfully prepared from spent tyre pyrolysis oil (STPO). • CB yield decreases with increasing temperature, residence time and O 2 /Feed ratio. • Operating conditions dictate a trade-off between CB yield and carbon content. • Temperature and O 2 /Feed ratio show strong impact on CB yield and carbon content. • CB_STPO is richer in surface oxygen functionality than heavy residue fraction CB. Preparation of carbon black (CB) by partial oxidation of the spent tyre pyrolysis oil (STPO) and its heavy residue fraction (HRF) was systematically studied using a lab-scale drop tube furnace. The effect of furnace operating temperature (T : 1100 to 1400 °C), residence time (t r : 5 to 60 s) and oxygen to feed ratio (O/F : 174 to 732) on the yield and quality of CB was examined using the response surface methodology (RSM). T was shown to have the most significant influence on CB yield and properties. While the CB yield was also influenced by t r , the quality was more sensitively dependent on T and O/F. The predicted optimal t r and O/F were approximately the same for both feedstocks (60 s and 174, respectively). However, T was higher for the HRF feedstock (1368 °C) than the STPO feedstock (1331 °C) due to the abundance of more viscous heavy hydrocarbons in HRF. Validation experiments under the aforementioned conditions demonstrated the models' ability to predict responses accurately. The CB from both feedstocks had low contents of ash (<0.03%), volatiles (∼0.5%), sulphur (<0.7%), and high carbon (≥95%). The BET surface area and average primary particle size for CB from STPO and HRF were comparable to those of commercial CBs from fossil fuel feedstock. The CB from HRF had a higher carboxyl oxygen functional group (18%) compared to the CB from STPO (∼13%) and commercial CB (<5%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the optimal extrusion conditions required to produce an isolated pea protein (IPP)-based meat analog. High-moisture extrusion cooking (HMEC) was performed. The effects of the moisture content (55 and 60%), barrel temperature (165 and 175 °C), and screw speed (150 and 200 rpm) on the physicochemical, textural, and structural properties of the high-moisture meat analog (HMMA) were determined. The results showed that the moisture content had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the physicochemical and textural properties of the HMMA. A lower moisture content had significant impact (p < 0.05) on enhancing the texturization of the HMMA and the formation of fibrous structures, thereby increasing the texture profile analysis (TPA) and cutting strength of the HMMA. Protein denaturation during HMEC resulted in a lower protein solubility of the meat analog than the raw material. The content of β-sheets and β-turns in the meat analogs were higher than that in the raw material, while the content of random coils and α-helices is inversely proportional. The process variables had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the secondary structures. In conclusion, the moisture content is the most important factor affecting the properties of HMMAs. The extrusion process variables for HMMAs are a moisture content of 55%, a barrel temperature of 175 °C, and a screw speed of 200 rpm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis by coprecipitation of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) is governed by the stages of nucleation and crystal growth associated with the efficiency of the mixing and dispersion process of the reagents. Mixing efficiency is related to process variables, such as agitation speed, type of impeller and baffles presence, among others. In this context, this work proposes an analysis of these variables in a batch reactor, using a 23 factorial design employing the factors: acceleration speed (200 and 1000 rpm), mixing time (2 and 18 h) and presence or absence of baffles. The results were evaluated quantitatively (amount of LDH produced, time and amount of base for the formation of LDHs to begin) and qualitatively (mixing aspects, sedimentation ad grinding). The significant factors affecting the amount of LDH produced (51.94–80.81 g) were agitation speed and aging time. These factors were also correlated with the structural characteristics of the materials produced, such as crystallinity, crystallite size (70.99–174.79 nm), surface area (69.81–97.62 m2/g), pore volume (0.28–0.59 cm3/g), and pore diameter (11.40–34.66 nm). LDHs produced at higher agitation rates (1000 rpm) and longer aging times (18 h) yielded higher quantities of materials (80.81 g) with improved structural characteristics. The study highlights the importance of systematically exploring the synergistic effect between process variables, emphasizing the research potential in this area.

The typical state empathy research used perspective-taking instructions and examined the effect of instructions on empathy-related variables. Empathy-arousing processes were generally not measured. The effect of perspective-taking instructions has been questioned recently. Observers could imagine targets’ feelings without such instructions. This study evoked empathy in Japanese undergraduates (N = 157) without instructional procedure, and based on participants’ responses to questionnaires, measured individual differences between antecedent, process, and intrapersonal outcome variables of state empathy, referring to the organizational model and theories of empathy-arousing processes. The purpose of this study was to measure these variables, examine the causal relationship between them using path analysis, and clarify how empathy occurs. In this way, we could suggest through which processes and antecedent factors intrapersonal empathic outcomes are produced. It is probably the first attempt to clarify how empathy occurs using a social psychological study framework and questionnaire method. This research was originally conducted in 2011 based on two similar studies not published internationally, when only some of the variables were used in our analyses. Afterwards, we constructed another analysis method, reanalyzed the data in 2019 and further reanalyzed in 2023 to obtain the final version of the results. Limitations and scientific and practical implications were discussed.

Abstract The oral route of delivery is the most preferred route for administering most of the drugs. Pellets have gained importance since they offer numerous advantages like decreased dose dumping, improved patient compliance since dosing frequency is reduced, and ease of administering multiple chemically incompatible drugs immediately without the possibility of them interacting with each other. The critical variables related to process and equipment are identified and what impact they have on the quality of pellets formed is discussed. The position of the spray nozzle also affects the pellets and their yield. A complete guideline has been drawn which makes the process of pelletization using the Wurster method easier. The process variables affecting the pelletization process include inlet and product temperature, relative humidity, batch size; spray rate, and atomization air pressure and the equipment variables include column height, air distribution plate, a type of filter, and shaking interval. All these variables have a low, medium, or high impact on the process and they all together contribute to the quality of pellets formed. This review article focuses on critical process and equipment variables affecting the process of pelletization and the quality of pellets formed when using the Wurster equipment. The main objective is to review critical variables affecting the layering method of palletization and to sketch some basic problems encountered during pelletization and their troubleshooting.

It is essential to understand the effects of specific therapy elements (i.e., mechanisms of change) to optimize the efficacy of available treatments. There are, however, existing challenges in the assessment and analysis of constructs of interest. The present study aims to improve research on the effects of specific therapy elements using the example of the Metacognitive Training for Obsessive‐Compulsive Disorder (MCT‐OCD) intervention. Specifically, we introduce an innovative analytical method to identify predictors of treatment outcome and expand the assessment of common factors (e.g., coping expectations). A sample of 50 day‐ and inpatients with OCD was assessed before and after participation in an 8‐week MCT‐OCD programme. We investigated within‐session change in scores on revised questionnaires administered before and after each session. Linear mixed models (for session‐effects) and lasso regression (for prediction analyses) were used to analyse data. The revised assessments and data analyses showed greater improvement in dysfunctional (meta‐)cognitive beliefs over the time of the intervention and within sessions compared to previous MCT‐OCD studies. Some predictors, for example, improvement in coping expectation after the module on overestimation of threat for treatment outcome, were identified. The present study contributed to a better understanding of how to assess and analyse data of a modular intervention and demonstrated the strengths and weaknesses of different analytic approaches. Moreover, the analyses provided a deeper understanding of the specific effects and mechanisms of change of MCT‐OCD modules, which can be refined and examined in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The typical state empathy research used perspective-taking instructions and examined the effect of instructions on empathy-related variables. Empathy-arousing processes were generally not measured. The effect of perspective-taking instructions has been questioned recently. Observers could imagine targets' feelings without such instructions. This study evoked empathy in Japanese undergraduates (N = 157) without instructional procedure, and based on participants' responses to questionnaires, measured individual differences between antecedent, process, and intrapersonal outcome variables of state empathy, referring to the organizational model and theories of empathy-arousing processes. The purpose of this study was to measure these variables, examine the causal relationship between them using path analysis, and clarify how empathy occurs. In this way, we could suggest through which processes and antecedent factors intrapersonal empathic outcomes are produced. It is probably the first attempt to clarify how empathy occurs using a social psychological study framework and questionnaire method. This research was originally conducted in 2011 based on two similar studies not published internationally, when only some of the variables were used in our analyses. Afterwards, we constructed another analysis method, reanalyzed the data in 2019 and further reanalyzed in 2023 to obtain the final version of the results. Limitations and scientific and practical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardfacing is an efficient and economical surfacing technique widely used by heavy industries to remediate worn components in service or to enhance the component's wear characteristics components prior to use. Efficient hardfacing for any targeted application requires precise consideration and understanding of the deposition process, consumables, and substrates. It is also essential to understand the process variables and issues that can occur during the deposition processes, such as dilution and defects in the deposit, including residual stress-induced cracking. Significant research has been published over many years on several aspects of hardfacing, primarily focusing on abrasive wear, corrosion, and impact characterisation using different welding methods and alloy compositions. This paper primarily focuses on reviewing the prior hardfacing literature to systematically summarise the considerations and selection criteria for hardfacing processes and materials. It also presents a discussion on key process variables, such as welding parameters and number of surfacing layers, highlighting their influences during the hardfacing deposition procedure. This paper further discusses issues and challenges in hardfacing practices, such as dilution and cracking. One significant issue investigated is the thermal damage to high-strength steel substrates, with the measurement and characterisation of the damage being key elements. The focus of this investigation is to discuss the optimisation of hardfacing high-strength steel substrates and to communicate potential research areas and prospective applications in the hardfacing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oral route of delivery is the most preferred route for administering most of the drugs. Pellets have gained importance since they offer numerous advantages like decreased dose dumping, improved patient compliance since dosing frequency is reduced, and ease of administering multiple chemically incompatible drugs immediately without the possibility of them interacting with each other. The critical variables related to process and equipment are identified and what impact they have on the quality of pellets formed is discussed. The position of the spray nozzle also affects the pellets and their yield. A complete guideline has been drawn which makes the process of pelletization using the Wurster method easier. The process variables affecting the pelletization process include inlet and product temperature, relative humidity, batch size; spray rate, and atomization air pressure and the equipment variables include column height, air distribution plate, a type of filter, and shaking interval. All these variables have a low, medium, or high impact on the process and they all together contribute to the quality of pellets formed. This review article focuses on critical process and equipment variables affecting the process of pelletization and the quality of pellets formed when using the Wurster equipment. The main objective is to review critical variables affecting the layering method of palletization and to sketch some basic problems encountered during pelletization and their troubleshooting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasonication was used to stimulate the growth and selenium (Se) biotransformation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An optimization study for maximal Se accumulation in S. cerevisiae was conducted using the Plackett–Burman screening method and response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of conditions. The variables influencing Se biotransformation by yeast, including duration and power of ultrasound, inoculum treatment with ultrasound, duty cycle, growth phase, time, shaking rate, inorganic salt concentration (Se, Zn, Mg, and K), and nitrogen and carbon sources as well as their concentrations were screened using the Plackett–Burman design. Results: The main variables were carbon and Se concentration as well as ultrasound power and duty cycle. The lack of fit was insignificant (P > 0.01). The optimum condition for Se accumulation was obtained at Se concentration of 60 µg/ml, carbon source brix of 15, ultrasound of 90 W/L, and duty cycle of 40%. Conclusions: The results showed that optimization of parameters and application of ultrasonication lead to a successful enhancement (2.78-fold) in the accumulation of selenium by S. cerevisiae. Such enriched yeast can be utilized in bread for increasing consumption of Se in the diet of patients with Se deficiency.How to cite: Alijan S, Hosseini M, Esmaeili S, et al. Impact of ultrasound and medium condition on production of selenium-enriched yeast. Electron J Biotechnol 2022;60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2022.09.004.

The Kurdish Civil War between the military forces of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) began in 1994. Despite frequently occurring peace talks throughout the conflict, negotiations failed to bring about a durable settlement until the United States brokered the Washington Peace Agreement in 1998. This research explores why the earlier negotiations were unsuccessful, and whether it was only the US mediation in 1998 which made the difference. Although the US mediation was clearly an important factor, by employing the contingency model this research argues that both contextual variables and process variables determined the success of negotiations in 1998. Furthermore, they can explain the failure of the previous 4 years of negotiations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Increasing metal contamination in the environment, foods, and drinking water due to industrial activities is one of the most concerns all over the world. Among all chemical, physical, and biological techniques used for reducing these contamination, bio-removal approach has attracted interest as a green ecofriendly, inexpensive, and simple method for decontamination of metals from soil, foodstuffs, and water. As a matter of interest, biological decontamination of heavy metals in food is discussed in the current review paper. Results and conclusion: After an introduction about importance and concerns about heavy metal pollutions, main reported microorganisms for bio-removal of Lead, Cadmium, Mercury, and Arsenic are addressed. Then, the main influencing variables on biosorption efficiency including pH, bacterial concentration, temperature, and contact time have been reviewed. Finally, maximum permitted levels of the pollutants in foods and feeds, and their effect on human health are reported. Choosing a suitable microorganism under appropriate condition is important in heavy metals bio-removal. In addition, matrix of the media (food, drinking or waste water, and soil) is another important issue. Other than providing optimum external variables for the microorganisms, having lipids, carbohydrate, and other necessary nutrients in the matrix would increase the biosorption effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) is a preferred hydrophilic matrix former for controlled release formulations produced through continuous twin-screw wet granulation. However, a non-homogeneous API distribution over sieve fractions with underdosing in the fines fraction (

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state welding technique widely employed to join materials such as Aluminum (Al), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and their respective alloys. These materials find extensive use in industries like transportation, where lightweight materials with superior mechanical properties are in demand due to their reduced mass. Conventional fusion welding methods can adversely affect the mechanical properties of these welds.Over the last two decades, FSW has emerged as a specific and significant advancement in welding technology. Various parameters, including shoulder diameter, shoulder profile, pin length, pin diameter, tool angle, rotating speed, feed rate, and weld speed, play crucial roles in determining weld strength, quality, heat generation, and material mixing.The current research focuses on investigating the process variables that influence the characteristics of welded products. Furthermore, it includes an in-depth exploration of FSW fundamentals, recent advancements, and comprehensive literature reviews.

This study investigated the optimal extrusion conditions required to produce an isolated pea protein (IPP)-based meat analog. High-moisture extrusion cooking (HMEC) was performed. The effects of the moisture content (55 and 60%), barrel temperature (165 and 175 °C), and screw speed (150 and 200 rpm) on the physicochemical, textural, and structural properties of the high-moisture meat analog (HMMA) were determined. The results showed that the moisture content had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the physicochemical and textural properties of the HMMA. A lower moisture content had significant impact (p < 0.05) on enhancing the texturization of the HMMA and the formation of fibrous structures, thereby increasing the texture profile analysis (TPA) and cutting strength of the HMMA. Protein denaturation during HMEC resulted in a lower protein solubility of the meat analog than the raw material. The content of β-sheets and β-turns in the meat analogs were higher than that in the raw material, while the content of random coils and α-helices is inversely proportional. The process variables had no significant (p > 0.05) effect on the secondary structures. In conclusion, the moisture content is the most important factor affecting the properties of HMMAs. The extrusion process variables for HMMAs are a moisture content of 55%, a barrel temperature of 175 °C, and a screw speed of 200 rpm.

Dextran ultra-fine nanofiber mats with uniform morphological appearance were fabricated using the electrospinning process. Increasing the solution concentration from 0.5 g.mL−1 to 0.9 g.mL−1 changed the fiber structure from coarse-beaded to a uniform beadless nanofiber mats. Additionally, reducing the feed rate from 1 mL.h−1 to 0.25 mL.h−1 with increasing the spinning distance from 150 to 170 mm generally led to a decrease in the diameters of the fibers. At the end; uniform dextran nanofibers with diameters ≈227 nm fabricated by the systematic modification of the electrospinning process. Crosslinked dextran nanofiber mats represent promising candidates for biomedical and tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for microbial pectinase has increased due to its vast applications in different industries. The current study dealt with the synthesis of pectinase by a novel native strain Aspergillus cervinus ARS2 using agro-industrial waste. Comparative studies conducted on pectinase production by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) showed that pectinase activity was more increased in SSF (44.51 ± 1.33 IU/mL) than in SmF (40.60 ± 1.15 IU/mL) when using orange peel as a substrate. Using SSF, one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) studies were conducted, considering different process variables such as inoculum size, initial pH, incubation time, moisture content, incubation temperature, and substrate particle size, all of which affected the pectinase activity. OFAT results showed the highest pectinase activity at an inoculum size of 106 spores/mL (43.11 ± 1.06 U/mL), an incubation time of 6 days (43.81 ± 1.21 U/mL), a moisture content of 100% (44.30 ± 1.69 U/mL), a substrate particle size of 1.7 mm (42.06 ± 1.20 U/mL), an incubation temperature of 37 °C (45.90 ± 1.33 U/mL), and an initial pH of 4 (43.31 ± 0.89 U/mL). The identified significant process variables were then optimized by response surface methodology (RSM)-central composite design (CCD). The results showed optimum pectinase activity of 107.14 ± 0.71 IU/mL for a substrate particle size of 2 mm, an incubation temperature of 31.5 °C, an initial pH of 4.9, and a moisture content of 107%, which was obtained from the Minitab optimizer. By using statistical optimization, the pectinase production from the isolated novel fungal strain A. cervinus ARS2 was increased 2.38-fold. Therefore, the A. cervinus ARS2 strain can be further explored for large-scale pectinase production which could meet the growing industrial demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of undesirable microstructures and defects hinders the widespread use of additive manufacturing, e.g., the formation of columnar grains in Ti–6Al–4 V leads to undesirable anisotropic mechanical properties. Here, we investigate the application of a novel synchronized circular laser array in the powder bed fusion technique to alter the microstructure of printed parts toward the preferable equiaxed grains. This feat is not achievable with the single laser powder bed fusion technique for Ti–6Al–4 V alloy. The temporal temperature distributions for different process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, and internal distance between lasers in the array) were obtained by an anisotropic heat transfer model, and the Hunt criterion was employed to construct the solidification map. The results revealed that a degree of overlap between lasers is recommended to form a coherent melt pool, avoid degeneracy in surface quality, and maintain adequate resolution for all processing windows. However, laser overlap is not required for low scanning speed and high power scenarios. Finally, microstructure prediction shows that 45% of printed track includes equiaxed grains at a high power regime (500 W). However, the volume fraction of the equiaxed microstructure is reduced by decreasing laser power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dry UMCA(Ultrasonic Mechanical Coating and Armouring)is a deposition coating technology that only needs to be carried out under normal temperature and pressure, and its principle is similar to mechanical alloying.Although the UMCA process is still in the preliminary exploration stage in the world, it has shown great potential in coating preparation due to its unique advantages.The experiment method of UMCA was introduced and the influence laws of process parameters on coating quality was summarized.It was found that the influence laws of different material combinations had both similarities and differences.And the reasons for the difference were mainly analyzed from the perspective of energy.Besides, the possible formation mechanism of the coating was analyzed in a broad sense.Finally, the problems to be solved urgently and the development direction of UMCA process were put forward.

Agro-industrial waste Biotransformation Experimental design Plackett–Burman screening method Process variables Response surface methodology Saccharomyces cerevisiBackground: Ultrasonication was used to stimulate the growth and selenium (Se) biotransformation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. An optimization study for maximal Se accumulation in S. cerevisiae was conducted using the Plackett–Burman screening method and response surface methodology (RSM) for optimization of conditions. The variables influencing Se biotransformation by yeast, including duration and power of ultrasound, inoculum treatment with ultrasound, duty cycle, growth phase, time, shaking rate, inorganic salt concentration (Se, Zn, Mg, and K), and nitrogen and carbon sources as well as their concentrations were screened using the Plackett–Burman design. Results: The main variables were carbon and Se concentration as well as ultrasound power and duty cycle. The lack of fit was insignificant (P > 0.01). The optimum condition for Se accumulation was obtained at Se concentration of 60 lg/ml, carbon source brix of 15, ultrasound of 90 W/L, and duty cycle of 40%. Conclusions: The results showed that optimization of parameters and application of ultrasonication lead to a successful enhancement (2.78-fold) in the accumulation of selenium by S. cerevisiae. Such enriched yeast can be utilized in bread for increasing consumption of Se in the diet of patients with Se deficiency.ae Selenium enrichment Selenium Selenium-enriched yeast Ultrasound [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hardfacing is an efficient and economical surfacing technique widely used by heavy industries to remediate worn components in service or to enhance the component’s wear characteristics components prior to use. Efficient hardfacing for any targeted application requires precise consideration and understanding of the deposition process, consumables, and substrates. It is also essential to understand the process variables and issues that can occur during the deposition processes, such as dilution and defects in the deposit, including residual stress-induced cracking. Significant research has been published over many years on several aspects of hardfacing, primarily focusing on abrasive wear, corrosion, and impact characterisation using different welding methods and alloy compositions. This paper primarily focuses on reviewing the prior hardfacing literature to systematically summarise the considerations and selection criteria for hardfacing processes and materials. It also presents a discussion on key process variables, such as welding parameters and number of surfacing layers, highlighting their influences during the hardfacing deposition procedure. This paper further discusses issues and challenges in hardfacing practices, such as dilution and cracking. One significant issue investigated is the thermal damage to high-strength steel substrates, with the measurement and characterisation of the damage being key elements. The focus of this investigation is to discuss the optimisation of hardfacing high-strength steel substrates and to communicate potential research areas and prospective applications in the hardfacing industry.

The augmented promotion and consumer awareness of healthy eating and lifestyle have resulted in extensive growth of the functional food market in recent years, encouraging the use of effective techniques for food fortification. Vacuum impregnation (VI) is a non-destructive technology based on hydrodynamic mechanism (HDM) to introduce a solution with a specific composition into the intercellular spaces present in food matrices, thus producing foods tailored to specific nutritional and functional needs. VI has found diverse applications in the food industry, ranging from formulation of functional foods containing specific components like vitamins, minerals and probiotics, to altering the pH and reducing water activity to improve the sensory and thermal properties of the products. However, limited knowledge on the structural characteristics and the interaction of incorporated components with the porous cells along with non-optimization of process variables have limited the wide adaptability of this technology. This review paper is intended to provide a detailed account of the potential of VI technology in improving food functionality and the role of optimized process variables in the production of high-quality end products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) exhibits enhanced performance compared to conventional concrete across various dimensions. These include decreased CO 2 emissions, elevated mechanical strength, improved thermal insulation, greater fire resistance, the valorization of industrial wastes and increased efficiency in energy conservation and production costs. This review focuses on the impact of 11 factors such as class F Fly Ash (FA) characteristics (fineness, SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio, and iron content), sodium-based alkaline activators parameters such as molarity of sodium hydroxide (SH), Silicate Modulus (SM) of sodium silicate (SS) solution, ratio of SS/SH solution, alkaline liquid to binder ratio, water to binder (w/b) ratio, H 2 O/Na 2 O equivalent , and process variables such as heat curing temperature and heating duration on the compression strength of low calcium (class F or siliceous) FA-based geopolymers (GP). Existing literature explicitly indicates that the molarity of NaOH solution is the primary strength parameter that significantly affects the compression strength of the GPC, among other factors. The range of alkaline activator parameters and heat curing temperature contingent on the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio of FA moreover accurately the reactive SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3. Among all factors, one of the crucial parameter is the water content because of its importance in geopolymerization; the additional water released during the chemical reaction has to be considered in the mix design. The aforementioned eleven parameters are analysed and reported in the development of the compressive strength. • Physical, chemical, morphological, and mineralogical properties of class F FA are exhibited. • A pseudo-ternary diagram of FA is constructed by incorporating the principal oxide composition together with alkalis. • The influence of 11 distinct factors on the compressive strength of FA-GP is elucidated. • The potential impact of numerous unexplored factors on the efficacy of FA-GP are suggested as further research endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of treatment response to trauma-focused psychotherapy remains a difficult task. This study evaluated treatment response to Brief Eclectic Psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (BEPP) dependent on pre-treatment variables, symptom progression, and manual adherence. We tested differences in pre-treatment variables and symptom time course between treatment responders and non-responders in 27 patients, using exact regression analyses and general linear models. Associations of therapists´ adherence to the treatment manual during different therapy phases with response status were also studied using independent samples t-test. Lower education and complete inability to work were negatively related to therapy outcome. Significant differences in symptom time course between responders and non-responders were detected from session nine onwards, whereas adherence to treatment was not related to outcome during any treatment phase. Our results indicate that early identification of treatment response may meaningfully expand previous research on outcome predicton based on pre-treatment variables in trauma-focused psychotherapy. Furthermore, adaptations of treatment protocols for specific groups of patients with increased risk of poor treatment outcomes may be advisable. If replicated by more naturalistic designs, our results could contribute towards limiting the requirement of strict manual adherence to efficacy studies in posttraumatic stress disorder treatment research.

Adequate supply of electricity at a competitive price is pivotal to sustainable development. More often than not, the generation of electricity which drives modern growth and development is currently powered by limited fossil fuels in many nations. Electricity generation and megawatt demand are also usually fluctuating due to several pertinent factors. In a bid to articulate the impact of inherent variations in process parameters on the performance of steam power plant at different loads, this paper presents an investigation into the efficacy of two validation strategies in predicting the net power output from the plant using GMDH Shell software. Using the combinatorial algorithm, the k-fold cross-validation strategy and the training/testing validation technique were applied to empirical data of a power plant in Nigeria. The performance of the models returned from the two validation strategies was evaluated using maximum negative error, maximum positive error, mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), root mean square percentage error (RMSPE), residual sum, the standard deviation of residuals, coefficient of determination (R2) and correlation. For the number of folds and the training/testing split percentage considered in this study, results show that both models obtained were quite competitive, with the k-fold model having a slight edge over the other model. It is expected that the outcome of the study will be handy in researches for providing knowledge base information on choosing and setting optimum operating conditions at various load demand.

This study reports the findings of a 2.5 year intervention project to reduce psychosocial risks and increase employee well-being in 15 emergency departments in the Netherlands. The project uses the psychosocial risk management approach "PRIMA" which includes cycles of risk assessment, designing and implementing changes, evaluating changes and adapting the approach if necessary. In addition, principles of participative action research were used to empower the departments in designing and implementing their own actions during the project. Next to determining overall effects, the study aims to assess potential moderators including the level of intervening (organization-directed or multilevel), process variables (the number and fit of actions to risk factors, communication and employee participation) and partaking in a Psychosocial Safety Climate intervention offered during the second half of the project. The results of linear mixed-model analyses showed that all job factors improved with the exception of autonomy, which did increase halfway the project but not when considering the entire timeframe. In addition, work engagement decreased and symptoms of burnout remained stable. Emergency departments that implemented more fitting actions, communicated better and involved their employees more in the process, had more favorable changes in job factors and more stable well-being. More activity (based on the number of actions implemented) and a multilevel approach regarding stress management did not lead to greater improvements. The Psychosocial Safety Climate intervention was effective in improving Psychosocial Safety Climate, but a longer follow-up period seems required to evaluate its effect on job factors and well-being. Overall, the project resulted in positive changes in most job factors, and its findings emphasize the importance of process variables in stress management interventions. Longer follow-up and higher quality multilevel interventions (including professional support for employees with stress-related complaints) seem essential to also improve well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Carbon black (CB) was successfully prepared from spent tyre pyrolysis oil. • The CB properties are comparable to those of commercial CB products. • CB yield is determined by reaction temperature and residence time. • CB quality is determined by reaction temperature and oxygen concentration. • Hydroxyl, carbonyl and carboxyl are major surface functional groups. To promote the use of recycled waste materials as an industrial feedstock, this study examined the preparation of carbon black (CB) by partial oxidation of a spent tyre pyrolysis oil using a drop tube furnace. The effect of reaction temperature, the residence time of gas in the reactor and inlet gas oxygen concentration on the yield and properties of the CB were evaluated. The surface chemistry, chemical composition, morphological and thermal properties of the CB samples were characterised using XPS, EA, TEM, BET, and TGA, respectively. The CB yield increased with increasing reaction temperature but decreased as the residence time or oxygen concentration increases. The CB primarily consisted of C (90.5–98.6%) and O (0.9–7.4%), with small traces of S (<1%), Si (<1%) and H (<2%). Hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl are the key functional groups found on the CB surface, with the hydroxyl groups being dominant. The CB were highly graphitic with a lattice spacing in the range of 0.338–0.350 nm and had BET surface areas of 4–22 m2g−1. The mean primary particle size ranged from 92 to 176 nm and decreased with increasing reaction temperature and oxygen concentration. The CB aggregate configuration became more complex with increasing reaction temperature, residence time and oxygen concentration. The results were not only comparable with commercial CB products from fossil fuel feedstocks but are expected to provide the needed motivation to move towards circular economy strategies, which have positive impacts from a sustainability perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the findings of a 2.5 year intervention project to reduce psychosocial risks and increase employee well-being in 15 emergency departments in the Netherlands. The project uses the psychosocial risk management approach “PRIMA” which includes cycles of risk assessment, designing and implementing changes, evaluating changes and adapting the approach if necessary. In addition, principles of participative action research were used to empower the departments in designing and implementing their own actions during the project. Next to determining overall effects, the study aims to assess potential moderators including the level of intervening (organization-directed or multilevel), process variables (the number and fit of actions to risk factors, communication and employee participation) and partaking in a Psychosocial Safety Climate intervention offered during the second half of the project. The results of linear mixed-model analyses showed that all job factors improved with the exception of autonomy, which did increase halfway the project but not when considering the entire timeframe. In addition, work engagement decreased and symptoms of burnout remained stable. Emergency departments that implemented more fitting actions, communicated better and involved their employees more in the process, had more favorable changes in job factors and more stable well-being. More activity (based on the number of actions implemented) and a multilevel approach regarding stress management did not lead to greater improvements. The Psychosocial Safety Climate intervention was effective in improving Psychosocial Safety Climate, but a longer follow-up period seems required to evaluate its effect on job factors and well-being. Overall, the project resulted in positive changes in most job factors, and its findings emphasize the importance of process variables in stress management interventions. Longer follow-up and higher quality multilevel interventions (including professional support for employees with stress-related complaints) seem essential to also improve well-being.

Laser cutting process is well suitable process for the cutting applications of high strength temperature resistant alloys, that are very difficult to cut with conventional process. Moreover, the lasers are widely using now-a-days for variety of cutting operations in many varieties of industries. Because of its complex nature of its operation, it is not easy to control so as to get the desired quality of cut in case of laser beam cutting process. This necessitates the importance of research to be carried out on the various processes i.e cutting, drilling, and welding etc by using the laser apparatus. The research mainly concentrated on the conduction of experiments i.e the cutting operation on Haste alloy C276 with CO2 laser beam. Total 31 trails are done using the CO2 laser beam apparatus. Laser power, speed, gas pressure and focal distance were the parameters chosen to vary. The outputs measured are surface roughness and the burr height which are direct measure to the quality of the cut surfaces. Two dimensional plots are plotted and analyzed the reasons for the increase or decrease of output with either the increase or decrease of input process parameters. Also, 3D plots are plotted to know the interactions.

The demand for microbial pectinase has increased due to its vast applications in different industries. The current study dealt with the synthesis of pectinase by a novel native strain Aspergillus cervinus ARS2 using agro-industrial waste. Comparative studies conducted on pectinase production by submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) showed that pectinase activity was more increased in SSF (44.51 ± 1.33 IU/mL) than in SmF (40.60 ± 1.15 IU/mL) when using orange peel as a substrate. Using SSF, one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) studies were conducted, considering different process variables such as inoculum size, initial pH, incubation time, moisture content, incubation temperature, and substrate particle size, all of which affected the pectinase activity. OFAT results showed the highest pectinase activity at an inoculum size of 106 spores/mL (43.11 ± 1.06 U/mL), an incubation time of 6 days (43.81 ± 1.21 U/mL), a moisture content of 100% (44.30 ± 1.69 U/mL), a substrate particle size of 1.7 mm (42.06 ± 1.20 U/mL), an incubation temperature of 37 °C (45.90 ± 1.33 U/mL), and an initial pH of 4 (43.31 ± 0.89 U/mL). The identified significant process variables were then optimized by response surface methodology (RSM)-central composite design (CCD). The results showed optimum pectinase activity of 107.14 ± 0.71 IU/mL for a substrate particle size of 2 mm, an incubation temperature of 31.5 °C, an initial pH of 4.9, and a moisture content of 107%, which was obtained from the Minitab optimizer. By using statistical optimization, the pectinase production from the isolated novel fungal strain A. cervinus ARS2 was increased 2.38-fold. Therefore, the A. cervinus ARS2 strain can be further explored for large-scale pectinase production which could meet the growing industrial demands.

Production of fermented functional foods containing micronutrients is required for their health beneficial properties. The impact of 11 process variables on vitamin B12 production in a dairy beverage containing propionic acid was investigated. Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii was applied in a 3-l fermentor in the fed-batch fermentation system. The most suitable conditions for vitamin B12 production were achieved by 5% v/v inoculum size containing Propionibacterium freudenreichii (without Lactobacillus acidophilus) and continuous feeding of lactose with the rate of 0.04 l/h at 36°C in a medium containing 25 g/L molasses, 10 g/L corn steep liquor, at pH=6.5, after 96 h fermentation. Maximum vitamin concentration (30 mg/L) and productivity (7.5 mg/L.day) were obtained in trial 9. Organoleptic properties of the fermented beverage were also acceptable for panelists and no significant difference was observed between samples and control during 6 days refrigerated storage.

It is difficult to measure the key biological process variables of photosynthetic bacteria fermentation in real-time, and offline measurement has a large time lag and cannot meet the needs of real-time optimization control. In this paper, a soft sensor model based on least square support vector machine with an improved bat algorithm (IBA-LSSVM) was proposed. The velocity equation of the bat algorithm (BA) was improved and the random variation operation in differential evolution algorithm was introduced into BA algorithm. Thus, the diversity of the population can be increased, and the global and local searching ability of the BA algorithm can be enhanced. Furthermore, the IBA-LSSVM soft sensor model was established for the living cell concentration and compared with BA-LSSVM soft sensor model. Finally, the simulation results show that the improved model was the better learning ability and prediction performance than BA-LSSVM, the measurement error is 0.1358. The improved model could provide accurate guidance for the photosynthetic bacteria fermentation control optimization. This model has certain practical value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient production of milk powder with good quality that can pass strict functional tests is of primary concern for most milk processing plants, making the online prediction of production quality a popular research topic in recent years. Rehydration is an important quality indicator for instant whole milk powder and is mainly affected by process variables and morphology of the powden This work investigated the feasibility of using both morphology metrics and process variables to develop on-line, or at-line, sensors for the prediction of rehydration of instant whole milk powder. Avo key properties, namely dispersibility and slowly dissolving particles are the focus of this study. Light microscopy with image processing were used to obtain quantitative information on different shape factors of the milk powders, before using resampling to solve the class imbalances in the original dataset. Various partial least squares models constructed from (i) process variables only, (ii) shape factor variables only, and (iii) process variables combined with shape factor variables were used to compare which variables are important in developing soft sensors for predicting the dispersibility and slowly dissolving particles of instant whole milk powder. It was found that the dispersibility of instant whole milk powder mainly depends primarily on the shape factor variables while the process variables and shape factor variables are both important to predict slowly dissolving particles of instant whole milk powder. The good performance of the models (the (22 is 0.77 and 0.94, respectively, while the R2 is 0.93 and 0.97, respectively) developed by process variables and shape factor variables also indicated that this approach could be used in real-time to measure the rehydration properties of milk powder and could be used for developing online model-based process monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is potentially effective for treating chronic fatigue. Given the paucity of studies on this topic, we aimed to assess long‐term trajectories of primary (fatigue, quality of life and functional abilities) and secondary outcomes (anxious and depressive symptoms) of an ACT‐based rehabilitation program for patients with chronic fatigue. Further, we examined if changes in potential process variables (psychological inflexibility, metacognitive beliefs, and cognitive and behavioral responses to symptoms) during ACT predicted change in all outcomes across follow‐up. One‐hundred ninety‐five workers on sick leave (mean age: 43.61 ± 9.33 years; 80.5% females) with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue were enrolled in a manualized, 3.5‐week intensive return‐to‐work rehabilitation program based on ACT. All completed a battery of questionnaires at pre‐, post‐treatment, 6 and 12 months follow‐up. We found significant longitudinal changes in most primary and secondary outcomes from pre‐ up to 12 months follow‐up. All process variables significantly decreased from pre‐ up to 12 months follow‐up, and pre‐to‐post changes in fear avoidance beliefs were most often associated with a greater change in outcomes across follow‐up. Depressive symptomatology showed a similar trajectory of change to fatigue, meaning that scores were correlated at each time point and tended to converge over time. This suggests that both symptoms influence each other substantially over a year following the treatment. Concluding, results lend support to the effectiveness of an ACT‐based rehabilitation program for patients with chronic fatigue and provide preliminary evidence for the role of process variables and depressive symptomatology on subsequent change in outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the inherent complexity of a Ziegler–Natta catalyst, its performance during propylene polymerization against the particular process variables, namely, the reaction temperature and hydrogen amounts, so far remains unclear. Obviously, these process variables directly affect the catalyst residence time, monomer conversion, and heat generation. Understanding these issues is essential for those working in the field such as catalyst chemists, polymer scientists, process engineers, designers, and producer licensors. The main aim of this work is to cover the existing gap in this field by proposing a mathematical kinetics model. The modeling approach is based on the polymer moment balance technique and validated via experimental data from a lab-scale reactor. The results of this study showed that the model has achieved the defined aims properly. Two significant conclusions were obtained. Firstly, only temperature increase has a significant effect on the conversion percent increase and hydrogen has no effect on it. Secondly, hydrogen not only increases the rate of polymerization, but also raises the deactivation constant and reduces the lifetime of the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]