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The current research examines how the knowledge that a product is made using a traditional method influences perceptions of its quality. We propose that consumers believe that a brand using traditional methods is beneficial for society because it is concerned about cultural preservation and this belief has a positive effect on perceived quality. Six experimental studies show that consumers evaluate products produced with a method described as traditional to be higher in quality than similar products that are not described as traditionally made and this effect is mediated by the belief that the brand is beneficial for society. Consistent with this theory, the positive effect of traditional production on perceived quality is attenuated when consumers view the brand to be unconcerned about cultural preservation, such as when the use of a traditional method is framed as a follower strategy (i.e. it imitates the actions of other brands) or when the brand is a multinational company. By showing that the mere mention of a traditional method can be another subtle way to position a brand as a moral actor, these findings contribute to the understanding of the link between perceived social responsibility and product evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the global budget concept in health care, we propose an innovative subsidy scheme in which governments do not commit the subsidy amount in advance but determine it by the end of the subsidy period. The performance of the traditional and proposed subsidy schemes is evaluated in an oligopoly without competition, where each manufacturer decides its product quality and production quantity under the diseconomies of scale in production. Both types of schemes can take into account product quality or not. Our results show that compared to the traditional scheme, the proposed scheme drives manufacturers to reduce production quantity but improves product quality and brings them higher profits. Furthermore, the scheme results in greater social welfare when the subsidy budget is large. Finally, we conduct robustness checking by considering the market competition and absence of the diseconomies of scale, respectively. The result shows that the main findings in the basic model continue to hold, while there are additional findings. In the first scenario, as the market competition intensity increases, our proposed scheme becomes more preferable to the manufacturers and the government. In the second scenario, subsidy schemes that take product quality into account are never preferable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A maintenance model is specially developed for the work rolls equipped in the hot finishing mill group, with the purpose to decrease the total maintenance cost for the roll group under the constraint of the production batches and the roll thermal character. During the maintenance modelling at roll level, the impacts of the surface wear of the work roll on its failure rate state, the production quality and the preventive maintenance cost are deeply discussed. Then, a preventive maintenance grouping method is further proposed at roll group level, with the mutual restriction between the adjustable replacement time of the roll group and the optimal maintenance time of each work roll involved. The case study shows that the proposed maintenance model is practical for the maintenance scheduling of the work rolls in the real rolling production scenario. The total maintenance cost under the proposed maintenance method is always lower that the ones under the individual OM method and the maintenance window-based OM method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under servitization (one paradigm of non-ownership-transfer) business model such as sharing, a manufacturer is responsible not only for product design but also for maintenance. This paper deals with joint decision of product quality and maintenance under servitization. A model minimising total cost is formulated to obtain the optimal product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times. We find that the total cost first decreases then increases with product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times. Moderate quality and maintenance effort level are the best for the manufacturer, because too high or too low quality and effort cause too high total cost. However, preventive maintenance should be implemented as many times as possible until the failure cost is reduced to zero as long as each maintenance can save cost. Moreover, in the optimal joint decision, the product quality, maintenance effort and maintenance times are negatively correlated in pairs. In addition, we explore the impact of unit failure cost, product lifecycle, production cost, maintenance cost, and failure intensity on the manufacturer's optimal decisions. In extensions, we further take penalty cost, exponential failure distribution, discount rate, and customer usage into account. This paper provides insight for the manufacturer to jointly consider product design and maintenance under servitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machining tools are vital components of intelligent manufacturing systems whose state and remaining useful life (RUL) determine product quality. Specifically, the wearing of tool reduces its capability of production yield and diminishes product quality. Therefore, a capability-based RUL prediction approach is proposed in this paper to thoroughly evaluate the state and RUL of machining tools. First, the connotation of tool capability is discussed, and a framework for quality assurance capability-based RUL prediction is proposed. Product quality, which can be used to assess the capability of tool, is modelled and expanded to consider non-geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (non-GD&T) features based on the classic geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) system. Second, a physics-based model of process is developed to estimate the non-GD&T features and calculate tool wear. Third, a hybrid data-driven and physics-based model is developed to quantitatively assess the capability of tool based on the comprehensive quality estimation. Finally, a case study of rolling machining tool is carried out to verify the effectiveness and proactiveness of the proposed framework, and the final result highlights its rationality and accuracy in estimating the RUL of machining tools with better interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has highlighted a difference in the way consumers approach choice sets. Some consumers focus on products' quality benefits (vertical differentiation): their selections are driven by the level of quality obtained relative to the price paid. Other consumers focus on products' taste benefits (horizontal differentiation): their selections are driven by acquiring personal tastes at favorable prices. This article aims to investigate how consumers' benefit focus, a continuum anchored by quality and taste, drives their preferences between retailers differing in pricing strategies. All else equal, consumers who focus on taste benefits will prefer EDLP stores (infrequent discounters), while consumers who focus on quality benefits will prefer Hi-Lo stores (frequent discounters). Findings from our experiments and an analysis of consumer panel data corroborate this relationship. This work also shows the mediating role of perceived value and the effect of several moderators: the strength of the price–quality relationship, the pattern of discounts, and cherry-picking costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purchase decisions typically involve tradeoffs between attributes associated with desirability (e.g. quality) and feasibility (e.g. price). In this article, we examine how the decision context impacts consumers' preference between a high-desirability (HD) option and a high-feasibility (HF) alternative. Nineteen studies demonstrate a novel context effect, the "upscaling effect," whereby introducing a symmetrically dominated decoy option to a set (i.e. an option that is inferior compared to all alternatives in the set) leads to an increase in the choice share of the HD option. To account for the upscaling effect, we advance a two-stage model of consumer decision-making for decisions that involve tradeoffs between desirability and feasibility. According to our model, when the decision context provides a reason for choosing either option, such as when a decoy option is added to the set, consumers prioritize reasons that support choice of HD options over HF alternatives. Our model can explain the upscaling effect, as well as other findings reported in the literature, such as asymmetric attraction effects (Heath and Chatterjee 1995) and asymmetric sales promotion effects (Blattberg and Wisniewski 1989). Furthermore, the upscaling effect holds important managerial implications because it provides an effective way to increase sales of high-end products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on advertising structures in a supply chain has mainly been conducted with symmetric quality information and the interaction between quality information disclosure and advertising has not been clarified. To identify the optimal advertising structure and disclosure strategy for a manufacturer, we explore manufacturer advertising and cooperative advertising in the context of product quality information asymmetry. We examine the implications of the manufacturer's product quality information disclosure on his advertising strategies and the impact of advertising on quality information disclosure decisions. When cooperative advertising is more effective than manufacturer advertising and the product quality is low, the manufacturer should adopt manufacturer advertising, which leads to higher perceived quality and improves the retailer's economic condition. We find that advertising can inspire the manufacturer to disclose more product quality information regardless of the advertising structure, which occurs when the effectiveness of advertising is large. Furthermore, the manufacturer, the retailer, and consumers can benefit from cooperative advertising when cooperative advertising is more effective than manufacturer advertising and the product quality is high. We also consider an extension where the manufacturer and retailer advertise simultaneously and find that advertising leads to more quality information being disclosed when the disclosure cost is low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a machining line with a Lean manufacturing environment, such as one used for mass production of automotive components, tool life is determined by a tool counter that is set on the safe side to avoid producing a failed product, so the cutting tools are typically underutilised. On the other hand, cutting parameters optimisation, which has a significant impact on tool life, is not feasible due to the rule that prohibits changing the cutting parameters during mass production to maintain the quality standard. To address both issues, this paper proposes a hybrid monitoring and optimisation process that can be carried out concurrently without interfering with production activities. The monitoring process involves two methods, namely threshold limit-based monitoring and machine learning-based monitoring, for ensuring product quality during the optimisation process. Meanwhile, Bayesian optimisation (BO) is used for the optimisation process due to its capability for autonomous search for the optimum condition of an unknown and expensive objective function. The case study demonstrated BO's ability to find the optimal condition with a small number of samples, while the machine learning method used can monitor tool wear and surface roughness with average errors of 5.5% and 7.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Companies vary on oft-publicized size metrics (number of employees, revenue). Do consumers prefer otherwise identical products made by larger or smaller companies? The answer hinges on whether consumers perceive the products as low-tech or high-tech. This prediction stems from a novel framework charting two lay theories regarding key resources companies utilize to provide value to consumers: employees and finances. In the intrinsic motivation lay theory, consumers believe that employees of larger (vs. smaller) companies are less intrinsically motivated. In the financial resources lay theory, consumers believe that larger (vs. smaller) companies have greater capacity to fund research and development. Critically, product type (low-tech vs. high-tech) differentially affects the accessibility of these two lay theories: For low-tech (vs. high-tech) products, the intrinsic motivation lay theory is more accessible, driving quality evaluations and choice in favor of smaller companies. For high-tech (vs. low-tech) products, the financial resources lay theory is more accessible, driving quality evaluations and choice in favor of larger companies. This research advances theory by reconciling conflicting findings regarding product quality inferences from company size metrics, with guidance for marketers to improve quality evaluations and choice shares by strategically supporting or challenging lay theories and shifting perceptions of company size or product type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates a supply chain comprising of a manufacturer and a retail platform, wherein the former decides the quality information transparency strategy of products and the latter determines whether or not to implement price parity clauses (PPCs). The manufacturer can directly sell the end-of-season product to the end-consumer market and indirectly via the retail platform. Specifically, this study considers two quality information transparency strategies (i.e. ex-ante blockchain-adoption and ex-post voluntary disclosure) that differ on whether the manufacturer's decision on quality information transparency strategy is made before or after observing the actual product quality. Results show that the manufacturer may prefer the ex-ante blockchain-adoption strategy in specific conditions but maintains the flexibility of information disclosure under ex-post voluntary disclosure strategy. Moreover, the implementation of PPCs significantly reduces the manufacturer's incentive to disclose a large extent of quality information transparency when the effort cost is high or the service effect coefficient is low. By contrast, the manufacturer is more likely to adopt information transparency strategies under PPCs when the effort cost is low and the service effect coefficient is high. More interestingly, contrary to theories of harm from PPCs, the implementation of PPCs may simultaneously benefit the manufacturer and retail platform, achieving a 'win-win' situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) is one of the ideal materials in the field of automotive lightweight. As one of the traditional manufacturing processes of CFRP, autoclave process has long production time, high cost and complicated operation. To overcome these shortcomings, deep drawing can be used for CFRP forming. It has the advantages of stable product quality, good repeatability, low cost, simple operation and can produce parts with complex shapes. In this paper, the influence of lay‐up sequences on the drawability of cylindrical parts was studied by using self‐made deep drawing device. The results showed that among the four lay‐up sequences [0]°12, [0/90]°6, [0/90/45/‐45/90/0]°S and [15/30/……/180]°, the [15/30/……/180]° lay‐up parts had excellent deformation coordination ability due to less angular variation in the fiber direction, and the maximum depth of 21.99 mm could be obtained. Due to the influence of wrinkles, the thickness of [15/30/……/180]° parts increased at the die corner and side wall. The thickness decreased at the flange, punch corner and bottom due to the compressive pressure. In addition, [15/30/……/180]° lay‐up parts benefited from the high level of in‐plane isotropy of the helicoidal structure, it had the fewest forming defects. The resin poor areas and resin rich areas were less and no fiber cracks were found. Investigated the influence of lay‐up sequences on the drawability of CFRP. The forming depth of [15/30/……/180]° parts was 21.99 mm. [15/30/……/180]° lay‐up parts had the best drawability. No cracks were found on the [15/30/……/180]° part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of fermented plant leaves is closely related to the interleaf microorganisms and their metabolic activities. In this experiment, a multi-omics analysis was applied to investigate the link between the structural composition of the phyllosphere microbial community and the main metabolites during the fermentation process. It was found that the whole fermentation process of cigar leaves could be divided into three stages, in which the Mid-Stage was the most active period of microbial metabolic activities and occupied an important position. Staphylococcus, Brevundimonas, Acinetobacter, Brevibacterium, Pantoea, Aspergillus, Wallemia, Meyerozyma, Sampaiozyma, Adosporium and Trichomonascus played important roles in this fermentation. Staphylococcus and Aspergillus are the microorganisms that play an important role in the fermentation process. Staphylococcus were strongly correlated with lipids and amino acids, despite its low abundance, Stenotrophomonas is importantly associated with terpene and plays a significant role throughout the process. It is worth noting that Wapper exists more characteristic fungal genera than Filler and is more rapid in fermentation progress, which implies that the details of the fermentation process should be adjusted appropriately to ensure stable quality when faced with plant leaves of different genotypes. This experiment explored the relationship between metabolites and microorganisms, and provided a theoretical basis for further optimizing the fermentation process of plant leaves and developing techniques to improve product quality. Biomarker is mostly present in the pre-fermentation phase, but the mid-fermentation phase is the most important part of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mechanical cutting industry, trial production is used for predicting and evaluating the quality of product processes before batch production, and it can be expressed through the qualification rate. However, it cannot objectively and comprehensively evaluate the quality of product processes. This study optimizes the analysis of outliers and stability in mathematical statistics to better apply it in the mechanical cutting industry; then, it combines them with process capability analysis. Simultaneously, considering the non-normal distribution of process parameters, a batch production-prediction model is proposed. The reliability of batch production-prediction model is verified by the diameter, roundness and roughness of structural common samples. Meanwhile, for other mechanical parts in the mechanical cutting industry, the model proposed in this paper can be used to quickly and accurately predict and evaluate batch production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The thermoplastic composites which in the automated tape placement (ATP) process are directly consolidated and formed in situ. The interlaminar bonding quality of the product is susceptible to the ATP process. Glass fiber‐reinforced bio‐based polyamides PA5X (GF/PA5X) tapes are used to prepare samples. The effect of process parameters on the interlaminar bonding quality is explored by peel test based on the principle of the response surface. A quadratic response surface model of hot gas temperature, placement speed, and roller force on the peel strength is established, and experiments are conducted to verify the accuracy of the model. The effect of process parameters and their coupling effect on the peel strength is obtained. The interlaminar bonding quality of the samples manufactured by ATP and compression molding are comparatively analyzed through peel and short beam shear tests. The results show that the best combination of process parameters obtained is: the hot gas temperature of 619°C, placement speed of 0.540 m/min, roller force of 684 N, and predicted peel strength of 9.89 N/10 mm. The peel and short beam shear strength of the samples manufactured by ATP is 9.96 N/10 mm and 34.2 MPa, reaching 66.0% and 60.0% of the samples manufactured by compression molding respectively. GF/PA5X thermoplastic composite tapes are used to prepare ATP samples. The effect of process parameters on the interlaminar bonding quality is explored. The micromorphology of the ATP samples is characterized. The ATP and compression molding samples are comparatively analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last years, growing interest in the use of mare's milk in food production is observed. The subject of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of mare's milk for the production of yogurt ice cream and synbiotic ice cream. Four variants of mare's milk ice cream were developed: ice cream with yogurt bacteria without inulin (YO) and with 2% of inulin (YO+I), synbiotic ice cream with 2% inulin and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (LCR+I) and with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP+I). Ice creams were enriched with inulin in order to evaluate its influence on the viability of LAB and on the product quality. Physicochemical, textural and sensory analyses were performed. Count of viable bacteria cells was also evaluated. Obtained ice creams did not differ in terms of protein, fat and total solids content (1.85–1.91%, 7.33–7.58% and 24.66–26.96% respectively), but differed in acidity. Ice cream YO, the only one without inulin, had the highest acidity, what suggests that inulin decrease this parameter. Regardless the type of LAB starter culture and inulin addition, samples had the same range of overrun (35.20–44.03%) and melting rate (73.49–79.87%). However the variant of ice cream influenced textural properties and colour parameters. All obtained mare's milk ice creams had high overall sensory quality. It was noticed, that ice cream with inulin had higher count of LAB (>7logCFU/g), than sample without inulin (>6logCFU/g). In conclusion, mare's milk may be considered as feasible raw material for yogurt ice cream and synbiotic ice cream production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The burgeoning demand for plant-based meat analogs (PBMAs) stems from environmental, health, and ethical concerns, yet replicating the sensory attributes of animal meat remains challenging. This comprehensive review explores recent innovations in PBMA ingredients and methodologies, emphasizing advancements in texture, flavor, and nutritional profiles. It chronicles the transition from soy-based first-generation products to more diversified second- and third-generation PBMAs, showcasing the utilization of various plant proteins and advanced processing techniques to enrich sensory experiences. The review underscores the crucial role of proteins, polysaccharides, and fats in mimicking meat's texture and flavor and emphasizes research on new plant-based sources to improve product quality. Addressing challenges like production costs, taste, texture, and nutritional adequacy is vital for enhancing consumer acceptance and fostering a more sustainable food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triacylglycerides (TAGs) produced via the syngas fermentation of biogenic residues and wastes were evaluated as a potential feedstock for advanced road transportation, aviation, and maritime drop-in fuels via hydroprocessing technology. Due to the limited availability of TAGs, a simulated feedstock (SM TAGs) was utilized by blending various commercial oils, simulating the fatty acid composition of TAGs. At first, the simulated feedstock and the real TAGs were hydrotreated on a TRL 4 (technology readiness level) pilot plant to evaluate the potential of the SM feedstock to simulate the TAGs based on product quality. The hydrotreatment technology was evaluated and optimized on a TRL 4 plant. The research was further extended to a TRL 5 hydrotreatment plant with the optimum operating window for scaling up the technology. The resulting product was fractionated on a batch fractionation unit under vacuum to separate the jet and diesel fractions. The produced fuels were analyzed and evaluated based on the aviation Jet A1, EN590, EN15940, and marine diesel DMA specifications. The results show that the TAG composition was successfully simulated via a blend of vegetable oils. In addition, the hydrotreatment of the real TAGs and simulated feedstock resulted in similar-quality liquid products. The technology was successfully scaled up on a TRL 5 unit, leading to advanced, high-quality aviation and diesel drop-in fuels from TAGs, while the reaction pathways of hydrotreating can be controlled via the operating parameters of pressure, temperature, and H2/oil ratio. The hydrotreatment process's optimum conditions were 13.8 MPa pressure, 643 K temperature, 1 h−1 liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV), and 5000 scfb hydrogen-to-oil ratio. Finally, a storage stability study of the hydrotreated liquid product showed that it can be stored for more than 6 months at ambient conditions without any noticeable changes to its properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractConvective drying is a method of preserving fruit. Due to the low energy efficiency of the dryers, it is also one of the most energy intensive. For this reason, modern drying techniques are being sought. They are required to be energy efficient, sustainable and produce high quality products. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of ultrasound on the kinetics and energy consumption of convective drying of apples and the quality of the products. The convective drying process and two US-convective processes with different ultrasonic power were tested. Three apple varieties were dried. Drying kinetics, energy consumption, and product quality (water activity and color change) were compared for the tested processes. Drying kinetics was mathematically modeled. The use of ultrasound accelerated the process in each case. The drying time was reduced and the speed of the process increased. This increase was mainly due to the vibration effect, which caused an increase in the mass transfer coefficient. The use of ultrasound resulted in a decrease in the water activity of the product and a decrease in the color change of the dried material compared to that obtained by the convection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured product quality data offer tremendous promise to revolutionize the submission of drug applications. However, the quality attributes for biological products do not have a systematic naming taxonomy, and consequently this limit poses a critical challenge in the development of systems for structured regulatory submissions. Here, we describe the creation of a controlled vocabulary with a structured taxonomical naming approach for quality attributes of therapeutic proteins. Additionally, we endeavor to make the case for why such systematic harmonized naming is required to support the successful implementation of structured data systems. We also describe the key principles of our structured naming approach, including a top-down view of the product and protein structure and a distinction between a quality attribute and the test to evaluate the attribute. Finally, we describe how this approach can accommodate emerging product types, advanced manufacturing technologies, and be used across the variety of submission sections in a regulatory dossier that discusses quality attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooling channels play a critical role in various casting and molding processes, impacting both the cycle time and quality of the product. As additive manufacturing technologies become increasingly prevalent, conventional straight-drilled channels are being progressively substituted by intricate cooling lines that conform to the contours of the fabricated part. This transition can lead to a significant reduction of the solidification time and temperature gradients, consequently lowering the occurrence of part defects. However, designing such channels becomes challenging as geometric complexity and manufacturing constraints increase. In this work, we present a density-based topology optimization approach to generate conformal cooling channels in molds and dies inserts. To mitigate temperature variations, the objective function is penalized using the temperature standard deviation of the insert cavity surface. A density-gradient-based constraint is further utilized to reduce the generation of overhanging structures and promote manufacturability. In particular, the use of this constraint leads to the generation of channels characterized by a teardrop-shaped cross section. The cooling efficiency of a selected optimized design is confirmed through computations using a body-fitted solver. The geometry is subsequently manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and experiments are conducted to compare its performance in comparison to a design featuring straight-drilled channels. The results demonstrate that the optimized geometry significantly enhances the heat extraction rate and further leads to a 43% reduction of the cavity temperature standard deviation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onions contain valuable phytochemical compounds, including quercetin derivatives. This study explores the potential of onion extract as a natural additive in chicken patties. The optimized conditions involved sonication at 80% for 5 min with a 75% ethanol concentration. The onion extract exhibited total phenolic and flavonoid compound values of 255.63 mg GAE g−1 DR and 196.87 mg QE g−1 DR, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the onion extract was characterized by an IC50 of 12.74 µg/mL. This onion extract was dominated by quercetin derivatives (quercetin 4’-O-β-glycoside and quercetin-3-O-β-glycoside and quercetin-3,4’-O-β-diglycoside). Chicken patties treated with 2% onion extract exhibited superior pH stability, lowest thiobarbituric acid reactive substances level (0.40 mg/kg) and peroxide index (0.77 mEq O2/kg meat) and maintained color stability. Comparative analysis with BHT demonstrated the efficacy of onion extract in reducing lipid oxidation. These findings highlight the potential of a 2% onion extract as effective ingredient for enhancing the quality of chicken products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructure of extrudates based on whole grains plays a crucial role in determining their expansion properties, sensory quality, and nutritional characteristics. As consumer interest in health-promoting whole grain foods continues to grow, advancements have been made in controlling the microstructure of extrudates and improving their sensory quality. This review presents an overview of the microstructure of whole grain-based extrudates with different extrusion parameters and formulations, including those observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and confocal laser microscopy (CSLM). The relationship between the microstructure of extrudates and the expansion index and sensory properties is also reviewed. Extrusion processing parameters such as barrel temperature, screw speed, moisture content, and extrusion pressure can be manipulated to optimize the microstructure of an extrudate, and consequently the sensory quality of the final whole grain-based product. Furthermore, the grain type and particle size have an impact on the cell structure, distribution, and wall thickness of extrudates. To improve the physical, chemical, and sensory properties of single grain-based products, various additives such as composite whole grain flour, dietary fiber, fruit and vegetable flour and by-products, and exogenous protein are commonly utilized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process incapability index is a useful tool for measuring the performance of a process to maintain the quality of products. In this article, we discuss some statistical properties of the estimator of process incapability index when process observations are autocorrelated and contaminated by measurement errors. In many industry, it has been proven that observed quality characteristics for consecutive items are autocorrelated. Moreover, some amount of measurement errors is always present in the observed data. Therefore, it is important to analyze the statistical properties of the estimator under the combined effect of autocorrelation and measurement error for commenting approximately on the ability of a manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The software industry is evolving at a rapid pace, making it necessary to optimize efforts and accelerate the software development process. Software can be reused to achieve quality and productivity goals. Reusability is a crucial measure that can be used to increase the overall level of software quality in less time and effort. To better understand the necessity of enhancing the software reusability of ObjectOriented (O-O) systems, this study employed a semi-automated approach to measure the values of classlevel software metrics on an input dataset collected from the MAVEN repository. This paper explored several previous studies, data strategies, and tools to predict reusability in O-O software systems. This study compares various data mining techniques to identify the most suitable approach for enhancing the reusability of O-O software systems. The analysis was based on performance parameters such as precision, MSE, and accuracy rates. Due to its higher precision and lower MSE, the SOM technique is considered one of the top data mining approaches to increase the reusability of O-O software systems. However, the results show that the different levels of reusability in O-O software systems are not adequately addressed in current solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The recovery of As from copper anode slime by chlorination leaching--NaH2PO2 selective reduction process was studied. The effects of liquid volume to solid mass ratio, initial acidity, leaching temperature, initial Cl- mass concentration and leaching time on the leaching rate of As. The effects of reduction temperature, molar ratio of NaH2PO2 to As and reduction time on the precipitation rate of As were investigated. The results show that the optimum chlorination leaching conditions are initial acidity of 220 g/L, liquid volume to solid mass ratio of 6/1, leaching temperature of 70 °C, initial Cl mass concentration of 150 g/L and leaching time of 2.5 h. The optimum reduction conditions are reduction temperature of 80 °C, molar ratio of NaH2PO2 to As of 2/1, reduction time of 2 h. Under the optimal conditions the average mass fraction of As is 90.44%, and the product quality can meet the refining requirements of elemental arsenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible mushrooms are favored by consumers for their excellent nutritional value and pharmacological properties. However, fresh mushrooms are highly perishable and undergo rapid quality deterioration induced by a series of intrinsic and extrinsic factors during postharvest storage. In recent years, the application of natural products derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, and other sources in mushroom quality preservation has drawn increasing attention. Compared to chemical preservatives, natural products show similar or higher biological activity and have few side effects on human health. This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of natural products used for quality maintenance of postharvest mushrooms. These natural substances mainly include essential oils, polyphenols, polysaccharides, bacteriocins, and other extracts. They have the potential to inhibit mushroom weight loss, softening, and browning, reduce the count of pathogenic microorganisms, and retain nutrients and flavor, effectively improving the quality of mushrooms and extending their shelf-life. The preservation techniques for natural products and their preservation mechanisms are also discussed here. Overall, this review provides current knowledge about natural products in edible mushroom preservation and aims to inspire more in-depth theoretical research and promote further practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explored the potential of oleogels to serve as a substitute for traditional shortening throughout the entire cookie production process. Specifically, oleogel was prepared using expeller‐pressed high oleic soybean oil (EPHOSO) with 10 wt% of either rice bran wax (RBX) or monoacylglycerol (MAG) to replace shortening in cookie making. Rapid Visco Analyzer and Farinograph were used to thoroughly assess the impact of replacing shortening with oleogels on the qualities of cookie dough. The results demonstrated the efficacy of MAG oleogel in replicating the attributes of traditional shortening in cookie doughs, in terms of water absorption, dough consistency, and dough stability. The overall quality of cookies prepared with oleogels was comparable to the ones prepared with shortening. Additionally, the oxidative stability indicated the remarkable advantage of EPHOSO‐based oleogels, which displayed an elevated resistance to oxidative processes compared to its liquid form. Furthermore, cookies prepared with MAG oleogel exhibited prolonged oxidative stability than those prepared with shortening. Overall, the results underscore the potential of EPHOSO oleogels, particularly those incorporated with MAG, could enhance the oxidative stability of cookies without diminishing the physicochemical qualities of the end product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Place quality branding has been identified as an innovative practice that promotes high-quality product development. However, a lack of sufficient theoretical research on practical cases, which presents a major challenge for place quality branding. This study constructs a multiple mediation model to investigate the mechanisms and pathways of place quality brands to improve product quality based on the perspective of advanced standards leading technological innovation. Partial least-squares structural equation modeling reveals significant direct effects of place quality brands on product quality, as well as indirect effects of place quality brands on product quality that are mediated by either advanced standards or technological innovation, or through multiple mediation pathways involving both advanced standards and technological innovation. This study enriches the connotation of place quality brand and provides decision-making guidance for governments and firms to more effectively develop place quality brands. Government can cultivate place quality brands around advanced standards and technological innovation. Meanwhile, firms can enhance their ability to apply advanced standards, better identify and grasp innovation opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this work, the implications of AAV9 capsid design and column reuse on AAV9 vector product quality were assessed with POROS CaptureSelect (PCS) AAVX and AAV9 resins using sf9 insect cell‐derived model AAV9 vectors with varying viral protein (VP) ratios. Chromatographic experiments with purified drug substance AAV9 model feeds indicated consistent vector elution profiles, independent of adeno‐associated virus (AAV) VP ratio, or cycle number. In contrast, the presence of process impurities in the clarified lysate feeds resulted in clear changes in the elution patterns. This included increased aggregate content in the vector eluates over multiple cycles as well as clear differences in the performance of these affinity resin systems. The AAV9‐serotype specific PCS AAV9 column, with lower vector elution pH, resulted in higher aggregate content over multiple cycles as compared to the serotype‐independent PCS AAVX column. Further, the results with vectors of varying VP ratio indicated that while one vector type eluate displayed higher aggregation in both affinity columns over column reuse, the eluate with the other vector type did not exhibit changes in the aggregation profile. Interestingly, vector aggregates in the affinity eluates also contained double‐stranded DNA impurities and histone proteins, with similar trends to the aggregate levels. This behavior upon column reuse indicates that these host cell impurities are likely carried over to subsequent runs due to incomplete clean‐in‐place (CIP). These results indicate that feed impurities, affinity resin characteristics, elution pH, column CIP, and vector stability can impact the reusability of AAV affinity columns and product quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the effect of China's college expansion policy on firms' exporting behavior. Taking advantage of this policy‐induced exogenous surge in skilled labor starting in 2002, our difference‐in‐differences estimates indicate that firms in more human‐capital‐intensive industries have been able to export more since 2002. We further show that this result is robust to a battery of sensitivity tests and controlling for other contemporaneous changes in economic environment. Turning to channels, we find that after 2002, the affected firms experienced greater improvements in product quality and exported relatively more to richer countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital twin, a core technology for intelligent manufacturing, has gained extensive research interest. The current research was mainly focused on digital twin based on design models representing ideal geometric features and behaviors at macroscopic scales, which is challenging to accurately represent accuracy and performance. However, a numerical representation is essential for precision microstructures whose accuracy and performance are difficult to measure. The concept of a digital twin for an accurate representation, proposed in 2015, is still in the conceptual stage without a clear construction method. Therefore, the goal of accurate representation has not been achieved. This paper defines the concept and connotation of an accuracy and performance-oriented accurate digital twin model and establishes its architecture in two levels: geometric and physical. First, a geometric digital twin model is constructed by the contact surfaces distributed error modeling and virtual assembly with nonuniform contact states. Then, based on this, a physical digital twin model is constructed by considering the linear and nonlinear response of the structural internal physical properties to the external environment and time to characterize the accuracy and performance variation. Finally, the models are evaluated. The method is validated on microtarget assembly. The estimated values of surface modeling, center offset, and stress prediction accuracy are 94.22%, 89.3%, and 83.27%. This paper provides a modeling methodology for the digital twin research to accurately represent accuracy and performance, which is critical for product quality improvements in intelligent manufacturing. Research results can be extended to larger-scale precision structures for performance prediction and optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colour fading with laser application has now become a well‐known and frequently used process in the denim industry. However, in practice, high strength losses and even tears may occur in the trousers as a result of incorrect or excessive laser application. In this study, the effects of resolution (dpi) and pixel time (μs), which are the two main parameters of laser colour fading, and also the effects of two‐passage laser treatments on colour fading and fabric strength were examined statistically and optimum conditions were determined. When the results of the studies are evaluated in general, it can be said that as the resolution (dpi) increases during the laser process, the colour fading effect increases, but when it is above the 31 dpi value, the strength loss increases excessively. As the second important parameter, the pixel time, increased, the colour fading effect increased. When the time exceeds 80 μs, there is a marginal increase in the strength loss value. Furthermore, it was observed that colour fading (%) values increase if laser process is applied in two passages, but in this case also the tear strength loss increases. It can be said that optimising the laser processing conditions in enterprises according to the product type (fibre content, weight, etc.) is a more accurate approach in terms of both the fading performance to be obtained and product quality. For 11.25 ounce trousers made of 95.3% cotton/3.4% polyester (T400)/1.3% elastane used in this study, it can be said that laser application could be made in two passages if necessary for obtaining high colour fading, however it should be noted that resolution and pixel time should not exceed 31 dpi and 80 μs, respectively. Provided that resolution and pixel time does not exceed 31 dpi and 80 μs, respectively, they can be changed depending on the degree of colour fading needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMultistage manufacturing processes with identical stages provide three-dimensional process data in which the first dimension represents the process (control/sensing) variable, the second is the stage, and the third is the measurement/sampling/data acquisition time point. Diagnosing quality faults in such processes often requires the simultaneous identification of crucial process variables and stages associated with product quality anomalies. Most existing diagnosis methods convert 3D data into a 2D matrix, resulting in loss of information and reduced diagnostic accuracy and stability. To address this challenge, we propose a penalized tensor regression model that regresses the product quality index against its 3D process data. For the estimation of high-dimensional regression coefficients with the limited amount of historical data, we apply the CANDECOMP/PARAFAC and Tucker decompositions to the coefficient tensor, which significantly reduces the number of parameters to be estimated. Based on the decompositions, a new regularization term is designed to enable the joint identification of critical process variables and stages. To estimate the parameters, we develop the block coordinate proximal descent algorithm and provide its convergence guarantee. Numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed methods can enhance diagnostic stability and on average improve the diagnostic accuracy by around 20% over existing benchmarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Impact of PLA contamination in the waste stream of HDPE recycling was explored. • PLA contamination of even 1 wt% can significantly affect the end product quality. • Understanding the impact of UVA exposure is essential for durability analysis. • HDPE contaminated with PLA is more susceptible to photodegradation. • The surface morphology of the blended polymers shows notable imperfections. Quality assurance of a recycled product is currently one of the biggest issues that the plastic recycling industry faces. The purity of the input plastic waste stream has significant influence over the quality of the recycled product. This research evaluated the impact of polylactic acid (PLA) contamination within the input waste stream of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling. The ultimate tensile strength was noted to reduce by 50% when PLA contamination was at 10%. An investigation into the effect that UVA radiation (simulating solar radiation) has on HDPE contaminated with PLA was also performed to determine the long-term effect of the bioplastic contamination. After UVA treatment, the ultimate tensile strength was reported to reduce by 51% when PLA contamination was only at 2.5%. A water contact angle analysis indicated the PLA contamination increased the hydrophilic nature of the HDPE sheets, potentially creating issues if the intended use of the recycled product was to store liquids. Microscopic analysis of the HDPE sheets contaminated with PLA showed deformations, ridges, cracks, and holes appear on the surface due to the immiscibility of the two polymers that was confirmed by FTIR analysis. Colour changes were visibly noted, with UVA exposure increasing the rate of colour change. Based on the findings in this study, PLA contamination of even 1% in a HDPE waste stream would significantly reduce the quality of the recycled product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We take the establishment of cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones as the quasi-natural experiment, based on China’s General Administration of Customs Database, China Customs Online Inquiry Platform, ‘Cross-Border E-Commerce Retail Import Commodity List’ and other data. By employing the staggered DID method, this paper systematically investigates the potential of cross-border e-commerce to enhance the quality of imported products. The research findings reveal the following: Since the introduction of the cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones, there has been a significant improvement in the quality of imported products in China. These effects, however, vary across different product types and regions, suggesting heterogeneous impacts. The cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones have facilitated the development of import trade in China through three main avenues: reducing search costs, resolving financing challenges, and lowering tariffs. These measures have collectively contributed to the reduction of trade costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of chromium‐bearing filler sand on the transformation of inclusions in high‐Mn and high‐Al steel under various reaction times and Mn content levels is studied, and the mechanism of filler sand intrusion into the steel matrix is analyzed. It is demonstrated that an inclusion containing Cr2O3 is discovered. The evolution pathway of oxide inclusions is identified as Al2O3–MnO → Al2O3–MnO–SiO2 → Al2O3–MnO–SiO2–Cr2O3(Cr2O3 + MnO–SiO2) → Al2O3–MnO–Cr2O3–MgO·Al2O3. It is noteworthy that Cr2O3 inclusions tend to diffuse from the outside inward, but the internal content remains almost unchanged, which is due to the strong diffusion hindrance of SiO2. The formation of a liquid phase in the filler sand is a necessary condition for its infiltration into the steel matrix. The critical liquid‐phase content that results in the formation of Cr2O3 inclusions is 42%, which contains 5–8% of Cr2O3. The formation of pore channels provides favorable conditions for sand penetration, with the maximum penetration depth reaching up to 29 mm. Large sand inclusion particles reach millimeter scale in size and are distributed quite randomly. Chemical reactions at the steel/sand interface can lead to an increase in the total oxygen (T.O) content in the steel. The reaction time has little effect on the T.O content, while the Mn content in the steel has a significant impact, with an increase of up to 41 ppm. During the smelting stage, the filler sand can enter the molten steel, thereby affecting the quality of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean has developed a reputation as a superfood due to its nutrient profile, health benefits, and versatility. Since 1960, its demand has increased dramatically, going from a mere 17 MMT to almost 358 MMT in the production year 2021/22. These extremely high production rates have led to lower-than-expected product quality, adulteration, illegal trade, deforestation, and other concerns. This necessitates the development of an effective technology to confirm soybean's provenance. This is the first review that investigates current analytical techniques coupled with multivariate analysis for origin traceability of soybeans. The fundamentals of several analytical techniques are presented, assessed, compared, and discussed in terms of their operating specifics, advantages, and shortcomings. Additionally, significance of multivariate analysis in analyzing complex data has also been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work attempts to assess the influence of process parameters on the change of mechanical properties and the degree of crystallinity of polylactide (PLA). PLA is a biodegradable material that has been widely used in various areas—from packaging, through medicine, to 3D printing, where it is used to produce prototypes. The method of processing is important, because the technological process and its parameters have a significant impact on the quality of the finished product. Their appropriate selection depends on quality and mechanical properties. The process parameters have an impact on the structure of PLA, specifically on the share of the crystalline phase, which is also important from the point of view of the functional properties of the finished product. This work assessed the impact of the technological parameters of the injection process on the final properties of the obtained samples. The obtained results of static tensile strength, hardness and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirm that changing these parameters affects the material properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of impurities within aggregates is crucial for managing overall impurity levels and enhancing product quality. However, current detection methods often fall short to provide accurate information. This paper presents a novel fluorescence-staining method for effective solvent tagging within crystals, which can enhance impurity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]