bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of cottonseed oil water-based alkyd resin and its coating performance
Authors: Zhang Qiqi , Zhen Weijun , Ou Quansheng , Abulajiang Yusufu , Ma Gangshan 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
The objective was to investigate the utility of cottonseed oil (CSO) as a raw material for the synthesis of CSO water-based alkyd resin. The synthesis involved the polymerization of CSO, trimethylolpropane, phthalic anhydride (PA) and trimellitic anhydride (TMA). The prepared resin coating material was subsequently applied to the surface of steel structure material.

Design/methodology/approach
This study aimed to synthesize water-based alkyd resins using CSO. Therefore, the alkyd resin was introduced with TMA containing carboxyl groups and neutralized with triethylamine (TEA) to form a water-soluble salt. Then, the esterification kinetics of CSO water-based alkyd resin were investigated, and finally, the basic properties of CSO water-based alkyd resin coating were evaluated.

Findings
It was demonstrated that CSO water-based alkyd resin exhibited excellent water solubility and that the esterification kinetic of the synthesis reaction could be described by a second-order reaction. The coating properties of the material were investigated and found to have good basic properties, with 40% resin addition having the best corrosion resistance. Consequently, it could be effectively applied to the surface of steel structural materials.

Originality/value
This study not only met the requirement of environmentally friendly development but also expanded the application of CSO through the synthesis of CSO water-based alkyd resin via alcoholysis. Compared to fatty acid process, the alcoholysis reduced the need for fatty acid pre-extraction, simplifying the alkyd resin synthesis process. Thus, economic costs are effectively reduced.
Application of ultrasonic welding in developing new breastfeeding bra with user-centric features
Authors: Sowmi P. Ashika Sweetlin , G. Renjini 
Published: August 2024

Purpose
Breastfeeding bras are functional garments having specialised features to facilitate easy breastfeeding. The purpose of this paper is to design and develop breastfeeding bra prototypes with a focus on the needs of the user.

Design/methodology/approach
The method uses gathering breastfeeding user requirements through consumer surveys. The subsequent data analysis and a literature review provided the basis for feature selection for the breastfeeding bra designs. The bras were constructed using ultrasonic welding and bonding techniques. The mechanical properties of the fabric were measured. Lastly, the designed bras underwent a wear trial to evaluate their effectiveness.

Findings
The bra prototypes use non-restrictive designs and aesthetically appealing construction methods with smooth panel joints. The results of the wear trial demonstrated the successful incorporation of user requirements in the final product.

Originality/value
The insights from user-need mapping through consumer surveys and a literature review provided the basis for the new design of breastfeeding bras using stitchless technology. The developed bras have unique features that have not been explored earlier in this product category.
Development of a risk assessment model for adopting public–private partnership in building Ghana’s critical infrastructure resilience against unexpected events
Authors: Ampratwum Godslove , Osei-Kyei Robert , Tam Vivian W.Y. 
Published: August 2024

PurposeCritical infrastructures are susceptible to unexpected disruptive events that affect their functional performance. Public–private partnership (PPP) offers opportunities for stakeholders to build resilience by proactively coordinating and positioning the capabilities of the stakeholders. Partnerships are mostly riddled with risks that affect the performance and goal attainment of the partnerships. The purpose of this study was to develop a risk assessment model for PPP in critical infrastructure resilience (CIR) using fuzzy synthetic evaluation.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a quantitative approach to analyse survey responses from respondents. Mean score ranking, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and fuzzy synthetic evaluation were used to analyse the responses from respondents.FindingsThis study identified seven risk categories; Political, Financial, Ethical, Bureaucracies and red tapes, Legal, Coordination and Institutional as the critical risk categories that may frustrate the partners in a PPP arrangement from performing their responsibilities. A risk assessment model was also developed in the form of a risk index equation to ascertain the risk level of using a PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience in Ghana. It was found that the risk level in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience is high.Practical implicationsThe outcome of this study can be used as an informative and guiding tool to streamline any future PPP arrangement or even amend current PPP arrangements in critical infrastructure resilience.Originality/valueThe study has drawn attention to the risks in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience within the Ghanaian context. It has also established a risk index to assess the risk level of using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience. This risk index can be used to ascertain the risk level in different countries. In addition, no research has been conducted to empirically test the risks in using PPP to build critical infrastructure resilience thus making this study a novel contribution to the critical infrastructure resilience research domain.
Fractions of soil phosphorus mediated by rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria of deep‐rooted desert species are determined by fine‐root traits
Authors: Gao Yanju , Tariq Akash , Zeng Fanjiang , Sardans Jordi , Al‐Bakre Dhafer A. , Peñuelas Josep 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Soil phosphorus (P) availability is a crucial factor determining primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystem. Plant functional traits and microbes under P‐deficient conditions can respond positively to increase soil P bioavailability. Whether and/or how the fine‐root traits (FRTs) of deep‐rooted desert species affect the rhizosphere and bulk soil community of phoD‐harbouring bacteria and thus improve the availability of soil P, however, remains unclear.
We conducted a three‐year artificial outdoor pot experiment of P supply using Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. (hereafter Alhagi) to address this gap. Fine‐root samples from 1‐ and 3‐year‐old Alhagi seedlings and samples of the rhizospheres and bulk soil were collected. High‐throughput sequencing, sequential extraction and root system scanning were used to determine soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria community, Hedley‐P fractions and the FRTs.
Fine‐root surface area (RSA), specific root length, foliar Mn concentration (indicating the quantities of root carboxylates that are released) and acid phosphatase (APase) activity were significantly higher in the no‐P supply compared with the high‐P supply conditions. APase activity was significantly higher by 27%, but the foliar Mn concentration was remarkably lower by 26%, in the 3‐ than the 1‐year‐old seedlings. The rhizospheric concentrations of labile P, moderately labile P, inorganic P and organic P in the no‐P supply condition were 5%, 11%, 10% and 21% higher, respectively, in the 3‐ than the 1‐year‐old seedlings. RSA and the foliar Mn concentration were dominated root predictors for the rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria community for the 1‐year‐old seedlings, whereas fine‐root P concentration was the dominated root predictor for the rhizospheric and bulk soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria communities for the 3‐year‐old seedlings. Soil water content, as the most dominant soil factor driving the variation of phoD‐harbouring bacteria community, notably could not be ignored. FRTs were the main factors that directly and positively determined rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria community and thus influenced soil P availability, but bulk soil phoD‐harbouring bacteria community were dominated by inorganic P concentration. The importance of fine‐root morphological traits to soil P availability gradually increased as the plants grew.
Overall, our results emphasize the significance of rhizospheric phoD‐harbouring bacteria determined by the effect of FRTs on the bioavailability of soil P.

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Gendering starvation: Women's experiences of the Kazakh famine, 1930–1933
Authors: Kaşıkçı Mehmet Volkan 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBased on archival sources and previously underexplored famine testimonies, this article provides the first study of gender and women's experiences during the Kazakh famine. First, I provide a discussion of motherhood in this time of catastrophe. Traditional parental norms collapsed in a similar way to other catastrophes across the world. The second part of the article offers a discussion of who survived the famine. I argue that many parents preferred saving their sons at the expense of their daughters and consequently more boys survived the famine than girls. Son preference manifested itself strongly in the catastrophic years of famine as saving a man's lineage was deemed to be essential. The last part discusses sexual violence and sexual barter. I show that rape and prostitution were relatively less widespread in Kazakhstan, while sexual violence and barter frequently took a different form. Instead of directly raping women, abusers usually forced women to marry them as second wives. Unlike many examples in world history, sexual barter usually took place not between women and men, but between abuser men and male relatives of female victims. Son preference and the sale of women are reflections of how strongly patriarchal the nomadic society was.
Unpacking the stance of upgradation of industrial structure, technological trade, and sustainable development in top‐ten high‐income countries
Authors: Rasheed Muhammad Qamar , Yuhuan Zhao , Haseeb Abdul , Saud Shah 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe industrial structure plays a key role in economic and sustainable development, global competitiveness, and prosperity. Hence, it is crucial to understand the current industrial structure and technological trade in the top‐ten high‐income countries. Therefore, the aspiration of this research is to unpack the stance of upgradation of industrial structure, technological trade, and sustainable development. To this end, the second‐generation estimation approaches were adopted for the Top‐ten high‐per‐capita high‐income countries, namely, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Singapore, Norway, Sweden, and the United States from 2001 to 2018. The results drawn from the Driscoll–Kraay standard errors suggest that the current industrial structure contributes to carbon footprint and increases environmental degradation. In the same way, financial development increases environmental degradation and poses a threat to sustainable development. Contrarily, trade is negatively related to carbon footprint and curbing environmental degradation. Globalization and renewable energy mitigate carbon footprint and bring sustainable development. The HDI has a positive but insignificant relationship with carbon footprint. Additionally, the causation illustrates a reciprocal interaction between carbon footprint and trade; however, no causal link was detected between industrialization and carbon footprint. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners to formulate effective policies.
Risk factors affecting the food safety risk in food business operations for risk‐based inspection: A systematic review
Authors: Ze Y. , van Asselt E. D. , Focker M. , van der Fels‐Klerx H. J. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractFoodborne illnesses result in a high disease burden worldwide, making food safety control of food business operations (FBOs) an urgent issue. With public agencies and FBOs facing challenges in monitoring the complex food supply chain with limited resources, scientific and objective insights into those factors that are related to food safety at FBOs are needed. These factors can be used as input for risk‐based inspection. We conducted a systematic review to identify and analyze risk factors affecting the FBOs’ food safety risk. We used a set of predefined search strings in Scopus and Web of Science to search for scientific manuscripts published in the English language between January 1 2003 and February 1 2023. The review identified 53 relevant studies and 43 risk factors. The presence of certified personnel turned out to be the most cited factor. Nearly half of the extracted factors had only been investigated in one study. Additional challenges were identified for developing a universal ready‐to‐use list of factors for the building of a risk‐based inspection method, such as the limitation in the applicability of identified factors in different types of FBOs, and the variability in conclusions between publications for certain factors (e.g., FBO location and inspection history), stressing the need for additional research. Future studies should also prioritize standardizing definitions and measurements, particularly regarding compliance factors. In general, the current list of factors brought forward in our review lays the groundwork for building a transparent, objective, and risk‐based method for food safety inspections of FBOs.
Achieving sustainability in heat drying processing: Leveraging artificial intelligence to maintain food quality and minimize carbon footprint
Authors: Yudhistira Bara , Adi Prakoso , Mulyani Rizka , Chang Chao‐Kai , Gavahian Mohsen , Hsieh Chang‐Wei 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe food industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, impacting carbon footprint (CF), specifically during the heat drying process. Conventional heat drying processes need high energy and diminish the nutritional value and sensory quality of food. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in food processing to enhance quality and reduce CF, with a focus on heat drying, a high energy‐consuming method, and offer a promising avenue for the industry to be consistent with sustainable development goals. Our finding shows that AI can maintain food quality, including nutritional and sensory properties of dried products. It determines the optimal drying temperature for improving energy efficiency, yield, and life cycle cost. In addition, dataset training is one of the key challenges in AI applications for food drying. AI needs a vast and high‐quality dataset that directly impacts the performance and capabilities of AI models to optimize and automate food drying.
The occurrence, role, and management strategies for phytic acid in foods
Authors: Li Bailin , Zhou Yijie , Wen Lingrong , Yang Bao , Farag Mohamed A. , Jiang Yueming 
Published: August 2024

AbstractPhytic acid, a naturally occurring compound predominantly found in cereals and legumes, is the focus of this review. This review investigates its distribution across various food sources, elucidating its dual roles in foods. It also provides new insights into the change in phytic acid level during food storage and the evolving trends in phytic acid management. Although phytic acid can function as a potent color stabilizer, flavor enhancer, and preservative, its antinutritional effects in foods restrict its applications. In terms of management strategies, numerous treatments for degrading phytic acid have been reported, each with varying degradation efficacies and distinct mechanisms of action. These treatments encompass traditional methods, biological approaches, and emerging technologies. Traditional processing techniques such as soaking, milling, dehulling, heating, and germination appear to effectively reduce phytic acid levels in processed foods. Additionally, fermentation and phytase hydrolysis demonstrated significant potential for managing phytic acid in food processing. In the future, genetic modification, due to its high efficiency and minimal environmental impact, should be prioritized to downregulate the biosynthesis of phytic acid. The review also delves into the biosynthesis and metabolism of phytic acid and elaborates on the mitigation mechanism of phytic acid using biotechnology. The challenges in the application of phytic acid in the food industry were also discussed. This study contributes to a better understanding of the roles phytic acid plays in food and the sustainability and safety of the food industry.
Application of radio frequency energy in processing of fruit and vegetable products
Authors: Tang Yingjie , Jing Pu , Jiao Shunshan 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThermal processing is commonly employed to ensure the quality and extend the shelf‐life of fruits and vegetables. Radio frequency (RF) heating has been used as a promising alternative treatment to replace conventional thermal processing methods with advantages of rapid, volumetric, and deep penetration heating characteristics. This article provides comprehensive information regarding RF heating uniformity and applications in processing of fruit and vegetable products, including disinfestation, blanching, drying, and pasteurization. The dielectric properties of fruits and vegetables and their products have also been summarized. In addition, recommendations for future research on RF heating are proposed to enhance practical applications for fruits and vegetables processing in future.
Characterization of integrins in cellular immunity of the oriental armyworm, Mythimna separata
Authors: Mao Yuting , Furukawa Seiichi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractInsect hemocytes eliminate foreign substances from the hemocoel through various immune reactions. Integrins, receptor proteins present on the cell membrane, are formed as a heterodimer from α and β subunits and are known to be involved in various immune reactions. To elucidate the role of integrins in the immunity of the lepidoptera Mythimna separata, genes encoding integrins were screened from the genome, resulting in the identification of eight α and four β integrin genes. The expression levels of the integrin genes did not change in response to the injection of small abiotic beads undergoing phagocytosis in M. separata larvae. However, significant inductions of some integrin gene expressions were observed in hemocytes that formed capsules around large abiotic beads during encapsulation, especially in MysIntα2. Under biotic stimulation, induction of the MysIntα2 was evident after exposures to Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and entomopathogenic nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae), but not to Gram‐positive bacteria (Micrococcus luteus). Immunostaining analysis revealed that MysIntα2 was specifically localized to hemocytes surrounding the beads during the encapsulation reaction. Furthermore, the spreading and encapsulation abilities of hemocytes were significantly inhibited by incubation with MysIntα2 antibodies. Suppression of MysIntα2 expression in M. separata larvae by injecting double‐stranded RNA also resulted in a decrease in encapsulation activity. Collectively, these results indicate that MysIntα2 plays pivotal roles in the cellular immune response of M. separata, particularly during encapsulation. This likely occurs through the regulation of hemocyte spreading activity, thereby facilitating the formation of multilayered capsules around large invaders.
The effects and potential benefits of audit committee oversight in a strategic setting
Authors: Patterson Evelyn R. , Smith J. Reed , Tiras Samuel L. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSince the passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002, many notable frauds have been tied to ineffective audit committee (AC) oversight. As a result, AC oversight is of continuing interest, and regulators continue to debate this issue, garnering a growing body of research focused on the role played by the AC. But little theoretical research exists to guide analytical and empirical researchers investigating AC oversight. The purpose of this study is to provide theoretical guidance by examining AC oversight in a strategic setting. We focus on the AC's role in overseeing internal controls (ICs) and the impact of whether the AC relies on management in designing the controls. We characterize how the nature of control risk changes and how IC strength is associated with the amount of managerial fraud, expected probability of fraud detection (which, on average, equates to audit effort), and audit quality (assessed as 1 − audit risk) across two settings defined by the degree of AC oversight. As one example that highlights the need for theoretical guidance, we consider the literature's presumption that IC strength is negatively associated with audit effort. We find that this association may be positive or negative as IC changes, where the association varies with the degree of direct AC oversight and the change in payoff parameters.
Stock market liberalisation and debt maturity structure: Evidence from the Shanghai‐Hong Kong Stock Connect
Authors: Feng Mengjun , Yao Dequan , Yang Shenggang , Dai Pengyi 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThis study uses a sample of Chinese A‐share listed firms between 2012 and 2021 to analyse the effects of the launch of the Shanghai‐Hong Kong Stock Connect (SHSC) policy on the debt maturity structure as well as its mechanism. The research illustrates that the implementation of the policy has resulted in a lengthening of the debt maturity structure. In addition, the results of the research indicate that the information environment and corporate governance may serve as potential mechanisms for how stock market liberalisation may influence the length of debt maturity. Moreover, the debt maturity structure significantly lengthens for firms facing greater financing constraints, non‐state‐owned enterprises (NSOEs), and small‐scale firms following the establishment of the SHSC policy. These empirical findings remain robust after several sensitivity tests. Overall, these results show that the SHSC policy has given firms more opportunities for growth, leading to changes in their debt maturity structure and contributing to the healthy and stable development of these firms.
The effect of CEO adverse professional experience on management forecast pessimism
Authors: Khoo Eunice S. , Lu Louise Y. , Peng Zihang 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWe examine how CEOs' past experiences of corporate distress affect their subsequent forecast behaviour. We find that CEOs who experienced distress in a non‐CEO position at another firm issue more pessimistic management earnings forecasts after becoming CEO at their current firm. The effect of such experiences on CEOs' forecasting behaviour is more pronounced when these have occurred more frequently or recently. The effect of distress experiences is mitigated for overconfident and experienced CEOs, but amplified in firms with poor performance and high uncertainty. Our findings suggest that CEOs who experienced corporate distress could be overly cautious when forecasting future earnings.