bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review on NMR as a tool to analyse natural products extract directly: Molecular structure elucidation and biological activity analysis
Authors: Huang Zhouman , Bi Tian , Jiang Haipeng , Liu Huwei 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntroductionNatural products, the small organic molecules produced by plants, microbes and invertebrates, often present in the form of a mixture, this leads to the structural characterisation of natural extracts often requiring time‐consuming multistep purification procedures. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology is traditionally utilised as a tool for the structural elucidation of pure compounds. Contemporarily, an up‐to‐date trend in the application of NMR in natural product research is shifting to the direct NMR analysis of crude mixtures, to obtain molecular structure and biological activity information without performing cumbersome separation.ObjectiveTo review works of literature on the evolution, principle and progress of NMR technologies for analysing mixtures, we focus on the successful application of NMR technologies in direct analysis of natural product extracts.MethodologyBased on our research experience, academic tracking and extensive literature search, which involved, but not limited to, the use of various databases, like Web of Knowledge and PubMed. The keywords used, in various combinations, to retrieve recent literature on the successful application of NMR technologies to sheer natural product extracts, and excluded artificially natural product mixture and biofluid.ResultsNMR technologies for direct natural extracts analysis, including two‐dimensional J‐resolved spectroscopy (2D‐JRES), pure shift NMR, diffusion‐ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY), statistical correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY), concentration‐ordered NMR spectroscopy (CORDY), saturation transfer difference (STD) and water‐ligand observed via gradient spectroscopy (WaterLOGSY) were illustrated.ConclusionsBy these methods, molecular structure and biological activity information will be directly obtained from NMR analysis of natural products extract, aiming to save experimental time and expenses.
Progress in preparation of high‐performance and multi‐functional polymer foams
Authors: Li Li , Xu Dawei , Bai Shibing , Chen Ning , Wang Qi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPolymer foams are widely used owing to their distinctive cell structure and properties. However, polymer foams prepared by traditional foaming technologies are mainly from commodity polymers due to the difficulties of foaming at high temperature and have the problems such as poor mechanical properties and heat resistance, limited composition and functions, susceptibility to combustion, and challenges in achieving flame retardancy. This article presented a comprehensive review of our research on polymer foams that exhibit high performances and multiple functions. The study encompassed advanced foaming equipment, high‐temperature foaming of supercritical carbon dioxide, foaming of polymer‐based micro/nano‐functional composites, microwave selective sintering and foaming, as well as the development of novel polymer foams derived from engineering plastics and special engineering plastics, water‐soluble poly(vinyl alcohol), and multi‐functional polymer composites, which could not be prepared by the traditional foaming technologies. These advancements broaden the potential application fields of polymer foams.
Thermal decomposition characteristics and spontaneous combustion phenomenon of emulsion explosive containing FeS2 impurity
Authors: Wang Hao , Cheng Yang‐fan , Zhu Shou‐jun , Li Zi‐han , Shen Zhao‐wu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn the process of pyrite blasting mining, emulsion explosives in blast holes can sometimes spontaneously detonate prematurely. In order to reveal its accidental explosion mechanism, the effects of different content of FeS2 impurity on the thermal decomposition characteristics and thermal spontaneous combustion parameters of emulsion explosives were studied in detail. The experimental results of thermal analysis showed that pure emulsion explosive had a strong stability, but when it was doped with FeS2 impurity, its initial temperature of thermal decomposition reaction reduced and the decomposition rate accelerated. With the increase of FeS2 impurity content, the average activation energy of emulsion explosives decomposition decreased from 110.84 to 63.78 kJ/mol, resulting in an increasing risk of thermal runaway. The results of thermal spontaneous combustion experiments showed that FeS2 impurity would significantly shorten the ignition delay period and combustion flame duration of emulsion explosive, and increase the combustion flame temperature. With the increase of FeS2 impurity content in emulsion explosive, the ignition delay period and the duration of the flame continued to decrease and increase, respectively, and the maximum average temperature of the flame showed a trend of rising at first and then decreasing. The research results were of great significance to the accident identification of emulsion explosive accidental explosion in pyrite blasting operations.
Towards a heat‐ and mass‐balanced kinetic model of TATB decomposition
Authors: Burnham Alan K. , Coffee Keith R. , Klunder Gregory L. , Panasci‐Nott Adele F. , Reynolds John G. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractTATB (1,3,5‐triamino‐2,4,6‐trinitrobenzene) was thermally degraded by two small‐scale analytical methods – simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (SDT) and a hot‐stage microscope with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis capabilities. SDT used ramped heating, isothermal soaking, and thermal pretreatment at various conditions. The heat flow and mass loss were monitored during various treatment conditions to derive chemical decomposition kinetics and Arrhenius parameters. FTIR experiments used isothermal heating, and changes were monitored spectroscopically. Solid samples generated at specific conditions were collected from both methods and were analyzed by DMSO extraction followed by chemical speciation by optical and mass spectrometric methods. Characterization provided the following reaction insights:1. TATB decreases in a sigmoidal pattern in isothermally heated samples. Other soluble products gradually increase in concentration and then abruptly decline in concentration during the second exotherm, such as diamino‐dinitro‐benzofurazan and amino‐nitro‐benzodifurazan.2. FTIR showed gradual changes in the amino and nitro functionality, shifting positions and decreasing intensity for the first 40 min. Then the solid gradually appeared more like an amorphous C with N incorporated, similar to previous studies on thermally degraded TATB‐type materials.3. Extracted residues (DMSO‐soluble components removed) examined by FTIR showed an abrupt change in chemical composition between 40‐ and 45‐min isothermal treatment, indicating early forming solids are different than later forming residues.4. A reliable mass‐ and energy‐balanced global reaction network must include at least two autocatalytic reactions, either in parallel or series, and at least one must have an explicit initiation reaction having a low activation energy.
Antioxidant films based on poly(lactic acid) incorporated with crude extract from Malpighia emarginata DC pomace for use in food packaging
Authors: Freitas Esther Emily Silva , Dias Êuder Reis , Albuquerque Mara Márcia Sampaio , Biondi Ilka Borges , Branco Carla Rodrigues Cardoso , Cruz Renato Souza , Branco Alexsandro , Camilloto Geany Peruch 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe interest in natural antioxidants for the development of active food packaging is increasing, since lipid oxidation has a negative impact on food quality and people's living standards are changing. The aim of this work was to obtain Malpighia emarginata DC pomace extract (MEPE), as well as to develop poly(lactic acid) (PLA)‐based films with antioxidant activity, through the incorporation of MEPE. MEPE showed antioxidant activity through the DPPH and ABTS assays, 127.16 ± 9.70 μmol TEAC g−1 extract and 322.84 ± 19.38 μmol TEAC g−1 extract, respectively. The HPLC quantification revealed that quercetin and isorhamnetin were found at concentrations of 244.77 ± 8.42 and 707.20 ± 23.17 μg g−1, respectively. The properties of the films were influenced by the presence of MEPE, which caused a plasticizing effect on the PLA film, reducing the tensile strength and Young's modulus and increasing the elongation at break and water vapour permeability. The antioxidant property test (DPPH and ABTS) of the films was shown to be improved with the addition of MEPE. Despite changes in the film properties, they have potential for application as active food packaging. This work showed the potential utilization of agriculture pomace to produce antioxidant additive and its application as antioxidant in active food packaging, since they showed excellent antioxidant activity in radical scavenging activity tests.
Epidemiology of COVID‐19 mortality in Nepal: An analysis of the National Health Emergency Operation Center data
Authors: Adhikari Samir Kumar , Ranabhat Kamal , Bhattarai Suraj , Saud Bhuvan , Paudel Kiran , Bhandari Rabindra , Khanal Pratik , Keene Claire Marriott , Khanal Vishnu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIntroductionCOVID‐19 had caused nearly 12,000 deaths in Nepal by March 2023. In this study, we compare COVID‐19‐associated mortality in the first (September 15 to November 30, 2020) and second (April 15 to June 30, 2021) waves of the pandemic in Nepal and investigate the associated epidemiological factors.MethodsWe disaggregated the COVID‐19‐related deaths between the first and second waves of the pandemic using the national COVID‐19 database and evaluated the association of independent variables with the deaths in the first versus second waves.ResultsOut of 8133 deaths, 25% died in the first wave and 75% in the second. Overall, 33.5% of the deceased were female, and 52% of the deaths were in those 60 years or older. A vast majority (92%) of deaths occurred in hospitals. Geographically, the middle “Hill” region (58.3%) witnessed the most significant number of deaths. About two thirds (64%) had at least one comorbid condition. Multivariable logistic regression showed a difference in the reported deaths by province (state) and geography (ecological region) between the first and second waves. Those in the age groups “19–39 years” and “40–59 years” were more likely to die in the second wave than in the first wave compared to the younger age group.ConclusionsOverall, deaths were concentrated among older age groups, males, in the Hill regions, in the western provinces, and those with comorbidities. Therefore, the country must focus on these areas to ensure an efficient and effective pandemic response in the future.
A new model to optimize the human reliability based on CREAM and group decision making
Authors: Bafandegan Emroozi Vahideh , Modares Azam , Roozkhosh Pardis 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method (CREAM) represents one of the second‐generation approaches to human reliability assessment, taking into account the influence of environmental conditions on human error probability (HEP). In the context of CREAM, the Common Performance Conditions (CPCs) influence error probabilities. Since not all CPCs have equal impacts, this study employs the Bayesian Best Worst Method (BWM), a novel approach in group decision‐making, to assign weights to these factors. Subsequently, two techniques based on basic CREAM are proposed. The current control mode is determined in the first technique according to the experts' opinions. Then the probability of human error is calculated based on the amount of control. It is possible to provide solutions for improving control mode, based on obtained results. Therefore, in this study, the second method has been used to make suggestions to enhance human reliability. For this purpose, in the second technique, an optimization problem is formulated to select the best applicable programs for managers to enhance human reliability. The proposed bi‐objective model tries to increase the reliability of human resources by reducing human error and costs. The proposed bi‐objective model seeks to bolster the reliability of human resources by concurrently minimizing HEP and associated costs. The efficiency of the presented methods is verified through a case study in the control room of the cement factory. The results of the first technique reveal an opportunistic control mode with a corresponding HEP of 0.0198. On the other hand, the outcomes of our proposed model underscore the greater impact of improving CPC levels in reducing the probability of human error. Ultimately, the practical programs derived from our mathematical model provide decision‐makers with valuable insights to reduce the probability of human error to a mere 0.000172 through the transition from opportunistic to strategic control.
Poverty and Excess in Binge Economies
Authors: Wilk Richard 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACTThe history of excess has tended to focus on middle‐class groups intent on demonstrating their wealth through conspicuous consumption. I draw on historical evidence from working cultures of loggers, fishermen, miners, sailors, and manual laborers to show how consumption was embedded in daily rhythms of work, in the cultural construction of gender, and the economy. I define a “binge economy” which typically emerged in extractive industries on the margins of the capitalist world system. Then I question whether working‐class displays of excessive consumption were self‐limiting. Rather than being based on greed, I argue that working‐class binge consumption was an attempt to build a social order which would allow workers to survive harsh work discipline, extremely dangerous physical labor, and the socially corrosive nature of money. But rather than being an effective form of resistance or solidarity, excessive consumption created as many problems as it solved, perpetuating servitude in the guise of freedom, and serving the interests of capital. Nevertheless, the close association of masculinity with excessive forms of social consumption continues to inspire many forms of excess and overconsumption among middle‐class Americans.
Validating coupled flow theory for bare‐soil evaporation under different boundary conditions
Authors: Blöcher Johanna R. , Diamantopoulos Efstathios , Durner Wolfgang , Iden Sascha C. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractEvaporation from bare soil is an important hydrological process and part of the water and energy balance of terrestrial systems. Modeling bare‐soil evaporation is challenging, mainly due to nonlinear couplings among liquid water, water vapor, and heat fluxes. Model concepts of varying complexity have been proposed for predicting evaporative water and energy fluxes. Our aim was to test a standard model of coupled water, vapor, and heat flow in the soil using data from laboratory evaporation experiments under different boundary conditions. We conducted evaporation experiments with a sand and a silt loam soil and with three different atmospheric boundary conditions: (i) wind, (ii) wind and short‐wave radiation, and (iii) wind and intermittent short‐wave radiation. The packed soil columns were closed at the bottom (no water flux) and instrumented with temperature sensors, tensiometers, and relative humidity probes. We simulated the evaporation experiments with a coupled water, vapor, and heat flow model, which solves the surface energy balance and predicts the evaporation rate. The evaporation dynamics were predicted very well, in particular the onset of stage‐two evaporation and the evaporation rates during the stage. A continuous slow decrease of the measured evaporation rate during stage‐one could not be described with a constant aerodynamic resistance. Adding established soil resistance parametrizations to the model significantly degraded model performance. The use of a boundary‐layer resistance, which takes into account the effect of point sources of moisture, improved the prediction of evaporation rates for the sandy soil, but not for the silt loam.
Bangladesh's food security under input problems: An analysis of constrains and policy response
Authors: Khan Tareq Hossain , Eva Shahabanu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFood security is integral to national security discourse directly related to agricultural inputs such as land, water, seeds, and fertilizers. The food production capacity of any country depends mainly on the adequacy of inputs. This study examines the nature and implications of input scarcity in Bangladesh's food security because the state's one‐third of people remain food insecure. With thematic content analysis, time series data, and a critical interpretive approach, the findings show that though Bangladesh achieved self‐sufficiency in food grains, the country faces a substantial reduction threat to food production due to declining cultivated land, water scarcity, poor fertilizer and seed market governance, and inadequate support of bank loans. The study reveals that Bangladesh's soil fertility decreases due to the excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers, and two‐thirds of farmers do not get improved seeds at fair prices on time because of structural weaknesses in seed markets. The South Asian country also faces a severe threat on the irrigation front as the country is losing surface and groundwater increasingly. Moreover, 1% of agricultural land is ruined yearly due to land conversion to other sectors. Against these backdrops, this article has explored some policy options for reducing the critical constraints in the input sector, which can create a dialogue with existing food and agriculture policies.
Clouds and Image Compositing
Authors: Hermosilla Txomin , Francini Saverio , Nicolau Andréa P. , Wulder Michael A. , White Joanne C. , Coops Nicholas C. , Chirici Gherardo 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe purpose of this chapter is to provide necessary context and demonstrate different approaches for image composite generation when using data quality flags, using an initial example of removing cloud cover. We will examine different filtering options, demonstrate an approach for cloud masking, and provide additional opportunities for image composite development. Pixel selection for composite development can exclude unwanted pixels—such as those impacted by cloud, shadow, and smoke or haze—and can also preferentially select pixels based upon proximity to a target date or a preferred sensor type.
Change Detection
Authors: Tenneson Karis , Dilger John , Wespestad Crystal , Zutta Brian , Nicolau Andréa Puzzi , Dyson Karen , Paz Paula 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis chapter introduces change detection mapping. It will teach you how to make a two-date land cover change map using image differencing and threshold-based classification. You will use what you have learned so far in this book to produce a map highlighting changes in the land cover between two time steps. You will first explore differences between the two images extracted from these time steps by creating a difference layer. You will then learn how to directly classify change based on the information in both of your images.
Create Tomorrow’s Vintage
Authors: Gelsi Kevin , Lang Sandya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFounded by Maria Erixon Levin, Joakim Levin, and Palle Stenberg in Gothenburg in 2001, Nudie Jeans Co is a Swedish denimcompany recognized for its work with sustainability, both environmentally and socially. Kevin Gelsi, Nudie Jeans’s Circular Product Manager, describes how Nudie Jeans Co, with its denim selection made from 100% organic cotton, its transparent production, and its repair, reuse and recycle program, both provides and maintains a tradition that is true to the history of denim and its characteristics.
No Cash, No Coins, No Cards, But You: Biohacking the Future of Payments
Authors: Lima Vitor , Belk Russell 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis chapter introduces a brief overview of transhumanism, biohacking, and embodied technologies as modes of payment. Specifically, it details the usage of biocompatible microchip implants which, in some cases, replace keychains, car keys, business cards, IDs, and credit cards. Because of this implantable mode of payment, consumers pay for their purchases by tapping their hands on readers, smartphones, or other point-of-sale (POS) terminals that can interact using near-field communications (NFC). Here, there is no need for cash, coins, or any other physical bank card—only their hands. The chapter then concludes with the considerations regarding ethical and managerial challenges that consumers and companies have been facing in this futuristic context.
Buying Happiness
Authors: de Souza Tomas 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAblemind is an award-winning medtech startup, offering a unique method to diagnose and treat mental illness in healthcare. Ablemind uses artificial intelligence to interpret and analyze patients’ descriptions of their health, delivering unique insights into what treatment works for each individual. Ablemind’s CEO Tomas de Souza has spent his career working with digital transformation and innovation in varying industries, supporting corporations and organizations in their work to harness the power from digital technology. In this reflection, he combines his experience from business development with a human perspective on how technology and consumption affect consumer wellbeing.
Timeless Tricks
Authors: de Wit Sandström Ida , van Pelt René 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWhat does it take to make a customer return? René van Pelt and Ida de Wit Sandström are retail workers in the specialist jewellery trade. They have been serving their customers together for more than fifteen years. In a world where digitalisation is changing the business conditions, demands regarding distinction and profiling are increasing and consumers are becoming ever more unpredictable, showing a multitude of consumption patterns. René and Ida remind us of a few of the timeless tricksof retailing.
Friend or Foe? How Buy-Now-Pay-Later Is Seeking to Change Traditional Consumer-Retailer Relationships in the UK
Authors: Relja Ruffin , Zhao Anita Lifen , Ward Philippa 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe provision of ‘buy-now-pay-later’ (BNPL) is changing relationships between consumers, credit providers, and retailers. This chapter develops a fine-grained understanding of the symbiotic dealings between these parties and discusses how their bonds may evolve given the intrinsic benefits and risks at play. In that respect, it is the nature of the functional and relational attributes that specific actors liberate through BNPL that frame their individual ‘wellbeing’ in this coopetitive ecosystem. The chapter also unmasks the range of potentially positive and negative outcomes amid the evolving associations. The individual outturns are inherently unequal, and there is considerable variance for actors—although the retailer consistently appears to be the weak, if not sometimes the weakest, partner. The research additionally highlights that BNPL providers’ efforts to create a consumption ecosystem that disrupts contemporary patterns have been fairly effective, as BNPL providers are consistently perceived as the strongest partner by UK consumers. The consumer appears to be the arbiter of which form of symbiosis is manifest and thus central to the ecosystem. It is clear that relationships will continue to shift, requiring flexible and active management between the network partners to ensure individual and collective survival and wellbeing—and ultimately determine the final nature of the BNPL ecosystem.