scholarly journals Freshness Monitoring of Packaged Vegetables

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7937
Author(s):  
Heba Beshai ◽  
Gursimran Sarabha ◽  
Pranali Rathi ◽  
Arif Alam ◽  
M. Deen
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Smart Packaging ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Commercial Applications

Smart packaging is an emerging technology that has a great potential in solving conventional food packaging problems and in meeting the evolving packaged vegetables market needs. The advantages of using such a system lies in extending the shelf life of products, ensuring the safety and the compliance of these packages while reducing the food waste; hence, lessening the negative environmental impacts. Many new concepts were developed to serve this purpose, especially in the meat and fish industry with less focus on fruits and vegetables. However, making use of these evolving technologies in packaging of vegetables will yield in many positive outcomes. In this review, we discuss the new technologies and approaches used, or have the potential to be used, in smart packaging of vegetables. We describe the technical aspects and the commercial applications of the techniques used to monitor the quality and the freshness of vegetables. Factors affecting the freshness and the spoilage of vegetables are summarized. Then, some of the technologies used in smart packaging such as sensors, indicators, and data carriers that are integrated with sensors, to monitor and provide a dynamic output about the quality and safety of the packaged produce are discussed. Comparison between various intelligent systems is provided followed by a brief review of active packaging systems. Finally, challenges, legal aspects, and limitations facing this smart packaging industry are discussed together with outlook and future improvements.

Clinical trials — the personal perspective of the research physician?

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 256-263
Author(s):  
Maria Y. Egorova ◽  
Irina A. Shuvalova ◽  
Olga I. Zvonareva ◽  
Igor D. Pimenov ◽  
Olga S. Kobyakova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Study Drug ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
To Receive

Background. The organization of clinical trials (CTs) requires the participation and coordination of healthcare providers, patients, public and private parties. Obstacles to the participation of any of these groups pose a risk of lowering the potential for the implementation of CTs. Researchers are a key human resource in conducting of CT. Their motivation for participation can have a significant impact on the recruitment and retention of patients, on the quality of the data collected, which determines the overall outcome of the study. Aims to assess the factors affecting the inclusion of Russian physicians-researchers in CT, and to determine their role in relations with patients-participants. Materials and methods. The study was organized as a part of the Russian multicenter face-to-face study. A survey was conducted of researchers from 10 cities of Russia (20172018). The participation in the survey for doctors was anonymous and voluntary. Results. The study involved 78 respondents. Most research doctors highly value the importance of research for science (4,84 0,39), society (4,67 0,46) and slightly lower for participating patients (4,44 0,61). The expectations of medical researchers are related to improving their financial situation and attaining new experience (n = 14; 18,18%). However, the opportunity to work with new technologies of treatment and diagnosis (n = 41; 52,56%) acted as a motivating factor. According to the questionnaire, the vast majority of research doctors (n = 29; 37,18%) believe that the main reason for patients to participate in CT is to receive quality and free medical care. The most significant obstacle to the inclusion of participants in CT was the side effects of the study drug (n = 38; 48,71%). Conclusions. The potential of clinical researchers in Russia is very high. The patient-participant acts for the research doctor as the subject of the study, and not the object, so the well-being of the patient is not indifferent to the doctor. However, the features of the functioning of our health care system form the motivation of doctors-researchers (additional earnings, professional self-development) and the way they perceive the motivation of patients (CT as an opportunity to receive quality medical care).

Researching the factors influencing the satisfaction of master students at VNU School of Interdisciplinary Studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Do Huy Thuong ◽  
Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong
Keyword(s):  
Service Industry ◽  
Interdisciplinary Studies ◽  
Number Of Solutions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Training Institutions ◽  
Market Needs ◽  
Market Strategies ◽  
Students Satisfaction ◽  
Training Service

Improving the quality in order to keep up with the trend in the world is the vital task of training institutions today. Training institutions need to grasp market needs and satisfy the requirements of customers - learners. Nadiri, H., Kandampully, J & Hussain, K. (2009) argue that the managers in education need to apply market strategies that are being used by manufacturing and business enterprises and need to be aware that the role of training institutions is a service industry which is responsible for satisfying learner needs (Elliott & Shin, 2002). Currently, there have been many researches on students’ satisfaction. However, each research has its own objectives and is conducted on different scales. This study is implemented to provide information about the factors affecting master students’ satisfaction with the training service at VNU School of Interdisciplinary Studies (VNU SIS). Through it, the research offers a number of solutions to improving the satisfaction level of the master students at VNU SIS in the coming time.

Ambient Assisted Living Systems: The Scope of Research and Development

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Ashish D Patel ◽  
Jigarkumar H. Shah
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Living ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Ambient Assisted Living ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
Economic Changes ◽  
Aged Population ◽  
The People ◽  
Living Person

The aged population of the world is increasing by a large factor due to the availability of medical and other facilities. As the number grows rapidly, requirements of this segment of age (65+) are increasing rapidly as well as the percentage of aged persons living alone is also increasing with the same rate due to the inevitable socio-economic changes. This situation demands the solution of many problems like loneliness, chronic conditions, social interaction, transportation, day-to-day life and many more for independent living person. A large part of aged population may not be able to interact directly with new technologies. This sought some serious development towards the use of intelligent systems i.e. smart devices which helps the people with their inability to use the available as well future solutions. Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is the answer to these problems. In this paper, issues related to AAL systems are studied. Study of challenges and limitations of this comparatively new field will help the designers to remove the barriers of AAL systems.

POTENTIAL OF INTRODUCING DIGITAL AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IN ELECTRICITY

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 36-45
Author(s):  
F.F. Khabirov ◽  
V.S. Vokhmin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Distributed Generation ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Electric Power Industry ◽  
Energy Sector ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Environmental Friendliness

The article considers the possibility of introducing digital and intelligent systems in the electric power industry, including the analysis of the consequences after the introduction of new technologies on the economic, social and technological side. Currently, the concept of distributed generation is being used more and more often in the global energy arena. This is certainly a trend in the energy sector. The current level of technological development in the energy sector is quite high, but in order to continue to increase competitiveness, we need a further transition to digital and intelligent energy systems that will increase the reliability, quality, environmental friendliness and automation of energy supply.

scholarly journals Trends in Chitosan as a Primary Biopolymer for Functional Films and Coatings Manufacture for Food and Natural Products

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
Elsa Díaz-Montes ◽  
Roberto Castro-Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Food Packaging ◽  
Composite Films ◽  
Edible Films ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Food Preservation ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
Biodegradable Packaging ◽  
Product Consumption ◽  
New Concepts ◽  
Processed Products

Some of the current challenges faced by the food industry deal with the natural ripening process and the short shelf-life of fresh and minimally processed products. The loss of vitamins and minerals, lipid oxidation, enzymatic browning, and growth of microorganisms have been the main issues for many years within the innovation and improvement of food packaging, which seeks to preserve and protect the product until its consumption. Most of the conventional packaging are petroleum-derived plastics, which after product consumption becomes a major concern due to environmental damage provoked by their difficult degradation. In this sense, many researchers have shown interest in edible films and coatings, which represent an environmentally friendly alternative for food packaging. To date, chitosan (CS) is among the most common materials in the formulation of these biodegradable packaging together with polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids. The good film-forming and biological properties (i.e., antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral) of CS have fostered its usage in food packaging. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to collect and discuss the latest development works (over the last five years) aimed at using CS in the manufacture of edible films and coatings for food preservation. Particular attention has been devoted to relevant findings in the field, together with the novel preparation protocols of such biodegradable packaging. Finally, recent trends in new concepts of composite films and coatings are also addressed.

scholarly journals New Circular Challenges in the Development of Take-Away Food Packaging in the COVID-19 Period

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4705
Author(s):  
Ewa Kochańska ◽  
Rafał M. Łukasik ◽  
Maciej Dzikuć
Keyword(s):  
Social Transformation ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Distribution Channels ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Industrial Transformation ◽  
Specific Distribution ◽  
Food Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has set new challenges for the HoReCa industry. Lockdowns have coincided with and strongly impacted the industrial transformation processes that have been taking place for a decade. Among the most important HoReCa transition processes are those related to the rapid growth of the delivery-food market and ordering meals via internet platforms. The new delivery-food market requires not only the development of specific distribution channels, but also the introduction of appropriate, very specific food packaging. Food packaging and its functionality are defined by the administrative requirements and standards applicable to materials that have contact with food and principally through the prism of the ecological disaster caused by enormous amounts of plastic waste, mainly attributed to the food packaging. To meet environmental and administrative requirements, new technologies to produce food packaging materials are emerging, ensuring product functionality, low environmental impact, biodegradability, and potential for composting of the final product. However, predominantly, the obtained product should keep the nutritional value of food and protect it against changes in color or shape. Current social transformation has a significant impact on the food packaging sector, on one hand creating a new lifestyle for society all over the world, and on the other, a growing awareness of the negative impact of humans on the environment and increasing responsibility for the planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop a circular economy based on the paradigm of shortening distribution channels, using local raw materials, limiting the consumption of raw materials, energy, water, and above all, minimizing waste production throughout the life cycle of products, all of which are in line with the idea of low-carbon development.

scholarly journals 3D-Printed Nanocellulose-Based Cushioning–Antibacterial Dual-Function Food Packaging Aerogel

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (12) ◽  
pp. 3543
Author(s):  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Jiawei Fang ◽  
Shuwei Tang ◽  
Zhengguo Wu ◽  
Xiaoying Wang
Keyword(s):  
3D Printing ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Antibacterial Effect ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Printing Technology ◽  
E Coli ◽  
3D Printing Technology ◽  
The Core ◽  
3D Printed

Cushioning and antibacterial packaging are the requirements of the storage and transportation of fruits and vegetables, which are essential for reducing the irreversible quality loss during the process. Herein, the composite of carboxymethyl nanocellulose, glycerin, and acrylamide derivatives acted as the shell and chitosan/AgNPs were immobilized in the core by using coaxial 3D-printing technology. Thus, the 3D-printed cushioning–antibacterial dual-function packaging aerogel with a shell–core structure (CNGA/C–AgNPs) was obtained. The CNGA/C–AgNPs packaging aerogel had good cushioning and resilience performance, and the average compression resilience rate was more than 90%. Although AgNPs was slowly released, CNGA/C–AgNPs packaging aerogel had an obvious antibacterial effect on E. coli and S. aureus. Moreover, the CNGA/C–AgNPs packaging aerogel was biodegradable. Due to the customization capabilities of 3D-printing technology, the prepared packaging aerogel can be adapted to more application scenarios by accurately designing and regulating the microstructure of aerogels, which provides a new idea for the development of food intelligent packaging.

scholarly journals Teleworking and Online Shopping: Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Their Impact on Transport Demand

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7211
Author(s):  
Juan Ramón López Soler ◽  
Panayotis Christidis ◽  
José Manuel Vassallo
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Online Shopping ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Commuting Patterns ◽  
Socio Economic Factors

Teleworking and online shopping became commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic and can be expected to maintain a strong presence in the foreseeable future. They can lead to significant changes in mobility patterns and transport demand. It is still unclear, however, how extensive their adoption can be, since each individual has different preferences or constraints. The overall impact on transport depends on which segments of the population will modify their behaviour and on what the substitutes to the current patterns will be. The purpose of this work is to identify the user profiles and spatial aspects that affect the adoption of teleworking and online shopping, and to explore the potential impact on transport demand. To that end, data from an EU-wide survey on mobility were analysed using a Machine Learning methodology. The results suggest that while the take up of the new work and consumption patterns is high on average, there are significant differences among countries and across different socio-economic profiles. Teleworking appears to have a high potential mainly in certain services sectors, affecting commuting patterns predominantly in large urban areas. Online shopping activity is more uniform across the population, although differences among countries and age groups may still be relevant. The findings of this work can be useful for the analysis of policies to encourage the uptake of new technologies in transport and mobility. They can be also a good reference point for future studies on the ex-post analysis of the impacts of the pandemic on mobility.

scholarly journals Understanding the Barrier and Mechanical Behavior of Different Nanofillers in Chitosan Films for Food Packaging

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 721 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Pires ◽  
Camila Damásio de Paula ◽  
Victor Gomes Lauriano Souza ◽  
Ana Luísa Fernando ◽  
Isabel Coelhoso
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Mechanical Behavior ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Barrier Properties ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Functional Attributes ◽  
Chitosan Films ◽  
Commercial Applications ◽  
Innovative Techniques

The continuous petroleum-based plastics manufacturing generates disposal issues, spreading the problem of plastic pollution and its rise in the environment. Recently, innovative techniques and scientific research promoted biopolymers as the primary alternative for traditional plastics, raising and expanding global bioplastic production. Due to its unmatched biological and functional attributes, chitosan (Ch) has been substantially explored and employed as a biopolymeric matrix. Nevertheless, the hydrophilicity and the weak mechanical properties associated with this biopolymer represent a significant intrinsic restriction to its implementation into some commercial applications, namely, in food packaging industries. Distinct methodologies have been utilized to upgrade the mechanical and barrier properties of Ch, such as using organic or inorganic nanofillers, crosslinkers, or blends with other polymers. This review intends to analyze the most recent works that combine the action of different nanoparticle types with Ch films to reinforce their mechanical and barrier properties.

The Multi-Relationship Evaluation Design Framework: Designing Testing Plans to Comprehensively Assess Advanced and Intelligent Technologies

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Weiss ◽  
Linda C. Schmidt ◽  
Harry A. Scott ◽  
Craig I. Schlenoff
Keyword(s):  
Intelligent Systems ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Evaluation Design ◽  
Design Elements ◽  
Summative Assessments ◽  
Extensive Evaluation ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Key Terms

As new technologies develop and mature, it becomes critical to provide both formative and summative assessments on their performance. Performance assessment events range in form from a few simple tests of key elements of the technology to highly complex and extensive evaluation exercises targeting specific levels and capabilities of the system under scrutiny. Typically the more advanced the system, the more often performance evaluations are warranted, and the more complex the evaluation planning becomes. Numerous evaluation frameworks have been developed to generate evaluation designs intent on characterizing the performance of intelligent systems. Many of these frameworks enable the design of extensive evaluations, but each has its own focused objectives within an inherent set of known boundaries. This paper introduces the Multi-Relationship Evaluation Design (MRED) framework whose ultimate goal is to automatically generate an evaluation design based upon multiple inputs. The MRED framework takes input goal data and outputs an evaluation blueprint complete with specific evaluation elements including level of technology to be tested, metric type, user type, and, evaluation environment. Some of MRED’s unique features are that it characterizes these relationships and manages their uncertainties along with those associated with evaluation input. The authors will introduce MRED by first presenting relationships between four main evaluation design elements. These evaluation elements are defined and the relationships between them are established including the connections between evaluation personnel (not just the users), their level of knowledge, and decision-making authority. This will be further supported through the definition of key terms. An example will be presented in which these terms and relationships are applied to the evaluation design of an automobile technology. An initial validation step follows where MRED is applied to the speech translation technology whose evaluation design was inspired by the successful use of a pre-existing evaluation framework. It is important to note that MRED is still in its early stages of development where this paper presents numerous MRED outputs. Future publications will present the remaining outputs, the uncertain inputs, and MRED’s implementation steps that produce the detailed evaluation blueprints.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document