Re-understanding the antecedents of functional foods purchase: Mediating effect of purchase attitude and moderating effect of food neophobia

The world market for functional foods has grown dynamically and China is expected to be one of the most promising markets. But little is understood the formation mechanisms of consumers’ purchase attitude and intention toward functional foods in Mainland China. The current study investigates the roles of trust, health consciousness and price in shaping consumers’ purchase intention toward functional foods by focusing on purchase attitude as a mediator and food neophobia as a moderator. Results from the sample of 1144 Chinese suggest that Chinese consumers had moderate purchase intention toward functional foods. Trust in the food system and health consciousness positively affects purchase intention via purchase attitude. Price negatively affects purchase intention; meanwhile, the negative effect could be counteracted by health consciousness. Food neophobia does not directly affect individuals’ purchase attitude or intention, but moderates the relationships between antecedents and them. Consumers with a low level of food neophobia treat higher price as a monetary sacrifice, while their counterparts may regard a higher price as a greater quality signal. The study offers the food industry insights into the development and marketing of functional foods targeted to the Mainland China market.     

基于联合节点行为策略的WSN覆盖控制算法

针对无线传感器网络在对移动目标节点覆盖过程中出现网络能量快速消耗问题，提出了一种基于联合节点行为策略的覆盖算法。根据网络模型建立传感器节点与目标节点从属关系，确定覆盖关联模型；利用概率理论求解邻居节点冗余覆盖度，确定最少传感器节点数量；给出了邻居节点覆盖期望值的求解方法；仿真实验表明，该算法与其他算法在网络覆盖率和网络生存周期两个性能指标上均提升了12.39%和15.01%，从而验证了算法的有效性。     

Pressure transient analysis for asymmetrically fractured wells in dual-permeability organic compound reservoir of hydrogen and carbon

In this paper, a comprehensive semi-analytical model was presented to investigate pressure transient behavior for asymmetrically fractured wells in organic compound reservoir of hydrogen and carbon with dual-permeability behavior. Stehfest inversion algorithm can be used to transform it back into time domain to obtain pressure solution. The presented solution was validated well with numerical solutions. Flow characteristics for asymmetrically fractured wells in dual-permeability organic compound reservoir of hydrogen and carbon were divided into five regime. The effects of some important parameters on dimensionless pressure and its derivative curves were analyzed in details, including inter-porosity flow coefficient from matrix to natural fractures λ, storage coefficient ω, fracture asymmetry factor θ and permeability ratio κ. The presented model can be used to predict production performance and do well test analysis in the development of dual-permeability organic compound reservoir of hydrogen and carbon.     

Development of a void ratio-moisture ratio-net stress framework for the prediction of the volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials

Despite extensive research on the behavior of unsaturated fine-grained materials, there is still a lack of understanding of the volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials. In this research, a model has been developed to predict the fundamental volumetric behavior of unsaturated granular materials through loading and wetting state paths. In this regard, a loading-wetting surface was developed in a space of void ratio-moisture ratio-net stress. A distinctive feature of the proposed model is the relative simplicity in obtaining the model parameters using conventional geotechnical testing equipment. Two types of recycled granular materials, commonly applied in unbound pavements were used, namely, recycled crushed brick (CB) and excavation waste rock (WR). The uniqueness of the developed surface was evaluated by employing a number of loading and wetting state paths. The results indicate that the developed surface is unique in its loading state paths; however, it only shows uniqueness in its wetting state paths for stress levels greater than 2000 kPa. The proposed model seeks to introduce the application of the unsaturated soil mechanics theory, for predicting the behavior of granular materials in the field, by providing a practical and cost-effective methodology.     

Evaluation and validation of an automatic jaw movement recorder (RumiWatch) for ingestive and rumination behaviors of dairy cows during grazing and supplementation

Observation of ingestive and rumination behaviors of dairy cows may assist in detecting diseases, controlling reproductive status, and estimating intake. However, direct observation of cows on pasture is time consuming and can be difficult to realize. Consequently, different systems have been developed to automatically record behavioral characteristics; among them is the RumiWatch System (RWS; Itin and Hoch GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland). Until now, the RWS has not been thoroughly validated under grazing conditions. The aim of the current study was to validate the RWS, against direct observation, in measuring ingestive and rumination behaviors of dairy cows during grazing and supplementation in the barn. A further objective was to examine whether it is possible to refine the algorithm used by the evaluation software RumiWatch Converter 0.7.3.2 to improve the accuracy of the RWS. The data were collected from an experiment carried out with 18 lactating Holstein cows in a crossover block design including 3 treatments and 3 measuring periods. All cows grazed night and day, 19 h/d, and were either unsupplemented or supplemented, with chopped whole-plant corn silage, or chopped whole-plant corn silage mixed with a protein concentrate. During the measuring periods, cows were equipped with the RumiWatch Halter, and their ingestive and rumination behaviors were recorded concurrently by the RumiWatch Halter and by direct observation (690 × 10 min). Comparison of concurrently measured data shows that the RWS detected jaw movements reliably, but classification errors occurred. A low relative prediction error of ≤0.10 for the number of rumination boluses, rumination chews, and total eating chews was found. A high relative prediction error of >0.10 was found for the number of prehension bites and time spent in prehension and eating. Both converter versions performed equally well in differentiating ingestive and rumination behaviors when cows were supplemented in the barn or when grazing and supplementation activities were combined. For grazing cows, with no supplementation, more reliable results for the total number of eating chews, rumination chews, prehension bites, and time spent in these activities were obtained, by using the RumiWatch Converter 0.7.3.11. In light of these findings, further research is warranted to improve the accuracy of the RWS and to allow a differentiation between mastication chews and prehension bites while eating.     

Colloidal processing of Al2O3-doped zirconia ceramics with CaO–P2O5–SiO2 glass as additive

Well-dispersed concentrated aqueous suspensions of Al₂O₃-doped Y-TZP (AY-TZP), AY-TZP with 5.4 vol% of CaO–P₂O₅–SiO₂ (CaPSi) glass (AY-TZP5) and 10.5 vol% CaPSi glass (AY-TZP10), with ammonium polyacrylate (NH₄PA) dispersant were prepared to produce slip cast compacts. The rheological properties of 35 and 40 vol% slips were studied. The densification, microstructure as well as hardness and fracture toughness were investigated as a function of CaPSi glass content at 1300°C-1500°C. The optimum NH₄PA concentration of 35 vol% AY-TZP5 and AY-TZP10 slips at pH ~9 was found to be about 43% and 67% greater than that of AY-TZP slips; this behavior was related to the greater amounts of Ca²⁺ ions leached out from the CaPSi glass surface. The viscosity of stabilized 40 vol% slips with NH₄PA attained a minimum value at 5.4 vol% CaPSi glass addition, and resulted in a more dense packing of cast samples. AY-TZP5 can be sintered at a lower temperature (1300°C) compared to that of AY-TZP. AY-TZP5 exhibited a fine microstructure of tetragonal ZrO₂ (grain sizes below 0.3 µm), and ZrSiO₄–Ca₂P₂O₇ particles homogeneously distributed within the zirconia matrix. It presented similar fracture toughness and a slightly lower hardness compared to those of AY-TZP.     

非晶Fe粉掺杂Al-12Si合金的高温压缩变形行为

为提高Al-12Si合金的热变形抗力,并探索非晶Fe粉掺杂对Al-12Si合金热压缩行为的影响和掺杂非晶Fe粉热压缩中的晶化温度等,采用连续挤压技术制备了掺杂10wt%非晶Fe粉与不掺杂非晶Fe粉的Al-12Si合金试样,对试样进行了不同温度和应变速率下的热压缩试验,分析了试样在热压缩中的组织转变,以及采用双曲正弦关系构建了试样的热流变应力方程。结果表明:非晶Fe掺杂试样在450 ℃及以下的热压缩时,Fe维持非晶态,500 ℃时,则已发生晶化;掺杂10wt%非晶Fe粉使Al-12Si合金的热抗变形能力显著提高,其热压缩激活能Q=211.29 kJ/mol,比未掺杂非晶Fe粉的Al-12Si合金试样高40.78 kJ/mol,且热压缩过程中存在动态回复和动态再结晶;利用双曲正弦关系构建试样的热流变应力方程为ε·=4.42×10¹⁴[sinh(0.016 6σ)]^6.13exp(-211 290/RT),线性回归系数高达0.99,即可为非晶Fe粉掺杂试样的热加工提供一定的理论指导。     

Microstructural characteristic,outward-inward growth behavior and formation mechanism of MAO ceramic coating on the surface of ADC12 Al alloy with micro-groove

The ceramic coatings on the surface of aluminum alloy substrates with micro-grooves have been successfully fabricated in the silicate solution via micro-arc oxidation (MAO) approach. Microstructure characterization showed that the larger main discharge channels were located in the center of micro-groove, the smaller secondary discharge channels were located on both sides of main discharge channel; and a few irregular micro-pores existed in the vicinity of all discharge channels, which were mainly cause by the rapid cooling and solidification of discharge channels hindering the removal of gases produced via reaction. Moreover, the growing direction of coating in the initial stage was mainly outward-growth and resulted in the formation of inverted triangle coating structure, which was due to the sharp-angled effect. But in the final growing stage, the inward-growth behavior played a key role owing to the spark transfer. According to above results and discussion, the formation of smooth, uniform and homogeneous ceramic coating on the surface of whole trapezoidal micro-groove substrate contained four stages: anodic oxidation growth, sharp corner rapid growth, coating homogenization and groove self-filling.