Intertek天祥20年护航中国制造 支持全球贸易

百年认证机构Intertek天祥集团进入中国20周年,其在中国的本地化服务之道是什么？Intertek天祥集团首席执行官Wolfhart Hauser博士认为,是贴近客户的创新精神。来自倍科国际贸易有限公司的童灵博士一语传神——Intertek天祥提供给我们的服务就像写小说的最高境界＂意料之外,情理之中＂。     

It ain't over till it's over: fashioning durable settlements

Vivian Berger , of New York, examines hard‐earned settlements that nearly evaporated. In order to better serve mediation participants' interests, she presents six problems that hinder or prevent a mediation agreement, and discusses precautions to avoid getting derailed.     

Behaviors of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular columns under eccentric loadings

The paper investigates the behaviors of recycled aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular (RACFST) columns under eccentric loadings with the incorporation of expansive agents. A total of 16 RACFST columns were tested in this study. The main parameters varied in this study are recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%), expansive agent dosages (0%, 8%, and 15%) and an eccentric distance of compressive load from the center of the column (0 and 40 mm). Experimental results showed that the ultimate stresses of RACFST columns decreased with increasing recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages but appropriate expansive agent dosages can reduce the decrement; the incorporation of expansive agent decreased the ultimate stresses of RACFST columns but an appropriate dosage can increase the deformation ability. The recycled coarse aggregate replacement percentages have limited influence on the ultimate stresses of the RACFST columns and has more effect than that of the normal aggregate concrete-filled steel tubular columns.     

Effect of microfluidization of heat-treated milk on rheology and sensory properties of reduced fat yoghurt

The effects of microfluidization at 150 MPa (MFz) and conventional homogenization at 20/5 MPa (CH) of heat-treated milk on the rheology and sensory properties of non- (0.1%) and low- (1.5%) fat stirred yoghurts were compared. Homogenization conditions clearly affected the sensory properties of reduced-fat yoghurts, but the effect was highly dependent on fat content. MFz of heat-treated milk yielded products with very different sensory profiles from the conventional yoghurts. For non-fat yoghurts, MFz of heat-treated milk enhanced the perception of buttermilk and soft cheese flavours, and natural yoghurt aroma and flavour, but also increased the intensity of undesirable mouthfeel characteristics such as chalkiness, mouth-dryness and astringency. For low-fat yoghurts, MFz significantly improved creaminess and desirable texture characteristics such as smoothness, cohesiveness, thickness, and oral and spoon viscosity. These differences in sensory profiles, especially textural properties, were partially related to rheological properties, particularly flow behaviour. MFz of heat-treated milk resulted in non- and low-fat yoghurts with higher yield stress, more pronounced hysteresis effect and higher viscosity than those of CH yoghurts of similar fat contents. These findings suggest that microfluidization may have applications for production of high-quality yoghurt with reduced-fat content.     

Relating video game exposure,sensation seeking,aggression and socioeconomic factors to school performance

ABSTRACT

The time displacement hypothesis has been widely used to explain the effects of media use on academic performance. This approach has been criticised for its monocausality and weak explanatory power. Utilising a combination of different theoretical perspectives is better suited than utilising only one. Considering displacement, excitement, attraction and third variable hypothesis, this paper argues that the relation between video game use and school performance is not the same for all types of gamers by considering the influence of socioeconomic, psychological and contextual factors. It investigates how gaming patterns (frequency, time of day) and psychological characteristics (sensation seeking, aggression) are related to academic performance for primary and secondary school students. Five hundred and seven students from five primary and four secondary schools in Singapore participated in a paper-pencil survey. Results showed support for a combination of displacement and third variable hypothesis, as overall time spent on video games was negatively associated with primary school children’s and active gamers’ school performances. There was no significant relationship for secondary school children. For primary school children who play games in the morning and afternoon, video game use was negatively associated with school performance. There was no support for the attraction and excitement hypotheses.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Speciation,and Biological Studies on Metal Chelates of Carbohydrates with Molecular Docking Investigation

The role of starch aerogel (St-AG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as biolgical active compounds, when they subjected for complexation with metal ions, is assessed in this work. The complexation is carried out with palladium(II) and copper(II) ions, in solid state. Different tools of analysis are carried out to characterize and elucidate the structures of these complexes, namely: elemental analysis, IR, thermal analysis, magnetic measurement and molar conductance techniques. All synthesized complexes are formed with 1:2 (metal:ligand) stoichiometry except the case of aerogel starch 1:1 (Pd:starch). All isolated complexes show a satisfactory cytotoxic effect results against colon cancer cell lines HCT11. Additionally, these complexes are screened for their antibacterial activities against two types of Gram positive and negative bacteria. Molecular docking investigation confirmed the cytotoxicity and antibacterial results. Proton–ligands association constants and their complex formation constants with some bivalent metal ions, using potentiometric method show that the complexes formed in solution have a stoichiometry of 1:1 [metal:ligand]. The effects of metal ion, ionic radius, electronegativity and nature of ligand on the formation constants are discussed. The formation constants of the complexes with 3D transition metals followed the order Mn²⁺ < Co²⁺ < Ni²⁺ < Cu²⁺ > Zn²⁺.     

A review of varietal change in roots,tubers and bananas: consumer preferences and other drivers of adoption and implications for breeding

This review of the literature on varietal change in sub-Saharan Africa looks in detail at adoption of new varieties of bananas in Uganda, cassava in Nigeria, potato in Kenya, sweetpotato in Uganda and yams in Côte d’Ivoire. The review explored three hypotheses about drivers of varietal change. There was a strong confirmation for the hypothesis that insufficient priority given to consumer-preferred traits by breeding programmes contributes to the limited uptake of modern varieties (MVs) and low varietal turnover. Lack of evidence meant the second hypothesis of insufficient attention to understanding and responding to gender differences in consumer preferences for quality and post-harvest traits was unresolved. The evidence on the third hypothesis about the informal seed system contributing to slow uptake of MVs was mixed. In some cases, the informal system has contributed to rapid uptake of MVs, but often it appears to be a barrier with inconsistent varietal naming a major challenge.     

Moisture‐Responsive Wrinkling Surfaces with Tunable Dynamics

The wrinkle dynamics (such as reversibility and stability) of human skin are affected by the external stimuli, as well as the skin's structure and mechanical properties. Inspired by these tunable responses, three types of moisture‐responsive wrinkle dynamics are achieved, for the first time, through a single film–substrate system. These dynamics include: (1) completely reversible wrinkles formation; (2) irreversible wrinkles formation I: the initially formed wrinkles can be permanently erased and never reappear; and (3) irreversible wrinkles formation II: once the wrinkles form, they can no longer be erased. The key to success is to control the stiffness and thickness ratios of the film and the substrate, and tailor the crosslink degree/gradient of the film to allow for moisture‐dependent changes of modulus and swelling degree. These unique responsive dynamics motivate the invention of a series of optical devices triggered by moisture, including anticounterfeit tabs, encryption devices, water indicators, light diffusors, and antiglare films. This study also paves the road for further understanding of the skin wrinkling dynamics and manipulation.     

Evaluations of existing waste recycling methods: A Hong Kong study

Environmental problems have been considered as a serious situation in Hong Kong construction. Waste management is pressing harder with the alarming signal warning the industry. Reuse, recycling and reducing the wastes are considered as the only methods to recover the wastes generated; however, the implementations still have much room for improvement. In order to ameliorate the existing situations, evaluations of the existing waste recycling methods are studied in this research. A telephone interviewing to the recyclers, site visits to the construction and demolition sites (including the Lower Ngau Tau Kok Estate Phase 1) and the centralized recycling plant in Tuen Mun Area 38 are under investigation. Difficulties encountered for various recycling parties are investigated. Rather than the poor quality found from the recyclable materials, they found the high investment cost, lengthy demolition period and limited space caused the major barriers for them. Therefore, some recommendations are suggested: (i) proposing a higher landfill charging scheme; (ii) setting up a centralized centre for recycling the materials; (iii) examining the Hong Kong government should be supported in the provision of land for recycling plants; (iv) implementing innovative demolition methods; (v) allowing some locations in town for residents’ easy access to drop-off recyclable materials; (vi) allowing flexible demolition periods; (vii) setting up recycling plant in town or in the form of mobile installations; (viii) reusing the reusable components as donations to the charity organization; (ix) providing higher flexibility in receiving concrete waste in Tuen Mun Area 38 recycling plant; and (x) balancing the supply and demand of recycled materials through legislations or incentive schemes.