Effects of Chios mastic gum and exercise on physical characteristics,blood lipid markers,insulin resistance,and hepatic function in healthy Japanese men

The effects of Chios mastic gum (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia) and exercise on physical characteristics, blood lipid markers, insulin resistance, and hepatic function were investigated in healthy, non-smoking Japanese men aged ≥ 40 years. Participants were allocated to control (C, 5 g/day placebo powder, n = 7), mastic (M, 5 g/day mastic powder, n = 7), or mastic plus physical activity groups (M + PA, 5 g/day mastic powder and 30-min exercise three times/week, n = 7), and measurements were taken at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Serum triglycerides were significantly reduced at 3 months in M and M + PA compared with C (P < 0.05). Serum insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance values were significantly reduced at 3 and 6 months in M + PA, and at 6 months in M, compared with C (P < 0.05). These results indicate that Chios mastic gum intake for 6 months reduced serum triglyceride and insulin concentrations, and additional exercise enhanced the effect on insulin.     

The effect of hydrocooling on ripening related quality attributes and cell wall physicochemical properties of sweet cherry fruit (Prunus avium L.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrocooling, as a precooling treatment, on ripening related parameters of two sweet cherry cultivars (Prunus avium L. cvs. ‘Tragana Edessis’, ‘Mpakirtzeika’) after 1-week cold storage (0 °C, 95% R.H.). Results indicated that hydrocooling delayed the deterioration and senescence of cherry fruit, maintaining a higher quality, as indicated by reduced stem browning and surface shrivelling. In particular, hydrocooled ‘Tragana Edessis’ fruit showed considerably less stem browning (14.6–29.6%), while the benefits of hydrocooling were less pronounced in ‘Mpakirtzeika’ fruit. Other quality attributes, such as cracking, decay, external color and soluble solids content were not affected by hydrocooling. Furthermore cell wall properties, as indicated by uronic acid and neutral sugars content in cell wall material extracted from the cherry fruits, were slightly or not affected by the hydrocooling process. Overall, the present study showed that cherry fruit subjected to hydrocooling followed by 1 week's storage at 0 °C and 95% R.H. retained their quality for a further 3 days at room temperature, but after 5 days at room temperature many of the fruit were of unacceptable quality.     

Functional properties of carotenoids originating from algae

Carotenoids are isoprenoid molecules which are synthesised de novo by photosynthetic plants, fungi and algae and are responsible for the orange, yellow and some red colours of various fruits and vegetables. Carotenoids are lipophilic compounds, some of which act as provitamins A. These compounds can be divided into xanthophylls and carotenes. Many macroalgae and microalgae are rich in carotenoids, where these compounds aid in the absorption of sunlight. Industrially, these carotenoids are used as food pigments (in dairy products, beverages, etc.), as feed additives, in cosmetics and in pharmaceuticals, especially nowadays when there is an increasing demand by consumers for natural products. Production of carotenoids from algae has many advantages compared to other sources; for example, their production is cheap, easy and environmentally friendly; their extraction is easier, with higher yields, and there is no lack of raw materials or limited seasonal variation. Recently, there has been considerable interest in dietary carotenoids with respect to their antioxidant properties and their ability to reduce the incidence of some chronic diseases where free radicals are involved. Possibly, carotenoids protect cells from oxidative stress by quenching singlet oxygen damage with various mechanisms. Therefore, carotenoids derived from algae could be a leading natural resource in the research for potential functional ingredients. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

H.264/SVC vs. H.264/AVC video quality comparison under QoE-driven seamless handoff

This paper studies the impact of mobility management and seamless handover mechanisms on the perceived quality of video streaming applications. A seamless handoff scheme is proposed that incorporates IEEE 802.21 Media Independent Handover framework and a QoE-driven rate adaptation scheme, for both scalable and single layer coding. Quality of Experience (QoE) has been considered as an important parameter for network selection. The proposed scheme has been implemented and evaluated in a real test-bed network. Objective and subjective quality evaluation measurements for both H.264/AVC and H.264/SVC have been carried out. Through experimentation, QoE driven mobility of video streaming can be better maintained with H.264/SVC under the combined seamless handoff and rate adaptation functionality.     

Modeling the phase equilibria of asymmetric hydrocarbon mixtures using molecular simulation and equations of state

Monte Carlo simulation (MC) is combined with equations of state (EoS) to develop a methodology for the calculation of the vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) of multicomponent hydrocarbon mixtures with high asymmetry. MC simulations are used for the calculation of the VLE of binary methane mixtures with long n-alkanes, for a wide range of temperatures and pressures, to obtain sufficient VLE data for the consistent fitting of binary interaction parameters (BIPs) for the EoS. The Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK), Peng-Robinson (PR), and Perturbed Chain - Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) EoS are considered. The ability of each EoS to correlate the VLE data is assessed and the selected ones are used to predict the VLE of multicomponent gas condensate mixtures. MC simulations proved to be very accurate in predicting the VLE in all conditions and mixtures considered. The BIPs regressed from the simulation dataset lead to equally accurate modeling results for multicomponent mixtures, compared to those regressed from experimental data. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 65: 792–803, 2019     

Mediation Model for Improving Cost Factors That Affect Performance of Small-Scale Building Construction Contract Business in Nigeria: A PLS-SEM Approach

Performance of small-scale building construction contract business poses a challenge to the sustainable development of the construction industry, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. Small-scale construction contract business plays an important role in the economic development of any nation. In Nigeria, small-scale construction contract business has a tremendous role in the development of rural areas. This study assesses the mediation effects of client support with advance payment on cost factors that affect performance of small-scale contract businesses in Nigeria. The study identified three factors that affect cost performance of construction projects in developing countries: cash flow problems, effects of fraudulent practices, and effects of the nature of construction environments. In total, 550 survey questionnaires were administered to stakeholders in the Nigerian construction industry. Stratified proportionate random sampling method was used for the selection of respondents and 387 questionnaires were returned, with 357 used in the analysis.     

Dielectric Study of Tetraalkylammonium and Tetraalkylphosphonium Levulinate Ionic Liquids

Broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a broad temperature range was employed to study ionic conductivity and dynamics in tetraalkylammonium- and tetraalkylphosphonium-based ionic liquids (ILs) having levulinate as a common anion. Combining data for ionic conductivity with data obtained for viscosity in a Walden plot, we show that ionic conductivity is controlled by viscosity while a strong association of ions takes place. Higher values for ionic conductivities in a broad temperature range were found for the tetraalkylphosphonium-based IL compared to its ammonium homolog in accordance with its lower viscosity. Levulinate used in the present study as anion was found to interact and associate stronger with the cations forming ion-pairs or other complexes compared to the NTf₂ anion studied in literature. In order to analyze dielectric data, different fitting approaches were employed. The original random barrier model cannot well describe the conductivity especially at the higher frequencies region. In electric modulus representation, two overlapping mechanisms contribute to the broad low frequencies peak. The slower process is related to the conduction mechanism and the faster to the main polarization process of the complex dielectric permittivity representation. The correlation of the characteristic time scales of the previous relaxation processes was discussed in terms of ionic interactions.     

Greek Lakes: Limnological overview

The Institute of Inland Waters in Greece has investigated the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of major Greek lakes, with regard to water use, quality and trophic status. Based on this and other limnological investigations, Greek lakes can be divided into three categories: warm monomictic deep lakes, warm monomictic shallow lakes, and dimictic shallow lakes. The water quality of some Greek lakes demonstrates the presence of high concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals, with reduced concentrations of diluted oxygen. High concentrations of ammonia, nitrate and phosphate are found in many lakes, while anaerobic hypolimnia are usually found in shallow lakes. Phosphorus is the main nutrient responsible for eutrophication because it is the limiting factor in most of the lakes that were investigated.     

Big data and business analytics ecosystems: paving the way towards digital transformation and sustainable societies

The digitalization process and its outcomes in the 21st century accelerate transformation and the creation of sustainable societies. Our decisions, actions and even existence in the digital world generate data, which offer tremendous opportunities for revising current business methods and practices, thus there is a critical need for novel theories embracing big data analytics ecosystems. Building upon the rapidly developing research on digital technologies and the strengths that information systems discipline brings in the area, we conceptualize big data and business analytics ecosystems and propose a model that portraits how big data and business analytics ecosystems can pave the way towards digital transformation and sustainable societies, that is the Digital Transformation and Sustainability (DTS) model. This editorial discusses that in order to reach digital transformation and the creation of sustainable societies, first, none of the actors in the society can be seen in isolation, instead we need to improve our understanding of their interactions and interrelations that lead to knowledge, innovation, and value creation. Second, we gain deeper insight on which capabilities need to be developed to harness the potential of big data analytics. Our suggestions in this paper, coupled with the five research contributions included in the special issue, seek to offer a broader foundation for paving the way towards digital transformation and sustainable societies