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This study aims to leverage inertial sensors via a walk test to associate kinematic variables with functional assessment results among walkable subjects with chronic stroke.

Adults with first-ever stroke survivors were recruited for this study. First, functional assessments were obtained by using Fugl–Meyer Assessment for lower extremity and Berg balance scales. A self-assembled inertial measurement system obtained walking variables from a walk test after being deployed on subjects’ affected limbs and lower back. The average walking speeds, average range of motion in the affected limbs and a new gait symmetry index were computed and correlated with the two functional assessment scales using Spearman’s rank correlation test.

The average walking speeds were moderately correlated with both Fugl–Meyer assessment scales (γ = 0.62, p < 0.01, n = 23) and Berg balance scales (γ = 0.68, p < 0.01, n = 23). After being modified by the subjects’ height, the new gait symmetry index revealed moderate negative correlations with the Fugl–Meyer assessment scales (γ = −0.51, p < 0.05) and Berg balance scales (γ = −0.52, p < 0.05). The other kinematics failed to correlate well with the functional scales.

Neuromotor and functional assessment results from inertial sensors can facilitate their application in telemonitoring and telerehabilitation.

The average walking speeds and modified gait symmetry index are valuable parameters for inertial sensors in clinical research to deduce neuromotor and functional assessment results. In addition, the lower back is the optimal location for the inertial sensors.

Accurate and timely cost prediction is critical to the success of construction projects which is still facing challenges especially at the early stage. In the context of rapid development of machine learning technology and the massive cost data from historical projects, this paper aims to propose a novel cost prediction model based on historical data with improved performance when only limited information about the new project is available.

The proposed approach combines regression analysis (RA) and artificial neural network (ANN) to build a novel hybrid cost prediction model with the former as front-end prediction and the latter as back-end correction. Firstly, the main factors influencing the cost of building projects are identified through literature research and subsequently screened by principal component analysis (PCA). Secondly the optimal RA model is determined through multi-model comparison and used for front-end prediction. Finally, ANN is applied to construct the error correction model. The hybrid RA-ANN model was trained and tested with cost data from 128 completed construction projects in China.

The results show that the hybrid cost prediction model has the advantages of both RA and ANN whose prediction accuracy is higher than that of RA and ANN only with the information such as total floor area, height and number of floors.

(1) The most critical influencing factors of the buildings’ cost are found out by means of PCA on the historical data. (2) A novel hybrid RA-ANN model is proposed which proved to have the advantages of both RA and ANN with higher accuracy. (3) The comparison among different models has been carried out which is helpful to future model selection.

This paper aims to focus on the preparation of Kevlar fiber (KF) and alkaline hydrolyzed KF (KF-H) to improve the dispersed condition of polyaniline (PAn), as the aggregation of PAn would lead to some adsorption sites buried. And then the materials were used to enrich anionic dye Congo red (CR) from aqueous solution.

The materials (KF@PAn and KF-H@PAn) were designed by means of “diffusion-interfacial-polymerization” under mild condition as high affinity due to the structural properties of PAn, KF and KF-H. The dispersed degree of PAn on the surface of KF and KF-H was validated according to adsorption efficiency for CR.

The content of PAn introduced was not beyond 20 wt.%, while adsorption capacity for CR was significantly enhanced by 4–8 times (on the basis of kinetic data) according to the calculation only by the content of PAn due to KF and alkaline hydrolyzed KF exhibited almost no adsorption for CR, indicating dispersed situation of PAn coating was greatly enhanced and more active sites exposed, which was favorable for the adsorption process. Presence of NaCl would exhibit a more or less positive effect on CR uptake, suggesting the materials could be used for high salt environment.

The investigated means of dispersed degree of PAn on the surface of KF and KF-H are the further and future investigation.

This study will provide a method to improve the dispersed situation of PAn and a theoretical support to treat anionic dyes from aqueous solution especially for salt environment.

The results showed that the dispersed condition of PAn on the surface of KF and KF-H was greatly improved. According to the adsorption capacities for CR, it can be concluded that part of adsorption sites were buried due to the aggregation of PAn, and introduction of KF and KF-H, buried adsorption sites decreased greatly. This study will provide a method to decrease buried adsorption sites of PAn and a contribution for their convenient application in wastewater treatment especially for high salt environment.

This paper aims to identify the hazards in the production process and designing standard operational procedure (SOP) in producing beef jerky (dendeng Lambok). This SOP is designed with the application of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) that aimed to be a standard guideline for producing dendeng lambok products that are safe for consumption.

Problems that are generally found in the food industry are that there are many products, which do not meet food safety standards so that these products are not safe for consumption. The method can be used in dealing with these problems is to apply HACCP and design the SOP for the production of dendeng lambok. The initial data used are a flow diagram of the dendeng lambok production process. Flowchart of dendeng lambok production process is needed to identify hazards in each process. Based on the identification of hazards in each process, a process is included in the critical control point (CCP). Furthermore, SOP is designed for processes that enter CCPs.

Based on the application of HACCP, there are four processes that are included in the CCP consisting of boiling beef, beef frying, chili frying and packaging. SOP is designed for processes included in the CCP so that they can be used as standard guidelines in the dendeng lambok production process in producing products that are safe for consumption.

HACCP is a method that is widely applied to ensure the products produced are safe for consumption. Based on previous research studies, the application of HACCP can reduce the hazard to food and the resulting product is safe for consumption. The application of HACCP can also improve the safety and quality of products, thereby causing a decrease in overall costs and increasing company revenue.

This research can only be useful for one of the small and medium food-industries in West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is, namely, Asal Seiya Sekata (ASESE), Ltd. This is because the SOP is designed in accordance with the conditions and problems in the dendeng lambok production process at ASESE, Ltd.

This research is expected to help ASESE, Ltd. in maintaining the quality and safety of the produced dendeng lambok products. HACCP is applied in the production process dendeng lambok done to minimize the hazards of each production process dendeng lambok. The SOP is given as a standard guideline in the production process of dendeng lambok in producing products that are safe for consumption.

SOP designed can be used as a reference or guideline in the production process of dendeng lambok to reduce hazards in the process that included in the CCP. SOP designed for boiling beef, beef frying, chili frying and packaging.

The manufacture of polymer composites with a lower environmental footprint requires incorporation of sustainably sourced components. In addition, the incorporation of novel components should not compromise the material properties. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use of a synthetic amine functional toluidine acetaldehyde condensate (AFTAC) as a modifier for fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. One of the fiber components was sourced from agricultural byproducts, and glass fiber was used as the fiber component for comparison.

The AFTAC condensate was synthesized via an acid-catalyzed reaction between o-toluidine and acetaldehyde. To demonstrate its efficacy as a toughening agent for diglycidyl ether bisphenol A resin composites and for the comparison of reinforcing materials of interest, composites were fabricated using a natural fiber (mat stick) and a synthetic glass fiber as the reinforcing material. A matched metal die technique was used to fabricate the composites. Composites were prepared and their mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated.

The inclusion of AFTAC led to an improvement in the mechanical strengths of these composites without any significant deterioration of the thermal stability. It was also observed that the fracture strengths for mat stick fiber-reinforced composites were lower than that of glass fiber-reinforced composites.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the use of the AFTAC modifier as well as incorporation of mat stick fibers in epoxy composites has not been demonstrated previously.

The purpose of this study is to prepare a new self-emulsified waterborne epoxy hardener which can emulsify the liquid epoxy resin in aqueous media without addition of acid neutralizers.

Two synthetic steps were adopted to prepare novel self-emulsified amine-epoxy adduct type hardener composition based on the reaction of a commercially available polyetheramine, bisphenol A epoxy resin and triethylene tetramine. The different factors affecting the synthesis of the waterborne epoxy hardener were explored by emulsifying and curing properties. The process and products were analyzed and confirmed by FIRT.

Compared to an introduction of polyether as a hydrophilic segment in previous literature, whose reaction required Lewis acid catalysts and strict control of the presence of water, the introduction of polyetheramine to obtain a novel self-emulsified waterborne epoxy hardener were concise and convenient by mere two amine-epoxy addition steps in this research. Moreover, the final product offered good film formation with a practical value of mechanical properties, glass transition temperature and water-resistant property.

The self-emulsified waterborne epoxy hardener can be used to prepare water-resistant waterborne coatings from liquid epoxy resins while also providing the option of zero VOC formulations.

Introduction of hydrophilic polyether amine to prepare self-emulsified waterborne epoxy hardener without acid neutralizers has not been systematically studied previously.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating “Licorice powder” into curd balls on their storage stability under refrigeration conditions. Through this examination, this study aims to evaluate the potential effects of licorice powder on extending the shelf life, maintaining quality attributes and preserving the overall stability of curd balls when stored at refrigeration temperatures.

Licorice powder, in varying quantities (1%, 2% and 3%), was incorporated into curd balls alongside a control group lacking licorice (0%). These batches were subsequently stored for 25 days under refrigeration at a temperature of 4 ± 1ºC, using aerobic packaging conditions. During this storage period, the samples were regularly monitored and analyzed for various parameters to assess changes in their properties and qualities.

The findings indicated that in the treatment groups, pH and titratable acidity were notably lower than those in the control group (p = 0.05). Curd balls enriched with licorice powder exhibited significantly higher levels of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2-2-azinobis-3ethylbenthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid and total phenolic contents compared to the control (p = 0.05). Furthermore, curd balls containing licorice powder displayed notably lower levels of peroxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and free fatty acids in comparison to the control (p = 0.05). Among all samples, T3 (3%) demonstrated significantly less microbial growth (p = 0.05) than the other groups. Conversely, the sensory panel rated T2 significantly higher than T3 (p = 0.05).

The investigation highlights that curd balls enriched with 2.0% licorice powder demonstrated significant efficacy in preventing the deterioration of physicochemical attributes, enhancing antioxidant capacity, restraining lipid oxidation, curbing microbial growth and ultimately exhibiting the most favorable organoleptic properties among the tested variations. This finding underscores the potential of incorporating 2.0% licorice powder as an effective agent for bolstering the storage stability and overall quality of curd balls during refrigerated storage.

A PROGRESSIVE increase in the standard of living is now widely accepted as both possible and desirable, even if the notion that it can be doubled within the next 25 years is dismissed as an optimistic flight of Butlerian fancy. The prerequisite is a substantial upsurge in the country's production. This was expressed succinctly by Mr. Victor Feather four years ago when, as Assistant Secretary to the Trades Union Congress, he told the Institute of Directors that ‘what can be done by any Government by way of social improvement depends on what Industry can produce and sell. About half the strikes that take place have nothing to do with hours or wages or conditions, but have a great deal to do with human relations. That field is one in which there must be patience, tolerance, concentration and great endeavour, but the rate of progress can and should be accelerated.’

Toyota's internationally coordinated production system in Asia and its selection of supply bases in South America and South Africa highlights the significance of recognizing global network firms and the global hub-and-spoke logistics system that has been developed to meet their needs. This system underpins the expansion of container shipping, air freight and telecommunications. Recognition of Main Street, linking Europe, Asia and North America with cui-desacs in Africa, Australasia and Central and South America, provides a framework for examining the relative importance of the system's hubs and terminals across different modes and regions. This analysis provides the basis for identifying and ranking key regional logistics platforms in Northeast Asia and their attraction as headquarter sites for global network firms. Examining the logistical situation pertaining after the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s and a decade later is used to gauge progress towards regional economic integration in Northeast Asia.

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of investor sentiment on the supply of trade credit, and further explores the difference of the effect of investor sentiment on the supply of trade credit in the environment of strong market competition and weak market competition.

The authors use panel estimation techniques to examine the impact of investor sentiment in the Chinese securities market on the supply of corporate trade credit.

This paper finds that investor sentiment has positive impact on trade credit through three channels of motivation, willingness and ability. At the same time, this paper finds that investor sentiment has stronger impact on enterprises in strong market competition than enterprises in weak market competition.

This paper expands the research on the influence of virtual economy on the real economy, analyzes the difference of the influence of investor sentiment on the supply of trade credit under different market competition conditions.

The paper perfects the mechanism of trade credit decision-making at this stage, and provides more evidence for the virtual economy to act on the real economy.

This paper provides a theoretical basis for the government functional departments to use the investor sentiment to play a positive role in trade credit to improve the market competition and guide the development of China’s capital market in the direction of rationalization and health.

In combination with market competition environment and industry characteristics, this paper investigates external irrational factors and studies how investor sentiment affects trade credit supply.