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1 – 10 of over 1000Kiara Lewis, Leanne Livsey, Robert J. Naughton and Kim Burton
Exercise has the potential to provide benefits for people living with dementia, yet the balance of evidence is uncertain. This paper aims to provide an evidence synthesis to…
Abstract
Purpose
Exercise has the potential to provide benefits for people living with dementia, yet the balance of evidence is uncertain. This paper aims to provide an evidence synthesis to determine whether exercise improves their health and well-being and what exercise should be recommended.
Design/methodology/approach
Structured search for existing literature reviews on exercise for dementia. Relevant articles were selected and critically appraised against systematic criteria. The findings from 15 high quality reviews were collated by using a best evidence synthesis approach.
Findings
The evidence is convincing for improving physical health, promising for cognitive benefits, mixed for psychological benefits and limited for behavioural outcomes. No evidence of harm was found. Overall, exercise can improve physical and mental health for people living with dementia: there is sufficient evidence to recommend multimodal exercise.
Social implications
The potential beneficial outcomes are of significant importance both for people with dementia and their caregivers. In the absence of more specific findings, the current recommendation for older adults in general is pragmatically justified – some activity is better than none, more activity provides greater benefits. Adding social interaction may be important for psychological and behavioural outcomes.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to encapsulate the literature to date on exercise for dementia. Combining the findings from previous reviews enabled a novel synthesis across the range of relevant interventions and outcomes.
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L. P. Barreto, A. S. Silva and R. C. Ferreira
Identifying and managing supply chain risk is crucial for the competitiveness of a company. However, research focused on the risks of supply chain operations in Brazil is scarce…
Abstract
Identifying and managing supply chain risk is crucial for the competitiveness of a company. However, research focused on the risks of supply chain operations in Brazil is scarce. The purpose of this study is to analyze and assess the risk of cargo theft in the country. The methodology adopted is deductive and based on an analysis of historical data from January 2015 to November 2017, aiming to evaluate risk based on probability and impact. The findings unveil a scenario of criminality of transporting goods in Brazil, where the use of force, violence, and threats to steal goods is most likely to occur en route or when parked in key locations on the way to the distribution center. On the other hand, the higher impact cargo crimes are concentrated en route to the customer. This chapter provides a better understanding of the risks of transporting goods by road in Brazil and contributes to a more efficient supply chain design by identifying the risks and assessing the primary locations of the crimes along with their modi operandi and the period of the day during which the crime occurs.
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Alevtina Dubovitskaya Ackerer and Damien Ackerer
This chapter reviews the underlying technologies of cryptoassets, including fundamental cryptographic primitives used in distributed ledger technologies and permissionless…
Abstract
This chapter reviews the underlying technologies of cryptoassets, including fundamental cryptographic primitives used in distributed ledger technologies and permissionless blockchain technologies and their consensus protocols such as proof-of-work and proof-of-stake. It discusses the pros and cons of existing approaches to improve blockchain scalability and considers the requirements for security and decentralization. The chapter also examines the following techniques: layer 1 tuning, layer 1 sharding, and layer 2 solutions. It concludes with an overview of technologies to swap cryptoassets off-chain, technical requirements for cross-chain transactions, and reviews cross-chain atomic swap implementation using hashed time lock contracts.
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Poorva Sharma, Bababode Adesegun Kehinde, Shubhneet Kaur and Pratibha Vyas
This paper aims to update with information about edible coating on minimally processed and fresh fruits, focussing on the composition, active ingredients, antimicrobial…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to update with information about edible coating on minimally processed and fresh fruits, focussing on the composition, active ingredients, antimicrobial concentration and their effect on ripening rate, phytonutrients retention and shelf-life of fruits. In future, the data will be helpful for the processors to select the best coating material and its effective concentration for different fresh and minimally processed fruits.
Design/methodology/approach
Major scientific information was collected from Scopus, Web of Science, Mendeley and Google Scholar. Several key words such as postharvest, edible coating, phytonutrients, shelf-life enhancement, bioactive compounds, minimally processed fruits and antimicrobial compounds were used to find the data. Relevant information was collected by using 90 recent research and review articles.
Findings
The main findings of this comprehensive review are to improve the quality of fruits, to meet the next-generation food security needs. However, in the process of achieving the goal of improving quality of food produce, embrace of synthetic, non-biodegradable packaging materials have increased, creating serious pollution problem. Amidst several alternatives for replacement of synthetic packaging, the option of biodegradable films and coatings showed promising results.
Originality/value
The paper represents recent information about the edible coating used for the enhancement of shelf-life of fresh and minimally processed fruits.
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Rossano Linassi, Anete Alberton and Sidnei Vieira Marinho
This paper aims to examine whether using menu engineering (ME) together with activity-based costing (ABC) for menu analysis provides new insights into true menu profitability. The…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine whether using menu engineering (ME) together with activity-based costing (ABC) for menu analysis provides new insights into true menu profitability. The traditional ME approach only uses food costs to determine the contribution margin (CM) of individual menu items. This combined approach uses both food and traceable operating costs to estimate CMs more accurately.
Design/methodology/approach
An improved ME model was developed and tested in an oriental restaurant in Brazil. Direct observation of restaurant activities allowed most costs to be traced (not simply allocated) to individual menu items.
Findings
The results revealed small differences in the rankings between the traditional approach and ABC/ME, demonstrating that the integration of ABC with ME made it to possible to identify increased food-costs and lower CMs for all groups of menu items. The results also show that ABC methods are applicable to an oriental-style restaurant.
Research limitations/implications
Just one restaurant and only 80 per cent of the menu were examined in this study. Future research should apply the model used here to other restaurant types located in different geographical areas to validate the approach.
Practical implications
The results suggest that ME can be improved upon by first assessing variable costs using ABC methods.
Originality/value
This paper combines two different analytic techniques (ME and ABC) into a new approach that reveals the true picture of profit and loss for a menu from a restaurant in Brazil.
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Suresh Sampath, Zahira Rahiman, Shafeeque Ahmed Kalavai, Bharanigha Veerasamy and Saad Mekhilef
This study aims to present a modified interleaved boost converter (MIBC) topology for improving the reliability and efficiency of power electronic systems.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present a modified interleaved boost converter (MIBC) topology for improving the reliability and efficiency of power electronic systems.
Design/methodology/approach
The MIBC topology was implemented with two parallel converters, operated with a −180 degree phase shift. Using this methodology, ripples are reduced. The state-space model was analysed with a two-switch MIBC for different modes of operation. The simulation was carried out and validated using a hardware prototype.
Findings
The performance of the proposed MIBC shows better output voltage, current and power than the interleaved boost converter (IBC) for the solar PV array. The output power of the proposed converter is 1.353 times higher than that of existing converters, such as boost converter (BC) and IBC. The output power of the four-phase IBC is 30 kW, whereas that of the proposed two-phase MIBC is 40.59 kW. The efficiency of MIBC was better than that of IBC (87.01%). By incorporating interleaved techniques, the total inductor current is reduced by 29.60% compared with the existing converter.
Practical implications
The proposed MIBC can be used in a grid-connected system with an inverter circuit for DC-to-AC conversion, electric vehicle speed control, power factor correction circuit, high-efficiency converters and battery chargers.
Originality/value
The work presented in this paper is a modified version of IBC. This modified MIBC was modelled using the state-space approach. Furthermore, the state-space model of a two-phase MIBC was implemented using a Simulink model, and the same was validated using a hardware setup.
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Sabrina Silva Valadares, Antonio Moreira De Carvalho Neto, Carolina Mota Mota-Santos and Daniela Martins Diniz
The core of this study is women in mining. The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of women, about their work environment, their career, the human resources policies…
Abstract
Purpose
The core of this study is women in mining. The aim of this study was to analyze the perception of women, about their work environment, their career, the human resources policies and practices and the work–family balance in the context of a multinational organization in the sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study was carried through semi-structured interviews with 27 women who work in this organization.
Findings
Although women report that they are capable of exercising any position/function in the company, they perceive wage gap in the investigated organization; that maternity leave and the fact of having children impact their career and their rise to higher positions in the organizational hierarchy negatively; situations of prejudice and discrimination experienced at work. Sometimes subtly, sometimes not so subtly, but they still constitute barriers faced by women in mining.
Originality/value
Although the debate around the issue of gender inequality in organizations is not recent, little has been produced about the working condition of women in occupational fields where male domination is strong, such as mining.
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Juliana Villasante, Johanan Espinosa-Ramírez, Esther Pérez-Carrillo, Erick Heredia-Olea and MariaPilar Almajano
Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has been highlighted as an alternative to obtain valuable compounds using agro-industrial wastes as a substrate. The present study evaluated the…
Abstract
Purpose
Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has been highlighted as an alternative to obtain valuable compounds using agro-industrial wastes as a substrate. The present study evaluated the impact of extrusion combined with SSF on the production of phenolic compounds and their antioxidant activity using pecan nut shell (PWS) as a substrate.
Design/methodology/approach
PWS and extruded pecan nut shell (PWSE) were fermented for 120 h at 30°C using Aspergillus oryzae (A. oryzae). Samples were withdrawn from incubator at 6 h, 12 h and then every 12 h until 120 h fermentation. PWS and PWSE samples were extracted. The total phenolic content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity (RSA) extracts were characterized from the resulting extracts.
Findings
The use of PWSE yielded higher A. oryzae biomass and at a higher rate after 120 h of fermentation (PWS 75.74% vs PWSE 87.50%). In general, the TPC and the RSA increased with fermentation time. However, the PWSE yielded significantly higher (p < 0.05) TPC and RSA values after SSF in comparison to the nonextruded PWS. Condensed tannins showed different trends depending on the fermented substrate. Overall, results showed that the extrusion pretreatment joint with the SSF represents a good alternative to raise the phenolic content and antiradical activity of lignocellulosic materials such as PWSs.
Originality/value
This study offers valuable information that may be used by the pecan walnut industry to valorize the shell coproduct as a substrate to produce functional ingredients or fungal enzymes.
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Danusa Silva da Costa, Lucely Nogueira dos Santos, Nelson Rosa Ferreira, Katiuchia Pereira Takeuchi and Alessandra Santos Lopes
The aim was not to perform a systematic review but firstly to search in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science databases on the papers published in the last five years…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim was not to perform a systematic review but firstly to search in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science databases on the papers published in the last five years using tools for reviewing the statement of preferred information item for systematic reviews without focusing on a randomized analysis and secondly to perform a bibliometric analysis on the properties of films and coatings added of tocopherol for food packaging.
Design/methodology/approach
On January 24, 2022, information was sought on the properties of films and coatings added of tocopherol for use as food packaging published in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Web of Science databases. Further analysis was performed using bibliometric indicators with the VOSviewer tool.
Findings
The searches returned 33 studies concerning the properties of films and coatings added of tocopherol for food packaging, which were analyzed together for a better understanding of the results. Data analysis using the VOSviewer tool allowed a better visualization and exploration of these words and the development of maps that showed the main links between the publications.
Originality/value
In the area of food science and technology, the development of polymers capable of promoting the extension of the shelf life of food products is sought, so the knowledge of the properties is vital for this research area since combining a biodegradable polymeric material with a natural antioxidant active is of great interest for modern society since they associate environmental preservation with food preservation.
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