The Effects of Disruptive Thinking on the Food Industry*

This study aimed to understand disruptive thinking and how its ideas can change the food industry. This was achieved by identifying, studying, and understanding the impacts, current trends, and different disruptive ideas and innovations emerging in the food industry. The study was conducted through interpretive research philosophy by carrying out secondary data collection processes, where both qualitative and quantitative information was presented. Deductive approaches were also selected to apply existing theories and models, which were used to construct research hypotheses and present detailed findings. The study finds that, with disruptive thinking, enhancements in the product life cycle, new flavors, and improvements in food packaging have been possible. The supply chain, which is always considered a complex part of the food industry, has been streamlined, offering greater transparency and real-time tracking and improving quality control across distribution systems.

Identifying the stability of housekeeping genes to be used for the quantitative real-time PCR normalization in retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

AIM:To investigate the stability of the seven housekeeping genes:beta-actin(ActB),glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase(GAPDH),18s ribosomal unit 5(18s),cyclophilin A(CycA),hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase(HPRT),ribosomal protein large P0(36B4)and terminal uridylyl transferase 1(U6)in the diabetic retinal tissue of rat model.METHODS:The expression of these seven genes in rat retinal tissues was determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)in two groups;normal control rats and streptozotocininduced diabetic rats.The stability analysis of gene expression was investigated using geNorm,NormFinder,BestKeeper,and comparative delta-Ct(ΔCt)algorithms.RESULTS:The 36B4 gene was stably expressed in the retinal tissues of normal control animals;however,it was less stable in diabetic retinas.The 18s gene was expressed consistently in both normal control and diabetic rats’retinal tissue.That this gene was the best reference for data normalisation in RT-qPCR studies that used the retinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Furthermore,there was no ideal gene stably expressed for use in all experimental settings.CONCLUSION:Identifying relevant genes is a need for achieving RT-qPCR validity and reliability and must be appropriately achieved based on a specific experimental setting.

Studies on the Molecular Chain Conformation Stability of Aminated Konjac Glucomannan

Konjac glucomannan （KGM） was aminated by 2-chloroethyl-amine （CEA） as reagent so as to study the influence of concentration of CEA （based on the amount of KGM）, concentration of NaOH, reaction time and temperature on the extent of amination. And the molecular simulation technology was adopted to analyze the conformation stability of aminate （AKGM）. The results indicate that when the amount of CEA is higher, the extent of amination is higher. The optimum concentration of NaOH, reaction time and temperature are 10% NaOH, 70 ℃ and 45 rain, respectively. IR shows KGM is successfully aminated. The conformation of AKGM is in a random clew-like shape.

Analysis of Information Sharing Mechanism in the Food Industry Green Supply Chain Management and Operation Process

In order to effectively address the issues of environmental pollution and food safety in food industry,the green supply chain management should be used in the food industry.However,information sharing is the basis of supply chain management.For this purpose,on the basis of describing the connotation of food industry green supply chain management,the paper introduces the contents and the effects of information sharing mode in detail.It focuses on the barriers of the implementation of information-sharing mechanisms in the food industry green supply chain management and operation process and analyzes the necessity of using information sharing mechanism among the members of the food industry green supply chain management mode by game theory,so as to strengthen the competitiveness of enterprises through supply chain management.

Poverty reduction through the development of inclusive food value chains

Propelled by urbanization,rising incomes,and changing diets,food markets have been expanding in Africa and South Asia,creating the vast potential for job and income opportunities along food supply chains and,hence,for poverty reduction.The novel coronavirus(COVID-19)that spread to a pandemic in early 2020 provokes enormous setbacks to this expansion.This,however,should provide lessons regarding the importance of resilient and inclusive food systems.Emergency responses to COVID-19 should consider interventions towards that end and leverage the opportunities provided by food markets growth as economies recover from the present economic recession.This paper assesses options of how this could be done by facilitating the better functioning and interconnectedness of the many small and medium-sized enterprises that are proliferating along the"hidden middle"of food value chains in storage,logistics,transportation,and wholesale and retail distribution.It also explores how policies can help smallholder farmers connect to this"hidden middle"in more gainful ways and help them climb out of poverty as well.

Stability of the Konjac Glucomannan Topological Chain Based on Quantum Spin Model

In this paper we investigated the stability of konjac glucomnnan（KGM） chain hydrogen networks based on the quantum spin model. Dissipative particle dynamics method was applied in the structure simulation of KGM. The results reveled that acetyl residues of KGM were bonded with water molecules in aqueous solutions. Increasing the hydrogen bond formation decreases the energy in acetyl system. The expect-valuation of the thermal state with respect to the Hamiltonian is negative. Hence, the total energy of konjac glucomnnan chain with the acetyl groups decreases, which indicates the increasing stability of konjac glucomnnan chain. Our approach could provide a new insight into the investigation on the stability of konjac glucomnnan chain.

Influence of longwall mining on the stability of gas wells in chain pillars

Longwall mining has a significant influence on gas wells located within longwall chain pillars.Subsurface subsidence and abutment pressure induced by longwall mining can cause excessive stresses and deformations in gas well casings.If the gas well casings are compromised or ruptured,natural gas could migrate into the mine workings,potentially causing a fire or explosion.By the current safety regulations,the gas wells in the chain pillars have to be either plugged or protected by adequate coal pillars.The current regulations for gas well pillar design are based on the 1957 Pennsylvania gas well pillar study.The study provided guidelines for gas well pillars by considering their support area and overburden depth as well as the location of the gas wells within the pillars.As the guidelines were developed for room-andpillar mining under shallow cover,they are no longer applicable to modern longwall coal mining,particularly,under deep cover.Gas well casing of failures have occurred even though the chain pillars for the gas wells met the requirements by the 1957 study.This study,conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH),presents seven cases of conventional gas wells penetrating through longwall chain pillars in the Pittsburgh Coal Seam.The study results indicate that overburden depth and pillar size are not the only determining factors for gas well stability.The other important factors include subsurface ground movement,overburden geology,weak floor,as well as the type of the construction of gas wells.Numerical modeling was used to model abutment pressure,subsurface deformations,and the response of gas well casings.The study demonstrated that numerical models are able to predict with reasonable accuracy the subsurface deformations in the overburden above,within,and below the chain pillars,and the potential location and modes of gas well failures,thereby providing a more quantifiable approach to assess the stability of the gas wells in longwall chain pillars.

A dynamic food-chain model and program for predicting the consequences of nuclear accident

A dynamic food chain model and program, DYFOM 95, for predicting the radiological consequences of nuclear accident has been developed, which is not only suitable to the West food chain but also to Chinese food chain. The following processes, caused by accident release which will make an impact on radionuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable were considered: dry and wet deposition interception and initial retention, translocation, percolation, root uptake and tillage. Activity intake rate of animals, effects of processing and activity intake of human through ingestion pathway ware also considered in calculations. The effects of leaf area index LAI of vegetable were considered in dry deposition model. A method for calculating the contribution of rain with different period and different intensity to total wet deposition was established. The program contains 1 main code and 5 sub codes to calculate dry and wet deposition on surface of vegetable and soil, translocation of nuclides in vegetable, nuclide concentration in the edible parts of vegetable and in animal products and activity intake of human and so on.

Impact of COVID-19 Epidemic on the International Food Supply Chain and Countermeasures of Shandong Province

The COVID-19 epidemic has exerted an impact on the global food supply chain,and also has contributed to the tendency of food hoarding and short supply;strong food demand has led to a rapid rise in international food prices,which has put enormous pressure on China's food import,and domestic food price showed a rise trend accordingly.In order to ensure sufficient and stable supply of China's food market,it is necessary to adhere to the food security strategy of"food self-sufficiency"for a long term.In the spring agricultural production,Shandong Province has taken effective measures to stabilize food production and achieved good results.It has not been greatly affected by the COVID-19 epidemic;however,under the continuous spread of foreign epidemics,we must adhere to the dual hard core operation of epidemic prevention and production,and explore the establishment of technical specifications for agricultural production under normal conditions for epidemic prevention and control to ensure the food security.

Comparison and Experience Reference of Pork Supply Chain between China and Vietnam on the Basis of Food Safety Security

The paper aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of theoretical model and practice on the pork supply chain of China from the perspective of logical consistency while laying emphasis on the nodes of pork supply chain and the value distribution of value chain. First of all,analyze the conceptual model of pork supply chain in China and further characterize each node of the supply chain as well as the link between the nodes. By comparing with the pork supply chain in Vietnam,analyze the characteristics and existing problems of the pork supply in China.Finally,give advice and suggestions from the aspects of supply chain process reengineering,food quality supervision and the policies & regulations etc.

Analysis of the Fruit Value Chain of Two Priority Food Woody Species of Central Southern Niger, West Africa

Non-timber forest products provide important socio-economic services to different village and urban communities in West Africa. However, little is known about the links between the different actors and their contribution to the local or national economy. This study was conducted in central southern Niger and aimed to 1) identify and map the main actors in the value chain of Ziziphus mauritiana and Balanites aegyptiaca fruits;and 2) analyse the silvicultural and socio-economic aspects of fruit exploitation of these two species. Socio-economic surveys were conducted in four big villages in two main agroecological zones. Fruit exploitation of these two species affected 3044 people, with estimated 39 tonnes of Z. mauritiana and 27 tonnes of B. aegyptiaca fruit collected in 2017. The surveys revealed that the main actors were women (62.05%), constituting the primary core of the actors of the value chain. Exploitation was mainly conducted in forests (68.6%) or on farms (15.4%) with no restrictions to access. Marketing of Z. mauritiana concerned fresh fruit (68.8%) and fruit processed into biscuits (82.14%), and that of B. aegyptiaca involved fruit (38.5%) and oil extracted from seeds (38.7%);the net margin was estimated at 71.71% ± 21.59% for the first species and 50.31% ± 47.99% for the second. The income was mainly used for the needs of farmers’ households. Links have been identified where consumers and processors supply seeds, after extracting the fruit pulp, to nurserymen for the production of plants for the villages or farms. This study reveals an important potential and opportunity for job creation and improved food and nutritional status of the vulnerable strata of rural communities in Niger. Improving the links between the various actors will establish a more sustainable promotion of the fruits of these two species.

Firm Size, Innovation and Vertical Integration Incentives： The Case of Food Supply Chain

This study aims to investigate and explore the relationship between vertical integration and the firm＇s innovativeness in food supply chain. For doing so, a two-stage least-squares model was used. It encompassed instrumental variables that attempt to describe the effective determinants of firm＇s vertical integration willingness. Results based on data concerning a set of 130 food-manufacturing firms, highlighted that vertical integration of a firm is strongly affected by internal incentives such as innovation rate and firm size. Moreover, it is simultaneously influenced by the economies of scale and some structure incentives. To conclude, results indicate globally that important and statistically significant differences exist across the studied firms and the small effective ones which acquire a high level of vertical integration.

Sustainability of Local Food Supply Chain in the New Theory Agriculture

World food production and its economic have rapidly grown over a decade; and number of supply chain management research has also increased in this field. However, this development relates to natural resources depletion and deterioration of quality of life in rural population, especially in smallholder farmers. Thailand has practiced the New Theory Agriculture （NTA）, one application aligned with sufficient economy. This theory not only remedies damaged natural resources but also helps smallholder farmers to improve quality of life; and it is analogous to local food supply chain theory, that is well-known in western countries. However, NTA has not been measured its sustainability. Following sustainable food criteria and sustainable agriculture criteria, this paper uses an Indicator of Sustainable Agricultural Practice （ISAP） to measure sustainability at farm level of small rural community＇s network called Inpaeng, a case study that has practiced NTA. The result of assessment in this case implies that NTA yields sustainability to local food supply chain more than monocrop system.

The Risk of <i>Fusarium</i>and Their Mycotoxins in the Food Chain

Fusarium sp. and mycotoxins of these species pose a major risk to consumer health, agriculture and the food industry. This paper is a worldwide bibliographic study on impact of Fusarium and mycotoxins on the food chain. The factors influencing the development of fungi Fusarium sp., the formation of mycotoxins and their microbiological risk on the food chain must be considered as a whole. For cereals and oilseeds before and after harvest, fungal infections and mycotoxin contamination present serious problems worldwide. This paper is an overview of the factors that include the microbiological risk and impact of Fusarium in the food chain mentioned in national and international studies. The methods and results obtained in this direction internationally are mentioned, such as: infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrometry and hyperspectral imaging. Also, in review are presented solutions to reduce this impact on the food chain.

Food-Chain Model of Grassland Degradation and Its Restoration Process in Northern Tibet Plateau:A Case Study in Nierong County

Based on the model of grassland climate ecological productivity, the process of grassland degradation and its restoration mechanism in northern Tibetan Plateau were discussed by the model of food-chain in which the environmental and human factors were corrected. The results of case study in Nierong County showed that： ① the climate trend of becoming warmer, more droughts and gales were conflicted with the restoration of grassland degradation, even under level of perfect management the climate ecological productivity was declined from 89. 3 kg/m^2 of 1983 to 71.8 kg/m^2 of 2003; ② from 1983 to 2003, the population increased fast, while the variation of livestock on hand was little, and the cost of its maintaining is rapid grassland degradation; ③ on the present condition of overgrazing, the livestock on hand can be maintained on the level of theoretical carrying capacity in 2033 by applying the mechanism of food-chain in grassland ecological system controlled with expected coefficients, so that to realize the policy of determining the quantity of livestock according to grass growth.

Sensory and Nutritional Properties and Stability of Formulated Organic Food Flavour Enhancers

Most food flavours have been shown to contain high quantities of cooking salt, followed by flavour enhancers such as sodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate and hydrogenated oils. Excess of these substances is associated with cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. In an effort to reduce the harmful effects of these synthetic substances, this study therefore aimed to formulate organic, nutritious food flavours with good storage stability from less harmful locally available food ingredients. A survey was carried out in 130 households and restaurants in the city of Yaoundé Cameroon, in order to evaluate the level of consumption of industrial flavours. Certain ingredients such as prawns, onions, garlic, white peppers, gingers and salt were used in some households as organic flavours. These ingredients and others were used to prepare 5 organic flavours. Their sensory and nutritional analyses and stability to storage within 90 days were evaluated. The survey revealed that 74.6% of respondents consume industrial flavours, with the cube flavour being the most widely consumed (81%). Two of the 5 organic flavours (434 and 634) had highest scores for general acceptability. The nutritional analyses of the formulae retained (434 and 634), showed that they contained: 11.08% and 10.68% fresh weight for moisture, 47.63% and 43.53% protein, 16.52% and 13.62% lipids, 2.20% and 2.44% fibres, 11.69% and 16.39% carbohydrates. Formula 434, the most accepted, had higher contents of Ca (257.97), Mg (115.91), K (1163), Zn (2.98), Cu (1.02) and Fe (12.43 mg/100g DM) while the second (634) had higher contents of sodium (3270.48) and manganese (2.18 mg/100g). Their water activity during storage in polypropylene bags for 90 days ranged from 0.39 - 0.58 at a temperature of 26.6˚C - 37˚C. The oxidative stability (90 days), determined by the acid and peroxide indices, was 9.18 - 14.13 mg KOH/g and 1.98 - 6.46 meq O2/Kg, respectively indicating good stability for 90 days of storage. The high levels of proteins and minerals in our two products justify their umami taste and can be used as highly nutritional food flavour enhancers to prevent cardiovascular diseases, especially in the elderly.

Food safety inspection and the adoption of traceability in aquatic wholesale markets: A game-theoretic model and empirical evidence

Supply chain traceability is key to reduce food safety risks,since it allows problems to be traced to their sources. Moreover,it allows regulatory agencies to understand where risk is introduced into the supply chain,and offers a major disincentive for upstream agricultural businesses engaging in economically motivated adulteration. This paper focuses on the aquatic supply chain in China,and seeks to understand the adoption of traceability both through an analytical model,and empirical analysis based on data collected through an extensive (largest ever) field survey of Chinese aquatic wholesale markets. The field survey includes 76 managers and 753 vendors,covering all aquatic wholesale markets in Zhejiang and Hunan provinces. The analytical and empirical results suggest that the adoption of traceability among wholesale market vendors is significantly associated with inspection intensity,their individual history of food safety problems,and their risk awareness. The effect of inspection intensity on traceability adoption is stronger in markets which are privately owned than in markets with state/collective ownership. The analysis offers insights into the current state of traceability in China. More importantly,it suggests several hypothesized factors that might affect the adoption of traceability and could be leveraged by regulatory organizations to improve it.

Mode stability analysis in the beam-wave interaction process for a three-gap Hughes-type coupled cavity chain

Based on space-charge wave theory, the formulae of the beam-wave coupling coefficient and the beam-loaded conductance are given for the beam-wave interaction in an N-gap Hughes-type coupled cavity chain. The ratio of the nonbeam-loaded quality factor of the coupled cavity chain to the beam quality factor is used to determine the stability of the beam-wave interaction. As an example, the stabilities of the beam-wave interaction in a three-gap Hughes-type coupled cavity chain are discussed with the formulae and the CST code for the operations of the 2π, π, and π/2 modes, respectively. The results show that stable operation of the 2π, π, and π/2 modes may all be realized in an extended-interaction klystron with the three-gap Hughes-type coupled cavity chain.

Dioxins in the Food Chain: Contamination Fingerprint Analysis in Breeding Hens, Hatching Eggs and Broilers

While routine monitoring poultry meat was obtained from breeding hens, dioxins contaminations were detected in Portugal. Levels of 430.9 pg PCDD/F-WHO-TEQ/g1 were found, which are higher than the official limits legally allowed for this matrix (1.75 pg PCDD/F-WHO-TEQ/g). To identify the magnitude of the contaminations, 60 samples were collected from poultry farms and different matrices, namely: feed, water, wood shavings from the litters, muscle of the breeding hens, hatching eggs collected in the positive farm and muscle collected from broilers farms supplied by the positive breeding farm. The comparison of the dioxins congeners profiles showed that there was a coincidence of peaks of higher relative concentrations in the wood shavings, with the peaks of the highest relative concentration in the hatching eggs, especially the relative concentrations of the congeners 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and OCDD, which may be explained by the role of VLDLy in the delivery of triglycerides to the oocyte, where they will be used as the energy source for the developing embryo. The comparison of the dioxins congeners profiles of the breeding hens muscle with the poultry muscle, showed a coincidence of peaks of higher relative concentrations in the congeners 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and OCDD which may indicate a dechlorination pathway “in vivo”. Results allowed concluding that those wood shavings, improperly used as poultry litters, were certainly the source of contamination of the food chain.