Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widespread disorder and an important public health challenge. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between salt taste perception, Mediterranean ...diet and MetS. This cross-sectional study included 2798 subjects from the general population of Dalmatia, Croatia. MetS was determined using the Joint Interim Statement definition, and Mediterranean diet compliance was estimated using Mediterranean Diet Serving Score. Salt taste perception was assessed by threshold and suprathreshold testing (intensity and hedonic perception). Logistic regression was used in the analysis, adjusting for important confounding factors. As many as 44% of subjects had MetS, with elevated waist circumference as the most common component (77%). Higher salt taste sensitivity (lower threshold) was associated with several positive outcomes: lower odds of MetS (OR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.52-0.92), lower odds for elevated waist circumference (0.47; 0.27-0.82), elevated fasting glucose or diabetes (0.65; 0.45-0.94), and reduced HDL cholesterol (0.59; 0.42-0.84), compared to the higher threshold group. Subjects with lower salt taste threshold were more likely to consume more fruit, and less likely to adhere to olive oil and white meat guidelines, but without a difference in the overall Mediterranean diet compliance. Salt taste intensity perception was not associated with any of the investigated outcomes, while salty solution liking was associated with MetS (OR = 1.85, CI 95% 1.02-3.35). This study identified an association between salt taste perception and MetS and gave a new insight into taste perception, nutrition, and possible health outcomes.
Increase in the population demands healthy food, clean air, fresh water and high secured life. To fulfil the above demands, spectrometers such as ultraviolet, Fourier transformation infrared, Raman, ...HPLC, gas chromatography are used as confirmation tool for identification of materials. The cost and space of above-mentioned instruments are more and to build low-cost spectrometer with high efficiency is a challenging research area for material scientists and engineers. In the present work, an attempt has been made to manufacture a low-cost spectrometer. The spectrometer has been designed using cardboard, DVD, a webcam and free available spectrum software named as theremino. The DVD is used as a diffraction grating and webcam as an image sensor with an overall cost of Rs 1000. This can be used as an instrument for practical demonstration for students and other research purposes for detecting pesticides level in fruits and vegetables, sensing water purity level, edible oils, etc. The spectral range can be improved by removing infrared filter integrated in webcam. The performance of the constructed spectrometer could be upgrade using effective filters and high intense low-cost lasers. This designed spectrometer will be a boon towards application in healthcare, biomedicals and food processing applications.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The accurate and precise transport of the small amounts of the liquid by the syringe pump is widely used in many fields. In this paper, an Arduino-based syringe pump is fabricated using the computer ...DVD (digital versatile disc) drive. For the fabrication of the syringe pump, low-cost electronic components such as an Arduino microcontroller, a stepper motor, a stepper motor driver, and a display are used. The tray-loading mechanism of the computer DVD drive (close/open mechanism of the tray for inserting/removing DVD) was used for the injection process. To provide the necessary force for the precise and accurate movement of the plunger of the syringe, we replaced the DC motor of the computer DVD drive with the stepper motor and the stepper motor driver. An Arduino code was developed to control the infusion process. Depending on the syringe dimension (inner diameter and barrel length), the stepper motor (angular resolution), and the motor driver (microstepping mode), the code can be modified by using the Arduino software. The syringe pump infuses the water in the flow rates from 0.005 (mL/min) to 1 (mL/min) with a maximum of 10 μL difference between the mean measured volume and the infused volume. The fabricated syringe pump does not require the complex mechanical components that are used in conventional syringe pumps. The project provides instructions for building and testing a syringe pump and enables the students to fabricate a low-cost, open-source syringe pump using the recycled parts of the computer DVD drive for less than $30. As a result, the students will increase their hardware and software skills by completing the project.
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IJS, KILJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Purpose
Given the high uncertainty in the quality perception of experiential products, manufacturers use signals to influence consumers’ decisions. In the movie industry, literature shows that ...performance of the main channel (e.g. cinema) strongly influences the performance of auxiliary channels (e.g. DVDs). The success of a movie in the home country is also to be resonated by its good performance in host countries. However, the cultural contingency of these success-breeds-success (SBS) effects has not been examined. This paper aims to test the influence of cultural values on the SBS effects across channels and countries.
Design/methodology/approach
Borrowing concepts from the signaling literature and analyzing DVD sales data from six international markets using a multilevel mixed-effects model, the study finds that culture plays a significant role to influence both SBS effects.
Findings
In countries with low power distance, short-term orientation and high indulgence, consumers who purchase from auxiliary channels are more likely to be influenced by the box office performance of movies. Meanwhile, cultural distance between the home and host nations significantly decreases the cross-national SBS effect.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are likely to be generalized to online auxiliary channels of movies, but empirical testing is required to ensure that no major adaptation is required in the process. Future research can also extend the framework of this paper to include more countries into the analysis and investigate cultural variables beyond Hofstede’s dimensions.
Practical implications
This paper suggests that the SBS effects may vary across nations. When managers plan for the sequential distributions of experiential products, the cultural values of target markets should be considered to decrease the uncertainty in sales prediction.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating the international auxiliary channels of movies and incorporating cultural values into the framework of sequential distributions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to test the links between the main and auxiliary channels from an international marketing perspective.
We examine the ancillary revenue for movies, specifically its revenue from DVD sales. We compared the sales and returns to investment for DVD among different categories of DVD titles/movies based on ...their movie production budgets. We find that while bigger budget movies will sell more DVDs they performed poorer when it comes to returns to investment (ROI).
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