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Biodegradable polymers are widely used in personalized medical devices or scaffolds for tissue engineering. The manufacturing process should be finished with sterilization procedure. However, it is not clear how the different sterilization methods have an impact on the mechanical strength of the three-dimensional (3D)-printed parts, such as bone models or personalized mechanical devices. This paper aims to present the results of mechanical testing of polylactide-based bone models before and after sterilization.

Polylactide specimens prepared in fused filament fabrication technology were sterilized with different sterilization methods: ultraviolet (UV) and ethylene oxide. Mechanical properties were determined by testing tensile strength, Young’s modulus and toughness.

The tensile strength of material after sterilization was significantly higher after ethylene oxide sterilization compared to the UV sterilization, but in both sterilization methods, the specimens characterized lower tensile strength and Young’s modulus when compared to the control. In comparison of toughness results, there was no statistically significant differences. The findings are particularly significant in the perspective of using individual implants, bone grafts and dental guides.

Although fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing devices equipped with UV light sterilization options are available, experimental results of the effect of selected sterilization methods on the mechanical strength of additively manufactured parts have not been described. This paper completes the present state of the art on the problem of sterilization of FFF parts from biodegradable materials.

While it is commonly argued that food supply chains are characterized by severe imbalances of power between contracting parties, there is an insufficient understanding of the factors affecting the negotiating position of farmers. The purpose of this paper is to provide quantitative evidence documenting the position of farmers and to explain variation in farm gate prices in the dairy supply chain by using unique micro-survey data from Poland.

The bargaining power of farmers is elicited from their self-reported assessment about how confident they feel in their relationships with both the processing industry and input suppliers.

Using econometric modelling, it is shown that farmers who perceive themselves as having a relatively “strong position” in the food chain receive a higher milk price from dairy companies.

While this result comes with some caveats, it suggests that the self-reported beliefs farmers hold about relations with their contractors may reveal additional insights into the distribution of power throughout the food chain.

Compared to the existing studies, the paper offers two innovations. First, to construct a proxy for farmers’ bargaining power, their subjective opinion on how easy they could be substituted for by their contractors is used. In effect, the paper goes beyond the standard measures which focus on farm size or its location. Second, it investigates farmers’ relationships vis-à-vis both processing industry and input suppliers. Consequently, this paper is the first to analyze power relationships by explicitly taking into account three stages of the supply chain.

Studies were carried out on the modification of silica with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane in various solvents. The modified silica obtained was subjected to comprehensive evaluations of physicochemical properties, including the bulk density and the capacities to absorb water, dibutyl phthalate and paraffin oil. Particle size, particle size distribution, uniformity of the particles, tendency to form agglomerates, as well as particle surface morphology, were also examined using SEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. The properties of the modified silica obtained were compared to evaluate the effects of the solvents used during the surface modification of the silica.

The authors aimed to identify the opinions of young adult consumers regarding food processing companies’ (FPCs) credibility in terms of food safety (FS).

The authors surveyed Generation Z (GenZ) consumers. The authors assessed the reliability of the research questionnaire using Cronbach’s alpha statistics. The authors used descriptive statistics and one-way ANOVA analysis of variance in the data analysis to determine intergroup variability. The authors performed statistical analyses using IBM SPSS Statistics. 27.

The most valued determinants for consumers were competence and skills, and the most valued family members’ opinions on FS, followed by experts’ opinions. FS concerns are more associated with FPCs than with farmers. The ethics of conduct and moral responsibility play an important role in assessing the FPCs’ credibility.

The questionnaire did not focus on specific food industries, such as fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, dairy, etc. In the future, a similar survey on producers’ credibility should consider the issue of FS risks associated with the specifics of a particular industry.

The authors proposed a set of factors that may determine young adult consumers’ perception of the FPCs’ credibility, which they may use for research within other consumer groups.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) parts manufactured through fused filament fabrication and compare these results to analogous ones obtained on polylactic acid (PLA) and PLA–wood specimens to contribute for a wider understanding of the different materials used for additive manufacturing.

With that aim, an experimental based on an L27 Taguchi array was used to combine the specific parameters taken into account in the study, namely, layer height, nozzle diameter, infill density, orientation and printing velocity. All samples were subjected to a four-point bending test performed according to the ASTM D6272 standard.

Young’s modulus, elastic limit, maximum stress and maximum deformation of every sample were computed and subjected to an analysis of variance. Results prove that layer height and nozzle diameter are the most significant factors that affect the mechanical resistance in pieces generated through additive manufacturing and subjected to bending loads, regardless of the material.

The best results were obtained by combining a layer height of 0.1 mm and a nozzle diameter of 0.6 mm. The comparison of materials evidenced that PLA and its composite version reinforced with wood particles present more rigidity than ABS, whereas the latter can experience further deflection before break.

This study is of interest for manufacturers that want to decide which is the best material to be applied for their application, as it derives in a practical technical recommendation of the best parameters that should be selected to treat the material during the fused filament fabrication process.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the significant supply chain issues in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) food industry. The objectives are to identify the major themes and the dynamic evolution of SME food supply chain (FSC) issues, the current research trends, the different modelling approaches used in SME FSC, and the most addressed SME food sector.

In all, 3,733 published articles from 2002 to 2018 in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database were collected, from which 1,091 articles were shortlisted for the review. The authors used bibliographic coupling combined with co-word analysis to identify the historical relations of the research themes that emerged during the periods 2002–2014 and 2002–2018.

This research identified five major research themes such as production and distribution in alternative food networks, relationship, safety and standards in the FSC, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission impact of the farm food system, traceability and product quality in FSC and asymmetric price transmission in the FSC. Among the identified themes, GHG emission impact of the farm food system and traceability and product quality in the FSC have received increasing attention in recent years. The dairy sector is the most addressed sector (36 per cent), followed by fruits and vegetables (27 per cent), meat and poultry (18 per cent), seafood (10 per cent) and grains and oilseed (8 per cent). It is also identified that the dairy sector has received significant attention in the “GHG Emission impact of farm food system” theme. Similarly, meat and poultry sectors have received much attention in the “Traceability and product quality in the food supply chain” theme. Also, the authors identified that the empirical modelling approaches are the most commonly used solution methodology, followed by the conceptual/qualitative methods in the SME FSC.

This study maps and summarizes the existing knowledge base of supply chain issues in the SME food sector. The results of this review provide the major research areas, most commonly used approaches and food sectors addressed. This study also highlights the research gaps and potential future research direction.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the stress‐relaxation behavior of different woven fabrics under constant torsional strain in a wrinkled state. For this purpose, a new method for determination of stress‐relaxation behavior of the fabric was used while keeping the torsional strain constant.

In this study, the behavior of stress relaxation of fabric is examined with modification of wrinkle force tester sophisticated electro‐mechanical method and fabricating a device which uses a computer and micro controller, with constant torsional strain by a rotational level of 9.1 turn/m in 280°, and in 300 s.

The results depict that stress‐relaxation percentage in fabric in weft alignment is more than warp alignment and the fabrics which tolerate more torsional force, possess less stress‐relaxation percentages. In this way, with increasing polyester percentage in fabric the scale of stress‐relaxation percentage decreases. Also, adoption of data derived from experiments with Maxwell model shows that the interlaced model is a suitable model for explaining the stress relaxation decline in fabric. Correlation coefficient of fabrics in weft alignment with Maxwell model is more than warp alignment.

This study has practical implications in the clothing as well as in technical textiles areas.

Knowing visco‐elastic properties is very important. However, there is no information available to study the stress relaxation of woven fabrics under the combined influences of compression and constant torsional strains.

This paper examines whether farmers' knowledge of the minimum support prices (MSPs) affects farm-gate prices. MSP is the minimum guaranteed price for agricultural commodities announced by the Government of India for 24 commodities. Most farmers in India prefer to sell their produce at the farm-gate due to a small marketable surplus and hence do not directly benefit from MSP. The authors test the common argument in the political discourse that if farmers have knowledge of MSP, then they can bargain with traders during the farm-gate transaction and demand a better price close to MSP.

The authors use matching methods to examine the impact of knowledge of MSP on farm-gate prices.

Using nationally representative data, the authors show that there is no empirical evidence that the knowledge of MSP of the crops leads to higher bargaining power and better farm-gate prices.

Price information (MSP in this case) alone cannot improve the bargaining power of farmers and result in a better price realization. As a safety net, MSP fails in the absence of procurement of products by the government. This also raises the question of the equitability of the price support system in India and calls for a rethink of the MSP policy.

This study is the first of its kind to examine the anchoring effect of knowledge of MSP on farm-gate prices using a nationally representative dataset.

Epoxy acrylate which is commercially utilized for UV curable coatings although has excellent adhesion, flexibility, hardness and chemical resistance, they lack in antimicrobial properties. Citric acid (CA) is economical as well as a bio-based compound which possess an antimicrobial activity. So, the purpose of this research investigation is the preparation of CA-based oligomer which can be further incorporated with epoxy acrylate and tri (propylene glycol) Diacrylate (TPGDA) to form uv curable coating and the study of its antimicrobial property.

A UV-curable unsaturated oligomer (CUV) was synthesized from CA and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The chemical structure of CUV was confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, GPC, hydroxyl value, acid value and iodine value. Further, CUV was assimilated as an antimicrobial as well as crosslinking agent to copolymerize with epoxy acrylate oligomer and a series of UV-cured antimicrobial coatings were concocted by employing UV-curing machine. The consequence of varying the fraction of CUV on the mechanical, chemical, thermal and antimicrobial properties of UV-cured wood coatings was explored.

Results exhibited good mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. In addition, it was perceived that the zone of inhibition against S. aureus got enlarged with increasing content of CUV in the coating formulation.

The synthesized bio-based CUV reveals an extensive potential to ameliorate the antimicrobial properties of UV-curable coatings.

This study aims to investigate whether higher value creation leads to higher value appropriation and to identify the boundary conditions in a buyer–supplier relationship that can explain why a particular supplier can appropriate higher value than others.

The study uses questionnaire surveys. The sample of the survey has 150 publicly-listed supplier firms in Taiwan. The unit of analysis is the buyer–supplier relationship.

In the buyer–supplier relationship, suppliers’ bargaining power, partnership and a supplier’s original brand manufacturing (OBM) business can strengthen the positive relationship between value creation and value appropriation.

This study adopts the unilateral viewpoint of suppliers; however, some constructs might require dyadic evaluation. This study only explores the spillover effect of OBM business on the relationship between value creation and appropriation.

The spillover effect of a supplier’s OBM business in a buyer–supplier relationship allows the buyer to share more common benefits and the supplier to capture more private benefits as compensation. By broadening its customer base, a supplier can increase its bargaining power. A supplier can also maintain a strategic partnership with each essential buyer.

To avoid the dark-side effect of partnership, the model provides the contingency that a supplier can capture more value from a buyer–supplier relationship.