A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SELECTION OF PAYMENT CARDS FOR TRANSACTIONS AFTER PRE-STIPULATED TIME PERIODS

The present disclosure relates to a method and system for providing selection of payment cards for transactions after pre-stipulated time periods. The method includes generating a universal token for a consumer, such that the universal token is mapped to the consumer’s payment cards. Thereafter, the universal token is utilised for a transaction. In order for the transaction to be authorised, the universal token is authorised by issuing agencies. At an end of the pre-stipulated time period, the consumer may pay for purchases by choosing a payment card from a plurality of payment cards for each transaction made using the universal token. The transaction is ultimately cleared after the pre-stipulated time period using the payment card chosen by the consumer

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING MERCHANT TICKETS

The present disclosure provides a method and a system for managing the merchant tickets. The present disclosure provides a centralized platform that stores and manages the merchant tickets offered and sold by the merchant. The present disclosure discloses associating the merchant tickets of a user with a digital wallet of the user. The merchant tickets are managed and stored by a merchant system associated with the merchant and a service provider system. The user can view, manage, and redeem the merchant tickets from the digital wallet

High-strong-ductile magnesium alloys by interactions of nanoscale quasi-long period stacking order unit with twin.

Magnesium alloys with high strength in combination of good ductility are especially desirable for applications in transportation, aerospace and bio-implants owing to their high stiffness, abundant raw materials, and environmental friendliness. However, the majority of traditional strengthening approaches including grain refining and precipitate strengthening can usually prohibit dislocation movement at the expense of ductility invariably. Herein, we report an effective strategy for simultaneously enhancing yield strength (205 MPa, 2.41 times) and elongation (23%, 1.54 times) in a Mg-0.2Zn-0.6Y (at.%) alloy at room temperature, based on the formation of a nanosized quasi-long period stacking order unit (QLPSO)-twin structure by ultrahigh-pressure treatment followed by annealing. The formation reason and strong-ductile mechanism of the unique QLPSO-twin structure have been clarified by transmission electron microscopy observations and molecule dynamics simulations. The improved strength is mainly associated with the presence of nanosized QLPSO and the modified <86.3o QLPSO-twin boundary (TB) interface, effectively pinning dislocation movement. Comparatively, the enhanced ductility is related to the <3.7o QLPSO-TB interface and micro-kinks of nanoscale QLPSO, providing some paths for plastic deformation. This strategy on the QLPSO-twin structure might provide an alternative perspective for designing innovative hexagonal close-packed structural materials with superior mechanical properties

Strengthen the bonding of self-glazed zirconia to enamel by sol–gel coating

Sol–gel coating technology was applied to modify the bonding surface of self-glazed zirconia (SZ). Its effect on the bond strength of SZ to enamel was evaluated in vitro in comparison with the conventional milled zirconia treated by airborne-particle abrasion (CZa) and the heat-pressed lithium disilicate glass-ceramics treated by etching and silanization (LDe). All ceramic specimens were bonded to the etched bovine enamel with adhesive resin cement. Shear bond strength of both sol–gel coated SZ groups with different strategies (SZc1 and SZc2) was 20.00 ± 7.07 MPa and 18.32 ± 3.63 MPa, respectively, which was comparable to that of LDe, 18.44 ± 2.27 MPa (p > 0.05) and significantly higher than that of CZa, 11.72 ± 1.48 MPa, and SZ, 3.06 ± 1.66 MPa (p < 0.05). Lots of voids between zirconia clusters were observed on the bonding surface of SZc1, yet that of SZc2 showed homogeneous honeycomb nanoporous structure. All groups exhibited mixed failure except SZ, and the fracture surfaces of SZc1, SZc2, and LDe showed better wettability than CZa. Sol–gel coating could improve the bond strength of SZ to enamel, and the sol–gel coated SZ might have the potential to make minimally invasive restorations

Enhanced Thermal Conductivity of Phase Change Microcapsules Based on Boron Nitride/Graphene Oxide Composite Sheets

Large energy storage capacity and high heat conduction are very important for phase change materials. Phase change microcapsules (PCMCs) were synthesized through in situ polymerization by using paraffin as the core material. The melamine–formaldehyde (MF) polymer shell of PCMCs was modified with boron nitride/graphene oxide composite sheets (BN/GO CSs) to improve thermal conduction. The preparation condition of BN/GO CSs through the self-assembly process and the synthesis process of composite PCMCs (CPCMCs) in the presence of BN/GO CSs were systematically investigated. The thermal conductivity of CPCMCs synthesized under the optimized condition significantly increased about 190% relative to the incorporated paraffin. Promisingly, the introduction of BN/GO CSs hardly influenced the encapsulation process, allowing high encapsulation rate (>93%) and high phase change enthalpy (∼200 J·g–1). This work is an enlightening complementarity to the very limited research attempts that incorporating multiple fillers in PCMCs. We postulated and proved the synergistic effect of BN/GO CSs and their advantages in improving the thermal conductivity of the resultant PCMCs without scarifying the essential heat storage capacity. We envision that the insights and the CPCMCs synthesized can be applied in a range of material designs for energy and electronic applications

How Parenting and Family Characteristics Predict the Use of Feeding Practices among Parents of Preschoolers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Beijing, China

Parental coercive and structured feeding practices are linked with children&rsquo;s weight gain. Thus, identifying their predictors will assist in childhood obesity prevention. We explored how parents&rsquo; concerns and perceptions of children&rsquo;s weight, parenting stress, parenting competence, parents&rsquo; family roles, and only child status (of both parent and child) predict the use of restriction, pressure to eat, and monitoring practices among parents of preschoolers. Parent&ndash;child dyads (n = 2990) were recruited in Beijing in 2019. Parenting competence, parents&rsquo; weight perceptions and feeding practices were assessed using the Chinese version of Parenting Sense of Competence Scale and Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ), respectively. Parenting stress and other variables were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate linear associations between parents&rsquo; weight perceptions and feeding practices were significant among normal-weight children. Parents&rsquo; concerns about children being overweight were positively associated with restriction and monitoring, and negatively associated with pressure to eat. Higher levels of parenting stress and parenting competence significantly improved the adoption of restriction and pressure to eat. Parents&rsquo; only child status and that of children had an impact on parents&rsquo; feeding practices. The fathers&rsquo; feeding preferences were substantially different from what mothers preferred. In conclusion, such parenting and family characteristics significantly influenced feeding practices of preschoolers&rsquo; parents. These were long neglected in China

Impact of Obesogenic Environments on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption among Preschoolers: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Survey in Beijing

The excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been proven to be critical for obesity among preschoolers. This study aimed to describe the SSB consumption rates among preschoolers in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, China, and to explore the association between obesogenic environmental determinants and consumption. We applied a stratified cluster sampling method and recruited 3057 primary caregivers of preschoolers in June 2019 to participate in the survey. The caregivers reported their children&rsquo;s consumption rates of six categories of SSBs and their exposure rates to SSB-related obesogenic environments. The associations between them were tested using multivariate logistic regression models. The mean (SD) age of the children was 5.6 (0.6) years and nearly half (48.3%) were girls. About 84.5% of the children had consumed SSBs over the past three months, and sugar-sweetened milk beverages had the highest consumption rate. Higher exposure to advertisements for the corresponding SSB categories in children, higher frequency rates of consuming SSBs and of taking children to fast-food restaurants in caregivers, and lower frequency rates of reading the Nutrition Facts Panels by caregivers were associated with higher SSB consumption rates among children (p &lt; 0.05 in all of the SSB categories investigated, except for the Nutrition Facts Panel reading behaviors for the sports and energy beverages). SSB consumption among preschoolers is of concern, and comprehensive policy actions and education are urgently needed

Types and Aspects of Front-of-Package Labeling Preferred by Parents: Insights for Policy Making in China

The WHO recommends front-of-package labeling (FOPL) to help parents make healthier food choices for their children. But which type of FOPL resonates with parents in China? We performed a cross-sectional study to investigate parental preferences for five widely used formats of FOPL. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was applied to selected parents of students in primary and secondary schools in six provinces and municipalities from July 2020 to March 2021. A close-ended questionnaire was used to collect demographic information, parents’ preferences for five FOPL in three dimensions, perceptions of the importance of nutrients labeled on FOPL, and prepackaged foods that need FOPL most. Chi-square tests were used to examine the characteristics among five groups. The results showed that multiple traffic lights (MTL) was preferred by parents, followed by warning labels. Parents thought the most needed nutrients to label were sugar, salt, and total fat. The top three prepackaged foods to label were “baked food”, “milk and dairy products” and “sugar-sweetened beverages”. Our findings indicate that nutrient-specific FOPL formats with interpretive aids were preferred by Chinese parents. These new findings can help inform the planning and implementation of FOPL in China and help Chinese parents make healthier food choices