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Xiuying Li,1 Xin Wang,1 Xiuwu Qu,1 Ningning Shi,1 Qinqing Li,1 Zhifang Yan,1 Yandong Li,2 Yingli Wang3 1Shanxi Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug for the Treatment of Serious Diseases Basing on the Chronic Inflammation, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, People’s Republic of China; 2Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi’an, People’s Republic of China; 3Shanxi Modern Traditional Chinese Medicine Engineering Laboratory, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jinzhong, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yandong Li; Yingli Wang, Email liyandongzhongnan@163.com; wyl@sxtcm.edu.cnPurpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease involving synovial inflammation and joint destruction. Although therapeutic drugs for RA have some efficacy, they usually cause severe side effects and are expensive. RA is characterized by synovial hyperplasia, intra-articular hypoxia, upregulated expression of matrix metalloproteinases, and excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. The adverse microenvironment further aggravates activated macrophage infiltration. Therefore, controlling the microenvironment of diseased tissues and targeting the activated macrophages have become new therapeutic targets in RA patients.Methods: Here, microenvironment-targeting micelles (PVGLIG-MTX-Que-Ms) were synthesized using the thin film hydration method. In the inflammatory microenvironment, PVGLIG was cleaved by the highly expressed MMP-2, PEG5000 was eliminated, MTX was exposed, macrophage activation was targeted, and Que enrichment was enhanced. The cytotoxicity, targeting, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of drug-loaded micelles were tested in vitro. The drug-loaded micelles were used to treat CIA rats. In vivo targeting, expression of serum inflammatory factors, immunohistochemistry of the articular cartilage, and changes in immunofluorescence staining were observed.Results: The developed micelles had a particle size of

Supply chains (SC) are increasingly complex and if the resulting complexity is not managed effectively, it could lead to adverse consequences for the firm. The effect big data analytics (BDA) can have on managing distinct types of SC complexity is not well-understood in the extant literature. Based on a sample of 166 firms from Pakistan, this study empirically investigates the effects of BDA, and structural and dynamic SC complexities, on SC resilience. The study also investigates the role of BDA as a mediator between SC complexities and SC resilience. We find that structural SC complexity positively affects SC resilience, while there doesn’t seem to be a significant impact for dynamic SC complexity. We also find a mediating effect of BDA for structural and dynamic SC complexities on SC resilience. Our results contribute to the extant literature investigating BDA and SC resilience by offering a more nuanced understanding of distinct types of SC complexities. We establish a more critical understanding of the role of BDA in mediating the critical link between the two types of SC complexity and SC resilience. The proposed model highlights that there are both direct and indirect effects between structural SC complexity and SC resilience, however dynamic SC complexity only influences SC resilience via BDA. These findings provide strategic insights for SC executives as to where to invest in BDA to build much-needed SC resilience.

Supply chains (SC) are increasingly complex and if the resulting complexity is not managed effectively, it could lead to adverse consequences for the firm. The effect big data analytics (BDA) can have on managing distinct types of SC complexity is not well-understood in the extant literature. Based on a sample of 166 firms from Pakistan, this study empirically investigates the effects of BDA, and structural and dynamic SC complexities, on SC resilience. The study also investigates the role of BDA as a mediator between SC complexities and SC resilience. We find that structural SC complexity positively affects SC resilience, while there doesn’t seem to be a significant impact for dynamic SC complexity. We also find a mediating effect of BDA for structural and dynamic SC complexities on SC resilience. Our results contribute to the extant literature investigating BDA and SC resilience by offering a more nuanced understanding of distinct types of SC complexities. We establish a more critical understanding of the role of BDA in mediating the critical link between the two types of SC complexity and SC resilience. The proposed model highlights that there are both direct and indirect effects between structural SC complexity and SC resilience, however dynamic SC complexity only influences SC resilience via BDA. These findings provide strategic insights for SC executives as to where to invest in BDA to build much-needed SC resilience.

Jing Ren,1 Dongfang Han,2 Jingjun Zhang,1 Yingli Wang,3 Qiaoqiao Huang,4 Tian Tian,1 Xiaomei Li1 1School of Nursing, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an City, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an City, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Internal Medicine of Tuberculosis, Fourth Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot City, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nursing, Fourth Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Huhhot City, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaomei LiSchool of Nursing, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, No. 76 Yanta West Road, Yanta District, Xi’an City, Shanxi, 710061, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86 29 82657017Email roselee8825@126.comPurpose: Patients affected by tuberculosis have diverse unmet supportive care needs (SCN) that may seriously affect their treatment adherence. Accurately assessing patients’ SCN is important for providing efficient patient-centred care, but few instruments are suitable for use in clinical practice. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an SCN scale for patients with tuberculosis (SCN-TB) and to evaluate its psychometrical properties.Patients and Methods: Based on the SCN framework, the SCN-TB was designed via a literature review, Delphi consultation and pilot study. Then, 550 patients from four tuberculosis specialist hospitals in Shaanxi Province were enrolled by convenience sampling to further test the validity and reliability of the SCN-TB.Results: A total of 518 patients completed the survey. The final scale encompasses 25 items in five domains: physical, practical, psycho-emotional, social, and informational. The content validity for the scale was 0.93, with that for each item ranging from 0.80 to 1.00. Five factors that explained 80.38% of the variance were identified in exploratory factor analysi

Our knowledge about the evolution of guarantee network in downturn period is limited due to the lack of comprehensive data of the whole credit system. Here we analyze the dynamic Chinese guarantee network constructed from a comprehensive bank loan dataset that accounts for nearly 80% total loans in China, during 01/2007-03/2012. The results show that, first, during the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, the guarantee network became smaller, less connected and more stable because of many bankruptcies; second, the stimulus program encouraged mutual guarantee behaviors, resulting in highly reciprocal and fragile network structure; third, the following monetary policy adjustment enhanced the resilience of the guarantee network by reducing mutual guarantees. Interestingly, our work reveals that the financial crisis made the network more resilient, and conversely, the government bailout degenerated network resilience. These counterintuitive findings can provide new insight into the resilience of real-world credit system under external shocks or rescues., Comment: 30pages, 8 figures, 1 table

In this study, we investigate the evolution of Chinese guarantee networks from the angle of sub-patterns. First, we find that the mutual, 2-out-stars and triangle sub-patterns are motifs in 2- and 3-node subgraphs. Considering the heterogeneous financial characteristics of nodes, we find that small firms tend to form a mutual guarantee relationship and large firms are likely to be the guarantors in 2-out-stars sub-patterns.

Online purchases of clothes are increasing rapidly and with it, the number of returns. Return rates of clothing bought online can be up to 70%, involving high reverse logistics costs to retailers as well as sustainability costs to society. This paper seeks to illustrate how digitalisation can potentially decrease both such costs. The paper is based on a literature review and subsequent empirical research. Qualitative information was obtained through detailed interviews with key personnel and observations of the reverse logistics operations of five major clothing retailers and two major logistics companies in Sweden, carried out in Spring 2017. The research confirmed the importance to the retailers of reverse logistics and highlighted some of the environmental consequences of the reverse logistics operations. It also unveiled several areas where digitalisation could both reduce the number of returns made in the first place and improve the efficiency of the reverse logistics processes involved in dealing with returns. There is very little research on reverse logistics in the online clothing industry despite it being the single biggest sector of online purchases in practically every country in the world. This paper brings to light some of the little-considered issues involved as well as suggesting ways in which technology can improve the sustainability of such operations. Both elements are original. Most retailers are concerned about the costs and sustainability of their operations. By providing insights into how these can be reduced, management can make better informed decisions.

The autophagy receptor CALCOCO2/NDP52 functions as a bridging adaptor and plays an essential role in the selective autophagic degradation of invading pathogens by specifically recognizing ubiquitin-coated intracellular pathogens and subsequently targeting them to the autophagic machinery; thereby it is required for innate immune defense against a range of infectious pathogens in mammals. However, the mechanistic basis underlying CALCOCO2-mediated specific recognition of ubiqutinated pathogens is still unknown. Here, using biochemical and structural analyses, we demonstrated that the cargo-binding region of CALCOCO2 contains a dynamic unconventional zinc finger as well as a C2H2-type zinc-finger, and only the C2H2-type zinc finger specifically recognizes mono-ubiquitin or poly-ubiquitin chains. In addition to elucidating the specific ubiquitin recognition mechanism of CALCOCO2, the structure of the CALCOCO2 C2H2-type zinc finger in complex with mono-ubiquitin also uncovers a unique zinc finger-binding mode for ubiquitin. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into how CALCOCO2 targets ubiquitin-decorated pathogens for autophagic degradations.

The autophagy receptor CALCOCO2/NDP52 functions as a bridging adaptor and plays an essential role in the selective autophagic degradation of invading pathogens by specifically recognizing ubiquitin-coated intracellular pathogens and subsequently targeting them to the autophagic machinery; thereby it is required for innate immune defense against a range of infectious pathogens in mammals. However, the mechanistic basis underlying CALCOCO2-mediated specific recognition of ubiqutinated pathogens is still unknown. Here, using biochemical and structural analyses, we demonstrated that the cargo-binding region of CALCOCO2 contains a dynamic unconventional zinc finger as well as a C2H2-type zinc-finger, and only the C2H2-type zinc finger specifically recognizes mono-ubiquitin or poly-ubiquitin chains. In addition to elucidating the specific ubiquitin recognition mechanism of CALCOCO2, the structure of the CALCOCO2 C2H2-type zinc finger in complex with mono-ubiquitin also uncovers a unique zinc finger-binding mode for ubiquitin. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into how CALCOCO2 targets ubiquitin-decorated pathogens for autophagic degradations.

The autophagy receptor CALCOCO2/NDP52 functions as a bridging adaptor and plays an essential role in the selective autophagic degradation of invading pathogens by specifically recognizing ubiquitin-coated intracellular pathogens and subsequently targeting them to the autophagic machinery; thereby it is required for innate immune defense against a range of infectious pathogens in mammals. However, the mechanistic basis underlying CALCOCO2-mediated specific recognition of ubiqutinated pathogens is still unknown. Here, using biochemical and structural analyses, we demonstrated that the cargo-binding region of CALCOCO2 contains a dynamic unconventional zinc finger as well as a C2H2-type zinc-finger, and only the C2H2-type zinc finger specifically recognizes mono-ubiquitin or poly-ubiquitin chains. In addition to elucidating the specific ubiquitin recognition mechanism of CALCOCO2, the structure of the CALCOCO2 C2H2-type zinc finger in complex with mono-ubiquitin also uncovers a unique zinc finger-binding mode for ubiquitin. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into how CALCOCO2 targets ubiquitin-decorated pathogens for autophagic degradations.

Summary: To assess and improve the accuracy of an intelligent machine such as a precision robot and a computer numerically controlled machine tool, it is exceedingly desirable to have a high performance Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). Among various coordinate measuring devices, a laser tracking CMM has the advantages of noninvasiveness and extremely high precision over a large workspace. In this dissertation, we concentrate on the design and control of a new type of spherical gimbal for laser tracking system, whose motion is constrained by two spherical surfaces and whose axes are motorized. By this design, principal errors of a conventional tracking gimbal are reduced. To be able to integrate the laser tracking unit into an intelligent machine, a compact optical head is also designed. This laser tracking system is thus capable of being either a stand-alone or an on-line measuring device. An important issue in developing a laser tracking CMM is control. An intelligent control scheme is reported in this dissertation. The controller has the following elements: The entire tracking process of the system is classified into three modes: normal tracking, motionless and change of directions. An artificial neural network is designed to classify on-line which mode the system is in. A Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) suitable for the particular tracking mode is then activated to control the system. To deal with the situation in which a target suddenly changes its direction, a feed-forward compensation component is designed. Decoupling units are also added to the control scheme, by which the entire process of tracking controller design can be greatly simplified. To further improve the system performance, various structures of FLCs are analyzed in the dissertation. It is discovered that there is a constraint in the cascade proportional-integral-derivative (PID)-type FLC. Whenever this constraint is violated, the design of the controller will not be optimal. To solve this problem, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection, Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1998.

Urban resilience has been defined as the capacity of (amongst others) communities and businesses to survive, adapt, and grow when faced with stresses and shocks. Redistributed Manufacturing (RdM) exploits technologies, systems and strategies to change the economics and organisation of manufacturing (in particular location and scale). A series of studies are being undertaken, in the city of Bristol (population 450,000), into how RdM can contribute to a city’s resilience and sustainability. Such as a ‘Maker Walk’, that examines the manufacturing hidden within urban areas. The objective of this paper is to report a pilot study within Bristol, to determine a range of logistics solutions that have the potential to support re-distributed manufacturing to enhance its resilience. As well as sustainability by helping address Bristol’s traffic congestion and pollution problems. This paper proposes three potential logistics business models: 1) A logistics cooperative based around locally located service providers; 2) An urban logistics consolidation network; 3) A public transport integrated logistics service. These solutions could be used by logistics service providers, policy makers and regional government. The models provide guidance as to the interventions that require both private and public sector involvement.

Our research is rooted in community operational research (community OR) and adopts a qualitative problem structuring approach to exploring potential solutions for addressing inequality in access to affordable healthy food in disadvantaged communities in Wales, UK. Existing food provisions are synthesised and barriers to their effectiveness are identified. A portfolio of actions and commitment packages is co-developed with multiple stakeholders in order to bring about desired changes. Although these solutions address concerns specific to local Welsh communities, they can be generalised and applied in similar settings where food desert problems prevail. We draw upon insights from the literature on inequality, food deserts, and social capital to conceptualise the solutions around both material (providing and accessing) and social (reconnecting and strengthening) aspects. By addressing both material and social aspects simultaneously, we show how community-driven intervention can contribute to reducing inequality in disadvantaged communities. Our research experience reveals that COR is particularly effective in tackling a ‘wicked’ problem such as food deserts, and allows researchers to engage with communities, gain an understanding about the problematic situation and guide intervention efforts in a sustainable and systemic manner. A number of methodological reflections are offered as a way to contribute to the development of the field as a whole.

Material reuse and recycling plays a key role in reducing carbon emissions in the architecture and construction sector. A “Material Passport” (MP) is a record describing how a material is used throughout its lifetime, from genesis to termination, recording operations carried out on the material. The granularity of information recorded in a MP can vary, however ensuring that this provenance trail remains immutable is a key requirement. The benefits of using a MP, operations carried out on a MP, and recording of transactions within a distributed Blockchain (parachain) is described. A scenario is used to illustrate how the proposed approach can be used in practice.

This paper reports the main findings from a design science research project that sets out to explore and understand the need for a more scientific and democratised process for preselecting, vetting, and engaging start-up and SME suppliers in a manufacturing environment. The project, using aerospace manufacturing as a test case will investigate the feasibility of using artificially intelligent web-scraping, third-party APIs, and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) to provide a localised and highly automated manufacturing marketplace. This paper’s findings lend insight into emerging digital platform engagements between participating supply chain actors in open innovation environments.

Our research is rooted in community operational research (community OR) and adopts a qualitative problem structuring approach to exploring potential solutions for addressing inequality in access to affordable healthy food in disadvantaged communities in Wales, UK. Existing food provisions are synthesised and barriers to their effectiveness are identified. A portfolio of actions and commitment packages is co-developed with multiple stakeholders in order to bring about desired changes. Although these solutions address concerns specific to local Welsh communities, they can be generalised and applied in similar settings where food desert problems prevail. We draw upon insights from the literature on inequality, food deserts, and social capital to conceptualise the solutions around both material (providing and accessing) and social (reconnecting and strengthening) aspects. By addressing both material and social aspects simultaneously, we show how community-driven intervention can contribute to reducing inequality in disadvantaged communities. Our research experience reveals that COR is particularly effective in tackling a ‘wicked’ problem such as food deserts, and allows researchers to engage with communities, gain an understanding about the problematic situation and guide intervention efforts in a sustainable and systemic manner. A number of methodological reflections are offered as a way to contribute to the development of the field as a whole.

Maritime and shipping industry is under rising to improve operational efficiency and inter-organisational collaboration to increase their competitiveness. Supply chain integration (SCI) in maritime and shipping industry has become a predominant strategy to improve efficiency and cost reduction (Panayides and Song 2009). Blockchain technology (BCT), also known as distributed ledger technology, has been identified as a promising solution to enable maritime supply chain (MSC) integration and improve efficiencies. BCT is a shared, distributed electronic ledger with characteristics such as immutability by encryption, transparency, openness, security, and real-time update in data management (Scott et al. 2017). The technology is considered to have the potential to address a number of issues facing MSC, i.e., the issues of trust, product traceability, process optimisation, and coordination and communication in maritime communication (Jović et al. 2019). This paper provides a systematic review of blockchain adoption in maritime and shipping industry and its relationship to MSCI, especially container transport, by identifying adoptions factors.

Purpose: Circular economy (CE) is increasingly promoted as a solution to increase resource efficiency and reduce waste in production and consumption systems. Digital technology can play an important role in transforming CE practices and business models by enhancing traceability, transparency, integration, among others. Despite the opportunities in digitally enabled circular supply chain (CSC), implementation is impeded by significant tensions and challenges. In the extant literature, these barriers across CSC have been identified in various contexts. Yet, there are limited efforts focusing on systematically understanding identified digitally enabled CSC barriers. For instance, in considering a common integrated definition and the perspectives of various supply chain actors and stakeholders. Thus, how has published research characterised and studied digitally enabled CSC barriers? Research Approach: This study adopts a systematic literature review. A keyword search was established to identify and filter relevant papers, and the content was analysed to theme key contributions to digitally enabled CSC barriers. Findings and Originality: The study content reviewed 49 documents. The findings emphases how digitally enabled CSC barriers have been conceived, the common methods used, the applied theories, and the actors and stakeholders involved. Also, the study shows how extant research studies are mostly descriptive empirical research and guided by a mixture of generic and industry-focused concepts, rather than established theories. Research Impact: The study highlights important gaps and provides future research directions in digitally enabled CSC. It contributes towards building a more robust theoretical understanding of CE concept, grounded in the extant literature on digitally enabled CSC barriers. Practical Impact: The findings and discussion of the study provide a more structured overview of the state of art digital developments in supporting circular supply chain.

Maritime and shipping industry is under rising to improve operational efficiency and inter-organisational collaboration to increase their competitiveness. Supply chain integration (SCI) in maritime and shipping industry has become a predominant strategy to improve efficiency and cost reduction (Panayides and Song 2009). Blockchain technology (BCT), also known as distributed ledger technology, has been identified as a promising solution to enable maritime supply chain (MSC) integration and improve efficiencies. BCT is a shared, distributed electronic ledger with characteristics such as immutability by encryption, transparency, openness, security, and real-time update in data management (Scott et al. 2017). The technology is considered to have the potential to address a number of issues facing MSC, i.e., the issues of trust, product traceability, process optimisation, and coordination and communication in maritime communication (Jović et al. 2019). This paper provides a systematic review of blockchain adoption in maritime and shipping industry and its relationship to MSCI, especially container transport, by identifying adoptions factors.

The AEC sector is a significant component of the UK economy and is under enormous pressure to improve its environmental sustainability. Though significant progress has been achieved in reusing, remanufacturing, and recycling materials, using blockchain in the circular supply chain is still a relatively new idea and particularly challenging in the building industry. As a result, this study focuses on the importance of blockchain and circular economy in built-environment supply chains. We show the application method of utilising a blockchain-enabled digital platform and the idea of material passports to efficiently monitor materials and resources in the built environment. Based on the methodologies of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC), and Building Information Management (BIM), we suggest that blockchain can be used to track environmental performance (e.g. materials, energy, and carbon emissions) and value creation opportunities at each stage of the building life cycle.

Urban resilience has been defined as the capacity of (amongst others) communities and businesses to survive, adapt, and grow when faced with stresses and shocks. Redistributed Manufacturing (RdM) exploits technologies, systems and strategies to change the economics and organisation of manufacturing (in particular location and scale). A series of studies are being undertaken, in the city of Bristol (population 450,000), into how RdM can contribute to a city’s resilience and sustainability. Such as a ‘Maker Walk’, that examines the manufacturing hidden within urban areas. The objective of this paper is to report a pilot study within Bristol, to determine a range of logistics solutions that have the potential to support re-distributed manufacturing to enhance its resilience. As well as sustainability by helping address Bristol’s traffic congestion and pollution problems. This paper proposes three potential logistics business models: 1) A logistics cooperative based around locally located service providers; 2) An urban logistics consolidation network; 3) A public transport integrated logistics service. These solutions could be used by logistics service providers, policy makers and regional government. The models provide guidance as to the interventions that require both private and public sector involvement.

Purpose: The primary aim of this research is to assess the current status of information and communication technologies (ICT) initiatives on carbon emission reduction and in particular, investigate the potential effect of a recent advance in technology, i.e. electronic logistics marketplaces (ELMs) on environment sustainability. Given that the UK’s food and grocery industry is well known for its reputation in technological and business innovations for efficiency gains and cost saving, it is selected as an exemplar sector for study Research Approach: The research adopts a case-study based on both secondary and primary data. Two leading retailers conducted within the UK’s grocery sector have been selected as case examples in assessing the current ICT developments in carbon emission reduction. A collaborative ELM is chosen as the third case example in order to study its potential on environment sustainability Multiple data collection techniques are adopted including interviews, system demonstrations, site observation and the use of archival documents. Findings and Originality: In the UK’s grocery industry, the negative environmental impact of distribution activities is seem as a major challenge to the manufacturers and retailers (Fernie and Sparks 2009). Logistics is the third highest source of direct carbon emission in grocery sector (Hollingsworth, 2004). Through a systematic review of the current ICT practices in the UK’s grocery sector and a study of two leading retailers, this research finds that the deployment of telematics based technologies has delivered tangible economic and environmental benefits. This is mainly achieved through the change of drivers’ behaviours and a better scheduling and routing of vehicles. The sector sees the practice of using ELM to facilitate transport collaboration between companies but its full potential is yet to be explored. The analysis of the third case example, i.e. a collaborative ELM has demonstrated that the adoption of ELMs p

Our research is rooted in community operational research (community OR) and adopts a qualitative problem structuring approach to exploring potential solutions for addressing inequality in access to affordable healthy food in disadvantaged communities in Wales, UK. Existing food provisions are synthesised and barriers to their effectiveness are identified. A portfolio of actions and commitment packages is co-developed with multiple stakeholders in order to bring about desired changes. Although these solutions address concerns specific to local Welsh communities, they can be generalised and applied in similar settings where food desert problems prevail. We draw upon insights from the literature on inequality, food deserts, and social capital to conceptualise the solutions around both material (providing and accessing) and social (reconnecting and strengthening) aspects. By addressing both material and social aspects simultaneously, we show how community-driven intervention can contribute to reducing inequality in disadvantaged communities. Our research experience reveals that COR is particularly effective in tackling a ‘wicked’ problem such as food deserts, and allows researchers to engage with communities, gain an understanding about the problematic situation and guide intervention efforts in a sustainable and systemic manner. A number of methodological reflections are offered as a way to contribute to the development of the field as a whole.

Our research is rooted in community operational research (community OR) and adopts a qualitative problem structuring approach to exploring potential solutions for addressing inequality in access to affordable healthy food in disadvantaged communities in Wales, UK. Existing food provisions are synthesised and barriers to their effectiveness are identified. A portfolio of actions and commitment packages is co-developed with multiple stakeholders in order to bring about desired changes. Although these solutions address concerns specific to local Welsh communities, they can be generalised and applied in similar settings where food desert problems prevail. We draw upon insights from the literature on inequality, food deserts, and social capital to conceptualise the solutions around both material (providing and accessing) and social (reconnecting and strengthening) aspects. By addressing both material and social aspects simultaneously, we show how community-driven intervention can contribute to reducing inequality in disadvantaged communities. Our research experience reveals that COR is particularly effective in tackling a ‘wicked’ problem such as food deserts, and allows researchers to engage with communities, gain an understanding about the problematic situation and guide intervention efforts in a sustainable and systemic manner. A number of methodological reflections are offered as a way to contribute to the development of the field as a whole.

In the last two decades, the role of e-business as a fundamental element that links organisations of the supply chain into a unified and coordinated system has been increasingly recognised in the literature. Recent technological advances enable a proliferation of B2B e-business systems in supporting interorganisational e-business integration, but also create more complexities for organisations in determining what form of electronic linkage and relationship configurations should be forged with what kind of business partner(s). At the same time, as customers become more demanding, there is a trend towards providing tailored logistics provisions in order to satisfy different customers' needs. Consequently, careful design of information flows within and between the organizations is required. In view of the aforementioned, there is need for a design of an overall e-business architecture which governs and specifies the different inter-organisation information coordinate and control (ICC) mechanisms for different logistics scenarios, referred to here as a B2B e-business reference architecture (ERA). Historically this research area has not received due attention from researchers or practitioners. Therefore, the primary aim of this thesis is to develop such an ERA and substantiate it through empirical research, focusing its application on an emerging e-business model termed an Electronic Logistics Marketplaces (ELM). The first part of this research is analytical, developing the B2B ERA through the synthesis of literature and the use of secondary case examples. Four architectures are proposed with detailed characterisation: Centralised Market, Traditional Hierarchical Coordination. Modified Hierarchical Coordination, and Heterarchical Network. The second part of the research is empirical, since it validates the conceptual model developed through six case studies. It shows that one size does not fit all, and there should be different architectures for different logistics scena

The paper reports a case study of a consortium in the UK’s construction sector trying to pilot a smart contract initiative. At the pre-pilot stage, we use the theory of sensemaking to understand how supply chain actors contextualise the potential impact of blockchain on their businesses, diagnose a new technology’s symptoms and then develop assumptions, expectations and knowledge of the new technology, which then shape their subsequent actions during the pilot. During the pilot, we use the design science approach in combination with theoretical lens of business model to actively shape the deployment of blockchain. Design science enables us a deep engagement with the field problem and practitioners while the business model allows us a generic design of blockchain deployment while test this generic approach in a given context, i.e. the smart contract pilot. This research offers valuable insights on how the consortium members design a blockchain enabled supply chain and various issues they have encountered.

This research sets out to explore what key factors senior executives should consider when they look to implement blockchain for supply chain. A number of design thinking workshops were organised with 86 senior executives representing a range of diverse supply chain stakeholders, including manufacturers, construction firms, government agencies, port authorities, law firms, banks, technology service providers and consulting companies. Further interviews with senior executives who have led blockchain initiatives were conducted in order to gain more in-depth insights on why those factors matter. The main outputs are a range of key factors that are critical to the successful implementation of a blockchain solution in supply chains. Those factors were grouped into: business viability, ecosystem management, technical feasibility and user desirability. This research makes valuable contribution to both practice and academic literature by highlighting what factors should be considered that will drive the successful adoption of blockchain

This paper explores how innovative food supply chain provisions could help to address food poverty and access inequality facing the disadvantaged communities. An understanding of exiting food provisions were established via a focus group discussion with multiple stakeholders. Challenges to their operations were further explored. Following this, an in-depth case study of two emerging supply chain models was conducted providing empirical evidence on their economic viability and social impact. This research paves a new research paradigm for operations management research that puts the disadvantaged consumers at the centre of its enquiry, adding a new dimension to sustainability.

Information sharing between actors working in different institutions is proposed by much literature to improve aspects of both intra and inter-institutional performance. However, it is unclear from the literature what exactly information sharing is and why it is important to institutional performance. This paper seeks to deconstruct the concept of information sharing, particularly within aspects of the supply chain. We shall argue that the central problem with the concept of information sharing is that it relies on a notion of information as ‘stuff’ that can be manipulated, transmitted and used relatively unproblematically between organizations. We wish to question conventional notions of this construct by examining and analyzing a complex case of ‘information sharing’ applicable within an international supply chain. Through deconstructing this particular case we demonstrate how certain perceived problems in ‘information sharing’ are better conceptualized as breakdowns in the inter-institutional scaffolding of data structures.