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Industries across the globe are under growing pressure to rethink and redesign their supply chain operations to maintain their competitive advantage. The supplier selection process in supply chain management holds a pivotal position in its exploration of new strategies to stay competitive in global markets. This study considers supplier selection with two different strategic perspectives, including lean and agile. Selecting suppliers based on their leagile practices helps the focal industries to make their supply chain operations healthier, especially if the focal industry is a major supplier of multinational companies. China is considered as a case context in this study with the application of textile sectors since this country occupies the top position with regard to exports. The common criteria involved in leagile supplier selection were collected from existing literature resources and were fine-tuned with insights from field experts. Further, the case industrial managers also assisted with the evaluation of the influential criteria for the leagile supplier selection process. Based on the replies and the assistance of a decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory tool, the most influential criterion and interdependencies among other criteria were identified. This study helps industrial managers to evaluate their suppliers based on the resultant influential criterion and, further, it strengthens the global supply chains with agility and robustness.

This paper assesses the interrelationships between hazards/risks (considered as barriers) for the effective implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) measures using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). We investigate within and among hazard/risk classes and formulate a structural model that identifies and prioritizes their levels. Mitigation strategies for the identified barriers make the research outcome more useful and applicable. Results reveal that insulation failure, barrier (B7), is the most influential hazard; hence, it must be addressed first for the effective implementation of OHS measures in coal-fired thermal power plants. The second barrier in the ISM hierarchy, (B6) fire (mill/pool/jet), and additional hazards and risks require further assessment.

Background Even with the augmentative application of anal-preservation surgery in low rectal cancer, the role and indications of laparoscopic intersphincteric resection (Lap ISR) are still under debate, especially for T3 or node-positive (T3N0M0, T1–3N+M0) cancer, mainly due to the oncological safety and functional outcomes. INTRABEAM (Carl Zeiss, Germany) intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) using low-energy X-rays features in accurate irradiation, less exposure, and reduced complications. Taking advantages of Lap ISR and INTRABEAM IORT, this innovative approach aims to increase the probability of the anal preservation with acceptable postoperative outcomes. Materials and methods From December 2015 to August 2019, we retrospectively analyzed the short-term outcomes of 12 patients evaluated preoperatively with T3 or node-positive (T3N0M0, T1–3N+M0) primary locally advanced low rectal cancer. They all had received Lap ISR and INTRABEAM IORT with a dose of 16–18 Gy applied by an applicator through the anus (natural orifice). Then, with no pre- or postoperative radiotherapy given, the patients were suggested to receive 6–8 cycles of the XELOX chemotherapy regimen (oxaliplatin, 130 mg/m2 and capecitabine, 1000 mg/m2). Results All patients achieved R0 resection. The median radiation time was 27 min and 15 s, and the mean radiative dose was 17.3 Gy (range 16–18 Gy). The median follow-up time was 18.5 months (range 3–45 months). Two patients experienced local recurrence. Two male patients experienced anastomotic stenosis. Furthermore, one of them experienced perianal abscess and the other one experienced pulmonary metastasis after refusing to receive chemotherapy. One female patient with internal anal sphincter invasion experienced distant metastases to the liver and gluteus maximus muscle 35 months after IORT. No acute radiation injuries or symptoms were observed. Although they experienced a reduction in anal function, every patient was satisfied with the postoperative outcomes. Conclusions For patients evaluated preoperatively with T3 or node-positive (T3N0M0, T1–3N+M0) primary locally advanced low rectal cancer, Lap ISR with INTRABEAM IORT may be a safe and feasible approach for anal preservation without compromising oncological outcomes.

Supply chain performance evaluation problems are evaluated using data envelopment analysis. This paper proposes a fuzzy network epsilon-based data envelopment analysis for supply chain performance evaluation. In the common data envelopment analysis models which are used for evaluation of decision-maker units efficiency, there are several inputs and outputs. One of the bugs of such models is that the intermediate products and linking activities are overlooked. Considering these intermediate activities and products, the current study evaluates the performance of decision-maker units in an automotive supply chain. There are ten decision-maker units in the supply chain in which there are three suppliers, two manufacturers, two distributors, and four customers. Moreover, the overall efficiency of input-oriented (input-based) model and input-oriented divisional efficiency are calculated. In order to improve the efficiencies, the projections onto the frontiers are obtained by using the outputs of the solved model and Lingo software. In order to show the applicability of the proposed model, it is applied on automotive industry, as a case study, to evaluate supply chain performance. Then, the overall efficiencies of DMUs and each sections (divisions) of DMUs were calculated separately. Therefore, every organization can apply this evaluation method for improving the performance of alternative factors.

An efficient and sensitive analytical method for the simultaneous determination of five plant growth regulators (PGRs) has been successfully developed, including 3-Indoleacetic acid (IAA), 2-Naphthylacetic acid (2-NAA), Beta-indolebutyric acid (IBA), 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy), acetic acid (2.4-D), and 4-Chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA) in bean sprouts. Using 10% boron trifluoride of methanol as the derived reagent and the reaction was derivatized at 70 °C for 30 min, the derivatives of five PGRs have been completely separated within 19 min. It has a linear relationship in the concentration range of 0.01–0.20 mg/kg and the correlation coefficients (r2) in excess of 0.997. The average recoveries were ranged from 72.7–98.6% at three spiking different concentration levels of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were ranged from 1.2 to 9.0%. The limits of detection and the limits of quantification were ranged from 0.00024 to 0.00172 mg/kg and 0.0008–0.0052 mg/kg, respectively. On the basis of these, the measurement has been successfully applied to the analysis of the exogenous phytohormones in the bean sprouts. Except for 4-CPA and IAA, the rest of the analytes were undetected in samples. In sum, the current method can be used for accurate determination and confirmation of PGRs in many other crops, such as bean sprouts.

Product recovery, accompanied by cradle to cradle policies from the contemporary supply chain, becomes an essential element in meeting environmental compliance and waste management policies. Incorporation of reverse logistics into the traditional supply chains becomes a complementary factor for efficient product recovery. To begin with product recovery, consumers are encouraged to return their end-of-use/end-of-life products, and the steps of collecting and planning the movement of returned products are crucial decisions. The efficient planning of a cost effective recovery process in reverse logistics requires dealing with the uncertainty underlying in the quantity and quality of the returned products. In this paper, we propose establishing an initial collection point within a permissible radius of the customer zones to overcome some of the issues of uncertainty. The uncertainty in the quantity and quality of the returned products are modelled using fuzzy triangular numbers. To capture the real world conditions of the proposed problem, our model aims at maximizing the profit incurred in the recovery process in an uncertain environment. The model was solved with the help of fuzzy mathematical programming. The model is validated by a company case belonging to the manufacturing of electronic products. To increase the applicability of the product recovery process in the industry, we propose a recovery process for the planning horizon consisting of multi periods and multi products. The outcomes of the proposed model indicate that for the successful realisation of such network, customers need to be legally enforced to return their end of used products in the channels established for value recovery.

The inhomogeneous phase of a smart meta-superconductor has a great effect on its superconductivity. In this paper, the effect of concentration, dimensions, electroluminescence (EL) intensity, and distribution of the inhomogeneous phase on the superconducting critical temperature $$(T_{C})$$ has been systematically investigated. An ex situ solid sintering was utilized to prepare smart meta-superconducting $$\hbox {MgB}_{2}$$ doped with six kinds of electroluminescent materials, such as $$\hbox {YVO}_{4}{:}\hbox {Eu}^{3+}$$ and $$\hbox {Y}_{2}\hbox {O}_{3}{:}\hbox {Eu}^{3+}$$ flakes. Elemental mappings through energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) show that the inhomogeneous phase is comparatively uniformly dispersed around the $$\hbox {MgB}_{2}$$ particles; thus V, Y, and Eu were accumulated at a small area. The measurement results show that the optimum doping concentration of the meta-superconducting $$\hbox {MgB}_{2}$$ is 2.0 wt%. The offset temperature ( $$T_{C}^{{ off}}$$ ) of the sample doped with 2.0 wt% dopant A is 1.6 K higher than that of pure $$\hbox {MgB}_{2}$$ . The improvement in $$T_{C}^{{ off}}$$ is likely related to the sizes, thickness, and EL intensity of the inhomogeneous phase of $$\hbox {MgB}_{2}$$ smart meta-superconductor. This experiment provides a novel approach to enhance $$T_{C}$$ .

The size and shape of functional micro/nanomaterials have crucial influence on their physical and chemical properties. The monoclinic Y4O(OH)9NO3 with nanosheets, submicrospheres, and microrods have been successfully prepared by a non-aqueous solvothermal method. The precursors Y4O(OH)9NO3 decompose into cubic Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphors after sintering at 800 °C for 2 h. The morphologies and sizes of Y2O3:Eu3+ particles can be easily controlled by changing the growth rates of various crystallographic facets during solvothermal process. With the increment of the rare-earth nitrates concentration, the morphologies transform from 2D nanosheets to sub-microspheres, and eventually to microrods. The bright red emission, owing to Eu3+ f-orbital transitions, can be easily observed under ultraviolet excitation. Furthermore, the dependence of Y2O3:Eu3+ luminescence performances on different morphologies are discussed in the present work.

Enhancing the critical temperature (T C ) is important not only to widen the practical applications but also to expand the theories of superconductivity. Inspired by the meta-material structure, we designed a smart meta-superconductor consisting of MgB2 microparticles and Y2O3/Eu3+ nanorods. In the local electric field, Y2O3/Eu3+ nanorods generate an electroluminescence (EL) that can excite MgB2 particles, thereby improving the T C by strengthening the electron–phonon interaction. An MgB2-based superconductor doped with one of four dopants of different EL intensities was prepared by an ex situ process. Results showed that the T C of MgB2 doped with 2 wt% Y2O3, which is not an EL material, is 33.1 K. However, replacing Y2O3 with Y2O3/Eu3+II, which displays a strong EL intensity, can improve the T C by 2.8 to 35.9 K, which is even higher than that of pure MgB2. The significant increment in T C results from the EL exciting effect. Apart from EL intensity, the micromorphology and degree of dispersion of the dopants also affected the T C . This smart meta-superconductor provides a new method to increase T C .

Although several human studies have examined bisphenol A (BPA) exposure in relation to routine sperm parameters, evidence of BPA’s effects on sperm movement characteristics is limited. We examined associations of BPA exposure with sperm parameters including sperm movement characteristics among fertile men. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Sandu County, Guizhou Province, China. Subjects provided semen samples analyzed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) system and urine samples for BPA assay. They were invited to complete an in-person interview with a structured questionnaire to obtain demographics, lifestyle factors, etc. In final analyses, 500 subjects were included. We used multivariate linear regression analyses to estimate associations between BPA and sperm parameters after adjusting for potential confounders. BPA was detected in 73.6% of urine samples, with a geometric mean of 0.44 μg/gCreatinine. Compared with subjects of undetected BPA, subjects with detected BPA had increased Linearity (LIN, β: 2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 4.0), Straightness (STR, β: 1.47, 95% CI: 0.19, 2.75), Wobble (WOB, β: 1.75, 95% CI: 0.26, 3.25), reduced Amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, β: −0.26, 95% CI: −0.5, −0.02) and Mean angular displacement (MAD, β: −2.17, 95% CI: −4.22, −0.11). Subjects in the highest tertile of creatinine-adjusted BPA group had lower sperm concentration than those with undetected BPA. Dose-response relationships of BPA with LIN, WOB, ALH, MAD and sperm concentration were demonstrated by statistically significant trends across tertiles of creatinine-adjusted BPA concentrations. Similar results were obtained using unadjusted BPA concentrations. Exposure to environmental BPA would decrease sperm concentration and sperm swing characteristics (ALH and MAD), and increase sperm velocity ratios (LIN, STR and WOB), which might mediate further effects on impaired male fecundity.

In the present work, a down-to-the-hole electric hammer driven by linear motor is reported for drilling engineering. It differs from the common hydraulic or pneumatic hammers in that it can be applied to some special occasions without circulating medium due to its independence of the drilling fluid. The impact stress caused by the reciprocating motion between stator and rotor and the fatigue damage in key components of linear motor are analyzed by the ANSYS Workbench software and 3D model. Based on simulation results, the hammer’s structure is optimized by using special sliding bearing, increasing the wall thickness of key and multilayer buffer gasket. Fatigue life and coefficient issues of the new structure are dramatically improved. However buffer gasket reduces the impactor’s energy, different bumper structure effect on life improving and energy loss have also been elaborated.

Homogeneous Y2O3:Eu3+ nanorods with the lengths of several micrometres were successfully synthesised on a large scale by using a urea-assisted hydrothermal method and a post-calcining process. In this study, the influences of urea content and NaOH concentration on the oriented growth, photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) intensity enhancement of Y2O3:Eu3+ were investigated. As a precipitant for isotropic growth, urea can counteract the effect of NaOH on oriented growth along the c-axis during hydrothermal treatment. The Y2O3:Eu3+ powders exhibited a strong red emission centred at 613 nm under either 245 nm UV excitation or the direct current high electric field. The PL intensity of the Y2O3:Eu3+ phosphor prepared with 0.3 g of urea reached 141 % that of the sample prepared under the same conditions but without urea. The strategy for controlling the oriented growth, PL and EL enhancement of Y2O3:Eu3+ can be extended to the synthesis of other inorganic nano/micromaterials.

In this work, cerium oxide nanoparticles are capable of strongly enhancing the chemiluminescence (CL) of the luminol-hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) system. Based on this, a microarray CL method for the determination of the removal rate constant of H2O2 by human erythrocytes has been developed. It is providing direct evidence for a H2O2-removing enzyme in human erythrocytes that acts as the predominant catalyst. A reaction mechanism is discussed. The proposed microarray CL method is sensitive, selective, simple and time-saving, and has good reproducibility and high throughput. Relative CL intensity is linearly related to the concentration of H2O2 in the range from 0.01 to 50 μM. The limit of detection is as low as 6.5 × 10(-11) M (3σ), and the relative standard deviation is 2. 1 % at 1 μM levels of H2O2 (for n = 11).

A novel method combining dual wavelength fluorescent ratiometry with scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) is proposed and developed to measure the concentration and distribution of protons in the vicinity of biological samples. This method involves immersing mitochondria in a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye solution instead of injecting the dye into the surface of the mitochondrial membrane. It uses a dual emission pH-sensitive dye and SNOM with a thermally pulled and metal-coated optical fiber probe to improve the spatial resolution. The time dependence of the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) under acid addition and the response of mitochondria to nutritional supplementation were studied by using this method. Activation of mitochondria and a distance-dependent delay in the FIR response were observed. The results confirmed that mitochondrial activity could be observed by using this method.

Parameter interpolation is more capable of modern computer numerical control (CNC) than traditional linear/circular interpolation with higher speed and higher precision. Most of non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS) interpolation algorithms were developed based on the chord error and machines capability, where interpolation points are calculated beforehand to overcome acceleration/deceleration (acc/dec) and jerk problem, which needs large memory. In this paper, a NURBS interpolator based on feedrate section is proposed. Instead of a single interpolation point, this interpolator aims to feedrate section, which makes it possible to run on a digital signal processor or field programmable gate array (FPGA) whose memory is limited. Experiment on FPGA showed the performance of interpolation. A mould experiment verifies the feasibility of application.