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Bullwhip effect is one of the most important problems in the supply chain management. It can cause a supply chain to experience significant inefficiency. Despite the considerable scope of research about bullwhip effect, few studies have investigated this phenomenon, which is caused by product price fluctuation. This study considers a two-period supply chain consisting of one supplier, one wholesaler, and one retailer. The wholesale price may increase greatly in the beginning of the second period. In this case, a large number of end customers will purchase the product from a retailer. In response to the demands of the end customers in the second period, two ordering strategies available to the retailer are considered: optimal order quantity strategy and hedging strategy with call option. For each strategy, we calculate the bullwhip effect ratio for two periods and compare the results. We found that the lower exercise price in hedging strategy compared with the wholesale price in the optimal order quantity strategy must not contribute to extra product purchase. The research provides new insights into how hedging strategy can reduce bullwhip effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of supply chain distribution systems from single- to multichannel networks for delivering items to end customers has effected many changes in the retail sector. Following the adoption of multi-channel distribution strategies and rapid development of relevant technologies, the omni-channel approach can yield significant benefits and facilitate trade with customers. This paper aims to optimize a multi-product, multi-level omni-channel distribution network and shipping flows of products within the network under uncertain conditions. A multi-objective mathematical model is developed that minimizes the costs of supply chain while maximizing customer satisfaction over different scenarios. In order to solve the proposed model, a combined algorithm is developed based on Benders Decomposition (BD) and Lagrangian Relaxation (LR). The presented model and solution approach are implemented in the case study of a distribution system, a large e-commerce startup, and an online store. Five different scenarios with different service levels are investigated and the numerical results are discussed compared to previous findings. The efficiency of the proposed combined BD-LR solution algorithm is also demonstrated. The results obtained from the case study show that higher service levels are correlated with the higher levels of customer satisfaction and lower costs of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought Prediction is to be focused of great importance for India. Drought can be Predicted using the amount of rainfall data. Two types of predictions can be done, they are – Long term Predictions: Predict rainfall over few weeks/months in advance. Short term Predictions: Predict rainfall a few days in advance in specific locations. Indian meteorological department provides forecasting data required for the project. In this Paper we are planning to work on long term predictions of rainfall. The main motive of the paper is to predict the amount of rainfall in Particular division and state whether the drought will occur or not in advance. We predict the amount of rainfall using Multiple Linear Regression(MLR) which is a branch of AI by using the past dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of Fluorine and Carbon as dopants in the TiO2 based electrochemical sensor and DSSC were presented in this work. A series of Carbon nano-cones and disc doped TiO2 (TC), Fluorine doped TiO2 (FT) and C & F co-doped TiO2 (CFT) powdered samples were prepared via solid state synthesis. The CFT film showed excellent electrochemical sensitivity to the oxidation of dopamine in aqueous solution and could be employed as a dopamine sensor. The proposed sensor exhibited good linear response in the range of 10-820 μM with a detection limit of 3.6 μM under optimum conditions. The photovoltaic performances of Rose Bengal sensitized solar cells were assessed through I-V measurements. The CFT based DSSC shows a short-circuit current density and a power conversion efficiency of 0.908 mA/cm² and 0.163% respectively, which is 35% and 38% greater than the performance of other PT based cells. The characterization studies such as UV-Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, TEM and EPR spectroscopy were utilized for further investigation, which helps us to understand how fluorine and carbon play a part in dopamine sensing and solar energy conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To discover the current situation and characteristics of web citations accessibility, the present study examined the accessibility of 4,253 web citations in six key Iranian LIS journals published from 2006 to 2010. The proportion percentage of web citations increased from 11% in 2006 to 30% in 2010. The most widely cited top level domains in URLs include the .edu and .org with respectively 37% and 23%. This study provides further evidence that organizations websites have become increasingly vulnerable to URL decay. The results show that only 3467 web citations remain accessible in 2011, of which 71% allowed easy and long-term access to the authors? information intended in URLs. Long time inaccessibility to the authors? intended information was shown to be mostly from URLs that returned the 404 error and also the URLs that had gone through information update. An about 4 year half-life was estimated for Iran?s LIS Publications. Ultimately, the results suggest that the decay of URLs is a grave problem in the publication of Iran?s LIS researchers and cannot be overlooked. These authors need to gain the necessary knowledge about using web citations as major sources of information for their publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-modeling (SM) and self-control (SC) feedback can be presented as two solutions for learning improvement. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of SM and SC feedback on 100-m freestyle performance of professional swimmers and waterpolo players. 25 elite male swimmers and waterpolo players, were randomly assigned to four groups: swimmer group with SM, swimmer group with SM and SC feedback, waterpolo players group with SM, and waterpolo players group with SM and SC feedback. 100-m freestyle times and performance were recorded. SM and SC feedback for the participants were utilized at the acquisition stage. The device used included a Lenovo B570 laptop and an Exilim ZR200 canon camcorder. SM and SC feedback presented to the swimmers and waterpolo players led to improved speed and results, and the effect of presenting SM with SC feedback to swimmers had better results. In conclusion, the present study indicates that SC modeling of watching video is a suitable method for professional swimmers. Water polo trainers can also use SM and SC feedback to enhance their players' swimming technique., Competing Interests: Beat Knechtle is an editorial board member for Sports Medicine and Health Science and was not in the editorial review or the decision to publish this article. The author declares no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this paper. This study did not receive any funding., (© 2023 Chengdu Sport University. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.)

The purpose of this study was to look at research trends in the application of CTM in animal nutrition in order to identify current and emerging challenges, as well as to examine the intellectual structure of the subject. The intellectual structure of CTM was examined using keyword and reference analysis. The research community includes all research and review articles published in journals indexed in the Web of Science database during the years 1990-2022. The results showed that the terms zinc, co-occurring 331 times, performance (324 times), and copper 216 (times) were the main and hotspots of research in the field of chelate. The data suggest that the most important keywords during the study period were zinc, copper, pig, bovine, metabolism, and bioavailability. The terms health, muscle, beef, trace elements, and dietary supplements represent emerging topics in CTM, as research began to focus on these areas during the years 2017-2022. The country with the greatest number of published articles was the United States of America. This bibliometric analysis showed that countries are focusing on the effects of CTM on the health and musculature of cattle through dietary supplementation with trace elements. According to the identified hot and emerging topics, this research can serve as a roadmap for a global comprehensive scientific plan and policy.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the age and attentional focus instruction effects on the postural and supra-postural tasks among older adults with mild cognitive impairments., Method: Forty healthy adults (mean age of 48.01 ± 5.45 years) and 40 older adults with mild cognitive impairments (mean age of 69.87 ± 4.28 years) were selected as participants. They were randomly divided into eight groups receiving internal and external attentional focus instructions for postural and supra-postural tasks. The postural status was evaluated by measuring the COP sway velocity with the Master Balance System., Results: The results showed that in both phases of acquisition and retention, the main effect of the attentional focus type was significant (P < 0.05). The group's postural control with external attentional instructions was better than the group's postural control with internal attentional instructions. Furthermore, the CI elderly gained benefit from the guidelines of attentional focus. Results showed that the task type was not significant in the acquisition phase. However, in the retention phase, the main effect of the attentional focus type was significant. The groups' postural function with the supra-postural task was better than the groups with the postural task. Furthermore, the older adults showed a better postural function in the supra-postural task than in the postural task., Conclusions: Our results showed that the ability to allocate resources of attention may decrease with CI. These findings suggest that considering the effect of the supra-postural tasks' manipulation on postural control, it is possible to improve balance by designing training programs for directing supra-postural tasks. The findings of the present study can be a guide for educators and therapists. They can increase the balance of the patients by considering the dysfunction and the type of attentional guidelines to prevent them from falling and performing a dual task., (© 2022. Fondazione Società Italiana di Neurologia.)

Optimum postural control and balance is dependent on the individual, the environment, and the task limitations. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of attentional instruction and feedback type on postural and supra-postural tasks. The 96 participants aged 11-19 years with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were randomly assigned to one of the eight groups such as attentional instruction (internal and external), feedback (external and internal), and task (postural and supra-postural). Following a pre-test, the participants underwent four training sessions. Each session included 20 trials of 30 s with 20 s of rest between trials. Twenty-four hours after the training session, they performed two trials of warm-up and then took part in a retention test. Twenty-four hours after the retention test, they again performed two trials of warm-up and then participated in the transfer test. The result showed that the external attentional feedback and external attentional instruction groups performed better on supra-postural and postural tasks than the other experimental groups (P > 0.05). The external attentional instruction group performed better on postural and supra-postural tasks in the delayed retention and transfer tests (P > 0.05). Also, the external feedback group scored highest on postural and supra-postural tasks in the delayed retention and transfer tests. The results suggest that external attentional feedback and instruction is more effective than internal attention when learning supra-postural tasks to maintain balance.

Background and Objective: Stroke is a devastating condition with long-term comorbidities including metabolic abnormalities. Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), with its antioxidant properties, might improve metabolic status of patients, though current evidence is still inclusive. This systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to summarize the existing evidence regarding the effects of ALA supplementation on fasting glucose and lipid profiles among patients with stroke., Methods: We searched Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science from 1990 until April 5th, 2018. The relevant randomized-controlled articles, based on defined key words, were included in the analyses. Two independent researchers investigated study eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias for included studies. Heterogeneity among included studies was tested using Q-test and I 2 statistics. Random-effects models were applied to pool the data and standardized mean differences (WMD) were considered as summary effect size., Results: A total of five studies (140 patients in each intervention group) were included in our meta-analysis. The findings showed that ALA supplementation significantly decreased fasting glucose levels (WMD -36.93 mg/dL; 95% CI, -65.58, -8.28; P  = 0.01; I 2  = 85.0%) in patients with stroke. We found no significant effect of ALA supplementation on triglycerides (WMD -7.45 mg/dL; 95% CI, -51.35, 36.45; P  = 0.739; I 2  = 83.9%), total cholesterol (WMD -23.23 mg/dL; 95% CI, -48.07, 1.62; P  = 0.067; I 2  = 80.5%), LDL-cholesterol (WMD -10.46 mg/dL; 95% CI, -21.01, 0.09; P  = 0.052; I 2  = 47.4%) and HDL-cholesterol levels (WMD -3.02 mg/dL; 95% CI, -20.18, 14.14; P  = 0.730; I 2  = 85.8%)., Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggested the beneficial impacts of ALA supplementation in improving fasting glucose of patients diagnosed with stroke., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019.)

Heterobimetallic compounds [(C^N)LMe 2 Pt(μ-O)ReO 3 ] (C^N = ppy, L = PPh 3 , 2a; C^N = ppy, L = PMePh 2 , 2b; C^N = bhq, L = PPh 3 , 2c; C^N = bhq, L = PMePh 2 , 2d) containing a discrete unsupported Pt(iv)-O-Re(vii) bridge have been synthesized through a targeted synthesis route. The compounds have been prepared by a single-pot synthesis in which the Pt(iv) precursor [PtMe 2 I(C^N)L] complexes are allowed to react easily with AgReO 4 in which the iodide ligand of the starting Pt(iv) complex is replaced by an ReO 4 - anion. In these Pt-O-Re complexes, the Pt(iv) centers have an octahedral geometry, completed by a cyclometalated bidentate ligand (C^N), two methyl groups and a phosphine ligand, while the Re(vii) centers have a tetrahedral geometry. Elemental analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy are used to establish their identities. The new complexes exhibit phosphorescence emission in the solid and solution states at 298 and 77 K, which is an uncommon property of platinum complexes with an oxidation state of +4. According to DFT calculations, we found that this emission behavior in the new complexes originates from ligand centered 3 LC (C^N) character with a slight amount of metal to ligand charge transfer ( 3 MLCT). The solid-state emission data of the corresponding cycloplatinated(iv) precursor complexes [PtMe 2 I(C^N)L], 1a-1d, pointed out that the replacement of I - by an ReO 4 - anion helps enhancing the emission efficiency besides shifting the emission wavelengths.

In our previous study, using a swine model of single lung transplantation, a relationship between the level of major histocompatibility complex (MHC II) expression on host T lymphocytes and the extent of the ex vivo preservation time was observed. Furthermore, a model of ischaemia by simple cross-clamping proved MHC II up-regulation to be independent of tissue incompatibility. The mechanism through which ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) induces MHC up-regulation in host peripheral T cells has not been reported. The objective of this study was to determine whether IRI induces MHC II up-regulation in T cells by altering the intracellular steady-state level of MHC II mRNA. Group A (seven donors, seven recipients) was an allotransplantation model of 15 h of cold storage (4 degrees C) while in group B (n = 6) animals underwent 2 h of warm ischaemia. Group C (n = 6) underwent sham operation. For quantification of mRNA extracted from peripheral T lymphocytes isolated before and after surgery, semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the time at which mRNA levels reached its peak. The mRNA at pre-reperfusion and the time, at which mRNA peaked, was used for competitive RT-PCR. The results of RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that IRI induced an increase in the steady-state level of MHC II mRNA (p < 0.02) within 2 h post-reperfusion, irrespective of type of ischaemia and tissue incompatibility. In conclusion, this study suggested that IRI up-regulates the MHC II expression in peripheral T cells by altering the intracellular steady-state level of MHC II-DR-beta.

The objective of this experimental protocol was to evaluate the protective effect of a new, potent platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist CV-6209 and the use of this compound in combination with allopurinol on ischemia-reperfusion injury in a swine model of heart-lung transplantation. Forty-two swine were divided into three groups, with seven donors and seven recipients in each. In group A, the PAF antagonist CV-6209 was administered in a single dosage of 1 mg/kg by slow intravenous injection at 1 hour before crossclamping of the aorta in both donors and recipients. In group B the combination of allopurinol and the PAF antagonist CV-6209 was used. Allopurinol was administered as a pretreatment regime of 50 mg/kg/day for 3 days prior to ischemia. The PAF antagonist dosage and regime of administration were the same as in group A, and both donors and recipients were pretreated with this combination. Group C was the control in which heart-lung transplantations were performed without interventional therapies. Based on the comparison of pre- and post-transplantation assessments of cardiac and pulmonary functional integrity within groups, and post-transplantation among groups, animals in groups A and B were significantly (P < 0.05) better protected from ischemia-reperfusion injury than animals in group C. The difference between groups A and B, however, was insignificant at all times. Morphological findings are in agreement with measures of physiological variation among experimental groups. It is suggested that the new PAF antagonist CV-6209 is effective in the prevention of heart and lung ischemia-reperfusion injury with and without allopurinol pretreatment.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the major problems in organ transplantation. The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion injury and the protective effect of a novel phospholipid PAF analog (TCV-309) alone and combined with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is investigated in an extended (20 hours) ex vivo lung preservation., Methods: Forty-two swine were divided into three groups. Group A was the control. In groups B and C, the effect of PAF was blocked with TCV-309 administered 1 hour before cross-clamping for donor and recipient. Group C received PGE1 50 micrograms bolus in the donor pulmonary plegia, and the recipients received a 50 micrograms bolus plus 0.003 microgram/kg/min infusion at the time of implantation. Donor lungs were perfused with cold modified Collins solution and maintained in hypothermic storage (4 degrees C) for 20 hours. Hemodynamics, lung mechanics, gas exchange, and biochemistry were assessed before transplantation (donor) and at 30 minutes and 24 hours after reperfusion (recipient). At 24 hours after reperfusion, the histopathologic condition of transplanted lungs was evaluated., Results: Radioimmunoassay demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) increase in the production of PAF and TXB2 in transplanted lungs at 24 hours after transplantation for group A only. Hemodynamics, gas-exchange parameters, and lung compliance were significantly (p < 0.05) better after transplantation for groups B and C. Wet lung weight was significantly less (p < 0.05) for group C. Semiquantitative morphometric analysis demonstrated the highest degree of damage for group A compared with groups B and C. A strong correlation (r2 = 70) between lung weight and histologic injury scores was observed among groups., Conclusions: This study suggests that PAF is responsible in part for the deleterious effects of ischemia and reperfusion, that PAF-antagonist TCV-309 protects lungs from extended (20 hours) ischemic injury, and that PGE1 seems to have an additional beneficial effect.

Fourteen domestic swine were divided into two groups. Group A (n = 7) was the control group, in which no pharmacologic intervention was applied. In group B (n = 7), the ischemic-reperfused spinal cord was treated with the combination of allopurinol (50 mg/kg/day for 3 days before the day of operation) and deferoxamine (Desferal, 50 mg/kg administered intravenously over 3 to 4 hours). The administration of deferoxamine was completed 1 hour before crossclamping. The crossclamp was placed on the descending aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery for 30 minutes. Proximal hypertension was controlled with sodium nitroprusside and volume depletion. Methods of assessment included an evaluation of the neurologic status of the animals by quantitative Tarlov criteria, blood flow by radiolabeled microspheres, and histologic examination of the spinal cord. All animals in the control group, group A, were completely paraplegic with 0% recovery by Tarlov criteria at 24 hours after the removal of the crossclamp. In contrast, all animals in group B, in which the combination of allopurinol and deferoxamine was used, completely recovered (100% recovery by Tarlov criteria), and at 24 hours after the ischemic episode they were able to walk with no difficulty and had intact sensation. Functional parameters of these animals fully correlated with the morphologic findings. Widespread acute neuronal injury and vacuolation of neuropil were observed in the control group of animals. In contrast, animals in group B showed much less pronounced morphologic changes after the same period of ischemia. In summary, the combined use of these agents significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the incidence of paraplegia induced by aortic crossclamping with 82% additivity.