Abstract: Introduction: Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) uses
high frequency mechanical stimuli generated by a vibration plate and
transmitted through bone, muscle and connective tissues to the whole
body. Research has shown that long-term vibration-plate training
improves neuromuscular facilitation, especially in afferent neural
pathways, responsible for the conduction of vibration and
proprioceptive stimuli, muscle function, balance and proprioception.
Some researchers suggest that the vibration stimulus briefly inhibits
the conduction of afferent signals from proprioceptors and can
interfere with the maintenance of body balance. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the influence of a single set of exercises associated
with whole-body vibration on the joint position sense and body
balance. Material and methods: The study enrolled 55 people aged
19-24 years. These individuals were randomly divided into a test
group (30 persons) and a control group (25 persons). Both groups
performed the same set of exercises on a vibration plate. The
following vibration parameters: frequency of 20Hz and amplitude of
3mm, were used in the test group. The control group performed
exercises on the vibration plate while it was off. All participants were
instructed to perform six dynamic exercises lasting 30 seconds each
with a 60-second period of rest between them. The exercises involved
large muscle groups of the trunk, pelvis and lower limbs.
Measurements were carried out before and immediately after
exercise. Joint position sense (JPS) was measured in the knee joint
for the starting position at 45° in an open kinematic chain. JPS error
was measured using a digital inclinometer. Balance was assessed in a
standing position with both feet on the ground with the eyes open and
closed (each test lasting 30 sec). Balance was assessed using Matscan
with FootMat 7.0 SAM software. The surface of the ellipse of
confidence and front-back as well as right-left swing were measured
to assess balance. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica
10.0 PL software. Results: There were no significant differences
between the groups, both before and after the exercise (p> 0.05). JPS
did not change in both the test (10.7° vs. 8.4°) and control groups
(9.0° vs. 8.4°). No significant differences were shown in any of the
test parameters during balance tests with the eyes open or closed in
both the test and control groups (p> 0.05). Conclusions: 1.
Deterioration in proprioception or balance was not observed
immediately after the vibration stimulus. This suggests that vibrationinduced
blockage of proprioceptive stimuli conduction can have only
a short-lasting effect that occurs only as long as a vibration stimulus
is present. 2. Short-term use of vibration in treatment does not impair
proprioception and seems to be safe for patients with proprioceptive
impairment. 3. These results need to be supplemented with an
assessment of proprioception during the application of vibration
stimuli. Additionally, the impact of vibration parameters used in the
exercises should be evaluated.
Abstract: The goal of this paper is proposing a supply chain
value dashboard in home appliance manufacturing firms to create
more value for all stakeholders via balanced scorecard approach.
Balanced scorecard is an effective approach that managers have used
to evaluate supply chain performance in many fields but there is a
lack of enough attention to all supply chain stakeholders, improving
value creation and, defining correlation between value indicators and
performance measuring quantitatively. In this research the key
stakeholders in home appliance supply chain, value indicators with
respect to create more value for stakeholders and the most important
metrics to evaluate supply chain value performance based on
balanced scorecard approach have been selected via literature review.
The most important indicators based on expert’s judgment acquired
by in survey focused on creating more value for. Structural equation
modelling has been used to disclose relations between value
indicators and balanced scorecard metrics. The important result of
this research is identifying effective value dashboard to create more
value for all stakeholders in supply chain via balanced scorecard
approach and based on an empirical study covering ten home
appliance manufacturing firms in Iran. Home appliance
manufacturing firms can increase their stakeholder's satisfaction by
using this value dashboard.
Abstract: This contribution is focused on the methodology for
identifying levels of quality and improving quality through new
logistics model in railway transport. It is oriented on the application
of dynamic quality models, which represent an innovative method of
evaluation quality services. Through this conception, time factor,
expected, and perceived quality in each moment of the transportation
process within logistics chain can be taken into account. Various
models describe the improvement of the quality which emphases the
time factor throughout the whole transportation logistics chain.
Quality of services in railway transport can be determined by the
existing level of service quality, by detecting the causes of
dissatisfaction employees but also customers, to uncover strengths
and weaknesses. This new logistics model is able to recognize critical
processes in logistic chain. It includes service quality rating that must
respect its specific properties, which are unrepeatability,
impalpability, their use right at the time they are provided and
particularly changeability, which is significant factor in the
conditions of rail transport as well. These peculiarities influence the
quality of service regarding the constantly increasing requirements
and that result in new ways of finding progressive attitudes towards
the service quality rating.
Abstract: Electronic mediums such as websites, feeds, blogs and
social media sites are on a daily basis influencing our decision
making, are improving our productivity and are shaping futures of
many consumers and service/product providers. This research
identifies that both customers and business providers heavily rely on
smart phone applications. Based on this, mobile applications
available on iTunes store were studied. It was identified that fruit and
vegetable related applications used by consumers can broadly be
categorized into purchase applications, diaries, tracking health
applications, trip farm location and cooking applications. On the
other hand, applications used by farmers can broadly be classified as:
weather tracking, pests / fertilizer applications and general social
media applications such as Facebook. To blur this farmer-consumer
application divide, our research utilizes Context Specific
eTransformation Framework and based on it identifies characteristic
future consumer-farmer applications will need to have so that the
current divide can be narrowed and consequently better farmerconsumer
supply chain link established.
Abstract: Government reports and published research have
flagged and brought to public attention the deteriorating condition of
a large percentage of bridges in Canada and the United States. With
the increasing number of deteriorated bridges in the US, Canada, and
around the globe, condition assessment techniques of concrete
bridges are evolving. Investigation for bridges’ defects such as
cracks, spalls, and delamination and their level of severity are the
main objectives of condition assessment. Inspection and
rehabilitation programs are being implemented to monitor and
maintain deteriorated bridge infrastructure. This paper highlights the
state-of-the art of current practices being performed for concrete
bridge inspection. The information is gathered from the literature and
through a distributed questionnaire. The current practices in concrete
bridge inspection rely on the use of hummer sounding and chain
dragging tests. Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) techniques are not
being utilized fully in the process. Nonetheless, they are being
partially utilized by the recommendation of the bridge inspector after
conducting visual inspection. Lanes are usually closed during the
performance of visual inspection and bridge inspection in general.
Abstract: Nowadays, the reflection on competence management
is the basic for new competitive strategies. It is considered as the core
of the problems of the global supply chain. It interact a variety of
actors: information, physical and activities flows, etc. Even though
competence management is seen as the key factor for any business
success, the existing approaches demonstrate the deficiencies and
limitations of the competence concept. This research has two
objectives: The first is to make a contribution by focusing on the
development of a competence approach, based on continuous
improvement. It allows the enterprise to spot key competencies,
mobilize them in order to serve its strategic objectives and to develop
future competencies. The second is to propose a method to evaluate
the Level of Collective Competence. The approach was confirmed
through an application carried out at an automotive company.
Abstract: The aim of optimization of store management is not
only designing the situation of store management itself including its
equipment, technology and operation. In optimization of store
management we need to consider also synchronizing of
technological, transport, store and service operations throughout the
whole process of logistic chain in such a way that a natural flow of
material from provider to consumer will be achieved the shortest
possible way, in the shortest possible time in requested quality and
quantity and with minimum costs. The paper deals with the
application of the queuing theory for optimization of warehouse
processes. The first part refers to common information about the
problematic of warehousing and using mathematical methods for
logistics chains optimization. The second part refers to preparing a
model of a warehouse within queuing theory. The conclusion of the
paper includes two examples of using queuing theory in praxis.
Abstract: The market competition is moving from the single
firm to the whole supply chain because of increasing competition and
growing need for operational efficiencies and customer orientation.
Supply chain management allows companies to look beyond their
organizational boundaries to develop and leverage resources and
capabilities of their supply chain partners. This creates competitive
advantages in the marketplace and because of this SCM has acquired
strategic importance. Lean Approach is a management strategy that focuses on reducing
every type of waste present in an organization. This approach is
becoming more and more popular among supply chain managers. The supply chain application of lean approach is not frequent. In
particular, it is not well studied which are the impacts of lean
approach principles in a supply chain context. In literature there are
only few studies aimed at understanding the qualitative impact of the
lean approach in supply chains. Therefore, the goal of this research
work is to study the impacts of lean principles implementation along
a supply chain. To achieve this, a simulation model of a threeechelon
multi-product supply chain has been built. Kanban system (and several priority policies) and setup time
reduction degrees are implemented in the lean-configured supply
chain to apply pull and lot-sizing decrease principles respectively. To
evaluate the benefits of lean approach, lean supply chain is compared
with an EOQ-configured supply chain. The simulation results show
that Kanban system and setup-time reduction improve inventory
stock level. They also show that logistics efforts are affected to lean
implementation degree. The paper concludes describing
performances of lean supply chain in different contexts.
Abstract: Construction industry plays a vital role in the
economy of the world. However, due to high uncertainty and
variability in the industry, its performance is not as efficient in terms
of quality, lead times, productivity and costs as of other industries.
Moreover, there are continuous conflicts among the different actors
in the construction supply chains in terms of profit sharing. Previous
studies suggested partnership as an important approach to promote
cooperation among the different actors in the construction supply
chains and thereby it improves the overall performance. Construction
practitioners tried to focus on partnership which can enhance the
performance of construction supply chains but they are not fully
aware of different approaches and techniques for improving
partnership. In this research, a systematic review on partnership in
relation to construction supply chains is carried out to understand
different elements influencing the partnership. The research
development of this domain is analyzed by reviewing selected
articles published from 1996 to 2015. Based on the papers, three
major elements influencing partnership in construction supply chains
are identified: ‘Lean approach’, ‘Relationship building’ and ‘E-commerce
applications’. This study analyses the contributions in the
areas within each element and provides suggestions for future
developments of partnership in construction supply chains.
Abstract: Food supply chain is one of the most complex supply
chain networks due to its perishable nature and customer oriented
products, and food safety is the major concern for this industry. IT
system could help to minimize the production and consumption of
unsafe food by controlling and monitoring the entire system.
However, there have been many issues in adoption of IT system in
this industry specifically within SMEs sector. With this regard, this
study presents a novel approach to use IT and tractability systems in
the food supply chain, using application of RFID and central
database.
Abstract: This work explores the inter-region investment
behaviors of Integrated Circuit (IC) design industry from Taiwan to
China using the amount of foreign direct investment (FDI). According
to the mutual dependence among different IC design industrial
locations, Lotka-Volterra model is utilized to explore the FDI
interactions between South and East China. Effects of inter-regional
collaborations on FDI flows into China are considered. The analysis
results show that FDIs into South China for IC design industry
significantly inspire the subsequent FDIs into East China, while FDIs
into East China for Taiwan’s IC design industry significantly hinder
the subsequent FDIs into South China. Because the supply chain along
IC industry includes upstream IC design, midstream manufacturing, as
well as downstream packing and testing enterprises, IC design industry
has to cooperate with IC manufacturing, packaging and testing
industries in the same area to form a strong IC industrial cluster.
Taiwan’s IC design industry implement the largest FDI amount into
East China and the second largest FDI amount into South China
among the four regions: North, East, Mid-West and South China. If IC
design houses undertake more FDIs in South China, those in East
China are urged to incrementally implement more FDIs into East
China to maintain the competitive advantages of the IC supply chain in
East China. On the other hand, as the FDIs in East China rise, the FDIs
in South China will successively decline since capitals have
concentrated in East China. In addition, this investigation proves that
the prediction of Lotka-Volterra model in FDI trends is accurate
because the industrial interactions between the two regions are
included. Finally, this work confirms that the FDI flows cannot reach a
stable equilibrium point, so the FDI inflows into East and South China
will expand in the future.
Abstract: The world crude oil demand is projected to rise to 108.5 million bbl/d by the year 2035. With reserves estimated at 869 billion tonnes worldwide, coal remains an abundant resource. The aim of this work was to produce a high value hydrocarbon liquid product using a Direct Coal Liquefaction (DCL) process at, relatively mild operating conditions. Via hydrogenation, the temperature-staged approach was investigated in a dual reactor lab-scale pilot plant facility. The objectives included maximising thermal dissolution of the coal in the presence of tetralin as the hydrogen donor solvent in the first stage with 2:1 and 3:1 solvent: coal ratios. Subsequently, in the second stage, hydrogen saturation, in particular, hydrodesulphurization (HDS) performance was assessed. Two commercial hydrotreating catalysts were investigated viz. NickelMolybdenum (Ni-Mo) and Cobalt-Molybdenum (Co-Mo). GC-MS results identified 77 compounds and various functional groups present in the first and second stage liquid product. In the first stage 3:1 ratios and liquid product yields catalysed by magnetite were favoured. The second stage product distribution showed an increase in the BTX (Benzene, Toluene, Xylene) quality of the liquid product, branched chain alkanes and a reduction in the sulphur concentration. As an HDS performer and selectivity to the production of long and branched chain alkanes, Ni-Mo had an improved performance over Co-Mo. Co-Mo is selective to a higher concentration of cyclohexane. For 16 days on stream each, Ni-Mo had a higher activity than Co-Mo. The potential to cover the demand for low–sulphur, crude diesel and solvents from the production of high value hydrocarbon liquid in the said process, is thus demonstrated.
Abstract: For the shrimp companies to remain relevant to its local
and international consumers, they must offer new shrimp product and
services. It must work actively not just to create value for the consumer,
but to involve the consumer in co-creating value for shrimp product
innovation in the market. In this theoretical work, we conceptualize the
business concept of value co-creation in the context of shrimp products,
and propose a framework of value co-creation for shrimp product
innovation in shrimp industries. With guidance on value co-creation in
in shrimp industry, and shrimp value chain actors mapped to the
co-creation cycle, companies can use the framework to offer new
shrimp product to consumer communities. Although customer
co-creation is known approach in the world, it is not commonly used
by the companies in Bangladesh. This paper makes an original
contribution by conceptualizing co-creation and set the examples of
best co-creation practices in food sector. The results of the study
provide management with guidelines for successful co-creation
projects with an innovation- and market-oriented approach. The
framework also provides a basis for further research in this area.
Abstract: Although there has been a growing interest in the
hybrid free-space optical link and radio frequency FSO/RF
communication system, the current literature is limited to results
obtained in moderate or cold environment. In this paper, using a soft
switching approach, we investigate the effect of weather
inhomogeneities on the strength of turbulence hence the channel
refractive index under Qatar harsh environment and their influence
on the hybrid FSO/RF availability. In this approach, either FSO/RF
or simultaneous or none of them can be active. Based on soft
switching approach and a finite state Markov Chain (FSMC) process,
we model the channel fading for the two links and derive a
mathematical expression for the outage probability of the hybrid
system. Then, we evaluate the behavior of the hybrid FSO/RF under
hazy and harsh weather. Results show that the FSO/RF soft switching
renders the system outage probability less than that of each link
individually. A soft switching algorithm is being implemented on
FPGAs using Raptor code interfaced to the two terminals of a
1Gbps/100 Mbps FSO/RF hybrid system, the first being implemented
in the region. Experimental results are compared to the above
simulation results.
Abstract: Facility location is a complex real-world problem
which needs a strategic management decision. This paper provides a
general review on studies, efforts and developments in Facility
Location Problems which are classical optimization problems having
a wide-spread applications in various areas such as transportation,
distribution, production, supply chain decisions and
telecommunication. Our goal is not to review all variants of different
studies in FLPs or to describe very detailed computational techniques
and solution approaches, but rather to provide a broad overview of
major location problems that have been studied, indicating how they
are formulated and what are proposed by researchers to tackle the
problem. A brief, elucidative table based on a grouping according to
“General Problem Type” and “Methods Proposed” used in the studies
is also presented at the end of the work.
Abstract: Conductivity properties of DNA molecule is
investigated in a simple, but chemically specific approach that is
intimately related to the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) model. This
model is a tight-binding linear nanoscale chain. We have tried to
study the electrical current flowing in DNA and investigated the
characteristic I-V diagram. As a result, It is shown that there are the
(quasi-) ohmic areas in I-V diagram. On the other hand, the regions
with a negative differential resistance (NDR) are detectable in
diagram.
Abstract: Latin America is probably the region with greater
social inequality, contrary to the amount of rights enshrined in their
constitutions. In the last decade of the twentieth century, the area
resulted in significant changes to democratization and constitutional
changes. Through low-key public policy, political leaders activated
participation in the culture of human rights. The struggle for social
rights in Latin America has been a constant regulation. His
consecration at the constitutional level has chained search
application. The constitutionalization and judicial protection of these
rights have been crucial in countries like Argentina, Venezuela, Peru
and Colombia. This paper presents an analytical view on the
constitutionalization of social rights in the Latin American context
and its justiciability.
Abstract: Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels that promising
for substituting petro diesel as energy source which is advantage on
sustainability and ecofriendly. Due to the raw material that tend to
decompose during storage, biodiesel also have the same characteristic
that tend to decompose and formed higher acid value which is the
result of oxidation to double bond on a chain of ester. Decomposition of biodiesel due to oxidation reaction could
prevent by introduce a small amount of antioxidant. The origin of raw
materials and the process for producing biodiesel will determine the
effectiveness of antioxidant. The quality degradation on biodiesel
could evaluate by measuring iodine value and acid number of
biodiesel. Biodiesel made from high fatty acid Jatropha curcas oil by using
esterification and transesterification process will stand on the quality
by introduce 90 ppm pyrogallol powder on the biodiesel, which could
increase Induction period time from 2 hours to more than 6 hours in
rancimat test evaluation.
Abstract: Lead time is a critical measure of a supply chain's
performance. It impacts both the customer satisfactions as well as the
total cost of inventory. This paper presents the result of a study on the
analysis of the customer order lead-time for a multinational company.
In the study, the lead time was divided into three stages respectively:
order entry, order fulfillment, and order delivery. A sample of size 2,425 order lines was extracted from the
company's records to use for this study. The sample data entails
information regarding customer orders from the time of order entry
until order delivery. Data regarding the lead time of each stage for
different orders were also provided. Summary statistics on lead time
data reveals that about 30% of the orders were delivered later than the
scheduled due date. The result of the multiple linear regression
analysis technique revealed that component type, logistics parameter,
order size and the customer type have significant impacts on lead
time. Data analysis on the stages of lead time indicates that stage 2
consumed over 50% of the lead time. Pareto analysis was made to
study the reasons for the customer order delay in each stage.
Recommendation was given to resolve the problem.
Abstract: The main purpose of this study is static analysis of
two three-degree of freedom parallel mechanisms: 3-RCC and 3-
RRS. Geometry of these mechanisms is expressed and static
equilibrium equations are derived for the whole chains. For these
mechanisms due to the equal number of equations and unknowns, the
solution is as same as 3-RCC mechanism. A mathematical software is
used to solve the equations. In order to prove the results obtained
from solving the equations of mechanisms, the CAD model of these
robots has been simulated and their static is analysed in ADAMS
software. Due to symmetrical geometry of the mechanisms, the force
and external torque acting on the end-effecter have been considered
asymmetric to prove the generality of the solution method. Finally,
the results of both softwares, for both mechanisms are extracted and
compared as graphs. The good achieved comparison between the
results indicates the accuracy of the analysis.