Determining Decoupling Points in a Supply Chain Networks Using NSGA II Algorithm

Purpose: In the model, we used the concepts of Lee and Amaral (2002) and Tang and Chen (2009) and offer a multi-criteria decision-making model that identify the decoupling points to aim to minimize production costs, minimize the product delivery time to customer and maximize their satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: we encounter with a triple-objective model that metaheuristic method (NSGA II) is used to solve the model and to identify the Pareto optimal points. The max (min) method was used. Findings: Our results of using NSGA II to find Pareto optimal solutions demonstrate good performance of NSGA II to extract Pareto solutions in proposed model that considers determining of decoupling point in a supply network. Originality/value: So far, several approaches to model the future have been proposed, of course, each of them modeled a part of this concept. This concept has been considered more general in the model that defined in follow. In this model, we face with a multi-criteria decision problem that includes minimization of the production costs and product delivery time to customers as well as customer consistency maximization.Peer Reviewe

A virus-like particle of the hepatitis B virus preS antigen elicits robust neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses in mice

The preS antigen of hepatitis B virus (HBV) corresponds to the N-terminal polypeptide in the large (L) antigen in addition to the small (S) antigen. The virus-like particle (VLP) of the S antigen is widely used as a vaccine to protect the population from HBV infection. The presence of the S antigen and its antibodies in patient blood has been used as markers to monitor hepatitis B. However, there is very limited knowledge about the preS antigen. We generated a preS VLP that is formed by a chimeric protein between preS and hemagglutinin (HA), and the matrix protein M1 of influenza virus. The HBV preS antigen is displayed on the surface of preS VLP. Asn112 and Ser98 of preS in VLP were found to be glycosylated and O-glycosylation of Ser98 has not been reported previously. The preS VLP shows a significantly higher immunogenicity than recombinant preS, eliciting robust anti-preS neutralizing antibodies. In addition, preS VLP is also capable of stimulating preS-specific CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses in Balb/c mice and HBV transgenic mice. Furthermore, preS VLP immunization provided protection against hydrodynamic transfection of HBV DNA in mice. The data clearly suggest that this novel preS VLP could elicit robust immune responses to the HBV antigen, and can be potentially developed into prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines

EUS assisted transmural cholecystogastrostomy fistula creation as a bridge for endoscopic internal gallbladder therapy using a novel fully covered metal stent

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the “gold standard” for treating symptomatic gallstones. Innovative methods, such as a scarless therapeutic procedure through a natural orifice are being introduced, and include transgastric or transcolonic endoscopic cholecystectomy. However, before clinical implementation, instruments still need modification, and a more convenient treatment is still needed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of endoscopic internal gallbladder therapy such as cholecystolithotomy in an animal survival model. METHODS: Four pigs underwent endoscopic-ultrasound (EUS)-guided cholecystogastrostomy and the placement of a novel covered mental stent. Four weeks later the stents were removed and an endoscope was advanced into the gallbladder via the fistula, and cholecystolithotomy was performed. Two weeks later the pigs were sacrificed, and the healing of the fistulas was assessed. RESULTS: EUS-guided cholecystogastrostomy with mental stent deployment was successfully performed in all the animals. Four weeks after the procedure, the fistulas had formed and all the stents were removed. Endoscopic cholecystolithotomy was performed through each fistula. All the animals survived until they were sacrificed 2 weeks later. The fistulas were found to be completely healed. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the first endoscopic transmural cholecystolithotomy after placement of a novel mental stent in an animal survival model

Toward High-Voltage/Energy Symmetric Supercapacitors via Interface Engineering

This chapter includes elaborately selected recent literatures on electrochemical energy storing in symmetric supercapacitors (SSCs) with high operating voltages (voltage >1.6 V) and high specific energy. SSCs are a typical sort of electrochemical capacitors with larger energy density than conventional capacitors; by involving electrode materials with stable interfaces (for instance, nitrogen-doped carbon materials) and electrolytes with wide safe potential window (for instance, ionic liquids), they can supply competitive energy relative to batteries. Fundamentals of SSCs are first introduced, aiming at clarifying some critical interfacial phenomena that are critical to enhance overall capacitive performance. State-of-the-art SSCs are included as demonstrations from the aspects of both enhanced capacitances and expanded voltages. We also provide a few feasible strategies for the design high-voltage/energy SSCs such as using inactive electrode materials

RNA editing of hepatitis B virus transcripts by activation-induced cytidine deaminase.

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is essential for the somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class-switch recombination (CSR) of Ig genes. The mechanism by which AID triggers SHM and CSR has been explained by two distinct models. In the DNA deamination model, AID converts cytidine bases in DNA into uridine. The uridine is recognized by the DNA repair system, which produces DNA strand breakages and point mutations. In the alternative model, RNA edited by AID is responsible for triggering CSR and SHM. However, RNA deamination by AID has not been demonstrated. Here we found that C-to-T and G-to-A mutations accumulated in hepatitis B virus (HBV) nucleocapsid DNA when AID was expressed in HBV-replicating hepatic cell lines. AID expression caused C-to-T mutations in the nucleocapsid DNA of RNase H-defective HBV, which does not produce plus-strand viral DNA. Furthermore, the RT-PCR products of nucleocapsid viral RNA from AID-expressing cells exhibited significant C-to-T mutations, whereas viral RNAs outside the nucleocapsid did not accumulate C-to-U mutations. Moreover, AID was packaged within the nucleocapsid by forming a ribonucleoprotein complex with HBV RNA and the HBV polymerase protein. The encapsidation of the AID protein with viral RNA and DNA provides an efficient environment for evaluating AID's RNA and DNA deamination activities. A bona fide RNA-editing enzyme, apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide 1, induced a similar level of C-to-U mutations in nucleocapsid RNA as AID. Taken together, the results indicate that AID can deaminate the nucleocapsid RNA of HBV

Understanding the Impact of AI Decision speed and Historical Decision Quality on User adoption in AI-assisted Decision Making

Artificial intelligence (AI) has shown increasing potential in assisting users with decision-making. However, the impact of AI decision speed on users\u27 adoption intention has received limited attention compared to the focus on decision quality. Building on cue utilization theory, this study investigates the influence of AI decision speed on users\u27 intention to adopt AI. Three experiments were conducted, revealing that users exhibit a higher intention to adopt AI when AI\u27s decision speed is higher and historical decision quality is better. Furthermore, the perceived intelligence and perceived risk in decision-making act as mediating variables in these effects. Importantly, the study finds that historical decision quality moderates the relationship between AI decision speed and user adoption, weakening the impact in conditions of high quality. These findings contribute to the understanding of AI adoption and offer practical implications for AI service providers and developers

Case Study for Processing Phosphate Ores Worldwide

The characteristics of phosphate ores from different sources can vary significantly. The target specifications for marketable phosphate concentrates can also vary for each end user. The impurities associated with phosphate reserves include clay, silica quartz, silicates, carbonate minerals, iron oxide minerals, organics, etc. Among the technologies for processing phosphate ores, flotation is most commonly used to separate phosphate from those impurities. Examples of processing phosphate ores around the world with ArrMaz CustoFloat® (CF) and CustAmine® (CA) collectors with approaches such as reagent scheme and flowsheet will be presented