Multi-object decision making for supplier selection in outsourcing

A supply chain is the system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. The main and basic challenges in the supply chain are to plan a strategy to manage the resources and meet the demands, to select the suppliers that will deliver the goods and services that are required to build the product, to manufacture the product, to deliver the product to the customers and to make an arrangement for return of the products through customers if there is any fault in the product for servicing. This thesis study concentrates on supplier selection problem. Recently, outsourcing has become the prime part of the company. The activities which are not core to the business or not feasible to manufacture in-house are being outsourced to suitable suppliers. The major hurdle in outsourcing is to select a suitable supplier. The right supplier will lead to the fulfillment of the company’s needs and will help increase the financial stability as well as the reputation of the company in the market. The selection of suppliers depends on number of criteria and it is possible that one supplier satisfies some of the selected criteria, a company is looking in to, but not the remaining others and the other supplier may satisfy the other ones but not the first ones. The challenge is to optimize selection process based on critical criteria and select the best supplier(s). The supplier selection problems are multi-objective problems and no single methodology appears to be dominant in solving supplier selection problem. This thesis study has attempted to advance the art of supply chain management by developing a heuristic methodology “Integrated Evolutionary Goal Trade-off (IEGT) Method” which simplifies the task of supplier selection and reduces the tediousness as well as the degree of error by directly involving the Decision Maker into the selection process. The “IEGT” method is highly efficient and it implements the procedure or steps of the Posteriori Articulation method in which after the solutions are presented to the Decision Maker, it incorporates combination of different methods like Evolutionary Algorithm Method, Goal Programming Method and STEM Method to reach the final optimal supplier(s)

How to sustain employee engagement in a remote work environment? A case study

DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #21402 on 2025-03-28 at 14:26:48Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2025-03-28 without embargo termsThe student, Sanjyot Mohile, accepted the attached license on 2024-11-26 at 14:17.The student, Sanjyot Mohile, submitted this Dissertation for approval on 2024-11-26 at 14:28.This Dissertation was approved for publication on 2024-11-27 at 14:45.The COVID-19 (COVID), pandemic brought challenges to organizations including forcing most organizations to pivot to a remote working model, and some continued with this model post-COVID. This was a new norm of working, where reporting and team relationships became virtual, conversations were deliberate, and processes had to change. Human Resource (HR) professionals were challenged as they sought new ways to continue to keep employees engaged in the new remote work environment. How to sustain employee engagement in a remote work environment? How have employee and leader behaviors changed in a sustained new remote working landscape related to employee engagement? These questions guided my research using a case study and a qualitative research methodology approach. The site for my case study was my place of employment. For purposes of this research, this organization will be referred to as ABC Corporate Federal Credit Union (ABC), which transitioned from the traditional office work environment pre-COVID to a remote work environment post-COVID. The Saks and Gruman Engagement Theory framed the research, however I modified it, to overcome deficiencies that were identified in the model. The data set of participants included 12 employees and 12 leaders who had worked previously in the traditional office environment and now are working remotely. Data was collected by interviewing the participants. The findings indicated that both employee and leader behaviors changed in the remote work environment. The key to sustaining engagement was the foundation that was laid by the organization pre-COVID, such as the mission, vision, values, and the technological resources that were provided to all employees. Employees adapted to the remote work environment by creating workspaces at home, boundaries between home and work, changes in processes, and more reliance on virtual communication. Employees valued and appreciated a remote work environment as there was now an increase in work-life balance and wellness. The research indicated that there was a change in leader behavior as related to modifying processes, communication, and accountability for their teams. Trust between leaders and their teams was vital in this new environment. This research lays the foundation for a road map for organizations to move to a remote work environment. This research implicates several opportunities for future researchers related to remote work and employee engagement

Spectral solutions for the Schr\"odinger equation with a regular singularity

We propose a modification in the Bethe-like ansatz to reproduce the hydrogen atom spectrum and the wave functions. Such a proposal provided a clue to attempt the exact quantization conditions (EQC) for the quantum periods associated with potentials V (x) which are singular at the origin. In a suitable limit of the parameters, the potential can be mapped to |x| potential. We validate our EQC proposition by numerically computing the Voros spectrum and matching it with the true spectrum for |x| potential. Thus we have given a route to obtain the spectral solution for the one dimensional Schr\"odinger equation involving potentials with regular singularity at the origin.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables; A mathematica file is attached as an ancillary fil

Use of asphalt millings in subbase applications

Asphalt Concrete (AC) pavements, after a certain period of their service life, exhibit various types of deterioration and damage. To remedy these problems and to increase road safety, they are often overlaid with a new layer of asphalt concrete. Sometimes the old asphalt pavement is milled, and the millings, after being treated with certain chemicals, are used as an overlay. However, the asphalt millings are not entirely utilized in producing recycled asphalt pavements (RAP). Due to environmental as well as economical considerations it is necessary to find alternate uses for these millings. The overall objective of this study is to find how asphalt millings are currently used in Oklahoma, the volume of millings produced in the State, and whether the millings could be used in subbase construction. A comprehensive literature search was carried out to obtain articles and reports relevant to asphalt millings. The eight Divisions of ODOT were visited and pertinent people from each Division were interviewed. To enhance the information collection process, a questionnaire was prepared in collaboration with the Research, Development and Technology Transfer unit at ODOT for the Divisional people to fill out. The interviews mainly focused on the current milling operations, recycling of millings, methods followed, current use of millings, and potential future use. Photographs of milling operations and milling applications were taken during certain site visits and are included in this report. Also, milling samples were collected during some of these site visits. The literature survey indicates that processed millings have been used extensively in a variety of applications like shoulder, mailbox turnouts, parking lots, level-up operations, and base/subbase applications in the United States. The divisional interviews revealed that the eight Divisions of ODOT also carry out extensive recycling of asphalt millings. However, due to lack of definite guidelines/specifications for the use of millings in various applications, there have been certain project failures. Aggregate gradation, age of asphalt, milling process, speed of milling operations, age of stockpile and depth of cut primarily affect the quality of millings. Interviews revealed that due to a lack of specific guidelines in subbase application, which are considered critical, the Divisions of ODOT are hesitant in using millings as subbase. From the study it is concluded that a testing methodology must be introduced for determining the quality of millings in terms of their physical and mechanical properties, relative to their intended use.August 1997 - April 1998N

Meeting the needs of the aging population: the Canadian Network on Aging and Cancer—report on the first Network meeting, 27 April 2016

The aging of the Canadian population represents the major risk factor for a projected increase in cancer incidence in the coming decades. However, the evidence base to guide management of older adults with cancer remains extremely limited. It is thus imperative that we develop a national research agenda and establish a national collaborative network to devise joint studies that will help to accelerate the development of high-quality research, education, and clinical care and thus better address the needs of older Canadians with cancer. To begin this process, the inaugural meeting of the Canadian Network on Aging and Cancer was held in Toronto, 27 April 2016. The meeting was attended by 51 invited researchers and clinicians from across Canada, as well as by international leaders in geriatric oncology from the United States and France.The objectives of the meeting were toreview the present landscape of education, clinical care, and research in the area of cancer and aging in Canada.identify issues of high research priority in Canada within the field of cancer and aging.identify current barriers to geriatric oncology research in Canada and develop potential solutions.develop a Canadian collaborative multidisciplinary research network between investigators to improve health outcomes for older adults with cancer.learn from successful international efforts to stimulate the geriatric oncology research agenda in Canada.In the present report, we describe the education, clinical care, and research priorities that were identified at the meeting

AGS and NIA bench-to bedside conference summary: Cancer and cardiovascular disease.

This report summarizes the presentations, discussions, and recommendations of the most recent American Geriatrics Society and National Institute on Aging research conference, Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, on October 18-19, 2021. The purpose of this virtual meeting was to address the interface between cancer and heart disease, which are the two leading causes of death among older Americans. Age-related physiologic changes are implicated in the pathogenesis of both conditions. Emerging data suggest that cancer-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) involves disrupted cell signaling and cellular senescence. The risk factors for CVD are also risk factors for cancer and an increased likelihood of cancer death, and people who have both cancer and CVD do more poorly than those who have only cancer or only CVD. Issues addressed in this bench-to-bedside conference include mechanisms of cancer and CVD co-development in older adults, cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapy, and management of comorbid cancer and CVD. Presenters discussed approaches to ensure equitable access to clinical trials and health care for diverse populations of adults with CVD and cancer, mechanisms of cancer therapy cardiotoxicity, and management of comorbid CVD and cancer, including the role of patient values and preferences in treatment decisions. Workshop participants identified many research gaps and questions that could lead to an enhanced understanding of comorbid CVD and cancer and to better and more equitable management strategies

Phase 1 Trial of TPI 287, a Microtubule Stabilizing Agent, in Combination With Bevacizumab in Adults With Recurrent Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: Recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM) has limited treatment options. This phase 1 protocol was designed to study the safety and preliminary efficacy of TPI 287, a central nervous system penetrant microtubule stabilizer, in combination with bevacizumab (BEV) for the treatment of rGBM. METHODS: GBM patients with up to 2 prior relapses without prior exposure to anti-angiogenic therapy were eligible. A standard 3 + 3 design was utilized to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of TPI 287. Cohorts received TPI 287 at 140-220 mg/m RESULTS: Twenty-four patients were enrolled at 6 centers. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Fatigue, myelosuppression, and peripheral neuropathy were the most common treatment emergent adverse events. Dose-limiting toxicity was not observed, thus the MTD was not determined. Twenty-three patients were evaluable for median and 6-month progression-free survival, which were 5.5 months (mo) and 40%, respectively. Median and 12-month overall survival were 13.4 mo and 64%, respectively. The optimal phase 2 dose was determined to be 200 mg/m CONCLUSIONS: TPI 287 can be safely combined with BEV for the treatment of rGBM and preliminary efficacy supports further investigation of this combination

Urgent Considerations for the Neuro-oncologic Treatment of Patients with Gliomas During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak is posing unprecedented risks and challenges for all communities and healthcare systems, worldwide. There are unique considerations for many adult patients with gliomas who are vulnerable to the novel coronavirus due to older age and immunosuppression. As patients with terminal illnesses, they present ethical challenges for centers that may need to ration access to ventilator care due to insufficient critical care capacity. It is urgent for the neuro-oncology community to develop a pro-active and coordinated approach to the care of adults with gliomas in order to provide them with the best possible oncologic care while also reducing their risk of viral infection during times of potential healthcare system failure. In this article, we present an approach developed by an international multi-disciplinary group to optimize the care of adults with gliomas during this pandemic. We recommend measures to promote strict social distancing and minimize exposures for patients, address risk and benefit of all therapeutic interventions, pro-actively develop end of life plans, educate patients and caregivers and ensure the health of the multi-disciplinary neuro-oncology workforce. This pandemic is already changing neuro-oncologic care delivery around the globe. It is important to highlight opportunities to maximize the benefit and minimize the risk of glioma management during this pandemic and potentially, in the future