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Barriers to the adoption of blockchain technology in business supply chains: a total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) approach
No full textYesBlockchain is an emerging technology with a wide array of potential applications. This
technology, which underpins cryptocurrency, provides an immutable, decentralised, and
transparent distributed database of digital assets for use by firms in supply chains. However,
not all firms are appropriately suited to adopt blockchain in the existing supply chain primarily
due to their lack of knowledge on the benefits of this technology. Using Total Interpretive
Structural Modelling (TISM) and Cross-Impact Matrix Multiplication Applied to
Classification (MICMAC), this paper identifies the adoption barriers, examines the
interrelationships between them to the adoption of blockchain technology, which has the
potential to revolutionise supply chains. The TISM technique supports developing a contextual
relationship based structural model to identify the influential barriers. MICMAC classifies the
barriers in blockchain adoption based on their strength and dependence. The results of this
research indicate that the lack of business awareness and familiarity with blockchain
technology on what it can deliver for future supply chains, are the most influential barriers that
impede blockchain adoption. These barriers hinder and impact businesses decision to establish
a blockchain-enabled supply chain and that other barriers act as secondary and linked variables
in the adoption process
Nickel plated carbon nanotubes reinforcing concrete composites: from nano/micro structures to macro mechanical properties
Get PDFYesOwing to their small size, good wettability, uniform dispersion ability and high thermal properties, the nickel-plated carbon nanotubes (Ni-CNTs) with different aspect ratios are used to reinforce reactive powder concrete (RPC) through modifying the nano/micro- structural units of concrete. Incorporating only 0.075 vol% of Ni-CNTs (0.03 vol% of CNTs) can significantly increase mechanical properties of RPC. The enhancement effect on compressive strength caused by the incorporation of Ni-CNTs with aspect ratio of 1000 reaches 26.8%/23.0 MPa, mainly benefiting from the high polymerization C-S-H gels, low porosity, and refined pore structure. The 33.5%/1.92 MPa increases of flexural strength can be attributed to the decrease of large pore, original cracks, molar ratio of CaO to SiO2, and gel water content when Ni-CNTs with aspect ratio of 125 are added. Ni-CNTs with aspect ratio of 1500 have the largest utilization rate of being pulled-out, resulting from the improvement of dispersibility and the pining effect of nickel coating and then leading to the increased toughness. Therefore, incorporating Ni-CNTs can fundamentally modify the nano/micro- scale structural nature of RPC, providing a bottom-up approach for controlling the properties of RPC.National Science Foundation of China (51908103 and 51978127) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2019M651116)
Near-trapping effect of wave-cylinders interaction on pore water pressure and liquefaction around a cylinder array
Get PDFYesThe near-trapping effects on wave-induced dynamic seabed response and liquefaction close to a multi-cylinder foundation in storm wave conditions are examined. Momentary liquefaction near multi-cylinder structures is simulated using an integrated wave-structure-seabed interaction model. The proposed model is firstly validated for the case of interaction of wave and a four-cylinder structure, with a good agreement with available experimental measurements. The validated model is then applied to investigate the seabed response around a four-cylinder structure at 0° and 45° incident angles. The comparison of liquefaction potential around individual cylinders in an array shows that downstream cylinder is well protected from liquefaction by upstream cylinders. For a range of incident wave parameters, the comparison with the results for a single pile shows the amplification of pressure within the seabed induced by progressive wave. This phenomenon is similar to the near-trapping phenomenon of free surface elevation within a cylinder array.Energy Technology Partnership (ETP), Wood Grou
Drone as a Service (DaaS) in promoting Cleaner Agricultural Production and Circular Economy for Ethical Sustainable Supply Chain Development
Get PDFYesIn order to grow the food the world needs, there is a pressing need to gain a more detailed understanding of how innovative solutions can be incorporated into the agricultural supply chains, particularly within production, for environmentally, economically, ethically and socially viable food production. Despite a number of innovative solutions available, many challenges in agricultural supply are still prevalent, with researchers to date largely focusing on these challenges in isolation, as opposed to exploring the relationships held between these challenges. Thus, supported by Circular Economy, Agriculture, Industry 4.0 literature and expert opinions, agricultural supply chain challenges are modelled and analysed using ISM methodology to help uncover 12 agricultural challenges which ultimately impede goods moving within the supply chain. Findings discovered that the Unproductive Workers and Pesticide Hazards are the key drivers of agricultural challenges. The ISM Hierarchical model elucidates research propositions and a parsimonious model for future research
Pilot cluster randomised trial of an evidence-based intervention to reduce avoidable hospital admissions in nursing home residents (Better Health in Residents of Care Homes with Nursing - BHiRCH-NH Study)
Get PDFYesObjectives To pilot a complex intervention to support healthcare and improve early detection and treatment for common health conditions experienced by nursing home (NH) residents.
Design Pilot cluster randomised controlled trial.
Setting 14 NHs (7 intervention, 7 control) in London and West Yorkshire.
Participants NH residents, their family carers and staff.
Intervention Complex intervention to support healthcare and improve early detection and treatment of urinary tract and respiratory infections, chronic heart failure and dehydration, comprising: (1) ‘Stop and Watch (S&W)’ early warning tool for changes in physical health, (2) condition-specific care pathway and (3) Situation, , Assessment and Recommendation tool to enhance communication with primary care. Implementation was supported by Practice Development Champions, a Practice Development Support Group and regular telephone coaching with external facilitators.
Outcome measures Data on NH (quality ratings, size, ownership), residents, family carers and staff demographics during the month prior to intervention and subsequently, numbers of admissions, accident and emergency visits, and unscheduled general practitioner visits monthly for 6 months during intervention. We collected data on how the intervention was used, healthcare resource use and quality of life data for economic evaluation. We assessed recruitment and retention, and whether a full trial was warranted.
Results We recruited 14 NHs, 148 staff, 95 family carers and 245 residents. We retained the majority of participants recruited (95%). 15% of residents had an unplanned hospital admission for one of the four study conditions. We were able to collect sufficient questionnaire data (all over 96% complete). No NH implemented intervention tools as planned. Only 16 S&W forms and 8 care pathways were completed. There was no evidence of harm.
Conclusions Recruitment, retention and data collection processes were effective but the intervention not implemented. A full trial is not warranted
Competition and Collusion among Criminal Justice and Non-State Actors in Brazil's Prison System
Get PDFYesThis chapter examines competition and collusion among criminal justice institutions and non-state actors in imprisonment in prisons in Brazil to analyse how both formal and informal dispositions and practices have created and sustain the mass incarceration that is a pre-condition for extensive prisoner self-governance. The chapter thus looks from the outside-in, examining how relationships between extra-mural institutions have created and sustained such an enormous prison population in Brazil. It also analyses these institutions and organisations as intra-mural actors that, through their action or inaction, exercise a key role in shaping the carceral experience for inmates. It highlights the competition between the different actors involved in the penal arena for control of the carceral space and of prisoners, driven by a variety of motives – rent-seeking, moral/philosophical, and territorial
Determining Sustainability Key Performance Indicators for Food Loss Reduction
Get PDFYesPurpose: this paper presents notable themes regarding the relationship between sustainability development and the food loss issue. In doing so, it provides coherent knowledge concerning this global problem and highlights the key research areas in this context.
Design/methodology/approach: this paper is a viewpoint piece; normative literature and supposition are used to orientate the views of the authors.
Findings: this paper has identified the main causes of food loss at each stage of the food supply chain. It has then classified the causes into three groups based on organisational environment: internal causes, micro-environmental causes and macro-environmental causes. In addition, the authors suggest a need to adopt a holistic view of the performance measurement system in the food industry through incorporating sustainability pillars with traditional performance perspectives in the context of food loss.
Practical implications: food loss generating from various causes along the supply chain means that more food should flow across the supply chains to reach consumers’ homes. This paper provides reassuring insights that will help the decision-makers in food companies to revise the performance measurement system in the context of food loss reduction.
Social implications: reducing food loss will contribute to increasing food availability and decreasing food prices, which leads to strengthening economic and physical access for those people who are not able to get food. Consequently, it considers a mandatory step to enhance food security.
Originality/value: to raise the significance of food loss reduction along the supply chain and to stress an urgent need to adopt a holistic view of the sustainability performance measurement system with a particular focus on the food loss issue
Suppressed cavitation in die-drawn isotactic polypropylene
Get PDFYesCavitation is an important phenomenon in solid-phase deformation of polymers, which either has potential adverse effects on physical properties or creates potential opportunities for new properties. In either case, it needs to be better understood to help achieve better control of cavitation and its effects. Cavitation associated with solid-phase deformation in a β-nucleated isotactic polypropylene was found to depend on the solid-phase deformation route employed. Compared with samples obtained by free tensile stretching, cavitation was suppressed in samples deformed via die-drawing, although an almost identical β-to α-phase transition was observed for both deformation routes. Even when die-drawn samples were subsequently deformed to large strains by free stretching, there was still no comparable cavitation compared with the single free tensile-stretching route. The die-drawing process appears to suppress cavitation by fundamentally diminishing the number of growable nuclei of cavities, rather than merely hindering the growth of cavities. A relationship between cavitation intensity and the fractions of lamellae along specific directions has been established. During subsequent free stretching of die-drawn samples, newly created cavities were suggested to be initiated within the crystalline layers. The reduction of the cavity nuclei in the die-drawing process originated from the stabilization of the connections between the crystalline blocks within the lamellae.National Natural Science Foundation of China (21704102 and 51525305), Newton Advanced Fellowship of the Royal Society, United Kingdom (NA 150222) and ExxonMobil
Diverse groups of fungi are associated with plastics in the surface waters of the Western South Atlantic and the Antarctic Peninsula
Get PDFYesMarine plastic pollution has a range of negative impacts for biota and the colonization of plastics in the marine environment by microorganisms may have significant ecological impacts. However, data on epiplastic organisms, particularly fungi, is still lacking for many ocean regions. To evaluate plastic associated fungi and their geographic distribution, we characterised plastics sampled from surface waters of the western South Atlantic (WSA) and Antarctic Peninsula (AP), using DNA metabarcoding of three molecular markers (ITS2, 18S rRNA V4 and V9 regions). Numerous taxa from eight fungal phyla and a total of 64 orders were detected, including groups that had not yet been described associated with plastics. There was a varied phylogenetic assemblage of predominantly known saprotrophic taxa within the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. We found a range of marine cosmopolitan genera present on plastics in both locations, i.e., Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Wallemia and a number of taxa unique to each region, as well as a high variation of taxa such as Chytridiomycota and Aphelidomycota between locations. Within these basal fungal groups we identified a number of phylogenetically novel taxa. This is the first description of fungi from the Plastisphere within the Southern Hemisphere, and highlights the need to further investigate the potential impacts of plastic associated fungi on other organisms and marine ecosystems.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. Grant Numbers: 407889/2013‐2, PQ 310597/2018‐8, PQ 312470/2018‐5, SWE 206250/2017‐7. Programa de Excelênca Acadêmica – PROEX. University of Salford Career Development Fellowship. Chevron Brasil Upstrem Frade Ltda. Brazilian Interministerial Commission for the Resources of the Sea (CIRM)
ROS-induced Oxidative Damage in Lymphocytes Ex Vivo/in Vitro From Healthy Individuals and MGUS Patients: Protection by Myricetin Bulk and Nanoforms
Get PDFYesWe investigated the protective role of myricetin bulk and nanoforms, against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and tertiary-butyl hydro peroxide in lymphocytes in vitro from healthy individuals and those from pre-cancerous patients suffering with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The change in intracellular reactive oxygen species was measured once cells were treated with myricetin bulk forms and nanoforms with and without either hydrogen peroxide or tertiary-butyl hydro peroxide co-supplementation. The direct and indirect antioxidant activity of myricetin was spectrofluometrically measured using the fluorescent dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and using the Comet assay, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide (50 µM) and tertiary-butyl hydro peroxide (300 µM) induced a higher level of reactive oxygen species-related DNA damage and strand breaks. Addition of myricetin nanoform (20 µM) and bulk (10 µM) form could, however, significantly prevent hydrogen peroxide- and tertiary-butyl hydro peroxide-induced oxidative imbalances and the nanoform was more effective. Glutathione levels were also quantified using a non-fluorescent dye. Results suggest that myricetin treatment had no significant effect on the cellular antioxidant enzyme, glutathione. The current study also investigates the effect of myricetin on the induction of double-strand breaks by staining the gamma-H2AX foci immunocytochemically. It was observed that myricetin does not induce double-strand breaks at basal levels rather demonstrated a protective effect