4653 research outputs found
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Integrating resilience and reliability in semiconductor supply chains during disruptions
No full textThe semiconductor industry, a cornerstone of modern technology, has been crucial in driving globalization and supporting various sectors, from consumer electronics to automotive industries. However, in recent years, the industry has faced substantial challenges threatening its ability to meet the surging demand for semiconductor chips. Disruptions at any point in the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to end-product delivery, can substantially influence the semiconductor ecosystem. The intricate nature of such SCs makes them highly vulnerable to various disruptions, emphasizing the critical need for building resilient and reliable supply chain strategies. This article presents comprehensive research aimed at addressing critical gaps in the understanding and management of resilience and reliability within the semiconductor supply chain (SSC). This study proposes a multi-objective mixed-integer non-linear programming (MO-MINLP) model to configure an SSC while considering reliability and resilience measures. It emphasizes and draws attention to the importance of resilience and reliability in managing SSC disruptions during a pandemic and potential future epidemic outbreak. Exploring the precise breakdown of batch transportation between two sites shows how disruption can affect product flow along the SC. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated through a numerical example of an SSC, solved using the LINGO solver. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted on the model's parameters to assess the capability and effectiveness of the results from managerial viewpoints.Engineering, Industrial || Engineering, Manufacturing || Operations Research & Management Scienc
Turkey's Political Parties' Asia Policies: Visions, Contacts, Issues
No full textTraditionally, Turkey has been an ally of the transatlantic bloc. As a NATO member, with a majority Muslim population and a free market economy, it was even hailed by Western powers as a model country in the 2000s. However, due to its acquisition of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, its desire to be a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and its military presence in Syria and Libya, many analysts have argued that Turkey's foreign policy has experienced a pivot to Asia recently. This article systematically examines the current positions of various political parties in Turkey in this context using first-hand data. Through semi-structured interviews with 14 political party representatives, and by analysing their party programmes, the vision of different political parties in respect of Asia, their relations with Asian actors, their stance on Asian foreign direct investments and its environmental impacts, the Uyghur issue, and their thoughts on the period that will follow the Ukraine-Russia war are studied.Area Studie
A New Perspective for Construction Supply Chains in Digital Era
No full textThe construction industry is a highly labor-intensive industry with a low degree of automation and digitization. However, as in the manufacturing industry, a 'new order' is emerging for the way the construction industry works today. This study aims to present the transformation of construction supply chains (CSCs) in Industry 4.0 by considering each supply chain stage separately, where the main purpose is to determine the criteria for the integration of the CSC with the Industry 4.0 perspective. A literature review and a Delphi study were conducted, and thirteen criteria are proposed to show the integration of Industry 4.0 aspects and CSC stages. Furthermore, one of the multi -criteria decision -making (MCDM) methods, the Best -Worst method, is used to prioritize the criteria for guiding future implications during the transformation of construction supply chains. Among the six CSC stages, the design stage is the most important from the Industry 4.0 perspective. In addition, client collaboration by ICT (BIM) during the design phase is the most important sub -factors' overall rank. Although there is a limited number of studies on the CSC, there are no empirical studies addressing the current digital age approach. As a result, there is a significant gap in the construction literature, and a thorough assessment of the building supply chain in an Industry 4.0 setting is lacking. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to illustrate the transformation of CSCs in Construction 4.0 by looking at each supply chain stage separately.Construction & Building Technolog
Exergoeconomic optimization of a proposed novel combined solar powered electricity and high-capacity cooling load production system for economical and potent generation via utilization of low-grade waste heat source
No full textA novel system for combined electricity and cooling generation was introduced, integrating Flat Plate Solar Collectors (FPSC), Absorptional Heat Transformer (AHT), Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), and Absorption Cooling Cycle (ACC) systems to utilize low-grade solar energy. The ability to use low-grade waste heat sources (70 degrees C-90 degrees C) via FPSC system for high-capacity integrated cooling and electricity generation in a more economical way, a feature not commonly addressed in conventional systems and previous literature studies, was a key advancement. The need for additional generators, boilers, and high-temperature heat sources was eliminated, resulting in substantial cost savings and a simplified system design. The FPSC-AHT integration, identified as having significant advantages over separate electricity and cooling load production, was comprehensively evaluated for its combined exergoeconomic and environmental benefits in multigeneration system design. The modeling was performed using Engineering Equation Solver (EES) and Transient System Simulation Software (TRNSYS) in Izmir, Turkey, with the aim of achieving the heightened economic efficiency and superior Coefficient of Performance (COP) values without high-temperature waste heat sources. Three configurations were examined, with the third demonstrating superior technoeconomic performance due to the increased thermal efficiency of solar hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) systems. The higher cost per unit area in the PV-T system was effectively offset by the substantial electricity consumption, contributing to energy savings. Economic indicators for the third configuration included an initial investment of US1.29 million, a payback period of 4.2 years, an annual energy cost gain of US0.014/kWh, and an electricity cost (LCE) of US$0.015/kWh. Through exergy analysis, toluene was identified as the optimal working fluid, revealing a total exergy destruction rate of 13245.46 kW. The performance of the proposed system was tested under different operation conditions, and based on these results, a sensitivity analysis and a comparison with the real-word studies were performed. In comparison to real- world data, the proposed system exhibits superior performance metrics, especially in terms of COP and exergy efficiency values. The optimal configuration, established using single and multiobjective optimization approaches based on exergoeconomic parameters, indicated annual electricity and cooling load production of 40000 MWh and 300 GWh, respectively. The system's efficiency in producing 1000 kW of electricity power and 4000 kW of cooling load at a comparable cost to systems generating only one output was highlighted. To determine the technoeconomic performance improvement of the proposed integrated system, the optimal configuration of the novel integrated system was compared to a reference plant for similar-scaled integrated power and cooling generation (UCI Trigeneration Plant). Compared to the UCI Trigeneration Plant, the proposed system demonstrated significant improvements in technoeconomic performance. Specifically, the proposed system achieved a 164.13 % increase in annual electricity production, a 97.38 % increase in annual cooling duty, a 60.36 % reduction in initial investment, a 57 % reduction in annual operational costs, and a 47.5 % reduction in payback period. Additionally, the levelized costs of electricity and cooling were 40 % and 22.22 % lower, respectively. Significantly higher electricity and cooling output highlights the system's ability to meet demanding energy needs. Lower initial investment and operational costs, coupled with a reduced payback period, make the system financially attractive. Lower levelized costs for electricity and cooling increase the system's competitiveness and affordability. The innovative integration of technologies provides new insights into the design of multigeneration systems, setting a new benchmark for sustainable energy solutions.Thermodynamics || Energy & Fuels || Engineering, Mechanical || Mechanic
Modeling the link between environmental, social, and governance disclosures and scores: the case of publicly traded companies in the Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index
No full textThis study constructs a proposed model to investigate the link between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures and ESG scores for publicly traded companies in the Borsa Istanbul Sustainability (XUSRD) index. In this context, this study considers 66 companies, examining recently structured ESG disclosures for 2022 that were published for the first time as novel data and applying a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network algorithm. The relevant results are fourfold. (1) The MLP algorithm has explanatory power (i.e., R2) of 79% in estimating companies' ESG scores. (2) Common, environment, social, and governance pillars have respective weights of 21.04%, 44.87%, 30.34%, and 3.74% in total ESG scores. (3) The absolute and relative significance of each ESG reporting principle for companies' ESG scores varies. (4) According to absolute and relative significance, the most effective ESG principle is the common principle, followed by social and environmental principles, whereas governance principles have less significance. Overall, the results demonstrate that applying a linear approach to complete deficient ESG disclosures is inefficient for increasing companies' ESG scores || instead, companies should focus on the ESG principles that have the highest relative significance. The findings of this study contribute to the literature by defining the most significant ESG principles for stimulating the ESG scores of companies in the XUSRD index.Business, Finance || Social Sciences, Mathematical Method
The impact of geopolitical risk, institutional governance and green finance on attaining net-zero carbon emission
No full textThis research investigates the impact of geopolitical risk, institutional governance and green finance on environmental outcomes, specifically focusing on carbon emissions and ecological footprint. Utilizing the dynamic CS-ARDL method and aggregated mean group analysis on a panel dataset covering 21 nations from 2000 to 2021, our findings reveal that heightened geopolitical risk leads to both short and long run increases in carbon emissions and the ecological footprint. Our study finds both a direct as well as indirect connection between governance, green finance and environmental outcomes in both the short and long run, highlighting the nuanced impact of governance on the formulation of environmental policies and regulatory frameworks. The results emphasize the need for targeted strategies, including focused investments and incentives for sustainable finance, particularly in conflict-affected regions. Furthermore, our research underscores the enduring impact of historical events, such as wars, on contemporary environmental indicators, emphasizing the importance of proactive conflict prevention measures. Our research suggests that policymakers should adopt comprehensive strategies that prioritize emission reduction during short-run spikes in geopolitical risk while maintaining a steadfast commitment to long-run sustainability.Environmental Science
La:ZnO nanoparticles: an investigation on structural, optical, and microwave properties
No full textThis paper presents the utilization of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) during the synthesis of ZnO and La:ZnO with two tasks as a solvent and a fuel source within the gel combustion technique. The use of EGME for this purpose provides one-step production of the nanoparticles (NPs) and saves a considerable amount of time. The detailed characterization of the nanoparticles was carried out by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), particle size analyzer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) measurements, respectively. The NPs exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite structure with good crystallinity and a porous spongy morphology. The photoluminescence emission maxima of the synthesized NPs appeared at 500, 560, and 676 nm, upon excitation by the 372 nm of excitation. La:ZnO NPs showed significantly better photoluminescent characteristics than La-free ZnO forms. When excited at the same wavelength, La-free ZnO, 3%, and 7% La:ZnO exhibited 92, 45, and 35 mu s average decay times, respectively. Finally, the microwave properties of the relative complex permittivity and permeability characteristics were also investigated and discussed in detail, which were derived from the scattering parameters of S11 and S21 in the X band regime.Engineering, Electrical & Electronic || Materials Science, Multidisciplinary || Physics, Applied || Physics, Condensed Matte
Institutional pressures and greenwashing in social responsibility: reversing the link with hybridization capability
No full textPurposeDespite the ongoing scholarly interest in greenwashing, it is not well known the impact of multiple institutional pressures on greenwashing in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Following the institutional logics perspective, this study investigates how three distinct logics - commercial, public, and social welfare - drive greenwashing and whether organizational capability for blending diverse CSR expectations reverses this link.Design/methodology/approachThe current study conceptualized and tested an original model on how three institutional logics influence greenwashing in CSR, with the mediation effect of hybridization capability as a response to logic plurality. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was performed on a survey data, which was collected from 150 middle managers in Turkey.FindingsThe results show that while commercial logic has no direct or indirect impact on greenwashing, public and social welfare logics drive greenwashing in CSR. However, these effects are reversed when the CSR hybridization capability increases.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to the understanding of what predicts CSR greenwashing by integrating a comprehensive theoretical framework involving multiple institutional logics, conflicting stakeholder demands, and organizational hybridity.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that theoretically and empirically analyzed how the exposure of multiple external pressures affects the CSR greenwashing and how it can be reversed by CSR hybridization capability. This capability mitigates the threats and challenges of multiple logics and turns them into an opportunity to gain legitimacy in the eyes of stakeholders by preventing greenwashing.Business || Managemen
A mixed method for determination of cut-off dates in liner shipping
No full textOperating with fixed schedules requires coordinating and cooperating with many actors in liner shipping. Therefore, liner operators announce predetermined cut-off dates for each voyage for Sippers to perform cargo-related transactions and send their documents. The shippers complain that the cut-off times are primarily for the operator's benefit and create a very tight time. However, the operators have trouble that the shippers cannot fulfill the necessary instructions and documents on time. From this point of view, this study aims to offer optimized cut-off determination for liner services and employs a mixed-method approach to evaluate the cut-off process of liner operators. Firstly, a qualitative study was conducted to obtain factors affecting cut-off date determination. Second, the factors affecting cut-off dates were analyzed with the fuzzy Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (TISM) method. Third, a step-by-step shipping process from booking to the vessel's departure was developed. Moreover, the simulation method was applied with actual data to offer alternative schedules for a liner operator for its two liner services. The results show that even using only the two strongest driving factors determined in the TISM process (TEU capacity of the vessel and number of port calls) improves the cut-off determination simulation performance results by 20%.Transportatio
Convolutional Neural Network for Cotton Yield Estimation
No full textThe objective of this paper was to estimate the cotton yield potential of different cotton varieties using highresolution field images based on a convolutional neural network (CNN). The yield estimation for different cotton varieties in grams in breeding studies has a great importance for the determination of superior cultivars to be commercialized. Due to the cost and excessive time consumption typical of traditional methods, alternative ways for cotton yield estimation have been investigated over the years. This paper proposes an automated system for cotton yield prediction based on color images obtained by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Two replicational field experiments including three different cotton genotypes were conducted at May Seed R&D station in Torbali, Izmir, Turkey. Three different planting patterns including three, four and six rows, respectively in ten-meter wide areas were used as experimental plots. The ground-truth yield values for a total of six hundred planted areas were obtained by weighing the harvested cotton bolls after field images were taken. Achieving an absolute difference of no more than 350 grams for 114 out of 120 planted areas which were randomly selected only for testing purposes indicates that the CNN can effectively capture important features related to cotton yield from the field images obtained by the UAV. The combination of drone technology with reliable CNN models holds great potential for optimizing agricultural practices, improving agricultural productivity, and reducing operational costs.Automation & Control Systems || Operations Research & Management Scienc