19672 research outputs found
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Logistics commitment: An evidence of long-term relationship on sustainable global supply chain
No full textManufactures and all network partners may think that global supply chains are simple and direct. But, in the vast majority of cases, this is not the case. Customer demand is supported by complex and lengthy global supply chain. The intermodal transportations provide the key success of the connections between global factories and along the supply chain parties. While they provide critical services, each level of transportation will present challenge and difficulty to all parties. This study look on how logistics commitment can improves operating efficiencies among local manufacturers and service providers as they are in global supply chain network. And, how each intermodal invested improve capabilities, creating reliable and economical port-to-destination delivery services in ensure good relationship with their partners. The study aims is to identify how the service providers can reshape relationship and revise networks to maintain smooth and efficient global logistics flows. This empirical study will use survey questionnaire to get the answer for each question and utilize Partial Least Square (PLS) to analyse the data. Result shows how logistics commitment effort and strategy as to sustain global supply chain relationship
A new deformable model based on fractional Wright energy function for tumor segmentation of volumetric brain MRI scans
No full textBackground and objectives: The MRI brain tumors segmentation is challenging due to variations in terms of size, shape, location and features’ intensity of the tumor. Active contour has been applied in MRI scan image segmentation due to its ability to produce regions with boundaries. The main difficulty that encounters the active contour segmentation is the boundary tracking which is controlled by minimization of energy function for segmentation. Hence, this study proposes a novel fractional Wright function (FWF) as a minimization of energy technique to improve the performance of active contour without edge method. Method: In this study, we implement FWF as an energy minimization function to replace the standard gradient-descent method as minimization function in Chan–Vese segmentation technique. The proposed FWF is used to find the boundaries of an object by controlling the inside and outside values of the contour. In this study, the objective evaluation is used to distinguish the differences between the processed segmented images and ground truth using a set of statistical parameters; true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative. Results: The FWF as a minimization of energy was successfully implemented on BRATS 2013 image dataset. The achieved overall average sensitivity score of the brain tumors segmentation was 94.8 ± 4.7%. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the proposed FWF method minimized the energy function more than the gradient-decent method that was used in the original three-dimensional active contour without edge (3DACWE) method
The behavior of semi-rigid polyurethane film based on functionalized rubber by one-shot and two-shot method preparation
No full textSemi-rigid polyurethane (PU) films based on functionalized liquid natural rubber (FLNR) were prepared by one-shot and two-shot methods. FLNR derived from waste crumb rubber acted as the soft segment and the hard segment consisted of 4,4′-methylenebis-(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO). The urethane linkage formation was confirmed by FTIR with a –NH-peak at 3317 cm −1 and disappearance of the NCO peak at 2295 cm −1 . The semi-rigid PU with low rubber polyol chain favored solubility in non-polar solvent (toluene and chloroform) and low polar solvent (THF). For semi-rigid PU with high rubber polyol chain, it was poorly soluble in any solvent thus it has high stability. Studies on the hydrolytic stability were shown to be highly influenced by the high rubber polyol chain (soft segment contents more than 60%) in semi-rigid PU composition. The thermal stability of semi-rigid PU as determined by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) showed improved degradation stabilities (more than 270 °C) in the presence of BDO and higher molecular weight of FLNR
Outdoor large-scale path loss characterization in an urban environment at 26, 28, 36, and 38 GHz
No full textMost of the existing channel models cannot be applied to emerging millimeter-wave (mmWave) systems due to the difference between the characteristics of existing operating frequency bands and mmWave frequency bands. Thus, extensive studies on channel characterization and modeling are required to develop a general and suitable channel model that can accommodate a wide range of mmWave frequency bands in its modeling parameter. This paper presents a study of well-known channel models and their authentications for outdoor scenarios on the 26, 28, 36, and 38 GHz frequency bands. A new generalized path loss model for a range of mmWave frequency bands is proposed. Measurements for the outdoor line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios were taken every meter over a separation distance of 114 m between the TX and RX antenna locations to compare the well-known and the new large-scale generic path loss models. This outdoor channel characterization and modeling was conducted in Malaysia, which represents a tropical region environment, and the outcomes were investigated based on the proposed and the well-known path loss models for single- and multi-frequency schemes. Results show that the proposed model is simple and accurate in terms of frequency and environment signal attenuation. The path loss exponent values are 1.54 and 3.05 for the 20 GHz and 30 GHz bands, respectively
Roles of metacognition and achievement goals in mathematical modeling competency: A structural equation modeling analysis
No full textThis study investigates the relationship between metacognition and achievement goals which may influence mathematical modeling competency in students of mathematics education programs. The current study employs 538 students of mathematics education program; 483 (89.8%) of whom are male and 55 (10.2%) are aged from 18 years old to 22 years old. The study follows a correlational research design to investigate and measure the degree of relationship amongst mathematical modeling competencies, achievement goals and metacognition. Results indicate that achievement goals and metacognition positively influence mathematical modeling competency. Moreover, four metacognition dimensions including awareness, planning, cognitive strategy and self-checking are positive partial mediators because they increase the association between achievement goals and mathematical modeling competency. In conclusion, metacognition and achievement goals positively affect students' mathematical modeling competency
Muscle oxygenation during hybrid arm and functional electrical stimulation–evoked leg cycling after spinal cord injury
No full textThis study compared muscle oxygenation (StO 2 ) during arm cranking (ACE), functional electrical stimulation-evoked leg cycling (FES-LCE), and hybrid (ACE+FES-LCE) exercise in spinal cord injury individuals. Eight subjects with C7-T12 lesions performed exercises at 3 submaximal intensities. StO 2 was measured during rest and exercise at 40%, 60%, and 80% of subjects' oxygen uptake (VO 2 ) peak using near-infrared spectroscopy. StO 2 of ACE showed a decrease whereas in ACE+FES-LCE, the arm muscles demonstrated increasing StO 2 from rest in all of VO 2 ) peak respectively. StO 2 of FES-LCE displayed a decrease at 40% VO 2 peak and steady increase for 60% and 80%, whereas ACE+FES-LCE revealed a steady increase from rest at all VO 2 peak. ACE+FES-LCE elicited greater StO 2 in both limbs which suggested that during this exercise, upper- and lower-limb muscles have higher blood flow and improved oxygenation compared to ACE or FES-LCE performed alone
Comparative study of different binarization methods through their effects in characters localization in scene images
No full textIn this paper, we focus on the binarization methods as a core step in most image processing algorithms especially localization of the characters in scene images. We have developed in this paper our previous scheme which based on shape properties and geometric features to define text region and adopt our binarization scheme which based on Naïve Bayes classifier to convert grayscale image to binary image. Then we compare this binarization scheme with four famous different methods and explore their effects on detection characters in scene images. We found that our method outperforms the other four prior methods in detection characters with respect to Recall metric and the Otsu method follow our methods
Activation of autophagy by stress-activated signals as a cellular self-defense mechanism against the cytotoxic effects of MBIC in human breast cancer cells in vitro
No full textWe recently reported that methyl 2-(-5-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-5-carboxylate (MBIC) is a microtubule targeting agent (MTA) with multiple mechanisms of action including apoptosis in two human breast cancer cell-lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. In the present study, investigation of early molecular events following MBIC treatment demonstrated the induction of autophagy. This early (<24 h) response to MBIC was characterized by accumulation of autophagy markers; LC3-II, Beclin1, autophagic proteins (ATGs) and collection of autophagosomes but with different variations in the two cell-lines. MBIC-induced autophagy was associated with generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In parallel, an increased activation of SAPK/JNK pathway was detected, as an intersection of ROS production and induction of autophagy. The cytotoxic effect of MBIC was enhanced by inhibition of autophagy through blockage of SAPK/JNK signaling, suggesting that MBIC-induced autophagy, is a possible cellular self-defense mechanism against toxicity of this agent in both breast cancer cell-lines. The present findings suggest that inhibition of autophagy eliminates the cytoprotective activity of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, and sensitizes both the aggressive and non-aggressive human breast cancer cell-lines to the cytotoxic effects of MBIC
Household debt decision in Pakistan: The role of socioeconomic factors and inheritance
No full textIn recent years, many developing countries, including Pakistan, have made efforts to increase financial inclusion so that their population can easily avail a range of services provided by financial institutions. Debt provision can play an important role in increasing financial inclusion. This study identified social and economic factors which affect entry of households into the debt market. This will also help to derive a borrower profile to target debt provision and financial inclusion. Older people have a higher likelihood of taking debt than younger ones while those who are employed in the agricultural sector have a higher likelihood of taking debt. Inheritance is important to explain life cycle of savings, but it does not affect entry of households into the debt market in Pakistan. This research will help to channel efforts by focusing on the factors affecting debt decisions and demand of debt of households in order to increase financial inclusion through debt
Optimising the Bariatric Patients’ Outcome through Cardiac Rehabilitation Approach
No full textBariatric surgery offers a therapeutic alternative with favourable weight management, cardiovascular, metabolic and functional outcomes. Bariatric individuals often have functional impairments pre-operatively that can be addressed to improve postoperative results and eventual functional independence. Multidisciplinary team offers the best approach to address perioperative needs and sustainable weight loss thereafter. We exemplified the application of cardiac rehabilitation therapeutic model in managing two bariatric clients with specific bariatric-related challenges. Our approach focuses on adaptive physical activity, sustainable lifestyle changes to promote post-operative weight loss through education and problem solving as well as secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Putting emphasis on addressing physical and psychosocial barriers towards physical activity alongside nutritional aspects potentially confers sustained if not better outcomes on weight reduction and functional improvement