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Emerging technologies of IoT usage in global logistics
No full textThis paper aims to summarize the current and potential capabilities of the Internet of Things (IoT) and how it contributes to Logistics Management and how it might contribute more in the digital age of the year 2050. It will be discussing the new technologies that could one day reshape logistics management and supply chain environment from what it is today into something totally different in the future. Logistics management is an evolving function that has been created, adapted and implemented into the supply chain environment. The diversification of this phenomenon the Internet of Things (IoT) with its emerging attributes are all since it is constantly in motion. The innovative solutions that have been created and can be built upon further are excessively compulsive and are non-compellable. There is the foresight that the internet of things (IoT) will take over the way logistical operations are managed today and in so doing it will reduce the staff numbers of many organisations worldwide
Flax/PP and Flax/PLA thermoplastic composites: Influence of fire retardants on the individual components
No full textThis study is based on previously reported reaction to fire properties of flax fibre-reinforced polymeric (polypropylene, PP and polylactic acid, PLA) composites, prepared by pre-treating the fabrics with different fire retardants (FRs) prior to composite preparation. It was observed that while all of these treatments were very effective in flax/PLA in terms of achieving a V-0 rating in a UL-94 test, only an organophosphonate FR was capable of achieving a V-0 rating for flax/PP. However, all fire-retardant treatments impaired the mechanical properties of the composites; the reduction was more in flax/PLA compared to flax/PP composites. To understand these effects further, here thermal analysis and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry of the composites and each component separately treated with FRs have been conducted and the results analysed in terms of the effect on each component so as to observe any interaction between the different components. The results indicated that in flax/PLA composites, the water released during FR catalysed dehydration-decomposition of flax may hydrolyse PLA, changing decomposition pathway of PLA to produce less flammable volatile, hence resulting in reduced flammability
Juvenile Organisations Committees and the State Regulation of Youth Leisure in Britain 1916-1939
No full textOne-step synthesis of a visible-light driven C@N–TiO2 porous nanocomposite: Enhanced absorption, photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performance
No full textAn economical and green synthetic method is reported for preparing N-doped TiO2 nanoparticles modified with carbon (denoted as C@N–TiO2) by abandoning additional carbon sources in the synthetic process but utilizing the carbon element contained in precursors. Full characterizations including XRD, TEM, Raman spectra, XPS, TG, FTIR, BET, CV, and LSV are performed to determine the composition, structure, morphology, optical and electronic properties of C@N–TiO2. Methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), and phenol are selected as photodegrading agent to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared product. Our results show that C@N–TiO2 displays superior dye-adsorption ability and photocatalytic activity under visible light than pure TiO2. In addition, C@N–TiO2 exhibits much enhanced electrochemical properties, with a nine-fold improvement of photocurrent intensity as compared with pure TiO2.
•C@N–TiO2 composites are successfully synthesized via an in-situ approach.•The composite displays enhanced photocatalytic degradation under visible light irradiation.•The composite exhibits a nine-fold improvement of photocurrent intensity than TiO2.•C@N–TiO2 displays superior adsorption ability
Transforming the perception of apprenticeships in England professional careers in the public sector
No full textComputer modelling and simulation of an equitable order distribution in manufacturing through the Industry 4.0 framework
No full textAn Extended enterprise (EE) is a comprehensive conceptual framework that facilitates firms' working synergistically. Through the Industry 4.0 framework, large orders from retailers can equitably be distributed (assigned) to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper reports research on modelling and simulation processes for distributing (allotting) apparel orders to a cluster of SMEs in an extended enterprise framework. The distribution processes discussed in this study are mainly on allocating, sharing or dividing order quantities among collaborating business entities within an EE framework. The study employed Arena software as one of the discrete-event simulation software packages to illustrate the distribution processes of order quantities, particularly when many retailers request apparel quantities from many manufacturers. Through an EE framework, firms can gain competitive advantages by strengthening their supply chain partnerships. Several activities need to be controlled and monitored by any virtual factory scheduler service, which distributes and optimises bulk orders amongst manufacturers
Collaborative Design and Manufacture: Information Structures for Team Formation and Coordination
No full textOur interest here lies in supporting important, but routine and time-consuming activities that underpin success in highly distributed, collaborative design and manufacturing environments; and how information structuring can facilitate this. To that end, we present a simple, yet powerful approach to team formation, partner selection, scheduling and communication that employs a different approach to the task of matching candidates to opportunities or partners to requirements (matchmaking): traditionally, this is approached using either an idea of 'nearness' or 'best fit' (metric-based paradigms); or by finding a subtree within a tree (data structure) (tree traversal). Instead, we prefer concept lattices to establish notions of 'inclusion' or 'membership': essentially, a topological paradigm. While our approach is substantive, it can be used alongside traditional approaches and in this way one could harness the strengths of multiple paradigms
Improving an acute oncology service (AOS) through collaborative leadership
No full textPurpose
Over half of adults under the age of 65 years will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives (Ahmad et al., 2015). Demand for services is outstripping the capacity in the NHS, as 77% of NHS Trusts are unable to start treatment within 62 days (Baker, 2019; NHS England, 2019). Side effects of treatment can be life threatening (Tsai et al., 2010) with many patients attending ED; however, these can be managed through a hospital's Acute Oncology Service (AOS). This paper aims to explore a collaborative leadership approach to improve services for patients [Rubin et al., 2015; Department of Health (DOH), 2012].
Design/methodology/approach
A case study of an AOS in an NHS Trust was the focus for the development of a strategy of 'Collaborative' leadership, with the aim to increase the engagement of a wide network of clinical and non-clinical stakeholders in a review of the AOS. The case study identified the level of effectiveness of the service since its inception in 2012. Using a quality improvement methodology (Deming 2000; Health Foundation, 2011; Aylott, 2019) resulted in learning and increased collaboration between clinical and non-clinical staff.
Findings
Action learning processes revealed that AOS staff had been frustrated for some time about the dysfunction of the current process to manage the increased demand for the service. They reported their perceptions and frustrations with the current process of referral and patient discharge. Data revealed alerts from the Emergency Department (ED) to AOS resulted in 72% of patients inappropriately referred, with an over representation of patients who had a previous existing cancer condition. Clinical engagement with the data informatics manager (DC) revealed a need to improve data quality through improvements made to the database.
Research limitations/implications
Increasing demand for cancer services requires a continuous need for improvement to meet patient needs. Cancer waits for diagnostic tests are at their highest level since 2008, with 4% of patients waiting over 6 weeks to be tested compared to the tested target of 1% (Baker, 2019). This paper draws on data collected from 2017 to 2018, but a continuous review of data is required to measure the performance of the AOS against its service specification. Every AOS team across the NHS could benefit from a collaborative learning approach.
Practical implications
Clinical services need collaborative support from informatics to implement a Quality Improvement methodology such as the IHI Model for Improvement (IHI, 2003). Without collaboration the implementation of a quality improvement strategy for all NHS Trusts will not come to fruition (Kings Fund, 2016). Quality Improvement Strategies must be developed with a collaborative leadership implementation plan that includes patient collaboration strategies (Okpala, 2018), as this is the only way that services will be improved while also becoming cost effective (Okpala, 2018).
Social implications
In the UK, 20-25% of new cancer diagnoses are made following an initial presentation to the ED (Young et al., 2016). Cancer-related attendances at ED had a higher level of acuity, requiring longer management time and length of stay in ED. With cancer care contributing to 12% of all hospital admissions, an increase of 25% over the past two decades (Kuo et al., 2017) the AOS will need continued collaboration between clinical staff, informatic managers, patients and all stakeholder organisations to continuously improve its services to be "fit for purpose".
Originality/value
This case study reports the innovative collaborative work between a Medical Oncologist, an NHS Trust Informatics manager and a QI academic facilitator. The Health Foundation and Kings Fund have identified the continued challenges presented to the NHS in the transformation of its services, with the Health Foundation (2011) reporting the need for more collaborative working between clinicians and non-clinicians to drive improvement. This model of collaboration creates a new way of working to drive improvement initiatives and sets out a rationale to develop this model further to involve patients. However, this will call for a new way of working for all