Organizational strategy development in distribution channel management using fuzzy AHP and hierarchical fuzzy TOPSIS

Distribution channel management not only consists of choosing distribution channels. In fact, probably the most difficult phase of the distribution management starts after this choice. Determining an appropriate organization strategy for distribution channel management is like a problem of concern to marketing practitioners and academics as well in this phase. In this study, the organization strategy of distribution channel management is developed using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) and hierarchical fuzzy TOPSIS (HFTOPSIS) for an edible-vegetable oils manufacturer firm operating in Turkey. The company distributes its products all over the country. Due to the complex structure of the distribution network, the company wants to decide the organization strategy to manage the distribution channels. In this paper, the methods of FAHP and HFTOPSIS for evaluating and selecting among the five organization strategy models for distribution channel management of vegetable oil manufacturer have been presented. The proposed models include determinants of distribution channel management for edible-vegetable oil industry; (i) customer profile, (ii) distributor reliability, (iii) the position of competitors in market, and (iv) managerial and financial perspective. Using FAHP and HFTOPSIS, hybrid based strategy (KBS), which has the greatest desirability index value after the evaluation among the five alternatives is found as the best choice. Thus, the case of the vegetable oil manufacturer company provides the researchers and practitioners to understand in a better way the importance of developing organization strategy in channel management from a practical point of view.     

Facile Synthesis of Cu2ZnSnS4 Photovoltaic Absorber Thin Films via Sulfurization of Cu2SnS3/ZnS Layers

Copper zinc tin sulfide (Cu₂ZnSnS₄) has been receiving a lot of attention in recent years as a new, alternative absorber for the production of cheap thin film solar cells owing to the high natural abundance of all the constituents, its tunable direct-band-gap energy, and its large optical absorption coefficient. In addition, to overcome the problem of expensive vacuum-based methods, solution-based approaches are being developed for Cu₂ZnSnS₄ deposition. In this study, Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin films were grown on soda lime glass substrates via the sulfurization of solution grown Cu₂SnS₃/ZnS stacked sulfide layers. A new facile route to overcome the difficulty of depositing Cu₂ZnSnS₄ thin film with a desired stoichiometric composition in a single cation solution has been presented. The influences of deposition cycles of layers on the morphological, compositional, structural, and optical properties of the samples were investigated. It was observed from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images that the films were continuous and composed of homogenously distributed large grains. Possible chemical formulations of the best samples were predicted to be Cu_1.99Zn_1.25Sn_1.00S_3.76 and Cu_1.97Zn_1.03Sn_1.29S_3.71 via energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) results. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the samples matched very well with the reference values. The Raman-scattering analysis of the films proved the phase purity of the CZTS samples. The optical absorption coefficient of the films was found to be about 10⁴ cm^?1 based on absorbance spectroscopy. The optical band gaps of the films were estimated to be between 1.36 and 1.50 eV. From these we are able to conclude that CZTS thin films can be effectively obtained via the vacuum-atmosphere sulfurization of Cu₂SnS₃/ZnS stacked sulfide layers.     

First RAFT polymerization of captodative 2-acetamidoacrylic acid (AAA) monomer: An experimental and theoretical study

A capto-dative monomer, 2-acetamidoacrylic acid (AAA), was homopolymerized through RAFT polymerization method using 2-(2-cyanopropanyl dithiobenzoate) (CPDB) as a chain transfer agent and AIBN free radical initiator in DMF at 70 °C. DFT calculations were performed in the selection of the CTA for this unique monomer as well as to elucidate the influence of cd-stabilized growing radical on the kinetic parameters in comparison to methacrylic acid (MAA) and N-(prop-1-en-2-yl)acetamide (NPAA), which represent the captive and dative groups of AAA, respectively. K_eq for these three monomers is in the order of AAA < MAA < NPAA. While k_β > k_−add for NPAA and MAA, for AAA k_−add is about four orders of magnitude larger than k_β. This is the major disadvantage in the RAFT process of AAA using CPDB. Yet, poly(AAA) could be achieved with PDI as low as 1.49. Molecular weight of the polymer can be tuned by the monomer/AIBN ratio. First block copolymers of AAA with MAA and MMA using poly(AAA) as a macro-CTA were also synthesized, indicating the presence of active chain ends.     

UV cured thiol-ene flame retardant hybrid coatings

In this study, bis-(triethoxysilylpropyl) phenyl phosphamide (BESPPA) was synthesized by the reaction between dichlorophenyl phosphine oxide and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The chemical structure of the BESPPA was characterized with Fourier transform infrared and NMR techniques. Flame retardant, BESPPA and sol–gel precursor containing hybrid materials were prepared by thiol-ene polymerization with the aim to improve their final thermal and flame retardant properties. The thermal stabilities of the phosphorous/sol–gel containing UV-cured hybrid materials were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the addition of sol-gel precursor and BESPPA into the organic network also improves the thermal-oxidative stability of the hybrid materials. The flame-retardant properties of the UV-cured hybrid materials were also studied. Furthermore, the phosphorus–silicon synergistic effect on LOI enhancement and increasing flame retardancy of the UV-cured hybrid materials were demonstrated. An LOI enhancement from 20.7 to 26.5 is observed for organic resins containing both phosphorus and silicon. The surface morphology was also characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM studies indicated that inorganic particles were dispersed homogenously throughout the organic matrix.     

Hue,saturation, lightness,and building exterior preference: An empirical study in Turkey comparing architects' and nonarchitects' evaluative and cognitive judgments

This study investigated architects' and nonarchitects' evaluative and cognitive judgments of color on building exteriors. Thirty architects and 30 high school teachers living in Izmir, Turkey participated in the study. The experiment had two phases. First, participants viewed eight images, in which the color of a building exterior was manipulated with hues selected from HSB (hue, saturation, and brightness) color space. Participants were then asked to rate each image on 7‐point semantic differential scales measuring preference (like–dislike), arousal (arousing–sleepy), naturalness (natural–artificial), and relaxation (relaxing–distressing). Second, participants viewed the same building in nine saturation and lightness levels for each hue and picked the most preferred lightness and saturation level for each hue. Findings showed that for a building exterior: (1) yellow and blue were the most liked colors, (2) some hues were rated as more arousing, more natural, and more relaxing over the others, (3) gender had an effect on color preference and semantic ratings of naturalness and relaxation, (4) architects and nonarchitects differed in their color preference and semantic ratings of arousal and naturalness, and (5) full bright and moderate to low saturated colors and full saturated and moderate to high bright colors were preferred more. The results have practical implications for architects and urban designers. A successful coloration of a building exterior may increase its use frequency and economical value. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 395–405, 2008     

Investigation of cylinder pressure for H2/CH4 mixtures at different loads

The purpose of this study is to experimentally analyze the performance and the pollutant emissions of a four-stroke spark-ignition engine operating on natural gas–hydrogen blends of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% at full load and 65% load for different excess air ratios. This present work was carried out on a Ford engine. This is a four-stroke cycle four-cylinder spark-ignition engine with a bore × stroke of 80.6 × 88 mm and a compression ratio of 10:1. Experiments were made at a constant engine speed of 2000 rpm. CO, CO₂ and HC emission values and cylinder pressures were measured. The results showed that while the excess air ratio increases, CO and CO₂ emission values decrease.     

Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Hydraulic Performance of Slit-check Dams in Subcritical Flow Condition

Water Resources Management - Slit-check dams have a flow regulation function under normal flow conditions as well as holding large solid (debris flow control). However, the effects of such...     

An experimental characterization of the friction coefficient of a wind turbine gearbox lubricant

In this study, a method to predict the contact friction coefficients at the rolling‐sliding contacts of isotropic superfinished and axially ground gear and bearing surfaces in wind turbine gearboxes is proposed. A two‐disc test rig was used to measure friction coefficient values within a slide‐to‐roll ratio range of ?0.8 to 0.8, rolling velocities of 2 to 12 m/s, at oil temperatures of 50°C, 70°C, and 100°C and Hertzian contact pressures of 1.2, 1.6, and 2.0 GPa. A polyalphaolefin (PAO) International Standards Organization (ISO) viscosity grade (VG) 320 was the lubricant. Data from 90 individual friction coefficient tests were combined to develop two closed‐form friction coefficient formulae. A multivariable linear regression analysis was used to derive the regressed formulae. Using the developed regressed formulae, the predicted friction values follow the trend of measured values at all of the operating conditions. The results show that the regressed formulae are close to experimental friction coefficient values. The friction coefficient predictions confirm that the regressed formulae are capable of simulating contact friction values for the lubricated contact conditions considered.     

SOLVENT-IN-PULP EXTRACTION OF BORON FROM SLURRIES

ABSTRACT

Solvent-in-pulp extraction of boron from various slurries has been studied. Extraction of boron from synthetic slurries of quartz, bentonite and from natural plant-end-slurry from Kirka/Turkey with 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol (EHD), 2-cloro-4-(1,1, 3,3-tetramethyl-butyl)-6-methylol-phenol (CTMP) and 1:1 mixture of the two is considered here.

The results show that, under the pulse conditions used, phase separation appeared acceptably sharp and the level of clarity is acceptable regardless of pH. The transmittance evidently decreased with increase in pH but did not drop below about 75%. However, some solid and water were transferred and the organic layers were slightly turbid in decreasing order CTMP>CTMP/EHD>EHD but the phase clarity is reduced by solids in the order quartz>bentonite>water.

Combining the data of observed turbidities on extraction with the transmittance measurements of the organic phase rough estimates of solids transferred may be made. For example, in the case of extraction from bentonite slurry at pH 9 the % solids in the organic phase are 0.4, 0.3 and 0.1 for CTMP, CTMP/EHD and EHD respectively, assuming that the solids content of the aqueous phase is 50,000 gm^-3. Values are of course lower at lower pH. For quartz slurries the corresponding figures are; 0.3, 0.2 and 0.05.     

Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of wine vinegars produced by two different techniques

BACKGROUND: The presence of phenolics in fruit, red wine and vinegar has positive health effects due to their significant antioxidant activity. The aim of the study was to determine the effects of two different vinegar production methods on antioxidant activity and phenolic level of vinegars derived from Ulugbey Karasi grapes. Traditional surface and industrial submerge methods were used to make vinegar. Samples were taken from fresh red grape juice, maceration, wine, traditional vinegar and industrial vinegar. RESULTS: Total phenolic content of traditional and industrial vinegar samples were 2690 mg L^?1 and 2461 mg L^?1 GAE, respectively. ORAC values of traditional and industrial vinegar samples were 10.50 µmol mL^?1and 8.84 µmol mL^?1 TE, respectively. Antioxidant activity values of traditional and industrial vinegars were 13.50 mmol L^?1 and 10.37 mmol L^?1 TEAC, respectively. Gallic acid, catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p‐coumaric acid and ferulic acid were detected in grape juice, wine and vinegar samples. The content of catechin in industrial vinegar (27.50 mg L^?1) was significantly higher than that of in traditional vinegar (13.76 mg L^?1) (P < 0.05). Traditional vinegar had higher amounts of chlorogenic and syringic acids than the industrial vinegar (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of this study showed that different production methods affected the functional constituents of wine vinegars. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry