TQM consultant selection in SMEs with TOPSIS under fuzzy environment

Although much has been written about TQM in SMEs, little attention has been paid to the role of external consultant in the successful implementation of a TQM program in this kind of firms. Sometimes there are some candidates and companies have to select the best one. In general, many factors affect this problem which adheres to uncertain and imprecise data, and usually several people from different functional areas of the company are involved in this process. This study aims to improve the quality of decision in this area. In this paper a systematic decision process for selecting external consultant is proposed. The proposed method is based on TOPSIS method in fuzzy environment. Decision criteria are obtained from the nominal group technique (NGT). Additionally, a real case study is presented to illustrate the application of the proposed method.     

Effects of Nb Alloying on Nano-Crystallization Kinetics of Fe55-x Cr18Mo7B16C4Nbx(x=0, 3) Bulk Amorphous Alloys

Crystallization kinetics of Fe55-xCr18Mo7B16C4Nbx(x= 0, 3) bulk amorphous alloys were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) tests. In practice, crystallization and growth mechanism were evaluated using DSC tests at four different heating rates (10, 20, 30, and 40 K/min) and kinetic models. Two-step crystallization behavior was observed when Fe55Cr18Mo7B16C4 and Fe52Cr18Mo7B16C4Nb3 bulk amorphous alloys were annealed, where Fe36Cr12Mo10 phase was crystallized in the first step of crystallization. Results show that Fe36Cr12Mo10 and Fe3C phases were crystallized in the structures of the alloys after further annealing process. Activation energy for the crystallization of Fe36Cr12Mo10 phase was measured to be 543 kJ/mol in Fe52Cr18Mo7B16C4Nb3 alloy and 375 kJ/mol for Fe55Cr18Mo7B16C4 alloy according to Kissinger-Starink model. Moreover, a two-dimensional diffusion controlled growth mechanism with decreasing nucleation rate was found in Fe52Cr18Mo7B16C4Nb3 alloy whereas a three-dimensional diffusion controlled growth mechanism with decreasing nucleation rate was found in crystallization of Fe36Cr12Mo10 phase dur- ing annealing of Fe55Cr18Mo7B16C4 alloy. TEM (transmission electron microscopy) observations reveal that crystalline Fe36Cr12Mo10 phase nucleated in the structures of the alloys in an average size of 10 nm with completely mottled morphology.     

A comparison between the corrosion behavior of nanostructured copper thin films deposited on oxidized silicon and copper sheet in alkaline media

Copper thin films were deposited on oxidized silicon at a substrate temperature of 70 °C and 150 °C using EB-PVD technique. The morphology and crystal orientation of the deposited film were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Corrosion behavior of films was studied through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization, immersion test, and cathodic chronopotentiography. Additionally, the crystalline structure of corroded samples immediately after polarization was examined by XRD. Corrosion current density for copper deposits was higher than copper sheet by polarization tests, while the data obtained by the EIS technique emphasized higher corrosion current density for copper sheet. However there was a conflict between polarization and EIS data, the other results obtained by immersion and cathodic chronopotentiography tests proved that the corrosion resistance of copper deposits was higher than copper sheet in the same alkaline media, which can be attributed to chemical composition and higher thickness of the passive layer formed on copper deposits. On the other hand, breakdown potential (E_bp) for copper sheet was about 0.3 V_SCE, while a distinct E_bp was not found for copper deposits. This was a sign of higher stability of the passive layer formed on copper deposits. The XRD patterns of samples immediately after polarization showed a higher content of Cu(OH)₂ on copper deposits in comparison with copper sheet. The stable morphology formed on the surface of copper after polarization was monoclinic CuO, which is assumed to have a significant effect on copper protection in alkaline media. This morphology was more compact on copper deposits in comparison with copper sheet. This was due to higher ability of deposits to react with hydroxyl ions.     

Varying the ratio of Lys:Met while maintaining the ratios of Thr:Phe,Lys:Thr,Lys:His,and Lys:Val alters mammary cellular metabolites,mammalian target of rapamycin signaling,and gene transcription

Amino acids are not only precursors for but also signaling molecules regulating protein synthesis. Regulation of protein synthesis via AA occurs at least in part by alterations in the phosphorylation status of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway proteins. Although the ideal profile of Lys:Met to promote milk protein synthesis during established lactation in dairy cows has been proposed to be 3:1, aside from being the most-limiting AA for milk protein synthesis, the role of Met in other key biologic pathways such as methylation is not well characterized in the bovine. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of increasing supplemental Met, based on the ideal 3:1 ratio of Lys to Met, on intracellular metabolism related to protein synthesis and mTOR pathway phosphorylation status. MAC-T cells, an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial cell line, were incubated (n = 5 replicates/treatment) for 12 h with 3 incremental doses of Met while holding Lys concentration constant to achieve the following: Lys:Met 2.9:1 (ideal AA ratio; IPAA), Lys:Met 2.5:1 (LM2.5), and Lys:Met 2.0:1 (LM2.0). The ratios of Thr:Phe (1.05:1), Lys:Thr (1.8:1), Lys:His (2.38:1), and Lys:Val (1.23:1) were the same across the 3 treatments. Applying gas chromatography–mass spectrometry metabolomics revealed distinct clusters of differentially concentrated metabolites in response to Lys:Met. Lower Phe, branched-chain AA, and putrescine concentrations were observed with LM2.5 compared with IPAA. Apart from greater intracellular Met concentrations, further elevations in Met level (LM2.0) led to greater intracellular concentrations of nonessential AA (Pro, Glu, Gln, and Gly) compared with IPAA and greater essential AA (EAA; Met, Ile, and Leu) and nonessential AA (Pro, Gly, Ala, Gln, and Glu) compared with LM2.5. However, compared with IPAA, mRNA expression of β-casein and AA transporters (SLC7A5, SLC36A1, SLC38A2, SLC38A9, and SLC43A1) and mTOR phosphorylation were lower in response to LM2.5 and LM2.0. Overall, the results of this study provide evidence that increasing Met while Lys and the ratios of Phe, Thr, His, and Val relative to Lys were held constant could increase the concentration and utilization of intracellular EAA, in particular branched-chain AA, potentially through improving the activity of AA transporters partly controlled by mTOR signaling. Because EAA likely are metabolized by other tissues upon absorption, a question for future in vivo studies is whether formulating diets for optimal ratios of EAA in the metabolizable protein is sufficient to provide the desired levels of these AA to the mammary cells.     

Ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine enhances performance during the periparturient period and early lactation in Holstein dairy cows

The onset of lactation in dairy cows is characterized by severe negative energy and protein balance. Increasing Met availability during this time may improve milk production, hepatic lipid metabolism, and immune function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding ethyl-cellulose rumen-protected methionine (RPM; Mepron, Evonik Nutrition and Care GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany) on the performance of dairy cows during prepartum and early-lactation periods. Sixty multiparous Holstein cows were used in a block design and assigned to either a control or an ethyl-cellulose RPM diet. Ethyl-cellulose RPM was supplied from ?28 to 60 d relative to parturition at a rate of 0.09% and 0.10% of dry matter during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively. That rate ensured that the ratio of Lys to Met in metabolizable protein was close to 2.8:1. Cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM had dry matter intakes (DMI) that were 1.2 kg/d greater during the prepartum period and consequently had overall greater cumulative DMI than cows in the control group. Compared with controls, during the fresh period (1–30 d in milk; DIM) feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI by 1.7 kg/d, milk yield by 4.1 kg/d, fat yield by 0.17 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.20 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.3 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.4 kg/d. Although ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation increased milk protein content by 0.16 percentage units compared with the control during the fresh period, no differences were observed for milk fat, lactose, and milk urea nitrogen concentration. During the high-producing period (31–60 DIM), cows fed ethyl-cellulose RPM increased DMI and milk yield by 1.45 and 4.4 kg/d, respectively. Ethyl-cellulose RPM also increased fat yield by 0.19 kg/d, milk protein yield by 0.17 kg/d, 3.5% fat-corrected milk by 4.7 kg/d, and energy-corrected milk by 4.8 kg/d compared with controls. Ethyl-cellulose RPM supplementation reduced plasma fatty acids in the fresh period and decreased γ-glutamyl transferase, indicating better liver function. In conclusion, when lysine was adequate, feeding ethyl-cellulose RPM to achieve a ratio close to 2.8:1 in metabolizable protein improved dairy cow performance from parturition through 60 DIM. The greater milk production was, at least in part, driven by the greater voluntary DMI and better liver function.     

A partial-SOI LDMOSFET with triangular buried-oxide for breakdown voltage improvement

In this paper, a near-triangular buried-oxide partial silicon-on-insulator (TB-PSOI) lateral double-diffused MOS field-effect transistor is proposed. The electric field and electrostatic potential in this structure are modified by the gradual buried-oxide thickness increase. The modification includes the addition of a new peak in the electric field in comparison to that of the conventional PSOI. To assess the efficiency of the proposed structure, its breakdown voltage is compared with that of conventional PSOI using two-dimensional simulations. A comparative study is performed in terms of silicon-film and buried-oxide layer thicknesses, drift region and buried-oxide layer lengths, and drift region doping concentrations. The study shows that under the same drain current, the breakdown voltage of TB-PSOI is nearly two times higher than its PSOI counterpart (108% improvement). Simulation results show that the three-stepped oxide layer closely follows the TB-PSOI structure with a breakdown voltage improvement of 96% compared to that of the PSOI structure.