Analysis of interaction between the barriers for the implementation of sustainable supply chain management

In the contemporary marketplace, it is essential for industries to offer environmentally conscious, “green” products. Because industries are aware of demands from both customers and from government policies towards environmental products, Indian industries are particularly pressured regarding issues of environmental adoption. At this point, they presently have less detailed research on the effects of the adoption of environmental practices using traditional supply chain management (TSCM). One sector that is less aware of environmental initiation practices in the TSCM is the fastener manufacturing industry, but they are in a good position to adopt and to improve their environmental performance. Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) is an important concept to improve environmental performance in TSCM and to provide a useful green image in industrial products. However, there are many barriers to the successful implementation of SSCM, and it should be noted that not all the barriers carry an equal impact. We need to identify the dominant factors required to adopt the SSCM concept, so that industries need to analyze the barriers and their impacts. The main aim of this paper is to determine the relationship between the barriers and to identify the most influential barriers from the recommended barrier list with the help of interpretive structural modeling. In this study, 13 barriers are considered from the extensive literature available. This study has been conducted in two fastener manufacturing industries that are located in the southern part of India.     

Changes in biochemical,hemodynamic, and dialysis adherence parameters in hemodialysis patients during Ramadan

This paper aimed to study the effect of Ramadan fasting on biochemical and clinical parameters and compliance for dialysis. A prospective multicenter observational cross‐sectional study comparing fasting with a non‐fasting stable adult hemodialysis patients for demographic and biochemical parameters, compliance with dialysis, inter‐dialytic weight gain, pre‐ and post‐blood pressure, and frequency of intradialytic hypotensive episodes was carried out. Six hundred thirty‐five patients, of whom 64.1% fasted, were studied. The fasters were younger (53.3 ± 16.2 vs. 58.4 ± 16.1 years; P = 0.001) but had similar duration on dialysis (P = 0.35). More fasters worked (22.0% vs. 14.6%; P = 0.001) and missed dialysis sessions during Ramadan. No differences were noted between groups in sex, diabetic status, or dialysis shift or day. There were no differences in the pre‐ and post‐dialysis blood pressure; serum potassium, albumin or weight gain; diabetic status; sex; and dialysis shift time or days. However, serum phosphorous was significantly higher in the fasting group (2.78 ± 1.8 vs. 2.45 ± 1.6 mmol/L; P = 0.045). There were no intragroup differences in any of the parameters studied when comparing the findings during Ramadan with those in the month before Ramadan. Fasters were significantly younger and more likely to be working, to miss dialysis sessions, and to have higher serum phosphorous levels. No other differences were observed.     

The inhibitory effect of natural microflora of food on growth of Listeria monocytogenes in enrichment broths

The aims of this study were to (i) compare the inhibitory effects of the natural microflora of different foods on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes during enrichment in selective and non-selective broths; (ii) to isolate and identify components of the microflora of the most inhibitory food; and (iii) to determine which of these components was most inhibitory to growth of L. monocytogenes in co-culture studies. Growth of an antibiotic-resistant marker strain of L. monocytogenes was examined during enrichment of a range of different foods in Tryptone Soya Broth (TSB), Half Fraser Broth (HFB) and Oxoid Novel Enrichment (ONE) Broth. Inhibition of L. monocytogenes was greatest in the presence of minced beef, salami and soft cheese and least with prepared fresh salad and chicken pâté. For any particular food the numbers of L. monocytogenes present after 24 h enrichment in different broths increased in the order: TSB, HFB and ONE Broth. Numbers of L. monocytogenes recovered after enrichment in TSB were inversely related to the initial aerobic plate count (APC) in the food but with only a moderate coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.51 implying that microbial numbers and the composition of the microflora both influenced the degree of inhibition of L. monocytogenes. In HFB and ONE Broth the relationship between APC and final L. monocytogenes counts was weaker. The microflora of TSB after 24 h enrichment of minced beef consisted of lactic acid bacteria, Brochothrix thermosphacta, Pseudomonas spp., Enterobacteriaceae, and enterococci. In co-culture studies of L. monocytogenes with different components of the microflora in TSB, the lactic acid bacteria were the most inhibitory followed by the Enterobacteriaceae. The least inhibitory organisms were Pseudomonas sp., enterococci and B. thermosphacta. In HFB and ONE Broth the growth of Gram-negative organisms was inhibited but lactic acid bacteria still reached high numbers after 24 h. A more detailed study of the growth of low numbers of L. monocytogenes during enrichment of minced beef in TSB revealed that growth of L. monocytogenes ceased at a cell concentration of about 10² cfu/ml when lactic acid bacteria entered stationary phase. However in ONE Broth growth of lactic acid bacteria was slower than in TSB with a longer lag time allowing L. monocytogenes to achieve much higher numbers before lactic acid bacteria reached stationary phase. This work has identified the relative inhibitory effects of different components of a natural food microflora and shown that the ability of low numbers of L. monocytogenes to achieve high cell concentrations is highly dependent on the extent to which enrichment media are able to inhibit or delay growth of the more effective competitors.     

The Discovery of Potent SHP2 Inhibitors with Anti-Proliferative Activity in Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Despite available treatments, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Knowing that the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is a regulator in tumorigenesis, developing inhibitors of SHP2 in breast cells is crucial. Our study investigated the effects of new compounds, purchased from NSC, on the phosphatase activity of SHP2 and the modulation of breast cancer cell lines’ proliferation and viability. A combined ligand-based and structure-based virtual screening protocol was validated, then performed, against SHP2 active site. Top ranked compounds were tested via SHP2 enzymatic assay, followed by measuring IC50 values. Subsequently, hits were tested for their anti-breast cancer viability and proliferative activity. Our experiments identified three compounds 13030, 24198, and 57774 as SHP2 inhibitors, with IC50 values in micromolar levels and considerable selectivity over the analogous enzyme SHP1. Long MD simulations of 500 ns showed a very promising binding mode in the SHP2 catalytic pocket. Furthermore, these compounds significantly reduced MCF-7 breast cancer cells’ proliferation and viability. Interestingly, two of our hits can have acridine or phenoxazine cyclic system known to intercalate in ds DNA. Therefore, our novel approach led to the discovery of SHP2 inhibitors, which could act as a starting point in the future for clinically useful anticancer agents.     

The effect of CuI–PbI2 nanocomposite fabricated by the sonochemical route on electrochemical hydrogen storage characteristics

Hydrogen storage is an essential technique for developing hydrogen technology and electrochemical cells in stable energy, transport, and portable power. Hydrogen holds the maximum specific power of all fuels; nevertheless, its low ambient temperature density occurs in a lower energy density; therefore, there is a need to develop advanced storage procedures that own the potential for greater energy density. Therefore, this research incorporates the fabrication of novel nanocomposite (CuI–PbI₂) by the sonochemical method, architectural, morphological observations, and relevant electrochemical hydrogen storage features. The electrochemical features with different morphology have revealed 515 and 585 mAh/g discharge capacity for bulk and nano-sized samples after 15 cycles, respectively.     

Microsilica and ground granulated blast furnace slag effects on hydration temperature

The heat of hydration of cement mixes is of great importance to civil engineers. A testing setup was developed to provide a continuous recording of temperature inside cement mixes by means of a computer, digital voltmeter, and thermo-couples. Four mixes were tested by the suggested testing setup. A plain normal Portland cement (NPC), 90% NPC/10% microsilica, 40% NPC/ 10% microsilica/50% ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs), and 50% NPC/50% sand mixes were used. Microsilica reduced the temperature rise in paste and ggbs reduced it even further. Cement content was seen, as expected, to have significant effect on the rise in hydration temperature. Cement replacement materials had also clear effect on the time needed to reach the peak temperature. Microsilica slightly accelerated the arrival time at peak temperature, whereas ggbs significantly delayed it. Moreover, ggbs clearly reduced the differential change in temperature as a function of time compared to the other mixes.     

Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide after Matched Sibling and Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Pediatric Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Non-relapse mortality due to GVHD and infections represents a major source of morbidity and mortality in pediatric HSCT recipients. Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has emerged as an effective and safe GVHD prophylaxis strategy, with improved GVHD and relapse-free survival in matched (related and unrelated) and mismatched haploidentical HSCT adult recipients. However, there are no published data in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia who received matched-donor HSCT with PTCy. We demonstrate, in this case series, that the use of PTCy in this population is potentially safe, effective in preventing acute GVHD, does not impair engraftment, is associated with reduced non-relapse mortality, and does not hinder immune reconstitution post HSCT.     

Efficiency of curing on partially exposed high-strength concrete in hot climate

This investigation aims at studying and evaluating the efficiency of existing concrete curing practices in hot climates. It deals with the effect of curing methods on compressive strength development of high-strength concrete (HSC). The efficiency of curing methods was evaluated in terms of concrete compressive strength of samples tested at 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 270 days. The strength of samples cured under four different curing regimes was compared with the strength results of water-cured samples, which is designated as the control regime. In order to simulate actual site conditions, only the top-as-cast face of the samples was left exposed to the climatic conditions. It was found that the effect of curing regimes on strength is highly influenced by the exposure environment. Noticeable difference in the influences of the curing methods was observed for indoor samples only. Moreover, strength of samples stored in the outdoor environment (OD) exhibited lower results than those stored indoors (ID) for all curing regimes. The finding of this investigation indicates a deficiency in the curing practices in the region. Actual curing practices had no significant effects on strength specially those samples cured in a hot dry OD. More care and more efficient curing methods and techniques should be considered when dealing with hot dry climate.