Characteristics of redistributed manufacturing systems: a comparative study of emerging industry supply networks

This paper explores the characteristics of redistributed manufacturing systems within the context of emerging industry supply networks (EI SNs), with a particular focus on their structure, operations and reconfiguration dynamics. A number of factors have resulted in the redistribution of manufacturing. Within Emerging Industries, advances in process and information technologies, have changed the physical and information characteristics of components and products, and the viable production economies of scale. Further, the emergence of new specialised companies fulfilling key research, production or service roles have changed industry structure and operations, and the conventional model of value creation. Six industrial systems are examined using an Industrial System mapping methodology providing a basis for cross-case analysis, selected on the basis of representing alternative and novel evolution paths that may provide insights into the characteristics of EI SNs within a redistributed manufacturing context. Cross-case analysis suggests several generic aspects to EI SNs, including the blurring of traditional industry boundaries and the critical requirement to manage uncertainty. Alternative forms of EI SNs are observed supporting particular EI evolution paths. Further, more adaptive SNs support increased product variety, with lower inventory models enabled by enhanced production and distribution flexibility, often located closer to demand.The authors would like to acknowledge UK Research Council EPSRC, the industrial collaborators who provided access to their organisations, and their supply network, industrial and institutional partners.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.121476

Performance appraisal of sportshall and swimming pool buildings in Greece

Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX182110 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Improving decision-making for drug reimbursement in Iran

Reimbursement decision making in any healthcare system is an important process to ensure patient access to various healthcare services in an affordable manner. A proper reimbursement decision making happens when it can concurrently pursue three main goals including quality of care, population of health, and affordability. However, achieving the goals requires enough knowledge and proper healthcare governance. In middle-income countries (MICs) improving the three main goals is likely to be difficult due to weakness in the knowledge production infrastructure and healthcare governance. To investigate possible solutions for improving the drug reimbursement decision-making system in MICs, this thesis focuses on the drug reimbursement decision-making system in Iran. Subsequently, we focus on use of a monoclonal antibody in breast cancer. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is widely used in the treatment of overexpressed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-positive) breast cancer. Trastuzumab, as an expensive drug, has continued to be a topic of conversation in many healthcare systems since its launch into the pharmaceutical markets. The overall aim of this thesis is to investigate how an MIC (in this case, focusing on Iran) can improve its drug reimbursement decision-making system. Therefore, this thesis provided important information on how an MIC can improve the drug reimbursement decision-making system in three parts. Firstly, we discussed the current situation and subsequent consequences of the drug reimbursement decision-making system in Iran. Secondly, we provided some solutions to improve limited health economics-related evidence in Iran. And finally, some recommendations are provided to improve the system. This thesis includes three parts and each of these provides an answer to one or more research questions. In the first part (chapters 2 and 3), the current situation and subsequent consequences of the drug reimbursement decision-making system in Iran are discussed. The second part focuses on knowledge production in MICs. As already mentioned, obtaining information is not an easy task in MICs and researchers have to find solutions to overcome this shortage of information. Therefore, this part provides some solutions for this problem. In addition, it describes some economic evaluations and a scenario analysis for efficient and affordable treatment. This part has three chapters (4−6). The third part provides recommendations to improve the system. It describes how MICs can benefit from HTA studies and knowledge production in order to achieve the overall goals of a reimbursement decision-making system. This part has two chapters, which are chapter 7 and 8

Hybridization of Surface Plasmon Polaritons and Molecular Excitations

Starke Kopplung von Molekülen mit einem räumlich begrenzten Lichtfeld führt zur Bildung neuer polaritonischer Eigenzustände des Systems, die sowohl molekulare als auch photonische Eigenschaften erhalten und somit ein großes Potenzial für Anwendungen in der Chemie und Optoelektronik besitzen. In dieser Arbeit wird die Kopplung zwischen Oberflächenplasmonen Polaritonen (SPPs), die als das räumlich begrenzte Lichtfeld agieren, und molekularen Anregungen wie Schwingungen und polaronischen Resonanzen untersucht. Das starke Kopplungsregime zwischen einer Molekülschwingung und einem SPP wird zum ersten Mal im mittleren Infrarot unter Verwendung der Carbonylschwingung von Poly(vinylmethylketon) Polymer und Silber als Ausbreitungsmedium von SPPs demonstriert. Die neu gebildeten Hybridmoden werden durch Experimente und numerische Modellierung untersucht, wobei Messungen der abgeschwächten Totalreflexion und der thermischen Emission sowie Berechnungen mittels der Transfermatrix und der linearen Dispersionstheorie verwendet werden. Ein Anticrossing in der Dispersion der Polariton-Zweige mit einer Energieaufspaltung bis zu 15 meV, was die Hauptsignatur des starken Kopplungsregimes ist, wird beobachtet. Die starke Kopplung mit Zinkgalliumoxid, einem hochdotierten Halbleiter als Alternative zu Edelmetallen, wird auch untersucht. Experimentelle und simulierte Reflektometrie-Spektren sowie Dispersionsrelationen werden diskutiert, um Rückschlüsse auf die Eigenschaften des Systems zu ziehen. Außerdem wird ein Ansatz zur Verbesserung der Leitfähigkeit organischer Halbleiterpolymere durch starke Kopplung ihrer polaronischen Zustände an SPPs vorgestellt und Leitfähigkeitsmessungen durchgeführt. Ziel ist es, die Delokalisierung der Hybridzustände auszunutzen, um die Leitfähigkeit zu verändern. Die präsentierten Ergebnisse bieten neue Einblicke in den Nutzen der Eigenschaften der Licht-Materie-Hybridisierung, um ihr volles Potenzial für verschiedene Bereiche und Anwendungen zu erforschen.Strong coupling of molecules with a confined light field results in the formation of new polaritonic eigenstates of the system called polaritons that inherit both molecular and photonic characteristics and thus holds strong potential for applications in chemistry and optoelectronics. In this work, coupling between propagating surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs), as confined light field, and molecular excitations, such as vibrational resonances and polaronic features, is investigated. The strong coupling regime between a molecular vibration and a propagating SPP is demonstrated for the first time in the mid-infrared spectral range using the carbonyl stretch vibration of Poly(vinyl methyl ketone) polymer and silver as metallic medium for SPPs propagation. The newly formed hybrid modes are investigated through experiments and numerical modelling, employing attenuated-total-reflection and thermal emission measurements as well as transfer-matrix and linear dispersion theory calculations. An anticrossing behavior in the dispersion of the polariton branches with an energy splitting up to 15meV, which is a key signature of the strong coupling regime, is observed. Strong coupling involving zinc gallium oxide, which is a highly doped semiconductor, as an alternative to noble metals is also investigated. Experimental and simulated reflectometry spectra as well as the dispersion relations are discussed so as to draw conclusions about the properties of the system. Furthermore, an approach to enhance the conductivity of organic semiconductor polymers by strongly coupling their polaronic states to SPPs is presented and four-point probe measurements are conducted. The goal is to exploit the delocalization of the hybrid states to alter the conductivity of the organic semiconductor. The results presented in this thesis provide new insights into the profit from the properties of light-matter hybridization in order to explore its full potential for several areas and applications

Proceedings of the XXVIIIth TELEMAC User Conference 18-19 October 2022

Hydrodynamic