A fuzzy-AHP multi-criteria decision making model for procurement process

The purpose of this study is to develop a fuzzy-AHP multi-criteria decision making model for procurement process. It aims to measure the procurement performance in the automotive industry. As such measurement of procurement will enable competitive advantage and provide a model for continuous improvement. The rapid growth in the market and the level of competition in the global economy transformed procurement as a strategic issue; which is broader in scope and responsibilities as compared to purchasing. This study reviews the existing literature in procurement performance measurement to identify the key areas of measurement and a hierarchical model is developed with a set of generic measures. In addition, a questionnaire is developed for pair-wise comparison and to collect opinion from practitioners, researchers, managers etc. The relative importance of the measurement criteria are assessed using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy-AHP. The validity of the model is confirmed with the results obtained

Cardiovascular manifestations in echocardiography in patients recently recovered from COVID-19 Infection

Background: As a major source of morbidity and mortality, COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has developed. In both COVID-19 and other pneumonias, high T/I troponin levels may indicate damage to the heart. Objective: ln order to expand our understanding of COVID-19 cardiology effects, as well as provide insights into the features of people who are more prone to cardiovascular diseases. Methods: At isolation hospital in Zagazig, and the isolation hospital in Tripoli, Libya, 42 COVID-19 positive subjects were studied for their echocardiographic parameters, the study was carried out from March 5th, 2021, to September 4th 2021. Results: Arrhythmias, myocardial infarctions, valvular dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) were found to have no statistically significant association to the severity of COVID-19. Mean of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was statistically lower among severe COVID-19 patients than moderate and mild cases but means of RV diameter (mm) was statistically higher among severe COVID-19 patients than moderate and mild cases, mean of fractional area change (FAC) was statistically lower in severe COVID-19 patients. Pulmonary hypertension was the second most common echocardiographic finding (38% of patients). There was no statistically significant difference in pulmonary hypertension across COVID-19 patients in relation to the severity (P=0.211).Conclusion: Echocardiography can provide us with important information which can help in managing of patients with COVID-19 while we must consider contamination risks as well as transmission of diseases

BM-MSCs alleviate diabetic nephropathy in male rats by regulating ER stress, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic pathways

Introduction: Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a chronic kidney disease, is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising option to mitigate several diabetic complications.Methods: In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in a rat model of STZ-induced DN. After the confirmation of diabetes, rats were treated with BM-MSCs and sacrificed at week 12 after treatment.Results: Our results showed that STZ-induced DN rats had extensive histopathological changes, significant upregulation in mRNA expression of renal apoptotic markers, ER stress markers, inflammatory markers, fibronectin, and intermediate filament proteins, and reduction of positive immunostaining of PCNA and elevated P53 in kidney tissue compared to the control group. BM-MSC therapy significantly improved renal histopathological changes, reduced renal apoptosis, ER stress, inflammation, and intermediate filament proteins, as well as increased positive immunostaining of PCNA and reduced P53 in renal tissue compared to the STZ-induced DN group.Conclusion: In conclusion, our study indicates that BM-MSCs may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of DN and provide important insights into their potential use as a novel therapeutic approach for DN

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Étude préliminaire des céramiques médiévales islamiques

International audienc

Les productions médiévales de Rirha (Maroc)

International audienceEl sito arqueológico de Rirha (Sidi Slimane, Marruecos) ocupado desde época prerromana, presenta un asentamiento medieval islámico que puede fecharse entre los siglos IX al XV por las cerámicas halladas. También fue un centro productor de cerámica como evidencian de un horno y desechos de alfar.Le site archéologique de Rirha (Sidi Slimane, Maroc), occupé dès la période pré-romaine, présente une occupation médiévale islamique qui peut être datée entre le IXe et le XVe s., comme en témoigne la typologie céramique présentée. Rirha est également un centre producteur de céramiques comme en témoigne un four et des rebuts de tournage et de cuisson

Première approche de l'implantation islamique à Rirha (Sidi Slimane)

International audienceConnu jusqu'à présent pour ses vestiges d'époque antique, le site archéologique de Rirha (Sidi Slimane, Maroc) témoigne également d'une occupation islamique probablement continue, si l'on se réfère à l'étude céramique, du IXe jusqu'à la période mérinide. Cette implantation a été révélée à la fois par la présence en surface de tessons de céramiques médiévales sur la dizaine d'hectares que compte le site, par l'existence de traces d'un bâti léger (substruction circulaire, trous de poteaux, murs en terre et berdis) et de nombreuses fosses-dépotoirs qui perforent les horizons antiques, et par l'excavation d'un four de potier daté du XIVe siècle ap. J.-C. Rirha médiévale se définit comme un modeste site de plaine qui participe à la "renaissance" de la ville au haut Moyen-Âge