An Analytical Study of the Strategic Flexibility Variation as a Function of the Dynamic Capabilities Based on Supply Chain Management (Case Study: The General Petroleum Products Distribution Company in Baghdad)

Abstract- This paper represents an advanced contribution to explore the nature of the dynamic capabilities based on supply chain management in the oil distribution company as a vital field within Iraq and how to activate these capabilities in achieving Strategic flexibility, drawing on past experiences and literature in establishing a scientific and field basis for this company. The purpose behind this paper is to introduce a new understanding of the concept of dynamic capabilities based on supply chain management and whether it is possible to adopt advanced capabilities in management and the possibility of applying them in an Iraqi company and what is their role in achieving strategic flexibility. This concept was clarified through a framework to learn more about how these concepts work. The study has been conducted in the General Petroleum Products Distribution Company (Baghdad) drawing upon a research sample of the company's leaders (directors of managements and departments) within the company. It consists of 33 out of 56 directors. The study adopts the questionnaire method in data collection including four dimensions of dynamic capabilities (capability of sensing, learning, integrating and marketing) based on supply chain management and three dimensions for the variability of the strategic flexibility (marketing flexibility, productivity, and competitivity). The study uses a set of statistical tools based on the SPSS 23 and EXCELL 2013 programs to measure the description and diagnosis of the sample, the variables of the research, the measurement of the correlation and the effect of the different tools. The study reaches a set of conclusions, the most important of which is that the multi-dimensional dynamics model affects the achievement of the strategic flexibility within the company and to varying degrees of dimensions. Keyword: strategic Flexibility, Variation, Dynamic Capabilities, Supply Chain Management, Company

Long-Term Results of Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

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Speckle-interferometric study of close visual binary system Hip 11253 (HD14874) using Gaia (DR2) and (EDR3)

We present a comprehensive set of physical and geometrical parameters for each of the components of the close visual binary system Hip 11253 (HD14874). We present an analysis for the binary and multiple stellar systems with the aim to obtain a match between the overall observational spectral energy distribution of the system and the spectral synthesis created from model atmospheres. The epoch positions are used to determine the orbital parameters and the total mass.Comment: Accepted for publication in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (RAA

Major Parameters Affect the Non-Liner Response of Structure Under Near-Fault Earthquakes

Near-fault ground motion can be identified by the presence of a predominant long duration pulse in the velocity traces mainly due to directivity effect. This pulse exposes the structure to high input energy at the beginning of the earthquake which leads to a higher response in comparison with the ordinary ground motions. This paper investigates 79 earthquake records with different properties to achieve three goals: the first aim is to compare between the linear and nonlinear response of SDOF systems under near-fault and far-fault earthquakes. While the second objective is to examine the parameters that control the characteristics of near-fault earthquakes. Two factors have been studied which is PGV/PGA ratio and pulse period. Finally, the seismic code provisions related to the near-fault earthquakes were evaluated in term of the elastic acceleration response spectrum, the evaluation is adopted for American Society of Civil Engineers code ASCE 7 and Uniform Building Code UBC. The results lead to the following conclusions: with respect to a specific PGA, the near-fault earthquake imposed higher response in comparison with far-field earthquakes. The near-fault earthquakes become severe as the PGV/PGA and pulse period increase. The interested seismic codes can cover the actual behavior based on the average response of a certain amount of data, while it may become non-conservative relative to an individual record

Buckling Behaviour of Clamped-Clamped Rectangular Thin Plates Composite Materials for a Zig-Zag Model

 هذا البحث ركز بصورة رئيسية على سلوك الانبعاج للصفائح المستطيلة الرقيقة متعرجة الطراز مصنعة من ثلاثة أنواع من المواد المركبة وهي (ألياف الزجاج / البوليستر، ألياف الكاربون / البوليستر وألياف هجينة من ألياف الزجاج والكاربون معا / البوليستر) والمسلطة عليها أحمال انبعاج ستاتيكية ويجرى الاختبار عند درجة حرارة الغرفة. وقد تم دراسة تأثير نوع واحد من الشروط الحدية حيث تم تثبيت الصفائح من جهتين وحررت من الجهتين الأخرى. تحليل الانبعاج لهذه الصفائح درست عددياً وعمليا مع اختلاف نسبة الأطوال وثبوت نسبة السمك. الجانب العملي تضمن تصنيع صفائح رقيقة مصنعة من (ألياف الزجاج / البوليستر، ألياف الكاربون / البوليستر وألياف هجينة من ألياف الزجاج والكاربون معا / البوليستر) متعرجة الطراز، ثم استخراج الخصائص الميكانيكية لها عن طريق اختبار الشد والتي هي (معامل المرونة، إجهاد الخضوع، أعظم مقاومة شد، ونسبة بويسون). تضمن الجانب العملي كذلك اختبار القص لنماذج ثلاثة أنواع من المواد المركبة لمعرفة إمكانية حدوث الانفصال الطبقي أم لا أثناء اختبار الانبعاج. كما وان الجانب العملي استخدم لإيجاد حمل الانبعاج الحرج وأعظم انحراف للأنواع الثلاثة من الصفائح المستطيلة الطبائقية متعرجة الطراز تحت تأثير نسبة الأطوال وعند حمل ضغط ستاتيكي موزع بانتظام. تم حساب حمل الانبعاج الحرج وأقصى انحراف من التحليل العددي للأنواع الثلاثة من الصفائح المستطيلة الطبائقية متعرجة الطراز تحت تأثير نسبة الأطوال وعند حمل ضغط ستاتيكي موزع بانتظام، حيث استخدمت طريقة العناصر المحددة من خلال برنامج انسس 15.  الاستنتاج الرئيسي من هذا البحث هو ان استخدام الطراز المتعرج في تصنيع صفائح المواد المركبة قد حسن من الخصائص الميكانيكية لها كما وان حمل الانبعاج الحرج قد ازداد.  إن النتائج العملية والعددية كانت ذات نسب خطأ مئوية مقدارها 29.23%, 30.20%, و46.71% عند نسبة أطوال ((a/b = 1 للأنواع الثلاثة من المواد المركبة وهي (ألياف الزجاج / البوليستر، ألياف الكاربون / البوليستر وألياف هجينة من ألياف الزجاج والكاربون معا / البوليستر) على الترتيب.     ان قيمة الانحراف العظمى الناتجة من الانبعاج تزداد مع زيادة نسبة الأطوال وتحت ثبوت نسبة السمك، كما وان أعظم انحراف في صفائح المواد المركبة من نوع ألياف الزجاج / البوليستر متعرجة الطراز اعلي من نظيراتها المكونة من ألياف الكاربون / البوليستر وألياف هجينة من ألياف الزجاج والكاربون معا / البوليستر. هنالك تطابق جيد تحقق في نتائج الطريقتان العمليتان للحصول على حمل الانبعاج الحرج وأعظم انحراف ناتج من الانبعاج، وان أعظم نسبة معدل خطأ مطلق كان حوالي 1% و1.1% على الترتيبThis paper focused mainly on the behavior buckling for the rectangular laminated plates made from three types of composite materials of a zig-zag model such as E-glass fiber / polyester (GFRP), carbon fiber / polyester (CFRP) and hybrid fibers / polyester (HFRP), under static buckling load and at room temperature (25Co). All the effects of plate determinants on the buckling load were studied for one type of a boundary condition, which was fixed on both sides, is clamped-clamped and free-free in other sides. The buckling analysis of these plates has been studied numerically and experimentally with different aspect ratio and constant thickness ratio. The experimental part is including the manufacture of composite materials laminated plates of a zig-zag model and determine the mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity, yield stress, ultimate tensile strength and Poisson's ratio by tensile test for three types of composite materials such as GFRP, CFRP, and HFRP. The experiments of shear stress test was used to determine whether the layers would be the plates is delaminate layers during buckling test or not into the three types of composite materials samples. Experiments were also used to find the critical buckling load and maximum buckling deflection for clamped-clamped rectangular laminated plates of three types of composite materials for a zig-zag model with the effect of aspect ratios under uniformly distributed static compression load. Numerical analysis of critical buckling load and maximum buckling deflection are calculated for three types of composite materials thin plates for a zig-zag model with the effect of aspect ratios under uniformly distributed static buckling load, the finite elements method was used in ANSYS program version (15.0). The main conclusion of this research is that the presence of zig-zag fibers in the plate can improve the mechanical properties and increase the critical buckling load.  The maximum percentage errors between the experimental and numerical results are 29.23%, 30.20%, and 46.71% at aspect ratio (a/b=1) for GFRP, CFRP, and HFRP, respectively. The maximum deflection value is increased when the aspect ratio is increased under constant thickness ratio; also, the maximum deflection in GFRP composite materials rectangular laminated plates is greater than that in CFRP and HFRP. A good agreement is achieved between the two experimental ways for determining the critical buckling load and maximum buckling deflection results, the maximum absolute percentage error rates are about 1% and 1.1%, respectively

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus levels on growth and grain yield of maize (Zea mays L.), Gezira State, Sudan

Maize (Zea mays L.)  is an annual, cross-pollinated warm weather crop. It is the world's third leading cereal crop after wheat and rice. Recently, maize gained more importance as a forage and food crop in the Sudan. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum level of nitrogen and phosphorus to maximize grain yield of maize. This study was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, during the summer of 2017 and winter season of 2017/18. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used. Four nitrogen levels, namely, 0, 43, 86 and 129 kg N/ha and two phosphorus levels, 0 and 43 P2O5 kg/ha were used. Results showed that nitrogen significantly increased plant height, leaf area index, days to 80% tasseling, number of grains/ear and grain yield in both seasons. Nitrogen levels had a significant effect on days to 80% silking in the winter season only. Phosphorus had no significant effect on most of the parameters measured in this study. The interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus levels had a significant effect on plant height, days to 80% silking, number of grains/ear and 100 - grain weight in the winter season only. The results revealed that the interaction between N and P levels had a significant effect on grain yield in both seasons. The highest grain yield (3825 and 4401 kg/ha) was obtained by the application of 129 and 86 kg N/ha in the summer and winter seasons, respectively. To obtain high grain yield of maize, it is recommended to apply 129 and 86 kg N / ha in the summer and winter seasons, respectively, without phosphorus application.   الذرة الشامية محصول حولي، خلطي التلقيح ومن محاصيل الجو الدافئ. الذرة الشامية ثالث أهم محاصيل الحبوب في العالم بعد القمح والأرز. حديثاً اكتسب الذرة الشامية أهمية كبيرة كمحصول غذاء وعلف في السودان. تهدف هذه الدراسة لتحديد تأثير مستويات النتروجين والفسفور على نمو وإنتاجية حبوب الذرة الشامية. نفذت الدراسة في المزرعة التجريبية كلية العلوم الزراعية, جامعة الجزيرة، وادمدني، السودان خلال موسمي صيف 2017 وشتاء 2017/18. تم استخدام نظام القطاعات العشوائية الكاملة بأربع مكررات. اشتمل النتروجين على 4 معاملات (0, 43, 86, 129 كجم نتروجين/هكتار) والفسفور معاملتان (0, 43 كجم خامس أكسيد الفسفور/هكتار). أظهرت النتائج أن إضافة النتروجين أدت إلى زيادة معنوية في طول النبات ودليل مساحة الورقة وعدد الايام 80% زهرة مذكرة وعدد الحبوب في الكوز وانتاجية الحبوب في الموسمين. كما أن إضافة النتروجين كان لها تأثيراً معنوياً على عدد الايام 80% زهرة مؤنثة  خلال الموسم الشتوي فقط. لم يكن لإضافة الفسفور أي تأثير معنوي علي معظم المؤشرات التي تمت دراستها. التداخل بين مستويات النتروجين والفسفور كان لها  تأثيراً معنوياً على طول النبات وعدد الايام   80% زهرة مؤنثة وعدد الحبوب في الكوز ووزن 100 حبة في فصل الشتاء فقط. أظهرت النتائج أن التداخل بين مستويات النتروجين والفسفور كان له تأثيراً معنوياً على إنتاجية الحبوب خلال الموسمين، أعلى انتاجية (3825 و 4401 كجم/هكتار) تحققت عند إضافة 129 و 86 كجم/هكتار  في الصيف والشتاء على التوالي. لتحقيق إنتاجية عالية من حبوب الذرة الشامية توصى الدراسة بإضافة 129 و 86 كجم نتروجين/هكتار في موسمي الصيف والشتاء على التوالي بدون إضافة الفسفور. &nbsp

The Mediating Role of Innovation On the Relationship Between Information Technologies and Reducing Tax Evasion

Numerous nations depend heavily on taxation as their principal source of income, and tax evasion is a big issue for their tax agencies and governments. Studies on information technology and tax evasion in underdeveloped nations and other parts of the globe are few and far between. The purpose of this research was to investigate the link between information technology and the reduction of tax evasion. A mediator variable in the relationship between information technology and tax evasion was also explored in this research, which was called Innovation. The research employed a survey approach, sending questionnaires to 200 auditors at Jordanian listed companies. A total of 121 questionnaires were gathered from auditors working in Jordanian companies and evaluated using Partial Least Squares methods (PLS). The findings revealed that information technology (both in terms of system quality and user quality) may help to prevent tax evasion. The role of innovation as a mediator has been shown to have a favorable and substantial association between information technology and the reduction of tax evasion. These findings underlined the Jordanian companys increased reliance on information technology in order to carry out tax obligations, which would aid them in their efforts to prevent tax evasion. This research serves as a guideline for tax administrations as they implement improvements in sustainable IT to streamline tax administration while also improving taxpayer services & increasing law enforcement effectiveness

The Optimizing of Prefabricated Solar Cells by Dual Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Background: The quest for improving the efficiency of solar cells has garnered considerable attention in numerous scientific investigations. One promising approach involves utilizing plasmons generated by metal nanoparticles to enhance the performance of photovoltaic solar cells. Materials and Methods: High-purity gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and a combination of both were synthesized using pulsed laser ablation in distilled water. Subsequently, these nanoparticles were deposited onto silicon (Si) substrates and pre-existing Si homo-junction photovoltaic cells. Results: The optical analysis of the prepared nanoparticle suspension revealed distinct plasmonic bands located at approximately 400 nm and 523 nm wavelengths for AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. In the case of the AuNPs:AgNPs mixture, two plasmonic bands were observed, corresponding to the presence of both types of metal nanoparticles. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the deposited nanoparticle samples on Si wafers demonstrated a polycrystalline structure for all samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging displayed uniformly distributed spherical Au nanoparticles on the substrate, while AgNPs exhibited some aggregations. Conclusion: The photovoltaic (PV) solar cells demonstrated an enhanced performance, attributed to the ability of the plasmonic nanoparticles to facilitate increased light absorption or enhance surface conductivity. The combination of silver and gold particles holds promise for solar surface coating, further optimizing the cells to capture a greater amount of solar radiation within their plasmon peaks. This study highlights the potential of plasmonic nanoparticles to enhance the efficiency of previously prepared PV cells

Optimize of LIBS Setup to the Determination of Laser Breakdown Power of Writing Inks

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy system (LIBS) had been designed to the determinate of the best ionization laser power for analysis of the writing inks via analysis induced plasma emission. Passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser at the fundamental wavelength 1064 nm  with different  energies (60 mJ,80mJ, 100 mJ, 200 mJ, 300mJ, 400mJ and 500 mJ) with (10 ns) pulse duration, the laser beam was focused via converging lens with focal length (100 mm) that generates different power intensity, optical spectrum analysis system used was within (Si-CCD)  array detector, within spectrum range of (200 - 900 nm) with (0.8 nm) optical resolution. Use A4 sheets of commercially available standard white office paper with 2 Ballpoint pens and 1 Gel pen as samples. Show the results that the laser energy (80 mJ) with (  power density, was the best power to generate plasma homogeneous for all component writing inks and ionize it without effect on the paper material. Keywords: LIBS, Laser intensity, Writing inks, White paper, plasma emissions lines, emission line analyses DOI: 10.7176/CPER/61-05 Publication date: July 31st 201

Impact of Environmental Stresses on the Antibacterial Activity of Graphene Oxide (GO) Nanoparticles against<i> P. putida</i> Biofilms

As the production of graphene-based nanomaterials such as GO is increasing, it is expected that a large amount of GO waste will be generated. The environment (i.e., soil and aquatic systems) will be amongst the final repositories of these wastes which means important natural microbial communities in such environments will be at risk of GO exposure. However, little is known about how these communities respond to environmental stresses in synergy with the presence of GO. In this study, the effect of three different stress conditions: temperature (5, 25 and 40 °C); pH (5 to 9) and osmotic stress (51, 219 and 320 mM NaCl) in addition to GO treatment was investigated on the viability and physiology of biofilms and planktonic cells of soil bacterium P. putida. It was found that planktonic cells were more resistant to GO alone compared to biofilms. However, the cells were sensitive to GO when exposed to pH or osmotic stresses. Temperature was not found to influence the survival of biofilm with or without exposure to GO. However, low pH caused a reduction in colony-forming units (CFU) at pHs 5 and 6 for the pre-treated samples, while biofilms at pH 7–9 did not show any decrease. Interestingly, the post-treatment of planktonic cells or biofilms with GO showed a significant reduction in CFU at all pH ranges. The effect of higher osmotic stress in combination with GO resulted in a significant reduction in biofilms. These results show that the effect of stresses naturally occurring in the environment can be affected and changed when in combination with GO and can potentially affect the balance of natural biofilms