Sustainable Supply Chain Management with NGOs, NPOs, and Charity Organizations: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

With the gradually increased awareness of sustainability development, external organizations, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profit organizations (NPOs), and charity organizations, play an increasingly crucial role in sustainable supply chain management (SSCM). The participation of external organizations not only helps the firms to improve reputation, but also regulates and improves their SSCM. Based on this motivation, we identify the major research domains and examine each domain's evolution by using the objective review methods, including Citation Network Analysis and Main Path Analysis in this literature review paper. Five research domains are recognized, namely, “sustainable supply chain framework design”, “supply chain coordination/collaboration”, “closed-loop supply chain”, “regulation”, and “subsidy and donation”. We review the most influential papers in each research domain to show the evolution of these studies. Based on our review findings, we successfully propose four future research agendas with eight specific issues and innovatively establish a new research framework. The outputs of this review paper can guide the researchers on future search topics and contribute to the development of SSCM with the consideration of organizations.</p

Comparison of plant species diversity and composition between two sites in Likas Bay, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The aim of this study is to compare the plant species diversity between 2 mangrove sites in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The study sites selected were the non-degraded Alamesra mangrove area and the degraded Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC). Both of these 2 study sites were located in Likas under the jurisdiction of the Sabah State Government. A total of 6 plots was established randomly at both sites. Each site consisted of 3 plots at different locations and each plot covered an area of 0.1 ha which was rectangular in shape with 50 m x 20 m. The main plot was then further divided into subplots of 10 m x 10 m to determine the distribution of tree stand. From the findings, mangrove species diversity found in Alamesra mangrove area was less diverse with Shannon-Wiener (H') = 0.18 compared to Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) with H' = 0.77. In addition, Shannon Evenness (E) measure at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) was 0.38 while the value at Alamesra was 0.26 which did not show much difference in terms of evenness in both sites. In terms of plant species composition, a total of 11 species was sampled at both study sites. There were 10 species at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) and 3 species at Alamesra. The most common species counted in the study sites was Rhizophora apiculata with an IVI (Importance Value Index) of 181.16 at Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) and 237.01 at Alamesra. It seemed that all the plots in both study sites were under the Rhizophora zone. Other abundant species was Lumnitzera racemosa, Avicennia marina, and Rhizophora mucronata. The results showed that the degraded Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre (KKWC) had higher tree diversity compared to the non-degraded Alamesra mangrove area. It is recommended that more studies be conducted in these areas in the future

Megamaser Disks Reveal a Broad Distribution of Black Hole Mass in Spiral Galaxies

We use new precision measurements of black hole masses from water megamaser disks to investigate scaling relations between macroscopic galaxy properties and supermassive black hole (BH) mass. The megamaser-derived BH masses span 10^6-10^8 M_sun, while all the galaxy properties that we examine (including stellar mass, central mass density, central velocity dispersion) lie within a narrow range. Thus, no galaxy property correlates tightly with M_BH in ~L* spiral galaxies. Of them all, stellar velocity dispersion provides the tightest relation, but at fixed sigma* the mean megamaser M_BH are offset by -0.6+/-0.1 dex relative to early-type galaxies. Spiral galaxies with non-maser dynamical BH masses do not show this offset. At low mass, we do not yet know the full distribution of BH mass at fixed galaxy property; the non-maser dynamical measurements may miss the low-mass end of the BH distribution due to inability to resolve the spheres of influence and/or megamasers may preferentially occur in lower-mass BHs.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, replaced to fix error: NGC 4594 is not a maser galax

Applicability of variability response function for geotechnical risk assessment

This paper explores the use of variability response function (VRF) for risk assessment of geotechnical system under spatially variable soil properties, where the properties exhibit a range of possible autocorrelation characteristics. VRF only requires a single set of analysis, but traditional Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) requires separate sets of analyses. VRF can be estimated through a simple regression procedure, which does not require random field simulation. In a footing displacement analysis, the reliability assessments by VRF match well with those of MCS, when the soil property has relatively low variance.The work presented this paper is financially supported by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (Project No. 15212418)

Diversity Of Mangroves Ecosystem in Semporna Mangrove Forest

The aim of this study is to determine the diversity and density of mangrove tree species as well as to compare the diameter distribution of mangrove species in Semporna mangrove area. Two types of study area were compared the non-disturbed and disturbed mangrove areas in Semporna. The non-disturbed mangrove areas that were selected were distant from local settlements namely Sg. Sipit, Sum-sum, Tong Tabataba, Hampalan, Bantau-bantau and Sg. Gajah. While Kalumpang, Kg. Tanjung Kapur, Kg. Salimbangun, Kg. Parang Tangah, Pangkalangan, Labuan Senang and Proboscis monkey area were selected as disturbed mangrove areas due to their location close to settlements. A total of 30 rectangular plots were established randomly, each measuring 20 x 10 m. Each site consists of 3 separate plots and the minimum sampling area was 0.6 ha. From the findings, 26 species were identified at both disturbed and non-disturbed mangrove area. The mean diameter at breast height (DBH) at disturbed mangrove area ranges from 10-20 cm, as compared to 20-35 cm in non-disturbed mangrove area. Besides, the value of the mangrove species diversity in non-disturbed mangrove area is less diverse with Shannon-Weiner (H’) = 0.711 as compared to disturbed mangrove area which has a higher value with H’ = 1.725. The diameter distribution graph indicated both areas show an inverse J-curve shape which represents an even-aged tree stand structure. However, the graph showing disturbed mangrove area revealed more scattered and randomly distributed tree stands. This is due to local community activities in that area such as collection of wood and firewood for personal use. The species Rhizophora apiculata is the most common species counted in most of the disturbed mangrove area with the highest Important Value Index (IVI) value of 173.6, as opposed to Rhizophora mucronata which is most dominant in nearly all of the non-disturbed mangrove area. The results show that the disturbed mangrove area has higher tree diversity, and the tree stands are less dense as compared to non-disturbed mangrove area. It is recommended that more similar studies and longtime monitoring should be conducted in these areas in the future

Tricin Biosynthesis and Bioengineering

Tricin (3', 5'-dimethoxyflavone) is a specialized metabolite which not only confers stress tolerance and involves in defense responses in plants but also represents a promising nutraceutical. Tricin-type metabolites are widely present as soluble tricin O-glycosides and tricin-oligolignols in all grass species examined, but only show patchy occurrences in unrelated lineages in dicots. More strikingly, tricin is a lignin monomer in grasses and several other angiosperm species, representing one of the “non-monolignol” lignin monomers identified in nature. The unique biological functions of tricin especially as a lignin monomer have driven the identification and characterization of tricin biosynthetic enzymes in the past decade. This review summarizes the current understanding of tricin biosynthetic pathway in grasses and tricin-accumulating dicots. The characterized and potential enzymes involved in tricin biosynthesis are highlighted along with discussion on the debatable and uncharacterized steps. Finally, current developments of bioengineering on manipulating tricin biosynthesis toward the generation of functional food as well as modifications of lignin for improving biorefinery applications are summarized

Use of Cumulative Degradation Factor Prediction and Life Test Result of the Thruster Gimbal Assembly Actuator for the Dawn Flight Project

The Dawn Ion Propulsion System is the ninth project in NASA s Discovery Program. The Dawn spacecraft is being developed to enable the scientific investigation of the two heaviest main-belt asteroids, Vesta and Ceres. Dawn is the first mission to orbit two extraterrestrial bodies, and the first to orbit a main-belt asteroid. The mission is enabled by the onboard Ion Propulsion System (IPS) to provide the post-launch delta-V. The three Ion Engines of the IPS are mounted on Thruster Gimbal Assembly (TGA), with only one engine operating at a time for this 10-year mission. The three TGAs weigh 14.6 kg