Manufacturing and Supply Chain Flexibility: Building an Integrative Conceptual Model Through Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis

The purpose of this study is twofold: first, to establish the current themes on the topic of manufacturing and supply chain flexibility (MSCF), assess their level of maturity in relation to each other, identify the emerging ones and reflect on how they can inform each other, and second, to develop a conceptual model of MSCF that links different themes connect and highlight future research opportunities. The study builds on a sample of 222 articles published from 1996 to 2018 in international, peer-reviewed journals. The analysis of the sample involves two complementary approaches: the co-word technique to identify the thematic clusters as well as their relative standing and a critical reflection on the papers to explain the intellectual content of these thematic clusters. The results of the co-word analysis show that MSCF is a dynamic topic with a rich and complex structure that comprises five thematic clusters. The value chain, capability and volatility clusters showed research topics that were taking a central role in the discussion on MSCF but were not mature yet. The SC purchasing practices and SC planning clusters involved work that was more focused and could be considered more mature. These clusters were then integrated in a framework that built on the competence–capability perspective and identified the major structural and infrastructural elements of MSCF as well as its antecedents and consequences. This paper proposes an integrative framework helping managers keep track the various decisions they need to make to increase flexibility from the viewpoint of the entire value chain

A thymoma invading the right atrium

Thymoma is the most common anterior mediastinal primary tumor in adults. It is rarely localized and it rarely metastasizes outside mediastinum. Some of patients are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. It may present with regional symptoms such as dyspnea due to compression, sore throat, cough, and hoarseness of voice, or systemic symptoms such as fever and loss of weight. It may invade to the superior vena cava and right atrium. In this article, we present a case of thymoma invading to the superior vena cava and right atrium in the light of literature data

Characterization of an oxidant and detergent stable alkaline protease produced from a novel isolate Bacillus sp. Strain

Isolation, partial purification and characterization of a protease from an alkaliphile Bacillus sp. strain PX6 isolated from soil sample. For this purpose, the growing and the enzyme producing abilities were researched either in different temperatures or in different pH ranges, and the optimal enzyme production was obtained at pH 8.0 and 40°C. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme was determined at pH 8.0 and 50°C. After a pre-incubation of 60 min at 30-50°C, original activity of the enzyme was conserved 69%, and at 60-110°C original activity of the enzyme was conserved 13%. After pre-incubation of 24 h, the original activity was increased 55% at pH 6.0-9.0, retained 88% at pH 10.0 and decreased 13% at pH 11.0-12.0. While the PX6 protease was pre-treated with 2.5 mM MgCl2, BaCl2, ZnCl2, CaCl2, MnCl2, NaCl, KCl at ambient temperature for 60 min, the original activity was retained 34%, 23%, 60%, 31%, 43%, 63%, 71%, respectively, it was induced 17% with FeCl2. With a pre-treatment of 60 min, enzyme activity was retained 40%, 29%, 57% in the presence of 2.5 mM EDTA, 4 M Urea, 0.5% SDS respectively, while it increased 260%, 329%, 186%, 280%, 134% in the presence of (0.5%) Triton X-100, Tween 80, Tween 20, H2O2, ß- Mercaptoethanol, respectively. As a serine protease inhibitor, PMSF (0.5%) almost totally inhibited the activity. After pre-incubation of 60 min with commercial detergents at 30°C, activity of the enzyme PX6 was conserved 100% with 3.5 mg/ml solid laundry detergent, 31% with 0.5% (v/v) 4.6% sodium hypochlorite and 23% with 0.5% (v/v) dishwashing liquid. According to the results, the PX6 protease is alkaline and thermo-tolerant. To be stable and inductive against various detergents, surfactant and oxidizing agents, shows that this enzyme can be used in detergent, paper and textile industries and also in detergent formulations by having the effectiveness to enhance the effect of commercial detergents

Worsened by Cockett Syndrome in a Child

Nutcracker syndrome is rarely seen in the young. Most of the symptoms regress during follow-up. Rarely surgical intervention is necessary. This case presentation is unique for being the first case of nutcracker syndrome and coexistent Cockett syndrome that is treated with surgical intervention

Comparison of the effects of Aloe vera gel and coconut oil on the healing of open wounds in rats

In this study, the effects of Aloe vera gel and coconut oil on wound healing were investigated and compared in rats. Forty-two Wistar albino rats were used during the experiment, in which they were operated on under general anaesthesia to create two full-thickness open skin wounds (created with a 0.5 cm diameter punch biopsy apparatus) on both back sides of the median line. A total of 42 rats were divided into three groups of 14 animals each to receive the topical application of Aloe vera gel (AV group - n = 14), coconut oil (CO group - n = 14) and cold cream (CONT group - n = 14). The medical applications were performed twice a day in all the groups. The wound borders were marked on a transparent sheet every day. Afterwards, this sheet was transferred to the millimetre graph paper. On days 0, 7, and 14, the unhealed wound area was measured in all the groups. On days 7 and 14, seven rats in each group were euthanised. Then, skin samples including the intact skin were taken from the wound sites for histopathological and biochemical evaluations. The topical application of Aloe vera gel showed a significant increase in the healing process of the open wounds in terms of the clinical evaluation, histopathological and biochemical data averages when compared with the coconut oil and cold cream groups of rats (P < 0.05). The results obtained in the present study demonstrate that Aloe vera gel may provide a good alternative for the treatment of open wounds