A Hybrid MCDM Method To Evaluate Supply-Chain Development Strategies

[[abstract]]Global logistics and outsourcing have become an irreversible industrial development trend in today's technology industry. Previous studies differ on supplier selection, supplier development, and supply-chain performance assessment evaluation methods. Research suggests that outsourcing is not only a program of options, but also results in different operating performances based on varying company supply-chain strategies. To build a competitive supply chain, companies must conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop a clear and explicit supply-chain development strategy. This research derives a composite method for assessing supply-chain strategy. A decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method first clarify six major areas of supply-chain strategy assessment, and then draw a network impact-relationship map based on the direction of influence and extent of the impact in each area. An analytic network process then captures the interdependence between the evaluating factors, and identifies the relative weight of these criteria for each major factor in the supply-chain development strategy. Finally, the study develops an effective supply-chain strategy decision-making assessment model to help companies select an optimal strategy. Examining the world's top 4 TFT-LCD factories validates the results of this study.[[notice]]補正完畢[[journaltype]]國外[[incitationindex]]SCI[[ispeerreviewed]]Y[[booktype]]紙本[[countrycodes]]PA

Submandibular Cavernous Hemangiomas with Multiple Phleboliths Masquerading as Sialolithiasis

Vasoformative tumors (almost exclusively hemangiomas) are the most common lesions of the major salivary glands during infancy and early childhood. They are more common in the parotid gland but are particularly rare in the submandibular gland. Changes in blood flow dynamics within hemangiomas result in thrombus formation and phleboliths. Hemangiomas of the salivary glands in adults are histologically unlike those in infants, the former being characteristically of the cavernous variant. Most cavernous hemangiomas require surgery since they do not show a tendency to regress. A case of an adult man with cavernous hemangioma affecting the submandibular salivary gland that clinically simulated sialolithiasis is presented to alert surgeons to the possibility of such a lesion. We describe the clinical course and review the literature

Camptothecin-Loaded Liposomes with α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone Enhance Cytotoxicity Toward and Cellular Uptake by Melanomas: An Application of Nanomedicine on Natural Product

ABSTRACTIn this study, we attempted to develop functional liposomes loaded with camptothecin and attached to α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) to target melanoma cells. The liposomes were mainly composed of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and stearylamine, and were characterized by the vesicle size, zeta potential, camptothecin encapsulation efficiency, and release behavior. Results revealed that α-MSH liposomes possessed an average size of approximately 250nm with a surface charge of 60mV. Camptothecin was successfully entrapped by the targeted liposomes with an encapsulation percentage of nearly 95%. The liposomes provided sustained and controlled camptothecin release. Non-targeted liposomes with the drug exerted superior cytotoxicity against melanomas compared to the free control. Cell viability was reduced from 48% to 32% compared to conventional liposomes. Peptide ligand conjugation further promoted cytotoxicity to 18% viability, which was a 2.7-fold decrease versus the free control. According to the images of fluorescence microscopy, α-MSH liposomes exhibited greater cell endocytosis than did non-targeted liposomes and the free control. α-MSH liposomes were predominantly internalized in the cytoplasm. These findings demonstrate that α-MSH liposomes could enhance the anti-melanoma activity of camptothecin owing to their targeting ability and controlled drug delivery

Esophageal Food Impaction: A Homemade Suction Tube Attached to Esophagogastroduodenoscopy for Food Bolus Removal

The most common esophageal foreign body in adults is impacted food bolus. Polypectomy snares, Dormia baskets, retrieval nets, rat-tooth forceps, alligator forceps or polyp graspers are usually used to remove it. Here, we report the case of a 78-year-old woman whose esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a firm goose liver impacted tightly in the lower esophagus; all of the above-mentioned retrieval instruments could not remove it. We used a homemade device by attaching a modified nasogastric tube to an EGD and successfully removed the goose liver by suction under endoscopic visualization. The method is very effective to remove firm and tightly impacted materials in a narrow lumen. When the usual retrieval instruments fail, a homemade suction tube attached to an EGD is an alternative

Comparison of Renal Function and Other Health Outcomes in Vegetarians versus Omnivores in Taiwan

Renal disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death, and the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Taiwan is the highest in the world. Many dietitians consider the diet of plant origin consumed by vegans to be ‘lighter’ and ‘more healthful’ than the diet of both plant and animal origin consumed by omnivores. Dietary protein has significant effects on renal functions. The study explored the effects of both the diets on renal functions. The study subjects included 102 Buddhist nun vegetarians and an equal number of matched control group (omnivores). A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the effects of the diet of plant origin and the diet of both plant and animal origin on renal functions. There was no difference in the renal functions between the two groups. However, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, serum sodium, glucose, cholesterol levels, and urinary specific gravity were lower in the vegetarian group. Although these results were compatible with general concepts regarding diet of plant origin, after adjusting for age, the duration of intake of this diet had no effect on the renal functions. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the renal functions, in terms of the estimated glomerular filtration rate, were not different between the vegetarians and the omnivores

A preliminary study on the dynamic friction behavior of a one-third scale-down vertical cylindrical cask

In Taiwan, the capacities of spent fuel pools for temporary storage in nuclear power plant will reach depletion soon, and the site of final disposal facility is still to be decided. Therefore, the installation of dry-type interim storage facilities is urgent. The dry storage systems in Taiwan utilize a freestanding cask and design to non-anchored to the foundation pad. It is necessary to establish the simulation techniques for the non-anchored structure, such as the dry storage cask, for the reasonable assessment of its seismic behavior when the earthquake hit. This study is cast a 1/3 scale-down pedestal specimen of the INER-dry storage cask system, which were conducted to acquire the actual friction coefficient at the cask/pad interface as well as the effect of normal stress and sliding rate on it. Based on the results of cyclic loading testing, the cyclic frequency almost had no influence on the friction coefficient but the friction coefficient increased with the normal stress increased. Apparent rocking of the cask was induced at a higher friction coefficient, while sliding dominated the cask motion at a lower one. In addition, the cast motions were almost purely sliding and the range of the friction coefficient was between 0.60 and 0.73 under various compositions of dry storage cask system