Integrated Resource Efficiency: Measurement and Management

Drawing on the Systems Theory and the Natural Resource Based View, this paper advances an Integrated Resource Efficiency View (IREV) and derives a composite ‘Integrated Resource Efficiency Index’ (IRE-Index) for assessing the environmental, economic, and social resource efficiencies of production economies

Improving Retail Supply Flexibility using Buyer-Supplier Relational Capabilities

Purpose This study investigates the mediating role of three important relational capabilities - Absorptive Capacity, Transactive Memory Systems, and Organizational Interoperability; on the flexibility of buyer-supplier relationships and performance in retail supply chains. Drawing on the Relational view of strategic management, the impact of relational capabilities on two forms of supply chain flexibility is examined – (a) Configuration Flexibility for switching suppliers with minimal penalties and (b) Planning and Control Flexibility for altering supply schedules, quality, and delivery lead-time. Design/methodology/approach Strategic and tactical level managers from 211 retail stores in the UK were surveyed. We validated a measurement model with structural equation modeling, and tested four hypotheses on the mediating role of relational capabilities on supply chain flexibility and retail performance, controlling for size, duration of relationship and market segment. Findings Results showed that the three relational capabilities partially mediated the positive effect of configuration flexibility and planning and control flexibility on operational performance in big-middle and niche retailers. Examining the interaction effect of the forms of flexibility on the relational capabilities and performance, we found positive interaction effects on Transactive Memory Systems and Organizational Interoperability but a non-significant effect on Absorptive Capacity. Practical Implications In addition to providing novel theoretical insights on supply chain flexibility, our findings have practical implications for supplier selection and buyer-supplier relationship management. Originality/value Overall, the study highlights the impacts of relational capabilities on adopted operational strategies such as flexibility, buyer-supplier relationships, and retail performanc

Conceptualizing a circular framework of supply chain resource sustainability

Purpose: In response to calls for conceptual frameworks and generic theory building towards the advancement of sustainability in supply chain resource utilization and management, this paper advances a circular framework for Supply Chain Resource Sustainability (SCRS), and a decision support methodology for assessing SCRS against the backdrop of five foundational premises deduced from the literature on resource sustainability. Design/ Approach: Taking a conceptual theory building approach, the paper advances a set of SCRS decision-support criteria for each of the theoretical premises advanced, and applies the Theory of Constraints to illustrate the conceptual and practical applications of the framework in SCRS decision-making. Findings: This study uses recent conceptualizations of supply chains as ‘complex adaptive systems’ to provide a robust and novel frame and a set of decision rules with which to assess the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social capital of supply chain resources from pre-production to post-production. Research Implications: The paper contributes to theory building in sustainability research, and the SCRS decision framework developed could be applied in tandem with existing quantitative hybrid lifecycle and input-output approaches to facilitate targeted resource sustainability assessments, with implications for research and practice. Originality/Value: The novel SCRS framework proposed serves as a template for evaluating SCRS and provides a decision support methodology for assessing SCRS against the five theorized foundational premises

Isolation of Taxol-producing endophytes fungi from Iranian yew (Taxus baccata L.)

زمینه و هدف: تاکسول یکی از مهمترین داروهای ضد سرطان و منبع اولیه تهیه آن گیاه سرخدار است و با توجه به محدود بودن تعداد این درختان جایگزینی روش های دیگر تولید به جای استخراج از پوست گیاه امری ضروری به نظر می رسد. با توجه به اینکه تاکنون تحقیقات گسترده و جامعی بر روی قارچ های تولید کننده تاکسول در داخل کشور انجام نشده، لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی روی فلور طبیعی ایران به منظور جداسازی قارچ های اندوفایت و بررسی تولید تاکسول در این قارچ ها انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی - تحلیلی نمونه های ساقه گیاهان سرخدار مناطق جنگلی شمال کشور به منظور جداسازی قارچ های اندوفایت جمـــع آوری شد. پس از استریل کردن سطحی نمونه های گیاهی، نمونه های مورد نظر بر روی محیط Potato dextrose agar کشت داده شدند. پس از گذشت چند روز قارچ های رشد یافته جداسازی شده و برای اطمینان از خلوص هر کلنی، عمل ایزوله کردن قارچ های حاصل 3 بار تکرار شد. بررسی حضور تاکسول در قارچ های اندوفایت جدا شده، بوسیله تکنیک کروماتوگرافی مایع با عملکرد بالا (HPLC) و با استفاده از ستون کروماسیل C18 انجام پذیرفت. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون آماری دانکن تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: تعداد 80 ایزوله قارچ اندوفایت از سرخدار بومی ایران جداسازی شد. بررسی های انجام شده تولید تاکسول را در 5 ایزوله جدا شده نشان داد در میان قارچ های تولید کننده تاکسول، ایزوله TbPm4 با بیشترین میزان تولید، قادر به تولید متوسط L/gµ 74/21 تاکسول بود. نتیجه گیری: جداسازی 80 ایزوله قارچ اندوفایت در این پروژه از سرخدار بومی ایران و قابلیت تولید تاکسول در 5 ایزوله جدا شده نشان داد که این ایزوله ها پتانسیل قابل قبولی جهت تولید تاکسول را دارا می باشند.

Structure-integration relationships in oil and gas supply chains

Purpose Although studies have demonstrated the importance of supply chain integration (SCI) strategies in improving firm performance, very little is understood about how the organizational structure (OS) of focal firms affects the successful implementation of SCI initiatives across supply chains (SCs). Taking into consideration the importance of the oil and gas (O&G) industry, as well as the impact of uncertainties on OS and strategy choices, it is important to understand how OS and SCI affect the operational performance of O&G SCs. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach Taking a contingency approach and using a global sample of 181 O&G firms, this study examines the mediating role of internal, customer, and supplier integration on the relationship between three main dimensions of OS – the degree of centralization, formalization, and hierarchical relationships and operational performance, using structural equation modeling. Findings Findings reveal that OS dimensions negatively impact operational performance. Further testing for the mediation found that by increasing SCI, O&G SCs can mitigate the negative effect of high centralization, formalization, and hierarchical relationship on operational performance. Research limitations/implications Classifying OS into “structuring” and “structural,” this research provides evidence on which of the two has a stronger negative impact on operational performance. This is significant since it may be difficult for O&G companies to restructure and reform their OS. Originality/value This study examines the impact of OS and SCI on improving the operational performance of the O&G SCs. Theoretical and practical contributions to the field of operations management and organizational studies are also discussed

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and influence of age and gender on histopathologic findings

AIM: To characterize the histopathologic specifications of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) according to age and gender. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in two private gastroenterology clinics on biopsy proven patients suffering from NASH. Biopsy histopathologic findings as well as demographic and laboratory data of the patients at the time of biopsy were gathered retrospectively from clinical records. The grading and staging of histopathologic findings were performed according to the Brunt method after reevaluation of the slides by a pathologist. Patients were divided into two groups according to age (below and above 55 years). Mean quantitative grade of all pathologic findings were also calculated according to Brunt scoring values. RESULTS: A total number of 77 NASH patients, consisting of 58 males (75.3) and 19 (24.7) females with a mean age of 41.99 ± 11.80 years (range, 18-70 years), were enrolled. The mean age (48.72 ± 13.99 years vs 39.74 ± 10.16 years, P = 0.004) and aspartate aminotransferase level (75.11 ± 29.68 U/L vs 52.78 ± 25.00 U/L, P = 0.002) was significantly higher in female patients. Mean quantitative grade of hepatosteatosis was significantly higher in females (2.00 ± 0.82 vs 1.59 ± 0.68, P = 0.031) compared to males. Fifty four percent (34/65) of young patients had mild hepatosteatosis (Grade I) while only one patient (11.2) in the older group had grade I hepatosteatosis. Patients aged � 55 had significantly more severe hepatosteatosis (Grade III) (44.4 vs 9.5, P = 0.007) and the mean quantitative grade of hepatosteatosis was significantly higher among them (2.33 ± 0.71 vs 1.56 ± 0.67, P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis after omitting the confounding role of age revealed a higher grade of hepatosteatosis in female patients (P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: These findings point toward the possible influence of age in the severity of steatohepatitis, portal and lobar inflammation in patients suffering from NASH while gender independently might contribute to the level of steatohepatitis. © 2010 Baishideng

Effects of initial spacing on some allometric characteristics of 12- year-old Quercus castaneifolia plantation in central Mazandaran, Iranian Caspian forests

The effects of initial spacing layout on some allometric characteristics of 12-year-old Quercus castaneifolia trees grown in Central Mazandaran, north of Iran were examined. Trees were planted in 5 different layouts (1×1, 1.5×1.5, 2×2.5, 2×3 and 4×4 m). Tree height, diameter at breast height, natural pruning height and the survival of trees were recorded in each sample plot. Tree basal area and H/D ratio and standing volume were calculated for all trees. The results of statistical analysis showed that increasing in spacing level from 1×1 to 4×4 significantly increased the average diameter at breast height from 6.93 to 12.42 cm and survival from 53% to 85%. The average tree basal area per ha decreased from 19.98 m^2 ha^-1 to 6.43 m^2 ha^-1 and H/D ratio from 151 to 77 when the distance between trees increased from 1 × 1 to 4 × 4 m. but spacing regime had no significant effect on tree height and natural pruning height. It can be concluded that on the basis of standing volume, H/D ratio and survival rate, the best plantation spacing in this research station was 2 m × 3 m. Statistically, about 95% of the changes in sediment yield was due to the effect of increased dry land farming area in the basin (R^2= 0.95, α < 0.05)

Evaluation de trois approches de thérapie génique pour le traitement des dysferlinopathies (miniprotéine, compensation et trans-épissage)

Les dysferlinopathies sont des maladies musculaires dues à une déficience en protéine dysferline, codée par le gène DYSF. Dans ce travail de thèse, trois approches thérapeutiques ont été évaluées pour ces pathologies, sur des modèles cellulaires et murins. Un variant transcriptionnel court de la dysferline a été vectorisé dans un AAV8r et injecté dans le modèle murin Bla/J, déficient en dysferline. L analyse des muscles des animaux traités montre une augmentation de la résistance des fibres musculaires au stress mécanique, mais n apporte pas de correction histologique. Cette étude souligne également la toxicité de cette miniprotéine. L anoctamine 5, impliquée dans des pathologies et des activités similaires à la dysferline, a été testée en tant que protéine compensatrice. L anoctamine 5 surexprimée dans le modèle Bla/J ne permet pas la restauration d un phénotype normal. La compensation de DYSF par ANO5 n est donc pas une voie thérapeutique à exploiter pour les dysferlinopathies. Enfin, une thérapie génique par chirurgie de l ARN dysferline a été évaluée en utilisant le trans-épissage médié par le splicéosome (SMaRT). La preuve de principe de la reprogrammation d un minigène dysferline a été faite (ARN et protéine trans-épissée obtenus in vitro). L efficacité du SMaRT dans un contexte endogène s est en revanche révélée faible, et n a pas permis la restauration d une protéine dysferline fonctionnelle dans des myoblastes humains. De plus, l observation de l expression de protéines directement à partir du RTM (RNA-trans-splicing molecule) a fait apparaître des limites à l utilisation du SMaRT pour la thérapie génique, et en particulier pour les dysferlinopathies.Dysferlinopathies are muscular diseases due to mutations in DYSF gene, inducing dysferlin protein deficiency. In this thesis, three therapeutic approaches have been investigated for these pathologies, on cell or mice models. A short transcriptional dysferlin variant has been injected into Bla/J dysferlin deficient mouse model, using AAV8r vector. Muscle fibers of treated animals displayed an increased resistance to mechanical stress without therapeutic benefit. These experiments also pointed out the toxicity of this strategy. A protein compensation approach has been tested using anoctamin 5, known to be involved in pathologies and activities similar to dysferlin s ones. AAVr mediated Anoctamin 5 overexpression in Bla/J model does not rescue their muscle phenotype. Overexpression of ANO5 does not seem to be a valuable therapeutic strategy for dysferlin deficiency. Dysferlin RNA surgery was evaluated as a possible genetic therapy using Spliceosome-Mediated RNA Trans-splicing (SMaRT). On a Minigene target, SMaRT is able to induce RNA reprogramming by trans-splicing, and produce the corresponding protein. But efficiency is by far decreased in endogenous context and not good enough to restore functional dysferlin in human myoblasts. Moreover, we described proteins resulting from RNA-trans-splicing molecule (RTM) self-expression, limiting the value of SMaRT as therapeutic strategy, especially for dysferlinopathies.EVRY-Bib. électronique (912289901) / SudocSudocFranceF

Effects of immediate TNF-α exposure on phenotype and function of dendritic cells derived from cord blood mono nuclear cells

Objective: Effects of immediate TNF-α exposure on phenotype and function of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from cord blood mono nuclear cells Materials and Methods: Umbilical cord blood MNCs were isolated from healthy mothers and were divided into TNF(+( and TNF (-) groups. Both were cultured using SCF, Flt3L, GM-CSF and IL-4. But, three ng/ml of TNF-α was first added in the culture of TNF(+) group. All cells were cultured for 14 days and matured with TNF-α or LPS for additional four days. Light microscopic and flowcytometric analyses were performed on days 0, 7, and 14 of both cultures. MLR and cytokines assays were used to characterize the function of immature and mature DCs. Results: Co-culture of cord blood monocytes and hematopoietic stem cells led to the production of DCs with a characteristic veiled appearance and were consistent with a DC panel of surface markers. However, immediate exposure to TNF-α enhanced the survival of culturing cells in the first week of culture and produced mature DCs with higher maturation markers and IL-12 production. Addition of TNF-α as a maturation marker led to the production of matured DCs and also certain immature and hematopoietic stem cells with higher level of IL-10 production. Conclusion: This study developed a simple, easy and cost effective way to generate DCs from non fractionating mononuclear cells. It seems that primitive DCs and monocytes in the MNCs are contented in the presence of TNF. This will lead different hematopoitic stem cells to myeloid pathway and results in DCs

Vaccination with recombinant 4×M2e.HSP70c fusion protein as a universal vaccine candidate enhances both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and decreases viral shedding against experimental challenge of H9N2 influenza in chickens

As cellular immunity is essential for virus clearance, it is commonly accepted that no adequate cellular immunity is achieved by all available inactivated HA-based influenza vaccines. Thus, an improved influenza vaccine to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses is urgently required to control LPAI H9N2 outbreaks in poultry farms. M2e-based vaccines have been suggested and developed as a new generation of universal vaccine candidate against influenza A infection. Our previous study have shown that a prime-boost administration of recombinant 4 × M2e. HSP70c (r4M2e/H70c) fusion protein compared to conventional HA-based influenza vaccines provided full protection against lethal dose of influenza A viruses in mice. In the present study, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of (r4M2e/H70c) was examined in chickens. The data reported herein show that protection against H9N2 viral challenge was significantly increased in chickens by injection of r4M2e/H70c compared with injection of conventional HA-based influenza vaccine adjuvanted with MF59 or recombinant 4 × M2e (r4M2e) without HSP70c. Oropharyngeal and cloacal shedding of the virus was detected in all of the r4M2e/H70c vaccinated birds at 2 days after challenge, but the titer was low and decreased rapidly to reach undetectable levels at 7 days after challenge. Moreover, comparison of protective efficacy against LPAI H9N2 in birds intramuscularly immunized with r4M2e/H70c likely represented the ability of the M2e-based vaccine in providing cross-protection against heterosubtypic H9N2 challenge and also allowed the host immune system to induce HA-homosubtype neutralizing antibody against H9N2 challenge. This protective immunity might be attributed to enhanced cell-mediated immunity, which is interpreted as increased lymphocytes proliferation, increased levels of Th1-type (IFN-γ) and Th2-type (IL-4) cytokines production and increased CD4+ to CD8+ ratios, resulting from the injection of four tandem repeats of the ectodomain of the conserved influenza matrix protein M2 (4×M2e) genetically fused to C-terminus of Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP70 (mHSP70c). © 2014 Elsevier B.V