Reviewing the use of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) in green supply chain problems

The purpose of the paper is to review the practice of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) in Green Supply Chain (GSC) problems and to identify new research challenges focusing on the question: “To what extent is it necessary to evolve TRIZ tools, methods and theoretical grounding for addressing GSC inventive problems?” First, a review of the past contributions of TRIZ based methods to GSC problem resolution is presented. As the result of the papers review did not provide a comprehensive understanding of the limitations and areas of potential application of TRIZ in GSC, three experiments were conducted to complete the literature review, in order to provide a more comprehensive answer to the posed question and identify research challenges. The experiments addressing GSC problems were also conducted to explore to what extent the more mature meta-methods of classical TRIZ, namely ARIZ 85 A, C and the related sub-methods, can be used as in GSM problems. The examples were chosen to explore types of GSC problems that were not yet addressed with TRIZ. The experiment results highlight limitations on the use of the TRIZ in GSC inventive problems, which were not mentioned in the GSC literature. Moreover it highlights the limitation of using the more mature meta-methods of TRIZ (ARIZ 85A and ARIZ 85C) when the conflict to overcome contains more than two evaluation parameters and one action parameter. Finally, research challenges to overcome the limitations and to improve the use of TRIZ in GSC inventive problems are stated. Among them, methods for quickly establishing the existence of classical TRIZ contradictions or for informing the problem solver when no TRIZ contradictions are present in a given inventive problem in GSC should be proposed. Such methods would permit determining whether ARIZ 85C could be used and avoid a long and fruitless search for a system of contradictions. Find alternatives to the algorithms proposed in the past to be able to establish the generalized contradictions of inventive problems. Make evolve meta-methods ARIZ 85C or substitute it with methods which can address the inventive problems that cannot be treated by ARIZ 85C

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

ASSESSING LEAN AND GREEN COEXISTENCE, AN APPROACH BASED ON TRIZ AND DISCRETE EVENT SIMULATION TECHNIQUE

Nowadays, Lean supply chain managers are seeking Green implementation, which is no longer a choice but an obligation; to comply with government regulations about the environmental footprint, to preserve the image, and to satisfy customers. Although several research works have been conducted in the framework of Lean and Green, the relationship between both paradigms remains ambiguous at a conceptual level. The purpose of this research work is to provide managers and decision-makers with a formal, relevant, and generalizable approach that explicit how to accurately assess Lean and Green coexistence. We propose the approach based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) and Discrete Event Simulation technique (DES). Integrating this technique amounts to its ability to describe complex systems and their performance. Besides, DES is time-saving, cost-saving, and labor-saving. An academic case study is presented in order to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach. The deployment of the approach revealed that Lean and Green aspects could be the antagonist. Indeed, thinking Green is not necessarily Lean and vice versa, which supports that Lean Green supply chain challenges may surpass classic optimization techniques and methods; hence, its management requires innovative approaches. In this setting, our findings highlight the importance of integrating TRIZ. The developed framework in this research work stands out for its simplicity, flexibility, and generalizability

How can TRIZ contribute to solve the problems of green logistics?

International audienceGreen supply chain management has emerged as a green innovation that integrates environmental aspects in the supply chain. The objective of this paper is to answer the following question: "How TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) can contribute to solve the problems of green logistics?". To do this, a literature review was constructed in order to understand and categorize problems of green logistics, and qualify them in terms of their resolution. This in order to identify the contributions types made by methods of TRIZ, and to solve the green logistics problems

Le Maghreb

Ce numéro de Perspective est consacré au Maghreb et aux histoires de l’art qui s’y pratiquent comme aux études et aux travaux que suscitent son patrimoine et sa création contemporaine à l’échelle internationale. Ainsi la revue poursuit-elle son projet : proposer régulièrement des numéros thématiques dont la géographie est le point d’ancrage, tout en se détournant, pour la première fois, de l’État-nation au profit d’un territoire à une autre échelle, dont il faut – encore plus qu’ailleurs ? – définir le sens selon les périodes envisagées et selon les sujets abordés. Cette gageure est aussi une occasion pour Perspective d’éprouver l’opportunité des catégories traditionnelles de l’histoire de l’art. Sur ce plan, le numéro présente, entre autres, des voix de personnalités, à l’instar de Rachida Triki, Kader Attia et Yto Barrada, mais aussi des articles collectifs sur les questions de savoirs archéologiques au Maghreb, sur la notion de musée universel telle qu’elle s’élabore depuis la rive sud de la Méditerranée, ou encore sur la façon dont les institutions patrimoniales ont traversé les indépendances. Figurent au sommaire des articles de fond consacrés à l’architecture de l’empire almohade ou encore à l’historiographie des corans maghrébins et, sur la période contemporaine, une contribution retraçant l’histoire urbaine d’Alger. L’ornementation des livres et des manuscrits, l’Algérie de Fanon dans sa relation aux arts, l’habitation vernaculaire juive-tunisienne, les galeries et les artistes contemporains… autant d’interventions qui viennent compléter ce volume et dont la somme révèle la multiplicité des recherches en cours et à venir sur l’art et l’histoire d’Afrique du Nord. Ce numéro est en vente sur le site du Comptoir des presses d’universités. Comité de rédaction du volume Anne-Elisabeth Buxtorf, Claire Bosc-Tiessé, Eric de Chassey, Rossella Froissart, Charlotte Guichard, Béatrice Joyeux-Prunel, Thomas Kirchner, Rémi Labrusse, Anne Lafont, Johanne Lamoureux, Jean-Yves Marc, François Michaud, Zahia Rahmani, Emmanuelle Rosso, Philippe Sénéchal, Bernard Vouillou

Erratum to: Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) (Autophagy, 12, 1, 1-222, 10.1080/15548627.2015.1100356

non present