Revisiting port performance measurement: A hybrid multi-stakeholder framework for the modelling of port performance indicators

This study develops a new port performance measurement model by taking the perspectives from different port stakeholders. The novelty lies in the modelling of interdependencies among port performance measures, and the combination of weights of interdependent measures with both qualitative and quantitative evaluations of the measures from multiple stakeholders for quantitative port performance measurement. It represents an effective performance measurement tool and offers a diagnostic instrument for performance evaluation and/or monitoring of ports and terminals so as to satisfy different requirements of various port stakeholders in a flexible manner. © 201

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection and characterization of shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)

Escherichia coli is ubiquitous in the cow's environment that is contaminated by feces, and it is also a frequent cause of bovine mastitis. Thus, the present study was targeted at the rapid detection and characterization of shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) in bovine fecal and milk samples. Twenty two strains of E. coli (39.29%) were isolated from 56 diarrheic calves, while only 5 strains (20.83%) were isolated from apparently normal contact calves. Moreover, 20 strains of E. coli (25%) were isolated from milk samples collected from 80 animals suffering from mastitis and subclinical mastitis. E. coli serovars yielded from bacteriological examination of milk samples were similar to that of fecal samples. Serogroup-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay could detect all the bacteriologically positive samples as well as 4 strains (7.98%), O157:H7 and 3 strains (5.36%), O111 from diarrheic calves and 2 strains (8.33%), O111 from normal calves. Such samples were proved to be negative by bacteriological examination. Multiplex PCR for detection of genes encoding accessorySTEC virulence factors, such as shiga toxin type-2 (stx2) and intimin gene (eaeA) revealed the specificity of such gene to O157:H7 serovars and small number of other sero-groups

Improvement in symptoms and pulmonary function of asthmatic patients due to their treatment according to the Global Strategy for Asthma Management (GINA)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Global Initiative Strategy for Asthma Management (GINA) is poorly applied in undeveloped and developing countries. The current study examined the effects of applying GINA guidelines on treatment efficacy in asthmatic patients in Iran.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty four asthmatic patients (usual care group) were treated as usual and 26 patients (intervention group) according to the GINA for 2 months. Asthma symptom score, asthma severity, frequency of symptoms/week and wheezing were recorded at the beginning (first visit), one month after treatment (second visit), and at the end of the study (third visit). Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed by spirometry, and the patients' use of asthma drugs and their symptoms were evaluated, at each visit.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Asthma symptoms, frequency of symptoms/week, chest wheezing, and PFT values were significantly improved in the intervention group at the second and third visits compared to first visit (p < 0.001 for all measures). In addition, exercise induced cough and wheeze were significant improved in the third visit compared to the second visit in this group (p < 0.01 for both measures). In the second and third visits all symptoms were significantly lower, and PFT values higher, in the intervention group compared to the usual care group (p < 0.005 to p < 0.001). In the usual care group, there were only small improvements in some parameters in just the second visit (p < 0.01 for all measures). The use of asthma drugs was unchanged in the usual care group and significantly reduced in the intervention group (p < 0.01) by the end of the study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Adoption of GINA guidelines improves asthma symptoms and pulmonary function in asthmatic patients in Iran.</p

Selection of an efficient in vitro micropropagation and regeneration system for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Desirée

Sprouts of about 40 to 80 mm length were excised, surface sterilized with 70% CloroxR and cultured on solid full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Shoot nodal segments (1.0 cm) from in vitro plantlets (2 to 4 weeks old) were multiplied through periodic subculturing on full-strength MS medium with 30 g/L sucrose, 100 ml/L myo-inositol and 0.5 ml/L silver thiosulfate. The shoots were rooted on the same medium. Microtubers were stimulated on MS medium supplemented with 80 g/L sucrose, 100 ml/L myo-inositol and 5 ml/L benzyl adenine. They generally originate on aerial etiolated shoots producing . 1.0 } 0.5 microtuber/explant with diameter approx. 3 to 10 mm. Shoot regeneration was performed from  tuber discs, internodes and leaf explants using 6 different media. Different regeneration capacities were  observed by the explants along 60 days. The average number of shoots was highest from tuber discs (6.2)  than from leaf explants (2.6) which exceeds about three times; no shoot from internode explants cultured on the various media. Regenerated plantlets produced from both tuber discs and leaf explants exhibited random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using five selected primers to detect  somaclonal variation. All the morphological variants were excluded. One of the regenerated plantlet  derived from leaf-explants was true-to-type to the main in vitro plantlet, so it will be used as a source of explants for transformation experiments. The other regenerated plantlets derived from leaf explants and tuber discs show the presence and/or absence of polymorphic bands. Results also showed that  microtubers were initiated on the etiolated shoots of the regenerants at the first 10 days. The etiolated shoots induced about 2.6 } 0.6 and 2.2 } 0.5 microtuber/explants.Key words: Solanum tuberosum L., seed tuber, sprouting, micropropagation, microtubers, explants, regeneration, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

The Ship Management Firm Selection: The Case of South Korea

Although extant literature has stressed importance of the use of ship management and identified the selection factors, relative evaluation of comprehensive selection factors is found to be lacking. This study aims to evaluate the overall performance and rank of the ship management firms by adopting an integrated model of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) in order to support the critical decision making on SMF selection based on multiple criteria. This study contributes to enhancing the selection criteria of ship management firms by the ship-owners, and at the same time identifies the areas that the ship management firms require to improve their service standards. The result indicates that competency is the most important criterion, followed by cost, courtesy, organisation characteristics and image

Monolithic Photoelectrochemical Device for Direct Water Splitting with 19% Efficiency

Recent rapid progress in efficiencies for solar water splitting by photoelectrochemical devices has enhanced its prospects to enable storable renewable energy. Efficient solar fuel generators all use tandem photoelectrode structures, and advanced integrated devices incorporate corrosion protection layers as well as heterogeneous catalysts. Realization of near thermodynamic limiting performance requires tailoring the energy band structure of the photoelectrode and also the optical and electronic properties of the surface layers exposed to the electrolyte. Here, we report a monolithic device architecture that exhibits reduced surface reflectivity in conjunction with metallic Rh nanoparticle catalyst layers that minimize parasitic light absorption. Additionally, the anatase TiO2 protection layer on the photocathode creates a favorable internal band alignment for hydrogen evolution. An initial solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 19.3 % is obtained in acidic electrolyte and an efficiency of 18.5 % is achieved at neutral pH condition (under simulated sunlight)

How changes in human activities during the lockdown impacted air quality parameters: A review

The health emergency linked to the spread of COVID-19 has led to important reduction in industrial and logistics activities, as well as to a drastic changes in citizens' behaviors and habits. The restrictions on working activities, journeys and relationships imposed by the lockdown have had important consequences, including for environmental quality. This review aims to provide a structured and critical evaluation of the recent scientific bibliography that analyzed and described the impact of lockdown on human activities and on air quality. The results indicate an important effect of the lockdown during the first few months of 2020 on air pollution levels, compared to previous periods. The concentrations of particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide have decreased. Tropospheric ozone, on the other hand, has significantly increased. These results are important indicators that can become decision drivers for future policies and strategies in industrial and logistics activities (including the mobility sector) aimed at their environmental sustainability. The scenario imposed by COVID-19 has supported the understanding of the link between the reduction of polluting emissions and the state of air quality and will be able to support strategic choices for the future sustainable growth of the industrial and logistics sector

Patient-Centered Care: An Examination of Provider–Patient Communication Over Time

Objective: To examine the quality of provider communication over time considering the increasing emphasis on patient-centered care (PCC). Patient-centered care has been shown to have a positive impact on health outcomes, care experiences, quality-of-life, as well as decreased costs. Given this emphasis, we expect that provider–patient communication has improved over time. Data Source: We collected primary data by self-report surveys between summer 2017 and fall 2018. Study Design: We use a quantitative retrospective cohort study of a national sample of 353 patients who had an ostomy surgery. Data Extraction Method: We measure provider communication from open-ended self-reports from patients of the number of stated inadequacies in their care. Principal Findings: Results show that the time since patients had their surgery is related to higher quality provider communication. That is, patients who had their surgery further back in time reported higher quality provider communication compared with patients who had their surgery performed more recently. Conclusion: Results suggest that the quality of provider communication has not improved even with an emphasis on PCC.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The research was funded by a “Graduate College Foundation Fellowship from the Department of Sociology and the Graduate College at the University of Oklahoma” to Leslie Miller. The funding does not impact the study in any way. Open Access fees paid for in whole or in part by the University of Oklahoma Libraries.Ye

Turbulent flow at 190 m height above London during 2006-2008: A climatology and the applicability of similarity theory

Flow and turbulence above urban terrain is more complex than above rural terrain, due to the different momentum and heat transfer characteristics that are affected by the presence of buildings (e.g. pressure variations around buildings). The applicability of similarity theory (as developed over rural terrain) is tested using observations of flow from a sonic anemometer located at 190.3 m height in London, U.K. using about 6500 h of data. Turbulence statistics—dimensionless wind speed and temperature, standard deviations and correlation coefficients for momentum and heat transfer—were analysed in three ways. First, turbulence statistics were plotted as a function only of a local stability parameter z/Λ (where Λ is the local Obukhov length and z is the height above ground); the σ_i/u_* values (i = u, v, w) for neutral conditions are 2.3, 1.85 and 1.35 respectively, similar to canonical values. Second, analysis of urban mixed-layer formulations during daytime convective conditions over London was undertaken, showing that atmospheric turbulence at high altitude over large cities might not behave dissimilarly from that over rural terrain. Third, correlation coefficients for heat and momentum were analyzed with respect to local stability. The results give confidence in using the framework of local similarity for turbulence measured over London, and perhaps other cities. However, the following caveats for our data are worth noting: (i) the terrain is reasonably flat, (ii) building heights vary little over a large area, and (iii) the sensor height is above the mean roughness sublayer depth