Challenges in forecasting uncertain product demand in supply chain: A systematic literature review

Forecasting for uncertain product demand in supply chain is challenging and statistical models alone cannot overcome the challenges faced. Our overall objective is to explore the challenges faced in forecasting uncertain product demand and examine extant literature by synthesizing the results of studies that have empirically investigated this complex phenomenon. We performed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the well-known guidelines of the evidence-based paradigm which resulted in selecting 66 empirical studies. Our results are presented into two categories of internal and external challenges: 24 of the 66 studies express internal challenges, whilst 13 studies report external challenges, and 8 studies cover both internal and external challenges. We also present significant gaps identified in the research literatur

Comparison of cytologic accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration using needle suction versus no suction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a relatively new procedure initially used for lung cancer diagnosis, staging and re-staging and extended to benign diseases such as sarcoidosis and other mediastinal lesions. Previously, multiple studies evaluated the use of needle biopsy with no aspiration that did not change the diagnostic accuracy compared with needle biopsy aspiration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All adult subjects who were scheduled to undergo EBUS-TBNA to sample mediastinal lesions were eligible. We evaluated two methods of sampling mediastinal lesions. The first method was the application of negative pressure syringe for needle suction aspiration. The second was with no suction. For every patient and every biopsy site in the same patient, we had two samples using each method. RESULTS: Among the 26 participants, 24 patients had adequate tissue using both methods (92.3%, P = 1.00). Among the 24 patients with adequate tissue using both methods, 14 patients (58.3%) had benign pathology using both methods, whereas ten patients (41.7%) had malignant pathology using both methods (P = 1.00). Among the 32 sites that were sampled, 30 sites had adequate tissue using both methods (93.8%, P = 1.00). Among the thirty sites with adequate tissue using both methods, 17 (56.7%) had benign pathology using both methods; 12 (40.0%) had malignant pathology using both methods; and one site (3.3%) had malignant pathology using suction, but benign pathology using no suction (P = 1.00). CONCLUSION: In patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA to sample mediastinal lesions, the diagnostic yield with the application of suction to needle biopsy was not statistically significant compared to no suction

Environmental health risks in disadvantaged urban slums

Meeting: 6th International Perspective on Water Resources and the Environment, Izmir, Turkey, January 7-9, 2013This paper assesses diarrhea occurrence in two urban slums to identify salient factors influencing case prevalence. Rapid urbanization in settings of poor economic performance and governance has increased the number of people living in urban slums to about 1 billion people worldwide. In this study, water quality analysis showed contamination at the household level due primarily to the location of water storage tanks. Significant difference in diarrhea cases in both study areas correlated with the educational level of household head, financial status, type of water storage tank and cleaning frequency, along with adoption of measures to treat water, or use bottled water

Seizure And COVID-19: Association and Review of Potential Mechanism.

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, this highly transmissible virus has since spread rapidly around the world. Though respiratory complication is the primarily reported manifestation though rare, yet serious neurological complications are being frequently reported in the literature. In selected coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases neurologic complications may manifest as seizures. In this paper, we have reviewed current literature on seizures linked with SARS- COV 2 infection including published or pre-print original articles, review articles, and case reports. We have discussed the electroencephalogram (EEG), imaging, and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in COVID-19 patients presenting with seizure. We will be concluding the paper by briefly discussing the three possible seizure development mechanisms in patients infected with SARS- COV 2, which includes - (a) Direct Mechanism (b) Indirect Mechanism and (c) Exacerbation of Seizure in Patients with Epilepsy (PWE). Our aim is to update the physicians working with COVID-19 patients about this potential complication and hope that understanding of these proposed mechanisms can provide an opportunity for the physicians for early diagnosis or even better, help prevent this complication

PRONE VENTILATION IN INTUBATED COVID-19 PATIENTS: SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION: Prone ventilation is a well-established strategy in patients with severe ARDS as it has been shown to improve survival and mortality. However, in intubated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, the data are limited, with no substantial evidence supporting its use. This meta-analysis is the first to examine the mortality benefit of prone ventilation in intubated COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A systematic search according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines in Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted in January 2022 for published studies assessing the mortality benefit of prone ventilation in intubated COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: Four hundred sixty-seven studies were identified. Of those, five studies met the inclusion criteria studies were included. The total number of patients included in the studies was 4247 patients. In four studies, ARDS prevalence was reported. The prone group had a higher prevalence of severe ARDS rates than the supine group. No significant difference was found between prone or supine groups in ICU mortality (OR: 1.39; 95%CI: 0.80-2.43; p=0.24). Regarding overall mortality, No difference was detected between the prone or the supine groups (OR: 1.04; 95%CI: 0.57-1.87; p = 0.9), with significant heterogeneity (I2= 93; p \u3c 0.001). The length of hospital stay (LOS) was reported in two studies. Our analysis showed that LOS did not differ between the prone and supine groups (SMD: 0.77; 95%CI: -0.33-1.86; p=0.17). CONCLUSIONS: Prone ventilation in intubated COVID-19 patients does not offer a mortality benefit. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm this finding and clarify whether specific subpopulations may benefit from prone ventilation

Prone Vs. Supine Position Ventilation in Intubated COVID-19 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Whether prone positioning of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia has benefits over supine positioning is not clear. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine whether prone versus supine positioning during ventilation resulted in different outcomes for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase, and Web of Science for prospective and retrospective studies up through April 2023. We included studies that compared outcomes of patients with COVID-19 after ventilation in prone and supine positions. The primary outcomes were three mortality measures: hospital, overall, and intensive care unit (ICU). Secondary outcomes were mechanical ventilation days, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and hospital length of stay. We conducted risk of bias analysis and used meta-analysis software to analyze results. Mean difference (MD) was used for continuous data, and odds ratio (OR) was used for dichotomous data, both with 95% CIs. Significant heterogeneity (I(2)) was considered if I(2) was \u3e50%. A statistically significant result was considered if the p-value was \u3c0.05. Of 1787 articles identified, 93 were retrieved, and seven retrospective cohort studies encompassing 5216 patients with COVID-19 were analyzed. ICU mortality was significantly higher in the prone group (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.43-3.43; p=0.0004). No statistically significant difference was observed between prone and supine groups for hospital mortality (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.66-1.37; p=0.78) or overall mortality (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.72-1.64; p=0.71). Studies that analyzed primary outcomes had significant heterogeneity. Hospital length of stay was significantly higher in the prone than in the supine group (MD, 6.06; 95 % CI, 3.15-8.97; p\u3c0.0001). ICU length of stay and days of mechanical ventilation did not differ between the two groups. In conclusion, mechanical ventilation with prone positioning for all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia may not provide a mortality benefit over supine positioning

Valorization of wine‐making by‐products’ extracts in cosmetics

The increased demand for conscious, sustainable and beneficial products by the consumers has pushed researchers from both industries and universities worldwide to search for smart strategies capable of reducing the environmental footprint, especially the ones connected with industrial wastes. Among various by-products, generally considered as waste, those obtained by winemaking industries have attracted the attention of a wide variety of companies, other than the vineries. In particular, grape pomaces are considered of interest due to their high content in bioactive molecules, especially phenolic compounds. The latter can be recovered from grape pomace and used as active ingredients in easily marketable cosmetic products. Indeed, phenolic compounds are well known for their remarkable beneficial properties at the skin level, such as antioxidant, antiaging, anti-hyperpigmentation and photoprotective effects. The exploitation of the bioactives contained in grape pomaces to obtain high value cosmetics may support the growing of innovative start-ups and expand the value chain of grapes. This review aims to describe the strategies for recovery of polyphenols from grape pomace, to highlight the beneficial potential of these extracts, both in vitro and in vivo, and their potential utilization as active ingredients in cosmetic products

Social cost benefit analysis of water and sanitation improvement in a poor urban slum

A health-based socio-economic assessment as well as side-by-side social cost benefit analysis is depicted in this visual synopsis of research carried out in a suburban slum in Tripoli, Lebanon. 88% of reported diarrheal cases are attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene, with cases distributed uniformly throughout the year. The poster includes field observations, and a selection of alternative interventions with estimated costs. Installing rooftop tanks and replacing water piping at the household level are the most economically viable interventions