Food supply chain : are UK SMEs aware of concept, drivers, benefits & barriers, and frameworks of traceability?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the degree of understanding of traceability concept, drivers, systems’ characteristics, benefits and barriers, and frameworks with focus on UK small and medium businesses (SMEs) that operate in the food supply chain (FSC). Design/methodology/approach – This study employs a survey strategy by means of a questionnaire that was sent to food and drink companies operating in the FSC. In total, 164 SMEs answered the questionnaire. Answers were analysed by means of frequency distributions, coding, and pattern matching. Findings – UK SMEs appear to have a moderate understanding of the definition of traceability. The main drivers for traceability implementation are product safety and quality, even more than regulation. It is also found that SMEs do not consider technology as driver to implement traceability. In term of frameworks employed, about half of the SMEs stated that they were regulatory compliant, and followed industry standards. Furthermore, in term of traceability systems’ characteristics, one out of three companies have a basic system in place (only regulatory compliant), while two out of three have a more sophisticated system, with many companies voluntarily tracing the material during the production process, while chain traceability appears not to be widely implemented. Finally, it is felt that the benefits of traceability outweigh the barriers/disadvantages, with the main benefits found in the area of crisis management. Nonetheless, it appears that many benefits are still unknown to SMEs, especially in relation to the firm’s operations/strategy. Some implications for government and managers are suggested. Originality/value – This study fills the gap found in the literature where few recent academic papers focused attention on SMEs awareness of traceability in the FSC

Sutureless laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using fibrin gel reduces ischemia time while preserving renal function

Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of sutureless laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN), using a fibrin gel in order to minimize renal ischemia time and preserve kidney function. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (mean age 58.3 ± 7.1) undergoing sutureless LPN using a fbrin gel were compared with a control group consisting of 21 patients (mean age 57.9 ± 7.5) subjected to LPN with standard suturing. Intraand post-operative data for the two groups were compared. The following parameters were recorded: patient demographics, Charlson Comorbidity Index, tumor characteristics according to the RENAL score, warm ischemia and operative times, estimated blood loss, mean hospital stay, post-operative complications referring to the Clavien-Dindo classification, renal function parameters pathologic and follow-up data. The main outcome measure was renal ischemia time and maintenance of kidney function. Results: Median warm ischemia time was 13 minutes (range 11-19) in the group treated with fibrin gel and 19 (range 17- 29) in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The two groups were homogeneous in terms of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (4.6 vs 4.8) and RENAL score (9.6 vs 9.4). Median operative time differed significantly in the two groups, 183 minutes (range 145-218) in the group treated with fibrin gel and 201 (range 197-231) in the control group (p < 0.001). A negative surgical margin was reported in 18 patients (94.7%) in the group treated with fibrin gel and in 21 patients (100%) in the control group. No difference in renal function was found between the two groups. Conclusions: Sutureless LPN with fibrin gel can reduce warm ischemia and total operative time while preserving kidney function

Traceability in the food supply chain : awareness and attitudes of UK small and medium-sized enterprises

In this paper the awareness and attitudes towards traceability are examined in the food supply chain (FSC) within UK Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The objective of this paper is to test some propositions found in the literature, and understand whether or not SMEs in the UK are aware of the main objectives of traceability and what importance is given in term of relevance and intention to invest in their traceability systems. This study employed a survey strategy by means of a questionnaire that was sent to food and drink companies operating in the FSC. 146 SMEs answered the questionnaire. Answers were analysed by means of quantitative tools (i.e. contingency tables; Chi-squared test; and Spearman's rank correlation). The findings show that UK SMEs are aware of the main purposes of traceability systems such as recall cost reduction, rapid recalls, and the improvement of food safety and quality, while there is a, misguided, belief that traceability systems can reduce the probability of recalls. The attitude towards traceability is found to be positive in term of recognition of its importance but an unwillingness to invest in traceability systems' enhancement is also found. The findings pose a question mark as to whether or not companies see traceability systems as a strategic tool. This study fills the gap found in the literature where few recent academic papers focused attention on SMEs awareness and attitudes towards trace¬ability in the FS

Effect of substrate surface defects on the Fe film morphology deposited on graphite

We have studied Fe films on Ar+ ion sputtered highly oriented pyrolitic graphite (HOPG) using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). The adsorbed Fe atoms form nanoparticles uniformly distributed over the substrate surface with narrow size distribution. Comparing these data with Fe deposited on non-sputtered HOPG indicates the role of substrate defects, acting as nucleation sites, on the overall film structure. However, the shape and size of individual defects do not seem to influence the shape of the nanoparticles. The correlation between the Fe film morphology and the sputtered substrate morphology is discussed taking into account the different capturing properties of sputtering-induced defects

TiO2/graphene nanocomposites from the direct reduction of graphene oxide by metal evaporation

We demonstrate that graphene oxide can be efficiently reduced by evaporating metal Titanium in high vacuum. A detailed description of this reaction is provided by combining in situ photoemission spectroscopy measurements and DFT calculations: the titanium atoms readily react with the oxygenated groups of graphene oxide, disrupting the C\u2013O bonds, with the consequent formation of titania and the recovery of the sp2 hybridized carbon atoms. When all surface oxygen is consumed, titanium can react with the carbon substrate and form carbidic species. Resonant photoemission spectroscopy measurements allow identifying the presence and exact energy position in the valence band of the Ti\u2013C and Ti\u2013O\u2013C states, which are supposed to control the electron and energy transfer across the TiO2/graphene interface. Therefore with this study we provide a versatile method and the rationale for controlling, at the atomic level, the nature of the interface of graphene/metal oxide nano composites

Association between Basal Total Testosterone Levels and Tumor Upgrading in Low and Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate associations of basal levels of total testosterone (TT) with tumor upgrading to high risk disease in low-intermediate risk prostate cancer (PCA). Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 135 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Evaluated factors included age, body mass index, prostate specific antigen (PSA), TT, prostate volume, PSA density (PSAD), proportion of biopsy positive cores (P+), clinical tumor stage, and biopsy grading system (1 or 2). Factors associating with tumor upgrading were investigated by the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Tumor upgrading rate to high risk disease was 8.9%. TT, PSA, and PSAD were associated with tumor upgrading. On multivariate analysis, independent factors predicting tumor upgrading were PSA (OR 1.324; p = 0.001) and TT (OR 1.005; p = 0.015). Basal TT was dichotomized up to the third quartile (TT > q3) vs. TT 64 q3 (426.0 ng/dL). The assessed tumor upgrading risk model showed that TT dichotomized to third quartile (TT > q3 vs. TT 64 q3) stratified the risk of tumor upgrading (OR 6.577; p = 0.010) along increasing levels of PSA (OR 1.3; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Low and intermediate risk PCA patients show a not negligible risk of tumor upgrading to high risk disease. In this particular subset of patients, basal levels of TT stratify the risk of tumor upgrading

Clinical factors stratifying the risk of tumor upgrading to high-grade disease in low-risk prostate cancer

Purpose: To identify clinical factors stratifying the risk of tumor upgrading to increasing patterns of the tumor grading system in low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: We evaluated the records of 438 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. Associations between clinical factors and tumor upgrading were assessed by the univariate and multivariate multinomial logistic regression model. Results: Low-risk PCa included 170 cases (38.8%) and tumor upgrading was detected in 111 patients (65.3%): 72 (42.4%) had pathology Gleason pattern (pGP) 3 + 4, 27 (15.9%) pGP 4 + 3, and 12 (7.1%) pGP 4 + 4. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and proportion of positive cores (P+) were independent predictors of upgrading to high-risk disease. These factors also stratified the risk of tumor upgrading to the increasing patterns of the tumor grading system. The model allowed the identification of pGP 4 + 4. The main difference between high-risk PCa and other upgraded tumors related to PSA load (odds ratio 2.4) that associated with high volume disease in the specimen. Conclusions: Low-risk PCa is a heterogeneous population with significant rates of tumor upgrading. Significant clinical predictors stratifying the risk of tumor upgrading to increasing patterns of the grading system included PSA and P+. These factors allowed the identification of the subset hiding high-grade disease requiring further investigations before delivering active treatments

Clinical Factors of Disease Reclassification or Progression in a Contemporary Cohort of Prostate Cancer Patients Elected to Active Surveillance

To evaluate clinical predictors of disease reclassification or progression (DR/P) in prostate cancer patients elected to active surveillance (AS)