Global Supply-Chain Strategy And Global Competitiveness

The purpose of this study is to provide an analysis of global supply chain in a broader context that encompasses not only the producing company, but suppliers and customers.  The theme of this study is to identify global sourcing and selling options, to enhance customer service and value added, to optimize inventory performance, to reduce total delivered costs and lead times, to achieve lower break-even costs, and to improve operational flexibility, customization and partner relations.   In this context, an integrated management information system will be viewed as the key instrument that captures all relevant data and makes it available to the appropriate decision-maker and that provides an optimizer and decision-support function supporting various phases of the decision-making process, requiring the identification of cost cutting and value adding strategies.  The properly integrated management information systems will help companies to gain the critical global competitive edge to survive in today's markets.  We suggest various strategies in sourcing, manufacturing/operation, and marketing that can provide a competitive global supply chain strategy for a firm to increase value.  We provide case studies where these strategies have been successful as well as case studies where they have failed.

Joint Dynamics Of The U.S. Treasury Maturity Rates: Policy Implications For Central Banks

This paper examines whether there is a direct relationship between yields of differing maturities for the U.S. Treasury market. The hypothesis that long horizon rates may help to predict future short horizon rates, in addition to short horizon rates helping to predict future long horizon rates, provides the motivation for the present study. The proposed inter-relationship between the different interest rates exhibits important implications for central bank policy-making. Employing a multivariate time-series analysis, we find that spreads in the short-term rate tend to rise (fall) in response to rises in prior short-term (long-term) rate spreads.  Additionally, spreads in the long term rates tend to decrease in response to prior rises in the 1 year Treasury rate spread. Finally, positive impulse responses for long term spreads largely derive from shocks to shorter term maturity spreads, while shocks to longer term maturity rates result in gradual negative impulse responses for maturity rates of shorter horizons. In sum, this paper provides evidence of important feedback relationships across the maturity spectrum in the U.S. Treasury market. An understanding of the maturity rate dynamics is crucial for future central bank interventions and for the pricing of options and other related financial instruments

INTRODUCING AN OPTIMAL QCA CROSSBAR SWITCH FOR BASELINE NETWORK

Crossbar switch is the basic component in multi-stage interconnection networks. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate performance of a crossbar switch with two multiplexers. The presented crossbar switch was simulated using quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology and QCA Designer software, and was studied and optimized in terms of cell number, occupied area, number of clocks, and energy consumption. Using the provided crossbar switch, the baseline network was designed to be optimal in terms of cell number and occupied area. Also, the number of input states was investigated and simulated to verify accuracy of the baseline network. The proposed crossbar switch uses 62 QCA cells and the occupied area by the switch is equal to 0.06µm2 and its latency equals 4 clock zones, which is more efficient than the other designs. In this paper, using the presented crossbar switch, the baseline network was designed with 1713 cells, and occupied area of 2.89µm2

Cyclic Esotropia: a Case Report

In this case report, two cases with diagnosis of cyclic esotropia are presented. Both patients complained of periodic alternative inside eye deviation with an interval of one day. Para- clinical tests including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and electroretinogram (ERG) were normal and no neurological abnormality or paralysis was detected. Patients were observed in two consecutive days to confirm the diagnosis of cyclic esotropia. Both patients underwent bilateral medial rectus recession surgery as routinely performed for non- cyclic esotropic patients, and the postoperative orthotropia with the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20 was obtained in both cases. In conclusion surgical and non-surgical treatments can be used for cyclic esotropia similar to what is routinely performed for non- cyclic strabismic patients. Successful therapeutic outcomes might be obtained in such patients achieving normal binocular fusion in several days with no ocular deviation. Keywords: Cyclic; Esotropia; Treatment

Green Information Technology and Sustainability: A Conceptual Taxonomy

Several organizations have faced challenges in adopting the usage of information technology in an environment-friendly and a sustainable supply chain network. Information technology plays a crucial role in ensuing success of Green supply chain networks. We propose that the Green supply chain management information flow is impacted by both IT governance and Green infrastructure components which in turn are impacted by corporate sustainability. This paper explores various drivers of information technology that enable Green supply chain management and presents a conceptual taxonomy of information technology for sustainability