Integrated Forward and Reverse Logistics Network Design

Many manufacturers are moving towards green manufacturing. One of the actions for environment friendly manufacturing is collection of end-of-life products (EOL). EOL products are transported to the proper facilities for reprocessing or proper disposal. Movement of collected products is performed through reverse logistics networks. Reverse logistics networks may be designed independent of forward logistics networks, or as integrated networks, known as integrated forward and reverse logistics (IFRL) networks. Recent research shows that IFRL networks are more efficient than independent networks. In this work, we study a number of IFRL networks. We present a comprehensive mathematical model to represent an assignment and location-routing IFRL network. Afterwards, this model is decomposed into a number of sub-models that represent different IFRL networks. For each network we develop a solution methodology to solve practical size problems. Two sub-models based on the comprehensive model are presented to design two IFRL location-routing networks. The first network considers decision on the location to establish a disassembly plant. The second network considers decisions on the location to establish a manufacturing facility. For both networks, routing decisions are assigning customers to vehicles, and establishing vehicles’ routes. We develop two heuristic methods to solve the models. The heuristics are able to reach optimal or near optimal solutions in reasonable computational times. The vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and delivery and time windows (VRPSPD-TW) is studied in this work. We use a sub-model of the comprehensive model to represent the problem. Classic heuristics and intelligent optimization or metaheuristics are widely used to solve similar problems. Therefore, we develop a heuristic method to solve the VRPSPD-TW. Results of the heuristic serve as initial solutions for a simulated annealing (SA) approach. For most tested problems, the SA approach is able to improve the heuristic solutions, and reach optimal solutions. Computational times are reasonable for the heuristic and SA. We also study the multi-depot vehicle routing problem with simultaneous pickup and delivery and time windows (MDVRPSPS-TW). A sub-model of the comprehensive model represents the problem. The network considers assignment of customers and vehicles to depots, assignment of customers to vehicles and routing of vehicles within customers’ time windows. We develop a 2-phase heuristic and a SA approach to solve the problem. Heuristic solutions serve as initial solutions for the SA approach. SA is able to reach optimum or near optimum solutions. Computational times are reasonable for the heuristic and S

Dynamic Distributed Monitoring for 6LoWPAN-based IoT Networks

Mission-criticalal Internet of Things (IoT)-based networks are increasingly employed in daily and industrial infrastructures. The resilience of such networks is crucial. Given IoT networks’ constantly changing nature, it is necessary to provide dependability and sustainability. A robust network monitoring can reinforce reliability, such that the monitoring mechanism adapts itself to real-time network instabilities. This work proposes a proactive, dynamic, and distributed network monitoring mechanism with monitor placement and scheduling for 6LoWPAN-based IoT networks intended for mission-critical applications. The proposed mechanism aims to ensure real-time monitoring coverage while respecting the limited and changing power resources of devices to prolong the network lifetime

An Energy-Efficient Multiobjective Scheduling Model for Monitoring in Internet of Things

International audienceTo ensure robustness in wireless networks, monitoring the network state, performance and functioning of the nodes and links is crucial, especially for critical applications. This paper targets Internet of Things (IoT) networks. In the IoT, devices (things) are vulnerable due to security risks from the Internet. Moreover, they are resource-constrained and connected via lossy links. This paper addresses the optimized scheduling of the monitoring role between the embedded devices in IoT networks. The objective is to minimize energy consumption and communication overhead of monitoring, for each node. Several subsets of the potential monitoring nodes are generated by solving a minimal vertex cover (VC) problem with constraint generation. Assuming periodical functioning, VCs are optimally assigned to time periods in order to distribute the monitoring role throughout the entire network. The assignment of VCs to periods is modeled as a multiobjective generalized assignment problem. To further optimize the energy consumption of the monitors, they are sequenced across time periods to minimize the state transitions of nodes. This part of the problem is modeled as a traveling salesman path problem. The proposed model is tested on randomly generated instances and the experimental results illustrate its effectiveness to optimize the scheduled monitoring for fault tolerance in IoT networks

Design and evaluation of gastroretentive levofloxacin floating mini-tablets-in-capsule system for eradication of Helicobacter pylori

AbstractGastroretentive levofloxacin (LVF) floating mini-tablets for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) were prepared using the matrix forming polymer hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K100M), alone or with Carbopol 940P in different ratios by wet granulation technique. Buoyancy of mini-tablets was achieved by an addition of an effervescent mixture consisting of sodium bicarbonate and anhydrous citric acid to some formulations. The prepared mini-tablets were evaluated for weight variation, thickness, friability, hardness, drug content, in vitro buoyancy, water uptake and in vitro release. The optimized formula was subjected to further studies: FT-IR, DSC analysis and in vivo examination in healthy volunteers. The prepared mini-tablets exhibited satisfactory physicochemical characteristics. Incorporation of gas-generating agent improved the floating parameters. HPMC K100M mini-tablet formulation (F1) offered the best controlled drug release (>8h) along with floating lag time <1s and total floating time >24h. The obtained DSC thermograms and FT-IR charts indicated that there is no positive evidence for the interaction between LVF and ingredients of the optimized formula. The in vivo test confirmed the success of the optimized formula F1 in being retained in the stomach of the volunteers for more than 4h. LVF floating mini-tablets based on HPMC K100M is a promising formulation for eradication of H. pylori

Molecular patterns of egyptian patients with non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers: a clinicopathological study

Abstract Background Driver molecular aberrations, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement, play an important role in the oncogenesis and progression of non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Therefore, this study aimed to detect the incidence of driver mutations among non-squamous NSCLC. Patients and methods This was a retrospective-prospective cohort study on 131 patients with non-squamous NSCLC. Data on age, smoking status, chest symptoms, method of lung cancer diagnosis, molecular testing, including EGFR mutations in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue and serum circulating tumor DNA using next-generation sequencing and ALK gene rearrangement by FFPE tumor tissue, and follow-up data regarding treatment modalities and outcomes were collected. Results The median age of the patients was 57 years (range: 32–79 years). Out of 131 patients, 97 were males (74%), and 90 (68.7%) were smokers. Among 128 patients tested, 16 (12.5%) had EGFR mutations detected with either technique by formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue or/and serum circulating tumor DNA using next-generation sequencing, and 6 (4.7%) had ALK rearrangement by FFPE tumor tissue. The majority (62.6%) presented with metastatic disease. Among the 102 patients who received first-line systemic therapy, the objective response rate was 50.0% in mutated NSCLC versus 14.6% in non-mutated (p < 0.001). Among the eight mutated patients who received first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), 7 patients achieved either complete response or partial response. Among the 22 mutated patients, the median overall survival was 3 months in those who did not receive targeted therapy versus not reached in those who received any type of targeted therapy (p < 0.001). Conclusion Screening patients with newly diagnosed non-squamous NSCLC for driver mutations is essential for major prognostic and therapeutic implications. Early administration of TKIs in mutated patients significantly improves disease outcomes

Treatment Options for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children in Saudi Arabia

Abstract: Methods: To assess the diagnostic criteria and therapeutic modalities for pediatric IDA employed by physicians in a major public healthcare facility in Riyadh, a validated questionnaire including demographic data and patient case scenarios related to diagnosis and treatment of IDA was employed. Robust regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with overall score of participants. Wide variability was observed in IDA diagnosis and therapy practices. For nutritional IDA, only 15.6% recommended no other laboratory tests in addition to CBC. The majority preferred treatment with ferrous sulfate (77.6%) divided into two doses (57.1%), but the total daily elemental iron doses varied widely from 2 to 6 mg/kg. Of all assessed factors, median score was significantly highest in pediatric hematologists compared with pediatricians, family medicine specialists and GPs; p = 0.007, and those work in tertiary care compared with those in primary care; p = 0.043. However, in multivariate robust regression analysis, overall score was only significantly associated with professional qualification [pediatric hematologist β = 13.71,95%CI 2.48–24.95, p = 0.017; pediatrician β = 1.77,95%C (− 6.05–9.59, p = 0.66; family medicine β = 2.66,95%CI-4.30-9.58, p = 0.45 compared with general practitioner]. Conclusion: Wide variations exist among physicians in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric IDA. Keywords: Iron deficiency anemia, Treatment, Diagnosis, Assessment, Pediatric. Title: Treatment Options for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children in Saudi Arabia Author: Moneerah Mohammed Alzoman, Kassem Jawad Alobaid, Norah alnashmi Alshalwi, Bedah Doujain alsuhali, Qamra Saud Alshlwai, Sally faisal alharbi, Talal ali alenazi, hessah Falah AlTamimi, Talal Marui Adiri International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 11, Issue 1, April 2023 - September 2023 Page No: 262-269 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 12-September-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8337379 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/treatment-options-for-iron-deficiency-anemia-in-children-in-saudi-arabiaInternational Journal of Healthcare Sciences, ISSN 2348-5728 (Online), Research Publish Journals, Website: www.researchpublish.co

Transient Cell Cycle Induction in Cardiomyocytes to Treat Subacute Ischemic Heart Failure

BackgroundThe regenerative capacity of the heart after myocardial infarction is limited. Our previous study showed that ectopic introduction of 4 cell cycle factors (4F; CDK1 [cyclin-dependent kinase 1], CDK4 [cyclin-dependent kinase 4], CCNB [cyclin B1], and CCND [cyclin D1]) promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation in 15% to 20% of infected cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo and improves cardiac function after myocardial infarction in mice.MethodsUsing temporal single-cell RNA sequencing, we aimed to identify the necessary reprogramming stages during the forced cardiomyocyte proliferation with 4F on a single cell basis. Using rat and pig models of ischemic heart failure, we aimed to start the first preclinical testing to introduce 4F gene therapy as a candidate for the treatment of ischemia-induced heart failure.ResultsTemporal bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing and further biochemical validations of mature human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes treated with either LacZ or 4F adenoviruses revealed full cell cycle reprogramming in 15% of the cardiomyocyte population at 48 hours after infection with 4F, which was associated mainly with sarcomere disassembly and metabolic reprogramming (n=3/time point/group). Transient overexpression of 4F, specifically in cardiomyocytes, was achieved using a polycistronic nonintegrating lentivirus (NIL) encoding 4F; each is driven by a TNNT2 (cardiac troponin T isoform 2) promoter (TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL). TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL or control virus was injected intramyocardially 1 week after myocardial infarction in rats (n=10/group) or pigs (n=6-7/group). Four weeks after injection, TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL-treated animals showed significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and scar size compared with the control virus-treated animals. At 4 months after treatment, rats that received TNNT2-4Fpolycistronic-NIL still showed a sustained improvement in cardiac function and no obvious development of cardiac arrhythmias or systemic tumorigenesis (n=10/group).ConclusionsThis study provides mechanistic insights into the process of forced cardiomyocyte proliferation and advances the clinical feasibility of this approach by minimizing the oncogenic potential of the cell cycle factors owing to the use of a novel transient and cardiomyocyte-specific viral construct

Aarhus Regenerative Orthopaedics Symposium (AROS): Regeneration in the ageing population

The combination of modern interventional and preventive medicine has led to an epidemic of ageing. While this phenomenon is a positive consequence of an improved lifestyle and achievements in a society, the longer life expectancy is often accompanied by decline in quality of life due to musculoskeletal pain and disability. The Aarhus Regenerative Orthopaedics Symposium (AROS) 2015 was motivated by the need to address regenerative challenges in an ageing population by engaging clinicians, basic scientists, and engineers. In this position paper, we review our contemporary understanding of societal, patient-related, and basic science-related challenges in order to provide a reasoned roadmap for the future to deal with this compelling and urgent healthcare problem

Aarhus Regenerative Orthopaedics Symposium (AROS): Regeneration in the ageing population

10.1080/17453674.2017.1297918ACTA ORTHOPAEDICA87sup3631-