56 research outputs found
On the size of maximal binary codes with 2, 3, and 4 distances
We address the maximum size of binary codes and binary constant weight codes
with few distances. Previous works established a number of bounds for these
quantities as well as the exact values for a range of small code lengths. As
our main results, we determine the exact size of maximal binary codes with two
distances for all lengths as well as the exact size of maximal binary
constant weight codes with 2,3, and 4 distances for several values of the
weight and for all but small lengths.Comment: Main text 23 pp. and Appendix 17p
On the size of maximal binary codes with 2, 3, and 4 distances
We address the maximum size of binary codes and binary constant weight codes with few distances. Previous works established a number of bounds for these quantities as well as the exact values for a range of small code lengths. As our main results, we determine the exact size of maximal binary codes with two distances for all lengths nβ₯6 as well as the exact size of maximal binary constant weight codes with 2,3, and 4 distances for several values of the weight and for all but small lengths
Sustainable social supply chain practices and firm social performance: framework and empirical evidence
Concerns about social sustainability issues such as child labour, inequality, excessive overtime, and abusive working and living conditions in developing countries' manufacturing sectors have prompted an urgent study on sustainable social supply chain practices. The social pillar of sustainability has then been unnoticed, favouring the more regularly discussed environmental and economic dimensions. This study aims to expand the social sustainability framework to investigate the impact of sustainable social supply chain practices on firm social performance. The electronic survey was conducted on firms that adopted sustainable social practices. The 144 data sets were received from manufacturing firms. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling with PLS-SEM to examine domains and outcomes of sustainable supply chain practices. The result found that social supply chain practices impact the firm's social performance. However, the results indicate that the social element of sustainable procurement does not affect the firm social performance. The results show social fairness challenged manufacturing firms to comply with sustainable production and distribution. Most manufacturing firms are still not aware of their role and social responsibility to develop the local suppliers and community. Sustainability framework has proposed to raise awareness of sustainable practices that drive firms to implement sustainable social supply chain practices and leverage social performance. By being socially responsible, firms can gain improved brand awareness, a favourable corporate reputation, increased sales, observed firm growth and enhanced customer loyalty
Overview of the Reporting Sources of Developmentallydelayed Children in Taiwan Between 2011 and 2012
Early Intervention (EI) services, as defined in
The Bye-laws of Children and Youth Welfare Law,
provided for 1.2 % of the nationβs infants, toddlers
and preschool children between 2011 and 2012;
however, the proportion was higher in some
counties or cities and lower in others. In order
to elucidate factors that may influence reporting
rates, we analyzed the reporting sources from
23 counties/cities between 2011 and 2012. We
analyzed registry data of newly reported cases
between 2011 and 2012, published by the
Department of Statistics, Ministry of Interior of
Taiwan. The reporting sources were categorized
into eight types, and the percentage of cases
reported by each source was calculated. The
statistical relationship between these variables
and the reporting rates were analyzed with
suitable methods. P value < 0.05 was regarded as
statistically significant. The estimated 2-year average
reporting rate of new cases was 11.97β°. The
reporting rate was significantly higher among
children living in counties compared with children
living in cities (P = 0.0007). The reporting rate was
also significantly higher among children living in
low urbanized areas as compared with children
living in highly urbanized areas (P = 0.0067). The
proportion of medical organization reported
cases was the highest of all the reporting sources
(39.99%). Higher reporting rates from householders,
guardians and health centers positively affected
the total reporting rates (P = 0.0499 and P=0.0151,
respectively).
In conclusion our study shows that many
sources contribute to the notification of children at
risk or with developmental delay, with implications
for regular surveillance and screening children
development by people involved with them.
Incorporating more efficient developmental
screening tools, including parent-concerned based
screening questionnaires during health screening,
with additional staff to do the screening, may
increase the proportion of children with possible
developmental delay being notified
Long-term follow-up of patients with surgical intractable acromegaly after linear accelerator radiosurgery
Background/PurposeRadiotherapy is a crucial treatment for acromegalic patients with growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors. However, its effect takes time. We retrospectively reviewed the long-term outcome of linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery (LINAC SRS) for patients with acromegaly from the perspective of biochemical remission and associated factors.MethodsTwenty-two patients presenting with residual or recurrent (GH)-secreting functional pituitary tumor between 1994 and 2004 who received LINAC SRS were enrolled and followed up for at least 3 years. Residual or recurrent tumor was defined as persistent elevated GH or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) level and image-confirmed tumor after previous surgical treatment. Biochemical remission was defined as fasting GH less than 2.5Β ng/mL with normal sex-and-age adjusted IGF-1.ResultsThe mean follow-up period was 94.7 months (range 36β161 months). Overall mean biochemical remission time was 53 months (median 30 months). Biochemical control was achieved in 15 patients (68.2%) over the follow up period. One patient experienced recurrence after SRS and underwent another operation. Initial GH at diagnosis and pre-SRS GH correlated with biochemical control (pΒ =Β 0.005 and pΒ <Β 0.0001, respectively). Further evaluation demonstrated that biochemical control stabilized after 7.5 years. Overall post-SRS hormone deficit persisted in five patients (22.7%).ConclusionIn comparison to other radiosurgery modalities, LINAC radiosurgery also provides a satisfactory outcome. SRS has maximum effect over the first 2 years and stabilizes after 7.5 years. Moreover, SRS elicits long-term biochemical effects and requires longer follow-up for better biochemical remission
Efficacy and safety of nanohybrids comprising silver nanoparticles and silicate clay for controlling Salmonella infection
Developing effective and safe drugs is imperative for replacing antibiotics and controlling multidrug-resistant microbes. Nanoscale silicate platelet (NSP) and its nanohybrid, silver nanoparticle/NSP (AgNP/NSP), have been developed, and the nanohybrids show a strong and general antibacterial activity in vitro. Here, their efficacy for protecting Salmonella-infected chicks from fatality and septicemia was evaluated. Both orally administrated NSP and AgNP/NSP, but not AgNPs alone, effectively reduced the systemic Salmonella infection and mortality. In addition, quantitative Ag analyses demonstrated that Ag deposition from AgNP/NSP in the intestines was less than that from conventional AgNPs, indicating that the presence of NSP for immobilizing AgNPs reduced Ag accumulation in tissue and improved the safety of AgNPs. These in vivo results illustrated that both NSP and AgNP/NSP nanohybrid represent potential agents for controlling enteric bacterial infections
High Photoelectric Conversion Efficiency of Metal Phthalocyanine/Fullerene Heterojunction Photovoltaic Device
This paper introduces the fundamental physical characteristics of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. Photoelectric conversion efficiency is crucial to the evaluation of quality in OPV devices, and enhancing efficiency has been spurring on researchers to seek alternatives to this problem. In this paper, we focus on organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices and review several approaches to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of small molecular heterojunction OPV devices based on an optimal metal-phthalocyanine/fullerene (C60) planar heterojunction thin film structure. For the sake of discussion, these mechanisms have been divided into electrical and optical sections: (1) Electrical: Modification on electrodes or active regions to benefit carrier injection, charge transport and exciton dissociation; (2) Optical: Optional architectures or infilling to promote photon confinement and enhance absorption
Opportunities and challenges for solid waste reuse and recycling in emerging economies:A hybrid analysis
This study enriches sustainable solid waste management knowledge by establishing a valid hierarchical model and critiques the causal interrelationship between waste reuse and recycling attributes. The challenges and opportunities for sustainable waste reuse and recycling are emphasized, and direction is provided for practices. Many developing and emerging countries have been attempting to address solid waste management problems and serious restrictions on material reuse and recycling activities. However, it is not well developed, and reuse and recycling efforts have not yet been well implemented due to weak economic and political institution levels. This study aims to propose a sustainable solid waste management model and address opportunities and challenges for waste reuse and recycling in a developing country. A hybrid approach is adopted using a systematic data-driven analysis comprising content analyses, system uncertainty and complexity, the fuzzy Delphi method, interpretive structural modeling, and the fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory. The results show that 19 valid indicators are congregated into five aspects, in which circular resource management, societal requirements, and municipal sustainability are causative aspects with the capability to improve sustainable solid waste management as it regards waste reuse and recycling. The top prominent indicators helping to enhance practices are the circular economy, the informal sector, material flow analysis, policy restrictions, waste treatment technologies. The state-of-the-art literature is presented, and further opportunities and challenges are determined
Natural resource management model under governance conflicts in Vietnam: a data-driven analysis
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