Detection of EpCAM-Negative and Cytokeratin-Negative Circulating Tumor Cells in Peripheral Blood

Enrichment of rare circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood is typically achieved using antibodies to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), with detection using cytokeratin (CK) antibodies. However, EpCAM and CK are not expressed in some tumors and can be downregulated during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. A micro-fluidic system, not limited to EpCAM or CK, was developed to use multiple antibodies for capture followed by detection using CEE-Enhanced (CE), a novel in situ staining method that fluorescently labels the capture antibodies bound to CTCs. Higher recovery of CTCs was demonstrated using antibody mixtures compared to anti-EpCAM. In addition, CK-positive breast cancer cells were found in 15 of 24 samples (63%; range 1–60 CTCs), while all samples contained additional CE-positive cells (range 1–41; median = 11; P = .02). Thus, antibody mixtures against a range of cell surface antigens enables capture of more CTCs than anti-EpCAM alone and CE staining enables the detection of CK-negative CTCs

A Study Of Supply Chain Management In Manufacturing Sector In Iran: A Risk Perspective

This present study aims to identify risk drivers in firm's supply chain management specifically in manufacturing sector in Iran

Legitimacy Contexts of BoP Markets: Characterization and Implications for Supply Chain Functions

An important market that is receiving increasing attention by firms relates to the poorest at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). BoP businesses contribute to the first UN Sustainable Development Goal that calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations. BoP businesses are regarded as financially and socially beneficial for both participating firms and poor communities. It is, however, understood that success in BoP markets cannot (and should not) be assumed, as it demands a profoundly different view towards managing supply chains. Focusing on this issue, our conceptual study contributes to the emerging debates in BoP and supply chain management research by elaborating the notion of legitimacy contexts (LCs) at BoP. We draw on institutional theory to characterize the LCs in BoP markets and discuss their implications for key supply chain functions. We argue that firms often design their supply chain functions for BoP business using their own LCs as opposed to those of BoP actors. This implies ignoring the institutional distance between BoP markets and firms and reveals a key culprit in the failure of BoP projects. We offer practical implications for firms intending to engage in BoP business

Legitimacy Contexts of BoP Markets: Characterization and Implications for Supply Chain Functions

An important market that is receiving increasing attention by firms relates to the poorest at the Base of the Pyramid (BoP). BoP businesses contribute to the first UN Sustainable Development Goal that calls for an end to poverty in all its manifestations. BoP businesses are regarded as financially and socially beneficial for both participating firms and poor communities. It is, however, understood that success in BoP markets cannot (and should not) be assumed, as it demands a profoundly different view towards managing supply chains. Focusing on this issue, our conceptual study contributes to the emerging debates in BoP and supply chain management research by elaborating the notion of legitimacy contexts (LCs) at BoP. We draw on institutional theory to characterize the LCs in BoP markets and discuss their implications for key supply chain functions. We argue that firms often design their supply chain functions for BoP business using their own LCs as opposed to those of BoP actors. This implies ignoring the institutional distance between BoP markets and firms and reveals a key culprit in the failure of BoP projects. We offer practical implications for firms intending to engage in BoP business

Understanding the concept of elasticity in supply chain relationships : an agency theory perspective

The issue of flexibility in supply chains has been receiving heightened attention by scholars and practitioners especially as business environment becoming more turbulent and uncertain. Notwithstanding, one of the important aspects of flexibility &ndash; relationship flexibility &ndash; which has the potential to proliferate responsiveness and postpone bifurcation in buyer -supplier relationships has not been well understood and researched. Identifying this gap within the literature, this paper proposes a concept of elasticity as an important element of relationship flexibility in supply chains. It is argued that the tolerance threshold of coopering parties in presence of their sudden behaviour change will determine their state of relationship elasticity (i.e. elastic or inelastic). The theoretical development of this paper has been primarily based on review of the literature and insights from agency perspective. It is proposed that relationship governance mechanisms advocated by agency theory has the potential to influence elasticity status of principal agent relationships.<br /

The role of relationship integration in supply chain agility and flexibility development: an Australian perspective

Purpose: The paper seeks to contribute to the supply chain management literature by presenting the Australian practitioners’ perception of the role of relationship integration in developing supply chain agility and flexibility. Design/methodology/approach: The research takes semi-structured, indepth interviews with 10 operations and supply chain practitioners in the Australian manufacturing sector. A systematic qualitative data analysis approach grounded on cross-interview synthesis was used. Findings: Findings contributed into understanding of the manufacturing companies’ implementation of relationship integration with respect to decision trade-offs involved in contract design. Moreover, the findings revealed the significant perceived importance and impact of relationship integration on supply chain agility and flexibility development. This was, however, found to be a function of things such as upstream or downstream focus and organisational size. These findings were expressed in terms of seven propositions. Practical implications: Analysis of the interviews substantiates the criticality of informed allocation of resources to relationship-intensive activities and investments across the supply chain to develop agility and flexibility. International businesses can gain insights into Australian manufacturing businesses’ perception of relationship integration, which can be invaluable for strategic planning to develop agile and flexible supply chains with their Australian partners. Originality/value: This paper takes an original approach to present operations and supply chain practitioners’ perception of manufacturing businesses’ use of relationship integration for supply chain agility and flexibility development

Supply chain management: developments, theories and models

This chapter aims to develop a holistic framework of supply chain management (SCM) through extensive review of the pertinent literature. To this end, the chapter offers a detailed account of developments, dynamics and complexities of SCM through describing its history, theories and models. The chapter provides the reader with a navigation pane towards various theoretical and conceptual issues that encapsulate the essence of almost 30 years of research in the subject matter. Important implications for supply chain practitioners have also been explained