Paradoxical tensions in sustainable supply chain management: insights from the electronics multi-tier supply chain context

PurposeManaging supply chains (SCs) for sustainability often results in conflicting demands, which can be conceptualized as sustainability tensions. This paper studies sustainability tensions in electronics SC contexts and the related management responses by applying a paradox perspective.Design/methodology/approachA single case study on the electronics SC is conducted with companies and third-party organizations as embedded units of analysis, using semi-structured interviews that are triangulated with publicly available data.FindingsThe study identifies tension elements (learning, belonging, organizing and economic performing) conflicting with general social–ecological objectives in the electronics SC. The results indicate a hierarchal structure among the sustainability tensions in SC contexts. The management responses of contextualization and resolution are assigned to the identified tensions.Practical implicationsFraming social–ecological objectives with their conflicting elements as paradoxical tensions enables organizations and SCs to develop better strategies for responding to complex sustainability issues in SC contexts.Originality/valueThe study contributes toward filling the gap on paradoxical sustainability tensions in SCs. Empirical insights are gained from different actors in the electronics SC. The level of emergence and interconnectedness of sustainability tensions in a larger SC context is explored through an outside-in perspective

A Constrained Fuzzy Knowledge-Based System for the Management of Container Yard Operations

The management of container yard operations is considered by yard operators to be a very challenging task due to the many uncertainties inherent in such operations. The storage of the containers is one of those operations that require proper management for the efficient utilisation of the yard, requiring rapid retrieval time and a minimum number of re-handlings. The main challenge is when containers of a different size, type, or weight need to be stored in a yard that holds a number of pre-existing containers. This challenge becomes even more complex when the date and time for the departure of the containers are unknown, as is the case when the container is collected by a third-party logistics company without any prior notice being given. The aim of this study is to develop a new system for the management of container yard operations that takes into consideration a number of factors and constraints that occur in a real-life situation. One of these factors is the duration of stay for the topmost containers of each stack, when the containers are stored. Because the duration of stay for containers in a yard varies dynamically over time, an ‘ON/OFF’ strategy is proposed to activate/deactivate the duration of stay factor constraint if the length of stay for these containers varies significantly over time. A number of tools and techniques are utilised for developing the proposed system including: discrete event simulation for the modelling of container storage and retrieval operations, a fuzzy know ledge-based model for the stack allocation of containers, and a heuristic algorithm called ‘neighbourhood’ for the container retrieval operation. Results show that by adopting the proposed ‘ON/OFF’ strategy, 5% of the number of re-handlings, 2.5% of the total retrieval time, 6.6% of the total re-handling time and 42% of the average waiting time per truck are reduced

The desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-3 acts as a keratinocyte anti-stress protein via suppression of p53

Desmoglein-3 (Dsg3), the Pemphigus Vulgaris (PV) antigen (PVA), plays an essential role in keratinocyte cell–cell adhesion and regulates various signaling pathways involved in the progression and metastasis of cancer where it is upregulated. We show here that expression of Dsg3 impacts on the expression and function of p53, a key transcription factor governing the responses to cellular stress. Dsg3 depletion increased p53 expression and activity, an effect enhanced by treating cells with UVB, mechanical stress and genotoxic drugs, whilst increased Dsg3 expression resulted in the opposite effects. Such a pathway in the negative regulation of p53 by Dsg3 was Dsg3 specific since neither E-cadherin nor desmoplakin knockdown caused similar effects. Analysis of Dsg3−/− mouse skin also indicated an increase of p53/p21WAF1/CIP1 and cleaved caspase-3 relative to Dsg3+/− controls. Finally, we evaluated whether this pathway was operational in the autoimmune disease PV in which Dsg3 serves as a major antigen involved in blistering pathogenesis. We uncovered increased p53 with diffuse cytoplasmic and/or nuclear staining in the oral mucosa of patients, including cells surrounding blisters and the pre-lesional regions. This finding was verified by in vitro studies where treatment of keratinocytes with PV sera, as well as a characterized pathogenic antibody specifically targeting Dsg3, evoked pronounced p53 expression and activity accompanied by disruption of cell–cell adhesion. Collectively, our findings suggThe study was supported by the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry and Guizhou Medical University, China. The animal work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TR-SFB 156). Jutamas Uttagomol was supported by a scholarship from Naresuan University, Thailand

Conception et validation d'un outil de prévision des flux routiers d'un terminal portuaire à conteneur

La problématique que le projet a cherché à résoudre est celle du peu de visibilité dont disposent actuellement les opérateurs de terminaux portuaires sur les moyens à mobiliser pour réaliser les opérations de chargement/déchargement des bateaux et de manutention terrestre

Entropía de transferencia no lineal para evaluar el acoplamiento neurovascular en recién nacidos prematuros

In the adult brain, it is well known that increases in local neural activity trigger changes in regional blood flow and, thus, changes in cerebral energy metabolism. This regulation mechanism is called neurovascular coupling (NVC). It is not yet clear to what extent this mechanism is present in the premature brain. In this study, we explore the use of transfer entropy (TE) in order to compute the nonlinear coupling between changes in brain function, assessed by means of EEG, and changes in brain oxygenation, assessed by means of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). In a previous study, we measured the coupling between both variables using a linear model to compute TE. The results indicated that changes in brain oxygenation were likely to precede changes in EEG activity. However, using a nonlinear and nonparametric approach to compute TE, the results indicate an opposite directionality of this coupling. The source of the different results provided by the linear and nonlinear TE is unclear and needs further research. In this study, we present the results from a cohort of 21 premature neonates. Results indicate that TE values computed using the nonlinear approach are able to discriminate between neonates with brain abnormalities and healthy neonates, indicating a less functional NVC in neonates with brain abnormalities. Keyword

JMJD8 Regulates Angiogenic Sprouting and Cellular Metabolism by Interacting With Pyruvate Kinase M2 in Endothelial Cells

Objective-Jumonji C (JmjC) domain-containing proteins modify histone and nonhistone proteins thereby controlling cellular functions. However, the role of JmjC proteins in angiogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we characterize the expression of JmjC domain-containing proteins after inducing endothelial differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells and study the function of JmjC domain-only proteins in endothelial cell (EC) functions. Approach and Results-We identified a large number of JmjC domain-containing proteins regulated by endothelial differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells. Among the family of JmjC domain-only proteins, Jmjd8 was significantly upregulated on endothelial differentiation. Knockdown of Jmjd8 in ECs significantly decreased in vitro network formation and sprouting in the spheroid assay. JMJD8 is exclusively detectable in the cytoplasm, excluding a function as a histone-modifying enzyme. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed JMJD8-interacting proteins with known functions in cellular metabolism like pyruvate kinase M2. Accordingly, knockdown of pyruvate kinase M2 in human umbilical vein ECs decreased endothelial sprouting in the spheroid assay. Knockdown of JMJD8 caused a reduction of EC metabolism as measured by Seahorse Bioscience extracellular flux analysis. Conversely, overexpression of JMJD8 enhanced cellular oxygen consumption rate of ECs, reflecting an increased mitochondrial respiration. Conclusions-Jmjd8 is upregulated during endothelial differentiation and regulates endothelial sprouting and metabolism by interacting with pyruvate kinase M2

Influence of isoflurane and sevoflurane on TJ protein expression after CCI.

<p>Expression of the TJ proteins cl5 (A), ZO-1 isoform 1 (ZO-1 V1, B), and ZO-1 isoform 2 (ZO-1 V2, C) was determined at 15 minutes and 24 hours after CCI injury and exposure to isoflurane (iso)/sevoflurane (sevo) and is expressed as % of native animals (n = 6/15 min groups; n = 8/24 h groups; p-values are adjusted for multiple comparison by Bonferroni).</p

Triple-staining of DAPI, ZO-1 and cl5 in the pericontusional brain area of CCI and sham animals.

<p>(<b>A</b>) cl5 and (<b>B</b>) ZO-1 immunoreactivity in sham sevoflurane treated animals demonstrate a physiological co-localization as shown in (<b>C</b>). In sham animals exposed towards isoflurane (<b>D</b>) cl5 and (<b>E</b>) ZO-1 displayed a similar physiological (<b>F</b>) co-localization of the junctional proteins. TJ disruptions in sham animals were sparse as indicated by the white arrows in A–F. In CCI brains of the sevoflurane group a significant discrepancy of (<b>G</b>) cl5 and (<b>H</b>) ZO-1 became apparent as shown in (<b>I</b>). In the isoflurane CCI group (<b>J</b>) cl5 was also less affected by CCI than (<b>K</b>) ZO-1. Here a similar discrepancy as in CCI sevoflurane treated animals was found (<b>L</b>). TJ disruptions in ZO-1 were significantly increased compared with ZO-1 sham animals. No difference in cl5 disruptions was observed (G–L, see also quantification of TJ disruptions in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0050752#pone-0050752-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5</a>). Note the microvascular brain endothelial nuclei marked with asterisks (insets in <b>C, F, I, L</b>).</p