Ongoing Supply Research Articles

Enhanced production of bacterial cellulose with a mesh dispenser vessel-based bioreactor

Abstract Bacterial cellulose (BC) has gained significant interest for various applications due to its useful properties which include chemical stability and strong physical properties as well as its biocompatibility. However, conventional fabrication methods are limited by a lack of control over the form, particularly depth and thickness, restricting BC applications to 2D planar shapes. The production of BC is constrained by the formation of a pellicle at the liquid–air interface. To overcome this constraint and enable continuous pellicle formation, a method was established to combine intermittent batch feeding with a supportive mesh scaffold. Intermittent feeding supplies nutrients to the pellicle, promoting sustained formation at the liquid–air interface, while the supporting mesh anchors the initial pellicle to prevent submersion. This approach facilitates the continuous growth of BC pellicle at a controlled rate. Moreover, the method described here results in a single BC pellicle with enhanced thickness, weight (both wet and dry states), water-holding capacity and mechanical strength. Continuous growth is achievable with ongoing nutrient supply, allowing for precise control over the final pellicle thickness. This culturing method is scalable and has been tested for volumes ranging from 250 mL to 10 L, and significantly increases glucose-to-cellulose conversion (3.4-fold) and water utilization efficiency (2.4-fold).

Cross-chiral exponential amplification of an RNA enzyme.

An RNA ligase ribozyme that catalyzes the joining of RNA molecules of the opposite chiral handedness was optimized for the ability to synthesize its own enantiomer from two component fragments. The mirror-image D- and L-ligases operate in concert to provide a system for cross-chiral replication, whereby they catalyze each other's synthesis and undergo mutual amplification at constant temperature, with apparent exponential growth and a doubling time of about 1 h. Neither the D- nor the L-RNA components alone can achieve autocatalytic self-replication. Cross-chiral exponential amplification can be continued indefinitely through a serial-transfer process that provides an ongoing supply of the component D- and L-substrates. Unlike the familiar paradigm of semiconservative nucleic acid replication that relies on Watson-Crick pairing between complementary strands, cross-chiral replication relies on tertiary interactions between structured nucleic acids "across the mirror." There are few examples, outside of biology, of autocatalytic self-replication systems that undergo exponential amplification and there are no prior examples, in either biological or chemical systems, of cross-chiral replication enabling exponential amplification.

Understanding the impact of deep structures on the hydrological setting of the Eastern Bahira Basin in Morocco using combined geophysical analysis of gravity, seismic, and electrical resistivity data

In arid regions like the Eastern Bahira Basin, communities mainly rely on groundwater for drinking and irrigation. However, efficiently managing these vital resources requires a deep understanding of the underlying aquifers’ structure and identifying the most suitable areas for exploitation. This presents a significant challenge for the success of water supply and irrigation programs in the Eastern Bahira Basin. This study is based on an integrative approach, combining Electrical Resistivity Tomography data, with the compilation and reinterpretation of pre-existing seismic, gravimetric and vertical electrical sounding data. This approach is based on compiling old gravimetric data and applying advanced processing techniques to determine the horizontal gradient maxima, which helps highlight the major structural alignments in the basin. Furthermore, the approach utilizes seismic data in order to enhance understanding of the deep structure of the basin, reinterpreting it in light of recent drilling data. The interpretation of the gravimetric and seismic data has also been validated by the results of vertical electrical soundings and electrical tomography that we recently acquired in the Eastern Bahira basin. The outcomes of this research provide new insights into the deep structure of the Eastern Bahira Basin and suggest the most promising hydrogeological prospects, thereby contributing to the success of the ongoing drinking water supply and irrigation program in the Eastern Bahira Basin.

A review on the impact of the worldwide shortage of glucagon-like peptide-1 medications on control of diabetic patients

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) have shown promising benefits in improving outcomes for patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly those affected by obesity-related complications such as cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic disorders, and heightened cancer risks, posing significant public health challenges. Notably, GLP-1 RA have been recognized for their potential to achieve up to a 15% weight reduction over a span of two years, making them a preferred choice in specific conditions for diabetic patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 27. However, widespread public interest, particularly amplified through social media, has intensified the demand for GLP-1 RA due to their weight loss properties, thereby straining global supplies and fostering a black market among non-diabetic individuals seeking these effects. This heightened attention has prompted various medical regulatory bodies worldwide to enact strategies and policies aimed at alleviating shortages. Measures include minimizing new prescriptions of GLP-1 RA, exploring alternative medications within the GLP-1 RA category, carefully transitioning patients to other anti-diabetic treatments and managing patient expectations. These efforts appear effective in managing overall outcomes amid ongoing supply challenges. This narrative review provides a focused evaluation of how these GLP-1 RA medication shortages have impacted type 2 diabetic patients around the world and their overall diabetic outcomes.

Role of Commodity Market in Economic Development: A Study of Major Markets of Bagamati Province

Market usually plays a vigorous role fulfilled peoples demand and also strengthen the capacity of trade management system, always support the national economy of the country. Supply system and demands maintain the requirement and functional operations in a market. This study aims to analysis the role of commodity markets in the positive economic development in context of Nepal. The major markets such as Narayanghat, Nuwakot, and Banepa from the Bagamati Province were chosen representative purposively samples. The study was further executed through the primary and secondary research mode as well as consultative meetings and Key Informant Interview were conducted. The study revealed that Paddy, wheat and maize cereals are the topmost commodities in the area. Paddy is high in demands due to consumption. The local producers sufficient for some 2-3 months during season, for the rest of the months,’ supply from neighbor’s district, Terai region and India playing a leading role to fill the demand, agent booking is another mode of supply, India and Terai region are the major sources of supply management. Some 60 % local production are available for 2-3 months in the local market making income and contributing the national economy. Study concluded, as local production played a vital role in the economy of the nations due to comprehensive farm gate price and ongoing supply. Local production strengthening is advised.

A ‘bridge’ pushed to the periphery?: Turkey’s geopolitical significance in the Asia-Pacific century

ABSTRACT This study scrutinizes the common wisdom concerning Turkey’s crucial geopolitical significance and central physical location against the backdrop of four global transformations that are taking place in the twenty-first century. These tectonic shifts include China’s rise and the ongoing Sino-US rivalry, trade routes and supply chains favoring the Asia-Pacific, technological changes brought by the fourth Industrial Revolution and finally, the decarbonization process. Based on an examination of these new dynamics, the article concludes that Turkey’s geographical location and its traditional ‘bridge’ status between Asia and Europe no longer provides it the strategic leverage it had enjoyed in the twentieth century.

The structural analysis of the farming systems resilience after the Covid-19 pandemic in West Timor, Indonesia

Although Indonesia has recorded good performance in its national economic development, especially in the agriculture sector during the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of the pandemic on farming and food systems has not been evaluated yet. This study has evaluated the resilience of the two dominant existing farming systems in West Timor, i.e. (i) wetland farming system and (ii) dryland farming system. This research aims to understand the resilience of farming after the Covid-19 pandemic and to develop strategic policies that could be adopted to increase the resilience of the farming system in West Timor. A quantitative analysis using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was employed to evaluate the relationship and impact of the following seven generic aspects: labour movement, sustainability, economy, socio- culture, output markets, input markets, farming system resilience, and 27 reflective indicators. The analysis shows that dryland farming systems are more resilient than wetland farming systems. It might be understood from the size of the regression coefficient, as the impact of exogenous construct variables of the environment, socioculture, input, and output on the resilience of dryland farming systems is more significant than on wetlands. Economic performance rather than labour movement factors will create better resilience of farming systems for wetland or dryland after the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, the economic recovery process and the ongoing input supply mechanism after the Covid-19 pandemic have increased the resilience of the dryland food system more than the resilience of the wetland farming system.

Securing the Future of UK Public-Interest News: Navigating Change With Foresight and Innovation

This article delves into the factors driving change in the UK’s public-interest news sector, pinpointing key uncertainties that shape its future. Through a participatory action research approach and scenario planning, the study News Futures 2035, seeks to answer the pivotal question: How can the UK ensure the ongoing supply of trustworthy, public-interest news? It stands out for its unique focus, enriching the debate among industry, academia, policymakers, and civil society on safeguarding the sector’s future. The research identified two primary, unpredictable elements with significant influence: the realm of policies, regulations, and governance; and the industry’s capacity for innovation to maintain the relevance of public-interest news for all stakeholders. The study highlights the indispensable role of collaborative action research and continuous dialogue among key stakeholders. It emphasizes the need for structured, cooperative efforts to navigate the complexities of policy, regulation, and consumer relevance, introducing the concept of back-channel deliberations, akin to track 2 diplomacy, as a valuable strategy for engaging diverse stakeholders in informal yet structured discussions. This method promises to foster a platform for innovative solutions and mutual understanding, addressing the challenges to the future supply of public-interest news. The participants’ commitment to advancing this dialogue through a dedicated forum underlines the importance of ongoing stakeholder engagement to ensure the sector’s relevance, sustainability, and societal impact.

Transformative effects of mid-day school meal program in Nuwakot district through Homegrown model: A case study of Nepal

This study aims to explore the roles of various actors in school meal programs in the Nuwakot district, particularly those following homegrown models. A mixed-method research approach was employed, involving 16 government schools (with 64 interviews) from two local governments to understand the program's impact. The school meal program in Nepal has heightened awareness among various stakeholders. Hot meals are prepared and served, with a collaborative effort in line with homegrown models involving parents who play a significant role. Schools, too, contribute significantly to the success of the program. The utilization of locally produced foods has increased, albeit with seasonal variations, and involves farmers and cooperatives. This shift has resulted in changes in dietary practices. The cooperative's role is pivotal in ensuring an ongoing supply of limited school and food items. Local markets play a crucial role in meeting demands for these programs. The local governments' role is vital, requiring a multi-sectoral approach to effectively support and sustain the program.

Temporal variability in irrigated land and climate influences on salinity loading across the Upper Colorado River Basin, 1986-2017

Freshwater salinization is a growing global concern impacting human and ecosystem needs with impacts to water availability for human and ecological uses. In the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB), dissolved solids in streams compound ongoing water supply challenges to further limit water availability and cause economic damages. Much effort has been dedicated to understanding dissolved solid sources, transport, and management in the region, yet temporal variability in loading from key sources such as irrigated lands and the influence of climate on dissolved solids loading remains unknown. Quantifying the contributions and temporal variability of dissolved solids loads from irrigated lands may benefit salinity management efforts. This study applies a time-varying (dynamic) modeling approach to predict annual dissolved solids loads across the UCRB from 1986 through 2017. Between 66% and 82% of the total accumulated dissolved solids load in the basin is from groundwater (storage and baseflow). Our findings link climate, irrigation, and groundwater, and confirm large storage contributions that have declined slightly with time. Dissolved solids loads increase during wet periods and decrease during dry periods, although the relative contributions of different sources vary little with time. Irrigation enhances loading efficiency relative to unirrigated areas through runoff and groundwater, and can locally be a major source of dissolved solids where irrigation occurs. Results indicate that loads from irrigated areas increase when irrigated area and/or water available for runoff increase. Increased regional aridification over the study period may have contributed to decreasing stream salinity through both quicker surface runoff and lagged groundwater storage processes. Study results may be relevant to salinity management in arid environments where water availability is limited and where irrigation influences salinity loading to streams.

Irrigation response to drought in the Western United States, 1987–2021

AbstractThe Western United States (U.S.) relies heavily on scarce water resources for both ecological services and irrigation. However, the response of irrigation water use during drought is not well documented. Irrigation decision‐making is complex and influenced by human and environmental factors such as water deliveries, crop yields, equipment, labor, crop prices, and climate variability. While few irrigation districts have plans to curtail water deliveries during droughts, water rights, fallowing patterns, crop rotations, and profit expectations also influence irrigation management at the farm scale. This study uses high‐resolution satellite data to examine the response of irrigators to drought by using a novel measure of irrigation management, the Standardized Irrigation Management Index. We assess the state of drought at the field and basin scales in terms of climate and streamflow and analyze the importance of variations in crop price and drought status on decision‐making and water use. We show significant variability in field‐scale response to drought and that crop type, irrigation type, and federal management explain regional and field‐scale differences. The relative influence of climate and prices on crop transitions indicate prices more strongly drive crop planting decisions. The study provides insights into irrigation management during drought, which is crucial for sustainable water supply in the face of the ongoing water supply crisis in the U.S. Southwest.

Monitoring of design models of ongoing water supply and drainage projects in the Kyrgyz Republic

Monitoring of water supply and drainage design models is an important task in the context of sustainable development of cities and regions. With increasing population and climate change, effective management of water resources becomes critical. Monitoring of design models helps identify the effectiveness and shortcomings of projects and ensures they adapt to changing conditions. Existing water supply and drainage design models may face a number of problems, such as insufficient efficiency, instability to changing conditions and technological limitations. It is important to investigate these problems and develop monitoring methods and tools that will improve the quality of design and implementation of such projects. The purpose of the study is to develop a system for monitoring of design models of ongoing water supply and drainage projects in order to increase their efficiency and sustainability. The main objectives of the study include: Analysis of existing design models and identification of their main characteristics. Determination of criteria for the effectiveness and sustainability of water supply and drainage projects. Review of monitoring methods and tools that allow to evaluate the compliance of design models with specified criteria. Conducting an analysis of the effectiveness and sustainability of existing projects and identifying areas for improvement.

Enhancing domestic food supply in the UAE: A framework for technology-driven urban farming systems

It is estimated that the recent ongoing supply chain disruptions have forced a transition in the traditional food supply chain business models. Organizations across all sectors are now adopting digital transformation strategies for embracing the new normal. Food security in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is threatened by country's heavy reliance on food imports. Innovative urban farming systems are anticipated to improve the food security and sustainability to a great extent. Using a survey-based methodology, the present study aims to develop, validate, and apply a multi-dimensional innovative urban food production system framework for UAEs agricultural sector. Based on the data collected from 299 stakeholders across the whole agri-food supply chains in the UAE, the study determines ways of reducing dependency on food imports by scaling up technology-driven and resource-efficient innovative urban farming systems. Data were analysed and the model were moderated using Analysis of MOment Structures (AMOS) and Partial Least Squares- Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings from the study highlight that digital technology moderates the relationship between innovative urban farming systems and sustainable urban farming. Resource efficiency and conservation practices were positively associated with sustainable urban farming. The study offers several managerial and theoretical insights.

Evolutionary flexibility and rigidity in the bacterial methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway.

Terpenoids are a diverse class of compounds with wide-ranging uses including as industrial solvents, pharmaceuticals, and fragrances. Efforts to produce terpenoids sustainably by engineering microbes for fermentation are ongoing, but industrial production still largely relies on nonrenewable sources. The methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway generates terpenoid precursor molecules and includes the enzyme Dxs and two iron-sulfur cluster enzymes: IspG and IspH. IspG and IspH are rate limiting-enzymes of the MEP pathway but are challenging for metabolic engineering because they require iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis and an ongoing supply of reducing equivalents to function. Therefore, identifying novel alternatives to IspG and IspH has been an on-going effort to aid in metabolic engineering of terpenoid biosynthesis. We report here an analysis of the evolutionary diversity of terpenoid biosynthesis strategies as a resource for exploration of alternative terpenoid biosynthesis pathways. Using comparative genomics, we surveyed a database of 4,400 diverse bacterial species and found that some may have evolved alternatives to the first enzyme in the pathway, Dxs making it evolutionarily flexible. In contrast, we found that IspG and IspH are evolutionarily rigid because we could not identify any species that appear to have enzymatic routes that circumvent these enzymes. The ever-growing repository of sequenced bacterial genomes has great potential to provide metabolic engineers with alternative metabolic pathway solutions. With the current state of knowledge, we found that enzymes IspG and IspH are evolutionarily indispensable which informs both metabolic engineering efforts and our understanding of the evolution of terpenoid biosynthesis pathways.

Hyper-Competitive Industrial Markets: Implications for Urban Planning and the Manufacturing Renaissance

After several decades of deindustrialisation in the so-called advanced economies, we are seeing a renewed enthusiasm for urban manufacturing in cities, and the integration of production into the city fabric. Yet, small-scale industrial accommodation has long been susceptible to displacement by higher-value land uses—particularly residential and prime office—which directly undermines such aspirations. This article focuses on the case of London and, through a review of planning policy and planning documents, market data, and participant observation in both public and private sector networks, provides evidence for and explores the impacts of a hyper-competitive industrial market that has emerged as an outcome of ongoing limited supply and growing demand in the sector. Although it signals a reversal of displacement dynamics between industrial and residential uses, potentially slowing the loss of industrial land supply, it is also leading to a narrowing of demand and competition within the industrial market that leads to intra-industrial gentrification and threatens smaller manufacturers. The article reveals tensions and limitations in planning approaches that seek to manage industrial land supply and create a diversity of workspace accommodation, as well as a gap between popular policy narratives of industrious cities and manufacturing renaissance, and the coherence of policies to support them. The article concludes with a discussion of future research that could advance policy and other interventions to support manufacturing in cities, to further sustainability and social inclusion agendas.

Environmental strategies for a healthcare system with green technology investment and pandemic effects

Today the healthcare industries struggle to cope with the ecological and social challenges for their customer services even while we are entering into a post-pandemic economy. Hospitals are quickly running out of essential medical supplies and firms are fraught to keep up with the rise in pent-up demand due to ongoing supply chain issues caused by the troubles from the pandemic. Therefore, we must design a sustainable inventory strategy for managing the healthcare supply chain (HSC) to ensure customer service and net-zero economy. This study explores sustainable inventory policies in a pandemic situation while considering the transport cost as proportional to COVID-19 intensity. We assume that the pharmaceuticals items have a predictable shelf-life and demand rate directly relates to the effectiveness of the investment in service facilities. The model incorporates the carbon emissions during the activities of transport, production, and storage, which are intended to be cut by green investment. The proposed scenario is modeled as an optimization problem and a solution approach has been designed for finding the sustainable inventory strategies such as order lot-size, delivery lead time, amount of green and service investment with the objective of reducing CO2 and overall cost. Key managerial insights into the influence of pandemic are extracted through the study of numerical and sensitivity. The suggested model is validated in the healthcare sector. The novelty of this research is examining the effect of green investment and COVID-19 pandemic on HSC. This work also reveals how green technology can play a vital role in managing the HSC issues caused by the pandemic in the post-COVID-19 environment.

Cheating ‘Jack Tar’: seafarers’ wages in Britain’s Royal Navy, 1754–1767

ABSTRACT The introduction of the Navy Act of 1758 by the British Parliament was designed to provide a mechanism whereby the payment of wages and allowances to Royal Navy seafarers and their dependants would be placed on a more equitable footing through more timely remittances. This study challenges earlier claims made concerning the effectiveness of the Act in this regard. By utilising modern accrual accounting techniques, we demonstrate conclusively how, over a 14-year period of war and peace (1754–1767) that included the promulgation of the Act, seafarers were forced to endure longer periods for payment seemingly at odds with the desires of Parliament. We provide explanations regarding this phenomenon showing seafarers were ensnared in a macro-level public-finance policy agenda that strictly prioritised the credit status of the Royal Navy through the timely payment of Navy bills at the expense of the day-to-day survival needs of seafarers. In order to maintain reputation and ensure the ongoing supply of materials, we show that accounting technologies, in the form of parliamentary budgetary processes and Treasury and Royal Navy cash management practices, were used to deliver this outcome.

(Invited) Recent Progress Towards Giga-Scale Sodium-Ion Batteries

Ongoing lithium-ion minerals supply chain volatility has driven price increases and supply shortages, and motivates the development and commercialization of alternative cell chemistries not dependent on those minerals.1-2 Among these alternative chemistries, sodium-ion cells offer promise due to the abundance and low cost of both sodium salts and typical electrode active species such as iron and manganese.2-3 Among sodium-ion electrode systems, Prussian blue analogues offer unique performance advantages including high C-rate charge and discharge, long cycle life, and thermal stability.4-6 Natron Energy has commercialized a unique sodium-ion cell in which each of the anode and cathode active materials are Prussian blue analogues. Products based on these cells are capable of full discharge at up to 60C, full recharge at up to 20C, and operate for tens of thousands of cycles without risk of thermal runaway. However, their energy density is limited by relatively low electrode specific capacities and cell voltage. This presentation will introduce the key materials science concepts that make Prussian blues a commercially viable materials system, as well as those that limit product performance, manufacturability, and the resulting applicable markets. In addition, Natron’s recent progress towards mass manufacturing of cells based on these materials will be summarized. This presentation will conclude with an overview of the key open scientific questions that must be answered for cost effective, giga-factory scale manufacturing of sodium-ion cells to become a reality.

Critical risk factors for construction supply chain in China: a fuzzy synthetic evaluation analysis

PurposeInefficiency dilemmas in project governance are caused by various risks arising from the characteristic of construction supply chain projects, such as poor project performance, conflicts between stakeholders and cost overrun. This research aims to establish a fuzzy synthetic evaluation (FSE) model to analyze construction supply chain risk factors. Corresponding risk mitigation strategies are provided to facilitate the improvement performance of ongoing construction supply chain projects.Design/methodology/approachA literature review is utilized to reveal the deficiencies of construction supply chain risk management. Thus, a total of five hundred (500) questionnaires are distributed to construction professionals, and four hundred and thirty-five (435) questionnaires are recovered to obtain the evaluation data of construction professionals on critical risk factors. Additionally, the FSE is used to analyze and rank the significance of critical risk factors. Finally, this research discusses nine critical risk factors with high weight in the model, and explains the reason for the significance of critical risk factors in the construction supply chain.FindingsThe questionnaire results show that the thirty-one (31) identified critical risk factors are verified by related practitioners (government departments, universities and research institutions, owners, construction units, financial institutions, design units, consulting firms). Thirty-one (31) identified critical risk factors are divided into common risks, risks from contractors and risks from owners. The most significant factors in the three categories, respectively, are “political risks,” “owner's unprofessional” approach and “cash flow.” Managing these risks can facilitate the development of the construction supply chain.Originality/valueThis paper expands the research perspective of construction supply chain risk management and complements the risks in the construction supply chain. For practitioners, the research result provides some corresponding measures to deal with these risks. For researchers, the research result provides the direction of construction supply chain risk treatment.

Clean energy technologies: assessing advantages and risks

Our society increasingly depends on power and fuel in daily life. This reliance encourages legislators and regulators to place the ongoing energy supply at a relatively low and fixed price – what is often referred to as energy security – as one of their most crucial policy goals. Contemporary research has already established that energy diversification (i.e., adding renewables to non-renewable sources) is remarkably beneficial to this objective. The main reason for this is that the different origin of energy is affected by different uncertainties and thus may remain stable when the conventional courses fail. This article aims to provide arguments for energy sources diversification. It explains why policymakers should encourage the development of specific clean energy technologies. Moreover, it assesses the advantages and risks of such a decision, and explores the involvement of the public sector in renewable technologies.