Single Supply Research Articles

How Does Supply Network Structure Influence Firms’ Financial Performance During Disruption?

In a post pandemic world, supply chain mapping has become a key concern for almost any supply chain operation. A single focal supply chain network might have hundreds of suppliers including those that supply both goods and services. These increase exponentially as one traces the network downstream. Using a pair of networks from the auto industry (Ford and General Motors) as a basis for the analysis, we apply a data mining technique to filter for significant supply chain relationships in each of these networks over the period spanning 2018–2022. We then examine the structural metrics for each of these networks and compare these measures with applicable financial measures to elucidate how supply chain network structure affects financial performance. Our regression analyses reveal that supplier network structures significantly affect customers’ market value. Specifically, Tobin’s Q is negatively related to the number of suppliers they source from and the importance of the customer (e.g., Ford) to its suppliers, but it is positively associated with the tightness of supplier customer connection and the density of the network.

Effects of different phosphorus and potassium supply on the root architecture, phosphorus and potassium uptake, and utilization efficiency of hydroponic rice

Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) affect seedling growth, root configuration, and nutrient uptake in hydroponic rice, but there are few studies on all growth stages of rice. The purpose of this experiment was to determine the response characteristics of root morphology, plant physiology, and P and K uptake and utilization efficiency to different supplies of P and K. Two local conventional rice varieties (Shennong 265 and Liaojing 294) were used as experimental materials across four treatments, including HPHK (sufficient P and K supply), HPLK (sufficient P supply under low K levels), LPHK (sufficient K supply under low P levels) and LPLK (low P and K levels) in a hydroponic setting. The results showed that HPHK and HPLK significantly decreased the acid phosphatase activity of leaves and roots from full heading to filling stages when compared to LPHK and LPLK. Sufficient supply of P or K significantly increased the accumulation of P and K (aboveground, leaves, stem sheath, and whole plant) and root morphological parameters (root length, root surface area, total root volume, and tips) during major growth stages when compared to LP or LK levels. HPHK was significantly higher than other treatments in terms of dry weight and the root activity at the main growth stage, P and K uptake rates in nutrient solutions at various stages, related P and K efficiency at the maturity stage, yield, effective panicle number, and grain number per panicle. In addition, the effect of HPHK on the above indexes were significantly greater than those of single sufficient supply of P or K. In conclusion, HPHK can improve plant configuration, increase plant P and K absorption and root activity, and increase rice yield and related P and K utilization efficiency.

Fatigue performance of a fastener hole treated by a novel electromagnetic strengthening process

In this study, a novel non-contacting electromagnetic cold expansion process was proposed to improve the fatigue performance of hole component using a single power supply and a single coil. The stress state and deformation of the 6063-T6 aluminum alloy hole component during the electromagnetic strengthening process were investigated through numerical simulation. The residual stress around the hole edge was measured using XRD. Fatigue testing was performed to verify the effectiveness of the process on improving the fatigue life of the hole component. Results showed that the proposed electromagnetic strengthening process could effectively improve the fatigue life of the hole component. Fatigue life of the specimen via electromagnetic treatment is 3.42 times of that of the original specimen at a maximum stress of 120 MPa. Simulation results indicated that the generation of compressive residual stress was attributed to the falling stage of the pulse current, and the maximum compressive residual stress was −102 MPa.

A rare combined variation of left renal vasculature in a human cadaver: embryological basis and clinical significance.

Classically, a single renal artery supplies, and a single renal vein drains each kidney. The morphology and variations in the renal vascular structures are of great importance when performing any type of renal surgery. The present case describes a rare combination of renal vasculature variation in a formalin-fixed, Chinese male cadaver. In this case, the left kidney is drained by a main renal vein (MRV) and an inferior renal vein (IRV), the latter might be the remnant of the left dorsal renal vein during the embryonic period. Two sets of renal arteries are present in this case, possibly due to persistent mesonephric arteries during embryonic development. Describing such anatomical variations is not only of academic interest but also important to help radiologists with the correct interpretation of image examinations and for surgeons to be prepared in advance.

Optimization of process parameters for Trifolium pratense L. seed granulation coating using GA-BP neural network

Regarding the issue of low granulation qualification rates during the granulation coating of red clover seeds, this study theoretically analyzed the force conditions of seeds and powder particles under the action of liquid to obtain the main factors affecting seed coating quality. During the seed granulation coating process, an intermittent powder supply method combined with continuous liquid supply was utilized to control the ratio of powder to liquid. Using the granulation qualification rate as the evaluation index, single-factor experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of coating pan fill ratio, single powder supply amount, powder supply interval, and liquid supply amount on the quality of red clover seed granulation coating. Based on the results of the single-factor experiments, orthogonal experiments were conducted, revealing that the interaction of factors would influence the experimental results. To further optimize the quality of seed granulation coating, the mechanisms of powder and liquid in the adhesion process on granulation coating were explored. Orthogonal experiments were conducted on the process parameters of the granulation coating machine, and the GA-BP model was employed for optimization and solution. The optimal process parameter combination obtained was a coating pan fill ratio of 33.78 %, a single powder supply amount of 5.17 g, a powder supply interval of 7.7 s, and a liquid supply amount of 0.42 mL/s. Under this optimal parameter combination, granulation coating experiments with red clover seeds were performed, and the seed granulation coating quality was relatively high, with a granulation qualification rate of 97.7 %. The research results can provide a reference for optimization experiments on coating irregular seeds.

Single and Multiple Supplies – The UK Perspective

In this article, the author addresses the complex issue of single and multiple supplies from a UK perspective. She looks at HMRC’s approach and the developments in both UK and EU case law that influence this approach.

Seat to beat: Novel capacitive ECG integration for in-car cardiovascular measurement

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of global mortality, responsible for approximately one in five deaths. In response to these concerning statistics, there is a growing need for innovative solutions enabling cardiac monitoring beyond medical facilities. This paper demonstrates the fabrication and development of a novel system designed to be integrated into passenger car seats, facilitating continuous monitoring of passengers’ cardiac activity. The system comprises a capacitive electrode prototype, a custom-designed analog signal processing circuit, and a computing unit. Two ultrathin capacitive electrodes were fabricated with a diameter of 56.42 mm protected by a guard layer to reduce noise. The amplification circuitry was comprised of operational amplifiers tasked with filtering and conditioning the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. Heart rates calculated from our measurements were comparable with clinical ECG. The experimental setup underwent testing on human subjects while they were in a state of tranquil sitting within passenger cars and also in laboratory conditions. The proposed system offers the flexibility for single and dual power supplies in full capacitive or hybrid mode. Our experimental results confirm the system’s feasibility and its capability to record high-quality signals from weak biopotentials, highlighting its potential for real-world applications.

Cell-Free Gene Expression in Bioprinted Fluidic Networks.

The realization of soft robotic devices with life-like properties requires the engineering of smart, active materials that can respond to environmental cues in similar ways as living cells or organisms. Cell-free expression systems provide an approach for embedding dynamic molecular control into such materials that avoids many of the complexities associated with genuinely living systems. Here, we present a strategy to integrate cell-free protein synthesis within agarose-based hydrogels that can be spatially organized and supplied by a synthetic vasculature. We first utilize an indirect printing approach with a commercial bioprinter and Pluronic F-127 as a fugitive ink to define fluidic channel structures within the hydrogels. We then investigate the impact of the gel matrix on the expression of proteins in E. coli cell-extract, which is found to depend on the gel density and the dilution of the expression system. When supplying the vascularized hydrogels with reactants, larger components such as DNA plasmids are confined to the channels or immobilized in the gels while nanoscale reaction components can diffusively spread within the gel. Using a single supply channel, we demonstrate different spatial protein concentration profiles emerging from different cell-free gene circuits comprising production, gene activation, and negative feedback. Variation of the channel design allows the creation of specific concentration profiles such as a long-term stable gradient or the homogeneous supply of a hydrogel with proteins.

Beneficiary appointment and delivery planning in a conflict setting

AbstractIn this study, we explore the challenges faced by humanitarian organizations engaged in relief efforts for internally displaced individuals during armed conflicts. Based on our semistructured interviews with three local nongovernmental organizations (LNGOs) in Syria, we introduce a new appointment scheduling problem to improve decision‐making for aid delivery planning in conflict settings. Operating in a highly resource‐constrained environment, these LNGOs face complexities that necessitate effective decision support tools to streamline supply delivery at relief facilities, where a large number of registered beneficiaries are served. Our proposed appointment scheduling problem aims to optimize the allocation of delivery times for various supplies, taking into account the urgency of needs and operational limitations. We present a heuristic that addresses the complexities of the proposed scheduling problem in a flexible way. The heuristic can accommodate simple rules derived from LNGOs' operational policies on the ground, such as imposing a single visit per beneficiary, delivering a single supply type per day, and preallocating time slots to conflict groups. We present a case study based on the Latakia district of Syria to assess the performance of our heuristic and the effectiveness of simplified delivery strategies. Our results not only showcase the efficiency of the heuristic, but also provide valuable managerial insights. We find that cross‐training of staff is more beneficial when supplies are relatively abundant. Furthermore, the simplified delivery policies are effective in certain conditions contingent upon various factors, including supply scarcity, difficulty of travel, and the level of conflict in the population.

Decision on the introduction of blockchain technology in green supply chains considering altruistic preferences

Purpose This paper aims to examine the blockchain introduction and altruistic preference decisions of the supplier in agricultural food supply chains and discuss how the supplier decisions are influenced by blockchain technology and altruistic preference levels. Design/methodology/approach The author considers a single period two-level supply chain model to describe the supplier’s decisions. The supplier, as the leader of the game, decides whether to introduce blockchain technology and his own level of altruistic preferences. Consumers have environmental awareness and heterogeneity in green trust. Supply chain members determine their own product pricing and green effort level under Stackelberg game. Findings The results reveal the negative impact of unit verification cost in the technology introduction process on the supply chain. In addition, the supplier can adjust their profits by adjusting their altruistic preferences after introducing blockchain to offset the impact of blockchain through the influence of altruistic preferences as discussed by the author. Originality/value This paper investigates how the profits and green efforts of supply chain members are influenced by blockchain technology and altruistic preferences.

Risk analysis applied to the process of managing medical single use devices in a hospital pharmacy department

During the COVID-19 pandemic, single use medical devices' supply (SUMD) was marked by repetitive and unforeseen interruptions. The present study aimed to determine the risks related to the processes of management of medical devices in our CHU according to a method of failure mode, effect and criticality analysis (FMECA). Qualified healthcare professionals were recruited to form a multidisciplinary consensus committee. By analyzing the process map, all failure modes, causes and consequences were identified through brainstorming meetings. They were then classified taking into account the criticality index (CI) calculated according to three parameters: frequency, severity, and detectability. The prioritization was carried out by considering the mean and the median values of the CI as limits. Corrective and preventive actions were then proposed. A total of 49 failure modes were identified, accumulating 4466 criticality points. The most critical step is that relating to the inter-depot order with a CI equal to 783 points. An action plan was developed, allows us to control 64% of the overall criticality of the risks linked to the process. Three main lines of action have been proposed: continuous training, especially for managerial and administrative tasks, logistical improvement (architectural reorganization and implementation of systems for securing the circuit of SUMDs) and support for the digitization of hospital pharmacy. The FMECA is a consensual method, which makes it possible to propose actions in order to reduce the risks linked to the process of managing medical devices. Optimizing the estimation of needs, strengthening communication with stakeholders and securing the circuit are essential to guarantee the availability of SUMDs for the benefit of the patient.

Tool Wear Analysis During Turning with Single and Dual Supply of LN2

In the presented research work, LN2 supplied directly at rake face and in another localised machining condition, LN2 supplied at rake and flank face simultaneously. The DoE of performance of experiments was in accordance with Taguchi S/N ratio L18. It was found that flank wear length and crater wear width at LN2 supply at rake & flank face simultaneously declined by 23-38% and 20-30% respectively as compared to LN2 supply at rake face only. ANOVA gave the highest effect of contribution in the percentage to LN2 supply at rake & flank face simultaneously as 76.06% and 77.67%, next in decreasing order followed by speed, feed and depth of cut. SEM images depicted that flank wear length and crater wear width in both machining conditions. Tool wear was low during turning LN2 supply at rake and flank face. Optimized values of each response was confirmed by repeating the experiments.

Multimodal soft valve enables physical responsiveness for preemptive resilience of soft robots.

Resilience is crucial for the self-preservation of biological systems: Humans recover from wounds thanks to an immune system that autonomously enacts a multistage response to promote healing. Similar passive mechanisms can enable pneumatic soft robots to overcome common faults such as bursts originating from punctures or overpressurization. Recent technological advancements, ranging from fault-tolerant controllers for robot reconfigurability to self-healing materials, have paved the way for robot resilience. However, these techniques require powerful processors and large datasets or external hardware. How to extend the operational life span of damaged soft robots with minimal computational and physical resources remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated a multimodal pneumatic soft valve capable of passive resilient reactions, triggered by faults, to prevent or isolate damage in soft robots. In its forward operation mode, the valve, requiring a single supply pressure, isolated punctured soft inflatable elements from the rest of the soft robot in as fast as 21 milliseconds. In its reverse operation mode, the valve can passively protect robots against overpressurization caused by external disturbances, avoiding plastic deformations and bursts. Furthermore, the two modes combined enabled the creation of an endogenously controlled valve capable of autonomous burst isolation. We demonstrated the passive and quick response and the possibility of monolithic integration of the soft valve in grippers and crawling robots. The approach proposed in this study provides a distributed small-footprint alternative to controller-based resilience and is expected to help soft robots achieve uninterrupted long-lasting operation.

A transient-enhanced output-capacitorless LDO regulator with non-inverting pull–push gain stage

A novel non-inverting pull–push gain stage output-capacitorless low-dropout regulator (OCL-LDO) is introduced, designed specifically for power management of system-on-chip (SoC). The incorporation of an innovative non-inverting gain stage (NIGS) serves to shift the non-dominant parasitic poles to higher frequencies, thereby enhancing the overall stability of the system. The proposed pull-push configuration markedly improves the slew rate limitation at the gate of the power transistor. Post-layout simulation outcomes, corroborated through a 180-nm CMOS fabrication process, indicate that the proposed LDO regulator maintains stability across a wide range of loading currents, from 0 mA to 100 mA, with a Miller compensation capacitance of only 3.5 pF. The circuit operates with a quiescent current of 143 μA when powered by a 1.5 V single supply. The LDO regulator boasts a dropout voltage of 300 mV, enabling it to deliver up to 100 mA of load current. Simulation results show that the undershoot voltage is only 63.7 mV when the load current jumps from 0 to 100 mA with edge of 100 ns, while employing a 100 pF capacitance load. The recovery time to return to equilibrium post this abrupt change is approximately 0.15 μs. The proposed OCL-LDO regulator exhibits a substantial enhancement in transient response compared to its predecessors, alongside a harmonized balance between line regulation and load regulation performance parameters.

Housing-Resources Spatial Mismatch Investigation of Affordable Housing and Policy Implementation: A Case Study from Hangzhou, China

Intensive spatial transformation and restructuring in China these years has brought the separation of residence-job, so as to residence-public services, which adversely affects people’s access and enjoyment of job and public service resources, especially for the disadvantaged populations with limited choice of residence location and insufficient access to those resources. The residents of affordable housing are among the typical disadvantaged populations under the existing affordable housing policy in China. Residence-job separation of affordable housing residents has been paid much attention in literature, but no specific study has been conducted on the residence-public services separation and the behavioral responses of the residents. Spatial mismatch theory was originally put forward to reveal the adverse labor market outcome brought about by residence-job separation, and nowadays some scholars have tried to extend the residence-job spatial mismatch to residence-other resource spatial mismatch. This research responds to both the dilemma facing by the disadvantaged affordable housing residents and the extension trend of spatial mismatch theory. By applying the spatial mismatch theory and taking several affordable housing communities of Hangzhou as examples, the study explore the problems existing in affordable housing in commuting, employment, public service and residents' behavior response. The results found that the current affordable housing policy has led to an increase in commuting costs, a decrease in employment accessibility and welfare, a decrease in accessibility and satisfaction of public services, and disruptive behavior in the affordable housing market. These problems are mainly caused by remote layout and single supply, unreasonable allocation methods, difficulty in exchanging housing units and inadequate supervision of undesirable behaviors. To alleviate the spatial mismatch between housing and resources in Hangzhou, policy suggestions could be considered from four aspects: housing layout and supply, allocation methods, housing exchange and supervision.

Collaborative Planning and Comprehensive Evaluation Method for Energy Storage System and Flexible Interconnection in Distribution Networks Considering Island Operation

Introduction: When the superior power grid fails and loses power, due to the traditional single power supply radial grid structure of low-voltage substation areas, all loads in the lowvoltage substation area will lose power, causing a poor electricity consumption experience for low-voltage users. To enhance the resilience of low-voltage distribution areas against faults and power outages from higher-tier power grids, a collaborative planning and comprehensive evaluation method for grid-forming energy storage systems (GFM-ESS) and flexible interconnection in distribution networks, considering island operation, is proposed. Method: This method integrates GFM-ESS and flexible interconnections, taking islanding operations into account. Firstly, the structure of GFM-ESS and voltage source converters is analyzed. The control modes of GFM-ESS in parallel or off-grid scenarios are also scrutinized. Secondly, minimizing the annual comprehensive cost and the annual power outage load are the objective functions. A bilevel programming model for GFM-ESS and flexible interconnection of lowvoltage distribution networks, considering island operation, has been established. Moreover, a comprehensive evaluation method based on the analytic hierarchy process for proposed lowvoltage distribution network structural schemes is introduced. An evaluation index system is established to assess the rationality of these proposed network structural planning schemes. Finally, the superiority of the proposed collaborative planning method is verified through a comparative analysis of three planning methods. Result: The proposed collaborative planning method can effectively ensure the continuous power supply of low-voltage distribution networks under the fault scenario of the upper power network. Conclusion: Moreover, the rationality of the results obtained from the proposed collaborative planning method is verified through a comprehensive evaluation method of grid structure schemes based on the analytic hierarchy process. The proposed comprehensive evaluation method can determine which two areas are optimal for grid planning. result: The superiority of the proposed collaborative planning method was verified by comparative analysis of three planning methods. And the rationality of the proposed collaborative planning method results was verified by the comprehensive evaluation method of grid structure schemes based on analytic hierarchy process.

Supply chain model having stochastic lead time demand with variable production rate and demand dependent on price and advertisement

In this present study, a single-manufacturer and single-retailer supply chain management model are formulated for a single product. This study specifically looks at a supply chain with variable production rate, stochastic lead time demand, and price- and advertisement-dependent demand. By incorporating these complex aspects into a model, which enables to examine their combined effects on supply chain performance, this study adds to the body of knowledge. The study reveals unique insights into the complex interplay between pricing tactics, advertising efforts, production dynamics, and the variability brought on by stochastic lead times through meticulous study and modelling. Finally, the total system profit is calculated and optimized with all the decision variables. A classical approach is performed to obtain the optimized solution of the joint profit function along with the decision variables. Two models are discussed in the study: (1) the model with normally distributed lead time demand and (2) the model with distribution-free lead time demand. The joint profit of the supply chain is found to be lesser by 1% for the normally distributed lead time demand than the distribution free pattern. The comparison of the shipment policies and the safety factors for the different distribution patterns of the lead time demand are shown. Though the huge increment in the safety factor for unknown leadtime demand distribution may help in reducing the uncertainity factor and disruptions in the supply chain, but also it may unnecessarily tie up more capital which can be invested in other sectors of the supply chain.

Development of an Automatic Phase Selector for Nigerian Power Utility Customers

Power utility customers in a developing country like Nigeria have constituted a habit of changing the electricity supply line from an unavailable or unstable phase to the most available or stable phase. The category of customers involved in this character are those on single phase power supply. However, this act is being carried out manually at the meter point using the cut-out fuses. This attitude results in phase unbalances, overheating electrical equipment including feeder pillars, transformer coils, network faults, and overall system instability. Thus, this paper presents the development of an Automatic Phase Selector for Nigerian Power Utility Customers. The device automatically selects an available phase from the three-phase power supply lines. The research comprises designing an automatic phase selector circuit, simulation of the designed circuit, programming code development in C- Language for the microcontroller, construction of the designed circuit, and carrying out tests on completed work done to ascertain the effectiveness of the developed system. The system operation involved a three-phase supply from the closest distribution network of the power utility company which is connected to a three-in-one gang switch while the switching ON and OFF of their static switches represent phase-off in an ideal situation. The operational results of this system are presented in the form of the truth table which indicates that the affected customer would not have a power supply only when the 3-phases are under voltage or overvoltage or unavailable. This implies that one of the three phases that meet the three criteria would be switched ON. A pure sine wave was used as input into the Optocoupler and the output waveform of the rectified pulsating signal is separately displayed. This output waveform is very clean and noiseless. Finally, the system when practically tested with an unbalanced three-phase supply, worked perfectly enhancing the flexibility of operating an Automatic Phase selector and hence avoiding manual switching of the phase selector which has been attributed to changing of cut-out fuses and associated stress as well as having a user-friendly phase selector.

Distributed Photovoltaic Site Selection and Capacity Planning Considering Power Mutual Support in Multiple Power Distribution Areas

Abstract With the rapid development of local economy, the form of independent power supply from a single power supply in the power distribution area is difficult to meet the demand for high reliability. The interconnection and power mutual assistance planning of power distribution areas under large-scale distributed photovoltaic access have attracted widespread attention. Due to the randomness and volatility of distributed photovoltaics, its different access methods and capacities will affect the safe and stable operation and power mutual assistance capabilities of the distribution area. In order to study the site selection and capacity planning problem of distributed photovoltaics, this paper builds a site selection and capacity model based on the three-phase power flow equation with the maximum external power of the station area as the optimization goal and the safe operation of the distribution area as constraints. Furthermore, an optimization method for distributed photovoltaic site selection and capacity based on improved particle swarm algorithm is proposed. Finally, this paper verified the effectiveness of the optimization method through simulation analysis on the IEEE33 three-phase grid model. The simulation results show that this method of site selection and capacity determination can achieve maximum power transmission in the power distribution area while ensuring the safe and stable operation of the area.

Integrating Inventory Management and Distribution: A Holistic Supply Chain Strategy

This study/research delves into an integrated approach to inventory management, shedding light on various inventory management technologies applicable across different industries and distribution systems. The overarching goal is to attain a competitive edge by reducing costs and enhancing service quality. It underscores the significant impact of total logistics costs, encompassing transportation, facility, and inventory expenses, on a company's competitiveness. By harmonizing inventory and distribution policy decisions, businesses can streamline costs and enhance their ability to respond effectively to market demands. The effectiveness of this integration is illustrated through a practical example involving a scenario of single supply and multiple demands. Moreover, the study examines the pivotal role of Vendor Managed Inventory in optimizing inventory management throughout the supply chain. Additionally, it explores the utilization of the Traveling Salesman Problem to streamline transportation expenses. Through the adoption of this integrated approach, organizations can realize cost efficiencies and bolster their responsiveness, ultimately strengthening their competitive position within the industry.