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This study’s aim is to introduce a high-performance sorbent for the removal of both anionic (Congo red; CR) and cationic (methylene blue; MB) dyes from aqueous solutions.

Sodium silicate is adopted as a substrate for GO and AgNPs with positive charge are used as modifiers. The synthesized nanocomposite is characterized by FTIR, FESEM, EDS, BET and XRD techniques. Then, some of the most effective parameters on the removal of CR and MB dyes such as solution pH, sorbent dose, adsorption equilibrium time, primary dye concentration and salt effect are optimized using the spectrophotometry technique.

The authors successfully achieved notable maximum adsorption capacities (Qmax) of CR and MB, which were 41.15 and 37.04 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The required equilibrium times for maximum efficiency of the developed sorbent were 10 and 15 min for CR and MB dyes, respectively. Adsorption equilibrium data present a good correlation with Langmuir isotherm, with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.9924 for CR and R2 = 0.9904 for MB, and kinetic studies prove that the dye adsorption process follows pseudo second-order models (CR R2 = 0.9986 and MB R2 = 0.9967).

The results showed that the proposed mechanism for the function of the developed sorbent in dye adsorption was based on physical and multilayer adsorption for both dyes onto the active sites of non-homogeneous sorbent.

The as-prepared nano-adsorbent has a high ability to remove both cationic and anionic dyes; moreover, to the high efficiency of the adsorbent, it has been tried to make its synthesis steps as simple as possible using inexpensive and available materials.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a distribution management system that determines the path toward lean distribution through teamwork. This system introduces a set of lean distribution initiatives regarding the structural and strategic facets of organizations.

Through studying the case, which is one of the largest distribution companies in the Middle East, the deployment process of the developed system is examined through chartering focus, deployment and operational teams. These teams held several rounds of panel discussions to formulate the strategic, tactical and technical plans required for making distribution operations lean.

It is found that the strategic focus of the case should not only be restricted to distribution initiatives but also the company can achieve a suitable competitive position by focusing on leadership and integral architecture of information, distribution and transportation channels. The first semi-year cycle of implementing the lean distribution system in the case targeted a 2.5% reduction in the ratio of distribution cost to sales by planning for the cross-docking adoption. It also aimed at a 10% increase in the market share for the prioritized market by a 20% reduction in lost sales owing to improper implementation of the processes.

The developed lean distribution management system is novel in the way it includes the strategy, structure and capabilities of an organization. Deploying this system causes a meaningful connection between lean distribution principles and operational initiatives.

Accreditation helps to ensure safe and high-quality services in hospitals. Different occupational groups have various hospital accreditation experiences. The purpose of this paper is to investigate nurses’ accreditation experience and its effects on Iranian teaching hospital service quality.

This was a qualitative study involving a phenomenological approach to studying nurses’ hospital accreditation experience and understanding the effects on Iranian teaching hospital service quality. Data were collected using two focus groups in which nurses were selected using purposive sampling. Transcripts were analyzed using content analysis.

Nurses’ experiences showed that hospital administrators and nurses had greater role in implementing accreditation than other occupational groups. Accreditation improved patient-centeredness, patient safety, logistics and managerial processes and decision making. However, a weak incentive system, extra documentation and work stress were negative experiences.

Nurse experience, as the most important care team member, reveals accreditation’s strengths and weaknesses and its effects on service quality.

The author used a phenomenology approach to measure accreditation effects on service quality – a valuable tool for understanding a phenomenon among those that experience hospital accreditation processes.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model of the determinants of workplace deviant behaviour among support personnel in Malaysian Public Service organisations.

This study is based on reviews of past studies on workplace deviant behaviour. To conduct the literature review, several keywords were identified. Several electronic databases available at the university ' s library such as Springer, Proquest, SAGE, Emerald, EBSCOHost, Science Direct, and Blackwell Synergy were used to search for supporting materials and resources.

In the reviews, the authors found three potential groups of workplace deviant behaviour determinants among support personnel. The determinants are individual-related factors, organisational-related factors, and work-related factors. The paper established job satisfaction as a mediating variable between the three potential groups of determinants and workplace deviant behaviour.

Future research could provide a more definitive theoretical statement of workplace deviant behaviour and develop an additional proposition which may be derived from a more refined theory. Practical interventions for HRD professionals were suggested to assist individuals and organisations towards reducing the prevalence of workplace deviant behaviour.

The research yields a theoretical framework that outlines the predictive potential of the three key factors in explaining workplace deviant behaviour among support personnel. The factors can be considered in developing HRD practices.

To do this, the authors carried out a systematic literature review to answer three questions: (RQ1) Which external pressures affect an FC and its suppliers in an MSC? (RQ2) What influences power relationships between an FC and its suppliers for MSC compliance? and (RQ3) Which governance mechanisms support an FC to achieve compliance for managing its MSC?

This research aims to identify how external pressures affect chain agents to achieve compliance and implement governance mechanisms and analyzes the influence of the power relationship between FC and their suppliers.

The results identify how external pressures from different stakeholders act on FC and FT and ST suppliers. A combination of contractual governance mechanisms (auditing, certification, assessment, code of conduct and monitoring) with relational ones (third-party, cooperation) is identified, facilitating compliance between agents. Furthermore, different power relationships (power position, level of resources and institutional distance) that influence the implementation of governance mechanisms are explored.

This article comprised only a systematic literature review and content analysis. Carrying out empirical research, covering the theme of this article, is the next step, which is being completed and will be discussed in due course in another publication.

The results can help professionals of the FC to understand their role in multi-tier supply chain (MSC), the external pressures exerted and the governance mechanisms that can be implemented to achieve compliance.

This article develops three relevant issues constantly addressed in MSC, which have not yet been combined to understand the management of multi-tier suppliers.

This study aims to embed anatase, rutile and brookite TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) with different crystal phases into cotton fabrics by epoxy silane and to examine the effect of these applications on the photocatalytic and mechanical properties of the fabric.

Different aqueous dispersions which contain anatase, rutile and brookite were prepared at three different concentrations (5%, 10% and 15%). These NPs were embedded in cotton fabrics by using GPTS [(3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane]. Characterization tests were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT/IR). Samples were stained with methylene blue (MB) and then exposed to solar light for different periods. Color changes of the samples were examined with a spectrophotometer. Air permeability, abrasion and tear strength tests were applied to all samples.

According to SEM images, the NPs were successfully attached to the cotton fabrics, and epoxy silane coating surrounded the fiber surfaces. The presence of the coating was also confirmed by Raman spectroscopy and FT/IR. The treatments reduced the stainability of the samples. The most effective applications for ensuring photocatalytic activity in cotton fabrics were suspensions as 10% brookite, 10% anatase and 5% anatase, in descending order. The applied coating slightly reduced the samples’ air permeability, and wear and tear strength.

The importance of this study is to determine the optimal crystal phase and its concentration by using epoxy silane to ensure self-cleaning properties on cotton fabrics. The sample treated with 10% brookite is the most approached its original white color by 99.65% as a result of degradation of MB (after 120 min). On the other hand, using the pure rutile with epoxy silane was not suitable for removing MB from the fabric.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the temperature, the Dirichlet conditions have been considered to the parallel horizontal plates. The model of generalized Brinkman-extended Darcy with the Boussinesq approximation is considered and the governing equations are computed by COMSOL multiphysics.

In the current study, the thermodynamic irreversible principle is applied to study the unsteady Poiseuille–Rayleigh–Bénard (PRB) mixed convection in a channel (aspect ratio A = 5), with the effect of a uniform transverse magnetic field.

The effects of various flow parameters on the fluid flow, Hartmann number (Ha), Darcy number (Da), Brinkman number (Br) and porosity (ε), are presented graphically and discussed. Numerical results for temperature and velocity profiles, entropy generation variations and contour maps of streamlines, are presented as functions of the governing parameter mentioned above. Basing on the generalized Brinkman-extended Darcy formulation, which allows the satisfaction of the no-slip boundary condition on a solid wall, it is found that the flow field and then entropy generation is notably influenced by the considering control parameters. The results demonstrate that the flow tends toward the steady-state with four various regimes, which strongly depends on the Hartman and Darcy numbers variations. Local thermodynamic irreversibilities are more confined near the active top and bottom horizontal walls of the channel when increasing the Da and decreasing the Hartmann number. Entropy generation is also found to be considerably affected by Brinkman number variation.

In the present work, we are presenting our investigations on the influence of a transverse applied external magnetohydrodynamic on entropy generation at the unsteady laminar PRB flow of an incompressible, Newtonian, viscous electrically conducting binary gas mixture fluid in porous channel of two horizontal heated plates. The numerical solutions for the liquid velocity, the temperature distribution and the rates of heat transport and entropy generation are obtained and are plotted graphically.