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The paper presents an extension to previous work on modelling AC losses in high‐temperature superconducting tapes as a highly non‐linear diffusion process. Following successful formulation for a bulk superconductor the presence of silver in a tape has now been included, using a “sandwich” model, to represent more realistically the practical arrangement. The results of the extended 1‐D model are included and a new 2‐D scheme is described using finite difference formulation. Effects of non‐linearity are emphasised.

The paper presents a comparison of performance of a number of selected optimization procedures when applied to solving electromagnetic field problems. The optimization techniques assessed encompass simulated annealing and genetic algorithms, as well as deterministic methods, including the Levenberg‐Marquardt procedure. The comparison is performed using a number of test functions followed by a study of two simple configurations relevant to problems encountered in electromagnetics.

Various aspects of the Framsticks system are described. The system is a universal tool for modeling, simulating and optimizing virtual agents, with three‐dimensional body and embedded control system. Simulation model is described first. Then features of the system framework are presented, with typical and potential applications. Specific tools supporting human understanding of evolutionary processes, control and behaviors are also outlined. Finally, the most interesting research experiments are summarized.

Electromagnetic design utilising finite element or similar numerical methods is computationally expensive, thus efficient algorithms reducing the number of objective function calls to locate the optimum are sought. The balance between exploration and exploitation may be achieved using a reinforcement learning approach, as demonstrated previously. However, in practical design problems, in addition to finding the global optimum efficiently, information about the robustness of the solution may also be important. In this paper, the aim is to discuss the suitability of different search algorithms and to present their fitness to solve the optimization problem in conjunction with providing enough information on the robustness of the solution.

Two novel strategies enhanced by the surrogate model based weighted expected improvement approach are discussed. The algorithms are tested using a two‐variable test function. The emphasis of these strategies is on accurate approximation of the shape of the objective function to accomplish a robust design.

The two novel strategies aim to pursue the optimal value of weights for exploration and exploitation throughout the iterative process for better prediction of the shape of the objective function.

It is argued that the proposed strategies based on adaptively tuning weights perform better in predicting the shape of the objective function. Good accuracy of predicting the shape of the objective function is crucial for achieving a robust design.

To achieve sustainable development objectives, managers are encouraged to implement best practices in corporate social and environmental responsibility within their establishments. The main objective of this chapter is to assess the quality of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) communication for Moroccan financial institutions. This chapter is devoted to the content analysis of the annual reports of 14 financial institutions listed in Morocco regarding ESG strategies between 2017 and 2021. The reference assessment tool we used is the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards (2016), based on six principles. Each principle contains requirements and guidance on how to apply it. These principles are summarized in the following: Accuracy, Balance, Clarity, Comparability, Reliability, and Timeliness. The sample is composed of 14 financial institutions listed on the Casablanca Stock Exchange. After checking the content of the annual reports of listed Moroccan financial institutions, we detected several shortcomings in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting behavior. Companies avoid disclosing information about negative events and performance. We saw this as a bad sign for stakeholders. The results showed a significant gap between the GRI standards and the content of the annual reports. These weaknesses mainly concern accuracy, comparability, and, timeliness, hence the need to carry out corrective measures to improve the quality of ESG practices within Moroccan financial institutions. One of the limitations of this research is its focus on financial institutions. However, it is possible to broaden the scope of the research by assessing the quality of ESG communication for nonfinancial companies.

Consider the mutual coupling between loads, the purpose of this paper is to study the total transmission efficiency based on different load coil positions relative to the charging platform, to provide the theoretical basis for the design and parameter optimization of one-to-multiple wireless charging platform.

Based on the dual-load series-resonant wireless power transfer system, the expression of system efficiency and its calculation model is achieved using the equivalent circuit theory. Finally, a 96 kHz magnetic resonance wireless power transmission test platform is built up to verify the theoretical analysis given in this paper.

For the completely resonant circuit, the transmission efficiency can be improved by increasing the transmitter-receiver coupling and reducing the coupling between receivers. The total transmission efficiency achieves its lowest value when two loads are with equal competitive capability.

Through the simulation analysis of efficiency formula, the selection principle of impact factors can be applied to the optimization analysis of the transmission efficiency.

This study aims to determine the factors and dynamic systems behaviour of essential medicine stockout in public health-care supply chains. The authors examine the constraints and effects of mental models on medicine stockout to develop a dynamic theory of medicine availability towards saving patients’ lives.

This study uses a mixed-method approach. Starting with a survey method, followed by in-depth interviews with stakeholders within five health-care supply chains to determine the dynamic feedback leading to stockout and conclude by developing a network mental model for medicines availability.

The authors identified five constraints and developed five case mental models. The authors develop a dynamic theory of medicine availability across cases and identify feedback loops and variables leading to medicine availability.

The need to include mental models of stakeholders like manufacturers and distributors of medicines to understand the system completely. Group surveys are prone to power dynamics and bias from group thinking. This survey’s quantitative output could minimize the bias.

This study uniquely uses a mixed-method of survey method and in-depth interviews of experts to assess the essential medicine stockout in Nigeria. To improve medicine availability, the authors develop a dynamic network mental model to understand the system structure, feedback and behaviour driving stockouts. This research will benefit public policymakers and hospital managers in designing policies that reduce medicine stockout.

The COVID-19 pandemic came with a lot of stress, uncertainty and disruption for managing the construction supply chain (CSC). The disruption in return caused weak resilience of CSC activities. Unfortunately, the existing models for managing CSC focus on preparedness and recovery while neglecting the visibility perspective of resilience CSC. Towards creating a resilience CSC, this study modelled construction 4.0 as the vaccine for supply chain resilience in the construction industry.

A survey questionnaire was used to collect data randomly from construction stakeholders. The questionnaire was analysed with a structural equation model analysis using SmartPLS while conducting tests such as path coefficient analysis, discriminant analysis and importance-performance analysis.

This study discovered that construction 4.0 is a significant tool and vaccine for ensuring visibility, recovery and adaptation within the supply chain. Construction 4.0 will function as a vaccine for ensuring resilience because of its capacity to optimise CSC management by introducing an evidence-based management approach and less dependent on implicit knowledge. Towards reaping the full potential of construction 4.0, it should be adopted as a moderating variable.

The research is limited by the use of a single methodology (quantitative) without including a qualitative method to understand better and explore the impact of construction 4.0 on CSC resilience. The qualitative part can be carried out by conducting interviews targeted at construction stakeholders.

In spite of the limitations, the findings of this study contributed to building a more responsive and resilient CSC during the pandemic period. Furthermore, this study also presented the crucial construction 4.0 technology capable of ensuring resilience within the CSC.

This paper presents a model for applying construction 4.0 as a vaccine for ensuring CSC resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This study contributed to ensuring that decisions made within the CSC adopt an evidence-based approach.

This paper aims to design an optimal supply chain network and to develop a suitable distribution planning under uncertainty for perishable product's supply chain. The ultimate goal is to help in making decisions under uncertain environments.

In this paper, stochastic programming is used under conditions of demand, supply and process uncertainties, and a non-linear mathematical model is developed for perishable product’s supply chain. Authors’ study considers disruptions in transportation routes and also within the facilities and investigates optimal facility location and shipment decisions while minimising the total supply chain cost. A scenario-based approach is used to model these disruptions. The retailer level uncertainty due to demand-supply mismatch is handled by incorporating the newsvendor model into the last echelon of supply chain network. In this paper, two policies are proposed for making decisions under uncertain environments. In the first one, the expected cost of the supply chain is minimised. To also consider the risk behaviour of the decision maker, authors propose the second policy through a conditional value-at-risk approach.

Authors discuss the model output through various examples that are provided via a case study from the milk industry. The supply chain design and planning of the disruption-free model are different from those of the resilient model.

Authors’ research benefits the perishable products industries which encounter the disruption problems in their transportation routes as well as in the facilities. Authors have demonstrated the research through a real-life case in a milk industry.

The major contribution of authors’ work is the design of the supply chain network under disruption risks by incorporating aspects of product perishability. This work provides insight into areas such as the simultaneous consideration of demand, supply and process uncertainties. The amalgamation of newsvendor model and the approximation of the non-linearity of retailer level cost function especially in the context of supply chain under uncertainty is the first of its kind. We provide a comprehensive statistical study of uncertainties that are present in the supply chain in a unique manner.