Search results

The paper aims to examine the inhibition effect of NiO nanoparticles and the influence of liquid nitrogen immersion on the corrosion behavior of (NiO)_x(Bi_1.6 Pb_0.4)Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃O_10-δ and (NiO)_x (Bi, Pb 2223), where x = 0.00 and 0.05 Wt.% phase superconductor in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ at 30°C.

This study was done using open-circuit potential electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization curves and chronoamperometry measurements.

Potentiodynamic polarization technique showed that NiO nanoparticles suppress both the anodic and cathodic parts of the polarization curves of (NiO)_x(Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductor in 0.1 M Na₂SO₄ solution. A significant enhancement in the corrosion resistance of the prepared superconductors is observed on immersing them in liquid nitrogen. This is owing to the fact that immersion in liquid nitrogen increases the volume contraction of the superconductor matrix, causing the shrinkage of the pores and voids present in the samples and thus reducing the active surface area for the dissolution of (NiO)_x(Bi, Pb)-2223 superconductor matrix.

This paper fulfills the need to investigate the corrosion behavior of superconductors and the influence of liquid nitrogen immersion on such behavior.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new framework for early design stage utilizing the benefits of Kaizen events, and Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) methodology. To gain a better understanding of the proposed method, a case study of a diesel engine development was presented where the proposed methodology was followed.

This paper proposes a hybrid Kaizen DFSS methodology consisting of four Kaizen milestone events with pre-work preceding these events. The events are in line with the four phases of DFSS methodology (define, characterize, optimize, and verify).

In order for the proposed method to succeed, few key enablers should be available such as management buy-in and support, effective resources utilization, and proper planning. However, this methodology should be utilized for key projects where criticality is high and deadlines are nearby.

As proved by two projects, one of them is presented in this paper; the use of the proposed methodology is effective and can bring significant positive changes to an organization.

Although Kaizen is an old and well-known process, it is to the best of the author’s knowledge that Kaizen has not been utilized in the early design stages of new product development projects. In this paper, a hybrid methodology combining traditional DFSS systematic approach conducted using Kaizen improvement events is proposed and supported by a real-life case study.

This paper aims to optimize the halal product distribution by minimizing the transportation cost while ensuring halal integrity of the product. The problem is considered as a capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP), based on the assumption that two different types of vehicles are used for distribution: vehicles dedicated for halal product distribution and vehicles dedicated for nonhalal products distribution. The problem is modeled as an integer linear program (ILP), termed CVRP-halal and nonhalal products distribution (CVRP-HNPD). It is solved using tabu-search (TS)-based algorithm and is suitable for application to real-life sized halal product distribution.

Two approaches are used in solving the problem: exact approach (integer-linear program) and approximate approach (TS). First, the problem is modeled as ILP and solved using CPLEX Solver. To solve life-sized problems, a TS-based algorithm is developed and run using MATLAB.

The experiments on numerical data and life-sized instances validate the proposed model and algorithm and show that cost-minimizing routes for HNPD are developed while ensuring the halal integrity of the products.

The proposed model and algorithm are suitable as decision support tools for managers responsible for distribution of halal products as they facilitate the development of minimum cost distribution routes for halal and nonhalal products while maintaining the integrity of halal products. The model and algorithm provide a low transportation cost strategy at the operational level of halal products distribution while fulfilling the halal logistics requirement.

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that specifically deals with the CVRP of halal products distribution by proposing CVRP-HNPD model and TS-CVRP-HNPD algorithm. The proposed model and algorithm ensure the integrity of halal products along the distribution chain, from the warehouse (distribution center) to the retailer, while achieving lowest transportation cost.

The purpose of this study is to develop functional probiotic Labneh cheeses supplemented with broccoli florets.

Probiotic Labneh cheese was produced using broccoli florets paste at four different levels (0, 5, 10 and 15%), with Lactobacillus casei NRRL B-1922 as a probiotic strain, to evaluate its physicochemical, phenols, antioxidant activity, minerals, vitamins, textural, microbiological and sensory characteristics during storage for 15 days.

The results indicated that Labneh cheese with added broccoli paste exhibited significantly (p = 0.05) higher level of moisture, acidity, soluble nitrogen, phenols, antioxidant activity, minerals and B vitamins, and lower protein, fat, ash and pH values when compared to control Labneh cheese. Textural analysis of Labneh cheese indicated that Labneh with higher level of broccoli (15%) exhibited harder texture than others. Higher viable counts of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus were detected in Labneh with broccoli paste, and the counts (107 cfu/g) were higher than the number should be present to achieve their health benefits. The most acceptable Labneh cheeses were those supplemented with 5 and 10% broccoli paste.

This study revealed broccoli florets could enhance the growth of Lactobacillus casei and Streptococcus thermophilus in the Labneh matrix, which resulted in a wider spectrum of health benefits of Labneh cheese to the consumers.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effect of grape powder on the proximate, physicochemical and sensory quality of chocolate- and caramel-coated chhana (traditional dairy product obtained by acid coagulation of hot milk) delights.

The study was designed to evaluate the effect of grape powder on the quality characteristics of chocolate- and caramel-coated chhana delights. The product was developed by incorporating different levels of grape powder (2, 4 and 6 per cent), and further, the product was analysed for proximate, physicochemical and sensory parameters.

In chocolate-coated chhana delights, moisture (p = 0.01), ash (p = 0.03) and water activity (p = 0.02) increased significantly at 6 per cent level of grape powder incorporation, whereas pH (p > 0.01) showed a significant decreasing trend at 4 and 6 per cent level of grape powder incorporation. Chocolate coating loss (p = 0.02) was found to be significantly higher at 6 per cent level of addition. Cooking yield (p > 0.01) of chocolate-coated chhana delights increased significantly at 4 and 6 per cent level of grape powder incorporation. In caramel-coated chhana delights, moisture (p > 0.01) and ash (p = 0.02) content increased significantly at 6 per cent level of grape powder addition, and pH (p > 0.01) value decreased significantly at 6 per cent level of grape powder addition, whereas results were found to be vice versa in case of water activity (p = 0.01) and titratable acidity (p = 0.03) at 6 per cent level of grape powder addition.

Designer confection could be developed for school going children by incorporating grape powder in the formulation of chocolate- and caramel-coated chhana delights.

The study has two main objectives. The first is to introduce three new examination policy practices: overbooked exam rooms, a substitute invigilator and an inheritance of the invigilation distribution. The second is the use of the examination model to determine the sustainability of the system against expected changes and to obtain long-term strategic information. This study aims to obtain managerial insights on the sustainability of the examination system with the newly introduced practices; it does not claim to propose solutions for large-scale problems.

This study introduces a multi-objective mathematical model that contains a couple of constraints that belong to new practices. To check the sustainability of the system, this study gets help from sensitivity analysis, which informs the decision-maker about how the results will react to parameter changes. The authors perform all experiments in the Python/Gurobi modeling environment.

The results demonstrate that the proposed practices are effective in the efficient use of resources. Also, this study shows that the examination model can be used as a stress test so that the weaknesses of the system can be identified and long-term strategic information can be obtained.

The contribution of this study is twofold: the introduction of examination policy practices that are overbooked exam rooms, a substitute invigilator and an inheritance of the invigilation distribution. Overbooked exam rooms aim to use resources effectively, taking into account the possibility of temporarily increasing the exam room capacity. The substitute invigilator protects the examination process against sudden events. The inheritance of the invigilation distribution helps to ensure fairness; and the use of the examination model to obtain managerial insights on expectations. This allows testing the validity of existing policies and making necessary changes, taking into account possible changes in the system. In this respect, it differs from the studies in the literature and fills an important managerial gap.

Study of corrosion behaviour could benefit from quantum chemical calculation to investigate the role of adsorption of main anions such as OH⁻ and Cl⁻ on metallic surfaces. The purpose of this study is to report the quantum chemical study of aluminium immersed in NaOH, NaCl and HCl solutions and verifying the calculations by potentiodynamic and open-circuit potential (OCP) measurements.

The electrochemical evaluations based on potentiodynamic polarization and OCP experiments were carried out. For theoretical investigations, the quantum chemical calculation was performed. In this regard, the adsorption of Cl⁻, OH⁻ and H⁺ on aluminium surface was investigated. Furthermore, the natural bond orbital for the direction and magnitude of charge transfer interactions was calculated.

The calculations indicate that higher interaction energy between ions with the metallic cluster being modelled together with natural bond orbital calculations of direction and magnitude of charge transfer accurately predicts corrosion.

This paper shows that ions such as Cl⁻, OH⁻ and H⁺ cause the corrosion of aluminium in NaOH, NaCl and HCl environments. The overall theoretical data corroborate with experimental results.

This chapter aims to examine the position of the banking system and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on bank liquidity in six Western Balkan Countries. We aim to analyse the current financial parameters of the banking system to determine the impact of the pandemic’s various risks on the banking liquidity stability in response to the capital reserves of central banks of the respective countries. This chapter deals with cross-country comparison analysis of how the government responded including fiscal stimulus packages to prevent the financial downturn and the impact on liquidity retention. The methodology is based on a comparative data analysis using primary and secondary sources. Although it is too early to have full evidence of the depth of the pandemic impact, the findings show that because of the immediate actions undertaken by the liquidity management of each country and also as a result of the favourable liquidity position before the pandemic Crisis, the banking sector had sufficient reserves to overcome the risk of crisis. Moreover, all six Balkan Countries have adapted the regulatory framework in line with international emergency measures to maintain financial stability. The measures and instruments implemented by countries have generally complied with the Basel Committee’s instructions. The measures and instruments implemented by countries have generally complied with the Basel Committee’s instructions.

The developmental relation of informal mentoring within the organization could aid in tiding over the challenges that arise with change. The purpose is to explore the relationship between informal mentoring within the organization and change supportive behaviour to put forth a framework describing the catalytic and a priori role of informal mentoring within the organization in augmenting change readiness and facilitating change supportive behaviour for a successful organizational change.

Drawing on the appraisal theory of stress coping, the paper put forward a conceptual framework describing the mechanisms through which informal mentoring within the organization leads to change supportive behaviour among the individuals.

The conceptual model explains how informal mentoring within the organization develops optimism, resilience, self-efficacy and trust and facilitates change readiness among the individuals, which leads to change supportive behaviours in them. The paper also describes the influence of poor change management history and organizational identity threat on the relations.

The paper explains the underexplored relationship between mentoring and change readiness. It also sheds light on the importance of exploring the micro-foundations of a macro-level phenomenon. Further research should focus on the differential effect of different forms of mentoring on change readiness.

The paper is developed based on the review of extant literature and applying the theoretical lens of appraisal theory of stress coping to the phenomenon. The paper explains the micro-foundation of the phenomenon and describes how informal mentoring would lead to a change supportive behaviour among the individuals.

Being the final end of the logistic distribution, attended home delivery (AHD) plays an important role in the distribution network. AHD typically refers to the service provided by the distribution service provider to the recipient's doorstep. Researchers have always identified AHD as a bottleneck for last-mile delivery. This paper addresses a real-life stochastic multi-objective AHD problem in the context of the Indian public distribution system (PDS).

Two multi-objective models are proposed. Initially, the problem is formulated in a deterministic environment, and later on, it is extended to a multi-objective AHD model with stochastic travel and response time. This stochastic AHD model is used to extensively analyze the impact of stochastic travel time and customer response time on the total expected cost and time-window violation. Due to the NP-hard nature of the problem, an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, tuned via response surface methodology (RSM), is proposed to solve the problem.

Experimental results show that a change in travel time and response time does not significantly alter the service level of an AHD problem. However, it is strongly correlated with the planning horizon and an increase in the planning horizon reduces the time-window violation drastically. It is also observed that a relatively longer planning horizon has a lower expected cost per delivery associated.

The paper does not consider the uncertainty of supply from the warehouse. Also, stochastic delivery failure probabilities and randomness in customer behavior have not been taken into consideration in this study.

In this paper, the role of uncertainty in an AHD problem is extensively studied through a case of the Indian PDS. The paper analyzes the role of uncertain travel time and response time over different planning horizons in an AHD system. Further, the impact of the delivery planning horizon, travel time and response time on the overall cost and service level of an AHD system is also investigated.

This paper investigates a unique and practical AHD problem in the context of Indian PDS. In the present context of AHD, this study is highly relevant for real-world applications and can help build a more efficient delivery system. The findings of this study will be of particular interest to the policy-makers to build a more robust PDS in India.

The most challenging part of an AHD problem is the requirement of the presence of customers during the time of delivery, due to which the probability of failed delivery drastically increases if the delivery deviates from the customer's preferred time slot. The paper modelled an AHD system to incorporate uncertainties to attain higher overall performance and explore the role of uncertainty in travel and response time with respect to the planning horizon in an AHD, which has not been considered by any other literature.