Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose and validate a theoretical model to investigate whether supply chain (SC) innovation positively affects risk management capabilities, such as ...robustness and resilience in global SC operations, and to examine how these capabilities may improve competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
A theoretical model was developed from extant studies and assessed through the development of a large-scale questionnaire survey conducted with South Korean manufacturers and logistics intermediaries involved in global SC operations. The data were analysed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to validate the suggested model.
Findings
It was found that innovative SCs have a discernible positive influence on all dimensions of risk management capability, which in turn has a significant impact on enhancing competitive advantage. Therefore, this work provides evidence for the importance of SC innovation and risk management capability in supporting competitive advantage.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to providing an empirical understanding of the strategic retention of SC innovation and risk management capabilities in the SC management discipline. Furthermore, it confirms and expands existing theories about innovation and competitive advantage.
Practical implications
The finding provides firm grounds for managerial decisions on investment in technology innovation and process innovation.
Originality/value
This research is the first of its kind to empirically validate the relationships between SC innovation, risk management capabilities and competitive advantage.
We present a compact, filtering power divider (FPD) using integrated passive device technology (IPD) for mm‐wave applications. Our proposed FPD design integrates quarter‐wavelength coupled‐resonator ...bandpass filters with a Wilkinson power divider, using size reduction techniques. Coupled coplanar waveguides provide excellent coupling while occupying a small area, and metal‐insulator‐metal capacitors offer the required λ/4 phase shift without length extension. The center frequency of the filtering power divider/combiner (FPD/C) is located at 30‐GHz. We demonstrate our FPD design by fabricating four prototypes with parameter variations. The insertion loss, fractional bandwidth, and size of the FPD/C designed in this study are from 2.56 to 3.3 dB, from 9.67% to 19.4%, and from 0.592 to 0.220‐mm2, respectively. In addition, the return loss of all models at the center frequency is 28.5 dB or more, and the isolation is 16.6 dB or more.
Background
Recently, autologous platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has attracted attention in various medical fields, including plastic and orthopedic surgery and dermatology, for its ability to promote ...wound healing. PRP has been tested during facelift and hair transplantation to reduce swelling and pain and to increase hair density.
Objective
To investigate the effects of PRP on hair growth using in vivo and in vitro models.
Methods
PRP was prepared using the double‐spin method and applied to dermal papilla (DP) cells. The proliferative effect of activated PRP on DP cells was measured. To understand the mechanisms of activated PRP on hair growth, we evaluated signaling pathways. In an in vivo study, mice received subcutaneous injections of activated PRP, and their results were compared with control mice.
Results
Activated PRP increased the proliferation of DP cells and stimulated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt signaling. Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF‐7) and beta‐catenin, which are potent stimuli for hair growth, were upregulated in DP cells. The injection of mice with activated PRP induced faster telogen‐to‐anagen transition than was seen on control mice.
Conclusions
Although few studies tested the effects of activated PRP on hair growth, this research provides support for possible clinical application of autologous PRP and its secretory factors for promotion of hair growth.
One of the most serious problems the world currently faces is global warming caused by greenhouse gases and pollution emissions. Despite the effectiveness of onshore power supply (OPS) in seaports ...for reducing environmental pollution, its use rate in ports in South Korea is low. Nevertheless, no study has analyzed the barriers to using OPS or explored ways to reduce air pollution from vessels. To fill this gap, this study explores why Korean liner shipping companies avoid using OPS. After a comprehensive literature review and expert interviews to identify key barriers, fuzzy AHP is employed to rank 16 barriers under four key factors. The research shows that the technical standards (BF22) of technical factors are the most significant barriers to the use of OPS. In addition, there is a differentiation in the awareness and views of using OPS among Korean liner shipping companies. This study offers insightful recommendations for developing government OPS policies.
The circadian clock may help to control the development patterns which allow the florets on a sunflower head to go through their final stages of maturation at precisely the right time.
Metabolites are often unable to permeate cell membranes and are thus accumulated inside cells. We investigate whether engineered microbes can exclusively secrete intracellular metabolites because ...sustainable metabolite secretion holds a great potential for mass-production of high-value chemicals in an efficient and continuous manner. In this study, we demonstrate a synthetic pathway for a metabolite trafficking system that enables lipophilic terpene secretion by yeast cells. When metabolite-binding proteins are tagged with signal peptides, metabolite trafficking is highly achievable; loaded metabolites can be precisely delivered to a desired location within or outside the cell. As a proof of concept, we systematically couple a terpene-binding protein with an export signal peptide and subsequently demonstrate efficient, yet selective terpene secretion by yeast (~225 mg/L for squalene and ~1.6 mg/L for β-carotene). Other carrier proteins can also be readily fused with desired signal peptides, thereby tailoring different metabolite trafficking pathways in different microbes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most efficient cognate pathway for metabolite secretion by microorganisms.
Purpose
– This purpose of this paper is to study the impact of innovativeness on supply chain integration (SCI) and supply chain performance (SCP) and the role of SCI in mediating between ...innovativeness in the supply chain and SCP. Innovativeness is an accepted driver to leverage firm performance. SCI and SCP require innovativeness in the supply chain, but their interrelationships have rarely been researched empirically.
Design/methodology/approach
– A questionnaire survey and structural equation modelling were used in this work. After a structural and measurement model was devised from existing supply chain literature, the main data were collected in a web-based questionnaire survey of South Korean manufacturers. Structural equation modelling was applied to test proposed hypotheses on the associations between variables, following a hierarchical analysis process.
Findings
– Innovativeness in the supply chain had a positive impact on both SCI and SCP. However, the direct impact of innovativeness on SCP disappeared when the model included SCI as a mediator. In specific, internal and supplier integration fully mediated innovativeness–SCP relationships, whereas customer integration had no mediating role on those relationships. The findings suggest that innovativeness can influence SCP only when the manufacturer’s level of SCI is sufficiently effective in developing necessary supply chain practices.
Research limitations/implications
– In this work, innovativeness in the supply chain effectively influenced SCP through the mediation of SCI. However, cross-sectional analysis in one nation using one response per organisation invites validation embracing other geographical areas and longitudinal studies.
Practical implications
– Design of an innovative culture within a firm and along a supply chain can enhance SCI practices by stimulating innovativeness. A high level of SCI should be pursued to effectively transform innovativeness into performance.
Originality/value
– This work seminally examines the effect of innovativeness in the supply chain on SCI and SCP as well as the mediating role of SCI in the relationships between innovativeness and SCP.
This study investigates shipping firms' motives for using sale-leaseback (SLBs) transactions. Given the bleak conditions in the shipping industry that have persisted since its collapse in 2008, ...numerous firms have sought ways to relieve short-term financial distress and secure long-term sustainable growth. This study analyses financial ratios of 123 shipping companies in Korea, 25 of which elected to use SLBs in 2019, in terms of growth, profitability, liquidity and leverage for the period of 2016-2018. Consistent with previous findings, the results show that applying for SLBs is associated with a lack of liquidity. By exploring SLBs as a new financing vehicle for shipping companies, the vast majority of which have been under financial distress and constraints in recent years, this study enriches the existing literature on shipping finance. Besides, this study's findings on shipping companies' motives for using SLBs can provide helpful suggestions for designing and implementing government policies for restructuring national shipping industry.
Vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system, and its deficiency has been implicated in various skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Acne is a common inflammatory skin ...disease; however, the association with vitamin D remains unclear.
We evaluated vitamin D levels in patients with acne to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation.
This study included 80 patients with acne and 80 healthy controls. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured, and demographic data were collected. Vitamin D-deficient patients were treated with oral cholecalciferol at 1000 IU/day for 2 months.
Deficiency in 25(OH)D was detected in 48.8% of patients with acne, but in only 22.5% of the healthy controls. The level of 25(OH)D was inversely associated with the severity of acne, and there was a significant negative correlation with inflammatory lesions. In a subsequent trial, improvement in inflammatory lesions was noted after supplementation with vitamin D in 39 acne patients with 25(OH)D deficiency.
Limitations of the study include the small number of patients in the supplementation study and the natural fluctuation of acne.
Vitamin D deficiency was more frequent in patients with acne, and serum 25(OH)D levels were inversely correlated with acne severity, especially in patients with inflammatory lesions.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
As stricter environmental regulations for sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions emerge, the shipping industry has been deliberating new fuelling options. The three main alternatives for reducing sulphur ...emissions are switching to higher-quality and low sulphur fuels (commonly referred to as distillates), installing exhaust fuel cleaning structures (frequently referred to as scrubbers), retrofitting present vessels to operate as liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered vessels. Nevertheless, few studies evaluate the three existing alternatives that can reduce marine air exhausts, and fewer develop a general model for a resolution to the choice of the best technology. This study performs an empirical analysis focusing on the three alternatives considered by Korean shipping companies. The main approach involved conducting surveys and interviews to examine Korean shipping companies’ actual response to cope with SOx regulation. The results indicate that, among the nine sub-criteria regarding response to SOx regulation, investment costs (F11) are the most significant factor. In addition, through a description analysis of Korean shipping companies, this study found that there is a difference in the recognition and response direction among companies according to their size.
•Stringent regulations for SOx emissions from vessels demand urgent countermeasures.•We evaluate the response direction of Korean shipping companies to SOx regulations.•Important implications for policy makers and shipping companies are identified.•Most Korean shipping companies emphasise investment costs or operating costs.•The response directions of large and small-medium scale shipping companies differ.
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