One of the most important activities in any organization is the identification and selection of the right supplier. The responsible organizations determine the performance of their potential ...suppliers based on the attributes that are aligned with their sustainable development goals. Data regarding these attributes can be qualitative and/or quantitative, and not every supplier selection methodology can handle them simultaneously. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is an influential methodology for measuring the suppliers' performance, especially when there are more than one input and/or output. However, the original DEA model cannot consider human judgment during evaluation. In this regard, the current study proposes a novel methodology with the aid of the Ordinal Priority Approach (OPA) of multiple attributes decision-making and the DEA. The proposed method, the DEA-OPA model, truly enjoys the advantages of both DEA and OPA models, making it more powerful than the original DEA for performance measurement. The proposed model was compared with the original DEA and OPA then retested through incomplete data when the experts lack enough knowledge about inputs and outputs. Finally, a pilot application has been executed in the paper industry, and comprehensive sensitivity analysis has been performed to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed model. The findings are of significant importance to responsible enterprises and organizational decision-makers.
The only problem of pure titanium for dental implant applications is its low strength and failure under different loadings. Various studies have shown that the utilization of severe plastic ...deformation processes such as Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP), through reducing the grain size of titanium, can improve not only its mechanical properties but also its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. In this study, a reduced-scale ECAP process on pure titanium was performed to investigate the effects of scale reduction. An ECAP die was made with an internal diameter of d = 3 mm, and the tests were performed at 250 °C for several number of passes. It was found out that after 10 passes of reduced-scale ECAP, the grain size of CP Ti had strongly been reduced from 25 to 122 nm. This sharp reduction in grain size resulted in an increase in micro-hardness from 205.5 to 321.3 Hv. Moreover, Nano-hardness test results showed that after 10 passes, the hardness of titanium increased from 2461 to 3812 MPa, and simultaneously elastic modulus decreased from 108.1 to 94.8 GPa. Such reduction of elastic modulus of titanium for dental implant applications decreased stress-shielding and jaw bone damages. According to the results of this research, after RS-ECAP process the strength of titanium is greatly increased and its elastic modulus is reduced, which are desirable features for dental implant applications. Since dental implants are small in size, the reduced ECAP process (d = 3–5 mm) can produce titanium implants with improved properties.
Graphic Abstract
Tunneling is often unpopular with local residents and environmentalists, and can cause aquifer damage. Tunnel sealing is sometimes used to avoid groundwater leakage into the tunnel, thereby ...mitigating the damage. Due to the high cost of sealing operations, a detailed hydrogeological investigation should be conducted as part of the tunneling project to determine the impact of sealing, and groundwater modeling is an accurate method that can aid decision-making. Groundwater-level drawdown induced by the construction of the Headrace water-conveyance tunnel in Sri Lanka dried up 456 wells. Due to resulting socio-environmental problems, tunnel sealing was decided as a remedy solution. However, due to the expectation of significant delays and high costs of sealing, and because the water pressure in the tunnel may prevent groundwater seepage into the tunnel during operation, there was another (counter) decision that the tunnel could remain unsealed. This paper describes groundwater modeling carried out using MODFLOW to determine which option—sealed or unsealed tunnel—is more effective in groundwater level recovery. The Horizontal Flow Barrier and River packages of MODFLOW were used to simulate sealed and unsealed tunnels, respectively. The simulation results showed that only through tunnel sealing can the groundwater level be raised to preexisting levels after 18 years throughout the study area. If the tunnel remains unsealed, about 1 million m
3
/year of water conveyed by the tunnel will seep into the aquifer, reducing the operational capacity of the tunnel as a transport scheme. In conclusion, partial tunnel sealing in high-impact sections is recommended.
Almost 50% of infertility cases are due to male factors, and spermatogenesis failure is one of the most severe forms of male infertility. Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) also known as germ cell ...aplasia is characterized by azoospermia in which the seminiferous tubules of testicular biopsy are lined only with Sertoli cells. The definitive diagnosis of SCOS is by diagnostic testicular biopsy. Although SCOS may be a result of Klinefelter syndrome, most of the SCOS men have a normal karyotype. Along with genetic aberrations, signaling pathways and endocrine processes might be major factors in the development of SCOS. Sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are available treatments for SCOS. However, some SCOS patients do not have therapeutic options to help them having a biological child. This review aims to summarize our present knowledge about SCOS and to highlight the importance of future researches in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.
In this work, the tracking control of a class of uncertain linear dynamical systems is investigated. The uncertainty is considered to be represented as fuzzy numbers, and hence, these uncertain ...dynamical systems are referred to as fuzzy linear dynamical systems, which are presented in the form of fuzzy differential equations (FDEs). The solution of an FDE is found using an approach called relative-distance-measure fuzzy interval arithmetic and under the granular differentiability concept. The control objective is to provide a control law such that the output of the system tracks a desired reference input in the presence of uncertainties. To this end, a theorem is proposed, which suggests that the control law should take the form of a feedback of fuzzy states with fuzzy gains and a fuzzy pre-compensator. However, since the fuzzy states of the system may not always be measurable, a fuzzy observer is designed for the estimation of such fuzzy states. It is also clearly shown that the generalized Hukuhara differentiability concept is unable for solving the problem examined in this study. Finally, the efficiency of the approach is examined for a plane landing control problem.
Melatonin is a pleiotropic hormone with powerful antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin on the proliferation efficiency of ...neonatal mouse spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) using a three-dimensional soft agar culture system (SACS) which has the capacity to induce development of SSCs similar to in vivo conditions.
SSCs were isolated from testes of neonate mice and their purities were assessed by flow cytometry using PLZF antibody. Isolated testicular cells were cultured in the upper layer of the SACS in αMEM medium in the absence or presence of melatonin extract for 4 weeks.
The identity of colonies was confirmed by alkaline phosphatase staining and immunocytochemistry using PLZF and α6 integrin antibodies. The number and diameter of colonies of SSCs in the upper layer were evaluated at days 14 and 28 of culture. The number and diameter of colonies of SSCs were significantly higher in the melatonin group compared with the control group. The levels of expression of ID-4 and Plzf, unlike c-kit, were significantly higher in the melatonin group than in the control group.
Results of the present study show that supplementation of the culture medium (SACS) with 100 μM melatonin significantly decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the treated group compared with the control group, and increased SSC proliferation.
In-vitro spermatogenesis in mammalian species is considered an important topic in reproductive biology. New strategies for achieving a complete version of spermatogenesis ex vivo have been conducted ...using an organ culture method or culture of testicular cells in a three-dimensional soft agar culture system (SACS). The aim of this study was to develop a new method that supports spermatogenesis to the meiotic phase and morphologically mature spermatozoa through the culture of testicular cells and seminiferous tubules (STs) in a modified SACS, respectively.
First, enzymatically dissociated testicular cells and mechanically dissociated STs of neonatal mice were separately embedded in agarose and then placed on the flat surface of agarose gel half-soaked in the medium to continue culture with a gas-liquid interphase method.
Following 40 days of culture, the meiotic (Scp3) and post-meiotic (Acr) gene expression in aggregates and STs was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. These results were complemented by immunohistochemistry. The presence of morphologically mature spermatozoa in the frozen sections of STs was demonstrated with hematoxylin and eosin staining. We observed Plzf- or Integrin α6-positive spermatogonia in both cultures after 40 days, indicating the potency of the culture system for both self-renewal and differentiation.
This technique can be used as a valuable approach for performing research on spermatogenesis and translating it into the human clinical setting.
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) involved in key signaling pathways and aggressive phenotypes of osteosarcoma (OS) was discussed, including PI3K/AKT/MTOR, MTOR AND RAF-1 signaling, tumor suppressor P53- ...linked miRNAs, NOTCH- related miRNAs, miRNA -15/16 cluster, apoptosis related miRNAs, invasion-metastasis-related miRNAs, and 14Q32-associated miRNAs cluster. Herrin, we discussed insights into the targeted therapies including miRNAs (i.e., tumor-suppressive miRNAs and oncomiRNAs). Using bioinformatics tools, the interaction network of all OS-associated miRNAs and their targets was also depicted.
The loss of germ cells and spermatogenic failure in non-obstructive azoospermia are believed to be the main causes of male infertility. Laboratory studies have used in vitro testicular models and ...different 3-dimensional (3D) culture systems for preservation, proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in recent decades. The establishment of testis-like structures would facilitate the study of drug and toxicity screening, pathological mechanisms and in vitro differentiation of SSCs which resulted in possible treatment of male infertility. The different culture systems using cellular aggregation with self-assembling capability, the use of different natural and synthetic biomaterials and various methods for scaffold fabrication provided a suitable 3D niche for testicular cells development. Recently, 3D culture models have noticeably used in research for their architectural and functional similarities to native microenvironment. In this review article, we briefly investigated the recent 3D culture systems that provided a suitable platform for male fertility preservation through organ culture of testis fragments, proliferation and differentiation of SSCs.
•The sachet formulation of almond has fine charcteristics for patient consumption.•Almond could not improve primary outcomes in IBS-D patients.•The bowel movement and severity of the pain was ...significantly increased in the almond treated patients compared to the placebo and baseline.•Despite the almond inclusion in the low-FODMAPs, the amount of almond intake is a determining factor in symptoms alleviation.•We report a controversial result from almond consumption in patients with IBS.
Almond has been listed in the low FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligo-, Di-, Mono saccharides And Polyols) and is recommended for infant diarrhea and gastrointestinal problem in Iranian folk medicine. In this work, sachet of almond has been designed, formulated and is studied on the clinical symptoms of diarrhea prominent irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). Design: almond was standardized on the basis of total protein and carbohydrate content. A sachet of almond and wheat flour (placebo) was formulated and their physicochemical characteristics were investigated. Intervention: In a double blind randomized trial, fifty IBS-D patients were randomly enrolled into the almond and placebo groups, ranked in respect to the severity of symptoms to mild-moderate and severe disease. The patients received almond or placebo sachet (40 g/day,20 days) respectively. Main outcome measure: Patients were assessed for bowel habit, pain severity and frequency and bloating and data was recorded in a data collecting form. Results: The results showed that none of the primary outcomes of the disease is improved in the patients treated with almond. The bowel movement and severity of the pain was significantly increased in the almond treated patients compared to the placebo and baseline (p < 0.05).
Almond contains high content of oligo-fructan which in high intake might result in a large amount of fermentable carbohydrates that can exacerbate the symptoms of the disease. So, despite the almond inclusion in the low-FODMAPs, the amount of almond intake is a determining factor and here we have controversial results for almond intake in patients with IBS. Mental health and physical activity of patients are also involved in the disease.
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