Web browser is one of the most important internet facilities for surfing the internet. A good web browser must incorporate literally tens of features such as integrated search engine, automatic updates, etc. Each year, ten web browsers are formally introduced as top best reviewers by some organizations. In this paper, we propose the implementation of TOPSIS technique to rank ten web browsers. The proposed model of this paper uses five criteria including speed, features, security, technical support and supported configurations. In terms of speed, Safari is the best web reviewer followed by Google Chrome and Internet Explorer while Opera is the best web reviewer when we look into 20 different features. We have also ranked these web browsers using all five categories together and the results indicate that Opera, Internet explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome are the best web browsers to be chosen.

As the need for software increased, the number of software firms and the competition among them also increased. The software companies in developing countries like India can no longer survive based on cost advantage alone. The firms need to deliver competitively priced quality software products on time. This can be achieved through quantitatively managing the different phases or sub processes in software development process. But quantitative management of a process consisting of a set of interlinked sub processes or stages with the output of one sub pro-cess influencing that of subsequent stages and final output is not easy. The process performance models developed for quantitative management of software development process often model the final outcome in terms of factors from various stages together or focuses only on quantitatively managing a particular sub process independently. In manufacturing and other engineering indus-tries, the processes with multiple sub process are monitored and controlled using multistage pro-cess control methodology. This paper is an application of multistage statistical process control for managing the software development process. The suggested methodology is a combination of process performance models and control charts. The proposed methodology can be easily im-plemented for controlling various types of software projects like development projects, incre-mental development projects, testing projects etc. The methodology also provides the project manager the opportunity to tighten or relax the control at various sub processes based on the pro-ject team’s strengths and still achieve the goal on the final outcome.

Extensive brittle fracture curves are presented in the present paper for engineering components weakened by a U-shaped notch under different in-plane loading conditions from pure mode I to pure mode II. The curves were obtained in a computational manner on the basis of an appropriate brittle fracture model, namely the U-notched maximum tangential stress (UMTS) criterion, suggested and employed several times in the past by the author and his co-researchers to assess mixed mode fracture in numerous U-notched samples. Eight different notch tip radii were considered in the computations. Extensive brittle materials were also taken into consideration by using different values of the material critical distance in the calculations. By estimating theoretically the load-carrying capacity and the fracture initiation angle using solely the two basic material properties, namely the ultimate tensile strength and the plane-strain fracture toughness, engineers can design conveniently the U-notched brittle components and structures aiming to avoid abrupt fracture.

Municipal solid waste management has become a global concern during the past decades in many countries such as Canada and waste management technological advancements and regula-tions have been increased. Solid wastes emit greenhouse gases which result in global climate change, pollution of air and water which has tremendous negative impact on human health. Due to the excessive urbanization and fast economic development, municipal solid wastes have been increased in developing countries. In order to manage this emerging issue, polluted countries need a series of legislations and policies toward solid wastes. Accurate prediction of future mu-nicipal solid waste generation plays a critical role for future planning. This paper focuses on mu-nicipal solid waste generation in city of Tehran, the most populated city in Middle East. Three methods are explored in this paper to analyze the past solid waste time-series analysis: regres-sion, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). The first method, which is the classical regression approach, is used as a baseline for considered neural networks models. The second method utilizes the past data as training example of neural network to find autocorrelation among target; lastly, the neuro-fuzzy learns the relation of data using fuzzy-rule. Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) metric is used to evaluate the per-formance. Finally, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan experiment are performed to ver-ify and validate the outcome of the experiments.

A series of novel dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones derivatives is synthesized by using Rhizopus Oryzae lipase biocatalyst in deep eutectic solvent. The reaction is characterized by high efficiency and selectivity, short reaction time, mild and environmentally friendly reaction conditions. The yields are found to be significantly higher and reuse of both the lipase and deep eutectic solvent is possible up to four consecutive cycles. The products are found to exhibit appreciable in vitro antibacterial activity against Echerichia coli, Pseudomonas neumoniae and in vitro antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.

The classic ARIMA models use the information criteria for lag selection since 1990s. The information criteria are based on the summation of two expressions: a function of Residual Sum of Squares (RSS) and a penalty for decrease of degrees of freedom. However, the information criteria have some disadvantages since these two expressions do not have the same scale, so the information criteria are mainly based on the first expression (because of its bigger scale). In this paper, we propose a hybrid ARIMA model, which uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to select the best lags of AR and MA process called DEA-ARIMA. DEA is a linear programming technique, which computes a comparative ratio of multiple outputs to multiple inputs for each Decision Making Unit (DMU), which is reported as the relative efficiency score. We identify inputs as the number of AR and MA terms and outputs of the model are inverse of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). In fact, in our proposed model, inputs consider as resources, so we are looking for some models with fewer resources and high efficiency. The DEA unlike the information criteria may have more than one solution and all of them are efficient so to compare this two models selection the mean of best DMUs is calculated. Experimental results demonstrate DEA-ARIMA will not trap in over fitting problem in contrast to classic ARIMA models because of considering a set of efficient ARIMA models.

Nowadays, the importance of achieving sustainable organization with competitive advantage in complex environments has many researchers’ interest. So, in this study, we evaluate different views of MKM and its role to reach SCA within banking industry. This research is relatively the scarce empirical study and adds to its originality. The findings offer valuable insights on the generalizability of MKM in a research setting. In fact, the purpose of this study is to empirically test the effect of the marketing knowledge management (MKM) on sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) within banking industry of Iran. A valid research instrument was utilized to conduct a survey of 150 top- and middle-level managers from Mellat bank of Iran (MBI). With a response rate of 81.3 percent, 122 questionnaires were returned; the number of valid and usable questionnaires was 101. Using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, MKM were classified into organizational strategies, culture and performance of senior manager, information technology (IT), research and development (R & D), internal customer (personnel), and external customer (client). Moreover, MBI’ SCA was classified into three dimensions: market, customer, finance. Structural equation modelling was utilized to test the stated hypotheses and model. Statistical support was found for the hypothesized relationships. Moreover it has been shown that MKM maintained the greatest effect on the market centered SCA, while it had the least influence on the customer centered.

A state of the art instrumented Drop Weight Impact Tester Machine was developed in Iran University of Science and Technology which measures the energy absorption of composite materials under impact load. The output of the machine is used to draw load- time graph and calculate the amount of energy absorbed by the specimens. The machine was equipped with various sensor systems to measure the velocity of the impactor just before it contacts the specimen and the amount of contact force, and with a data acquisition system to record the force and time history. Capability of testing according to many different types of standards and capability of studying behaviour of the specimen after impact are two important characteristics of this machine. This designed system, after manufacturing and calibration, was installed and successfully utilized.

The purpose of the present study is to introduce a model for competitiveness of suppliers in supply chain through game theory approach in one of the automobile companies of Iran. In this study, the game is based on price and non-price factors and this company is going to estimate the real profit obtained from collaboration with each of supply chain members. This happens by considering the governing competitive condition based on game theory before entering a bit for purchase of ? piece as spare part among 8 companies supplying this piece as the supply chain members. According to experts in this industry, the quality is the main non-price competitiveness factor after price. In the current research models, the model introduced by Lu and Tsao (2011) [Lu, J.C., Tsao, Y.C., & Charoensiriwath, C. (2011). Competition Under manufacturer Service and retail price. Economic Modeling, 28,1256-1264.] with two manufacturers- one distributer, being appropriate for the research data, has been considered as the basis and implemented for case study and then it has been extended to n-manufacturers-one common retailer. Following price elasticity of demand, potential size of market or maximum product demand, retailer price, production price, wholesale price, demand amount, manufacturer and retailer profit are estimated under three scenario of manufacturer Stackelberg, Retailer Sackelberg and Vertical Nash. Therefore, by comparing them, price balance points and optimum level of services are specified and the better optimum scenario can be determined. Sensitivity analysis is performed for new model and manufacturers are ranked based on manufacture profit, Retailer profit and customer satisfaction. Finally, in this research in addition to introducing-person game model, customer satisfaction, which has been presented in the previous models as a missed circle are analyzed.

This paper considers a multi period serial production systems for one product and deals with the problem of planned lead-time calculation in a Material Requirement Planning (MRP) environment under probabilistic lead times. It is assumed that lead times for all stages have the same distribution with different parameters. A MRP approach with periodic order quantity (POQ) policy is used for the supply planning of components. The objective is to minimize the sum of fixed ordering, holding and backlogging costs. A mathematical model is suggested and then an optimal planning lead-time, ordering quantity and periodic time are determined.