With Newsvendor Problem (NvP) we refer to a specific class of inventory management problems, valid for a single item with stochastic demand over a single period. In the standard version, the newsvendor is allowed to issue a single order, before he or she can observe the actual demand. Since the newsvendor can face both overage and underage costs, due to lost sales or residual stock, the objective is to define the optimal order size that maximizes the expected profit. In this paper, we consider a specific version of the NvP, in which the buyer has the opportunity to make a last and single order for opportunistic reasons. Specifically, we consider discontinued, collectible items, for which demand will not vanish and whose value might appreciate. Hence, the objective is to define the optimal quantity that should be purchased, just before the item is retired from the market or sold-out, and that should be sold as soon as the price rises over a predefined target level. An optimal solution, maximizing the expected profit, is obtained both in case of negligible and non-negligible stockholding costs. In the latter case, to obtain the optimal solution in implicit form, some simplifying assumptions are needed. Hence, a thorough numerical analysis is finally performed, as a way to empirically demonstrate both the robustness and the accuracy of the model, in several scenarios differentiated in terms of costs and customers’ demand.

This paper presents a mathematical model for a single depot, time-dependent vehicle routing problem with backhaul considering the first in first out (FIFO) assumption. As the nature of the problem is NP-hard, variable neighborhood search (VNS) meta-heuristic and mat-heuristic algorithms have been designed. For test problems with large scales, obtained results highlight the superior performance of the mat-heuristic algorithm compared with that of the other algorithm. Finally a case study at the post office of Khomeini-Shahr town, Iran, was considered. Study results show a reduction of roughly 19% (almost 45 min) in the travel time of the vehicle.

In reality, concrete structures are normally under various loadings, and results of different studies have shown that cracks in these structures and their materials, due to their nature as well as the loading type, do not develop along the crack plane (pure mode I); rather, they expand under mixed modes, making the crack growth studies under these modes a very important issue. In the crack growth phenomenon, the fracture toughness is a very effective parameter usually calculated by ENDB samples because they are easy to handle. In this study, several samples were made by changing the maximum aggregates size (dmax = 9.5, 12.5 & 19 mm) and the amount of hooked-end steel fibers (SF = 0.1, 0.3 & 0.5%), and tested under different loading modes (pure/mixed modes I and III) using the strain control jack device. According to the results, the lowest fracture toughness belonged to pure mode III, aggregates with dmax = 12.5 mm performed better in the self-compacting concrete reinforced with steel fiber, Also, the results show that the increasing trend of steel fibers does not have a positive effect on the fracture toughness performance.

Under solvent-free conditions, a simple and efficient procedure has been developed for the Michael addition reaction of active methylene compounds to β-nitrostyrenes. The resulting Michael adducts are efficiently converted into functionalized pyrazole derivatives with hydrazine hydrate in excellent yields. All the compounds were well characterized by spectroscopic techniques.

This research aimed to analyze the direct and indirect influence of customer relationship management and brand image on customer loyalty in the marine export department of DSV Transport Indonesia through customer satisfaction. Customer Relationship Management in goods delivery was one of the essential variables to improve company service to satisfy its customers and impact their loyalty. Research with a quantitative approach uses the Path Analysis statistical tool. This research used quantitative methods with a sample of 199 companies. The key findings of this research stated that customer relationship management has a negative and insignificant effect on the satisfaction and loyalty of marine export customers of DSV Transport Indonesia. Thus, the changes occurring in the application of Customer Relationship Management in marine exports would not affect the satisfaction and loyalty of marine export customers of DSV Transport Indonesia. Based on the results of this research, it was stated that customer satisfaction was indirectly able to function as a mediator or mediate the indirect influence of Customer Relationship Management and brand image on the customer loyalty to marine exports of DSV Transport Indonesia.

Based on the expectancy disconfirmation theory, the study presents a conceptual model exploring consumer perception (perceived service quality, product quality, price, and corporate social responsibility) effect on satisfaction and word of mouth in smallholder horticulture stores. A quantitative analysis using Partial Least Squares-based Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was carried. This method was used to identify elements influencing satisfaction and to explore the hypothesised relationships between consumer perceptions, satisfaction, and the spreading of positive word of mouth. The findings identify the perceived service quality and product quality as factors that enhance satisfaction. However, the perceived quality of the product is the only factor that aids word of mouth. Correspondingly, perceived product quality shows a favorable relationship with perceived price. On the other hand, perceived price and corporate social responsibility do not strengthen customer satisfaction, with corporate social responsibility not aiding word of mouth. Furthermore, the study tested the strength of cus-tomer satisfaction as a mediating variable between consumer perception and word of mouth, and none of the results proved significant. Similarly, perceived price does not mediate the path between perceived product quality and customer satisfaction. The study is of benefit to scholars, smallholders, and agricultural policymakers, particularly in emerging economies.

The interconnected usefulness of titanium grade 5 is amplified by the improved mechanical ability and sustainable applications in various industries like the aerospace, medical industry and many more. Despite the profound properties of Ti6Al4V, it is worthy of intellectual study to investigate the possible performance improvement of the material for better operational application. This study adopted the use of RF magnetron sputtering to deposit the target on the substrate material under varying temperatures and deposition power. A total of four samples and control were analyzed for a surface morphological examination and post-sputtering chemical compositional analysis via SEM (scanning electron microscope) and EDX (energy dispersive x-ray analysis). Further investigation on the samples' crystallites was done using XRD (X-ray diffractometer). The SEM images showed low agglomeration and most of the samples were void of pores, cleft and crevices, which implied homogeneous distribution of the target (Inconel thin film) on the titanium substrate. The EDX of the Inconel coated titanium samples revealed elements such as Ti, Si and C, which are beneficial to the properties of the materials. The XRD profiles of the Inconel coated titanium samples disclosed intensities of high peaks, which indicated stability, chemical and microstructural homogeneity of the thin film.

Fused heterocyclic derivatives have become an important scaffold nowadays, which could be used as a template in drug development and medicinal chemistry. Benzimidazole moiety is an imperious aromatic heterocycle which is frequently present in naturally occurring products such as purines, vitamin B 12 and histidine as well as synthesized bioactive compounds, indomethacin and albendazole, for example. This study comprises widespread and comprehensive literature analysis on chemical reactivity and biological properties associated with Benzimidazole containing molecules. Benzimidazole ring structure possesses an extensive variety of pharmacological activities in several medications of therapeutic interest against a variety of diseases such as hypertension, malaria, cancer, microbial diseases, inflammatory disorders, etc. Furthermore, this fused heterocycle benzimidazole core might interact with various anions and cations in addition to biomolecules over different reactions in the human body, therefore exhibiting wide-ranging biological activities such as antineoplastic, antibacterial and antifungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antihypertensive, antiviral and antidepressant. In this review, we are focusing on the chemistry and recent biological activities, designing approaches, and SAR (structure-activity relationship) data of different benzimidazole-based analogues during the past years.

The primary objective of this research is to examine the relationship between Good Corporate Governance (GCG), value chain, and bank asset growth in Indonesian State-Owned banks. Additionally, this study aims to determine whether value chain mediates the relationship between GCG and bank asset growth. This research employs a quantitative method. Data is collected using a questionnaire with a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 7. The respondents in this study are employees and managers working in state-owned banks in Indonesia. The total sample size used in this research is 239 samples. Data analysis is conducted using SmartPLS 4 software. The results of this study demonstrate that GCG has a significant positive relationship with the value chain of the bank. However, the direct relationship between GCG and bank asset growth is not statistically significant. The results of the mediation analysis show that value chain mediates the relationship between GCG and bank asset growth, emphasizing the critical role of value chain in optimizing the impact of GCG on bank asset growth.

This study aims to measure people's decision-making to buy their pet insurance and compare it with the amount of insurance premium rates offered. It is important due to the increase in people's income which has triggered the birth of a community of pet lovers as part of the middle-class people’s lifestyle in Indonesia. The survey data was conducted using the Stated Preference (SP) format through questionnaires and interviews to determine the public response to pet insurance premiums. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive methods, decision-making analysis was on the basis of the choice of the dichotomous Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), and logistic regression analysis. Based on the calculation analysis using the logit method shows that the ability of the public to pay pet insurance premiums is IDR289,454.54. Analysis of calculations using the Turnbull method was obtained at IDR365,000.00. The results of the WTP amount, both using the logit method and using the Turnbull method, are greater than the minimum premium amount offered which is IDR190,000.00. The results of this study indicate that the premium rates for pet insurance offered are still within reasonable limits, compared to the size of the decision-making by the animal lover community in Indonesia. This provides a very good prospect for insurance companies that have insurance products for pets in Indonesia. This study was conducted to provide empirical evidence that the decision-making of the animal lover community is greater than the premium rate for pet insurance that has been offered. Thus, this research strongly supports the development of pet insurance companies in Indonesia, which can provide pet protection to stay healthy and well looked after.