An experimental analysis of the effect of gamma and X-ray irradiation with dose rate 0.25-6mSv/h on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and PMMA samples is presented. The focus of attention is on their DC conductivity as a dielectric of a capacitor. This system is based on the discharge of a capacitor by radioactive radiation through ionization of the dielectric consists of an inner electrode of the capacitor. The experimental setup contains a special electronic circuit in which polymer samples are placed as dielectric of parallel-plate capacitor which is connected to electrodes and a high voltage power supply is in series with other components of the circuit. It is understood that the resistance of polymers varies with the applied voltage and absorbed gamma ray dose from 137Cs with 0.661 MeV energy. The influences of this parameter on LDPE and PMMA electrical properties as a result of polarization of dielectric are also presented. The experimental results show elevation of LDPE and PMMA electric conduction properties as irradiation dose rate increases. Indications of predominance of charge accumulation are also observed.

This paper investigates the impact of supply chain finance (SCF) and financial development on profitability of real estate firms in Vietnam over the 2013 - 2017 period. This is the first empirical research examining the impact of financial development on firm profitability. By employing GMM (generalized method of moment), this paper reveals the important role of supply chain finance (SCF) and financial development in profitability of real estate firms. Specifically, firm profitability (P) is influenced negatively by cash conversion cycle (CCC) and positively by financial development (FD). In addition, profitability is negatively correlated with control variable of financial leverage (LEV) and positively associated with control variable of firm size (SIZE). The findings reveal the role of supply chain finance and financial development in firm profitability which policymakers as well as managers at real estate firms can apply suitable methods in order to improve firms’ profits.

Growth of the volumes of dangerous and critical welded metal structures constructed under low temperatures imposes additional requirements on the mechanical properties of the weld joints, particularly, on the impact resistance of the weld joint and on the stability of its values. It can be achieved by using coated electrodes with ultradisperse powders of alloying elements in the coating. To develop new improved welding materials we need to optimize the systems of weld metal alloying to meet the increasingly stringent requirements to the welding-operational characteristics. Introduction of a complex ultradisperse powder (Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TiO₂, Ni) into the electrode coating applied for manual metal-arc welding ensures more stable process of electrode metal fusing and its transfer into the welding bath, improves the performance characteristics of the welded metal.

Growing environmental concerns and social responsibility push organizations into seriously considering their strategies in business operations. The implementation of green supply chain management (GSCM) is a vital strategy which enables organizations to focus on minimizing environmental issues, improving economic benefits and expanding social outcomes. The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between GSCM practices and sustainable performance in Vietnamese construction materials manufacturing enterprises. Based on the data collected from a sample of 218 construction materials manufacturers in Vietnam, the study examines the impact of GSCM elements on firm performance including economic, environmental and social using structural equation modeling. The study finds that green design and green manufacturing had positive and significant effects on three categories of outcomes, whereas green procurement impact on economic and social performance but had no influence on environmental performance. The results also empirically prove that there was a positive relationship between green distribution and environmental performance which is not supported for economic and social perspective. The study also contributes significantly to an on-going research associated with GSCM practices on sustainable performance in developing countries such as Vietnam where very few studies of GSCM have been revealed.

Fabric Formworks which are made using textile sheets such as Polyolefin, Polyesters/Polyethylene Terephthalate, nylon and Polypropylene are being used instead of conventional formworks in the construction industry. This article summarises significant studies and provides an updated review of references on the structural performance of fabric formworks over the last decade. The survey showed that they could be categorised into seven themes; namely, “Feasibility studies and manufacturing methods of complex structural elements”; “Finite element modelling, structural optimizing and form-finding themes”; “Pneumatic / Vacuumatic formwork theme”; “Durability, sustainability, efficiency and quality improvement”; “Cable-net fabric formwork theme”; “Stay-in-place structural formworks theme”; and “Review papers”. These categories comprise about 25%, 17%, 15%, 15%, 10%, 6% and 6% of related studies respectively.

Poultry industry is a key sector in the Indonesian economy, producing and supplying sixty five percent of all animal protein and with ten percent employment share of labor in national economy. Over the last thirty years, there has been an increase in production of agro food globally. Economists agree that demand of agro product has increased due to population growth, product consumption and the increased income. In Indonesia, poultry production has not been able to meet the demand which makes it difficult to supply produced chicken to remote areas. Moreover, in Indonesia, the supply chain network of poultry production does not meet the demand of this growing sector Hence, a well-established supply chain system is required for this sector. Large production companies should create a proper supply chain system by integrating poultry product modularity Such an interaction between companies having SCM skills and poultry suppliers will enhance poultry business performance. This study employed a cross sectional research mode and designed a survey to collect data from poultry production units in Indonesia. Results reveal that due to suppliers’ involvement and integrating product modularity make a significant positive effect on poultry business performance. In addition, it was also revealed that SCM skills were moderating positively in poultry business performance which in turn helped poultry producer to develop a better supply chain network. It is recommended that government should make appropriate polices to develop better supply chain networks for the economic growth of country.

In this paper, the severe plastic deformation method (SPD) known as constrained groove pressing (CGP) was applied to produce ultrafine-grained microstructure in IF steel sheets. In the CGP technique, samples are subjected to repetitive shear deformation under the plane strain deformation condition using the constrained grooved and flat dies. For assessment of microstructure and mechanical properties of the CGPed IF steel sheet, several testing such as: uniaxial tensile test, hardness measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction analysis have been utilized. Finally, it was observed that the grains are significantly refined after the 16-step pressing of the interstitial free (IF) steel sheets. The grains were reduced from 45µm to 243 nm after four passes.

The article is purposed to assess the impact of corporate entrepreneurship on organizational culture, supply chain management performance and business performance. Particularly, it examines the moderating role of organizational culture and corporate size on the relationship between corporate entrepreneurship and business performance. The research is carried out on 96 chemical companies in Vietnam, using PLS–SEM technique. The results indicate that organizational culture and company size had moderating role effected positively by corporate entrepreneurship to business performance through organizational culture and supply chain management performance.

When a satellite is in orbit, micro vibration generated by its actuators (such as reaction wheels, deployable mechanisms, etc.) will affect the imaging quality of the camera. Viscoelastic materials are utilized as passive isolators to reduce these micro vibrations due to their simple construction and excellent energy dissipation capacity, A finite element model of the entire satellite as well as the camera is constructed using the ABAQUS software and then four reaction wheels are included as the sources of micro-vibrations and their forces are added to the model. To isolate these vibrations, four square sorbothane pads are designed and added in the finite element model as viscoelastic dampers located under the camera, between the camera and satellite bus. The generalized Maxwell model is employed to describe the dynamic properties of the viscoelastic elements in the ABAQUS software. Finally, by analyzing and comparing the dynamic responses of the system with and without the viscoelastic sorbothane pads, it is realized that this isolation system can effectively reduce the reaction wheel micro-vibrations on the camera and subsequently increase the image quality.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the set of approaches used for the appropriate integration and utilization of suppliers, manufacturers, warehouses and retailers to ensure the production and delivery of products to end users in the right quantities and at the right time. Integration of the stages in the supply chain can make it more effective and profitable as a whole. In the present study, an integrated production and distribution problem in a two-stage supply chain is considered. The supply chain consists of m manufacturers with different locations and rates of production, and a distributer that delivers the ordered products to customers in different locations. Here, products are seasonal and perishable and must be delivered before a specified time. To characterize the problem, a Mixed Integer Programming (MIP) model is proposed and to solve the proposed model, a Hybrid Simulated Annealing (HSA) and a Genetic Algorithm (GA) with mixed repair and penalize strategies are introduced. Computational results of HSA are compared with those of the GA algorithm as the current best algorithm for solving similar problems in the literature.