Net-zero, resilience, and agile closed-loop supply chain network design considering robustness and renewable energy.

The Net-zero, Resilience, and Agile Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network (NZRACLSCND) concept integrates net-zero, resiliency, and agility in a circular economy. Regarding net-zero, this research embeds renewable energy like solar energy and hybrid trucks to supply energy for facilities and transportation of goods and products between components. Applying redundancy, multi-source, and flexible capacity as resiliency strategies is suggested to cope with the demand disruption. Satisfaction demand level is utilized for the agile approach. This research proposes Robust Stochastic Optimization (RSO), including the weighted expected value and maximum CO2 for NZRACLSCND. This study locates and determines the flow of CLSC in the home appliance industry by considering NZRA, robustness, and risk against demand disruption. CO2 emission using the NZRA concept is 233.33% less than without considering NZRA concepts. In addition, the conservative coefficient, agile coefficient, decreased CO2 coefficient, and the model scale are analyzed. The results show that when the conservative coefficient increases, the risks of CO2 emission increase. In addition, when the agile coefficient increases, as a result, CO2 emission increases. Finally, when the decreased CO2 coefficient and the model scale increase, we can see that CO2 emission and cost are increased.

Antifragile, sustainable, and agile supply chain network design by considering resiliency, robustness, risk, and environmental requirements.

This research suggests an Antifragile, Sustainable and Agile Supply Chain Network Design (ASASCND) as a new network design that integrates these concepts considering resiliency, robustness, risk, and environmental requirements. The cost function combines a novel method with robust stochastic optimization and Entropic Value at Risk (EVaR). This model combines expected value, maximum and EVaR of cost as an objective function. This research adds antifragility by the effect of learning on variable parameters, sustainability by considering the environmental and social issues, resiliency and agility by flexible capacity, and multi-resource and demand satisfaction constraints to the model. The case study is in the automotive industry. This model compares the main problem by considering antifragility without thinking about antifragility. The ASASCND cost is - 0.3% less than without considering antifragility. In addition, when the conservatism coefficient grows, the cost function increase. In addition, the antifragility coefficient and the confidence level affect positively, and the agility coefficient negatively affects the cost function. Expanding the model scale changes the cost function and time computation because the antifragility coefficient changes variable cost. Finally, managerial insights and practical implications are explained.

A robust and resilience machine learning for forecasting agri-food production.

This research proposes a new framework for agri-food capacity production by considering resiliency and robustness and paying attention to disruption and risk for the first time. It is applied robust stochastic optimization by adding robustness to the constraint's objective function and resiliency situation. This research minimizes the mean absolute deviation and coefficient of standard deviation errors by linear function in the agri-food capacity production. This study suggests agri-food managers and decision-makers use this mathematical method to forecast and improve production management. The results of this research lead to better decision-making and are compared with other sine functions. The main model's Robust and Resiliency Mean Absolute Deviation (RRMAD) value is 1.28% lower than other sine-type functions. The conservativity coefficient, confidence level, weight factor, resiliency coefficient, and probability of the scenario vary. The main model's RRMAD value is 1.28% lower than other sine-type functions. Growing the weight factor will result in an increase in RRMAD and a smooth decline in R-squared. Additionally, as the resilience coefficient rises, the RRMAD function increases while the R-squared declines. By altering the probability of the scenario, the RRMAD function drops, and the R-squared goes up.

The effect of Swedish massage on pain in rheumatoid arthritis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Joint pain is one of the most common symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis patients and require medical attention. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Swedish massage on pain and painkiller consumption in rheumatoid arthritis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 patients participated in the experiment, with half assigned to the control group (n = 30) and half to the experimental (n = 30) group using the block randomization method. On patients in the experimental group, a 30-min Swedish massage was performed regularly for eight weeks: twice a week for the first four weeks, and three times a week for the last four weeks. The control group received routine care. The visual analogue scale-pain was used to measure pain in the two groups at three points of time: before the beginning of the experiment, immediately after the last session, and one month after the last session of the intervention. RESULTS: The analysis of covariance showed that there were significant differences between the two groups' mean scores of pain and painkiller consumption immediately after and one month after the last session of the intervention (p = 0.01). Furthermore, in the experimental group, the mean scores of pain and painkiller consumption decreased over the three points of time (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Swedish massage can be effective in reducing pain and the need to use painkillers in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Working memory span in Persian-speaking children with speech sound disorders and normal speech development.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare working memory span in Persian-speaking preschool children with speech sound disorder (SSD) and their typically speaking peers. Additionally, the study aimed to examine Non-Word Repetition (NWR), Forward Digit Span (FDS) and Backward Digit Span (BDS) in four groups of children with varying severity levels of SSD. METHODS: The participants in this study comprised 35 children with SSD and 35 typically developing (TD) children -matched for age and sex-as a control group. The participants were between the age range of 48 and 72 months. Two components of working memory including phonological loop and central executive were compared between two groups. We used two tasks (NWR and FDS) to assess phonological loop component, and one task (BDS) to assess central executive component. Percentage of correct consonants (PCC) was used to calculate the severity of SSD. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the two groups in all tasks that assess working memory (p < 0.001). In addition, the comparison of the phonological loop of working memory between the various severity groups indicated significant differences between different severities of both NWR and FDS tasks among the SSD children (p < 0.001). Nevertheless, comparison of the central executive between various severity groups, which was assessed with the BDS task, did not show any significant differences (p > 0.05). The result showed that PCC scores in TD children were associated with NWR (p < 0.001), FDS (p = 0.001), and BDS (p < 0.001). Furthermore, PCC scores in SSD children were associated with NWR and FDS (p < 0.001), but not with BDS (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The working memory skills were weaker in SSD children, in comparison to TD children. In addition, children with varying levels of severity of SSD differed in terms of NWR and FSD, but not BDS.

The Effect of Group Discussion on the Quality of Life and HbA1c Levels of Adolescents With Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a metabolic syndrome and the most common endocrine disorder in childhood and adolescence. Diabetes occurs at any age but the highest outbreak is during ten to 15 years of age and 75% of the cases are diagnosed at the age 18. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a group discussion on the quality of life (QOL) and glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c) levels of adolescents with diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 56 adolescents with diabetes who were referred to Golabchi Diabetes Center in Kashan, Iran. After obtaining written informed consent from the patients, blood sample was drawn for measuring sugar and HbA1c levels. The participants completed the questionnaire regarding the QOL. Patients were randomly allocated to four groups. All the groups attended similar group discussion sessions, which were conducted according to the guidance of diabetic specialists. The groups' members followed the discussed instructions for four months. Then, another questionnaire was completed and blood sugar and HbA1c levels were measured again. The results were compared by paired-samples t-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: After the group discussion sessions, in 56% of the patients the HbA1c levels (8.45 ± 1.35 and 6.98 ± 0.89 before and after intervention, respectively) and QOL were improved significantly. The mean age of these patients was 14.75 ± 1.80 years and the mean of daily insulin injection was 35.70 ± 13.42 units. CONCLUSIONS: Sharing experiences trough group discussions and receiving instructive feedbacks can improve the QOL and metabolic status of adolescents with diabetes.