Abstract. The evaluation and enhancement of business processes in any organization in an uncertain environment presents one of the main requirements of ISO 9000:2008 and has a key effect on competitive advantage and long-term sustainability. The aim of this paper can be defined as the identification and discussion of some of the most important business processes of seaports and the performances of business processes and their key performance indicators (KPIs). The complexity and importance of the treated problem call for analytic methods rather than intuitive decisions. The existing decision variables of the considered problem are described by linguistic expressions which are modelled by triangular fuzzy numbers (TFNs). In this paper, the modified fuzzy extended analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is proposed. The assessment of the relative importance of each pair of performances and their key performance indicators are stated as a fuzzy group decision-making problem. By using the modified fuzzy extended analytic hierarchy process, the fuzzy rank of business processes of a seaport is obtained. The model is tested through an illustrative example with real-life data, where the obtained data suggest measures which should enhance business strategy and improve key performance indicators. The future improvement is based on benchmark and knowledge sharing.
In: Vojnotehnički glasnik: naučni časopis Ministerstva Odbrane Republike Srbije = Military technical courier : scientific periodical of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Serbia = Voenno-techničeskij vestnik : naučnyj žurnal Ministerstva Oborony Respubliki Serbija, Band 66, Heft 2, S. 399-414
Corrosion of metallic surfaces is prevalent in the environment and is of great concern in many areas, including the military, transport, aviation, building and food industries, amongst others. Polyester and coatings containing both polyester and silica nanoparticles (SiO2NPs) have been widely used to protect steel substrata from corrosion. In this study, we utilized X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, optical profiling and atomic force microscopy to provide an insight into how exposure to sunlight can cause changes in the micro- and nanoscale integrity of the coatings. No significant change in surface micro-topography was detected using optical profilometry, however, statistically significant nanoscale changes to the surface were detected using atomic force microscopy. Analysis of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection infrared micro-spectroscopy data revealed that degradation of the ester groups had occurred through exposure to ultraviolet light to form COO·, -H2C·, -O·, -CO· radicals. During the degradation process, CO and CO2 were also produced.
Antennas on-chip are a particular type of radiating elements valued for their small footprint. They are most commonly integrated in circuit boards to electromagnetically interface free space, which is necessary for wireless communications. Antennas on-chip radiate and receive electromagnetic (EM) energy as any conventional antennas, but what distinguishes them is their miniaturized size. This means they can be integrated inside electronic devices. Although on-chip antennas have a limited range, they are suitable for cell phones, tablet computers, headsets, global positioning system (GPS) devices, and WiFi and WLAN routers. Typically, on-chip antennas are handicapped by narrow bandwidth (less than 10%) and low radiation efficiency. This survey provides an overview of recent techniques and technologies investigated in the literature, to implement high performance on-chip antennas for millimeter-waves (mmWave) and terahertz (THz) integrated-circuit (IC) applications. The technologies discussed here include metamaterial (MTM), metasurface (MTS), and substrate integrated waveguides (SIW). The antenna designs described here are implemented on various substrate layers such as Silicon, Graphene, Polyimide, and GaAs to facilitate integration on ICs. Some of the antennas described here employ innovative excitation mechanisms, for example comprising open-circuited microstrip-line that is electromagnetically coupled to radiating elements through narrow dielectric slots. This excitation mechanism is shown to suppress surface wave propagation and reduce substrate loss. Other techniques described like SIW are shown to significantly attenuate surface waves and minimise loss. Radiation elements based on the MTM and MTS inspired technologies are shown to extend the effective aperture of the antenna without compromising the antenna's form factor. Moreover, the on-chip antennas designed using the above technologies exhibit significantly improved impedance match, bandwidth, gain and radiation efficiency compared to previously used technologies. These features make such antennas a prime candidate for mmWave and THz on-chip integration. This review provides a thorough reference source for specialist antenna designers. ; This work was supported in part by the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant 801538, in part by the Icelandic Centre for Research (RANNIS) under Grant 206606, and in part by the National Science Centre of Poland under Grant 2018/31/B/ST7/02369.
Juan Manuel ABASCAL, Géza ALFÖLDY und Rosario CEBRIÁN, Segobriga V. Inscripciones romanas 1986–2010 (Bibliotheca archaeologica Hispana 38), Madrid: Real Academia de la Historia 2011, 420 S. mit zahlreichen Abb.Elisabeth BEGEMANN, Schicksal als Argument. Ciceros Rede vom fatum in der späten Republik (Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge 37), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2012, 397 S.Ralf BEHRWALD, Christian WITSCHEL (Hrsg.), Rom in der Spätantike, Historische Erinnerung im städtischen Raum (Heidelberger Althistorische Beiträge und Epigraphische Studien 51), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2012, 409 S.Helmut BERNEDER, Hermann NIEDERMAYR, Kordula SCHNEGG, Michael SPORER, Brigitte TRUSCHNEGG (Hrsg.), Im Dialog mit der Antike. Die Innsbrucker Sammlung stadtrömischer Inschriften. Ein Sparkling-Science-Projekt (Latein Forum 77/78), Innsbruck: o.J. [2012], 200 S. mit zahlreichen Umzeichnungen und Farbabbildungen.Wolfgang BLÖSEL, Karl-Joachim HÖLKESKAMP (Hrsg.), Von der militia equestris zur militia urbana. Prominenzrollen und Karrierefelder im antiken Rom. Beiträge einer internationaler Tagung vom 16. bis 18. Mai 2008 an der Universität zu Köln, Alte Geschichte, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2011, 237 S.Sergio BOSTICCO, I geroglifici egiziani nelle testimonianze degli autori classici. Tesi di laurea di a.a. 1946/1947 (Comunicazioni dell'Istituto Papirologico "G. Vitelli" 10), Firenze: Istituto Papirologico "G. Vitelli" 2012, XVIII + 72 S.Scott BUCKING, Practice Makes Perfect. P.Cotsen-Princeton 1 and the Training of Scribes in Byzantine Egypt, Los Angeles: Cotsen Occasional Press 2011, XVI + 261 S., davon 108 Taf., zahlreiche Abb.Ελένη ΧΟΥΛΙΑΡΑ-ΡΑΪΟΥ, Ἰοβόλοι σκορπίοι. Μαγικοί πάπυροι και άλλες μαρτυρίες. Mit einer Zusammenfassung auf Französisch: Scorpions venimeux. Papyrus magiques et autres témoignages (Πανεπιστήμιο Ιωαννίνων. Επιστημονική Επετηρίδα Φιλοσοφικής Σχολής "Δωδώνη". Παράρτημα 81), Ioannina: Panepistemio Ioanninon 2008, 190 S.Boris DREYER, Polybios (Olms Studienbücher Antike 4), Hildesheim, Zürich, New York: Olms 2011, 194 S. mit 1 Abb.Trevor V. EVANS, Dirk D. OBBINK (Hrsg.), The Language of the Papyri, New York: Oxford University Press 2010, XXII + 362 S.Giorgio FERRI, Tutela urbis. Il significato e la concezione della divinità tutelare cittadina nella religione romana (Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge 32), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2010, 266 S.Nancy GAUTHIER, Emilio MARIN, Françoise PRÉVOT (Hrsg.), Salona IV. Natpisi starokršćanske Salone, IV.-VII. st. – Inscriptions de Salone chrétienne, IVe–VIIe siècles. Niz "Salona" Arheološkog Muzeja, Split (Collection de l'École française de Rome 194/4), Rom, Split: École française de Rome 2010, 2 Bände, XXII + 1365 S. mit zahlreichen Abb. Maria Grazia GRANINO CECERE (Hrsg.), I miliari lungo le strade dell'impero. Atti del convegno Isola della scala 28 novembre 2009, Verona: Cierre edizioni 2011, 144 S. mit zahlreichen Abb.Heinz HEINEN (Hrsg.), Antike Sklaverei: Rückblick und Ausblick. Neue Beiträge zur Forschungsgeschichte und zur Erschließung der archäologischen Zeugnisse (Forschungen zur antiken Sklaverei 38), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2010, X + 247 S. und 21 Taf.Heinz HEINEN (Hrsg.), Kindersklaven – Sklavenkinder. Schicksale zwischen Zuneigung und Ausbeutung in der Antike und im interkulturellen Vergleich (Forschungen zur antiken Sklaverei 39), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2012, XII + 326 S. und 30 Taf.Werner HUß, Die Verwaltung des ptolemaiischen Reiches (Münchener Beiträge zur Papyrusforschung und antiken Rechtsgeschichte 104), München: C.H.Beck 2011, 384 S.Benjamin KELLY, Petitions, Litigation, and Social Control in Roman Egypt, Oxford: Oxford University Press 2011, XIX + 427 S.Christina KUHN (Hrsg.), Politische Kommunikation und öffentliche Meinung in der antiken Welt, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2012, 314 S. mit 16 Abb.Martti LEIWO, Hilla HALLA-AHO, Marja VIERROS (Hrsg.), Variation and change in Greek and Latin (Papers and Monographs of the Finnish Institute at Athens 17), Helsinki: Foundation of the Finnish Institute at Athens 2012, 176 S.Carlos NOREÑA, Imperial ideals in the Roman West. Representation, Circulation, Power, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 2011, XXII + 456 S.Klaus TAUSEND, Im Inneren Germaniens. Beziehungen zwischen den germanischen Stämmen vom 1. Jh. v. Chr. bis zum 2. Jh. n. Chr. Mit Beiträgen von Günter Stangl und Sabine Tausend (Geographica Historica 25), Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2009, 282 S.Marja VIERROS, Bilingual Notaries in Hellenistic Egypt. A Study of Greek as a Second Language (Collectanea Hellenistica 5), Brussel: Koninklijke Vlaamse Academie van België voor Wetenschappen en Kunsten 2012, 292 S.
Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long-term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, Medtronic, Sarcoma UK, The Urology Foundation, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Background Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16–30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77–0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50–0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80–0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54–0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long- term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services. Funding National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit, Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, Medtronic, Sarcoma UK, The Urology Foundation, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research.
Background: Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods: This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings: Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16-30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77-0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50-0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80-0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54-0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation: Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long-term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services.