scholarly journals Dissolvable Microneedle Patches to Enable Increased Access to Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and Future Pandemic Outbreaks

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Jesse O’Shea ◽  
Mark R. Prausnitz ◽  
Nadine Rouphael
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Pandemic Preparedness ◽  
Vaccine Candidates ◽  
Essential Component

Vaccines are an essential component of pandemic preparedness but can be limited due to challenges in production and logistical implementation. While vaccine candidates were rapidly developed against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), immunization campaigns remain an obstacle to achieving herd immunity. Dissolvable microneedle patches are advantageous for many possible reasons: improved immunogenicity; dose-sparing effects; expected low manufacturing cost; elimination of sharps; reduction of vaccine wastage; no need for reconstitution; simplified supply chain, with reduction of cold chain supply through increased thermostability; ease of use, reducing the need for healthcare providers; and greater acceptability compared to traditional hypodermic injections. When applied to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and future pandemic outbreaks, microneedle patches have great potential to improve vaccination globally and save many lives.

Sustainable Food Logistics Systems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaohui Wu ◽  
Madeleine Elinor Pullman
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Food System ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Community Supported Agriculture ◽  
Food Supply Chain ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Chain Management

Food supply chain management is becoming a critical management and public policy agenda. Climate change, growing demand, and shifting patterns of food production, delivery, and consumption have elicited a series of new challenges, such as food security, safety, and system resiliency. This chapter first introduces the typical players in a food supply chain and examines the global food system characterized by consolidation and industrialization. It then discusses some critical topics of the sustainable food supply chain that aim to address these challenges. These topics include traceability, transparency, certification and standards, and alternatives to industrialized food systems, including cooperatives, community-supported agriculture, and roles of small and medium-sized growers in regenerative agriculture. The chapter ends with a discussion of several important emerging logistics management topics, including last-mile delivery, new technology, and cold chain management.

A systematic literature review of healthcare supply chain and implications of future research

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anuj Dixit ◽  
Srikanta Routroy ◽  
Sunil Kumar Dubey
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Drug Manufacturing ◽  
Customer Training

Purpose This paper aims to review the healthcare supply chain (HSC) literature along various areas and to find out the gap in it. Design/methodology/approach In total, 143 research papers were reviewed during 1996-2017. A critical review was carried out in various dimensions such as research methodologies/data collection method (empirical, case study and literature review) and inquiry mode of research methodology (qualitative, quantitative and mixed), country-specific, targeted area, research aim and year of publication. Findings Supply chain (SC) operations, performance measurement, inventory management, lean and agile operation, and use of information technology were well studied and analyzed, however, employee and customer training, tracking and visibility of medicines, cold chain management, human resource practices, risk management and waste management are felt to be important areas but not much attention were made in this direction. Research limitations/implications Mainly drug and vaccine SC were considered in current study of HSC while SC along healthcare equipment and machine, hospitality and drug manufacturing related papers were excluded in this study. Practical implications This literature review has recognized and analyzed various issues relevant to HSC and shows the direction for future research to develop an efficient and effective HSC. Originality/value The insight of various aspects of HSC was explored in general for better and deeper understanding of it for designing of an efficient and competent HSC. The outcomes of the study may form a basis to decide direction of future research.

scholarly journals How Do Consumers’ Food Values across Countries Lead to Changes in the Strategy of Food Supply-Chain Management?

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1523
Author(s):  
Jisung Jo ◽  
Eon-kyung Lee
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Random Parameter ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Consumer Values ◽  
Food Market ◽  
Import And Export ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Food Value

Although one of the main goals of supply-chain management is to maximize consumer values, the research to date has mainly focused on the supply side. In the case of the food industry, understanding consumer needs and maximizing its utility are essential. In this study, we analyze consumers’ 12 meta-values (e.g., safety, taste, health, price, environment, etc.), then suggest the strategy of food cold-chain management satisfying consumers’ perception. We focused on consumers from three countries in Asia: Korea, China, and Japan. The survey was conducted with over 1000 consumers in those three countries, and a random parameter logit model was utilized to determine the importance of each food value that could affect consumers’ food choice. Similarities and differences were both found in share of preference of each food value across countries. While safety is one of the top three values in all three countries, naturalness and nutritional value ranked among the top three only in China. To propose the consumer-centric strategy of food cold-chain management, we investigated the relationship between each food value and each node of supply chain based on the big data analysis. It shows that consumers prefer when the entire supply chain is managed where each node is organically connected with each other instead of individual nodes being managed separately. Further, strategies for food cold-chain management should be developed differently by country, incorporating differences of consumers’ preferences on food value. These results would motivate governments and companies related to food cold chain to reconsider their marketing strategies on the import and export food market.

scholarly journals Feasibility, usability and acceptability of paediatric lung ultrasound among healthcare providers and caregivers for the diagnosis of childhood pneumonia in resource-constrained settings: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042547
Author(s):  
Atif Riaz ◽  
Olga Cambaco ◽  
Laura Elizabeth Ellington ◽  
Jennifer L Lenahan ◽  
Khatia Munguambe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Lung Ultrasound ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Pneumonia Diagnosis

ObjectivesPaediatric pneumonia burden and mortality are highest in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC). Paediatric lung ultrasound (LUS) has emerged as a promising diagnostic tool for pneumonia in LMIC. Despite a growing evidence base for LUS use in paediatric pneumonia diagnosis, little is known about its potential for successful implementation in LMIC. Our objectives were to evaluate the feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS in the diagnosis of paediatric pneumonia.DesignProspective qualitative study using semistructured interviewsSettingTwo referral hospitals in Mozambique and PakistanParticipantsA total of 21 healthcare providers (HCPs) and 20 caregivers were enrolled.ResultsHCPs highlighted themes of limited resource availability for the feasibility of LUS implementation, including perceived high cost of equipment, maintenance demands, time constraints and limited trained staff. HCPs emphasised the importance of policymaker support and caregiver acceptance for long-term success. HCP perspectives of usability highlighted ease of use and integration into existing workflow. HCPs and caregivers had positive attitudes towards LUS with few exceptions. Both HCPs and caregivers emphasised the potential for rapid, improved diagnosis of paediatric respiratory conditions using LUS.ConclusionsThis was the first study to evaluate HCP and caregiver perspectives of paediatric LUS through qualitative analysis. Critical components impacting feasibility, usability and acceptability of LUS for paediatric pneumonia diagnosis in LMIC were identified for initial deployment. Future research should explore LUS sustainability, with a particular focus on quality control, device maintenance and functionality and adoption of the new technology within the health system. This study highlights the need to engage both users and recipients of new technology early in order to adapt future interventions to the local context for successful implementation.Trial registration numberNCT03187067.

COVID-19: Are Experimental Drugs Cure or Ill?

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bensu Karahalil ◽  
Aylin Elkama
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Death Rates ◽  
Experimental Drugs ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
The World

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new strain of coronavirus. It is characterized by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has quickly influenced all over the world since it spreads easily. Common symptoms are fever, cough, difficulty in breathing and muscle aches. Despite the urgent need to find an effective antiviral treatment, already available agents are being used alone or in combination all over the world. At the beginning of the pandemic, death rates of infection caused by COVID-19 are high but "is COVID-19 responsible for all deaths?", or “are there any contributions of the frequently used drugs in this period to these deaths?” Surely herd immunity plays a major role and has the contribution in the decline in mortality rates. Meanwhile, it is kept in mind that due to safety concerns, changes have also been made to the dosage and combined use of frequently used drugs. Objective: In this review, answers to two questions above and the safety of treatments, toxicities of agents involving chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir, favipiravir, lopiravir/ritonavir, sarilumab, tocilizumab, siltuximab, corticosteroids and bromhexine which are the most frequently used in both Turkey and all over the world will be summarized. Conclusion: Among these drugs favipiravir seems the most promising drug due to more tolerable adverse effects. More clinical trials with large sample sizes are needed to find the most effective and safe drug for COVID-19 treatment.

Initiating Collaboration among Organ Transplant Professionals through Web Portals and Mobile Applications

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Alexander ◽  
Haley Hoy ◽  
Manil Maskey ◽  
Helen Conover ◽  
John Gamble ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Applications ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Organ Transplant ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Efficient Access ◽  
Health Related

The knowledge base for healthcare providers working in the field of organ transplantation has grown exponentially. However, the field has no centralized ‘space’ dedicated to efficient access and sharing of information.The ease of use and portability of mobile applications (apps) make them ideal for subspecialists working in complex healthcare environments. In this article, the authors review the literature related to healthcare technology; describe the development of health-related technology; present their mobile app pilot project assessing the effects of a collaborative, mobile app based on a freely available content manage framework; and report their findings. They conclude by sharing both lessons learned while completing this project and future directions.

Factors influencing the acceptance of private and public blockchain-based collaboration among supply chain practitioners: a parallel mediation model

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayathri Giri ◽  
Hansa Lysander Manohar
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Behavioral Intention ◽  
Ease Of Use ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Intention To Use ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Behavioral Intention To Use

Purpose Drawing inspiration from the organizational information processing theory, the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the theory of motivation, this study aims to examine the acceptance of private and public blockchain technology-based collaboration among supply chain practitioners. Design/methodology/approach A total of 257 samples were collected through a survey from supply chain practitioners. The study used parallel mediators of perceived usefulness (extrinsic motivation) and perceived ease of use (intrinsic motivation) to measure behavioral intention to use. Findings The results reveal that partial mediation exists between blockchain-based collaboration (private and public) and behavioral intention to use. For perceived usefulness, a stronger mediating effect was found between private blockchain-based collaboration and behavioral intention to use. For perceived ease of use, a stronger mediating effect was found between public blockchain-based collaboration and behavioral intention to use. Originality/value By integrating insights from the organizational information processing theory, the TAM and the theory of motivation, this study provides an in-depth understanding of how the distinct features of information processing in blockchain technology-based collaboration influence the supply chain practitioners’ to accept it. The novelty and results of the study expand the existing literature and pave the way for future research.

scholarly journals A Study of the Closed-Loop Supply Chain Coordination on Waste Glass Bottles Recycling

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxue Ran ◽  
Fan Chen ◽  
Qianni Wu ◽  
Sen Liu
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Waste Glass ◽  
Manufacturing Cost ◽  
Single Node ◽  
Closed Loop Supply Chain ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Glass Bottles

The recycling of waste products can sharply save manufacturing cost and improve the economic efficiency and corporate-reputation. It also has a great effect on the environment and resources protection. In the management of the closed-loop supply chain, the recycling of waste products and decision-making on pricing often directly affect the supply and demand of products and the operation efficiency of supply chain. Therefore, first we take waste glass bottles as an example and establish a mathematical model to solve the profit of manufacturers and retailers solely. Then, we analyzed whole supply chain profit under a dual-channel recycling condition which is directly recycled by consumers or by retailers. Finally, we concluded that no matter what product’s price, quality, profit, or operational efficiency of supply chain is, the overall recycling is better than the single node recycling model. Based on the analysis, we developed a new model to coordinate the profit of manufacturers and retailers in the supply chain with revenue-sharing contract. A numerical study shows that this approach is applicable and effective.

scholarly journals An Ascorbate Bluetooth© Analyzer for Quality Control of Fresh-Cut Parsley Supply Chain

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1485
Author(s):  
Ylenia Spissu ◽  
Antonio Barberis ◽  
Guy D’hallewin ◽  
Germano Orrù ◽  
Alessandra Scano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Amperometric Detection ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Ascorbate Oxidase ◽  
Decay Kinetics ◽  
Fresh Cut

This work provides companies in the fresh-cut produce sector with an Ascorbate Bluetooth© Analyzer (ABA), a screen-printed sensor-based device for ascorbic acid (AA) detection, for quality control all along the supply chain. The amperometric detection of AA on fresh and fresh-cut parsley, under correct and incorrect storage temperature, allowed us to investigate the kinetics of AA decay in response to oxidative stress. The role of ascorbate oxidase (AOx) and ascorbate peroxidase (APx) was studied. ABA was used in situ by unskilled personnel. Treatments influenced AA decay kinetics, which were linear in fresh parsley, and non-linear in fresh-cut. Two hours at 28 °C immediately after chopping, the resilience of the fresh-cut parsley was reduced, even though the cold chain was restored. Two hours at −2 °C caused a rapid loss of AA until its complete decay after 72 h. Significant differences between treatments were observed in both the expression and activity of AOx and APx. ABA registered sudden changes of parsley AA following unpredicted variations of temperature during processing or transport. It was useful to remedy the effects of unexpected flaws in the cold chain, which can be proposed for quality preservation of different fresh-cut produce.

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