In the maritime industry, most perceptions, frameworks and methodologies of dealing with hazards are for their risk assessment rather than their risk management. This tendency discloses the reality that within the maritime sectors in areas like shipping, logistics, oil and gas there is a lack of coherent Quantitative Risk Management (QRM) methodology from which to understand the risk-based decisions especially for appropriate risk management such as in seaports’ terminals. Therefore, in this paper initially, during priority assessment of the identified hazards, Fuzzy Set Theory was applied to handle imprecision of the uncertain risk-based statistics to get an accurate result. In the next stage, Fuzzy Fault Tree and Fuzzy Event Tree methods were used to achieve the sequence of quantitative risk analysis. In the final step, a Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution tool was used for the implementation of the mitigation phase to complete and conclude the proposed QRM cycle.

An imprinted potentiometric sensor was developed for direct and selective determination of gabapentin. Sensor is based on carbon paste electrode adapted by graphene oxide that is decorated with silver nanoparticles and mixed with molecularly imprinted polymers nanoparticles using gabapentin as a template molecule. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Under optimal experimental conditions, the studied sensor exhibited high selectivity and sensitivity with LOD of 4.8×10–11 mol L–1. It provided a wide linearity range from 1×10–10 to 1×10–3 mol L–1and high stability for more than 3 mo. The sensor was effectively used for the determination of gabapentin in pharmaceutical tablets and spiked plasma samples.

The effectiveness of global brands is traditionally measured by its ability to turn the brand’s target audience into consumers. Yet the focus on consumption overlooks the significance of customer equity within non-target audiences. Studying this phenomenon has become increasingly important with the advent of the internet and cross-border mass-communications which expose brands to global non-target audiences. Yet, little is known about how consumers who have no experience with the brand anticipate such experience purely based on brand popularity? Also, little is known how are components of the global brand personality particularly active in shaping the anticipated brand/customer experience? Thus, this study examines customer anticipated experience of a global brand - Hard Rock Café, in Ukraine. The conceptual model focuses on the relationship between brand popularity with brand excitement and competence and their influence on customer perceived value of the anticipated brand experience and the impact of the perceived value on customer liking of the experience and intention to engage with the brand. Using 214 Ukrainian respondents, the conceptual module was supported with significant implications for global brand engagement in target and non-target audiences.

Radio sources are very weak, as they can travel through large distances. Radio sources also have photons with low energies compared to others electromagnetic waves (EM). Microwave photons have a little more energy than radio waves, infrared photons have still more, then visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and the most energetic electromagnetic wave is gamma-rays. Radio astronomy studies are restricted due to radio frequency interference (RFI) produced by people. If this disturbance is not minimized, it poses critical problems for astrophysical studies. The purpose of this paper is to profile RFI maps in Peninsular Malaysia with a minimum mapping technique for RFI interference. Decision-making processes using GIS (Geographical Information System) for the selection requires gathering information for a variety of parameters. These factors affecting the selection process are also taken into account. In this study, various factors or parameters are involved, such as the availability of telecommunications transmission (including radio and television), rainfall, water lines and human activity. This mapping step must be followed by RFI site testing in order to identify areas of low RFI. This study will benefit radio astronomy research, especially regarding the RFI profile.

The manuscript examines Guanxi’s direct influence on reducing opportunism and conflicts, and its indirect influence on increasing buyers’ satisfaction, relationship performance and long-term orientation. The findings based on data collected from 273 Chinese firms reveal that Chinese buyers’ guanxi with US suppliers could significantly reduce buyers’ perception in suppliers’ opportunistic behaviour and the perceived levels of conflicts in Sino-US relationships, hence increasing their satisfaction, relationship performance and long-term orientation. The results broaden existing understanding of guanxi literature by empirically examining Guanxi’s influence on supplier opportunism and conflicts. The research implications suggest guanxi could be employed as a management mechanism in reducing supplier opportunism and conflicts, hence positively increasing satisfaction, performance and long-term orientation.

With much of the literature on business-to-business (B2B) from Eastern countries largely focused on the Chinese Guanxi and its role in developing and maintaining B2B, the expansion of B2B literature to other parts of the world has been limited. One important area of massive economic growth and influence is the Gulf region. Studies on B2B within the Gulf region are scarce. Thus this paper builds up on recent exploratory studies on Et-Moone relationships. The paper examines the antecedents (interpersonal liking, trust and commitment) and consequence (cooperation) of Et-Moone relationships. Survey data were collected from over 180 senior managers in Saudi Arabia. The findings confirm the importance of Et-Moone in B2B relationships and its impact on cooperation. Implications for managers are discussed, and a guide for future research is provided.

The carbon nanotube (CNT) represents one of the most unique inventions in the field of nanotechnology. CNTs have been studied closely over the last two decades by many researchers around the world due to their great potential in different fields. CNTs are rolled graphene with SP2 hybridization. The important aspects of CNTs are their light weight, small size with a high aspect ratio, good tensile strength, and good conducting characteristics, which make them useful as fillers in different materials such as polymers, metallic surfaces and ceramics. CNTs also have potential applications in the field of nanotechnology, nanomedicine, transistors, actuators, sensors, membranes, and capacitors. There are various techniques which can be used for the synthesis of CNTs. These include the arc-discharge method, chemical vaporize deposition (CVD), the laser ablation method, and the sol gel method. CNTs can be single-walled, double-walled and multi-walled. CNTs have unique mechanical, electrical and optical properties, all of which have been extensively studied. The present review is focused on the synthesis, functionalization, properties and applications of CNTs. The toxic effect of CNTs is also presented in a summarized form.

In this study three types of domatia; Tuft (T), Pocket-Tuft (PT) and Pocket (P) were observed on some species of the genus Cornus. Cornus officinalis Sieb & Zuee and C. florida Linnaeus possess T type, C. controversa Hemsl and C. walteri Wangerin possess PT type while C. alba Linnaeus possess P type. A total of 120 leaves were investigated for foliar mite’s population. T type domatia was the habitat of 329 mites (48.89%), followed by PT type where 198 mites (29.41%) were found, and the least favored was the P type domatia that accommodated 146 mites (21.70%) out of 673 mites in total. The mean number of mites per domatia was 8(±0.22), 4(±0.95) and 3(±0.70) for T, PT and P type, respectively. The alternative hypothesis that foliar mites prefer T type domatia as a habitat than PT and P type domatia was accepted based on these findings at a probability of P<0.05. Thus, it was concluded that foliar mites prefer T type domatia than the other two types. This could be due to the nature and efficiency of T type domatia in ensuring mites protection from predators and unfriendly environmental conditions. Therefore, the presence of denser tufts lowers the risks of predation and unfriendly environmental conditions and results in a higher number of mites.

Common reed (Fragmites australis), a local invasive grass, was investigated as a possible feedstock for the production of activated carbon. Dried crushed stems were subjected to impregnation with phosphoric acid (30, 40 and 50%) followed by pyrolysis at 400~500℃ with final washing and drying. Obtained carbons were characterized by determining: carbon yield, ash content, slurry pH, textural properties and capacity to remove color bodies from factory-grade sugar liquor. Produced carbons possessed surface area up to 700 m2/g, total pore volumes up to 0.37 cm3/g, and proved to be microporous in nature. Decolorization of hot sugar liquor at 80℃ showed degrees of color removal of 60 up to 77% from initial color of 1100~1300 ICU, at a carbon dose of 1.0 g/100 ml liquor. No correlation seems to hold between synthesis conditions and % R but depends on the degree of microporosity. A commercial activated carbon N showed a comparative better color removal capacity of 91%. Common reed proved to be a viable carbon precursor for production of good adsorbing carbon suitable for decolorization in the sugar industry, as well as in other environmental remediation processes.

This study is focused on the synthesis of urea and amide derivatives particularly, since the amide moiety is an essential binding group at the binding site. Urea derivatives 3-7 and 13-14 were obtained by reaction of 2-aminopyrimidines and other amines with diverse isocyanates in pyridine as a solvent under reflux. The urea derivatives were obtained in low yield because of the highly electron deficient nature of the amino group of the 2-aminopyrimidine. Amide derivatives 8-10 were obtained in moderate yields by reaction of compound 1 with aryl chloride derivatives. Also, arylamine 11 was synthesized by Buchwald-Hartwig amination in moderate yields. Most of the compound did not show good activity against A375P melanoma cells, compared with Sorafenib as control compound.

A group of new N,N-bis(5-acetylpyridin-2-yl)phenylamine derivatives was synthesized in good yield applying an optimized Buchwald-Hartwig amination protocol. The synthesized compounds showed UV absorption maxima in the range of 320-360 nm, and showed good luminescence at dilute concentrations in the blue region of the spectra (in the range of 480-497 nm). They showed also a bathochromic shift associating the increase in solvent polarity. The synthesized compounds could be investigated for use in OLEDs or as potential monomers for PLEDs.

Although the pyrimidine derivatives were obtained in low yields ranging from 8% to 20%, we reported the successful preparation of N,N-diaryl-pyrimidin-2-amine derivatives starting from the corresponding 2-aminopyrimidines (1a-1c), by direct palladium-catalyzed arylation using different arylbromides. The reasons of low yields are thought to be the electronic and steric effects by the neighboring aromatic systems. The absorption spectra and photoluminescent spectra of compounds (3a 3g and 4a-4c) were measured using dichloromethane on the concentration of 25 mM by UV vis spectroscopy and luminescent spectroscopy. Pyrimidine derivatives 4a, 4b, and 4c showed moderate emission maxima at 474 nm, 481 nm, and 367 nm, respectively, while other compounds showed very weak photoluminescence or no photoluminescence at all.

The study seeks to understand the effects of boredom proneness on impulse purchasing and smartphone addiction of young consumers. Moreover, the possible mediating role of smartphone addiction is tested for the effect of boredom proneness on impulse purchasing. Nowadays, the effect of emotions on human behavior is generally accepted, and boredom is one of the important and common problematic feelings or moods at various levels of life due to factors like unemployment, not being able to work in a suitable job, not getting appropriate education matching individual abilities, monotony of tasks, and feeling life is meaningless. Investigating the effect of boredom on specific consumer behavior would increase our knowledge about consumer behavior. For the research, a survey was conducted 313 students from Kirikkale University, Keskin Vocational High School; the data were collected by convenience sampling method. The data were processed through statistical tools like exploratory factor analysis, coefficient alphas, and regression analysis. The results of the study reveal that boredom proneness affects impulse purchasing and smartphone addiction. In addition, it is understood that smartphone addiction plays a mediating role in the effect of boredom proneness on impulse purchasing. These results indicate that boredom can be an important factor affecting certain negative consumer behaviors.