jective FLP. Generally, quantitative factors are considered as material handling cost, time, etc., and qualitative factors are considered as closeness rating, hazardous movement between the facilities, etc. For solving and optimizing two or more objectives, two methods are available. First is weight approach method and second is non-dominated sorting method. In the former method, suitable weights are given to each objective and combined in a single objective function; while in later method, the objectives are defined separately and by making comparison of the solutions on the non-dominance criteria, best Pareto-optimal solutions are obtained. In this paper, equal area multi-objective FLPs which are formulated as quadratic assignment problem (QAP) are considered and optimized using biogeography based optimization (BBO) algorithm and non-dominated sorting BBO (NSBBO) algorithm. BBO is one of the efficient metaheuristic techniques, developed to solve complex optimization problems. Computational results of BBO algorithm using weight approach illustrate its better performance compared to other methods while solving multi-objective FLPs. Furthermore to obtain Pareto optimal solutions, NSBBO algorithm is implemented.

The application of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is restricted due to limited information about the mechanical properties of printed parts. Therefore, it is required to determine the mechanical properties of the FDM properties to avail the full benefit of the FDM process. In the present study, Classic Laminate Theory (CLT) has been employed at the different configurations of layer thickness and raster width. The required elastic constant of material for CLT has been experimentally obtained through FDM printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) unidirectional specimens at 0°, 45° and 90° for different combinations of layer height and raster width. For these different combinations of layer height and raster width, constitutive models were developed to predict the tensile properties of the PLA parts. Tensile strength of the FDM printed bi-directional specimens has been experimentally obtained to validate the proposed CLT model results. The experimental tensile strength data is in good agreement with the data predicted by the proposed CLT model. Higher tensile strength and modulus were achieved with 0° raster angle compared to 90° raster angle. In the case of a bi-directional printed specimen, higher tensile strength was obtained with 45°/-45° raster angle followed by 30°/-60° and 0°/90° raster angle.

A new series of 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole derivatives, 3a-f and 5a-f were synthesized by using various aryl aldehydes and ketones. FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectral studies were characteristic of the synthesized compounds. These new compounds were screened in male wistar rats and compared with the standard drug for their anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock seizure (MES) model. Compounds 3b and 5d of this sequence were found to be the most active. The same compound did not demonstrate neurotoxicity at the administered maximum dose (100 mg / kg) and these compounds showed good protection compared to other compounds.

The COVID-19 outbreak has illustrated the wide range of issues that supply networks confront when they are subjected to major interruptions. The supply networks for vaccines are no exception. To get out of this pandemic, it's critical to identify and address problems with the COVID-19 vaccine supply chain (VSC). This work identifies 13 challenges and prioritizes those. The findings provide stakeholders and government policymakers with realistic advice for developing a better VSC. This paper proposes a methodology based on fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) with the use of triangular fuzzy numbers for prioritizing VSC barriers. It has been found that the impact of poor health worker training facilities becomes maximum with the highest weightage. Moreover, the managerial implication of the results is also provided, which will be useful for VSC sectors to take suitable decisions to overcome these obstacles.

A synthesis of 2-amino-4-(R)-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-l) in single flasks containing aromatic aldehydes (1a-l), malononitrile (2), and dimedone (3) by using green catalyst, extract of orange without solvent under ultrasound irradiations and reflux condition. Synthesis of 2-amino-4-(R)-7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives (4a-l) show potent in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity. All synthesized compounds were characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopic data & elemental analysis.

Polynomial equations in non-dimensional form for various fracture parameters of double-K fracture model for compact tension specimen have been derived and presented in this paper. These equations can be used for computing different double-K fracture parameters of concrete for known material properties and specimen size having relative size of initial crack length of 0.3 without involving much complexity in numerical computations. Values of peak load and corresponding crack opening displacement as necessary to compute the double-K fracture parameters of concrete have been derived from the established fictitious crack model in the present study. A simplified equation in non-dimensional form between peak load and critical crack opening displacement as obtained from a fictitious crack model has also been presented.

The aim of the present study is to find the relative importance of factors influencing the stu-dents’ decisions to adopt Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Eight sub-factors catego-rized under three main factors namely “benefits of MOOCs”, “MOOCs features” and “social recognition”, are considered for prioritization. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method-ology is also employed to prioritize the factors. The primary data pertaining to pair-wise com-parisons of various factors and sub-factors have been obtained from 250 students by using convenience sampling. The results indicate that academic recognition, followed by openness, autonomy and cost effectiveness of MOOCs are the most important aspects which students consider while deciding to learn through MOOCs.

We analyze the association between female directorship on the board and real earnings management in context of an emerging economy, in Bangladesh. To accomplish the task, we utilize a sample of 2193 firm-year observations listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange throughout the period 2000-2017. Our exploration indicates that the presence of female directors, the proportion of female directors on the board, as well as the presence of independent female director; all of these forms are positively associated with real earnings management. Therefore firms, with female director(s), tend to be in-volved in higher levels of earnings management through lower price discount, unfavorable credit facility and lower scales of production. This study also underscores that firms with female direc-tor(s) are more likely to abide by defensive financial reporting policies and they lean towards employing more income-decreasing earnings. On the other hand, their counterparts in firms with a less representation from female on the board are much less likely to engage in similar practices. So, the persistence of female directors may resolve the problem of income-increasing real earnings man-agement in a significant manner. Additionally, we provide evidence that corporate governance plays a beneficial role in limiting real earnings management especially when the board appoints female director(s).

This paper evaluates the efficiency of five Indian pharmaceutical Industries using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach. The paper uses Net Block, Cash and Bank Balance, Share Capital, Reserve and Surplus, Secure Loan and Unsecured Loan as input variables and Investments and ‘Loans and Advances’ as output variables. In this study, the Basic Radial Models input oriented with Constant Returns to scale (CRS) are used to estimate the efficiency of pharmaceutical Industries. The DEA tool assists the administrators to identify the inefficient measures and take necessary actions for improvement. The results are indicative of the scenario that changed patent laws in India are not detrimental to the financial and overall health of Indian pharmaceutical companies in general. The Indian pharmaceutical companies have suitably modified their business model to cope up with the changed legal environment. It is a positive sign for all Indian pharmaceutical companies that they are dynamic in management and operational policies to face any new situation and shall flourish more in the coming days.

A series of fourteen chalcone was synthesized via. Claisen–Schmidt condensation between substituted 2- hydroxyl acetonaphthones and substituted benzaldehyde in presence of tripotassium phosphate (K3PO4) catalyst. The reaction was carried out by conventional method using 2-methoxyethanol. The procedure is simple and efficient in terms of reaction time, easy workup and isolation of products and yields. In-vitro all these synthesized compounds were screened and evaluated for the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. It was found that these compounds had significant cytotoxic activity in comparison with standard 5-flurouracil. The compounds 3a, 3b, 3h, 3f and 3l were screened by MTT assay against liver cancer cell line-HepG2. Among these, the compound 3b and 3c showed LC50 values of 997.14 μM/ml and 284.13 μM/ml., respectively. The remaining compounds did not display the LC50 values. The compound 3l displayed the strongest cytotoxic activities with IC50 value of 91.85 μg/ml against liver cancer cell line. The Chalcone 3a, 3f, 3h and 3e demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity and the remaining were moderately active against tested pathogens. The antimicrobial effects of all the tested compounds are due to the presence of pharmacological active substituent in the basic nucleus of Chalcones. Therefore, the present study leads to the development of new class of anticancer and antimicrobial inhibitory candidates.