Performance assessment of teaching competency plays an important role in educational activities. Previous assessments of lecturers’ performance have failed to distinguish between potential capacity and their teaching effectiveness. To solve this problem, the integrated approach of quantitative assessment and multi-criteria decision-making models has become one of the main trends for assessing the performance of lecturers in multiple dimensions: self, peer-, manager- and student-based evaluation. This paper proposes a novel hierarchical approach, developed by the Technique for Order preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution method in an interval-valued complex neutrosophic set environment, to more accurately and comprehensively understand the evaluation process and fit it into a systematic framework. An application is given to illustrate a practical solution in lecturer’s evaluation. The accuracy of the proposed method is verified by comparing with other methods.

Drawing from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF, G7) recommendations and the Nigeria Anti-Money Laundering Act that provides the penance and dissuasion for crimes in Nigeria, this study sought to interrogate the efficacy of money laundering conviction rate as an instrument of anti-money laundering policy on capital formation in Nigeria. The study is hinged on contemporary deterrence theory. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design and used quarterly data from 1Q 2010 to 4Q 2019, which was sourced from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and CBN statistical reports. Hence, Error Correction Model (ECM) was utilized to analyze the data. The findings indicate that the current money laundering conviction rate (MLCR) has a negative and non-significant effect on capital formation in Nigeria. Therefore, the study concludes that the current conviction rate is too weak to deter the act. Hence, it is recommended that the judicial system be rejigged with enabling legislation and autonomy to strengthen it to hasten the trial of such cases and ease conviction of culpable individuals, without necessarily putting innocent victims at jeopardy. Such autonomy should also be granted to the EFCC, ICPC, NFIU etc. and inter-agency synergy should be encouraged.

Due to complex structure of aortic valve (AV) leaflets and its strong interaction with the blood flow field, realistic and accurate modeling of the valve deformations comes with many challenges. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of AV material properties on the valve deformations, by implementing different non-linear properties of the AV leaflets in three different material models. In the computations, we captured the dynamics between the leaflet deformations and blood flow field variations by using an iterative implicit fluid-structure interaction (FSI) approach. By comparison of the FSI simulation results of these three models, the effects of hyperelasticity and anisotropy on the valve deformations have been studied in detail. The simulation results reveal the fact that the material characteristics strongly affect the deformation characteristics of the leaflets in the systolic phase. The material anisotropy stabilizes the leaflet movements during the systolic phase, which helps decreasing the flutters of the leaflets during the peak jet blood flow. Similarly, it has been observed that the hyperelastic behavior yields an increase in the valve opening area during systolic phase which prevents the risk of excessive work of the heart due to high pressure difference. Furthermore, simulation results indicate that the stress levels in hyperelastic model are much lower, compared to the stress levels in linear elastic one. This suggests that the non-linear material character of the leaflets decreases the risk of calcification.

Digital transformation is a challenge that also impacts the selection of tools for implementing projects. Which tools are suitable for handling complex digital twins? Project management must respond to this with suitable approaches. The challenge for decision-makers is to choose the right one. Based on literature research and a case study, influencing factors are derived and practice-relevant project management approaches are collected. Furthermore, a decision model is developed that, on the one hand, supports the decision-maker in selecting tools before and during the project, and on the other hand makes empirical values from past projects usable for future decisions. The results show that the number of influencing factors is large, and the approaches are di-verse. In complex projects, this can lead to complex decision-making situations that require appropriate decision models. The developed “Supervised Decision Model – L5” is based on five levels (L): (L1) Building a database; (L2) Derivation of algorithms; (L3) Initial approach selection; (L4) Review of the initial selection; (L5) Using experiences for future decisions. In practice it turns out that complex projects – like Digital Twins - often fail. Modified decision models for selecting suitable approaches should therefore take the following as-pects into account: (a) decision-makers are actively supported in the initial decision phase; (b) initial decisions once made are checked in the early phase of the project and corrected if necessary; (c) the lessons learned are recorded in the database as empirical value and used for future decisions.

Despite its well-reported application in a few welding processes, the use of reinforcing powders in weld joints to improve weld integrity has not garnered ample research attention for Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) process. In this study, the adoption of Titanium alloy powders as metallic reinforcement for mild steel butt welds was investigated. By adopting Taguchi’s L4 orthogonal array, process optimisation for titanium-reinforced mild steel butt welds were first carried out. In the second phase of welding, the optimum parameters were used to create and compare two sets of weldments; one set was reinforced with titanium alloy powder and the other set left unreinforced. It was observed that in the Weld Metal (WM) region, the titanium-reinforced samples had higher micro-hardness values than their unreinforced counterparts with an average of 285.62 HV and 211.6 HV respectively. However, there was no substantial improvement in the ultimate tensile strength of the mild steel butt welds due to titanium powder reinforcements. Interestingly, the formation of acicular ferrite microstructure was more prevalent in the titanium-reinforced weldments and this was attributed to the presence of titanium inclusions in the weld metal. This prevalence of acicular ferrite suggests improved toughness properties in the weld joint region. While the higher hardness values in the Weld Metal of the reinforced sample indicates improved wear resistance.

The hybrid vehicle routing problem is an extension of the green vehicle routing problem where vehicles can use different fuels. In this research, a bi-objective hybrid vehicles routing problem is presented and solved bu considering alternative paths, various lengths and reliabilities. The first objective function minimizes overall system costs and fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, whereas the second objective function maximizes the reliability of the entire system with alternative paths and several reliabilites. The proposed model is formulated as mixed-integer nonlinear programming and a bi-objective simulated annealing (MOSA) algorithm along with the e-constraint method is used as solution strategy. The implementation of the proposed method is presented using some numerical instances.

Operating rooms (OR) are one of the most expensive parts of a hospital with complex processes, and the efficient use of resources is of utmost importance. Therefore, proper management and operation of operating rooms are extremely crucial. OR scheduling ensures that the surgeries are performed at the proper time, patients are treated effectively and safely, resources are used effectively, and staff is increased in work efficiency. Furthermore, accurately scheduled surgeries are safer for patients' healing processes. This is dependent on factors such as the availability of qualified personnel at the appropriate time, the readiness of surgical equipment, and the provision of proper sterilization and hygienic conditions. Surgical team scheduling ensures that surgeries begin on time, are completed effectively, and patients are treated safely. It is also critical to reduce employee fatigue and balance the workload. As a result, integrating surgical teams into operating room scheduling problems provides significant benefits. Accordingly, 29 research articles focusing on the problem of OR scheduling, within the scope of constraints on surgical team members, scheduling strategies, uncertainties, and solution methods, are thoroughly reviewed in this study.

This paper focuses on modelling inelasticity of additively manufactured polylactide (PLA) thermoplastic using Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printing technology. The material response of PLA is viscoplastic and temperature-dependent, as is typically seen for thermoplastics. The inelastic deformation of printed PLA undergoes initial yielding, strain softening, and subsequent failure. The Three-Network (TN) constitutive model was employed in this work, which captures experimentally observed material response and consists of three molecular equilibrium and time-dependent viscous networks that act in parallel. The parameter identification was performed in accordance with experimental data from uniaxial testing and a validation experiment was carried out by loading plate with a hole and measuring its strain distribution using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) method, which was compared with the predictions from Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

The study of the stress state and power parameters when pulling workpieces in a special die with an inclined working surface at various shapes of the plastic deformation zone and geometric parameters of the special die was conducted. The distinctive feature of the proposed special die and the metal treatment process in the working channel of this die was described. The theoretical provisions and assumptions from the fundamental theory of plasticity and metal forming were used. The influence of the intensity of shear deformations on the stress state and force at the angles of inclination of the working surface of the die within 45–20°, the value of the ratio of the diameter of the workpiece to the length of the inclined surface d/z=1.5–2.0 was investigated. The optimal d/z ratio was determined by the method to a rigid punch indenting a rigid-plastic half-space, as well as by the method of strain energy. The field of slip lines and hodographs of velocities for various shapes of the deformation zone and geometric parameters of a special die were constructed. Based on the constructed slip line fields and velocity hodographs, the mean stress and stress components at the nodal points of the slip line field with the compilation of the equilibrium equations for all forces applied to the plastic zone were calculated. The study of the influence of contact friction between the working surface of the die channel and the workpiece on the stress state and power parameters during pulling was carried out. It was revealed that the optimal ratio d/z=1.5 and the optimal angle of inclination of the working channel of the die α=20°. It was found that for these parameters in the zone of plastic deformation, mainly significant compressive stresses act, which favorably affect the obtaining of a homogeneous and refined microstructure, and also exclude the appearance of anisotropy due to the implementation of maximum shear deformations in the workpiece.

Agricultural food supply chains of different grains such as wheat, rice, and corn include several processes from cropping and harvesting to distribution. Integrating these processes to reduce costs, in addition to providing sufficient supply, are of the major goals of agri-food supply chain management. Rice is an important grain that constitutes an important part of people’s diets throughout the world. FAO predicts that global rice utilization would increase over the next few years. Considering rice's importance, in this paper, a mixed-integer linear mathematical model for designing and planning of rice supply chain is proposed which aims to maximize total profit by integrating different decisions of the rice supply chain including supplier selection, cropping, fertilizing, pest control, harvesting, milling, transportation, and distribution. This model considers different rice varieties and takes into account irrigation water requirements of crops and available water resources. A case study of Iran farmlands in Gilan province is employed to show the applicability and advantages of the proposed model for the rice supply chain. Results indicate that increasing conversion ratio of paddy to rice and reducing labor costs would have a significant impact on the total profit of the supply chain.