No abstract

No abstract

Purpose This paper aims to provide an integrated production-routing model in a three-echelon supply chain containing a two-layer transportation system to minimize the total costs of production, transportation, inventory holding and expired drugs treatment. In the proposed problem, some specifications such as multisite manufacturing, simultaneous pickup and delivery and uncertainty in parameters are considered. Design/methodology/approach At first, a mathematical model has been proposed for the problem. Then, one possibilistic model and one robust possibilistic model equivalent to the initial model are provided regarding the uncertain nature of the model parameters and the inaccessibility of their probability function. Finally, the performance of the proposed model is evaluated using the real data collected from a pharmaceutical production center in Iran. The results reveal the proper performance of the proposed models. Findings The results obtained from applying the proposed model to a real-life production center indicated that the number of expired drugs has decreased because of using this model, also the costs of the system were reduced owing to integrating simultaneous drug pickup and delivery operations. Moreover, regarding the results of simulations, the robust possibilistic model had the best performance among the proposed models. Originality/value This research considers a two-layer vehicle routing in a production-routing problem with inventory planning. Moreover, multisite manufacturing, simultaneous pickup of the expired drugs and delivery of the drugs to the distribution centers are considered. Providing a robust possibilistic model for tackling the uncertainty in demand, costs, production capacity and drug expiration costs is considered as another remarkable feature of the proposed model.

Over the past few decades, microwave processing and its high potential capabilities have attracted food scientists. Application of microwave for microencapsulation is an innovative and new method in which the shell, due to having different dielectric constant, can fuse and cover core. In this research, the citric acid powder at various size ranges was microencapsulated by casein and inulin, using a domestic microwave oven. Then, for sensory evaluation purposes, they along with uncoated citric acid and commercial microcapsules were incorporated in chewing gum formulation. The qualitative and quantitative evaluations revealed the potential capability of this technique at micronized scales. Moreover, findings on some sensory characteristics showed practical and efficient applicability of inulin-coated microcapsules in chewing gum where its sensory scores were competitive and even much better than commercial ones. In addition, these observations elucidate a new approach for producing functional, nutritional and dietetic chewing gums.

This study elucidates the capability of a novel technique for producing microcapsules at an enormously short time and low cost. This technique is based on the difference between dielectric constants of core and coat materials. Edible citric acid was mixed with various biomacromolecules at ratios of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:100. Each mixture was treated up to 600 s at various powers (120-1200 W) in a microwave oven. Subsequently, the microcapsules were separated by distinct sieves, and their apparent structure and quality were evaluated using binoculars, and photographs were taken for visual comparisons. Our observations showed that only five hydrocolloids were able to produce high-quality and efficient encapsulation [casein > inulin > carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) > low methoxyl (LM) pectin (9 ⁄ 5%) > sorbitol]. Moreover, the highest coating efficiency was seen at highest intensity (1200 W) at a mixing ratio of 1:10. Furthermore, the optimum treating time periods for those five efficient coating materials were about 400, 75, 400, 100, and 100 s.