College of Contract Management

Supply chains are increasingly exposed to volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, rendering traditional reactive planning approaches inadequate for sustaining operational performance and resilience. While intelligent automation has been widely promoted as a transformative force in supply chain management, empirical evidence explaining how it enables a shift from reactive to proactive planning remains fragmented. This study addresses this gap by developing and testing a simulation-based primary research model that examines the performance implications of intelligent automation enabled proactive supply chain planning. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory and resilience perspectives, the study constructs a scenario-based simulation framework comparing reactive planning systems with proactive planning architectures supported by predictive analytics, machine learning driven forecasting, and automated decision execution. Primary data are generated through repeated simulation runs under varying demand volatility and disruption scenarios. The results demonstrate that proactive planning systems consistently outperform reactive counterparts in terms of forecasting accuracy, lead-time stability, and disruption recovery speed. The findings further indicate that intelligent automation enhances sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities, enabling anticipatory decision-making rather than ex post corrective actions. By providing simulation-based evidence, this study contributes to supply chain theory by clarifying the mechanisms through which intelligent automation drives proactive planning and resilience. From a managerial perspective, the results offer actionable insights into sequencing automation investments and aligning digital capabilities with planning processes. The study advances the literature by positioning intelligent automation not merely as an efficiency tool, but as a strategic enabler of proactive and adaptive supply chain planning.

Student-centered learning (SCL) is an approach in which the student must accommodate his desire of obtaining knowledge, and assistant-support should be provided to this kind type accommodating need. One of the essential strategies in fostering SCL is brainstorming, which involves sharing ideas openly and collectively generating thoughts usually within small groups to boost participation. However, in the English as a Secondary Language (ESL) classroom students are often unwilling to speak voluntarily. The main purpose of this research is to examine how the implementation of brainstorming in a classroom can foster speaking participation among ESL learners. The research was conducted on 350 intermediate part-I (11th-grade) students from Government Higher Secondary School, Lahore. We sought to investigate the range of different types of brainstorming activities used and evaluate their efficacy for SCL. In this study researcher used a mixed-method research design quantitative data obtained from student through questionnaires and quantitative data gather through interviews from five English teachers. The data indicate that English teachers highlighting the five areas of Active Participation, Creative Thinking, Confidence Building, Collaborative Learning and Vocabulary Development. Teachers revealed that the two challenge process builds student engagement, collaboration skills and confidence as well. This study therefore concludes that brainstorming aids student reticence not only in speaking but also fostering peer learning which advantaged lower-proficient students through interacting with more proficient peers. As such, this study offers important implications for language teachers to help students speak more boldly as well as listen and participate actively during ESL class activities. Keywords: Brainstorming, Student-Centered Learning, ESL Classrooms

Aging-associated microbial dysbiosis exacerbates various disorders and dysfunctions, and is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in the elderly, but the underlying cause of this aging-related syndrome is confusing. SIRT6 knockout (SIRT6 KO) mice undergo premature aging and succumb to death by 4 weeks, and are therefore useful as a premature aging research model. Here, fecal microbiota transplantation from SIRT6 KO mice into wild-type (WT) mice phenocopies the gut dysbiosis and premature aging observed in SIRT6 KO mice. Conversely, an expanded lifespan was observed in SIRT6 KO mice when transplanted with microbiota from WT mice. Antibiotic cocktail treatment attenuated inflammation and cell senescence in KO mice, directly suggesting that gut dysbiosis contributes to the premature aging of SIRT6 KO mice. Increased Enterobacteriaceae translocation, driven by the overgrowth of Escherichia coli, is the likely mechanism for the premature aging effects of microbiome dysregulation, which could be reversed by a high-fat diet. Our results provide a mechanism for the causal link between gut dysbiosis and aging, and support a beneficial effect of a high-fat diet for correcting gut dysbiosis and alleviating premature aging. This study provides a rationale for the integration of microbiome-based high-fat diets into therapeutic interventions against aging-associated diseases.

The ameliorative potential of whole Pomegranate fruit juice was studied against Bleomycin (BLM) induced toxicity on body weights (b.wts) and hematological parameters in rats. A total of 48 male albino Wistar rats were procured and divided into 4 groups consisting of 12 rats in each. The group 1 - control, group 2 - BLM {@ 5 mg/kg b.wt via single intra-tracheal (IT) instillation}, group 3 - BLM (@ 5 mg/kg b.wt via single IT instillation) + Pomegranate juice (@ 1 mL/rat once daily orally) and group 4 - Pomegranate juice (@ 1 mL/rat once daily orally). The experiment was carried out for a period of 28 days and six rats from each group were sacrificed on 14th and 28th day of the experiment. Significantly (P

The International Space Station (ISS) provides a test bed for researchers to perform science experiments in a variety of fields, including human research, life sciences, and space medicine. Many of the experiments being conducted today require science samples to be stored and transported in a temperature controlled environment. NASA provides several systems which aide researchers in preserving their science. On orbit systems provided by NASA include the Minus Eighty Laboratory freezer for ISS (MELFI), Microgravity Experiment Research Locker Incubator (MERLIN), and Glacier. These freezers use different technologies to provide rapid cooling and cold stowage at different temperature levels on board ISS. Systems available to researchers during transportation to and from ISS are MERLIN, Glacier, and Coldbag. Coldbag is a passive cold stowage system that uses phase change materials. Details of these current technologies will be provided along with operational experience gained to date. With shuttle retirement looming, NASA has protected the capability to provide a temperature controlled environment during transportation to and from the ISS with the use of Glacier and Coldbags, which are compatible with future commercial vehicles including SpaceX's Dragon Capsule, and Orbital s Cygnus vehicle. This paper will discuss the capability of the current cold stowage hardware and how it may continue to support NASA s mission on ISS and in future exploration missions.

3The Auxiliary Propulsion System Analysis Tool (APSAT) is a compilation of preexisting, stand-alone propulsion system component sizing modules that are merged into a single tool for use in integrated propulsion system design. The focus of APSAT is toward on-orbit main stage and reaction control liquid chemical propulsion systems, which can include orbital vehicles, propellant depots, and planetary landers. APSAT uses a one-dimensional equilibrium analysis capability to provide rocket engine performance characterization that is then used in the parametric or point design functions for system-level sizing. Consequently, APSAT can be used to rapidly estimate mass and volume requirements during conceptual propulsion system sizing studies and detailed propellant trades. Details of the model capabilities, sizing routines, assumptions used, and future plans for the continued development of APSAT is presented.

<div class="htmlview paragraph">Acoustic packages are designed to excel in their primary function: sound reduction. Thereby, they already improve one environmental aspect, which is the reduction of the external noise emission. This paper explores the possibilities of increasing environmental value intrinsic to the product as well as the related potentials such as waste saving and the use of recycled materials. The discussion will also address the disposition of the acoustical parts when the vehicle is at the end of its useful life (ELV.) The critical issues within the recycling loops of acoustic packages as well as the potential of the recovered streams are highlighted.</div>

Oxide–oxide composites were evaluated in a novel combustor design requiring higher wall temperatures than the conventional combustors. The evaluation was based on a combination of numerical modeling and experimental rig testing. The modeling included computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations whose results were used in a thermo‐mechanical analysis using finite element modeling (FEM). The composites tested experimentally were obtained from a commercial vendor; they were reinforced using Nextel ™ 720 fibers. The rig tests showed that aluminosilicate matrix composites with higher room temperature strengths suffered cracking while the weaker alumina matrix composites performed satisfactorily. The results were consistent with numerical models that predicted residual stresses from creep during service. The models showed that in‐plane gradients and their effects were more severe than those of through‐thickness gradients and suggest that tailoring fiber architecture is important in transitioning these composites to applications.

Under fiscal decentralisation, regional governments have been given the authority to create new taxes and charges. Many observers have criticised the regions for being too aggressive in establishing new revenue instruments, and the central government for allowing too many of them to stand. Regional governments authorised nearly 1,000 new taxes and charges in the run-up to and through fiscal year 2001, many of them focused on primary sector goods and factors. The analysis here suggests that only around 40% of all newly authorised subnational taxes and charges were submitted to the centre for review as required by law; the remainder were presumably implemented without central evaluation and therefore illegally. Regional governments argue that they create new taxes and charges out of fiscal need, but this paper finds no evidence to support the claim that lack of fiscal capacity is a driving force in the creation of new revenue instruments.