PurposeThis paper presents the concerns in agri-food supply chain. Further the research investigates the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in agri-food supply chain and determines the impact of supply chain management (SCM) practices on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe theoretical framework was proposed for the study on the basis of existing literature. Data for the study was collected with the help of structured questionnaire from 121 executives and officers of the public food distribution agency. Partial least square (PLS)–structured equation modeling was employed to test the framework and hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that ICT and SCM practices (logistics integration and supplier relationships) have a significant relationship. Furthermore, SCM practices (information sharing, supplier relationship and logistics integration) have a significant and positive impact on performance of the organization.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research could be carried out to test the moderation effect of SCM practices between ICT and organizational performance (OP). Extending the research study to the companies operating in other sectors can enhance the external validity of the study and improve the accuracy of parameters examined.Practical implicationsThis study can be of interest to the agri-food industry as well as other industry practitioners interested in improving the performance of the organization from the view of supply chain.Originality/valueThe outcomes of this study have important implications that translate into a series of recommendations for the management of public food distribution as well as other agri-food-based supply chains.

A methodology for achieving versatile and facile ligand exchange by post-fabrication chemical treatment in PbS nanocrystal:poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) hybrid composite photovoltaic devices is demonstrated. We report a considerable improvement of the photovoltaic performance after post-fabrication chemical treatment using acetic acid to produce PbS nanocrystals surrounded by short-length ligands. Annealing induced morphological and photovoltaic performance changes in the resulting composite devices were investigated as a function of the annealing time.

Single synaptic device with inherent learning and memory functions is demonstrated based on a forming-free amorphous YO (yttria) memristor fabricated by dual ion beam sputtering system. Synaptic functions such as nonlinear transmission characteristics, long-term plasticity, short-term plasticity and 'learning behavior (LB)' are achieved using a single synaptic device based on cost-effective metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure. An 'LB' function is demonstrated, for the first time in the literature, for a yttria based memristor, which bears a resemblance to certain memory functions of biological systems. The realization of key synaptic functions in a cost-effective MIS structure would promote much cheaper synapse for artificial neural network.

Bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus blood sampling for plasma ACTH measurements before and after CRH stimulation successfully confirmed the diagnosis of pituitary dependent Cushing's disease in 15 of 17 patients (88%) in whom this diagnosis was suspected on the basis of conventional biochemical testing. Magnetic resonance imaging, however, is superior to bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus blood sampling for the localization/lateralization of pituitary microadenomas in patients with Cushing's disease. Therefore, bilateral simultaneous inferior petrosal sinus blood sampling should be reserved for the assessment of those patients with Cushing's syndrome in whom either the results of biochemical tests are equivocal and/or subsequent pituitary magnetic resonance imaging gives unconvincing results.