bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF GROUP A, B, C AND G BETA‐HAEMOLYTIC STREPTOCOCCI BY A MODIFICATION OF THE CO‐AGGLUTINATION TECHNIQUE. COMPARISON OF RESULTS OBTAINED BY CO‐AGGLUTINATION, FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TEST, COUNTERIMMUNOELECTROPHORESIS, AND PRECIPITIN TECHNIQUE
Authors: ARVILOMMI HEIKKI , UURASMAA OUTI , NURKKALA ANNIKKI 
Published: August 2010

A rapid modification of the co‐agglutination (COA) technique for grouping A, B, C and G beta‐haemolytic streptococci was developed. The results are obtained within three hours after inoculation from primary plates of 0.5 ml broth. This method was compared to the fluorescent antibody test (FA) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), two other rapid methods available for serological grouping of streptococci. Of 71 recently isolated streptococcal strains from clinical sources, 70 were correctly grouped in COA, 63 in FA and 68 in CIE.With commercial reagents COA compared favourably in accuracy to the other methods and can be recommended for routine serological grouping of beta‐haemolytic streptococci in the clinical laboratory.
SENSORY FLAVOR PROFILING AND MAPPING OF MARKET SAMPLES OF CUMIN (CUMINUM CYMINUM L.)
Authors: DATTATREYA ANUPAMA , PRAKASH MAYA , BHAT K.K. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT Eight market samples of cumin (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8) from different regions of India were examined for sensory quality by conducting threshold tests, time‐intensity (TI) profiling and flavor profiling. Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to group the samples. Threshold values ranged from 0.006 to 0.017% with R7 and R8 lots showing lower values for their thresholds (0.006%). Higher intensity of aroma of R7 and R8 was further confirmed by more of a lingering aroma as shown by the TI study. Flavor profiling by quantitative descriptive analysis showed that the market samples of cumin did not differ significantly (P ≤ 0.05). Mapping of samples using PCA technique showed, based on intensity of attributes, four distinct groups comprising a) R1 and R3, b) R7, c) R2 and R5 and d) R4 and R8. R6 occupied a position in between a and b.
Mortality in Pacific island countries around 1980: geopolitical, socioeconomic, demographic and health service factors
Authors: Taylor Richard , Lewis Nancy Davis , Sladden Tim 
Published: August 2010

Abstract: Inhabitants of Pacific island countries experience a wide range of levels and cause structures of mortality. Data on socioeconomic, geopolitical and demographic variables have been analysed here to identify correlates and determinants of mortality in Pacific island countries circa 1980. The mortality data used in the study were the best available for the period and are reasonably accurate; descriptive data were derived from recognised sources.Political status was a major correlate, with independence positively associated with mortality. However, the influence of political status was partly accounted for by economic and social variables. Economic indices, particularly imports per capita, were major inverse correlates of mortality. Disparities in life expectancy occurred between malarious and nonmalarious countries, and these were not explicable by other factors. Melanesians, especially women, experienced high mortality rates. Education and doctor availability were both associated with increased life expectancy. Intercorrelation and confounding need to be taken into account in the interpretation of this analysis. The results have ramifications for policy development in the Pacific island countries themselves, and for investment and aid programs from major donor nations and organisations.
Dogma disputed: potential endemic heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus in Australia
Authors: Chapman Simon 
Published: August 2010

Abstract: The concept of tertiary sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been central to government efforts to communicate notions of risk to heterosexuals in Australia. Data on heterosexually transmitted acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV for Australia are reviewed with emphasis given to the probability of misclassification bias in the heterosexually acquired and ‘other/undetermined’ categories. Tertiary cases are almost certainly rare in Australia, with little evidence of any increase in their incidence since the first cases were recorded. Three factors (low probability of exposure, the infectivity of HIV and a comparatively low rate of sexual partner change) make it improbable that Australian heterosexuals with no risk factors will experience endemic HIV infection, with a caveat to this conclusion lying in the potential of Australian sex tourism to Southeast Asia for introducing HIV into the Australian heterosexual population.Four hegemonic factors which have acted to suppress any serious debate of the notion that HIV in Australia is unlikely to become endemic among heterosexuals are discussed: the political ‘democratisation’ of risk inspired by concerns that gay men should not be further vilified as a victim group; the preventive imperative; a reluctance among health educators to question the very foundations of the message they are employed to deliver; and a reluctance to curtail ‘Trojan horse’ benefits to sexually transmissible disease prevention engendered by HIV education promoting safe sex messages.
Evaluation of a heart disease survey and education program for general practitioners
Authors: Chamberlain Anne , Shaw John , Walker Sheila , Frazer Wendy , Carter Barbara , Dumbrell Susan 
Published: August 2010

Abstract: In 1989 we mailed a questionnaire to all 461 general practitioners (GPs) identified as currently practising in the Eastern Metropolitan Health Region of Sydney. This was the first phase of a program to assess, amplify and reassess GPs' knowledge of the risk factors for heart disease and measure their attitudes and beliefs about their role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The second phase was an education program designed to meet the needs identified by the first questionnaire. Phase three was a postintervention questionnaire.Fifty‐six per cent (260/461) responded to the first questionnaire. This follow‐up group were mailed the second questionnaire, to which 52 per cent (135/260) responded. Thirty per cent of the original sample (139/461) attended the education program and 30 per cent (79/260) of the follow‐up group did so.At baseline, the respondents' level of risk factor knowledge was good, but after the education program there was still a large gap between what they said they knew and the amount of advice they said they would give to patients. The only significant increase in the amount of advice after the intervention was to ‘control blood pressure’. This applied whether the GP had participated in the intervention or not. When GPs were asked how often in the last month they had actually given advice to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, program attenders reported offering it more frequently than nonattenders.We also attempted to determine whether any particular demographic characteristics could predict respondents to the questionnaires and/or the educational program.
The public health significance of cannabis use in Australia
Authors: Hall Wayne 
Published: August 2010

Abstract:A fair appraisal of the public health significance of cannabis use has been hampered by the polarised opinions about its health effects expressed by partisans on both sides of the debate on its legal status. The findings of a recent review of the literature on the adverse health and psychological effects of cannabis are used to estimate the major probable public health risks of cannabis use in Australia. These appear to be, in order of approximate public health importance: adverse psychological effects; motor vehicle accidents; cannabis dependence; respiratory disease; precipitation and exacerbation of schizophrenia in vulnerable individuals; low‐birthweight babies; and perhaps subtle cognitive impairment. On current patterns of use, cannabis use is a modest public health concern by comparison with alcohol and tobacco, although given the scale of public health damage caused by the latter drugs, and the currently low prevalence of regular cannabis use, this is not cause for complacency. (Aust J Public Health1995; 19: 235–42)
Cervical cancer screening for hospital inpatients: report of an intervention study
Authors: Straton Judith A. Y. , Sutherland Gloria J. , Hyndman Jilda C. G. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract:A pilot study of a cervical cancer screening service was carried out at a major teaching hospital in Perth. The service, for women inpatients aged 20 to 69 years, was staffed by a women's health nurse. The effect of providing the service (service) was compared with giving a leaflet on Pap smears to eligible women (education) and with no intervention (control). Of 517 women in the service group, 184 (36 per cent) needed a Pap smear and were well enough to be offered screening; only 29 of 184 (16 per cent) refused and 132 of 184 (72 per cent) were screened. Of those screened, 29 per cent had never had a Pap smear. Information on women in the education and control groups was obtained by mailed questionnaire. Of the eligible women in the service group, 72 per cent accepted screening in hospital, but only 24 per cent of eligible women in the education group and 20 per cent in the control group reported having a Pap smear in the four months since leaving hospital. The service group showed a very large effect relative to the control group (odds ratio (OR) 17.71, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 10.05 to 31.22), but there was no significant difference between the education and control groups. Other significant variables in the logistic regression model were age, marital status, and sex of the woman's general practitioner. The effect of offering the service was greater for women over 50 (OR 51.51, CI 19.01 to 139.60) A hospital‐based cervical screening service provides an important opportunity for screening women who are not being reached by other services. (Aust J Public Health 1995; 19: 288–93)
THE EFFECT OF LEARNING ON THE OPERATION OF MIXED‐MODEL ASSEMBLY LINES
Authors: CHAKRAVARTY AMIYA K. , SHTUB AVRAHAM 
Published: August 2010

The common approach to balancing mixed‐model assembly lines assumes that the line operators are well trained and that the learning effect is negligible. The assumption is that the line operates in steady state over a long period of time. Time‐based competition and frequent design changes in many products make this assumption incorrect, and the effect of learning on mixed‐model lines should not be neglected. We defined start‐up period and developed a model for the line design during start‐up. It can be used to evaluate a proposed line design or to develop a feasible line design and to estimate its cost. This proposed model integrates mixed‐model learning curves with aggregate planning under learning and a mixed‐model line design into a comprehensive framework designed to minimize the total cost of the line during the start‐up period.
A MODEL‐BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SCHEDULING LUMBER DRYING OPERATIONS
Authors: AGGARWAL A. K. , VEMUGANTI R. R. , FETNER W. 
Published: August 2010

Raw lumber must be dried to a specified level of moisture content before it can be used to make furniture. This paper deals with a model‐based decision support system (DSS) for a local furniture manufacturing company to assist its management in scheduling lumber drying operations. In addition to buying ready‐to‐use dried lumber from vendors at a premium, the company processes raw lumber in house using two production process that require various lengths of processing time in predryers and dry‐kilns. Given the demand for various types of dried lumber over a specified planning horizon, the processing times and costs for each production process, technological restrictions, and management policies, the problem of interest is to satisfy the demand at a minimum cost. The DSS incorporates the mathematical formulation of this problem, is user friendly, maintains model and data independence, and generates the necessary reports, including loading and unloading schedules for the equipment.
ON‐LINE QUALITY MANAGEMENT: INTEGRATION OF PRODUCT INSPECTION AND PROCESS CONTROL
Authors: CHEN WEN‐HSIEN , TIRUPATI DEVANATH 
Published: August 2010

A growing recognition that quality management is an important factor in defining a firm's competitive position has led to renewed attention to this function and has resulted in implementation of elaborate systems for on‐line quality control comprising product inspection and process control. Traditionally, these functions have been treated independently, with very little interaction. In this paper we examine, in detail, a scheme that integrates the two functions, and we demonstrate that such an approach can result in significant cost savings. The motivation for this work comes from our experience in a wafer fabrication facility that suggested that exchange of quality information between different stages of production could result in significant performance improvements. To illustrate this approach, we consider a specific environment characterized by a single‐stage continuous production process whose status is monitored by an X̄ control chart. We assume that quality‐related costs may be described as a function of the process output. This is analogous to Taguchi's quality loss function and may be interpreted as a generalization of conventional classification of process output as either acceptable or defective units. The integrative scheme essentially relies on utilization of the process status information (based on process control) in making product inspection decisions. For this system we derive a cost model and develop a solution procedure to determine optimal decision parameters. Limited computational results indicate that the scheme has significant potential for reducing quality‐related costs.
ECONOMIC PROCESS CONTROL UNDER UNCERTAINTY
Authors: Kanyamibwa Felicien , Ord J. Keith 
Published: August 2010

The future of the global industry lies in the continuous improvement of both products and processes, a renewed commitment to competition, and an aggressive approach to satisfying customers needs in quality, quantity, and timing. In quality management, the degree of customer satisfaction for a given product may be measured in the form of the loss to society. This loss is formulated as a function of the deviation from the target for each of the product's quality characteristics. The greater the variability of uncontrolled factors during manufacturing or production the larger will be that loss. In this paper, we develop a form of the loss function that takes into account the variability of a production process, the decision loss, and the costs of sampling and inspection. Specifically, we consider monitoring a production process, which may undergo continuous mean shift and variance deterioration during a production run. We then examine decision rules for continuing production or stopping and adjusting the production process.
Channel Conflict and Coordination in the E‐Commerce Age
Authors: Tsay Andy A. , Agrawal Narendra 
Published: August 2010

A number of factors, including developments in Internet‐based commerce and third‐party logistics, have led many companies to consider engaging in direct sales. Such a company may at once be both a supplier to and a direct competitor of any existing reseller partners (e.g., land‐based retailers), which can result in “channel conflict.” This can have momentous implications for distribution strategy. To generate managerial insights into this important issue, we develop a model that captures key attributes of such a setting, including various sources of inefficiency. We examine these in detail and identify a number of counterintuitive structural properties. For instance, the addition of a direct channel alongside a reseller channel is not necessarily detrimental to the reseller, given the associated adjustment in the manufacturer's pricing. In fact, both parties can benefit. Finally, we examine ways to adjust the manufacturer‐reseller relationship that have been observed in industry. These include changes in wholesale pricing, paying the reseller a commission for diverting customers toward the direct channel, or conceding the demand fulfillment function entirely to the reseller. The latter two schemes could be mutually beneficial in that they achieve a division of labor according to each channel's competitive advantage.
Investment in Facility Changeover Flexibility for Early Entry into High‐Tech Markets
Authors: Gaimon Cheryl , Morton Alysse 
Published: August 2010

A model is introduced to analyze the manufacturing‐marketing interface for a firm in a high‐tech industry that produces a series of high‐volume products with short product life cycles on a single facility. The one‐time strategic decision regarding the firm's investment in changeover flexibility establishes the link between market opportunities and manufacturing capabilities. Specifically, the optimal changeover flexibility decision is determined in the context of the firm's market entry strategy for successive product generations, the changeover cost between generations, and the production efficiency of the facility. Moreover, the dynamic pricing policy for each product generation is obtained as a function of the firm's market entry strategy and manufacturing efficiency. Our findings provide insights linking internal manufacturing capabilities with external market forces for the high‐tech and high‐volume manufacturer of products with short life cycles. We show the impact of manufacturing efficiency and a firm's ability to benefit from volume‐based learning on the dynamic pricing policy for each product generation. The results demonstrate the benefits realized by a firm that works with its manufacturing equipment suppliers to develop more efficient and flexible technology. In addition, we explore how opportunities afforded by pioneer advantage enable a firm operating a less efficient facility to realize long term competitive advantage by deploying an earlier market entry strategy.
Up or Out—or Stay Put? Product Positioning in an Evolving Technology Environment
Authors: Jain Sanjay , Ramdas Kamalini 
Published: August 2010

When the development cycle for a product is longer than the development cycle for a core technology that is embedded in it, designers may need to modify the product̂s design to avail of upgrades in this core technology. We model optimal product positioning with regard to technology choice in this setting, using a stochastic dynamic programming framework. Under fairly general assumptions, we find that there are three possible optimal actions: to abandon the project, to maintain the current technology, or to reposition so as to use the best technology currently available. We characterize the optimal positioning sequence in different design environments, discussing throughout the practical implications of our model. Previous research and conventional wisdom suggest early finalization of product specifications if design flexibility is decreasing over time. In contrast, we find that in some design environments, repositioning late in the development cycle can be optimal.
Throughput Optimization in Constant Travel‐Time Dual Gripper Robotic Cells with Parallel Machines
Authors: Geismar H. Neil , Dawande Milind , Sriskandarajah Chelliah 
Published: August 2010

Constant travel‐time robotic cells with a single gripper robot and with one or more machines at each processing stage have been studied in the literature. By contrast, cells with a dual gripper robot, although more productive, have so far received scant attention, perhaps due to their inherent complexity. We consider the problem of scheduling operations in dual gripper robotic cells that produce identical parts. The objective is to find a cyclic sequence of robot moves that minimizes the long‐run average time to produce a part or, equivalently, maximizes the throughput. We provide a structural analysis of cells with one or more machines per processing stage to obtain first a lower bound on the throughput and, subsequently, an optimal solution under conditions that are common in practice. We illustrate our analysis on two cells implemented at a semiconductor equipment manufacturer and offer managerial insights for assessing the potential productivity gains from the use of dual gripper robots.
Roepke Lecture in Economic Geography Venture Capital in the “Periphery”: The New Argonauts, Global Search, and Local Institution Building
Authors: Saxenian AnnaLee , Sabel Charles 
Published: August 2010

abstractThis article examines the growing importance of global, or external, search networks that firms and other actors rely on to locate collaborators who can solve part of a problem they face or require part of a solution they may be able provide. We focus on the creation in emerging economies of venture capital—an institution that is organized to search systematically for, and foster the development of, firms and industries that can, in turn, collaborate in codesign. The article examines the case of Taiwan, where first‐generation immigrant professionals from U.S. technology industries have collaborated with their home‐country counterparts to develop the context for entrepreneurial development. It refers to the members of these networks as the new Argonauts, an allusion to the ancient Greek Jason and the Argonauts, who searched for the Golden Fleece. We also argue that the most significant contributions of these skilled professionals to their home countries are not direct transfers of technology or knowledge, but participation in external search and domestic institutional reform. The new Argonauts are ideally positioned to search beyond prevailing routines to identify opportunities for complementary “peripheral” participation in the global economy and to work with public officials to adapt and redesign relevant institutions and firms in their native countries. They are, therefore, exemplary protagonists of “self‐discovery”—the process by which an enterprise or entrepreneur determines which markets it can serve—and of a microlevel institutional reform that can, diffusing and cascading, ultimately produce wider structural transformations.
Cyclical Clusters in Global Circuits: Overlapping Spaces in Furniture Trade Fairs
Authors: Power Dominic , Jansson Johan 
Published: August 2010

abstractThis article contributes to an understanding of temporary or event‐based economic phenomena in economic and industrial geography by drawing on research conducted on the furniture and interior design industry. It argues that trade fairs should be seen not simply as temporary industry gatherings, but as central, though temporary, spaces for knowledge and market processes that symbolize microcosms of the industry they represent and function as effective marketplaces. It suggests that these temporary events should be viewed not as isolated from one another, but as arranged together in an almost continual global circuit. In this sense, trade fairs are less temporary clusters than they are cyclical clusters; they are complexes of overlapping spaces that are scheduled and arranged in such a way that spaces can be reproduced, reenacted, and renewed over time. Although actual fairs are short‐lived events, their presence in the business cycle has lasting consequences for the organization of markets and industries and for the firms of which they are comprised.