Haiti Start-Up mission design cold chain mango-avocado : Technical and financial evaluation for a logistics service for the control of the cold chain in the export of fresh products between Haiti and the United States

This report shares the findings of the first start-up mission to Haiti, exploring all relevant elements pertaining to the design of the mango and avocado cold chain for fruit export to the USA, with the possibility to extend logistics services to other fruits like pineapple. Findings of the mission will be used to produce a report on the technical design of the cold chain from tree harvest till arrival in Miami. The mission was exposed to the current realities and experiences of fruit production and export in Haiti and will factor these into the design of the proposal. Basic data and information on the two value chains are presented in chapter 2. During the mission a number of ideas and suggestions to improve the value chain have been discussed and explored, including logistical, economic and social elements. These are presented in the chapters 3 and 4 of the repor

Towards Performance Indicators for the Health Care Sector

The health care sector is a huge industry in many Western countries going through fundamental changes, with increasing needs for new monitoring systems and performance indicators. The aim of this paper is to identify factors that influence the success of external reporting systems, which will ultimately affect the transparency and performance of the sector. We review theory on performance indicators, national care systems, and inter-organizational reporting systems, resulting in formulating several hypotheses. We use a data set and 12 interviews in one case study (the mental health care sector in the Netherlands) to evaluate the hypotheses. Our findings show that the new system is more successful for integrated care organizations than specialized care organizations, and more successful if care organizations have better internal information systems

Comparison of segmentation software packages for in-hospital 3D print workflow

Purpose: In-hospital three-dimensional (3D) printing of patient-specific pathologies is increasingly being used in daily care. However, the efficiency of the current conversion from image to print is often obstructed due to limitations associated with segmentation software. Therefore, there is a need for comparison of several clinically available tools. A comparative study has been conducted to compare segmentation performance of Philips IntelliSpace Portal(®) (PISP), Mimics Innovation Suite (MIS), and DICOM to PRINT(®) (D2P). Approach: These tools were compared with respect to segmentation time and 3D mesh quality. The dataset consisted of three computed tomography (CT)-scans of acetabular fractures (ACs), three CT-scans of tibia plateau fractures (TPs), and three CTA-scans of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Independent-samples [Formula: see text]-tests were performed to compare the measured segmentation times. Furthermore, 3D mesh quality was assessed and compared according to representativeness and usability for the surgeon. Results: Statistically significant differences in segmentation time were found between PISP and MIS with respect to the segmentation of ACs ([Formula: see text]) and AAAs ([Formula: see text]). Furthermore, statistically significant differences in segmentation time were found between PISP and D2P for segmentations of AAAs ([Formula: see text]). There were no statistically significant differences in segmentation time for TPs. The accumulated mesh quality scores were highest for segmentations performed in MIS, followed by D2P. Conclusion: Based on segmentation time and mesh quality, MIS and D2P are capable of enhancing the in-hospital 3D print workflow. However, they should be integrated with the picture archiving and communication system to truly improve the workflow. In addition, these software packages are not open source and additional costs must be incurred

Haiti technical cold chain dry run : applying distributed ledger technology to connect Haitian mango and avocado producers toforeign markets

This report provides the technical results of a dry run transporting mangoes and avocados from Haiti to the US, Canada and The Netherlands. For both fruits, temperature has been registered from the moment of harvest till arrival at all destinations. Also logistical data related to the planning and preparation of the test, time needed for each step, and quality of fruits has been analysed. After the introduction chapter, technical data are provided for both mango and avocado in the next two chapters, with a concluding last chapter afterwards that provides overall analysis, lessons learned and recommendations. Use of the QR codes has allowed a transparent and digital process where all chain partners have open access to all information. The report presents a block chain test at limited level and actual implementation and scaling of block chain procedures might still need refinement like the longer ripening and/or storage before retail distribution

Correction factors for oxygen and flow-rate effects on neonatal Fleisch and Lilly pneumotachometers

Objective: To assess the effects of different oxygen concentrations and flow rates on the measurement errors of neonatal pneumotachometers in heated and unheated situations and to develop correction factors to correct for these effects. Design: Prospective laboratory study. Setting: Outpatient clinic with equipment in a standardized setting. Subjects: Neonatal pneumotachometers. Interventions: In standardized conditions, the tested pneumotachometer was calibrated at a flow rate of 3 L/min with 60% oxygen and was set in series with a closed spirometer system being used as a reference. Different air-flow levels (1-9 L/min) and oxygen concentrations (21-100%) were infused into the closed system with the pneumotachometer and spirometer. Measurements and Main Results: The pneumotachometers were significantly affected by changing oxygen concentrations (p < .01) and increasing flow rates (p < .01), increasing the actually measured flow rate. Correction factors, developed by multiple regression analysis, significantly reduced the overall maximum errors of the pneumotachometers from -1.1 to 0.6 L/min to -0.5 to 0.4 L/min. Conclusions: The effects of changes in oxygen concentrations and flow rates on neonatal pneumotachometers could be considerably decreased by the use of correction factors such as were calculated in this study. This will preclude frequent calibration procedures with actual flow and oxygen levels during changes in experimental settings. Copyrigh

A capability perspective on sustainable employability:A Dutch focus group study on organizational, work and personal conversion factors

Objective In the field of work, there is a shift towards more value-based approaches to study the sustainable employability of the present-day worker. The capability approach offers a value based and innovative conceptualisation and framework of sustainable employability characterized by contextuality, normativity and diversity. The capabilities of Dutch employees have been established and validated, yet it is not known which conversion factors on a personal, work and organizational level enable employees to achieve value in work in different Dutch occupational sectors. Methods Our qualitative approach included seven focus groups in different occupational sectors including elderly care, higher education, insurance work, facility management and the oil-, car- and chemical industry. Each focus group included 5–11 participants and took approximately one and a half hour. A qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data, by combining deductive and inductive coding respectively. Deductive coding involved assigning themes to the conversion of resources into capabilities at the organizational, work and personal level. Results On the organizational conversion level, important themes were cultural aspects, power relations, shortage of personnel and policies for self-management. On the work conversion level, social contacts, communication and workload, tasks and schedules were identified. Social contacts were described as a work value in itself, but also conditional for achieving other work values. On the personal conversion level, experienced work stress, motivation and the ability to achieve values informally within the company. Conclusion From our findings it follows that focus groups are sensitive to identify conversion factors on all three levels of conversion. In addition, companies and their employees might effectively increase work capabilities by being sensitive to all three conversion levels simultaneously. Further research is necessary to study the effect of a capability-based intervention at the work floor

Stimulation of cyclic AMP production in human alveolar macrophages induced by inflammatory mediators and β-sympathicomimetics

Abstract We have investigated the effects of inflammatory mediators and β-adrenoceptor agonists on the adenylyl cyclase responsiveness in alveolar macrophages from control subjects, patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthmatics. Basal cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels in alveolar macrophages from COPD patients were significantly elevated (plus 42%) as compared to controls. In addition, the adenylyl cyclase responsiveness to prostaglandin E2, histamine and the β-adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol was significantly impaired in alveolar macrophages from COPD patients and asthmatics. The lipid mediator platelet activating factor showed no effect on cAMP production in all three alveolar macrophage populations. Furthermore, the cAMP-enhancing effects of isoprenaline, salbutamol and histamine appeared to be mediated via β2-adrenoceptors and histamine H2-receptor subtypes respectively. Taken together, these data suggest an intrinsic desensitization phenomenon in alveolar macrophages from COPD patients and asthmatics

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Jan Weyts, Frans Brouwers en Johan De Punt Getijdenwatermolens van Rupelmonde en Bergen op Zoom. [Tide mills of Rupelmonde and Bergen Op Zoom.]De getijdenwatermolens van Rupelmonde en van Bergen op Zoom zijn zeldzame relicten van een specifiek type van watermolens. Ze waren eertijds terug te vinden langsheen de West-Europese kusten en ook op rivieren waar de getijden zich voldoende lieten gevoelen. Jan Weyts, Frans Brouwers en Johan de Punt bundelden hun expertise om dit erfgoed levend te houden en hun werking voor te stellen.Dieter Nuytten Bouwgeschiedenis en restauratie van de Mariapoort van de Parkabdij in Heverlee. [Building history and restoration of the gate of Mary in the Heverlee park abbey.]Om de abtswoning van de Parkabdij van Heverlee te bereiken, moest de bezoeker doorheen een indrukwekkend aantal toegangspoorten. Dieter Nuytten blijft even stilstaan bij de Mariapoort, niet meteen het meest monumentale poortgebouw van de abdij, maar wel een relict met een bewogen verleden, talrijke verbouwingen en wijzigingen, en tenslotte een nieuwe restauratie met herstel van het oorspronkelijke mansardedak.Anne Dompas Het kerkschip van Antwerpen, een drijvend betonnen monument. [The church ship in Antwerp: a floating concrete monument.]Niet meteen het meest voor de hand liggende materiaal om een boot drijvend te houden, speelde beton nochtans een vooraanstaande rol in periodes van materiaal schaarste tijdens en tussen de beide wereldoorlogen. Anne Dompas loodst ons met kennis van zaken doorheen allerhande experimenten met dit gewapend materiaal, dat oorspronkelijk gebruikt werd voor het vervaardigen van rustieke tuinornamenten.Summar