Analysis of a successful inspection program

Litton Data Systems has institutionalized the inspection process, and achieved dramatic results in terms of defect prevention and cost savings thus far. Additionally, several findings have been gleaned from an analysis to optimize the process. Over 300 inspections have been performed over the last two years on many types of documents, and this paper describes some quantitative results to-date from the initial 'champion' project

Output Consistency Scale to Standardize Ostomate Output Description in Clinical Practice and Studies

Stool descriptors have become popular due to the large diffusion of the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) via clinical studies, clinical trials, and social media. The applications have been numerous and centered around standardization of terminology that can be used by health care professionals and patients alike, as well as individuals interested in their wellness and the associated partners in the wellness industry. For a portion of the population, the digestive content is rerouted to an external manufactured pouch or bag, making the use of the BSFS visual descriptors of stool difficult. From day one post-resection surgery, ostomates are challenged with output management. The lack of standardized descriptors may hinder proper communication between the individual and the support team, as well as providing proper characterization in clinical studies and clinical trials. We propose the Lincoln Ostomy Output Consistency Scale for jejunostomy, ileostomy and colostomy (LOOCS) to overcome the limitations of the BSFS for qualifying ostomy outputs. The design was based on the need to describe perceived consistency from the ostomate point of view. We anticipate that the LOOCS scale can be effective in pediatric and adult clinical research settings, as well as self-monitoring to manage the quality of life

Competitiveness assessment for real estate enterprises in china: A model‐procedure

China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 has allowed both domestic and overseas real estate enterprises to compete under the same market conditions. This has led to a more rigorous competition in the Chinese real estate market. Understanding this challenge is essential as it enables real estate enterprises to assess their competitiveness properly, and therefore adapt to their competition environment by applying adequate methods to improve their competitiveness. This paper presents an understanding on the applicability of various established competitiveness assessment methods. The characteristics of real estate firms are also presented with the appreciation of the Chinese environment. The study investigates the applicability of various established competitiveness assessment methods for real estate organizations in China considering the characteristics of real estate industry and the comments of the interviewees. The understanding on this applicability leads to the development of a model‐procedure for assessing the competitiveness of real estate firms. The model‐procedure employs various assessment methods in different stages in the process of examining the competitiveness of real estate businesses. The effectiveness of the application of the model‐procedure is evidenced through discussions with senior professionals. Then a case study is presented to illustrate how the model‐procedure can be applied. The findings of the study provide valuable references to study competitiveness assessment in other country's real estate industries. Santruka Nuo 2001 metu, kai Kinija tapo Pasaulines prekybos organizacijos (PPO) nare, ir vietines, ir užsienio nekilnojamojo turto imones gali konkuruoti tomis pačiomis rinkos salygomis. Del to konkurencija Kinijos nekilnojamojo turto rinkoje tapo tik aršesne. Ši iššūki būtina suprasti, nes jis nekilnojamojo turto imonems leidžia tinkamai ivertinti savo konkurencinguma, prisitai kyti prie konkurencines aplinkos bei pasirinkti adekva čius metodus konkurencingumui didinti. Straipsnyje apžvelgiama, kaip suprantamas ivairiu pripažin tu konkurencingumo vertinimo metodu tinkamumas. Pateikiamos Kinijos nekilnojamojo turto imoniu charakteristikos. Remiantis atlikto tyrimo rezultatais, nekilnojamojo turto sektoriaus charakteristikomis ir apklausoje dalyvavusiu asmenu komentarais, nagrinejamas ivairiu pripažin tu konkurencingumo vertinimo metodu tinkamumas Kinijoje veikiančioms nekilnojamojo turto organizacijoms. Suvokiant ši tinkamuma, galima sukurti procedūros modeli, kuri naudojant būtu vertinamas nekilnojamojo turto imoniu konkurencingumas. Ivairiais nekilnojamojo turto imoniu konkurencingumo tyrinejimo proceso etapais taikant procedūros modeli naudojami skirtingi vertinimo metodai. Mineto modelio taikymo efektyvumas aptariamas su šios srities profesionalais. Tada pateikiamas konkretaus atvejo, parodančio procedūros modelio taikyma, tyrimas, o jo išvados suteikia vertingos informacijos, kuria galima naudoti tyrinejant konkurencingumo vertinima kitos šalies nekilnojamojo turto sektoriuose. First Publish Online: 18 Oct 201

Identification of a Thyroid Hormone Binding Site in Hsp90 with Implications for Its Interaction with Thyroid Hormone Receptor Beta

While many proteins are known clients of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), it is unclear whether the transcription factor, thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRb), interacts with Hsp90 to control hormonal perception and signaling. Higher Hsp90 expression in mouse fibroblasts was elicited by the addition of triiodothyronine (T3). T3 bound to Hsp90 and enhanced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binding of Hsp90 due to a specific binding site for T3, as identified by molecular docking experiments. The binding of TRb to Hsp90 was prevented by T3 or by the thyroid mimetic sobetirome. Purified recombinant TRb trapped Hsp90 from cell lysate or purified Hsp90 in pull-down experiments. The affinity of Hsp90 for TRb was 124 nM. Furthermore, T3 induced the release of bound TRb from Hsp90, which was shown by streptavidin-conjugated quantum dot (SAv-QD) masking assay. The data indicate that the T3 interaction with TRb and Hsp90 may be an amplifier of the cellular stress response by blocking Hsp90 activity

The association of bone, fingernail and blood manganese with cognitive and olfactory function in Chinese workers

Occupational manganese (Mn) exposure has been associated with cognitive and olfactory dysfunction; however, few studies have incorporated cumulative biomarkers of Mn exposure such as bone Mn (BnMn). Our goal was to assess the cross-sectional association between BnMn, blood Mn (BMn), and fingernail Mn (FMn) with cognitive and olfactory function among Mn-exposed workers. A transportable in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) system was designed and utilized to assess BnMn among 60 Chinese workers. BMn and FMn were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cognitive and olfactory function was assessed using Animal and Fruit Naming tests, World Health Organization/University of California-Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Additional data were obtained via questionnaire. Regression models adjusted for age, education, factory of employment, and smoking status (UPSIT only), were used to assess the relationship between Mn biomarkers and test scores. In adjusted models, increasing BnMn was significantly associated with decreased performance on average AVLT scores [β (95% confidence interval (CI)) = -0.65 (-1.21, -0.09)] and Animal Naming scores [β (95% CI) = -1.54 (-3.00, -0.07)]. Increasing FMn was significantly associated with reduced performance measured by the average AVLT [β (95% CI) = -0.35 (-0.70, -0.006)] and the difference in AVLT scores [β (95% CI) = -0.40 (-0.77, -0.03)]. BMn was not significantly associated with any test scores; no significant associations were observed with Fruit Naming or UPSIT tests. BnMn and FMn, but not BMn, are associated with cognitive function in Mn-exposed workers. None of th

Color-Octet-Electroweak-Doublet Scalars and the CDF Dijet Anomaly

We study the phenomenology of color-octet scalars in the (8, 2)1/2 representation in the context of the 3.2\sigma excess, in the dijet invariant mass spectrum of the W+jj final state, recently observed by the CDF collaboration. We consider the region of parameter space with a sizable mass splitting between the charged and neutral color-octet scalars and consistent with electroweak precision data. We implement the principle of Minimal Flavor Violation (MFV) in order to suppress FCNC currents and reduce the number of free parameters. The excess in the W+jj channel corresponds to the charged current decay of the heavier neutral octet scalar into its lighter charged partner which decays into the two jets. In the MFV scenario, the production of the neutral color-octet is dominated by gluon fusion due to the Yukawa suppression of production via initial state quarks. As a result, no visible excess is expected in the \gamma+jj channel due to Yukawa and CKM suppression. Contributions to the Z+jj final state are suppressed for a mass spectrum where the decay of the heavier color-octet to this final state is mediated by an off-shell neutral color-octet partner. MFV allows one to control fraction of bottom quarks in the final state jets by a single ratio of two free parameters.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, typos corrected, references added, text and figures modified in some places for better clarity, version to appear in Physics Letters