The Effects of Bullwhip on Item Level Performance

This research investigates how information and material distortions affect the inventory management performance of a major retailer. Bullwhip effects (BWEs) are individually calculated for dozens of products carried by dozens of retail locations. Relationships between item/store-level BWEs and item/store-level performance measures including gross margins and inventory levels are tested and reported

The decline of laparoscopic sterilisation

Female sterilisation is an extensively used method of contraception all over the world but there appears to be a decline in the performance of this procedure in Ireland. There also appears to be an increased uptake of safe, long-acting contraceptive alternatives. We set out to establish the extent of the decline of laparoscopic sterilisation and to explore possible explanations. Data for female sterilisation from Ireland was obtained from the Hospital In-Patient Enquiry Scheme (HIPE) section of the Economic and Social Research Institute for the years 1999 to 2004. Recent sales figures for long acting reversible contraceptives, specifically the levo-norgestrel-loaded intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) (Mirena) and the etonogestrel implant (Implanon) were also obtained. Laparoscopic tubal ligations reduced from 2,566(1999) to 910 (2004). In the corresponding period the use of Mirena coils increased from 4,840 (1999) to 17,077 (2004)

Interplay between Glucocerebrosidase 1 and Glucocerebrosidase 2; potential implications for the pathogenesis of Gaucher and Parkinson's diseases

Gaucher disease (GD) is a lysosomal storage disorder with wide clinical heterogeneity, caused by mutations in the GBA gene leading to low or deficient levels of the lysosomal enzyme Glucocerebrosidase (GBA1). Mutations in GBA1 are also the single most common genetic risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the majority of GD patients and carriers do not develop PD, suggesting the possibility of other disease modifying factors. GBA2 is a non-lysosomal enzyme capable of hydrolysing the same substrates as GBA1 and hence may be a potential disease modifying factor. Initially, assays for GBA1 and GBA2 were developed to record the relative activities in a range of tissue types. Marked tissue differences in GBA1 and GBA2 activities were recorded with GBA2 the predominant enzyme in brain. Assessment of GBA1 and GBA2 in GD, PD and dystonia patient leucocytes revealed, as expected, decreased GBA1 activity in GD samples. However, 13% of idiopathic PD and dystonia patients also displayed decreased activity. Leucocyte GBA2 activity was found to be elevated in half of GD patients and in brain from a GD mouse model. One patient with mild GD but profound PD had undetectable GBA2 activity. Cellular models of GBA1 and/or GBA2 inhibition, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction were used to further study the interplay between GBA1 and GBA2 using SH-SY5Y cells. Inhibition of GBA1 was not found to be associated with an increase in GBA2 activity or protein expression. Similarly, inhibition of GBA2 was not found to be associated with changes in GBA1 activity. Loss of mitochondrial function or oxidative stress was not found to cause loss of GBA1 activity while GBA1 inhibition did not increase cellular susceptibility to oxidative stress. Measurement of ceramides using mass spectrometry did not reveal any downstream effects of GBA1 or GBA2 inhibition on ceramide levels

Conditional Lot Splitting to Avoid Setups While Reducing Flow Time

Previous research has clearly and consistently shown that flow time advantages accrue from splitting production lots into smaller transfer batches or sub-lots. Less extensively discussed, and certainly undesired, is the fact that lot splitting may dramatically increase the number of setups required, making it impractical in some settings. This paper describes and demonstrates a primary cause of these “extra” setups. It then proposes and evaluates decision rules which selectively invoke lot splitting in an attempt to avoid extra setups. For the closed job shop environment tested, our results indicate that conditional logic can achieve a substantial portion of lot splitting’s flow time improvement while avoiding the vast majority of the additional setups which would be caused by previously tested lot splitting schemes

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy-enhanced drill for bone boundary detection

Intramedullary nailing is a routine orthopedic procedure used for treating fractures of femoral or tibial shafts. A critical part of this procedure involves the drilling of pilot holes in both ends of the bone for the placement of the screws that will secure the IM rod to sections of the fractured bone. This step introduces a risk of soft tissue damage because the drill bit, if not stopped in time, can transverse the bone-tissue boundary into the overlying muscle, causing unnecessary injury and prolonging healing time due to periosteum damage. In this respect, detecting the bone-tissue boundary before break-through can reduce the risks and complications associated with intramedullary nailing. Hence, in the present study, a two-wavelength diffuse reflectance spectroscopy technique was integrated into a surgical drill to optically detect bone-tissue boundary and automatically trigger the drill to stop. Furthermore, Monte-Carlo simulations were used to estimate the maximum distance from within the bone at which the bone-tissue boundary could be detected using DRS. The simulation results estimated that the detection distance, termed the “look-ahead-distance” was ∼1.5 mm for 1.3 mm source-detector fiber separation. Experimental measurements with 1.3 mm source-detector fiber separation showed that the look-ahead-distance was in the order of 250 µm in experiments with set drill rate and in the range of 1 mm in experiments where the holes were drilled by hand. Despite this difference, the automated DRS enhanced drill successfully detected the approaching bone tissue boundary when tested on samples of bovine femur and muscle tissue

Applications of digital ground models to support the maintenance and upgrading of rail infrastructure

The development of digital conceptual and observational ground models has become more widespread over the last few years. This paper describes the construction and use of a 3D geological model for the Leeds-York North Trans Pennine Electrification project (TPE), which was created by the British Geological Survey (BGS) and commission by TSP (Technical Solutions in Partnership). The model covers 28 km of railway line and represents the bedrock and superficial geological units to a depth of 30 m below track level. It was created using BGS’s cross-section based methodology (GSI3D) utilising high resolution LiDAR data and 1:10,000 scale digital geological map data. Of the 804 borehole and pits available in the area, 102 borehole logs were used in the model, however, they were generally clustered, of variable quality and, in some areas, sparse, which provided a particular challenge for the modelling process

Preventing facial pressure injuries among health care staff working in diverse COVID‐19 care environments

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a specially designed care bundle on the development of facial pressure injuries among frontline health care workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a mixed methods study. First, a pre-posttest observational design was employed to evaluate the impact of the pre-piloted intervention, a care bundle including skin cleansing and hydration, protective material use, facemask selection and skin inspection, developed in line with international best practice guidelines. Data were collected using survey methodology. Frontline COVID-19 staff working in acute, community and ambulance services were invited to participate. Then, judgemental and volunteer sampling was used to select participants to undertake semi-structured interviews to elicit feedback on their perceptions of the care bundle. The sample included 120 acute hospital staff, 60 Ambulance staff, 24 Community Hub staff and 20 COVID-19 testing centre staff. A survey response rate of 61% was realised (n = 135/224). Of the participants, 32% (n = 43) had a facial pressure ulcer (FPI) pre-intervention and 13% (n = 18) developed an FPI while using the care bundle. The odds ratio (OR) was 0.33 (95% CI: 0.18 to 0.61; P = .0004), indicating a 77% reduction in the odds of FPI development with use of the care bundle. Analysis of the qualitative data from 22 interviews identified three key themes, the context for the care bundle, the ease of use of the care bundle and the care bundle as a solution to FPI development. The care bundle reduced the incidence of FPI among the participants and was found to be easy to use. Implementation of skin protection for frontline staff continues to be important given the persistently high incidence of COVID-19 and the ongoing need to wear PPE for protracted durations

Determination of freedom-from-rabies for small Indian mongoose populations in the United States Virgin Islands, 2019–2020

Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free