Acton mass flow system applied to PFBC feed

Dense phase pneumatic conveying and the Acton Mass Flow concept are defined with emphasis on the specific advantages to the coal and dolomite feed to the Pressurized Fluidized Bed Combustor. The transport and feed functions are explored with a comparison of designing the process for a combined function or for individual functions. The equipment required to accomplish these functions is described together with a typical example of sizing and air or gas requirements. A general outline of the control system required to obtain a uniform feed rate is provided. The condition of the coal and dolomite and conveying gas as required to obtain reliable transport and feed will be discussed

Customer Interaction as a Key to New Product Success

Recent years have witnessed a resurgence of academic and practitioner interest in new product development and in the way companies interact with their customers. While there has been considerable scientific progress in both research areas, very limited attention has been given to customer interaction in the new product development process as a means to increase new product success. This paper reports on research assessing the performance impact of (1) the intensity of customer interaction in different stages of the new product development process and (2) the characteristics of the involved customers. The research is based on field interviews as well as statistical analyses of a sample in the machinery industry. Results indicate that customer interaction during certain stages (but not others) of the new product development process has a positive impact on new product success. The characteristics of the involved customers have a significant effect on new product success as well. As an example, collaborating with financially attractive customers or customers exhibiting lead user characteristics increases new product success. It is also demonstrated that there is a gap between the performance impact of customer interaction during new product development and the current business practice in this field

Neue Wege in Marketing und Vertrieb : Prozeßoptimierung, Organisationsgestaltung, Kundenorientierung

Die Forderung nach neuen Organisationsformen in Marketing und Vertrieb gehört zu den Allgemeinplätzen der heutigen Managementliteratur. Vor dem Hintergrund zunehmender Marktdynamik und steigender Wettbewerbsintensität werden Forderungen nach effizienteren Prozessen, Kundenorientierung sowie allgemein nach neuen Organisationsformen immer lauter. Solche Dinge sind leicht gesagt. In der Umsetzung erweisen sie sich zumeist allerdings als ausgesprochen problematisch. Die ernüchternden Erfahrungen, die mittlerweile zahlreiche Unternehmen bei dem Versuch, das Konzept des Business Process Reengineering anzuwenden, machen mußten, verdeutlichen die Umsetzungsproblematik. Vor diesem Hintergrund befaßt sich dievorliegende Studie mit der Frage, wo die Praxis tatsächlich bei der Reorganisation der Marketing- und Vertriebsbereiche ansetzt

Entwicklungslinien der Marketingorganisation : eine empirische Untersuchung im produzierenden Gewerbe

• Die Marketingorganisation regelt die Beziehungen eines Unternehmens zu seinen Abnehmern und leistet so einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Wettbewerbsfähigkeit. • Der Beitrag befaßt sich mit der Frage nach dem derzeitigen Stand der Marketingorganisation hinsichtlich zentraler Parameter und mit den für die nächsten Jahre geplanten Veränderungen. • Zur Beantwortung dieser Fragestellungen wird eine empirische Analyse im produzierenden Gewerbe durchgeführt. • Aufgrund der empirischen Analyse können klare Entwicklungstendenzen identifiziert werden, die insbesondere im Bereich der Prozeßorientierung in Marketing und Vertrieb liegen

Tyrosine phosphorylation-dependent activation of phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase occurs upstream of Ca^(2+)-signalling induced by Fcy receptor cross-linking in human neutrophils

The effect of wortmannin on IgG-receptor (FcyR)-mediated stimulation of human neutrophils was investigated. The Ca^(2+) influx induced by clustering of both Fcy receptors was inhibited by wortmannin, as was the release of Ca^(2+) from intracellular stores. Wortmannin also inhibited, with the same efficacy, the accumulation of Ins(1,4,5)P3 observed after FcyR stimulation, but did not affect the increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 induced by the chemotactic peptide, formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine. Because wortmannin is, in the concentrations used here, an inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, these results suggested a role for PtdIns 3-kinase upstream of Ca^(2+) signalling, induced by FcyR cross-linking. Support for this notion was obtained by investigating the effect of another inhibitor of PtdIns 3-kinase, LY 294002, and by studying the kinetics of PtdIns 3-kinase activation. We found translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane and increased PtdIns 3-kinase activity in the membrane as soon as 5 s after FccR cross-linking, even before the onset of the Ca^(2+) response. Moreover, the translocation of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane was inhibited by cocross- linking of either FcyRIIa and FcyRIIIb with the tyrosine phosphatase, CD45, indicating a requirement for protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the recruitment of PtdIns 3-kinase to the plasma membrane. Taken together, our results suggest a role for PtdIns 3-kinase in early signal transduction events after FcyR cross-linking in human neutrophils

Dutch GP healthcare consumption in COVID-19 heterogeneous regions:An interregional time-series approach in 2020-2021

Background Many countries observed a sharp decline in the use of general practice services after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research has not yet considered how changes in healthcare consumption varied among regions with the same restrictive measures but different COVID-19 prevalence.Aim To investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare consumption in Dutch general practice during 2020 and 2021, among regions with known heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence, from a pre-pandemic baseline in 2019.Design Population-based cohort study using electronic health records.Setting Dutch general practices involved in regional research networks.MethodsInterrupted time-series analysis of changes in healthcare consumption from before to during the pandemic. Descriptive statistics on the number of potential COVID-19 related contacts, reason for contact and type of contact.Results The study covered 3 627 597 contacts (425 639 patients), 3 532 693 contacts (433 340 patients), and 4 134 636 contacts (434 872 patients) in 2019, 2020, and 2021, respectively. Time-series analysis revealed a significant decrease in healthcare consumption after the outbreak of the pandemic. Despite interregional heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence, healthcare consumption decreased comparably over time in the three regions, before rebounding to a level significantly higher than baseline in 2021. Physical consultations transitioned to phone or digital over time.Conclusions Healthcare consumption decreased irrespective of the regional prevalence of COVID-19 from the start of the pandemic, with the Delta variant triggering a further decrease. Overall, changes in care consumption appeared to reflect contextual factors and societal restrictions rather than infection rates

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Criminal Justice: Legitimacy, accountability, and effectivit