Actinobaculum schaalii: identification with MALDI-TOF

Abstract Actinobaculum schaalii is an emerging uropathogen. So far, its identification has been performed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing or PCR. The diagnosis has often been delayed due to fastidious growth and identification problems. Eleven clinical isolates of A. schaalii from bloodstream infections that were initially identified with 16S rRNA sequencing analysis were recovered and later identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). We present a review of bacteriological data of these patients, an algorithm for fast laboratory work-up and advocate the use of sensitized culture of urine to allow better recovery of A. schaalii in susceptible patients.Peer reviewe

Actinobaculum schaalii: identification with MALDI-TOF

AbstractActinobaculum schaalii is an emerging uropathogen. So far, its identification has been performed with 16S rRNA gene sequencing or PCR. The diagnosis has often been delayed due to fastidious growth and identification problems. Eleven clinical isolates of A. schaalii from bloodstream infections that were initially identified with 16S rRNA sequencing analysis were recovered and later identified with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF). We present a review of bacteriological data of these patients, an algorithm for fast laboratory work-up and advocate the use of sensitized culture of urine to allow better recovery of A. schaalii in susceptible patients

WHEAT IMPORT DEMAND IN THE JAPANESE FLOUR MILLING INDUSTRY: A PRODUCTION THEORY APPROACH

The translog cost function is used to analyze import demand for wheat differentiated by class and country of origin in the Japanese wheat flour milling industry. Results indicate that U.S. wheat faces strong competition in the Japanese wheat market, but its multiple classes and end-use characteristics enable the United States to preserve the largest market share in Japan.import demand, Japan, wheat, production theory, translog cost function, International Relations/Trade,

A collaborative approach to forecasting product–service systems (PSS)

Copyright @ Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010. The final version of this article may be viewed at the link below.This paper examines the forecasting implications for product–service systems (PSS) applications in manufacturing firms. The approach taken is to identify the scope of operations for PSS applications by identifying all the activities associated with the service deployment in the telecom sector. The paper then develops a revenue model for manufacturing firms providing PSS applications. The revenue model identifies three generic revenue streams that provide the basis for discussion on the differences in forecasting approaches, including collaborative approaches based on PSS staff being geographically co-located

Measurement of New Product Development Performance - Life Cycle Perspective

The essential investments in new product development (NPD) made by industrial companies entail effective management of NPD activities. In this context, performance measurement is one of the means that can be employed in the pursuit of effectiveness. The primary aim of the study is to structure and analyze the concept of product life cycle in the context of new product development. This objective includes answering the question of what elements comprise product life cycle and identifying the different types of life cycles relevant to NPD performance measurement. The secondary objective is to identify and evaluate the present state of performance measurement in Finnish industrial new product development. Interests in this broad issue include the perceived objectives for NPD, the measures employed and the satisfaction associated with the present state of measurement. The study is founded on three main elements. First, an extensive literature study on performance measurement and product life cycle has been made for conducting a conceptual analysis covering and synthesizing these two issues. On the basis of this, a conceptual framework comprising the idea of life cycle conscious NPD performance measurement is constructed. Second, one half of the empirical base of the study relies on a case study of six industrial companies. This case study was carried out to provide empirical evidence on the product life cycles and their distinct phases in different industrial settings. Third, the other half of the empirical data has been collected through a mail survey. The survey was focused on the present practices of Finnish industrial companies regarding NPD performance measurement. The primary contribution of the study should be divided into two elements. First, the constructed conceptual framework for the comprehensive performance measurement of product development with a particular emphasis on life cycle requirements is a contribution as such both in practical and theoretical sense. Life cycle oriented performance measurement of NPD reported in the literature has been something of immature, and the novel approach presented in this study provides the doctrine with at least incremental improvement to this. Second, the analysis of the present state of the NPD performance measurement in Finnish industry provides us with new information regarding the development potential in this domain. Respectively, the identification of the present state enables the discussion on the gap that exists between the needs and practices of the management of product development activities. On the basis of the discussion of this study, a couple of potential research questions can be formulated for future studies. First, proper testing of the constructed framework entails real life cases that would employ the ideas presented in this study for the performance measurement of their product development activities. Second, quantitative evidence on the product life cycles in metal industry should be collected. This can be done either by survey research or by in-depth case studies

Measurement of New Product Development Performance - Life Cycle Perspective

The essential investments in new product development (NPD) made by industrial companies entail effective management of NPD activities. In this context, performance measurement is one of the means that can be employed in the pursuit of effectiveness. The primary aim of the study is to structure and analyze the concept of product life cycle in the context of new product development. This objective includes answering the question of what elements comprise product life cycle and identifying the different types of life cycles relevant to NPD performance measurement. The secondary objective is to identify and evaluate the present state of performance measurement in Finnish industrial new product development. Interests in this broad issue include the perceived objectives for NPD, the measures employed and the satisfaction associated with the present state of measurement. The study is founded on three main elements. First, an extensive literature study on performance measurement and product life cycle has been made for conducting a conceptual analysis covering and synthesizing these two issues. On the basis of this, a conceptual framework comprising the idea of life cycle conscious NPD performance measurement is constructed. Second, one half of the empirical base of the study relies on a case study of six industrial companies. This case study was carried out to provide empirical evidence on the product life cycles and their distinct phases in different industrial settings. Third, the other half of the empirical data has been collected through a mail survey. The survey was focused on the present practices of Finnish industrial companies regarding NPD performance measurement. The primary contribution of the study should be divided into two elements. First, the constructed conceptual framework for the comprehensive performance measurement of product development with a particular emphasis on life cycle requirements is a contribution as such both in practical and theoretical sense. Life cycle oriented performance measurement of NPD reported in the literature has been something of immature, and the novel approach presented in this study provides the doctrine with at least incremental improvement to this. Second, the analysis of the present state of the NPD performance measurement in Finnish industry provides us with new information regarding the development potential in this domain. Respectively, the identification of the present state enables the discussion on the gap that exists between the needs and practices of the management of product development activities. On the basis of the discussion of this study, a couple of potential research questions can be formulated for future studies. First, proper testing of the constructed framework entails real life cases that would employ the ideas presented in this study for the performance measurement of their product development activities. Second, quantitative evidence on the product life cycles in metal industry should be collected. This can be done either by survey research or by in-depth case studies

Sets which are not tube null and intersection properties of random measures

We show that in $\mathbb{R}^d$ there are purely unrectifiable sets of Hausdorff (and even box counting) dimension $d-1$ which are not tube null, settling a question of Carbery, Soria and Vargas, and improving a number of results by the same authors and by Carbery. Our method extends also to "convex tube null sets", establishing a contrast with a theorem of Alberti, Cs\"{o}rnyei and Preiss on Lipschitz-null sets. The sets we construct are random, and the proofs depend on intersection properties of certain random fractal measures with curves