Tuberculosis Control in developing countries: A Generalized Community Health Worker Based Model

Tuberculosis is a major health care burden in developing countries. World Health Organization (WHO) has been assisting developing countries through their respective Governments to control this curable disease. The Amsterdam declaration aims to control tuberculosis globally by the year 2005. The TBC project implementation experiences are varied across countries both on cure and detection rates. The government initiatives are complemented by the non government organizations involvement at the operational level. The BRAC model in Bangladesh involves the NGOs in an extensive and cohesive way. This paper documents the BRAC model for TBC in Bangladesh. We introduce the concept of value chain, in the context of TBC. Based on the value chain concept, the logic for the effectiveness of the BRAC model is discussed. An improved version of the Bangladesh delivery model is proposed. We hope the model proposed in this work would draw the attention of policy planners, and help them to control TB in their respective countries.

Vision 2020: The Role and Scope of Operations Research Models

In this theme article, we summarize the broad characteristics of Vision 2020 (a document which outlines the transformation process related to evolution of India as a developed nation by 2020) as envisaged by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. We discuss the enabling role of our discipline related to this critical national (social) transformation process. This theme article is organized in three segments. The first segment, which is drawn heavily based on the published work by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam introduces the salient features of Vision 2020 and a road map related to realizing this national dream. The second segment sketches the evolution of operations research as a scientific discipline in the international and Indian context. The third and final segment of the article relate OR tools and techniques that can facilitate the planning and implementation of several projects / activities / policies in the overall context of Vision 2020.

A Finite Horizon Inventory Model: An Operational Framework

We present a simulation based decision support system to decide the inventory ordering policy in the context of a single commodity, multi pack, and finite horizon situation. The multiple objectives include (a) Minimizing the end of the season inventory, (b) Maximizing the operating profit, (c) Minimizing the peak working capital requirements during the season. Stochastic demand and positive lead time add to the complexity of the problem context. In addition multiple partners in the supply chain with distinct and conflicting set of objectives necessitate the need for a formal approach. The motivation for this model is based on a real life situation. The model addresses the decision choices faced by the distributor in a specific logistics chain. In this chain, a typical distributor has to balance between the stochastic nature of the demand and the attractive nature of financial incentives (order quantity based) proposed by the manufacturer. The problem can be formulated as a multi-period dynamic programming problem with stochastic demand with an objective to optimize the expected operating profit, subject to specific constraints on working capital requirement, service level, order fill rate and end of the season inventory. Such a formulation is hard to solve and does not lend itself to analyze several ordering policies. Based on simulation experiments, we propose an ordering policy which optimizes the overall objectives of supply chain partners and hence demonstrated the possibility of jointly managing the uncertain demand by supply chain partners. The model is simple and easy to use. It is implemented by using spreadsheet. It provides adequate flexibility to conduct what-if analysis. The model has a potential to be useful in a wide range of situations.

Reviving Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation: An Agenda for Action

In this article, we examine in detail the reasons related to the declining operating and financial performance of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC). The contribution of various environmental and governance issues related to the decline of GSRTC are identified. Based on the diagnosis, a detailed revival plan consisting of a set of actions to be undertaken by the management is proposed. The responsibilities of the government, the management, and the employees in implementing the revival plan are briefly discussed. This article concludes with set of strategic priorities that need to be examined by government in reviving GSTRC and other similar state-owned public utilities.

World Class Logistics Operations: The Case of Bombay Dabbawallahs

The Bombay Dabbawallahs operation is widely recognized as an outstanding example of excellence in Logistics. It is often quoted as a standard example of six sigma implementation in the Indian context. Because of its popularity Prince Charles of the United Kingdom paid a visit to the operations site during his official visit to India in 2003. In this article we study in detail the nature and content of this system, critically examine its salient features and analyze the possibility of extending the system to similar or related domains.

Models in Management Science: Issues in Implementation

Based on an empirical analysis of several real-life case studies in this paper, we identify the key drivers for maximizing the chances of successful implementation of management science models. The choice of (technique) methodology used, model sophistication, top management involvement, training and orientation of middle management cadre in the organization, intensity of competition, perceived fear and anxiety in implementing the new solution procedure by the front-line staff, and the involvement of an implementation agency in the organization emerge as some of the key elements that influence the effectiveness of the implementation process. Based on the experience of these situations, we propose a broad framework for an effective implementation of management science model.

3-D Modeling of Liquefaction Phenomenon Using Distinct Element Method

Liquefaction is one of the most important, complex and controversial topics in geotechnical earthquake engineering. Since Niigata earthquake in 1964, it has been popularly recognized that the liquefaction induced ground failures cause severe damage to the built environment. To take measures against such damage, understanding the mechanism of liquefaction and its associated phenomena from macroscopic and microscopic viewpoints is very important. There are two approaches, which are experimental and numerical ones, to study them. Although discussion from the macroscopic viewpoints can be done by experiments, it is not so easy to perform experiment to obtain microscopic information on liquefaction and its associated phenomena. Among the numerical tools available at present, Distinct Element Method (DEM) is an effective method that can simulate the mechanism of liquefaction at microscopic level. We have developed a new 3-D DEM model with a simple algorithm by which the effect of pore water and its behavior can be directly considered to improve the mechanical behavior of the particles. Conventionally, these effects were not considered in the field of DEM. Our primary objective in this paper is to simulate the hollow cylindrical torsion test, which replicates the ground condition before and during the earthquake, under undrained and cyclic loading conditions using the proposed model

Allegorical Language in Moral Literature

Tamil has been a classical language since its inception.  Without fatigue and sorrow the Tamil language faces all the hardships in the environment. The reason for its excellence is its grammar and literary works. The books of Tamil literature shows the excellence of Tamil language and Tamil people. Innumerable literary work in Tamil is about the excellence of Tamil language.  The aim of this article is to examine the allegorical language in moral literature

Studies on the distribution and standing crop of algae at Muthupet estuary, Tamilnadu

Studies were made on the occurrence and standing crop of algae from six localities in Muthupet estuary for a period of six months from March to August 1988. Totally 19 afgae belonging to the groups Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta were recorded. The green algae numbered more than other algae in all the stations. The biomass estimated for Gracilaria verruocsa, Hypnea valentiae and Enleromorpha spp. varied from 905 to 1220 gm/m2, 740 to 980. gm/m2 and 53 to 72 gm/m' respectively