Tackling uncertainty in ERP-controlled manufacturing environment: A knowledge management approach

This paper proposes a knowledge management approach to tackle uncertainty in ERP-controlled manufacturing environment. The development of a knowledge-based ERP planning model and a knowledge-based ERP-controlled manufacturing simulation model within which knowledge of tackling underlying causes of uncertainty can be stored for future reference are discussed. A combination of explicit and tacit knowledge are created and applied to update the planned parameters and to decide for the appropriate buffering or dampening techniques to tackle the underlying causes of uncertainty. Results from interviews and simulation experiments of a real case company showed significant reduction in tardy delivery after the use of the knowledge management approach. Some underlying causes of uncertainty are found to be more likely to result in tardy delivery than the others, and some are found to be more receptive to the effects of the knowledge management approach, but it is shown that interactions are generally difficult to manage due to their unstable effects.     

Information networks awareness and utilization issues: The case of gulfnet

This article addresses the awareness promotion-utilization of services problem within the framework of the diffusion of innovation theory, and with respect to information networks, specifically in the case of GULFNET     

Characterization of field strains of group A bovine rotaviruses by using polymerase chain reaction-generated G and P type-specific cDNA probes

Dot and Northern blot hybridization assays were used to analyze field strains of group A bovine rotaviruses (BRVs) by using nucleic acid probes representing P and G type specificities. The probes were prepared by polymerase chain reaction amplification of hyperdivergent regions of the cloned VP4 (nucleotides 211 to 686) and VP7 (nucleotides 51 to 392) genes from four serotypically distinct (in P or G types) strains of rotaviruses: NCDV (G6, P1), IND (G6, P5), 69M (G8, P10), and Cr (G10, P11). The P and G type cDNA probes were radiolabeled with [32P]dCTP and hybridized with RNA extracted from reference cell culture-passaged rotavirus strains or the field samples. The field samples were obtained from young diarrheic calves from Ohio, Nebraska, Washington State, and Canada. The cDNA probes were specific for their respective G or P types on the basis of analysis of known P and G type reference strains. The G typing analysis of 102 field samples revealed that 36.3% (37 of 102) were G6, 2.9% (3 of 102) were G8, 12.7% (13 of 102) were G10, and 23.5% (24 of 102) were untypeable. The P typing results for 93 samples indicated that 2.2% (2 of 93) were P1 (NCDV-like), 20.4% (19 of 93) were P5 (UK-like), 9.3% (10 of 93) were P11 (B223-like), and 40.8% (38 of 93) were untypeable. This is the first report of the identification among BRV strains in North America of a G type other than G6 or G10. Our report further confirms that G6, P5 rotaviruses are predominant among the BRV field strains that we examined, and the P types of these strains differ from that of the BRV vaccine strain used in the United States (G6, P1). The large number of untypeable G (23.5%) and P (40.8%) types suggests that other or new P and G types exist among BRV field strains.     

Comparative characteristics of color reactions to ecdysteroids

The colour reactions used to determine sterols have been compared to find most sensitive method of quantitative determination of ecdysteroids. It is shown that the Liberman-Burchard reaction is most sensitive to most ecdysteroids, while the Chugaev reaction is most specific.     

Determinatiom of the Rydrolysis of Quinolinium-I-Methyliocide-6-Carboxt-Methyl Ester by Glc

A CLC method for the determination of the hydrolysis of quiolinlues I-methyliodide-6-carboxy-mathylester is dascribed. GLC is parforsud on porous polymer composed of ethylvinylbenzena crose-linked with divinyl-bensen (Polapak-Q). The retention times of methyl alcohol and the internal standare (tertiary butanol) are 2.8 and 6.3 min., respectively. The- apparent pseudo-first order rate constants as a function of taparature (37.C and 50°C) in the presence of 6N HCl were calculated and found to be 2.6 × 10^-2 min^-1 and 2.7 × 10^-2 win-1 respactively.     

Determination of sodium in processed foodstuffs using a bis(12-crown-4) derivative-based poly(vinyl chloride) membrane electrode

A poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sodium selective electrode based on bis[(12-crown-4)ylmethyl] 2-dodecyl-2-methylmalonate ((12-crown-4)yl = 1,4,7,10-tetraoxacyclododecyl) was utilised for the determination of sodium in various foodstuffs such as soup stocks, instant noodle stocks and milk powders. Good agreement was obtained between the proposed electrode and flame photometric methods. Also, the electrode exhibits minimum interference from potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron(III), copper(II) and glucose, and from the synthetic colours tested.     

Effect of preparation conditions of activated carbon from bamboo waste for real textile wastewater

This study deals with the use of activated carbon prepared from bamboo waste (BMAC), as an adsorbent for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color of cotton textile mill wastewater. Bamboo waste was used to prepare activated carbon by chemical activation using phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) as chemical agent. The effects of three preparation variables activation temperature, activation time and H₃PO₄:precursor (wt%) impregnation ratio on the color and COD removal were investigated. Based on the central composite design (CCD) and quadratic models were developed to correlate the preparation variables to the color and COD. From the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the most influential factor on each experimental design response was identified. The optimum condition was obtained by using temperature of 556 °C, activation time of 2.33 h and chemical impregnation ratio of 5.24, which resulted in 93.08% of color and 73.98% of COD.