Implementing mass customization

Total Customer Satisfaction today can mean embarking on “Mass Customization”: giving every customer a product tailored specifically to his or her needs. In the past, manufacturing was usually “high volume, low mix”, characterized by keeping costs down with economies of scale, or “low volume, high mix”, incurring costs and time for changeovers and special handling. Today's mass customization, however, can result in a challenging manufacturing environment with both high volume and high mix, where customers expect individualized products at the same price they paid for mass-produced items. Meeting this challenge requires changes in the manufacturing processes. Equipment must be more flexible. Most important are the computer systems which support the manufacturing enterprise. Never has data been so essential to define, control, and monitor manufacturing as with mass customization. Motorola's product lines — from the pagers with millions of possible options, to the cellular phones and semiconductors — are all experiencing the move to mass customization. This presentation will describe some Motorola examples and the methods used to achieve world-class manufacturing under these conditions.     

An investigation into the dietary fibre content of named varieties of carrot at different developmental ages

The carrot, Daucus carota, is a commonly used vegetable which has changed in appearance due to plant breeding programmes. The development of the carrot can be divided into a period of rapid increase in fresh weight, a stage of constant fresh weight and a stage of floral development and decrease in fresh weight. An analysis of the dietary fibre content of the carrot and its chemical composition has been made, using the varieties Altrincham, Chantenay, Nantes and Scarlet Perfection, at different developmental stages. Fibre was measured as prepared fibre, NDF, ADF, cellulose and lignin. No differences were found between varieties except those due to the different developmental rates of each variety. Within each variety the ADF content increased during late stage 2 and the increase was apparently due to the cellulose component of the ADF. Despite the differences, however, in carrot fresh weight between varieties and also within each variety there is no difference in any fibre component of carrot per 100 g fresh weight.     

The social consequences of surgical complications for patients with proximal femoral fractures

OBJECTIVES: In 1985 and 1988 a positive effect of treatment of primary Sj?gren's syndrome with hydroxychloroquine was reported in two small open studies. To investigate further the clinical and laboratory effects of hydroxychloroquine in primary Sj?gren's syndrome a two year study was performed. METHODS: The design of the study included a prospective, placebo controlled, two year double blind crossover trial in 19 patients. RESULTS: A significant decrease in IgG and IgM and a tendency for a decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) during treatment with hydroxychloroquine compared with treatment with placebo were found. No beneficial clinical effect of the use of hydroxychloroquine as expressed in preference for treatment with hydroxychloroquine or placebo with regard to symptoms and signs of primary Sj?gren's syndrome could be shown, however, nor any relevant change in tear gland activity and sequelae of peripheral tear function deficiency, nor salivary gland scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of hydroxychloroquine at a dose of 400 mg daily taken over a 12 month period does not have a worthwhile clinical benefit in patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome despite an improvement of hyperglobulinaemia and slight changes in the ESR and IgM.     

Anatomical optical coherence tomography for long-term, portable, quantitative endoscopy

In this paper, we report on anatomical optical coherence tomography, a catheter-based optical modality designed to provide quantitative sectional images of internal hollow organ anatomy over extended observational periods. We consider the design and performance of an instrument and its initial intended application in the human upper airway for the characterization of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Compared with current modalities, the technique uniquely combines quantitative imaging, bedside operation, and safety for use over extended periods of time with no cumulative dose limit. Our experiments show that the instrument is capable of imaging subjects during sleep, and that it can record dynamic changes in airway size and shape.     

The science of space weather

The basic physics underpinning space weather is reviewed, beginning with a brief overview of the main causes of variability in the near-Earth space environment. Although many plasma phenomena contribute to space weather, one of the most important is magnetic reconnection, and recent cutting edge research in this field is reviewed. We then place this research in context by discussing a number of specific types of space weather in more detail. As society inexorably increases its dependence on space, the necessity of predicting and mitigating space weather will become ever more acute. This requires a deep understanding of the complexities inherent in the plasmas that fill space and has prompted the development of a new generation of scientific space missions at the international level.     

Long-term results of subtotal colectomy and evidence of noncolonic involvement in patients with idiopathic slow-transit constipation

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic idiopathic constipation can be difficult to manage either medically or surgically. We report our experience of long-term follow-up of 21 patients who had undergone colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis for difficult chronic idiopathic constipation. METHODS: The patients (19 female, 2 male) were aged 26-68 (median = 46) years and had undergone subtotal colectomy 5-12 (median = 8) years before their assessment. They answered a questionnaire about severity of abdominal pain, bloating, urgency, and straining. They also completed the hospital anxiety and depression questionnaire. Fifteen ulcerative colitis patients with panproctocolectomy and 13 colon cancer patients with colonic resection who had a similar follow-up period served as control groups. The following assessments were performed in chronic idiopathic constipation patients with subtotal colectomy: a) oesophageal manometry; b) scintigraphic gastric emptying test; c) review of barium follow-through; d) glucose H2 breath test; e) urodynamic studies; and f) autonomic function tests. RESULTS: Twenty-four per cent of patients with chronic idiopathic constipation had a family history of difficult constipation requiring hospital investigations and treatment. At the time of assessment abdominal pain, bloating, urgency, and straining at defecation were all significantly more frequent in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation with colectomy than in the control groups with colectomy. Seventy-one per cent of chronic idiopathic constipation patients had at least one episode of intestinal obstruction after subtotal colectomy, which is significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in the control groups (ulcerative colitis, 13%; colonic carcinoma, 8%). In patients with chronic idiopathic constipation, among those studied, 68% had some oesophageal motor dysfunction: 19% delayed gastric emptying; 10%, prolonged small-bowel transit on barium follow-through; 54%, abnormal urodynamic variables; and 14%, abnormal autonomic function tests. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows considerable morbidity in a selected cohort of patients with chronic idiopathic constipation who were sufficiently disabled by their symptoms to undergo subtotal colectomy. They had more abdominal and rectal symptoms and more frequent intestinal obstructive episodes than control groups with colonic resection. Evidence of generalized smooth-muscle dysfunction and familial occurrence of constipation suggests a primary chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction-like disorder in some of these patients.     

The dietary effects of gellan gum in humans

Following a 7-day control period, five female and five male volunteers consumed a weight of gellan gum corresponding to 175 mg/kg body weight for 7 days, followed by 200 mg gellan gum per kg body weight for a further 16 days. Measurements before and at the end of the 23-day test period showed that the gellan gum acted as a faecal bulking agent for the male volunteers and for four of the females. Dietary transit time increased for 2 females and 2 males, and decreased for 3 females and 3 males. Faecal bile acid concentrations increased for 4 females and for 4 males; the average increases were from 0.69 to 0.83 mmol/24 h (females) and from 1.22 to 1.44 mmol/24 h (males). Gellan gum ingestion had no significant effect on (a) plasma biochemistry parameters; (b) haematological indices; (c) urinalysis parameters; (d) blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations; (e) breath hydrogen concentrations. There were no significant changes in HDL cholesterol, triglyceride or phospholipid concentrations. Serum cholesterol concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.1) by 13% on average for females, and by 12%, on average, for males. The data indicate that the ingestion of gellan gum at a high level for 23 days caused no adverse dietary or physiological effects in any of the volunteers. In particular, the enzymatic and other indicators of adverse toxicological effects remained unchanged.     

The dietary effects of xanthan gum in man

Following a 7-day control period, 5 male volunteers consumed, on each of 23 consecutive days, a weight of xanthan gum equal to 15 times the current acceptable daily intake (10 mg/kg b.w.) approved by the EEC and by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives; thus, the lightest and heaviest of the volunteers consumed 10.4 g and 12.9 g respectively of xanthan daily. Measurements before and at the end of the test period showed that the ingestion of xanthan, as a pre-hydrated gel, acted as a bulking agent in terms of its effects on faecal wet and dry weight and intestinal transit time but had no significant effect on plasma biochemistry, haematological indices, urinalysis parameters, glucose tolerance and insulin tests, serum immunoglobulins, triglycerides, phospholipids and HDL cholesterol, breath hydrogen and breath methane concentrations. There was a moderate (10%) reduction in serum cholesterol and a significant increase in faecal bile acid concentrations. The data indicate that the ingestion of xanthan caused no adverse dietary nor physiological effects in any of the subjects. In particular, all of the enzymatic and other parameters that act as sensitive indicators of adverse toxicological effects remained unchanged.     

Monocyte expression of tissue factor and adhesion molecules: the link with accelerated coronary artery disease in patients with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of monocyte tissue factor (MTF) and adhesion molecules in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) and to look for any correlation with thrombin generation and Lp(a) lipoprotein. DESIGN: A study of MTF expression and adhesion molecules, prothrombin fragments 1+2 (PTf1+2), an index of thrombin generation, and lipoproteins in patients with CRF and in normal control subjects. BACKGROUND: Patients with end stage renal failure have an increased risk of coronary artery disease despite advances in therapy. Stimulated monocytes are potent activators of blood coagulation through the generation of MTF, which was recently implicated in the aetiology of acute coronary ischaemic syndromes. METHODS: MTF expression and adhesion molecules were measured in whole blood using immunofluorescence of monocytes labelled with anti-tissue factor antibody and CD11b and c by flow cytometry. PTf1+2 and Lp(a) lipoprotein in plasma were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PATIENTS: 70 patients with CRF without documented coronary artery disease (30 patients with CRF undialysed, 20 patients undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 20 undergoing haemodialysis (HD)), together with 20 normal controls, were studied. RESULTS: The (mean (SD)) increased MTF of CRF (48.0 (29) v 33.3 (7.2) mesf unit/100 monocytes in controls, p = 0.04) was more pronounced in patients undergoing dialysis (HD 73.1 (32.8) (p < 0.003) and CAPD 62.8 (28.9) mesf unit/100 monocytes, p < 0.04). MTF activity showed a positive correlation with both PTf1+2 and serum creatinine (p < 0.003) but not with Lp(a) lipoprotein. Lp(a) lipoprotein was significantly increased in both dialysis groups compared with controls (p < 0.005) and non-dialysis CRF groups (p < 0.02). Monocyte adhesion molecule (CD11b) was significantly higher in all three CRF groups than in the controls (p = 0.006). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated a hypercoagulable state in patients with CRF. This was especially pronounced in the dialysis patients. These findings provide a possible explanation for the increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality in these patients.