The Possibilities of Community OR in a Third World Country

This paper shows a few possibilities for the application of Community OR in a Third World country based on experience in Venezuela. These possibilities are discussed in a framework of the relationship between the state and community organizations. Emphasis lies in showing that Community OR in Venezuela requires a deep critical commitment to emancipation in order to help community organizations develop in a rather hostile environment. Lastly, results in dealing with community organizations in Venezuela using the Interpretive Systemology approach are presented.     

Comparing the motivations of Spanish and Finnish computer personnel with those of the United States

A survey of perceptions of IS personnel – managers, technical specialists and programmer/analysts – was conducted by the Association for Technical Information in Spain, using the JDS/DP, a modification of the job diagnostic survey instrument. Data were collected on fifteen job variables, related to four motivation aspects: job components, satisfaction levels, need for growth/achievement and goal participation/feedback. The results were compared with those of a similar survey for the same job types in Finland. Results were also compared with the norms developed for computer personnel in the USA. The survey revealed that personnel attracted to the computer field have a high need for growth and a low need for social interaction. It also revealed that the work itself was ranked highest among eleven motivating factors. For both Spain and Finland, the technical specialist job had a mis-match between the job's motivating potential and the employee's need for growth, compared with similar personnel in the USA. By examining the core job dimensions, managers can redesign the job to produce a match between these two major components of motivation.     

Enrichment of macaroni with cellulose-derivative protein complex from whey and corn steep liquor

Macaroni was prepared from semolina fortified with 3, 6 and 9% CMC-protein (CMC — carboxymethyl cellulose) or HEC-protein (HEC — hydroxyethyl cellulose) complexes from whey and corn steep liquor to increase the protein quality and quantity. Fortification increased the protein content up to 14.2% in DM (vs. 12.1% in control) for macaroni. Water absorption, dough weakening and mixing tolerance index were decreased, while dough development time and dough stability were increased when the amount of precipitated cellulose-protein complex from whey and corn steep liquor in the blends increased. Addition of both tested cellulose-protein complexes improved cooking quality by increasing the weight and volume of cooked macaroni, but cooking losses were greater. Sensory evaluation of the colour, flavour and appearance of macaroni were improved as a result of adding cellulose-protein complex from whey. Macaroni samples prepared from dough mixtures with 6 and 9% of cellulose-protein complex from corn steep liquor were less acceptable than those prepared from 100% semolina.     

Effect of rotor profiles on the torque of a switched-reluctancemotor

The authors examine effects on the torque that simple variations of the standard rotor pole face profile could have, basically from an elementary viewpoint of how the modified profiles affect the distribution and magnitude of the radial and tangential components of the flux density. It is observed that the average torque is mostly affected by changes that alter the dominant radial component, such as changes in the effective air gap length. The other observation that an increase in the average torque can also be obtained by a favorable shift in the torque versus angle characteristics by relatively simple changes of the rotor pole profile is not so well known. Such a shift that reduces the slope of the torque angle characteristic, skewing the curve towards the unaligned position, has two advantages: one is that the phase inductance is at its maximum positive slop and, hence, the maximum torque, when the phase is energized; second, the flatter inductance profile near the aligned position when the phase current is to be commutated would allow a faster drop off of the commutated current and, thus, a smaller negative torque     

Transformations of ileo-rectal anastomosis into ileo-anal anastomosis in hemorrhagic rectocolitis. Indications and results

In order to precise the indications and results of this procedure, we assessed 11 cases of transformation of ileorectal anastomosis (IRA) to ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) in ulcerative colitis (UC). These 5 men and 6 women had undergone IRA at a mean age of 31 years, 33 months after the diagnosis of UC (range 3-120). Four of these IRA, excluded by an ileostomy, had never been in function: the cause was severe persistent proctitis in 2 cases and anastomotic leakage and peritonitis in 2 cases. The other 7 IRA had been in function during a mean period of 25 months (range 6-45) and were reoperated because of anal sepsis (1 case), low rectal stenosis (1 case), disabling proctitis (4 cases) and rectal dysplasia (1 case). No patient had specific pathologic signs of Crohn's disease. The 11 IPAA were complicated by pelvic sepsis in 3 cases; surgical drainage succeeded in 1 case, but the 2 others needed pouch excision and terminal ileostomy. The diagnosis of Crohn's disease was eventually made in these 2 patients. The 9 patients with functioning IPAA, at a mean follow-up of 40 months (range 12-60), had 5.2 stools per 24 h (range 2-12), 5 patients had no nocturnal stooling, and 6 had a perfect continence. One patient had disabling chronic pouchitis. In conclusion, proctectomy with IPAA is always feasible when a previous IRA for UC had failed or offers poor results, but should be rejected in case of anal involvement, as that may suggest Crohn's disease. This procedure is followed by similar functional results than after primary IPAA.     

Enoxaparin in the prevention of deep venous thrombosis after major surgery: multicentric study. The Italian Study Group

Four hundred forty-six patients with Tourette Syndrome (TS) and/or their parents completed a 52-item self-report survey about vocal and motor tics, and the frequency of associated co-morbid conditions of aggression, obsessions and compulsions, attentional problems, sleep disturbance, mood disturbance, anxiety, and self-mutilative behaviours which have been frequently reported in the literature on TS. Respondents also responded to an open-ended question regarding the most disabling aspects of TS. Results were analyzed within two age groups; under 18 years of age (N = 245) and 18 years of age or older (N = 177). Tics and associated conditions were the most frequently reported disabling aspect by both age groups. Subjects under age 18, however, reported significantly more frequent problems with hyperactivity, temper control, aggressive behaviours and sleepwalking than adults with TS.