Journal articles on the topic 'Utility Corporation'
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Wilks, Stephen. "The Amoral Corporation and British Utility Regulation." New Political Economy 2, no. 2 (July 1997): 279–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13563469708406301.
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Wang, De Wen, and Yang Liu. "Task Scheduling Mechanism Based on Multi-QoS Genetic Algorithm in Cloud Data Center." Advanced Materials Research 846-847 (November 2013): 1468–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.846-847.1468.
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A multi-QoS evaluation model for electric power users is defined, combined with the characteristics of data center in electric power corporation, based on the research of cloud computing platform of data center in electric power corporation and task scheduling strategies of cloud data center. And a genetic algorithm based on multi-QoS, which fitness functions are QoS utility value and completion time, is put forward. Tests in Cloudsim platform and the result shows that the genetic algorithm based on multi-QoS can satisfy the requirements of multi-QoS of electric power users and improve the operating efficiency of data center in electric power corporation.
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McManus, Ruth. "Public Utility Societies, Dublin Corporation and the Development of Dublin, 1920–1940." Irish Geography 29, no. 1 (January 1996): 27–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00750779609478661.
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GHAHRAMANI, BAHADOR. "A TELECOMMUNICATION'S LEAN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE UTILITY INDUSTRY." International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making 02, no. 04 (December 2003): 693–715. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0219622003000902.
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The system designers and developers (SD&Ds) of a leading global Fortune 500 telecommunication corporation developed a Lean Management Information System (LMIS) for a Metropolitan Utility Company (MUC) located in the United States. The MUC needed a state-of-the-art information system to provide services for its expanding customer base, which was projected to grow at a rate of approximately 2.4% annually over the next ten years. This paper compares the legacy system with the LMIS and discusses lean management principles employed to design and develop the new system.
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Chen, Zhi. "Investigating the impact of distributed energy resources on market power of strategic utility corporation." IET Energy Systems Integration 1, no. 2 (April 15, 2019): 97–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/iet-esi.2018.0029.
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LI, WEIPING. "OPTIMAL DIVIDEND POLICY AND STOCK PRICES." International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance 23, no. 04 (June 2020): 2050023. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0219024920500235.
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We model a corporation dividend as an exchange option on stochastic cash flow and capital budge. Then we solve optimal dividend policy problem completely based on the dividend model under the assumption that the cash reservoir of a corporation follows a mean reverting process from empirical evidence and economic arguments. Our optimal dividend controls depend on explicitly with the cash flow and the capital budget of the corporation, and maximizes the HARA utility performance. We specify the unique optimal dividend control for the cash flow and the capital budge. Multiplicity or absence of optimal dividend policies are given. The stock price of the corporation is studied in terms of our stochastic dividend model. We find an explicit relation among the volatility of the stock price, the volatility of the cash flow and the volatility of the capital budget. The ex-dividend stock price is positively proportional to the stochastic cash flow and the probability of the dividend delta with respect to the cash flow, and negatively proportional to the capital budget and the probability of the dividend delta with respect to the capital budget. Hence, our approach provides another passage through which countercyclical volatility of the stock price can arise from the countercyclical cash flow and capital budget directly.
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Yamamoto, Kiyoshi. "ACCOUNTING INFORMATION AND PUBLIC UTILITY REGULATION: THE CASE OF A PRIVATISED TELECOMMUNICATION CORPORATION IN JAPAN." Financial Accountability and Management 9, no. 2 (May 1993): 115–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0408.1993.tb00103.x.
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Skoglund, Annika, and Steffen Böhm. "Prefigurative Partaking: Employees’ Environmental Activism in an Energy Utility." Organization Studies 41, no. 9 (June 15, 2019): 1257–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0170840619847716.
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The separation between an ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ of organizational politics has become untenable in a rapidly changing political landscape, where people engage in environmental activism in many different domains. To understand contemporary environmental activism, we situate ourselves empirically within an energy utility, Ordalia [pseudonym], a large corporation active across Europe and heavily criticized by external activists for its carbon emitting operations. By merging Rancière’s method of equality and notion of ‘partaking’ with literature on prefiguration in social movements, we analyse everyday green actions pursued by Ordalia’s employees, which we conceptualize as ‘prefigurative partaking’. By focusing on six characterizing themes of prefigurative partaking – aspirational, individual, professional, critical, loyal and communal – we have found that employee activism is incremental, horizontal and boundaryless. We discuss these findings in relation to recent calls for more fruitful exchanges between social movement theory and organization studies, arguing that Rancière’s conceptualization of politics can help us study actions that span civil society and business. This complements and expands our understanding of environmental activism as a dispersed set of actions that can take place anywhere, and hence also at work.
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Lee, Sang Hyun, Maxim Soloviev, Yan Zhang, Valerie Roman, Gengjie Yang, Kevin Bowman, Krista Burke, et al. "LSD1 Inhibition Induces Fetal Hemoglobin Expression and Provides a Novel Therapeutic Approach to Sickle Cell Disease." Blood 128, no. 22 (December 2, 2016): 2472. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v128.22.2472.2472.
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Abstract Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by a point mutation in the human β-globin gene. Patients harboring this mutation can exhibit long-chain polymers of hemoglobin and sickle-shaped red blood cells, and suffer from severe medical manifestations including hemolysis and vaso-occlusive crises. Multiple preclinical, clinical and epidemiologic studies have shown that the levels of unmutated fetal hemoglobin (HbF encoded by the γ-globin gene) correlate with less severe disease, validating HbF induction as a therapeutic approach in SCD. Treatment with hydroxyurea (HU), the only approved therapy for SCD, results in a variable induction of HbF and significant improvement in the frequency of pain crises. However, a significant percentage of patients treated with HU fail to exhibit durable benefit, necessitating the need for alternative therapeutic agents. The human γ-globin gene is repressed in the post-natal period by epigenetic mechanisms, and therefore may lend itself to pharmacological intervention aimed at derepressing gene expression. One of the most important of these epigenetic mechanisms is catalyzed by lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), a histone demethylase that removes mono-/dimethyl marks from the lysine 4 and 9 residues of histone H3 through an FAD-directed redox process. Here, we report the characterization of selective, potent, and orally bioavailable LSD1 inhibitors from two classes - FAD-directed inhibitors that achieve inhibitory activity through formation of covalent FAD-adducts and non-FAD-directed, reversible inhibitors - and demonstrate their ability to induce γ-globin gene expression in murine and primate preclinical models. In the Towne's SCD mouse model, oral administration of LSD1 inhibitors significantly increased HbF+ cell (F cell) production. Concurrent with the increase in F cells, sickle cell numbers, reticulocyte counts, and bilirubin levels were all markedly reduced, indicating an amelioration of several pathophysiological features of SCD. FAD- and non-FAD-directed LSD1 inhibitors were more effective than HU in increasing F cells production, and the combination of HU and suboptimal doses of LSD1 inhibitors resulted in a greater induction of F cells and more pronounced reductions in reticulocyte counts and bilirubin levels. In addition to the humanized SCD model, HbF induction in response to LSD1 inhibitor treatment was evaluated in non-anemic cynomolgus monkeys. Oral administration of LSD1 inhibitors significantly induced F cells and HbF in a dose-dependent manner and over a sustained period (>50 days) following the discontinuation of treatment. The percentage of induced F cells in total RBCs was linearly correlated with the percentage of HbF protein induced by LSD1 inhibition. Taken together, these results support the potential utility of LSD1 inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach to increase HbF production. Disclosures Lee: Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Soloviev:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Zhang:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Roman:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Yang:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Bowman:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Burke:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Margulis:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. O'Connor:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Yang:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Wu:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Wynn:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Burn:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Shuey:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: stock. Diamond:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Yao:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Hollis:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Yeleswaram:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stocks. Roberts:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Huber:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Scherle:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock. Ruggeri:Incyte Corporation: Employment, Other: Stock.
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Huo, Yan. "Supply Chain Network Equilibrium Model Based on Corporate Social Responsibility with Multicriteria under the Revenue-Sharing Contract." Advanced Materials Research 452-453 (January 2012): 282–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.452-453.282.
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This paper developed a three-level supply chain network equilibrium model with multi products and multicriteria based on corporate social responsibility through integrating the maximization of economic benefits, the maximization of social utility and the minimization of environment pollution under revenue-sharing contract. We analysed competitive behaviour of manufactures and retailers in a no cooperative competitive and described the multicriteria decision-making behaviour using Nash equilibrium theory and the weighted value function. Using product utility functions of brand differentiation and consumer preferences from product price, transaction cost and corporation social responsibility to analyse product choice in a market, and we developed the optimization conditions of each tier and whole network by variational inequality method. At last we illustrated the model with several numerical examples.
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Thanisch, M. R., D. M. Rankin, P. J. Read, and H. Whaley. "The Performance of Fabric Filters in a Pilot Baghouse During Coal Water Fuel Combustion Trials." Journal of Energy Resources Technology 109, no. 4 (December 1, 1987): 168–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.3231343.
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Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada, together with the New Brunswick Electric Power Commission (N.B. Power) and Cape Breton Development Corporation have undertaken a program in eastern Canada to demonstrate coal-water fuel (C.W.F.) technology for electric utility boilers. The successful results of the C.W.F. demonstration in N.B. Power’s Chatham Generating Station led to a continuation of the program in a 20-MWe compact oil-designed utility boiler in Charlottetown, P.E.I. during the latter part of 1986 and early 1987. Based upon the results of the Charlottetown demonstration an evaluation of C.W.F. for a larger utility boiler (in the 90–150-MWe range) is planned. An essential feature of the Charlottetown demonstration, and any subsequent use of C.W.F., is the containment of the particulate emissions which arise from use of coal in the boiler. This paper describes tests which were undertaken at Chatham, using a pilot-scale baghouse, in order to be able to specify equipment, materials and operating procedures for the Charlottetown C.W.F. demonstration.
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Mugisha, Silver, Sanford V. Berg, and William T. Muhairwe. "Using internal incentive contracts to improve water utility performance: the case of Uganda's NWSC." Water Policy 9, no. 3 (June 1, 2007): 271–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2007.010.
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The achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 requires significant managerial innovation and creativity, especially in low-income countries where utility inefficiencies are still most prevalent. This paper describes approaches that have been used in Uganda's National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). We outline the potential for internal incentive contracts in delivering efficiency gains under public–public water management settings. No simple recipe for promoting efficiency exists. However, this paper highlights useful ingredients, including proper contract framework design, competition for managerial responsibility, effective business planning, performance monitoring and the use of managerial incentives. We conclude that these factors require careful consideration during the planning and implementation of incentive contracts.
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Rundin, John. "Gods and Corporations: Fifth-Century B. C. E. Athena and the Economic Utility of Extraordinary Agents." Method & Theory in the Study of Religion 19, no. 3-4 (2007): 323–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157006807x244943.
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AbstractGregory D. Alles has suggested that economic theory can be a valuable supplement to cognitive theories of religion. The cult of Athena at Athens supplies evidence to support this suggestion. Athena may have origins in the cognitive structures of the human mind as an extraordinary agent. However, she developed economic functions in fifth-century B. C. E. Athens. The sanctuary of Athena served as a bank that funded Athenian civic endeavours. Athena's sanctuary was able to do this because she was a disembodied agent with functions similar to those of a modern United States corporation, which is also a disembodied agent.
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di Robilant, Manfredo. "The Aestheticization of Mechanical Systems:." Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 77, no. 2 (June 1, 2018): 186–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/jsah.2018.77.2.186.
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Mechanical systems were crucial considerations in the planning of the new headquarters of the Montecatini corporation, the largest Italian chemical manufacturer of the Fascist era. Designed by Gio Ponti, founder of the journal Domus, the Montecatini Building occupied a central site in Milan. In The Aestheticization of Mechanical Systems: Gio Ponti's Montecatini Headquarters, Milan, 1936–39, Manfredo di Robilant describes how Ponti, seeking to assert his role as architect in the face of the overwhelming requirements of HVAC, electrical, telephone, pneumatic mail, and other systems, aestheticized those systems, treating them not simply as modern tools for human comfort but also as elements of architecture. The story of the Montecatini Building is emblematic of the struggle over how to treat systems in modern architecture and the never-ending conflict between utility and symbol in architectural design. Di Robilant analyzes original drawings and correspondence as well as the 1938 presentation volume for the building issued by the Montecatini corporation.
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Wong, John, Stephanie Anne Co, Joy Bagas, Ma Sophia Graciela Reyes, Hadrian Lim, and Nel Jason Haw. "PP137 Colorectal Cancer Screening In The Philippines: Cost-Utility Analysis." International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care 34, S1 (2018): 120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266462318002714.
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Introduction:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the Philippines. In 2014, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) created a CRC treatment package. The study aimed to determine the cost-utility and budget impact of CRC screening strategies.Methods:A discrete-event microsimulation model was used to simulate four screening modalities: (i) guaiac-fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) followed by colonoscopy every 10 years; (ii) fecal immunochemical test (FIT) followed by colonoscopy every 10 years; (iii) FIT followed by flexible sigmoidoscopy; and (iv) colonoscopy screening every 10 years. These interventions were all compared to no screening. Parameter values were taken from a rapid review of the medical literature and primary data collection from a nationally representative sample of tertiary hospitals.Results:All screening modalities were very cost effective considering that the incremental cost-effective ratios (ICERs) were lower than the gross domestic product per capita threshold suggested by the World Health Organization. Sensitivity analysis showed that the ICERs of all screening modalities evaluated remained below this threshold. The strategy of using FIT followed by colonoscopy every 10 years had an ICER of USD 6,025, with an annual budget impact of USD 6.5 million, assuming low compliance. With moderate compliance this could increase to USD 18.7 million annually.Conclusions:PhilHealth may introduce a benefit package for outpatient screening of colorectal cancer using the screening modality of annual FIT followed by colonoscopy every 10 years.
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Mugisha, Silver. "Performance assessment and monitoring of water infrastructure: an empirical case study of benchmarking in Uganda." Water Policy 9, no. 5 (October 1, 2007): 475–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2007.022.
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Performance monitoring and benchmarking are increasingly becoming vital performance drivers especially in utilities where strong tariff incentive applications are not readily applicable. In this paper, performance improvement initiatives in the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Uganda are presented, incorporating practical benchmarking and performance monitoring approaches. A detailed empirical study of the influence of commercial/customer orientation on technical efficiency is outlined using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) benchmarking techniques. After a long spell of heavy engineering orientation in a water utility, a shift to significant commercial/customer orientation is positively associated with a reduction in technical inefficiency.
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Tsitsin, K. G. "ENERGY-SAVING TECHNOLOGIES – FUTURE OF HOUSING CONSTRUCTION." Strategic decisions and risk management, no. 2 (October 25, 2014): 50–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.17747/2078-8886-2013-2-50-51.
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The article covers development of energy performance and energy saving in Russia, relevant issues of development of energy-saving construction, as well as pilot projects of construction of energy-saving (“smart”) houses implemented with participation of State Corporation — Housing and Utility Reform Foundation. A separate emphasis is made on perspectives of development of “green” (environmentally friendly) construction, the main task of which is reduction of total influence of constriction site on environment and human health, what is reached on account of efficient consumption of energy, water and other resources, as well as reduction of waste and emissions.
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Mugisha, Silver. "Technical inefficiency effects in a stochastic production function for managerial incentives in public water utilities." Water Supply 14, no. 1 (September 13, 2013): 61–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2013.168.
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Performance of state-owned water utilities in developing countries is often weak. This study estimates the impact of managerial incentives upon efficiency using a stochastic frontier production function with revenue water as the output. The empirical analysis utilises unbalanced panelled data consisting of revenue water, connections, operating expenditure, water delivered and staff, from Uganda's 19 National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) sub-utilities for a 9-year period, 2002–2010. The inefficiency effects are modelled as a function of utility-specific variables: service coverage, level of financial incentives, target difficulty, and year of observation. While financial incentives and increased service coverage improve efficiency, targets (such as the reduction of non-revenue water) that are perceived as excessive by employees may reduce it. The findings suggest some policy implications: utility managers in the public water sector need to incorporate monetary incentives and increase service coverage to reduce non-revenue water. However, targets need to be set with great care and with transparency.
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Ndokosho, Johnson, Zvikomborero Hoko, and Hodson Makurira. "Assessment of management approaches in a public water utility: A case study of the Namibia water corporation (NAMWATER)." Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 32, no. 15-18 (January 2007): 1300–1309. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2007.07.039.
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Chen, Yidan, and Lanying Sun. "Trust strategy simulation of corporation–NPO cross alliance using evolutionary game theory." Kybernetes 46, no. 3 (March 6, 2017): 450–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/k-03-2016-0034.
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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dynamics and evolution of trust in organizational cross alliances. Design/methodology/approach In alliances between corporations and nonprofit organizations, trust in decision-making is a dynamic process. Using the replicated dynamics model of evolutionary game theory, this paper provides a trust decision model and analyzes four scenarios under different parameters. A numerical simulation is developed to present an intuitive interpretation of the dynamic development of trust decisions and the effects of incentive and punishment mechanisms. Findings Under different parameters, bounded rationality and utilities result in different but stable evolutionary strategies; the initial probability of adopting a trust strategy leads directly to whether participants adopt the strategy when the system reaches stability after continued games; and incentive and punishment mechanisms can significantly reduce the initial probability of adopting a trust strategy where the system evolves to meet stable state needs. Practical implications The establishment of trust relationships is an important influence on the stable and coordinated development of an alliance. The proposed model can help the alliance build closer trust relationships and provide a theoretical basis for the design of the trust mechanism. Originality/value Incentive and punishment bound by some degree of trust are introduced to address the problems of trust decisions and their dynamics; the model created reflects the bounded rationality and utility of each game stage. Useful evolutionary stable strategies using different variables are proposed to address the decision-making problems of trust in cross alliances.
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Machlev, Ram, Zohar Batushansky, Sachin Soni, Vladimir Chadliev, Juri Belikov, and Yoash Levron. "Verification of Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Plant Models for Dynamic Studies of Transmission Networks." Energies 13, no. 12 (June 19, 2020): 3191. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/en13123191.
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In recent years, there has been a growing need for accurate models that describe the dynamics of renewable energy sources, especially photovoltaic sources and wind turbines. In light of this gap, this work focuses on the validation of standard dynamic models developed by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), using actual measurements from the Western Texas and Southern California transmission networks. The tests are based on the North American Electric Reliability Corporation compliance standards and include dynamic stability tests for volt-varcontrol and primary frequency response. Through an extensive set of field tests, we show that the WECC generic models can be used to simulate real dynamic phenomena in large-scale solar photovoltaic power plants, and we propose guidelines for correct usage of these models. The results show that the WECC models are especially accurate when the photovoltaic system is connected with a low impedance to the main network. We also show that the tested WECC models successfully predict the frequency response of an actual grid event that occurred in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and which resulted in a loss of nearly 1.365 GW. This result supports the use of these models in the study of large-scale dynamic phenomena that include renewable energy sources.
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Haddadin, Zaid, Danielle A. Rankin, Ahmad Yanis, Yanal Shawareb, Olla Hamdan, Malek Saada, Sara Hilal, Ahmad Alhajajra, Basima Marar, and Najwa Khuri-Bulos. "772. Respiratory Syncytial Virus Acute Respiratory Infections in Young Children in Jordan: A Prospective Surveillance Study." Open Forum Infectious Diseases 7, Supplement_1 (October 1, 2020): S430—S431. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.962.
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Abstract Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute respiratory infections (ARI) hospitalizations in young children and is associated with increased severity compared to other viruses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utilization of a rapid RSV diagnostic test and clinical characteristics and disease severity of children who were hospitalized during one respiratory season in Amman, Jordan. Methods Children less than two years hospitalized with fever and/or respiratory symptoms were recruited at Al-Bashir Government Hospital from January 8, 2020, to March 17, 2020. Nasal swabs were collected and tested by Sofia-2 RSV Fluorescent Immunoassay. Demographic information and clinical history were obtained through parental interviews. A validated severity score was used to assess disease severity, and the treating physician prospectively collected the necessary information to calculate the score at admission. Disease severity was categorized based on the total score into 0-5 mild, 6-9 moderate, and ≥ 10 severe. Molecular testing and medical chart reviews are still in process. Results A total of 532 subjects were enrolled, and nasal swabs were collected and tested from 458 (86%) of enrollees. The most common admission diagnoses were pneumonia (25%), bronchopneumonia (21%), bronchiolitis (19%) and sepsis (17%). Demographic and clinical characteristics are included in Table 1. Overall, 276 (60%) subjects were RSV-positive. The most common admission diagnoses were pneumonia (33%), sepsis (25%), bronchiolitis (24%) and bronchopneumonia (24%). Compared to RSV-negative children, RSV-positive children were younger (Table 1), and more likely to present with cough, nasal congestion, and appetite loss (Figure 1). There were no differences in severity score or direct intensive care unit admission between the two groups (Table 1). Figure 1. Symptom Distribution in RSV-Positive and RSV-Negative Subjects Conclusion Nearly 2/3 of children enrolled were RSV-positive via rapid diagnostic testing. The majority of RSV-ARI admissions were classified as mild. Further analysis of other clinical parameters, including oxygen use, intravenous fluids administration and length of stay, and molecular testing are needed to support these findings and further evaluate the utility of rapid diagnostic testing. Disclosures Zaid Haddadin, MD, CDC (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)sanofi pasteur (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Danielle A. Rankin, MPH, CIC, Sanofi Pasteur (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Ahmad Yanis, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support) Yanal Shawareb, MD, Quidel (Grant/Research Support)Quidel (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support, Sanofi) Olla Hamdan, BS, Quidel (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Malek Saada, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Sara Hilal, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Ahmad Alhajajra, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Basima Marar, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support) Najwa Khuri-Bulos, MD, Quidel Corporation (Grant/Research Support, Research Grant or Support)
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Church, Kimberly S., Pamela J. Schmidt, and Georgia Smedley. "Casey's Collections: A Strategic Decision-Making Case Using the Systems Development Lifecycle—Planning and Analysis Phases." Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting 13, no. 2 (April 1, 2016): 231–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.2308/jeta-51472.
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ABSTRACT The Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model, developed in the 1980s, remains the foundational model for strategic decision making regarding the development or acquisition of new information systems (IS). The SDLC model proposes five system development phases—planning, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance—using a waterfall theory. These early phases of the SDLC require strategic decisions to be made regarding information systems. Strategic decision making is a model of multi-attribute utility theory, which helps promote decisions that maximize utility among multiple alternatives. This case provides students with experience in making reasoned strategic IT decisions by executing the planning and analysis phases in a new system acquisition life cycle. This educational case is structured to be the first of several cases covering the SDLC involving the same small fictitious public corporation, Casey's Collections. Upon completion of the case, students should have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the process of IS strategic decision making. In addition, students should better understand how to identify an information system's needs and prepare system proposals based on the generation and analysis of alternative solutions. This case is suitable for students in an introductory or graduate accounting systems course; it is also appropriate for use in a IS course on systems analysis and design.
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McGrath, Jenna. "Will Updated Electricity Infrastructure Security Protect the Grid? A Case Study Modeling Electrical Substation Attacks." Infrastructures 3, no. 4 (November 20, 2018): 53. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures3040053.
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As targeted attacks continue to threaten electricity infrastructure, the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) and private utilities companies are revising and updating the physical and cybersecurity standards for grid infrastructure in the United States (U.S.). Using information collected about past physical attacks, feasible physical and cyber-physical attacks are modeled against the proposed updated security standards for a U.S.-based generic electric substation. Utilizing the software program Joint Conflict and Tactical Simulation (JCATS), a series of increasingly sophisticated physical attacks are simulated on the substation, as are a set of cyber-enabled physical attacks. The purpose of this study is to determine which of the security upgrades will be most effective at mitigating damages to the electrical infrastructure from an attack. The findings indicate that some of the utility and agency-proposed security measures are more effective than others. Specifically, additional barriers around the substation and physical armored protection of transformers are most effective at mitigating damages from attacks. In contrast, increased lighting at the substation and reducing the surrounding foliage are not as effective. This case study demonstrates a modeling analysis approach to testing the efficacy of physical security measures that can assist in utility and agency decision-making for critical infrastructure security.
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Pickard, A. Simon, Jasmina I. Ivanova, Lynn Huynh, Todor Totev, Sophia Graham, Axel C. Mühlbacher, Anuja Roy, and Mei Sheng Duh. "Value of Transfusion Independence in Severe Aplastic Anemia from Patients' Perspectives - a Discrete Choice Experiment." Blood 128, no. 22 (December 2, 2016): 5077. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v128.22.5077.5077.
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Abstract Background: Aplastic anemia is a rare, serious blood disorder due to bone marrow failure to produce blood cells. Blood transfusions are commonly used to control bleeding and relieve anemia symptoms. In severe patients, transfusions may be required more than once per week. Discrete choice experiments (DCE) can help to understand the trade-offs patients are willing to make to become less reliant on blood transfusion and symptoms associated with the condition and its treatment. Objective: To elicit patient preferences for attributes associated with treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA), including transfusion independence. Methods: An online DCE survey was conducted with adults diagnosed with SAA who had insufficient response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and experienced transfusion dependence for ≥3 months in the past 2 years. Patients were recruited though announcements in the newsletter of the Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation and referrals from clinical sites in the U.S. and France. The survey collected information on patient characteristics, treatment, and their views on the impact of achieving transfusion independence on their life. The DCE component asked patients to choose between pairs of hypothetical treatments characterized by a common set of attributes. The attributes were selected based on focus groups conducted with patients and providers: frequency of transfusions (0, 4, and 8 per month), fatigue which interferes with daily activities like work and school (none, moderate, severe), risk of infection (low [ANC>1,000cells/mm3], moderate [500-1,000], high [<500]), and risk of serious bleeding (low [platelet count>50,000], moderate [10,000-50,000], high [<10,000]). A conditional logit model with effects coding was used to estimate part-worth utilities for different attribute levels and assess the relative importance of each attribute. Utility scores associated with different levels of transfusion frequency were also estimated. Results: 30 patients meeting study criteria completed the survey. Most patients were age ≥40 years (73%), female (70%), and from the U.S. (87%). 50% of patients were diagnosed with SAA within 2 years before the survey; 33% had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant; and 37% had received iron chelation therapy. When asked about improvement in quality of life with a new therapy, patients most often noted the following as important: less frequent transfusions, less fatigue, and better emotional well-being (each endorsed by 97% of patients). Patients most often agreed that achieving transfusion independence would result in less burden in terms of time and costs, greater quality of life and life enjoyment, less fatigue, and greater control despite their health condition (each noted by 87% of patients) as well as less need to arrange life around medical appointments (83%). Based on the findings from the DCE, risk of bleeding was the most important factor in patient treatment preferences (0.30 relative importance), followed by risk of infection (0.28), fatigue (0.23), and frequency of transfusions (0.20), based on the range of tested attributed levels. Having more transfusions was associated with lower utility, in particular for increase in frequency of transfusions from 4 to 8 per month (Fig. 1). The mean utility scores estimated by only varying the frequency of transfusion were 0.58 with 0 transfusions per month, 0.57 with 4 transfusions per month, and 0.35 with 8 transfusions per month (Fig. 2). Conclusion: Among patients with SAA with insufficient response to IST, the estimated utility was higher with fewer transfusions. While attributes such as risk of bleeding, risk of infection, and fatigue were more important for patient treatment preferences, frequency of transfusions was also important for treatment preferences. Over 80% of patients agreed that achieving transfusion independence would result in less burden on time, less need to arrange life around medical appointments, improved quality of life, less fatigue, and feeling in control despite their health condition. Figure 1 Preference Estimates for Attribute Levels (Conditional Logit Model),1 N=30 Figure 1. Preference Estimates for Attribute Levels (Conditional Logit Model),1 N=30 Figure 2 Predicted Utility with Different Frequency of Transfusions Figure 2. Predicted Utility with Different Frequency of Transfusions Disclosures Pickard: Analysis Group, Novartis: Consultancy. Ivanova:Novartis: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding. Huynh:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, GSK: Research Funding. Totev:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, AbbVie Inc., Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals LLC, Biogen Idec Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Research Funding. Graham:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Research Funding. Mühlbacher:Analysis Group, Novartis: Consultancy. Roy:Novartis: Employment. Duh:Abbvie: Consultancy; Allergan: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Medtronic: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding.
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Rajan, A. Thillai. "Reforms, Restructuring, and Infrastructure Sector: A Study of Initiatives in Orissa Power Sector." Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers 25, no. 4 (October 2000): 11–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0256090920000403.
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In 1994, the Government of Orissa initiated power sector reforms and restructuring. The reform programme resulted in vertical unbundling of the state-owned integrated electric utility, corporatization of the resultant entities, and constitution of an autonomous regulatory commission for power sector regulation in the state. One of the key features of the reform programme was the privatization of distribution activity. To make the process successful and obtain more revenues, there was a need for the distribution entities to change the existing culture and approach to management. The Government of Orissa undertook a process of organizational strengthening to develop appropriate organizational structure, systems, and business processes suitable to the new environment. This study describes the various strengthening measures implemented by Grid Corporation of Orissa to make it commercially viable and function effectively in the new environment following power sector reform.
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Lavee, Doron, and Sefi Bahar. "Examining the economies of scale of water and sewage utilities in the urban sector: the case of Israel." Water Policy 19, no. 2 (December 27, 2016): 257–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2016.095.
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This study applies econometric tools to examine the economies of scale of the water and sewage utilities corporation (utilities) in the urban sector in Israel, and to find whether reducing the number of utilities will maximize efficiency in the urban water sector. Using an econometric analysis of an elasticity Translog cost function, which allows the estimation of returns to scale, the authors examined the optimal size for water and sewage utilities in Israel, based on panel data of 51 utilities. According to the study's results, there is a distinct advantage of economies of scale in Israel's water utilities, and the current distribution of the urban water sector in Israel is characterized by inefficiency and high cost. The results indicate that reducing the number of utilities will achieve an increase in water quantities by utility, and the costs of water production will decline due to economies of scale.
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Li, Nanxin, Chelsey Yang, Liangyi Fan, Todor Totev, Annie Guerin, and Lei Chen. "Nilotinib Vs Dasatinib As Second-Line Therapy in Patients with Philadelphia-Positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (Ph+ CML-CP) Who Are Resistant or Intolerant to Imatinib: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) Based on Real-World Data." Blood 126, no. 23 (December 3, 2015): 2090. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v126.23.2090.2090.
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Abstract Background: Nilotinib and dasatinib are common second-line therapy for patients with Ph+ CML-CP who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Since their approval, several CEAs comparing second-line nilotinib vs dasatinib have been published (Rogers et al., Health Technol Assess 2012; 16(22); Loveman et al., Health Technol Assess 2012; 16(23)). However, these models were developed in the absence of any comparative effectiveness evidence between the two drugs. Another major limitation of these models as recognized by a leading health technology assessment (HTA) agency was the use of surrogate markers to impute survival endpoints (e.g., progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]). As direct comparative evidence of the two drugs based on real-world data become available, this study was conducted to address these limitations and re-evaluate the cost-effectiveness of second-line nilotinib vs dasatinib for Ph+ CML-CP using real-world comparative PFS and OS data from a third-party payer perspective in the U.S. Methods: A lifetime partitioned survival model was developed to compare healthcare costs, life years (LYs) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with second-line therapy with nilotinib vs dasatinib in patients with Ph+ CML-CP who were resistant or intolerant to first-line imatinib. The model included four health states: CP on second-line treatment (CP on treatment), CP post-discontinuation of second-line treatment (CP post-discontinuation), accelerated phase or blast crisis (progressive disease), and death. Patients can only transition into a subsequent health state but not in the other direction; patients in the first three health states can all transition to death. Time on treatment (TOT), PFS, and OS for second-line nilotinib and dasatinib were estimated using data from a real-world comparative effectiveness study (Griffin et al., Curr Med Res Opin 2013; 29(6):623-31). Parametric survival models were used to extrapolate outcomes beyond the study period. Drug treatment costs, medical costs, and adverse event (AE) costs were obtained from literature and publicly available databases. Utilities for health states were derived from literature. Costs, LYs, and QALYs were discounted at 3% per annum. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), including incremental cost per LY gained and incremental cost per QALY gained, were estimated comparing nilotinib vs dasatinib. Deterministic sensitivity analyses (DSAs) were performed by varying starting age, sex-ratio, adherence level of second-line therapies, drug treatment costs for post-second-line states, medical costs for all health states, AE costs, and utility for CP post-discontinuation. Results: Over life time, initiating second-line treatment with nilotinib was associated with 11.69 LYs, 9.13 QALYs, and total costs of $1,406,265; initiating second-line with dasatinib was associated with 9.51 LYs, 7.30 QALYs, and total costs of $1,418,235. Second-line nilotinib was associated with better health outcomes (difference in LY = 2.18 years, difference in QALY = 1.84 years) and lower costs (difference in total cost = $11,970) relative to dasatinib. DSA results similarly showed better outcomes and lower costs for nilotinib vs dasatinib based on variations of sex-ratio, progressive disease treatment costs, medical costs for all health states, AE costs, and utility for CP post-discontinuation; DSA results also showed better outcomes but higher costs for nilotinib vs dasatinib based on variations of starting age, adherence to second-line therapies, and CP post-discontinuation treatment cost with ICERs of $10,738/QALY, $2,648/QALY, and $2,318/QALY, respectively.Table 1.Base Case ResultsNilotinibDasatinibNilotinib vs DasatinibCosts (2015 USD)Treatment costs$1,235,535$1,253,081-$17,546Medical costs$162,326$156,762$5,564AE costs$8,404$8,392$11Total costs$1,406,265$1,418,235-$11,970EffectivenessTotal LYs11.699.512.18Total QALYs9.137.301.84ICERIncremental cost per LY gainedBetter LY with lower costsIncremental cost per QALY gainedBetter QALY with lower costs Conclusions: The CEA based on real-world comparative evidence suggests that second-line nilotinib is associated with better life expectancy, quality of life, and lower cost when compared with dasatinib, among patients with Ph+ CML-CP who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Disclosures Li: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Other: Nanxin Li is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma US Inc., Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Celgene Corporation, Forest Laboratories Inc., Sanofi: Consultancy, Other: Nanxin Li is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations. Yang:Astellas Pharma US, Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Astellas Pharma US, Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Forest Laboratories, Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Forest Laboratories, Inc.; Sanofi: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Sanofi; AbbVie Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Abbvie Inc.; Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc.; GE Healthcare: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from GE Healthcare; Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Other: Chelsey Yang is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Fan:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Other: Liangyi Fan is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; AbbVie Inc, Astellas Pharma US Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Ethicon Inc, Forest Labs Inc, GE Healthcare, Genentech Inc, MedImmune LLC, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc, Sanofi, Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc, Takeda Pharmaceuticals Inc, Teva Specialty Brands: Consultancy, Other: Liangyi Fan is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations. Totev:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Other: Todor Totev is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; AbbVie Inc., Astellas Pharma US Inc., Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals LLC, Biogen Idec Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cleveland HeartLab Inc., Eli Lilly & Company, Forest Laboratories Inc., Gilead Sciences Inc., GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Other: Todor Totev is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations; Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Sanofi, Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc, UCB Inc, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc: Consultancy, Other: Todor Totev is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations. Guerin:Pfizer Canada, Inc.,RX&D, Sanofi, Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Shire Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.,Takeda Global Research & Development Center, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.: Consultancy, Other: Annie Guerin is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations; GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen Scientific Affairs, Janssen-Ortho, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Merck Frosst Canada, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk Inc., Ogilvy Renault, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.,: Consultancy, Other: Annie Guerin is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations; AbbVie Inc., Alcon Laboratories, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Celgene Corporation, Cempra Inc., Centocor Ortho Biotech, Cooley LLP, Cyberonics, Inc., DLA Piper, Eli Lilly & Company, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Genentech, Inc.,: Consultancy, Other: Annie Guerin is an employee of Analysis Group Inc, which has received consultancy fees from the listed organizations. Chen:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Lei Chen is an employee of and owns stocks/options of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the sponsor of this study.
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Burbach, Ralf, and Tony Royle. "Talent on demand?" Personnel Review 39, no. 4 (June 8, 2010): 414–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00483481011045399.
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PurposeAs the interest in talent management (TM) gathers momentum, this paper aims to unravel how talent is managed in multinational corporations, what factors mediate the talent management process and what computerised systems may contribute to the management of talent.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a single case study but multiple units of analysis approach to elucidate the factors pertaining to the transmission and use of talent management practices across the German and Irish subsidiaries of a US multinational corporation. Primary data for this study derive from a series of in‐depth interviews with key decision makers, which include managers at various levels in Germany, Ireland and The Netherlands.FindingsThe findings suggest that the diffusion of, and success of, talent management practices is contingent on a combination of factors, including stakeholder involvement and top level support, micro‐political exchanges, and the integration of talent management with a global human resource information system. Furthermore, the discussion illuminates the utility and limitations of Cappelli's “talent on demand” framework.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation of this research is the adoption of a single case study method. As a result, the findings may not be applicable to a wider population of organisations and subsidiaries. Additional research will be required to substantiate the relevance of these findings in the context of other subsidiaries of the same and other corporations.Practical implicationsThis paper accentuates a number of practical implications. Inter alia, it highlights the complex nature of institutional factors affecting the talent management process and the potential efficacy of a human resource information system in managing talent globally.Originality/valueThe paper extends the body of knowledge on the transfer of talent management practices in the subsidiaries of multinational corporations. The discussion presented herein may engender further academic debate on the talent management process in the academic and practitioner communities. The link between talent management and the use of human resource information systems established by this research may be of particular interest to human resource practitioners.
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Evenden, A. R. "Sea water reverse osmosis - energy efficiency & recovery." Water Practice and Technology 10, no. 1 (March 1, 2015): 187–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2015.023.
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The Adelaide desalination plant, located in South Australia, was designed and built by the AdelaideAqua construction consortium for the South Australian Water Corporation (SA Water), a wholly owned public utility. Construction commenced in 2009 at a green field site (Port Stanvac) south of Adelaide, with drinking water production from October 2011 and full production capability and handover to the plant operator on 12 December 2012. The facility uses 100% renewable energy and provides the people of South Australia with one of the most energy efficient sea water desalination plants in the World. This paper examines the performance of the Adelaide desalination plant in terms of energy efficiency. Specific energy saving technologies and innovations are described, including assessment of design and actual performance. The Adelaide desalination plant has achieved 8% lower energy consumption compared to the project's initial design requirements and the specific energy consumption of 3.48 kWh/m3 compares well with industry benchmark efficiencies.
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Washburn, Paul Jordan. "Organic Business Modeling and the Organism-Ecosystem Unit Duality." International Journal of Patient-Centered Healthcare 9, no. 2 (July 2019): 21–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/ijpch.20190701.oa1.
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The health of a corporation relies most heavily upon healthy human beings' value-based productivity for optimal growth and evolution. A duality between personhoods and their respective systems' weighted impacts are in question, as the U.S. Healthcare industries weighted impact affects all other U.S.-GDP subsectors. The author performed an analysis of 21 main U.S.-GDP subsectors based on unclassified 1960-2014 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports. The author derived a [Consumption:Value] ratio-based equation, demonstrating results in [0.0,2.0] and U.S. dollar scales. The U.S.-GDP-Healthcare subsector increased its average annual consumption by $122,232,000,000 and was part of the U.S.-GDP's 71.4% demonstrating a reduced value ratio between 1960-1969 and 2005-2014. The author describe a weighted duality of personhoods classification, a potential ripple effect violation, and presents a new description of a pathologic, malignant organic business model due to a negatively balanced [Consumption:Value] alteration. These findings highlight reduced marginal utility and value of the U.S.-Healthcare subsector.
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Papic, Milorad, Svetlana Ekisheva, and Eduardo Cotilla-Sanchez. "A Risk-Based Approach to Assess the Operational Resilience of Transmission Grids." Applied Sciences 10, no. 14 (July 10, 2020): 4761. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/app10144761.
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Modern risk analysis studies of the power system increasingly rely on big datasets, either synthesized, simulated, or real utility data. Particularly in the transmission system, outage events have a strong influence on the reliability, resilience, and security of the overall energy delivery infrastructure. In this paper we analyze historical outage data for transmission system components and discuss the implications of nearby overlapping outages with respect to resilience of the power system. We carry out a risk-based assessment using North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) Transmission Availability Data System (TADS) for the North American bulk power system (BPS). We found that the quantification of nearby unscheduled outage clusters would improve the response times for operators to readjust the system and provide better resilience still under the standard definition of N-1 security. Finally, we propose future steps to investigate the relationship between clusters of outages and their electrical proximity, in order to improve operator actions in the operation horizon.
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Efird, Brian, Leo Lester, and Ben Wise. "ANALYZING COALITIONS IN CHINA'S POLICY FORMULATION: REFORMING THE ROLE OF STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES IN CHINA'S ENERGY SECTOR." Journal of East Asian Studies 16, no. 1 (March 2016): 117–45. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jea.2015.4.
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AbstractWe focus on the elite decision-making process in China, analyzing the formation of coalitions around particular policy options. We apply a framework that simulates collective decision-making processes (CDMP): the KAPSARC Toolkit for Behavioral Analysis (KTAB). KTAB facilitates the application of a Spatial Model of Politics, an open source model similar to Bueno de Mesquita's (1997) Expected Utility Model and the Senturion model (Abdollahian, et al 2006). KTAB provides a framework to understand logical consequences of subjective data inputs, enabling contrasting scenarios to be analyzed. We examine the interactions of actors' interests that drive China to reform its energy sector policies, in particular the structure of the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). In the case of private companies' entry into energy markets in China, we find that little reform is likely. The inertia of key actors holds back the potential for a significant opening of the energy sector. Despite the erosion of CNPC's political clout, there is little consensus for major reform to China's market position.
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Yang, Yuan. "Development of Quality Inspection System for Insulation Monitoring Device of Metal-Oxide Surge Arrester." Applied Mechanics and Materials 373-375 (August 2013): 848–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.373-375.848.
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Metal-oxide surge arrester (MOA) is one of the important equipment in electrical utility company, its security and stability is critical to the safe operation of electrical equipment, and the insulation monitoring device is vital for getting the running status of metal-oxide surge arrester. Technical parameters requirements of this kind of device is discusses in this paper , and furthermore, relying on the condition monitoring technology laboratory for transmission and transformation equipment of the State Grid Corporation of China, a complete set of quality evaluation system is established, of which the following functions were realized, the total current and resistive current measurement error test, communication function test, environmental adaptability test, insulation performance test, electromagnetic compatibility performance test, mechanical performance test, enclosure protection performance test etc. With the system, a powerful technical support can be provided for the quality evaluation of the device, as well as the safe and reliable operation of the arrester.
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Zandniapour, Lily, and Nicole M. Deterding. "Lessons From the Social Innovation Fund." American Journal of Evaluation 39, no. 1 (October 30, 2017): 27–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1098214017734305.
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Tiered evidence initiatives are an important federal strategy to incentivize and accelerate the use of rigorous evidence in planning, implementing, and assessing social service investments. The Social Innovation Fund (SIF), a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, adopted a public–private partnership approach to tiered evidence. What was learned from implementing this ambitious program? How can large funding initiatives promote evaluation capacity in smaller organizations and evidence building in a sector broadly, increasing knowledge about how to address important social problems? And what can evaluators and evaluation technical assistance providers not working within a tiered evidence framework learn from the SIF? We provide an overview of the SIF model and describe how the fund operationalized “evidence building.” Materials developed to support SIF grantees represent practical, best practice strategies for successfully completing rigorous, relevant evaluations. Key lessons from overseeing over 130 evaluations—and their utility for other local evaluators—are discussed.
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Mesa, Ruben A., Nicolaas Schaap, Alessandro M. Vannucchi, Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, Francesco Passamonti, Sonja Zweegman, Moshe Talpaz, et al. "Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Patients with Myelofibrosis Treated with Fedratinib, an Oral, Selective Inhibitor of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2), in the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III JAKARTA Study." Blood 134, Supplement_1 (November 13, 2019): 704. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2019-129020.
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Introduction: Patients (pts) with myelofibrosis (MF) experience a broad array of symptoms that negatively affect HRQoL. Fedratinib (FEDR) is an oral, selective inhibitor of JAK2 that was investigated in the randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled, phase III JAKARTA study in adult pts with intermediate- or high-risk primary or secondary MF and no prior ruxolitinib exposure. Here we report the effect of FEDR 400 mg (starting dose) vs. PBO on pt-reported MF-associated symptoms and HRQoL in the JAKARTA study. Methods: Pt-reported symptoms were assessed daily during the week before day 1 of each cycle and at the end of cycle 6 (EOC6) using the modified Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form (MFSAF), which comprises 6 key MF symptoms (night sweats, early satiety, pruritus, pain under ribs on the left side, abdominal discomfort, bone/muscle pain), each scored from 0 (absent) to 10 (worst imaginable). Total symptom score (TSS), ranging from 0-60, was estimated by averaging daily TSS (sum of the individual symptom scores) during the week of each scheduled assessment. HRQoL was assessed at cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1) and EOC6 using the EuroQoL-5D 3-level (EQ-5D-3L), a generic, self-administered questionnaire with 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, pain, usual activities, anxiety/depression). Health utility scores were derived using UK population preferences, with a range from -0.594 to 1.0. A higher EQ-5D-3L utility score represents a better health state. All pts randomized to FEDR 400 mg/day or PBO with an evaluable assessment at BL (defined as available daily TSS on the MFSAF for ≥5 of 7 days in the week before C1D1; and non-missing values on the EQ-5D-3L at C1D1) were included in analyses. Cross-sectional assessment of changes from BL at post-BL visits was performed. Differences in mean changes from BL at post-BL visits between Tx groups were compared using a pooled 2-sample, 2-sided t-test. Effect sizes (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for between-group differences in mean changes from BL were also estimated using Hedges' g. Effect sizes between 0.2 (small) and 0.5 (medium) are a commonly used ballpark threshold for clinically meaningful differences between Tx groups. Responder analyses were performed using logistic regression, controlling for BL scores. On the MFSAF, symptom response was defined as a ≥50% reduction in TSS from BL. Pts with a TSS of 0 at BL were excluded from responder analyses. For EQ-5D-3L, a ≥0.08-point change from BL in health utility was used to define clinically meaningful improvement at EOC6. Pts with missing values at post-BL visits were considered non-responders in the responder analyses. Results: The MFSAF evaluable population comprised 91/96 FEDR 400 mg pts (95%) and 85/96 PBO pts (89%). BL characteristics were comparable between Tx arms. At BL, mean TSS was 17.6 and 14.7 for FEDR and PBO, respectively. Clinically meaningful and statistically significant between-group differences in favor of FEDR were generally observed for all individual MFSAF symptoms and across all visits (above medium effect size: night sweats, abdominal discomfort, early satiety, pain under ribs on left side; above small effect size: bone/muscle pain, pruritis). Mean TSS change significantly favored FEDR vs. PBO across all assessments, with clinically meaningful medium effect sizes (Figure A). Symptom response rate at EOC6 was significantly greater with FEDR (40.4%) than with PBO (8.6%)(odds ratio [OR] 6.97 [95%CI 2.87, 16.9]; P<0.001). Treatment benefit in favor of FEDR was similar across prespecified clinically relevant pt subgroups (see Figure B for selected key subgroups). EQ-5D-3L health utility scores at BL were similar between Tx arms (0.70 and 0.72 with FEDR and PBO, respectively). The difference in mean change from BL at EOC6 in EQ-5D-3L health utility was also clinically meaningful in favor of FEDR, with an effect size of 0.37 (95%CI 0.08, 0.66). The proportion of pts with clinically meaningful improvement in EQ-5D-3L health utility at EOC6 was significantly higher with FEDR, at 23.2% vs. 6.5% in the PBO arm (OR 5.12 [95%CI 1.81, 14.48]; P=0.002). Conclusions: FEDR 400 mg provided clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvement in TSS across the 6 MF-relevant symptoms, and broader HRQoL, as measured by health utility, vs. PBO in MF pts with no prior exposure to ruxolitinib. HRQoL benefits of FEDR were observed across clinically relevant pt subgroups, suggesting minimal heterogeneity of Tx effect. Disclosures Mesa: Shire: Honoraria; Promedior: Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Research Funding; Incyte: Other: travel, accommodations, expenses, Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Galena Biopharma: Consultancy; AOP Orphan Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; AbbVie: Research Funding; Baxalta: Consultancy; Genotech: Research Funding; LaJolla: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodations, expenses; Pfizer: Research Funding; CTI: Research Funding; Samus: Research Funding. Schaap:Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Vannucchi:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; ITALFARMACO: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CTI: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Kiladjian:AOP Orphan: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Passamonti:Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Zweegman:Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Talpaz:Constellation: Research Funding; Asana: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Travel; NS Pharma: Research Funding; Stemline: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; CTI: Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Samus: Research Funding. Verstovsek:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Promedior: Research Funding; CTI BioPharma Corp: Research Funding; Genetech: Research Funding; Blueprint Medicines Corp: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sierra Oncology: Research Funding; Pharma Essentia: Research Funding; Astrazeneca: Research Funding; Ital Pharma: Research Funding; Protaganist Therapeutics: Research Funding; Constellation: Consultancy; Pragmatist: Consultancy; Incyte: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; NS Pharma: Research Funding. Rose:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Tang:Celgene Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Hu:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Brownstein:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership. Guo:Evidera: Employment. Ye:Evidera: Employment. Harrison:AOP: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.
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Piggott, Gillian S. J. "Rogers' Chocolates Ltd. and the Corporation of the City of Victoria: A Case Comment on Involuntary Designation and the Conservation of Heritage Buildings." International Journal of Cultural Property 18, no. 2 (May 2011): 225–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0940739111000117.
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AbstractThe process adopted by the local government to protect the interior of an old building in Victoria, British Columbia, culminated in a significant compensation award in favor of the building's owner and highlights the shortcomings of a coercive regulatory approach to heritage conservation. This study focuses on the relationship between cooperative resolution of conflicts between the rights of the public to protect heritage buildings and the rights of private property owners to the use of their property without interference, on the one hand, and the long-term utility and conservation of historic buildings and the sustainability of local government heritage programs, on the other. Analysis includes discussion on (a) key issues arising out of an involuntary heritage designation, (b) flexible alternative conservation mechanisms and incentives available to local governments, (c) approaches to conservation of heritage buildings in other jurisdictions, and (d) opportunities for improvement in the local government heritage conservation program.
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Falcon-Cantrill, Maria G., Paul Thomas, Victor Saldivar, Thomas E. Philbeck, and Chatchawin Assanasen. "Comparison Of a Powered Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy Device To The Traditional Manual Device In Children." Blood 122, no. 21 (November 15, 2013): 4980. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v122.21.4980.4980.
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Abstract Background In 2007, a battery powered bone marrow aspiration and biopsy system (OnControl, Vidacare Corp, Shavano Park, TX) was developed and cleared by the US FDA for adult patients. Multiple studies have evaluated the use of the Powered device in adults and found decreased procedure time, decreased patient pain, improved core biopsy specimens and a higher degree of operator satisfaction compared to traditional Manual Jamshidi-type devices; but there have been no studies demonstrating the system's utility for pediatric patients. In a study sponsored by Vidacare, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the Powered bone marrow aspiration and biopsy system to Manual devices in children. Design/Method A randomized controlled trial was developed to enroll a total of 44 patients between ages 2 and 18 years old requiring a bone marrow evaluation. Patients were assigned to have a single procedure carried out using the Powered device or the Manual device. Data were also collected for patients needing bilateral marrow evaluations for direct comparison between the two devices. The time to obtain the aspirate and biopsy were recorded, as was the pain score post-procedure. A blinded pathologist recorded the length, width, and overall quality of the specimen. Operators performing the procedure also completed a survey to evaluate the safety of the device, and their satisfaction with the device. Results Forty-four patients were enrolled in the study and 5 patients received bilateral procedures; for a total of 49 procedures (Powered n=27, Manual n=22). The mean age was 9.8 (±0.8) years and 60% were male. Statistically, there was no difference in device performance in terms of procedure time, patient pain, operator satisfaction, specimen quality or specimen size. There was a significant difference in perceived device safety and specimen width in favor of the Powered device (p=.034 and p=.027, respectively); and a trend toward significance in terms of operator satisfaction, favoring the Powered device (p=.060). For the Powered device, but not the Manual device, procedure times improved with continued experience, as did biopsy core length and operator satisfaction. There was a significant correlation between level of experience and procedure time. No significant complications were observed using either device. Operators commented that the Powered device was useful when performing procedures on older patients and those with blast-packed marrows. Conclusion In children, the Powered marrow device may provide benefit over Manual methods as reported in previous adult studies. We found that the OnControl™ biopsies were obtained with a high degree of safety, with good quality and size, and with a high degree of operator satisfaction. Such benefits may lead to reductions in anesthesia time and overall costs. Over time and with more procedures, operators performing procedures noted increased satisfaction and better performance with the Powered device than they did with the Manual device, in both clinical use and ease of training future providers. Disclosures: Falcon-Cantrill: Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding. Off Label Use: Study device (OnControl)is cleared for adult patients, but our study using the device involved pediatric patients. Thomas:Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding. Saldivar:Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding. Philbeck:Vidacare Corporation: Employment. Assanasen:Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding.
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Blatter, Jeremy. "Screening the Psychological Laboratory: Hugo Münsterberg, Psychotechnics, and the Cinema, 1892–1916." Science in Context 28, no. 1 (February 9, 2015): 53–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0269889714000325.
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ArgumentAccording to Hugo Münsterberg, the direct application of experimental psychology to the practical problems of education, law, industry, and art belonged by definition to the domain of psychotechnics. Whether in the form of pedagogical prescription, interrogation technique, hiring practice, or aesthetic principle, the psychotechnical method implied bringing the psychological laboratory to bear on everyday life. There were, however, significant pitfalls to leaving behind the putative purity of the early psychological laboratory in pursuit of technological utility. In the Vocation Bureau, for example, psychological instruments were often deemed too intimidating for a public unfamiliar with the inner workings of experimental science. Similarly, when psychotechnical means were employed by big business in screening job candidates, ethical red flags were raised about this new alliance between science and capital. This tension was particularly evident in Münsterberg's collaboration with the Paramount Pictures Corporation in 1916. In translating psychological tests into short experimental films, Münsterberg not only envisioned a new mass medium for the dissemination of psychotechnics, but a means by which to initiate the masses into the culture of experimental psychology.
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Nogami, Keiji, Tomoko Matsumoto, Yuka Tabuchi, Tetsuhiro Soeda, Nobuo Arai, Takehisa Kitazawa, Hidenari Takaoka, Kunihiro Hattori, and Midori Shima. "A Novel Clot Waveform Analysis to Measure the Plasma Coagulation Potency in the Presence of Anti-Fixa/Fx Bispecific Antibody, Emicizumab." Blood 128, no. 22 (December 2, 2016): 1388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v128.22.1388.1388.
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Abstract Emicizumab (also termed ACE910) is a humanized anti-factor (F)IXa/FX bispecific antibody with FVIIIa cofactor function. A clinical phase 3 study was initiated in 2015 for hemophilia A patients (HA-pts) with FVIII inhibitors. Since emicizumab, unlike FVIII, does not require activation by thrombin, its APTT-shortening effect is much greater than that of FVIII. Thus, APTT, a conventional assay to assess whole coagulation potency, would have limited utility in emicizumab-administered HA-pts, because emicizumab would mask the effect of residual FVIII or a FVIII agent on APTT. Clot waveform analysis (CWA) can provide multidimensional coagulation potencies by monitoring the process of plasma clot formation with an automated coagulation analyzer. We considered the possibility, therefore, that this assay system would overcome the above issue on APTT. In this study, we aimed to optimize concentrations of tissue factor (TF) and ellagic acid (Elg) in a trigger reagent for CWA as well as CWA parameters to provide precise evaluation of coagulation potency even in the presence of emicizumab with neither masking nor being masked by FVIII or bypassing agents. First, we determined an optimal concentration of TF/Elg trigger reagent. Various concentrations (10, 30, 100, and 300 μg/mL) of emicizumab were spiked into commercially available FVIII-deficient plasmas (George King) for testing. Recombinant (r)FVIII (Kogenate FS; Bayer)-spiked samples were also tested as a reference. PT reagent (under development; Sysmex) and APTT reagent (Thrombocheck APTT-SLA; Sysmex), used as a source of TF and Elg, respectively, were mixed in various ratios. The optimized mixture ratio (PT:APTT:buffer=1:15:135) was chosen to ensure that the maximum coagulation velocity (|min1|) in the presence of emicizumab would be in agreement with the animal study-based estimated conversion rate "0.2-0.4 IU/dL of equivalent FVIII per 1 μg/mL of emicizumab" (Muto. J Thromb Haemost. 2014). When evaluating several lots of FVIII-deficient plasmas, however, we observed large variations in transmittance depending on fibrinogen concentration of each plasma, which resulted in large variations of |min1| between donor plasmas. To decrease the bias due to fibrinogen concentration, % transmittance of clot waveform (CW) was adjusted to 100% and 0% at the pre- and post-coagulation phase, respectively. By using |min1| from the adjusted CW (adjusted-|min1|), we successfully reduced the inter-donor variations and chose it as a main parameter. Next, we evaluated adjusted-|min1| using plasmas from HA-pts without inhibitors (severe; n=2, moderate; n=2) and HA-pts with inhibitors (<10 BU/mL; n=2, >10 BU/mL; n=2) by adding emicizumab (30, 100, and 300 μg/mL) in vitro. After the addition of emicizumab, concentration-dependent increases in adjusted-|min1| were observed in all plasmas with rather small individual variations. Finally, we examined whether adjusted-|min1| reflected the effects of FVIII or bypassing agent that was added to plasmas containing emicizumab. Additive effects of a plasma-derived FVIII agent (CROSS EIGHT M; Japan Blood Products Organization), a rFVIII agent (ADVATE; Baxalta) and activated prothrombin complex concentrate (FEIBA; Baxalta) were confirmed by the increase of adjusted-|min1|. As for rFVIIa agent (NovoSeven; Novo Nordisk), its additive effect on adjusted-|min1| was not clear enough in this assay condition, but its additive effects were confirmed by the clot time. In conclusion, we established the Elg/TF-triggered CWA assay condition and parameters for measuring coagulation potency in plasmas from HA-pts even in the presence of emicizumab and a FVIII/bypassing agent without masking each other. Disclosures Nogami: Sysmex Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Matsumoto:Sysmex Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding. Tabuchi:Sysmex Corporation: Employment, Patents & Royalties; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Patents & Royalties. Soeda:Sysmex Corporation: Patents & Royalties; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Employment, Patents & Royalties. Arai:Sysmex Corporation: Employment. Kitazawa:Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; Sysmex Corporation: Patents & Royalties. Takaoka:Sysmex Corporation: Employment. Hattori:Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.: Employment, Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Shima:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Sysmex Corporation: Patents & Royalties, Research Funding.
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International Labour Law Reports On, Editors. "SOUTH AFRICA: Constitutional Court of South Africa Transport and Allied Workers Union of South Africa v. Public Utility Transport Corporation Ltd [2016] BLLR 537 (CC)." International Labour Law Reports Online 35, no. 1 (November 21, 2017): 451–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22116028-90000147.
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Ohwo, Odafivwotu, and Tano Dumoyei Agusomu. "Residential Customers Satisfaction with Public Water Provision in Ojota, Nigeria." European Scientific Journal, ESJ 14, no. 23 (August 31, 2018): 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.19044/esj.2018.v14n23p117.
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Customer satisfaction is a good measure of the quality of service rendered by an enterprise. Hence, this study analyzed the perception of residential customers’ satisfaction with public water provision in Ojota. The analyses was based on customers’ perception of ten selected satisfaction drivers, which were obtained by the administration of a set of structured questionnaire, administered to 400 households, using the systematic sampling technique. The data was analyzed using percentages and a customer satisfaction index (CSI) model. The calculated CSI was 2.54 points on a 5 point scale, which means that public water provision in Ojota is perceive as fairly satisfactory by the residential customers. In addition, only 12.21% of the customers are willing to pay for water, based on their overall perception of the services of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC). This shows that the service of the LWC to its customers is inadequate. It is therefore recommended that the LWC should undertake a general overhaul of its operations and improve on customer services, which may improve customers’ willingness to pay for water provision and help the utility to improve on cost recovery and sustain adequate services to its customers.
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Awasthi, Rakesh, Karen Thudium Mueller, Gregory A. Yanik, Constantine S. Tam, Susana Rives, Joseph P. McGuirk, Michael A. Pulsipher, et al. "Evaluation of In Vivo CAR Transgene Levels in Relapsed/Refractory Pediatric and Young Adult ALL and Adult DLBCL Tisagenlecleucel-Treated Patients." Blood 132, Supplement 1 (November 29, 2018): 899. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-99-116385.
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Abstract Background Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is an analytical method that has been used to investigate the in vivo kinetics of chimeric receptor antigen (CAR) transgene following the infusion of tisagenlecleucel. B cell aplasia, likely an "on-target toxicity" of tisagenlecleucel, has been considered a measure of functional persistence. (Maude SL et al. Blood 2015;125(26):4017-4023) Although the CAR transgene can be detected in peripheral blood of tisagenlecleucel treated patients, it is unclear whether CAR transgene detection by qPCR could be reliably used to inform treatment decision in an individual patient. Methods Transgene levels in blood measured by qPCR from pivotal phase II studies in relapsed/refractory (r/r) pediatric and young adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) patients (pts) (ELIANA [NCT02435849, N=75]; ENSIGN [NCT02228096, N=29]) and adult diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pts (JULIET [NCT02445248, N=93]) were used to investigate the relationship between transgene persistence and clinical response. Results To determine whether CAR qPCR measurements are associated with or predictive of response, CAR transgene levels and timing of peak levels were examined. In both ALL and DLBCL pts, there were detectable CAR transgene levels by qPCR in both responders and non-responders. The geometric mean maximal expansion (geo mean Cmax) was similar between responding and non-responding adult DLBCL pts, while 1.7 fold differences were observed in pediatric ALL pts (geo mean Cmax in copies/µg: responders, 32700, n=79; non-responders, 19500, n=10; Table 1). For both DLBCL and ALL pts, high inter-individual variability in transgene levels was noted. Similarly, higher CAR-T cell expansion from flow cytometry data pooled from responding pediatric ALL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pts were observed relative to non-responding pts (Mueller KT et al. Blood 2017;130(21):2317-2325), while the levels in DLBCL pts were comparatively lower in blood, likely due to partitioning of functional CAR-T cells to the target sites including lymph nodes. The median time to maximal transgene level ranged from 9-10 days in DLBCL responders and non-responders and pediatric ALL responders, while non-responding pediatric ALL pts showed delayed expansion with median Tmax of 20 days. The median time corresponding to last quantifiable transgene level (Tlast), an indicator of persistence, was higher in responding pts compared to non-responding pts, indicating a trend for longer persistence in both DLBCL and ALL pts with continued response (Table 1). Similarly, the half-life estimated from the terminal slope of the cellular kinetic profile, an additional indicator of persistence, was higher in responding pts relative to non-responding pts for both DLBCL and ALL (Table 1). Despite this general trend, in some cases, transgene levels were not detectable at later time points in pts with continued response. The swimmer plot for representative responder ALL (Figure 1a) and DLBCL pts (Figure 1b) with responses and transgene levels demonstrate that although the majority of responding pts show persistent transgene levels, some pts maintained a favorable clinical response despite a decline in transgene levels to below the level of quantification of 50 copies/µg. Conclusion In both ALL and DLBCL, CAR transgene is initially detected at high levels with high variability in both responders and non-responders. While the majority of responding pts tend to have persistent transgene levels, some pts maintain favorable clinical responses despite a lack of quantifiable transgene. These results indicate that qPCR testing for CAR transgene in blood of tisagenlecleucel treated pts should not be used for making treatment decisions for individual pts. In addition, the qPCR measurements in peripheral blood do not reflect on the trafficking of CAR positive cells to sites outside peripheral blood. The assessment by flow cytometry remains an important assay to distinguish high expression in responding vs non-responding pts in ALL and CLL, and further evaluation of target tissue is needed in DLBCL to understand the utility of CAR expression as a means to distinguish responder and non-responders. Also, further data are needed to improve our understanding of how CAR transgene levels relate to disease burden and duration of response and whether this information is clinically useful. Disclosures Awasthi: Exelixis: Equity Ownership; Celgene: Equity Ownership; Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research: Employment. Mueller:Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research: Employment; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Equity Ownership, Other: Patent pending. Tam:Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Rives:Amgen: Consultancy, Other: advisory board ; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Other: Symposia, advisory boards ; Jazz Pharma: Consultancy, Other: Symposia, advisory boards ; Shire: Consultancy, Other: Symposia, advisory boards . McGuirk:Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Other: speaker, Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: travel accommodations, expenses, speaker ; Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding. Pulsipher:Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Jaeger:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda-Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda-Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Baruchel:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shire: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations or expenses; Amgen: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Myers:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Balke-Want:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria. Schuster:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding. Stefanski:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Bishop:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Speakers Bureau; Juneau Therapeutics: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; United Healthcare: Employment. Waldron:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Anak:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Chakraborty:Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research: Employment. Bleickardt:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment. Wong:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bubuteishvili Pacaud:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Waller:Kalytera: Consultancy; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Other: Travel Expenses, EHA, Research Funding; Cambium Medical Technologies: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Maude:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
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Hoskins, Stephen L., Frederick Huang, Hal K. Hawkins, Rodrigo Lima, Lais Navarro, James Grady, Thomas Philbeck, Larry Miller, and George Kramer. "Repeated Doses of Adriamycin Infused In Swine through the Intraosseous Route In the Same Bone May Result In Osteomyelitis." Blood 116, no. 21 (November 19, 2010): 4343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v116.21.4343.4343.
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Abstract Abstract 4343 Introduction: Intraosseous (IO) vascular access has been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to central venous lines for the use of emergency drugs, but its utility for the delivery of chemotherapy has not been determined. A 2007 study detected marginal changes in bone morphology after delivery of single doses of a variety of vesicant chemotherapeutic agents. However, Adriamycin in the previous study involved only a single dose and examined only acute effects to bone marrow morphology. This study was designed to determine the safety of multiple rounds of Adriamycin delivery via the IO route repeatedly in the same bone in a swine model. Methods: An IO needle (EZ IO, Vidacare Corporation, Shavano Park, TX) was aseptically placed into both tibias of 14 Yorkshire swine. On 3 occasions, 21 days apart, a dose of Adriamycin (60mg/m2) was delivered over 15 minutes followed by 2 minutes of saline infusion through a proximal tibia. For control purposes, the contra-lateral tibia received saline infusions. A radiologist reviewed films pre and post drug delivery. Bone samples were harvested 30 days post last drug delivery. Paired t-tests were used to compare changes between treated and saline controls. Two pathologists separately reviewed the slides of 14 animals. One pathologist scored the slides and both pathologists’ comments were recorded in a masked fashion without knowledge of treatment groups, according to animal number and left or right limb. A one-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the treatment effect (Adriamycin vs. saline control). A two-sided alpha level of 0.05 was used to define statistical significance. Results: After the 2nd infusion, visual examination revealed small dime-sized lesions over the injection site in 4 animals. After the third injection almost all animals developed some form of leg swelling and limping. Radiologically, osteomyelitis was detected in 6 animals (43%), 2 of which had fractures to the proximal head of the tibia. An additional 4 animals had fractures to the proximal head of the tibia without osteomyelitis. Of the 10 affected animals, half the complications occurred after the second Adriamycin dose and half occurred after the third dose. Histologically, there was no statistical significance for the parameters of marrow cell loss (p=0.85), bone spicule loss (p=1.0), blood in the field (p=0.20), or necrosis (p=0.33) between drug infused limbs and their paired controls. Matrix formation and scar formation were significantly greater in the drug limbs when compared to the saline control limbs (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). There was no statistical significance for the parameters of hypocellularity (p=0.77), marrow degeneration (p=0.33), or blood (p=0.33) comparing drug limb to control limb. Severity of necrosis (p= 0.001) and fibrosis (p=0.001) formation were significantly higher for the drug limb compared to the control limb. Summary and Conclusions: Results suggest the repeated doses of Adriamycin in the same bone led to formation of osteomyelitis in 6 of 14. Two of the 6 swine had fracture confirmed at study end; 4 other pigs fracture were without signs of osteomyelitis while there was no evidence of osteomyelitis in saline-infused bones. The Adriamycin infusion in the same bone caused a significant increase in matrix and scar formation in histological samples taken from the drug limb compared to the saline control limb. In addition, there was a significant increase in necrosis and fibrosis in the drug infused limb. On the long-term evaluation, these increases suggest that Adriamycin has some direct effect on inducing bone pathology. Additionally, these complications may have been exacerbated by additional factors—including hurricane evacuation. A number of recommendations have been given to address these issues. The most important considerations could be the alternation of infusion limbs during drug delivery and increased post flush volumes. Disclosures: Hoskins: Vidacare Corporation: Research Funding. Philbeck:Vidacare Corporation: Employment. Miller:Vidacare Corporation: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kramer:Vidacare Corporation: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding.
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Ma, Zeqiang, Jason Gottwals, Hao Ho, Kristina J. Fasig, Heather Rietz, Taylor Hartley, Vladimir Kravstov, et al. "Clinical Utility of High-Throughput and Complimentary Genomic Tumor Profiling in Hematologic Malignancies." Blood 126, no. 23 (December 3, 2015): 1388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood.v126.23.1388.1388.
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Abstract Background: NCCN guidelines and a continuously expanding collection of high-impact publications recommend interrogating hematologic neoplasms for biomarkers that yield diagnostic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic information. The advent of comprehensive, high-throughput genomic profiling technologies has enabled the detection of multiple genomic alterations in an efficient and cost effective manner, and provides insights into disease initiation, progression, therapy response and identification of therapeutic targets not available through conventional methods. Design: Based on NCCN guidelines and literature review, we designed a genomic profiling strategy composed of a targeted amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) assay and cytogenomic microarray (CGA) to identify clinically actionable genomic alterations. In the current context, "actionable" was defined as helping establish a diagnosis through demonstration of "clonal hematopoiesis" as recommended by NCCN guidelines, informing prognosis, and/or providing a potential therapeutic target. These assays complement the routine work-up of hematologic tumors, which include flow cytometry, morphologic evaluation and FISH/cytogenetic analyses. Initial data from implementation of this testing strategy in our broad community-based practice are presented. Results: 865 patient samples were analyzed, which included the following: AML (168), ALL (24), MDS (194), MDS/MPN (34), CLL (82), MPN (156), samples with suspicion of a myeloid stem cell disorder (107) and others. Of the cases evaluated by NGS and CGA, genomic aberrations were detected in 70% and 48%, respectively. Conventional cytogenetic analyses revealed abnormalities in 38% of the cases for which conclusive results were obtained; abnormal FISH results were observed in 44.7%. In cases where conventional cytogenetics and FISH tests were negative, 70% were abnormal by either NGS or CGA (~81% in cases with evidence of a myeloid stem cell disorder or acute leukemia) (Figure 1). Importantly, 12% of 51 cases with normal FISH, cytogenetics and NGS results were abnormal by CGA, and 60% of 111 cases with normal FISH, cytogenetics and CGA results had actionable mutations detected by NGS. CGA and NGS aberrations were frequently detected in MPN or MDS/MPN cases with negative cytogenetics and FISH results. For example, among 156 MPN cases, CGA and NGS abnormalities were observed in 42% and 65% of cases respectively, while only 11% of cases had abnormal cytogenetics results and 10% of cases were FISH positive (Figure 2). In contrast, in cases without actionable mutations detected by NGS and CGA, which also had been analyzed by FISH/cytogenetics, 11% of 89 were cytogenetically abnormal, and 36% of 75 had genomic alterations detected by FISH. Conclusions: High throughput genomic tumor profiling through targeted DNA sequencing and analysis of copy number alterations complements conventional methods of tumor interrogation and leads to more frequent detection of actionable alterations. This is especially apparent in the context of morphologic and/or clinical suspicion of a myeloid stem cell disorder. These data indicate that integrating multiple strategies to identify informative biomarkers can enhance diagnosis, prognosis and/or therapy in hematologic disorders. Most importantly, we have observed changes in clinical management decisions across different disease states including AML, ALL, other myeloid malignancies, and CLL. Figure 1. Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 2. Disclosures Ma: PathGroup: Employment. Gottwals:PathGroup: Employment. Ho:PathGroup: Employment. Fasig:PathGroup: Employment. Rietz:PathGroup: Employment. Hartley:PathGroup: Employment. Kravstov:PathGroup: Employment. Spence:PathGroup: Employment. Connor:PathGroup: Employment. Turnicky:PathGroup: Employment. Prescott:PathGroup: Employment. Lennon:PathGroup: Employment. Sathanoori:PathGroup: Employment. Flinn:Celgene Corporation: Research Funding. Berdeja:Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; MEI: Research Funding; Acetylon: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Array: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding. Wheeler:PathGroup: Employment. Coldren:PathGroup: Employment. Chandra:PathGroup: Employment. Mukherjee:PathGroup: Employment. Casey:PathGroup: Employment.
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Walker, Ann Hayward, Janet H. Kucklick, Jacqueline Michel, Debra K. Scholz, and Timothy Reilly. "CHEMICAL TREATING AGENTS: RESPONSE NICHES AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS." International Oil Spill Conference Proceedings 1995, no. 1 (February 1, 1995): 211–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.7901/2169-3358-1995-1-211.
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ABSTRACT Chemical oil spill treating agents—here meant to exclude chemical oil spill dispersants, burning agents, and bioremediation agents—are one type of countermeasure used to control the release and/or spread of spilled oil. They are infrequently used in the United States, in part because they have been inadequately tested and demonstrated for efficacy and environmental effects. A study planned and sponsored by the Marine Spill Response Corporation examined the potential utility of chemical treating agents during marine oil spills. Through an extensive literature search and market survey process, this study defined specific product classes and evaluated these classes in terms of operational use, efficacy, and environmental fate and effects. Individual products within each class were also evaluated in terms of these study parameters, and a resultant compendium of available products worldwide was produced. Based on the evaluation, as well as results from a workshop held in conjunction with this project, specific response niches (for example, the application for which the countermeasure is best suited) for chemical treating agent classes were proposed. The niches were determined partially by evaluating the classes’ relative effectiveness according to oil type and degree of weathering. The study also recommended research and development needs.
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Baldarelli, Maria-Gabriella, and Mara Del Baldo. "The Implementation of Sustainability Reporting in SGR Group." International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development 4, no. 2 (April 2013): 48–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/jsesd.2013040104.
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The implementation of sustainability reporting entails contradictory elements that can involve greenwashing or corporate governance procedures modifications, as well as the mission and accounting system of a company. Based on the premise in this paper, the authors show the end of a first step of research process and answer the question: How does the introduction of a Sustainability Report (SR) transform mission, governance and accountability of enterprises? Attention is focused on the implications of the process of social and sustainable accountability with respect to the values order, structure and tools of governance, and those used to account for and hold the stakeholders accountable for the results, modality, and objectives which characterize the accountability of corporate activity. The deductive research approach is based on an analysis of the literature regarding sustainability development and sustainability reporting. The inductive method is based on the analysis of a research case related to an Italian multi-utility company: SGR Group. The analysis carried out focused on features of the sustainability process started by the company and interpreted it as the challenge launched by the Group to contribute to create, through its own activities, a civil economy which is typical of the corporate culture of responsibility and sustainable market economy built on the civil corporation.
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Callahan, T., W. B. Gleason, and T. P. Lybrand. "PAP: a protein analysis package." Journal of Applied Crystallography 23, no. 5 (October 1, 1990): 434–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1107/s0021889890004228.
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A program package has been assembled for the analysis of protein coordinates which are in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank (PDB) format. These programs can be used to make two types of φ–ψ plots: a Ramachandran-style scatter plot, and a plot of φ and ψ values as a function of the linear sequence. Programs are also available for the display of distance diagonal plots for proteins. Two protein structures can be compared and the resulting r.m.s. differences in the structures plotted as a function of sequence. Temperature factors can be analyzed and plotted as a function of the linear sequence. In addition, various utilities are supplied for splitting PDB files which contain multiple subunits into individual files and also for renumbering PDB files. A utility is also provided for converting Amber-style PDB files into standard PDB files. Priestle's program RIBBON [J. Appl. Cryst. (1988), 21, 572–576] has been converted to run in a stand-alone mode with interactive rotation of the three-dimensional ribbon picture. Programs are Silicon Graphics four-dimensional level and have been tested on 4D70/GT and personal Iris workstations, although programs which give Postscript output have been converted to run on Digital Equipment Corporation VAX computers and Sun workstations.
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Mutikanga, H., and S. Mugisha. "A phased approach to efficiency improvement in low-income countries: the case of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation in Fort Portal town, Uganda." Water Supply 5, no. 3-4 (November 1, 2005): 281–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2005.0110.
Full textAbstract:
Most water and sewerage utilities are faced with the challenges of improving efficiency and will pass on gains to their customers. The challenges are more in low-income countries especially those in Africa. There has been a lot of on-going debate and studies about approaches and options to water utility efficiency improvement in these countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs). About ten years ago the emphasis was on private sector participation (PSP). Consequently, most development partners propagated this approach and even went to the extent of conditioning PSP implementation to funding. The option delivered varied degrees of successes contingent on the operating contexts in those countries. Attempts to mitigate the wrong contexts and conditions to suit the PSP have proved to be more expensive than potential benefits from the option itself. As a result, many low-income countries have been compelled to be more innovative and widen the scope of solution search. The debate currently is, therefore, about performance improvement other than PSP options. This paper presents a phased approach to efficiency improvement taken by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) of Uganda in the last seven years. We discuss mechanisms that NWSC has used to achieve significant efficiency gains. Managerial incentives and autonomy are at the centre of the successes registered. We also draw conclusions on how private management principles can be introduced into the public sector to improve efficiency.
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Raja, Khurram Parvez. "Analysing the AAOIFI Sharīʿah standard on zakat." Journal of Money Laundering Control 24, no. 2 (January 18, 2021): 446–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jmlc-10-2020-0117.
Full textAbstract:
Purpose The Sharīʿah Standard No. (35) issued by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) aims to identify the zakāt base for institutions (including Islamic insurance companies) as well as the subsidiary and the mother company of the institution (the company). By zakāt base, the standard means the items of financial statements that should or should not be included in the calculation of the zakāt base, and the liabilities or allocations that should or should not be deducted from zakatable assets. The standard also covers payable zakāt rates, disbursement of zakāt funds on the eight categories of zakāt recipients and the rulings pertaining to disbursement. The focus then is on companies or corporations. There is no indication in the aims as to who owns the wealth of the corporation, that is, whether it is the company itself or it is the shareholders and whether it is treated as a joint wealth of the shareholders or of a single individual in the form of the company. The author will rely on this issue as one factor on the basis of which the standard is to be judged. Design/methodology/approach Quran and hadith. Works of earlier jurists. Findings In this study, the author has summarized the provisions of zakāt according to the traditional law, but only those that are relevant for the financial institutions and the standard issued by the AAOIFI. After that, the author mentioned the major points that have been addressed by the standard. In the last section, the author has shown that the rulings of the Islamic Fiqh Academy and the AAOIFI on zakāt are totally confusing and merely a reproduction of the rulings of traditional law. The main reason for this confusion is that the nature and entity of a corporation have not been addressed and have been treated like a partnership, thus, jumbling up the entire issue of zakāt through banks. Originality/value The main purpose in undertaking this original work is to examine the AAOIFI Sharīʿah Standards from the perspective of traditional Islamic law, that is, the law of the senior schools as laid down in their authentic manuals. If there is an extensive deviation from this law, then this must be pointed out in the hope that it will be corrected by the concerned institution and the banks that adopt these standards. Neglecting such a corrective action for long will result in damage not only to these institutions in the long run but also to the law of Islam that has been so carefully crafted over centuries. The purpose is to show how far this standard deviates from traditional Islamic law and claims to be called the authentic view on a particular subject. Nevertheless, it is not the purpose of this work to explain and elaborate on the meaning and utility of these standards.