STUDIES ON THE QUALITY AND PROCESS CONTROL FACTORS DURING THE PRODUCTION AND STORAGE OF SALTED DRIED FISH PRODUCTS

In this study the quality and process control factors during the production and storage of salted dried fish products. The study reveals that quantity of dry fish production in the state is decreasing and dry fish processing industry should be encouraged by central and state governments. The dry and wet salting may be carried out to a period of 4 to 8 hours respectively and time may depend on temperature, size, and concentration of medium. Demand is an unavoidable factor for sale of fish. The packed dry salted lots kept at room temperature are useful only for 20 days. The refrigerator- stored lots had more storage life and nutritional content are good up to 3 months. The cold storage stored dry salted lot had more storage life than the wet salted lot. The use of preservatives in salting is encouraged to reduce pH. The low temperature preservation maintains the nutritional value and quality for long period. It further encourages the labeling of nutritional value of dry fish as in tinned products.

Energy technology characterizations handbook : environmental pollution and control factors /

Rev. ed. of the Office of Environmental Assessments' Technology characterizations (1981). Includes 13 additional ECIRs (Environmental Characterization Information Reports).

Factors influencing adherence to standard precautions among nursing professionals in psychiatric hospitals

OBJECTIVE Evaluate and correlate individual, work-related and organizational factors that influence adherence to standard precautions among nursing professionals of psychiatric hospitals in São Paulo. METHOD An exploratory cross-sectional study conducted with 35 nursing professionals, using the assessment tool for adherence to standard precautions through the Likert scale, ranging from 1 to 5. RESULTS Knowledge of the precautions received a high score (4.69); adherence received (3.86) and obstacles (3.78), while intermediaries and the scales of organizational factors received low scores (2.61). There was a strong correlation between the magnitude adherence scale and the personal protective equipment availability (r = 0.643; p = 0.000). The training scale for prevention of HIV exposure (p = 0.007) was statistically different between the nurses and nursing assistants. CONCLUSION The organizational factors negatively contributed to adherence to standard precautions, indicating that psychiatric institutions lack safe working conditions, ongoing training and management actions to control infections.

Implementing Role Based Access Control into the Enterprise Environment to Support Business and IT Functions

The thesis studies role based access control and its suitability in the enterprise environment. The aim is to research how extensively role based access control can be implemented in the case organization and how it support organization’s business and IT functions. This study points out the enterprise’s needs for access control, factors of access control in the enterprise environment and requirements for implementation and the benefits and challenges it brings along. To find the scope how extensively role based access control can be implemented into the case organization, firstly is examined the actual state of access control. Secondly is defined a rudimentary desired state (how things should be) and thirdly completed it by using the results of the implementation of role based access control application. The study results the role model for case organization unit, and the building blocks and the framework for the organization wide implementation. Ultimate value for organization is delivered by facilitating the normal operations of the organization whilst protecting its information assets.

Factors Affecting Consumer Investment Intentions. Empirical Evidence from Finland

The thesis aims to build a theoretical model to explain consumer investment intentions in stocks and investment funds. The model examines the relationships between subjective investment knowledge, expected sacrifice, expected investment value, compatibility, perceived behavioral control and investment intentions. The data was collected via web-based survey and consisted of 45- to 65-year-old Finnish consumers (n=154). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM) and t-tests were applied in analyzing the data. The results suggest that among average household consumers expected investment value consists of three dimensions, namely, economic, functional, and emotional, whereas expected sacrifice consists of effort, financial risk, source risk, and psychological risk. Two structural models were assessed, one for stock investments and one for investment funds. Whereas the models presented somewhat different outcomes, in both models compatibility had an essential role in explaining consumer investment intentions. Compatibility was affected by expected investment value and expected sacrifice. Subjective investment knowledge impacted consumers’ evaluations of the value and sacrifices. The effect of perceived behavioral control on investment intentions was rather small, however significant. Moreover, the results suggest that there are significant differences between consumers with no investment experience and consumers with investment experience in subjective investment knowledge, the dimensions of expected sacrifices and expected investment value, perceived behavioral control, compatibility and investment intentions.

Factors associated with uncontrolled asthma in Porto Alegre, Brazil

The prevalence of uncontrolled and controlled asthma, and the factors associated with uncontrolled asthma were investigated in a cross-sectional study. Patients aged 11 years with confirmed asthma diagnosis were recruited from the outpatient asthma clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil. Patients were excluded if they had other chronic pulmonary disease. They underwent an evaluation by a general questionnaire, an asthma control questionnaire (based on the 2006 Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines), assessment of inhaled device technique and pulmonary function tests. Asthma was controlled in 48 of 275 patients (17.5%), partly controlled in 74 (26.9%) and uncontrolled in 153 (55.6%). In the univariate analysis, asthma severity was associated with asthma control (P < 0.001). Availability of asthma medications was associated with asthma control (P = 0.01), so that most patients who could purchase medications had controlled asthma, while patients who depend on the public health system for access to medications had lower rates of controlled asthma. The use of inhaled corticosteroid was lower in the uncontrolled group (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified three factors associated with uncontrolled asthma: severity of asthma (OR = 5.33, P < 0.0001), access to medications (OR = 1.97, P = 0.025) and use of inhaled corticosteroids (OR = 0.17, P = 0.030). This study showed a high rate of uncontrolled asthma in patients who attended an outpatient asthma clinic. Severity of asthma, access to medications and adequate use of inhaled corticosteroids were associated with the degree of asthma control.

Well productivity controlling factors in crystalline terrains of southeastern Brazil

Over the last decades, increasing water demands have fostered research to obtain high well yields in crystalline terrains where, besides the intrinsic properties of rocks, the groundwater flow depends on several factors. The depth of the wells, the lithotypes, the presence and thickness of sedimentary coverings and weathered layers, the landforms, the geological structures, and the effects of tectonic stresses are among the most investigated factors considered as determinant of well productivity. The influence of these factors on productivity of wells that exploit the Crystalline Aquifer System in the Jundiai-River Catchment, southeastern Brazil, is investigated in this work. The largest region of the studied area is located on the Precambrian Basement, partially covered by sedimentary deposits. The results show that the sedimentary deposits and the weathered layer are important for high well yield, but it also depends on the existence of a net of open fractures, in order to maintain high productivity. The sites that have more possibility of occurrence of such structures are the regional shear and fault zones and other minor structures with NW-SE and E-W directions, which characterize areas subjected to transtensional stress related to the neotectonics.

Development of new rapid prototyping process

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify the key elements of a new rapid prototyping process, which involves layer-by-layer deposition of liquid-state material and at the same time using an ultraviolet line source to cure the deposited material. This paper reports studies about the behaviour of filaments, deposition accuracy, filaments interaction and functional feasibility of system. Additionally, the author describes the process which has been proposed, the equipment that has been used for these studies and the material which was developed in this application. Design/methodology/approach - The research has been separated into three study areas in accordance with their goals. In the first, both the behaviour of filament and deposition accuracy was studied. The design of the experiment is described with focus on four response factors (bead width, filament quality, deposition accuracy and deposition continuity) along with function of three control factors (deposition height, deposition velocity and extrusion velocity). The author also studied the interaction between filaments as a function of bead centre distance. In addition, two test samples were prepared to serve as a proof of the methodology and to verify the functional feasibility of the process which has been studied. Findings - The results show that the proposed process is functionally feasible, and that it is possible to identify the main effects of control factors over response factors. That analysis is used to predict the condition of process as a function of the parameters which control the process. Also identified were distances of centre beads which result in a specific behaviour. The types of interaction between filaments were analysed and sorted into: union, separation and indeterminate. At the end, the functional feasibility of process was proved whereby two test parts could be built. Originality/value - This paper proposes a new rapid prototyping process and also presents test studies related to this proposition. The author has focused on the filament behaviour, deposition accuracy, interaction between filaments and studied the functional feasibility of process to provide new information about this process, which at the same time is useful to the development of other rapid prototyping processes.

Simulação de processos de adsorção recorrendo ao Aspen Chromatography

As operações de separação por adsorção têm vindo a ganhar importância nos últimos anos, especialmente com o desenvolvimento de técnicas de simulação de leitos móveis em colunas, tal como a cromatografia de Leito Móvel Simulado (Simulated Moving Bed, SMB). Esta tecnologia foi desenvolvida no início dos anos 60 como método alternativo ao processo de Leito Móvel Verdadeiro (True Moving Bed, TMB), de modo a resolver vários dos problemas associados ao movimento da fase sólida, usuais nestes métodos de separação cromatográficos de contracorrente. A tecnologia de SMB tem sido amplamente utilizada em escala industrial principalmente nas indústrias petroquímica e de transformação de açúcares e, mais recentemente, na indústria farmacêutica e de química fina. Nas últimas décadas, o crescente interesse na tecnologia de SMB, fruto do alto rendimento e eficiente consumo de solvente, levou à formulação de diferentes modos de operação, ditos não convencionais, que conseguem unidades mais flexíveis, capazes de aumentar o desempenho de separação e alargar ainda mais a gama de aplicação da tecnologia. Um dos exemplos mais estudados e implementados é o caso do processo Varicol, no qual se procede a um movimento assíncrono de portas. Neste âmbito, o presente trabalho foca-se na simulação, análise e avaliação da tecnologia de SMB para dois casos de separação distintos: a separação de uma mistura de frutose-glucose e a separação de uma mistura racémica de pindolol. Para ambos os casos foram considerados e comparados dois modos de operação da unidade de SMB: o modo convencional e o modo Varicol. Desta forma, foi realizada a implementação e simulação de ambos os casos de separação no simulador de processos Aspen Chromatography, mediante a utilização de duas unidades de SMB distintas (SMB convencional e SMB Varicol). Para a separação da mistura frutose-glucose, no quediz respeito à modelização da unidade de SMB convencional, foram utilizadas duas abordagens: a de um leito móvel verdadeiro (modelo TMB) e a de um leito móvel simulado real (modelo SMB). Para a separação da mistura racémica de pindolol foi considerada apenas a modelização pelo modelo SMB. No caso da separação da mistura frutose-glucose, procedeu-se ainda à otimização de ambas as unidades de SMB convencional e Varicol, com o intuito do aumento das suas produtividades. A otimização foi realizada mediante a aplicação de um procedimento de planeamento experimental, onde as experiências foram planeadas, conduzidas e posteriormente analisadas através da análise de variância (ANOVA). A análise estatística permitiu selecionar os níveis dos fatores de controlo de modo a obter melhores resultados para ambas as unidades de SMB.

El embarazo en la Fibrosis Quística

Las mejoras en la supervivencia y calidad de vida en pacientes con Fibrosis Quística han hecho que la maternidad no sea un fenómeno extraño hoy en día aunque actualmente no hay recomendaciones firmes al respecto. El objetivo del presente estudio es el seguimiento de pacientes con FQ embarazadas, comparando su evolución con un grupo control de características similares. Se observó que las pacientes embarazadas presentan caída significativa de la función pulmonar que se recupera 18 meses tras el parto sin aumentar la mortalidad respecto al grupo control. Factores como la insuficiencia pancreática, el tipo de mutación o colonizaciónes conllevan un peor pronóstico.

Sekoitusprosessin laadunvalvonnan suunnittelu

Nokian Renkaat Oyj:ssä on suuntaus päivittäin valmistettavien kumisekoitusten määrien lisäämiseen. Sekoitusmäärien kasvaessa myös laadunvalvontamittauksien kapasiteettia pitää nostaa tai vaihtoehtoisesti vähentää näytteiden tutkimiseen kuluvaa aikaa tai tutkittavien näytteiden määrää. On mietitty, voitaisiinko näytteenottopaikkaa vaihtamalla saada edustavampi näyte. Aikaistamalla näytteenottopaikkaa näytteet saataisiin tutkittua aikaisemmin ja siten sekoitukset saataisiin käyttöön entistä nopeammin. Teoriaosassa käsitellään kumisekoitusprosessia ja tutustutaan käytettävään prosessilaitteistoon ja prosessin eri vaiheisiin. Lisäksi tutustutaan prosessin ohjaukseen, prosessimittauksiin, prosessin säätöihin ja hälytyksiin. Työssä käsitellään myös laatuun vaikuttavia tekijöitä ja perehdytään käytössä oleviin laadunvalvontamittauksiin ja näytteiden analysointiin. Kokeellisessa osassa tutkitaan, mikä olisi paras näytteenottokohta, mietitään mittausten ja mittausajan vähentämisen vaikutuksia sekä sitä, miten näytteet tulisi merkitä. Lisäksi kokeellisessa osassa tehdään neuroverkkomalli viskositeetin ennustamiseksi.

Strategian implementoinnin kriittiset tekijät

Tutkielman tavoitteena on ollut analysoida strategian implementoinnin kriittisiä tekijöitä sekä esittää keinoja näiden hallintaan. Tämä on vaatinut myös implementointiprosessin ja siihen olennaisesti liittyvien tekijöiden, kuten johtamisen, kommunikoinnin sekä tavoiteasetannan ja palkitsemisen Läpikäyntiä. Tutkimus on deskriptiivinen ja analyysitapa kvalitatiivinen, kriittisiä tekijöitä on tarkasteltu aikaisempien aihetta käsittelevien tutkimusten pohjalta. Kriittisten tekijöiden tarkastelua lähestytään strategian ymmärryksen ja tavoiteasetannan, organisatoristen tekijöiden, kommunikoinnin sekä johtamisen näkökulmasta. Tutkielmasta käy ilmi, että useat ongelmat ovat yhteydessä toisiinsa ja näin ongelma yhdessä implementointiprosessin tekijässä johtaa helposti uuteen. Tämä asettaa yritykselle haasteen tunnistaa ongelmien lähteet ja etsiä niihin ratkaisut. Tutkielma tarjoaa lähtökohdan strategian implementoinnin kriittisten tekijöiden havaitsemiselle ja niiden hallinnalle.

Geochemistry of transition, non-transition and rare-earth elements in the surficial sediments of continental shelf of Kerala and an annex to the Cochin estuarine system

The metals present in the surface sediments have high demand on a global perspective, and the main reservoir of these elements is believed to be the ocean floor. A lot of studies on metals are going on throughout the world for its quantification and exploitation. Even though, some preliminary attempts have been made in selected areas for the quantitative study of metals in the western continental shelf of India, no comprehensive work has been reported so far. The importance of this study also lies on the fact that there has not been a proper evaluation of the impact of the Great Tsunami of 2004 on the coastal areas of the south India. In View of this, an attempt has been made to address the seasonal distribution, behavior and mechanisms which control the deposition of metals in the sediments of the western continental shelf and Cochin Estuary, an annex to this coastal marine region.Surface sediment samples were collected seasonally from two subenvironemnts of southwest coast of India, (continental shelf of Kerala and Cochin estuarine system), to estimate the seasonal distribution and geochemical behavior of non-transition, transition, rare-earth elements, Th and U. Bottom water samples were also taken from each station, and analysed for temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, hence the response of redox sensitive elements to oxygen minimum zone can be addressed. In addition, other sedimentary parameters such as sand, silt, clay fractions, CaCO3 and organic carbon content were also estimated to evaluate the control factors on level of metals present in the sediment. The study used different environmental data analysis techniques to evaluate the distribution and behavior of elements during different seasons. This includes environmental parameters such as elemental normalisation, enrichment factor, element excess, cerium and europium anomalies and authigenic uranium.

Organisational semiotics methods to assess organisational readiness for internal use of social media

The paper presents organisational semiotics (OS) as an approach for identifying organisational readiness factors for internal use of social media within information intensive organisations (IIO). The paper examines OS methods, such as organisational morphology, containment analysis and collateral analysis to reveal factors of readiness within an organisation. These models also help to identify the essential patterns of activities needed for social media use within an organisation, which can provide a basis for future analysis. The findings confirmed many of the factors, previously identified in literature, while also revealing new factors using OS methods. The factors for organisational readiness for internal use of social media include resources, organisational climate, processes, motivational readiness, benefit and organisational control factors. Organisational control factors revealed are security/privacy, policies, communication procedures, accountability and fallback.

The effects of distraction on metacognition and metacognition on distraction: evidence from recognition memory

The effects of auditory distraction in memory tasks have been examined to date with procedures that minimize participants’ control over their own memory processes. Surprisingly little attention has been paid to metacognitive control factors which might affect memory performance. In this study, we investigate the effects of auditory distraction on metacognitive control of memory, examining the effects of auditory distraction in recognition tasks utilizing the metacognitive framework of Koriat and Goldsmith (1996), to determine whether strategic regulation of memory accuracy is impacted by auditory distraction. Results replicated previous findings in showing that auditory distraction impairs memory performance in tasks minimizing participants’ metacognitive control (forced-report test). However, the results revealed also that when metacognitive control is allowed (free-report tests), auditory distraction impacts upon a range of metacognitive indices. In the present study, auditory distraction undermined accuracy of metacognitive monitoring (resolution), reduced confidence in responses provided and, correspondingly, increased participants’ propensity to withhold responses in free-report recognition. Crucially, changes in metacognitive processes were related to impairment in free-report recognition performance, as the use of the ‘don’t know’ option under distraction led to a reduction in the number of correct responses volunteered in free-report tests. Overall, the present results show how auditory distraction exerts its influence on memory performance via both memory and metamemory processes.