Case-file backlogs were identified as one of the cause factors affecting the competitiveness of the forensic science laboratory (FSL). Backlogs represent case-files?that remain unprocessed or unreported within a selec...Case-file backlogs were identified as one of the cause factors affecting the competitiveness of the forensic science laboratory (FSL). Backlogs represent case-files?that remain unprocessed or unreported within a selected time interval (year, week or month) which leads to increased customer complaints, rework, cost of analysis, degradation of biological samples, etc. Case-file backlogging was quantified in three consecutive years (2014 to 2016), using the following parameters: case-files received and case-files processed, difference of which gives case-files backlogged. There was a need to define time interval for a case-file to be regarded as backlogged (that is, one week), results of which can translate into backlogged case-files per month or year. A data collection tool was established and used for three work stations (forensic chemistry, biology/DNA and toxicology laboratories). The tool includes starting and ending date for each?time interval, in which the numbers of case-files received and processed were entered followed by computing the backlogs. It was observed that, case-files reported?increased between 2014 and 2016 leading to a decrease in backlogged case-files.?The annual percentage of the case-files backlogged was highest for forensic?toxicology. The highest number of case-files backlogged was observed for forensic?chemistry, followed by forensic biology/DNA. The number of case-files?backlogged per analyst per year was highest in 2014 and dropped continuously?towards 2016, being comparably higher in forensic biology/DNA and chemistry.?Probability density functions (PDFs) and cumulative distribution functions (CDFs)?of backlogs data indicated that a large number of backlogs created in previous?weeks were eliminated. It was concluded that the effect of case-file backlogging on FSL competitiveness can be minimized by continued management effort in backlog elimination.展开更多
In order to remain competitive in software industry, software engineers need to continuously improve their proficiency. Personal Software Process (PSPSM) provides a strong concept which helps software engineers inspec...In order to remain competitive in software industry, software engineers need to continuously improve their proficiency. Personal Software Process (PSPSM) provides a strong concept which helps software engineers inspecting and improving themselves. Yet, when being applied on an undergraduate computer engineering course, several complex mathematical calculations from PSP official exercises could encumber the performance of students who do not possess adequate mathematics background. This paper reports a result of implementing PSP course for undergraduate computer engineering students in Chiang Mai University, Thailand.展开更多
The objective of this paper is to create a process view of the development of intermodal transport solution from the basic idea to implementation. Special case of dedicated solutions based on large shippers’ volumes ...The objective of this paper is to create a process view of the development of intermodal transport solution from the basic idea to implementation. Special case of dedicated solutions based on large shippers’ volumes is chosen, where the shippers engage in the development process of the new solutions. Research is conducted using a qualitative approach: multiple case studies. Empirical data has been obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with relevant respondents involved in the development projects. Shippers’ perspective on the development process is studied. Development process can be described through a generic four-stage process: Initiation, Planning, Implementation, and Further Development. Different actors and different resources are required at the different stages. The complex process of establishing new intermodal solutions has lacked attention in the intermodal research. Understanding and improving the development process of new intermodal solutions is considered to have an important effect on the viability of intermodal transport and can help to understand the barriers that prevent companies from switching to intermodal. Development process of new dedicated intermodal solutions is a gradual process of building up the transport solution in a continuous interaction between shippers and transport service providers. Research has focused on the shipper perspective on inter-modal transport, showing that switching to an intermodal transport is not simply a mode choice issue, but involves a transition process that takes time, demands resources, cooperation/coordination between multiple parties, may require changes in the supply chain beyond the transport link, involves multiple actors, and involves an industry that is itself in a process of change.展开更多
Case depth measurement of the induction hardened steel parts is necessary for quality control. Vickers microhardness test is the most industrially accepted method to identify the case depth. But this method is a time ...Case depth measurement of the induction hardened steel parts is necessary for quality control. Vickers microhardness test is the most industrially accepted method to identify the case depth. But this method is a time consuming one and it requires expensive equipment. The aim of this study is to develop a different method to determine the case depth using image processing. The surface hardened steel samples were cross cut, ground and etched with Nital. The etched macrosectioned specimens were scanned by a scanner. The scanned images were evaluated by the developed software. The principle of the software is to identify the gray level difference. The effective case depths of the surface hardened specimens obtained by Vickers microhardness test and the developed method were compared. It was found that the deviation of the developed method was ±0.12 mm at the case depth range of 0.6 - 2.0 mm and mm at the case depth range of 2.1 - 4.3 mm. The measuring time was only 20% of Vickers microhardness test. The deviation range is much lower than the tolerance case depth specification for induction hardening in general.展开更多
Objective: To discuss the surgical treatment of recurrent osteoma of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, that obstructed external auditory canal causing unilateral conductive hearing loss. Setting: The study was...Objective: To discuss the surgical treatment of recurrent osteoma of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, that obstructed external auditory canal causing unilateral conductive hearing loss. Setting: The study was carried out in ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo. Design: Retrospective review of a clinical case. Patient, Intervention and Result: We treated surgically with success a 14-year-old boy with osteoma of mastoid process, obstructing the external auditory canal of the left ear and causing conductive hearing loss. Axial and coronal computed tomography scans revealed an compact bone lesion that obstructed the canal. Complete removal of the lesion was achieved by a retroauricular approach. Conclusion: In order to achieve complete removal of the osteoma, drilling of the lesion must be performed not through the tumor, but around the osteoma, in the surrounding bone tissue.展开更多
Background: Double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) is commonly used for one-lung ventilation and lung separation during thoracic surgery. There are case reports of medically induced laryngeal granulomas, mainly in patients a...Background: Double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) is commonly used for one-lung ventilation and lung separation during thoracic surgery. There are case reports of medically induced laryngeal granulomas, mainly in patients after single-lumen endotracheal (SLT) tube intubation and tracheotomy, and giant granulomas of the vocal cords due to double-lumen bronchial tube insertion have rarely been reported. Case presentation: A 49-year-old female patient underwent single-port thoracoscopy after DLT intubation as well as a wedge resection of the lower lobe of the left lung, which caused giant vocal process granulomas (VPGs) postoperatively. Based on a retrospective analysis of the general condition, current medical history, past medical history, and visual laryngoscopic observation of the vocal folds tissue, which ruled out preoperative vocal fold granuloma formation, we hypothesized that double-lumen bronchial catheter intubation may have been the primary cause of her vocal fold granuloma formation. Conclusions: Giant granuloma of the vocal folds after DLT insertion is a rare postoperative complication;therefore, if DLT intubation is to be performed, the anesthesiologist should choose an appropriate intubation plan and deal with it promptly to avoid the risk factors to ensure that the patient’s perioperative period is safe and smooth. In addition, if postoperative complications are encountered, they should be followed up and observed on time.展开更多
There is an urgent necessity to introduce the life cycle development method and a Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) environment to support the development of a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system. ...There is an urgent necessity to introduce the life cycle development method and a Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) environment to support the development of a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system. In this paper, we present several ideas while inquiring how to apply CASE tools to CIM process effectively, and propose five proper applicable paradigms to enhance the possibility of applications that the CIM process may make better use of CASE tools.展开更多
文摘Case-file backlogs were identified as one of the cause factors affecting the competitiveness of the forensic science laboratory (FSL). Backlogs represent case-files?that remain unprocessed or unreported within a selected time interval (year, week or month) which leads to increased customer complaints, rework, cost of analysis, degradation of biological samples, etc. Case-file backlogging was quantified in three consecutive years (2014 to 2016), using the following parameters: case-files received and case-files processed, difference of which gives case-files backlogged. There was a need to define time interval for a case-file to be regarded as backlogged (that is, one week), results of which can translate into backlogged case-files per month or year. A data collection tool was established and used for three work stations (forensic chemistry, biology/DNA and toxicology laboratories). The tool includes starting and ending date for each?time interval, in which the numbers of case-files received and processed were entered followed by computing the backlogs. It was observed that, case-files reported?increased between 2014 and 2016 leading to a decrease in backlogged case-files.?The annual percentage of the case-files backlogged was highest for forensic?toxicology. The highest number of case-files backlogged was observed for forensic?chemistry, followed by forensic biology/DNA. The number of case-files?backlogged per analyst per year was highest in 2014 and dropped continuously?towards 2016, being comparably higher in forensic biology/DNA and chemistry.?Probability density functions (PDFs) and cumulative distribution functions (CDFs)?of backlogs data indicated that a large number of backlogs created in previous?weeks were eliminated. It was concluded that the effect of case-file backlogging on FSL competitiveness can be minimized by continued management effort in backlog elimination.
文摘In order to remain competitive in software industry, software engineers need to continuously improve their proficiency. Personal Software Process (PSPSM) provides a strong concept which helps software engineers inspecting and improving themselves. Yet, when being applied on an undergraduate computer engineering course, several complex mathematical calculations from PSP official exercises could encumber the performance of students who do not possess adequate mathematics background. This paper reports a result of implementing PSP course for undergraduate computer engineering students in Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
文摘The objective of this paper is to create a process view of the development of intermodal transport solution from the basic idea to implementation. Special case of dedicated solutions based on large shippers’ volumes is chosen, where the shippers engage in the development process of the new solutions. Research is conducted using a qualitative approach: multiple case studies. Empirical data has been obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with relevant respondents involved in the development projects. Shippers’ perspective on the development process is studied. Development process can be described through a generic four-stage process: Initiation, Planning, Implementation, and Further Development. Different actors and different resources are required at the different stages. The complex process of establishing new intermodal solutions has lacked attention in the intermodal research. Understanding and improving the development process of new intermodal solutions is considered to have an important effect on the viability of intermodal transport and can help to understand the barriers that prevent companies from switching to intermodal. Development process of new dedicated intermodal solutions is a gradual process of building up the transport solution in a continuous interaction between shippers and transport service providers. Research has focused on the shipper perspective on inter-modal transport, showing that switching to an intermodal transport is not simply a mode choice issue, but involves a transition process that takes time, demands resources, cooperation/coordination between multiple parties, may require changes in the supply chain beyond the transport link, involves multiple actors, and involves an industry that is itself in a process of change.
文摘Case depth measurement of the induction hardened steel parts is necessary for quality control. Vickers microhardness test is the most industrially accepted method to identify the case depth. But this method is a time consuming one and it requires expensive equipment. The aim of this study is to develop a different method to determine the case depth using image processing. The surface hardened steel samples were cross cut, ground and etched with Nital. The etched macrosectioned specimens were scanned by a scanner. The scanned images were evaluated by the developed software. The principle of the software is to identify the gray level difference. The effective case depths of the surface hardened specimens obtained by Vickers microhardness test and the developed method were compared. It was found that the deviation of the developed method was ±0.12 mm at the case depth range of 0.6 - 2.0 mm and mm at the case depth range of 2.1 - 4.3 mm. The measuring time was only 20% of Vickers microhardness test. The deviation range is much lower than the tolerance case depth specification for induction hardening in general.
文摘Objective: To discuss the surgical treatment of recurrent osteoma of the mastoid process of the temporal bone, that obstructed external auditory canal causing unilateral conductive hearing loss. Setting: The study was carried out in ENT Clinic, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, Prishtina, Kosovo. Design: Retrospective review of a clinical case. Patient, Intervention and Result: We treated surgically with success a 14-year-old boy with osteoma of mastoid process, obstructing the external auditory canal of the left ear and causing conductive hearing loss. Axial and coronal computed tomography scans revealed an compact bone lesion that obstructed the canal. Complete removal of the lesion was achieved by a retroauricular approach. Conclusion: In order to achieve complete removal of the osteoma, drilling of the lesion must be performed not through the tumor, but around the osteoma, in the surrounding bone tissue.
文摘Background: Double-lumen endotracheal (DLT) is commonly used for one-lung ventilation and lung separation during thoracic surgery. There are case reports of medically induced laryngeal granulomas, mainly in patients after single-lumen endotracheal (SLT) tube intubation and tracheotomy, and giant granulomas of the vocal cords due to double-lumen bronchial tube insertion have rarely been reported. Case presentation: A 49-year-old female patient underwent single-port thoracoscopy after DLT intubation as well as a wedge resection of the lower lobe of the left lung, which caused giant vocal process granulomas (VPGs) postoperatively. Based on a retrospective analysis of the general condition, current medical history, past medical history, and visual laryngoscopic observation of the vocal folds tissue, which ruled out preoperative vocal fold granuloma formation, we hypothesized that double-lumen bronchial catheter intubation may have been the primary cause of her vocal fold granuloma formation. Conclusions: Giant granuloma of the vocal folds after DLT insertion is a rare postoperative complication;therefore, if DLT intubation is to be performed, the anesthesiologist should choose an appropriate intubation plan and deal with it promptly to avoid the risk factors to ensure that the patient’s perioperative period is safe and smooth. In addition, if postoperative complications are encountered, they should be followed up and observed on time.
文摘There is an urgent necessity to introduce the life cycle development method and a Computer-Aided Software Engineering (CASE) environment to support the development of a Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) system. In this paper, we present several ideas while inquiring how to apply CASE tools to CIM process effectively, and propose five proper applicable paradigms to enhance the possibility of applications that the CIM process may make better use of CASE tools.
