For manufacturing firms to succeed in the global marketplace it is important that they have an efficient supply chain that is well adapted to the characteristics of the products. This thesis explore the companies' challenge to adapt its supply chain to the characteristics of  heir products. A case study has been conducted on a global manufacturing company's distribution network. The company, which is in focus of the study, has conducted extensive effort with standardization and centralization of the distribution network to improve the performance indicators. Consequently, the study focuses on examining how the factors, standardization and centralization, impact the performance indicators in the distribution network. The empirical results show that the company's distribution network is designed to operate efficiently for Make-To-Stock (MTS)  products.  Nonetheless,  the  network  does  not  work as efficiently for Make-To-Order (MTO) products. These products are forced through a  series of non-value activities. The lack of flexibility in the network leads to manually bypasses, which increases both the workload and risk. Therefore, the performance  indicators are improved  by  a  more  flexible  design  adapted  to  the  product  characteristics and customer needs. The study identifies four barriers preventing the company to adapt its distribution network to a more flexible design An excessive focus on economies of scale Imbalance between central and regional capabilities in the organization Rigid processes and lack of software support Complexity in transfer pricing and revenue sharing between entities Finally, the study contributes with suggested actions aimed to increase the flexibility of the company's distribution network.

Swedish domestic standards is a system of measurements and guidelines used in Swedish construction. The standards were implemented during the middle of the last century in order to raise the overall living standard of the population. Since then, the standards have progressed into becoming an integral part in construction and housing of today. The use of standardized elements has reformed the way architecture is materialized. The elements used to form the standards are to a large extent shaped by the production of the industries. This thesis argues that this development has a large effect on our conception of materials in several areas, for instance allowing the production of resources to become abstract, separating the worker from the design and distancing the production from the local context. This report investigates the relationship between Swedish domestic standards and architecture through the lense of materiality. The research has been carried out through a literature review, case studies and the development of the studio design proposal. This has resulted in a project proposing a recontextualization of the standardized panel, rethinking the dimensions and materialization of the standards. Acknowledging standardization as a social construct, shaped by the cultural values that permeate our society, architecture has to be materialized through standards shaped by humans rather than industrial processes.

<p>Canadian hospitals continue to adopt private sector strategies in an attempt to improve efficiency, accountability and quality. One such mandated efficiency is a computerized psychosocial assessment for mental health patients known as the Resident Assessment Instrument–Mental Health (RAI-MH). This thesis uses the RAI-MH as the gateway into exploring how neoliberal or private sector strategies are used to penetrate hospital care work resulting in the regulation and restructuring of work practices. The RAI-MH requires professionals to input specified, closed ended data about patients simplifying and narrowing their practice in an attempt to govern, measure and fund what is “value added” in the patient/professional encounter. This qualitative study uses interviews with social workers and nurses to examine the competing tensions experienced by professionals as they strive to provide client-centred care in a culture that promotes computer-centred care.</p> <p>My research findings reveal that the idealized portrayal of the 21^st century knowledge worker is in sharp contrast to the realities faced by many increasingly standardized and “leaned-out” health care professionals. Social workers and nurses report that standardization leads to increasing surveillance. A few professionals comply with the increasing standardization or regulation but most found ways to resist while striving to maintain professional autonomy. As certain areas of work become standardized some professionals find ways to increase autonomy in other areas of their work. The findings reveal differences between those who engaged in work tasks outside of paid work hours (boundary crossings) and those who did not (boundary refusals). <strong></strong></p> <p>Theoretically, this thesis contributes to the literature by illuminating the processes involved within the rapidly changing organization of hospital service delivery. Substantively, it adds to the literature on understanding the work of service providers and how they continue to find creative ways to resist the standardization process.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Quantitative population dynamics modeling is needed to evaluate the stock status and fisheries management plans to provide robust model and management strategies. Atlantic Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), one important commercial and recreational fish species along the west coast of Atlantic Ocean that was found to be declining in recent years, was selected as an example species. My study aimed to explore the possible spatial heterogeneity of CPUE (catch per unit effort) year trend based on three fishery independent surveys and explore the influence of nonstationary natural mortality on the fisheries management through a MSE (Management Strategy Evaluation) algorithm based on the Weakfish stock assessment results. Five models for catch rate standardization were constructed based on the NEAMAP (NorthEast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program) survey data and the ‘best' two models were selected based on the ability to capture nonlinearity and spatial autocorrelation. The selected models were then used to fit the other two survey data to compare the CPUE year trend of Weakfish. Obvious differences in distribution pattern of Weakfish along latitude and longitude were detected from these three surveys as well as the CPUE year trend. To test the influence of the model selection on the MSE, five stock-recruitment models and two forms of statistical catch-at-age models were used to evaluate the fishery management strategies. The current biomass-based reference point tends to be high if the true population dynamics have nonstationary natural mortality. A flexible biomass based reference point to match the nonstationary process is recommended for future fisheries management. / Master of Science

Machine learning can provide insight and support for a variety of decisions. In some areas of medicine, decision-support models are capable of assisting healthcare practitioners in making accurate diagnoses. In this work we explored the application of these techniques to distinguish between two diseases in veterinary medicine; inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and alimentary lymphoma (ALA). Both disorders are common gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in humans and animals that share very similar clinical and pathological outcomes. Because of these similarities, distinguishing between these two diseases can sometimes be challenging. In order to identify patterns that may help with this differentiation, we retrospectively mined medical records from dogs and cats with histopathologically diagnosed GI diseases. Since the pathology report is the key conveyer of this information in the medical records, our first study focused on its information structure. Other groups have had a similar interest. In 2008, to help insure consistent reporting, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) GI International Standardization Group proposed standards for recording histopathological findings (HF) from GI biopsy samples. In our work, we extend WSAVA efforts and propose an information model (composed of information structure and terminology mapped to the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine - Clinical Terms) to be used when recording histopathological diagnoses (HDX, one or more HF from one or more tissues). Next, our aim was to identify free-text HF not currently expressed in the WSAVA format that may provide evidence for distinguishing between IBD and ALA in cats. As part of this work, we hypothesized that WSAVA-based structured reports would have higher classification accuracy of GI disorders in comparison to use of unstructured free-text format. We trained machine learning models in 60 structured, and independently, 60 unstructured reports. Results show that unstructured information-based models using two machine learning algorithms achieved higher accuracy in predicting the diagnosis when compared to the structured information-based models, and some novel free-text features were identified for possible inclusion in the WSAVA-reports. In our third study, we tested the use of machine learning algorithms to differentiate between IBD and ALA using complete blood count and serum chemistry data. Three models (using naïve Bayes, neural networks, and C4.5 decision trees) were trained and tested on laboratory results for 40 Normal, 40 IBD, and 40 ALA cats. Diagnostic models achieved classification sensitivity ranging between 63% and 71% with naïve Bayes and neural networks being superior. These models can provide another non-invasive diagnostic tool to assist with differentiating between IBD and ALA, and between diseased and non-diseased cats. We believe that relying on our information model for histopathological reporting can lead to a more complete, consistent, and computable knowledgebase in which machine learning algorithms can more efficiently identify these and other disease patterns. / Ph. D.

Yes / This paper introduces a special issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science that considers the current state and future directions in lithic microwear analysis. There is considerable potential for lithic microwear analysis to reconstruct past human behaviour as it can provide direct insight into past activities. Consequently, it is a technique worthy of significant additional investment and continued development. To further the cause of methodological maturation within microwear analysis and to promote standardization, calibration, and innovation, the following collection of papers present various approaches and perspectives on how greater methodological refinement and increased reliability of results can and should be achieved. Many of these papers were part of a session held at the 2011 Society for American Archaeology Meeting (SAA) in Sacramento, California, while others were selected from the 2012 International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis in Faro, Portugal. The purpose of the SAA session and this special themed issue is essentially two-fold. The first is to promote awareness of the need for methodological standardization, calibration, and continuing innovation. The second is to open a serious dialogue about how these aims could be pursued and achieved. / AAE was supported by the AHRC (AH/J007935/1). HJL was supported by L’Équipe Archéometrie at the Laboratoires d’ Archéologie, a part of the Centre Interuniversitaire d’Études sur les Lettres, les Arts et les Traditions (CELAT) at Université Laval. DAM was supported by Fondation Fyssen and the University of Toronto. WJS was supported by Faculty Development Grant from Keene State College.

<p>Product innovation and its efficient diffusion are important to enhance factor productivity, market access, job creation and trade. Innovative firms remain competitive in an increasingly global environment. Product innovation add maximum economic value when the new knowledge and technical know-how are spread through the economy. Standardisation of products is regarded as a vital tool to enable the diffusion of product innovations. The economic rationale for standardisation is based on the theory market failure that requires some sort of correction. Standardisation is regarded as a public good, a form of technical infrastructure. It reduces transaction costs and information asymmetries / increased the willingness of consumers to pay, which in turn increases the success and diffusion of innovation. Lower transaction costs result in reduced production and distribution costs. For consumers it also results in reduced search and testing costs as well as reduced time and effort to evaluate quality. Studies on the impact of standardisation were done for some developed countries, but not for developing countries. Unlike most studies that have a narrow industry-focus, this report has a broader focus on the impact of various types of standards on product innovation, market access and trade. It presented specific case studies for various industries in South Africa as well as studies on the impact of standards internationally.</p>

Background. Infectious diseases societies recommend that hospitals risk-adjust their antimicrobial use before comparing it to their peers, a process called benchmarking. The purpose of this investigation is to apply and compare 3 risk-adjustment procedures for benchmarking hospital antibacterial consumption (AbC). Two standardization of rates procedures, direct and indirect standardization, are compared with one another as well as with regression modeling. Methods. Total aggregate adult AbC for 52 systemic antibacterial agents was measured in 70 hospitals that subscribed to the University HealthSystem Consortium Clinical Resource Manager database in 2009 and expressed as days of therapy (DOTs) per either 1000 patients days (PDs) or 1000 discharges. The two AbC rates served the role of the outcome while several known risk factors for AbC served the role of potential predictor variables in the linear regression models. Selection criteria were applied to select a model that represented the first rate (Model I) and another that represented the second (Model II), respectively, and outliers were identified. Adult discharges in each hospital were then stratified into 35 clinical service lines based upon their Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) assignment. Direct and indirect standardization were applied to this set and the expected-to-observed (E/O) and observed-to-expected (O/E) ratios, respectively, for AbC were determined. The agreement of the different methods in ranking hospitals according to their risk-adjusted rates and in identifying outliers was determined. Results. The mean total AbC rate was 821.2 DOTs/1000 PDs or 4487.6 DOTs/1000 discharges. Model I explained 31% of the variability in AbC measured in DOTs/1000 PDs while Model II explained 64% of the variability in AbC measured in DOTs/1000 discharges. The E/O ratios ranged from 0.76-1.44 while the O/E ratios ranged from 0.73-1.45. The comparison of the risk-adjustment methods revealed a very good agreement between the two regression models as well as between the two standardization methods whereas the agreement of Model II with either standardization method was moderate. Conclusion. Standardization provides a viable alternative to regression for benchmarking hospital AbC rates. Direct standardization appears to be especially useful for benchmarking purposes since it allows the direct comparison of risk-adjusted rates.

<p>Product innovation and its efficient diffusion are important to enhance factor productivity, market access, job creation and trade. Innovative firms remain competitive in an increasingly global environment. Product innovation add maximum economic value when the new knowledge and technical know-how are spread through the economy. Standardisation of products is regarded as a vital tool to enable the diffusion of product innovations. The economic rationale for standardisation is based on the theory market failure that requires some sort of correction. Standardisation is regarded as a public good, a form of technical infrastructure. It reduces transaction costs and information asymmetries / increased the willingness of consumers to pay, which in turn increases the success and diffusion of innovation. Lower transaction costs result in reduced production and distribution costs. For consumers it also results in reduced search and testing costs as well as reduced time and effort to evaluate quality. Studies on the impact of standardisation were done for some developed countries, but not for developing countries. Unlike most studies that have a narrow industry-focus, this report has a broader focus on the impact of various types of standards on product innovation, market access and trade. It presented specific case studies for various industries in South Africa as well as studies on the impact of standards internationally.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / This study explores the influence of the Khelobedu Dialect on Standard Sepedi with a special focus on the students’ writing. A classroom is a space where students need to feel the confidence to take part in classroom activities, language should not be a barrier. Post-1994, South Africa had to take quick measures to redress the injustices that were implemented towards indigenous languages by the previous government. This meant that South African indigenous languages were elevated to official status. Part of this process of officiating indigenous languages of South Africa was based on the concept of language planning which required that official languages must have orthography. This meant that those dialects which did not have orthography could not form part of the standardisation process. Khelobedu is one of the dialects in Sepedi which was left out during the standardisation of Sepedi. This was because of the settlement of the missionaries in South Africa. With the growing need to promote multilingualism and to use indigenous languages for learning and teaching, students who speak Khelobedu as a first language face challenges in the Multilingual classroom where Sepedi is used as a medium of instruction. Instruments such as individual interviews, focus group interviews and document analysis was used to gather data for this qualitative study. The data for this study has revealed that students face various challenges in the Multilingual Studies classroom, in the individual interviews participants have highlighted challenges such as phonological, spelling and finding relevant terminologies from their first language to the standardised Sepedi. The data from the focus group has revealed that most of the participants agree that these challenges are predominant. Both types of interviews revealed that participants will appreciate having orthography from the first language be added to the standard Sepedi. Document analysis instrument data has revealed the challenges that the students face in the Multilingual Studies classroom. With the current trends in Higher Education where education is evolving and issues of inclusivity are of importance, the study suggests a model for the re-standardisation of Sepedi where orthography from Khelobedu can be added through the process of corpus language planning. / National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)