In this paper a review on scheduling of batch processors (SBP) in semiconductor manufacturing (SM) is presented. It classifies SBP in SM into 12 groups. The suggested classification scheme organizes the SBP in SM literature, summarizes the current research results for different problem types. The classification results are presented based on various distributions and various methodologies applied for SBP in SM are briefly highlighted. A comprehensive list of references is presented. It is hoped that, this review will provide a source for other researchers/readers interested in SBP in SM research and help simulate further interest. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Thesis (PhD (Public Affairs))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

This thesis presents the results of three studies examining the management of migraine in children. First we conducted a systematic review of all clinical trials conducted in children and adolescents of the acute migraine therapy. A meta-analysis of the 26 randomized controlled trials is presented. A single trial with a focus on Emergency Department (ED) management was identified. As such, we then examined current ED practice in two retrospective practice variation studies. The first compared four regional hospital EDs where practice patterns were significantly different between mixed population EDs (both adult and pediatric patients) and the tertiary pediatric ED. The second examined practice variation among ten tertiary pediatric EDs in Canada where significant differences were again observed. Factors that influenced the choice of medications included increasing patient age and the physicians diagnosis of migraine. Important areas of future investigation include: (1) the effectiveness of intravenous fluids alone; and (2) the use of combined medications. / Clinical Epidemiology

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Minnesota, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-119). Also available on the World Wide Web as a PDF file.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Background: Hypochondriasis is associated with marked impairments in physical and psychological functioning, work performance and increased health care utilization. The prevalence among medical outpatients is estimated to be between 4,2 % and 6,3 %. Notwithstanding there is deficient research in this area. Until recently no specific treatment has been clearly demonstrated to be effective. Objective: The aim was to investigate experiences of what it is like to live with hypochondriasis, but also to examine different treatment options. Methods: In order to illustrate the experiences a latent content analyses was made on a documentary named “Hypokondrikerna” and to examine the treatment options a systematic review was made. Result: The content analysis revealed three categories and nine sub-categories concerning the experiences. The three categories were “health anxiety”, “individual coping strategies” and “emotional consequences”. The systematic review revealed medical treatment which consisted of three different antidepressants as well as seven different kinds of psychological treatments and other interventions, which all reduced hypocondriacal symptoms. Discussion: The findings show that hypochondriasis causes a chronic suffering and indicates that potential treatments are available. Hypochondriasis causes an unproductive health care utilization. A more effective management could reduce the costs and ease the suffering. Therefore we suggest that this disease should be observed and treated. The nurse has an important function to maintain a positive relationship with the patient and create a therapeutic dialogue.

Performance and efficacy are reciprocally causal; however, the effect of performance on subsequent perceptions of efficacy has received little attention, especially in the context of team training. In addition, the moderating effect of feedback accuracy on the relationship between team performance and team-efficacy is largely unexplored. As such, the objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between team performance and team-efficacy in the context of after-action reviews (AARs). Specifically, this study examined the conjoint influence of (a) the accuracy of performance feedback available to trainees during AARs, and (b) time on the predictive validity of team performance on team-efficacy. Data were obtained from 492 undergraduate students assigned to 123 teams in a 5 hr team training protocol using a 3 (training condition: non-AAR, versus subjective AAR, versus objective AAR) x 3 (sessions) repeated measures design. Contrary to the first set of hypotheses, the positive relationship between performance and efficacy was strongest for teams trained without AARs and weakest for teams trained using subjective AARs. Although team-efficacy was predicted more strongly by more proximal team performance than by more distal team performance, this pattern of results was found only for teams trained either without AARs or with objective AARs. The predictive validity of performance on efficacy decreased as performance episodes became more proximal among teams trained using subjective AARs. Finally, within-team agreement of team-efficacy ratings decreased over time for teams that engaged in AARs and remained constant over time for teams that did not engage in AARs. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. It is anticipated that this research will provide insight into the roles of feedback accuracy and time in the performance-efficacy relationship and provide guidance to researchers and practitioners in effectively integrating AAR design characteristics into team training environments.

Bakgrund: Primär dysmenorré, svår menstruationssmärta utan sjukdomsrelaterad bakomliggande orsak, är det vanligaste gynekologiska besväret för unga kvinnor. Idag fokuseras behandlingen av menstruationssmärta på läkemedel. Det har dock visats att kvinnor även använder sig av ickefarmakologiska metoder för att lindra sin smärta. Syftet med denna litteraturöversikt var att undersöka om det finns evidens för att följande ickefarmakologiska behandlingsmetoder kan lindra primär dysmenorré: akupunktur, akupressur, kostvanor och kostterapi, massage, transkutan elektrisk nervstimulering (TENS), värme samt örtterapi. Metod: Sökningar genomfördes i databaserna AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library samt Pubmed. På grund av få artikelträffar och låg kvalitet hos artiklarna exkluderades massage och värme. Totalt inkluderades 18 engelskspråkiga artiklar, publicerade mellan år 1999-2009, vilka redovisade resultat från sammanlagt 92 studier. Sammanlagt 23 studier undersökte akupunktur, 11 undersökte akupressur, 46 undersökte örtterapi, 3 undersökte kostterapi och kostvanor samt 9 undersökte TENS. Kvalitetsgranskning genomfördes enligt en mall från Forsberg & Wengström (2008). Resultat: Det finns evidens för att akupressur, TENS och örtterapi lindrar primär dysmenorré. Vilka specifika akupunkter och örter som har en smärtlindande effekt är dock oklart. Sjuksköterskan kan ge råd till patienter med primär dysmenorré att prova TENS för att lindra sina menstruationssmärtor. / Background: Primary dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain without disease-related underlying reason, is the most common gynaecological discomfort for young women. Today the treatment regime for menstrual pain is focused on pharmacologic treatments. However, it has been observed that women also use non-pharmacologic methods to ease their pain. The objective for this literature review was to determine if there is evidence for the following non- pharmacologic treatment-methods to ease primary dysmenorrhea: acupuncture, acupressure, dietary habits and dietary therapies, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), heat and herbal therapy. Method: Searches were performed in databases AMED, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and PubMed. Because of a small number of search-results and low quality of the articles massage and heat was excluded. A total of 18 English-speaking articles published between 1999-2009 were identified. They reviewed results from 92 studies. Altogether 23 studies reviewed acupuncture, 11 acupressure, 46 herbal therapy, 3 dietary therapies and dietary habits and 9 TENS. Quality assessment was performed according to a template from Forsberg & Wengström (2008). Results: There is evidence that acupressure, TENS and herbal therapy ease primary dysmenorrhea. Which specific acupoints and herbs that are pain relieving could not be concluded. The nurse can give advice to patients with primary dysmenorrhea to test TENS to ease their menstrual pain.

No description available.

The forests are essential for healthy environment. Trees which are part of the forest help to stabilize the forest soil, improve soil fertility, reduce the velocity of wind, protect watershed and reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. Many industries use trees as raw materials and in most cases impact the environment, but there are great differences in the impact they make. There is a need therefore to continually evaluate the operational activities of these industries to ensure that the environment is protected. The use of environmental management systems like ISO and EMAS standards has helped in the evaluation of organizations and industries. In this thesis, two sawmills Iretunde and Irepodun in Etsako-West local government area Edo state Nigeria were evaluated with the aim to determine their operational activities and how the environment is being affected by them. Subaims were to determine the most significant environmental aspects of the sawmill and their organizational structure. In actualizing the aim of this thesis, literature review, site investigation as well as oral interview of the staff and management of both sawmills were conducted. In the evaluation of the environmental aspects, the detailed method of environmental impact evaluation by Ammenberg (2004) was used were each environmental aspect that was weighted against nine identified criteria. The result obtained from the environmental aspect evaluation of both sawmills shows that the use of raw materials and emissions to air are the most significant environmental aspects. In conclusion, it was observed that the both sawmills are well structured and carry out their operational activities effectively. Neither of them has registered under any environmental management system but there is a need for them to do so in order to help check their operational activities in order to reduce their environmental impact.