Strategic development of flexible manufacturing facilities

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 1299-1314
Author(s):  
Katherine M. Madson ◽  
Bryan Franz ◽  
Keith R. Molenaar ◽  
Gül Okudan Kremer
Keyword(s):  
Flexible Manufacturing ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
The United States ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Facility Design ◽  
Design Strategies ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Manufacturing Facilities ◽  
High Level

PurposeThis article addresses the lack of formal design guidance that supports flexibility within the architectural and engineered systems of manufacturing facilities through the development of a taxonomy and associated terminology.Design/methodology/approachThis research performed a comparative analysis of 15 manufacturing facilities located both within the United States (73 percent of cases) and internationally (27 percent of cases). These case studies provided details on how and where flexibility was incorporated into the design of a manufacturing facility. Specific consideration was given to the primary design features that enabled a decoupling of the facility from the manufacturing process. These design features were then clustered to identify main design strategies that enable flexibility.FindingsBy grouping the design features together and creating a common vocabulary, three coherent design approaches for flexible facilities were identified, each having a different potential for responding to short-term and long-term changes. These include general purpose, scalable, and dedicated facilities.Research limitations/implicationsBy delineating three high-level strategies for early flexible facility design, this research synthesizes a conceptual understanding of flexibility with practical and implementable designs. This synthesis provides an incremental advance to a complex challenge for researchers. It also provides decision support to design teams by aiding in project definition, when flexibility is desirable. This research is primarily limited by the number of cases reviewed. With more cases, additional facility design strategies may be identified.Practical implicationsThe findings in this research allow for a basic understanding of how a flexible facility can be designed with only limited or vague information about the product and manufacturing processes contained within. The development of terminology associated with each facility design strategy provides standardization for the discussion and implementation of flexibility early in the design process. In doing so, flexible designs become easier to create and more efficient to implement.Originality/valueThis research provides the first synthesized approach for considering flexible facility design strategies within the manufacturing sector.

India’s vaccine diplomacy brings money and influence

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
The United States ◽  
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pharmaceutical Ingredients ◽  
The World

Significance Last week, its partners in the ‘Quad’ grouping -- the United States, Japan and Australia -- agreed to help increase its vaccine manufacturing and exporting capacity. Each of the Quad members is wary of China, which like India is gifting and selling coronavirus jabs around the world. Impacts India’s manufacturing sector will attract more foreign direct investment. Greater cooperation over supply chains will help strengthen India-Australia ties. Indian pharma will in the long term aim to ease dependence on imports of active pharmaceutical ingredients from China.

scholarly journals Entity deduplication in big data graphs for scholarly communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-435
Author(s):  
Paolo Manghi ◽  
Claudio Atzori ◽  
Michele De Bonis ◽  
Alessia Bardi
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Open Science ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
High Level Architecture ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Actual Problem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Infrastructure System ◽  
High Level

PurposeSeveral online services offer functionalities to access information from “big research graphs” (e.g. Google Scholar, OpenAIRE, Microsoft Academic Graph), which correlate scholarly/scientific communication entities such as publications, authors, datasets, organizations, projects, funders, etc. Depending on the target users, access can vary from search and browse content to the consumption of statistics for monitoring and provision of feedback. Such graphs are populated over time as aggregations of multiple sources and therefore suffer from major entity-duplication problems. Although deduplication of graphs is a known and actual problem, existing solutions are dedicated to specific scenarios, operate on flat collections, local topology-drive challenges and cannot therefore be re-used in other contexts.Design/methodology/approachThis work presents GDup, an integrated, scalable, general-purpose system that can be customized to address deduplication over arbitrary large information graphs. The paper presents its high-level architecture, its implementation as a service used within the OpenAIRE infrastructure system and reports numbers of real-case experiments.FindingsGDup provides the functionalities required to deliver a fully-fledged entity deduplication workflow over a generic input graph. The system offers out-of-the-box Ground Truth management, acquisition of feedback from data curators and algorithms for identifying and merging duplicates, to obtain an output disambiguated graph.Originality/valueTo our knowledge GDup is the only system in the literature that offers an integrated and general-purpose solution for the deduplication graphs, while targeting big data scalability issues. GDup is today one of the key modules of the OpenAIRE infrastructure production system, which monitors Open Science trends on behalf of the European Commission, National funders and institutions.

scholarly journals Multicenter Performance Assessment of Carba NP Test

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1954-1960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Cunningham ◽  
Brandi Limbago ◽  
Maria Traczewski ◽  
Karen Anderson ◽  
Meredith Hackel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Performance Assessment ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Testing Laboratories ◽  
Blinded Manner ◽  
High Level ◽  
Site Versus

ABSTRACT Eighty Gram-negative bacilli (54 Enterobacteriaceae and 26 nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli) obtained from multiple institutions in the United States were distributed in a blinded manner to seven testing laboratories to compare their performance of a test for detection of carbapenemase production, the Carba NP test. The Carba NP test was performed by all laboratories, following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) procedure. Site-versus-site comparisons demonstrated a high level of consistency for the Carba NP assay, with just 3/21 site comparisons yielding a difference in sensitivity ( P < 0.05). Previously described limitations with bla OXA-48-like carbapenemases and bla OXA carbapenemases associated with Acinetobacter baumannii were noted. Based on these data, we demonstrate that the Carba NP test, when implemented with the standardized CLSI methodology, provides reproducible results across multiple sites for detection of carbapenemases.

Modularity matters: a critical review and synthesis of service modularity

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nofie Iman
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Development Context ◽  
High Level ◽  
Service Perspective

Purpose – The literature on modularity is extensive, but most research has been concerned with the manufacturing sector and much less with the service sector. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the existing research, to provide a critique of the empirical literature on service modularity and to discuss future research opportunities. Design/methodology/approach – To perform this analysis of service modularity, a list of top-tier journals in the field of business management and organisation was compiled. From there, each and every article was identified, examined, coded and classified into high-level themes. These were then reviewed, analysed and interpreted. Findings – This paper argues that the application of modularity in services will likely be influenced by certain characteristics that distinguish services from products. Second, modularity, from the service perspective, has been closely connected to productisation of services, and the discussion of modularity related to services has been greatly influenced by the earlier discussion on product modularity. This paper concludes that modularity in the service development context is still seeking its theoretical “identity” and requires further theoretical and empirical work on service design modularity conceptualisation, methods and measures. Originality/value – This paper has reviewed several significant fields with which research on service modularity has been concerned. It captures and presents the core notion of service modularity in a critical way that might spur further research in the field.

scholarly journals Activity of Ceftaroline and Epidemiologic Trends in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Collected from 43 Medical Centers in the United States in 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 (9) ◽  
pp. 4154-4160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra S. Richter ◽  
Kristopher P. Heilmann ◽  
Cassie L. Dohrn ◽  
Fathollah Riahi ◽  
Andrew J. Costello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
The United States ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Type Iv ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
High Level ◽  
Resistance Rates

ABSTRACTAStaphylococcus aureussurveillance program was initiated in the United States to examine thein vitroactivity of ceftaroline and epidemiologic trends. Susceptibility testing by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution was performed on 4,210 clinically significant isolates collected in 2009 from 43 medical centers. All isolates were screened formecAby PCR and evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) were analyzed for Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes and the staphylococcal cassette chromosomemec(SCCmec) type. All isolates had ceftaroline MICs of ≤2 μg/ml with an MIC50of 0.5 and an MIC90of 1 μg/ml. The overall resistance rates, expressed as the percentages of isolates that were intermediate and resistant (or nonsusceptible), were as follows: ceftaroline, 1.0%; clindamycin, 30.2% (17.4% MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml; 12.8% inducible); daptomycin, 0.2%; erythromycin, 65.5%; levofloxacin, 39.9%; linezolid, 0.02%; oxacillin, 53.4%; tetracycline, 4.4%; tigecycline, 0%; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 1.6%; vancomycin, 0%; and high-level mupirocin, 2.2%. ThemecAPCR was positive for 53.4% of the isolates. The ceftaroline MIC90s were 0.25 μg/ml for methicillin-susceptibleS. aureusand 1 μg/ml for MRSA. Among the 2,247 MRSA isolates, 51% were USA300 (96.9% PVL positive, 99.7% SCCmectype IV) and 17% were USA100 (93.4% SCCmectype II). The resistance rates for the 1,137 USA300 MRSA isolates were as follows: erythromycin, 90.9%; levofloxacin, 49.1%; clindamycin, 7.6% (6.2% MIC ≥ 4 μg/ml; 1.4% inducible); tetracycline, 3.3%; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 0.8%; high-level mupirocin, 2.7%; daptomycin, 0.4%; and ceftaroline and linezolid, 0%. USA300 is the dominant clone causing MRSA infections in the United States. Ceftaroline demonstrated potentin vitroactivity against recentS. aureusclinical isolates, including MRSA, daptomycin-nonsusceptible, and linezolid-resistant strains.

scholarly journals Molecular Characterization of a Voriconazole-Resistant, Posaconazole-Susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus Isolate in a Lung Transplant Recipient in the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 1129-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Vazquez ◽  
Elias K. Manavathu
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Molecular Characterization ◽  
Lung Transplant ◽  
Transplant Patient ◽  
The United States ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTMolecular characterization ofcyp51Afrom the azole-resistantAspergillus fumigatusisolate 50593 from a lung transplant patient showed Y121F/T289A changes coupled with a 46-bp tandem repeat (TR46) on the promoter, whereascyp51Afrom the pretherapy isolate,A. fumigatus47381, showed no changes. This is the first reported case ofA. fumigatusazole resistance due to Y121F/T289A/TR46 in the United States, suggesting that multiple mutational alterations ofcyp51Aresulting in high-level azole resistance could occur during prolonged antifungal therapy.

scholarly journals Superantigens Are Critical for Staphylococcus aureus Infective Endocarditis, Sepsis, and Acute Kidney Injury

mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilmara Salgado-Pabón ◽  
Laura Breshears ◽  
Adam R. Spaulding ◽  
Joseph A. Merriman ◽  
Christopher S. Stach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Acute Kidney Injury ◽  
Infective Endocarditis ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lethal Sepsis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Bacterial Accumulation ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACTInfective endocarditis and kidney infections are serious complications ofStaphylococcus aureussepsis. We investigated the role of superantigens (SAgs) in the development of lethal sepsis, infective endocarditis, and kidney infections. SAgs cause toxic shock syndrome, but it is unclear if SAgs contribute to infective endocarditis and kidney infections secondary to sepsis. We show in the methicillin-resistantS. aureusstrain MW2 that lethal sepsis, infective endocarditis, and kidney infections in rabbits are critically dependent on high-level SAgs. In contrast, the isogenic strain lacking staphylococcal enterotoxin C (SEC), the major SAg in this strain, is attenuated in virulence, while complementation restores disease production. SAgs’ role in infective endocarditis appears to be both superantigenicity and direct endothelial cell stimulation. Maintenance of elevated blood pressure by fluid therapy significantly protects from infective endocarditis, possibly through preventing bacterial accumulation on valves and increased SAg elimination. These data should facilitate better methods to manage these serious illnesses.IMPORTANCEThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2007 thatStaphylococcus aureusis the most significant cause of serious infectious diseases in the United States (R. M. Klevens, M. A. Morrison, J. Nadle, S. Petit, K. Gershman, et al., JAMA 298:1763–1771, 2007). Among these infections are sepsis, infective endocarditis, and acute kidney injury. Infective endocarditis occurs in 30 to 60% of patients withS. aureusbacteremia and carries a mortality rate of 40 to 50%. Over the past decades, infective endocarditis outcomes have not improved, and infection rates are steadily increasing (D. H. Bor, S. Woolhandler, R. Nardin, J. Brusch, D. U. Himmelstein, PLoS One 8:e60033, 2013). There is little understanding of theS. aureusvirulence factors that are key for infective endocarditis development and kidney abscess formation. We demonstrate that superantigens are critical in the causation of all three infections. We show that their association results from both superantigenicity and direct toxic effects on endothelial cells, the latter likely contributing to delayed endothelium healing. Our studies contribute significantly to understanding the development of these illnesses and are expected to lead to development of important therapies to treat such illnesses.

Colombian and Mexican extradition norms will diverge

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
National Pride ◽  
High Profile ◽  
Drug Lord ◽  
Prison Systems ◽  
High Level

Subject Sending high-level criminals to face incarceration in the United States is a perpetual source of controversy in both Colombia and Mexico. Significance The Colombian peace process has revived debate over extradition, raising questions of justice, sovereignty and national pride. Meanwhile, the escape of Sinaloa Cartel drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman from a Mexican high-security prison in July gave further weight to the arguments of those in Mexico advocating extradition to the United States. Impacts Prison systems and facilities are unlikely to improve significantly in the short-to-medium-term. Mexico will extradite more high-profile cartel members to the United States. Colombian paramilitaries are less likely to be extradited if implicated in human rights abuses. Colombian guerrillas will not be extradited.

Chinese BRI in Balkans will rouse West’s concerns

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Economic Diplomacy ◽  
Low Profile ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
High Level

Subject Chinese projects in Balkans. Significance China’s growing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) footprint in South-Eastern Europe has put the EU and the United States on alert. Coupled with traditional Russian and Turkish influence in the region, Beijing’s economic diplomacy fuels fears of escalating geopolitical competition. Impacts Chinese investment projects will face greater EU scrutiny. Infrastructure development remains central to China’s presence but also raises concerns about high-level corruption and the rule of law. Unlike Russia, China will keep a low profile on political issues such as Kosovo.

scholarly journals Assessment of Tedizolid In Vitro Activity and Resistance Mechanisms against a Collection of Enterococcus spp. Causing Invasive Infections, Including Isolates Requiring an Optimized Dosing Strategy for Daptomycin from U.S. and European Medical Centers, 2016 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia G. Carvalhaes ◽  
Helio S. Sader ◽  
Robert K. Flamm ◽  
Jennifer M. Streit ◽  
Rodrigo E. Mendes
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Aminoglycoside Resistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Enterococcus Spp ◽  
Invasive Infections ◽  
Dosing Strategy ◽  
High Level

ABSTRACT High-level aminoglycoside resistance was noted in 30.0% of Enterococcus faecalis and 25.2% of Enterococcus faecium isolates. Only 3.3% and 2.1% of E. faecalis isolates had elevated daptomycin MIC (≥2 mg/liter) and vancomycin resistance, respectively. In contrast, 37.4% to 40.3% of E. faecium isolates exhibited these phenotypes. Tedizolid inhibited 98.9% to 100.0% of enterococci causing serious invasive infections, including resistant subsets. Oxazolidinone resistance was mainly driven by G2576T; however, optrA and poxtA genes were also detected, including poxtA in the United States and Turkey.

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