EDI-and-more-recently-XML-based-systems-within-vertical-industries-such-as-RosettaNet.doc

Global Retail Chains and Poor Farmers: Evidence from MadagascarOriginal Research ArticleWorld DevelopmentDevelopment of a Healthcare Coalition for Emergency PreparednessAmerican Journal of Infection ControlThe ASEAN Free-Trade Area and its implications on the battery industryOriginal Research ArticleJournal of Power SourcesISSUE: Intentional and unintentional mass-casualty incidents, (MCIs), including epidemics, weather-related events, and mass trauma are likely to cross city, county, and even state lines. Significant MCIs in one community may impact multiple disciplines and multiple agencies. Hospitals should collaborate with other partners in the planning for, response to, and recovery from any incident. PROJECT: This abstract describes the development of a healthcare coalition for emergency preparedness in Idaho. In early 2001, a team of hospital managers and disaster coordinators developed a regional response matrix that included emergency notification contacts at each facility, resource management, and communication needs. In 2002, the Healthcare Coaliton for Emergency Preparedness (HCEP) expanded to include regional responders in 14 counties and one bordering state, including fire, emegency medical services, county disaster coordinatiors, public health, law enforcement, Civil Support Team, regional hazardous materials (HazMat) response teams, and hospital infection control practitioners. The coalition membership also includes the United States Health Resources and Services Administration Bioterrorism Preparedness Program. RESULTS: An assessment of response capability was completed and draft memoranda of agreement were developed for communication and resource sharing. The coalition developed and approved a charter, mission statement, and membership. An emergency conference call process was developed and has been used for HazMat incidents, suspicious packages and threat events, and urgent communication needs. A regional infectious disease emegency response plan was developed. This plan was activated in 2004 due to the shortage of influenza vaccine. Regional exercises have been conducted, including specific coalition action items. LESSONS LEARNED: A healthcare coalition for emergency preparedness that includes first responders, hospitals, and other partners is essential for effective emergency response. An integrated emergency response plan can minimize the impact of an incident in the field and at the hospitals, whether it be an MCI event, HazMat Event, or Infectious Disease Event.Impact of the “faster better cheaper” requirements for satellites components/subsystems on SEP organistion and processesOriginal Research ArticleActa AstronauticaIn February, 1992, the six ASEAN member nations agreed to reduce tariffs and thus, eventually, to create an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) over 15 years. AFTA will lead to more competition in the high-growth ASEAN battery domestic market. Already about ten companies from four countries export both to markets that are rigorous in quality (e.g., the USA and Australia) and to heavily discounted markets, e.g., the Middle East. To date, however, these manufacturers rarely sell to other Asean markets outside their home country. AFTA should also encourage manufacturers of battery equipment, mould making, separators, battery electricals, and testing equipment to locate their facilities in an ASEAN country. Technology and productivity is high and wages are reasonable in ASEAN nations and with AFTA, the markets are larger. Manufacturing complementation programmes will also become an attractive option.In the early 90s, SEP environment in the satellites business quickly evolved from agencies funded programs (ESA, CNES, government) to a situation in which SEP has numerous private customers and where agencies behave as private companies i.e. opening world-wide competition, requesting high involvement of SEP in non recurring funding. SEP quickly reacted to face this challenge by improving not only their products but also the way these products are developed and produced. A new organization of SEP/DPES unit (around 200 people) was set up end 1994, with project oriented guidelines such as streamlining the hierarchical levels in order to increase personals implication and motivation, favoring flexible project organizations to the previous somewhat rigid matrix organization, enforcing commercial/marketing structure to the new customers. Highly motivated slim teams were constituted around each project, picking up expert partners inside SEP/DPES departments. Project partners proved to plead in an efficient manner with their own management on the behalf of the projects they were implied in. Eventually, this organization helped, of course with other progress actions, to a global performance improvement of SEP/DPES. Improved development processes were put into practice in 1995 among which design to cost, carefully decided internal preliminary studies, long term agreements with preferred subcontractors. SEP/DPES ISO.9001 certification (mid-1998) which gives evidence of the satisfactory status of SEP/DPES PA system already helps to avoid to costly comply with numerous project tailored P.A. requirements. New products were developed/qualified since the mid-90s, on SEP funding (at least partial, sometimes total), following the here before described processes and organization. Among SEP/DPES newly developed products, three examples are more thoroughly discussed. In the field of electrical propulsion where SEP/DPES has gained expertise in since the 60s, new developments started in the early 90s in Hall propulsion through numerous partnership with Russian, American and Italian companies and/or universities. A mature knowledge of Hall thruster functioning and technologies helped SEP to recently complete a successful qualification of their first Hall thruster. “PPS 1350” which will be in flight aboard STENTOR French technological satellite in year 2000. A cost reduction research of this new product was held in parallel to the PPS 1350 qualification, taking into account all the lessons learnt during PPS 1350 development. Its major outputs are the numerous simplifications that were found leading to dramatic cost reductions without impairing thruster performances (reliability was even improved). This improved thruster is today very favorably considered by several primes for small low earth orbit satellites. Hydrazine propulsion is an other example. In this field, which SEP decided in 1996 to accompany their customers in their move from large traditional satellites (SPOT/ERS family) to smaller, cheaper ones. To do so, SEP proposed a monolithic propulsion subsystem (patented design) in which all usual propulsion subsystem assembly devices (piping, supports, brackets) are avoided, components being directly mounted on the propellant tank. Significant costs reduction could be offered to customers thanks to this innovation. Along with the hydrazine propulsion, SEP also modernised their solar array drive mechanisms the SEPTAs SEPTA 31 was qualified end 1998 and will have its maiden flight aboard CNES/ALCATEL JASONI small earth observation satellite. In summary, SEP had to make important changes in order to adapt to the market evolution, which occurred in the early 90s. There efforts implied as well organization as processes as products. First outputs are significant cost reduction; in line will the objectives. First hardware of this new generation will fly in year 2000.Observations of sexually transmitted disease consultations in IndiaOriginal Research ArticlePublic HealthObjectives: To assess the quality of sexually transmitted disease (STD) case management provided in public and private health facilities in selected areas of Madras, Tamil Nadu, India, in order to make recommendations for improving the quality of care and promote the syndromic approach to STD treatment. Methods: Structured observations of consultations for STDs in health care facilities. Scoring of the observations according to standards for history taking, examination, treatment and provision of basic health promotion advice allows evaluation of STD case management. Results: With STD treatment adequacy scored against Indian national guidelines (which recommend aetiologic treatment), history taking, examination and treatment were satisfactory in 76 out of 108 (70%) of observed consultations. However, if STD treatment adequacy is scored with respect to the syndromic approach towards selected STD (male urethritis and non herpetic genital ulcer for both sexes), only 8 out of 81 (10%) of the patients were satisfactorily managed. During 32 out of 108 (30%) of the consultations, advice on the use of condoms in order to prevent STD or HIV/AIDS was given. Instructions regarding how to use condoms were offered to seven (6%) patients and condoms were only provided to one patient (1%). Patients were urged to refer their partner(s) for treatment during 29 (27%) of consultations. A criterion of adequate use of the STD consultation for health promotion, requiring both promotion of condoms and encouragement to refer partner(s) for treatment, was met during 13 (12%) of consultations. Conclusions: Monitoring and improving the standards of care at facilities at which STDs are treated have become key roles of STD/HIV/AIDS programmes. The present report suggests that in Madras the activities of medical practitioners who treat STD patients are far from id