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The measurement of the operational efficiency of metallurgical processes depends on the accurate determination of the process flows and the concentrations of the refined metals. Unfortunately, the measurement of both flows and concentrations are sparse in these types of processes. A mixture of information has to be gathered and recorded, from continuous to discrete information and from automatic to manually collected data. This significantly hinders the ability to maintain a smart operation. This paper presents new tools and methodologies to increase the operational efficiency of the metallurgical process and reduce metal losses. Among the topics included are the integration of all sections of a metallurgical complex and the implementation of real-time performance management, which uses unifying analysis methods to provide real-time intelligence.

While working as a nurse/therapist in Sarajevo, I had the opportunity to work in an experimental situation at a center for torture survivors. This was to see if the use of Reiki would have a beneficial effect on this type of patient. It involved a rethink on traditional Reiki hand positions, music, and the general set-up of the room being used. It was a challenge, and one I was delighted to have had. The people I worked with were wonderful, and the changes in them over the period were so positive. The staff at the Center were delighted; I was delighted; but so much more importantly, the patients were delighted. The ground has now been broken and hopefully will be considered in a positive light for other traumatized patients.

To test the short-term feasibility and efficacy of seven nonpharmacologic interventions in persons with high normal diastolic blood pressure.Randomized control multicenter trials.Volunteers recruited from the community, treated and followed up at special clinics.Of 16,821 screenees, 2182 men and women, aged 30 through 54 years, with diastolic blood pressure from 80 through 89 mm Hg were selected. Of these, 50 did not return for follow-up blood pressure measurements.Three life-style change groups (weight reduction, sodium reduction, and stress management) were each compared with unmasked nonintervention controls over 18 months. Four nutritional supplement groups (calcium, magnesium, potassium, and fish oil) were each compared singly, in double-blind fashion, with placebo controls over 6 months.Primary: change in diastolic blood pressure from baseline to final follow-up, measured by blinded observers. Secondary: changes in systolic blood pressure and intervention compliance measures.Weight reduction intervention produced weight loss of 3.9 kg (P less than .01), diastolic blood pressure change of -2.3 mm Hg (P less than .01), and systolic blood pressure change of -2.9 mm Hg (P less than .01). Sodium reduction interventions lowered urinary sodium excretion by 44 mmol/24 h (P less than .01), diastolic blood pressure by 0.9 mm Hg (P less than .05), and systolic blood pressure by 1.7 mm Hg (P less than .01). Despite good compliance, neither stress management nor nutritional supplements reduced diastolic blood pressure or systolic blood pressure significantly (P greater than .05).Weight reduction is the most effective of the strategies tested for reducing blood pressure in normotensive persons. Sodium reduction is also effective. The long-term effects of weight reduction and sodium reduction, alone and in combination, require further evaluation.

The five cases that follow were developed with institutions of higher education in mind. The cases have been grounded by actual evaluations with settings, conditions, and constraints that should be recognizable if not typical. As is true of the other cases in the Casebook,these cases are meant to be illustrative and are not meant to serve as a definitive model. In each case, contextual events play an important role in determining evaluation options. The decisions made often are not optional, but reflect the tradeoffs and compromises that characterize evaluation practice in any setting.