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The case is based on a real supply chain outsourcing management decision at a major manufacturing company. The company has been disguised for confidentiality reasons. The case discusses different types of outsourcing, supply chain management, the benefits and risks of outsourcing, and various pricing models for outsourcing contracts. Students must make a management decision and answer these questions: Is supply chain outsourcing a viable option for DB Toys? What will the return on investment be? What is the best outsourcing model? What is the best pricing model?Students learn the different types of outsourcing, supply chain management, the benefits and risks of outsourcing, and various pricing models for outsourcing contracts. Students also learn how to calculate the return on investment of supply chain outsourcing. Most important, the case enables students to understand the strategic context of outsourcing, and to decide which outsourcing model and pricing is appropriate.

Background Minimal longitudinal data exist regarding the role of lumbar musculature in predicting back pain and function. In cross-sectional study designs, there is often atrophy of the segmental multifidus muscle in subjects with low back pain compared with matched controls. However, the cross-sectional design of these studies prevents drawing conclusions regarding whether lumbar muscle characteristics predict or modify future back pain or function. Objective The primary objective of this study is to determine whether the cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbar muscles predict functional status or back pain at 6- or 12-month follow-up in older adults with spinal degeneration. The secondary objective is to evaluate whether these muscle characteristics improve outcome prediction above and beyond the prognostic information conferred by demographic and psychosocial variables. Design Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Participants A total of 209 adults aged 50 years and older with clinical and radiographic spinal stenosis from the Lumbar Epidural steroid injection for Spinal Stenosis (LESS) trial. Methods Using baseline magnetic resonance images, we calculated CSAs of the lumbar multifidus, psoas, and quadratus lumborum muscles using a standardized protocol by manually tracing the borders of each of the muscles. The relationship between lumbar muscle CSAs and baseline measures was assessed with Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients. The relationship between lumbar muscle characteristics and 6- and 12-month Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ) and back pain Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) responses was further evaluated with multivariate linear regression. A hierarchical approach to the regression was performed: a basic model with factors of conceptual importance including age, gender, BMI, and baseline RDQ score formed the first step. The second and third steps evaluated whether psychosocial variables or muscle measures conferred additional prognostic information to the basic model. Main Outcome Measures Function as measured by the RDQ and back pain as measured by the NRS at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Results Lumbar muscle CSA was not a significant predictor of 6- or 12-month RDQ or pain score in multivariate analyses. Conclusions Cross-sectional areas of lumbar muscles do not predict function or pain at medium- and long-term follow-up in adults with lumbar spinal stenosis. Level of Evidence III

The cannabis industry has gained momentum and global acceptance recently, culminating in the legalization of adult use at the federal level in Canada, a first among G20 countries. Inherent to legalization, a highly regulated regime has emerged, mostly centered on end user safety, restriction of access to youth, and diversion of market shares away from the black market and organized crime. The lack of authentication of cannabis varieties remains as an issue often unaddressed by the regulators, although this has the potential to seriously hamper research and the medical application of cannabis derived products. Here, we extend upon previous work that aims to classify cannabis accessions based on their dominant terpene profiles, focusing on four main informative terpenes, beta-myrcene, terpinolene, limonene and beta-caryophyllene. We identify three major terpene groups and present a simple genetic-based tool to bridge the variety identification gap and to enable the prediction of terpenoid expression in vegetative cannabis. This genetic tool offers promise to sorting out the strain name game that has been ongoing, thus providing greater transparency in the industry and contributing to an enhanced understanding of cannabis medicine for the end user.

INTRODUCTION The recent lowering of the World Health Organisation (WHO) haemoglobin (Hb) and haematocrit (HCT) thresholds for diagnosis of polycythaemia vera (PV) has markedly increased the proportion of complete blood counts (CBC) that could be referred for haematologist review for comment, including advice on JAK2 V617F mutation analysis. The utility of an algorithm based on CBC indices and immature platelet fraction (IPF) to select cases for haematologist review was investigated. METHODS IPF analysis was performed on 22 patients with known JAK2 V617F mutation and 41 patients who were negative for this mutation previously tested because of suspicion of PV. A reference range study for IPF was performed on 102 normal patients. The algorithm was applied to data from 163 358 CBC analyses to identify those most likely to have PV for review by a haematologist. RESULTS The CBC algorithm and IPF requirement were satisfied by 47 patients (0.03%), eight of whom were known to have myeloproliferative disorders; the remaining 39 were referred for haematologist review. CONCLUSION Utilising the algorithm enables identification of patients with a high likelihood of PV for haematological review. Large numbers are able to be screened efficiently and cost-effectively. Some patients with masked PV are able to be detected before clinical presentation.

Business practice and prior research in capital budgeting both establish that a firm’s marginal cost of capital (MCC) is not constant across the scope of its investments. Capital budgeting decision methodology in textbooks and in practice, however, does not address the full implications of capital budgeting decisions made under a non-constant MCC paradigm. An endogeneity problem arises naturally due to the presence of a non-constant MCC. In order to value a project, it is necessary to determine the appropriate cost of capital. However, in order to determine the appropriate cost of capital, a project must be ranked in order to determine where the project is found on the MCC schedule. We establish a net present value (NPV) maximizing methodology that fully resolves this problem. We demonstrate, using a Monte Carlo simulation, the potential magnitude of investment errors and the extent of shareholder wealth destruction that occurs when commonly used methods or simplifying assumptions are employed in place of using this optimizing approach.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and B virus (HBV) infections are highly prevalent, with a high percentage of undiagnosed cases. Knowledge of HCV and its modes of transmission are essential for disease prevention and management. We studied a high-risk New Zealand gang population on viral hepatitis prevalence, their level of knowledge and the liver health risk factors in a community setting. Participants completed demographic, risk factor and knowledge questionnaires in three health meetings in New Zealand. Participants' blood samples were tested for HBV, HCV, biochemical indicators of liver disease. Liver fibrosis levels were assessed using a Fibroscan ® device. We studied 52 adult Mongrel Mob members, affiliates and whānau (extended family) throughout New Zealand. We identified no HCV and two HBV cases, confirmed high-risk factor levels and poor associated knowledge, with a significant association between lack of knowledge and presence of specific risk factors. We successfully conducted a community-focused, high-risk, hard-to-reach gang population study, and found a link between lack of knowledge and risk factors for HCV infection. This study provided first-of-its-kind data on viral hepatitis in a gang population and demonstrated the need for educational screening programmes to aid early HCV detection, prevention and treatment.

Purpose Treatment options for patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) and closely related disorders include alkylating agents, purine analogs, and monoclonal antibodies. No large randomized studies have yet been reported comparing any of these approaches. Patients and Methods The randomized WM1 study (Trial Comparing Chlorambucil to Fludarabine in Patients With Advanced Waldenström Macroglobulinemia) was undertaken in 101 centers in five countries enrolling 414 eligible patients (339 with WM, 37 with non–mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue marginal zone lymphoma, and 38 with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma) who were randomly assigned to receive chlorambucil or fludarabine. The primary end point was the overall response rate (ORR). Results On the basis of intent-to-treat analysis, the ORR was 47.8% (95% CI, 40.9% to 54.8%) in the fludarabine arm versus 38.6% (95% CI, 32.0% to 45.7%) in the chlorambucil arm (P = .07). With a median follow-up of 36 months (interquartile range, 18 to 58 months), median progression-free survival (PFS), and duration of response (DR) were significantly improved in the fludarabine arm compared with the chlorambucil arm: PFS, 36.3 versus 27.1 months (P = .012) and DR, 38.3 versus 19.9 months (P < .001). In patients with WM, median overall survival (OS) was not reached in the fludarabine arm versus 69.8 months in the chlorambucil arm (95% CI, 61.6 to 79.8 months; P = .014). Grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was significantly higher among patients treated with fludarabine (36%) compared with patients treated with chlorambucil (17.8%; P < .001). Second malignancies were significantly more frequent in the chlorambucil arm with 6-year cumulative incidence rate of 20.6% versus 3.7% in the fludarabine arm (P = .001). Conclusion In the complete intent-to-treat study population, fludarabine significantly improved PFS compared with chlorambucil, and in patients with WM, it improved OS.

Policy makers have introduced a number of measures to encourage older workers to stay in the labour market, with improving access to training a particular priority. Policy action appeared justified by evidence that older workers are less likely to participate in training, and more likely to have never been offered training by employers – a key finding of Taylor and Urwin’s (2001) review of Labour Force Survey (LFS) data from 1997. This article models LFS data from 2007 to assess whether age remained a predictor of inequalities in training. It finds that men over 50 remained among those least likely to have been offered training by employers. There were other significant inequalities in participation, suggesting a polarization in access to jobs that offer opportunities for training and progression. The article concludes that policies promoting ‘active ageing’ need to challenge negative employer attitudes and acknowledge fundamental inequalities in access to skills.

An ozone enhancement in the nocturnal residual layer was observed by the Huntsville ozone lidar from the late evening to midnight on 4 October 2008. The well-correlated ozone, aerosol, water vapor, and wind structures suggest a low-level jet is responsible for this ozone enhancement. HYSPLIT backward trajectories support this conclusion with southerly transport suggesting Birmingham, AL as the source. Correspondingly, the higher increasing rate of surface ozone observed in the morning of 5 October can be explained by the entrainment into the mixed layer of higher ozone aloft on this day as compared with 4 October. This case study demonstrates the importance of continuous high-resolution lidar profiling for capturing short-duration ozone variations in the lower troposphere. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

PurposeCapital structure decisions rely on a complex array of theoretical foundations and practical considerations. At the managerial level, it is impractical to base decisions purely on theory. While one can develop a perception of an optimal capital structure, the decision is often obscured by practical limitations to the theoretical base. In order to be useful to practicing managers, policies and decision techniques need to be efficiently accomplished and based on available information. This paper seeks to provide that practical framework.Design/methodology/approachThis paper recounts the simple theoretical base for capital structure, highlights some of the problems encountered when applying the theory to reality, and suggests a framework for practical managerial decisions about capital structure. This exposition is especially useful in undergraduate business curricula, in particular for finance majors considering professional management as a career.FindingsWhile application of traditional capital structure theory is often impractical, numerous tools are available for use by professional managers to make informed decisions about capital structure.Practical implicationsThe conclusions from this paper provide a framework for current and prospective professional managers for making appropriate capital structure decisions in their management careers.Social implicationsProper managerial techniques and considerations for leverage and capital structure can potentially benefit society through more prudent use of debt, based on the variety of measures presented in this paper.Originality/valueTopics discussed in this paper have been in development since the 1950s. The contribution of this paper is the creation of a framework for understanding and applying these topics, for pedagogical and management training purposes.

A tropospheric ozone Differential Absorption Lidar system, developed jointly by The University of Alabama in Huntsville and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, is making regular observations of ozone vertical distributions between 1 and 8 km with two receivers under both daytime and nighttime conditions using lasers at 285 and 291 nm. This paper describes the lidar system and analysis technique with some measurement examples. An iterative aerosol correction procedure reduces the retrieval error arising from differential aerosol backscatter in the lower troposphere. Lidar observations with coincident ozonesonde flights demonstrate that the retrieval accuracy ranges from better than 10% below 4 km to better than 20% below 8 km with 750-m vertical resolution and 10-min temporal integration.

This paper uses employer survey data to identify whether and why the probability that a firm uses external advice varies across sectors. The results suggest that the probability of a firm using external advice does vary across sectors and these sector differences can be explained by differences in inherent problems, managerial aspirations and location. Policy makers should not be sector-blind when encouraging firms to use external advice.

In this paper, we find evidence that stock split announcements have a greater wealth effect when market volatility, as measured by the VIX index, is low. This effect is driven primarily by small firms. These results support the hypothesis that when market volatility is high, signals sent by small firms are more likely to be obscured by noise than when market volatility is low.

Radiation in low Earth orbit (LEO) is mainly composed of galactic cosmic rays (GCR), solar energetic particles and particles in SAA (South Atlantic Anomaly). The biological impact of space radiation to astronauts depends strongly on the particles’ linear energy transfer (LET) and is dominated by high LET radiation. It is important to measure the LET spectrum for the space radiation field and to investigate the influence of radiation on astronauts. At present, the preferred active dosimeters sensitive to all LET are the tissue equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) and the silicon detectors in various configurations; the preferred passive dosimeters are CR-39 plastic nuclear track detectors (PNTDs) sensitive to high LET and thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs) as well as optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) sensitive to low LET. The TEPC, CR-39 PNTDs, TLDs and OSLDs were used to investigate the radiation field for the ISS mission Expedition 13 (ISS-12S) in LEO. LET spectra and radiation quantities (fluence, absorbed dose, dose equivalent and quality factor) were measured for the space mission with different dosimeters. This paper introduces the role of high LET radiation in radiobiology, the operational principles for the different dosimeters, the LET spectrum method using CR-39 detectors, the method to combine the results measured with TLDs/OSLDs and CR-39 PNTDs, and presents the LET spectra and the radiation quantities measured and combined.

A multi-agent system (MAS) is a computational system in which two or more intelligent agents work together to perform a set of tasks. MAS's have had a significant impact in a wide range of applications. However, little attention has been paid to the design of human–agent user interfaces. Our research was conducted primarily to further explore interaction between humans and intelligent agents, as well as attempt to solidify foundational concepts for intelligent multi-agent system interface design. Based on the foundation of the commercialized PC game Unreal Tournament 2003, a framework was developed that utilized fundamental interface design principles as well as newly designed guidelines. Three user interfaces were designed for an experiment conducted with 25 participants. Their performances were evaluated via effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, and workload metrics. Through the testing of scenario tasks, an in-depth study was conducted on the collaboration between the human user and intelligent agents within a system. Finally, the paper summarized a set of design principles and guidelines developed through the study, which could easily be applicable to the design of future user interfaces for multi-agent systems. Relevance to industry A deeper understanding of the manner by which the appropriate information is provided to the user interacting with multi-agent systems in the correct form at the right time should have a broad impact on the future development of intelligent multi-agent system interfaces.

The primary purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the overall effect of simulated environmental noise on the P300 Speller in order to obtain usability and performance data. P300 Speller is a P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows people with motor disabilities to type characters just by thinking. Two environmental noise simulations (quiet [20–40 dB], and noisy [70–120 dB]) were examined to simulate the effects of real-world noise. Results of the study indicated that although there were differences in accuracy rate and information transfer rate (ITR) between the noise and quiet conditions, the environmental noise factor was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the P300 amplitude was significantly higher in the noisy condition than in the quiet condition. Unlike the common knowledge that BCI applications are generally preferred to be performed in quiet conditions, higher noise levels seem to increase user concentration. The outcomes of this research should have a broad impact on future user interface design of BCI applications.

In 1999 Geddes and Newman highlighted five key tensions in New Labour's adoption of the ‘new centrist’ approach to Local Economic Development (LED). This article reflects on the continuing relevance of these tensions in relation local labour markets and in the light of the publication of three major independent reviews of policy in relation to child poverty, skills provision and welfare reform and the Government's response to these. It suggests that in the main the tensions identified by Geddes and Newman remain relevant, especially within the emerging national policy framework. However, it also ends optimistically, by suggesting that there is scope for LED actors to piece together an approach which can begin to move toward a resolution of the tensions through bringing together employment and skills policies at the local level, developing more effective models of partnership working (including with employers), and taking the sustainability agenda more seriously.

This paper presents a synthesized model explaining the returns of short-sale constrained stocks. We combine short-sale constraints that were previously treated individually or in pairs into a more fully specified model. The model is also specified in generally falling versus generally rising markets, and in consideration of relative effects for large/mid-cap versus small/micro-cap firms. There is evidence that a more fully specified model provides additional insight with less factor omission bias than prior models. Beyond that, our results indicate asymmetric pricing differences between least versus most short-sale constrained stocks, sensitive to overall market direction.

Carbon ion implantation and high vacuum electron beam annealing have been applied to produce 200–300 nm large SiC nanocrystals on silicon. Simultaneously, Si nanostructures, called silicon nanowhiskers, grow in the unimplanted region of the (1 0 0) Si substrate during the annealing treatment. The lateral transition region between the SiC nanocrystals and Si nanostructures has been investigated using optical microscopy, deuteron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Carbon distributions were measured via the 13C(d, p0)14C nuclear reaction with a focused scanning deuteron beam with an energy of 1.05 MeV. It has been found that the carbon distribution is directly linked to the growth of the SiC nanostructures. At the boundary between the implanted and un-implanted region, the amount of carbon decreases over 50 μm which causes an abrupt depletion of SiC nanocrystals at this transition region. Specific results outline the important role of nuclear microscopy in nanotechnology process development.

SmartView™ Lower Minimums (SVLM) is a Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS) that has been developed as a Flight Path Vector (FPV) Primary Flight Display (PFD) with additional pilot in the loop control display elements and system integrity monitors. SVLM is based upon previously certified Primus Epic® avionics architecture with a software update to an existing Primus Epic SmartView certified display. The flight instrument design enables any typically trained pilot to fly a more tightly controlled approach easily and routinely, achieving a sustained level of performance for the entire instrument approach procedure. SVLM is intended to enable lower than standard approach minimums at Category (CAT) I and CAT II airfields with a CAT I trained crew.

Past research on labour-market skills shortages indicates that employers report skills shortages or hard-to-fill vacancies for a variety of different reasons. Nevertheless, there is some consensus that skills-shortages analysis needs to examine such shortages within the context of the local labour market in order to understand the labour-market dynamics and structural factors that affect the propensity for unemployed people to fill ‘skills shortage’ vacancies. The traditional approach has been to utilise qualitative analysis and case studies. In contrast, in this paper we undertake a multivariate probit analysis of employer perceptions of skills shortages utilising a subregional dataset from a survey of Dorset employers undertaken in 1998. On a general level, we demonstrate the complexity involved in attempting to measure skills problems using the responses of employers to standard surveys. The key findings of the probit analysis are that: firm size is a significant determinant in skills-deficiency perception, growing firms have a higher skills-shortage perception, and reported perceptions of skills deficiencies vary significantly according to the position of the respondent in the organisation. This reinforces the message that great care needs to be taken when analysing measures of skills deficiencies that are derived solely from employer surveys at national or subregional level.

When bacterial cells are stressed by a change in the environment, they respond by changing the activity of enzymes at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. The UVA component (400–315 nm) of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface is one of the most common stresses encountered by bacteria in their environment. Bacteria have evolved various antioxidant defense systems to increase survival when subjected to the deleterious effects of UVA irradiation. Recently, UVA-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damage have been shown to be dependent on radiation intensity and dose distribution, not just total energy dose. We now report that when Escherichia coli is subjected to continuous sublethal, low-fluence UVA irradiation (7.4 W/m2) while growing to stationary phase, it responds by changing the activity levels of hydroperoxidases (HPI, HPII), glutathione reductase and manganese superoxide dismutase. This leads to an attenuation of the growth-delay response and an increase resistance to lethal UVA irradiation. When E. coli is given a UVA dose of 135 kJ/m2 delivered at a fluence rate of 50 W/m2, extensive protein oxidation occurs which may contribute to the inhibition of key cellular enzymes, leading to cellular dysfunction, DNA damage and eventually death. Changes in antioxidant enzymes induced by low-fluence UVA irradiation do not confer greater protection from protein oxidation after a challenge dose of UVA irradiation delivered at a fluence rate of 50 W/m2.

Purpose – This article proposes the development of a conceptual model to help understand the nature of management learning in the micro business context and to inform research and policy discourse.Design/methodology/approach – The model is developed on the basis of a literature search and review of academic and grey literature.Findings – The model highlights the unique nature of the micro business learning environment. Meeting the diverse interests of micro business managers is a major challenge for agencies seeking to promote and deliver management and leadership skills. An intervention approach founded upon the relationship between the micro business manager and the intervention agency is crucial to the successful design and delivery of relevant services.Research limitations/implications – The research identified a lack of literature associated with learning in the micro business context. The model should therefore be considered as partial, to be tested in practice and subject to revision as new underst...

The full intent and scope of design is rarely iterated by information alone. Ultimately, it is a team that ensures the work is executed with skill and care. Steve Johnson, project architect for the acclaimed Weald & Downland Gridshell, illustrates how its construction generated an enthusiastic partnership of hands-on expertise that has since led to the establishment of a new visionary organisation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.