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There are many different approaches to product optimization, each with its own strengths and limitations. To address some of these limitations, a unique, consumer-driven approach was developed to rapidly navigate a path through a qualitative product space (QPS) to reach the product that best meets the product sensory criteria, rather than having to evaluate all products in the design and build models to determine the optimum as in classic design of experiments. During this rapid product navigation (RPN) process, consumers participate in a unique form of qualitative discussion groups, during which prototypes are evaluated and discussed in-depth, with the group’s response to each prototype determining the next prototype to be presented. This adaptive, stimulus–response process is a listening and learning approach rather than a modeling approach and provides a deeper understanding of not only what the best product is, but also why it is the best. Due to the strong partnership required between the product researcher and product development, the business also gains a deeper understanding of consumer language and key design elements, which then feeds back into future product development projects. It is also possible to identify potential consumer segments that may not be obvious from traditional sensory evaluation and ensure that the resulting product design meets the product sensory requirements for the intended audience. This approach to developing the optimal product has demonstrated multiple successes, cutting product development time from 18–24 months to less than 6 months.

Four sets of respondents participated in conjoint studies designed to identify the statements that drive ratings of “craveability.” Two studies dealt with chocolate candy, two studies dealt with ice cream. Each conjoint study comprised 36 elements combined into 60 unique combinations and was run on the Internet. Both pairs of conjoint analysis studies were run first in the summer and then in the winter, among separate groups of respondents. For the total panel, the utility values for the individual concept elements were quite similar by season, suggesting no seasonality effects. Segmentation of respondents into groups based upon patterns of utilities revealed three segments: “Elaborates” (responsive evocative phrases about the food), “Classics” (responsive to statements about the food in the traditional sense) and “Imaginers” (responsive to other features such as emotion and brand). Only “Imaginers” showed a strong and intuitively appropriate effect of season. “Elaborates” and “Classics” showed slight, counter intuitive seasonality effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Food preferences deal with food, as well as the context in which it is eaten. This paper presents the utility values of different statements about a food as revealed in a conjoint study, and possibly, as influenced by seasonality. Food preferences have to be reconsidered, to incorporate the seasonality and other values surrounding food, e.g., ambience, emotion, brand, etc. One of the key outcomes of this study is the repeatability of the results across seasons for different respondents. The results are sufficiently robust to allow deeper investigation of departures from reliability as representing something beyond random. The results presented here suggest that on a total panel basis, one should not necessarily find very much that is affected by seasonality, at least if the results from the ice cream and chocolate conjoint studies are replicated. There will be bias when one looks at the subgroups of consumers.

Summary Objectives To assess the correlation and agreement between measurements of P O 2 , P CO 2 , H + and HCO 3 − in arterial and capillary blood in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. To assess the repeatability of capillary measurements. Design Method comparison study. Setting Accident and emergency department in a university teaching hospital. Main outcome measures Measurements of P O 2 , P CO 2 , H + and HCO 3 − in one arterial and two capillary samples taken from consecutive patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. Results The agreement between measurements of P CO 2 , H + and HCO 3 − in arterial and capillary blood was good with mean differences of 0.087kPa, 1.044nmol/l and 0.513mmol/l, respectively. The corresponding 95% limits of agreement were narrow. The agreement between measurements of P O 2 was poor with a mean difference of 1.256kPa and wide 95% limits of agreement. There was good repeatability between capillary samples with mean differences of 0.094kPa, 0.674nmol/l and 0.028mmol/l for measurements of P CO 2 , H + and HCO 3 respectively and narrow coefficients of repeatability. Conclusions Capillary blood gas measurements provide an accurate assessment of P CO 2 , H + and HCO 3 − and can be used to reliably measure the ventilatory status of patients. Combined with continuous pulse oximetry they can be used as an alternative to arterial blood gas measurements in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.

Yogurt, a food already considered to be healthy, can benefit from health messaging and promotion. A market exists for yogurts containing added health benefits. This paper presents the results of Healthy You! 2002, an online conjoint study of yogurt consumers, which identified patterns of preference of marketing statements in the areas of health information, sensory communications, emotional benefits and endorsements. Yogurt consumers were categorized into four segments, based on the pattern of their utility values. Health Seekers (33%) want healthy yogurts, but are not willing to sacrifice taste, the Product Lovers (24%) eat yogurt because of the health benefits, Anti Healthy Devotees (36%) are driven by the total taste, textural, and situational experience of consuming yogurt, whereas Flavor Cravers (7%) are loyal to their brand, and influenced by endorsements from health agencies.

The Canadian hospitality market is underdeveloped and less overbuilt compared to its US counterpart and the combination of a growing economy, increased tourism, business spending and government initiatives presents impressive hotel development opportunities. This paper will examine why this is good news for hoteliers and the hospitality industry and why it is time for hotel investors to take a good hard look at Canada.

A Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase CFD model is employed for the air/water flow. A 3D structure grid is used to incorporate the air nozzle and tank geometry. The fixed frictionless wall boundary approximating the free surface acts as a sink to allow the air bubbles to escape. The air/water volume fraction in the flotation tank is evaluated to determine the effective air/water fluid density. The floc particle is then introduced and is tracked in the air/water fluid using a disperse Lagrangean model. Fate of these flocs depends on their sizes and density. Flocs therefore can either escape through the top water surface, settles in the main tank or breakthrough under the outlet weir. The CFD model is developed for a full scale DAF tank to predict the flow dynamic, particle removal and settled solid profile. The general flow pattern is compared with flow visualisation using the underwater camera. Comparison of average fluid velocities is carried out using acoustic Doppler velocimetry ADV measurement.

This study reports the findings of an analysis of temporal correlation between tremor of different muscles of the same and different limbs in four patients with Parkinson's disease. Spectral coherence methods were used for determining whether simultaneously occurring oscillations in the electromyograms of different muscles are statistically coupled. The incidence of significant coherence was considerably higher for muscle pairs in the same limb than for pairs in different limbs; Parkinson's disease tremor is coupled within but not between limbs. Because the characteristics of tremor are known to vary under different behavioral situations, the intralimb coupling was examined for different tasks. A mental arithmetic task resulted in an increase in the coherence between muscles of the same limb, whereas the finger-to-nose task decreased the coherence. No significant change in coherence was found for a postural task. The amplitude and regularity of tremor electromyography showed changes analogous to those in coherence. These results support the hypothesis that tremor in different limbs results from the activity of several neural circuits oscillating independently. The results also emphasize the value of these methods for rigorously characterizing tremor, in relation to disease state, behavioral conditions, and the selection of treatment strategies.

Laparoscopic techniques allow for less-invasive treatment of common surgical problems. Laparoscopic instruments are different from standard surgical instruments and generally incorporate a pistol-grip handle configuration with rings for the fingers. This handle configuration has been reported as being uncomfortable, leading to finger compression neuropathies in some cases. As an alternative, the surgeon can choose to grasp laparoscopic instruments using a more powerful palm grip during grasping motions. This study evaluates the hypothesis that the use of the palm grip requires less muscle tension than the finger-grip when grasping with laparoscopic instruments. Nine general surgeons used an Autosuture laparoscopic grasper with a ringed pistol-grip handle held in both a finger-in-ring (F) or palm (P) hand grip position to grasp and close two spring-loaded metal plates. The same task was performed with a surgical haemostat clamp (H) for comparison. Each subject performed the grasping task in a random sequence for the three instrument configurations at two grasping forces levels (0.7 and 4.2 N), and with the instrument at three angles to the subjects' sagittal plane (0 degree, 45 degrees and 90 degrees). Surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were acquired from the flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU), flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), extensor digitorum comunis (EDC) and the thenar compartment (TH). The peak root mean squared (RMS) EMG voltage was averaged for five repetitions at each instrument, force and angle condition. Statistical analysis was carried out by repeated measures ANOVA. The muscle EMG RMS amplitude while using the palm grip was decreased in the FDS, TH and EDC, was unchanged in the ECU and FCU, and was slightly higher in the FDP when compared with the finger grip. These differences were most prominent at 90 degrees to the sagittal plane where the subjects' wrists neared maximal flexion. It is concluded that the palm grip is more powerful than the finger grip when grasping with laparoscopic instruments, particularly at angles perpendicular to the surgeon's sagittal plane.

A new reader is presented that is based on a narrowband pulsed excitation of two SAW resonators contained in a differential wireless resonant sensor such as a torque senor. Simultaneous excitation of the resonators working at 433–437 MHz allows achieving a flat system frequency response up to Nyquist frequency. An interrogation algorithm and a structure of the reader ensure a torque sampling rate of at least 16 kHz and the system bandwidth of at least 8 kHz achievable at the processor clock of 150 MHz. Systematic errors caused by mutual interference of the two SAW responses, intermodulation products and aliasing are discussed. Random errors caused by the phase noise of the local oscillators are analyzed theoretically. Experimental results are also presented.

To assess the potential risk for other tick-borne diseases, we collected 100 adult Ixodes scapularis in Hunterdon County, a rapidly developing rural county in Lyme disease endemic western New Jersey. We tested the ticks by polymerase chain reaction for Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia microti, and the rickettsial agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Fifty-five ticks were infected with at least one of the three pathogens: 43 with B. burgdorferi, five with B. microti, and 17 with the HGE agent. Ten ticks were coinfected with two of the pathogens. The results suggest that county residents are at considerable risk for infection by a tick-borne pathogen after an I. scapularis bite.

A Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase CFD model is employed for the air/water flow. A 3D structure grid is used to incorporate the air nozzle and tank geometry. The fixed frictionless wall boundary approximating the free surface acts as a sink to allow the air bubbles to escape. The air/water volume fraction in the flotation tank is evaluated to determine the effective air/water fluid density. The floc particle is then introduced and is tracked in the air/water fluid using a disperse Lagrangean model. Fate of these flocs depends on their sizes and density. Flocs therefore can either escape through the top water surface, settles in the main tank or breakthrough under the outlet weir. The CFD model is developed for a full scale DAF tank to predict the flow dynamic, particle removal and settled solid profile. The general flow pattern is compared with flow visualisation using the underwater camera. Comparison of average fluid velocities is carried out using acoustic Doppler velocimetry ADV measurement.

This study reports the findings of an analysis of temporal correlation between tremor of different muscles of the same and different limbs in four patients with Parkinson's disease. Spectral coherence methods were used for determining whether simultaneously occurring oscillations in the electromyograms of different muscles are statistically coupled. The incidence of significant coherence was considerably higher for muscle pairs in the same limb than for pairs in different limbs; Parkinson's disease tremor is coupled within but not between limbs. Because the characteristics of tremor are known to vary under different behavioral situations, the intralimb coupling was examined for different tasks. A mental arithmetic task resulted in an increase in the coherence between muscles of the same limb, whereas the finger-to-nose task decreased the coherence. No significant change in coherence was found for a postural task. The amplitude and regularity of tremor electromyography showed changes analogous to those in coherence. These results support the hypothesis that tremor in different limbs results from the activity of several neural circuits oscillating independently. The results also emphasize the value of these methods for rigorously characterizing tremor, in relation to disease state, behavioral conditions, and the selection of treatment strategies.

Postural abnormalities associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been elegantly illustrated by Purdon-Martin [11]. While tremor, rigidity, and brady-kinesia can be readily evaluated by the trained clinician, even semiquantitative assessments of the postural deficits associated with this disorder have proven more challenging. The appearance of postural instability is an important marker for progression in PD and symptoms associated with postural deficits are significant targets for pharmacological intervention. The development of appropriate quantitative measures to evaluate posture has thus become an important issue.

To the Editor. —We were particularly interested to read the recent report, published in theArchives, of a study on certain aspects of autonomic functions in five patients with myotonic dystrophy. 1 Patients with myotonic dystrophy frequently have symptoms and signs suggestive of autonomic dysfunction, and some of these may be so conspicuous that they lead to a fatal outcome. Such symptoms include hypotension, Raynaud's phenomenon, cardiac arrhythmias, hyperhydrosis, bladder disturbances, gastrointestinal and sexual dysfunction, ventilatory disturbances, and weight loss. 2,3 A lesion in central and/or peripheral autonomic pathways might account for these symptoms. Alternatively, many of these symptoms could relate to a primary degenerative process affecting smooth as well as skeletal muscles. 3 In either case, we had felt previously that it would be of interest to study vasomotor reflex activity in patients with myotonic dystrophy, and in view of the recent report, 1 our findings may be of interest.