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A set of guidelines focusing on eight issues was used to assess the quality of guest comment cards in 63 lodging chains in the U.S. Findings show that the most usual deviations from the guidelines include inadequate writing space for comments and the absence of secure return methods. Recommendations on improving the quality of guest comment cards are also given.

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize partner notification (PN) policy and practice for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the European Union (EU) and Norway. Goal: The goal of this study was to promote European good practice in PN. Study: This study consisted of a cross-sectional survey using a structured questionnaire to national STI surveillance leads. Results: Considerable heterogeneity exists in approaches to PN. In 2 countries, PN is compulsory for notifiable STIs; and in 13, it is voluntary. Most countries use patient referral but 5 of 15 also offer provider referral. Activity level varies by country and disease. Etiologic treatment of contacts is most common; 5 usually offer epidemiologic treatment and patient-expedited treatment is unusual. Similarities exist with provision mainly by specialized STI treatment services for bacterial STIs. Conclusions: This divergence in approach calls for the setting of minimum standards for PN delivery together with mechanisms for establishing and sharing best practice. Further research must identify monitoring systems for inclusion in routine surveillance.

A vector network analyzer (VNA) measurement accuracy depends on the accuracy of the calibration standards, the calibration method employed and the instrumentation accuracy. Advances in signal processing technology, computation technology, [...]

Ash Grove Cement is using an X-ray diffraction analyzer from FCT-ACTech P/L of Australia to carry out quality control and continuous phase analysis of cement in production. Tests were performed on the analyzer before and after its commissioning to determine its accuracy and stability.

SIZING SPRING TENSIONERS FOR V-BELT DRIVES V-belt drives are frequently designed so that belt tension can be adjusted manually. However, the drives often operate with higher than necessary tension, sometimes [...]

Byline: Mark Blackham As economic pessimism bites, the odds are that business managers will be faced with the task of breaking bad news, such as price rises to customers, and [...]

There's no denying that editing is changing, but in which direction? Ex-BFV ceo David Blackham looks at the post-production market to assess its strengths and weaknesses I have always believed [...]

Evidence-based answer Yes, moderately. Exercise helps reduce the pain, but it's unclear whether it helps with stiffness. Exercise moderately reduces pain in elderly patients with osteoarthritis (strength of recommendation [SOR]: [...]

The central premise of this series has been that a board can survive any crisis if there is excellent communication between board members, management, and staff. We have seen that [...]

When a crisis faces an organisation, the board s role is to protect shareholder interests by ensuring management actions are consistent with the organisation's long-term value and purpose, and by [...]

Like any group of people, boards go through bad spots all the time. Most come right again--usually through the luck of external circumstances, an executive and company that start performing [...]

The measurement of managerial ability and the grading of particular managerial characteristics in assessment centers is examined using data from 80 employees who went to assessment centers run by financial institutions.The personality characteristics used for measurement are analyzed using Minitab and SPSS statistical packages. Results indicate that success in assessment centers is strongly based on leadership, confidence, and communication characteristics. Results also show that success is based slightly less on originality and motivation, and is not based on sensitivity, planning, and restraint.

Software developers need to make their applications portable across as many operating environments as possible. Eventually it may be possible to write only one highly portable version of software that will run on any computer. Maximum portability can be achieved by designing software in a modular way. Code that must be changed for different environments should be isolated in separate modules so that each module can be separately adapted. Portability problems consist of operating system issues, architecture issues and compiler issues. Software developers will find that creating portable applications is challenging but not impossible. Some ports may require only a few hours, while others can take days or weeks. Techniques are given that improve porting productivity dramatically, which means, in turn, that software products can be provided on more machines at a lower cost.

Microsoft's Encarta '95 CD-ROM encyclopedia is a multi-media database using video, audio, and photographic clips as well as extensive text. Its geographical coverage would be improved by additional access points for novice users, while its anthropomorphic and US biases are annoying. However, it can provide a wealth of information for students, and its video and hyper-text features are truly exceptional.

Spinning a globe or tracing your finger across a printed map may soon be a thing of the past. Today, the world is being crammed onto multimedia CD-ROM disks, offering [...]

As economic pessimism bites, the odds are that business managers will be faced with the task of breaking bad news, such as price rises to customers, and job cuts to [...]

Dear business leaders: It has been rewarding to watch the citizens of Utah grasp the concept of Utah's Own by supporting local food producers and processor. As we support our [...]

The article examines a settlement reached in the U.K. Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) in 2007 over the defense budget spending for the next three years with an annual increase of 1.5% every year. It is believed that equipment procurement plans are under-funded, even taking into account Through Life Capability Management costing.

With the aid of technology such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans, neuroscientists have been able to watch human brains as they take in information, and parcel it up for [...]

The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is reducing in size at an unprecedented rate, even as many Third World navies are expanding, some quite rapidly as in the Far East. A high-intensity war-fighting capability allowing contribution to a coalition force is necessary, but experts believe that is equally important to simultaneously maintain a genuine counterterrorist and security capability in the seas around the United Kingdom and Europe.