An examination of alternative beef handling systems for retail firms
The current trend to boxed beef is supported by this study of 10 different retail beef handling systems when both costs and returns are considered. However, on a purely cost basis the least costly system was for the retailer to centrally cut beef at his|her warehouse. The highest ranking system on a total returns basis was a special type of boxed beef called tray-ready beef. In this new system the packer trims and retail cuts the beef, but reassembles it and ships it as boxed beef. The retailer has only to package it for retail sale.
Measurement of the Economic Efficiency of Central-Fabrication-versus Carcass-Meat-Handling Systems
Relative economic efficiency is measured for a selected sample of retail meat departments using the UOP (unit output price) profit model developed by Lau and Yotopoulos. The analysis suggests that central fabrication is currently more efficient for some, but not all, independent retail meat departments. The analysis also suggests that the relatively new UOP profit model is superior to the more traditional Farrell linear programming technique for evaluating relative efficiency.
Endodontic regeneration: hard shell, soft core
A loss of organs or the destruction of tissue leaves wounds to which organisms and living things react differently. Their response depends on the extent of damage, the functional impairment and the biological potential of the organism. Some can completely regenerate lost body parts or tissues, whereas others react by forming scars in the sense of a tissue repair. Overall, the regenerative capacities of the human body are limited and only a few tissues are fully restored when injured. Dental tissues may suffer severe damage due to various influences such as caries or trauma; however, dental care aims at preserving unharmed structures and, thus, the functionality of the teeth. The dentin–pulp complex, a vital compound tissue that is enclosed by enamel, holds many important functions and is particularly worth protecting. It reacts physiologically to deleterious impacts with an interplay of regenerative and reparative processes to ensure its functionality and facilitate healing. While there were initially no biological treatment options available for the irreversible destruction of dentin or pulp, many promising approaches for endodontic regeneration based on the principles of tissue engineering have been developed in recent years. This review describes the regenerative and reparative processes of the dentin–pulp complex as well as the morphological criteria of possible healing results. Furthermore, it summarizes the current knowledge on tissue engineering of dentin and pulp, and potential future developments in this thriving field.