Market value monitoring

Since the QA/QC laboratory is concerned with the quality of the firm s products, it can influence product costs and revenues (the cash flow associated with the products). It determines acceptance or rejection of raw materials and feedstocks and assesses their market value for the purchasing department. It frequently initiates the processing of claims against vendors providing raw materials which are below grade specification but are nevertheless used. The lab also may be responsible for process monitoring to determine process parameters which minimize the production of scrap or off-grade product. 

Monitoring the market value of the securities against the cash lent out... 

In market value transactions, the portfolio manager s ability is key, since the performance of the underlying portfolio is critical to the structure s success. The originator s procedure for reviewing credit approvals of the borrowers of the underlying loans and monitoring the loans is another factor to consider. The better the credit-assessment and monitoring proce-... 

The returns for the industry can be monitored (see Figs 1.1-1.3). The selling price of caustic soda is fairly transparent everywhere and chlorine pricing is transparent in the USA. Chlorine is less transparent outside the USA as most of the consumption is captive rather than merchant. The market for ethylene dichloride (EDC) is, however, transparent and chlorine values can be worked out from the selling price of the EDC and the input price for the ethylene. Knowledge of the chlorine value and the caustic value gives the value of the Electrochemical Unit or ECU. This provides a measure of the profitability of the business at any time. Convenient marker prices can be found in the US Gulf for both EDC and caustic as well as out of north-west Europe. 

Labeling of iodinated aromatics with radioactive or has proved to be a valuable approach to measure GFR in nuclear medicine. Prominent among these is sodium iothalamate, which is specifically marketed in the US for GFR measurement by the name Glofil . Studies have shown that the clearance of this marker by the glomeruli is reproducible, simple, reliable and accurate, especially in children and those with advanced renal diseases [234]. This marker can also be administered by subcutaneous infusion to obtain GFR values without the need for urine collection [235]. Since very low doses (nanomolar scale) of radioactive aromatics are administered, monitoring of renal function may be achieved without disruption of normal physiologic functions. Concerns over radioactivity and associated handling costs may prevent the use of these compounds for routine GFR measurements. 

Lipids are important macromolecules in food. A food product s nutritional value as well as its flavor, texture, general palatability, and storage stability are affected by lipids. Therefore, both physical and chemical criteria are needed by the food processor to assess or monitor the quality of fats and oils. The basic characteristics of certain food items, such as edible oils, will be dependent upon their source. Variation from these norms can be ascertained before the oils are used in other foodstuffs. In effect, knowledge of the quality of the lipid before shipping the product to market, or use in fabricated foods, is of economic importance to the processor. 

Most of the sensors currently marketed or under development have MARD values in the range of 10-20%. We feel strongly that as areal-time monitoring system a MARD of no greater than 15% should be adequate (see Table 1.1). 

Normally, sufficient data will be available for point 1, but generally will not be of much value for the safety assessment, particularly since data from point 2 are rarely available. However, since the skin irritating effects of a formulation are a complex function of the ingredients,32 the most valuable information is derived from the other five points. Of most note are data from point 5, particularly exaggerated exposure studies where a test product is applied to a defined skin site many times a day and is compared to a marketed product known to have an extensive history of safe use. Valuable information often comes also from more extended consumer use tests, perhaps undertaken in a number of locations to allow for differences in use habits. Ultimately it is not possible to do predictive studies (clinical or in vitro) which will predict the market place perfectly, particularly low level complaint rates — which means that point 7, monitoring feedback from the market, is always of importance. 

Advantec manufactures and distributes test strips for measuring the acid value (AV) in the fryer oil. The product is marketed in Asia through Ajinomoto. This is similar to the 3M test-strip and monitors acid value in the oil. The operator places a plastic strip with an indicator on the tip into the cooking oil. The color indicator... 

The risk of counterfeiting and development of a black market for vouchers is highest if the vouchers have a high monetary value or if they subsidize a highly sought service. This risk should have been considered during the design phase and measures taken to keep it to a minimum. However, in some cases it may be better (and cheaper) simply to monitor the scheme carefully to detect abuse or misuse as soon as it occurs. 

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