bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using LSS to improve the efficiency and quality of a refund process in a logistics center
Authors: Lee Kuo-liang , Tai Cheng-Ting , Sheen Gwo-Ji 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– This study aims to demonstrate a service quality improvement project implemented by the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology to achieve dramatic improvements with respect to service quality and speed in the refund process of the logistics center in Amway Company, Taiwan. It describes in detail how the LSS methodology was applied and how various qualitative and quantitative tools and techniques within the define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) logic roadmap have been employed.

Design/methodology/approach
– This paper adopts the case study methodology to illustrate how to use LSS approach to increase the efficiency of refund process.

Findings
– The DMAIC scheme with logical analysis, qualitative tools and statistical verification, were employed to identify the key process input variables (KPIVs) that affect the key process output variables (KPOVs) in the refund process. The project team also successfully eliminated non-valued-added (NVA) activities and redesigned the refund process. The most significant improvement is to increase customer satisfaction substantially by reducing the credit voucher waiting time from 14 days to 14 min and the error rate in the refund process is down to almost zero. The results prove that combining the tools of Six Sigma and lean production effects successful improvement of service activities as well as the improvement of manufacturing sectors.

Research limitations/implications
– The case study method limits the generalization of the findings, but provides a novel way to solve problems for the logistics center.

Originality/value
– This is one of the rare studies to utilize LSS approach to increase service quality of logistics centers. For the logistics center of Amway Taiwan, the financial benefit of the project was about NT$1,200,000 in annual savings. Numerous invisible gains from the LSS projects are more important for the organization, for example providing customers excellent service, increasing customer satisfaction, training the employees of the company, enhancing the reputation of Amway Taiwan and establishing continuous improvement culture.
Emerging personal intelligence in collective goals: data analysis on the bottom-up approach from PKM to OKM
Authors: Ismail Shahrinaz , Sharifuddin Ahmad Mohd , Hassan Zainuddin 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– A pattern of personal intelligence is seen emerging from the concept of agent-mediated personal knowledge management (PKM) in achieving collective organisational goals. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of surveys undertaken to prove this emergence.

Design/methodology/approach
– A quantitative analysis supported by a qualitative analysis was conducted across three main industries in Malaysia, namely manufacturing, service and education. The triangulation of analysis is based on the four proposed hypotheses.

Findings
– From these analyses, it was discovered that the emergence of personal intelligence is embedded within the collaborative interactions amongst software agents, and between agents and human knowledge workers. All the hypotheses are supported by the results of the surveys which manifest organisational knowledge management (OKM) practices as a consequence of the agent-mediated PKM processes.

Research limitations/implications
– This research focused on the PKM in Malaysia, where the level of KM implementation varies among the organisations. The results may not reflect other developing countries due to the socio-cultural differences amongst the knowledge workers.

Practical implications
– The results from this paper can be used either to relook and reanalyse the existing organisational KM system or to plan and design a KM system for organisations that have not implemented any.

Originality/value
– The focus on personal intelligence and agent-mediated PKM contribute to further development of agent-based system that animates these theories in the real working environment.
Towards ERP success in SMEs through business process review prior to implementation
Authors: Christofi Maria , Nunes Miguel , Chao Peng Guo , Lin Angela 
Published: October 2013

Purpose
– ERP systems are not the exclusive concern of large companies anymore. More and more small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are now engaging with the implementation and exploitation of this type of system. However, reports of ERP failure are numerous and frequent. Very often, this failure results from technical and implementation problems. But even more frequently, it is due to lack of preparation, by the companies themselves, for the implementation process. The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to identify and explore ways in which SMEs may need to prepare themselves before implementing ERP systems.

Design/methodology/approach
– The research took a Cypriot SME as a case study and adopted an inductive approach supported by in-depth interviews as the main method of data collection. The qualitative data collected were analysed by using a thematic analysis approach. Subsequently, a rich picture and concept maps were used to represent the findings generated.

Findings
– The study identified that business deficiencies and problems, which can impact potential ERP adoption and usage in SMEs, can be localised across business processes boundaries, such as sales order processing, stock control, and bill of materials management, etc. These business problems were found to be attributed to a variety of organisational, technical and human-related reasons. Therefore, this study established that in order to implement ERPs successfully, organisations may require changes in people's work practices and understanding of technology, ownership and control of business processes, as well as organisational wide policies.

Research limitations/implications
– This study contributes to the knowledge of ERP preparation and business process improvement in SMEs.

Practical implications
– The findings of the paper provide useful insights for both academic and practitioners who are thinking of implementing ERP systems. The paper contributes to the body of literature on issues that SMEs may need to reflect upon before embarking in a costly and resource intensive process of ERP implementation.

Originality/value
– Business process improvement is traditionally considered as the result of an ERP project phase. This is how the large majority of the academic literature and the totality of marketing information by ERP vendors portray it. In fact, the reality of practice shows a different scenario with frequent reports of failure and inadequate ERP implementation. This paper aims at breaking with this myth, by proposing that ERPs cannot resolve the large variety of deficient business processes and internal problems that may exist in SMEs. Therefore, this study argues that SMEs need to prepare in advance by engaging in business process reviews prior to the ERP implementation that is engaging in a pre-implementation or preparation phase.
Preliminary Study on Diffuse Axonal Injury by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Histopathology Imaging
Authors: Yang Tiantong , He Guanglong , Zhang Xiang , Chang Lin , Zhang Haidong , Ripple Mary G. , Fowler David R. , Li Ling 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the application of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for detecting diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in a mouse model. Brain tissues from DAI mouse model were prepared with H&E, silver, and β‐amyloid precursor protein (β–APP) immunohistochemistry stains and were also studied with FTIR. The infrared spectrum images showed high absorption of amide II in the subcortical white matter of the experimental mouse brain, while there was no obvious expression of amide II in the control mouse brain. The areas with high absorption of amide II were in the same distribution as the DAI region confirmed by the silver and β‐APP studies. The result suggests that high absorption of amide II correlates with axonal injury. The use of FTIR imaging allows the biochemical changes associated with DAI pathologies to be detected in the tissues, thus providing an important adjunct method to the current conventional pathological diagnostic techniques.
Increased neural activity during high working memory load predicts low relapse risk in alcohol dependence
Authors: Charlet Katrin , Beck Anne , Jorde Anne , Wimmer Lioba , Vollstädt‐Klein Sabine , Gallinat Jürgen , Walter Henrik , Kiefer Falk , Heinz Andreas 
Published: October 2013

AbstractWorking memory (WM) impairments are often observed in alcohol‐dependent individuals, especially in early abstinence, which may contribute to an increased relapse risk after detoxification. Brain imaging studies on visuospatial WM in alcohol‐dependent patients compared to controls indicate that information processing requires compensatory increased neural activation to perform at a normal level. However, to date, no study tested whether such increased neural WM activation patterns or the lack thereof predict relapse behavior in alcohol‐dependent individuals, and whether such differences persist when adequately correcting for individual grey matter differences. We combined analyses of neural activation during an n‐back task and local grey matter volumes using Biological Parametric Mapping in 40 detoxified alcohol‐dependent patients and 40 matched healthy controls (HC), and assessed prospective relapse risk during a 7‐month follow‐up period. Despite equal task performance, we found increased functional activation during high versus low cognitive WM load (2‐back–0‐back) in bilateral rostral prefrontal cortex (BA10) and bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (BA45,47) in prospective abstainers versus relapsers, and further in left/right lateral/medial premotor cortex (BA6,8) in abstainers versus HC. In prospective abstainers, but not relapsers, subtle cognitive impairment was associated with increased neural task activity in the premotor cortex. These findings suggest that in prospective abstainers, higher functional engagement of presumably less impaired neural resources in executive behavioral control brain areas (BA10, 45, 47, 6, 8) may constitute a resilience factor associated with good treatment outcome.
A systematic review of infant feeding experience and hospitalisation in developed countries
Authors: Williams Lesley A , Davies Peter SW , Boyd Roslyn , David Michael , Ware Robert S 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe review examines whether mode of feeding is associated with risk of hospitalisation for illness during infancy in developed countries. Databases were searched for published studies that included the terms ‘infant feeding’ and ‘hospitalisation’. Six studies were included. Breastfeeding was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalisation and adjusted analyses showed mixed results.ConclusionThere is no clear relationship between mode of feeding and reduction of infant hospitalisation for illness in developed countries.
Internet communication of outpatients with Asperger's disorder or schizophrenia in Japan
Authors: Watabe Takashi , Suzuki Kunifumi 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIntroductionThere is insufficient information about the Internet usage of psychiatric patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the usage of Internet communication among subjects with Asperger's disorder (AD) or schizophrenia.MethodsA questionnaire survey was carried out in Japan among 29 outpatients with AD, 32 outpatients with schizophrenia, and 97 age‐matched normal volunteers. This study limited the participants to young male adults (20‐ to 39‐year‐olds) using the Internet.ResultsPeople with a diagnosis of AD prefer personal computers to mobile phones as their Internet terminal, have an inclination to use anonymous media, and tend to think that they can communicate more correctly through the Internet than face‐to‐face communication. People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia employ the Internet to a degree almost similar to controls, and tend to rely on unknown persons, but also sometimes feel hurt when communicating on the Internet. Moreover, their sensitivity to the risks of the Internet tends to decrease with the aggravation of their psychotic symptoms.DiscussionIt may be important to pay attention to the excessive use of some limited media by people with a diagnosis of AD. Providing people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia with sufficient information about the risks of the Internet is also important.
Geodynamic evolution of a forearc rift in the southernmost Mariana Arc
Authors: Ribeiro Julia M. , Stern Robert J. , Martinez Fernando , Ishizuka Osamu , Merle Susan G. , Kelley Katherine , Anthony Elizabeth Y. , Ren Minghua , Ohara Yasuhiko , Reagan Mark , Girard Guillaume , Bloomer Sherman 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThe southernmost Mariana forearc stretched to accommodate opening of the Mariana Trough backarc basin in late Neogene time, erupting basalts at 3.7–2.7 Ma that are now exposed in the Southeast Mariana Forearc Rift (SEMFR). Today, SEMFR is a broad zone of extension that formed on hydrated, forearc lithosphere and overlies the shallow subducting slab (slab depth ≤ 30–50 km). It comprises NW–SE trending subparallel deeps, 3–16 km wide, that can be traced ≥ ∼30 km from the trench almost to the backarc spreading center, the Malaguana‐Gadao Ridge (MGR). While forearcs are usually underlain by serpentinized harzburgites too cold to melt, SEMFR crust is mostly composed of Pliocene, low‐K basaltic to basaltic andesite lavas that are compositionally similar to arc lavas and backarc basin (BAB) lavas, and thus defines a forearc region that recently witnessed abundant igneous activity in the form of seafloor spreading. SEMFR igneous rocks have low Na8, Ti8, and Fe8, consistent with extensive melting, at ∼23 ± 6.6 km depth and 1239 ± 40°C, by adiabatic decompression of depleted asthenospheric mantle metasomatized by slab‐derived fluids. Stretching of pre‐existing forearc lithosphere allowed BAB‐like mantle to flow along the SEMFR and melt, forming new oceanic crust. Melts interacted with pre‐existing forearc lithosphere during ascent. The SEMFR is no longer magmatically active and post‐magmatic tectonic activity dominates the rift.
Alanine aminotransferase and metabolic syndrome in adolescents: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Study
Authors: Park J‐H. , Kim S‐H. , Park S. , Park M. J. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryWhat is already known about this subject
Adolescent NAFLD has increased in parallel with obesity.
Elevated serum ALT level is a surrogate marker for NALFD. Increased ALT levels are closely related to NAFLD and metabolic syndrome.
What this study adds
Increased ALT within normal range are associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome. All of the five components of metabolic syndrome were associated with high ALT within normal range.
By elevation of ALT, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased in obese adolescents and normal‐weight adolescents as well.
Background/AimsThe potential interactions between alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have not been fully investigated in healthy adolescents. This study investigated the impact of a mild ALT elevation on the risks of MetS in healthy Korean adolescents.MethodsFrom the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 1998–2009, the data of 5026 adolescents aged 10–18 years (2604 boys and 2422 girls) were analysed. Individuals who had ALT levels equal or more than 40 IU L−1 were excluded.ResultsSubjects in the upper ALT tertile had higher mean values of body mass index (BMI), homeostasis model assessment‐insulin resistance and prevalence of MetS than subjects in the lower tertile. The risk of each five components of MetS was significantly higher than subjects in the lower tertile. Compared with the subjects in the lower ALT tertile, the prevalence of MetS was higher in the upper tertile among obese adolescents (44.6–50.7% vs. 31.2–40.0%) as well as normal‐weight adolescents (5.2–7.7% vs. 2.7–3.2%). Subjects in the upper ALT tertile were at a higher risk of MetS than those in the lower tertile (odds ratio [OR] = 1.95 for boys, OR = 2.00 for girls) after controlling for age and BMI.ConclusionsA high serum ALT within normal range increased the risk of all the components of MetS. The prevalence of MetS increased with the elevation of obesity level, and it increased further with the elevation of ALT tertile. Thus, serum ALT levels in addition to BMI might be useful as a marker for early detection of MetS.
Full‐gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol augments nicotine self‐administration by altering ventral tegmental dopaminergic function due to NMDA receptors in adolescent rats
Authors: Roguski Emily E. , Sharp Burt M. , Chen Hao , Matta Shannon G. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractIn adult rats, we have shown full‐gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol (Nic + EtOH) augmented nicotine self‐administration (SA) (increased nicotine intake) compared to pair‐fed (PF) offspring. Therefore, we hypothesized that full‐gestational exposure to Nic + EtOH disrupts control of dopaminergic (DA) circuitry by ventral tegmental area (VTA) NMDA receptors, augmenting nicotine SA and DA release in nucleus accumbens (NAcc) of adolescents. Both NAcc DA and VTA glutamate release were hyper‐responsive to intra‐VTA NMDA in Nic + EtOH offspring versus PF (p = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Similarly, DA release was more responsive to i.v. nicotine in Nic + EtOH offspring (p = 0.02). Local DL‐2‐Amino‐5‐phosphonopentanoic acid sodium salt (AP5) (NMDA receptor antagonist) infusion into the VTA inhibited nicotine‐stimulated DA release in Nic + EtOH and PF offspring. Nicotine SA was augmented in adolescent Nic + EtOH versus PF offspring (p = 0.000001). Daily VTA microinjections of AP5 reduced nicotine SA by Nic + EtOH offspring, without affecting PF (p = 0.000032). Indeed, nicotine SA in Nic + EtOH offspring receiving AP5 was not different from PF offspring. Both VTA mRNA transcripts and NMDA receptor subunit proteins were not altered in Nic + EtOH offspring. In summary, adolescent offspring exposed to gestational Nic + EtOH show markedly increased vulnerability to become dependent on nicotine. This reflects the enhanced function of a subpopulation of VTA NMDA receptors that confer greater nicotine‐induced DA release in NAcc.
imageWe hypothesized that concurrent gestational exposure to nicotine and ethanol would disrupt the control of VTA dopaminergic circuitry by NMDA receptors. Resulting in the augmented nicotine self‐administration (SA) in adolescent offspring.
Energy Harvesting Capability of Lipid‐Merocyanine Macromolecules: A New Design and Performance Model Development
Authors: Tayebi Lobat , Mozafari Masoud , El‐khouri Rita , Rouhani Parvaneh , Vashaee Daryoosh 
Published: October 2013

AbstractLight induced cis/trans isomerization in the family of merocyanine (MC) dyes offers a recyclable proton pumping ability which can potentially be used in hybrid bio‐electronic devices. In this article, a hexadecyl MC dye is embedded in lipid molecules to make a macromolecular configuration of a lipid/hexadecyl MC membrane. Lipid molecules play a critical role in stabilizing the dye in a membrane structure for practical use in energy devices. In this study, we first examined the proton pumping characteristic of the lipid/hexadecyl MC membrane in a conventional photoelectrochemical cell. Next, a major modification in the cell was introduced by eliminating I2/I‐electrolyte which resulted in a two‐fold increase in the open circuit voltage compared with that of the conventional cell. In addition, the charging time in the new cell was reduced approximately four orders of magnitude. This research demonstrated that the newly designed lipid‐ MC cell can act as a promising bioelectronic device based on the green energy of photoinduced MC dye proton pumping.
Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer Density as a Predictive Biomarker of the Biological Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation in Normal Human Fibroblast
Authors: Sproul Christopher D. , Mitchell David L. , Rao Shangbang , Ibrahim Joseph G. , Kaufmann William K. , Cordeiro‐Stone Marila 
Published: October 2013

AbstractThis study compared biological responses of normal human fibroblasts (NHF1) to three sources of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), emitting UVC wavelengths, UVB wavelengths, or a combination of UVA and UVB (solar simulator; emission spectrum, 94.3% UVA and 5.7% UVB). The endpoints measured were cytotoxicity, intra‐S checkpoint activation, inhibition of DNA replication and mutagenicity. Results show that the magnitude of each response to the indicated radiation sources was best predicted by the density of DNA cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). The density of 6‐4 pyrimidine–pyrimidone photoproducts was highest in DNA from UVC‐irradiated cells (14% of CPD) as compared to those exposed to UVB (11%) or UVA–UVB (7%). The solar simulator source, under the experimental conditions described here, did not induce the formation of 8‐oxo‐7,8‐dihydroguanine in NHF1 above background levels. Taken together, these results suggest that CPD play a dominant role in DNA damage responses and highlight the importance of using endogenous biomarkers to compare and report biological effects induced by different sources of UVR.
Cytokine mRNA expression in bronchoalveolar lavage cells during Dictyocaulus viviparus infection in calves
Authors: Holmgren S. , Hagberg Gustavsson M. , Lundén A. , Wattrang E. 
Published: October 2013

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to monitor local cytokine responses to Dictyocaulus viviparus in calves during primary infection and re‐infection. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected weekly from experimentally infected calves and interleukin‐2 (IL‐2), IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10 and IFN‐γ mRNA expression was quantified in BALF cells. The major finding was a prominent transient increase in IL‐4 mRNA expression, compared with that of uninfected calves, observed in BALF cells collected 2–3 weeks post‐primary D. viviparus infection. At 2 weeks post‐infection, macroscopic worms were also first observed in BALF. Calves re‐infected after 10 weeks were partially immune which was evident at slaughter 5 weeks post‐infection as a lower worm burden than in previously naïve calves infected at the same time. IL‐4 mRNA expression in BALF cells 2 weeks post‐re‐infection was increased compared with that of uninfected animals but not as high as that of primarily infected calves. BALF cell expression of the other cytokines tested for was not as clearly effected by the D. viviparus infection. It seems likely that the strong IL‐4 response observed during primary infection reflects an innate response to the worms that may initiate an ensuing Th2 response, which confers protective immunity.
Committee report: Publication guidelines and recommendations for studies using electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography
Authors: Keil Andreas , Debener Stefan , Gratton Gabriele , Junghöfer Markus , Kappenman Emily S. , Luck Steven J. , Luu Phan , Miller Gregory A. , Yee Cindy M. 
Published: October 2013

AbstractElectromagnetic data collected using electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG) are of central importance for psychophysiological research. The scope of concepts, methods, and instruments used by EEG/MEG researchers has dramatically increased and is expected to further increase in the future. Building on existing guideline publications, the goal of the present paper is to contribute to the effective documentation and communication of such advances by providing updated guidelines for conducting and reporting EEG/MEG studies. The guidelines also include a checklist of key information recommended for inclusion in research reports on EEG/MEG measures.