Supply Chain Efficiency Analysis: A Theoretical Approach

We divide the supply chain into a central control system (CCS) case and a decentralized control system (DCS) case, and compare the supply chain efficiency with both the CCS case and the DCS case.  We find that the supply chain efficiency of a capital-intensive industry is better under the CCS case than under the DCS case.  Under the CCS case, the maximized supply chain efficiency can be reached by choosing either the lowest price that the upstream firm is willing to receive or the highest price that the downstream firm is willing to pay for intermediate goods

Evaluating the Operational Efficiency of Life Insurance Companies in Taiwan– An Application of the Dynamic Network SBM Model

Using a Dynamic Network Slack-based Measurement model (Tone & Tsutsui, 2014), this study evaluated the operational efficiency of life insurance firms in Taiwan from 2006 to 2013. In contrast to previous research, we incorporated assets and liabilities management into the model and compared them against optimal efficiency values in order to determine whether firms are earning maximizing profit while ensuring long-term solvency. The life insurance industry in Taiwan has matured. We found that market competitiveness depends on firms size and business model. Financial holdings companies and large corporations are performing strongly, while small local firms and foreign-owned firms scored poorly in technical efficiency. Economies of scale contribute to the business performance of life insurance firms. Life insurance companies that had merged with or been acquired by financial holdings firms showed notable improvement in efficiency. However, change in term efficiency is a warning signal in long-term business performance of life insurance firms. Lastly, most companies achieved optimal carry-over efficiency, indicating that they place considerable emphasis on managing assets and liabilities in order to ensure future solvency

Regulation of MMP-3 expression and secretion by the chemokine eotaxin-1 in human chondrocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by the degradation of articular cartilage, marked by the breakdown of matrix proteins. Studies demonstrated the involvement of chemokines in this process, and some may potentially serve as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets; however, the underlying signal transductions are not well understood.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the effects of the CC chemokine eotaxin-1 (CCL11) on the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and secretion in the human chondrocyte cell line SW1353 and primary chondrocytes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eotaxin-1 significantly induced MMP-3 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibitors of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase were able to repress eotaxin-1-induced MMP-3 expression. On the contrary, Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPs), a competitive cAMP antagonist for cAMP receptors, and H-89, a protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, markedly enhanced eotaxin-1-induced MMP-3 expression. These results suggest that MMP-3 expression is specifically mediated by the G protein-coupled eotaxin-1 receptor activities. Interestingly, little amount of MMP-3 protein was detected in the cell lysates of eotaxin-1-treated SW1353 cells, and most of MMP-3 protein was in the culture media. Furthermore we found that the eotaxin-1-dependent MMP-3 protein secretion was regulated by phospholipase C (PLC)-protein kinase C (PKC) cascade and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways. These data indicate a specific regulation of MMP-3 secretion also by eotaxin-1 receptor activities.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Eotaxin-1 not only induces MMP-3 gene expression but also promotes MMP-3 protein secretion through G protein-coupled eotaxin-1 receptor activities. Chemokines, such as eotaxin-1, could be a potential candidate in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis.</p

Sympathetic-correlated c-Fos expression in the neonatal rat spinal cord in vitro

An isolated thoracic spinal cord of the neonatal rat in vitro spontaneously generates sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) at ~25°C, but it fails in SND genesis at ≤ 10°C. Basal levels of the c-Fos expression in the spinal cords incubated at ≤ 10°C and ~25°C were compared to determine the anatomical substrates that might participate in SND genesis. Cells that exhibited c-Fos immunoreactivity were virtually absent in the spinal cords incubated at ≤ 10°C. However, in the spinal cords incubated at ~25°C, c-Fos-positive cells were found in the dorsal laminae, the white matter, lamina X, and the intermediolateral cell column (IML). Cell identities were verified by double labeling of c-Fos with neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), or choline acetyltransferase (ChAT). The c-Fos-positive cells distributed in the white matter and lamina X were NeuN-negative or GFAP-positive and were glial cells. Endogenously active neurons showing c-Fos and NeuN double labeling were scattered in the dorsal laminae and concentrated in the IML. Double labeling of c-Fos and ChAT confirmed the presence of active sympathetic preganglionic neurons (SPNs) in the IML. Suppression of SND genesis by tetrodotoxin (TTX) or mecamylamine (MECA, nicotinic receptor blocker) almost abolished c-Fos expression in dorsal laminae, but only mildly affected c-Fos expression in the SPNs. Therefore, c-Fos expression in some SPNs does not require synaptic activation. Our results suggest that spinal SND genesis is initiated from some spontaneously active SPNs, which are capable of TTX- or MECA-resistant c-Fos expression

Is acupuncture effective in controlling gagging when taking an alginate impressions?

Our community health project aimed to (1) identify the prevalence of gagging among patients attending the Prince Philip Dental Hospital; and to identify socio-demographic variations in reported gagging experiences; and (2) perform a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in the control of gagging in the dental setting. Methods: A survey on reported gagging experiences was conducted among patients attending our hospital involving a convenience sample of 225 patients. Participants who reported to previously gag in the dental setting were invited to participate in a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture in controlling gagging when taking an upper alginate impression. Participants were randomized to receive acupuncture stimulation at a site reported to be effective in the control of gagging on the lower lip (point CV 24) or at a sham site on the upper lip (point GV 26) on their first visit and at their second visit to receive the alternative acupuncture stimulation. Results: The response rate to the survey was 81.3% (183/225). Approximately a third (58/183) reported to have experienced gagging in the dental setting and most frequently encountered this when having a dental impression (among approximately a quarter of participants - 44/183). Half (95/183) reported gagging while performing oral self-care. Four in ten participants (73/183) reported some stress visiting the dentist related to gagging. Sociodemographic variations in reported gagging experiences were evident with respect to age, gender and education level. The response rate to the pilot study was 92.3% (36/39). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of gagging when acupuncture was applied to the test site compared to when acupuncture was applied to the sham site on dental examination (p>0.05) or when taking an upper alginate impression (p>0.05). Conclusions: Gagging in a relative common experience reported by patients attending our hospital – in daily life, in the dental setting and in performing oral self-care. Socio-demographic variations in the prevalence of gagging were apparent. The pilot study does not support the use of acupuncture in controlling gagging in the dental setting.published_or_final_versio

Knee stability assessment on anterior cruciate ligament injury: clinical and biomechanical approaches

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is common in knee joint accounting for 40% of sports injury. ACL injury leads to knee instability, therefore, understanding knee stability assessments would be useful for diagnosis of ACL injury, comparison between operation treatments and establishing return-to-sport standard. This article firstly introduces a management model for ACL injury and the contribution of knee stability assessment to the corresponding stages of the model. Secondly, standard clinical examination, intra-operative stability measurement and motion analysis for functional assessment are reviewed. Orthopaedic surgeons and scientists with related background are encouraged to understand knee biomechanics and stability assessment for ACL injury patients

Arthroscopic repair of isolated type II superior labrum anterior–posterior lesion

The effectiveness of arthroscopic repair of type II superior labrum anterior-posterior lesion (SLAP) was unclear as previous studies examined this treatment with patients of combined types of SLAP lesions. To address this research gap, we evaluated the clinical and functional outcomes of arthroscopic repair for 16 patients (mean = 24.2, SD = 6.5) with clinical evidence of isolated type II SLAP lesion. After having arthroscopic stabilizations with Bioknotless suture anchors (Mitek), the patients were offered post-operative rehabilitation programs (e.g., physiotherapy) for 6 months. The symptoms of SLAP lesion and the functions of the shoulder were assessed pre-operatively and 28-month post-operatively by O'Brien test, Speed test, Yergason test, and University of California at Los Angeles rating for pain and function of the shoulder. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test and McNemar test were employed to analyze the difference between assessment in pre-operation and post-operation phases. The result showed that patients' shoulder functions improved (UCLA Shoulder Score), and symptoms of SLAP lesion reduced (O'Brien test, Speed test, and Yergason test) significantly (P < 0.05). Time for returning to play with pre-injury level was in average 9.4 months (range 4-24), and no complication or recurrence was detected. We concluded that arthroscopic repair is an effective operation of type II SLAP lesion with good clinical and functional outcomes; however, athletes with high demand of overhead throwing activities are likely to take longer duration of rehabilitation to attain full recovery

Orderly arranged NLO materials on exfoliated layeredtemplates based on dendrons with alternating moietiesat the periphery†

Nonlinear optical dendrons with alternating terminal groups of the stearyl group (C18) and chromophorewere prepared through a convergent approach. These chromophore-containing dendrons were used asthe intercalating agents for montmorillonite via an ion-exchange process. An orderly exfoliatedmorphology is obtained by mixing the dendritic structure intercalated layered silicates with a polyimide.As a result, optical nonlinearity, i.e. the Pockels effect was observed for these nanocomposites withoutresorting to the poling process. EO coefficients of 9–22 pm V 1 were achieved despite that relativelylow NLO densities were present in the nanocomposites, particularly for the samples comprising thedendrons with alternating moieties. In addition, the hedging effects of the stearyl group on the selfalignmentbehavior, electro-optical (EO) coefficient and temporal stability of the dendron-intercalatedmontmorillonite/polyimide nanocomposites were also investigated