The Significance of Customer Service in Logistics

Customer service is one of the most significant processes of organisation, including the logistic area (logistic systems). This work presents chosen aspects and characteristics of customer service in relation to logistic systems.The paper includes valuable hints for the executives regarding the creation of proper level of customer service, followed by the customer`s satisfaction

The search for new anticonvulsants in a group of (2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)(phenyl)acetamides with hybrid structure - synthesis and in vivo/In vitro studies

Epilepsy belongs to the most common and debilitating neurological disorders with multifactorial pathophysiology and a high level of drug resistance. Therefore, with the aim of searching for new, more effective, and/or safer therapeutics, we discovered a focused series of original hybrid pyrrolidine-2,5-dione derivatives with potent anticonvulsant properties. We applied an optimized coupling reaction yielding several hybrid compounds that showed broad-spectrum activity in widely accepted animal seizure models, namely, the maximal electroshock (MES) test and the psychomotor 6 Hz (32 mA) seizure model in mice. The most potent anticonvulsant activity and favorable safety profile was demonstrated for compound 30 (median effective dose (ED50) MES = 45.6 mg/kg, ED50 6 Hz (32 mA) = 39.5 mg/kg, median toxic dose (TD50) (rotarod test) = 162.4 mg/kg). Anticonvulsant drugs often show activity in pain models, and compound 30 was also proven effective in the formalin test of tonic pain, the capsaicin-induced pain model, and the oxaliplatin (OXPT)-induced neuropathic pain model in mice. Our studies showed that the most plausible mechanism of action of 30 involves inhibition of calcium currents mediated by Cav1.2 (L-type) channels. Importantly, 30 revealed high metabolic stability on human liver microsomes, negligible hepatotoxicity, and relatively weak inhibition of CYP3A4, CYP2D6, and CYP2C9 isoforms of cytochrome P450, compared to reference compounds. The promising in vivo activity profile and drug-like properties of compound 30 make it an interesting candidate for further preclinical development

N-Benzyl-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide (AS-1) with hybrid structure as a candidate for a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug

In our recent studies, we identified compound N-benzyl-2-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide (AS-1) as a broad-spectrum hybrid anticonvulsant which showed potent protection across the most important animal acute seizure models such as the maximal electroshock (MES) test, the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (s.c. PTZ) test, and the 6-Hz (32 mA) test in mice. Therefore, AS-1 may be recognized as a candidate for new anticonvulsant effective in different types of human epilepsy with a favorable safety margin profile determined in the rotarod test in mice. In the aim of further pharmacological evaluation of AS-1, in the current study, we examined its activity in the 6-Hz (44 mA) test, which is known as the model of drug-resistant epilepsy. Furthermore, we determined also the antiseizure activity in the kindling model of epilepsy induced by repeated injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in mice. As a result, AS-1 revealed relatively potent protection in the 6-Hz (44 mA) test, as well as delayed the progression of kindling induced by repeated injection of PTZ in mice at doses of 15 mg/kg, 30 mg/kg, and 60 mg/kg. Importantly, the isobolographic analysis showed that a combination of AS-1 and valproic acid (VPA) at the fixed ratio of 1:1 displayed a supra-additive (synergistic) interaction against PTZinduced seizures inmice. Thus, AS-1may be potentially used in an add-on therapy with VPA. Moreover, incubation of zebrafish larvae with AS-1 substantially decreased the number, cumulative but not the mean duration of epileptiform-like events in electroencephalographic assay. Finally, the in vitro ADME-Tox studies revealed that AS-1 is characterized by a very good permeability in the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay test, excellent metabolic stability on human liver microsomes (HLMs), no significant influence on CYP3A4/CYP2D6 activity, and moderate inhibition of CYP2C9 in a concentration of 10 $\mu$M, as well as no hepatotoxic properties in HepG2 cells (concentration of 10 $\mu$M)

Discovery of (R)-N-benzyl-2-(2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl)propanamide [(R)-AS-1], a novel orally bioavailable EAAT2 modulator with drug-like properties and potent antiseizure activity in vivo

[Image: see text] (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] showed broad-spectrum antiseizure activity across in vivo mouse seizure models: maximal electroshock (MES), 6 Hz (32/44 mA), acute pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), and PTZ-kindling. A remarkable separation between antiseizure activity and CNS-related adverse effects was also observed. In vitro studies with primary glia cultures and COS-7 cells expressing the glutamate transporter EAAT2 showed enhancement of glutamate uptake, revealing a stereoselective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) effect, further supported by molecular docking simulations. (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] was not active in EAAT1 and EAAT3 assays and did not show significant off-target activity, including interactions with targets reported for marketed antiseizure drugs, indicative of a novel and unprecedented mechanism of action. Both in vivo pharmacokinetic and in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADME-Tox) profiles confirmed the favorable drug-like potential of the compound. Thus, (R)-7 [(R)-AS-1] may be considered as the first-in-class small-molecule PAM of EAAT2 with potential for further preclinical and clinical development in epilepsy and possibly other CNS disorders

Wokół zagadnień trwałej ochrony zasobów cyfrowych

Słowo wstępne: "Cyfrowe kolekcje wartościowych dokumentów powstają w wyniku procesów elektronicznego publikowania oraz digitalizacji materiałów analogowych. Są one świadectwem dorobku polskiej działalności naukowej i kulturowej. Digitalizacja upowszechnia się w instytucjach pamięci jako forma zabezpieczenia zagrożonych zniszczeniem oryginalnych materiałów. Oficyny wydawnicze coraz częściej publikują treści naukowe w cyfrowej postaci, rezygnując z wersji drukowanych. Instytuty naukowe i badawcze oraz uczelnie wyższe tworzą instytucjonalne repozytoria, pozwalające na szybkie i samodzielne udostępnianie publiczności wyników prowadzonych prac badawczych. Powstające w ten sposób cyfrowe zasoby współtworzą światowe dziedzictwo. Podlegają one trwałej ochronie z myślą o potrzebach obecnych i przyszłych użytkowników."(...

The importance of internal communication for management of an organisation

The article concerns the role of internal communication for efficient management of an organisation. The author divided the article into two parts. The first part - theoretical - was based on critical analysis of literature on the examined topic. It relates to the meaning of organisational communication, myths and misconceptions occurring in this area, key factors of communication, functions of internal communication and exemplary strategies for communication improvement. The second part of the article - empirical - concerns the research realised in the selected organisation, representing an international financial group. The research was carried out with the use of a questionnaire survey and implemented the following goal: analysis and assessment of internal communication, especially factors creating communication and the effectiveness of tools of its realisation. The main topics of the research concerned: general analysis of internal communication in the analysed organisation, factors creating the process of internal communication, assessment of the effectiveness of communicative tools, factors determining the effectiveness of communication and a final analysis of internal communication. The article is finalised with the summary, emphasising the most important results of the research

Innovation actions as a factor of company’s development

In the article a topic concerning innovative actions which realized in a company in an effective way cause its development was taken into consideration. In the article two parts of it could be showed: theoretical and cognitive ones. The theoretical part of the article separates described innovation, types of innovation, building innovative potential by the company, innovation management, as well as methods and measures of innovation assessment. The goal of the following paper was the analysis of the literature in the framework of the article topic, as well as presentation of innovative actions taken by one of banks functioning in Poland, which caused its development. In the presentation case study method was used. Case analysis filled the cognitive part of the article. Effective realization of innovative actions, especially in the area of products and processes, leads to widely understood of company’s development, i.e. meeting customers’ requirements, good cooperation with partners, keeping up with market changes and actions of competitors

Importance of employee training in the process of human resource management - selected aspects

Purpose: The main purpose of the article was to examine the impact of the employee trainings on the motivation among the employees of the selected organization. Design/methodology/approach: The theoretical part of the article was prepared with the use of literature analysis. The practical part of the article relating to the research was carried out with the use of questionnaires. Findings: The research was intended to provide an answer whether the employees take part in various courses or not, what kinds of employee trainings are the most popular among the participants and how do they affect their level of motivation. Finally, the research intended to measure the impact of other motivational systems on the participants, as well as to obtain the data related to the most successful systems of incentives in the enterprise. Research limitations/implications: The research was conducted in the selected organization and among a limited number of participants. For further research, similar organization could be selected in order to compare results and extend conclusions concerning practical and social implications. Practical implications: According to the results, the employee trainings have a big impact on people’s motivation and, in most cases, they influence the motivation positively. It is important for an organization to have at its disposal competent personnel, that is not only well-trained, but also highly motivated. Social implications: In order to affect the personnel effectively, managers should be aware of the factors that influence the behavior of employees in an organization. However, the complexity of motivational issues leads to different problems in the practical realization of motivational theories. Nevertheless, the researchers share the opinion of the importance of motivation in the effective human resource management. Originality/value: An organization cannot realize its strategies and objectives without the employees. They play a decisive role, because almost everything that occur in an enterprise depends on the people working within it. Therefore, it is important for an organization to have at its disposal competent personnel, that is not only well-trained, but also highly motivated. The article presents standard ways of motivation, but in conditions of a selected organization – English language school, a type of organization which is examined very rarely, what constitutes its new value

Improvement of the production process using Lean Management - case study

Purpose: The aim of the article is to present the benefits of using selected Lean Management elements in the production process on the example of a company producing mechanical seals. Design/methodology/approach: The article is theoretical and empirical in nature and is based on the analysis of a selected case. In the empirical part, the analysis concerns selected elements of the production process in the examined enterprise. Findings: The results obtained in the article refer to the benefits of using Lean Management in the production process in the analyzed enterprise. The use of identification and elimination of waste and standardization of activities at workplaces (introduction of job instructions) in selected areas of the production process allowed for the improvement of its parameters, which was presented in the article. Research limitations/implications: The limitations in the empirical area could be the reference only to selected aspects of Lean Management and the analyzed process. Future research will cover the broader scope of Lean Management and other companies. Practical implications: The results of the case study show the direct impact of Lean Management on the parameters of the analyzed production process. Thanks to the use of Lean Management, the process parameters have improved, which is an important factor in the context of the effectiveness of the company's functioning as a system. Originality/value: The added value of the article is the practical presentation of the use of Lean Management to improve the parameters of the production process