A Kano Model Based Linguistic Application for Customer Needs Analysis

Linguistic is the systematic study of language. Now quality doesn’t always mean the “tangible attribute” of a product or service. It may also be linguistic. Thus, linguistic has applied for product design through capturing the voice of Customers. Capturing of the voice of customers has been done in different way, like Quality Function Deployment (QFD), Kansei Engineering and Kano Model regarding product design. Kano Model has two dimensional linguistic approaches, which is more voice capturing capacity than other methods. Reverse attribute study is important for more reliable product design for next actions than other attributes of Kano model i.e. attractive, must‐be, one‐dimensional and indifferent. Thus, this paper is exclusively study for reverse attribute. For this purpose, a reverse attribute based linguistic approach, which is run in the computer system for product design regarding Kano model aspect using threshold numbers of real consumers opinions converted into probability through fuzzy concept as an input of Monte Carlo Simulation system determining virtual customers is described in this paper. 

Resectable hepatoblastoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium after chemotherapy: A case report

AbstractHepatoblastoma with intraatrial tumor thrombus is relatively rare. We report a case of hepatoblastoma with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium, which responded well to chemotherapy and was resected using extracorporeal circulation. A 4-year-old girl was referred to our hospital because of abdominal distention and tenderness. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large tumor occupying the left 3 segments of the liver with tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. There was also a small intrahepatic metastasis in the right lobe of the liver. She was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma on the basis of the results of open biopsy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with an intense CDDP-based regimen was performed. The tumor responded well to chemotherapy, and intrahepatic metastasis became undetectable on CT scan, although the tumor thrombus remained in the right atrium. After 7 courses of chemotherapy, we performed resection using extracorporeal circulation. The postoperative course was uneventful, and adjuvant chemotherapy was started 10 days after the operation. Her serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level decreased to the normal range, and she was free of disease for 1 year after the operation. Tumor resection using extracorporeal circulation can be performed safely and is justified in patients with intraatrial tumor thrombus

Environmental Load Evaluation of Reuse Parts for Automobiles

Abstract Reuse parts are parts removed from scrap automobiles that can be still used. In general, reuse parts reduce not only the cost for replacement of failed parts but also the environmental load. This study quantitatively evaluates environmental loads, such as the amount of CO2 emission during the production of brand new parts, in order to quantify the beneficial effect of the reuse parts. The amount of CO2 emission can be calculated from the power consumption and operating time of each tool and machine employed. Reuse parts generate 0.62 kg of CO2 per automobile when produced, which corresponds to 1,212 kg per year. However, the amount of CO2 emitted from scrapping automobiles without producing new replacement parts is 3,063 kg per year. Therefore, the production of replacement parts emits three times less CO2 than scrapping

Recasting ‘Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula’ as a Sino-American Language for Co-ordination

A series of Six-Party Talks involving the United States, China, Japan, South and North Koreas, and Russia resulted in the emergence of a narrative of ‘nuclear-free Korean Peninsula’. Given the prevalence of nuclear weapons amidst Sino-American rivalry, the area is hardly ‘nuclear-free’. Instead, the phrase has evolved into a convenient language for the US and China to signal to each other that there is a coincidence of wants in preserving the multilateral framework despite the Realpolitik dynamics. This article provides a Constructivist perspective to this particular aspect of Sino-American balance of power by taking the language of ‘nuclear-free’ seriously, recasting the narrative as a shared signifier for the US and China to co-ordinate their language despite the lingering bilateral rivalry

Functional tooth number and mortality

Aim: Previous studies on the association between intraoral conditions and mortality in community-dwelling older individuals reported that fewer present teeth (PT) are significant risk factors for mortality. However, how the number of PT relative to the number of functional teeth (FT), including both present and rehabilitated teeth, influences mortality has not been investigated fully. This study examined the impact of the number of FT on mortality among community-dwelling Japanese older adults. Methods: This study was a retrospective, observational and population-based follow-up study, which examined 1188 older individuals who participated in an annual geriatric health examination from 2009 to 2015. The average follow-up period was 1697.0 ± 774.5 days. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at follow-up. The numbers of PT and FT of each participant were counted during an oral examination. In addition, demographics, clinical variables, blood nutrient markers, physical functions and perceived masticatory function were measured. Results: Kaplan–Meier analysis, followed by a log-rank test, revealed that fewer PT (P < 0.001) and FT (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with a reduced survival rate. Cox's proportional hazard analysis indicated that the number of FT, but not the number of PT, was a significant independent mortality risk factor after adjusting for demographics, clinical variables, nutrient markers and physical functioning (P = 0.036, hazard ratio: 2.089). Conclusions: Current results suggest that the number of FT more strongly predicts all-cause mortality than the number of PT among community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are necessary to consider the confounding of socioeconomic status and disability status

Number of functional teeth more strongly predicts all‐cause mortality than number of present teeth in Japanese older adults

Aim Previous studies on the association between intraoral conditions and mortality in community‐dwelling older individuals reported that fewer present teeth (PT) are significant risk factors for mortality. However, how the number of PT relative to the number of functional teeth (FT), including both present and rehabilitated teeth, influences mortality has not been investigated fully. This study examined the impact of the number of FT on mortality among community‐dwelling Japanese older adults. Methods This study was a retrospective, observational and population‐based follow‐up study, which examined 1188 older individuals who participated in an annual geriatric health examination from 2009 to 2015. The average follow‐up period was 1697.0 ± 774.5 days. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality at follow‐up. The numbers of PT and FT of each participant were counted during an oral examination. In addition, demographics, clinical variables, blood nutrient markers, physical functions and perceived masticatory function were measured. Results Kaplan–Meier analysis, followed by a log‐rank test, revealed that fewer PT (P  Conclusions Current results suggest that the number of FT more strongly predicts all‐cause mortality than the number of PT among community‐dwelling older adults. Further studies are necessary to consider the confounding of socioeconomic status and disability status

Impact of number of functional teeth on independence of Japanese older adults

Aim To examine the relationship between the number of present and functional teeth at baseline and future incidence of loss of independence. Methods Participants were community-dwelling older individuals who participated in a comprehensive geriatric health examination conducted in Kusatsu town, Japan, between 2009 and 2015. The primary endpoint was the incidence of loss of independence among participants, defined as the first certification of long-term care insurance in Japan. The numbers of present and functional teeth at baseline were determined via an oral examination. Demographics, clinical variables (e.g., history of chronic diseases and psychosocial factors), blood nutritional markers, physical functions, and perceived masticatory function were assessed. Results This study included 1121 individuals, and 205 individuals suffered from loss of independence during the follow-up period. Kaplan–Meier estimates of loss of independence for participants with smaller numbers of present and functional teeth were significantly greater than for those with larger numbers of teeth. Cox proportional hazard analyses indicated that a smaller number of present teeth was not a significant risk factor after adjusting for demographic characteristics. However, the number of functional teeth was a significant risk factor after the adjustment (hazard ratio: 1.975 [1.168–3.340]). Additionally, higher hazard ratios were observed in other adjusted models, but they were not statistically significant. Conclusions The number of functional teeth may be more closely related to the future incidence of loss of independence than the number of present teeth. This novel finding suggests that prosthodontic rehabilitation for tooth loss possibly prevents the future incidence of this life-event

Prediction and validation of gas hydrate saturation distribution in the eastern Nankai Trough, Japan: Geostatistical approach integrating well-log and 3D seismic data

Accurate reservoir potential evaluation requires reliable 3D reservoir models. Geostatistical simulation techniques can reproduce the heterogeneity and quantify the uncertainty in a reservoir. We have applied sequential Gaussian simulation with collocated cokriging to generate the spatial distribution of gas hydrate (GH) saturation around a gas production test site in the eastern Nankai Trough. The simulation was performed using well-log data obtained from the exploration and production tests as a primary variable and inversion-derived seismic impedance data as a secondary variable under the good correlations between two variables. The integrated model adequately described the reservoir heterogeneity and effectively interpolated the seismic trend with respect to the well data. To confirm the usability of the seismic data for the accurate representation of the GH saturation distribution, we ran two model simulations: one using well data only and the other using well and seismic data. Each model was validated using the well-log data obtained at the production test site that were not included during the simulation. The model generated using well and seismic data appropriately reproduced the trend of well-log data at the production test site, especially for the low-GH-saturation unit within the reservoir. However, the model generated using well data only was insufficient to predict the trend of the well data. The results demonstrated that the seismic data were effective for the prediction of the GH saturation distribution, and integration of the well and seismic data could improve the accuracy of the reservoir model