Dell\u27s Use of CRM-SCM Integration to Dominate the PC Market

Dell is one of the most successful and profitable computer corporations in history. It has been known for its innovative customer service and product custom configuration. As it continues to grow, it is faced with the challenge of how to maintain its customer relationships and inventory management, while continuing to meet the demands and requirements of its customers. This paper will examine how Dell implements enterprise-wide computing software, which profiles and targets its customers, as well as streamlines the flow of its products throughout the supply chain. Dell\u27s collaboration with other computer software companies has allowed it to become a leader in customer relationship management (CRM) and supply-chain management (SCM). These initiatives have resulted in net revenues of between $30 and$60 million over the last five years

Efficacy and safety of tafamidis doses in the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT) and long-term extension study.

Aims Tafamidis is an effective treatment for transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in the Tafamidis in Transthyretin Cardiomyopathy Clinical Trial (ATTR-ACT). While ATTR-ACT was not designed for a dose-specific assessment, further analysis from ATTR-ACT and its long-term extension study (LTE) can guide determination of the optimal dose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Methods and results In ATTR-ACT, patients were randomized (2:1:2) to tafamidis 80 mg, 20mg, or placebo for 30months. Patients completing ATTR-ACT could enrol in the LTE (with placebo-treated patients randomized to tafamidis 80 or 20 mg; 2:1) and all patients were subsequently switched to high-dose tafamidis. All-cause mortality was assessed in ATTR-ACT combined with the LTE (median follow-up 51 months). In ATTR-ACT, the combination of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations over 30 months was significantly reduced with tafamidis 80mg (P = 0.0030) and 20mg (P = 0.0048) vs. placebo. All-cause mortality vs. placebo was reduced with tafamidis 80mg [Cox hazards model (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.690 (0.487–0.979), P = 0.0378] and 20mg [0.715 (0.450–1.137), P = 0.1564]. The mean (standard error) change in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide from baseline to Month 30 was −1170.51 (587.31) (P = 0.0468) with tafamidis 80 vs. 20 mg. In ATTR-ACT combined with the LTE there was a significantly greater survival benefit with tafamidis 80 vs. 20 mg [0.700 (0.501–0.979), P = 0.0374]. Incidence of adverse events in both tafamidis doses were comparable to placebo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conclusion Tafamidis, both 80 and 20mg, effectively reduced mortality and cardiovascular-related hospitalizations in patients with ATTR-CM. The longer-term survival data and the lack of dose-related safety concerns support tafamidis 80mg as the optimal dose. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01994889; NCT02791230post-print369 K

The Gaia mission

Gaia is a cornerstone mission in the science programme of the EuropeanSpace Agency (ESA). The spacecraft construction was approved in 2006, following a study in which the original interferometric concept was changed to a direct-imaging approach. Both the spacecraft and the payload were built by European industry. The involvement of the scientific community focusses on data processing for which the international Gaia Data Processing and Analysis Consortium (DPAC) was selected in 2007. Gaia was launched on 19 December 2013 and arrived at its operating point, the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth-Moon system, a few weeks later. The commissioning of the spacecraft and payload was completed on 19 July 2014. The nominal five-year mission started with four weeks of special, ecliptic-pole scanning and subsequently transferred into full-sky scanning mode. We recall the scientific goals of Gaia and give a description of the as-built spacecraft that is currently (mid-2016) being operated to achieve these goals. We pay special attention to the payload module, the performance of which is closely related to the scientific performance of the mission. We provide a summary of the commissioning activities and findings, followed by a description of the routine operational mode. We summarise scientific performance estimates on the basis of in-orbit operations. Several intermediate Gaia data releases are planned and the data can be retrieved from the Gaia Archive, which is available through the Gaia home page. http://www.cosmos.esa.int/gai

Islamic banking financing terrorism or meeting economic demand?

This thesis investigates the recent world-wide rise in Islamic banking. In doing so it (1) surveys the underlying religious foundation of Islamic finance, (2) examines the attempts of Islamists to use Islamic banking to Islamize societies, and (3) assesses how countries' use of Islamic banking fit into the international economic system. Drawing on this analysis, Islamic banking is finally examined from a national security perspective -- is this form of finance particularly susceptible to miss-use by terrorist groups? Although there are areas in the industry that need regulating and monitoring, this study ultimately concludes that Islamic banking's ties to terrorism are anecdotal, the expansion is the result of oil revenues and personal piety, and that Islamic banking can be leveraged as a means of moderation and enfranchisement when advanced free of an Islamist agenda.http://archive.org/details/islamicbankingfi109453013Outstanding ThesisUS Navy (USN) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Measuring directional stiffnesses in pavement base material

Unbound aggregate base layers in a quarry haul road in Georgia were characterized using embedded sensors and in-situ seismic testing. Two sections of the road were constructed as inverted pavements, one using a South African Roads Board method and the other using a conventional Georgia Department of Transportation method. A third was constructed using a traditional method. Horizontally propagating compression and shear waves were measured under varying loading conditions to determine the stiffnesses. It was found that the Georgia section was as good as the South African Section. Surprisingly, the traditional section was found to be somewhat stiffer than the other sections. This higher stiffness is thought to be due to a prolonged period of compaction prior to construction of the unbound aggregate base layer. Additionally, the negative pore-water pressures in the partially saturated granular base had a significant impact on the stiffness of the UAB layer, especially under small load levels.http://archive.org/details/measuringdirecti109451102