Web Structure Reorganization to Improve Web Navigation Efficiency

The study aims to improve Web navigation efficiency by reorganizing Web structure. Navigation efficiency is defined mathematically for both navigation with / without target destination pages, e.g. for experienced and new users. To help experienced users not to lose their orientation, structure stability is taken into consideration. Stability constraint can also help website designers control the maintaining effort of Web. This study proposes a mathematical programming method to reorganize Web structure in order to achieve better navigation efficiency. Designer can specify the user requirements and how stable the website structure should be. An e-banking example is given to illustrate how the method works in scenarios where user surfs with target destination. This study has the advantage of assessing and improving navigation efficiency and of relieving the designer of tedious chore to modify the structure in transformation

Relational Study of Information Technology and Production Management: - The Case of Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Mainland China and Hong Kong

In the last few decades, many large corporations have been moving part of the supply chains, especially manufacturing, offshore to take advantage of the low cost resources and labor. For example, the southern part of China, such as Pearl River Delta (PRD), has been attracting the enterprises from all over the word in the last two decades and has become the world manufacturing hub. The types of the manufacturing extend the spectrum from light industry (e.g. toy and garment) originally to high-tech (e.g. semi-conductor wafer) recently and such transition triggers the changes of the technology requirements. In addition, joining WTO has opened up the gate to China and sped up the process of technology advancement as well. The paper investigates the relationships between technology adoption and production management by examining production technology, information systems, and information qualities in a study based on the review of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and China. The paper concludes the recommendations for the capability building to bridge the gap for information systems and operations management in China

Modelling and simulation for logistic service company : case study on customer service operation

Modelling and simulation approach is widely used in the management, manufacturing and services industries. The purpose of using modeling and simulation is to improve in business performance and achieve in business goals and targets. However, there is lack of such an application in the customer service operation for the logistic industry. The project is performed to evaluate the roles and responsibilities of Customer Service Officer (CSO) in the import and export operations for a logistic service company, to ensure customer satisfaction for the services provided by CSO from a logistic service company in the import and export operations and to recommend appropriate parameters for a logistic service company for improvement of business performance after operation re-engineering. The research method consists of interview, observation, document review and simulation. The project was conducted in DNE group, a logistic service company located in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The general manager and CSO of import and export operation (five CSO for each operation) were interviewed. The work of CSO of both import and export operations were observed. The relevant forms for the import and export operations and the CSO import and export operational procedure where the company intends to adhere to ISO 9001:2008 were reviewed. ARENA simulation was used to simulate the suggested methods for the purpose of improving business performance. There are four proposals for the import operation. The proposals are to add two working hours for each CSO, to add an extra officer to each import process, to allow two shifts for the CSO and to have more job separation. The export operation consists of three proposals. The proposals are to add two working hours for each CSO, to add an extra officer to each export process and to allow two shifts for the export CSO. These suggestions can be applied to other logistical companies and a conceptual model can be established for future research

The Effects of Website Personalization on User Intention to Return through Cognitive Beliefs and Affective Reactions

This study developed a fine-grained, multidimensional view of perceived personalization of website design based on and extending upon previous research. Moreover, we have drawn from the vast body of research on elaboration likelihood model, the technology acceptance model (TAM), and flow theory to (i) develop an integrated model of the stimuli of personalization, and the alternative modes of influence processes which lead to the intention to continue to use a website (i.e. user intention to return); (ii) empirically test the integrated model (iii) suggest a personalization model that enhances the positive environmental and psychological determinants of user intention to return. In particular, we investigate the role of information personalization, presentation personalization, and navigation personalization in influencing the cognitive and affective determinants of the intention to continue to use a website. Our findings have important implications for Information Systems (IS) research and managerial decision making on personalization implementation issues in website design

Towards Analytical Approach to Effective Website Designs: A Framework for Modeling, Evaluation and Enhancement

Conference Theme: I.T. and Value CreationEffective website design is critical to the success of electronic commerce and digital government. Most prior website design research has taken a computational or cognitive/behavioral approach which may not yield optimal designs demanded by specific requirements. We consider website design as a structural problem which can be examined using analytical approach, such as mathematical optimization. Specifically, we propose a framework which classifies real-world design problems into generic website design categories and maps each resulting category into a graph model which can be analyzable or solved using appropriate analytical techniques. Our framework consists of generic designs and graph models, together with the necessary mapping. We classify the Web site applications and review their features proposed by previous research. We describe a generic website design category using its objective and key constraints that correspond to important design requirements. By modeling website design problems using well-defined structures and rigorous analysis methods, this framework is able to measure website accessibility in a systematic and quantifiable manner, arguably more desirable than existing qualitative ad-hoc practices. Overall, our framework can facilitate the website design process, enhance design quality, and increase ease of analysis, implementation and continuous improvement.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

OPTIMIZATIONOFENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS PROCESS FROM SHRIMP BY-PRODUCT FOR SHRIMP SAUCE PRODUCTION

Shrimp by-product from shrimp processing industry adapted to food safety was hydrolyzed by alcalase and flavourzyme and optimized by response surface methodology. Shrimp by- product was grounded and treated with fixed alcalase 0.2% (4.8AU/kg protein) andflavourzyme loadings (0.1-0.4%), pH (6.0-9.0), temperature (45-650C) and hydrolysis time (5-13h) in order to improve hydrolysis process in shrimp sauce production. At optimal conditions of pH of 7.5, temperature of 590C,flavourzymeloadings of 0.4% (100LAPU/g protein), alcalaseof 0.2%, and hydrolysis time of 8.2h, hydrolysis degree was 36.76% compared to control sample (hydrolysis by HCl 6N at 1000C for 24h). Shrimp hydrolysis solution was mixed with 25% of NaCl before fermentation. After 10 days of fermentation, shrimp sauce had total nitrogen of 13.2g/l, amino nitrogen of 9.625 g/l, NH3 of 2.13g/l. These properties and sensory quality were equivalent to control sample(2.5 months of fermentation by traditional process).

Voltage-Dependent Gating of hERG Potassium Channels

The mechanisms by which voltage-gated channels sense changes in membrane voltage and energetically couple this with opening of the ion conducting pore has been the source of significant interest. In voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, much of our knowledge in this area comes from Shaker-type channels, for which voltage-dependent gating is quite rapid. In these channels, activation and deactivation are associated with rapid reconfiguration of the voltage-sensing domain unit that is electromechanically coupled, via the S4–S5 linker helix, to the rate-limiting opening of an intracellular pore gate. However, fast voltage-dependent gating kinetics are not typical of all Kv channels, such as Kv11.1 (human ether-à-go-go related gene, hERG), which activates and deactivates very slowly. Compared to Shaker channels, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying slow hERG gating is much poorer. Here, we present a comparative review of the structure–function relationships underlying activation and deactivation gating in Shaker and hERG channels, with a focus on the roles of the voltage-sensing domain and the S4–S5 linker that couples voltage sensor movements to the pore. Measurements of gating current kinetics and fluorimetric analysis of voltage sensor movement are consistent with models suggesting that the hERG activation pathway contains a voltage independent step, which limits voltage sensor transitions. Constraints upon hERG voltage sensor movement may result from loose packing of the S4 helices and additional intra-voltage sensor counter-charge interactions. More recent data suggest that key amino acid differences in the hERG voltage-sensing unit and S4–S5 linker, relative to fast activating Shaker-type Kv channels, may also contribute to the increased stability of the resting state of the voltage sensor

Evaluating An Investment Fund with Downside Risk Protection: A Case Study

In this paper, we report a case study on evaluating an investment fund with downside risk protection by which investors can gain higher returns from investing on a mutual fund and protect themselves from losing their principle investment. Such downside risk protection is preferred in many cases, e.g. in managing government pension, trust funds, and donation funds of academic institutions. Supposedly one such organization, ABC Ltd, plans to invest its excess funds to maximize capital gains and yet requires assurance of the principal invested capital (even in bearish market conditions) after a 5-year period. ABC is interested in investing in CP Notes marketed by XYZ as it may meet ABC’s investment objective. We develop a simulation model to evaluate the appropriate charge for such an option to protect any downside risks

An Improved Variable Sample Size And Sampling Interval S Control Chart

The standard deviation chart or S chart is used to monitor the process standard deviation. In this thesis, some of the features of the S chart are altered to increase the chart’s sensitivity towards small and moderate shifts in the process standard deviation. This new chart for monitoring the process standard deviation is known as the improved variable sample size and sampling interval ( t VSSI ) S chart.The design and construction of the t VSSI S chart is based on the idea of the improved variable sample size and sampling interval ( t VSSI ) X chart proposed by Noorossana et al. in 2016. The t VSSI X chart improves the efficiency of the X-type charts in detecting small and moderate shifts in the process mean

Evaluation Of Caregivers’ Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice On Medication Administration Process And Emotional Status In Long-Term Care Facilities In Penang, Selangor, And Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The world’s population is ageing; virtually every country in the world is experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older persons in their population. Ageing is the increasing share of older persons in the population and is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the twentyfirst century. Hence, the demand for long-term care facilities (LTCs) will be increased accordingly. 26 LTCs was surveyed to evaluate the quality of the institution's service on medication administration (MA) process. The aim of this research was to assess the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) on MA process, and their associated predictors such as emotional, and education level among respondents at LTCs