Trade-offs in managing commercial consumer returns for online apparel retail

Purpose: This paper analyses the application of Lean Six Sigma framework for supporting continuous improvement in logistics services. Both the lean philosophy and the Six Sigma methodology have become two of the most important initiatives for continuous improvement in organizations. The combination of both alternatives - Lean Six Sigma (LSS) - brings significant benefits for companies applying this method and its influence in logistics services can be relevant. Design/methodology/approach: A case study on the logistics services of a large consumer electronics company is performed. In this sector, high quality in logistics services is crucial. Using within-case and cross-case analyses, the paper discusses the implementation of LSS in two internal logistics processes. Findings: The paper identifies important implementation aspects when applying LSS to logistics services, such as continuous improvement structure, strategic analysis, cross-functional teams, and process management. Furthermore, the paper discusses the potential in logistics services of the DMAIC approach and tools like VSM, SIPOC and Process Mapping. Practical implications: The paper analyses two logistics processes where LSS has been applied – a payment process and a request-to-ship process. The analysis of both processes offers relevant information about organizational implementation in a logistics services environment, about process improvement and about the use of LSS tools. Originality/value: Firstly, this paper addresses the gap in literature about LSS and logistics’ activities. Furthermore, the case company, with more than 9.000 employees and distributing its products to more than 100 countries, constitutes a valuable source of information to obtain insights in the implications of implementing LSS in logistics services

Repeatability of quantitative individual lesion and total disease multiparametric whole-body MRI measurements in prostate cancer bone metastases.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the repeatability of quantitative multiparametric whole-body MRI (mpWB-MRI) parameters in advanced prostate cancer (APC) bone metastases. METHODS: 1.5T MRI was performed twice on the same day in 10 APC patients. MpWB-MRI-included diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and T1-weighted gradient-echo 2-point Dixon sequences. ADC and relative fat-fraction percentage (rFF%) maps were calculated, respectively. A radiologist delineated up to 10 target bone metastases per study. Means of ADC, b900 signal intensity(SI), normalised b900 SI, rFF% and maximum diameter (MD) for each target lesion and overall parameter averages across all targets per patient were recorded. The total disease volume (tDV in ml) was manually delineated on b900 images and mean global (g)ADC was derived. Bland-Altman analyses were performed with calculation of 95% repeatability coefficients (RC). RESULTS: Seventy-three individual targets (median MD 26 mm) were included. Lesion mean ADC RC was 12.5%, mean b900 SI RC 137%, normalised mean b900 SI RC 110%, rFF% RC 3.2 and target MD RC 5.5 mm (16.3%). Patient target lesion average mean ADC RC was 6.4%, b900 SI RC 104% and normalised mean b900 SI RC 39.6%. Target average rFF% RC was 1.8, average MD RC 1.3 mm (4.8%). tDV segmentation RC was 6.4% and mean gADC RC 5.3%. CONCLUSIONS: APC bone metastases' ADC, rFF% and maximum diameter, tDV and gADC show good repeatability. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: APC bone metastases' mean ADC and rFF% measurements of single lesions and global disease volumes are repeatable, supporting their potential role as quantitative biomarkers in metastatic bone disease

Giant positive magnetoresistance in metallic VOx thin films

We report on giant positive magnetoresistance effect observed in VOx thin films, epitaxially grown on SrTiO3 substrate. The MR effect depends strongly on temperature and oxygen content and is anisotropic. At low temperatures its magnitude reaches 70% in a magnetic field of 5 T. Strong electron-electron interactions in the presence of strong disorder may qualitatively explain the results. An alternative explanation, related to a possible magnetic instability, is also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures included in the text, references update

Las reservas de biosfera como instrumentos de gestión territorial: el caso de RBYungas (Argentina)

Las reservas de biosfera son áreas especiales declaradas por la UNESCO que deben combinar un triple objetivo de conservación de la naturaleza, desarrollo sostenible y apoyo logístico a la educación, la ciencia y la capacitación, en una perspectiva integrada. En 40 años, ellas se convirtieron en herramientas complejas para la gestión y el ordenamiento territorial. La Reserva de Biosfera de las Yungas (RBYungas), localizada en las provincias de Jujuy y Salta (Argentina), cubre una gran porción de selvas subtropicales de montaña y es un ecosistema de gran valor ambiental y social. Desde su creación, la Reserva pasó por diferentes etapas de implementación, y en 2010 concluyó el Plan Estratégico en una porción de su territorio (Jujuy). El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el estado actual de planificación territorial en la RB Yungas y su integración en el espacio regional. Para ello, se concretó una revisión bibliográfica (científica y técnica) sobre el área de estudio y se analizaron documentos oficiales en torno al proceso de consolidación institucional de la RBYungas, los informes técnicos, su zonificación, el Plan Estratégico de la RB Yungas-Sector Jujuy y los ordenamientos territoriales de bosques nativos provinciales correspondientes. Luego, se compararon los instrumentos cartográficos asociados y se discutieron la coherencia y la integración de las orientaciones de la RB Yungas con las políticas de gestión territorial. Con 13 años de existencia, esta Reserva de Biosfera demostró avances en materia de planificación territorial y diálogo entre ambas provincias y actores involucrados. Sin embargo, quedan pendientes los desafíos de fortalecer la Reserva en todo su territorio y la necesidad de consolidar el papel de este modelo en las políticas públicas puestas en marcha en el territorio.Biosphere reserves are special areas declared by UNESCO that must combine three integrated objectives of nature conservation, sustainable development, and logistic support for education, science and training. After 40 years, biosphere reserves became complex tools for land management and use. The Yungas Biosphere Reserve ( RB Yungas), located in Jujuy and Salta Provinces (northwestern Argentina), occupies 1.3 million hectares of subtropical mountain forests, an ecosystem of high environmental and social value. Since its declaration, the Reserve went through several implementation stages, and in 2010 finished the Strategic Plan for the Jujuy-province sector. The objective of this work is to analyze the current situation of land-use planning in the RB Yungas and its integration to the regional context. We reviewed all available information for the study area, including scientific and technic bibliography, oficial documents, the implementation process of the reserve, land- use plans for Salta and Jujuy, and the Strategic Plan for the Jujuy-province sector. We also reviewed associated cartographic documents and discussed the coherence and integration of RB Yungas actions and recommendations into the context of land-use policies. After 13 years of existence, RB Yungas showed progress related to land-use planning and dialogue among both provinces and related stakeholders. However, pending challenges are to strengthen the notion of the Reserve across its entire territory and the need to include this management model into public policies that play a role in the territory of the Reserve.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Las reservas de biosfera como instrumentos de gestión territorial: el caso de RBYungas (Argentina)

Las reservas de biosfera son áreas especiales declaradas por la UNESCO que deben combinar un triple objetivo de conservación de la naturaleza, desarrollo sostenible y apoyo logístico a la educación, la ciencia y la capacitación, en una perspectiva integrada. En 40 años, ellas se convirtieron en herramientas complejas para la gestión y el ordenamiento territorial. La Reserva de Biosfera de las Yungas (RBYungas), localizada en las provincias de Jujuy y Salta (Argentina), cubre una gran porción de selvas subtropicales de montaña y es un ecosistema de gran valor ambiental y social. Desde su creación, la Reserva pasó por diferentes etapas de implementación, y en 2010 concluyó el Plan Estratégico en una porción de su territorio (Jujuy). El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el estado actual de planificación territorial en la RB Yungas y su integración en el espacio regional. Para ello, se concretó una revisión bibliográfica (científica y técnica) sobre el área de estudio y se analizaron documentos oficiales en torno al proceso de consolidación institucional de la RBYungas, los informes técnicos, su zonificación, el Plan Estratégico de la RB Yungas-Sector Jujuy y los ordenamientos territoriales de bosques nativos provinciales correspondientes. Luego, se compararon los instrumentos cartográficos asociados y se discutieron la coherencia y la integración de las orientaciones de la RB Yungas con las políticas de gestión territorial. Con 13 años de existencia, esta Reserva de Biosfera demostró avances en materia de planificación territorial y diálogo entre ambas provincias y actores involucrados. Sin embargo, quedan pendientes los desafíos de fortalecer la Reserva en todo su territorio y la necesidad de consolidar el papel de este modelo en las políticas públicas puestas en marcha en el territorio.Biosphere reserves are special areas declared by UNESCO that must combine three integrated objectives of nature conservation, sustainable development, and logistic support for education, science and training. After 40 years, biosphere reserves became complex tools for land management and use. The Yungas Biosphere Reserve ( RB Yungas), located in Jujuy and Salta Provinces (northwestern Argentina), occupies 1.3 million hectares of subtropical mountain forests, an ecosystem of high environmental and social value. Since its declaration, the Reserve went through several implementation stages, and in 2010 finished the Strategic Plan for the Jujuy-province sector. The objective of this work is to analyze the current situation of land-use planning in the RB Yungas and its integration to the regional context. We reviewed all available information for the study area, including scientific and technic bibliography, oficial documents, the implementation process of the reserve, land- use plans for Salta and Jujuy, and the Strategic Plan for the Jujuy-province sector. We also reviewed associated cartographic documents and discussed the coherence and integration of RB Yungas actions and recommendations into the context of land-use policies. After 13 years of existence, RB Yungas showed progress related to land-use planning and dialogue among both provinces and related stakeholders. However, pending challenges are to strengthen the notion of the Reserve across its entire territory and the need to include this management model into public policies that play a role in the territory of the Reserve.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Anesthesia by electro acupuncture in neurosurgery

Given the fact that in neuroanesthesia the choice of anesthetic substances must take into account the effect they have over the cerebral substance, we felt that using as few drugs as possible eliminates their shortcomings, improving the intraoperative conditions as well as the outcome of the surgical intervention. For this purpose, we have used anesthesia through electro acupunctural stimulation associated to hypnosis, drug relaxation under controlled breathing on a group of 12 patients, from which 10 patients had undergone brain surgery and 2 patients had undergone surgery for herniated disc. The outcomes showed the better effect of this method than that of the classical, the patients showing excellent intraoperative hemodynamic stability, relaxed brain, without the need to use depleted substances, rapid awakening with a much better postoperative analgesia

Nerve sheath tumor, benign neurogenic slow-growing solitary neurilemmoma of the left ulnar nerve: A case and review of literature

This paper represent a report of a case with ulnar nerve schwannoma(neurilemmoma), benign neurogenic slow-growing, tumors originating from Schwann cells along the course of a nerve (1) (2) (3). Schwannomas are the most common tumors of the peripheral nerves which occur in the adults (0.8–2%) (5). Usually they progress slowly and so they can remain painless swellings for a few years before other symptoms appear. Most of these lesions could be diagnosed clinically, are mobile in the longitudinal plane along the course of the involved nerve but not in the transverse plane (7). EMG, MRI, and ultrasonography are useful tools in the diagnosis. The definitive treatment of benign peripheral nerve schwannomatosis is complete enucleation of the tumor mass without damaging the intact nerve fascicles followed by confirmatory hystopathological examination (12). We present the case of a 62 years old right hand-dominant female who notice a slow increasing bulge over the inner aspect of her distal volar left forearm superior to the wrist, for a longer period of time not exactly specified; this was tracked and associated by pain, tingling and numbness over inner one and half fingers of her left hand in progress until the presentations. A diagnosis of soft-tissue tumor was presumed clinically. The other investigations were ultrasonography (US), nerve conduction studies (NCSs) such as sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP). In this case IRM was suggestive of a benign growth in her left ulnar nerve in the forearm region. Microsurgical techniques were used for ample enucleation of the tumor the distal volar left forearm. Subsequent histopathological examination confirmed the presumed diagnosis of a benign cellular schwannoma. At her last follow-up one month after surgery, the patient was neurological gradually improving sensory and motor function and she is highly satisfied with the results of surgery

Phase 1/2a trial of intravenous BAL101553, a novel controller of the spindle assembly checkpoint, in advanced solid tumours

Background: BAL101553 (lisavanbulin), the lysine prodrug of BAL27862 (avanbulin), exhibits broad anti-proliferative activity in human cancer models refractory to clinically relevant microtubule-targeting agents. Methods: This two-part, open-label, phase 1/2a study aimed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of 2-h infusion of BAL101553 in adults with advanced or recurrent solid tumours. The MTD was determined using a modified accelerated titration design in phase I. Patients received BAL101553 at the MTD and at lower doses in the phase 2a expansion to characterise safety and efficacy and to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Results: Seventy-three patients received BAL101553 at doses of 15–80 mg/m2 (phase 1, n = 24; phase 2a, n = 49). The MTD was 60 mg/m2; DLTs observed at doses ≥60 mg/m2 were reversible Grade 2–3 gait disturbance with Grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy. In phase 2a, asymptomatic myocardial injury was observed at doses ≥45 mg/m2. The RP2D for 2-h intravenous infusion was 30 mg/m2. The overall disease control rate was 26.3% in the efficacy population. Conclusions: The RP2D for 2-h infusion of BAL101553 was well tolerated. Dose-limiting neurological and myocardial side effects were consistent with the agent’s vascular-disrupting properties. Clinical trial registration: EudraCT: 2010-024237-23

Effect of P to A Mutation of the N-Terminal Residue Adjacent to the Rgd Motif on Rhodostomin: Importance of Dynamics in Integrin Recognition

Rhodostomin (Rho) is an RGD protein that specifically inhibits integrins. We found that Rho mutants with the P48A mutation 4.4–11.5 times more actively inhibited integrin α5β1. Structural analysis showed that they have a similar 3D conformation for the RGD loop. Docking analysis also showed no difference between their interactions with integrin α5β1. However, the backbone dynamics of RGD residues were different. The values of the R2 relaxation parameter for Rho residues R49 and D51 were 39% and 54% higher than those of the P48A mutant, which caused differences in S2, Rex, and τe. The S2 values of the P48A mutant residues R49, G50, and D51 were 29%, 14%, and 28% lower than those of Rho. The Rex values of Rho residues R49 and D51 were 0.91 s−1 and 1.42 s−1; however, no Rex was found for those of the P48A mutant. The τe values of Rho residues R49 and D51 were 9.5 and 5.1 times lower than those of P48A mutant. Mutational study showed that integrin α5β1 prefers its ligands to contain (G/A)RGD but not PRGD sequences for binding. These results demonstrate that the N-terminal proline residue adjacent to the RGD motif affect its function and dynamics, which suggests that the dynamic properties of the RGD motif may be important in Rho's interaction with integrin α5β1

Growth and properties of strained VOx thin films with controlled stoichiometry

We have succeeded in growing epitaxial films of rocksalt VOx on MgO(001) substrates. The oxygen content as a function of oxygen flux was determined using 18O2-RBS and the vanadium valence using XAS. The upper and lower stoichiometry limits found are similar to the ones known for bulk material (0.8<x<1.3). From the RHEED oscillation period a large number of vacancies for both vanadium and oxygen were deduced, i.e. ~16% for stoichiometric VO. These numbers are, surprisingly, very similar to those for bulk material and consequently quite strain-insensitive. XAS measurements reveal that the vacancies give rise to strong low symmetry ligand fields to be present. The electrical conductivity of the films is much lower than the conductivity of bulk samples which we attribute to a decrease in the direct overlap between t2g orbitals in the coherently strained layers. The temperature dependence of the conductivity is consistent with a variable range hopping mechanism.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures included, revised versio