Business Value of E-CRM: A Multi-Case Study of Applications in Manufacturing and Service Industry of Taiwan

: Since it is a well known fact that the cost to attract a new customer is approximately 5~10 times more than the cost of keeping existing clients for the enterprise, it is a very crucial issue for the business to focus on the need of customer relationship management. Therefore, e-CRM (electronic CRM) is widely accepted recently and the adopting rate in certain organization is up to 49% annually. In this study, a systematic multi-case study in Taiwan is performed for the B2B manufacturing industry and B2C service business in order to find the critical function and important issues for e-CRM in those businesses. In addition, the efficiency factors for e-CRM are analyzed since the roles of the clients in B2C and B2B are different, i.e., the organizational and personal behavior is compared. The preliminary results show e-CRM in Taiwan has been successfully improving the service for B2B and B2C and promoting closer relationship for both the sellers and buyers. The target of new customer acquiring is also improved effectivel

Membrane repair against H. pylori promotes cancer cell proliferation

Membrane repair is a universal response against physical and biological insults and enables cell survival. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common human pathogens and the first formally recognized bacterial carcinogen associated with gastric cancer. However, little is known about host membrane repair in the context of H. pylori infection. Here we show that H. pylori disrupts the host plasma membrane and induces Ca2+ influx, which triggers the translocation of annexin family members A1 and A4 to the plasma membrane. This in turn activates a membrane repair response through the recruitment of lysosomal membranes and the induction of downstream signaling transduction pathways that promote cell survival and proliferation. Based on our data, we propose a new model by which H. pylori infection activates annexin A1 and A4 for membrane repair and how annexin A4 over-expression induced signaling promotes cell proliferation. Continual activation of this membrane repair response signaling cascade may cause abnormal cellular states leading to carcinogenesis. This study links H. pylori infection to membrane repair, providing insight into potential mechanisms of carcinogenesis resulting from membrane damage

Integrative network analysis reveals active microRNAs and their functions in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of endogenous, small and highly conserved noncoding RNAs that control gene expression either by degradation of target mRNAs or by inhibition of protein translation. They play important roles in cancer progression. A single miRNA can provoke a chain reaction and further affect protein interaction network (PIN). Therefore, we developed a novel integrative approach to identify the functional roles and the regulated PIN of oncomirs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We integrated the expression profiles of miRNA and mRNA with the human PIN to reveal miRNA-regulated PIN in specific biological conditions. The potential functions of miRNAs were determined by functional enrichment analysis and the activities of miRNA-regulated PINs were evaluated by the co-expression of protein-protein interactions (PPIs). The function of a specific miRNA, miR-148a, was further examined by clinical data analysis and cell-based experiments. We uncovered several miRNA-regulated networks which were enriched with functions related to cancer progression. One miRNA, miR-148a, was identified and its function is to decrease tumor proliferation and metastasis through its regulated PIN. Furthermore, we found that miR-148a could reduce the invasiveness, migratory and adhesive activities of gastric tumor cells. Most importantly, elevated miR-148a level in gastric cancer tissues was strongly correlated with distant metastasis, organ and peritoneal invasion and reduced survival rate.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study provides a novel method to identify active oncomirs and their potential functions in gastric cancer progression. The present data suggest that miR-148a could be a potential prognostic biomarker of gastric cancer and function as a tumor suppressor through repressing the activity of its regulated PIN.</p

Andrographis paniculata

Andrographolide is the most abundant terpenoid of A. paniculata which is used in the treatment of diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effects of A. paniculata extract (APE) and andrographolide on the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver and determined whether modulation of these enzymes changed the pharmacokinetics of tolbutamide. Rats were intragastrically dosed with 2 g/kg/day APE or 50 mg/kg/day andrographolide for 5 days before a dose of 20 mg/kg tolbutamide was given. APE and andrographolide reduced the AUC0–12 h of tolbutamide by 37% and 18%, respectively, compared with that in controls. The protein and mRNA levels and enzyme activities of CYP2C6/11, CYP1A1/2, and CYP3A1/2 were increased by APE and andrographolide. To evaluate whether APE or andrographolide affected the hypoglycemic action of tolbutamide, high-fat diet-induced obese mice were used and treated in the same manner as the rats. APE and andrographolide increased CYP2C6/11 expression and decreased plasma tolbutamide levels. In a glucose tolerance test, however, the hypoglycemic effect of tolbutamide was not changed by APE or andrographolide. These results suggest that APE and andrographolide accelerate the metabolism rate of tolbutamide through increased expression and activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes. APE and andrographolide, however, do not impair the hypoglycemic effect of tolbutamide

Effects of Heat Extruded Soybean Meal and Dietary Protein Levels on Plasma Urea Nitrogen Concentration, Rumen, and Milk Characteristics of Holstein Cows in Hot Environment

本試驗之目的即在探討以熱擠壓處理大豆粕（heat extruded soybean meal, HESBM）為瘤胃未降解蛋白質之來源，配合飼糧不同蛋白質水準（15 vs.16.5﹪）探討對荷蘭泌乳牛血漿尿素氮濃度、瘤胃及生產性狀之影響。試驗一以in situ測定經熱擠壓處理大豆粕（110、141 ℃），不同時間點培養於瘤胃中之蛋白質降解率與蛋白質品質之變化；結果顯示，141 ℃熱擠壓大豆粕其粗蛋白質快速可溶部分減少、潛在可降解部分增加與其降解速率減緩及並提高瘤胃中未降解蛋白質之比例。飼糧中之粗蛋白質以141 ℃熱擠壓大豆粕全量取代大豆粕並配合不同粗蛋白質水準，進行動物試驗。選取四頭裝置瘤胃廔管之荷蘭乾乳牛及二十頭荷蘭泌乳牛，試驗分別以4×4拉丁方格設計進行，每期3週，共十二週。試驗二瘤胃性狀方面，pH值、乙酸、丙酸、乙/丙酸比皆未受處理之影響（P>0.05），氨態氮濃度以蛋白質水準高組（16.5﹪CP）極顯著較高（P0.05），16.5﹪粗蛋白質顯著提高乳蛋白質產量（P0.05). The more ammonia concentration appeared in high dietary protein condition (P0.05). The dietary protein content of 16.5% significantly increase milk protein yield (P<0.05), mean white tend to raise milk lactose (P=0.09) and milk total solids yield (P=0.06). The plasma urea nitrogen content reduce significantly when 15 percentage of dietary protein applied (P<0.01) and decreased as well when supplemental heat extruded soybean meal (P<0.05). In conclusion, supplemental heat extruded soybean meal which provides more ruminal undegradable protein would not raise milk production, but could subtract protein degradation rate, ruminal ammonia, and plasma urea nitrogen concentration. High percentage of dietary protein improves milk protein, milk lactose, and milk total solids yield.壹、 摘要---------------------------------------------------1 貳、 前言---------------------------------------------------2 參、 文獻檢討 一、 大豆粕之營養特性與反芻動物之營養關係------------------3 二、 未降解蛋白質之評估------------------------------------3 （一） 蛋白質降解率測定方法--------------------------------6 （二） 原位測定法與實體及實驗室測定法之比較----------------6 （三） 影響蛋白質降解率之因素------------------------------7 三、目前提升大豆粕過瘤胃蛋白質比例之處理方法-------------10 （一） 烘烤------------------------------------------------11 （二） 擠壓------------------------------------------------11 （三） 壓榨------------------------------------------------11 （四） 木質硫酸鹽液處理------------------------------------11 四、加熱處理對大豆粕中蛋白質及胺基酸之影響--------------12 五、 瘤胃相關性狀-----------------------------------------13 （一） pH值------------------------------------------------13 （二） 揮發性脂肪酸----------------------------------------14 1. 影響瘤胃內總揮發性脂肪酸濃度及個別揮發性脂肪酸莫耳百分比之因素------------------------------------------------14 2. 揮發性脂肪酸之吸收------------------------------------15 3. 揮發性脂肪酸之代謝與利用------------------------------16 六、 反芻動物瘤胃中氮之來源、代謝與微生物蛋白質之合成----17 （一） 氮的來---------------------------------------------17 （二） 微生物蛋白質的合成----------------------------------17 七、 乳牛蛋白質需要量之系統------------------------------17 八、 瘤胃未降解蛋白質之飼養價值--------------------------19 （一）經熱處理之大豆粕為瘤胃未降解蛋白質來源對泌乳牛採食量、體重變化、生產性狀與產乳效率之影響-------------------20 （二）不同處理形式之大豆粕對泌乳牛採食量、體重變化與產乳效率之影響---------------------------------------------20 九、 熱緊迫之效應-----------------------------------------21 肆、 試驗材料與方法 試驗一：以in situ評估熱擠壓大豆粕未降解蛋白質含量---25 試驗二：熱擠壓大豆粕與飼糧蛋白質水準對乾乳荷蘭牛瘤胃性狀之影響--------------------------------------28 試驗三：熱擠壓大豆粕與飼糧蛋白質水準對泌乳荷蘭牛血漿尿 素氮濃度及生產性狀性狀之影響------------------31 伍、 結果與討論 一、 熱擠壓大豆粕蛋白質降解率之評估（試驗一）--------------34 二、 熱擠壓處理對大豆粕胺基酸組成之影響-------------------36 三、 瘤胃中pH值與氨態氮濃度之變化（試驗二）---------------38 四、 瘤胃中總揮發性脂肪酸濃度及個別揮發性脂肪酸之變化-----39 五、 熱緊迫效應（試驗三）-----------------------------------44 六、 產乳量與乳成分----------------------------------------45 七、 血漿尿素氮濃度----------------------------------------46 陸、 結論--------------------------------------------------58 柒、 參考文獻----------------------------------------------61 捌、 英文摘要----------------------------------------------74 表次 頁次 表一、大豆粕與其他油籽粕之胺基酸組成分------------------------------5 表二、飼料原料中氮的分類及蛋白質之份化------------------------------9 表三、試驗飼糧之組成及營養成分-----------------------------------------33 表四、大豆粕與熱擠壓大豆粕粗蛋白質在瘤胃中降解模式之比較--35 表五、大豆粕與熱擠壓大豆粕中未降解蛋白質之胺基酸組成--------37 表六、熱擠壓大豆粕及不同蛋白質水準對廔管牛瘤胃性狀之影響---43 表七、試驗期間每週平均溫度、濕度及溫濕度指數之記錄-----------48 表八、熱擠壓大豆粕及不同蛋白質水準對泌乳牛乾物質採食量及生產性狀之影響----------------------------------------------------------49 表九、熱擠壓大豆粕及不同蛋白質水準對泌乳牛體重變化及血漿尿素氮濃度之影響-------------------------------------------------------50 圖次 頁次 圖一、大豆粕的製造流程-----------------------------------------------------4 圖二、利用硼酸磷酸緩衝液、中性洗劑及酸性洗劑區分蛋白質之組成分-----------------------------------------------------------------------8 圖三、反芻動物對氮的消化、吸收及代謝---------------------------------18 圖四、預測乳牛熱緊迫之溫濕度指數表-----------------------------------24 圖五、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液pH值之變化----------------------40 圖六、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液氨態氮濃度之變化----------------41 圖七、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液總揮發性脂肪酸濃度之變化------42 附圖一、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液乙酸莫耳百分比之變化--------51 附圖二、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液丙酸莫耳百分比之變化--------52 附圖三、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液乙/丙酸比之變化---------------53 附圖四、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液丁酸莫耳百分比之變化--------54 附圖五、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液異丁酸莫耳百分比之變化-----55 附圖六、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液戊酸莫耳百分比之變化--------56 附圖七、瘤胃廔管牛於採食後瘤胃液異戊酸莫耳百分比之變化-----5

Applying pedagogical translanguaging via Google Translate to facilitate non-English major juniors in writing scripts for English presentations

This study investigated the effectiveness of applying pedagogical translanguaging by utilizing Google Translate to facilitate college juniors in writing presentation scripts. Participants included 109 non-English major juniors divided into high- and low-proficiency groups, with 56 and 53 students, respectively. Each participant first drafted their scripts in Chinese, then translated them on their own and through Google Translate. Teacher and TA consultations were offered during the revision period. Three versions (self-written, Google-translated, and post-edited) of scripts from each participant were collected for analysis. Two online writing assessment software (VocabProfiler and Scribens) were used for quantitative analysis to compare the differences in writing quality and lexical features among the three-version texts. Three trained raters employed text analysis by examining improved grammar and word use changes from each participant’s self-written to post-edited versions of scripts. The findings indicated that incorporating GT improved the students’ content, word choice, vocabulary, grammar, and sentence patterns. The pedagogical gains were particularly notable in the low-proficient students’ scripts. Despite the advantages of GT, the results also showed that GT was insufficient in scaffolding the script-writing process. Based on the interviews and survey results, consulting with the TA and the instructor was indispensable, especially for sentence-level revisions or beyond. In addition to the improved changes in students’ PE scripts, we found that pedagogical translanguaging enhanced the students’ metalinguistic awareness and helped students develop a multimodal learning ability by engaging them in experimenting with various learning resources, including digital materials, textbooks, GT applications, and human assistance

Segmentation of the Striatum from MR Brain Images to Calculate the -TRODAT-1 Binding Ratio in SPECT Images

Quantification of regional -TRODAT-1 binding ratio in the striatum regions in SPECT images is essential for differential diagnosis between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Defining the region of the striatum in the SPECT image is the first step toward success in the quantification of the TRODAT-1 binding ratio. However, because SPECT images reveal insufficient information regarding the anatomical structure of the brain, correct delineation of the striatum directly from the SPECT image is almost impossible. We present a method integrating the active contour model and the hybrid registration technique to extract regions from MR T1-weighted images and map them into the corresponding SPECT images. Results from three normal subjects suggest that the segmentation accuracy using the proposed method was compatible with the expert decision but has a higher efficiency and reproducibility than manual delineation. The binding ratio derived by this method correlated well (R2 = 0.76) with those values calculated by commercial software, suggesting the feasibility of the proposed method

Treat high cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation with Cyberknife radiosurgery

This paper describes the use of CyberKnife radiosurgery in the treatment of accidentally found cervical spinal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). We present the case of a patient with cervical spinal AVM, who developed progressive neck pain, gait disturbance, urine and stool incontinence 2 weeks after the fell down accident. The patient underwent CyberKnife radiosurgery. After CyberKnife radiosurgery for 2 years, the patient′s neck pain diminished and was able to keep the walk without any assistance. The management of cervical spinal AVM varies. This patient demonstrated a successful treatment of cervical spinal AVM with CyberKnife radiosurgery

Diffuse omental cake as an initial presentation of plasma cell leukemia

Omental cake is a term to describe peritoneal thickening caused by different processes. Metastatic malignancy is the most common cause. Plasma cell leukemia is a rare hematological malignancy involving plasma cells and differ from multiple myeloma in its aggressiveness, initial presentation, and dismal prognosis. Herein, we reported a case of primary plasma cell leukemia initially presented with diffuse omental cake and ascites and subsequent systemic capillary leak syndrome