Value added logistical support service. Part 1 : Trends and new concept model

The aim of `Valssi' study was to find out the service requirements in `business-to-business' (B2B) markets and to present a new logistics service concept, where the traditional logistics service is expanded with significant manufacturing and value addedfacilities. The traditional third-party logistics service providers are not necessarily able to offer services, which cover widely the needs of potential customers. The study has been outlined to spare part markets in metal industry. In the second phase of the Valssi-project the aim is to examine the economical conditions and potentiality of the new logistics business concept. This research report (Part 1) concentrates on examining current trends in global and domestic logistics markets. Based on detailed survey among the participating companies, the study presents basis for a new logistics business concept model. The developed concept consists of 12 different service modules, which are split into deeper details of processes. The integration of worldwide supplier and service provider network together with customer companies systems is a challenge. The report focuses on evaluating the requirements for the new business concept from the customer-companies point of view. The study paints an overall picture of distribution and service provider network including an abstract about the software and system integration possibilities. As a result of the survey, it can be concluded that thereis need for the new business concept among the participating companies, and a modular service concept meets the requirements of them, because the new sophisticated concept considers the specialities involved in spare part logistics in metal industry.

Value added logistical support service: logistics cost structure and performance in the new concept. Part 3

The aim of this study is to present an Activity-Based Costing spreadsheet tool for analyzing the logistics costs. The tool can be used both by customer-companies and logistics service providers. The study discusses the influence of different activity models on costs. Additionally this paper discusses about the logistical performance across the total supply chain This study is carried out using ananalytical research approach and literature material has been used for supplementing the concerned research approach. Cost structure analysis was based on the theory of activity-based management. This study was outlined to spare part logistics in machine-shop industry. The outlines of logistics services and logisticalperformance discussed in this report are based on the new logistics business concept (LMS-concept), which has been presented earlier in the Valssi-project. Oneof the aims of this study is to increase awareness of different activity modelson logistics costs. The report paints an overall picture about the business environment and requirements for the new logistics concept.

Value added logistics in supply and demand chains. Smile. Part 1. eBusiness between global company and itslocal sme supplier network

VALOSADE (Value Added Logistics in Supply and Demand Chains) is the research project of Anita Lukka's VALORE (Value Added Logistics Research) research team inLappeenranta University of Technology. VALOSADE is included in ELO (Ebusiness logistics) technology program of Tekes (Finnish Technology Agency). SMILE (SME-sector, Internet applications and Logistical Efficiency) is one of four subprojects of VALOSADE. SMILE research focuses on case network that is composed of small and medium sized mechanical maintenance service providers and global wood processing customers. Basic principle of SMILE study is communication and ebusiness insupply and demand network. This first phase of research concentrates on creating backgrounds for SMILE study and for ebusiness solutions of maintenance case network. The focus is on general trends of ebusiness in supply chains and networksof different industries; total ebusiness system architecture of company networks; ebusiness strategy of company network; information value chain; different factors, which influence on ebusiness solution of company network; and the correlation between ebusiness and competitive advantage. Literature, interviews and benchmarking were used as research methods in this qualitative case study. Networks and end-to-end supply chains are the organizational structures, which can add value for end customer. Information is one of the key factors in these decentralized structures. Because of decentralization of business, information is produced and used in different companies and in different information systems. Information refinement services are needed to manage information flows in company networksbetween different systems. Furthermore, some new solutions like network information systems are utilised in optimising network performance and in standardizingnetwork common processes. Some cases have however indicated, that utilization of ebusiness in decentralized business model is not always a necessity, but value-add of ICT must be defined case-specifically. In the theory part of report, different ebusiness and architecture models are introduced. These models are compared to empirical case data in research results. The biggest difference between theory and empirical data is that models are mainly developed for large-scale companies - not for SMEs. This is due to that implemented network ebusiness solutions are mainly large company centered. Genuine SME network centred ebusiness models are quite rare, and the study in that area has been few in number. Business relationships between customer and their SME suppliers are nowadays concentrated more on collaborative tactical and strategic initiatives besides transaction based operational initiatives. However, ebusiness systems are further mainly based on exchange of operational transactional data. Collaborative ebusiness solutions are in planning or pilot phase in most case companies. Furthermore, many ebusiness solutions are nowadays between two participants, but network and end-to-end supply chain transparency and information systems are quite rare. Transaction volumes, data formats, the types of exchanged information, information criticality,type and duration of business relationship, internal information systems of partners, processes and operation models (e.g. different ordering models) differ among network companies, and furthermore companies are at different stages on networking and ebusiness readiness. Because of former factors, different customer-supplier combinations in network must utilise totally different ebusiness architectures, technologies, systems and standards.

Value added logistics in supply and demand chain. Smile. Part 2. eBusiness in a service business. Case: A maintenance and operations network in forest industry

VVALOSADE is a research project of professor Anita Lukka's VALORE research team in the Lappeenranta University of Technology. The VALOSADE includes the ELO technology program of Tekes. SMILE is one of four subprojects of the VALOSADE. The SMILE study focuses on the case of the company network that is composed of small and micro-sized mechanical maintenance service providers and forest industry as large-scale customers. The basic principle of the SMILE study is the communication and ebusiness in supply and demand networks. The aim of the study is to develop ebusiness strategy, ebusiness model and e-processes among the SME local service providers, and onthe other hand, between the local service provider network and the forest industry customers in a maintenance and operations service business. A literature review, interviews and benchmarking are used as research methods in this qualitative case study. The first SMILE report, 'Ebusiness between Global Company and Its Local SME Supplier Network', concentrated on creating background for the SMILE study by studying general trends of ebusiness in supply chains and networks of different industries. This second phase of the study concentrates on case network background, such as business relationships, information systems and business objectives; core processes in maintenance and operations service network; development needs in communication among the network participants; and ICT solutions to respond needs in changing environment. In the theory part of the report, different ebusiness models and frameworks are introduced. Those models and frameworks are compared to empirical case data. From that analysis of the empirical data, therecommendations for the development of the network information system are derived. In process industry such as the forest industry, it is crucial to achieve a high level of operational efficiency and reliability, which sets up great requirements for maintenance and operations. Therefore, partnerships or strategic alliances are needed between the network participants. In partnerships and alliances, deep communication is important, and therefore the information systems in the network also are critical. Communication, coordination and collaboration will increase in the case network in the future, because network resources must be optimised to improve competitive capability of the forest industry customers and theefficiency of their service providers. At present, ebusiness systems are not usual in this maintenance network. A network information system among the forest industry customers and their local service providers actually is the only genuinenetwork information system in this total network. However, the utilisation of that system has been quite insignificant. The current system does not add value enough either to the customers or to the local service providers. At present, thenetwork information system is the infomediary that share static information forthe network partners. The network information system should be the transaction intermediary, which integrates internal processes of the network companies; the network information system, which provides common standardised processes for thelocal service providers; and the infomediary, which share static and dynamic information on right time, on right partner, on right costs, on right format and on right quality. This study provides recommendations how to develop this system in the future to add value to the network companies. Ebusiness scenarios, vision, objectives, strategies, application architecture, ebusiness model, core processes and development strategy must be considered when the network information system will be developed in the next development step. The core processes in the case network are demand/capacity management, customer/supplier relationship management, service delivery management, knowledge management and cash flow management. Most benefits from ebusiness solutions come from the electrifying of operational level processes, such as service delivery management and cash flow management.

Value added logistical support service Part 2. Outsourcing process of spare part logistics in metal industry

The aim of this research study was to find out guidelines for outsourcing of logistics processes. The study was outlined to spare parts and `business-to-business' (B2B) markets in metal industry. This study can be applied as a manual for outsourcing especially warehousing and transportation activities. The study also touches other important areas of spare part logistics like manufacturing, customer service, procurement, quality control, reverse and recycling logistics, logistics technologies and valueadded services. The method of study consisted of three areas. Firstly exchanging views with logistics experts in participating companies, and secondly compiling material based on author's practical experience in logistics business with several international and domestic logistics service providers and vendors. Thirdlythe study includes also references to literature material. Due to the fact thatthe outsourcing of logistics functions can be handled widely and from differentpoint of views, in this study it is concentrated mainly on giving general levelguidelines for defining logistics strategy, hints both for tendering process and implementation project, and not forgetting the aftercare of business partnership.

Lobbying as a Part of Business Management

Lobbying by companies and the management techniques of lobbying have been fairly unknown territory. This study explains different theories related to lobbying including major political, economic and mathematical theories and their connections to lobbying. Existing lobbying networks in the European Union, especially at the European Union level, are explained. Lobbying organisations in the European Union are interconnected. Networks start at a local level, and have connections to national, European Union, international and sometimes to the global level. Relationships between business strategy and lobbying are studied with emphasis on issues management. Business strategy is often seen stemming from business environment analysis and stakeholder management. The issues management concept bridges aspects of business environment analysis and stakeholder management into a project type of management approach. The study includes two different empirical parts. A sample of public policy managers representing the European chemical industry was interviewed, and a chemical industry specific lobbying framework was built. This framework was then tested using a questionnaire sent to European public issues managers representing some of the largest European companies. Based on the results of the questionnaire, a generic framework on how large, European companies manage lobbying in general terms was developed.

Anàlisi dels canvis dels usos i cobertes del sòl al massís dels Ports (Part Nord) a les comarques del Baix Ebre i Terra Alta

El treball pretén establir en quina mesura ha afectat l’abandó del mon rural en els canvis dels usos del sòl i en l’estructura del paisatge. Es presenta una breu descripció de la part nord del Parc Natural dels Ports així com de la història d’aquest en relació amb l’ésser humà. Es recullen els mètodes i materials utilitzats per a la preparació del material cartogràfic i l’execució d’eines d’informació geogràfica (SIG) així com la descripció dels estadístics socioeconòmics dels municipis estudiats. Els resultats, igual que els mètodes, s’agrupen en canvis de cobertes, estructura del paisatge, canvis en relació a paràmetres físics del terreny i evolució de les estadístiques socioeconòmiques.

Els límits a la facultat d’interpretació de les clàusules testamentàries per part del marmessor universal

Aquest comentari analitza la sentència del Tribunal Superior de Justícia de Catalunya de 29 de desembre de 2008, que crea jurisprudència. A la sentència el Tribunal Superior determina el caràcter revisable i revocable, per part dels tribunals de justícia, de la interpretació que realitza el marmessor universal de les clàusules testamentàries.

Circadian clock orchestration of signaling pathways influences mouse metabolism

Circadian clocks, present in organisms leaving in a rhythmic environment, constitute the mechanisms allowing anticipation and adaptation of behavior and physiology in response to these environmental variations. As a consequence, most aspects of metabolism and behavior are under the control of this circadian clock. At a molecular level, in all the studied species, the rhythmic expression of the genes involved are generated by interconnected transcriptional and translational feedback loops. In mammals, the heterodimer composed of BMAL1 and its partners CLOCK or NPAS2 constitutes a transcriptional activator regulating transcription of Per and Cry genes. These genes encode for repressors of the activity of BMAL1:CLOCK or BMAL1: NPAS2 heterodimers, thus closing a negative feedback loop that generates rhythms of approximately 24 hours. The aim of my doctoral work consisted in the investigation of the role of circadian clock in the regulation of different aspects of mouse metabolism through the rhythmic activation of signaling pathways. First, we showed that one way how the circadian clock exerts its function as an oscillator is through the regulation of mRNA translation. Indeed, we present evidence showing that circadian clock influences the temporal translation of a subset of mRNAs involved in ribosome biogenesis by controlling the transcription of translation initiation factors as well as the clock-dependent rhythmic activation of signaling pathways involved in their regulation. Moreover, the circadian oscillator regulates the transcription of ribosomal protein mRNAs and ribosomal RNAs. Thus the circadian clock exerts a major role in coordinating transcription and translation steps underlying ribosome biogenesis. In the second part, we showed the involvement of the circadian clock in lipid metabolism. Indeed, the three PAR bZip transcription factors DBP, TEF and HLF, are regulated by the molecular clock and play key roles in the control of lipid metabolism. Here we present evidence concerning the circadian expression and activity of PPARα via the circadian transcription of genes involved in the release of fatty acids, natural ligands of PPARα. It leads to the rhythmic activation of PPARα itself which could then play its role in the transcription of genes encoding proteins involved in lipid, cholesterol and glucose metabolism. In addition, we considered the possible role of lipid transporters, here SCP2, in the modulation of circadian activation of signaling pathways such as TORC1, PPARα and SREBP, linked to metabolism, and its feedback on the circadian clock. In the last part of this work, we studied the effects of these circadian clock-orchestrated pathways in physiology, as clock disruptions have been shown to be linked to metabolic disorders. We performed in vivo experiments on genetically and high-fat induced obese mice devoid of functional circadian clock. The results obtained showed that clock disruption leads to impaired triglycerides and glucose homeostasis in addition to insulin secretion and sensitivity. -- Les rythmes circadiens, présents chez tout organisme vivant dans un environnement rythmique, constituent l'ensemble de mécanismes permettant des réponses comportementales et physiologiques anticipées et adaptées aux variations environnementales. De ce fait, la plupart des aspects liés au métabolisme et au comportement de ces organismes apparaissent être sous le contrôle de l'horloge circadienne contrôlant ces rythmes. Au niveau moléculaire, dans toutes les espèces étudiées, l'expression rythmique de gènes impliqués sont générés par l'interconnexion de boucles de contrôle transcriptionnelles et traductionnelles. Chez les mammifères, l'hétérodimère composé de BMAL1 et de ses partenaires CLOCK ou NPAS2 constitue un activateur transcriptionnel régulant la transcription des gènes Per et Cry. Ces gènes codent pour des répresseurs de l'activité des hétérodimères BMAL1:CLOCK ou BMAL1:NPAS2. Cela a pour effet de fermer la boucle négative, générant ainsi des rythmes d'environ 24 heures. Le but de mon travail de thèse a consisté en l'investigation du rôle de l'horloge circadienne dans la régulation de certains aspects du métabolisme chez la souris via la régulation de l'activation rythmique des voies de signalisation. Nous avons tout d'abord montré que l'horloge circadienne exerce sa fonction d'oscillateur notamment au niveau de la régulation de la traduction des ARNm. En effet, nous présentons des preuves montrant que l'horloge circadienne influence la traduction temporelle d'un groupe d'ARNm impliqués dans la biogénèse des ribosomes en contrôlant la transcription de facteurs d'initiation de la traduction ainsi que l'activation rythmique des voies de signalisation qui sont impliquées dans leur régulation. De plus, l'oscillateur circadien régule la transcription d'ARNm codant pour les protéines ribosomales et d'ARN ribosomaux. De cette façon, l'horloge circadienne exerce un rôle majeur dans la coordination des étapes de transcription et traduction permettant la biogénèse des ribosomes. Dans la deuxième partie, nous montrons les implications de l'horloge circadienne dans le métabolisme des lipides. En effet, DBP, TEF et HLF, trois facteurs de transcription de la famille des PAR bZip qui sont régulés par l'horloge circadienne, jouent un rôle clé dans le contrôle du métabolisme des lipides par l'horloge circadienne. Nous apportons ici des preuves concernant l'expression et l'activité rythmiques de PPARα via la transcription circadienne de gènes impliqués dans le relargage d'acides gras, ligands naturels de PPARα, conduisant à l'activation circadienne de PPARα lui-même, pouvant ainsi jouer son rôle de facteur de transcription de gènes codant pour des protéines impliquées dans le métabolisme des lipides, du cholestérol et du glucose. De plus, nous nous sommes penchés sur le rôle possible de transporteurs de lipides, ici SCP2, dans la modulation de l'activation circadienne de voies de signalisation, telles que TORC1, PPARα et SREBP, qui sont liées au métabolisme, ainsi que son impact sur l'horloge elle-même. Dans la dernière partie de ce travail, nous avons étudié les effets de l'activation de ces voies de signalisation régulées par l'horloge circadienne dans le contexte physiologique puisqu'il a été montré que la perturbation de l'horloge pouvait être associée à des désordres métaboliques. Pour ce faire, nous avons fait des expériences in vivo sur des souris déficientes pour l'horloge moléculaire pour lesquelles l'obésité est induite génétiquement ou induite par la nourriture riche en lipides. Les résultats que nous obtenons montrent des dérèglements au niveau de l'homéostasie des triglycérides et du glucose ainsi que sur l'expression et la réponse à l'insuline.

La figura del fisioterapeuta en obstetrícia: estudi aleatoritzat de l’impacte del massatge perineal durant la primera etapa del part per prevenir-ne el trauma.

La pregunta clínica d’investigació que s’ha plantejat en un inici ha estat: Resulta eficaç el massatge perineal (MP) per reduir-ne el trauma post-part? Després d’haver realitzat una cerca bibliogràfica per revisar la literatura sobre el tema, s’ha vist que ja existeixen publicacions anteriors. Per aquest motiu s’ha definit millor la pregunta en base a la informació aportada per altres estudis, realitzant variacions en quant a l’etapa del part en la qual aplicar la intervenció. La pregunta clínica d’investigació definitiva ha estat: Resulta eficaç el MP aplicat durant la primera etapa del part per reduir-ne el trauma post-part? Es tracta, doncs, d’una pregunta rellevant, nova i factible que naix d’un problema assistencial justificat a continuació. Pregunta estructurada en format P.I.C.O: P (pacient): gestants primípares. I (Intervenció): MP durant la primera etapa del part. C (Comparació): MP durant la primera etapa del part vs. atenció al part de rutina sense MP. O (Resultats): el MP durant la primera fase del part disminueix el risc de trauma perineal (TP) post-part i les conseqüències que aquest comporta. Objectiu: L’objectiu general d’aquest projecte d’investigació és comprovar l’efectivitat del MP durant la primera fase del part per reduir el TP post-part en dones primípares. Metodologia: Projecte d’assaig clínic experimental, probabilístic, aleatori simple amb control concurrent. Consta de dos grups, un grup experimental i un grup control.