Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to obtain pertinent information pertaining to benefits accomplished, main difficulties felt, and key lessons learned in the implementation of lean Six Sigma (LSS), which are likely to be helpful to financial services organizations wanting to implement the same tool. Design/methodology/approach - This paper reports the results of a case study from a financial services organization which has begun the implementation of LSS methodologies ten years ago, in the pursuit of service excellence. Findings - The benefits derived from LSS implementation, such as lowering the operational costs, improving processes and product quality, increased efficiency, which leads to the increase of productivity, the agility and versatility obtained by the organization, vastly outweigh the costs. At an international level, there are cultural differences pertaining mainly to internal resistance and openness to change. Research limitations/implications - This work focuses on a specific case study. Practical implications - The authors compiled the lessons learned and recommendations for future implementations of this methodology. The paper, therefore, will be of interest to managers of similar companies. Originality/value - The paper presents a successful application of LSS for a financial services company. © Emerald Uroup Publishing Limited.

Abstract
The development of Intelligent Environments is a complex challenge. This complexity arises, in part, from the amount of different devices that need to be seamlessly integrated in a common and homogeneous environment, despite the fact of each device having its own characteristics. This heterogeneity of devices is particularly risky when one passes from the specification to the implementation phase, where all unexpected things start to happen. Multi-agent systems are the paradigm par excellence for implementing Intelligent Environments. However, traditionally, agents are only used at the implementation phase. In this paper we propose a new 3 step approach in which agents are used during all the development process, playing undoubtedly a much more preponderant role and making the path from the specification to the implementation a much easier and controllable one, always having in mind the challenges of the development of Intelligent Environments.

Abstract
GUI interfaces require considerable visual attention for their operation excluding the access to important information coded only in the layout. In an Era of mobile devices, we must enhance the auditory designs, to facilitate the interactive contents access to the blind, people with low vision, and/or in any use context. This essay is part of an experimental approach at the human perception based on the theories of form - Gestalt - and the Computational in order to process and implement the brain acquisition signal, obtaining relations between the visual and sound stimuli. We present a computational approach that underlay the electrical signal acquisition of the brain to stimuli response - "Event-Related Potentials" (P300) - based on a fundamental visual syntax that assumes the Gestalt phenomenology with new statistical interim results to the modeling multi-perceptive of information processing (visual and auditory), with the ultimate goal of framing a lexicon and/or basic patterns common that can be applied directly to a well-grounded development of GUI - "Graphic User Interfaces" and AUI - "Auditory User Interfaces".

Abstract
Ultrashort pulse propagation in fibers is affected by intrapulse Raman scattering (IRS) which causes both a linear frequency downshift and a quadratic displacement of the peak pulse, as functions of the propagation distance. This effect has been known and treated by perturbation methods applied to the nonlinear Schroumldinger equation since the period of intense research on soliton propagation. Here, we find solutions of the model equation using an accelerating self-similarity variable and study their stability. These solutions have Airy function asymptotics which give them infinite energy. For small IRS, the algebraically decaying tail is negligible and these solutions are a very good approximation of the profiles observed in the full equation simulations. For strong IRS (but beyond the regime in which the evolution equation is valid for silica fibers), the self-similar pulses have noticeable left tails exhibiting Airy oscillations. Whenever their truncated forms are used as initial conditions of the full equation, they experience amplitude decay and show left tails that are consistent with radiation escaping from the central pulse. These observations are interpreted as being the effects of a continuum constitution of the infinite left tail.

Abstract
For several years Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) have been developed and shown to lead to impressive improvement in student learning in a range of domains. Some of the most important limitations of ITSs are that their development is very time consuming, and they cannot be reused or imported to different platforms. The main benefits of the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) are interoperability and reusability. Based on the SCORM Sequencing and Navigation (SN) specification we have developed an approach for implementing Web-Based SCORM compliant ITSs that are therefore reusable and interoperable. The main objective of this paper is to describe our approach and explain how to implement SCORM compliant ITSs using as an example, a prototype that we built.

Abstract
Objective: Ascertain relations between brain responses elicited by stimuli of different modalities (visual and audiological). The stimuli used were based on some of the basic elements and concepts of the visual syntax, regarding to the Gestalt theory, and an audiological grammar based on the clinical protocols. Methods: We used Event-Related Potentials for assessing the brain's electrical response to visual and auditory stimuli. Materials: Biopac Systems Mp 150 - Data acquisition unit "MP150A.CE"; universal interface module "UIM100C"; stimulator module "STM100C", two electroencephalogram amplifier modules "EEG100C"; Ag-AgCL lead electrodes - AcqKnowledge 3.9.0 (software); SuperLab 4.0 (software) and MatlabR2008B. Results: Interim results presented in form of waveforms representing the average and standard deviation of all signals acquired for each type of stimulus. Conclusions: We can visually conclude that different modalities elicit different waveforms and certain stimuli have a more defined response than others.