Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANALISYS OF IT OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS AT THE TCU (FEDERAL COURT OF ACCOUNTS) AND OF THE LEGISLATION THAT GOVERNS THESE CONTRACTS IN THE BRAZILIAN FEDERAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Information technology (IT) outsourcing has for a long time been a major trend in business and government. Accountability of IT outsourcing contracts in the public administration is recognized as an important factor contributing to government transparency and public services quality, given the legislation governing these contracts and the amount of related expenditures. Considering the trend towards open government data publishing, including data on outsourcing contracts, there is an interesting opportunity for citizens to participate in the open auditing of these contracts as a means to assess the good application of public resources. In this study we explore this possibility by analyzing open data published by the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU is its acronym in Portuguese), an interesting case since this agency has a paramount role in auditing the whole Brazilian Federal Public Administration. To this end, we gathered open data from the TCU regarding all outsourced IT services contracts maintained by the agency during the years 2000-2013. This data is analyzed to verify, from an external point of view, the related duration and values, identifying diferences between the predicted and actual amounts spent and evaluating the administration of such contracts regarding legislation. This analysis is based on a detailed survey of the relevant legislation as well as the verification of original contract terms and their addendums. As a result, we observed substantial differences in the amount spent on execution with respect to those predicted in the original contracts. Also, we identified the utilization of special justifications prescribed by law to sustain the extension of some contracts. Given these results, it is possible that IT outsourcing is not necessarily proved to be the best solution for the public sector problems regarding the lack of skilled personnel, which implies the need to assess the cost-benefit of maintaining these contracts. Also, it is possible that the existing legislation needs development in order to provide more flexibility to outsourcing contract management.
Comparison of Bolus and Infusion Protocols for Determining Acute Insulin Response to Intravenous Glucose in Normal Humans

OBJECTIVE— To help standardize methodology for intravenous glucose tolerance testing in preclinical IDDM by comparing a 30-s bolus and a 3-min infusion of glucose. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— We tested 20 healthy nondiabetic adults at four centers (in Seattle, Boston, Melbourne, and London). Each subject had four intravenous glucose tolerance tests (two bolus and two infusion). The acute insulin response to glucose was calculated as the mean of the 1′ + 3′, the mean of 1′ to 10′, or as the integrated area from 0 to 10′. Glucose and insulin profiles and intrasubject coefficient of variation were compared. RESULTS— With the infusion protocol, the 1′ insulin was significantly higher, resulting in a higher acute insulin response to glucose when calculated as 1′ + 3′ (525 ± 66 vs. 376 ± 35 pM, P < 0.004). When calculated over 10 min, however, the acute insulin response to glucose was not different between protocols. In addition, the intrasubject coefficient of variation was significantly better when calculated over 10 min in both protocols, but no significant differences were noted between the bolus and infusion (infusion: AIRg [area from 0 to 10′] 10.4 ± 2.1% vs. AIRg [1′ + 3′] 14.9 ± 2.8%, P < 0.007; bolus: AIRg [area from 0 to 10′] 14.6 ± 2.8% vs. AIRg [1′ + 3′] 19.8 ± 3.5%, P < 0.007). Comparison of the insulin assays between the four centers showed close correlation and gave indistinguishable results in terms of within-subject coefficient of variation. Glucose profiles were similar in both protocols. Although the glucose values were lower with the bolus protocol from 4′ to 40′, the rate of fall from 10 to 30′ (and thus the rate of glucose disposal) was indistinguishable between the two. CONCLUSIONS— These data suggest that neither protocol gives significant advantage over the other. However, to allow comparison of the acute insulin response to glucose between different protocols used in centers around the world, the ICARUS 3-min infusion protocol is recommended, with acute insulin response to glucose calculated over 10 min after the end of glucose administration; this reduces the within-subject coefficient of variation and provides similar acute insulin response to glucose with both protocols.
ADOLESCENT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA AND THE UNITED STATES: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

This study examines the relationship between socio-cultural dimensions of communities of practice and adolescent capacities for civic engagement in Australia and the United States using items from the 1999 Civic Education Study (Torney-Purta, Lehmann, Oswald & Schulz, 2001). Utilizing a refined notion of communities of practice, this paper analyzes the relationship of two dimensions of communities of practice—the discourse community and the participatory community and civic knowledge and expectations for informed voting. The study also examines the extent to which the various dimensions of communities of practice are related to more equitable civic outcomes, and how these associations vary in the two countries. This analysis employs HLM, a multilevel modeling technique that allows for individual- and school-level predictors to be used simultaneously in the analysis of an outcome, and it allows for interactions between student- and school-level variables to be examined.
Modelling continuous improvement maturity in the public sector: key stages and indicators

This article explores the challenges in ensuring that a continuous improvement (CI) culture is diffused throughout an organisation. It presents a model of CI maturity that has been developed following a review of literature and earlier empirical work undertaken across the UK public sector. The model is based on a set of eight organisational behaviours that can be used to gauge and guide organisational progress along three key stages of CI maturity: going through the motions, transforming and embedding. Case study evidence is presented to show the applicability of the three-stage model in assessing the evolution of CI maturity. The research re-affirms that CI is not something that organisations have or do not have, but is part of a cultural transformation journey that may be impeded along the way, with different parts of organisations experiencing different blockages. This model can also be used by organisations as a form of self-assessment and to help educate staff about CI behaviours.
Authoritarian Co-optation in the Age of Globalisation: Evidence from Hong Kong

Abstract The existing literature on authoritarian survival, implicitly or explicitly, assumes that political challenges faced by authoritarian regimes are all domestic. I argue that globalisation exposes authoritarian regimes to new sources of threat. In particular, capital mobility forces authoritarian regimes to deal with not only those who dare to voice out dissatisfaction, but also those who exit. While repression may be the best strategy to silence the vocal, co-optation would be a more effective tool to retain the runaway. It is, however, often impossible to co-opt all the capital owners. As such, authoritarian regimes have to be selective when choosing co-optation targets. I argue that authoritarian regimes would co-opt renowned firms because these firms yield the greatest demonstration effect. Hong Kong provides an interesting case to illustrate my arguments. Beijing strategically co-opted the stakeholders of renowned firms in Hong Kong in order to solve the city's pervasive confidence crisis prior to 1997. I test my arguments with data on firms listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. I find that firms owned by well-known and prestigious elite families were more likely to build political connections with Beijing. To test the causal linkage more rigorously, I use both the genetic matching and instrumental variable approaches. The empirical results provide strong support to my arguments.
The effects of shortening lactoferrin derived peptides against tumour cells, bacteria and normal human cells

A number of shortened derivatives of the lactoferrin model peptide L12, PAWRKAFRWAKRMLKKAA, were designed in order to elucidate the structural basis for antitumour activity of lactoferrin derivatives. Three tumour cell lines were included in the study and toxicity determined by measuring lysis of human red blood cells and fibroblasts. The results demonstrated a strong correlation between antitumour activity and net positive charge, in which a net charge close to +7 was essential for a high antitumour activity. In order to increase the antitumour activity of the shortest peptide with a net charge less than +7, the hydrophobicity had to be increased by adding a bulky Trp residue. None of the peptides were haemolytic, but toxicity against fibroblasts was observed. However, modifications of the peptides had a higher effect on reducing fibroblast toxicity than antitumour activity and thereby resulted in peptides displaying an almost 7‐fold selectivity for tumour cells compared with fibroblasts. The antimicrobial activity against the Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli and the Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was also included in order to compare the structural requirements for antitumour activity with those required for a high antimicrobial activity. The results showed that most of the peptides were highly active against both bacterial strains. Less modification by shortening the peptide sequences was tolerated for maintaining a high antitumour activity and selectivity compared with antimicrobial activity. The order of the amino acid residues and thereby the conformation of the peptides was highly essential for antitumour activity, whereas the antimicrobial activity was hardly influenced by changes in this parameter. Thus, in addition to a certain net positive charge and hydrophobicity, the ability to adopt an amphipathic conformation was a more critical structural parameter for antitumour activity than for antimicrobial activity, and implied that a higher flexibility or number of active conformations was tolerated for the peptides to exert a high antimicrobial activity. Copyright © 2003 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stocks, Bonds, T-Bills and Inflation Hedging

We analyze the inflation-hedging properties of US stocks, bonds, and T-bills at the subindex level during the 1983 – 2012 period, for investment horizons between 1 month and 10 years. Bonds other than T-bills turn out poor inflation hedges during the entire sample period, regardless of the investment horizon. Stocks in both cyclical and non-cyclical industries have virtually no hedging ability until the fall of Lehman Brothers in September 2008. From that moment on, equity subindices particularly in the cyclical industries started to develop statistically significant hedging ability, even in the short run. Hence, the extent to which investors can benefit from the hedging ability of stocks and bonds varies over time and across industries, maturities and investment horizons.
Screening children with neurofibromatosis type 1 for autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is reported to be increased in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), but it's unknown if ASD screening tools are sensitive and specific for NF1. This study compared the rate at which children with NF1 screen‐positive for two ASD screening tools [Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M‐CHAT) and Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST)] to the screen‐positive rate of the general population. A retrospective cross‐sectional observational design to investigate the association between children with NF1 and at risk status for ASD was used. Medical records of children between 16 months and 11 years of age seen in an NF Clinic were reviewed for an ASD screening questionnaire. There were no statistically significant differences in the screen‐positive rate for ASD in NF1 compared to published controls, but mean CAST scores were higher in NF1. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Microbiological, Biochemical, and Electron Microscopic Characterization of a Pectinatus Strain

A spoilage organism isolated from turbid beer is described. The bacterium was gram negative, catalase negative, strictly anaerobic, and rod shaped, having flagella only on one side of the cell. The main metabolic product was propionic acid. In addition acetic, succinic, and lactic acids and acetoin were formed. Malonate inhibited the production of propionic acid by the strain studied and by both Pectinatus and Propionibacterium strains. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of deoxyribonucleic acid was 36 mol%. Differences between this strain and Pectinatus strains were 2 to 5 percentage points. Immunofluorescent staining and gel diffusion precipitin tests revealed that the antigenic structure differed from those of Pectinatus strains. The isolated organism can, despite some differences, be regarded as belonging to the genus Pectinatus.
Rotating single‐shot acquisition (RoSA) with composite reconstruction for fast high‐resolution diffusion imaging

To accelerate high‐resolution diffusion imaging, rotating single‐shot acquisition (RoSA) with composite reconstruction is proposed. Acceleration was achieved by acquiring only one rotating single‐shot blade per diffusion direction, and high‐resolution diffusion‐weighted (DW) images were reconstructed by using similarities of neighboring DW images. A parallel imaging technique was implemented in RoSA to further improve the image quality and acquisition speed. RoSA performance was evaluated by simulation and human experiments.
Consensus clustering algorithms for Asset Management in power systems

This paper aims to present an intelligent approach to the Asset Management (AM) in power systems. Three existing consensus functions (i.e., Non-negative matrix Factorisation based, Weighted Partition via Kernel and Information Theory-based) have been compared and applied to analyse a power system document depository (PSD). In addition, ontology is employed in this research to implement a document dataset modification, which shows a significant improvement for the single consensus clustering algorithm. Moreover, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is utilised to solve the weighted kernel-based consensus function. The influences of different settings of GA are analysed. Relevant improvements of GA are also presented.
Exploring Content and Design Factors Associated with Convention and Visitors Bureau Web Site Development

Abstract Convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs) have become important organizations within the tourism industry. The International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus (IACVB) reported that it represents approximately 500 destination management organizations in 30 countries (IACVB, 2003). As one of the most important components of the tourism industry in the United States, the Convention and Visitors Bureau performs various activities to facilitate destination marketing and development, with the aim of enticing leisure and convention customers to their particular city or region. Meanwhile, meeting planners are using technology to enhance their ability to produce and execute meetings that demonstrate a high return on investment. Consequently, CVBs' websites have enormous potential in selling a destination and facilitating the meeting/convention planning process. This paper explores the content and design factors associated with convention and visitors bureau web site development. It also demonstrates how planners utilize the Internet and CVB websites.
The Politics of the Financialization of Sustainability

Financialization generally denotes the growing importance of the financial market for more and more sectors of societal life. In this article, I investigate how financialization has spread outside the financial sector and which political processes allowed for that to happen. Empirically, I focus on the financialization of sustainability in the case of sustainability accounting. Sustainability accounting seeks to integrate non-financial aspects, such as social, environmental or ethical topics, into financial accounting assessments, such as corporate annual reports. I explore the politics of the financialization of sustainability and how it is being increasingly constructed through quantitative indicators in order to enable financial accounting. I reconstruct which political processes allowed for this financialization, which political actors are involved and — as a result — how sustainability becomes financialized.
Correction of Tibial Malunion and Nonunion With Six-Axis Analysis Deformity Correction Using the Taylor Spatial Frame

Objective To determine the effectiveness of six-axis analysis deformity correction using the Taylor Spatial Frame for the treatment of posttraumatic tibial malunions and nonunions. Design Retrospectively reviewed, consecutive series. Mean duration of follow-up was 3.2 years (range 2–4.2 years). Setting Tertiary referral center for deformity correction. Patients/Participants Eighteen patients were included in the study (11 malunions and 7 nonunions). All deformities were posttraumatic in nature. The mean number of operations before the application of the spatial frame was 2.6 (range 1–6 operations). All patients completed the study. Intervention Six-axis analysis deformity correction using the Taylor Spatial Frame (Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN) was used for correction of posttraumatic tibial malunion or nonunion. Nine patients had bone grafting at the time of frame application. One patient with a tibial plafond fracture simultaneously had deformity correction and an ankle fusion for a mobile atrophic nonunion. Two patients had infected tibial nonunions that were treated with multiple débridements, antibiotic beads, and bone grafting at the time of spatial frame application. A rotational gastrocnemius flap was used to cover a proximal third tibial defect in one patient. The average length of time the spatial frame was worn, time to healing, was 18.5 weeks (range 12–32 weeks). Main Outcome Measurements Assessment of deformity correction in six axes, knee and ankle range of motion, incidence of infection, and return to preinjury activities. Results Of the 18 patients treated with the Taylor Spatial Frame, with adjunctive bone graft as necessary, 17 achieved union and significant correction of their deformities in six axes (ie, coronal angulation and translation, sagittal angulation and translation, rotation, and shortening). Fifteen patients returned to their preinjury activities at last follow-up. Conclusion Six-axis analysis deformity correction using the Taylor Spatial Frame is an effective technique to treat posttraumatic malunions and nonunions of the tibia, with several advantages over previously used devices.
Regional GHG reduction targets based on effort sharing: a comparison of studies

Over 40 studies that analyse future GHG emissions allowances or reduction targets for different regions based on a wide range of effort-sharing approaches and long-term concentration stabilization levels are compared. This updates previous work undertaken for the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Regional reduction targets differ significantly for each effort-sharing approach. For example, in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 1990 region, new proposals that emphasize the equity principles of responsibility, capability, and need, and those based on equal cumulative per capita emissions (carbon budgets), lead to relatively stringent emissions reduction targets. In order to reach a low concentration stabilization level of 450 ppm CO2e, the allowances under all effort sharing approaches in OECD1990 for 2030 would be approximately half of the emissions of 2010 with a large range, roughly two-thirds in the Economies in Transition (EIT), roughly at the 2010 emissions level or slightly below in Asia, slightly above the 2010 level in the Middle East and Africa and well below the 2010 level in Latin America. For 2050, allowances in OECD1990 and EIT would be a fraction of today's emissions, approximately half of 2010 emission levels in Asia, and possibly less than half of the 2010 level in Latin America. Policy relevance The concept of equity and the stringency of future national GHG reduction targets are at the heart of the current debate on the new international climate change agreement to be adopted in 2015. Policy insights gained from an analysis of over 40 studies, which have quantitatively analysed the proposed GHG reduction targets, are presented. It is found that the outcome of effort-sharing approaches is often largely determined by the way the equity principle is implemented and that the distributional impacts of such approaches can be significantly different depending on the criteria used, the stabilization level and shape of the global emissions pathway. However, the current literature only covers a small proportion of the possible allocation approaches. There should thus be an in-depth modelling comparison to ensure consistency and comparability of results and inform decision making regarding the reduction of GHG emissions.
Sinus floor elevation via hydraulic detachment and elevation of the Schneiderian membrane.

OBJECTIVES Minor sinus floor elevation is a method with relatively high predictability but is technically demanding. Improvement of the technique and increase in the predictability are desirable. MATERIAL AND METHODS A clinical protocol for minor sinus floor elevation with SLA-ITI (large grit acid-etched implants with diameter of 4.8 mm) is described. Using trephine instead of spiral burrs enables the harvesting of autogenous grafts from the implant socket and guarantees a perfect implant socket. The latter is necessary for optimal implant anchoring and for the hydraulic seal between socket and the osteotome. The whole allows a hydraulic detachment of the Schneiderian membrane, where the blood cushion gradually detaches and elevates the membrane, preventing its contact with the graft. RESULTS Eight patients were successfully treated with the method described above. No membrane perforation occurred and an uneventful healing was observed in all patients. All implants were loaded prosthodontically 3 months after the implantation. CONCLUSIONS The clinical protocol presented provides high predictability in clinical outcome, together with extremely low morbidity and shortened surgery.
More on multidimensional, intertemporal and chronic poverty orderings

As noted by Bourguignon & Fields (1997), being poor can generate significant well-being losses, whatever the extent of observed deprivations, so that marginal changes that lift individuals out of poverty can result in non-marginal variations of poverty and well-being. This paper investigates the consequences of such discontinuities for obtaining robust ordering of intertemporal or multidimensional poverty and contrasts the corresponding stochastic dominance conditions with the one suggested in Duclos, Sahn & Younger (2006} and Bresson & Duclos (forthcoming) that were proposed for classes of poverty indices that show continuity at the frontier of the poverty domain. We prove that the necessary and sufficient conditions for testing the robustness of poverty orderings with respect to the poverty frontier and the poverty index result in an impossibility of testing this robustness from a practical point of view. However, robustness checks can be performed when restrictions are added on the shape or on the location of the poverty frontier. We also show how the suggested tools can help study chronic poverty, the chronic poor being those in the bottom part of the poverty domain (see for instance Jalan & Ravallion, 2000, Foster, 2009).