Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shared knowledge, IT resources and business process performance

This research assesses the effects of resources and capabilities related to Information Technology (IT), and of shared knowledge among IT and business managers, on the level of operational alignment between these areas, and, thereby, on the performance of business processes. Data was collected from IT and back office managers of 39 companies from Rio de Janeiro that operate in the service sector. Results of structural equations analysis suggest that operational alignment positively affects the performance of back office processes, which, by its turn, influences the satisfaction of process customers. Although IT resources and capabilities, as well as shared knowledge, do not seem to have a direct effect on the level of operational alignment, it was observed that, as IT and business areas share more knowledge, the flexibility of a company’s IT infrastructure tends to have stronger, positive effects on operational alignment. The results are discussed with their implications for theory and practice.
Compact energy efficient switched-capacitor multilevel DC-DC converters for interfacing DC-buses with common ground

Multilevel switched-capacitor DC-DC converters have been proposed for applications that require interfacing two DC-buses or sources. High-voltage DC-bus in general is specified to be an integer multiple that of the low-voltage side. Low efficiency, bulky capacitor banks and unequal voltage sharing have been identified as some of the shortcomings of these converter topologies. This paper will show how to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings even when relatively small capacitor banks are employed. It will be shown that connecting a very small inductor (parasitic cable inductance is adequate) in series with clamping capacitors leads to very significant improvements in performance. For a given performance, the size of clamping capacitor can be greatly reduced when Lr is included. This makes it possible to build more compact and efficient converters.
An approach to Kalman filtering for oscillator tracking

Distributed MIMO communications involve multiple transmitters and receivers organizing themselves into virtual antenna arrays. As these carry individual clocks and oscillators that drift, maintaining sychronization requires that the frequency and the unwrapped phase of each oscillator be tracked using Kalman filters. Kalman filters in turn are sensitive to how well the process and measurement noise variances are known. Existing methods for estimating unknown system variances do not work well for oscillators as the process noise variances are very small (orders of 10-21). In this paper we modify the most advanced technique for estimating the noise variances to develop a scheme that leads to faster and more accurate estimation of the noise variances, using fewer observations.
Neural correlates of temporal summation of second pain in the human brainstem and spinal cord

Temporal summation of second pain (TSSP) occurs when painful stimuli are presented repetitively (≥0.33 Hz) and results from a C‐fibre evoked enhancement (or “wind‐up”) of the dorsal horn neurons. Based on electrophysiological studies in intact animals, windup is considered a purely central phenomenon. With advancements in functional MRI (fMRI), we can now probe the central mechanisms of this pain response in humans. The aim of this study is to characterize the fMRI responses in the healthy human brainstem and spinal cord that correspond to TSSP. Functional MRI of healthy female adults (N = 15) was conducted while brief, repetitive heat pain stimuli were applied to the right thenar eminence (C6 dermatome), and TSSP (0.33 Hz) and control (0.17 Hz) heat pain paradigms were employed. The stimulus intensity was adjusted to each participant's heat pain sensitivity. Data were analyzed by means of a general linear model, and region‐of‐interest analyses. As predicted, participants demonstrated significant behavioural summation of pain in the TSSP condition. FMRI results identified enhanced activity in the spinal cord dorsal horn at C6 in response to the TSSP condition. Additionally, multiple areas of the brainstem (RVM and PAG) showed greater responses with the TSSP condition. These results suggest that, in humans, increased pain perception in the TSSP condition is reflected by greater responses in the dorsal horn and in regions known to play a role in the descending modulation of pain, which may modulate the spinal cord response. Hum Brain Mapp 36:5038–5050, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corona-assisted plate-type electrostatic separation process for granular plastic wastes

Plate-type electrostatic separators are commonly employed for the selective sorting of conductive and non-conductive granular materials. Unfortunately, the purity of the conductive products is often compromised by the fact that the trajectories of the non-conductive granules cannot be controlled. The aim of the present work is to validate a relative simple solution to this problem: subjecting the granules to a corona discharge during their sliding down the plate electrode. This discharge does not affect the conductive granules but charges the non-conductive ones, so that the electric force would tend to pin them to the surface of the grounded electrode. In this way, the friction forces between the granules and the plate increase and the inertia forces decrease. Design of experiments methodology is employed to identify the optimum high-voltage, relative position of the electrodes, and configuration of the collector. The conclusions of this study served at the optimum design of an industrial corona-assisted plate-type electrostatic separator for the recycling of metals and plastics from granular electric cable wastes.
KONFLIK PEKERJAAN-KELUARGA (WORK-FAMILIY CONFLICT) , STRESKERJA DAN PENGARUH KINERJA PELAYANAN KONSUMEN ( STUDIKASUS PADA PT. BANK MANDIRI (PERSERO) TBK WILAYAHSURAKARTA)

Berdasarkan berbagai uraian pada bab-bab sebelumnya, maka dapat dibuat beberapa kesimpulan sebagai berikut: 1. Variabel stress produces atau sumber-sumber yang dapat menghasilkan job stress atau stres kerja terdiri dari work family conflict dan family work conflict. 2. Variabel work family conflict mempunyai pengaruh positif yang signifikan terhadap variabel job stress atau stres kerja. 3. Variabel family work conflict mempunyai pengaruh positif yang tidak signifikan signifikan terhadap variabel job stress atau stres kerja. 4. Variabel stress reduces atau sumber-sumber yang dapat mengurangi job stress atau stres kerja terdiri dari supervisor fairness dan shared interpersonal values. 5. Variabel supervisor fairness mempunyai pengaruh negatif yang signifikan terhadap variabel job stress atau stres kerja. 6. Variabel shared interpersonal values mempunyai pengaruh negatif yang signifikan terhadap variabel job stress atau stres kerja. 7. Variabel job stress atau stres kerja mempunyai pengaruh negatif yang signifikan terhadap kinerja pelayanan konsumen. 8. Variasi perubahan variabel bebas yaitu work family conflict, family conflict, supervisor fairness, dan shared interpersonal values mampu menjelaskan variasi perubahan variabel job stress sebesar 96,00 %. Sedangkan sisanya sebesar 4,00 % dijelaskan oleh faktor lain yang tidak dijelaskan dalam model. 9. Variabel bebas yang paling berpengaruh terhadap stres kerja adalah supervisor fairness yang diikuti oleh work-family conflict dan shared interpersonal values sebagai variabel pengurang stres.
Prediction and modeling with partial dependencies

The author consider a binary classification problem with a feature vector of high dimensionality. Spam mail filters are a popular example hereof. A Bayesian approach requires us to estimate the probability of a feature vector given the class of the object. Due to the size of the feature vector this is an unfeasible task. A useful approach is to split the feature space into several (conditionally) independent subspaces. This results in a new problem, namely how to find the ldquobestrdquo subdivision. In this paper the author consider a weighing approach that will perform (asymptotically) as good as the best subdivision and still has a manageable complexity.
Evidence for the impact of quality improvement collaboratives: systematic review

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement collaboratives in improving the quality of care. Data sources Relevant studies through Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases. Study selection Two reviewers independently extracted data on topics, participants, setting, study design, and outcomes. Data synthesis Of 1104 articles identified, 72 were included in the study. Twelve reports representing nine studies (including two randomised controlled trials) used a controlled design to measure the effects of the quality improvement collaborative intervention on care processes or outcomes of care. Systematic review of these nine studies showed moderate positive results. Seven studies (including one randomised controlled trial) reported an effect on some of the selected outcome measures. Two studies (including one randomised controlled trial) did not show any significant effect. Conclusions The evidence underlying quality improvement collaboratives is positive but limited and the effects cannot be predicted with great certainty. Considering that quality improvement collaboratives seem to play a key part in current strategies focused on accelerating improvement, but may have only modest effects on outcomes at best, further knowledge of the basic components effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and success factors is crucial to determine the value of quality improvement collaboratives.
Exercise Ventilatory Inefficiency Adds to Lung Function in Predicting Mortality in COPD

ABSTRACT Severity of resting functional impairment only partially predicts the increased risk of death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increased ventilation during exercise is associated with markers of disease progression and poor prognosis, including emphysema extension and pulmonary vascular impairment. Whether excess exercise ventilation would add to resting lung function in predicting mortality in COPD, however, is currently unknown. After an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test, 288 patients (forced expiratory volume in one second ranging from 18% to 148% predicted) were followed for a median (interquartile range) of 57 (47) months. Increases in the lowest (nadir) ventilation to CO2 output (VCO2) ratio determined excess exercise ventilation. Seventy-seven patients (26.7%) died during follow-up: 30/77 (38.9%) deaths were due to respiratory causes. Deceased patients were older, leaner, had a greater co-morbidity burden (Charlson Index) and reported more daily life dyspnea. Moreover, they had poorer lung function and exercise tolerance (p < 0.05). A logistic regression analysis revealed that ventilation/VCO2 nadir was the only exercise variable that added to age, body mass index, Charlson Index and resting inspiratory capacity (IC)/total lung capacity (TLC) ratio to predict all-cause and respiratory mortality (p < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analyses showed that survival time was particularly reduced when ventilation/VCO2 nadir > 34 was associated with IC/TLC ≤ 0.34 or IC/TLC ≤ 0.31 for all-cause and respiratory mortality, respectively (p < 0.001). Excess exercise ventilation is an independent prognostic marker across the spectrum of COPD severity. Physiological abnormalities beyond traditional airway dysfunction and lung mechanics are relevant in determining the course of the disease.
Eficacia de la terapia de aceptación y compromiso (ACT) en la mejora del rendimiento ajedrecístico de jóvenes promesas

La Terapia de Aceptacion y Compromiso (ACT) esta resultando util en ambitos relativamente lejanos a los conocidos como trastornos psicologicos. Especificamente, esta permitiendo mejorar el rendimiento deportivo en diversas areas. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo replicar y ampliar la aplicacion de protocolos breves de ACT para mejorar el rendimiento ajedrecistico. En un estudio anterior se aplico un breve protocolo individual a ajedrecistas de alta competicion que resulto eficaz. En el presente estudio se pretende aplicar un protocolo grupal equivalente a jovenes promesas en ajedrez y compararlo con otros jovenes en una condicion control que no recibieron intervencion alguna. Los resultados muestran una mejora del rendimiento en 5 de los 7 participantes, mientras que ninguno de los jugadores de la condicion control alcanzo un criterio relevante de cambio. El analisis entre condiciones revela diferencias estadisticamente significativas en el rendimiento ajedrecistico. Se discuten los resultados resaltando el impacto replicado de un formato breve de ACT para mejorar el rendimiento ajedrecistico. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and improving chess performance in promising young chess-players. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is shown to be effective in relatively distant fields from the so-called psychological disorders. One of these areas is sport performance improvement. The aim of the current study is to expand the application of brief ACT protocols to improve chess-players’ performance. In a previous study, a brief protocol was applied to internationallevel adult chess-players that was effective. The current study aims to apply an equivalent brief ACT protocol, but in this case, applied in a group format to promising young chess-players. In addition, this brief protocol is compared to a non-intervention control condition. Results show that the ACT brief protocol improved the performance in 5 out of 7 participants, and that none of the chess-players in the control condition reached the established change criterion. The differences between the conditions in chess performance were statistically significant. The results are discussed, emphasizing the replicated impact of a brief ACT protocol on the improvement of chess-players’ performance.
Human airway surface epithelial regeneration is delayed and abnormal in cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) at an advanced stage of the disease is characterized by airway epithelial injury and remodelling. Whether CF remodelling is related to infection and inflammation or due to an abnormal regenerative process is still undecided. We have recently established the expression and secretion profiles of interleukin (IL)‐8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐7, MMP‐9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐1 during non‐CF airway epithelial regeneration in a humanized nude mouse xenograft model. To enhance our understanding of CF remodelling, we compared the regeneration process of non‐infected human CF and non‐CF nasal epithelia. In both CF and non‐CF situations, epithelial regeneration was characterized by successive steps of cell adhesion and migration, proliferation, pseudostratification, and terminal differentiation. However, histological examination of the grafts showed a delay in differentiation of the CF airway epithelium. Cell proliferation was higher in the regenerating CF epithelium, and the differentiated CF epithelium exhibited a pronounced height increase and basal cell hyperplasia in comparison with non‐CF epithelium. In addition, while the number of goblet cells expressing MUC5AC was similar in CF and non‐CF regenerated epithelia, the number of MUC5B‐immunopositive goblet cells was lower in CF grafts. The expression of human IL‐8, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, and TIMP‐1 was enhanced in CF epithelium, especially early in the regenerative process. Together, our data strongly suggest that the regeneration of human CF airway surface epithelium is characterized by remodelling, delayed differentiation, and altered pro‐inflammatory and MMP responses. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A steep increase in domestic fatal medication errors with use of alcohol and/or street drugs.

BACKGROUND Increasingly, medications are consumed outside of clinical settings, with relatively little professional oversight. Despite this trend, previous studies of medication errors have focused on clinical settings. METHODS We examined all US death certificates from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 2004 (N = 49,586,156), particularly those with fatal medication errors (FMEs) (n = 224,355). We examined trends in 4 types of FMEs that vary according to the relative importance of alcohol/street drugs and the relative likelihood of professional oversight in the consumption of medications. RESULTS The overall FME death rate increased by 360.5% (1983-2004). This increase far exceeds the increase in death rates from adverse effects of medications (33.2%) or from alcohol and/or street drugs (40.9%). The increase in FMEs varies markedly by type. Type 1 (domestic FMEs combined with alcohol and/or street drugs) shows the largest increase (3196%). In contrast, type 4 (nondomestic FMEs not involving alcohol and/or street drugs) shows the smallest increase (5%). Types 2 and 3 show intermediate increases. Type 2 (domestic FMEs not involving alcohol and/or street drugs) increased by 564%. Type 3 (nondomestic FMEs combined with alcohol and/or street drugs) increased by 555%. Thus, domestic FMEs combined with alcohol and/or street drugs have become an increasingly important health problem compared with other FMEs. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a shift in the location of medication consumption from clinical to domestic settings is linked to a steep increase in FMEs. It may now be possible to reduce FMEs by focusing not only on clinical settings but also on domestic settings.
United they go: conjunct regulation of aortic antioxidant enzymes during atherogenesis.

Oxidative stress, resulting from a local imbalance between the ubiquitous formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the equally ubiquitous antioxidant defenses, is thought to be an important contributor to atherogenesis (Figure). Many of the players are known. The biochemical pathways generating superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radicals, and lipid peroxides have been identified, as have the most important oxygen radical–scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and thioredoxin reductase). 1 Many endogenous and exogenous contributors to oxidative stress are also known, such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and shear stress. Leukocytes responding to intimal signals—frequently resulting from increased oxidation—are also an important contributor to ROS formation. In fact, ROS released during the respiratory burst, an innate immune defense against bacterial pathogens, may promote lipid peroxidation and therefore enhance further leukocyte recruitment and differentiation. In addition to antioxidant enzymes, arterial cells express enzymes promoting ROS formation, including, cyclooxygenase, NADPH oxidase, cytochrome P450 epoxygenases, myeloperoxidase, lipoxygenase, and inducible nitric oxide synthase.1–3 To what extent these enzymes account for ROS formation and oxidation of LDL in arteries, however, remains unknown. Dietary factors, natural and synthetic antioxidants, and hypocholesterolemic agents, such as statins, also directly and indirectly influence ROS. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the arterial wall. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing ROS formation and mechanisms through which ROS may affect atherogenesis. Research in vitro and in vivo has also shed much light on potential mechanisms through which oxidative stress may promote atherogenesis. Initially, the oxidation of LDL was seen as the central event.3 Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) is recognized by macrophage scavenger receptors that, in contrast to LDL receptors, are not downregulated by intracellular cholesterol and may therefore induce foam cell formation, a key event in atherogenesis. Cytokines released by activated macrophage/foam cells may then promote further cell recruitment and proliferation. Because LDL …
Thiol Signalling Network with an Eye to Diabetes

Redox regulatory system controls normal cellular functions. Controlled changes in redox couples potential serve as components for signal transduction, similarly to the phosphorylation cascade. Cellular redox biology requires both compartimentalisation and communication of redox systems: the thermodynamic disequilibrium of the major redox switches allows rapid and sensitive responses to perturbations in redox environments. The many oxidation states of sulphur are found in numerous sulphur species with distinct functional groups (thiols, disulphides, polysulphides, sulphenic, sulphinic and sulphonic acids, etc.), which participate in a complicated network of sulphur-based redox events. Human diseases such as diabetes mellitus and its cardiovascular complications have been associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species and perturbations of thiol redox homeostasis. The review surveys literature related to some etiopathogenic aspects and therapeutic perspectives. The dual toxic-protective property of sulphydryl-donor molecules in experimental settings proposes the general problem of designing antioxidants for therapeutic use.
Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Antigenically Drifted Influenza Higher Than Expected in Hospitalized Adults: 2014–2015

Background. In the United States (US) the 2014–2015 influenza season was severe, with widespread circulation of influenza A (H3N2) viruses that were antigenically drifted from the vaccine virus. We assessed influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against influenza illness requiring hospitalization during the 2014–2015 season; low VE was anticipated due to circulation of drifted viruses. Method. Adults hospitalized at two hospitals in Southeast Michigan for treatment of acute respiratory illnesses, broadly defined by admission diagnoses, of ≤10 days duration were prospectively enrolled. Throat and nasal swab specimens were collected, combined, and tested for influenza by RT-PCR. Patients were considered vaccinated if receipt of influenza vaccine ≥14 days prior to illness onset was documented in medical records or state registry, or self-reported at enrollment with plausible location and timing of vaccination. VE was estimated by comparing the vaccination status of those who tested positive for influenza with those who tested negative and calculated as 100 × (1-odds ratio) in logistic regression models; models were adjusted for age, sex, hospital, calendar time, time from illness onset to specimen collection, frailty score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Result. Among 642 patients included in the analysis, 430 (67%) were considered vaccinated, 345 (54%) were female, 228 (36%) were age ≥65 years, and 92% had CCI > 0 indicating ≥1 comorbid condition. One hundred sixteen (18%) patients tested positive for influenza, including 98 (84%) influenza A (H3N2), 9 (8%) influenza A that was not subtyped, and 9 (8%) influenza B Yamagata; 88% of influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested by pyrosequencing belonged to the drifted 3C.2a genetic group. Adjusted VE was 45% (95% CI: 10 to 67) against all influenza, 44% (95% CI: 4 to 68) against A(H3N2) and 82% (95% CI: −7 to 97) against B Yamagata. Adjusted VE against all influenza was 41% (95% CI: −6 to 67) for those <65 years of age and 56% (95% CI: −11 to 83) for those ≥65. Conclusion. VE estimates appear higher than interim reports from US studies in ambulatory care settings in a year with mismatched vaccine and circulating viruses. Influenza vaccine may have been more effective in preventing severe illness requiring hospitalization; sensitivity analyses are in progress to assess the robustness of estimates. Disclosures. S. E. Ohmit, Sanofi Pasteur: Grant Investigator, Research grant; E. T. Martin, Pfizer: Grant Investigator, Grant recipient; L. Lamerato, pfizer: Investigator, Research support