bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Oncologic Outcomes in Laparoscopic versus Open Surgery for Non-Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Personal Experience in a Single Institution
Authors: Chiu Chong-Chi , Lin Wen-Li , Shi Hon-Yi , Huang Chien–Cheng , Chen Jyh-Jou , Su Shih-Bin , Lai Chih-Cheng , Chao Chien-Ming , Tsao Chao-Jung , Chen Shang-Hung , Wang Jhi-Joung
Published: May 2019

The oncologic merits of laparoscopic technique for colorectal cancer surgery remain debatable. Eligible patients with non-metastatic colorectal cancer who were scheduled for an elective resection by only one surgeon in a medical institution were randomized to either laparoscopic or open treatment. During this period, total 188 patients received laparoscopic surgery and other 163 patients to open approach. The primary endpoint was cancer-free 5-year survival after operative treatment and secondary endpoint was the tumor recurrence incidence. We found there was no statistically significant difference between open and laparoscopic groups regarding average number of lymph nodes dissected, overall mortality rate, cancer recurrence rate or cancer-free 5-year survival. Nevertheless, laparoscopic approach was more effective for colorectal cancer treatment with shorter hospital stay and less blood loss despite operation time was significantly longer. Meanwhile fewer patients receiving laparoscopic approach developed postoperative urinary tract infection, wound infection, pneumonia or anastomosis leakage, which reached statistical significance. For non-metastatic colorectal cancer patients, laparoscopic surgery resulted in better short-term outcomes whether in total complications and intra-operative blood loss. Though there was no significant statistical difference in terms of cancer-free 5-year survival and tumor recurrence, we favor patients receiving laparoscopic surgery if not contraindicated.
Quantum Computing in Four Spatial Dimensions
Authors: Tozzi Arturo , Ahmad Muhammad Zubair , Peters James F.
Published: May 2019

Relationships among near set theory, shape maps and recent accounts of the Quantum Hall effect pave the way to quantum computations performed in higher dimensions.  We illustrate the operational procedure to build a quantum computer able to detect, assess and quantify a fourth spatial dimension.  We show how, starting from two-dimensional shapes embedded in a 2D topological charge pump, it is feasible to achieve the corresponding four-dimensional shapes, which encompass a larger amount of information.  This novel, relatively straightforward architecture not only permits to increase the amount of available qbits in a fixed volume, but also converges towards a solution to the problem of optical computers, that are not allowed to tackle quantum entanglement through their canonical superposition of electromagnetic waves.
Enhanced Sol-Gel Route to Obtain a Highly Transparent and Conductive Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide Thin Film
Authors: Nateq Mohammad Hossein , Ceccato Riccardo
Published: May 2019

The electrical and optical properties of sol-gel derived aluminum-doped0 zinc oxide thin films containing 2 at.% Al were investigated considering the modifying effects of 1) increasing the sol H2O content; and 2) thermal treatment procedure with high-temperature approach followed by an additional heat-treatment step under a reducing atmosphere. According to the results obtained via the TG-DTA analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction technique and four-point probe resistivity measurement, it is argued that the sol hydrolysis, decomposition of the deposited gel and crystallization of grains result in grains of larger crystallite size and stronger c-axis preferred orientation with slightly less microstrain in the modified sample. The consequent morphology and grain-boundary characteristics turn out as improved conductivity, implying higher values of concentration and mobility of charge carriers. A detailed investigation on samples optical properties, in terms of analyzing their absorption and dispersion behaviors through the UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, support our reasoning for the increase of the mobility, and to a lesser extent, the concentration of charge carriers, while causing only a slight degradation of optical transmission. Hence, an enhanced performance as a transparent conducting film is claimed for the modified sample by comparing the figure-of-merit values.
Incorporating Topological Representation in 3D City Models
Authors: Vitalis Stelios , Arroyo Ohori Ken , Stoter Jantien
Published: May 2019

3D city models are being extensively used in applications such as evacuation scenarios and energy consumption estimation. The main standard for 3D city models is the CityGML data model which can be encoded through the CityJSON data format. CityGML and CityJSON use polygonal modelling in order to represent geometries. True topological data structures have proven to be more computationally efficient for geometric analysis compared to polygonal modelling. In a previous study, we have introduced a method to topologically reconstruct CityGML models while maintaining the semantic information of the dataset, based solely on the combinatorial map (C-Map) data structure. As a result of the limitations of C-Map's semantic representation mechanism, the resulting datasets could suffer either from semantic information loss or the redundant repetition of them. In this article, we propose a solution for a more efficient representation of both geometry, topology and semantics by incorporating the C-Map data structure in the CityGML data model and implementing a CityJSON extension to encode the C-Map data. In addition, we provide an algorithm for the topological reconstruction of CityJSON datasets to append them according to this extension. Finally, we apply our methodology to three open datasets in order to validate our approach when applied to real-world data. Our results show that the proposed CityJSON extension can represent all geometric information of a city model in a lossless way, providing additional topological information for the objects of the model.
Machine Learning Prediction Models of Electrical Efficiency of Photovoltaic-Thermal Collectors
Authors: Ahmadi Mohammad Hossein , Baghban Alireza , Salwana Ely , Sadeghzadeh Milad , Zamen Mohammad , Shamshirband Shahab , Kumar Ravinder
Published: May 2019

Solar energy is a renewable resources of energy which is broadly utilized and have the least pollution impact between the available alternatives of fossil fuels. In this investigation, machine leaening approaches of neural networks (NN), neuro-fuzzy and least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) are used to build the models for prediction of the thermal performance of a photovoltaic-thermal solar collector (PV/T) by estimating its efficiency as an output of the model while inlet temperature, flow rate, heat, solar radiation, and heat of sun are input of the designed model. Experimental measurements was prepared by designing a solar collector system and 100 data extracted. Different analyses are also performed to examine the credibility of the introduced approaches revealing great performance. The suggested LSSVM model represented the best performance regarding the mean squared error (MSE) of 0.003 and correlation coefficient (R2) value of 0.99, respectively.
Characterization and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Bovine Dermcidin, a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Gene
Authors: Sabry Nevien , Moussa Tarek
Published: May 2019

Description of a novel bovine antimicrobial peptide and its antimicrobial spectrum. RNA isolation and RT-PCR were done from various tissues. DCD peptide was synthesized, and antimicrobial activity was analyzed. Bovine dermcidin gene contains five exons intermittent by 4 introns. Bovine DCD-mRNA was 398 bp with ORF 336 bp. Bovine DCD was expressed in skin and blood. Analysis of the amino acid compositions revealed that cysteine was repeated 6 times indicating the presence of 3 disulfide bonds that play role in the peptide stability. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus bovis, and Enterococcus faecalis were affected by Bovine DCD peptide. Highest antimicrobial effect was at 50 and 100 µg/ml. The effect on Escherichia coli and Candida albicans was slightly low. In all bacteria, Bovine DCD peptide activity did not affect by varying pH values, but in Staphylococcus aureus, the activity was affected greatly at pH 4.5 and 5.5. The optimum salt concentrations were 100 and 50 mM NaCl with all bacterial strains and E. coli, respectively. In case of C. albicans, the antimicrobial activity of Bovine DCD peptide decreased with increasing the pH value regardless the NaCl concentration. The pH 6.5 of the sweat buffer was the optimum for the Bovine DCD peptide activity.
Recent Advances in Pipelines Monitoring and Oil Leakage Detection Technologies: Principles and Approaches
Authors: Adegboye Mutiu Adesina , Fung Wai-Keung , Karnik Aditya
Published: May 2019

Pipelines are widely used for transportation of hydrocarbon fluids over millions of miles over the world. The structures of the pipelines are designed to withstand several environmental loading conditions to ensure safe and reliable distribution from point of production to the shore or distributions deport. However, leaks in pipeline networks are one of the major causes of innumerable losses in pipeline operators and nature. Incidents of pipeline failure can result in serious ecological disasters, human casualties and financial loss. In order to avoid such menace and maintain safe and reliable pipeline infrastructure, substantial research efforts have been devoted to implementing pipeline leak detection and localisation using different approaches. This paper discusses on pipelines leakage detection technologies and summarises the state-of-the-art achievements. Different leakage detection and localisation in pipeline systems are reviewed and their strengths and weaknesses are highlighted. Comparative performance analysis is performed to provide a guide in determining which leak detection method is appropriate for particular operating settings. In addition, research gaps and open issues for development of reliable pipeline leakage detection systems are discussed.
Changes in Medicinal Plant Knowledge among the Waorani Society, Ecuador
Authors: Weckmüller Holger , Barriocanal Carles , Maneja Roser , Boada Martí
Published: May 2019

This paper explores how the medicinal plant knowledge of the Waorani indigenous society in Ecuador varies in accordance with both socio-economic and demographic factors. Medicinal plant knowledge was compared at both individual and community levels. Fifty-nine semi-structured interviews (men n = 30, women n = 29) were performed with people between fifteen and seventy years old in five Waorani communities located within the Yasuní Biosphere Reserve. Results show a positive correlation between an individual’s medicinal plant knowledge and age, a negative correlation between medicinal plant knowledge and the years of schooling, and differences among isolated and easily accessible communities. Reasons behind these findings are seen in the rapid socio-cultural changes of the Waorani society due to globalization processes. Increased accessibility to health centers, improved transportation infrastructure and changes in how knowledge is transmitted to young people all result in a loss of ethnobotanical knowledge. Policymakers need to take action in order to ensure the maintenance of ethnoecological knowledge among the Waorani.
Formation Mechanism of Pores Inside Structure Fabricated by Metal-Based Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Egashira Kyota , Furumoto Tatsuaki , Hishida Kiichi , Abe Satoshi , Koyano Tomohiro , Hashimoto Yohei , Hosokawa Akira ,   Division of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan,   Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan,   Panasonic Corporation Eco Solutions Company, Osaka, Japan
Published: May 2019

The powder bed fusion (PBF) technique is a metal-based additive manufacturing (AM) method in which metal powder is deposited on a substrate and melted by selective laser-beam irradiation. Given that the process and parameters of metal-based AM are complicated, there are various problems in high-precision fabrication. One of these is that although metal-based AM can be used for fabrication of high-density parts, pores can easily form inside the fabricated structure owing to process instabilities. Pore formation degrades the mechanical strength of the fabricated structure. Therefore, this study investigated the pore formation mechanism inside a structure fabricated by PBF. Pore suppression by controlling the substrate temperature was also evaluated. Small- and large-sized pores with diameters of 10 μm and more than 50 μm, respectively, were found. Furthermore, differences in pore formation in the cross-section of the fabricated structure were observed owing to a variation in the volume-specific energy density and substrate temperature. At a substrate temperature of 25°C, the number of pores decreased more at the upper position than at the lower position owing to repeated melting and solidification under the laser-beam irradiation. At a substrate temperature of 200°C, the number of pores decreased significantly more than at 25°C. Furthermore, as the substrate temperature increased, the wettability of the molten metal improved, resulting in smaller contact angles of the fabricated structure in the single-line track. In PBF, multiple lines are fabricated in each layer. At low substrate temperatures, interstices were formed between the lines owing to the low wettability of the molten metal. These interstices acted as the origins of pores when the next layer was fabricated. Heating the substrate made the surface of the structure smooth owing to the high wettability of the molten metal and a reduction in the number of pores. Therefore, the formation of large pores could be reduced by controlling the substrate temperature.
Graded Inconel 625 – SUS316L Joint Fabricated Using Directed Energy Deposition
Authors: Koike Ryo , Unotoro Iori , Kakinuma Yasuhiro , Oda Yohei ,   Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kouhoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8521, Japan,   DMG Mori Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
Published: May 2019

The joining of dissimilar materials is an important process to produce a large production. In other words, the reliability of such a production is determined by the joining technique because the joint interface often becomes the weakest point against stress. In case of metals, welding and riveting are popular approaches for joining dissimilar materials. However, these techniques generally involve manual and complex operations; therefore, the production quality cannot be maintained, because the accuracy and efficiency of these operations strongly depend on the worker’s skill. From this viewpoint, additive manufacturing (AM) can be useful to produce parts using a combination of dissimilar metals. Metal AM has attracted considerable attention from aerospace and automobile industries recently because of its flexibility and applicability in the production of various complex-shaped parts. Directed energy deposition (DED), one such metal AM method, forms a deposit of powder material and simultaneously irradiates a laser beam on the baseplate. DED can be applied to cladding and repairs as it can be conducted on the surface of the part. In particular, a combined part of dissimilar metals can be easily and directly produced from scratch by changing the powder material of the process. A graded material can also be produced by blending different powders and changing their ratios appropriately. In order to realize such applications of DED, the mechanical properties of the produced part must be evaluated in detail. In this study, a part combining a nickel-based superalloy (Inconel 625) and a stainless steel alloy (SUS316L) is produced using DED; the produced part is evaluated through a tensile strength test, Vickers hardness measurement, metal structure observation, and element distribution analysis. In addition, a graded material is also produced to evaluate the basic characteristics of the joint produced using DED. The experimental results show that the produced joint is sufficiently stiff against tensile stress and its hardness is increased because of the solid solution of niobium in the stainless steel area. The results of the elemental distribution analysis and the Vickers hardness test indicate that a graded joint of Inconel 625 and SUS316L can certainly be produced using DED.
Using Ultraprecision Machining to Fabricate LED Packaging Exhibiting High Luminous Intensity
Authors: Chou Ding-Chin , Yang Shang-Hui , Lin Jian-Shian , Juang Fuh-Shyang , Takeuchi Yoshimi ,   Graduate Institute of Design, National Taipei University of Technology No.1, Sec.3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan,   Metal Industries Research & Development Centre, Taipei, Taiwan,   Institute of Electro-Optical and Materials Science, National Formosa University, Yunlin, Taiwan,   Chubu University, Kasugai, Japan
Published: May 2019

In this study, a phosphor was coated on a microstructured film to achieve light control. This process resulted in a large-area phosphor film and enabled the microstructure to be packaged directly into the LED body. Thus, the LEDs retain their air and water barrier functions, control light, achieve higher forward luminous intensity, and have a wider scope of applications. Roll-to-roll processing was performed to mold a microstructure and phosphor on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film by applying ultraviolet light. This approach expedited the preparation of a large-area phosphor film and enabled the precise control of the thickness and evenness of the phosphor layer, thus ensuring uniform light distribution and eliminating the yellow halo within the light body induced by the uneven thickness of the phosphor layer. The experimental results revealed that the luminous intensity of the LED to which the microstructured PET film was attached at 0° (center) increased by 11.88% relative to the luminous intensity of the LED without the film. Moreover, at 30° to −30°, the luminous intensity of the LED with the film improved by 10.36%. Therefore, the device retained its color uniformity and achieved higher forward luminous intensity.
Turning Classroom Project into Textbook Design in English for Specific Purposes Subject
Authors: Munir Sirajul
Published: May 2019

This article discusses my experience in shaping EFL learners’ project on textbook design in teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) subject. This task was challenging since the learners’ project designing textbook was in the sixth semester students. This article first explores the concept of ESP, principles in developing materials and classroom project. Then, it goes to focus on the pedagogical procedure for designing ESP textbook. This procedure includes (1) prior to designing a textbook; (2) designing a draft of the textbook; (3) finalization of designing textbook; and (4) demonstrating peer teaching on one of the units of the textbook.  Finally, it elaborates students’ responses to these practices. The findings show that classroom project can enhance learners’ to good cooperation, improve learners’ knowledge and creativity, and promote learners individual and social values to improve their harmony in life. For future researchers, it is suggested exploring the effect of classroom project on students’ achievement, and to examine the correlation between classroom project on ESP subject and learners’ social values.
Exploring the implementation of student-centered learning in EFL classrooms: Perspectives from Islamic secondary-school teachers in Indonesia
Authors: Huda Miftahul , Lubis Arif Husein
Published: May 2019

One notable goal of the 21st-century pedagogy is the encouragement for the students to be the agent of change in their own learning process realized by the implementation of student-centered learning approach (SCL). However, previous literature noted the discrepancy between what they believe in and what they perform in the classroom. Thus, this descriptive qualitative study aims to extend the study from the perspectives of Indonesian Islamic secondary-school EFL teachers, specifically investigating their perceptions on SCL, preferences of using SCL strategies, and challenges in implementing it. Nine teachers were involved as the participants purposively based on their background. Data were collected by using a questionnaire and a follow-up interview. After filling in the questionnaire, four teachers were selected to participate in the follow-up interview. Three major findings were obtained. They have been aware of the importance of SCL, although most of their students were still passive. As a result, they preferred to combine the lecture and the student-centered activities like role-play, simulation, cooperative learning, and problem-based learning. However, they did not regularize the facilitation of individual or group presentation. With respect to the challenges, the interview data disclosed that the teachers encountered the limited allocated time to maximize SCL implementation, students’ passivity and self-confidence deterioration leading to limited responses and meaningful communication, and lack of training in implementing SCL-based assessment. This study provides an insight into the reality of SCL implementation in EFL classroom settings from Islamic secondary-school teachers. Recommendations for further studies are also discussed.
PENULARAN VERTIKAL ALAMI VIRUS ‘menyerupai’ ZIKA DALAM NYAMUK AEDES AEGYPTI DARI WABAH DI KOTA JAMBI
Authors: Satoto Tri Baskoro , Pasca Wati Nur Alvira , Purwaningsih Wida , Josef Hari Kusnanto , Purwono Purwono , Rumbiwati Rumbiwati , Hermanto Hermanto , Frutos Roger
Published: May 2019

Transmission of Zika virus could occur as a mosquito-borne transmission by Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus. During the transition period of 2014 to 2015, there had been reported an outbreak of dengue in Jambi City, during which several of the sufferers were screened positive for Zika virus infection by the Eijkman Institute. Interestingly, all of those positive for Zika virus were indigenous residents and none of them had history of international travel. To overview of Aedes spp. population by ovitrap and egg colonization and to detect the presence of Zika virus. The research was a descriptive analytic study with cross-sectional design. The samples then underwent like Zika virus detection using RT-PCR and the results were described as mapping. The Ovitrap Index was 44.74% and during examination of egg colonization collected from 40 neighborhoods was found Zika “like” virus in samples obtained from the 4th neighborhood in Talang Bakung Village.
Left-right and upper-lower light sensitivity asymmetry in visual field defects caused by pituitary adenoma: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Kotoda Yumi , Kotoda Masakazu , Ogiwara Masakazu , Kinouchi Hiroyuki , Iijima Hiroyuki
Published: May 2019

Background

While bitemporal visual field defects are characteristic in pituitary adenoma cases, it is rare to have complete bitemporal hemianopsia that is symmetrical in both eyes and has absolute scotoma throughout both temporal hemifields. Although several researches have investigated asymmetric visual field defects in patients with pituitary adenoma, no precise investigation with statistical analysis regarding the inter-eye and intra-eye symmetry of visual field defects has yet been reported. In this study, we conducted quantitative analysis to explore the asymmetric properties of visual field defects in pituitary adenoma patients.

Methods

Preoperative Humphrey 30-2 perimetry results were reviewed retrospectively using the charts of 28 pituitary adenoma patients who underwent surgery. Inter-eye light sensitivity comparisons of the temporal and nasal hemifields between the left and right eyes were conducted in each patient to study left-right asymmetry. Upper-lower asymmetry was investigated by comparing the frequency of severe scotoma (light sensitivity 5 dB or less) in the upper and lower visual field quadrants in the temporal and nasal hemifields.

Results

Left-right asymmetry was demonstrated in 61% of cases in the temporal hemifield and in 57% of cases in the nasal hemifield. Severe scotoma test points were investigated in the worse eye of each patient and were more frequent in the superotemporal quadrant of the visual field compared with the inferotemporal quadrant (P = 0.00029) and in the inferonasal quadrant compared to the superonasal quadrant (P = 0.00268).

Conclusions

Asymmetric visual field defects between left and right eyes are common in patients with pituitary adenoma. Severe scotoma is more frequent in the upper quadrant of the temporal hemifield and in the lower quadrant of the nasal hemifield.
Prevalence and Antifungal Susceptibility patterns of Candida isolated on CHROMagarTMCandida at a tertiary referral hospital, Eastern Uganda.
Authors: Watsemwa Juliet , Iramiot Jacob , KALULE JOHN BOSCO
Published: May 2019

Background
Pregnant women are susceptible to vaginal candidiasis and maternal vulvovaginal candidiasis is a major risk factor for colonization and/or infection of the infant. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and antifungal patterns of albicans and non-albicans Candida among pregnant women attending a tertiary referral hospital.
Methods
Vaginal discharge- cotton swabs were self-collected from pregnant women clinically proven to have vulvovaginal candidiasis at the antenatal clinic of a tertiary referral hospital between January and July 2018. Microscopy and culture on Sabouraud's Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol was done on the vaginal discharge-cotton swabs. Confirmatory fungal identification was done using CHROM agarTM Candida. Antifungal susceptibility testing was carried out using the standardized Kirby Bauer dilution method.
Results
Candida were isolated from 50.81% (126/249) of the swabs and included C. albicans (80.16%, 101/126), C. glabrata (19.05% (24/126) and C. krusei (0.79%, 1/126). Of the women from whom Candida were isolated, 11.1% (14/126) were in the first trimester, 39.7% (50/126) were in the second, while 49.2% (62/126) were in the third. Of the Candida isolates, 80.16% (101/126) were C. albicans, 19.05% (24/126) were C. glabrata and 0.79% (1/126) were C. krusei. Overall, all the isolates were non-susceptible to Amphotericin B, while 60.3% (76/126), 50% (63/126), 62.7% (79/126), and 48.4% (61/126) were non-susceptible to itraconazole, fluconazole, nystatin, and clotrimazole respectively. All the non-albicans Candida were resistant to itraconazole, amphotericin B, and fluconazole.
Conclusion
Vulvovaginal candidiasis due to multidrug resistant C.glabrata among pregnant women will require that treatment regimes are adjusted to carter for the recurrent forms. The use of CHROMagarTMCandida media for identification of clinically relevant Candida should be adopted instead of conventional methods that are tedious and time consuming such that treatment is based on laboratory evidence.
Capital structure of small, medium and micro enterprises: major factors for a developing economy
Authors: Zunckel Sharon , John Nyide Celani
Published: May 2019

Managing capital structure is an imperative decision made by all firms. The manner in which financing is organized is a strategic financial decision and managers must settle on the amount of debt in relation to equity that it requires to maintain. Despite many empirical studies investigating the choice of capital structure for large corporates, minimal research has been conducted on capital structure decisions in small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). This study identifies major factors influencing the capital structure of SMMEs in a developing economy and enlightens owners/managers on the importance thereof. This investigation used a quantitative research approach, which was cross-sectional. A convenience sampling method was adopted, and data were collected from 136 respondents, only confined to the retail and whole sector, which is the second largest sector in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The partial least squares structural equation modelling was utilized to determine the statistical results. It was discovered that managerial factors such as individual goals and financing preference of the owner/manager, network ties, attitude to debt, maintaining control and asymmetric information; and firm-level factors such as size of the firm, profitability and firm age are major factors that influence the capital structure of SMMEs. Therefore, capital structure decisions are made motivated by the attitudes of the owners/managers.
METODOLOGIAS PARA AVALIAÇÃO DA TECNOLOGIA DA INFORMAÇÃO EMPRESARIAL
Authors: Souza Antonio Artur de , Noveli Márcio
Published: May 2019

A Tecnologia da Informação (TI) se desenvolveu muito nos últimos 40 anos e, apesar dos altos montantes e daparticipação intensiva da TI nas empresas, a avaliação desse investimento não é uma tarefa simples. A questãoda avaliação do investimento em TI teve uma ênfase maior a partir das descobertas, nos EUA, de que os altosinvestimentos em TI não estavam trazendo aumento na produtividade para o país, dando origem ao chamadoparadoxo da produtividade. As perguntas que se seguiram, sobre qual era o retorno que a TI trazia àsempresas, e como medi-lo, passaram das perspectivas quantitativas às qualitativas ao longo dos anos.Entretanto, não se chegou a um consenso sobre o retorno que a TI trás às empresas e nem sequer comomensurá-lo, sendo que algumas possíveis razões para o problema foram desenvolvidas. A partir de um estudobibliográfico de natureza exploratória e descritiva, verificou-se que a tarefa do administrador em avaliar osinvestimentos em TI é difícil devido às dimensões que devem ser consideradas, e à quantidade de técnicas demensuração, que a tornam uma tarefa complexa. Assim, a utilização de técnicas híbridas, como o balancedscorecard, pode ser uma possível solução, permitindo uma melhor avaliação deste investimento.
ACUMULAÇÃO DE COMPETÊNCIA TECNOLÓGICA: ATRAVÉS DO PROCESSO DE TRANSFERÊNCIA DE TECNOLOGIA
Authors: Souza André S. de
Published: May 2019

O artigo avalia e mensura o acúmulo da competência tecnológica em uma empresa da área deautomação para centros de distribuição, entre o período anterior ao processo de transferência detecnologia (1998-2001) e durante o processo de transferência de tecnologia (2002-2005). Assim,baseado em um estudo de caso individual, o estudo identificou o mecanismo e estratégia detransferência de tecnologia acordado entre a matriz e filial, as funções tecnológicas e atividadesdesenvolvidas pelo receptor e, por fim, os fatores críticos presentes neste processo. O exame da acumulação de competências tecnológicas foi realizado com base em uma estrutura analíticaexistente na literatura. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o esforço planejado, organizado,controlado e contínuo para a geração e disseminação do conhecimento permitiu que a empresaacelerasse o seu processo de acumulação de competências tecnológicas promovendo a conversãodeste saber do nível individual para o nível organizacional; além disso, permitiram também aidentificação de barreiras e facilitadores envolvidos neste processo.
ANÁLISE ESTRATÉGICA DAS ÁREAS DE MARKETING E FINANÇAS NO PROCESSO DE FORMAÇÃO E MANUTENÇÃO DOS PREÇOS: O CASO DA MONTADORA FIAT AUTOMÓVEIS S.A.
Authors: Torres Ulisses Procópio Pascoal , Martins Henrique Cordeiro
Published: May 2019

Quando profissionais de estratégias empresariais definem o preço de um produto, nem sempre levam emconsideração fatores importantes para os consumidores. Diante de tal cenário, é possível pensar nanecessidade de as empresas elaborarem os seus preços baseados em custos, ou na concorrência, ou mesmo,no valor para o cliente. O objetivo desse trabalho é analisar as estratégias utilizadas pelos departamentos deMarketing e Finanças da Fiat Automóveis na formação dos preços de veículos 0 Km. Trata-se de um estudo decaso, onde foram efetuadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com colaboradores dos departamentos de Marketinge Controle no intuito de relacionar as ferramentas utilizadas para análise e verificar o grau de coerênciaexistente entre as estratégias utilizadas, destacando alguns pontos negativos que contribuem para a destruiçãode valor. O estudo demonstra a visão dos setores envolvidos na formação e manutenção dos preços,apresentando como resultado a importância da sinergia entre esses departamentos..
Gestão das empresas multinacionais e os conflitos de agência
Authors: BORINI FELIPE MENDES , Lucchesi Eduardo Pozzi
Published: May 2019

Tendo como pressuposto o arcabouço conceitual da teoria de agência e as estratégias das subsidiárias nas corporações multinacionais, este artigo teve um duplo objetivo. Primeiramente, verificar a existência de potenciais conflitos de agência entre a matriz e uma amostra de 118 subsidiárias de multinacionais estrangeiras instaladas no Brasil com base nas variáveis de controle: grau de comunicação da subsidiária com a matriz e grau de autonomia da subsidiária em relação à matriz. Em segundo lugar, verificar se as subsidiárias que apresentam potenciais conflitos de agência possuem uma performance financeira e estratégica inferior em relação àquelas que não apresentam tais conflitos. Após o procedimento de análise de cluster, análise discriminante e Anova, os resultados encontrados mostraram que em relação à performance financeira, as subsidiárias que apresentam potenciais conflitos de agência possuem uma performance inferior em relação ao crescimento das vendas e, em relação à performance estratégica, verificou-se que as subsidiárias que apresentam potenciais conflitos de agência possuem uma performance inferior no que se refere ao desenvolvimento de competências e cumprimento das metas ao longo dos anos de suas operações.
The effect of role conflict, role ambiguity, and role overload in burnout government internal supervisors with tri hita karana culture as moderation
Authors: Pratiwi Ida Yuni , Ratnadi Ni Made Dwi , Suprasto Herkulanus Bambang , Sujana I Ketut
Published: May 2019

This study aims to obtain empirical evidence of Tri Hita Karana's cultural abilities in moderating the effect of role conflict, role ambiguity, and the role overload in burnout experienced by the Government Internal Supervisory Apparatus (APIP) at the Inspectorate of Bali Province. The technique of determining the sample used is saturated sampling (census). The number of respondents was 47 APIP. The data used is in the form of primary data. Data collection using survey methods using questionnaires. The analysis technique used in this study is Partial Least Square (PLS). The results of the analysis show that the culture of Tri Hita Karana causes the effect of role conflict and the role of overload in reduced burnout. However, Tri Hita Karana's culture does not moderate the effect of the role ambiguity on burnout experienced by the APIP at the Inspectorate of Bali Province.
The Neighbourhood Park Preferences and its Factors among Elderly Residents in Tokiwadaira, Japan
Authors: Pratiwi Prita Indah , Furuya Katsunori
Published: May 2019

Tokiwadaira is one of the districts most populated by the elderly in Japan. This study compared the preferences of danchi and apartment residents to examine the neighbourhood park preferences as well as factors in park preferences. This research was conducted in three stages, including a spatial preference survey, analysis, and interpretation. Welch’s t-test and factor analysis were applied. Results demonstrated three significant differences between danchi and apartment residents, namely park preference, length of visit, and park elements. There were seven factors of park preferences. These results may help urban planners optimise existing features of neighbourhood parks to encourage use.Keywords: landscape preference; neighbourhood park; urban green space; green space management experience; exposure towards green spaceeISSN 2398-4295 © 2019. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21834/ajbes.v4i16.178
FACTORS AFFECTING THE HOUSING PREFERENCES OF HOMEBUYERS IN KUALA LUMPUR
Authors: Thanaraju Puvaneswary , Mentaza Khan Puteri Ameera , Juhari Nur Hafizah , Sivanathan Sheelah , Md Khair Nurhayati
Published: May 2019

The Malaysian Property Market Report 2016 reported that Malaysian properties transactions were down, office occupancies were down, and simultaneously unsold units were up. Almost two thirds of the total homes that developers launched remained unsold, comprising 90,491 units at the end of 2016 including of those completed, under construction, and not constructed. In recent years, the declining phenomenon in the property market is getting worse apparently. The reason behind this situation is mainly due to the rising cost of living which causes the purchasing power to be weakened; therefore, to buy a property or even goods for daily use has become difficult as the overall spending power of the Malaysians has decreased. Determining the important factors that impact upon the decision making of the house purchasing process could develop a better understanding for both buyers and home providers which eventually could avoid the ‘unsold’ properties scenario in the market. Hence, the objective of this research is to evaluate the relationship between the three main factors identified which are financial, location, and neighbourhood towards the housing preferences of homebuyers in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 100 respondents, ranged between 25 to 34 years old, responded to the survey, and the results were derived using the multiple regression analysis. The results favour the locational factors that contribute significantly to the determination of a buyer’s preferences when purchasing a house.
ZAKAT HOUSES DESIGN AND PLANNING (QUALITY AND STANDARD) FROM SHARIAH PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Aripin Srazali , Abdul Rashid Khairuddin , Ahmad Sarkawi Azila , Hasan Sharina Farihah , Mohd Fauzi Puteri Nur Farah Naadia
Published: May 2019

The paper focusses on the provision of shelter or housing for asnaf fakr and miskin by zakat administrators in Malaysia. The objectives of the study are to ascertain whether the design and planning (quality & standard) of zakat housing (1) satisfies the need and well-being of the households (i.e. the asnafs) in terms of appropriateness and adequacy, (2) meets the requirement of shariah (aesthetic, privacy, space requirements, facilities and amenities) and (3) could potential arrive at the key success factors for zakat houses from shariah perspectives. The study was carried out through desktop analysis of the literature review of zakat, housing for asnafs and house design for shariah added with semi-structured interview of the occupants living in zakat houses. Key findings from the study are the zakat houses occupied by the asnafs are neither appropriate nor adequate in terms of meeting the needs and requirements of the households of the asnafs. Limited literature is found describing the specifications of zakat houses or the state and conditions of such houses and houses repaired or rented. The study recommends that zakat administrator should consider establishing their own and shariah compliant standards for zakat funded housing for the asnafs.
THE NEXUS BETWEEN HOUSING GLUT, ECONOMIC GROWTH, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND HOUSE PRICE IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Chee Yin Yip , Yong Hui Nee Au , Senadjki Abdelhak
Published: May 2019

This paper analyses [1] the relative impact of housing affordability, housing prices and gross domestic product on housing glut, [2] the effects of housing glut on the health of housing market and then [3] suggestion of solutions to mitigate the risks of housing bubble bursting. Results show that housing affordability and housing price exert very mild effect on housing glut contrary to the common belief that these two factors have significant effect on housing glut. In terms of number, our results show that economic growth contributes about 0.15 negative impact on housing glut for every unit increase in economic growth while each unit increase in housing price can increase housing glut as much as 0.0054 unit.
HOW ICT IMPLEMENTATIONS IMPACT ON MANAGING REAL ESTATE: AT DIRECTORATE GENERAL STATE ASSET MANAGEMENT, MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INDONESIA
Authors: Mian Aris Suhada
Published: May 2019

The research background identifies the opportunities as well as challenges of ICT Implementation by reviewing the existing condition compared to IT-governance best practice. This paper aims to reveal strategies from IT governance framework for overcoming the implementation real-estate information system issues. Then, this paper provides recommendations that may help the lawmakers to adopt IT governance principles for ICT implementation in DGSAM. Data sources are from literature review of journals and articles from the electronic library to reveal the best practice on IT-governance while engaging with current situation as a baseline derived from observation. The inhibitor factors found are not solely examined from the technical perspective. In this journal, it is clarified that organisations demand IT-governance for totally transforming from conventional to modern real estate e-business. This paper enables DGSAM to be more likely to have an overview on how ICT is implemented successfully by revealing the gaps between IT-governance concept and the existing condition.
Tracking Healthy People 2020 Internet, Broadband, and Mobile Device Access Goals: An Update Using Data From the Health Information National Trends Survey
Authors: Greenberg-Worisek Alexandra J , Kurani Shaheen , Finney Rutten Lila J , Blake Kelly D , Moser Richard P , Hesse Bradford W
Published: May 2019

Background

As the year 2020 approaches, there is a need to evaluate progress toward the United States government’s Healthy People 2020 (HP2020) health information technology and communication objectives to establish baselines upon which Healthy People 2030 objectives can be based.

Objective

The aim of this study was to use the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) to benchmark progress toward HP2020 goals related to increasing internet access using broadband, and to assess the state of the digital divide for various sociodemographic groups.

Methods

We merged and analyzed data from 8 administrations of HINTS (2003-2017). Descriptive statistics were generated, and predicted marginals were calculated using interaction terms between survey year and selected sociodemographic variables of interest, including age, sex, race and ethnicity, income, education, and geography (rural versus urban), to test for differential change over time.

Results

The number of users having access to the internet increased between 2003 and 2014 (63.15% [3982/6358] to 83.41% [2802/3629]); it remained relatively steady from 2014 to 2017 (81.15% [2533/3283]). Broadband access increased between 2003 and 2011 (from 32.83% [1031/3352] to 77.87% [3375/4405]), but has been declining since (55.93% [1364/2487] in 2017). Access via cellular network increased between 2008 and 2017 (from 6.86% [240/4405] to 65.43% [1436/2489]). Statistically significant disparities in overall internet access were noted in the predicted marginals for age, sex, race and ethnicity, income, and education; for age, sex, income, and geography for broadband access; and for age and sex for cellular network.

Conclusions

The targets set forth in HP2020 were met for overall internet access and for internet access via cellular network; however, the target was not met for internet access via broadband. Furthermore, although the digital divide persisted by sociodemographic characteristics, the magnitude of many disparities in access decreased over time.
Effectiveness of Serious Games to Increase Physical Activity in Children With a Chronic Disease: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Bossen Daniël , Broekema Aline , Visser Bart , Brons Annette , Timmerman Annieck , van Etten-Jamaludin Faridi , Braam Katja , Engelbert Raoul
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND

Physical activity (PA) is important for children with a chronic disease. Serious games may be useful to promote PA levels among these children.

OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of serious games on PA levels in children with a chronic disease.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, ERIC, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were systematically searched for articles published from January 1990 to May 2018. Both randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials were included to examine the effects of serious games on PA levels in children with a chronic disease. Two investigators independently assessed the intervention, methods, and methodological quality in all articles using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed.

RESULTS

This systematic review included 9 randomized controlled trials (886 participants). In 2 of the studies, significant between-group differences in PA levels in favor of the intervention group were reported. The meta-analysis on PA levels showed a nonsignificant effect on moderate to vigorous PA (measured in minutes per day) between the intervention and control groups (standardized mean difference 0.30, 95% CI –0.15 to 0.75, P=.19). The analysis of body composition resulted in significantly greater reductions in BMI in the intervention group (standardized mean difference –0.24, 95% CI –0.45 to 0.04, P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS

This review does not support the hypothesis that serious games improve PA levels in children with a chronic disease. The meta-analysis on body composition showed positive intervention effects with significantly greater reductions in BMI in favor of the intervention group. A high percentage of nonuse was identified in the study of serious games, and little attention was paid to behavior change theories and specific theoretical approaches to enhance PA in serious games. Small sample sizes, large variability between intervention designs, and limited details about the interventions were the main limitations. Future research should determine which strategies enhance the effectiveness of serious games, possibly by incorporating behavior change techniques.