bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Оцінка точності і достовірності вимірювання витрат палива
Authors: Кривошапов Сергей
Published: March 2021

Розглянуто необхідність визначення фактичного значення витрати палива під час експлуатації дорожньо-транспортних засобів. По витраті палива можна оцінювати складність умов експлуатації, технічний стан автомобіля, коригувати періодичність технічних впливів, розраховувати ресурс машин. Від витрати палива залежить вартість транспортної операції і інтенсивність забруднення навколишнього середовища. Законодавство обмежує споживання палива, накладає обмеження на точність вимірювання і умови випробування. Розглянуто чинники, що впливають на вимірювання витрати палива. Витрата палива визначається аналітичними і експериментальними методами. Фактичні витрати палива вимірюється за рівнем палива в баку, за даними з контролера блоку управління двигуном (k-line, CAN Buss), шляхом вимірювання потоку палива, що надходить по паливопроводу від бака до форсунок. В останньому випадки застосовуються непрямі методи вимірювання витрати: вимірі силового впливу потоку, перепад тиску, швидкості потоку, часу заповнення мірного обсягу. Проаналізовано переваги та недоліки основних типів витратоміра палива. Дослідження проводилися на поршневому витратомірі палива. Після виміру необхідно виконати наступні аналогового, аналогово-цифрового і чисельного перетворення. Розроблено схему тарировки витратоміра. Зроблено оцінку загальної похибки. Отримано значення абсолютної і відносної похибки на всьому діапазоні вимірюваного показника. Проведено обробку результатів вимірювання методом регресійного аналізу. Отримано коефіцієнти лінійної коригування робочого об'єму витратоміра палива. Зроблено оцінку максимальної помилки за коефіцієнтом детермінації. Запропоновано в програму контролера управління витратоміром включати процедуру коригування та урахування похибки. Розроблено висновки та рекомендації, вказані основні шляхи подальших досліджень..
PROCESSAMENTO MÍNIMO DE SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L., MUSA PARADISÍACA L., BETA VULGARIS L., PYRUS MALUS L. E ESCURECIMENTO ENZIMÁTICO PÓS-CONDICIONAMENTO
Authors: Dos Santos Cleverson Matias , Da Silva Anderson Aparecido , Freitas Daniela Aparecida , Gonçalves Julia Peres , Prado Lucélia Assunção do
Published: March 2021

A qualidade visual das frutas e verduras está relacionada com a aceitação do consumidor, bem como deformações e coloração imprópria. O objetivo desse trabalho foi aplicar a tecnologia de processamento mínimo em frutas e hortaliças, avaliar a qualidade dos produtos aplicando diferentes métodos de conservação e embalagens, e estudar as formas de minimizar o escurecimento enzimático. O experimento foi conduzido no município de Ituiutaba, o delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com 3 tratamentos (controle, branqueamento e ácido cítrico 1%) e 4 repetições. As frutas e verduras foram selecionadas conforme a ausência de injúrias e higienizadas em solução com hipoclorito de sódio (150 ppm por 15 minutos), as vasilhas e utensílios em 200 ppm por 10 minutos; 20 ppm por 10 minutos e 1 ppm por 10 minutos. Após 7 dias atribuiu-se notas para escala visual, sendo: 1 – ótimo (com frescor e boa aparência); 2 – bom (com frescor e aparência levemente prejudicada); 3 – regular (pouco frescor e aparência prejudicada, porém ainda em condições de ser comercializado); e 4 – péssimo (não-comercial). A batata e beterraba não deterioraram 100% nos tratamentos; a maçã-verde e a banana deterioraram antes do prazo de 7 dias para alguns tratamentos. Sob esses aspectos, pôde-se concluir, portanto, que a validade de 7 dias poderia ser atribuída à batata (Solanum tuberosum L.), maçã-verde (Pyrus malus L.) e a banana (Musa paradisíaca L.) para o tratamento com ácido cítrico 1%; para a beterraba (Beta vulgaris L.) a validade de 7 dias poderia ser atribuída ao tratamento por meio de branqueamento.
The family Stratiomyidae in Egypt and Saudi Arabia (Diptera: Stratiomyoidea)
Authors: El-Hawagry Magdi , Al Dhafer Hathal , Abdel-Dayem Mahmoud , Hauser Martin
Published: March 2021

This study systematically catalogues all known taxa of the family Stratiomyidae in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. It is one in a series of planned studies aiming to catalogue the whole order in both countries.

Twenty species, belonging to seven genera and three subfamilies (Pachygastrinae, Stratiomyinae and Nemotelinae), are treated. One of these genera, Oplodontha and two species, Oplodontha pulchriceps Loew and Oxycera turcica Üstüner & Hasbenli, are recorded herein for the first time from Saudi Arabia. A lectotype for Nemotelus matrouhensis Mohammad et al., 2009 is designated. An updated classification, synonymies, type localities, world and local distributions, dates of collection and some coloured photographs are provided.
Mental health crisis in midlife – a proposed research agenda
Authors: Gondek Dawid , Moltrecht Bettina , Ploubidis George
Published: March 2021

There is a growing amount of evidence indicating increased levels of psychological distress, suicide rates and decreased well-being in midlife (age 45-55). We refer to this phenomenon as the ‘midlife mental health crisis’. As there is little empirical evidence or theoretical grounds to explain the midlife mental health crisis, we propose a research agenda.

In order to facilitate further research, we consulted members of public, mental health professionals and researchers on potential reasons for the midlife mental health crisis. Subsequently, we translated those into research questions testable with the British birth cohorts. We propose a series of studies using three statistical modelling approaches: descriptive (what is the midlife mental health crisis?), predictive (who is at increased risk of experiencing the midlife mental health crisis?) and explanatory (what are the processes leading to the midlife mental health crisis?).
Revision of the southern Andean genus Sadocus Sørensen, 1886 (Opiliones, Gonyleptidae, Pachylinae)
Authors: Pessoa-Silva Marília , Hara Marcos Ryotaro , Pinto-da-Rocha Ricardo
Published: March 2021

Species of the genusSadocusSørensen, 1886 are conspicuous gonyleptids that occur in Chile and Argentina. Here, the genus is revised for the first time and the cladistic analysis based on morphological characters does not corroborate its monophyly unless a phylogenetically unrelated species is excluded (explained further on). A new classification is proposed for the seven species left in the genus and considered valid, of the 13 nominal species previously recognized. Two out of the seven valid species are considered as species inquirendae:Sadocus allermayeri(Mello-Leitão, 1945) [=Carampangue allermayeriMello-Leitão, 1945] andSadocus nigronotatus(Mello-Leitão, 1943) [=Carampangue nigronotatumMello-Leitão, 1943]. The following synonymies are proposed:Sadocus bicornis(Gervais, 1849) [original combination =Gonyleptes bicornisGervais, 1849] is a junior synonym ofSadocus asperatus(Gervais, 1847) [=Gonyleptes asperatusGervais, 1847];Sadocus conspicillatusRoewer, 1913,Sadocus exceptionalis(Mello-Leitão, 1946) [=Araucanoleptes exceptionalisMello-Leitão, 1946] andSadocus guttatusSørensen, 1902 are junior synonyms of the valid nameSadocus polyacanthus(Gervais, 1847) [=Gonyleptes polyacanthusGervais, 1847]; andSadocus calcar(Roewer, 1913) [=Lycomedes calcarRoewer, 1913] is a junior synonym of the valid nameGonyleptes horridusKirby, 1819.Sadocus brasiliensisSoares & Soares, 1949 is not congeneric with Argentinean/Chilean species of the genus according to the cladistic analysis and is here synonymized withDiscocyrtus catharinensis(Mello-Leitão, 1923 [=Sadocus catharinensisMello-Leitão, 1923]).
Set-valued data collection with local differential privacy based on category hierarchy
Authors: Ouyang Jia , Xiao Yinyin , Liu Shaopeng , Xiao Zhenghong , Liao Xiuxiu
Published: March 2021

Set-valued data is extremely important and widely used in sensor technology and application. Recently, privacy protection for set-valued data under differential privacy (DP) has become a research hotspot. However, the DP model assumes that the data center is trustworthy, consequently, increasingly attention has been paid to the application of the local differential privacy model (LDP) for set-valued data. Constrained by the local differential privacy model, most methods randomly respond to the subset of set-valued data, and the data collector conducts statistics on the received data. There are two main problems with this kind of method: one is that the utility function used in the random response loses too much information; the other is that the privacy protection of the set-valued data category is usually ignored. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a set-valued data collection method (SetLDP) based on the category hierarchy under the local differential privacy model. The core idea is to first make a random response to the existence of the category, continue to disturb the item count if the category exists, and finally randomly respond to a candidate itemset based on the new utility function. Theory analysis and experimental results show that the SetLDP can not only preserve more information, but also protect the category private information in set-valued data.
A private language argument to elucidate the relation between mind and language
Authors: Fraissler Hannes
Published: March 2021

I will defend the claim that we need to differentiate between thinking and reasoning in order to make progress in understanding the intricate relation between language and mind. The distinction between thinking and reasoning will allow us to apply a structural equivalent of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s Private Language Argument to the domain of mind and language. This argumentative strategy enables us to show that and how a certain subcategory of cognitive processes, namely reasoning, is constitutively dependent on language. The final outcome and claim of this paper can be summarized as follows: We can think without language, but we cannot reason without language. While this still leaves several questions about the relation between mind and language unanswered, I hold that the insights defended in this paper provide the basis and proper framework for further investigation about the relationship between language and the mind.Keywords: Private language argument, Wittgenstein, thought/mind and language, reasoning, linguistic relativity, non-linguistic cognition.
On the notion of dialectics in the linguistic bodies theory
Authors: Figueiredo Nara M.
Published: March 2021

This paper addresses the notion of dialectics in the linguistic bodies theory. First, it presents it as a three-aspect concept, namely, the ontological aspect, the methodological aspect, and the dialectical model. Subsequently, it discusses the ontological aspect and the dialectical model and, based on the enactivist linguistic notions of concreteness and abstraction, suggests that it can be conceived as a two-fold concept: methodological and epistemological. This suggestion intends to avoid the paradox we are led to by acknowledging three ontological enactivist claims and a few assumptions of the methodological approach.Keywords: Dialectics, Enactivism, Language, Epistemology, Ontology.
Social Media and Electoral Processes
Authors: Fox Bianca , Marinescu Valentina
Published: March 2021

Existing research documents extensively explain the reasons for social media use during electoral campaigns. However, there is insufficient evidence showing that social media are indeed being used to complement traditional ways of communication. This chapter uses the diffusion of innovations theory to explain the adoption and non-adoption of Facebook (FB) by Romanian political parties during the 2019 European election campaign. The chapter addresses two research questions: the differences between Facebook adopters and non-adopters during this campaign in Romania and how this adoption or non-adoption impacted the overall election results. 885 Facebook posts were content analysed. This chapter evidences that adopting Facebook to engage the posts does not always result in improved electoral outcomes.
Social Media and Fake News Impact on Social Movements
Authors: Webb Heather C. , Emam Manal
Published: March 2021

Social media has become the favored digital communication channel and offers many advantages, such as spreading information faster than conventional media. However, social media's disadvantages have been the increase in fake news driven mainly by the growing digitalization of information and the increase of deepfakes. Nowadays, fake news has a new scope beyond traditional, cold war-style disinformation because of its unprecedented capacity to mobilize an assortment of news and media simultaneously. The impact of social media and fake news so dramatically impacted social movements in both Tunisia and Egypt that it is often characterized as the first social media-influenced social movement. These movements became known as the Arab Spring, which was mainly in response to oppressive regimes and low standard of living. This chapter focuses on the lead-up and impact of social media, and online-activists that influenced the Arab Spring. The authors use a narrative and exploratory research approach to conceptually understand digital communication's role and impact throughout the Arab Spring.
Designing Work-Based Learning Approaches for Gen Y, Gen Z, and Beyond
Authors: Nottingham Paula McIver
Published: March 2021

This chapter seeks to develop a greater understanding of work-based and work-integrated pedagogy through a case study of an integrated degree apprenticeship using the lens of Generation Y (Gen Y) and Generation Z (Gen Z). The success of the programme relates to the embedding of work-based principles that include the active engagement of apprentices, employers, and tutors. Findings from the case study demonstrate that the Gen Y and Gen Z characteristics can be used to identify and evaluate cohort influences and provide key indicators for future planning.
Examining Feedback Practices in WIL Subjects
Authors: Rankin-Starcevic Phoebe , Dean Bonnie Amelia , Eady Michelle J.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore feedback practices and support for feedback literacy development within subjects that feature work-integrated learning (WIL). WIL is growing in the tertiary education context as institutions face ongoing pressure to produce graduates that are ‘work ready'. The extent to which feedback and feedback literacies are supported or transpire within WIL activities and subjects has yet to be examined. This study aims to identify current practices of feedback, particularly Gen Z students' perceptions of their feedback development, in subjects that support WIL experiences. This study was conducted as a case study within the Bachelor of Primary Education Degree at an Australian University. Thirty-four students participated in focus groups and responded to questions regarding the role and quality of feedback and feedback literacy development. Findings reveal that when students perceive activities and assessments are linked directly to their teaching (discipline) practice, that is their future careers, they are more inclined to value the feedback.
Practices and Perspectives of First-Year WIL Activities
Authors: Milliken Hannah , Eady Michelle J. , Dean Bonnie Amelia
Published: March 2021

Work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences are in demand as higher education (HE) institutions endeavour to develop profession-ready graduates. However, Generation Z has reported a lack of preparedness and uncertainty entering the workforce. Designing WIL experiences across a degree engages these students in meaningful opportunities to apply theory to practice. Despite the support of degree-wide approaches, little is known about the prevalence of WIL opportunities within the first year of tertiary study. This chapter reports the findings from 10 interviews with first-year subject coordinators in the Bachelor of Primary Education (BPrimEd) degree, gaining insight into subject coordinators' roles and their perceived purpose of WIL in the first year of HE. Findings suggest subject coordinators recognise the value of and use WIL activities, yet a number of internal and external constraints also limit embedding WIL within first-year curricula. The research in this chapter is student-led and includes reflective insights from the lead student author.
Resisting the New Punitiveness
Authors: Warner Kevin
Published: March 2021

This chapter builds on PhD research into the penal policies of Nordic countries and in particular Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Essentially, the investigation asked whether the increase in punitiveness in relation to prison systems that is presumed to occur under the ‘culture of control' of late modernity can be found in these countries. The scale of imprisonment, the ‘depth' of imprisonment, and the perception of the person imprisoned were all examined. The prison systems were investigated through analysis of documentation and recorded interviews with key personnel, supplemented by visits to a representative range of prisons. While there have at times been some signs of ‘new punitiveness', especially in Denmark and Norway, in general it can be said that none of the Nordic countries have followed the path predicted by Garland.
The Importance of Big Data Metadata in Crisis Management
Authors: Karakostas Bill
Published: March 2021

Big data have the potential to change the way responders make sense of crisis situations, respond, and make decisions concerning the crises. At the same time, however, the explosion to the amount of crisis-related data can create an information overload to the crisis responders, and a challenge for their efficient management and utilisation. Crisis big data streams for epidemics may lack, for instance, key demographic identifiers such as age and sex, or may underrepresent certain age groups as well as residents of developing countries. Relevant metadata information needs therefore to be obtained and validated in order to trust make predictions and decisions based on the big data set. Crisis-related big data must be meaningful to the responders in order to form the basis of sound decisions. The aim of the chapter is to review all issues pertaining to the use of metadata for big data in emergency/crisis management situations.
Information Extraction From Social Media for Epidemic Models
Authors: Soussan Tariq , Trovati Marcello
Published: March 2021

Social media platforms are widely used to share opinions, facts, and real-time general information on specific events. This chapter will focus on discussing and presenting data analytics approaches which combine a variety of techniques based on text mining, machine learning, network analysis, and mathematical modelling to assess real-time data extracted from social media and other suitable data related to pandemic outbreaks. The use of real-time insights regarding pandemic outbreaks provides a valuable tool to inform and validate existing modelling techniques and methods. Furthermore, this would also support the discovering process of actionable information to facilitate the decision-making process by enhancing the most informed and appropriate decision, based on the available data. The chapter will also focus on the visualisation and usability of the insight identified during the process to address a non-technical audience.
The Role of Organizational Support in Effective Remote Work Implementation in the Post-COVID Era
Authors: Errichiello Luisa , Pianese Tommasina
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations to abruptly introduce remote working, without an accurate analysis of organizational processes and employees' expectations about work flexibility. Thus, remote working has been implemented without a rational plan of interventions based on remote work-enabling technologies, managerial practices, and resources. This chapter aims at understanding the role of “supporting” structures and practices in driving the effective implementation of remote working in the post-COVID era. The authors rely on a case study of a multi-national IT company with a long experience with remote work arrangements, focusing on mobile work and virtual teams and looking at expectations and actions of remote workers in relation to organizational support. Findings revealed the importance to adopt a holistic approach to organizational support to remote working based on formal procedures, adequate evaluation systems, tools for self-management, blended training programs, supportive leadership style, along with a collaborative work environment and a remote culture.
A New Entrepreneurship Model for Digital Enterprises
Authors: Özsungur Fahri
Published: March 2021

Career management is an important and up-to-date issue in strategic human resources management. Career management has significant impacts on many topics such as entrepreneurship, leader-employee interaction, increasing competitiveness, organizational climate, application of innovative and creative ideas, the efficiency of organizational decisions, organizational performance and profitability, internationalization, teamwork, project and process management, is a concept regarding entrepreneurship. Career entrepreneurship, which is introduced to literature for the first time, is explained in this chapter. This concept is put forward with the topics of a theoretical framework, career entrepreneurship, digital career management system, entrepreneurial career behavior, ICT-career management, and digital enterprise transformation. In the conclusion section, suggestions are made to provide important insights for human resources managers, leaders, politicians, and academicians.
Strategies for Digital Transformation in Business
Authors: Deniz Fatmanur
Published: March 2021

Accounting is a discipline as old as human history, and with the last industrial revolution, it started to digitalize by taking a different dimension. It is important to know the ideas, the new order, and the new qualifications that employees should have, which are the basis of digital accounting, which has a quite new history in the world. In addition, mastering new developments and practices is important in order to continue the profession and apply it in its modern sense. This chapter was designed by author due to the lack of a comprehensive publication in the field of digital accounting and it is a fairly new concept. In this context, basic concepts were disclosed that subject and industrial revolutions. Later on, applications such as e-invoice, e-document, e-book, e-archive, which make up digital accounting by being separated from the traditional sense in the field of accountancy, are explained, and suggestions for the design new researches and diversification are presented.
Big Data for Digital Transformation of Public Services
Authors: Saxena Deepak
Published: March 2021

Big data is presently considered integral to the management and strategies for digital enterprise transformation. Beyond being ‘a lot of data', big data can be characterized in terms of seven Vs: volume, velocity, variety, variability, veracity, visualization, and value. Already being applied in private businesses, big data has immense potential for the digital transformation of public services in advancing the e-governance agenda. This chapter explores the nature of big data in public service and discusses its application in areas such as tax administration, transportation, energy, public health, and disaster management. Challenges and concerns are noted in terms of data quality, infrastructure cost, availability of suitable human resources, privacy, and security. Possible solutions such as shared services, cloud computing, open source software, open data framework, and regulatory compliance are noted. The chapter ends by noting future research directions to realize the full potential of Big data application in digital transformation of public services.
A Usability Audit Model for Destination Websites Management in the Digital Economy
Authors: Alba-Muñoz Simón , Rojas-de-Gracia María-Mercedes , Sierra-Herrezuelo Plácido
Published: March 2021

In a globalized world, tourist destinations must have a website containing accurate information for potential tourists. However, there is currently no model that serves as a guide to evaluate the usability of tourism websites. A web usability audit manual is presented in this work with the application of a case study methodology, which combines theoretical contributions with those of a real audit of a tourism institution. Apart from the description of the manual itself, the results of this work have made it possible to identify a series of actions to be taken into account, as well as others that should be avoided when a usability audit is being carried out in the tourism field.
IoT-Based Framework for Smart Agriculture
Authors: Yang Jian , Sharma Amit , Kumar Rajeev
Published: March 2021

Agriculture plays an important role in the making and development of a country. In India, agriculture is the primary source of living for more than about 60% of its population. The agriculture-related issues always hinder the development of a country. The enhancement of traditional agriculture methods and its modernization towards smart agriculture is the only solution for agriculture problems. Hence, by considering this issue, a framework is presented for smart agriculture using sensor network and IoT. The key features of this system are the deployment of smart sensors for the collection of data, cloud-based analysis, and decision based on monitoring for spraying and weeding. The smart farming approach provides valuable collection of data, high precision control, and automated monitoring approach. The proposed system presents smart agriculture monitoring system that collects and monitors the soil moisture, environmental temperature, and humidity. The measured soil moisture, temperature, and humidity are stored in ThingSpeak cloud for analysis.
A Formal Framework for Secure Fog Architectures
Authors: Benzadri Zakaria , Bouheroum Ayoub , Belala Faiza
Published: March 2021

Despite the importance of fog computing, few works using formal techniques have been interested in the modelling and verification of fog architectures to ensure their security. The present work fits into this context and proposes a generic formal model (CA-BRS), extending the BRS with control agents. This offers the possibility to specify a fog architecture consisting of a set of secure fog nodes that act both as filters to reduce the amount of data sent to the cloud and as processing units close to the data collected. This formal setting makes possible the description of the multi-layers' collaboration requirements (IoT, fog, and cloud) and the analysis of certain security requirements with regard to identity management and resource access management. The execution of CA-BRS model through the framework supporting tool: “Maude-based Tool for CA-BRS” allows the formal analysis of the reliability and availability properties of an illustrative fog system example which is an oil/gas refinery plant.
Sexual dimorphism applying the mandibular canine index in a Brazilian sample: a pilot study
Authors: Magalhães Luciana Vigorito , Borges Bruna Saud , Pinto Paulo Henrique Viana , Alves Caroline Paula , Alves da Silva Ricardo Henrique
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to apply the morphometric quantification of the canine index for sexual dimorphism in a Brazilian sample. The sample consisted of 90 participants (45 males and 45 females) aged between 18 and 35 years. With the aid of a digital caliper, the intraoral mesio-distal measurement of the permanent mandibular right canine (MD43) and the intercanine distance (IC) were taken by three examiners. The measurements were used in a formula established by Rao, Rao, Pai e Kotian (1989) to estimate sex based on morphometric features of the human canines. The applicability of this approach for sexual dimorphism was assessed based on the inherent mandibular canine index (MCI) calculated by the formula. The MCI was higher in males than females. The mean general accuracy rate of the MCI for sexual dimorphism in the total sample was 52.22%. In males, the MCI was able to properly distinguish sex in 82.22% of the sample, while in females the accuracy decreased to 22.22%.  These outcomes raise the attention for the careful use of the MCI in practice – especially in the field of Forensic Anthropology. In particular, the accuracy of the method was close to random in a sample that contained both sexes. Thus, MCI should not be used as the only tool for sexual dimorphism.
Blockholders e criação de valor em empresas de capital aberto listadas no Brasil
Authors: Grando Tadeu , Zanini Francisco Antônio Mesquita , Brunozi Junior Antônio Carlos , Machado Debora Gomes
Published: March 2021

Estudos teóricos e empíricos sugerem que os blockholders, acionistas com participação maior ou igual a 5%, podem interferir na eficiência gerencial e, consequentemente, no valor das empresas. Neste sentido, o objetivo desta pesquisa é de avaliar as implicações da presença de blockholders na criação de valor em empresas de capital aberto listadas no Brasil. A amostra da pesquisa foi constituída por 334 empresas brasileiras abertas, não financeiras, cujos dados estão disponíveis na Economática®, totalizando 334 empresas, com 1.899 observações. Os dados se referem ao período de 2010 a 2016. Metodologicamente, para atendimento dos propósitos deste artigo, formularam-se duas hipóteses, sendo que para cada uma configuraram-se duas regressões por mínimos quadrados ordinários, com dados em painel, conforme as métricas de criação de valor consideradas nesta pesquisa, Q de Tobin (Q) e retorno (R). Os resultados gerais desta pesquisa indicam relação negativa entre a simples presença de blockholders e as métricas de criação de valor. Entretanto, quando se identifica a presença nas empresas brasileiras de blockholders ativos, percebe-se que, nesta situação, a relação é positiva para a métrica retorno (R) e não significante para a métrica Q de Tobin (Q). A contribuição teórica e empírica desta pesquisa demonstra que a influência dos blockholders na criação de valor das empresas brasileiras é diferente dos resultados apresentados por pesquisas dos Estados Unidos da América (EUA). A concentração da estrutura de propriedade brasileira, a liquidez das empresas pertencentes a esse mercado e o nível de ativismo dos blockholders brasileiros explicam estes achados.
Fraude corporativa e gerenciamento de resultados: um estudo em instituições bancárias brasileiras
Authors: Faria Junior Maurício Soares de , Machado Michele Rílany Rodrigues , Dantas José Alves
Published: March 2021

A Contabilidade é um instrumento utilizado para reduzir a assimetria de informações, porém em algumas situações existe a possibilidade de o gestor exercer discricionariedade por meio das escolhas contábeis. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a relação entre a ocorrência de fraudes corporativas e o gerenciamento de resultados em instituições bancárias brasileiras. Para isso, primeiro foi analisado se as instituições bancárias praticam gerenciamento de resultados. Assim, utilizou-se a parcela discricionária da PCLD como proxy do gerenciamento, sua obtenção deu-se por dois caminhos, cálculo de acordo com a Resolução CMN 2682/99 e pela obtenção de regressores. Após, esses valores foram empregados em regressões com o lucro líquido ajustado, para então identificar a presença de gerenciamento nos bancos ora analisados. Para analisar a probabilidade da ocorrência de fraudes em relação ao gerenciamento de resultados foi aplicado modelo de regressão logística binomial. Selecionou-se como amostra todas as instituições financeiras brasileiras ativas em pelo menos 20 trimestres durante o período de 2008 a 2017, o que corresponde a 106 instituições. Como resultado, foi possível observar que as instituições financeiras brasileiras fazem uso da parcela discricionária da PCLD, visando o gerenciamento de resultados. Não foi identificada relação significativa entre a ocorrência de fraude corporativa e a parcela discricionária da despesa de PCLD. O trabalho contribui para os estudos relacionados a fraudes corporativas e gerenciamento de resultados em instituições financeiras brasileiras de capital aberto e fechado, apresentando um modelo para analisar o relacionamento da discricionariedade do gestor com a probabilidade de ocorrências ilícitas.
A Multi-layered Data Preparation Model for Health Information in Sudan
Authors: Abd-Alrhman Ahmed Mustafa , Ekenberg Love
Published: March 2021

Data quality is a major challenge in almost every data project in today’s world, especially when the required data has a national or global look and feel. However, data preparation activities dominate the efforts, cost, and time consumption. Nowadays, many data collection approaches are continuing to evolve in the era of big data to accommodate revolutionary data flows, especially in the health sector, which contains many different levels of data types, formats, and structures. The lack of qualified and reliable data models is still an ongoing challenge. These issues are even magnified in developing countries where there is a struggle to make advances in health systems with limited resources environments, and to adopt the advantages of ICT to minimize the gaps in health information systems. This article introduces a geo-political multi-layered model for data collection and preparation, the model enables the health data to be collected, prepared and aggregated by using data attendance approach and address data challenges such as data missing, incompetence and format. The currently used data collection method in health sector in Sudan was analysed and data challenges were identified, with respect to geo-political structure of the country. The result of the model provides structured datasets framed by time and geographical spaces that can be used to enrich analytical projects and decision-making in the health sector.
Italian experiences in the management of andrological patients at the time of Coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Maretti Carlo , Fabiani Andrea , Colombo Fulvio , Franceschelli Alessandro , Gentile Giorgio , Palmisano Franco , Vagnoni Valerio , Quaresima Luigi , Polito Massimo
Published: March 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) was first reported in December 2019, then its rapid spread around the world caused a global pandemic in March 2020 recording a high death rate. The epicenter of the victims moved from Asia to Europe and then to the United States. In this Pandemic, the different governance mechanisms adopted by local health regional authorities made the difference in terms of contagiousness and mortality together with a community strong solidarity. This document analyzes the andrological urgencies management in public hospitals and in private practice observed in Italy and in particular in the most affected Italian Regions: Emilia-Romagna and Marche.
[68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CT: Local preliminary experience in prostate cancer biochemical recurrence patients
Authors: Carvalho João , Nunes Pedro , Da Silva Edgar Tavares , Silva Rodolfo , Lima João , Quaresma Vasco , Figueiredo Arnaldo
Published: March 2021

Objectives: Clinical approach of prostate cancer (PCa) biochemical recurrence (BCR) is an ever-changing topic. Prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography ([68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET-CTPSMA PET-CT) has shown good potential in this field. The aim is to evaluate PSMA PET-CT detection rate in PCa BCR and assess its impact on clinical outcome. Material and methods: Out of 319 patients with PCa who underwent PSMA PET-CT between October 2015 and June 2019, 70 had developed BCR after treatment with curative intent. Two groups were created: one with BCR after surgery (RP group) (N: 48; 68.6%) and other with BCR after radiotherapy (RT group) (N: 22; 31.4%). Clinical, analytical, pathological and PSMA PET-CT results were evaluated. Results: Initial age was different between groups (p = 0.008). RP patients were mainly at intermediate risk (85.1% vs 42.9%, p = 0.001) while RT patients were at low risk of recurrence (8.5% vs 47.6%, p = 0.001). In RP and RT groups, PSMA PETCT detected, respectively, pelvic relapse in 31.3% and 63.6%, and extrapelvic relapse in 18.8% and 31.8%. Salvage treatment was performed in 61.9% (n = 26) of RP patients and in 15% (n = 3) of RT patients, p < 0.001. Of RP patients submitted to salvage treatment, 59.1% achieved complete remission. Concerning these patients, local radiotherapy led to complete remission in 68.4% (n = 13). Of RT patients submitted to salvage treatment, two had complete remission and one had partial remission.Concerning detection rate, PSMA PET-CT was positive for pelvic relapse when pre-PET PSA ≥ 0.8 ng/mL (RP) or ≥ 2.3 ng/mL (RT) and for extrapelvic relapse when PSA ≥ 0.4 ng/mL (RP) or ≥ 3.5 ng/mL (RT), p > 0.05. Conclusions: Biochemical persistence rate after salvage therapy was similar (30-40%). The cut-off PSA values for pelvic relapse detected on PSMA PET-CT were ≥ 0.8 ng/mL (RP) and ≥ 2.3 ng/mL (RT).
Rigid and flexible ureteroscopy (URS/RIRS) management of paediatric urolithiasis in a not endemic country
Authors: Ferretti Stefania , Cuschera Monica , Campobasso Davide , Gatti Claudia , Milandri Riccardo , Bocchialini Tommaso , Simonetti Elisa , Granelli Pietro , Frattini Antonio , Maestroni Umberto Vittorio
Published: March 2021

Introduction: In the last years due to miniaturization of endoscopic instruments and percutaneous surgery, endourology has become very popular in paediatric urinary stone managment. We reported our single-centre experience in retrograde endoscopic procedures in children. Results and complications of URS/RIRS are discussed. Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed our experience in patients ≤ 16 years old affected by urinary stones who underwent URS/RIRS procedures performed by two surgeons with expertise in endourology. A total of 30 renal Units (RUs) underwent endoscopic procedures (URS, RIRS or both). Surgical complications according to the ClavienDindo’s classification and stone-free rate were evaluated at 3 months follow-up. Success of URS was defined as stone-free status after single procedure while RIRS success rate was considered as presence of residual stone fragments smaller than 4 mm at first procedure. Results: The mean age of our patients was 8 years, range 2- 16 years. A total of 30 renal units (RUs) underwent 40 endourological procedures (23 URS and 17 RIRS; 10 children underwent both procedures at the same time). 17/30 (56.6%) RUs were pre-stented before surgery. The stone-free status was achieved in 23/30 renal units treated, with a 76.6% success rate. The remaining 7 patients had residual stones greater than 4 mm and underwent further treatments. After a second surgery the stone-free rate turned out to be 93.3% (28/30 renal units). Conclusions: Rigid and flexible ureteroscopy (URS/RIRS) is a reliable technique for treatment of < 2 cm urinary stones in paediatric age group. It shows low rate of major complications and promising results in terms of stone-free rate.
Erectile dysfunction post radical cystectomy. The role of early rehabilitation with pharmacotherapy in nerve sparing and non-nerve sparing group: A randomized, clinical trial
Authors: Moussa Mohamad , Papatsoris Athanasios , Abou Chakra Mohamad , Dellis Athanasios
Published: March 2021

Objectives: No clinical studies testing erectile function (EF) post radical cystectomy (RC) were done. Our objective was to assess the effect of early pharmacologic therapy after RC using intracorporeal injection (ICI), phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE5i) and PDE5i+ICI. Materials and Methods: In our randomized, double-blinded study, we prospectively enrolled 160 potent male patients with invasive bladder cancer. Patients were operated by RC using the nerve-sparing (NS) or non-nerve sparing (NNS) technique. They were treated since 1 month postoperatively by different regimens (PDE5i vs. ICI vs. ICI+PDE5i). Patients were evaluated using the international index of erectile function questionnaire and were followed up regularly at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months using the same parameters. Results: One month after therapy, the mean of EF domain improved in both NS and NNS group. In the NNS group, in patients treated with ICI alone and ICI+PDE5i, the EF domain at 12 months moved to the moderate and to the mild category respectively. In patients treated by the NS approach, the mean value remained in the mild category with or without therapy. Conclusions: Early pharmacotherapy since one-month post RC using ICI and a combination of ICI+PDE5i can improve the erectile function of patients operated with a NNS approach.
MRI/US fusion prostate biopsy in men on active surveillance: Our experience
Authors: Lacetera Vito , Antezza Angelo , Papaveri Alessio , Cappa Emanuele , Cervelli Bernardino , Gabrielloni Giuliana , Montesi Michele , Morcellini Roberto , Parri Gianni , Recanatini Emilio , Beatrici Valerio
Published: March 2021

Aim: The upgrading or staging in men with prostate cancer (PCA) undergoing active surveillance (AS), defined as Gleason score (GS) ≥ 3+4 or more than 2 area with cancer, was investigated in our experience using the software-based fusion biopsy (FB). Methods: We selected from our database, composed of 620 biopsies, only men on AS according to criteria of John Hopkins Protocol (T1c, < 3 positive cores, GS = 3+3 = 6). Monitoring consisted of PSA measurement every 3 months, a clinical examination every 6 months, confirmatory FB within 6 months and then annual FB in all men. The suspicious MRI lesions were scored according to the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) classification version 2. FB were performed with a transrectal elastic free-hand fusion platform. The overall and clinically significant cancer detection rate was reported. Secondary, the diagnostic role of systematic biopsies was evaluated. Results: We selected 56 patients on AS with mean age 67.4 years, mean PSA 6.7 ng/ml and at least one follow-up MRI-US fusion biopsy (10 had 2 or 3 follow-up biopsies). Lesions detected by MRI were: PIRADS-2 in 5, PIRADS-3 in 28, PIRADS-4 in 18 pts and PIRADS-5 in 5 patients. In each MRI lesion, FB with 2.1 ± 1.1 cores were taken with a mean total cores of 13 ± 2.4 including the systematic cores. The overall cancer detection rate was 71% (40/56): 62% (25/40) in target core and 28% (15/40) in systematic core. The overall significant cancer detection rate was 46% (26/56): 69% (18/26) in target vs 31% (8/26) in random cores. Conclusions: The incidence of clinical significant cancer was 46% in men starting active surveillance, but it was more than doubled using MRI/US Target Biopsy 69% (18/26) rather than random cores (31%, 8/26). However, 1/3 of disease upgrades would have been missed if only the targeted biopsies were performed. Based on our experience, MRI/US fusion target biopsy must be associated to systematic biopsies to improve detection of significant cancer, reducing the risks of misclassification.
Relationship between muscular fitness and bone health in young baseball players
Authors: Montenegro Barreto Jesus , Vidal-Espinoza Ruben , Gomez Campos Rossana , De Arruda Miguel , Urzua Alul Luis , Sulla-Torres Jose , Cossio-Bolaños Marco , Mendez-Cornejo Jorge
Published: March 2021

The physical actions developed by baseball players can increase muscular fitness, and consequently improve bone health. The objective was to relate some indicators of muscular fitness to bone health in young baseball players. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 102 children and adolescent baseball players of the Brazilian National Team. The age range ranged from 9.0 to 15.0 years, the average chronological age was 12.2±2.2 years and the maturity status was 14.8±0.5 APHV (age at peak height velocity). Anthropometry, body composition [% fat, fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM)], physical tests [horizontal jump (HJ) and medicine ball throw (MBT)] bone health was estimated by anthropometry [bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC)]. There was positive and significant correlation between bone health with FFM (r2= 89%) and with muscle strength tests (HJ and MBT) (R2= 55 to 75%). Young baseball players classified with low bone health level, reflected decreased values of FFM, HJ and MBT, in relation to young players classified with moderate and high bone health level (p<0.05). It was shown that good bone health is a consequence of a greater presence of muscular fitness, as a result of increased physical activity. These results suggest that emphasis should be placed on those young people who present a greater risk of having low BMD and BMC.
Endoscopic anterior odontoid screw fixation for the odontoid fracture: A cadaveric pilot study
Authors: Kedia Shweta , Sawarkar Dattaraj , Sharma Rajeev , Mansoori Nasim , Lalwani Sanjeevv , Gupta Deepak , Kumar Rajinder , Kale Shashank
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Anterior odontoid screw fixation technique for specific types of odontoid fracture has been proven to be an effective, yet challenging procedure because of threatened damage to the structures in the vicinity. There are few articles suggesting the role of percutaneous and endoscopic technique as an alternative approach to the standard microscopic way. This is the first cadaveric study using existing “EASY GO” endoscopic system-assisted odontoid screw placement. Study Design: This was a cadaveric study. Objective: The objective of the study is to use the endoscope as a safer minimally invasive approach than the standard microscopic anterior approach to odontoid. Methodology: This is a pilot study on 10 fresh-frozen formalin-fixed adult human cadavers. The cadaver was positioned in a way to simulate reduced odontoid fracture. Tubular dilators were used to dock at C2–3 disk space after identifying the landmarks through the microscopic method. The EASY GO endoscopic system was then introduced, and a handheld drill was used to mark the entry point and pass the K-wire through the planned trajectory. Results: No vascular or adjacent vital structures' injury was observed in any of the cadavers. The initial difficulty in attaining the alignment was overcome by the appropriate positioning of the scope. Conclusions: Endoscopic-assisted technique for odontoid screw fixation shall provide a minimally invasive, safe, and easy surgery.
Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of Pathogenic Leptospira: A Way Forward for Understanding Infectious Disease Dynamics in Low/Middle-Income, Disease-Endemic Settings
Authors: Agampodi Suneth B. , Vinetz Joseph M.
Published: March 2021

In the current genomic era, knowledge of diversity of Leptospira, the spirochetal agents of leptospirosis, is changing rapidly. Next-generation sequencing has decreased in price and increased in scale, with the potential to democratize large-scale analysis of pathogens in resource-limited, low/middle-income (LMIC) regions. Consequently, the molecular classification of Leptospira, a pathogen disproportionately affecting LMIC countries, has changed dramatically over the last decade. Leptospira classification and molecular understandings of pathogen diversity have rapidly evolved, now most precisely based on core genome analysis supplemented by new insights provided by culture-independent methods directly using body fluids such as blood and urine. In places where leptospirosis disease burden is highest, genomic technologies have not been available, and serology-based methods remain the mainstay of leptospiral classification. Understanding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and ultimately new approaches to treating and preventing leptospirosis requires detailed knowledge of regionally circulating Leptospira in highly endemic settings. Next-generation sequencing–based, culture-independent typing overcomes the limitation of culture isolation of Leptospira from clinical samples, with promise of providing public health-actionable information applicable to leptospirosis-endemic LMIC settings.