bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leptin/Adiponectin Ratio is an Independent Predictor of Mortality in Nondiabetic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Park Jung Tak , Yoo Tae-Hyun , Kim Jwa-Kyung , Oh Hyung Jung , Kim Seung Jun , Yoo Dong Eun , Lee Mi Jung , Shin Dong Ho , Han Seung Hyeok , Han Dae-Suk , Kang Shin-Wook
Published: August 2012

♦Background

The leptin/adiponectin (L/A) ratio has been suggested to be an atherosclerotic index for diabetic patients and a useful marker of insulin resistance in patients with and without diabetes. Even though end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) are well characterized by abnormal adipocytokine metabolism, the significance of alterations in the L/A ratio is largely unexplored in these patients. In this prospective study, we investigated the associations of leptin, adiponectin, and the L/A ratio with clinical outcomes in nondiabetic PD patients.

♦Methods

The study included 131 stable nondiabetic ESRD patients who had been on PD for more than 3 months. Serum leptin and adiponectin levels were determined at baseline. Mortality was evaluated over a 5-year follow-up period.

♦Results

During the follow-up period, 22 patients died (16.8%), including 10 (45.5%) as a result of cardiovascular disease. The L/A ratio showed a significant positive correlation with body mass index [BMI ( r = 0.47, p < 0.001)], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( r = 0.32, p < 0.001), and triglycerides ( r = 0.43, p < 0.001). In addition, we observed significant inverse correlations between the L/A ratio and percentage lean body mass ( r = –0.30, p = 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( r = –0.31, p = 0.001). In contrast to individual leptin and adiponectin levels, the L/A ratio was found to be independently associated with an increased mortality risk (relative risk: 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.05 to 1.27; p = 0.003) even after adjustments for age and BMI.

♦Conclusions

The L/A ratio might be better related to patient outcomes than adipocytokines are individually in nondiabetic patients undergoing PD.
Predicting 12-Month Mortality for Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Using the “Surprise” Question
Authors: Pang Wing-Fai , Kwan Bonnie Ching-Ha , Chow Kai-Ming , Leung Chi-Bon , Li Philip Kam-Tao , Szeto Cheuk-Chun
Published: August 2012

♦Background

Studies in hemodialysis patients suggest that the “surprise” question can help to identify a group of patients with a high mortality risk who should receive priority for palliative care interventions. However, the same instrument has not been tested in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

♦Method

We studied 367 prevalent PD patients from a single dialysis center. Three clinicians independently answered the “surprise” question (Would I be surprised if this patient died within the next 12 months?) according to their clinical impression of the individual patient. Patients are then classified into “yes” (yes, surprised) and “no” (no, not surprised) groups. All patients were followed for 12 months.

♦Results

In this cohort, 109 patients (29.7%) were allocated to the “no” group, and 258 (70.3%), to the “yes” group. Patients in the “no” group were older and had high prevalences of pre-existing ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. The “no” group had a higher score on the Charlson comorbidity index and a higher malnutrition–inflammation score. At 12 months, 44 patients had died. Mortality was 24.8% in the “no” group and 6.6% in the “yes” group. Multivariate analysis showed that an opinion of “Not surprised if dies in the next 12 months” was an independent predictor of 12-month mortality, with an associated 3.594 excess mortality risk (95% confidence interval: 1.411 to 9.151; p = 0.007). The positive predictive value of this opinion was 24.8%, and its negative predictive value was 93.4%.

♦Conclusions

The “surprise” question has the potential to help identify a group of PD patients with high short-term mortality. Its use may contribute to a decision to refer PD patients for early palliative care assessment.
Longitudinal Study of Renal Function in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: CARON MELISSA , HUDSON MARIE , BARON MURRAY , NESSIM SHARON ,   Canadian Scleroderma Research Group, STEELE RUSSELL
Published: August 2012

Objective.

To determine the prevalence of renal disease and the course of renal function over time in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods.

We performed a multicenter, longitudinal study of 561 patients with SSc followed in the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group registry. Renal function was measured by the estimated creatinine clearance rate (eCcr) using the Cockcroft-Gault formula. Longitudinal changes in renal function were modeled using statistical analyses that adjusted for patient dropout.

Results.

Among the study subjects, 112 (20%) had abnormal renal function with no history of scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) and 29 (5%) had a history of SRC at baseline. In models adjusting for patient dropout, we found that patients with abnormal baseline renal function experienced the same annual decline in eCcr as patients with normal baseline renal function (−0.89% per year, 95% CI −2.02%, 0.26%), which is similar to that observed in the general population. Patients with a history of SRC also showed the same rate of decline, although starting from a lower baseline.

Conclusion.

Renal dysfunction is common in SSc, even among those without a history of SRC. It is generally mild and renal function declines at a rate similar to the general population. These data are of considerable prognostic value for clinicians caring for patients with SSc.
Natural Killer Cell Cytolytic Function in Korean Patients with Adult-onset Still’s Disease
Authors: PARK JEONG HA , KIM HEE-SUN , LEE JIN SOOK , KIM JIN JU , JUNG KYONG-HEE , PARK YONG-WOOK , YOO DAE-HYUN
Published: August 2012

Objective.

To investigate natural killer (NK) cell proportions, NK cell cytotoxicity, and interleukin 18 (IL-18) expression, in patients with adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).

Methods.

Forty-five patients with AOSD (active = 22, inactive = 23) and 32 healthy controls were included. The proportions of NK cells among peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by flow cytometry. IL-18 and IL-18-binding protein (IL-18BP) concentrations were measured by ELISA. Twenty-four patients with AOSD and 18 controls were examined for cytotoxic activity of NK cells by co-incubating NK cells with NK-sensitive K562 cells. The association of NK cell function with clinical and laboratory measures was investigated.

Results.

The proportions of NK cells were significantly lower in patients with active AOSD than in patients with inactive disease and controls. NK cell cytotoxic function was significantly lower in patients with AOSD than in controls. NK cell proportions and cytotoxic functions were reexamined in 11 and 6 patients, respectively, after treatment. Low NK cell proportion and cytotoxic dysfunction were improved with clinical improvements of the patients. IL-18 and IL-18BP levels were much higher in patients with active AOSD than in controls. NK cell cytotoxic functions were consistently low and IL-18 and IL-18BP levels were constantly high in patients with AOSD, regardless of disease activity.

Conclusion.

Low NK cell proportion, defective cytotoxic function, and elevated IL-18 levels may be significant features of AOSD. After resolution of the acute phase, low NK cell proportion was recovered and NK cell cytolytic function was restored along with clinical improvement. These findings possibly contribute to immunologic abnormalities in AOSD.
Beneficial Effect of Interleukin 1 Inhibition with Anakinra in Adult-onset Still’s Disease. An Open, Randomized, Multicenter Study
Authors: NORDSTRÖM DAN , KNIGHT ANN , LUUKKAINEN REIJO , van VOLLENHOVEN RONALD , RANTALAIHO VAPPU , KAJALAINEN ANNA , BRUN JOHAN G. , PROVEN ANNE , LJUNG LOTTA , KAUTIAINEN HANNU , PETTERSSON TOM
Published: August 2012

Objective.

To study the efficacy of anakinra versus disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in refractory adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD).

Methods.

In a 24-week study, 22 patients with AOSD taking prednisolone ≥ 10 mg/day received anakinra (n = 12) or DMARD (n = 10). The primary endpoint was achievement of remission.

Results.

At 8 and 24 weeks, 7/12 and 6/12 receiving anakinra and 5/10 and 2/10 receiving DMARD achieved remission. Anakinra induced greater improvement in physical health measured by Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (SF-36; p < 0.011). During an open-label extension (OLE) of 28 weeks, 7/14 patients taking anakinra and 2/3 taking DMARD were in remission.

Conclusion.

Anakinra induced more beneficial responses than DMARD in patients with AOSD and was favored in the OLE phase. (ClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Registration NCT01033656).
ABCB1andABCC3Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with First-year Response to Methotrexate in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: de ROTTE MAURITS C.F.J. , BULATOVIC MAJA , HEIJSTEK MARLOES W. , JANSEN GERRIT , HEIL SANDRA G. , van SCHAIK RON H.N. , WULFFRAAT NICO M. , de JONGE ROBERT
Published: August 2012

Objective.

Although methotrexate (MTX) is the most widely prescribed drug in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), 30% of patients fail to respond to it. To individualize treatment strategies, the genetic determinants of response to MTX should be identified.

Methods.

A cohort of 287 patients with JIA treated with MTX was studied longitudinally over the first year of treatment. MTX response was defined as the American College of Rheumatology pediatric 70 criteria (ACRped70). We genotyped 21 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 13 genes related to MTX polyglutamylation and to cellular MTX uptake and efflux. Potential associations between ACRped70 and genotypes were analyzed in a multivariate model and corrected for these 3 covariates: disease duration prior to MTX treatment, physician’s global assessment of disease activity at baseline, and MTX dose at all study visits.

Results.

MTX response was more often achieved by patients variant for the adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) gene polymorphism rs1045642 (OR 3.80, 95% CI 1.70−8.47, p = 0.001) and patients variant for theABCC3gene polymorphism rs4793665 (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.49−6.41, p = 0.002) than by patients with other genotypes. Patients variant for the solute carrier 19A1 (SLC19A1) gene polymorphism rs1051266 were less likely to respond to MTX (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.09−0.72, p = 0.011).

Conclusion.

ABCB1rs1045642,ABCC3rs4793665, andSLC19A1rs1051266 polymorphisms were associated with response to MTX in 287 patients with JIA studied longitudinally. Upon validation of our results in other JIA cohorts, these genetic determinants may help to individualize treatment strategies by predicting clinical response to MTX.
Initial Diagnosis of Lumbar Disc Herniation Is Associated with a Delay in Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: GERDAN VEDAT , AKAR SERVET , SOLMAZ DILEK , PEHLIVAN YAVUZ , ONAT AHMET MESUT , KISACIK BUNYAMIN , SAYARLIOGLU MEHMET , ERHAN CIGDEM , TEZCAN MEHMET ENGIN , OZTURK MEHMET AKIF , ONEN FATOS , AKKOC NURULLAH
Published: August 2012

Objective.

There is often a considerable delay in diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). In this multicenter study, we analyzed the delay and possible associated factors, including an initial diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), which we frequently encounter in daily clinical practice.

Methods.

The study included 393 consecutive patients [258 men (65.6%), mean age 39.3 ± 10.8 yrs] with AS according to the modified New York criteria. Face-to-face interviews were done using a structured questionnaire, addressing all the potentially relevant factors.

Results.

The mean diagnostic delay was 8.1 ± 8.6 years in the whole study population. The shortest delay was observed when rheumatologists were the first physicians consulted (2.9 ± 5.3 yrs). An initial diagnosis of LDH was reported by 33% of the patients. The diagnostic delays in patients with an initial diagnosis of LDH and those without were 9.1 ± 8.5 years and 6.2 ± 7.4 years, respectively (p = 0.002). In a regression model, predictive factors for delay in diagnosis were age at onset of spondyloarthritic symptoms, back pain, education level, prior diagnosis of LDH, and surgical history for LDH.

Conclusion.

These results indicate the need to increase awareness of the concept of axial spondyloarthritis among specialists who might be the first physicians consulted by patients with AS for their back pain. There is also a need to develop strategies for early referral of such patients to rheumatologists.
Blau Arteritis Resembling Takayasu Disease with a Novel NOD2 Mutation
Authors: KHUBCHANDANI RAJU P. , HASIJA RACHANA , TOUITOU ISABELLE , KHEMANI CHETNA , WOUTERS CARINE H. , ROSE CARLOS D.
Published: August 2012

Objective.

To put forward a new concept — Blau arteritis, a form of large-vessel vasculitis phenotypically related to Takayasu disease but genetically and clinically part of an expanded phenotype of Blau syndrome.

Methods.

We provide a clinical description of a new case and summarize previously published cases of arteritis associated with Blau syndrome. Genetic testing was performed by direct sequencing of exon 4 of the NOD2 gene.

Results.

The case described and those reviewed from the literature demonstrate the emerging phenotype of Takayasu-like arteritis in patients with Blau syndrome. Although most patients described to date depict an otherwise classic Blau syndrome phenotype, the current case was atypical in that the predominant features were arteritic. A novel substitution, G464W, in a highly conserved position near the nucleotide oligomerization domain of the NOD2 protein is also described.

Conclusion.

Blau arteritis can be observed in the context of both typical and atypical (incomplete) Blau syndrome. The associated mutation in the NOD2 gene raises the question of the potential importance of this gene among patients with “primary” forms of Takayasu arteritis.
Magnetic Resonance Arthrography of Lesser Metatarsophalangeal Joints in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Relationship to Clinical, Biomechanical, and Radiographic Variables
Authors: SIDDLE HEIDI J. , HODGSON RICHARD J. , O’CONNOR PHILIP , GRAINGER ANDREW J. , REDMOND ANTHONY C. , WAKEFIELD RICHARD J. , HENSOR ELIZABETH M.A. , HELLIWELL PHILIP S.
Published: August 2012

Objective.

Our exploratory study of painful lesser metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) primarily aimed to compare the clinical, biomechanical, and plain radiography findings with magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography findings. Our secondary aim was to compare standard unenhanced MR with MR arthrography in imaging the lesser MTP joints in RA.

Methods.

In 15 patients with RA, the more symptomatic forefoot was imaged using 3T MR imaging. Proton density fat-suppressed images were acquired through the lesser MTP joints prior to arthrography. Under ultrasound guidance, contrast agent was injected into 2 lesser MTP joints. T1-weighted fat-suppressed sequences were subsequently acquired. The MR images were read by 2 musculoskeletal radiologists and consensus was reached. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the association between abnormalities seen on MR arthrography and the clinical, biomechanical, and plain radiography findings.

Results.

MR arthrography demonstrated pathology at 18 of 28 lesser MTP joints (64%) examined in patients with RA. MR arthrography abnormalities were associated with RA disease duration, forefoot deformity, Larsen score, subluxation, and peak plantar pressure. Unenhanced MR had a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 90% for detecting pathology compared to MR arthrography.

Conclusion.

Capsule and plantar plate pathology occurs in the painful forefoot of patients with RA and is associated with features of disease and deformity at the lesser MTP joints. Compared with MR arthrography, standard MR imaging was highly specific and moderately sensitive for diagnosing lesser MTP joint pathology in patients with RA.
Increased Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in 29,000 Patients with Biopsy-verified Celiac Disease
Authors: LUDVIGSSON JONAS F. , RUBIO-TAPIA ALBERTO , CHOWDHARY VAIDEHI , MURRAY JOSEPH A. , SIMARD JULIA F.
Published: August 2012

Objective.

To investigate a possible association between celiac disease (CD) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case series have indicated a possible association, but population-based studies are lacking.

Methods.

We compared the risk of SLE in 29,048 individuals with biopsy-verified CD (villous atrophy, Marsh 3) from Sweden’s 28 pathology departments with that in 144,352 matched individuals from the general population identified through the Swedish Total Population Register. SLE was defined as having at least 2 records of SLE in the Swedish Patient Register. We used Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for SLE.

Results.

During followup, 54 individuals with CD had an incident SLE. This corresponded to an HR of 3.49 (95% CI 2.48−4.90), with an absolute risk of 17/100,000 person-years and an excess risk of 12/100,000. Beyond 5 years of followup, the HR for SLE was 2.54 (95% CI 1.57−4.10). While SLE was predominantly female, we found similar risk estimates in men and women. When we restricted our outcome to individuals who also had a dispensation for a medication used in SLE, the HR was 2.43 (95% CI 1.22−4.87). The HR for having 2 records of SLE diagnoses, out of which at least 1 had occurred in a department of rheumatology, nephrology/dialysis, internal medicine, or pediatrics, was 2.87 (95% CI 1.97−4.17).

Conclusion.

Individuals with CD were at a 3-fold increased risk of SLE compared to the general population. Although this excess risk remained more than 5 years after CD diagnosis, absolute risks were low.
El apadrinamiento en los clubs privados de compras ‘on-line’
Authors: Fuentelsaz Lucio , Garrido Elisabet
Published: August 2012

Este trabajo analiza las motivaciones que subyacen en la estrategia de apadrinamiento que llevan a cabo los clubs privados de compras on-line. ¿Por qué ha surgido el apadrinamiento como sistema de recomendación? ¿Es realmente novedoso? ¿Por qué los usuarios registrados deciden recomendar la empresa a otros? ¿Cómo la empresa puede promover este flujo de información empresa-padrino-ahijado? Estas son las principales cuestiones a las que pretende dar respuesta este artículo mediante la observación del comportamiento de este tipo de empresas en la Red.

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This paper studies the motivations of online users to participate in the “new” recommendation system used by online private shopping clubs. Why has this system appeared? Is the Member-get-Member online really new? Why do users decide to recommend the website to others? How can a firm improve the recommendation of its website? This article tries to answer these questions by observing the behaviour of this type of firms in the online market.
Influencia de los instrumentos voluntarios en la publicación de información ambiental de los hoteles españoles
Authors: Bueno Eduardo , Salmador M. Paz , Reyes Aníbal
Published: August 2012

El desarrollo sostenible en el turismo es un tema de gran importancia en la actualidad. Para la consecución de este objetivo se requiere que se brinde al público un adecuado nivel de información relacionada con el medio ambiente. Con el fin de identificar qué factores influyen en la publicación de información medioambiental en los hoteles españoles se desarrolla esta investigación. A través de un análisis discriminante se ha evaluado la influencia de los instrumentos voluntarios medioambientales (IVM), así como otras variables características de los hoteles, en la publicación de este tipo de información. Como resultado se ha obtenido que las variables de mayor peso son la certificación de los sistemas de gestión ambiental y la presencia internacional del hotel. En el trabajo se describen además otros aspectos relevantes obtenidos en el análisis.

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Tourism has been identified as one of the most relevant industries to make important contributions to sustainable development. To achieve sustainable development objectives, tourism needs to develop and implement voluntary initiatives. Compared with regulatory instruments, voluntary instruments promise to develop faster and be more effective to achieve environmental policy objectives at a lower cost. The publication of environmental information is also important. Related to these aspects we develop this paper, aimed to analyze the influence of the different voluntary instruments for sustainable tourism on the environmental information published by Spanish hotels. Our findings indicate that the variables that discriminate best the publication of this kind of information are the certification of the Environmental Management System (EMS) and the international presence. The rest of instruments analyzed show no influence in the publication of environmental information, related to low pressure from customers about environmental care.
El método Hirose de valoración financiera de marcas y sus limitaciones: aplicación al caso Adolfo Domínguez
Authors: Barajas Ángel , Pérez Mantecón María
Published: August 2012

La valoración financiera de una marca puede variar notablemente en función de la situación económica. Después de explicar el concepto de marca orientado desde una perspectiva financiera, se presenta el modelo de valoración empleado: el método Hirose. Dicho modelo se aplica a un caso de estudio –la marca Adolfo Domínguez– y sirve para mostrar que, modificando algunos parámetros de cálculo, los valores oscilan entre casi 43 millones de euros y más de 61. Se concluye que existen componentes subjetivos y que las circunstancias económicas del mercado influyen en la valoración, proporcionando valores más altos en épocas de bonanza y valores más bajos en épocas de crisis.

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The financial valuation of a brand can vary greatly depending on the economic situation. The concept of brand is explained from a financial perspective. The Hirose method of brand valuation is introduced. Through a case study in particular it is shown that the valuation of Adolfo Domínguez, changing some parameters, is in a range between about 43 and more than 61 million Euros. Thus, we conclude that some subjective and economic circumstances influence by providing higher valuations in good times and lower valuations in crisis times.
Tissue-Expressed B7x Affects the Immune Response to and Outcome of Lethal Pulmonary Infection
Authors: Hofmeyer Kimberly A. , Scandiuzzi Lisa , Ghosh Kaya , Pirofski Liise-Anne , Zang Xingxing
Published: August 2012

B7x (B7-H4 or B7S1), a member of the B7 family, inhibits in vitro T cell proliferation and cytokine production by binding to an unidentified receptor on activated T cells, but its in vivo function remains largely unclear. We show that B7x protein was expressed in epithelial cells of the lung, but not in lymphoid tissues. To investigate the role of B7x in the lung, we determined the susceptibility of B7x-deficient (B7x−/−) mice to a lethal pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. B7x−/−, but not B7-H3–deficient, mice were significantly more resistant to S. pneumoniae pulmonary infection than their wild-type (Wt) counterparts. B7x−/− mice had significantly lower bacterial burdens and levels of inflammatory cytokines in lungs as early as 12 h postinfection. They also had milder immunopathology that was localized in alveolar spaces, whereas Wt mice had severe inflammation that was perivascular. Control of infection in B7x−/− mice was associated with a marked increase in activated CD4 and CD8 T cells and fewer neutrophils in lungs, whereas the susceptible Wt mice had the opposite cellular profile. In B7x−/−Rag1−/− mice that lack T cells, reduction in bacterial burden was no longer observed. Control of S. pneumoniae and the increased survival observed was specific to the lung, because systemically infected B7x−/− mice were not resistant to infection. These data indicate that lung-expressed B7x negatively regulates T cells, and that in its absence, in B7x−/− mice, an enhanced T cell response contributed to reduced lethality in a pulmonary infection model with S. pneumoniae.
Understanding Why Clinicians Answer or Ignore Clinical Decision Support Prompts
Authors: Anand V. , Downs S. M. , Carroll A.E.
Published: August 2012

Introduction: The identification of key factors influencing responses to prompts and reminders within a computer decision support system (CDSS) has not been widely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate why clinicians routinely answer certain prompts while others are ignored. Methods: We utilized data collected from a CDSS developed by our research group – the Child Health Improvement through Computer Automation (CHICA) system. The main outcome of interest was whether a clinician responded to a prompt.

Results: This study found that, as expected, some clinics and physicians were more likely to address prompts than others. However, we also found clinicians are more likely to address prompts for younger patients and when the prompts address more serious issues. The most striking finding was that the position of a prompt was a significant predictor of the likelihood of the prompt being addressed, even after controlling for other factors. Prompts at the top of the page were significantly more likely to be answered than the ones on the bottom.

Conclusions: This study detailed a number of factors that are associated with physicians following clinical decision support prompts. This information could be instrumental in designing better interventions and more successful clinical decision support systems in the future.
Ética na gestão: o discurso organizacional e a percepção dos gestores
Authors: Moraes Mário Cesar Barreto , De Castro Alice Carneiro , Moritz Gilberto de Oliveira , De Lima Marcus Vinícius Andrade
Published: August 2012

Desde os filósofos gregos têm-se estudado o comportamento humano e seus princípios. Na Modernidade, com o advento das organizações, a preocupação em controlar e prever este comportamento superou a importância da ética e moral, instituindo-se cada vez mais códigos regulatórios de conduta, tendo a racionalidade funcional como base. Porém, não é claro se os gestores das organizações compartilham desses pensamentos e se o discurso organizacional converge com o pessoal. Portanto, esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a convergência entre o discurso organizacional e a percepção dos executivos das indústrias vencedoras do Prêmio Catarinense de Excelência de 2006 a 2010. Foram analisadas as declarações institucionais e realizadas entrevistas com os executivos e concluiu-se que a racionalidade instrumental e os conceitos da Modernidade são determinantes, sendo a percepção dos gestores e o conteúdo dos documentos organizacionais convergentes e com alto grau de coerência.
Redes de aprendizagem: uma proposta metodológica no ensino de acionistas e executivos
Authors: Pardini Daniel Jardim , Da Silva Júnior Antônio Batista , Gonçalves Carlos Alberto , De Melo Pedro Antônio
Published: August 2012

Este artigo objetiva analisar a dinâmica de funcionamento das redes de aprendizagem empresarial e os diferenciais dessa prática metodológica para outros modelos de ensino convencionais. A revisão epistemológica das teorias de aprendizagem e da psicologia educacional permitiu identificar o construtivismo coletivo (LAROCHELLE et al., 1998) como a abordagem que mais se aproxima das concepções do ensino no formato de rede. Para entender de que maneira são planejadas e organizadas as redes e suas distinções para outros tipos de cursos direcionados a executivos utilizou-se os métodos de estudo de caso e análise temática. O estudo contribui para evidenciar as diferenças das redes de aprendizagem empresarial, ainda pouco difundidas no Brasil, para os métodos tradicionais de ensino ministrados em curso de pós-graduação abertos ao público e in company para complementação e atualização de aprendizado na função diretiva empresarial.
Gestão para a sustentabilidade em empresas do setor mineral
Authors: Kneipp Jordana Marques , Gomes Clandia Maffini , Bichueti Roberto Schoproni , Maccari Emerson Antonio
Published: August 2012

Cada vez mais, a competitividade das empresas está relacionada a uma gestão orientada para a sustentabilidade, que integre a preservação ambiental, o bem-estar social e a prosperidade econômica. O estudo teve como objetivo analisar a adoção de práticas de gestão para a sustentabilidade em empresas do setor mineral sob a perspectiva da teoria institucional. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como qualitativa e foi desenvolvida por meio de entrevistas exploratórias com três empresas do setor mineral. Os resultados permitiram concluir que, nas empresas analisadas, a integração da sustentabilidade com a estratégia ainda se trata de uma preocupação recente e orientada primordialmente para o atendimento das exigências legais. Evidenciou-se um maior direcionamento das empresas analisadas no que se refere à adoção de práticas de gestão social. As práticas de gestão ambiental buscam basicamente atender aos requisitos legais e às exigências mercadológicas.
A reforma do poder judiciário no Brasil: uma análise a partir do modelo gerencial
Authors: Sena Gabriel Astoni , Silva Edson Arlindo , Luquini Roberto de Almeida
Published: August 2012

Este artigo tem como objetivo identificar o perfil da reforma no Poder Judiciário brasileiro, por meio da análise do processo de reforma do Estado. Nesse sentido, o foco do estudo foi identificar o processo de substituição do modelo burocrático para o gerencial, implantado na administração pública brasileira a partir de 1995, tentando transplantá-lo para a gestão judiciária. Além disso, foi observado o papel que o Conselho Nacional de Justiça exerceu neste processo e a lógica do plano de metas da instituição, buscando descrever o viés dessa reforma. Como resultados observou-se que as metas implantadas buscaram implantar uma gestão mais eficaz neste núcleo estratégico do Estado, com ênfase na celeridade processual. Dessa forma, a lógica gerencial exerceu grande influência no novo modelo de gestão adotado tendo em vista que as diretrizes dessa reforma focaram nos objetivos estratégicos do poder e não na lógica fiscal, predominantemente economicistas. Deve-se ressaltar que não se pretende esgotar a temática, porém, é necessário suscitar um campo de debate para que sejam discutidas as consequências da adoção deste modelo na gestão do Poder Judiciário e seus reflexos para a sociedade brasileira.
Análise do desempenho de longo prazo de Initial Public Offerings no mercado acionário brasileiro
Authors: Teixeira Elisa Elaine Moreira , Barbosa Francisco Vidal , Souza Antônio Artur de
Published: August 2012

Este trabalho descreve os resultados de uma pesquisa que teve dois objetivos: (i) comparar o desempenho das Ofertas Públicas Iniciais (IPOs, do inglês Initial Public Offerings) realizadas no mercado acionário brasileiro nos anos de 2004 e 2005 com o desempenho de empresas de capital aberto; e (ii) identificar se as IPOs passaram a fazer parte do Índice Bovespa (IBOV) no período pesquisado. Em um primeiro momento, foi feito o levantamento das variações nos preços das ações a cada ano subsequente à abertura de capital. Posteriormente, foi feita a comparação entre os múltiplos das IPOs com os múltiplos das empresas de capital aberto selecionadas. Os resultados mostraram que, no primeiro e no segundo ano de aniversário, 81,25% das IPOs apresentaram retorno positivo e, no terceiro ano, apenas 50% delas tiveram retorno positivo. Observou-se que as empresas com menor idade de fundação apresentaram os maiores retornos e que 45% delas começaram a fazer parte do IBOV no período pesquisado. Comparando-se os múltiplos, observou-se que, em todas as faixas etárias, as IPOs estão mais valorizadas em relação às empresas de comparação. Conclui-se, portanto, que o desempenho das IPOs, no período pesquisado, foi superior ao desempenho das empresas de comparação.
Trabalho voluntário: motivos para sua realização
Authors: De Souza Washigton José , De Medeiros Jássio Pereira
Published: August 2012

Numa economia de mercado com problemas estruturais, o setor social torna-se alternativa de resposta à dinâmica da acumulação do capital. Fundado no entendimento de que a decisão espontânea para o exercício do trabalho voluntário envolve motivos diversos, o presente texto objetiva desenvolver uma tipologia para essa atividade. O trabalho voluntário congrega categorias de motivos altruístas, de interesse próprio e de sociabilidade, mediados por ideais religiosos, afetivos/aflitivos, resultantes de sentimentos de culpa ou de obrigação para com o outro, ou, ainda, de sentimentos de responsabilidade. Não obstante a esse componente político-ideológico, o trabalho voluntário ganha espaço no meio social e, por essa razão, cabe aos estudiosos da Gestão Social, a tarefa de compreender e sistematizar conteúdos. Esses conteúdos estariam associados a valores como abnegação, dedicação, amizade, aprendizagem e ambição.
Aerosol optical depth over the Arctic: a comparison of ECHAM-HAM and TM5 with ground-based, satellite and reanalysis data
Authors: von Hardenberg J. , Vozella L. , Tomasi C. , Vitale V. , Lupi A. , Mazzola M. , van Noije T. P. C. , Strunk A. , Provenzale A.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. We compare ground-based measurements of aerosol optical depth and Ångström parameter at six Arctic stations in the period 2001–2006 with the results from two global aerosol dynamics and transport models, ECHAM-HAM and TM5. Satellite measurements from MODIS and the MACC reanalysis product are used to examine the spatial distribution and the seasonality of these parameters and to compare them with model results. We find that both models provide a good reproduction of the Ångström parameter but significantly underestimate the observed AOD values. We also explore the effects of changes in emissions, model resolution and the parametrization of wet scavenging.
Precipitation response to regional radiative forcing
Authors: Shindell D. T. , Voulgarakis A. , Faluvegi G. , Milly G.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Precipitation shifts can have large impacts on human society and ecosystems. Many aspects of how inhomogeneous radiative forcings influence precipitation remain unclear, however. Here we investigate regional precipitation responses to various forcings imposed in different latitude bands in a climate model. We find that several regions show strong, significant responses to most forcings, but that the magnitude and even the sign depends upon the forcing location and type. Aerosol and ozone forcings typically induce larger responses than equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2) forcing, and the influence of remote forcings often outweighs that of local forcings. Consistent with this, ozone and especially aerosols contribute greatly to precipitation changes over the Sahel and South and East Asia in historical simulations, and inclusion of aerosols greatly increases the agreement with observed trends in these areas, which cannot be attributed to either greenhouse gases or natural forcings. Estimates of precipitation responses derived from multiplying our Regional Precipitation Potentials (RPP; the response per unit forcing relationships) by historical forcings typically capture the actual response in full transient climate simulations fairly well, suggesting that these relationships may provide useful metrics. The strong sensitivity to aerosol and ozone forcing suggests that although some air quality improvements may unmask greenhouse gas-induced warming, they have large benefits for reducing regional disruption of the hydrologic cycle.
Artificial primary marine aerosol production: a laboratory study with varying water temperature, salinity and succinic acid concentration
Authors: Zábori J. , Matisāns M. , Krejci R. , Nilsson E. D. , Ström J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Primary marine aerosols are an important component of the climate system, especially in the remote marine environment. With diminishing sea-ice cover, better understanding of the role of sea spray aerosol on climate in the polar regions is required. As for Arctic Ocean water, laboratory experiments with NaCl water confirm that a few degrees change in the water temperature (Tw) gives a large change in the number of primary particles. Smaller particles with a dry diameter between 0.01 μm and 0.25 μm dominate the aerosol number density, but their relative dominance decreases with increasing water temperature from 0 °C where they represent 85–90% of the total aerosol number to 60–70% of the total aerosol number at 10 °C water temperature. This effect is most likely related to a change in physical properties and not to modification of sea water chemistry. A change of salinity between 15 g kg−1 and 35 g kg−1 showed no influence on the relative shape of a particle number size distribution, nor did a change in water temperature between 0 °C and 16 °C. An experiment where succinic acid was added to a NaCl water solution showed, that the number concentration of particles with Dp < 0.312 μm decreased by 43% when the succinic acid concentration in NaCl water at Tw = 0 °C was increased from 0 μmol l−1 to 2446 μmol l−1. Different organic constituents and perhaps inorganic substances resulted in a particle number shift towards larger particle sizes, when comparing a size distribution resulting from pure NaCl water to size distributions resulting from Arctic Ocean water and resulting from NaCl water with a succinic acid concentration of 2446 μmol l−1.
Cloud droplet size and liquid water path retrievals from zenith radiance measurements: examples from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program and the Aerosol Robotic Network
Authors: Chiu J. C. , Marshak A. , Huang C.-H. , Várnai T. , Hogan R. J. , Giles D. M. , Holben B. N. , O'Connor E. J. , Knyazikhin Y. , Wiscombe W. J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The ground-based Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) and NASA Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) routinely monitor clouds using zenith radiances at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Using the transmittance calculated from such measurements, we have developed a new retrieval method for cloud effective droplet size and conducted extensive tests for non-precipitating liquid water clouds. The underlying principle is to combine a water-absorbing wavelength (i.e. 1640 nm) with a non-water-absorbing wavelength for acquiring information on cloud droplet size and optical depth. For simulated stratocumulus clouds with liquid water path less than 300 g m−2 and horizontal resolution of 201 m, the retrieval method underestimates the mean effective radius by 0.8 μm, with a root-mean-squared error of 1.7 μm and a relative deviation of 13%. For actual observations with a liquid water path less than 450 g m−2 at the ARM Oklahoma site during 2007–2008, our 1.5 min-averaged retrievals are generally larger by around 1 μm than those from combined ground-based cloud radar and microwave radiometer at a 5 min temporal resolution. We also compared our retrievals to those from combined shortwave flux and microwave observations for relatively homogeneous clouds, showing that the bias between these two retrieval sets is negligible, but the error of 2.6 μm and the relative deviation of 22% are larger than those found in our simulation case. Finally, the transmittance-based cloud effective droplet radii agree to better than 11% with satellite observations and have a negative bias of 1 μm. Overall, the retrieval method provides reasonable cloud effective radius estimates, which can enhance the cloud products of both ARM and AERONET.
Global mapping of vertical injection profiles of wild-fire emission
Authors: Sofiev M. , Vankevich R. , Ermakova T. , Hakkarainen J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. A problem of a characteristic vertical profile of smoke released from wild-land fires is considered. A methodology for bottom-up evaluation of this profile is suggested and a corresponding global dataset is calculated. The profile estimation is based on: (i) a semi-empirical formula for plume-top height recently suggested by the authors, (ii) MODIS satellite observations of active wild-land fires, and (iii) meteorological conditions evaluated at each fireplace using output of ECMWF weather prediction model. Plumes from all fires recorded globally during two arbitrarily picked years 2001 and 2008 are evaluated and their smoke injection profiles are estimated with a time step of 3 h. The resulting 4-dimensional dataset is split to day- and night-time subsets. Each of the subsets is projected to global grid with resolution 1° × 1° × 500 m, averaged to monthly level, and normalised with total emission. Evaluation of the obtained dataset was performed at several levels. Firstly, the quality of the semi-empirical formula for plume-top computations was evaluated using recent additions to the MISR fire plume-height dataset. Secondly, the obtained maps of injection profiles are compared with another global distribution available from literature. Thirdly, the upper percentiles of the profiles are compared with an independent dataset of space-based lidar CALIOP. Finally, the stability of the calculated profiles with regard to inter-annual variations of the fire activity and meteorological conditions is roughly estimated by comparing the sub-sets for 2001 and 2008.
Soot reference materials for instrument calibration and intercomparisons: a workshop summary with recommendations
Authors: Baumgardner D. , Popovicheva O. , Allan J. , Bernardoni V. , Cao J. , Cavalli F. , Cozic J. , Diapouli E. , Eleftheriadis K. , Genberg P. J. , Gonzalez C. , Gysel M. , John A. , Kirchstetter T. W. , Kuhlbusch T. A. J. , Laborde M. , Lack D. , Müller T. , Niessner R. , Petzold A. , Piazzalunga A. , Putaud J. P. , Schwarz J. , Sheridan P. , Subramanian R. , Swietlicki E. , Valli G. , Vecchi R. , Viana M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Soot, which is produced from biomass burning and the incomplete combustion of fossil and biomass fuels, has been linked to regional and global climate change and to negative health problems. Scientists measure the properties of soot using a variety of methods in order to quantify source emissions and understand its atmospheric chemistry, reactivity under emission conditions, interaction with solar radiation, influence on clouds, and health impacts. A major obstacle currently limiting progress is the absence of established standards or reference materials for calibrating the many instruments used to measure the various properties of soot. The current state of availability and practicability of soot standard reference materials (SRMs) was reviewed by a group of 50 international experts during a workshop in June of 2011. The workshop was convened to summarize the current knowledge on soot measurement techniques, identify the measurement uncertainties and limitations related to the lack of soot SRMs, and identify attributes of SRMs that, if developed, would reduce measurement uncertainties. The workshop established that suitable SRMs are available for calibrating some, but not all, measurement methods. The community of users of the single-particle soot-photometer (SP2), an instrument using laser-induced incandescence, identified a suitable SRM, fullerene soot, but users of instruments that measure light absorption by soot collected on filters did not. Similarly, those who use thermal optical analysis (TOA) to analyze the organic and elemental carbon components of soot were not satisfied with current SRMs. The workshop, and subsequent, interactive discussions, produced a number of recommendations for the development of new SRMs, and their implementation, that would be suitable for the different soot measurement methods.
Ground-based remote sensing of tropospheric water vapour isotopologues within the project MUSICA
Authors: Schneider M. , Barthlott S. , Hase F. , González Y. , Yoshimura K. , García O. E. , Sepúlveda E. , Gomez-Pelaez A. , Gisi M. , Kohlhepp R. , Dohe S. , Blumenstock T. , Strong K. , Weaver D. , Palm M. , Deutscher N. M. , Warneke T. , Notholt J. , Lejeune B. , Demoulin P. , Jones N. , Griffith D. W. T. , Smale D. , Robinson J.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Within the project MUSICA (MUlti-platform remote Sensing of Isotopologues for investigating the Cycle of Atmospheric water), long-term tropospheric water vapour isotopologues data records are provided for ten globally distributed ground-based mid-infrared remote sensing stations of the NDACC (Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change). We present a new method allowing for an extensive and straightforward characterisation of the complex nature of such isotopologue remote sensing datasets. We demonstrate that the MUSICA humidity profiles are representative for most of the troposphere with a vertical resolution ranging from about 2 km (in the lower troposphere) to 8 km (in the upper troposphere) and with an estimated precision of better than 10%. We find that the sensitivity with respect to the isotopologue composition is limited to the lower and middle troposphere, whereby we estimate a precision of about 30‰ for the ratio between the two isotopologues HD16O and H216O. The measurement noise, the applied atmospheric temperature profiles, the uncertainty in the spectral baseline, and interferences from humidity are the leading error sources. We introduce an a posteriori correction method of the humidity interference error and we recommend applying it for isotopologue ratio remote sensing datasets in general. In addition, we present mid-infrared CO2 retrievals and use them for demonstrating the MUSICA network-wide data consistency. In order to indicate the potential of long-term isotopologue remote sensing data if provided with a well-documented quality, we present a climatology and compare it to simulations of an isotope incorporated AGCM (Atmospheric General Circulation Model). We identify differences in the multi-year mean and seasonal cycles that significantly exceed the estimated errors, thereby indicating deficits in the modeled atmospheric water cycle.