Antecedentes da Adoção da Computação em Nuvem: Efeitos da Infraestrutura, Investimento e Porte

Cloud computing, a peculiar form of storage and of making information available, has attracted much interest for its potential to significantly alter required investment in information technology infrastructure. As a paradox, while organizations can benefit from the possibility of implementing cloud computing, decision makers are faced with the dilemma arising from the possibility that competitors will have access to previously scarce or unique resources, essentially sources of competitive advantage. The question that arises is whether cloud computing increases the complexity of investment decisions or, in contrast, simplifies the analysis by allowing resources to be released for investment in other skills required by the business. This research investigates what antecedents are associated with the decision to undertake cloud computing and evaluates the effects existing IT infrastructure and the size and amount of investments have in this decision. Analysis of secondary data was used to develop a structural model, which is accompanied by explanations of the relationships uncovered. This paper's contributions include a theoretical explanation of the quandary related to IT investments within this context and the decision to adopt cloud computing and, additionally, the presentation of some managerial implications of these findings. Research limitations and suggestions for changes in future studies are also presented

Genome sequence of Enterococcus mundtii EM01, isolated from Bombyx mori midgut and responsible for flacherie disease in silkworms reared on an artificial diet

The whole genome sequence of Enterococcus mundtii strain EM01 is reported here. The isolate proved to be the cause of flacherie in Bombyx mori. To date, the genomes of 11 other E. mundtii strains have been sequenced. EM01 is the only strain that displayed active pathological effects on its associated animal species

Integrated microscopy and metabolomics to test an innovative fluid dynamic system for skin explants in vitro

The in vitro models are receiving growing attention in studies on skin permeation, penetration, and irritancy, especially for the preclinical development of new transcutaneous drugs. However, synthetic membranes or cell cultures are unable to effectively mimic the permeability and absorption features of the cutaneous barrier. The use of explanted skin samples maintained in a fluid dynamic environment would make it possible for an in vitro experimentation closer to in vivo physiological conditions. To this aim, in the present study, we have modified a bioreactor designed for cell culture to host explanted skin samples. The preservation of the skin was evaluated by combining light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy, for the histo/cytological characterization, with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, for the identification in the culture medium of metabolites indicative of the functional state of the explants. Our morphological and metabolomics results demonstrated that fluid dynamic conditions ameliorate significantly the structural and functional preservation of skin explants in comparison with conventional culture conditions. Our in vitro system is, therefore, reliable to test novel therapeutic agents intended for transdermal administration in skin samples from biopsies or surgical materials, providing predictive information suitable for focused in vivo research and reducing animal experimentation

An artificial diet for rearing three exotic longhorn beetles invasive to Europe

Anoplophora glabripennis, Anoplophora chinensis and Psacothea hilaris hilaris are three invasive exotic longhorn species (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) threatening native broadleaf trees in Europe and North America. Field studies on invasive species are somewhat difficult in the areas of introduction due to the application of eradication measures and the activation of quarantine protocols. Rearing these species in standard laboratory conditions would allow specific ecological and biological investigations to be conducted. In this paper, the rearing of these longhorn beetles has been tested on an artificial diet in laboratory conditions. The tested diet can be used to obtain viable healthy adults of each of the three studied species. P. h. hilaris had the best rearing performance with 74% of eggs producing new adults, while A. chinensis and A. glabripennis were poorer with 24.7% and 23.3%, respectively. The low percentage of emerging A. glabripennis and A. chinensis adults was due mainly to a high mortality of their first instar larvae not entering the diet. Moreover, A. chinensis and A. glabripennis had a mean development time, 60.06 and 37.29 weeks, respectively (including the chilling periods required for pupation), longer than P. h. hilaris (16.1 weeks). During development, larval moults varied according to species and within species ranging from 5-7 (P. h. hilaris), 6-11 (A. chinensis) and 7-8 (A. glabripennis) moults, respectively. Adults of A. glabripennis and P. h. hilaris reared on the diet were bigger than wild specimens collected from the same population, whereas A. chinensis adults were smaller. Adult survival was shorter in A. glabripennis (62.9 days) than in P. h. hilaris (119.3 days). According to the different performance of the three species, the rearing costs were about 2.0, 8.1 and 16.1 US dollars per adult beetle for P. h. hilaris, A. glabripennis and A. chinensis, respectively. A laboratory insect population has to be cost effective and self-sustainable over time, and the tested diet provided valuable results for the low-cost mass rearing of these invasive longhorn beetles

Nutritional strategies to improve the reproductive performance of beef females

In the first set of studies, 2 experiments evaluated the influence of supplement composition on ruminal forage disappearance, performance, and physiological responses of Angus × Hereford cattle consuming a low-quality, cool-season forage (8.7 % CP and 57 % TDN). In Exp. 1, 6 rumen-fistulated steers housed in individual pens were assigned to an incomplete 3 x 2 Latin square design containing 2 periods of 11 d each and the following treatments: 1) supplementation with soybean meal (PROT), 2) supplementation with a mixture of cracked corn, soybean meal, and urea (68:22:10 ratio, DM basis; ENER), or 3) no supplementation (CON). Steers were offered meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) hay for ad libitum consumption. Treatments were provided daily at 0.50 and 0.54 % of shrunk BW/steer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to ensure that PROT and ENER intakes were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. No treatment effects were detected on rumen disappearance parameters of forage DM (P ≥ 0.33) and NDF (P ≥ 0.66). In Exp. 2, 35 pregnant heifers were ranked by initial BW on d -7 of the study, allocated into 12 feedlot pens (4 pens/treatment), and assigned to the same treatments and forage intake regimen as in Exp. 1 for 19 d. Treatments were fed once daily at 1.77 and 1.92 kg of DM/heifer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to achieve the same treatment intake as % of initial BW used in Exp. 1 (0.50 and 0.54 % for PROT and ENER, respectively). No treatment effects (P = 0.17) were detected on forage DMI. Total DMI was greater (P < 0.01) for PROT and ENER compared with CON, and similar between PROT and ENER (P = 0.36). Accordingly, ADG was greater (P = 0.01) for PROT compared with CON, tended to be greater for ENER compared with CON (P = 0.08), and was similar between ENER and PROT (P = 0.28). Heifers receiving PROT and ENER had greater mean concentrations of plasma glucose (P = 0.03), insulin (P ≤ 0.09), IGF-I (P ≤ 0.04), and progesterone (P₄; P = 0.01) compared to CON, whereas ENER and PROT had similar concentrations of these variables (P ≥ 0.15). A treatment × hour interaction was detected (P < 0.01) for plasma urea N (PUN), given that PUN concentrations increased after supplementation for ENER and PROT (time effect, P < 0.01), but did not change for CON (time effect; P = 0.62). In conclusion, beef cattle consuming low-quality cool-season forages had similar ruminal forage disappearance and intake, performance, and physiological status if offered supplements based on soybean meal or corn at approximately 0.5 % of BW (DM basis). The following experiment evaluated the influence of supplement composition on performance, reproductive, and metabolic responses of Angus × Hereford heifers consuming a low-quality cool-season forage (8.7 % CP and 57 % TDN). Sixty heifers (initial age = 226 ± 3 d) were allocated into 15 drylot pens (4 heifers/pen; 5 pens/treatment), and assigned to the same treatments as reported above. Heifers were offered meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) hay for ad libitum consumption during the experiment (d -10 to 160). Beginning on d 0, PROT and ENER were provided daily at a rate of 1.30 and 1.40 kg of DM/heifer to ensure that PROT and ENER intakes were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. Hay and total DMI were recorded for 5 consecutive days during each month of the experiment. Blood was collected every 10 d for analysis of plasma P₄ to evaluate puberty attainment. Blood samples collected on d -10, 60, 120, and 150 were also analyzed for PUN, glucose, insulin, IGF-I, NEFA, and leptin. Liver samples were collected on d 100 from 2 heifers/pen, and analyzed for mRNA expression of genes associated with nutritional metabolism. No treatment effect was detected (P = 0.33) on forage DMI. Total DMI, ADG, mean concentrations of glucose, insulin, and IGF-I, as well as hepatic mRNA expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were greater (P ≤ 0.02) for PROT and ENER compared with CON, and similar between PROT and ENER (P ≥ 0.13). Mean PUN concentrations were also greater (P < 0.01) for PROT and ENER compared with CON, whereas PROT heifers had greater (P < 0.01) PUN compared with ENER. Plasma leptin concentrations were similar between ENER and PROT (P ≥ 0.19), and greater (P ≤ 0.03) for ENER and PROT compared with CON on d 120 and 150 (treatment × day interaction; P = 0.03). Hepatic mRNA expression of mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was greater (P = 0.05) in PROT compared with CON and ENER, and similar between CON and ENER (P = 0.98). The proportion of heifers pubertal on d 160 was greater (P < 0.01) in ENER compared with PROT and CON, and similar between PROT and CON (P = 0.38). In conclusion, beef heifers consuming a low-quality cool-season forage had a similar increase in DMI, growth, and overall metabolic status if offered supplements based on soybean meal or corn at 0.5 % of BW. The last experiment was designed to determine if frequency of protein supplementation impacts physiological responses associated with reproduction in beef cows. Fourteen non-pregnant, non-lactating beef cows were ranked by age and BW, and allocated to 3 groups. Groups were assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design, containing 3 periods of 21 d and the following treatments: 1) soybean meal (SB) supplementation daily (D), 2) SB supplementation 3 times/wk (3WK), and 3) SB supplementation once/wk (1WK). Within each period, cows were assigned to an estrus synchronization protocol; 100 μg of GnRH + controlled internal drug release (CIDR) containing 1.38 g of P4 on d 1, 25 mg of PGF₂α on d 8, and CIDR removal + 100 μg of GnRH on d 11. Grassseed straw was offered for ad libitum consumption. Soybean meal was individually supplemented at a daily rate of 1 kg/cow (as-fed basis). Moreover, 3WK were supplemented on d 0, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, and 18, whereas 1WK were supplemented on d 4, 11, and 18. Blood samples were collected from 0 (prior to) to 72 h after supplementation on d 11 and 18, and analyzed for PUN. Samples collected from 0 to 12 h were also analyzed for plasma glucose, insulin, and P4 (d 18 only). Uterine flushing fluid was collected concurrently with blood sampling at 28 h for pH evaluation. Liver biopsies were performed concurrently with blood sampling at 0, 4, and 28 h, and analyzed for mRNA expression of carbamoylphosphate synthetase I (CPS-I; h 28), and CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 (h 0 and 4 on d 18). Plasma urea-N concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) for 1WK vs. 3WK from 20 to 72 h, and greater (P < 0.01) for 1WK vs. D from 16 to 48 h and at 72 h after supplementation (treatment × hour interaction; P < 0.01). Moreover, PUN concentrations peaked at 28 h after supplementation for 3WK and 1WK (P < 0.01), and were greater (P < 0.01) at this time for 1WK vs. 3WK and D and for 3WK vs. D. Expression of CPS-I was greater (P < 0.01) for 1WK vs. D and 3WK. Uterine flushing pH tended (P ≤ 0.10) to be greater for 1WK vs. 3WK and D. No treatment effects were detected (P ≥ 0.15) on expression of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4, plasma glucose and P4 concentrations, whereas plasma insulin concentrations were greater (P ≤ 0.03) in D and 3WK vs. 1WK. Hence, decreasing frequency of protein supplementation did not reduce uterine flushing pH or plasma P₄ concentrations, which are known to impact reproduction in beef cows. In summary for all the experiments presented herein: (1) pregnant and developing replacement beef heifers consuming a low-quality, cool-season forage equally utilize and benefit, in terms of growth and metabolic parameters, from supplements based on protein or energy ingredients provided at approximately 0.5 % of heifer BW/d, (2) energetic supplementation at approximately 0.5 % BW/d did not impair forage disappearance parameters in rumen-fistulated steers, and (3) decreasing soybean meal supplementation frequency to once a week did not increase uterine pH, plasma P₄, and expression of hepatic enzymes associated with steroid catabolism in ruminants

Silkworm and Silk: Traditional and Innovative Applications

The various subjects covered in the present Special Issue "Silkworm and Silk: Traditional and Innovative Applications" demonstrate how sericulture, a practice deeply rooted in human history, can act as a bridge to bring together an exceptionally wide range of scientific and technical expertise in both conventional topics and cutting-edge technologies [...]

Omnichannel Solution Applied in a Brazilian Financial Institution

This study presents a solution to the low operational efficiency and inadequate use of inputs in the customer service channels of a major Brazilian financial institution. The work adopted the Design Science methodology to develop a platform that unified customer service systems and direction of demands and business processes. The solution initiated the digital transformation of service channels and contributed to the significant improvement in process management by allowing an integrated view of the relationship, facilitated the analysis of services and promoted to customers, regardless of the point of contact, the experience of successful journeys

A Bombyx mori Infection Model for Screening Antibiotics against Staphylococcus epidermidis

The increasing number of microorganisms that are resistant to antibiotics is prompting the development of new antimicrobial compounds and strategies to fight bacterial infections. The use of insects to screen and test new drugs is increasingly considered a promising tool to accelerate the discovery phase and limit the use of mammalians. In this study, we used for the first time the silkworm, Bombyx mori, as an in vivo infection model to test the efficacy of three glycopeptide antibiotics (GPAs), against the nosocomial pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis. To reproduce the human physiological temperature, the bacterial infection was performed at 37 °C and it was monitored over time by evaluating the survival rate of the larvae, as well the response of immunological markers (i.e., activity of hemocytes, activation of the prophenoloxidase system, and lysozyme activity). All the three GPAs tested (vancomycin, teicoplanin, and dalbavancin) were effective in curing infected larvae, significantly reducing their mortality and blocking the activation of the immune system. These results corroborate the use of this silkworm infection model for the in vivo studies of antimicrobial molecules active against staphylococci

The coefficient of correction of effectiveness with the account of natural factors

The existing methods of determination of effectiveness don’t give the opportunity to emphasize the factors to the full extent. By which we can achieve the effect: the level of development of technologies, exploitation of natural resources, i,e. the damage to the environment etc. The economic damage, caused to the environment as a result of exploitation of natural resources and ecological violations at the given moment, doesn’t have a precise definition at the profound level. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/1280