Capacidades de internet banking e desempenho das pequenas empresas: o valor de negócio da TI na perspectiva de capacidades externas

The purpose of this research is to identify the extent to which Internet Banking Capabilities are related to the performance of small business (bank customers) at the processes and firm levels. As a research method, a survey with small businesses which use internet banking has been conducted. For data analysis, we used Structural Equation Modeling estimated with Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results indicate the direct impact of Internet Banking Capabilities on process performance, which sequentially impacts the performance at the firm level. On the other hand, there is no direct impact of Internet Banking Capabilities on firm performance. Limitations and research opportunities are included in the conclusions.Keywords: IT value, Internet Banking Capabilities, process performance, firm performance.Esta pesquisa objetiva identificar em que medida as capacidades de internet banking estão associadas ao desempenho de pequenas empresas (clientes bancários) nos níveis de processos e de firma. Como método de pesquisa, realizou-se uma survey com pequenas empresas que utilizam internet banking. Para análise de dados, utilizou-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, por estimativa Partial Least Squares (PLS). Os resultados indicam o impacto direto das capacidades de internet banking no desempenho de processos, que, por sua vez, impacta o desempenho no nível de firma. Por outro lado, inexiste relação de impacto direto das Capacidades de Internet Banking no Desempenho de Firma. Limitações e oportunidades de pesquisa constam nas conclusões.Palavras-chave: Valor da TI, capacidades de internet banking, desempenho de processos, desempenho da firma

Polymer Nanocomposites for Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen is considered to be a clean, economical and safe renewable energy source that would be ideal to replace fossil fuels, because it is light, highly abundant and its oxidation product (water) is environmentally benign. However, hydrogen is easy to burn (the chemical energy per mass of hydrogen is at least three times larger than that of other chemical fuels), which has the risk of fire and explosion. The problems of transportation and storage restrict the application of hydrogen energy, which has become a key factor in the development and utilization of hydrogen energy. This gas adsorbs at solid surfaces depending on the applied pressure and temperature. For storage purposes in mobile applications, the adsorption of hydrogen has been studied mainly on carbon species, but light and reasonably cheap materials of high surface area should prove to be attractive as well. Porous material is a very promising hydrogen storage material, which stores the gas in the form of molecules at low temperatures and compresses hydrogen into the holes effectively. The purpose of this work was to develop a hybrid porous materials consisting of sulfonated polyetherimide matrix with aluminum nanoparticles and faujasite type zeolite. Dilute solutions were first prepared under stirring at room temperature and the solutions were dried under vacuum. The hybrids were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and hydrogen sorption measurements. The addition of aluminum decreased the glass transition temperature of the hybrids when compared to the sulfonated polymer and the TEM images showed that simply physically mixture occurred between polymer and metallic nanoparticles. Hydrogen sorption tests showed an increase in the amount of hydrogen in the presence of zeolite.CNPq (Brazilian Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development)FAPESP (Sao Paulo Research Foundation)Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Dept Mat Engn, Sao Carlos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Pelotas, Ctr Technol Dev, Pelotas, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Sci & Technol, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Sci & Technol, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilCNPq: 159187/2014-1FAPESP: 2013/23586-0Web of Scienc

Patients with multiple sclerosis do not necessarily consume more alcohol or tobacco than the general population

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Two-dimensional readout of GEM detectors

The recently introduced Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) permits the amplification of electrons released by ionizing radiation in a gas by factors approaching ten thousand, larger gains can be obtained combining two GEMs in cascade. We describe methods for implementing two- and three-dimensional projective localization of radiation, with sub-millimeter accuracy, making use of specially manufactured and patterned pick-up electrodes. Easy to implement and flexible in the choice of the readout geometry, the technology has the distinctive advantage of allowing all pick-up electrodes to be kept at ground potential, thus substantially improving the system simplicity and reliability. Preliminary results demonstrating the two-dimensional imaging capability of the devices are provided and discussed, as well as future perspectives of development

Capacidades de internet banking e desempenho das pequenas empresas: o valor de negócio da TI na perspectiva de capacidades externas

The purpose of this research is to identify the extent to which Internet Banking Capabilities are related to the performance of small business (bank customers) at the processes and firm levels. As a research method, a survey with small businesses which use internet banking has been conducted. For data analysis, we used Structural Equation Modeling estimated with Partial Least Squares (PLS). The results indicate the direct impact of Internet Banking Capabilities on process performance, which sequentially impacts the performance at the firm level. On the other hand, there is no direct impact of Internet Banking Capabilities on firm performance. Limitations and research opportunities are included in the conclusions.Keywords: IT value, Internet Banking Capabilities, process performance, firm performance.Esta pesquisa objetiva identificar em que medida as capacidades de internet banking estão associadas ao desempenho de pequenas empresas (clientes bancários) nos níveis de processos e de firma. Como método de pesquisa, realizou-se uma survey com pequenas empresas que utilizam internet banking. Para análise de dados, utilizou-se a Modelagem de Equações Estruturais, por estimativa Partial Least Squares (PLS). Os resultados indicam o impacto direto das capacidades de internet banking no desempenho de processos, que, por sua vez, impacta o desempenho no nível de firma. Por outro lado, inexiste relação de impacto direto das Capacidades de Internet Banking no Desempenho de Firma. Limitações e oportunidades de pesquisa constam nas conclusões.Palavras-chave: Valor da TI, capacidades de internet banking, desempenho de processos, desempenho da firma

Brazilian gamma detection device for sentinel lymph node biopsy

OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of an intra-operative gamma detection Brazilian device (IPEN) on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) procedures. METHODS: Forty melanoma or breast cancer patients with indication for undergoing SLNB were studied. Lymphoscintigraphy was done 2 to 24 hours prior to surgery. Lymphatic mapping with vital dye and gamma detection were performed intraoperatively. For gamma detection Neoprobe ® 1500 was used followed by IPEN (equipment under test) in the first 20 patients and for the remaining half IPEN was used first to verify its ability to locate the sentinel node (SN). Measurements were taken from the radiopharmaceutical product injection site, from SN (in vivo and ex vivo) and from background. It was recorded if the SN was stained or not and if it was found easily by surgeon. RESULTS: There were 33 (82.5%) breast cancer and 7 (17.5%) melanoma patients. Ages varied from 21 to 68 year-old (median age of 46). Sex distribution was 35 (87.5%) women and 5 (12.5%) men. Sentinel node was found in all but one patient. There was no statistical difference between the reasons ex vivo/ background obtained with the measures of both equipments (p=0, 2583-ns). The SN was easily found by the surgeon with both devices. CONCLUSION: The SLNB was successfully performed using either equipment. It was possible to do SLNB with the Brazilian device developed by IPEN without prejudice for the patient.OBJETIVO: Testar a eficácia de equipamento de detecção gama intra-operatória (DGI) desenvolvido pelo IPEN (Brasil), em procedimentos de biópsia de linfonodo sentinela (BLS) no melanoma e no câncer de mama. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 40 pacientes portadores de melanoma ou câncer de mama com indicação para realização de BLS.Todos pacientes foram submetidos à linfocintilografia e a BLS ocorreu entre 2 a 24 horas após a mesma. Concomitantemente à DGI, realizou-se o mapeamento linfático com corante vital. Foram feitas leituras com o equipamento convencional Neoprobe® 1500 e com o equipamento em teste (IPEN) dos valores de captação do sítio de injeção do radiofármaco, do LS in vivo e ex vivo e da captação de fundo. Foi registrado se o LS estava corado e se o cirurgião teve facilidade para encontrá-lo. Nos primeiros 20 pacientes utilizou-se o equipamento convencional e depois o de teste; nos outros 20, utilizou-se primeiro o equipamento em teste, com objetivo de verificar se o mesmo identificava primariamente o LS. RESULTADOS: Dos quarenta pacientes, 33 eram portadores de tumor de mama e sete de melanoma cutâneo; variação da idade: 21 a 68 anos (mediana= 46 anos); 35 mulheres e 5 homens. Em apenas um paciente o LS não foi encontrado, nem pela DGI nem pelo corante vital. Não houve diferença estatística entre as razões ex vivo/fundo obtidas com os dois equipamentos (p=0, 2583-ns). CONCLUSÃO: É possível realizar o procedimento de BLS com o equipamento brasileiro desenvolvido pelo IPEN, com facilidade e sem prejuízo para o paciente.Hospital Israelita Albert EinsteinIPENUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Faculdade de Medicina Anhembi-MorumbiUNIFESPSciEL

Exploiting Reliability-Guided Aggregation for the Assessment of Curvilinear Structure Tortuosity

The study on tortuosity of curvilinear structures in medical images has been significant in support of the examination and diagnosis for a number of diseases. To avoid the bias that may arise from using one particular tortuosity measurement, the simultaneous use of multiple measurements may offer a promising approach to produce a more robust overall assessment. As such, this paper proposes a data-driven approach for the automated grading of curvilinear structures’ tortuosity, where multiple morphological measurements are aggregated on the basis of reliability to form a robust overall assessment. The proposed pipeline starts dealing with the imprecision and uncertainty inherently embedded in empirical tortuosity grades, whereby a fuzzy clustering method is applied on each available measurement. The reliability of each measurement is then assessed following a nearest neighbour guided approach before the final aggregation is made. Experimental results on two corneal nerve and one retinal vessel data sets demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method over those where measurements are used independently or aggregated using conventional averaging operators

Redução do TGF-B urinário (UTGF-B) com o controle intensivo da pressão arterial em pacientes com diabetes tipo 2 e nefropatia diabética (ND)

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