U.S. Unemployment Duration: Has Long Become Longer or Short Become Shorter?

The U.S. labor market has been experiencing unprecedented high average unemployment duration. The shift in the unemployment duration distribution can be traced back to the early nineties. In this study, censored quantile regression methods are employed to analyze the changes in the US unemployment duration distribution. We explore the decomposition method proposed by Machado and Mata (2005) to disentangle the contribution of the changes generated by the covariate distribution and by the conditional distribution. The data used in this inquiry are taken from the nationally representative Displaced Worker Surveys of 1988 and 1998. We provide evidence that the change in the unemployment duration distribution is mainly produced by the opposing effects of a sharp rise in job-to-job transition rates and an increased sensitivity of unemployment duration to unemployment rates. Compositional changes in the labor force played a limited role. We rationalize our findings by arguing that improved screening technology is likely to be the relevant underlying mechanism at work.

Using the First Principal Component as a Core Inflation Indicator

This paper investigates the consequences of non-stationarity for the principal components analysis and suggests a data transformation that allows obtaining smoother series for the first principal component to be used as a core inflation indicator. The paper also introduces a theoretical model, which allows interpreting core inflation as a common stochastic trend to the year-on-year rates of change of the price indices of the basic CPI items. Finally, it is shown that the first principal component computed in real time meets the evaluation criteria introduced in Marques et al. (2000).

Topic maps applied to PubMed

This paper presents a topic map approach to PubMed in order to create a knowledge representation for this information system. PubMed is a free search engine that gives very full coverage of the related biomedical sciences. With more than 17 millions of citations since 1865, PubMed users have several problems to find the papers desired. So, it is necessary to organize these concepts in a semantic network. To achieve this objective, we use the Metamorphosis system, choosing the keywords from MeSH ontology. This way, we obtain an ontological index for PubMed, making easier to find specific papers.(undefined

Prediction of COVID-19 diagnosis based on openEHR artefacts

Nowadays, we are facing the worldwide pandemic caused by COVID-19. The complexity and momentum of monitoring patients infected with this virus calls for the usage of agile and scalable data structure methodologies. OpenEHR is a healthcare standard that is attracting a lot of attention in recent years due to its comprehensive and robust architecture. The importance of an open, standardized and adaptable approach to clinical data lies in extracting value to generate useful knowledge that really can help healthcare professionals make an assertive decision. This importance is even more accentuated when facing a pandemic context. Thus, in this study, a system for tracking symptoms and health conditions of suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patients from a Portuguese hospital was developed using openEHR. All data on the evolutionary status of patients in home care as well as the results of their COVID-19 test were used to train different ML algorithms, with the aim of developing a predictive model capable of identifying COVID-19 infections according to the severity of symptoms identified by patients. The CRISP-DM methodology was used to conduct this research. The results obtained were promising, with the best model achieving an accuracy of 96.25%, a precision of 99.91%, a sensitivity of 92.58%, a specificity of 99.92%, and an AUC of 0.963, using the Decision Tree algorithm and the Split Validation method. Hence, in the future, after further testing, the predictive model could be implemented in clinical decision support systems.This work is funded by "FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia" within the R &D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. D.F. thanks the FundacAo para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Grant 2021.06308.BD

BIOPIRATARIA E EXPLORAÇÕES OCORRIDAS NO BRASIL: UM RELATO-DENÚNCIA DE PRÁTICAS CRIMINOSAS CONTRA POVOS INDÍGENAS

This article aims to denounce the process of subordination and commercial (re) colonization in indigenous scenarios in Brazil, established with the practice of biopiracy, which transforms biodiversity into products patented by financial institutions without the fair sharing of the advantages obtained by them . We bring, through reports-denunciations and literature review, the influences of colonialist practices that attack indigenous knowledge, their traditional commercial practices, cultural frontiers, biodiversity and biotechnology, being caused by segments of national society that hold power economic, in an articulated way with the explorations that took place in the Amazon and in other Brazilian scenarios. We also present some impacts of the 1988 Constitution, with respect to the practice of biopiracy, which show the disrespect to Human Rights norms for violating the knowledge and life of indigenous peoples.Este artículo tiene como objetivo denunciar el proceso de subordinación y (re) colonización comercial en escenarios indígenas en Brasil, establecido con la práctica de la biopiratería, que transforma la biodiversidad en productos patentados por instituciones financieras sin el reparto equitativo de las ventajas obtenidas por ellas. Traemos, a través de informes-denuncias y revisión de literatura, las influencias de prácticas colonialistas que atacan el conocimiento indígena, sus prácticas comerciales tradicionales, fronteras culturales, biodiversidad y biotecnología, siendo provocadas por segmentos de la sociedad nacional que ostentan el poder económico, de manera articulada con las exploraciones que tuvieron lugar en la Amazonía y en otros escenarios brasileños. También presentamos algunos impactos de la Constitución de 1988, con respecto a la práctica de la biopiratería, que muestran la falta de respeto a las normas de Derechos Humanos por violar el conocimiento y la vida de los pueblos indígenas.Este artigo tem como objetivo denunciar o processo de subalternação e (re)colonização comercial em cenários indígenas no Brasil, instaurado com a prática da biopirataria, que transforma a biodiversidade em produtos patenteados por instituições financeiras sem a repartição justa das vantagens por elas obtidas. Trazemos, por meio de relatos-denúncias e de revisão da literatura, as influências de práticas colonialistas que agridem os conhecimentos indígenas, suas práticas comerciais tradicionais, as fronteiras culturais, a biodiversidade e a biotecnologia, sendo ocasionadas por segmentos da sociedade nacional que detêm poder econômico, de modo articulado com as explorações ocorridas na Amazônia e em outros cenários brasileiros. Apresentamos ainda alguns impactos da Constituição de 1988, no que tange à prática da biopirataria, que evidenciam o desrespeito a normativas de Direitos Humanos por violentarem saberes e viveres dos povos indígenas.

Efeito do exercício físico na qualidade de vida após a cirurgia para cancro do pulmão e cancro colorretal: Revisão sistemática

Introdução: O cancro colorretal (CCR) e o cancro do pulmão são atualmente dois dos tumores mais incidentes a nível global e os mais mortais. Apesar da resseção cirúrgica ser uma intervenção potencialmente curativa em pacientes com estes tumores, esta intervenção está associada a um declínio significativo na qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde (QVRS). O exercício físico (EF) tem demonstrado um efeito benéfico na melhoria da capacidade funcional dos pacientes elegíveis para estes tipos de cirurgia oncológica, desconhecendo-se, no entanto, o seu efeito na recuperação da QVRS. Objectivo: O objetivo principal desta revisão sistemática foi avaliar a eficácia do EF na melhoria da QVRS após a cirurgia, em pacientes diagnosticados cancro do pulmão ou com CCR. Métodos: Foram incluídos estudos randomizados controlados, publicados até 21 de Março de 2021, selecionados através de pesquisa eletrónica, realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus e PEDro. Os estudos elegíveis teriam de comparar o efeito de intervenções com EF, implementado no período pré-cirúrgico ou nos três primeiros meses após a cirurgia, com intervenções que não envolvessem exercício estruturado durante este período. A qualidade metodológica foi avaliada através da escala Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Resultados: Dez estudos cumpriram com os critérios de elegibilidade e obtiveram uma pontuação ≥ 5 (0-10) na escala PEDro. Nove estudos incluíram pacientes com cancro do pulmão (n=651) e um estudo pacientes com CCR (n=93). Em pacientes com cancro do pulmão o exercício físico melhorou significativamente a dimensão física da QVRS após a cirurgia, com um efeito de magnitude elevada (SMD=0.89: 95% CI: [0.61; 1.15]; p=0.00) e reduziu significativamente os sintomas de fadiga, com um efeito de magnitude moderada SMD=-0.30: 95% CI: [-0.51;-0.08]; p=0.01). Em pacientes com CCR não se verificaram alterações significativas na QVRS nem nos sintomas de fadiga. Conclusão: O EF revela ser uma intervenção eficaz na recuperação da QVRS após a cirurgia em pacientes com cancro do pulmão, não havendo evidência do seu efeito benéfico em pacientes com CCR.N/

Generating human-like movements on an anthropomorphic robot using an interior point method

In previous work we have presented a model for generating human-like arm and hand movements on an anthropomorphic robot involved in human-robot collaboration tasks. This model was inspired by the Posture-Based Motion-Planning Model of human movements. Numerical results and simulations for reach-to-grasp movements with two different grip types have been presented previously. In this paper we extend our model in order to address the generation of more complex movement sequences which are challenged by scenarios cluttered with obstacles. The numerical results were obtained using the IPOPT solver, which was integrated in our MATLAB simulator of an anthropomorphic robot.EU funded Project PF7 Marie Curie ``NETT - Neural Engineering Transformative Technologies'', by FEDER funds through COMPETE (Operational Programme Thematic Factors of Competitiveness) and by portuguese funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the projects PEst-C/MAT/UI0013/2011 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022674

Educational needs in people with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To assess the educational needs of people with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), test differences across patient subgroups and identify factors independently associated with their educational needs.Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytic study. Patients with AS and PsA completed the Portuguese version of the Educational Needs Assessment Tool (PortENAT). Data were Rasch-transformed before descriptive and inferential analyses were undertaken. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine differences between patient subgroups and factors independently associated with their educational needs.Results: The study included 121 patients with AS and 132 with PsA. The level of educational needs varied by diagnostic group, but higher needs for both subgroups were reported regarding the “Disease process”, “Feelings” and “Managing pain” domains. Overall, patients with AS had a higher level of educational needs than those with PsA. In both disease groups, female gender was independently associated with higher educational needs. In the PsA group, a shorter disease duration was independently associated with higher educational needs in the following domains: “Managing pain”, “Movement” and “Feelings”.Conclusion: Educational needs vary by diagnostic group, gender and disease duration. These differences merit consideration in the design of patient education interventions

Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions: a systematic review informing the 2023 EULAR recommendations for the management of fatigue in people with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases

Objective: To identify the best evidence on the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions in reducing fatigue in people with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (I-RMDs) and to summarise their safety in the identified studies to inform European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations for the management of fatigue in people with I-RMDs. Methods: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including adults with I-RMDs conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook. Search strategy ran in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Complete, PEDro, OTseeker and PsycINFO. Assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis were performed by two reviewers independently. Data were pooled in meta-analyses. Results: From a total of 4150 records, 454 were selected for full-text review, 82 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 55 RCTs were included in meta-analyses. Physical activity or exercise was efficacious in reducing fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (standardised mean differences (SMD)=−0.23, 95% CI=−0.37 to −0.1), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (SMD=−0.54, 95% CI=−1.07 to −0.01) and spondyloarthritis (SMD=−0.94, 95% CI=−1.23 to −0.66); reduction of fatigue was not significant in Sjögren’s syndrome (SMD=−0.83, 95% CI=−2.13 to 0.47) and systemic sclerosis (SMD=−0.66, 95% CI=−1.33 to 0.02). Psychoeducational interventions were efficacious in reducing fatigue in RA (SMD=−0.32, 95% CI=−0.48 to −0.16), but not in SLE (SMD=−0.19, 95% CI=−0.46 to 0.09). Follow-up models in consultations (SMD=−0.05, 95% CI=−0.29 to 0.20) and multicomponent interventions (SMD=−0.20, 95% CI=−0.53 to 0.14) did not show significant reductions of fatigue in RA. The results of RCTs not included in the meta-analysis suggest that several other non-pharmacological interventions may provide a reduction of fatigue, with reassuring safety results. Conclusions: Physica activity or exercise and psychoeducational interventions are efficacious and safe for managing fatigue in people with I-RMDs

Software tools for conducting real-time information processing and visualization in industry: an up-to-date review

The processing of information in real-time (through the processing of complex events) has become an essential task for the optimal functioning of manufacturing plants. Only in this way can artificial intelligence, data extraction, and even business intelligence techniques be applied, and the data produced daily be used in a beneficent way, enhancing automation processes and improving service delivery. Therefore, professionals and researchers need a wide range of tools to extract, transform, and load data in real-time efficiently. Additionally, the same tool supports or at least facilitates the visualization of this data intuitively and interactively. The review presented in this document aims to provide an up-to-date review of the various tools available to perform these tasks. Of the selected tools, a brief description of how they work, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of their use, will be presented. Furthermore, a critical analysis of overall operation and performance will be presented. Finally, a hybrid architecture that aims to synergize all tools and technologies is presented and discussed.This work is funded by “FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia” within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020. The grants of R.S., R.M., A.M., and N.L. are supported by the European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internalization Programme (COMPETE 2020). [Project n. 039479. Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039479]