A Business Intelligence Model for SMEs Based on Tacit Knowledge

This paper proposes a specific model of business intelligence in relation with SMEs practices, culture and competitive environment. This model is based on the mobilization of corporate tacit knowledge and informal information, aiming at interpreting anticipatory environmental information and assist strategic decision making. An empirical survey assessing the existing business intelligence practices in 20 French SMEs has identified seven necessary acceptance conditions of a business intelligence project as well as a managerial tool allowing tacit knowledge traceability.business intelligence; tacit knowledge; SMEs; sense-making

Breakdowns in the implementation of the Lánczos method for solving linear systems

AbstractThe Lánczos method for solving systems of linear equations is based on formal orthogonal polynomials. Its implementation is realized via some recurrence relationships between polynomials of a family of orthogonal polynomials or between those of two adjacent families of orthogonal polynomials. A division by zero can occur in such recurrence relations, thus causing a breakdown in the algorithm which has to be stopped. In this paper, two types of breakdowns are discussed. The true breakdowns which are due to the nonexistence of some polynomials and the ghost breakdowns which are due to the recurrence relationship used. Among all the recurrence relationships which can be used and all the algorithms for implementing the Lánczos method which came out from them, the only reliable algorithm is Lánczos/Orthodir which can only suffer from true breakdowns. It is shown how to avoid true breakdowns in this algorithm. Other algorithms are also discussed and the case of near-breakdown is treated. The same treatment applies to other methods related to Lánczos'

Sorption Study of a Basic Dye “Gentian Violet” from Aqueous Solutions Using Activated Bentonite

AbstractVarious industries like textiles, papers, food, plastics, leather, etc are great water and organic colorant users. Hence, the resulting effluents could be an important source of environmental problems, since they may contain stable and non biodegradable contaminants, like organic dyes. The treatment of which is the main scope of the present study. Different ways of dye removal from these effluents do exist, such as flotation, reverse osmosis, chemical flocculation and adsorption etc. Adsorption is used in this work for the removal of a particular basic dye, known as Gentian violet (GV) from an aqueous solution, by means of a natural clay material. The influence of various key parameters like contact time, temperature, ionic strength, etc. on the adsorbed amount of the dye was investigated, for batch conditions. A kinetic study was also carried out, the obtained experimental results were tested against the pseudo first order and the pseudo second order equations. An analysis of the obtained equilibrium data showed that the dye adsorption is best described by the Langmuir model. The obtained results showed that temperature did enhance the Gentian violet dye retention process onto the considered bentonite whereas the obtained thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic. The simultaneous presence of methylene blue, which is another colorant compound, with the Gentian violet was also considered. The clay materials showed a better affinity for the first one i e. methylene blue. In conclusion and according to the obtained results, the clay material may be recommended as an industrial adsorbent for the treatment of effluents containing Gentian violet (GV)

Outcome of Quality of Life for Women Undergoing Autologous versus Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction following Mastectomy:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: This review aimed to meta-analyze the quality of life of alloplastic versus autologous breast reconstruction, when measured with the BREAST-Q. Methods: An electronic PubMed and EMBASE search was designed to find articles that compared alloplastic versus autologous breast reconstruction using the BREAST-Q. Studies that failed to present BREAST-Q scores and studies that did not compare alloplastic versus autologous breast reconstruction were excluded. Two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. A standardized data collection form was used. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The mean difference and 95 percent confidence intervals between breast reconstruction means were estimated for each BREAST-Q subscale. Forest plots and the I2statistic were used to assess heterogeneity and funnel plot publication bias. The Z test was used to assess overall effects. Results: Two hundred eighty abstracts were found; 10 articles were included. Autologous breast reconstruction scored significantly higher in the five subscales than alloplastic breast reconstruction. The Satisfaction with Breasts subscale indicated the greatest difference, with a mean difference of 6.41 (95 percent CI, 3.58 to 9.24; I2= 70 percent). The Satisfaction with Results subscale displayed a mean difference of 5.52. The Sexual Well-Being subscale displayed a mean difference of 3.85. The Psychosocial Well-Being subscale displayed a mean difference of 2.64. The overall difference in physical well-being was significant, with high heterogeneity (mean difference, 3.33; 95 percent CI, 0.18 to 6.48; I2= 85). Conclusion: Autologous breast reconstruction had superior outcomes compared with alloplastic breast reconstruction as measured by the BREAST-Q

The Effect of Smoking and Body Mass Index on The Complication Rate of Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of smoking and body mass index on the occurrence of complications after alloplastic breast reconstruction. Materials and Methods: A consecutive series of 56 patients treated with immediate or delayed alloplastic breast reconstruction, including six cases combined with latissimus dorsi flap, at three hospitals between 2012 and 2018 were included. Complications were scored and defined according to Clavien–Dindo. To evaluate the impact of smoking, body mass index, and other potential risk factors on the occurrence of any and severe complications, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: In 56 patients, 22 patients had a complication. As much as 46% of smokers had severe complications compared to 18% of non-smokers. Of patients with body mass index ⩾ 25, 40% had severe complications compared to 10% with body mass index < 25. Smokers had eight times more chance of developing severe complications than non-smokers (ORadjusted = 8.0, p = 0.02). Patients with body mass index ⩾ 25 had almost 10 times more severe complications compared to patients with body mass index ⩽ 25 (ORadjusted = 9.9, p = 0.009). No other risk factors were significant. Conclusion: Smoking and body mass index ⩾ 25 both increased the complication rate to such an extent that patients should be informed about their increased risk for complications following alloplastic breast reconstruction and on these grounds surgeons may delay alloplastic breast reconstruction. It is an ethical dilemma whether one should deny overweight and obese patients and those who smoke an immediate alloplastic breast reconstruction. For both life style interventions, adequate guidance should be made available

Short-term Quality of Life after Autologous Compared to Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction:A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective multi-center study was to evaluate whether autologous breast reconstruction (BR) leads to lower short-term Quality of Life (QoL) compared to alloplastic BR, due the more physically demanding surgery and increased risk of severe complications of autologous BR.METHODS: Changes in QoL following BR were measured in this prospective multi-center study using the Breast-Q questionnaire which was administered preoperatively, and at six weeks and six months postoperatively. Characteristics and complications, classified according to Clavien-Dindo (CD), were compared between alloplastic and autologous groups. Profile plots and generalized Linear regression models were constructed to analyze the Breast-Q subscales over time for both BR groups.RESULTS: Preoperatively, women undergoing autologous BR scored lower on all Breast-Q scales compared to women undergoing alloplastic BR, regardless whether they underwent immediate or delayed BR. Women undergoing autologous BR scored higher at six weeks and six months postoperative on "satisfaction with breasts" (p=0.001), "psychosocial well-being" (p=0.024) and "sexual well-being" (p=0.007). Postoperative "physical well-being: chest" was similar between both groups (p=0.533). CD grade ≥III complications occurred more often among women in the autologous group (27% versus 12%, p=0.042). Complications were not associated with worse Breast-Q scores on any of the subscales.CONCLUSION: In contrast to our expectations and despite the higher incidence of severe complications and lower preoperative breast satisfaction and QoL scores, women undergoing autologous BR have higher levels of breast satisfaction, and psychosocial and sexual well-being, both at six weeks and six months after BR compared to women undergoing alloplastic BR.</p

Short-term Quality of Life after Autologous Compared to Alloplastic Breast Reconstruction:A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective multi-center study was to evaluate whether autologous breast reconstruction (BR) leads to lower short-term Quality of Life (QoL) compared to alloplastic BR, due the more physically demanding surgery and increased risk of severe complications of autologous BR.METHODS: Changes in QoL following BR were measured in this prospective multi-center study using the Breast-Q questionnaire which was administered preoperatively, and at six weeks and six months postoperatively. Characteristics and complications, classified according to Clavien-Dindo (CD), were compared between alloplastic and autologous groups. Profile plots and generalized Linear regression models were constructed to analyze the Breast-Q subscales over time for both BR groups.RESULTS: Preoperatively, women undergoing autologous BR scored lower on all Breast-Q scales compared to women undergoing alloplastic BR, regardless whether they underwent immediate or delayed BR. Women undergoing autologous BR scored higher at six weeks and six months postoperative on "satisfaction with breasts" (p=0.001), "psychosocial well-being" (p=0.024) and "sexual well-being" (p=0.007). Postoperative "physical well-being: chest" was similar between both groups (p=0.533). CD grade ≥III complications occurred more often among women in the autologous group (27% versus 12%, p=0.042). Complications were not associated with worse Breast-Q scores on any of the subscales.CONCLUSION: In contrast to our expectations and despite the higher incidence of severe complications and lower preoperative breast satisfaction and QoL scores, women undergoing autologous BR have higher levels of breast satisfaction, and psychosocial and sexual well-being, both at six weeks and six months after BR compared to women undergoing alloplastic BR.</p