Analysis of Studies on Applications and Challenges in Implementation of Big Data in the Public Administration

The big data ? huge amount of data ? era has begun and is redefining how organizations deal with information. While the business sector has been using and developing big data applications for nearly a decade, only recently the public sector has begun to adopt this technology to gather information and use it as a decision support tool. Few organizations have so many advantages to harness the potential of the big data as the public service agencies, because of the large amount of data they have access to. However, due to the current theme, there is still a long way to go. Some papers have presented ways in which governments are using big data to better serve their citizens. Nevertheless, there is still much uncertainty about the real possibility of improving government operations through this technology. By analyzing the literature related to the topic, this paper aims to present the areas of public administration that can take advantage of data analysis. In addition, raising the challenges and resilience faced for the insertion of the big data in the public sector is also important. In this way, we seek to understand how public organizations can take advantage of the data that they have, to manage and improve the efficiency and offer of public services to society. The results showed that several organizations can modernize and improve their operations with data analysis, but challenges need to be overcome. Therefore, the big data presents itself as an important tool for the modernization of public administration

OS IMPACTOS SOCIAIS DA PUBLICIDADE E CONSUMO INFANTIL NO BRASIL

O presente trabalho abordará a temática da publicidade e consumo infantil, sob o viés da sociologia e direito do consumidor, considerando os impactos sociais oriundos desta prática, a saber: distúrbios alimentares, erotização precoce, adultização, estigmatização de gênero e a consequente propagação de valores consumistas. Na oportunidade, será traçada uma digressão histórica para descrever a definição de infância, sob análise comparativa, a fim de entender a construção deste conceito da sociedade brasileira. Como aparato metodológico, será utilizada a revisão bibliográfica narrativa, valendo-se da literatura sociológica e jurídica, obtida a partir de referências legais e doutrinárias. O objetivo do trabalho é mostrar que a publicidade infantil acarreta consequências negativas para a criança, sobretudo, no que diz respeito ao incentivo ao consumido desenfreado. Com isso, abre-se uma discussão importante acerca desta temática, a partir das evidências apresentadas, lançando luz sobre o desafio da tutela e proteção necessária que deve ser dada a criança, como sendo um elemento da sociedade em formação

The effect of inventory leanness on firms’ credit ratings: the case of Pakistan

Artigo publicado em revista científica internacionalInventory leanness requires that firms minimize inventory mistreatment and misuse. A firm performance deteriorates because of high inventory misuse, and because of such an issue, the effect on the firm’s credit rating can also be seen. This study examines the effect of inventory leanness on firms’ credit ratings. It aims to create an understanding of the relationship between inventory leanness and the firm’s financial performance and provides insight into the credit rating system of Pakistan. We analyze secondary Pakistan data between 2008 and 2017. Among the sixty firms on Pakistan Stock Exchange that are rated by PACRA, only thirty-eight have complete data available on their respective websites. By using panel data analysis, the results indicate that inventory leanness and credit ratings are positively related. In an added analysis, we evaluate the financial performance in the context of credit rating by using control variables (size, leverage, and capital intensity ratio) and dummy variables (loss and subordinate debt). Our results are consistent with earlier studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hemostatic changes in children undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

PURPOSE: We evaluated hemostasic changes in children undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). METHODS: We studied 17 children before, during surgery, in the immediate, first and between the 4th and 7th postoperative days, measuring hematocrit, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, platelet count, factor V and euglobulin lysis time. Children were divided in those with and without excessive bleeding in the postoperative period. RESULTS: We observed significant prolongation of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time, reduction of fibrinogen and factor V, and shortening of euglobulin lysis time. Six (35%) children bled excessively. Platelet count reduction was greater in the intra operative period in these cases and the duration of CPB was longer in this group. CONCLUSION: Changes in hemostasis during open heart surgery are due to coagulation cascade disorders as well as fibrinolysis. The incidence of excessive bleeding is higher in the pediatric group. Prolonged CPB time and greater reduction in platelet count differentiated both groups.OBJETIVO: Avaliar as alterações de hemostasia encontradas em crianças submetidas a cirurgia cardíaca com circulação extracorpórea (CEC). MÉTODOS: Estudamos 17 crianças no pré e pós-operatório (PO) imediato, no 1° PO e entre o 4º e 7º PO, analisando o hematócrito, tempo de protrombina (TP), tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativado, fibrinogênio, contagem de plaquetas, fator V e tempo de lise de euglobulina (TLE). Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos com e sem sangramento excessivo no PO. RESULTADOS: Houve alterações significantes no intra-operatório com aumento do TP e tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativado e redução do fibrinogênio, fator V e do TLE. Seis (35%) crianças sangraram excessivamente. A contagem de plaquetas foi significantemente menor no intra-operatório; neste grupo o tempo de CEC foi maior. CONCLUSÃO: Alterações de hemostasia no intra e PO ocorrem como conseqüência da ativação da cascata de coagulação e fibrinólise. A incidência de sangramento excessivo é alta nesta faixa etária. Os grupos com e sem sangramento excessivo diferenciaram-se pelo maior tempo de CEC e contagem reduzida de plaquetas.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Evaluation of mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between owners’ and dogs’ anxiety: A tool to understand a complex problem

peer-reviewedAnxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored the potential association between owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, while also testing for mediating and moderating factors. Two hypotheses previously proposed in the literature were here tested: that dogs may respond to their owners’ anxiety directly through emotional contagion, or that owners’ anxiety may affect dogs’ indirectly via (a) owners’ overprotectiveness - thereby restricting the dog's ability to familiarize itself with novel situations - or (b) their use of coercive dog-training methods. A cross-sectional approach was followed with use of an online questionnaire designed to measure owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, as well as owners’ protective behavior, and dogs’ emotional reactions to their owners’ emotions (i.e., ‘empathic trait’). Data were obtained from 1,172 self-identified dog owners. Results showed a significant positive correlation between owners’ trait anxiety and the severity of their dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior. No evidence was found for mediation of this relationship by owners’ protective behavior or their use of coercive training methods. However, the results showed a marginally significant moderation effect above a particular score in dogs’ ‘empathic trait’. This study suggests that owners’ trait anxiety is associated, to some extent, with the occurrence of dogs’ fear and anxiety related behavior problems. The extent to which dogs exhibit an ‘empathic trait’ may explain the strength of this association

Evaluation of mediating and moderating effects on the relationship between owners’ and dogs’ anxiety: A tool to understand a complex problem

peer-reviewedAnxiety tends to aggregate in families, and families increasingly include companion animals, such as dogs. Based on previous research pointing to a ‘personality fit’ between humans and their companion dogs, this study explored the potential association between owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, while also testing for mediating and moderating factors. Two hypotheses previously proposed in the literature were here tested: that dogs may respond to their owners’ anxiety directly through emotional contagion, or that owners’ anxiety may affect dogs’ indirectly via (a) owners’ overprotectiveness - thereby restricting the dog's ability to familiarize itself with novel situations - or (b) their use of coercive dog-training methods. A cross-sectional approach was followed with use of an online questionnaire designed to measure owners’ trait anxiety and dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior problems, as well as owners’ protective behavior, and dogs’ emotional reactions to their owners’ emotions (i.e., ‘empathic trait’). Data were obtained from 1,172 self-identified dog owners. Results showed a significant positive correlation between owners’ trait anxiety and the severity of their dogs’ fear and anxiety-related behavior. No evidence was found for mediation of this relationship by owners’ protective behavior or their use of coercive training methods. However, the results showed a marginally significant moderation effect above a particular score in dogs’ ‘empathic trait’. This study suggests that owners’ trait anxiety is associated, to some extent, with the occurrence of dogs’ fear and anxiety related behavior problems. The extent to which dogs exhibit an ‘empathic trait’ may explain the strength of this association

X-ray computerized microtomography and confocal Raman microscopy as complementary techniques to conventional imaging tools for the microstructural characterization of Cheddar cheese

peer-reviewedThis study explored the use of X-ray computerized microtomography (micro-CT) and confocal Raman microscopy to provide complementary information to well-established techniques, such as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), for the microstructural characterization of cheese. To evaluate the potential of these techniques, 5 commercial Cheddar cheese samples, 3 with different ripening times and 2 with different fat contents, were analyzed. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was particularly useful to describe differences in fat and protein distribution, especially between the 2 samples with different fat contents. The quantitative data obtained through image analysis correlated well with the nutritional information provided in the product labels. Conversely, micro-CT was more advantageous for studying the size and spatial distribution of microcrystals present within the cheese matrix. Two types of microcrystals were identified that differed in size, shape, and X-ray attenuation. The smallest, with a diameter of approximately 10 to 20 μm, were more abundant in the samples and presented a more uniform roundish shape and higher X-ray attenuation. Larger and more heterogeneous crystals with diameters reaching 50 μm were also observed in scarcer numbers and showed lower X-ray attenuation. Confocal Raman microscopy was useful not only for identifying the distribution of all these components but also allowed comparing the presence of micronutrients such as carotenoids in the cheeses and provided compositional information on the crystals detected. Small and large crystals were identified as calcium phosphate and calcium lactate, respectively. Overall, using micro-CT, confocal Raman microscopy, and CLSM in combination generated novel and complementary information for the microstructural and nutritional characterization of Cheddar cheese. These techniques can be used to provide valuable knowledge when studying the effect of milk composition, processing, and maturation on the cheese quality attributes

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy in heterozygous female patients: women are not just carriers

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a recessive X-linked disorder associated with marked phenotypic variability. Female carriers are commonly thought to be normal or only mildly affected, but their disease still needs to be better described and systematized. Objectives: To review and systematize the clinical features of heterozygous women followed in a Neurogenetics Clinic. Methods: We reviewed the clinical, biochemical, and neuroradiological data of all women known to have X-ADL. Results: The nine women identified were classified into three groups: with severe and aggressive diseases; with slowly progressive, spastic paraplegia; and with mildly decreased vibratory sensation, brisk reflexes, and no complaints. Many of these women did not have a known family history of X-ALD. Conclusions: Heterozygous women with X-ADL have a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from mild to severe phenotypes