Women, men and creativity in business sector – comparative studies of leading EU and ECE countries

The main focus of the paper is innovativeness and creativity in gender perspective. The question asked is about the relation between gender, research and innovation. The paper is based on the data from European Patent Office (EPO) for years 1999-2013 concerning creative activities by women and men in business sector. For the purpose of the analysis, leading countries have been selected in terms of patent activities, which were then divided into two groups – 10 leading countries from the EU, and three leading countries from the transition economies. The main objective of the paper is to compare the dynamics of three variables: R&D expenditures, number of women and men employed as R&D personnel or researchers in business enterprise sector, number of women and men recognized in EPO database as inventors of patents that are employed in business sector

Application of Graph Theory Algorithms in Non-disjoint Functional Decomposition of Specific Boolean Functions, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2020, nr 3

Functional decomposition is a technique that allows to minimize Boolean functions that cannot be optimally minimized using other methods, such as variable reduction and linear decomposition. A heuristic method for finding nondisjoint decomposition has been proposed lately. In this paper, we examine how the usage of different graph theory techniques affects the computation time and the quality of the solution obtained. In total, six different approaches were analyzed. The results presented herein prove the advantages of the proposed approaches, showing that results obtained for standard benchmark M-out-of-20 functions are better than those presented in previous publication. Results obtained for randomly generated functions prove that time complexity and scalability are significantly better when using the heuristic graph coloring algorithm. However, quality of the solution is worse, in genera

The Relationship between Trabecular Bone Structure Modeling Methods and the Elastic Modulus as Calculated by FEM

Trabecular bone cores were collected from the femoral head at the time of surgery (hip arthroplasty). Investigated were 42 specimens, from patients with osteoporosis and coxarthrosis. The cores were scanned used computer microtomography (microCT) system at an isotropic spatial resolution of 36 microns. Image stacks were converted to finite element models via a bone voxel-to-element algorithm. The apparent modulus was calculated based on the assumptions that for the elastic properties, E = 10 MPa and ν = 0.3. The compressive deformation as calculated by finite elements (FE) analysis was 0.8%. The models were coarsened to effectively change the resolution or voxel size (from 72 microns to 288 microns or from 72 microns to 1080 microns). The aim of our study is to determine how an increase in the distance between scans changes the elastic properties as calculated by FE models. We tried to find a border value voxel size at which the module values were possible to calculate. As the voxel size increased, the mean voxel volume increased and the FEA-derived apparent modulus decreased. The slope of voxel size versus modulus relationship correlated with several architectural indices of trabecular bone

New approach to create more effective teams in the innovation process in enterprises

The subject-related literature provided information about the skills, education, and formal competencies required to join teams working on the innovation process. According to findings presented in this article, the previous studies have investigated insufficiently the gender-related issues in the decisions of managers who involve specialists in the innovation process. Thus, the purpose of this research was to identify, examine, and describe differences in the participation of men and women in the innovation process, considering their personal characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours. The research covered 1,164 innovative companies - beneficiaries of the European Union Cohesion Policy of 2007-2013. The survey was distributed independently to women and men participating in innovative activities in the researched companies. Two independent responses were received from each company; thus, two independent data samples were created. Both data composition and preliminary analysis adhere to the requirements of Principal Component Analysis. The results allow for the new design proposal to increase the effectiveness of teams working on innovation-focused tasks. In addition to education and experience, managers can now consider personal characteristics and better select women and men to drive innovation

Microarchitecture Parameters Describe Bone Structure and Its Strength Better Than BMD

Introduction and Hypothesis. Some papers have shown that bone mineral density (BMD) may not be accurate in predicting fracture risk. Recently microarchitecture parameters have been reported to give information on bone characteristics. The aim of this study was to find out if the values of volume, fractal dimension, and bone mineral density are correlated with bone strength. Methods. Forty-two human bone samples harvested during total hip replacement surgery were cut to cylindrical samples. The geometrical mesh of layers of bone mass obtained from microCT investigation and the volumes of each layer and fractal dimension were calculated. The finite element method was applied to calculate the compression force F causing ε = 0.8% strain. Results. There were stronger correlations for microarchitecture parameters with strength than those for bone mineral density. The values of determination coefficient R2 for mean volume and force were 0.88 and 0.90 for mean fractal dimension and force, while for BMD and force the value was 0.53. The samples with bigger mean bone volume of layers and bigger mean fractal dimension of layers (more complex structure) presented higher strength. Conclusion. The volumetric and fractal dimension parameters better describe bone structure and strength than BMD

Hydrogen and Water Bonding between Glycosaminoglycans and Phospholipids in the Synovial Fluid: Molecular Dynamics Study

Synovial fluid is a lubricant of the synovial joint that shows remarkable tribological properties. These properties originate in the synergy between its components, with two of its major components, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and phospholipids (PLs), playing a major role in boundary and mixed lubrication regimes. All-atom molecular dynamic simulations were performed to investigate the way these components bond. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) bonding with three types of lipids was tested. The results show that both glycosaminoglycans bind lipids at a similar rate, except for 1,2-d-ipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine lipids, which bind to chondroitin at a much higher rate than to hyaluronan. The results suggest that different synovial fluid lipids may play a different role when binding to both hyaluronan and chondroitin sulphate. The presented results may help in understanding a process of lubrication of articular cartilage at a nanoscale level

Institutional surrounding of innovative activity : based on opinions of women and men engaged in the process of innovation

Tło badań. Innowacje są jednym za źródeł wzrostu gospodarczego i rozwoju w długim okresie czasu. Dlatego też istotne jest rozważenie, które czynniki kształtują, wpływają na i promują działania innowacyjne. Cel badań. Głównym celem artykułu jest rozpoznanie różnic w opiniach kobiet i mężczyzn zatrudnionych w innowacyjnych przedsiębiorstwach na temat rozwiązań promujących działania innowacyjne, które powinny zostać wzięte pod uwagę przy projektowaniu polityki państwa. Metodologia. Aby osiągnąć ten cel, przeprowadzono ankietę dotyczącą kontekstu instytucjonalnego procesu innowacji wśród osób związanych z działalnością badawczą w przedsiębiorstwach, które otrzymały publiczne wsparcie finansowe swojej działalności innowacyjnej. W celu pogrupowania różnych rozwiązań instytucjonalnych wpływających na kobiety i mężczyzn wykorzystano analizę skupień. Kluczowe wnioski. Wyniki badania pokazują, że rozwiązania instytucjonalne promujące działania innowacyjne nie są neutralne ze względu na płeć, wskazując, że występują zarówno podobieństwa, jak i różnice w opiniach badanych kobiet i mężczyzn, jak i w opiniach dotyczących rozwiązań promujących działalność innowacyjną wśród kobiet lub mężczyzn. Środowisko pracy jest postrzegane jako najsilniejsza determinanta procesu innowacji. Jednak połączenie polityki innowacji i publicznych działań na rzecz równości płci również ma znaczenie w rozwoju innowacji.Background. Innovations are one of the sources of economic growth and long-term development. Therefore it is important to consider which factors form, influence, and promote innovative activities. Research aims. The main objective of the article is to identify the differences in opinions between men and women employed in innovative enterprises regarding solutions promoting innovative activities, which should be taken into account, while public policy is designed. Methodology. In order to reach this objective, a survey concerning the institutional context of the process of innovation was conducted among research personnel in companies that received public financial support for their innovative activities. In order to group different institutional solutions influencing women and men, the cluster analysis was used. Key findings. The results of the study show that institutional solutions promoting innovative activities are not gender neutral, indicating that there are both similarities and differences in women's and men's opinions, as well as in opinions regarding the solutions promoting innovative activities by women and men. The work environment is perceived as the most powerful determinant of the process of innovation. However, a combination of innovation policy and public actions for equality also plays a role in the development of innovations

Reasons for delay in treatment of breast cancer detected due to breast self-examination in women from the Lubelskie Region

Objectives: A delay in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients is observed despite access to modern diagnostic methods. The aim of the study was to evaluate time between the first symptoms of breast cancer and treatment commencement, as well as to analyze reasons for the delay. Materials and methods: The research was conducted on 260 breast cancer patients treated at the Oncology Center in Lublin between 2008 and 2011. ‘Patient delay’ was defined as the time gap of >3 months between first symptoms of cancer and the doctor’s appointment and ‘system delay’ as the time gap of >1 month between the first medical consultation and commencement of treatment. Results: Mean patient delay was 32.2 ± 63.8 weeks. The main reasons were: disregard of symptoms (51%) and fear of being diagnosed with cancer (48%). Factors which significantly influenced the length of patient delay included: age >65 years, non-regular gynecologic care, lack of prior cancer screening and lack of family history of breast cancer. Mean system delay was 3.1 ± 2.9 weeks. Tumors < 5cm in diameter and clinical presentation other than a tumor, significantly influenced the system delay. Conclusions: A significant delay in diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer remains to be noted. Delay in seeking medical help was observed in 20% of the patients, whereas the referral was delayed due to system fault in 38% of the cases. Contrary to popular belief, patient delay (mean 32.2 ± 63.8 weeks) is 10 times longer than system delay (3.1 ± 2.9 weeks), suggesting an urgent need for further education of the general public and creating more accessible medical care

Diffusion tensor tractography imaging in pediatric epilepsy – A systematic review

Purpose Recent years brought several experimental and clinical reports applying diffusion tensor tractography imaging (DTI) of the brain in epilepsy. This study was aimed to evaluate current evidence for adding the DTI sequence to the standard diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol in pediatric epilepsy. Material and methods Rapid and qualitative systematic review (RAE, Rapid Evidence Assessment), aggregating relevant studies from the recent 7 years. The PubMed database was hand searched for records containing terms “tractography AND epilepsy.” Only studies referring to children were included; studies were rated using “final quality of evidence.” Results Out of 144 screened records, relevant 101 were aggregated and reviewed. The synthesis was based on 73 studies. Case-control clinical studies were the majority of the material and comprised 43.8% of the material. Low ‘confirmability’ and low ‘applicability’ referred to 18 and 17 articles (29.5% and 27.9%), respectively. The sufficient quality of evidence supported performing DTI in temporal lobe epilepsy, malformations of cortical development and prior to a neurosurgery of epilepsy. Conclusions The qualitative RAE provides an interim estimate of the clinical relevance of quickly developing diagnostic methods. Based on the critical appraisal of current knowledge, adding the DTI sequence to the standard MRI protocol may be clinically beneficial in selected patient groups with childhood temporal lobe epilepsy or as a part of planning for an epilepsy surgery

Accuracy of the European Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (EU-TIRADS) in the valuation of thyroid nodule malignancy in reference to the post-surgery histological results

Purpose: To assess the clinical usefulness of the European Thyroid Imaging and Reporting Data System (EU-TIRADS) in the valuation of thyroid nodules malignancy in reference to post-surgery histological results. Material and methods: Pre-operative ultrasound was performed in consecutive patients admitted for thyroid surgery between June 2017 and January 2018. Thyroid nodules were classified according to EU-TIRADS to five groups: 1-5. At least one fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB)/patient (dominant or suspected nodule) was performed in an outpatient clinic. The final diagnosis was based on the histological result. The percentage of cancers in each EU-TIRADS group was evaluated. Finally, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, as well as positive and negative predictive values for malignancy were assessed. Results: Fifty-two patients with a total of 140 thyroid nodules (median: 3 nodules/thyroid [minimum-maximum: 1-6]) were enrolled in the study. Thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 0% (0/6) in EU-TIRADS 2; 0% (0/92) in EU-TIRADS 3; 5.9% (2/34) in EU-TIRADS 4, and 75% (6/8) in EU-TIRADS 5. In nodules assessed as EU-TIRADS ≥ 4 sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for malignancy were, respectively: 75% (CI 95%: 40.7-93.5), 94.1% (CI 95%: 86.0-98.5), 75% (CI 95%: 40.7-93.5), and 94.1% (CI 95%: 86.0-98.5). Conclusions: EU-TIRADS is a valuable and simple tool for assessment of the risk of malignancy of thyroid nodules and demonstrates a high ultrasound correlation with histological post-surgery results. FNAB should be performed in all nodules assessed as EU-TIRADS ≥ 4, due to higher risk of malignancy