Business intelligence: implantação no sistema do Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro

Toda empresa tem como objetivo realizar suas atividades de forma eficiente na venda de produtos e serviços na intenção de obtenção de lucros. Porém, muitas vezes, não há um projeto eficaz para auxiliá-la na gestão dos processos. Todo Sistema de Informação (SI) deve ser eficiente, suportado em sistemas informáticos robustos e ágeis e em usuários capazes de manipula-los sem grandes dificuldades. Partindo desse pressuposto, o presente trabalho procurou analisar eventuais vulnerabilidades do sistema do Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro - IFTM, no intuito de implantar um sistema de Business Intelligence (BI) para que este auxiliasse as tomadas de decisão. Então, após um levantamento minucioso das principais necessidades do sistema, constatou-se que o módulo da secretaria, denominado Controle de Registro Acadêmico (CRA), possui falhas que geravam problemas aos gestores como atrasos, informações incompletas e processos repetitivos. Mediante o exposto, criou-se um Data Mart no módulo CRA, com o objetivo de sanar certas deficiências, tais como: relatórios ineficientes, registros inconsistentes de alunos e ausência de representação gráfica. Em outras palavras, conseguiu-se a resolução dos problemas a partir da utilização de dados mais consistentes e de maior qualidade, como por exemplo, ao invés de gerar relatórios genéricos listando todos os alunos, produzí-los com informações específicas filtrando por aluno e período determinado. A metodologia de investigação utilizada no desenvolvimento deste trabalho de investigação foi a action-research proposta por Baskerville, pois envolve a ação dos pesquisadores e dos grupos interessados, através de ações concretas, em um processo cíclico de aprendizagem construindo novo conhecimento . Assim, com o projeto em questão, conclui-se que se obtiveram melhorias significativas no módulo CRA do SI do IFTM, já que se criaram soluções de BI, tais como relatórios específicos e visualizações gráficas, de modo a oferecer mais eficiência e facilidades para seus usuários, trazendo maior dinamismo e agilidade nos processos.Every organization aims to perform the activities in an efficiently way at selling products and services to obtain profits. However, most of the time, there is not an effective project to support the company in the process management. Every information system (IS) must be efficient, supported by substantial and fast computer system and trained users to manipulate them without troubles. Based on this assumption, this paper goals to analyze possible vulnerabilities in the Instituto Federal do Triângulo Mineiro ( IFTM) system in order to implant a Business Intelligence (BI) system to help at decision makings. It was noticed that the IFTM- Paracatu campus system does not have proper BI tools to help managers in the decision making. Then, after a detailed survey of the necessity of the system, it was verified the institute secretary module, named Academic Registration Control (RCA), has important failures, for example, delaying, inconsistent information and repetitive processes. As noted above, it was created a BI Data Mart on RCA module, in order to solve basic failures, such as: weak reports, inconsistent student records and lack of graphical analysis. Moreover, the problems were solved from the use of reliable data with better quality, for example, the reports were generated by solid information and not generic reports instead. For this work it was used Action Research methodology suggest by Baskerville, because it comprises the actions taking of the stakeholders by solid actions in a cycle process of learning building a new knowledge. Thus, it is concluded that at the end this project there were significant improvements at RCA module in the IFTM system, thanks to BI solutions, such as, specific reports, graphical visualizations in order to provide efficiently and facilities to the users of the system, offering processes dynamic and fast

Genomic and Metabolomic Analyses of Natural Products in Nodularia spumigena Isolated from a Shrimp Culture Pond

The bloom-forming cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena CENA596 encodes the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) of the known natural products nodularins, spumigins, anabaenopeptins/namalides, aeruginosins, mycosporin-like amino acids, and scytonemin, along with the terpenoid geosmin. Targeted metabolomics confirmed the production of these metabolic compounds, except for the alkaloid scytonemin. Genome mining of N. spumigena CENA596 and its three closely related Nodularia strains—two planktonic strains from the Baltic Sea and one benthic strain from Japanese marine sediment—revealed that the number of BGCs in planktonic strains was higher than in benthic one. Geosmin—a volatile compound with unpleasant taste and odor—was unique to the Brazilian strain CENA596. Automatic annotation of the genomes using subsystems technology revealed a related number of coding sequences and functional roles. Orthologs from the Nodularia genomes are involved in the primary and secondary metabolisms. Phylogenomic analysis of N. spumigena CENA596 based on 120 conserved protein sequences positioned this strain close to the Baltic Nodularia. Phylogeny of the 16S rRNA genes separated the Brazilian CENA596 strain from those of the Baltic Sea, despite their high sequence identities (99% identity, 100% coverage). The comparative analysis among planktic Nodularia strains showed that their genomes were considerably similar despite their geographically distant origin

A Simple Double-Spin Closed Method for Preparing Platelet-Rich Plasma

Objective: To describe and analyze a new protocol for the extraction of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for use in clinical practice and compare this technique with methods that have been previously described in the medical literature. Methods: Sixteen blood samples from healthy volunteers were collected. PRP was prepared using our new double-spin technique, consisting of successive centrifugation of blood samples with two different spins, without opening the container. Descriptive analysis of cell counts in baseline and PRP samples was undertaken. Comparison between cell and platelet count in baseline and PRP samples, as well as the statistical analysis, were done. Results: The mean platelet concentration ratio was 3.47 (SD: 0.85; 95% CI: 3.01-3.92; range: 2.48-5.71). The baseline whole blood platelet count correlated positively to the PRP platelet count (rP = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.09- 0.88; P = 0.023). The PRP was enriched for lymphocytes and monocytes but presented significantly lower counts of neutrophils and eosinophils in comparison to baseline. Conclusion: Results show a safe and easily reproducible method to obtain PRP for use in clinical daily practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A retrospective study of neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX in unresectable or borderline-resectable locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) is superior to gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have a good performance status. We investigated this combination as neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). METHODS: In this retrospective series, we included patients with unresectable LAPC who received neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX with growth factor support. The primary analysis endpoint was R0 resection rate. RESULTS: Eighteen treatment-naïve patients with unresectable or borderline resectable LAPC were treated with neoadjuvant FOLFIRINOX. The median age was 57.5 years and all had ECOG PS of 0 or 1. Eleven (61 %) had tumors in the head of the pancreas and 9 (50 %) had biliary stents placed prior to chemotherapy. A total of 146 cycles were administered with a median of 8 cycles (range 3-17) per patient. At maximum response or tolerability, 7 (39 %) were converted to resectability by radiological criteria; 5 had R0 resections, 1 had an R1 resection, and 1 had unresectable disease. Among the 11 patients who remained unresectable after FOLFIRINOX, 3 went on to have R0 resections after combined chemoradiotherapy, giving an overall R0 resection rate of 44 % (95 % CI 22–69 %). After a median follow-up of 13.4 months, the 1-year progression-free survival was 83 % (95 % CI 59-96 %) and the 1-year overall survival was 100 % (95 % CI 85-100 %). Grade 3/4 chemotherapy-related toxicities were neutropenia (22 %), neutropenic fever (17 %), thrombocytopenia (11 %), fatigue (11 %), and diarrhea (11 %). Common grade 1/2 toxicities were neutropenia (33 %), anemia (72 %), thrombocytopenia (44 %), fatigue (78 %), nausea (50 %), diarrhea (33 %) and neuropathy (33 %). CONCLUSIONS: FOLFIRINOX followed by chemoradiotherapy is feasible as neoadjuvant therapy in patients with unresectable LAPC. The R0 resection rate of 44 % in this population is promising. Further studies are warranted

The End of Nihilism: Systemic Therapy of Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and many other parts of the world. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 85-90% of lung cancers. Historically, the expected survival of patients with advanced disease has been estimated in months. In recent years, however, lung cancer has come to be seen as a treatable disease with multiple therapeutic options. Enormous advances in the understanding of its pathways and mechanisms have enabled personalized therapy in NSCLC. The evolving approach to therapy focuses on genomic profiling of the tumors to find molecular targets and develop specific agents for individualized therapy. In addition, maintenance therapy has emerged as a valid approach, and the choice of chemotherapy now varies by histology. Most recently, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has shown promising results, with impressive durations of response and a tolerable toxicity profile. Together, these discoveries have improved overall survival substantially in patient populations that have access to these advancements. We review the clinical data surrounding these impressive improvements

Business intelligence - implantation on Federal Institute of Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM) System

Every organization aims to perform the activities in an efficiently way at selling products and services to obtain profits. However, most of the times, there is not an effective project to support the company in the process management. Every information system (IS) must be efficient, supported by substantial and fast computer system and trained users to manipulate them without troubles. Based on this assumption, this paper aims to analyze possible vulnerabilities in the Federal Institute of Triângulo Mineiro (IFTM) system in order to implant a Business Intelligence (BI) system to help at decision making. It was noticed that the IFTM- Paracatu campus system does not have proper Analytics tools to help managers in the decision making. Thus, after a detailed survey of the necessity of the system, it was verified that the institute secretary module, named Academic Registration Control (ARC), has important failures, for example, delaying, inconsistent information and repetitive processes. As noted above, it was created a BI Data Mart on ARC module, in order to solve basic failures, such as: weak reports, inconsistent student records and lack of graphical analysis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Current updates in management of relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive subtype of neuroendocrine tumor. It is characterized by a rapid doubling time and early development of metastatic disease. Despite being responsive to initial chemotherapy, most of the patients will have relapse of the disease within a few months. The prognosis of SCLC is dismal with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. For that reason, management of SCLC has been an active area of research. The utilization of immunotherapy has provided promising results in treatment of SCLC in the front-line setting. Therefore, utilization of immunotherapy and targeted therapy is being studied in the setting of relapsed/refractory disease, and currently, different clinical trials are exploring new drugs and further options. In this review, we will explore the latest updates in management of relapsed/refractory SCLC

Radiopharmaceuticals: when and how to use them to treat metastatic bone pain

Bone pain due to skeletal metastases constitutes the most common type of cancer-related pain. The management of bone pain remains challenging and is not standardized. In patients with multifocal osteoblastic metastases, systemic radiopharmaceuticals should be the preferred adjunctive therapy for pain palliation. The lack of general knowledge about radiopharmaceuticals, their clinical utility and safety profiles, constitutes the major cause for their underutilization. Our goal is to review the indications, selection criteria, efficacy, and toxicities of two approved radiopharmaceuticals for bone pain palliation: strontium-89 and samarium-153. Finally, a brief review of the data on combination therapy with bisphosphonates or chemotherapy is included

Acute spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome as the initial presentation of ALK-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a recently described, uncommon form of DLBCL, which has been seen primarily in young men and which presents with advanced disease. The fact that ALK-positive DLBCL is an uncommon diagnosis is likely due to the combined effects of this being an uncommon disease coupled with the challenges in the pathologic identification of this neoplasm. Prompt and accurate identification of this tumor is becoming increasingly important, however, as we enter the era of therapeutic ALK inhibitors, which are currently undergoing study in several clinical trials. Here, we report a case of ALK-positive DLBCL in a 39-year-old male patient who presented with spontaneous tumor lysis syndrome. We review the clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular aspects of this case and of ALK-positive DLBCL in general, with the purpose of bringing to light the existence of this disease and its potential future therapy