Top management team characteristics and digital innovation:Exploring digital knowledge and TMT interfaces

On their journey toward digital transformation, industrial firms need to embrace digital innovation. The top management team (TMT) is expected to set the course for digital innovation, which is a challenging endeavour given the novel and cross-functional nature of digital innovation. We draw on role theory to make sense of emerging role requirements for the TMT and combine this view with upper echelon theory to hypothesize on the specific TMT characteristics that are needed for digital innovation. We first theorize that firms could benefit from TMT digital knowledge. Second, we argue that the effective utilization of TMT digital knowledge can be fostered at internal TMT interfaces, such as between the chief executive officer (CEO), respectively a chief digital officer (CDO), and other top managers. Finally, we consider the TMT hierarchical structure as a contextual factor in the stimulation of TMT integration processes by integrative CEOs and CDOs. We employ panel data regressions to a longitudinal dataset of US industrial firms and find a positive relation between TMT digital knowledge and digital innovation, on average. We additionally find evidence for the integrative roles of CEOs and CDOs. However, our findings also indicate that the CDO's integrating role can be hampered by a strong hierarchical structure in the TMT

Ensaios de elevação de temperatura em máquinas de indução utilizando o método da dupla frequência: Glauco Andre Wolff Cisz ; orientador, Nelson Jhoe Batistela, co-orientador, Nelson Sadowski

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-graduação em Engenharia ElétricaTestar máquinas de indução a plena carga vem sendo o método mais aceito para determinar sua elevação de temperatura. Este método tem a grande vantagem de simular exatamente as condições de operação da máquina sob teste. Porém, alguns problemas também podem ser relacionados a ele, principalmente a necessidade de um dinamômetro com capacidade igual ou superior ao da máquina sob teste. Montar, acoplar e alinhar motores pode consumir bastante tempo, principalmente quando se trata de motores de grande potência, de alta velocidade, ou verticais. O método com dupla freqüência vem oferecer uma maneira de realizar o teste de temperatura em máquinas de indução, sem necessidade de potência elétrica nominal, ou aplicar-se carga no eixo. Este método é aplicado principalmente em máquinas de grande porte, levando, mesmo que em menor escala, a um laboratório de ensaios também constituído por máquinas de grande porte e alto custo. Uma análise detalhada do funcionamento das máquinas que constituem o laboratório durante o teste pode garantir um dimensionamento otimizado dos equipamentos, com uma redução significativa dos gastos necessários para a compra e montagem deste laboratório. Os trabalhos realizados até o momento relacionados ao método da dupla freqüência focam principalmente o comportamento da máquina sob teste, fornecendo poucas informações a respeito das máquinas que constituem o sistema de acionamento, dificultando seu projeto e especificação. O objetivo do trabalho consiste em estudar o método de ensaio da Dupla Freqüência, discutindo aspectos que auxiliem no entendimento, na realização de ensaios e no levantamento de aspectos importantes para a concepção de sistemas para aplicação do método da Dupla Freqüência em ensaios de elevação de temperatura em máquinas de indução

Detecting the neuropathic pain component in the clinical setting: a study protocol for validation of screening instruments for the presence of a neuropathic pain component

BACKGROUND The presence of nerve damage plays a key role in the development and prognosis of chronic pain states. Assessment of the presence and severity of a neuropathic pain component (NePC) is key in diagnosing chronic pain patients. Low back pain (LBP) and neck and shoulder pain (NSP) are highly prevalent and clinically important medical and societal problems in which a NePC is frequently present. The more severe the NePC, the worse the course of the pain, its prognosis and the results of treatment. Reliable and standardised diagnosis of the NePC remains difficult to achieve. Standardized and validated screening tools may help to reliably identify the NePC in individual chronic pain patients. The aim of this study is to validate the Dutch language versions of the PainDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ-Dlv) and the 'Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions' (DN4-Dlv) for use in primary and specialist medical care settings to screen for a NePC in patients with chronic pain due to (1) LBP, (2) NSP or (3) known peripheral nerve damage (PND). METHODS/DESIGN The study design is cross-sectional to assess the validity of the PDQ-Dlv and the DN4-Dlv with 2 weeks follow-up for test-retest reliability and 3 months follow-up for monitoring and prognosis. 438 patients with chronic pain due to (1) LBP, (2) NSP or (3) PND. will be included in this study. Based on the IASP definition of neuropathic pain, two physicians will independently assess whether the patient has a NEPC or not. This result will be compared with the outcome of the PDQ-Dlv & DN4-Dlv, the grading system for neuropathic pain, bed side examination and quantitative sensory testing. This study will further collect data regarding prevalence of NePC, general health status, mental health status, functioning, pain attribution and quality of life. DISCUSSION The rationale for this study is to provide detailed information on the clinimetric quality of the PDQ-Dlv and DN4-Dlv in Dutch speaking countries. Our innovative multi-factorial approach should help achieve more reliable diagnosis and quantification of a NePC in patients with chronic pain. TRIAL REGISTRATION The Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR3030).This project is supported by an unrestricted grant from Pfizer

Challenges of neuropathic pain:focus on diabetic neuropathy

Neuropathic pain is a frequent condition caused by a lesion or disease of the central or peripheral somatosensory nervous system. A frequent cause of peripheral neuropathic pain is diabetic neuropathy. Its complex pathophysiology is not yet fully elucidated, which contributes to underassessment and undertreatment. A mechanism-based treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy is challenging but phenotype-based stratification might be a way to develop individualized therapeutic concepts. Our goal is to review current knowledge of the pathophysiology of peripheral neuropathic pain, particularly painful diabetic neuropathy. We discuss state-of-the-art clinical assessment, validity of diagnostic and screening tools, and recommendations for the management of diabetic neuropathic pain including approaches towards personalized pain management. We also propose a research agenda for translational research including patient stratification for clinical trials and improved preclinical models in relation to current knowledge of underlying mechanisms

Perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane-based seed-layer for improved chemical vapour deposition of ultrathin hafnium dioxide films on graphene

We investigate the use of perfluorodecyltrichlorosilane-based self-assembled monolayer as seeding layer for chemical vapour deposition of HfO2 on large area CVD graphene. The deposition and evolution of the FDTS-based seed layer is investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Crystalline quality of graphene transferred from Cu is monitored during formation of the seed layer as well as the HfO2 growth using Raman spectroscopy. We demonstrate that FDTS-based seed layer significantly improves nucleation of HfO2 layers so that graphene can be coated in a conformal way with HfO2 layers as thin as 10 nm. Proof-of-concept experiments on 200 mm wafers presented here validate applicability of the proposed approach to wafer scale graphene device fabrication

Recognizing Stick Graphs with and without Length Constraints

Stick graphs are intersection graphs of horizontal and vertical line segments that all touch a line of slope -1 and lie above this line. De Luca et al. [GD'18] considered the recognition problem of stick graphs when no order is given (STICK), when the order of either one of the two sets is given (STICK_A), and when the order of both sets is given (STICK_AB). They showed how to solve STICK_AB efficiently. In this paper, we improve the running time of their algorithm, and we solve STICK_A efficiently. Further, we consider variants of these problems where the lengths of the sticks are given as input. We show that these variants of STICK, STICK_A, and STICK_AB are all NP-complete. On the positive side, we give an efficient solution for STICK_AB with fixed stick lengths if there are no isolated vertices

Human assumed central sensitisation (HACS) in patients with chronic low back pain radiating to the leg (CLaSSICO study)

INTRODUCTION: Patients with chronic low back pain radiating to the leg (CLBPr) are sometimes referred to a specialised pain clinic for a precise diagnosis based, for example, on a diagnostic selective nerve root block. Possible interventions are therapeutic selective nerve root block or pulsed radiofrequency. Central pain sensitisation is not directly assessable in humans and therefore the term ‘human assumed central sensitisation’ (HACS) is proposed. The possible existence and degree of sensitisation associated with pain mechanisms assumed present in the human central nervous system, its role in the chronification of pain and its interaction with diagnostic and therapeutic interventions are largely unknown in patients with CLBPr. The aim of quantitative sensory testing (QST) is to estimate quantitatively the presence of HACS and accumulating evidence suggest that a subset of patients with CLBPr have facilitated responses to a range of QST tests. The aims of this study are to identify HACS in patients with CLBPr, to determine associations with the effect of selective nerve root blocks and compare outcomes of HACS in patients to healthy volunteers. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A prospective observational study including 50 patients with CLBPr. Measurements are performed before diagnostic and therapeutic nerve root block interventions and at 4 weeks follow-up. Data from patients will be compared with those of 50 sex-matched and age-matched healthy volunteers. The primary study parameters are the outcomes of QST and the Central Sensitisation Inventory. Statistical analyses to be performed will be analysis of variance. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Medical Research Ethics Committee of the University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands, approved this study (dossier NL60439.042.17). The results will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals and at conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR NL6765

Smart gardens - automação e monitoramento inteligente da agricultura

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro Tecnológico. Sistemas de Informação.Baseado na histórica falta de aparatos tecnológicos capazes de monitorar e automatizar, de forma sensível ao contexto, as tarefas relacionadas a plantação e jardinagem, houve um estímulo para desenvolver um ambiente computacional próprio para melhorar esse cenário. O presente projeto de conclusão de curso trata de um modelo de automação inteligente para monitoramento e controle de variáveis por meio de uma aplicação computacional e dispositivos de sensoriamento e atuação. Aplicando esse modelo a um ambiente sem esse tipo de controle, como o da agricultura, possibilita-se um cultivo facilitado e otimizado de plantas, minimizando o problema de falta de controle e desperdício de recursos na agricultura, além de reduzir a dependência e erro humanos. Deste modo, o jardineiro/agricultor pode acompanhar e controlar a situação do seu jardim/lavoura em tempo real por meio da aplicação, onde é informado sobre variações do ambiente, inclusive sobre ações para corrigir variáveis fora do padrão ideal. O trabalho propõe o monitoramento de umidade do solo e a ação de regagem de plantas com nível de umidade do solo abaixo do ideal. Os benefícios proporcionados pela pesquisa proposta consistem num tripé formado por: Minimização da necessidade de trabalho humano presencial; Otimização do monitoramento, controle e resultados do ambiente; Escalabilidade e economia de recursos. Verificou-se ao final do trabalho, através da análise da aplicação desse modelo em um ambiente de jardinagem, um desempenho diferenciado quanto ao seu funcionamento e resultados otimizados quando comparados aos de um ambiente de jardinagem tradicional