The Role of National Culture in the Strategic Use of and Investment in ICT: A Comparative Study of Japanese and Australian Organisations

The recent desire to apply virtual reality for e-commerce implies the need for a better understanding of this emerging medium as an approach for digitisation and marketing of product and brand. Though two-dimensional presentation media (e.g. text, images and videos) are frequently investigated in information systems research, few studies address how virtual reality can be utilised in presenting and selling products, as it only recently became affordable and accessible to consumers. Virtual reality is much more capable of enabling “presence”, the perceptual illusion of nonmediation or the feeling of being in the virtual environment instead of in the real world. This explorative study will investigate what characteristics of immersive virtual reality and its associated virtual space to digitally stimulate “presence”, and whether and how “presence” can affect online consumers’ impression of the e-retailer, interest generation and actual purchasing behaviour of products

The role of national culture in the strategic use of and investment in ICT: a comparative study of Japanese and Australian organisations

Japanese ICT investment trailed the developed world for many decades, contributing to low productivity growth. A potential root cause is the influence of Japanese culture over the strategic use of and investment in ICT (SUIICT). Empirical research on cultural aspects of SUIICT in Japan is lacking. This study will examine national culture and its association with SUIICT in organisations in Japan compared to Australia. A quantitative survey of ICT decision makers in Japanese and Australian organisations will be fielded based on questions synthesized from McFarlan, McKenney and Pyburn (The Strategic Grid), and Hofstede and Minkov (Cultural Dimensions Model). A contribution to theory will be the development and testing of an empirical model and practical instrument for determining the association between national culture and SUIICT. A practical contribution will be an increase in understanding of both markets allowing for more effective market segmentation and development of ICT offerings for both countries

Concert recording 2016-02-15

[Track 01]. The star spangled banner / Francis Scott Key ; arranged by Robert Ross -- [Track 02]. Brothers, sing on / Howard D. McKinney -- [Track 03]. Georgia on my mind / Hoagy Carmichael -- [Track 04]. Gaia / Ryan Key -- [Track 05]. Flirtation : 3 songs for saxophone. Sweet nothings ; [Track 06]. These soft shoes ; [Track 07]. Showtune / Michael Markowski -- [Track 08]. An American in Paris / George Gershwin -- [Track 09]. Serenade for solo alto saxophone / M. Zachary Johnson -- [Track 10]. Bess, you is my woman now / George Gershwin ; arranged by Lube, Chicago Chambe Brass -- [Track 11]. Dance / Wilke Reynolds

Adaptation of HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein gp120 to Humoral Immunity over the Course of the Epidemic

Since 2009, a large panel of broad and potent monoclonal neutralizing antibodies (MoNAbs) against HIV-1 have been isolated. These MoNAbs can protect from lllV-1 infection and suppress established infection in animal models. Because their efficacy should be evaluated in human clinical trials, it is of importance to define the sensitivity of the most contemporary transmitted variants to these MoNAbs. We, and others previously, reported that HIV-1 has become more resistant to neutralization over the course of the epidemic (Bunnik et al., Nature Med 2010, Bouvin-Pley et al., PloS Pathog 2013). Methods: Here we extended the analyses to the most potent MoNAbs described since then, either more recently isolated or improved by structure-based gene modifications. Results: We fully confirmed the first observations showing an increasing resistance of HIV-1 clade B over time to MoNAbs targeting the major gp l20 epitopes but not to MoNAbs targeting the gp41 MPER. Despite this evolution, some MoNAbs still were able to neutralize efficiently the most recently transmitted HIV-1 variants (2006-2010). The most potent MoNAbs were the bi-specific PG9- and PG16-iMab that alone were able to neutralize an variants at less than 0.4 mg/mL. The sensitivity to iMAb remained similar over time, suggesting that the trend of increasing resistance to PG9-/PG16-iMAb may be attributed only to die antigen binding domain of PG9/PG16. NIH45-46m2 (and -m7), 10-1074 and 10E8 were also highly potent and, if combined, reached the potency of PG9-/PG16-iMAb. We also observed that 3BNC 117 was almost as potent as the modified NIH45-46 antibodies, and that the lama-derived JM4IgG2b was the most potent Ab among those that do not target the major gp 120 neutralizing epitopes. Conclusions: These data clearly suggest a continuous drift of the env gene of HIV-1 elude B over the epidemic, and that not a single epitope is concerned but the entire gp120 as a whole. The consequences of this adaptation on the envelope functionality are being explored

Search for high-mass diphoton resonances in proton-proton collisions at 13 TeV and combination with 8 TeV search

Peer reviewe

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Search for a pseudoscalar boson decaying into a Z boson and the 125 GeV Higgs boson in ℓ+ℓ-bb final states

Results are reported on a search for decays of a pseudoscalar A boson into a Z boson and a light scalar h boson, where the Z boson decays into a pair of oppositely-charged electrons or muons, and the h boson decays into bb- The search is based on data from proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy s=8 TeV collected with the CMS detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb-1. The h boson is assumed to be the standard model-like Higgs boson with a mass of 125 GeV. With no evidence for signal, upper limits are obtained on the product of the production cross section and the branching fraction of the A boson in the Zh channel. Results are also interpreted in the context of two Higgs doublet models. © 2015

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Muscle Atrophy in Mechanically-Ventilated Critically ill Children.

IMPORTANCE:ICU-acquired muscle atrophy occurs commonly and worsens outcomes in adults. The incidence and severity of muscle atrophy in critically ill children are poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE:To determine incidence, severity and risk factors for muscle atrophy in critically ill children. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS:A single-center, prospective cohort study of 34 children receiving invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥48 hours. Patients 1 week- 18 years old with respiratory failure and without preexisting neuromuscular disease or skeletal trauma were recruited from a tertiary Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) between June 2015 and May 2016. We used serial bedside ultrasound to assess thickness of the diaphragm, biceps brachii/brachialis, quadriceps femoris and tibialis anterior. Serial electrical impedance myography (EIM) was assessed in children >1 year old. Medical records were abstracted from an electronic database. EXPOSURES:Respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation for ≥48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES:The primary outcome was percent change in muscle thickness. Secondary outcomes were changes in EIM-derived fat percentage and "quality". RESULTS:Of 34 enrolled patients, 30 completed ≥2 ultrasound assessments with a median interval of 6 (IQR 6-7) days. Mean age was 5.42 years, with 12 infants 1 year old (60%). In the entire cohort, diaphragm thickness decreased 11.1% (95%CI, -19.7% to -2.52%) between the first two assessments or 2.2%/day. Quadriceps thickness decreased 8.62% (95%CI, -15.7% to -1.54%) or 1.5%/day. Biceps (-1.71%; 95%CI, -8.15% to 4.73%) and tibialis (0.52%; 95%CI, -5.81% to 3.40%) thicknesses did not change. Among the entire cohort, 47% (14/30) experienced diaphragm atrophy (defined a priori as ≥10% decrease in thickness). Eighty three percent of patients (25/30) experienced atrophy in ≥1 muscle group, and 47% (14/30)-in ≥2 muscle groups. On multivariate linear regression, increasing age and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were associated with greater muscle loss. EIM revealed increased fat percentage and decreased muscle "quality". CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:In children receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, diaphragm and other skeletal muscle atrophy is common and rapid. Increasing age and TBI may increase severity of limb muscle atrophy. Prospective studies are required to link muscle atrophy to functional outcomes in critically ill children