Analisi e confronto di sistemi informatici per la programmazione operativa dei lavori: il caso del "People Mover" di Bologna

l’analiticità del metodo adottato ha permesso di ottenere una precisa e puntuale conoscenza del processo costruttivo, ottimo esempio per poter analizzare e confrontare i due programmi, Ms-Project 2007 e Primavera Project Planner P6.0, oggetto della presente trattazione; per comprendere quale software aiuta il Project Manager a gestire le complessità di un progetto per soddisfare i bisogni dei clienti, ad avere un controllo più stretto sulle strutture di progetto e sui suoi requisiti di rendicontazione, nonché la comprensione di tutto ciò che può ostacolare il corretto avanzamento del programma. Quale programma aiuta le aziende a pianificare e gestire sia i singoli progetti sia il programma complessivo, a implementare e monitorare i livelli di performance necessari e valutare agevolmente l’impatto delle modifiche di programma sui piani di lavoro, sui budget, sull’utilizzazione delle risorse. Un’efficace visione d’insieme dell’intero programma, combinata con la continua verifica delle metriche di produttività, consente ai program manager di mitigare proattivamente i rischi e ottenere come risultato il puntuale rispetto dei tempi e del budget.

Precision determination of r(0)Lambda((MS)over-bar) from the QCD static energy

We use the recently obtained theoretical expression for the complete QCD static energy at next-to-next-to-next-to leading-logarithmic accuracy to determine r(0)Lambda((MS) over bar) by comparison with available lattice data, where r(0) is the lattice scale and Lambda((MS) over bar) is the QCD scale. We obtain r(0)Lambda((MS) over bar) = 0.622(-0.015)(+0.019) for the zero-flavor case. The procedure we describe can be directly used to obtain r(0)Lambda((MS) over bar) in the unquenched case, when unquenched lattice data for the static energy at short distances becomes available. Using the value of the strong coupling alpha(s) as an input, the unquenched result would provide a determination of the lattice scale r(0).

University of Southampton thesis chapter template for MS Word 2007/2010/2013/2016 for PC and Word 2008/2011/2016 for Apple

The University provides a template for the whole of a thesis but if you wish to construct a thesis by using separate files you can use this file as template for those. This template has mirror margins to account for double sided printing and odd and even page headers. Support materials for using the template are referenced near the start of the file. You will weant to use this in conjunction with the Front Matter http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/9405/ and End Matter templates http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/11998/.

University of Southampton thesis front matter template for use with MS Word 2007/2010/2013/2016 for PC and 2008/2011/2016 for Apple

The University provides a template for the whole of a thesis but if you wish to construct a thesis by using separate files you can use this file for the introductory section. This file contains all of the sections required (Title Page, Abstract, Table of Contents etc). It also has mirror margins for double sided printing and has different odd and even page headers. Support materials for using the template are referenced near the start of the file. You will want to use this in conjunction with the Chapter http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/9403/ and End Matter templates http://www.edshare.soton.ac.uk/11998/

Prevalence and clinical outcomes for patients with MET protein expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in Europe: Results from the European Thoracic Oncology Platform Lungscape Project.

Aim The reported prevalence of MET overexpression varies from 25-55% in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clinical correlations are emerging slowly. In a well-defined NSCLC cohort of the Lungscape program, we explore the epidemiology, the natural history of IHC MET positivity and its association to OS, RFS and TTR. Methods Resected stage I-III NSCLC identified based on the quality of clinical data and FFPE tissue availability were assessed for MET expression using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on TMAs (CONFIRM anti total c-MET assay, clone SP44, Ventana BenchMark platform). All cases were analysed at participating pathology laboratories using the same protocol, after passing an external quality assurance program. MET positive status is defined as ≥ 50% of tumor cells staining with 2+ or 3+ intensity. Results A total of 2709 cases are included in the iBiobank and will be analysed. IHC MET expression is currently available for 1552 patients, with positive MET IHC staining in 380 cases [24.5%; IHC 3+ in 157 cases (41.3%) and 2+ in 223 cases (58.7%)]. The cohort of 1552 patients includes 48.2%, 44.7% and 4.4% cases of adenocarcinoma, squamous and large cell histologies, respectively. IHC MET status was independent of stage, age and smoking history. Significant differences in MET positivity were associated with gender (32% vs. 21% for female vs. male, p < 0.001), with performance status (25% vs. 18% for 0 vs. 1-3, p = 0.006), and histology (34%, 14% and 24% for adenocarcinoma, squamous and large cell carcinoma, p < 0.001). IHC MET positivity was independent of the IHC ALK status (p = 0.08). At last FU, 52% of patients were still alive, with a median FU of 4.8 yrs. No association of IHC MET was found with OS, RFS or TTR. Conclusions The preliminary results for this large multicentre European cohort describe a prevalence of MET overexpression that seems lower than previous observations in NSCLC, such as reported for the OAM4971g trial, suggesting potential biological differences between surgically resected and metastatic disease. Analysis for the full cohort is ongoing and results will be presented. Disclosure L. Bubendorf: Disclosures: Stock ownership: Roche Advisory boards: Roche, Pfizer Research support: Roche; K. Schulze: Full time employee of Roche; A. Das-Gupta: I am a full time employee of Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Resource-allocation capabilities of commercial project management software. An experimental analysis

When project managers determine schedules for resource-constrained projects, they commonly use commercial project management software packages. Which resource-allocation methods are implemented in these packages is proprietary information. The resource-allocation problem is in general computationally difficult to solve to optimality. Hence, the question arises if and how various project management software packages differ in quality with respect to their resource-allocation capabilities. None of the few existing papers on this subject uses a sizeable data set and recent versions of common software packages. We experimentally analyze the resource-allocation capabilities of Acos Plus.1, AdeptTracker Professional, CS Project Professional, Microsoft Office Project 2007, Primavera P6, Sciforma PS8, and Turbo Project Professional. Our analysis is based on 1560 instances of the precedence- and resource-constrained project scheduling problem RCPSP. The experiment shows that using the resource-allocation feature of these packages may lead to a project duration increase of almost 115% above the best known feasible schedule. The increase gets larger with increasing resource scarcity and with increasing number of activities. We investigate the impact of different complexity scenarios and priority rules on the project duration obtained by the software packages. We provide a decision table to support managers in selecting a software package and a priority rule.

Availability of two forms of dissolved nitrogen to the coral Pocillopora damicornis and its symbiotic zooxanthellae

The relative contribution of dissolved nitrogen (ammonium and dissolved free amino acids DFAAs) to the nitrogen budget of the reef-building coral Pocillopora damicornis was assessed for colonies growing on control and ammonium-enriched reefs at One Tree Island (southern Great Barrier Reef) during the ENCORE (Enrichment of Nutrient on Coral Reef; 1993 to 1996) project. P. damicornis acquired ammonium at rates of between 5.1 and 91.8 nmol N cm(-2) h(-1) which were not affected by nutrient treatment except in the case of one morph. In this case, uptake rates decreased from 80.5 to 42.8 nmol cm(-2) h(-1) (P < 0.05) on exposure to elevated ammonium over 12 mo. The presence or absence of light during measurement did not influence the uptake of ammonium ions. Nitrogen budgets revealed that the uptake of ammonium from concentrations of 0.11 to 0.13 mu M could completely satisfy the demand of growing P. damicornis for new nitrogen. P. damicornis also took up DFAAs at rates ranging from 4.9 to 9.8 nmol N cm(-2) h(-1). These rates were higher in the dark than in the light (9.0 vs 5.1 nmol m(-2) h(-1), P < 0.001). Uptake rates were highest for the amino acids serine, arginine and alanine, and lowest for tyrosine. DFAA concentrations within the ENCORE microatolls that received ammonium were undetectable, whereas they ranged up to 100 nM within the control microatolls. The contribution of DFAAs to the nitrogen budget of P. damicornis constituted only a small fraction of the nitrogen potentially contributed by ammonium under field conditions. Even at the highest field concentrations measured during this study, DFAAs could contribute only similar or equal to 11.3% of the nitrogen demand of P. damicornis. This contribution, however, may be an important source of nitrogen when other sources such as ammonium are scarce or during periods when high concentrations of DFAAs become sporadically available (e.g. cell breakage during fish-grazing).

Reactivity of syringyl and guaiacyl lignin units and delignification kinetics in the kraft pulping of eucalyptus globulus wood using Py-Gc-Ms/FID

Eucalyptus globulus sapwood and heartwood showed no differences in lignin content (23.0% vs. 23.7%) and composition: syringyl-lignin (17.9% vs. 18.0%) and guaiacyl-lignin (4.8% vs. 5.2%). Delignification kinetics of S- and G-units in heartwood and sapwood was investigated by Py-GC–MS/FID at 130, 150 and 170 °C and modeled as double first-order reactions. Reactivity differences between S and G-units were small during the main pulping phase and the higher reactivity of S over G units was better expressed in the later pulping stage. The residual lignin composition in pulps was different from wood or from samples in the initial delignification stages, with more G and H-units. S/G ratio ranged from 3 to 4.5 when pulp residual lignin was higher than 10%, decreasing rapidly to less than 1. The S/H was initially around 20 (until 15% residual lignin), decreasing to 4 when residual lignin was about 3%.

Effect of the degree of porosity on the performance of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/poly(ethylene oxide) blend membranes for lithium-ion battery separators

Porous polymer membranes based on poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene)/poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers, P(VDF-TrFE)/PEO, are prepared through the, from partial to total, elimination of PEO, leading to interconnected micropores in the polymer blends. Electrolyte uptake, thermal and mechanical properties depend on the amount of PEO present in the polymer blend. Further, the degree of crystallinity of PEO and the elastic modulus (E´) of the polymer blend decrease with increasing PEO removal. Electrical properties of the polymer blend membranes are influenced by the porosity and are dominated by diffusion. The temperature dependence of ionic conductivity follows the Arrhenius behavior. It is the highest for the membranes with a volume fraction of pores of 44% (i.e, 90% PEO removal), reaching a value of 0.54 mS.cm-1 at room temperature. Battery performance was determined by assembling Li/C-LiFePO4 swagelok cells. The polymer blends with 90% PEO removal exhibit rate (124 mAhg-1 at C/5 and 47 mAhg-1 at 2C) and cycling capabilities suitable for lithium ion battery applications.

Aspectos biológico - pesqueros del Camaroncito Rojo Pleuroncodes monodon (M Edwards, 1837) en el litoral peruano

Se analizaron algunos parámetros poblacionales de 11 583 ejemplares del Pleuroncodes monodon (CRUSTACEA: ANOMURA: GALAYHEIDAE) distribuidos en 5 860 (52%) ejemplares machos y 5723 (48%) ejemplares hembras, las muestras se obtuvieron de los lances de comprobación de los cruceros de evaluación tanto para recursos pelágicos y demersales ejecutados por el Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE) entre febrero y noviembre del 2001, la zona de estudio estuvo comprendida entre Puerto Pizarro (03°29,1’ S; 80°23,0’ W) hasta Los Palos (18°20,18’ S; 70°22,5’ W). La presencia del Pleuroncodes monodon respecto a su distribución batimétrica abarcó entre 1,5 y 300 m. De profundidad. La distribución total de tallas fluctuó entre 6,0 y 42,4 mm de longitud cefalotoráxica (Lc) y entre 6,0 y 41,1 mm de Lc para machos y hembras respectivamente. Por estaciones la estructura por tallas fue variable denotándose dos marcados grupos de talla, predominando un primer grupo los denominados ”juveniles” de (de 6 hasta 20 mm de Lc), sin embargo aquellos ejemplares con longitud cefalotoráxica menor a los 13 mm se registraron mayormente en las estaciones de verano y primavera, mientras un segundo grupo perteneciente a los de talla intermedia denominados “adultos jóvenes” registrados en todas las estaciones. Su distribución horizontal fue mayormente costera; aunque su presencia fue hasta más de las 50 millas náuticas (mn) de la costa; sin embargo los mayores registros de este recurso fue dentro de las 25 mn de la costa, en cuanto a los ejemplares “juveniles” su presencia fue marcada dentro de las 10 mn de la costa. La composición sexual de la población muestreada varió durante el periodo de estudio obteniéndose una razón promedio de 1,02 (machos/hembras). Además se encontraron hembras con huevos en todo el periodo de estudio, sin embargo los altos porcentajes de hembras ovígeras se registraron entre las estaciones de invierno (70%) y primavera (68%) del total. La talla de madurez sexual en las hembras fue de 18,8 mm Lc, mientras que el primer desove en 17,4 mm de Lc. Al registrarse hembras ovígeras en todo el año, existe un periodo anual de postura (liberación de los huevos eclosionados), detectándose éste en la estacón de primavera. La relación longitud cefalotoráxica vs Fecundidad, está determinada por la ecuación: NHT 0,1899 Lc2,9883 Además se analizaron los siguientes parámetros: largo cefalotoráxico, peso total, peso del abdomen, características de los huevos. Complementándose tales evaluaciones con determinaciones de áreas de distribución y concentración, así como la relación de los factores: abióticos (temperaturas, salinidad y oxígeno) y bióticos en relación a predadores y competidores dentro de la cadena trófica.

Análisis del Espacio Schengen en materia de seguridad como base para la implementación del Protocolo sobre la Facilitación del Movimiento de Personas de la Comunidad para el Desarrollo de África Austral (SADC)

El fin de la Guerra Fría supuso no sólo el triunfo del capitalismo y de la democracia liberal, sino un cambio significativo en el Sistema Internacional; siendo menos centralizado y más regionalizado, como consecuencia de la proximidad y relaciones de interdependencia entre sus actores (no sólo Estados) y permitiendo la formación de Complejos Regionales de Seguridad (CRS). Los CRS son una forma efectiva de relacionarse y aproximarse a la arena internacional pues a través de sus procesos de securitización y desecuritización consiguen lograr objetivos específicos. Partiendo de ello, tanto la Unión Europea (UE) como la Comunidad para el Desarrollo de África Austral (SADC) iniciaron varios procesos de securitización relacionados con la integración regional; siendo un ejemplo de ello la eliminación de los controles en sus fronteras interiores o libre circulación de personas; pues consideraron que de no hacerse realidad, ello generaría amenazas políticas (su influencia y capacidad de actuación estaban amenazadas), económicas (en cuanto a su competitividad y niveles básicos de bienestar) y societales (en cuanto a la identidad de la comunidad como indispensable para la integración) que pondrían en riesgo la existencia misma de sus CRS. En esta medida, la UE creó el Espacio Schengen, que fue producto de un proceso de securitización desde inicios de la década de los 80 hasta mediados de la década de los 90; y la SADC se encuentra inmersa en tal proceso de securitización desde 1992 hasta la actualidad y espera la ratificación del Protocolo para la Facilitación del Movimiento de personas como primer paso para lograr la eliminación de controles en sus fronteras interiores. Si bien tanto la UE como la SADC consideraron que de no permitir la libre circulación de personas, su integración y por lo tanto, sus CRS estaban en riesgo; la SADC no lo ha logrado. Ello hace indispensable hacer un análisis más profundo de sus procesos de securitización para así encontrar sus falencias con respecto al éxito de la UE. El análisis está basado en la Teoría de los Complejos de Seguridad de Barry Buzan, plasmada en la obra Security a New Framework for Analysis (1998) de Barry Buzan, Ole Waever y Jaap de Wilde y será dividido en cada una de las etapas del proceso de securitización: la identificación de una amenaza existencial a un objeto referente a través de un acto discursivo, la aceptación de una amenaza por parte de una audiencia relevante y las acciones de emergencia para hacer frente a las amenazas existenciales; reconociendo las diferencias y similitudes de un proceso de securitización exitoso frente a otro que aún no lo ha sido.

Avaliação do uso do Hormônio Folículo Estimulante eqüino (eFSH) visando a antecipação da estação reprodutiva e a superovulação de éguas na fase de transição de primavera

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inspeção periódica de pulverizadores nas principais regiões de produção de soja no Brasil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of calibration and maintenance practices for crop sprayers on soybean production areas in Brazil, in the 2006 and 2007 seasons, based on the Project IPP data. Therefore, the evaluation covered issues related to calibration, maintenance condition and the main components of 103 sprayers distributed in the following states: Rio Grande do Sul (35), Paraná (60), and, Mato Grosso do Sul (8). The evaluations were done at the rate of one sprayer per farm. The most frequent problems were related to the pressure gauge, spray leaks and calibration errors greater than 50% of the desired volume rate. The analysis of the application rate showed a tendency for the farmers to apply volume rates below the desired value. In 2006 the errors of the application rate were significant, with 70.4% for Rio Grande do Sul State, 74.5% for Paraná State and 37.5% for Mato Grosso do Sul State. In 2007 there was a reduction of errors, with averages of 50.0% for Rio Grande do Sul and 66.7% for Paraná. In general terms, the results showed improvements on the use, maintenance and calibration processes for crop sprayers on the areas covered by the Project IPP, with reductions on average indexes for calibration errors, leaks and bad tips, among other issues.

Prescription of drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system in Italian children

Little is known about the prescription pattern of antihypertensive drugs for children with impaired kidney function. We have therefore documented the use of antihypertensive drugs in this patient group by evaluating the Italian pediatric population-based registry of patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment (ItalKid) from 1995 to 2003. In 1995, prescriptions written for antihypertensive drugs for use by children were approximately equally divided among drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system and calcium channel blockers (38 vs. 43% of all prescriptions), followed by beta-blockers and diuretics (15 and 4%, respectively). During subsequent years the proportion of prescriptions for drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system increased (2003: 61%; p<0.001) and that of calcium channel blockers decreased (2003: 18%, p<0.001). In 1995, blockers of the renin-angiotensin system were prescribed, either as monotherapy or in combination, in 53% of the patients, but the relative frequency of the patients prescribed these drugs increased up to 83% in 2003 (p<0.0005). In conclusion, physicians caring for Italian children with impaired kidney function are increasingly prescribing drugs blocking the renin-angiotensin system.

Colorectal cancer screening: Participation and determinants in West Texas

Early detection by screening is the key to colorectal cancer control. However, colorectal cancer screening and its determinants in rural areas have not been adequately studied. This goal of this study was to investigate the screening participation and determinants of colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, and/or fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in subjects of Project Frontier from the rural counties of Cochran, Bailey and Parmer, Texas. Subjects ( n=820 with 435 Hispanics, 355 Non-Hispanic Whites, 26 African Americans, and 4 unknown ethnicity; 255 males, 565 females, aged from 40 to 92 years) were from Project FRONTIER. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed. Explanatory variables included ethnicity (Hispanic, Non-Hispanic white and African American), gender, health insurance, smoking status, household income, education (years), physical activity, overweight, other health screenings, personal physicians, family history (first-degree relatives) of cancers, and preferred language (English vs. Spanish) for interview/testing. The screening percentage for ever having had a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy (51.8%) in this cohort aged 50 years or older is well below the percentage of the nation (65.2%) and Texas (64.6%) while the percentage for FOBT (29.2%) is higher than in the nation (17.2%) and Texas (14.9%). However, Hispanics had significantly lower participation than non-Hispanic whites for colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy (37.0% vs. 66.0%) and FOBT (16.5% vs. 41.7%), respectively. Stepwise logistic regression showed that predictors for colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy or FOBT included Hispanic race (p = 0.0045), age (p < 0.0001), other screening procedure (p < 0.0001), insurance status (p < 0.0001) and physician status (p = 0.0053). Screening percentage for colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy in this rural cohort is well below the national and Texas level mainly due to the lower participation of Hispanics vs. Non-Hispanic whites. Health insurance, having had a personal physician, having had screenings for other cancers, race, and older age are among the main predictors.^