A influência do alinhamento estratégico da tecnologia de informação no desempenho empresarial: um estudo sobre o impacto da orientação estratégica na integração, uso e benefícios desta tecnologia ao negócio

Este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar a influência da Tecnologia de Informação (TI) no Desempenho Empresarial sob o direcionamento da Estratégia de Negócio. A pesquisa faz um estudo específico da TI pelo alinhamento estratégico da tecnologia na integração, uso e benefícios da TI ao negócio e a influência nas diversas perspectivas de desempenho da firma. A estratégia recebe o recorte na pesquisa da orientação estratégica ao impactar a integração da TI ao negócio. O estudo utilizou da técnica de modelagem em equações estruturais com estimação PLS-PM (Partial Least Squares Path Modeling) num estudo empírico de 222 empresas. Os resultados indicam influência da TI no desempenho empresarial, ao explicar a variabilidade de 34,1% do desempenho de aprendizado & crescimento, 46.1% do desempenho do processo interno, 44,7% do desempenho do mercado, e 32,7% do desempenho financeiro. O estudo possibilitou explicar 74,1% da variabilidade do uso e benefícios da TI à estratégia e os processos de negócio e os diversos efeitos da TI no desempenho empresarial, além de destacar a importância e ênfase dada pelas empresas às variáveis da orientação estratégica. O modelo possibilitou explicar a variabilidade das várias perspectivas do desempenho e sugere outras formas de mensurar a adoção e uso da tecnologia nas organizações.

Effectuation e causation: um estudo sobre o processo decisório empreendedor em redes de micros e pequenos supermercados

Este estudo analisa a contribuição da centralidade em redes de negócios, na elevação da complexidade da estrutura organizacional de supermercados e os possíveis efeitos dessa mudança no processo decisório empreendedor. Causation e Effectuation são processos decisórios distintos que possuem sua hora adequada de utilização. Porém, faltam estudos sobre quando os empreendedores utilizam tais processos em ambientes de redes interorganizacionais. Para preencher esse gap, a pesquisa centra-se na tipologia de rede de cooperação associativa (BALESTRIN; VARGAS, 2004; BALESTRIN; VERSCHOORE, 2008). O referencial teórico foi construído a partir dos conceitos de centralidade (FREEMAN, 1979; WASSERMAN; FAUST, 1994), laços relacionais (BURT, 1992; GRANOVETTER, 1973), complexidade da estrutura organizacional (HALL, 2004), e dos processos decisórios de Causation e Effectuation (SARASVATHY, 2001a). Inicialmente, os dados foram coletados de forma indutiva em seis casos de micros e pequenos supermercados em redes de negócios no estado do Ceará. Após analisar o conteúdo de cada caso, o pesquisador procedeu uma Análise Qualitativa Comparativa (Qualitative Comparative Analysis – QCA). As condições necessárias à adoção dos processos decisórios foram: a) a centralidade contribui para elevar a complexidade da estrutura organizacional e/ou adoção de mecanismos de controle gerencial, quando as relações são conduzidas mais por laços sociais do que por laços estratégicos; b) empreendedores adotam Effectuation e Causation independentemente da complexidade da estrutura organizacional dos supermercados. Um novo achado foi que, além dos empreendedores novatos, os experientes também variam o uso de Effectuation e Causation no início dos novos empreendimentos. Mas ao longo do tempo, ao implementarem mecanismos de controle gerencial, eles tendem a reduzir a utilização de algumas práticas efetuais, como as capacidades de experimentar e aceitar riscos e perdas. Dados complementares foram coletados e testes foram realizados por meio de Modelagem de Equações Estruturais (MEE) baseada em partial least squares (PLS). Os resultados confirmaram que: c) os laços sociais exercem mais influência que os estratégicos, na transformação da estrutura organizacional dos supermercados; d) essa transformação influencia positivamente na implantação de mecanismos de controle gerencial; e) supermercados com mecanismos de controle gerencial terão empreendedores mais propensos a adotarem o processo de Causation, e menos propensos a experimentar e aceitar riscos e perdas. Os resultados contribuem para entender quando as relações geradas em redes de cooperação, afetam a fundação e o crescimento de pequenas empresas, e onde ocorre a evolução do comportamento decisório empreendedor no tempo. De forma prática, a pesquisa demonstra aos micros e pequenos empreendedores que eles não precisam gerar muitas relações para desenvolverem seus negócios, ou seja, a posição relativa do supermercado na rede não é importante, desde que os laços sociais estejam ativos e haja engajamento nas atividades das associações. Também ensina que os empreendedores tendem a desenvolver o raciocínio causal em redes de negócios.

Allergic asthma exhaled breath metabolome: a challenge for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography

Allergic asthma represents an important public health issue, most common in the paediatric population, characterized by airway inflammation that may lead to changes in volatiles secreted via the lungs. Thus, exhaled breath has potential to be a matrix with relevant metabolomic information to characterize this disease. Progress in biochemistry, health sciences and related areas depends on instrumental advances, and a high throughput and sensitive equipment such as comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC–ToFMS) was considered. GC × GC–ToFMS application in the analysis of the exhaled breath of 32 children with allergic asthma, from which 10 had also allergic rhinitis, and 27 control children allowed the identification of several hundreds of compounds belonging to different chemical families. Multivariate analysis, using Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis in tandem with Monte Carlo Cross Validation was performed to assess the predictive power and to help the interpretation of recovered compounds possibly linked to oxidative stress, inflammation processes or other cellular processes that may characterize asthma. The results suggest that the model is robust, considering the high classification rate, sensitivity, and specificity. A pattern of six compounds belonging to the alkanes characterized the asthmatic population: nonane, 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethylheptane, decane, 3,6-dimethyldecane, dodecane, and tetradecane. To explore future clinical applications, and considering the future role of molecular-based methodologies, a compound set was established to rapid access of information from exhaled breath, reducing the time of data processing, and thus, becoming more expedite method for the clinical purposes.

Fatores críticos de sucesso como antecedentes da aceitação de um sistema de informação em uma universidade federal

In recent decades the public sector comes under pressure in order to improve its performance. The use of Information Technology (IT) has been a tool increasingly used in reaching that goal. Thus, it has become an important issue in public organizations, particularly in institutions of higher education, determine which factors influence the acceptance and use of technology, impacting on the success of its implementation and the desired organizational results. The Technology Acceptance Model - TAM was used as the basis for this study and is based on the constructs perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. However, when it comes to integrated management systems due to the complexity of its implementation,organizational factors were added to thus seek further explanation of the acceptance of such systems. Thus, added to the model five TAM constructs related to critical success factors in implementing ERP systems, they are: support of top management, communication, training, cooperation, and technological complexity (BUENO and SALMERON, 2008). Based on the foregoing, launches the following research problem: What factors influence the acceptance and use of SIE / module academic at the Federal University of Para, from the users' perception of teachers and technicians? The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of organizational factors, and behavioral antecedents of behavioral intention to use the SIE / module academic UFPA in the perspective of teachers and technical users. This is applied research, exploratory and descriptive, quantitative with the implementation of a survey, and data collection occurred through a structured questionnaire applied to a sample of 229 teachers and 30 technical and administrative staff. Data analysis was carried out through descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling with the technique of partial least squares (PLS). Effected primarily to assess the measurement model, which were verified reliability, convergent and discriminant validity for all indicators and constructs. Then the structural model was analyzed using the bootstrap resampling technique like. In assessing statistical significance, all hypotheses were supported. The coefficient of determination (R ²) was high or average in five of the six endogenous variables, so the model explains 47.3% of the variation in behavioral intention. It is noteworthy that among the antecedents of behavioral intention (BI) analyzed in this study, perceived usefulness is the variable that has a greater effect on behavioral intention, followed by ease of use (PEU) and attitude (AT). Among the organizational aspects (critical success factors) studied technological complexity (TC) and training (ERT) were those with greatest effect on behavioral intention to use, although these effects were lower than those produced by behavioral factors (originating from TAM). It is pointed out further that the support of senior management (TMS) showed, among all variables, the least effect on the intention to use (BI) and was followed by communications (COM) and cooperation (CO), which exert a low effect on behavioral intention (BI). Therefore, as other studies on the TAM constructs were adequate for the present research. Thus, the study contributed towards proving evidence that the Technology Acceptance Model can be applied to predict the acceptance of integrated management systems, even in public. Keywords: Technology

Crenças normativas e comportamentais e suas influências na intenção de adoção de um sistema de informação: um estudo na área de compras da UFPA

The study aims to identify the factors that influence the behavior intention to adopt an academic Information System (SIE), in an environment of mandatory use, applied in the procurement process at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). For this, it was used a model of innovation adoption and technology acceptance (TAM), focused in attitudes and intentions regarding the behavior intention. The research was conducted a quantitative survey, through survey in a sample of 96 administrative staff of the researched institution. For data analysis, it was used structural equation modeling (SEM), using the partial least squares method (Partial Least Square PLS-PM). As to results, the constructs attitude and subjective norms were confirmed as strong predictors of behavioral intention in a pre-adoption stage. Despite the use of SIE is required, the perceived voluntariness also predicts the behavior intention. Regarding attitude, classical variables of TAM, like as ease of use and perceived usefulness, appear as the main influence of attitude towards the system. It is hoped that the results of this study may provide subsidies for more efficient management of the process of implementing systems and information technologies, particularly in public universities

Determinação de parâmetros (sólidos solúveis, pH e acidez titulável) em ameixas intactas usando espectroscopia no infravermelho próximo e seleção de comprimento de onda

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) as a rapid and non-destructive method to determine the soluble solid content (SSC), pH and titratable acidity of intact plums. Samples of plum with a total solids content ranging from 5.7 to 15%, pH from 2.72 to 3.84 and titratable acidity from 0.88 a 3.6% were collected from supermarkets in Natal-Brazil, and NIR spectra were acquired in the 714 2500 nm range. A comparison of several multivariate calibration techniques with respect to several pre-processing data and variable selection algorithms, such as interval Partial Least Squares (iPLS), genetic algorithm (GA), successive projections algorithm (SPA) and ordered predictors selection (OPS), was performed. Validation models for SSC, pH and titratable acidity had a coefficient of correlation (R) of 0.95 0.90 and 0.80, as well as a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.45ºBrix, 0.07 and 0.40%, respectively. From these results, it can be concluded that NIR spectroscopy can be used as a non-destructive alternative for measuring the SSC, pH and titratable acidity in plums

Uso da espectroscopia do infravermelho próximo e técnicas multivariadas para diferenciar escherichia coli e salmonella enteritidis inoculadas em polpa de fruta (abacaxi)

Aiming to consumer s safety the presence of pathogenic contaminants in foods must be monitored because they are responsible for foodborne outbreaks that depending on the level of contamination can ultimately cause the death of those who consume them. In industry is necessary that this identification be fast and profitable. This study shows the utility and application of near-infrared (NIR) transflectance spectroscopy as an alternative method for the identification and classification of Escherichia coli and Salmonella Enteritidis in commercial fruit pulp (pineapple). Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Modeling of Class Analogy (SIMCA) and Discriminant Analysis Partial Least Squares (PLS-DA) were used in the analysis. It was not possible to obtain total separation between samples using PCA and SIMCA. The PLS-DA showed good performance in prediction capacity reaching 87.5% for E. coli and 88.3% for S. Enteritides, respectively. The best models were obtained for the PLS-DA with second derivative spectra treated with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.87 and 0.83, respectively. These results suggest that the NIR spectroscopy and PLS-DA can be used to discriminate and detect bacteria in the fruit pulp

Valor preditivo do potencial de implantação embrionário pela análise do perfil químico de meios de cultivo por espectrometria de massas (ESI-Q-ToF)

Objective: This case-control study analyzed mass spectrometry fingerprinting patterns of culture media samples used for embryo culture to predict embryo implantation. Methods: The culture medium harvested after embryo transfer of 22 embryos from 13 patients was used for the experiments. After embryo transfer, the remaining culture media were collected and samples were split in positive (n=8) and negative (n=14) implantation groups according to implantation outcomes (100% or 0% of implantation). Samples were individually diluted and injected directly to the Electrospray ionization (ESI) MS coupled to a Quadrupole Time-of-flight MS (Q-ToF-MS).Ions relative intensities of each spectrum were considered. Data analysis was conducted in MatLab 7.0 version using Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis toolbox. Results: There were 3027 observed ions at 100% and 0% implantation groups by ESI-Q-ToF-MS. The statistical model could categorize the samples in two clusters, based on their positive and negative implantation outcomes. Less intense ions present in the mass spectra with statistical significance have contributed to the major differences to group distinction. Conclusions: Positive and negative implantation embryos showed a specific biochemical pattern present in culture media, which could be detected as a fast, simple and non-invasive way. This biochemical profile could help the selection of the most viable embryo, improving single embryo transfer and thus eliminating the risk and undesirable outcomes of multiple pregnancies. © Todos os direitos reservados a SBRA - Sociedade Brasileira de Reprodução Assistida.

Development and validation of an environmentally friendly attenuated total reflectance in the mid-infrared region method for the determination of ethanol content in used engine lubrication oil

Lubricating oils are crucial in the operation of automotive engines because they both reduce friction between moving parts and protect against corrosion. However, the performance of lubricant oil may be affected by contaminants, such as gasoline, diesel, ethanol, water and ethylene glycol. Although there are many standard methods and studies related to the quantification of contaminants in lubricant oil, such as gasoline and diesel oil, to the best of our knowledge, no methods have been reported for the quantification of ethanol in used Otto cycle engine lubrication oils. Therefore, this work aimed at the development and validation of a routine method based on partial least-squares multivariate analysis combined with attenuated total reflectance in the mid-infrared region to quantify ethanol content in used lubrication oil. The method was validated based on its figures of merit (using the net analyte signal) as follows: limit of detection (0.049%), limit of quantification (0.16%), accuracy (root mean square error of prediction=0.089% w/w), repeatability (0.05% w/w), fit (R 2 =0.9997), mean selectivity (0.047), sensitivity (0.011), inverse analytical sensitivity (0.016% w/w-1) and signal-to-noise ratio (max: 812.4 and min: 200.9). The results show that the proposed method can be routinely implemented for the quality control of lubricant oils. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Análise multivariada no monitoramento do processo de produção de óleo diesel numa refinaria de petróleo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de método analítico para determinação do teor de etanol em óleo lubrificante usado proveniente de motores ciclo Otto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Simultaneous spectrometric determination of Cu2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ in polivitaminic/polimineral drug using SPA and GA algorithms for variable selection

Este artigo apresenta uma aplicação do método para determinação espectrofotométrica simultânea dos íons divalentes de cobre, manganês e zinco à análise de medicamento polivitamínico/polimineral. O método usa 4-(2-piridilazo) resorcinol (PAR), calibração multivariada e técnicas de seleção de variáveis e foi otimizado o empregando-se o algoritmo das projeções sucessivas (APS) e o algoritmo genético (AG), para escolha dos comprimentos de onda mais informativos para a análise. Com essas técnicas, foi possível construir modelos de calibração por regressão linear múltipla (RLM-APS e RLM-AG). Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com modelos de regressão em componentes principais (PCR) e nos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS). Demonstra-se a partir do erro médio quadrático de previsão (RMSEP) que os modelos apresentam desempenhos semelhantes ao prever as concentrações dos três analitos no medicamento. Todavia os modelos RLM são mais simples pois requerem um número muito menor de comprimentos de onda e são mais fáceis de interpretar que os baseados em variáveis latentes.

A Multivariate Calibration Procedure for UV/VIS Spectrometric Monitoring of BHK-21 Cell Metabolism and Growth

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Predicting soluble solid content in intact jaboticaba [Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg] fruit using near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Artificial neural network associated to UV/Vis spectroscopy for monitoring bioreactions in biopharmaceutical processes

Currently, mammalian cells are the most utilized hosts for biopharmaceutical production. The culture media for these cell lines include commonly in their composition a pH indicator. Spectroscopic techniques are used for biopharmaceutical process monitoring, among them, UV–Vis spectroscopy has found scarce applications. This work aimed to define artificial neural networks architecture and fit its parameters to predict some nutrients and metabolites, as well as viable cell concentration based on UV–Vis spectral data of mammalian cell bioprocess using phenol red in culture medium. The BHK-21 cell line was used as a mammalian cell model. Off-line spectra of supernatant samples taken from batches performed at different dissolved oxygen concentrations in two bioreactor configurations and with two pH control strategies were used to define two artificial neural networks. According to absolute errors, glutamine (0.13 ± 0.14 mM), glutamate (0.02 ± 0.02 mM), glucose (1.11 ± 1.70 mM), lactate (0.84 ± 0.68 mM) and viable cell concentrations (1.89 105 ± 1.90 105 cell/mL) were suitably predicted. The prediction error averages for monitored variables were lower than those previously reported using different spectroscopic techniques in combination with partial least squares or artificial neural network. The present work allows for UV–VIS sensor development, and decreases cost related to nutrients and metabolite quantifications.