Achieving Coherence between Strategies and Value Systems in Collaborative Networks

Part 8: Business Strategies Alignment

Sobre projetos, palavras e imagens: relacionando textos e desenhos nos trabalhos finais de graduação em arquitetura e urbanismo

This research continues the current debate about the role of the images and the words in the architectural design persuasion, where we emphasize the increasing valuation of written documents (FORTY, 2004; MARKUS; CAMERON, 2002), the seduction for the graphical representation (DURAND, 2003) and the rhetorical effects of the graphical and textual resources (TOSTRUP, 1999). Based on these quarrels, we look for verify in the graduate final projects the relation between the design texts and images. From the PROJEDATA, database of the PROJETAR research group (UFRN), we selected the final projects of two brazilians universities, UFRN and USP, that in a first analysis, they had shown as ideal types of two distinct design presentation models, respectively: texts and drawings in separated documents, or combined in an only support. Based on Markus explanation about the function and the content of the texts, on the Durand perspective with regard to graphical representation uses and on Tostrup point of view concerning the rhetorical potential of texts and drawings, we analyze, in a set of 25 projects, how the students relate the textual and imagetical speeches. For this, we related the focus of each speech, in order to verify the possible coherence between both. We conclude that in the model of USP final project the coherence between the texts and the drawings is clearer than in the model adopted in UFRN

An ESL/EFL Computer Assisted Language Instruction (CALIS) Micro-Teaching Lesson on Coherence Through Sentences When Writing Compositions in the Foreign Language Classroom

[Sin resumen]

Quality of life, sense of coherence and levels of sedentarism of faculty and staff from the Presbítero Benjamín Núnez, U.N.A.

The aim of this study was to analyze the quality of life of faculty and staff of the Presbítero Benjamín Núñez Campus of Universidad Nacional (UNA, Costa Rica) as well as to assess the influence of two factors, sense of coherence and physical exercise, in the quality of life of the subjects.  A group of 37 faculty members and 30 staff members participated in the study.  The SF-36 Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and a survey to measure physical exercise habits were used.  In general, results showed a relatively good quality of life and similar scores were found in the Sense of Coherence Scale.  Additionally, significant connections were found between certain factors related to sense of coherence and quality of life.  Data confirmed that persons who practice physical exercise have a better quality of life than those who are not physically active.  It was concluded that, although quality of life and sense of coherence were relatively good, new proposals must be designed and implemented to improve both aspects.  In this sense, physical exercise proved to be one of the pillars in the development of innovative proposals aimed at bettering health in university employees, all of this within the “Healthy Universities” concept.

Towards flexible parsing of structured textual model representations

Existing parsers for textual model representation formats such as XMI and HUTN are unforgiving and fail upon even the smallest inconsistency between the structure and naming of metamodel elements and the contents of serialised models. In this paper, we demonstrate how a fuzzy parsing approach can transparently and automatically resolve a number of these inconsistencies, and how it can eventually turn XML into a human-readable and editable textual model representation format for particular classes of models.

Effect of pharmacological pupil dilation on measurements and iol power calculation made using the new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer

Purpose: to determine whether pupil dilation affects biometric measurements and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation made using the new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer (IOLMaster 700©; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany). Procedures: eighty-one eyes of 81 patients evaluated for cataract surgery were prospectively examined using the IOLMaster 700© before and after pupil dilation with tropicamide 1%. The measurements made were: axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), mean keratometry (MK), white-to-white distance (WTW) and pupil diameter (PD). Holladay II and SRK/T formulas were used to calculate IOL power. Agreement between measurement modes (with and without dilation) was assessed through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results: mean patient age was 75.17 ± 7.54 years (range: 57–92). Of the variables determined, CCT, ACD, LT and WTW varied significantly according to pupil dilation. Excellent intraobserver correlation was observed between measurements made before and after pupil dilation. Mean IOL power calculation using the Holladay 2 and SRK/T formulas were unmodified by pupil dilation. Conclusions: the use of pupil dilation produces statistical yet not clinically significant differences in some IOLMaster 700© measurements. However, it does not affect mean IOL power calculation.

Agreement and clinical comparison between a new swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer and an optical low-coherence reflectometry biometer

Purpose To compare measurements taken using a swept-source optical coherence tomography-based optical biometer (IOLmaster 700) and an optical low-coherence reflectometry biometer (Lenstar 900), and to determine the clinical impacts of differences in their measurements on intraocular lens (IOL) power predictions. Methods Eighty eyes of 80 patients scheduled to undergo cataract surgery were examined with both biometers. The measurements made using each device were axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), aqueous depth (AQD), lens thickness (LT), mean keratometry (MK), white-to-white distance (WTW), and pupil diameter (PD). Holladay 2 and SRK/T formulas were used to calculate IOL power. Differences in measurement between the two biometers were determined using the paired t-test. Agreement was assessed through intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots. Results Mean patient age was 76.3±6.8 years (range 59–89). Using the Lenstar, AL and PD could not be measured in 12.5 and 5.25% of eyes, respectively, while IOLMaster 700 took all measurements in all eyes. The variables CCT, AQD, LT, and MK varied significantly between the two biometers. According to ICCs, correlation between measurements made with both devices was excellent except for WTW and PD. Using the SRK/T formula, IOL power prediction based on the data from the two devices were statistically different, but differences were not clinically significant. Conclusions No clinically relevant differences were detected between the biometers in terms of their measurements and IOL power predictions. Using the IOLMaster 700, it was easier to obtain biometric measurements in eyes with less transparent ocular media or longer AL.

A Diagnostic Calculator for Detecting Glaucoma on the Basis of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer, Optic Disc, and Retinal Ganglion Cell Analysis by Optical Coherence Tomography

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a multivariate predictive model to detect glaucoma by using a combination of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform (GCIPL), and optic disc parameters measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Methods: Five hundred eyes from 500 participants and 187 eyes of another 187 participants were included in the study and validation groups, respectively. Patients with glaucoma were classified in five groups based on visual field damage. Sensitivity and specificity of all glaucoma OCT parameters were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) and areas under the ROC (AUC) were compared. Three predictive multivariate models (quantitative, qualitative, and combined) that used a combination of the best OCT parameters were constructed. A diagnostic calculator was created using the combined multivariate model. Results: The best AUC parameters were: inferior RNFL, average RNFL, vertical cup/disc ratio, minimal GCIPL, and inferior-temporal GCIPL. Comparisons among the parameters did not show that the GCIPL parameters were better than those of the RNFL in early and advanced glaucoma. The highest AUC was in the combined predictive model (0.937; 95% confidence interval, 0.911–0.957) and was significantly (P = 0.0001) higher than the other isolated parameters considered in early and advanced glaucoma. The validation group displayed similar results to those of the study group. Conclusions: Best GCIPL, RNFL, and optic disc parameters showed a similar ability to detect glaucoma. The combined predictive formula improved the glaucoma detection compared to the best isolated parameters evaluated. The diagnostic calculator obtained good classification from participants in both the study and validation groups.

Caminhos da crítica textual Da filologia à interdisciplinaridade: o caso das edições dos Sermões de Padre António Vieira

The present paper discusses the problem of the plurality of the text, as a cultural object, and its implications for the textual criticism activity. Starting from the fact that the nature of the textual object, especially in the case of ancient texts and literary texts, requires the editor to call into play very diverse knowledge – among which stands out the linguistic knowledge, but also the knowledge of the work, its characteristics and context – we advocate that a «philological» approach, multi and interdisciplinary, of the text editing is still needed, desirably carried out by teams of experts in different scientific fields. We exemplify, among others,with the case of the editions of the Sermões, by Vieira.

Elementos de coesão textual

Ao escrever um texto, é necessário estar atento aos elementos da coesão textual, pois são estes que criam conexão e harmonia entre as partes que o compõe para apresentar sentido e uma ideia completa. Seguir esse procedimento facilita a leitura e interpretação do leitor. Para que os parágrafos apresentem conexões, são necessários os elos entre eles, tais como os pronomes. Esta classe de palavras, portanto, são de fundamental importância na amarração das ideias colocadas em um texto. Desta forma, este recurso textual apresenta algumas formas de utilização dos pronomes como elemento de coesão textual para serem aplicadas ao se produzir uma redação

A segunda lei da termodinâmica

Considering intrinsic characteristics of the system exclusively, both statistical and information theory interpretations of the second law are used to provide more comprehensive meanings for the concepts of entropy, temperature, and Helmholtz and Gibbs energies. The coherence of Clausius inequality to these concepts is emphasized. The aim of this work is to re-discuss the second law of thermodynamics in accordance to homogeneous processes thermodynamics, a temporal science which is the very special oversimplification of continuum mechanics for spatially constant intensive properties.

Adaptação de um questionário de autoconfiança relacionado a situações-problema em Odontopediatria

This work describes the adaptation of Milgrom's questionnaire on self-confidence and ways of dealing with behavior problems faced during pediatric dental treatment. The adaptation of the instrument was approved by experts and was analyzed in terms of quantity, coherence and quality of responses. The results of this study suggest that the questionnaire can contribute to dentist's education.

Resonancias discursivas y cortesía en prácticas de lecto-escritura

In this paper we present a study of reading comprehension based on a contrastive argumentative-discursive approach. We examine the relationship between linguistic materiality and discursive processes, observing the connection between reading in a foreign language, writing production and textual memories in the mother tongue. In addition to an interest in practical language teaching and learning processes (in this case of Spanish and Portuguese), we investigate the question of politeness and the theoretical relationship between subjectivity, language, and textuality. The latter, being understood as the result of discourse regularities, is unique for each and every production, yet is also conditioned by plural discursive memories resulting from contradictory social relationships in a specific historical context (Foucault, 1986; Pêcheux, 1990). In the experiment presented here, we follow some of the procedures of the methodology applied in the European Galatea Project developed for the study of reading strategies in the inter-comprehension between Romance languages (Dabène, 1996). We use the procedure of simulation and the subjective projection of participants as well as the notion of discursive resonance in the analysis. The results, having to do with directness and indirectness in speech and the question of politeness in two typologically close languages, lead to the conclusion that the concept of politeness goes beyond a pragmatic strategy used to avoid conflicts to be approached as a marker of cultural identity constitution. The relevance of discursive awareness and its theoretical and practical consequences are then emphasized.