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No / Presents the results of a joint National Science Foundation and European Commission Workshop, set up to identify directions for the future of human-centered computing, online communities and virtual environments. Discusses ways to meet the ultimate goal of facilitating human-computer interaction centered around human needs and capabilities.

Yes / Background: Small-area analysis of National Health Service (NHS)-funded sight test uptake in Leeds showed significant inequalities in access among people aged <16 or ≥60. Methods: Data were extracted from 604 126 valid General Ophthalmic Services (GOS)1 claim forms for eye examinations for Essex residents between October 2013 and July 2015. Expected GOS1 uptake for each lower super output area was based on England annual uptake. Poisson regression modelling explored associations in GOS1 uptake ratio with deprivation. Results: People aged ≥60 or <16 living in the least deprived quintile were 15% and 26%, respectively, more likely to have an NHS funded eye examination than the most deprived quintile, although all are equally entitled. GOS1 uptake is higher in the more deprived quintiles among 16-59-year old, as means tested social benefits are the main eligibility criteria in this age-group. Inequalities were also observed at local authority level. Conclusions: Inequalities in access among people ≥60 years were not as large as those reported in Leeds, although inequalities in <16-year old were similar. However, demonstrable inequalities in this data set over a longer time period and a larger and more diverse area than Leeds, reinforce the argument that interventions are needed to address eye examination uptake inequalities. / The College of Optometrists.

American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) are susceptible to small variations in climate and microclimates and are found within a narrow latitudinal range of prime climate conditions. These AVAs are geographically determined based on the best soil, climate, precipitation and temperature combinations for specific winegrape regions. As climate change continues to alter the local weather and the greater climate region of the Western United States, winegrape growing regions in Oregon are being affected. In an effort to determine what the pattern of change is, and compare previous studies of climate change using climate indices, a comparative study based in part on prior research was conducted. Using 800 meter resolution Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) climate datasets, four individual climate indices were analyzed for statistical correlation with the climate data. These climate indices are: growing degree-days (GDD), the average growing season temperatures (GST), Huglin Index (HI) and the biologically effective degree-day (BEDD). Based on currently available data for this research, these climate indices were statistically analyzed during the years 2000 to 2010. A further avenue of research included a statistical analysis of the reported winegrape production, although this data was available only at an aggregated county-level. Results show that all four climate indices exhibit statistical significance, although the inclusion of the winegrape production data exhibited no statistical significance for many of the analyses, most likely due to subjective and aggregated data, few did result in significance with the climate indices. The research discussed here confirms the accuracy of the four climate indices and suggest that a longer time frame, coupled with less aggregated and subjective winegrape production data could produce interesting results in future research on the results of climate indices in winegrape growing regions.

This essay investigating outbound factors by theoretical planning behaviors approach which generate knowledge information sharing component to knowledge workers of IC Testing/Assembly plant. The external essence and factor is divided into Individual-Level Factors, Team-Level Factors and Organizational-Level Factors: Individual-Level factors including motives (Self-Interest factor and altruistic Factor), job satisfaction; Team-Level Factors should be complied with trust, leaderships; Organizational-Level Factors would be concluded with enterprise culture, management constitutions. Investigated objects would be focused on Walton Advanced Engineering Co.,Ltd., after sampling with the IT engineering, I have concluded with the following issues: 1. Self-Interest factor and job satisfactory factor would be greater influence than the altruistic Factor. 2. Leadership is a critical influencing factor in the knowledge sharing process. 3. Trust is an essential factor for knowledge sharing within a group. 4. Culture and reward system are the most influencing factor for knowledge sharing. 5. It is necessary to tie in administrative strategy to raise the wills to share knowledge. 6. Encouraging group members explode the nuclear tacit knowledge benefits a lot to individuals and overall group improvement and growth. 7. It is quite a challenge to enterprise to build the knowledge sharing mechanism. Hoping the conclusions above would benefit to those knowledge works related managers and knowledge owners to inherit and preserver the main essence of knowledge base for their working groups.

Stroke is a devastating, neurological dysfunction due to brain blood supply disturbance. It is responsible for increasingly high rate of mortality and disability worldwide. This thesis comprises two original studies involving 868 patients at risk of ischemic stroke and/or hemorrhagic stroke. The first study investigated aspirin’s effect among patients with intracranial hemorrhage. Unlike Caucasians which hemorrhagic strokes account for 10-15% of all strokes; in Chinese, intracranial hemorrhages strike up to 35%. After such, anti-platelet agent like aspirin is often avoided for fear of recurrent intracranial hemorrhages, despite compelling indications. However, clinical data is limited. In this single-centered observational study, we included 440 consecutive Chinese patients with a first spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage surviving the first month performed during 1996-2010. 56 patients (12.7%) of these 440 patients were prescribed aspirin after intracranial hemorrhage (312 patient-aspirin years). After a mean follow-up of 62.2 ± 1.8 months, 47 patients had recurrent intracranial hemorrhage(10.7%, 20.6 per 1,000 patient years). Patients prescribed aspirin did not have higher risk of recurrent intracranial hemorrhage compared with those without (22.7 per 1,000 patient-aspirin years vs. 22.4 per 1,000 patient years, p=0.70). Multivariate analysis identified age > 60 years and hypertension as independent predictors for recurrent intracranial hemorrhage. In a subgroup analysis: the incidence of combined vascular events including recurrent intracranial hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and acute coronary syndrome was statistically lower in patients prescribed aspirin than without (52.4 per 1,000 patient-aspirin years, vs. 112.8 per 1,000 patient-years, p=0.04). Implications of the results: despite having a substantial risk for recurrent intracranial hemorrhage, post-intracranial hemorrhage ones are at risk for thrombotic vascular events and management goal should thus focus on ameliorating overall cardiovascular risk instead of preventing recurrent intracranial hemorrhage. Hence, thrombo-prophylaxis should still be considered. The second study investigated the relation between premature atrial complexes and new-onset atrial fibrillation together with other cardiovascular events. Premature atrial complexes though taken as benign phenomenon, are common in patients with underlying conditions such as coronary heart disease, chronic rheumatic heart disease. While prompt management of atrial fibrillation may prevent ischemic stroke, atrial fibrillation is often unfound until ischemic stroke occurs. In this study, 428 patients without atrial fibrillation but complained of palpitations, dizziness or syncope were recruited. 107 patients with >100 premature atrial complexes/day were defined to have frequent premature atrial complexes. After a mean follow-up of 6.1 ±1.3 years, 31 patients (29%) with frequent premature atrial complexes developed atrial fibrillation compared with 29 patients (9%) with premature atrial complexes?100/day (p<0.01). Cox regression analysis revealed: frequent premature atrial complexes, age>75 years and coronary artery disease were independent predictors. In secondary endpoint (ischemic stroke, congestive heart failure, and death), patients with frequent premature atrial complexes were more at risk than those without (34.5% vs. 19.3%) (Hazard ratio: 1.95, 95% confidence interval: 1.37-3.50, p=0.001). Cox regression analysis showed: age> 75 years, coronary artery disease and frequent premature atrial complexes were independent predictors. These permit early identification of high risks patients of new atrial fibrillation and other events, thus promoting appropriate preventive treatment. / published_or_final_version / Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

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This study examined the relative risk of perinatal complications in common childhood disorders. Specifically, the ability of perinatal complications to predict membership into children's disorders was studied. The sample consisted of 634 normal children and children with mental retardation, learning disabilities, and emotional handicaps, whose mothers completed the Maternal Perinatal Scale (WS). Seven MPS items significantly contributed to the prediction of the mentally retarded, learning disabled, emotionally handicapped, and regular education groups. The two significant discriminant functions correctly classified about 46% of the students, with the greatest misclassification occuring for those with emotional handicaps. When the separate disorders were collapsed to form a single group, eleven MPS items significantly contributed to the prediction of the special education and regular education groups. The linear composite from discriminant function analysis correctly classified about 74% of the students. Some 89% of the special education students were correctly classified. When MPS factors were used as predictors, 90% of the special education students were correctly classified. Seven MPS factors comprised the discriminant function. Relative risk ratios were computed for each perinatal item. Significant relative risk ratios included maternal weight over 151 pounds, saddle block anesthesia, no anesthesia, stress during pregnancy, prenatal care, medically induced labor, unplanned pregnancy, medication use during pregnancy, hypoxia, and cigarette use during pregnancy. An overall relative risk of 6.35 was computed based on the linear composite of perinatal variables defined by the discriminant function, suggesting that a suggesting that a synergism of perinatal complications makes a child over 6 times more likely to be placed in special education. A second overall relative risk of 3.83 was derived from the linear composite of MPS factor scores. This indicated that children with a perinatal history marked by this particular combination of perinatal complications were nearly 4 times as likely to require special educational services. Results were discussed in terms of comorbidity among special education categories. The potential use of the MPS as a screener for early intervention was also discussed. / Department of Educational Psychology

When companies go international some factors present in the host country act like forces that might drive the company to standardize or adapt its strategies. The choices between to standardize or to adapt to local needs are of a great importance, since it can have significant impact in the company’s performance in the foreign market. In this paper these forces are characterized in country specific and industry specific factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of external factors in the customers’ value creation in a new foreign market, under standardization and adaptation strategies. In order to fulfill the purpose of the paper, a qualitative research was conducted using a single case study of a Swedish SME, focusing on a single product, namely machine guarding, in connection with one foreign market, Brazil. The study shows that the factors that were most influenced in the customers’ value creation were social/cultural aspects and competition, which tend to lead the company to adapt in order to fulfill local needs and to react to the competitiveness. It was also presented that economic factors and market size did not represent any influences in the standardization or adaptation strategies of the company studied. However, other external factors, as technological, political/legal and industry structure, have shown impact to some degree, whether in adaptation or standardization strategies.

A intensificação concorrencial decorrente do processo de globalização e da internacionalização dos mercados tem provocado profundas mudanças no agronegócio brasileiro, e as agroindústrias rurais (AR) estão sendo vistas como uma possibilidade estratégica para os pequenos e médios produtores rurais. Diversos são, entretanto, os fatores críticos ao sucesso desses empreendimentos como, também, diversos são os formatos organizacionais deles. O presente estudo, tendo por objetivo conhecer a realidade dessas ARs na ótica econômica, institucional e social durante o processo de comercialização de seus produtos, busca quantificar a influência destes fatores em promover a inserção delas no mercado, bem como verificar se essa influência ocorre de forma diferenciada para os tipos de ARs existentes na realidade. Como base teórica, utilizou-se da Teoria Econômica Neoclássica e da Teoria da Organização Industrial para abstrair os fatores da dimensão econômica. A fim de identificar os fatores da dimensão institucional, recorreu-se à Nova Economia Institucional, e a Sociologia Econômica serviu de suporte para a obtenção dos fatores sociais que influenciam na inserção das ARs no mercado. A Teoria das Convenções foi utilizada para auxiliar na interpretação dos resultados. O universo da pesquisa abrange as agroindústrias rurais de pequeno e médio portes, e a amostra foi composta por 40 agroindústrias de duas microrregiões geográficas do estado de Santa Catarina. Para a coleta de dados foi realizada uma entrevista estruturada com os dirigentes dessas agroindústrias. Na análise dos resultados, através de um modelo de regressão, buscou-se quantificar a influência de cada dimensão, e os achados mostraram que as dimensões econômica e institucional têm influências semelhantes para a inserção das ARs no mercado, e são, aproximadamente, duas vezes mais influentes que a dimensão social, quando se consideram todas as ARs da amostra. Quando se estratifica a amostra por tipos de ARs, percebe-se que há diferentes influências das dimensões do estudo para os diferentes tipos de ARs. / The intensification of competition resulting from the process of globalization and internationalization of markets has brought profound changes in Brazilian agribusiness and the rural agro-industries (RA) are being seen as a strategic option for small and medium farmers. Several, however, are the critical factors to the success of these undertakings as are also their organizational formats. The present study, aiming to know the reality of RAs in the economic, institutional and social perspective during the process of commercialization of its products, seeks to quantify the influence of these factors in promoting their inclusion in the market as well as verifying whether this influence occurs differently to each the type of RAs that exist in reality. As a theoretical basis, we used the Neoclassical Economic Theory and the Theory of Industrial Organization to abstract the economic dimension factors. In order to identify the factors of the institutional dimension we resorted to the New Institutional Economics and the Economic Sociology was used as a support for the attainment of social factors that influence the insertion of RAs in the market. The Theory of the Conventions was used to assist in interpreting the results. The research covers the small and medium size rural agro-industries, and the sample was comprised of 40 agro-industries from two geographical microregions in the state of Santa Catarina. To collect the data a structured interview was conducted with the leaders of these agro-industries. While analyzing the results through a regression model, we attempted to quantify the influence of each dimension and the findings showed that the economic and institutional dimensions have similar influences to the insertion of RAs in the market and are approximately twice more influential than the social dimension, when you consider all the RAs of the sample. When the sample is stratified by types of RAs, one realizes that there are different influences of the dimensions of the study for different types of RAs.