Describing Web Service Architectures through Design-by-Contract

Architectural description languages (ADLs) are used to specify a high-level, compositional view of a software application, specifying how a system is to be composed from coarse-grain components. ADLs usually come equipped with a formal dynamic semantics, facilitating specification and analysis of distributed and event-based systems. In this paper, we describe the TrustME, an ADL framework that provides both a process and a structural view of web service-based systems. We use Petri-net descriptions to give a dynamic view of business workflow for web service collaboration. We adapt the approach of Schmidt to define a form of Meyer's design-by-contract for configuring workflow architectures. This serves as a configuration-level means of constructing safer, more robust systems.

Determinantes de rentabilidade de empresas apoiadas pelo Programa BNDES de Desenvolvimento da Indústria de Software - BNDES PROSOFT Empresa

Este estudo objetiva analisar fatores que impactam a lucratividade de companhias beneficiadas com o Programa para Desenvolvimento da Indústria Nacional de Software e Serviços de TI – BNDES PROSOFT. A análise da lucratividade permeia diversos estudos no país e no exterior e é de suma importância para a realização de políticas públicas de qualidade. Para a avaliação, foram elencados diferentes aspectos microeconômicos, incluindo informações contábeis, de emprego, localização da empresa, segmento de atuação, entre outros, utilizando a metodologia de dados em painel. Dentre os resultados obtidos, pode-se destacar o impacto positivo do nível da escolaridade da equipe, lucratividade observada no exercício anterior, maior retorno das empresas menores frente às de maior porte. Houve penalidade no lucro daquelas companhias voltadas para fabricação de hardware, com equipes maiores. Constatou-se, também, um decréscimo no lucro de empresas no ano em que contrataram financiamentos com o BNDES, estas que foram posteriormente beneficiadas, no momento da implantação do projeto.

A JML-Based strategy for incorporating formal specifications into the software development process

This thesis presents a JML-based strategy that incorporates formal specifications into the software development process of object-oriented programs. The strategy evolves functional requirements into a “semi-formal” requirements form, and then expressing them as JML formal specifications. The strategy is implemented as a formal-specification pseudo-phase that runs in parallel with the other phase of software development. What makes our strategy different from other software development strategies used in literature is the particular use of JML specifications we make all along the way from requirements to validation-and-verification.

Design gráfico da pluma de contaminação por compostos orgânicos voláteiss utilizando software CAD na investigação de passivo ambiental em um posto revendedor de combustíveis em Natal/RN

Among the potentially polluting economic activities that compromise the quality of groundwater are the gas stations. The city of Natal has about 120 gas stations, of which only has an environmental license for operation. Discontinuities in the offices were notified by the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Norte to carry out the environmental adaptations, among which is the investigation of environmental liabilities. The preliminary and confirmatory stages of this investigation consisted in the evaluation of soil gas surveys with two confirmatory chemical analysis of BTEX, PAH and TPH. To get a good evaluation and interpretation of results obtained in the field, it became necessary three-dimensional representation of them. We used a CAD software to graph the equipment installed in a retail service station fuel in Natal, as well as the plumes of contamination by volatile organic compounds. The tool was concluded that contamination is not located in the current system of underground storage of fuel development, but reflects the historical past in which tanks were removed not tight gasoline and diesel

Optimal Contract Pricing of Distributed Generation in Distribution Networks

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Optimal contract pricing of distributed generation under a competitive framework

A bilevel programming approach for the optimal contract pricing of distributed generation (DG) in distribution networks is presented. The outer optimization problem corresponds to the owner of the DG who must decide the contract price that would maximize his profits. The inner optimization problem corresponds to the distribution company (DisCo), which procures the minimization of the payments incurred in attending the expected demand while satisfying network constraints. The meet the expected demand the DisCo can purchase energy either form the transmission network through the substations or form the DG units within its network. The inner optimization problem is substituted by its Karush- Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions, turning the bilevel programming problem into an equivalent single-level nonlinear programming problem which is solved using commercially available software. © 2010 IEEE.

Bilevel approach for optimal location and contract pricing of distributed generation in radial distribution systems using mixed-integer linear programming

In this study, a novel approach for the optimal location and contract pricing of distributed generation (DG) is presented. Such an approach is designed for a market environment in which the distribution company (DisCo) can buy energy either from the wholesale energy market or from the DG units within its network. The location and contract pricing of DG is determined by the interaction between the DisCo and the owner of the distributed generators. The DisCo intends to minimise the payments incurred in meeting the expected demand, whereas the owner of the DG intends to maximise the profits obtained from the energy sold to the DisCo. This two-agent relationship is modelled in a bilevel scheme. The upper-level optimisation is for determining the allocation and contract prices of the DG units, whereas the lower-level optimisation is for modelling the reaction of the DisCo. The bilevel programming problem is turned into an equivalent single-level mixed-integer linear optimisation problem using duality properties, which is then solved using commercially available software. Results show the robustness and efficiency of the proposed model compared with other existing models. As regards to contract pricing, the proposed approach allowed to find better solutions than those reported in previous works. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.

Projetos em geometria analítica usando software de geometria dinâmica: repensando a formação inicial docente em matemática

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aquisição de serviços de TI como um processo de qualidade no fornecimento de software - estudo de caso de terceirização em medicina transfusional

Face às dimensões continentais do país, as organizações situadas em regiões carentes de fornecedores de desenvolvimento de sistemas de software especializado estão distribuindo suas operações de Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), para outras regiões. Como consequência, a redução de custos e a melhoria da contratação de serviços em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) têm sido os dois grandes focos da atualidade, incentivando à noção de parceiros múltiplos em operações recíprocas e engajados tanto em relacionamentos formais quanto informais como a terceirização. Os serviços terceirizados são diversificados e entre eles está o desenvolvimento e manutenção de software através de contratos, realizados por organizações situadas em regiões onde existe demanda de software com características específicas. Sabe-se que a terceirização de Software e Serviços Correlatos (S&SC), que inclui as atividades de contratação e gestão do processo de aquisição é uma tarefa complexa e necessária para as organizações, principalmente no que diz respeito às condições envolvidas na contratação. Nesses casos, o exercício da governança tem sido um importante instrumento para, com a terceirização de TI, promover a gestão adequada do risco e o retorno do investimento. Sendo assim, o processo de compra ou venda de um produto de software nesse ambiente é uma atividade que envolve um grande número de conceitos subjetivos, referentes principalmente a características dos produtos. Torna-se maior o desafio quando se trata de software de prateleira modificável (Modified Off-The-Shelf - MOTS) que sofrem modificações e adições de requisitos a cada novo cliente. Neste contexto, buscando adequar as exigências do mercado com as necessidades de métodos e diretrizes para melhoria dos processos de aquisição e fornecimento de software, este trabalho procura explorar as principais características acerca do contrato, do controle de qualidade, e os resultados dos relacionamentos adotados na implementação de projetos de terceirização desenvolvidos á distância. São apresentados os resultados obtidos de um estudo de caso conduzido em uma empresa pública de Medicina Transfusional situada no norte do Brasil que adotou este processo. Por fim, este texto apresenta uma discussão sobre os diferenciais e limitações deste trabalho, e apresenta direcionamentos para investigações futuras neste campo de estudo.

Simulação de ciclo combinado utilizando software comercial

In Brazil, The power generation has always depended on the rivers, in other words, there are moments that the power generation can vary, which can cause variations in energy supply and even blackout according to the level of water in the reservoirs of the hydroelectric plants. For this reason, many options has been studied, like our example, which is about a combined cycle power plant in Canas. The use of combined cycle is interesting from the point o view of energy, because its efficiency is between 50 and 60%, and from the point of view of environment, because it can burn natural gas, which is cleaner than coal, it reduces the emission of gases that influence on the greenhouse effect. This work aims to perform a technical analysis of a case study of a power plant proposed to be built in Canas by the AES/AES Tietê Group. For the analysis will be used the commercial software GateCycle 6.0.0 from GE, this software has the power of simulating power generation cycles (nuclear, combined, etc.). The energy department of UNESP has the license, which makes possible the academic use of this tool. Two combined cycles were simulated, one using one pressure level HRSG, and another one closer to the real power plant, which is a combined cycle with a three pressure level HRSG. The results were close to expected, for the combined cycle with one pressure HRSG the power was 513,9 MW and a efficiency of 53,27%, in the case with the three pressure level HRSG the power was 517,1 MW and a efficiency of 53,5%. We conclude that the software requires that the user must have the knowledge about the subjects involved in the use of GateCycle in problems resolutions

Semantic integration of gene expression analysis tools and data sources using software connectors

Abstract Background The study and analysis of gene expression measurements is the primary focus of functional genomics. Once expression data is available, biologists are faced with the task of extracting (new) knowledge associated to the underlying biological phenomenon. Most often, in order to perform this task, biologists execute a number of analysis activities on the available gene expression dataset rather than a single analysis activity. The integration of heteregeneous tools and data sources to create an integrated analysis environment represents a challenging and error-prone task. Semantic integration enables the assignment of unambiguous meanings to data shared among different applications in an integrated environment, allowing the exchange of data in a semantically consistent and meaningful way. This work aims at developing an ontology-based methodology for the semantic integration of gene expression analysis tools and data sources. The proposed methodology relies on software connectors to support not only the access to heterogeneous data sources but also the definition of transformation rules on exchanged data. Results We have studied the different challenges involved in the integration of computer systems and the role software connectors play in this task. We have also studied a number of gene expression technologies, analysis tools and related ontologies in order to devise basic integration scenarios and propose a reference ontology for the gene expression domain. Then, we have defined a number of activities and associated guidelines to prescribe how the development of connectors should be carried out. Finally, we have applied the proposed methodology in the construction of three different integration scenarios involving the use of different tools for the analysis of different types of gene expression data. Conclusions The proposed methodology facilitates the development of connectors capable of semantically integrating different gene expression analysis tools and data sources. The methodology can be used in the development of connectors supporting both simple and nontrivial processing requirements, thus assuring accurate data exchange and information interpretation from exchanged data.

Bioconductor: Open software development for computational biology and bioinformatics

The Bioconductor project is an initiative for the collaborative creation of extensible software for computational biology and bioinformatics. We detail some of the design decisions, software paradigms and operational strategies that have allowed a small number of researchers to provide a wide variety of innovative, extensible, software solutions in a relatively short time. The use of an object oriented programming paradigm, the adoption and development of a software package system, designing by contract, distributed development and collaboration with other projects are elements of this project's success. Individually, each of these concepts are useful and important but when combined they have provided a strong basis for rapid development and deployment of innovative and flexible research software for scientific computation. A primary objective of this initiative is achievement of total remote reproducibility of novel algorithmic research results.

A Qualitative Study on the Adoption of Copyright Assignment Agreements (CAA) and Copyright License Agreements (CLA) within Selected FOSS Projects

Open source software projects are multi-collaborative works incorporating the contributions of numerous developers who, in spite of publishing their code under a public license such as GPL, Apache or BSD, retain the copyright in their contributions. Having multiple copyright-owners can make the steering of a project difficult, if not impossible, as there is no ultimate authority able to take decisions relating to the maintenance and use of the project. This predicament can be remedied by centring the dispersed copyrights in a single authority via contributor agreements. Whether to introduce contributor agreements, and if so in which form, is a pressing question for many emerging, but also for established projects. The current paper provides an insight into the ethos of different projects and their reason for adopting or rejecting particular contributor agreements. It further examines the exact set-up of the contributor agreements used and concludes that smart drafting can blur the difference between CAAs and CLAs to a considerable extent, manoeuvring them into a legal grey area. To avoid costly litigation to test the legal enforceability of individual clauses, this paper proposes the establishment of an international committee comprised of developers, product managers and lawyers interested in finding a common terminology that may serve as a foundation for every contributor agreement

Herramientas para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la matemática : Software libre

En este trabajo se presentan cuatro programas que pueden servir como herramientas auxiliares en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la Matemática. Mediante su utilización, los docentes, pueden innovar en la forma y el diseño de actividades y situaciones didácticas, editar materiales didácticos de distintos tipos, abordar, plantear y resolver problemas geométricos, algebraicos y referidos al análisis de funciones en los entornos dinámicos que brindan estos programas. En general, GeoGebra, Geonext y Regla y Compás son piezas de software libre y de plataformas múltiples que se utilizan en educación para interactuar dinámicamente con la Matemática, en un ámbito en que se reúnen las Geometría, el Algebra y el Cálculo. Los tres son de uso libre y tienen licencia GNU GPL (General Public License). WIRIS es conjunto de productos (comerciales) dedicados al uso y la enseñanza de la Matemática, no sería nuestra intención relevar software que no sea libre sin embargo se tiene acceso gratuito a las herramientas a través de algunos portales educativos gubernamentales en diversos idiomas (el uso está limitado a la condición de estar conectado a Internet). Con WIRIS se dispone de lo que podríamos llamar "súper calculadora" ya que, mediante un conjunto de solapas, ofrece posibilidad de efectuar diversos tipos de cálculos, representar funciones, representar lugares geométricos, programar una secuencia de comandos, etc.

Herramientas para la enseñanza y el aprendizaje de la matemática : Software libre

En este trabajo se presentan cuatro programas que pueden servir como herramientas auxiliares en la enseñanza y aprendizaje de la Matemática. Mediante su utilización, los docentes, pueden innovar en la forma y el diseño de actividades y situaciones didácticas, editar materiales didácticos de distintos tipos, abordar, plantear y resolver problemas geométricos, algebraicos y referidos al análisis de funciones en los entornos dinámicos que brindan estos programas. En general, GeoGebra, Geonext y Regla y Compás son piezas de software libre y de plataformas múltiples que se utilizan en educación para interactuar dinámicamente con la Matemática, en un ámbito en que se reúnen las Geometría, el Algebra y el Cálculo. Los tres son de uso libre y tienen licencia GNU GPL (General Public License). WIRIS es conjunto de productos (comerciales) dedicados al uso y la enseñanza de la Matemática, no sería nuestra intención relevar software que no sea libre sin embargo se tiene acceso gratuito a las herramientas a través de algunos portales educativos gubernamentales en diversos idiomas (el uso está limitado a la condición de estar conectado a Internet). Con WIRIS se dispone de lo que podríamos llamar "súper calculadora" ya que, mediante un conjunto de solapas, ofrece posibilidad de efectuar diversos tipos de cálculos, representar funciones, representar lugares geométricos, programar una secuencia de comandos, etc.