Defining the Fluid framework

In this position paper we present the developing Fluid framework, which we believe offers considerable advantages in maintaining software stability in dynamic or evolving application settings. The Fluid framework facilitates the development of component software via the selection, composition and configuration of components. Fluid's composition language incorporates a high-level type system supporting object-oriented principles such as type description, type inheritance, and type instantiation. Object-oriented relationships are represented via the dynamic composition of component instances. This representation allows the software structure, as specified by type and instance descriptions, to change dynamically at runtime as existing types are modified and new types and instances are introduced. We therefore move from static software structure descriptions to more dynamic representations, while maintaining the expressiveness of object-oriented semantics. We show how the Fluid framework relates to existing, largely component based, software frameworks and conclude with suggestions for future enhancements. © 2007 IEEE.

Accessing networked services : a user interface design problem

This research investigates the general user interface problems in using networked services. Some of the problems are: users have to recall machine names and procedures to. invoke networked services; interactions with some of the services are by means of menu-based interfaces which are quite cumbersome to use; inconsistencies exist between the interfaces for different services because they were developed independently. These problems have to be removed so that users can use the services effectively. A prototype system has been developed to help users interact with networked services. This consists of software which gives the user an easy and consistent interface with the various services. The prototype is based on a graphical user interface and it includes the following appJications: Bath Information & Data Services; electronic mail; file editor. The prototype incorporates an online help facility to assist users using the system. The prototype can be divided into two parts: the user interface part that manages interactlon with the user; the communicatIon part that enables the communication with networked services to take place. The implementation is carried out using an object-oriented approach where both the user interface part and communication part are objects. The essential characteristics of object-orientation, - abstraction, encapsulation, inheritance and polymorphism - can all contribute to the better design and implementation of the prototype. The Smalltalk Model-View-Controller (MVC) methodology has been the framework for the construction of the prototype user interface. The purpose of the development was to study the effectiveness of users interaction to networked services. Having completed the prototype, tests users were requested to use the system to evaluate its effectiveness. The evaluation of the prototype is based on observation, i.e. observing the way users use the system and the opinion rating given by the users. Recommendations to improve further the prototype are given based on the results of the evaluation. based on the results of the evah:1ation. . .'. " "', ':::' ,n,<~;'.'

Horizontal genetic transfer in asexual fungi

Four aspects of horizontal genetic transfer during heterokaryon formation were examined in the asexual pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc): (1) variability based on method of heterokaryon formation; (2) differences in nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance; (3) the occurrence of recombination without nuclear fusion; (4) the occurrence of horizontal genetic transfer between distantly related isolates. The use of non-pathogenic strains of Fusarium oxysporum as biocontrol agents warrants a closer examination at the reproductive life cycle of this fungus, particularly if drug resistance or pathogenicity genes can be transmitted horizontally. Experiments were divided into three phases. Phase I looked at heterokaryon formation by hyphal anastomosis and protoplast fusion. Phase II was a time course of heterokaryon formation to look at patterns of nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance. Phase III examined the genetic relatedness of the different vegetative compatibility groups using a multilocus analysis approach. Heterokaryon formation was evident within and between vegetative compatibility groups. Observation of non-parental genotypes after heterokaryon formation confirmed that, although a rare event, horizontal genetic transfer occurred during heterokaryon formation. Uniparental mitochondria inheritance was observed in heterokaryons formed either by hyphal anastomosis or protoplast fusion. Drug resistance was expressed during heterokaryon formation, even across greater genetic distances than those distances imposed by vegetative compatibility. Phylogenies inferred from different molecular markers were incongruent at a significant level, challenging the clonal origins of Foc. Mating type genes were identified in this asexual pathogen Polymorphisms were detected within a Vegetative Compatibility Group (VCG) suggesting non-clonal inheritance and/or sexual recombination in Foc. This research was funded in part by a NIH-NIGMS (National Institutes of Health-National Institute of General Medical Sciences) Grant through the MBRS (Minority Biomedical Research Support), the Department of Biological Sciences and the Tropical Biology Program at FIU. ^

The Enchanter's Spell: J.R.R. Tolkien's Mythopoetic Response to Modernism

J.R.R. Tolkien was not only an author of fantasy but also a philologist who theorized about myth. Theorists have employed various methods of analyzing myth, and this thesis integrates several analyses, including Tolkien’s. I address the roles of doctrine, ritual, cross-cultural patterns, mythic expressions in literature, the literary effect of myth, evolution of language and consciousness, and individual invention over inheritance and diffusion. Beyond Tolkien’s English and Catholic background, I argue for eclectic influence on Tolkien, including resonance with Buddhism. Tolkien views mythopoeia, literary mythmaking, in terms of sub-creation, human invention in the image of God as creator. Key mythopoetic tools include eucatastrophe, the happy ending’s sudden turn to poignant joy, and enchantment, the realization of imagined wonder, which is epitomized by the character of Tom Bombadil and contrasted with modernist techno-magic seeking to alter and dominate the world. I conclude by interpreting Tolkien’s mythmaking as a form of mysticism.

Avaliação do Processo Sucessório em Empresas de Gestão Familiar

As mudanças e o aumento da concorrência em todos os segmentos econômicos têm exigido das empresas um grau de profissionalização cada vez maior. As empresas familiares, além desse desafio frente ao mercado, ainda se deparam com dificuldades intrínsecas às suas características, como a dificuldade em separar o que é família, empresa e patrimônio. Portanto, é necessário se preparar para continuar no mercado e desenvolver um plano de sucessão para as próximas gerações. O objetivo geral deste trabalho é propor um instrumento de avaliação do processo sucessório em empresas familiares. Dentre os objetivos específicos, encontram-se identificar itens de maturidade no processo sucessório, oferecer diretrizes estratégicas para promover a sucessão em empresas familiares e avaliar a aplicabilidade do instrumento de pesquisa. Para a empresa estar preparada para a sucessão, ela não pode tratar somente o assunto isoladamente. Portanto, os temas estratégia, planejamento estratégico, distinção entre família, propriedade e gestão, governança corporativa e maturidade, também são aprofundados ao longo da revisão de literatura. Por meio de um estudo de caso com abordagem exploratória, o trabalho foi desenvolvido tendo-se como base modelos disponíveis na literatura para avaliação de maturidade. Antes da aplicação, o instrumento foi submetido à avaliação por cinco especialistas em empresas familiares. Como resultado, foi possível propor uma avaliação para o processo sucessório, identificando itens de maturidade e oferecendo diretrizes estratégicas para promover a sucessão em empresas familiares. Conclui-se que a avaliação do processo sucessório pode contribuir para a empresa identificar seus pontos fortes, minimizando dificuldades e superando obstáculos para sua sobrevivência no mercado ao longo das gerações. / The advance of competition in all of the economy markets has being demanding companies to have professional businesses, in an increasing way. The family business, beyond this challenge, still faces particular difficulties, such as the difference among family, business and ownership. So, it is a necessity for them being ready for their continuity in the market and developing a succession plan for the next generations. The main objective of this work is to propose an evaluation instrument for succession process. Specific objectives are to identify maturity items in the succession process, offer strategic directions to promote succession in family businesses and evaluate the usage of the research instrument. To get ready for succession, the company can not work just this subject. Therefore, it includes topics like: strategy, strategic planning, difference among family, business and ownership, corporate governance, and maturity are reviewed along the literature. Using a case study research method with an exploratory approach, it was developed based on maturity models available in the literature for maturity evaluation. Prior to the application, the research instrument was applied to five specialists in family businesses. As a result, it was possible to propose an evaluation model for succession, identifying maturity items and offering strategic perspectives to promote the succession process in family businesses. As conclusion, the succession evaluation could contribute for the company identifies its strengths, minimizing difficulties and overcoming obstacles for survival throughout generations.

A gestão da informação sob a luz do Enterprise Content Management (ECM): um estudo de caso em uma universidade pública

This work involves the organization and content perspectives on Enterprise Content Management (ECM) framework. The case study at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte was based on ECM model to analyse the information management provided by the three main administrative systems: The Integrated Management of Academic Activities (SIGAA), Integrated System of Inheritance, and Contracts Administration (SIPAC) and the Integrated System for Administration and Human Resources (SIGRH). A case study protocol was designed to provide greater reliability to research process. Four propositions were examined in order to reach the specific objectives of identification and evaluation of ECM components from UFRN perspective. The preliminary phase provided the guidelines for the data collection. In total, 75 individuals were interviewed. Interviews with four managers directly involved on systems design were recorded (average duration of 90 minutes). The 70 remaining individuals were approached in random way in UFRN s units, including teachers, administrative-technical employees and students. The results showed the presence of many ECM elements in the management of UFRN administrative information. The technological component with higher presence was "management of web content / collaboration". But initiatives of other components (e.g. email and document management) were found and are in continuous improvement. The assessment made use of eQual 4.0 to examine the effectiveness of applications under three factors: usability, quality of information and offered service. In general, the quality offered by the systems was very good and walk side by side with the obtained benefits of ECM strategy adoption in the context of the whole institution

Cerâmica de Santo Antônio do Potengi: entre tradição e modernidade

In the Rio Grande do Norte, the craftsmanship is generating of economy, it involves a significant number of people and is diversified in its raw materials and particular type. As reference of the craft local, the ceramics supplied the primary necessities in the utilitarian domestic servants, acquired piety in the religious figures, were toy in infantile amusements and, finally, gained status of pure ornament. By its historical representation, the district of Santo Antônio do Potengi is considered the most important center of manufacture of craftpottery in the State. The work of the potters continues in that locality anchored between the familiar inheritance and the participation each more influential time of the public politics destined to the sector situation verified for visible alterations in the shape of the pottery from the decade of 1990 with the implantation of a cooperative destined to the collective production. We observe in this passage, that such actions in the measure where they objectify to structuralize conditions ideal to support the artisan making, do not benefit in significant way the social development them craftsmen. It is important not to lose of sight that exists some involved dimensions in this process and that these surpass the common interest for the object and the consequent economic connotation of its commercialization. They are knowledge that imply in the access to raw materials, in the peculiar of the formal aspects and productive methods, in the contextual relations organized to defend the survival of the activity

Nonparametric Evaluation of Quantitative Traits in Population-Based Association Studies when the Genetic Model is Unknown

Statistical association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype and a quantitative trait in genome-wide association studies is usually assessed using a linear regression model, or, in the case of non-normally distributed trait values, using the Kruskal-Wallis test. While linear regression models assume an additive mode of inheritance via equi-distant genotype scores, Kruskal-Wallis test merely tests global differences in trait values associated with the three genotype groups. Both approaches thus exhibit suboptimal power when the underlying inheritance mode is dominant or recessive. Furthermore, these tests do not perform well in the common situations when only a few trait values are available in a rare genotype category (disbalance), or when the values associated with the three genotype categories exhibit unequal variance (variance heterogeneity). We propose a maximum test based on Marcus-type multiple contrast test for relative effect sizes. This test allows model-specific testing of either dominant, additive or recessive mode of inheritance, and it is robust against variance heterogeneity. We show how to obtain mode-specific simultaneous confidence intervals for the relative effect sizes to aid in interpreting the biological relevance of the results. Further, we discuss the use of a related all-pairwise comparisons contrast test with range preserving confidence intervals as an alternative to Kruskal-Wallis heterogeneity test. We applied the proposed maximum test to the Bogalusa Heart Study dataset, and gained a remarkable increase in the power to detect association, particularly for rare genotypes. Our simulation study also demonstrated that the proposed non-parametric tests control family-wise error rate in the presence of non-normality and variance heterogeneity contrary to the standard parametric approaches. We provide a publicly available R library nparcomp that can be used to estimate simultaneous confidence intervals or compatible multiplicity-adjusted p-values associated with the proposed maximum test.

Herança genética e marcadores moleculares associados à resistência de Euphorbia heterophylla L. aos herbicidas inibidores da ALS e PROTOX

This study aimed to assess the genetic inheritance, determine the better DNA isolation protocol for this species and to identify molecular markers associated with the Wild Poinsettia (Euphorbia heterophylla L.) resistance ALS- and PROTOX- inhibiting herbicides and. The genetic inheritance of resistance was determined from crosses between E. heterophylla biotypes susceptible (S) and resistant (R), backcrosses and F2 generation. The complete dominance of resistance was confirmed with dose response curves. Ten adjusted methods for DNA isolation described in the literature were tested. The specific primers for ALS and PROTOX genes were designed from the consensus DNA sequence of these genes, obtained by aligning the gene sequences of the species Manihot esculenta and Ricinus communis L. Additionally, it was assessed the transferability of twenty SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers designed for Manihot esculenta, because among the species of Euphorbiaceae with more developed SSRs markers, because it is the closest relative phylogenetic species of E. heterophylla. Regarding genetic inheritance, the frequencies observed in the F1, F2, RCs and RCr did not differ significantly from the expected frequencies for a trait controlled by two dominant genes for multiple resistance and a single dominant gene for simple resistance to ALS- and PROTOX-inhibiting herbicides. The similar levels of resistance to dosage up to 2000 g i.a. ha-1 of fomesafen and dosage up to 800 g i.a. ha-1 of imazethapyr observed in F1 (heterozygous) and homozygous R biotype confirm the complete dominance of resistance to PROTOX- and ALS-inhibiting herbicides, respectively. The 0.2%BME protocol allowed the isolation of 7,083 ng μL-1 DNA, significantly (P=0.05) higher than other methods. Co-isolation of phenolic compounds was observed in FENOL and 3%BME+TB methods, but the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP40) in the protocol extraction buffer 3%BME+TA solved this problem. The primers designed for ALS and PROTOX genes amplified but not showed no visible polymorphism in agarose gel between the S and R biotypes of E. heterophylla. Regarding the SSR transferability, ten markers were transferred to E. heterophylla, however, these six primers showed polymorphism among S and R biotypes.

A gestão da informação sob a luz do Enterprise Content Management (ECM): um estudo de caso em uma universidade pública

This work involves the organization and content perspectives on Enterprise Content Management (ECM) framework. The case study at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte was based on ECM model to analyse the information management provided by the three main administrative systems: The Integrated Management of Academic Activities (SIGAA), Integrated System of Inheritance, and Contracts Administration (SIPAC) and the Integrated System for Administration and Human Resources (SIGRH). A case study protocol was designed to provide greater reliability to research process. Four propositions were examined in order to reach the specific objectives of identification and evaluation of ECM components from UFRN perspective. The preliminary phase provided the guidelines for the data collection. In total, 75 individuals were interviewed. Interviews with four managers directly involved on systems design were recorded (average duration of 90 minutes). The 70 remaining individuals were approached in random way in UFRN s units, including teachers, administrative-technical employees and students. The results showed the presence of many ECM elements in the management of UFRN administrative information. The technological component with higher presence was "management of web content / collaboration". But initiatives of other components (e.g. email and document management) were found and are in continuous improvement. The assessment made use of eQual 4.0 to examine the effectiveness of applications under three factors: usability, quality of information and offered service. In general, the quality offered by the systems was very good and walk side by side with the obtained benefits of ECM strategy adoption in the context of the whole institution

Aproximación a la vida de los niños en la Baja Edad Media española

El presente trabajo es una recreación de la vida de los niños en el período bajomedieval español. Se toman cuatro tipos distintos de pequeños: los infantes reales, los hijos de la alta nobleza de la época, niños pertenecientes al patriciado urbano y pequeños provenientes de sectores pobres. Teniendo como base a personajes de la época como Alfonso X, Fernán Pérez de Guzmán y Gonzalo de Baeza, entre otros, se analizan distintos aspectos de la vida de estos niños: el nacimiento, las enfermedades, el bautismo, la alimentación, el vestido, la crianza, la educación, el trabajo, los juegos, los matrimonios, la herencia y los aspectos religiosos.

Cerâmica de Santo Antônio do Potengi: entre tradição e modernidade

In the Rio Grande do Norte, the craftsmanship is generating of economy, it involves a significant number of people and is diversified in its raw materials and particular type. As reference of the craft local, the ceramics supplied the primary necessities in the utilitarian domestic servants, acquired piety in the religious figures, were toy in infantile amusements and, finally, gained status of pure ornament. By its historical representation, the district of Santo Antônio do Potengi is considered the most important center of manufacture of craftpottery in the State. The work of the potters continues in that locality anchored between the familiar inheritance and the participation each more influential time of the public politics destined to the sector situation verified for visible alterations in the shape of the pottery from the decade of 1990 with the implantation of a cooperative destined to the collective production. We observe in this passage, that such actions in the measure where they objectify to structuralize conditions ideal to support the artisan making, do not benefit in significant way the social development them craftsmen. It is important not to lose of sight that exists some involved dimensions in this process and that these surpass the common interest for the object and the consequent economic connotation of its commercialization. They are knowledge that imply in the access to raw materials, in the peculiar of the formal aspects and productive methods, in the contextual relations organized to defend the survival of the activity

The relationship between European Community agricultural Structural Policies and their implementation and agricultural succession and inheritance within Member States

This paper presents an overview of the European Union involvement in agricultural restructuring. By way of introduction it looks at the processes of farm replication operating in Europe and the forces behind them. It then considers the wider application of EU measures in each Member State and how they interrelate with the national property laws and social customs. In conclusion the paper appraises the restructuring policies by examining the balance between legitimising the concentration of property rights amongst a minority and the fragmentation of estates between the majority.