El Outsourcing en la dinámica de sistemas hacia mercados extranjeros

Este trabajo recopila literatura académica relevante sobre estrategias de entrada y metodologías para la toma de decisión sobre la contratación de servicios de Outsourcing para el caso de empresas que planean expandirse hacia mercados extranjeros. La manera en que una empresa planifica su entrada a un mercado extranjero, y realiza la consideración y evaluación de información relevante y el diseño de la estrategia, determina el éxito o no de la misma. De otro lado, las metodologías consideradas se concentran en el nivel estratégico de la pirámide organizacional. Se parte de métodos simples para llegar a aquellos basados en la Teoría de Decisión Multicriterio, tanto individuales como híbridos. Finalmente, se presenta la Dinámica de Sistemas como herramienta valiosa en el proceso, por cuanto puede combinarse con métodos multicriterio.

Evaluation frameworks for information systems integration: from a semiotic lens

Information systems integration aims at the interaction, information exchange and interoperability between information systems, devices and units. Research efforts have contributed in evaluation of information systems integration on the development of evaluation frameworks. To improve the usability and measurability of evaluation, a review of existing evaluation frameworks including their evolution and classifications of different interoperability levels is conducted. The theory of organisational semiotics is used for a comparative analysis of the frameworks and future work.

Incorporating semiotics into fuzzy logic to enhance Clinical Decision Support Systems

In order to enhance the quality of care, healthcare organisations are increasingly resorting to clinical decision support systems (CDSSs), which provide physicians with appropriate health care decisions or recommendations. However, how to explicitly represent the diverse vague medical knowledge and effectively reason in the decision-making process are still problems we are confronted. In this paper, we incorporate semiotics into fuzzy logic to enhance CDSSs with the aim of providing both the abilities of describing medical domain concepts contextually and reasoning with vague knowledge. A semiotically inspired fuzzy CDSSs framework is presented, based on which the vague knowledge representation and reasoning process are demonstrated.

An ontological approach to personalized medical knowledge recommendation

Knowledge recommendation has become a promising method in supporting the clinicians decisions and improving the quality of medical services in the constantly changing clinical environment. However, current medical knowledge management systems cannot understand users requirements accurately and realize personalized recommendation. Therefore this paper proposes an ontological approach based on semiotic principles to personalized medical knowledge recommendations. In particular, healthcare domain knowledge is conceptualized and an ontology-based user profile is built. Furthermore, the personalized recommendation mechanism is illustrated.

An ontological approach to personalized medical knowledge matching

Knowledge management has become a promising method in supporting the clinicians′ decisions and improving the quality of medical services in the constantly changing clinical environment. However, current medical knowledge management systems cannot understand users′ requirements accurately and realize personalized matching. Therefore this paper proposes an ontological approach based on semiotic principles to personalized medical knowledge matching. In particular, healthcare domain knowledge is conceptualized and an ontology-based user profile is built. Furthmore, the personalized matching mechanism and algorithm are illustrated.

Persuasive technology and users acceptance of e-commerce: exploring perceived persuasiveness

This paper reviews theories and models of users’ acceptance and use in relation to “persuasive technology”, to justify the need to add consideration of ‘perceived persuasiveness’. We conclude by identifying variables associated with perceived persuasiveness, and highlight important future research directions in this domain.

Developing a knowledge management system using an ontological approach in global organisation

This paper introduces an ontology-based knowledge model for knowledge management. This model can facilitate knowledge discovery that provides users with insight for decision making. The users requiring the insight normally play different roles with different requirements in an organisation. To meet the requirements, insights are created by purposely aggregated transnational data. This involves a semantic data integration process. In this paper, we present a knowledge management system which is capable of representing knowledge requirements in a domain context and enabling the semantic data integration through ontology modeling. The knowledge domain context of United Bible Societies is used to illustrate the features of the knowledge management capabilities.

Dynamical trust and reputation computation model for B2C E-Commerce

Trust is one of the most important factors that influence the successful application of network service environments, such as e-commerce, wireless sensor networks, and online social networks. Computation models associated with trust and reputation have been paid special attention in both computer societies and service science in recent years. In this paper, a dynamical computation model of reputation for B2C e-commerce is proposed. Firstly, conceptions associated with trust and reputation are introduced, and the mathematical formula of trust for B2C e-commerce is given. Then a dynamical computation model of reputation is further proposed based on the conception of trust and the relationship between trust and reputation. In the proposed model, classical varying processes of reputation of B2C e-commerce are discussed. Furthermore, the iterative trust and reputation computation models are formulated via a set of difference equations based on the closed-loop feedback mechanism. Finally, a group of numerical simulation experiments are performed to illustrate the proposed model of trust and reputation. Experimental results show that the proposed model is effective in simulating the dynamical processes of trust and reputation for B2C e-commerce.

Screening for endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in Brazilian sugar cane varieties used in organic farming and description of Stenotrophomonas pavanii sp. nov.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming and nitrogen-fixing bacterium, designated ICB 89(T), was isolated from stems of a Brazilian sugar cane variety widely used in organic farming. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain ICB 89(T) belonged to the genus Stenotrophomonas and was most closely related to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia LMG 958(T), Stenotrophomonas rhizophila LMG 22075(T), Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens L2(T), [Pseudomonas] geniculata ATCC 19374(T), [Pseudomonas] hibiscicola ATCC 19867(T) and [Pseudomonas] beteli ATCC 19861(T). DNA-DNA hybridization together with chemotaxonomic data and biochemical characteristics allowed the differentiation of strain ICB 89(T) from its nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Therefore, strain ICB 89(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Stenotrophomonas pavanii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ICB 89(T) (=CBMAI 564(T) =LMG 25348(T)).

Contribuições e dificuldades da abordagem de questões sociocientíficas na prática de professores de ciências

Neste artigo, apresentamos os resultados de uma pesquisa sobre as contribuições e as dificuldades da abordagem de questões sociocientíficas na prática de professores de ciências em serviço. Na pesquisa realizada, de caráter qualitativo com corte crítico, a realidade é entendida como uma construção social subjetiva e intersubjetiva, marcada por um contexto histórico. A constituição dos dados foi feita no decorrer de uma disciplina sobre ensino de ciências a partir de questões sociocientíficas, desenvolvida em um curso de mestrado em ensino de química, e teve a participação de 31 professores de ciências em serviço. No intuito de garantir a validade de fidedignidade da pesquisa, foi utilizada mais de uma fonte de dados. Assim, os dados foram constituídos por meio de vários instrumentos, tais como: questionário inicial de caracterização dos participantes da pesquisa, gravações de entrevistas focais e trabalhos apresentados pelos professores sobre a abordagem de questões sociocientíficas (QSCs) em sala de aula. As análises alcançadas indicam que a abordagem de questões sociocientíficas possui um potencial considerável para a prática do professor em termos da tomada de decisão e do desenvolvimento de pensamento crítico dos alunos. O trabalho com questões sociocientíficas também exige planejamento do ensino e ações bem sustentadas, assim como a participação ativa do professor. Finalmente, são caracterizadas as dificuldades do trabalho realizado em termos pedagógicos, formativos e curriculares.

A abordagem de questões sociocientíficas na formação continuada de professores de ciências: contribuições e dificuldades

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Controlling systems with a single actuator

In this paper the problem of designing a single actuator control for a class of systems is addressed. The existence of such control is studied and several ways for designing such control are provided. The results depend either on the rational canonical form or on the Jordan structure associated with the matrix which characterizes the system dynamics. The constructed control laws can be employed in the design of minimum cost controllers for a large variety of systems.

Servitization

Servitization is a transformation process in which a manufacturer changes from selling products to selling integrated packages of products and services that are tailored to the specific needs of customers. This concept is particularly important in the context of the service economy, as services play an increasing role in providing value to customers. That is, manufacturers can be more competitive and sustainable by adding a service component to their products, while customers can have their satisfaction levels increased. This entry reviews the concept of servitization, examines its benefits, discusses its implementation challenges, and ends with a presentation of two classic application examples.

The Southern pine beetle /

Includes bibliographies and index.

Future challenges in renewable natural resources : proceedings of a national workshop, January 22-25, 1979, Rosslyn, Virginia.

Issued Sept. 1979.