SHACC: a functional prototyper for a component calculus

Over the last decade component-based software development arose as a promising paradigm to deal with the ever increasing complexity in software design, evolution and reuse. SHACC is a prototyping tool for component-based systems in which components are modelled coinductively as generalized Mealy machines. The prototype is built as a HASKELL library endowed with a graphical user interface developed in Swing

Neural Electrode Array Based on Aluminum: Fabrication and Characterization

A unique neural electrode design is proposed with 3 mm long shafts made from an aluminum-based substrate. The electrode is composed by 100 individualized shafts in a 10 × 10 matrix, in which each aluminum shafts are precisely machined via dicing-saw cutting programs. The result is a bulk structure of aluminum with 65 ° angle sharp tips. Each electrode tip is covered by an iridium oxide thin film layer (ionic transducer) via pulsed sputtering, that provides a stable and a reversible behavior for recording/stimulation purposes, a 40 mC/cm2 charge capacity and a 145 Ω impedance in a wide frequency range of interest (10 Hz-100 kHz). Because of the non-biocompatibility issue that characterizes aluminum, an anodization process is performed that forms an aluminum oxide layer around the aluminum substrate. The result is a passivation layer fully biocompatible that furthermore, enhances the mechanical properties by increasing the robustness of the electrode. For a successful electrode insertion, a 1.1 N load is required. The resultant electrode is a feasible alternative to silicon-based electrode solutions, avoiding the complexity of its fabrication methods and limitations, and increasing the electrode performance.

Historical and conceptual landscape of the character

This paper was developed with the intention of broadly demonstrating the complexity of the area known recently as character development, as a creative process methods and implementation. It searches the understanding of the character itself, its place in the narrative and its reception by the reader or target audience. It is a multidisciplinary tool that faces a multitude of challenges from an increasingly demanding public and with specific goals in mind, and yet it also gives us valuable insight over how we interact with one another and the world around us, teaching us how to transfer such knowledge into fiction promoting empathic bonds between the reader and the characters. The human tendency to create is limitless and as old as mankind itself, we create, recreate and reinterpret and then populate such tales with believable characters from who we learn, and experience events and tales that shape our very lives.

Conceptual design of a conveyer system for supporting basic quality of life of bedridden elderly people

With the increasing number of aged people, especially in developed countries, Ambient Assisted Living solutions have become an important subject to be explored and developed. Currently, as specialized Institutions in geriatric care cannot cope with the increasing requests for support of quality of life, patients have to remain at their homes having as caregiver the other member of the couple or a member of close family. A solution for supporting the caregiver, during assisting the bedridden person with some basic tasks as eating, taking a bath and/or hygiene care is of utmost importance. This paper presents an approach for supporting the caregiver in moving and repositioning the bedridden elderly people (BEP) with the assistance of a mechanical system conveyer. The conceptual design of the mechanical system must be devoted to assist the caregiver in the handling and repositioning of the BEP. The proposed mechatronic system must, ideally, minimize the system's handling complexity, reduce the number of caregivers and the amount of spended and needed effort.

Conceptual design of a mechatronic system for supporting basic quality of life of bedridden elderly people

Ambient Assisted Living is an important subject to be explored and developed, especially in developed countries, due to the increasing number of aged people. In this context the development of mechatronic support systems for bedridden elderly people (BEP) living in their homes is essential in order to support independence, autonomy and improve their quality of life. Some basic tasks as eating, taking a bath and/or hygiene cares become difficult to execute, regarding that often the main caregiver is the other element of the aged couple (husband or wife). This paper presents the conceptual design of a mechanical system especially devoted to assist the caregiver in the handling and repositioning of the BEP. Issues as reducing the number of caregivers, to only one, and reducing the system's handling complexity (because most of the time it will be used by an aged person) are considered. The expertise obtained from the visits to rehabilitation centers and hospitals, and from working meetings, are considered in the development of the proposed mechatronic system.

Application to quantify fetal lung branching on rat explant

Recently, regulating mechanisms of branching morphogenesis of fetal lung rat explants have been an essential tool for molecular research. The development of accurate and reliable segmentation techniques may be essential to improve research outcomes. This work presents an image processing method to measure the perimeter and area of lung branches on fetal rat explants. The algorithm starts by reducing the noise corrupting the image with a pre-processing stage. The outcome is input to a watershed operation that automatically segments the image into primitive regions. Then, an image pixel is selected within the lung explant epithelial, allowing a region growing between neighbouring watershed regions. This growing process is controlled by a statistical distribution of each region. When compared with manual segmentation, the results show the same tendency for lung development. High similarities were harder to obtain in the last two days of culture, due to the increased number of peripheral airway buds and complexity of lung architecture. However, using semiautomatic measurements, the standard deviation was lower and the results between independent researchers were more coherent.

Foucault’s Perspective of Performance Appraisal in Public Administration

The main purpose of performance appraisal in organizations is, or should be, to improve the engagement, learning process and progress of the employees and to align individual with team and organizational performance. However, performance appraisal can also be interpreted as an instrument of normalization, discipline and surveillance. This study thus aims to explore and discuss the complex schema of intrinsic and extrinsic objectives of performance appraisal system of the Portuguese public organizations (SIADAP - Performance Evaluation Integrated System). We have developed an exploratory and qualitative case study to capture appraisers and appraises perceptions. The data were analyzed in light of foucauldian theories. According to the qualitative data, namely the discourses of the appraisers and their subordinates, the SIADAP is seen as an instrument of control and dominance that aims to introduce political rationalities, limiting the career progression of the employees. Though some key points of Foucault’s perspective were identified, foucauldian framework revealed some limitations to capture all the complexity inherent to performance appraisal. This study opens new perspectives about the SIADAP and can be of major importance as far as political reflection about performance appraisal in public organizations is concerned.

Developing management systems for emerging countries

Application of Western management theories in different contexts has been questioned for several decades. However, there is still no well-defined theoretical framework for understanding management systems in non-industrialized countries. This article provides some guidelines to develop these frameworks by elaborating some of the major characteristics of strategies, structures, decision-makings and management systems in Developing Countries (DC). The analysis showed evidence that the complexity of national environmental forces of DCs has made the application of Western management theories more problematic in these countries. The article concludes that global business firms should realize that it is time to stop transferring these management systems to DCs and trying to adapt their organizations to these systems and that a clinical type of approach may be more effective.

Is the International Business Environment the actual context for international business research?

The International Business Environment (IBE) has been argued to be the essential context for international business (IB) studies and the distinguishing factor from other management studies and studies of large enterprises. Two content analysis show that many papers published in top tier IB journals either lack reference to any dimension of the IBE or tend to be uni-or bi-dimensional when addressing the IBE; it is not a surprise that the cultural dimension is the most often used. We suggest that: (a) there is need to developed more uni-and multi-dimensional environmental constructs; (b) a more holistic view of the IBE provides richer insights on the actual complexity underlying IB research. Future studies that provide more comprehensive models of the IBE that overcome the usual broad classifications of the international environment as undefined and uncontrollable factors are warranted to advance conceptual and empirical research.

Modelagem de probabilidade de churn

Clientes podem abandonar uma organização ainda que altos investimentos em prospecção e retenção sejam realizados, o que requer diagnóstico e compreensão. Este artigo objetiva modelar a probabilidade de clientes abandonarem o relacionamento com uma organização, fenômeno conhecido como churn, utilizando dados do histórico de relacionamento cliente/empresa, validar o modelo em uma segunda amostra e descrever as possíveis variáveis que influenciam o abandono/permanência do cliente. Utilizou-se o modelo de regressão logística em uma amostra de calibração de 70.000 clientes que possuíam cartão de crédito próprio de uma grande rede varejista. Dezesseis variáveis explicativas (14 características individuais e duas variáveis comportamentais) foram usadas e o modelo foi validado em uma amostra de 30.000 clientes, usando-se o teste de KS (Kolmogorov-Smirnov) e a curva ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic), que demonstraram a boa adequação do modelo à amostra de validação. Implicações da pesquisa e sugestões para futuras investigações são discutidas à luz da gestão do relacionamento com o cliente.

Systems thinking: learning or driving?

The ability to foresee how behaviour of a system arises from the interaction of its components over time - i.e. its dynamic complexity – is seen an important ability to take effective decisions in our turbulent world. Dynamic complexity emerges frequently from interrelated simple structures, such as stocks and flows, feedbacks and delays (Forrester, 1961). Common sense assumes an intuitive understanding of their dynamic behaviour. However, recent researches have pointed to a persistent and systematic error in people understanding of those building blocks of complex systems. This paper describes an empirical study concerning the native ability to understand systems thinking concepts. Two different groups - one, academic, the other, professional – submitted to four tasks, proposed by Sweeney and Sterman (2000) and Sterman (2002). The results confirm a poor intuitive understanding of the basic systems concepts, even when subjects have background in mathematics and sciences.

Systems thinking: learning or driving?

The ability to foresee how behaviour of a system arises from the interaction of its components over time - i.e. its dynamic complexity – is seen an important ability to take effective decisions in our turbulent world. Dynamic complexity emerges frequently from interrelated simple structures, such as stocks and flows, feedbacks and delays (Forrester, 1961). Common sense assumes an intuitive understanding of their dynamic behaviour. However, recent researches have pointed to a persistent and systematic error in people understanding of those building blocks of complex systems. This paper describes an empirical study concerning the native ability to understand systems thinking concepts. Two different groups - one, academic, the other, professional – submitted to four tasks, proposed by Sweeney and Sterman (2000) and Sterman (2002). The results confirm a poor intuitive understanding of the basic systems concepts, even when subjects have background in mathematics and sciences.

Strategy Lab Experiences: Bathtub Dynamics

As the world changes ever faster, managers increasingly recognize the complexity and turbulence of the business systems in which they are embedded. The management problems are dynamic, while the dynamic complexity comes frequently from few variables with circle and delays interrelations that introduce nonlinearities.The present paper describes a research conducted in Portugal with two different groups - one, academic; the other, professional - where we explored the subjects’ understanding of some basic systems thinking concepts such as stock-flow relationship, feedback processes and time delays.

Desenvolvimento, testes e qualidade de software

RESUMO: Hoje em dia o software tornou-se num elemento útil na vida das pessoas e das empresas. Existe cada vez mais a necessidade de utilização de aplicações de qualidade, com o objectivo das empresas se diferenciarem no mercado. As empresas produtoras de software procuram aumentar a qualidade nos seus processos de desenvolvimento, com o objectivo de garantir a qualidade do produto final. A dimensão e complexidade do software aumentam a probabilidade do aparecimento de não-conformidades nestes produtos, resultando daí o interesse pela actividade de testes de software ao longo de todo o seu processo de concepção, desenvolvimento e manutenção. Muitos projectos de desenvolvimento de software são entregues com atraso por se verificar que na data prevista para a sua conclusão não têm um desempenho satisfatório ou por não serem confiáveis, ou ainda por serem difíceis de manter. Um bom planeamento das actividades de produção de software significa usualmente um aumento da eficiência de todo o processo produtivo, pois poderá diminuir a quantidade de defeitos e os custos que decorrem da sua correcção, aumentando a confiança na utilização do software e a facilidade da sua operação e manutenção. Assim se reconhece a importância da adopção de boas práticas no desenvolvimento do software. Para isso deve-se utilizar uma abordagem sistemática e organizada com o intuito de produzir software de qualidade. Esta tese descreve os principais modelos de desenvolvimento de software, a importância da engenharia dos requisitos, os processos de testes e principais validações da qualidade de software e como algumas empresas utilizam estes princípios no seu dia-a-dia, com o intuito de produzir um produto final mais fiável. Descreve ainda alguns exemplos como complemento ao contexto da tese. ABSTRACT: Nowadays the software has become a useful element in people's lives and it is increasingly a need for the use of quality applications from companies in order to differentiate in the market. The producers of software increase quality in their development processes, in order to ensuring final product quality. The complexity and size of software, increases the probability of the emergence of non-conformities in these products, this reason increases of interest in the business of testing software throughout the process design, development and maintenance. Many software development projects are postpone because in the date for delivered it’s has not performed satisfactorily, not to be trusted, or because it’s harder to maintain. A good planning of software production activities, usually means an increase in the efficiency of all production process, because it can decrease the number of defects and the costs of it’s correction, increasing the reliability of software in use, and make it easy to operate and maintenance. In this manner, it’s recognized the importance of adopting best practices in software development. To produce quality software, a systematic and organized approach must be used. This thesis describes the main models of software development, the importance of requirements engineering, testing processes and key validation of software quality and how some companies use these principles daily, in order to produce a final product more reliable. It also describes some examples in addition to the context of this thesis.

O impacto da internet na gestão comercial das unidades hoteleiras portuguesas

RESUMO: O presente trabalho tem por objective o estudo da problemática das alterações induzidas pela internet na gestão comercial das unidade hoteleiras portuguesas. O estudo desenvolveu-se em duas fases. Na primeira, através de pesquisa e revisão bibliográfica, procedeu-se aà teorização dos conceitos e técnicas abordadas. A segunda assentou num trabalho de investigação realizado em duas vertentes: a primeira, onde se procurou conhecer a situação vivida através da recolha de dados sobre os sítios das unidades hoteleiras da amostra considerada; a segunda, onde se procurou, através da técnica Delphi, avaliar as perspectivas da evolução dessa mesma realidade. O trabalho realizado evidenciou que a internet, enquanto canal de comunicação e de comercialização, induziu alterações significativas, ainda que em diferentes graus, na forma de realizar a gestão comercial das unidades hoteleiras portuguesas. Alterações que se traduziram, no essencial, na: crescente importância da gestão da relação com os clientes; maior complexidade das políticas de produto e de preços; forte aceleração da acção comercial. Ou seja, a internet induziu não só a necessidade de redefinição do posicionamento das unidades hoteleiras portuguesas, bem como da forma destas realizarem o trabalho comercial. ABSTRACT: This work aims to study the issues around the changes introduced by the internet in the management of marketing of the portuguese hotel units. The study was done in two phases. First by researching and consulting the literature, setting the concepts theory and approach techniques. The second phase was based on a research work following two aspects: in the first instance trying to understand the existing situation through the collection of data regarding the location of the hotel units in the sample used; and secondly we tried, through the Delphi technique, to assess the evolution perspectives of that same reality. This study proved that the internet, as a communication and marketing channel brought about significant changes, although in various degrees, on how marketing management of the Portuguese hotel units is done. These changes were essentially reflect, the increasing importance of client relationship management; the greater complexity of the product and price policies; strong increase in the marketing action. That is, internet has not only introduced the need to redefine the standpoint of the Portuguese hotel units but also how they carry out their marketing activity.