Requirements Engineering in the Context of Big Data Software Applications

Big Data applications, like traditional applications, serve end-user needs except that underlying the software system is Big Data which the system operates upon to improve or provide different end-user experience with the application. In comparison to traditional software development where the development processes are usually well-established, the development of Big Data applications is - to our knowledge - not explored to any significant degree. With Big Data, characterised by the well-known V attributes, questions arise as to how to elicit, specify, analyse, and document system requirements. While requirements engineering (RE) has long been recognised as critical for downstream development of computer systems, the field is currently passive about how to deal with characteristics of data in the RE process in the development of Big Data software applications. This problem is compounded by the fact that the RE field had no domain model (until recently) for Big Data systems depicting the various artefacts, activities, and relationships amongst them that, in turn, can be used to support RE specifications, product design, project decisions, and maintenance. In this thesis research, we investigated empirically a number of issues in RE involving Big Data applications, leading to the following research contributions: (i) knowledge concerning (a) the state of RE research involving Big Data applications, and (b) RE practices on real-world Big Data applications projects; (ii) a set of RE challenges in creating Big Data applications; (iii) a meta-model depicting the various RE artefacts and their inter-relationships in the context of Big Data software development projects; (iv) a goal-oriented approach (composed of a systematic process, requirements logging templates, checklists, and a requirements language) for modelling quality requirements for Big Data applications; and (v) a prototype tool that implements the proposed Big Data goal-oriented requirements language. These results lay a foundation in RE research involving Big Data applications development with anticipated impact in real-world projects and in RE research

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO CONSUMO DE LEITE NO MUNICÍPIO DE PALMEIRA DAS MISSÕES – RS

Um dos principais produtos agropecuários no Brasil e no mundo, o leite tem importante papelnão só economicamente, mas também como um dos alimentos mais completos e fundamentais na alimentação humana. No Brasil, seu consumoainda está abaixo dos países desenvolvidos e das recomendações do Ministério da Saúde. Tendo em vista a tendência de crescimento do consumo em países emergentes, impulsionados pelo aumento da população, da renda familiar, pornovos hábitos alimentares e pela maior oferta deprodutos lácteos, descobrir o perfil do consumidor torna-se de extrema importância, pois se podem traçar ações que colaborem para o desenvolvimento da produção e do consumo de leite. Dessa forma este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar o perfil e as preferências do consumidor de leite,em Palmeira das Missões, avaliando qual é a percepção dos consumidores sobre os diferentes atributos do leite. Para isso, foi realizada uma pesquisa com 427 questionários aplicados, nos quais foram avaliados os seguintes aspectos: caracterização do perfil do entrevistado; variáveis que interferem na hora da compra; hábitos de consumo e preferência em alimentos que substituem o leite; elasticidade da compra em relação à renda e aopreço do produto; e comportamento ante a oferta de um produto diferenciado no mercado. Os principaisresultados do trabalho indicaram que, dentre os entrevistados, 85% consomem leite, sendo que 36,1% preferem consumi-lo com a adição de café. Quanto ao produto que melhor substitui o leite, 36,8% dos respondentes destacaram o iogurte. Em relação aos fatores que podem orientar a compra, destacam-se a embalagem longa vida, otipo de leite integral e a qualidade como principais fatores determinantes. Já com relação à quantidadeideal para embalagem, destaca-se a preferência para o tradicional 1 litro, embora também seja evidenciadaa demanda por uma embalagem menor

Clinical, Hematological, Blood Gasometric and Electrolytic Changes in Dogs Receiving Whole Blood Transfusions

Background: Blood transfusion is a tool capable of saving lives. Patients undergoing blood transfusion usually present several alterations in the acid-base and electrolyte balance, aggravating the condition of critically ill patients. Some studies have demonstrated haematological alterations in certain species that received whole blood transfusions, however, few studies have evaluated acid base and electrolyte changes in dogs undergoing whole blood haemotherapy. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical, hematological, blood gas and electrolyte changes in anemic dogs after whole blood transfusion.Materials, Methods & Results:Twenty nine dogs transfused due to anemia were enrolled in the study. Donors blood was collected in a transfusion bag containing citrate phosphate adenine dextrose and stored up to 24 h. Blood collections and evaluations were made before and 24 h after the transfusion. Data distribution normality was tested by the Shapiro Wilk Test. The means of the variables were compared by paired t-test. It was observed an increase in diastolic blood pressure and a reduction in heart rate (P 0.05) and ionized calcium (P > 0.05) and an increase in the mean partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) (P 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.05). The probable cause of anemia was monocytic ehrlichiosis (14/29), visceral leishmaniasis (1/29), babesiosis (1/29), co-infection of Ehrlichia canis and Leishmaniainfantum (2/19), co-infection of E. canis and Babesia vogeli (1/19). It was not possible to determine the etiology of the anemia in ten dogs. Discussion:Heart rate significantly reduced after transfusion, probably because of the increase in hematocrit, hemoglobin and erythrocyte values. It may be justified by the displacement of extravascular fluid to the intravascular space. Mean values of systolic blood pressure were slightly elevated before transfusion and remained elevated afterwards, while diastolic and mean arterial pressure increased significantly after transfusion. These changes may be due to the morbid condition and may be influenced by many other factors. Haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocyte values increased significantly after transfusion, according to what was observed in other studies. The significant reduction in pH and increase in pCO2 reflects the compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis to increase ventilation, leading to pCO2 reduction and changes in pH. The reduction in pH due to the contact of the collected blood with conservative solutions is one of the main changes thar occurs during blood storage. It was described significantly lower pH in dogs’ whole blood samples stored for more than 24h in vacutainer plastic containing CPDA-1. We may assume there was no intense pH reduction in the present study because the bags were stored for up to 24 h. Although not statistically significant, the increase of pO2 mean reflects the improvement of tissue oxygen perfusion. It was observed a significant increase in sodium ions. The mean sodium ionconcentration before transfusion was very close to the maximum reference value. Hyperkalaemia was not observed, nor was there significant reduction of potassium ions after transfusion. Several studies report hyperkalaemia and transfusion-associated cardiac arrests in humans, associated with infusion of large volumes of blood. Whole blood transfusion increased erythrogram values and did not negatively affect the electrolyte or acid-base status, representing a safe and useful tool in the intensive care of small animals.

Análise da prevalência da hanseníase no município de São Luís – Maranhão nos anos de 2017 a 2021

Leprosy control is still a major challenge in Maranhão. Thus, the prevalence of the disease implies a greater risk of transmission and development of physical disabilities in the population. It is observed that it is an infectious and contagious disease of slow progression, with a high disabling power, which predominantly affects the economically active age group. In addition to this factor, race, education and gender are also variables that impact the incidence and prevalence rates of leprosy in the state, especially in the municipality of São Luís, which confers high percentages of notifications of this public health problem. This is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of data contained in the notification form of the National Information System for Notifications of Aggravation (SINAN) and the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS). It is hoped, with this work, to make patients diagnosed with leprosy aware of the importance of assiduity in treatment, as well as to promote multidisciplinary actions that alleviate this problem.O controle da hanseníase ainda é um grande desafio no Maranhão. Desse modo, a prevalência da doença implica em maior risco de transmissão e desenvolvimento de incapacidades físicas na população. Observa-se que é uma doença infectocontagiosa de progressão lenta, com alto poder incapacitante, que acomete predominantemente a faixa etária economicamente ativa. Além desse fator, a raça, escolaridade e o sexo também são variáveis que impactam nas taxas de incidência e prevalência da hanseníase no estado, em especial, no município de São Luís, na qual confere altos percentuais de notificações desse problema de saúde pública. Trata – se de um estudo retrospectivo, descritivo e analítico de dados contido na ficha de notificação do Sistema Nacional de Informações de Agravo de Notificações (SINAN) e no Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS). Espera-se, com esse trabalho, conscientizar os pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase sobre a importância da assiduidade do tratamento, bem como promover ações multiprofissionais que amenizem essa problemática

Religiosity and Nature

This article aims to show how the religiosity of Ukrainian immigrants influenced the process of redefining the meaning of the environment and its transformation through their practices and representations in the imaginary, between the years 1890 and 1915, in the center-south region of the State of Paraná. To that end, the authors used information reported by immigrants who belonged to colonial settlements. This paper seeks to demonstrate that the perception of the natural world is also linked to cultural factors, which act in the imaginary and social representations that individuals have of themselves and the environment around them. The sources indicate that the immigrants’ religiosity influenced the process of (re)construction of the social reality in the colonies. In other words, the way the individuals lived their lives was structured through schemes of perception inscribed in their actions.O presente artigo tem por objetivo apontar como a religiosidade dos imigrantes ucranianos atuou no processo de ressignificação e transformação do meio ambiente entre os anos 1890 e 1915, na região centro-sul do Estado do Paraná. Para isso, utilizamos como fontes, relatos dos imigrantes que se estabeleceram nos núcleos coloniais. Procura-se demonstrar que a percepção do mundo natural está ligada também a fatores culturais, os quais atuam no imaginário e nas representações sociais que os indivíduos têm de si e do ambiente à sua volta. As fontes indicam que a religiosidade atuou no processo de (re)construção da realidade social nas colônias, ou seja, o modo de vida dos indivíduos foi estruturado através de esquemas de percepção inscritos em suas ações