Automated information systems generation for process-oriented organizations

Currently, the development of organizational information systems remains a complex task. Final software product quality often does not match expectations. The existence of organizational models is the first step to reduce complexity in the development of information systems. Within the life cycle of an information system, activities are still very dependent in quality, time, and costs on the human resource skills that staff them. The existence of automated mechanisms to transform client requirements into characteristics of running systems would bring added value to the resulting software product, either in product quality and time perspectives. In this proposal, the manipulation of requirements must be done using an understandable model for both software engineers and business process experts. This model should be used to automatically reshape the running organizational information system and be the basis for an automated information system generation. The usage of such mechanism can be done during a development project, but also after its implementation where standalone process experts could change the organization model, knowing that the changes, in an automated mode, would be transferred into the running system

Business modeling in process-oriented organizations for RUP-based software development

Several organizations are nowadays not particularly comfortable with their internal structuring based on a hierarchical arrangement (sub-divided in departments), where collaborators with a limited view of the overall organization perform their activities. Those organizations recognize the need to move to a model where multi-skilled teams run horizontal business processes that cross the organization, and impact suppliers and clients. To develop software systems for any organization, the development process must always be appropriate and controlled. Additionally for organizations who want to migrate to a horizontal business processes view, it is required to model the organizational platform where the organizational processes will run. This necessity is also true when the organization under consideration is a software house. In this chapter, a proposal of a generic framework for process-oriented software houses is presented. The way of managing the process model and the instantiation of their processes with the Rational Unified Process (RUP) disciplines, whenever they are available, or with other kind of processes is recommended as a way to control and define the software development process. To illustrate the usefulness of the proposal, it is presented how the generic reference framework was executed in a real project called “Premium Wage” and shown, in some detail, the created artifacts (which include several UML models) during the development phases following the RUP disciplines, especially the artifacts produced for business modeling.(undefined

Improving project management practice through the development of a business case: A local administration case study

The identification and implementation of the best practices of project management are preponderant and decisive factors for the success of the companies, regardless of their area of intervention. This highlight arose from the need for companies to respond quickly, efficiently and in an integrated manner to the challenges that an ever-changing environment offers. In a public transportation company, the challenges should focus on project management improvement initiatives, considering their organizational context and the low level of organizational maturity existing in project management. The purpose of the research was to develop a solution of a Business Case template that was intended to be integrated into the life cycle of project management of the company under study, transversal to all the areas of knowledge described by PMBoK, having several inputs provided by PRINCE2 and BABOK. The purpose of the research work was to develop a solution to justify initiatives that lead to projects and ensure a correct management throughout the life cycle of each project.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013

Automated software systems generation for process-oriented organizations

Tese de doutoramento do Programa Doutoral em Tecnologias e Sistemas de InformaçãoCada vez mais, as organizações suportam as suas operações em sistemas de software. Torna-se, portanto, muito relevante o correto mapeamento das operações nos sistemas de software. Esta tese foca-se em organizações orientadas a processos de negócio, devido à relevância dada pelas normas de qualidade, pelos modelos de excelência, e pelos requisitos dos clientes, a esse tipo de estruturação interna das organizações. Nas organizações orientadas a processos de negócio existem diversos fatores, como o tempo envolvido nos projetos de implementação de processos de negócio em software, as diferenças existentes entre os modelos de processos de negócio e a sua implementação real, ou a quantidade e o tipo de recursos envolvidos nesses projetos, que fazem com que os projetos de desenvolvimento de software sejam demasiado dispendiosos, demorem demasiado tempo, e não garantam que o produto de software resultante seja o mais adequado à realidade da organização que o vai usar. Esta tese propõe que os sistemas de informação e de software devam ser desenvolvidos, desde o início, incorporando os modelos das organizações onde irão ser usados. Além disso, e como existem disponíveis modelos de referência de processos de negócio, esta tese também propõe o seu uso explícito aquando da recolha de requisitos. Assim, o objetivo principal da tese é propor uma metodologia que se inicie com modelos de processos de negócio e que termine com a geração de sistemas de software, para organizações orientadas a processos de negócio. A metodologia denomina-se BIM e é formalizada através do metamodelo EPF. Dada a abrangência dos temas a tratar, a tese foi conduzida tendo em atenção que o processo de desenvolvimento de software para suportar organizações orientadas a processos pode ser otimizado. Para melhor mostrar os diversos passos e resultados intermédios, usamos a metodologia de investigação Action Research. A tese propõe que as atividades de investigação sejam terminadas quando uma dada condição de paragem seja atingida, e para isso usa uma avaliação baseada num conjunto de indicadores para os resultados do produto e do processo, e uma adaptação do modelo de excelência EFQM para a forma como foi executado o processo de desenvolvimento. O foco das Action são os sistemas de software MES, essenciais na ligação entre sistemas de software embebido e sistemas ERP. Nesta tese, as Action iniciam-se com modelos de processos e com arquiteturas de software standard, e terminam com uma proposta de modelo de processo e com arquiteturas de software e tecnologias adaptadas à execução de processos de negócio. A tese propõe também alguns conceitos como IAvO (extensão de modelos de processos de negócio), OBO (componentes de software intermutáveis e não-proprietários), OA (aspetos organizacionais), e PF (framework de processos) para aumentarem a eficiência e eficácia na implementação em software de processos de negócio.Increasingly, organizations support their operations by using software systems, turning very relevant the proper mapping of operations into software systems. This thesis focuses on organizations oriented to business processes, due to the importance that quality norms, excellence models, and customer requirements put on this type of internal structures of organizations. Process-oriented organizations have characteristics, such as the time needed to implement business processes in software, the differences between the business process models and the real business processes, or the quantity and type of the required resources, that lead to development projects too expensive, taking too long to complete, and that do not assure that the resulting product is the most adequate to the reality of the client organization. This thesis proposes that the development of information and software system embodies, since the early stages, the models of the organization where they operate. In addition, and since business process reference models are available, the thesis also proposes to use explicitly such reference models by requirements collection time. Thus, the main goal of the thesis is to propose a methodology that picks business process reference models and ends with software systems, for process-oriented organizations. The methodology is denominated BIM and is formalized by using the EPF metamodel. Due to the wide scope of the studied areas, the thesis is tailored considering that the development process for processoriented organizations can be optimized. To express better the intermediate steps and results, we use the Action Research methodology. The thesis proposes that the research activities terminate when a stopping condition is met, based on a set of indicators for the product, and a tailoring of the EFQM model for the development process. The Actions are focused on MES, crucial for the linking of embedded software systems with ERP systems. In this thesis, the Actions start by using standard process models and software architectures, and end by using a proposed process model, and software architectures and technologies adapted to the execution of business software. The thesis also proposes new concepts like IAvO (extension to business process reference models), OBO (interchangeable and nonproprietary software components), AO (organizational aspects), and PF (process framework) to increase the efficiency and the effectiveness of the implementation of business processes in software

The gross theory model for neutrino-nucleus cross-section

The nuclear gross theory, originally formulated by Takahashi and Yamada (1969 Prog. Theor. Phys. 41 1470) for the β-decay, is applied to the electronic-neutrino nucleus reactions, employing a more realistic description of the energetics of the Gamow-Teller resonances. The model parameters are gauged from the most recent experimental data, both for βand electron capture, separately for even-even, even-odd, odd-odd and odd-even nuclei. The numerical estimates for neutrino-nucleus cross-sections agree fairly well with previous evaluations done within the framework of microscopic models. The formalism presented here can be extended to the heavy nuclei mass region, where weak processes are quite relevant, which is of astrophysical interest because of its applications in supernova explosive nucleosynthesis.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasFacultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y GeofísicasInstituto de Física La Plat

Evolution from Late Miocene to present-day of sandy deposits on mixed depositional systems in the Gulf of Cadiz

Póster presentado en Mixed / hybrid systems (Turbidite, MTDs and Contourites) on continental margin. Lisbon (Portugal), 21-22 June, 2023This work contributes to improve the knowledge of deep marine deposits, specifically those generated by the interaction of gravitational sedimentary processes and bottom currents (mixed processes). The study of these mixed deposits is of great relevance both in the academic world, and in the industry, due to their potential as energy resources and for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. However, there is still a great lack of knowledge about their diagnostic criteria, how they are generated, how they evolve, and their socio-economic implications. Offshore seismic reflection and logging data analyses from the continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz reveal Late Miocene and Pliocene-Quaternary contourite and mixed deposits that host sandy bodies of special interest as potential geological storages. In general, it has been observed that the sandier deposits, exhibiting high-amplitude reflections (HARs), are located mainly on the erosional elements of these depositional systems or in the transition between the erosional and the depositional features: a) contourite channels (or moats and furrows); b) in the proximal setting of contourite terraces; and c) at the exits of the Gibraltar Strait. The sandier deposits in these systems are brought into the channels/moats and terraces by gravitational processes; and once inside they are reworked by the bottom currents, being laterally transported and deposited by a higher velocity core of the current along it. The contourite and mixed deposits generated before the full opening of the Gibraltar Strait, during the Late Miocene (~8.2-5.33 Ma), display different depositional and erosional features related to the paleo-Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) circulating through the Betic and Rifian corridors prior to the restriction of the Mediterranean-Atlantic gateway. Natural gamma-ray logs from exploration wells in this area show sand deposits up to 50 m thick, except in wells close to the Miocene paleo-shore where alternating deposits of sand and clay are identified. After the opening of the Gibraltar Strait, the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) has generated a complex Pliocene-Quaternary (5.33 Ma-present) contourite depositional system. Sampling of sandy contourites associated with seismic features also suggests the extensive distribution of mature, well-sorted Pliocene¿Quaternary sand about 600 m thick, and showing the following characteristics: a) Early Pliocene deposits (~5.3-3.2 Ma), correspond to sheeted drifts developed mixed with gravitational sedimentary processes and low acoustic response; b) Late Pliocene-early Quaternary deposits (~3.2-2 Ma) displaying sheeted contourite drifts and enhanced acoustic response towards the top, especially in areas adjacent to highs and banks. Borehole logs for these deposits show cyclic swings in amplitude that are generally lower than those observed for the overlying Quaternary deposits; c) Natural gamma-ray logs along the Quaternary sequence show medium-amplitude cyclic swings, varying on decimetre to sub-meter scale, with no major steps in base levels. The main differences of LM sandy deposits respect to the recent succession, consist of higher thicknesses, better-sorted and higher grain size of the sands, and increasing medium-high amplitude on seismic reflections. The Miocene and Pliocene deposits also exhibit cyclic swings in gamma ray logs, but with lower amplitude and at lower frequencies than those observed for the Quaternary ones

Late Miocene to present-day Sandy deposits in the Gulf of Cadiz associated to the Mediterranean Outflow Water

Póster presentado en 4th Deep-Water Circulation Research Conference (4DWC) , Edinburgh, 24-26 May 2023This work contributes to improve the knowledge of deep marine deposits, specifically those generated by the interaction of gravitational sedimentary processes and bottom currents (mixed processes). The study of these deposits is of great relevance both in the academic world, and in the industry, due to their potential as energy resources and for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. However, there is still a great lack of knowledge about their diagnostic criteria, how they are generated, how they evolve, and their socio-economic implications. Offshore seismic reflection and logging data analyses from the continental slope of the Gulf of Cadiz reveal Late Miocene and Pliocene-Quaternary contourite and mixed deposits that host sandy bodies of special interest as potential geological storages. In general, it has been observed that the sandier deposits, exhibiting high-amplitude reflections (HARs), are located mainly on the erosional elements of these depositional systems or in the transition between the erosional and the depositional features: a) contourite channels (or moats and furrows); b) in the proximal setting of contourite terraces; and c) at the exits of the Gibraltar Strait. The sandier deposits in these systems are brought into the channels/moats and terraces by gravitational processes; and once inside they are reworked by the bottom currents, being laterally transported and deposited by a higher velocity core of the current along it. The contourite and mixed deposits generated before the full opening of the Gibraltar Strait, during the Late Miocene (~8.2-5.33 Ma), display different geometries and correspond to depositional features such as sheeted, plastered, confined, mounded and mixed drifts, as well as levees, and erosional features such as furrows, contourite and turbidite channels. These features are related to the paleo-Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) circulating through the Betic and Rifian corridors prior to the restriction of the Mediterranean-Atlantic gateway. Natural gamma-ray logs from exploration wells in this area show sand deposits up to 50 m thick, except in wells close to the Miocene paleo-shore where alternating deposits of sand and clay are identified. After the opening of the Gibraltar Strait, the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) has generated a complex Pliocene-Quaternary (5.33 Ma-present) contourite depositional system

Dry Matter Yield of Promising \u3cem\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/em\u3e Genotypes in Response to Phosphorus and Liming on Brazilian Savannah

Soil fertility of the Brazilian savannah Cerrado is naturally poor. Extensive areas of pastures located in the central part of territory are cultivated with Brachiaria grasses which are less demanding for soil nutrients and lime (Rao et al. 1998). On the other hand, Panicum maximum cultivars such as the high yielding Mombaça grass recommended to intensive beef and dairy cattle systems (Euclides et al. 2008), must be seeded with a higher amount of fertilizer, especially phosphorus (P). Consequently there is an effort for selection of P. maximum genotypes with low P demand and high responsiveness. The objective of this study was to evaluate dry matter yield of genotypes of P. maximum in response to doses of P and lime in the Brazilian Cerrado

Peeling the Otolith of Fish: Optimal Parameterization for Micro-CT Scanning

In this paper, we aim to provide optimal parameters for micro-computed tomography scans of fish otoliths. We tested fifteen different combinations to sagittae. The images were scaled to Hounsfield units, and segmented in two distinct volumes-of-interest (external and internal). The strategy we applied, for identifying optimum scan settings for otoliths, included analyses of the sinogram, the distribution of the Hounsfield units and the signal-to-noise ratio. Based on these tests, the optimum sets of parameters for the acquisition of tomographic images of sagittal otoilths were 80 kV, 220 μA, and 0.5 mm aluminum filter. The method allowed 3D shape analysis, internal and external density distribution, layer-by-layer density segmentation, and a potential objective method to count growth rings in otoliths. It was possible to compare mean densities between species, and we observed a significant difference among them. In addition, there are ontogenic changes, which could be increasing or decreasing the density. In this study, we applied tomography for several otolith analysis, that could be of great interest for future studies in diverse areas that use otoliths as the basic structure of analysis, or represents a new research line called eco-densitometry of otoliths, where tomography could be applied to explore the density within an ecological perspective.Fil: Vasconcelos Filho, Jonas. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Thomsen, Felix Sebastian Leo. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Eléctrica y de Computadoras; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Stosic, Borko. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Antonino, Antonio C. D.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Duarte, Daniel A.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Heck, Richard J.. University of Guelph; CanadáFil: Lessa, Rosangela P. T.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Santana, Francisco M.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Beatrice P.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Duarte Neto, Paulo J.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; Brasi