An agile approach for IS/IT benefits management

Doutoramento em GestãoInvestments in Information Systems and Information Technology (IS/IT) by organizations around the world have been increasing, as the competition grows fierce. Despite this increase, many organizations feel that their investments do not get the return they expected in terms of real benefits to the business. There have been several attempts to create methods to improve the success of the investments of organizations in the implementation of IS/IT and methodologies have been devised for this purpose, although with modest improvements. One of the main methodologies is the Benefits Management methodology created in the University of Cranfield, widely recognized as a great methodology with proven results, although its adoption is not as high as it would be expected and desirable. This research project looks at the published literature to find the reasons for this problem and then, resorting to Design Science Research methodology, creates artefacts aiming to help solving some of the known problems in the adoption of the Benefits Management methodology. The created artefacts, as defined by the Design Science Research methodology, were then evaluated with a case study that took place in a large Portuguese bank. The results of the evaluation indicate that the artefacts created during this research project were useful and helpful for the adoption of the Benefits Management methodology created in the University of Cranfield.Os investimentos em Sistemas de Informação e em Tecnologia da Informação (IS/IT) por parte das organizações em todo o mundo têm aumentado, à medida que a concorrência cresce ferozmente. Apesar desse aumento, muitas organizações sentem que seus investimentos não lhes trazem o retorno esperado em termos de reais benefícios para o negócio. Têm havido diversas tentativas para criar métodos para melhorar o sucesso dos investimentos das organizações na implementação de IS/IT e foram concebidas metodologias para esse fim, embora com modestas melhorias. Uma das principais metodologias é a metodologia de Gestão de Benefícios criada na Universidade de Cranfield, amplamente reconhecida como uma excelente metodologia, com resultados comprovados, muito embora a sua taxa de adoção não seja tão alta quanto seria expectável e desejável. Este projeto de investigação examina a literatura publicada, procurando encontrar os motivos desse problema e, em seguida, recorrendo à metodologia Design Science Research, cria artefactos com o objetivo de ajudar a resolver alguns dos problemas conhecidos na adoção da metodologia de Gestão de Benefícios. Os artefactos criados, conforme definido pela metodologia Design Science Research, foram depois avaliados num Estudo de Caso que decorreu num grande banco português. Os resultados da avaliação indicam que os artefactos criados durante este projeto de investigação são úteis e ajudam à adoção da metodologia de Gestão de Benefícios criada na Universidade de Cranfield.N/

Filtered Reaction Rate Modelling in Moderate and High Karlovitz Number Flames: an a Priori Analysis

Abstract: Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of statistically planar flames at moderate and high Karlovitz number (Ka) have been used to perform an a priori evaluation of a presumed-PDF model approach for filtered reaction rate in the framework of large eddy simulation (LES) for different LES filter sizes. The model is statistical and uses a presumed shape, based here on a beta-distribution, for the sub-grid probability density function (PDF) of a reaction progress variable. Flamelet tabulation is used for the unfiltered reaction rate. It is known that presumed PDF with flamelet tabulation may lead to over-prediction of the modelled reaction rate. This is assessed in a methodical way using DNS of varying complexity, including single-step chemistry and complex methane/air chemistry at equivalence ratio 0.6. It is shown that the error is strongly related to the filter size. A correction function is proposed in this work which can reduce the error on the reaction rate modelling at low turbulence intensities by up to 50%, and which is obtained by imposing that the consumption speed based on the modelled reaction rate matches the exact one in the flamelet limit. A second analysis is also conducted to assess the accuracy of the flamelet assumption itself. This analysis is conducted for a wide range of Ka, from 6 to 4100. It is found that at high Ka this assumption is weaker as expected, however results improve with larger filter sizes due to the reduction of the scatter produced by the fluctuations of the exact reaction rate

Use of Sawing Waste from Zeolitic Tuffs in the Manufacture of Ceramics

This paper investigates the thermal transformation of powders of volcanic tuffs that are used as building stones and aims at thermally transforming them into ceramics. The following positive indications concerning this thermal transformation were found: (1) the structural evolution which brings products similar to traditional ceramics, (2) the good ability to give rise to dense and compact final products, and (3) the good mechanical properties and the lovely appearance of the final products. Nevertheless, the high values of linear shrinkages recorded in this work seem to strongly hinder the thermal transformation of this powder-like waste into ceramics. However, mixing this by-product with other powder-like waste exhibiting higher-dimensional stability, such as those deriving from sawing of granites, appears proper

Influence of zeolites on the sintering and technological properties of porcelain stoneware tiles

Low-cost zeolitic rocks are promising substitutes for feldspathic fluxes in ceramic bodies, since their fusibility, modest hardness and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) should improve grinding and sintering. Five large-scale Italian deposits of natural zeolites with different mineralogy were characterised and tested in porcelain stoneware bodies. Their behaviour during processing was appraised and compared with that of zeolite-free bodies. Zeolites increased the slip viscosity during wet grinding, causing a coarser grain size distribution and consequently some drawbacks in both unfired and fired tiles. After overcoming this hindrance by dry grinding of zeolite rocks, the technological behaviour of zeolite-bearing tiles appear to be similar to that of current porcelain stoneware, though with larger firing shrinkage and residual closed porosity

Expression of orexin A and its receptor 1 in the rat epididymis.

The hypothalamic peptide orexin A (oxA) derives from the proteolytic cleavage of the precursor molecule prepro-orexin. It binds with the high affinity G-protein-coupled orexin receptor 1 (OX1R). Here, we report the detection of oxA and OX1R in the principal cells of the rat caudal epididymis by immunohistochemistry. Both oxA and OX1R immunolabelling showed cytoplasmic supranuclear localization, filling the apical portion of the cells. The expression of prepro-orexin and OX1R mRNA transcripts in the rat epididymis was assessed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, while the presence of both these proteins in the tissue was confirmed by Western blotting analysis. Our findings provide the evidence for the presence of oxA and OX1R in the rat epididymis, and demonstrate that both proteins are locally synthesised, thus suggesting a role for oxA in governing the fertilizing capability of the immature male gamete

Zeolite-feldspar epiclastic rocks as flux in ceramic tile manufacturing

Low-cost, naturally-occurring mixtures of feldspar and zeolite occurring in epiclastic rocks are promising substitutes for conventional quartz-feldspathic fluxes in ceramic bodies, since their fusibility and low hardness are expected to improve both grinding and sintering. Three epiclastic outcrops, with a different zeolite-to-feldspar ratio, were characterized (XRPD, fusibility) and tested in porcelain stoneware bodies; their behaviour during processing was appraised and compared with that of a reference. The addition of an epiclastic rock (20 wt.%), replacing rhyolite and aplite fluxes, brought about some significant advantages, mainly represented by better grindability, lower firing temperature with improved mechanical strength and lower porosity. Disadvantages concern increased slip viscosity, worse powder compressibility, resulting in larger firing shrinkage, and a darker colour of the tiles due to relatively high amounts of iron oxide

Functional homogeneous zones (fHZs) in viticultural zoning procedure: an Italian case study on Aglianico vine

Abstract. This paper aims to test a new physically oriented approach to viticulture zoning at farm scale that is strongly rooted in hydropedology and aims to achieve a better use of environmental features with respect to plant requirements and wine production. The physics of our approach are defined by the use of soil–plant–atmosphere simulation models, applying physically based equations to describe the soil hydrological processes and solve soil–plant water status. This study (part of the ZOVISA project) was conducted on a farm devoted to production of high-quality wines (Aglianico DOC), located in southern Italy (Campania region, Mirabella Eclano, AV). The soil spatial distribution was obtained after standard soil survey informed by geophysical survey. Two homogeneous zones (HZs) were identified; in each one a physically based model was applied to solve the soil water balance and estimate the soil functional behaviour (crop water stress index, CWSI) defining the functional homogeneous zones (fHZs). For the second process, experimental plots were established and monitored for investigating soil–plant water status, crop development (biometric and physiological parameters) and daily climate variables (temperature, solar radiation, rainfall, wind). The effects of crop water status on crop response over must and wine quality were then evaluated in the fHZs. This was performed by comparing crop water stress with (i) crop physiological measurement (leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, leaf water potential, chlorophyll content, leaf area index (LAI) measurement), (ii) grape bunches measurements (berry weight, sugar content, titratable acidity, etc.) and (iii) wine quality (aromatic response). This experiment proved the usefulness of the physically based approach, also in the case of mapping viticulture microzoning

A priori analysis of sub-grid variance of a reactive scalar using DNS data of high Ka flames

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of low and high Karlovitz number (Ka) flames are analysed to investigate the behaviour of the reactive scalar sub-grid scale (SGS) variance in premixed combustion under a wide range of combustion conditions (regimes). An order of magnitude analysis is performed to assess the importance of various terms in the variance evolution equation and the analysis is validated using the DNS results. This analysis sheds light on the relative behaviour among turbulent transport and production, scalar dissipation and chemical processes involved in the evolution of the SGS variance at different Ka. The common expectation is that the variance equation shifts from a reaction-dissipation balance at low Ka to a production–dissipation balance at high Ka with diminishing reaction contribution. However, in large eddy simulation (LES), a high Ka alone does not make the reaction term negligible, as the relative importance of the reaction term has a concurrent increase with filter size. The filter size can be relatively large compared with the Kolmogorov length scale in practical LES of high Ka flames, and as a consequence a reaction–production–dissipation balance may prevail in the variance equation even in a high Ka configuration, and this possibility is quantified using the DNS analysis in this work. This has implications from modelling perspectives, and therefore two commonly used closures in LES for the SGS scalar dissipation rate are investigated a priori to estimate the importance of the above balance in LES modelling. The results are explained to highlight the interplay among turbulence, chemistry and dissipation processes as a function of Ka.The authors at LU acknowledges funding from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) (VR) and the National Centre for Combustion Science and Technology (CeCOST). IL and NS acknowledge funding from the Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 686332. NAKD acknowledges the support of the Qualcomm European Research Studentship Fund in Technology

Anti-nociceptive effect of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii in non-inflammatory IBS-like models

International audienceVisceral pain and intestinal dysbiosis are associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), a common functional gastrointestinal disorder without available efficient therapies. In this study, a decrease of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii presence has been observed in an IBS-like rodent model induced by a neonatal maternal separation (NMS) stress. Moreover, it was investigated whether F. prausnitzii may have an impact on colonic sensitivity. The A2-165 reference strain, but not its supernatant, significantly decreased colonic hypersensitivity induced by either NMS in mice or partial restraint stress in rats. This effect was associated with a reinforcement of intestinal epithelial barrier. Thus, F. prausnitzii exhibits anti-nociceptive properties, indicating its potential to treat abdominal pain in IBS patients

Gut barrier-microbiota imbalances in early life lead to higher sensitivity to inflammation in a murine model of C-section delivery

Background Most interactions between the host and its microbiota occur at the gut barrier, and primary colonizers are essential in the gut barrier maturation in the early life. The mother–ofspring transmission of microorganisms is the most important factor infuencing microbial colonization in mammals, and C‑section delivery (CSD) is an impor‑ tant disruptive factor of this transfer. Recently, the deregulation of symbiotic host‑microbe interactions in early life has been shown to alter the maturation of the immune system, predisposing the host to gut barrier dysfunction and infammation. The main goal of this study is to decipher the role of the early‑life gut microbiota‑barrier alterations and its links with later‑life risks of intestinal infammation in a murine model of CSD. Results The higher sensitivity to chemically induced infammation in CSD mice is related to excessive exposure to a too diverse microbiota too early in life. This early microbial stimulus has short‑term consequences on the host homeo‑ stasis. It switches the pup’s immune response to an infammatory context and alters the epithelium structure and the mucus‑producing cells, disrupting gut homeostasis. This presence of a too diverse microbiota in the very early life involves a disproportionate short‑chain fatty acids ratio and an excessive antigen exposure across the vulnerable gut barrier in the frst days of life, before the gut closure. Besides, as shown by microbiota transfer experiments, the microbiota is causal in the high sensitivity of CSD mice to chemical‑induced colitis and in most of the phenotypical parameters found altered in early life. Finally, supplementation with lactobacilli, the main bacterial group impacted by CSD in mice, reverts the higher sensitivity to infammation in ex‑germ‑free mice colonized by CSD pups’ microbiota. Conclusions Early‑life gut microbiota‑host crosstalk alterations related to CSD could be the linchpin behind the phe‑ notypic efects that lead to increased susceptibility to an induced infammation later in life in mice. Keywords C‑section delivery, Microbiota, Primary colonization, Early life, Infammation, Gut barrier, Murine modelinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio