Trade and synchronization in a multi-country economy

Substantial evidence suggests that countries with stronger trade linkages have more synchro- nized business cycles. The standard international business cycle framework cannot replicate this finding, uncovering the trade-comovement puzzle. We show that under certain macro-level conditions but irrespective of the micro-level assumptions concerning trade the puzzle arises because trade fails to substantially increase the correlation between each country's import penetration ratio and the trade partner's technology shock. Within a large class of trade models, there are three channels through which bilateral trade may increase business cycle synchronization. Specifically, increased bilateral trade may (i) raise the correlation between each country's tech- nology shocks, (ii) raise the correlation between each country's share of expenditure on domestic goods, and (iii) raise the response of the domestic import penetration ratio to foreign technology shocks. Empirical evidence strongly supports the first and second channels. We show that the trade-comovement puzzle can be resolved if productivity shocks are more correlated between country-pairs that trade more

Representing and coding the knowledge embedded in texts of Health Science Web published articles

Despite the fact that electronic publishing is a common activity to scholars electronic journals are still based in the print model and do not take full advantage of the facilities offered by the Semantic Web environment. This is a report of the results of a research project with the aim of investigating the possibilities of electronic publishing journal articles both as text for human reading and in machine readable format recording the new knowledge contained in the article. This knowledge is identified with the scientific methodology elements such as problem, methodology, hypothesis, results, and conclusions. A model integrating all those elements is proposed which makes explicit and records the knowledge embedded in the text of scientific articles as an ontology. Knowledge thus represented enables its processing by intelligent software agents The proposed model aims to take advantage of these facilities enabling semantic retrieval and validation of the knowledge contained in articles. To validate and enhance the model a set of electronic journal articles were analyzed

Induced pluripotent stem cell line (INSAi001-A) from a Gaucher disease type 3 patient compound heterozygote for mutations in the GBA1 gene

Gaucher Disease (GD) type 3 is a neurological form of a multisystemic autosomal recessive disorder belonging to the group of lysosomal storage diseases. Causal mutations in the glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA1) commonly lead to abnormal protein and GD, heterozygosity is a genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. This work describes the use of a non-integrative approach using Sendai Virus delivery to establish induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts from a GD type 3 patient. Differentiation of iPSCs can be employed to generate a variety of complex cell types with a high degree of genetic complexity that would otherwise be unattainable.Funding Agency Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology PTDC/BIM-MEC/4762/2014info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A mediação do professor na educação infantil: situações de conflitos entre crianças de 4 a 5 anos.

Trabalho de Conclusão do Curso de Especialização em Educação Infantil - Segunda Edição – Polo Araranguá - SC, para a obtenção do Grau de Especialista em Educação Infantil.A presente pesquisa tem como tema “A mediação do professor na educação infantil: situações de conflitos entre crianças de 4 a 5 anos”. Foi realizada em uma escola privada, no município de Araranguá-SC. Buscou-se investigar o modo como o/a professor/a media situações de conflitos entre crianças de 4 a 5 anos. Teve como objetivo geral analisar a forma como o professor media situações de conflitos na educação infantil com crianças de 4 a 5 anos. A pesquisa classifica-se como qualitativa, do tipo exploratória, com característica de campo bibliográfica. Utilizou-se, para tanto, uma amostra simples e intencional. Os sujeitos pesquisados foram (01) professor/a titular e (01) professor/a assistente. Os recursos metodológicos para a realização da coleta de dados foram um questionário com perguntas abertas e a realização de uma observação da prática pedagógica dos/as professores/as. Os dados foram registrados em diário de campo e, em seguida, analisados. Os dados desta pesquisa permitiram, portanto, a elaboração deste estudo, que tem como referencial em teóricos pautado nas discussões vygotskyanas, documentos legais, e autores/as contemporâneos. As narrativas dos/as professores/as e as observações de campo sugerem inúmeras questões para o debate na área, dentre os quais é possível pensar que as instituições de educação infantil são espaços privilegiados para a aprendizagem na resolução de conflitos, e as interações sociais permitem que as crianças vivenciem e experienciem diferentes modos de se relacionarem com as diferenças e os conflitos decorrentes dessa relação

Transformation of UML Behavioral Diagrams to Support Software Model Checking

Unified Modeling Language (UML) is currently accepted as the standard for modeling (object-oriented) software, and its use is increasing in the aerospace industry. Verification and Validation of complex software developed according to UML is not trivial due to complexity of the software itself, and the several different UML models/diagrams that can be used to model behavior and structure of the software. This paper presents an approach to transform up to three different UML behavioral diagrams (sequence, behavioral state machines, and activity) into a single Transition System to support Model Checking of software developed in accordance with UML. In our approach, properties are formalized based on use case descriptions. The transformation is done for the NuSMV model checker, but we see the possibility in using other model checkers, such as SPIN. The main contribution of our work is the transformation of a non-formal language (UML) to a formal language (language of the NuSMV model checker) towards a greater adoption in practice of formal methods in software development.Comment: In Proceedings FESCA 2014, arXiv:1404.043

Channels selection in the retail banking sector: relationship between the factors influencing the usage and the perceived service quality

Quality is regarded as one of the main objectives to achieve in a successful organization, where the corporate policy is defined around of how to stay efficient while achieving the quality requirements defined by the consumer. Thus, companies in the banking sector are concentrating their efforts to achieve excellence, beginning with the service channels, which represent the point of contact with their clients. This dissertation aims to deepen the study on the use of two major distribution channels: the traditional bank branch and the Internet, having as backdrop the perceived of quality of service. In this context, factors influencing the choice and use of banking channels were related to assessments of their quality, allowing to create segments of consumers and to draw strategic conclusions on areas where the service quality provided by the distribution channel is poor and needs attention from the bank. The research methodology was based on a literature research on the following fields: banking marketing, banking distribution and perceived quality of the services provided. The study was conducted in two phases. The first corresponds to the creation of a scale to measure the perceived quality of the two channels mentioned, through a Factor Analysis and Internal Consistency. Finally, the second phase consists of applying a questionnaire to a final sample of 225 subjects and on the interpretation of data obtained through the Importance-Performance Analysis and also, through the non-parametric tests, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis and the Correlation Coefficient Spearman's Rho.A qualidade é considerada como um dos principais objectivos a atingir numa organização de sucesso, onde a política empresarial é definida em torno de como se manter eficiente sem deixar de atingir os requisitos de qualidade definidos pelo consumidor. Desta forma, as empresas do sector bancário concentram os seus esforços para alcançar a excelência, a começar pelos canais de atendimento, que representam o ponto de contacto com os clientes. A presente dissertação pretende aprofundar o estudo sobre o uso de dois importantes canais de distribuição: a tradicional agência bancária e a Internet, tendo como pano de fundo a qualidade percebida do serviço. Neste âmbito, os factores que influenciam a escolha e uso dos canais bancários foram relacionados com as avaliações de qualidade dos mesmos, permitindo, criar segmentos de consumidores e retirar conclusões estratégicas sobre áreas onde a qualidade do serviço prestado pelo canal de distribuição é deficitária e necessita de atenção por parte do banco. A metodologia de investigação assentou numa pesquisa bibliográfica sobre os seguintes campos: marketing bancário, distribuição bancária e qualidade percebida com a prestação do serviço. O estudo foi desenvolvido em duas fases. A primeira corresponde à criação de uma escala para avaliar a qualidade percebida dos dois canais mencionados, através da Análise Factorial e de Consistência Interna. A segunda consiste na aplicação de um questionário a uma amostra final de 225 indivíduos e na interpretação dos dados obtidos através da Análise Importância-Performance, recorrendo-se ainda aos testes não-paramétricos de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis e ao Coeficiente de Correlação Ró de Spearman

Why Big Data? Towards a project assessment framework

Technological evolution and consequent increasing of society and organization information dependency was an important driver to escalation of data volume and variety. At same time, market evolution requires capability to find new paths to improve products/services, client satisfaction and to avoid cost increase associated with it. The relevance of using Big Data for different industries and knowing how to implement it, is something that raises many doubts and discussion. In a Big Data context it is important to evaluate organization needs and understanding if those needs are satisfied with Big Data capabilities, i.e., if they really need Big Data. For that reason, this paper presents a framework, namely BigDAF, capable of measuring a technological/business problem in a Big Data spectrum. This framework aims to help organizations and researchers to understand, not only the meaning of Big Data issue, but also the key factors that determines the necessity of a "Big Data investment". The framework assessment was applied using three case studies.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope UID/CEC/00319/2013

Imagens CBERS para o estudo de manguezais do Brasil aplicações, potencialidades e limitações

Brazil shows the third largest world mangrove area, but the increase of anthropogenic pressures has\ud been leading to high loss of these forests. This highlights the need for synoptic, multiscale and multitemporal\ud studies of Brazilian mangroves by the use of remote sensing tools. For this purpose, the CBERS (China-Brazil\ud Earth Resources Satellite) images are valuable tools. In this paper we presented and discussed features,\ud applications, potentialities and limitations of the CBERS-2 and 2B images from sensors IRMSS, CCD and HRC\ud for the study of Brazilian mangroves. For a case study, images of these three sensors of the coastal zone of\ud Sergipe State (Northeast Brazil) were processed in GIS. The use of CBERS images allows the identification\ud (IRMSS), mapping, area quantification, change detection, identification of types of mangroves stands, analysis\ud of canopy closure and biomass estimate (CCD) and extraction of detailed information about mangrove coverage\ud (HRC). The selection of the most appropriate sensor for a particular mangrove study should mainly occur by the\ud scale of analysis. The joint use of the three sensors is suitable for micro-region studies, since this approach offers\ud a range of supplementary information, which is not possible to obtain using images of a single sensor.Fapesp (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, processo 2010/20028-