Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:29:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 123091.pdf: 3871596 bytes, checksum: 47df77cf341f8d1b097a12c37925b08d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-06-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The Resource Description and Access (RDA) is the new guideline for cataloging developed to replace the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition (AACR2) in order to improve information retrieval. Accordingly, the present research aimed to analyze how bibliographic records of theses and dissertations of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) on areas of literature and cinema will be affected with the RDA standards. To answer the questionings conducted in this study, it is outlined as specific objectives: develop bibliographic records of theses and dissertations at the UFSC RDA standard; compare the cataloging elements in AACR2 and RDA standards; analyze bibliographic records of theses and dissertations of UFSC in the fields of literature and cinema according to RDA standards; identify and propose consistent elements for the description of bibliographic records of theses and dissertations UFSC according to the RDA standard; analyze bibliographic records of theses and dissertations of UFSC, specifically with regard to the entities-relationships; and verify in the national and international literature practical implementation of the new code that enable to identify advantages and disadvantages of RDA. The research is a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study, using the method of case study and, according to its purpose, it can be an applied research. The results of the study were analyzed from the user tasks perspective and pointed out that the bibliographic description presents significant changes in referring to the format, content and media of a resource. Based on the analysis of the records and the results obtained, it can be concluded that the cataloger needs to spend more attention, knowledge and time practicing, suggesting to this professional the need for continuing education. / O Resource Description and Access (RDA) é a nova diretriz para a catalogação desenvolvido para substituir o Código de Catalogação Anglo-Americano, segunda edição (AACR2) com a finalidade de melhorar a recuperação da informação. Nesse sentido, a presente pesquisa objetiva analisar como os registros bibliográficos de teses e dissertações da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) das áreas de literatura e cinema serão afetados com os padrões do código RDA. Para responder aos questionamentos realizados neste estudo delinearam-se como objetivos específicos: elaborar registros bibliográficos de teses e dissertações da UFSC no padrão RDA; comparar os elementos catalográficos nos padrões AACR2 e RDA; analisar os registros bibliográficos de teses e dissertações da UFSC nas áreas de literatura e cinema de acordo com os padrões do RDA; identificar e propor elementos consistentes para a descrição dos registros bibliográficos das teses e das dissertações da UFSC conforme o padrão RDA; analisar os registros bibliográficos das teses e das dissertações da UFSC, especificamente no que se refere às entidades-relacionamentos e verificar na literatura nacional e internacional implementações práticas do novo código que possibilitem identificar vantagens e desvantagens do RDA. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como qualitativa de caráter exploratório e descritivo, além disso se utiliza do método estudo de caso e de acordo com sua finalidade é uma pesquisa aplicada. Os resultados do estudo foram analisados sob a perspectiva das tarefas dos usuários e apontou que a descrição bibliográfica apresenta modificações significativas correspondentes ao formato, conteúdo e mídia de um recurso. Com base na análise dos registros e dos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que o catalogador precisa despender mais atenção, conhecimento e tempo na sua prática o que sugere a esse profissional a necessidade de educação continuada.

<p>This research is concerned with theoretical and methodological aspects of geographic information transformation between different user contexts. In this dissertation I present theories and methodological approaches that enable a context sensititve use and reuse of geographic data in geographic information systems.</p><p>A primary motive for the reported research is that the patrons interested in answering environmental questions have increased in number and been diversified during the last 10-15 years. The interest from international, national and regional authorities together with multinational and national corporations embrace a range of spatial and temporal scales from global to local, and from many-year/-decade perspectives to real time applications. These differences in spatial and temporal detail will be expressed as rather different questions towards existing data. It is expected that geographic information systems will be able to integrate a large number of diverse data to answer current and future geographic questions and support spatial decision processes. However, there are still important deficiencies in contemporary theories and methods for geographic information integration</p><p>Literature studies and preliminary experiments suggested that any transformation between different users’ contexts would change either the thematic, spatial or temporal detail, and the result would include some amount of semantic uncertainty. Consequently, the reported experiments are separated into studies of change in either spatial or thematic detail. The scope concerned with thematic detatil searched for approaches to represent indiscernibility between categories, and the scope concerned with spatial detail studied semantic effects caused by changing spatial granularity.</p><p>The findings make several contributions to the current knowledge about transforming geographic information between users’ contexts. When changing the categorical resolution of a geographic dataset, it is possible to represent cases of indiscernibility using novel methods of rough classification described in the thesis. The use of rough classification methods together with manual landscape interpretations made it possible to evaluate semantic uncertainty in geographic data. Such evaluations of spatially aggregated geographic data sets show both predictable and non-predictable effects. and these effects may vary for different environmental variables.</p><p>Development of methods that integrate crisp, fuzzy and rough data enables spatial decision support systems to consider various aspects of semantic uncertainty. By explicitly representing crisp, fuzzy and rough relations between datasets, a deeper semantic meaning is given to geographic databasses. The explicit representation of semantic relations is called a Geographic Concept Topology and is held as a viable tool for context transformation and full integration of geographic datasets.</p>

As pesquisas em biologia molecular têm produzido uma grande quantidade de dados, os quais embutem informações sobre diferentes fenômenos biológicos. Neste sentido, a bioinformática se destaca como uma área de pesquisa multidisciplinar que visa, principalmente, o desenvolvimento de ferramentas (sistemas) computacionais para auxiliar na descoberta de conhecimento a partir de dados biológicos. Dentro da bioinformática, a área de genômica funcional procura estudar as funções gênicas através da medição simultânea e em larga escala dos níveis de expressão gênica de um genoma. Diferentes ferramentas são utilizadas no processo de análise de expressão gênica, cada qual provê suporte a uma atividade de análise específica. Embora alguns ambientes de descoberta de conhecimento ofereçam suporte integrado a este processo de análise e exploração de dados, a maior parte das ferramentas de análise é desenvolvida independentemente de outras ferramentas e ambientes de descoberta de conhecimento. Este cenário representa um desafio para biologistas que precisam combinar e integrar diferentes ferramentas, muitas vezes de forma ad hoc, custosa e sujeita a erros. Modelos conceituais, tais como ontologias, têm contribuído para o sucesso do desenvolvimento de sistemas computacionais em diferentes domínios de aplicação. O desenvolvimento de tais modelos tem por objetivo representar corretamente, em alto nível de abstração, conceitos e situações pertinentes a um dado domínio de interesse. Esta representação abstrata facilita não apenas o entendimento de um dado domínio, mas também serve como base para o processo de desenvolvimento do sistema como um todo. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar o desenvolvimento e o uso de modelos conceituais em geral e ontologias em particular, na integração de ferramentas na área de análise de expressão gênica. De forma específica, este trabalho tem por objetivo propor uma abordagem para a integração semântica de ferramentas de análise de expressão gênica a partir do uso de conectores e de uma ontologia de domínio. Essa abordagem foi aplicada no desenvolvimento de estudos de caso envolvendo a criação de diferentes ambientes integrados para a análise de expressão gênica e mostrou-se eficaz. / Molecular biology researches are increasingly producing large amounts of data regarding underlying biological phenomena. Bioinformatics is a multidisciplinary research field whose main objective is the development of theories and information systems to help the process of knowledge discovery from biological data. Functional genomics is a field of study bioinformatics concerned with the study of gene function through parallel and large scale expression measurements of a genome. A variety of software tools are usually combined and used in a knowledge discovery process, each providing support for a specific data analysis task. Although some tools are already provided as part of an integrated knowledge discovery environment, most of them are developed independently of other software tools and knowledge discovery environments. This scenario poses a problem and a challenge for biologists that need to combine and integrate different tools in an ad hoc, time consuming and error prone process. Conceptual models, such as ontologies, have contributed to the successful development of information systems in different application domains. The development of such models aims at creating a clear and precise description of the elements of a given domain at a high abstraction level. This abstract and high level description not only promotes a shared understanding of the domain, but also serves as basis for the development process of supporting applications in the domain. This work aims at investigating the development and use of conceptual models in general and ontologies in particular to support the integration of gene expression data analysis systems. Specifically, this work proposes an approach for the semantic integration of gene expression analysis tools using connectors and a domain ontology. This approach was applied in the development of a number of case studies aiming at creating integrated environments for gene expression analysis and proved its effectiveness.

The task of producing policies for the management of Earth’s natural resources is a problem of the gravest concern worldwide. Such policies must address both responsible use in the present and the sustainability of those finite resources in the future. Resources are showing the adverse results of generations of exploitation, and communities fail to see the outcomes of past policies that have produced, and continue to produce, these results. They have not learned from past policy failures, and consequently fail to produce natural resource management (NRM) policies that support sustainable development.¶ It will be argued that NRM policy makers fail to learn from the past because they do not have a good historical perspective and a clear understanding of the dynamics of the complex human-environment system that they manage. It will also be argued that historians have not shown an interest in collaborating with policy makers on these issues, even though they have much to offer. Therefore, a new approach is proposed, which brings the skills and understanding of the trained historian directly into the policy arena.¶ This approach is called Applied Environmental History (AEH). Its aims are to help establish an area of common conceptual ground between NRM practitioners, policy makers, historians and dynamicists; to provide a framework that can help NRM practitioners and policy makers to take account of the historical and dynamical issues that characterise human-environment relationships; and to help NRM practitioners and policy makers improve their capacity to learn from the past. Applied Environmental History captures the characteristics of public and applied history and environmental history. In order to include an understanding of feedback dynamics in human-environment systems, it draws on concepts from dynamical systems theory. Because learning from the past is a particular form of learning from experience, AEH also draws on theories of cognitive adaptation.¶ Principles for the application of AEH are developed and then tested in an exploratory study of irrigation development that is focused on the NRM issue of salinity. Since irrigation salinity has existed for centuries, and is a serious environmental problem in many parts of the world, it is a suitable NRM context in which to explore policy makers' failure to learn from the past. AEH principles guide this study, and are used, together with insights generated from the study, as the basis for the design of AEH Guidelines.

This research is concerned with theoretical and methodological aspects of geographic information transformation between different user contexts. In this dissertation I present theories and methodological approaches that enable a context sensititve use and reuse of geographic data in geographic information systems. A primary motive for the reported research is that the patrons interested in answering environmental questions have increased in number and been diversified during the last 10-15 years. The interest from international, national and regional authorities together with multinational and national corporations embrace a range of spatial and temporal scales from global to local, and from many-year/-decade perspectives to real time applications. These differences in spatial and temporal detail will be expressed as rather different questions towards existing data. It is expected that geographic information systems will be able to integrate a large number of diverse data to answer current and future geographic questions and support spatial decision processes. However, there are still important deficiencies in contemporary theories and methods for geographic information integration Literature studies and preliminary experiments suggested that any transformation between different users’ contexts would change either the thematic, spatial or temporal detail, and the result would include some amount of semantic uncertainty. Consequently, the reported experiments are separated into studies of change in either spatial or thematic detail. The scope concerned with thematic detatil searched for approaches to represent indiscernibility between categories, and the scope concerned with spatial detail studied semantic effects caused by changing spatial granularity. The findings make several contributions to the current knowledge about transforming geographic information between users’ contexts. When changing the categorical resolution of a geographic dataset, it is possible to represent cases of indiscernibility using novel methods of rough classification described in the thesis. The use of rough classification methods together with manual landscape interpretations made it possible to evaluate semantic uncertainty in geographic data. Such evaluations of spatially aggregated geographic data sets show both predictable and non-predictable effects. and these effects may vary for different environmental variables. Development of methods that integrate crisp, fuzzy and rough data enables spatial decision support systems to consider various aspects of semantic uncertainty. By explicitly representing crisp, fuzzy and rough relations between datasets, a deeper semantic meaning is given to geographic databasses. The explicit representation of semantic relations is called a Geographic Concept Topology and is held as a viable tool for context transformation and full integration of geographic datasets.

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:51:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 55331.pdf.jpg: 16269 bytes, checksum: f0c69377b02617fc91d41d9723dbb935 (MD5) 55331.pdf: 283282 bytes, checksum: 78689f7ce3b57f44fb77445beb18f317 (MD5) 55331.pdf.txt: 192216 bytes, checksum: 885fd6383405d255a946b158349539c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-11-04T00:00:00Z / Uma série de motivos tem elevado o tema da diversidade humana a um patamar de maior visibilidade e influência no cotidiano das organizações. Legislações decorrentes de mobilizações sociais, globalização das empresas, migrações em busca de emprego em países mais desenvolvidos, estruturas de trabalho multifuncionais e políticas de responsabilidade social corporativa são alguns dos fenômenos que justificam esse novo contexto. Este trabalho teve como proposta desenvolver uma análise comparativa entre a produção acadêmica e a prática empresarial voltada ao tema da diversidade. Para isso, foi elaborado um retrato desses dois universos, por meio de uma pesquisa sobre artigos acadêmicos a respeito de diversidade publicados em importantes periódicos acadêmicos e uma investigação sobre as abordagens adotadas por empresas privadas reconhecidas como avançadas nessa área. As análises indicam a existência de uma ambigüidade. Por um lado, tem-se uma relativa similaridade quanto ao conceito de diversidade adotado por cada uma das áreas pesquisadas. Por outro lado, a investigação indica um notório distanciamento, entre esses dois universos, quanto aos impactos resultantes da promoção de um ambiente de trabalho mais heterogêneo. Os acadêmicos concentram seus estudos na perspectiva de performance, balanceando potenciais benefícios com potenciais problemas da diversidade. As dimensões de justiça, no entanto, são delegadas a um plano secundário de importância. As empresas, por sua vez, dedicam a devida atenção a tais dimensões, ao mesmo tempo em que adotam um discurso simplista sobre performance - negligenciam os potenciais problemas decorrentes da diversidade, limitando-se a tratar de seus potenciais benefícios. Esse cenário aponta para a necessidade da construção de um modelo capaz de: a) contemplar as realidades estudadas e b) colaborar para a evolução e o amadurecimento das discussões científicas e práticas gerenciais relacionadas à diversidade. Ao final do trabalho, são apresentadas propostas preliminares de modelos conceituais que buscam agregar as referidas realidades. / For a variety of reasons, the issue of human diversity has achieved a high level of visibility and influence within day-to-day organizational life. Legislation resulting from social mobilization, corporate globalization, migration in search of employment in more developed countries, multifunctional work structures, and policies for corporate social responsibility are some of the phenomena that have contributed to this new reality. The present study is a comparative analysis of academic research and corporate practices which address the issue of diversity. These two universes were analyzed through a survey of academic articles published in leading management journals, and an investigation of approaches adopted by private companies recognized as advanced in this area. This analysis indicates that an ambiguity exists. On the one hand, there is a relative similarity between the concept of diversity adopted by each of the areas studied. But at the same time, the research results indicate a significant gap between these two universes in terms of the impacts of creating a more heterogeneous work environment. The academic studies focused on the issue of performance, balancing potential benefits with potential problems of diversity. Issues of justice, however, were given secondary importance. Companies, in contrast, pay considerable attention to issues of justice, while adopting a simplistic discourse in regards to performance (restricted to its potential benefits, and neglecting potential problems resulting from diversity). This situation suggests a need to develop a model capable of: (a) accounting for the realities analyzed and (b) contributing to the development and consolidation of research on diversity and to its management within corporations. This study concludes with some preliminary proposals for conceptual models aimed at accounting for the realities encountered.

Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2016-03-24T17:15:12Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese - Ana Luiza Rios Caldas - 2012.pdf: 4813040 bytes, checksum: 28e7e8b9e97cb686997407a71d9c2876 (MD5) license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) / Rejected by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com), reason: - A inicial das palavras-chaves são em maiúsculo, portanto está errado: modelos conceituais; gestão de recursos hídricos. o certo é Modelos ... ; Gestão de ... - A citação está com problemas: use a forma que o nome aparece no campo identificação - Nome em citações bibliográficas- do currículo lattes; use f. e não p. CALDAS, A. L. R. Método de diagnóstico para gestão participativa de recursos hídricos: estudo de caso e modelagem conceitual com enfoque DPSIR. 2012. 179 f. Tese (Doutorado em Ciências Ambientais) - Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 2012. - Colocar currículo lattes para os co-orientadores. on 2016-04-04T10:49:09Z (GMT) / Submitted by Marlene Santos (marlene.bc.ufg@gmail.com) on 2016-04-04T13:35:54Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) Tese - Ana Luiza Rios Caldas - 2012.pdf: 4813040 bytes, checksum: 28e7e8b9e97cb686997407a71d9c2876 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-04-04T14:07:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) Tese - Ana Luiza Rios Caldas - 2012.pdf: 4813040 bytes, checksum: 28e7e8b9e97cb686997407a71d9c2876 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T14:07:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 19874 bytes, checksum: 38cb62ef53e6f513db2fb7e337df6485 (MD5) Tese - Ana Luiza Rios Caldas - 2012.pdf: 4813040 bytes, checksum: 28e7e8b9e97cb686997407a71d9c2876 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-24 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Several studies emphasize the greater effectiveness of participatory environmental management of water resources. This requires that social actors have the necessary conditions to participate in the debates, evaluate the general demands and make informed and negotiated decisions. Concept maps are adequate tools to formalize relevant knowledge, scientific and popular, facilitate the creation of a common understanding, strengthening negotiations in the processes of decision making and have been used in various ways in the management of water resources. The conceptual framework DPSIR (driving forces, pressures, state, impacts, responses) was used to guide the collection of structured information from the conceptual map, evidencing relations between the state of the environment and the pressures to which it is submitted. The overall objective is to contribute to the participative management of river basins, through the modeling of conceptual maps oriented by the DPSIR conceptual framework, starting from an qualitative environmental diagnostic, and for that it is based on a Case Study in the sub-basin of the Rio das Almas, in Pirenópolis, GO. The qualitative socio-environmental diagnosis followed a Case Study methodology from the Social Sciences. Sought to answer the question: "What are the main uses of the basin and their impacts on the conservation status of the Rio das Almas and how this comes to compromise the multiple use of water"? Three techniques were evaluated as adaptable to environmental research: investigation of environmental change over time, starting from semi-structured interviews; assessment of the current state of conservation through Rapid Assessment Protocols, as part of the technique of systematic observation; quantitative analysis of water quality data. The analysis of the results under the DPSIR focus subsidized thematic maps at the end of each section, which compositionally formed the total conceptual map. The conservation of the Rio das Almas sub-basin is good, but not homogeneous, and has been changing over the decades, as suggests all the evidence. The main impacts in the basin are mischaracterization of margins, siltation and reduction of wells and recreation sites, with lower use value by local population. With regard to water, it has been detected high concentrations of thermo tolerant coliforms, low oxygen concentration and the unviability of fishing. It was concluded that the techniques chosen complemented themselves positively. The complex diagnostic map presented here gathers within itself all the results of the Case Study. The use of concept maps in the process of data reduction allows visual identification of themes and patterns, as observed in the cultural patterns for water use observed in Pirenópolis. It was found that the DPSIR increases the effectiveness in using the concept maps, making them more robust and relevant since: it guides and supports the selection of elements to be included in the conceptual map; directs the map to a wide and complex chain of causality; shows the visualization of where and how the human dimension integrates and interferes on the state of the ecosystem. All in all, it makes the construction of conceptual maps more objective, targeting the direct application in the exercise of participatory management. / Vários estudos vêm enfatizando a maior efetividade da gestão ambiental participativa de recursos hídricos. Para isso é necessário que atores sociais tenham condições de participar dos debates, avaliar as demandas gerais e tomar decisões conscientes e negociadas. Mapas conceituais são ferramentas adequadas para formalizar conhecimentos relevantes, tanto científicos como populares, facilitam a criação de um entendimento comum, fortalecendo as negociações nos processos de tomada de decisão e vem sendo utilizados de várias formas na gestão de recursos hídricos. A estrutura conceitual DPSIR (do inglês driving forces, pressures, state, impacts, responses) foi utilizada para orientar a coleta estruturada de informações do mapa conceitual, evidenciando relações entre o estado do ambiente e as pressões a que está submetido. O objetivo geral é contribuir na gestão participativa de bacias hidrográficas, através da modelagem de mapas conceituais orientados pela estrutura conceitual DPSIR, a partir de um diagnóstico ambiental qualitativo, e que para isso fundamenta-se no delineamento Estudo de Caso, na sub-bacia do Rio das Almas, em Pirenópolis, GO. O diagnóstico socioambiental qualitativo seguiu a metodologia Estudo de Caso, das Ciências Sociais. Buscou responder à pergunta: “Quais os principais usos da bacia e seus impactos no estado de conservação do Rio das Almas e como isto vem comprometendo o uso múltiplo da água”? Três técnicas foram avaliadas como adaptáveis à pesquisa ambiental: investigação das modificações ambientais ao longo do tempo, a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas; avaliação do estado atual de conservação através dos Protocolos de Avaliação Rápida, como parte da técnica de observação sistemática; análise de dados quantitativos para a qualidade da água. A análise dos resultados sob o enfoque DPSIR subsidiou os mapas temáticos ao final de cada seção, que composicionalmente formaram o mapa conceitual total. A conservação da sub-bacia do Rio das Almas é boa, mas não homogênea, e vem se modificando ao longo das décadas segundo todas as evidências. Os principais impactos na bacia são descaracterização das margens, assoreamento e redução de poços e locais de recreação, com menor valor de uso pela população local. Com relação à água, foi detectada elevada concentração de Coliformes termotolerantes, baixa concentração de oxigênio e a inviabilização da pesca. Conclui-se que as técnicas escolhidas complementam-se positivamente. O complexo mapa de diagnóstico apresentado aqui reúne dentro de si todos os resultados do Estudo de Caso. Usar mapas conceituais no processo de redução de dados permite a identificação visual dos temas e padrões, conforme observaram-se os padrões culturais para uso da água em Pirenópolis. Constatou-se que o DPSIR aumenta a eficácia de uso dos mapas conceituais, tornando-os mais robustos e relevantes, uma vez que ele orienta e auxilia a escolha dos elementos a serem incluídos no mapa conceitual; direciona o mapa para uma grande e complexa cadeia de causalidade; explicita a visualização de onde e como a dimensão humana se integra e interfere no estado do ecossistema. Somando tudo, torna mais objetiva a construção dos mapas conceituais, visando a aplicação direta no exercício de gestão participativa

As pesquisas em biologia molecular têm produzido uma grande quantidade de dados, os quais embutem informações sobre diferentes fenômenos biológicos. Neste sentido, a bioinformática se destaca como uma área de pesquisa multidisciplinar que visa, principalmente, o desenvolvimento de ferramentas (sistemas) computacionais para auxiliar na descoberta de conhecimento a partir de dados biológicos. Dentro da bioinformática, a área de genômica funcional procura estudar as funções gênicas através da medição simultânea e em larga escala dos níveis de expressão gênica de um genoma. Diferentes ferramentas são utilizadas no processo de análise de expressão gênica, cada qual provê suporte a uma atividade de análise específica. Embora alguns ambientes de descoberta de conhecimento ofereçam suporte integrado a este processo de análise e exploração de dados, a maior parte das ferramentas de análise é desenvolvida independentemente de outras ferramentas e ambientes de descoberta de conhecimento. Este cenário representa um desafio para biologistas que precisam combinar e integrar diferentes ferramentas, muitas vezes de forma ad hoc, custosa e sujeita a erros. Modelos conceituais, tais como ontologias, têm contribuído para o sucesso do desenvolvimento de sistemas computacionais em diferentes domínios de aplicação. O desenvolvimento de tais modelos tem por objetivo representar corretamente, em alto nível de abstração, conceitos e situações pertinentes a um dado domínio de interesse. Esta representação abstrata facilita não apenas o entendimento de um dado domínio, mas também serve como base para o processo de desenvolvimento do sistema como um todo. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar o desenvolvimento e o uso de modelos conceituais em geral e ontologias em particular, na integração de ferramentas na área de análise de expressão gênica. De forma específica, este trabalho tem por objetivo propor uma abordagem para a integração semântica de ferramentas de análise de expressão gênica a partir do uso de conectores e de uma ontologia de domínio. Essa abordagem foi aplicada no desenvolvimento de estudos de caso envolvendo a criação de diferentes ambientes integrados para a análise de expressão gênica e mostrou-se eficaz. / Molecular biology researches are increasingly producing large amounts of data regarding underlying biological phenomena. Bioinformatics is a multidisciplinary research field whose main objective is the development of theories and information systems to help the process of knowledge discovery from biological data. Functional genomics is a field of study bioinformatics concerned with the study of gene function through parallel and large scale expression measurements of a genome. A variety of software tools are usually combined and used in a knowledge discovery process, each providing support for a specific data analysis task. Although some tools are already provided as part of an integrated knowledge discovery environment, most of them are developed independently of other software tools and knowledge discovery environments. This scenario poses a problem and a challenge for biologists that need to combine and integrate different tools in an ad hoc, time consuming and error prone process. Conceptual models, such as ontologies, have contributed to the successful development of information systems in different application domains. The development of such models aims at creating a clear and precise description of the elements of a given domain at a high abstraction level. This abstract and high level description not only promotes a shared understanding of the domain, but also serves as basis for the development process of supporting applications in the domain. This work aims at investigating the development and use of conceptual models in general and ontologies in particular to support the integration of gene expression data analysis systems. Specifically, this work proposes an approach for the semantic integration of gene expression analysis tools using connectors and a domain ontology. This approach was applied in the development of a number of case studies aiming at creating integrated environments for gene expression analysis and proved its effectiveness.

Les eaux souterraines constituent une réserve d’eau potable non négligeable, leur alimentation se fait en majeure partie par les précipitations, appelée recharge des nappes. Du fait de leur grande importance, la compréhension du fonctionnement de ces ressources en eau est plus que jamais indispensable. Celle-ci passe par l’élaboration de modèles mathématiques. Ces outils nous offrent une meilleure appréhension et une bonne prévision des phénomènes physiques. Les systèmes hydrogéologiques sont généralement très complexes et caractérisés par des dynamiques hydriques très variables dans le temps et dans l’espace. Cette complexité a attiré l’attention de nombreux hydrogéologues et un grand nombre de modèles très sophistiqués a été développé afin de décrire ces systèmes avec précision. Cependant, la prise en compte de la recharge de ces réservoirs reste toujours un défi dans la modélisation hydrogéologique. En effet, le plus souvent, les modèles hydrogéologiques simulent l’écoulement dans la nappe tout en considérant la recharge comme une constante sur le domaine et indépendante du système. De plus, elle est souvent calculée de façon simplifiée. Or, la recharge traduisant la quantité des précipitations atteignant les nappes est une composante hydrologique complexe et variable car elle interagit avec les nappes et dépend des conditions climatiques, du couvert végétal et du transfert de l’eau dans le sol. Ce présent travail vise à intégrer cette recharge variable et complexe aux modèles hydrogéologiques. À cet effet, un modèle couplé a été développé. Une première partie de ce modèle permet de calculer la recharge des nappes en modélisant les interactions précipitations-sol et l’hydrodynamique dans le sol. Cette modélisation a été effectuée en utilisant des modèles conceptuels simples basés sur des lois empiriques (Gardénia, Nash) et des modèles physiques résolvant l’équation de Richards. La recharge ainsi calculée est intégrée à la deuxième partie du modèle simulant l’hydrodynamique dans les nappes décrite par l’équation de diffusivité. Des méthodes numériques précises et robustes ont été utilisées pour résoudre les équations du modèle mathématique : les éléments finis non conformes ont été utilisés pour résoudre l’équation de diffusivité et l’équation de Richards est résolue sous sa forme mixte par une méthode itérative en temps. En somme, ce modèle couplé permet de décrire les variations de niveaux de nappe à partir des données météorologiques connaissant les paramètres caractéristiques de cet aquifère. [...] / Groundwater is the main available water resource for many countries; they are mainly replenished by water from precipitation, called groundwater recharge. Due to its great importance, management of groundwater resources is more essential than ever, and is achieved through mathematical models which offer us a better understanding of physical phenomena as well as their prediction. Hydrogeological systems are generally complex thus characterized by a highly variable dynamic over time and space. These complexities have attracted the attention of many hydrogeologists and many sophisticated models that can handle these issues and describe these systems accurately were developed. Unfortunately, modeling groundwater recharge is still a challenge in groundwater resource management. Generally, groundwater models are used to simulate aquifers flow without a good estimation of recharge and its spatial-temporal distribution. As groundwater recharge rates show spatial-temporal variability due to climatic conditions, land use, and hydrogeological heterogeneity, these methods have limitations in dealing with these characteristics. To overcome these limitations, a coupled model which simulates flow in the unsaturated zone and recharge as well as groundwater flow was developed. The flow in the unsaturated zone is solved either with resolution of Richards equation or with empirical models while the diffusivity equation governs flow in the saturated zone. Robust numerical methods were used to solve these equations: we apply non-conforming finite element to solve the diffusivity equation and we used an accurate and efficient method for solving the Richards equation. [...]

Digital educational technology is capable of contributing supplementary strategies that can be used to address various educational challenges faced by higher education. Foremost among these challenges is the widespread lack of academic preparedness of students who enter South African higher education institutions. The legacy of Apartheid, teachers' poor domain knowledge and command of the language of instruction, together with a lack of commitment to the cognitive development of learners are some of the reasons why students have not developed the cognitive skills required to engage in meaningful learning. Meaningful learning requires a high level of conceptual engagement and development. To assist in the learning process, educators must focus on student learning rather than on the instructor and the technology used in the instruction. A powerful means of supporting meaningful learning is through a process of model building. Computer technology can effectively be used to facilitate the building of conceptual models. By encouraging students to use computer technology to build models that represent their personal understanding, the students are performing the role of designer and the technology is used as a cognitive tool. Using digital technology as a cognitive tool allows students to engage in critical thinking and higher-order learning. An expert system shell is one way in which technology can be used as a cognitive tool. When students build expert systems they are required to demonstrate the reasoning of an expert and to exhibit an understanding of causal relationships and procedural knowledge. There is very little evidence of research concerning the application of expert systems as a cognitive tool in education. The primary aim of this study is to formulate design principles in the form of conjectures and principles related to a learning environment that uses technology as a cognitive tool in the form of an expert system shell to promote higher-order thinking skills. The second aim of this study is to explore the experiences of students who are exposed to a learning environment based on the conjectures and principles formulated during the design phase of the research. The conjectures and principles formulated during this study are expressed in terms of the characteristics, procedures and arguments associated with a learning environment that uses technology in the form of an expert system shell to facilitate higher-order thinking. These conjectures and principles were separated into seven interrelated clusters that can be summarised as follows: <ul><li> initial exposure;</li><li> guided discovery learning;</li><li> designing the expert system on paper;</li><li> creating domain awareness;</li><li> linking conceptual understanding to a representation of that understanding;</li><li> hands-on development; and</li><li> problem engagement.</il></ul> These conjectures and principles could guide similar endeavours undertaken by lecturers or instructional designers. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted