O objetivo geral deste estudo foi investigar como os agricultores familiares constroem agroindústrias que conseguem produzir novidades, acessando mercados para os seus produtos e desenvolvendo interações com outros atores sociais, instituições e ações governamentais no contexto em que estão imersos. De maneira mais específica, as perguntas que guiaram a investigação foram: (a) Como surgem as agroindústrias em regiões de agricultura familiar já integrada aos mercados de grãos e commodities agrícolas? (b) Como os agricultores produzem novidades a partir das suas agroindústrias e constroem socialmente seus canais de comercialização e mercados? (c) Quais os papéis das ações governamentais e instituições reguladoras dos alimentos junto às agroindústrias familiares? Para atingir este objetivo e responder a estas questões, foram utilizados dois enfoques teóricos: a Perspectiva Orientada aos Atores e a abordagem Multinível e Coevolucionária, associada à noção de produção de novidades. A investigação foi baseada em metodologia quali-quantitativa, com o uso de dados primários e secundários. Os principais instrumentos de coleta de informações qualitativas e dados primários foram 23 entrevistas semiestruturadas, observação participante e diário de campo. Como fonte de informações secundárias e dados quantitativos figuram os do IBGE, FEE e de instituições e entidades sociais que fizeram parte do estudo. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida na Região do Médio Alto Uruguai, porção ao Norte do território do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), onde foram investigadas sete experiências de agroindústrias familiares. Os principais resultados da investigação se dirigem a quatro direções conclusivas. Primeiro, as agroindústrias familiares produzem novidades em ternos de novos produtos/processos de fabricação de alimentos, tecnologias, canais de comercialização e organizações sociais coletivas como a RECOSOL (Rede de Comercialização Solidária das Agroindústrias Familiares). Segundo, os principais canais de comercialização construídos são as vendas diretas agricultor-consumidor, vendas em eventos, pontos formais de comércio, cadeias longas, institucionais e os circuitos coletivos e em redes. Terceiro, a principal novidade descoberta no estudo é organizacional, sendo constituída pela RECOSOL, suas cooperativas e associações membros. Estas novidades produzidas pelas agroindústrias geram tanto transições no regime sociotécnico alimentar, como incrementos, desempenhando papéis duplos. Como quarta evidência da pesquisa, conclui-se que as ações institucionais são dúbias em relação ao apoio prestado às agroindústrias. Há partes do Estado que incentivam as experiências como o Programa Territórios Rurais e da Cidadania, o PRONAF (Agroindústria e Custeio e Comercialização para as Agroindústrias) e o Programa de Agroindústria Familiar (PAF/RS). Por outro ângulo, há instituições do mesmo Estado que elaboram regras e normas restritivas ao desenvolvimento e formalização das agroindústrias, inclusive agindo via aplicação de sanções às experiências. / The overall objective of the study was to investigate how farmers can build agro-industries that produce novelties, accessing markets for their products and developing interactions with other social actors, institutions and government actions in the context in which they are immersed. More specifically, the questions that guided the research were: (a) How come the agro-industries in family farming regions of already integrated markets for grains and agricultural commodities? (b) As farmers produce novelties from their agro-industries and socially construct their marketing channels and markets? (c) What are the roles of government actions and institutions governing food on family agro-industries? To achieve this goal and to answer these questions two theoretical approaches were used, the Perspective Oriented Actors and Multilevel and Co-Evolutionary approach, associated with the notion of novelties production. The research was based on qualitative and quantitative methodology, using primary and secondary data. The main tools for collecting primary data and qualitative information were 23 semistructured interviews, participant observation and field diary. As secondary source of information were included quantitative data from the IBGE, FEE and social organizations and institutions that participated in the study. The research was conducted in the Upper East Region Uruguay portion of the territory north of the Rio Grande do Sul (RS), where seven experiences of family agro-industrieswere investigated . The main research results are addressed in four directions conclusive. First, the family agro-industries produce novelties in suits of new products/processes food manufacturing, technology, marketing channels and social organizations as collective RECOSOL (Net Solidary Trading of Families Agro-Industries). Second, the main sales channels are builtdirectly by sales farmer – consumer, sales events, points of formal trade, long chains, institutional and collective circuits and networks. Third, the main novelty finding in this study is organizational, being constituted by RECOSOL, cooperatives and their members.These novelties produced by agroindustries generate both transitions in sociotechnical regime food increments as having dual roles. As a fourth research evidence, it is concluded that institutional actions are dubious on support provided agro-industries. There are parts of the State that encourage experiences as the Program of Rural Territories and Citizenship, PRONAF (National Program for Agricultural Family Increasing) (Agroindustry and Costing and Marketing for Agro- Industries) and Agro-Industries Program (PAF/RS). From another angle, there are institutions that produce the same state rules and regulations that are restrictive to the development and formal of agro-industries, including acting via sanctions experiences.

A homogeneização técnica pretendida pela modernização da agricultura, bem representada pelas diretrizes da ‘Revolução Verde’, tem sido associada a consequências negativas do ponto de vista socioambiental nos espaços rurais. No entanto, propostas recentes, que objetivam imprimir novas dinâmicas a processos de desenvolvimento rural, vêm sendo construídas em oposição às ideias difusionistas convencionais. Com isto, têm ganhado espaço propostas e projetos que enfatizam a necessidade de valorização dos conhecimentos locais, como parte das estratégias para o desenvolvimento rural. Pesquisas e ações de diversas organizações vêm enfatizando, gradativamente, os resultados da interação do conhecimento local com os conhecimentos advindos da tecnociência, fato este que possibilita um novo olhar sobre a atuação dos agricultores familiares no espaço rural. Este olhar abrange o surgimento de adaptações e rearranjos em relações sociais e de trabalho, de novas formações de sentido e de reinvenções de práticas e técnicas, especialmente agrícolas. Neste âmbito, considera-se que mudanças e inovações estão ocorrendo constantemente e são potencialmente motivadoras para um ativo processo de emergência de ‘novidades’, no qual são fundamentais a localidade e a ação de múltiplos atores. Esse ponto de vista torna-se importante na abertura de um abrangente campo de pesquisa, que busca evidenciar e compreender avanços e obstáculos na implementação de projetos que objetivam a promoção do desenvolvimento rural. Alicerçada nestas ideias e à luz da Perspectiva Orientada ao Ator, esta pesquisa de caráter qualitativo, propôs analisar novidades emergentes com enfoque nas práticas agrícolas, nos sistemas de produção e na organização social, decorrentes das situações de interface que colocam frente a frente conhecimentos e práticas de mediadores sociais e de agricultores familiares, na implantação de projetos para o desenvolvimento rural em São Lourenço do Sul e Pelotas – Rio Grande do Sul. A análise aponta que esses agricultores familiares, direcionados pelos ideais da agricultura de base ecológica, e apoiados por projetos de assistência técnica e políticas públicas, executam ‘práticas desviantes’, que representam formas inovadoras nos processos agrícolas, na articulação entre atores, em sua relação com os mercados e mesmo na criação de novas organizações. Dessa forma, foi identificada a emergência de ‘novidades’, que pode ser evidenciada pela constituição da Cooperativa Sul Ecológica; pela construção de novos mercados, o institucional (merenda escolar) e o local (feiras livres); e o estabelecimento da Agroindústria Figueira do Prado. A trajetória de emergência dessas ‘novidades’ está relacionada ao descobrimento de novos e relevantes recursos para a transformação de sistemas de produção convencionais em outros, cuja base é ecológica. Também, é perceptível o desenvolvimento de uma ‘sintonia fina’ no uso de tais recursos, bem como o reordenamento de muitos deles pelo estabelecimento de conexões entre elementos antes ignorados ou afastados entre si. Essas ‘novidades’ que estão amplamente relacionadas com o compartilhamento de conhecimentos, especificidades locais, heterogeneidade e dinamismo da ação social, parecem indicar uma alteração nas trajetórias de desenvolvimento no espaço rural na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. / The technical homogenization intended by the modernization of agriculture, well represented by the Green Revolution guidelines, has been associated with negative socio-environmental consequences at rural areas. However, recent proposals which aim to set new dynamics to rural development processes, have been constructed in opposition to conventional diffusionists ideas. With this, proposals and projects that emphasize the local knowledge relevance as part of strategies for rural development have advanced. Researches and actions from several organizations connected to the rural development have gradually emphasized the results from the interaction between local knowledge and knowledge derived from technoscience; this fact allows a new perspective to the role of family farmers in rural areas, a look that encompasses the rising of adaptations and re-arrangements in social and work relationships, new configurations of meanings and reinventions of practices and techniques, especially agricultural ones. In this context, it is considered that changes and innovations are constantly occurring and they are potentially motivating to an active process of emergence of 'novelties', in which local features and the action of multiple actors are essential. Focusing on these social processes and on the knowledge heterogeneity, it is possible to realize changes in farmers’ relationships to nature and, this way, rethinking the farmers’ role and local knowledge as key elements to achieve sustainable productive alternatives. Based on these ideas and under Actor Oriented Approach framework, the researchaimed to analyze emerging novelties, focusing on farming practices, production systems and social organization, specially considering them as results from interface situations, which put together knowledge and practices from social mediators and family farmers, during the implementation of projects for rural development at São Lourenço do Sul and Pelotas - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The analysis indicates that these family farmers, oriented by ecological agriculture ideals, supported by technical assistance projects and by public policies, are performing ‘deviant practices’, which represent innovative ways to agricultural processes, to interaction between actors, to relationship with the markets and even to creating new organizations. This way, it was possible to identify the novelty emergence, which can be evidenced through the Cooperativa Sul Ecológica foundation; the construction of new markets, the institutional (school meals) and local(farmers fairs); and the establishment of the Agroindústria Figueira do Prado. The trajectory of emergence of these novelties is related to the discovery of new and relevant resources to overcome conventional production systems, proposing others, based on ecological principles. The development of a 'fine tuning' process is also relevant in using such resources as well as a re-patterning of them by establishing connections between elements before ignored or spaced. These 'novelties' that are broadly related to knowledge sharing, local characteristics, heterogeneity and social action dynamism seem to be indicating changes to development paths at rural areas of southern Rio Grande do Sul.

Les éléments transposables (ETs) sont des éléments génétiques mobiles capables de se déplacer et de se multiplier au sein d’un génome. Identifiés dans la plupart des espèces vivantes incluant les bactéries, mais longtemps considérés comme de l’ADN poubelle, aujourd’hui les ETs sont indéniablement des acteurs majeurs impliqués dans l’évolution des gènes, des génomes et des organismes. Si à l’échelle des individus les ETs peuvent avoir des effets délétères pouvant entrainer des maladies, à plus grande échelle ils sont de puissants agents évolutifs impliqués dans la plasticité génomique. Ces « parasites » peuvent également être sources de nouveaux matériels génétiques comme des promoteurs ou même de nouveaux gènes avec de nouvelles fonctions pour l’hôte. Les objectifs majeurs de mon travail de thèse ont été de déterminer les différentes familles d’ETs présentes dans les génomes de poissons, la part que chacune d’entre elles occupe dans ces génomes et enfin de comprendre l’histoire évolutive des familles d’ETs dans les génomes de poissons en comparaison avec les autres génomes de vertébrés. Cette comparaison à grande échelle permettra de comprendre les différentes stratégies évolutives des ETs. D’autre part, j’ai étudié deux gènes de vertébrés, Gin-1 et Gin-2 dérivés d’ETs, dans le but de comprendre leurs origines et évolution au sein des vertébrés ainsi que d’émettre des hypothèses quant à leur fonction moléculaire potentielle encore inconnue. Pour cela, des analyses in silico ont permis de mieux comprendre les origines de ces gènes. Gin-1, présent chez les amniotes, et Gin-2, absent uniquement des mammifères placentaires, dérivent tous deux de transposons GIN. / Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements - able to move and to multiply within genomes - identified in almost all living organisms including bacteria. Considered as junk DNA for long, nowadays they are undeniably major players of gene, genome and host evolution. TEs can be deleterious causing diseases but these “parasites” can also be source of new genetic materials as promoters or even new genes bringing new functions for hosts. The objectives of my thesis was to determine the presence or not of the different TE families in vertebrate genomes, as well as their respective content to understand their evolutionary history. I performed a large-Scale comparative analysis to highlight the various evolutionary strategies of TEs. I showed that TE content is highly variable in vertebrate genomes, the smallest and the largest being found in fish, and may contribute to their genome sizes especially in fish. These superfamilies underwent differential waves of activity in vertebrate species highlighting TE dynamics. On another hand, I focused on the study of a vertebrate-Specific TE-Derived gene, named Gin-2, to understand its origin, evolution, and its potential function in vertebrates. In silico analyses showed that Gin-2 is a very ancient gene (500 My, only absent from placentals) derived from GIN transposons. Further analyses present a particular expression in brain and gonads during adulthood, while a strong expression during gastrulation suggests a potential role of Gin-2 in zebrafish development. All together, the different analyses contribute to a better view of TE evolution and their evolutionary impacts in vertebrate genomes.

Master's thesis is devoted to issues of digitalization processes and their impact on the financial sector. The aim of the master's thesis is to analyze the impact of digital maturity of Russian banks on the key indicators of their economic activity. The scientific novelty of the research is the author's definition of the concept of digitalization and analysis of impact of the digital maturity index of commercial banks on the key performance indicators of its activities. Based on results of the analysis, the problems and prospects for development of digitalization in the financial sector of the Russian Federation are identified, and the integration of digital national currency as an innovative instrument of monetary policy is considered. / Магистерская диссертация посвящена вопросам процессов цифровизации и их влиянию на финансовый сектор. Целью магистерской диссертации является анализ влияния цифровой зрелости российских банков на ключевые показатели их экономической деятельности. Научной новизной исследования является авторское определение понятия цифровизация и анализ влияния индекса цифровой зрелости коммерческих банков на ключевые показатели их деятельности. Автором определены проблемы и перспективы развития цифровизации в финансовом секторе РФ, а также рассмотрена интеграция цифровой национальной валюты как инновационного инструмента денежно-кредитной политики.

<p>The availability of abundant multimodal data, including textual, visual, and sensor-based information, holds the potential to improve decision-making in diverse domains. Extracting data-driven decision-making information from heterogeneous and changing datasets in real-world data-centric applications requires achieving complementary functionalities of multimodal data integration, knowledge extraction and mining, situationally-aware data recommendation to different users, and uncertainty management in the open-world setting. To achieve a system that encompasses all of these functionalities, several challenges need to be effectively addressed: (1) How to represent and analyze heterogeneous source contents and application context for multimodal data recommendation? (2) How to predict and fulfill current and future needs as new information streams in without user intervention? (3) How to integrate disconnected data sources and learn relevant information to specific mission needs? (4) How to scale from processing petabytes of data to exabytes? (5) How to deal with uncertainties in open-world that stem from changes in data sources and user requirements?</p> <p><br></p> <p>This dissertation tackles these challenges by proposing novel frameworks, learning-based data integration and retrieval models, and algorithms to empower decision-makers to extract valuable insights from diverse multimodal data sources. The contributions of this dissertation can be summarized as follows: (1) We developed SKOD, a novel multimodal knowledge querying framework that overcomes the data representation, scalability, and data completeness issues while utilizing streaming brokers and RDBMS capabilities with entity-centric semantic features as an effective representation of content and context. Additionally, as part of the framework, a novel text attribute recognition model called HART was developed, which leveraged language models and syntactic properties of large unstructured texts. (2) In the SKOD framework, we incrementally proposed three different approaches for data integration of the disconnected sources from their semantic features to build a common knowledge base with the user information need: (i) EARS: A mediator approach using schema mapping of the semantic features and SQL joins was proposed to address scalability challenges in data integration; (ii) FemmIR: A data integration approach for more susceptible and flexible applications, that utilizes neural network-based graph matching techniques to learn coordinated graph representations of the data. It introduces a novel graph creation approach from the features and a novel similarity metric among data sources; (iii) WeSJem: This approach allows zero-shot similarity matching and data discovery by using contrastive learning<br> to embed data samples and query examples in a high-dimensional space using features as a novel source of supervision instead of relevance labels. (3) Finally, to manage uncertainties in multimodal data management for open-world environments, we characterized novelties in multimodal information retrieval based on data drift. Moreover, we proposed a novelty detection and adaptation technique as an augmentation to WeSJem.<br> </p> <p>The effectiveness of the proposed frameworks, models, and algorithms was demonstrated<br> through real-world system prototypes that solved open problems requiring large-scale human<br> endeavors and computational resources. Specifically, these prototypes assisted law enforcement officers in automating investigations and finding missing persons.<br> </p>