Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This paper seeks to analyze the command and control issues arising from the advent of NCW. It aims to contribute to a practical understanding of the concept and an implementation approach for NCW by attempting to provide an analytical framework, the various options/models, and considerations across the spectrum of NCW issues. While information superiority is not a new concept, the blazing speed of advancement in information technologies has brought about dramatic changes to our lifestyles and profound changes in the conduct of modern warfare. This led to the birth of Network Centric Warfare (NCW). NCW offers great opportunities to dramatically enhance combat prowess by exploiting shared situational awareness, increased speed of command, improved systems' lethality and survivability, and greater flexibility achieved through self synchronization. However, these revolutionary changes do not depend on technology alone. In order to achieve the full promise of NCW, the entire span of elements ranging from organization, doctrine, and operational concepts to training must co-evolve. The success of NCW is dependent on aligning the organization's commitment, resources and efforts, fostering a learning and innovative culture, constructing a seamless, robust and secure infostructure, and establishing measures of effectiveness of C2. The journey to NCW is not a linear process, but rather a spiral developmental process. Continued evolution and efforts are required to shape and deliver the enhanced combat capability as the apex of maturity of the spiraling cone. / Lieutenant Colonel, Republic of Singapore Air Force

The nature of warfare has changed dramatically during the last decade. Western armies are increasingly required to conduct complex operations in urban terrain against asymmetric threats. These opponents use cities and their inhabitants for cover and concealment. In such situations, modern equipped armies often cannot fully utilize many of their most powerful weapons. To overcome this situation, modern communication systems are being acquired and deployed to provide real-time reconnaissance; thereby, attempting to neutralize the threat through enhanced situational awareness. This research addresses the potential impacts of communication from airborne sensors on assisting a convoy in finding its way through a hostile city quarter (based on Mazar-E-Sharif, Afghanistan) in which militia forces try to interdict them via street blockades and ambushes. The implementation is done in the agent-based simulation Map Aware Non-Uniform Automata (MANA). The results show that the current MANA version is not sufficiently capable to handle routing problems in urban terrain. Specifically, the movement algorithm is â locally greedyâ and not flexible enough to project into the futureâ as real human decision makers do. Many workarounds were developed to mitigate this limitation. The analysis shows that the number of blockades is the single most important factor in determining the convoyâ s success. Of the communication factors, network latency has the most impact. For the convoy to effectively use the information, it needs to get from the sensor to the convoy in 11 seconds.

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / The purpose of the research case study was to assess the current state of alignment of business processes to Provincial Strategic Goals (PSGs) and services in the Provincial Government and to identify the way to align business processes to PSGs and services for an effective e-government implementation. Existing literatures were reviewed in order to identify relevant models to achieve the purpose of the research case study. An empirical research case study and comparative approach were used in order to identify suitable models, by means of strengths and weaknesses of the identified models and discussed. A qualitative research design and methodology was applied while assessing existing models from various literatures. A model to identify the current state of business processes was identified by the researcher and tested to assess the current state of business processes in the Provincial Government in question. There was no existing model to assess the alignment of business processes to Provincial Strategic Goals and services. Alignment elements that were cited by various literatures were used by the researcher to design and propose a Business Process Alignment Model (BPAM). The BPAM was tested and accepted by the Provincial Government where the study was conducted. The research case study predominantly used a qualitative research design and method. The quantitative illustrative approach was applied only to validate the proposed model that was designed by the researcher. A questionnaire was used to conduct interviews with research participants that were selected within the Provincial Government in question. It should further be noted that a quantitative approach was used to illustrate some findings that were analysed by the researcher. Results confirmed that the current state of business processes within the Provincial Government in question was still at level two (repeatable state). Yet the alignment of business processes to Provincial Strategic Goals and services did not exist; this alignment was assessed using the proposed BPAM which was designed by the researcher during this research case study. The effectiveness of e-government services is dependent on proper alignment of business processes and the maturity level of business processes across the organisation. Without proper alignment of business processes, it is a challenge for the public sector organisations to realise effective e-government implementation, not excluding other factors that have been identified by other literatures. This research case study will contribute to the current body of knowledge regarding effective e-government implementation, particularly in the public sector at Provincial level. Public sector organisations in South Africa could leverage on this work to address issues associated with business process alignment.

Os tratamentos da oclusão levaram à escolha da relação cêntrica (RC) como posição de referência devido à sua reprodutibilidade, o que favorece maior precisão do diagnóstico. As interferências oclusais e os conseqüentes deslocamentos condilares entre as posições mandibulares de RC e a máxima intercuspidação habitual (MIH) têm sido revelados como parte dos fatores etiológicos das disfunções temporomandibulares. Na tentativa de melhor esclarecer o papel dos deslocamentos condilares dentro do contexto da oclusão, morfológica e funcional, como fator de risco no desenvolvimento da DTM, este estudo transversal prospectivo propôs-se a avaliar os referidos deslocamentos. A amostra foi composta por 70 participantes, não desprogramados, divididos em grupo sintomático, segundo o critério RDC/TMD, e grupo assintomático. Para avaliação dos participantes, empregaram-se modelos de gesso montados em articulador Panadent. Foram obtidos registros de cera em MIH e RC, sendo este último obediente à técnica power centric (Roth). As diferenças entre as duas posições foram medidas nos três planos do espaço, em gráficos correspondentes aos lados direito, esquerdo e transversal, avaliadas quanto à magnitude e direção e comparadas quanto à sintomatologia e o gênero pela análise de variância. A possível correlação quanto à direção do deslocamento foi avaliada pelo teste qui-quadrado de homogeneidade. Para verificar a reprodutibilidade das medidas intra e interobservador foram calculadas correlações intraclasses e índice de Dahlberg. Os resultados mostraram repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade das medidas condilares. Nos indivíduos com DTM, os deslocamentos em valores médios absolutos no plano vertical foram de 1,48 mm do lado direito (IPC vert D) e de 1,72mm do lado esquerdo (IPC vert E). No plano horizontal foram de 0,63 mm do lado direito (IPC hor D) e de 0,64 mm do lado esquerdo (IPC hor E). No plano transversal (IPC trans) o valor médio do deslocamento foi de 0,41 mm. Os valores médios absolutos dos deslocamentos condilares em indivíduos assintomáticos foram de 1,22 mm no plano vertical do lado direito (IPC vert D) e 1,30 mm do lado esquerdo (IPC vert E). No plano horizontal do lado direito (IPC hor D), os valores médios foram de 0,63 mm e do lado esquerdo (IPC hor E) 0,63 mm. No plano transversal, o valor médio do deslocamento foi de 0,23 mm (IPC trans). Na comparação entre os grupos assintomático e sintomático, constatou-se que este último apresentou valores maiores quanto ao deslocamento vertical do lado esquerdo (E) (p=0,039) e no sentido transversal (p=0,015). Observou-se também nesse grupo maior prevalência de deslocamento no sentido distal quando comparado ao grupo assintomático. Na associação entre a sintomatologia e a direção de deslocamento, verificou-se que o deslocamento condilar horizontal direito apresentou associação estatística com a sintomatologia (p=0,015). Não foram encontradas diferenças relativas à sintomatologia quanto ao gênero. O primeiro ponto de contato em RC mostrou-se localizado em sua grande maioria no segundo molar permanente, tanto no grupo sintomático (94,2%) quanto no assintomático (91,4%). / Centric relation (CR) is considered a reference position in the treatment of occlusion due to its reproducibility, thus favoring accuracy of diagnosis. Occlusal interference and consequent condylar displacement between CR and CO (centric occlusionmaxim intercuspation) have been revealed as part of the etiologic factors of temporomandibular dysfunction. In an attempt to better understand the role of condylar displacement in the context of morphologic and functional occlusion as a risk factor in TMD development, this transverse prospective study intends to evaluate the referred displacement. The sample was composed of 70 participants, not deprogrammed, divided into a symptomatic group, according to RDC/TMD criteria, and another, asymptomatic. From each subject, a wax registration in CO and CR was taken, the latter obeying the power centric technique (Roth). Cast models were mounted on a Panadent. articulator. Condylar displacement between CO and CR on three-spatial planes was measured on graphs corresponding to right, left and transverse sides, and appraised for magnitude and direction, determined by condilar position indicator instrumentation (Panadent-CPI). Analysis of variance test was used for symptom and gender comparison. The possible correlation for displacement direction and TMD was evaluated by the qui-square test of homogeneity. Inter and intraoperator reproducibility measurement error and reliability were calculated by intra-class correlations and the Dahlberg index. Low error showed high reliability and reproducibility. In TMD individuals, absolute mean values of condylar displacements in the vertical plane were 1, 48 mm on the right side (CPI vert R) and 1,72mm on the left side (CPI vert L). In the horizontal plane were 0,63mm on the right side (CPI hor R), and 0,64mm on the left (CPI hor L). In the traverse plane (IPC trans), mean value of displacement was 0,41mm. The absolute mean value of condylar displacement in asymptomatic individuals was 1,22 mm in the vertical plane on the right side (CPI vert R), and 1,30mm on the left side (CPI vert L). In the horizontal plane on the right side (CPI hor R) were 0,63mm and on the left side (CPI hor L), 0,63mm. In the tranverse plane (CPI trans) the mean value was of 0,23mm. Comparing asymptomatic and symptomatic groups it was verified that the latter presented larger values in vertical displacement on the left side (p=0,039) and in the transverse plane (p=0,015). In this group, larger displacement prevalence was also observed in distal direction when compared to the asymptomatic group. In the association between symptoms and displacement direction, it was verified that horizontal condilar displacement of the right side presented statistical association (p = 0,015). It was noted that, three-dimensional condylar displacement was found in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. No correlation was found between patient gender and the presence of TMD symptoms. The initial premature contact in CR was detected, in most of the cases, on the second permanent molar, in both symptomatic (94,2%) and asymptomatic (91,4%) group.

A avaliação de modelos em gesso das arcadas dentárias montados em articulador na posição de RC (relação cêntrica), revela importantes detalhes muitas vezes não observados nos modelos de estudo ortodônticos tradicionais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar possíveis diferenças entre RC e MIH (máxima intercuspidação habitual), em grupos sintomático e assintomático, avaliando-se as seguintes características oclusais: sobremordida, sobressaliência, desvio de linha média dentária inferior, classificação de Angle para molares e de caninos. A amostra foi composta por 77 participantes, de 19 a 30 anos, não desprogramados, divididos em um grupo sintomático, sendo 15 do gênero masculino e 20 do feminino, com média de idade de 22,8 anos, e outro, assintomático, de 42 indivíduos sendo 18 do gênero masculino e 24 do feminino, com média de idade de 23,6 anos. Todos os participantes assinaram o Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido (n.82/05) aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da FOUSP e foram submetidos a anamnese, exame clínico, exame de palpação muscular e das ATM. O grupo sintomático foi caracterizado por sinais e sintomas de disfunção temporomandibular (DTM) de origem muscular, segundo Critérios Diagnósticos de Pesquisa em Distúrbio Temporomandibular (Dworkin e LeResche, 1992). Foram considerados assintomáticos indivíduos que apresentaram ausência de sinais e sintomas de DTM. Foram obtidos os registros de RC, de MIH e modelos superiores e inferiores em gesso, que foram montados em articulador semi-ajustável com registros de RC obtidos de acordo com a técnica power centric de Roth modificada. Para medições confiáveis, foi desenvolvido instrumento que manteve o plano oclusal inferior como referência nas duas posições avaliadas. Para a análise estatística foram utilizados os testes ANOVA, ANOVA com medidas repetidas, Qui-Quadrado com correção de continuidade e teste não-paramétrico de McNemar-Bowker para dados pareados. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre RC e MIH em todas as variáveis examinadas, tanto no grupo sintomático como no assintomático, porém não foram encontradas diferenças entre os grupos. Foi observada sobressaliência significantemente maior (p<0,001), sobremordida significantemente menor (p<0,001) e desvio de linha média inferior maior (0,047) em RC que em MIH. O maior percentual de relação de Angle em MIH foi de Cl I, e em RC, de relação de Cl II, tanto para os caninos como para os molares. Foi observada associação significativa entre maior variação na sobremordida entre RC e MIH, e as mudanças da relação molar dos lados direito e relação de canino do lado esquerdo, com sobremordida maior em MIH. Foi encontrada associação significativa entre maior variação entre RC e MIH com sobressaliência maior em RC, com as variações da relação de canino do lado esquerdo. Observou-se também, associação significativa entre a alteração da relação molar do lado D, com maior desvio de linha média inferior em RC. Confirmou-se neste estudo que as maloclusões analisadas em RC são diferentes daquelas examinadas em MIH, o que pode modificar o diagnóstico e o plano de tratamento ortodônticos. / The evaluation of mounted models assembled in articulator on CR ( centric relation) position reveals important details that are often not observed in traditional orthodontic study dental casts. The objective of this study was to observe differences between CR and MIC (maximum intercuspation), evaluating the following occlusal characteristics: overbite, overjet, , inferior dental midline deviation, molar and canine Angles classification. The sample comprised 77 individuals, from 19 to 30 years old, divided into two groups: the symptomatic group (n=35) (mean age: 22.8 years, 15 men and 20 women) and the asymptomatic group (n=42) (mean age: 23.6 years, 18 men and 24 women). All individuals signed an informed consent agreeing with research procedures. Approval for the procedures of this research was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo (Project Number 82/05). Based on data collected during anamnesis and clinical examination, the subjects were divided in two groups a symptomatic and an asymptomatic in accordance to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD). From each subject, CR and MIC bite registrations were obtained. Models were mounted on an articulator, using CR records obtained by modified Roths power centric technique. For reliable measurements, an instrument was developed in order to maintain the inferior occlusal plane as a reference. ANOVA method, ANOVA method with repeated measurements, Chi-squared test with a continuity correction and non-parametric McNemar-Bowker test for two-related-samples were used for statistical analysis. A significantly greater overjet (p<0.001), a significantly less overbite (p<0.001), and a greater inferior midline deviation were observed (0.047) in CR compared with MIC. Significant differences between CR and MIC were also found for the Angle\'s classification of canines and molars. Class I was more prevalent in MIC and Class II was more prevalent in CR. A significant association was observed between the overbite differences between CR and MIC - greatest overbite in MIC - with the molars relation changes on the right sides (p=0.007), and with the canines relation changes on the left side (p=0.043). A significant association was found that linked ovejet differences between CR and MIC - greatest overjet in CR - with canine relation changes on the left side (p=0.003). A significant association was also observed between the inferior midline deviation differences - greatest inferior midline deviation in CR - with molars relation changes on the right side (p=0.026). There were not found differences between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups for the variables studied. It is concluded that occlusal characteristics observed in CR were significantly different from those observed in MIC in symptomatic as well as in asymptomatic individuals, which may change the diagnosis and orthodontic treatment plan.

Este trabalho propõe uma discussão em torno dos impactos da digitalização sobre sistemas militares de comando e controle. A hipótese central é que o emprego intensivo de tecnologias digitais está associado a um maior risco de sobrecarga informacional nesses sistemas. Isso se aplica em especial às forças militares que adotaram doutrinas de viés tecnocrático, como a guerra centrada em redes. No primeiro capítulo, discutimos o contexto no qual nosso tema de pesquisa se insere, fazendo uma breve retrospectiva do processo de digitalização e também definindo alguns conceitos-chave. No segundo capítulo, em formato de artigo, apresentamos o modelo computacional que foi desenvolvido para simular o funcionamento de um sistema de comando e controle sob a condição de sobrecarga informacional. O artigo também reúne uma revisão crítica das abordagens sobre comando e controle, com ênfase na literatura sobre guerra centrada em redes. O terceiro e último capítulo traz algumas conclusões sobre o emprego da modelagem computacional como metodologia de pesquisa e o estado atual do debate sobre guerra centrada e redes. / This work proposes a discussion on the impacts of digitization over military command and control systems. The central hypothesis is that the intensive deployment of digital technologies is associated to a greater risk of informational overload in those systems. This applies especially to military forces that have adopted doctrines with a technocratic bias, such as the network-centric warfare. In the first chapter, we discuss the context that encompass our research topic, making a brief retrospective of the process of digitization and defining some key concepts. In the second chapter, in form of article, we present the computational model developed for simulating the operation of a command and control system under the condition of informational overload. The article also contains a critical review on the command and control approaches, with emphasis on the literature about network-centric warfare. The third and last chapter brings out some conclusions regarding the use of computational modeling as a research method and the current state of the debate on network-centric warfare.

Certains programmes doivent fonctionner en continu et ne peuvent pas être interrompus en cas de dysfonctionnement. C'est par exemple le cas de drones en mission, de satellites et de certains objets connectés. Pour de telles applications, le défi est d’identifier les problèmes et de les corriger pendant l'exécution du programme. De plus, dans le contexte des systèmes à objets, il peut être nécessaire d’observer et d’instrumenter individuellement le comportement de certains objets particuliers. Dans cette thèse, nous proposons une solution d’adaptation dynamique de comportement permettant de déverminer individuellement les objets d'un programme en cours d'exécution. Cette solution est présentée sous la forme d’un patron applicable aux langages objets à typage dynamique. Ce patron permet d'implanter de façon minimale et générique des capacités additionnelles d’adaptation dynamique à granularité objet. Une mise en oeuvre de ce patron pour un langage de programmation particulier permet d'instrumenter dynamiquement un programme pour collecter des objets spécifiques et d'adapter leur comportement pendant l’exécution. Nous expérimentons notre patron par des mises en oeuvre en Pharo et en Python. Des dévermineurs dédiés à la mise au point de programmes en cours d’exécution sont mis en oeuvre pour ces deux langages objet. Ces outils sont évalués pour des cas de déverminage concrets : pour une simulation de drones, pour des applications connectées déployées sur des systèmes cyber-physiques distants, pour un serveur de discussion en ligne ainsi que sur un défaut en production d’un logiciel de génération de documents. / Some programs must run continuously and cannot be interrupted in the event of a malfunction.This is, for example, the case of drones, satellites and some internet-of-things applications. For such applications, the challenge is to identify and fix problems while the program is still running. Moreover, in the context of object-oriented Systems, it may be necessary to observe and instrument the behavior of very specifie objects.In this thesis, we propose a method to adapt object behavior in a running program. This solution is presented as a pattern applicable to dynamically typed object-oriented languages. This pattern makes it possible to implement, in a minimal and generic way, additional debugging capabilities at the level of objects. An implementation of this pattern for a particular programming language makes it possible to dynamically instrument a program, by collecting specifie objects and adapting their behavior during run-time. We experiment this pattern in Pharo and Python implementations with dedicated debuggers for each language.These tools are evaluated on typical debugging case studies: a simulation of drones, connected applications deployed on remote cyber-physical Systems, an online discussion server and a debugging session to fix a defect in a production software.

Redes Orientadas a Conteúdo (Information-Centric Networks, ICN) são um novo paradigma de comunicação criado para aproximar as infraestruturas de rede às necessidades de sistemas de distribuição de conteúdo. ICN utiliza mecanismos de roteamento e cache projetados para atender requisições por objetos de dados unicamente identificados e desassociados de um localizador fixo. Até o momento, pesquisas sobre ICN focaram principalmente na avaliação de aspectos arquiteturais, tais como o desempenho de diferentes esquemas de roteamento e cache. Entretanto, o método aplicado para distribuir dados utilizando o conceito de objetos também pode impactar a comunicação em uma ICN. Esta tese explora um modelo que permite a distribuição de um conteúdo através de múltiplos objetos de dados. Emprega-se o conceito de relações, definidas como elos entre dois objetos indicando que os dados de um complementam de alguma forma os dados do outro. Tal modelo baseado em relações permite que clientes identifiquem e recuperem os objetos necessários para a reconstrução do conteúdo. Ele é agnóstico ao formato de dados das aplicações, suporta diferentes estruturas de relações e é retrocompatível com especificações atuais de arquiteturas ICN. Também discute-se os principais aspectos de projeto relativos à implementação do modelo na arquitetura NDN. Para avaliar o impacto de relações no desempenho da rede e aplicações, foi realizada uma série de experimentos com dois estudos de caso baseados em cenários relevantes da Internet atual, sendo eles: conteúdo multimídia e páginasWeb. O estudo de caso sobre conteúdo multimídia explora um cenário favorável, no qual relações apresentam uma sobrecarga negligível em contraste ao grande volume de dados dos conteúdos. Os resultados deste estudo de caso mostram que, em comparação com a implementação padrão do NDN, o uso de relações pode reduzir os tempos de download em 34% e o tráfego de rede em 43%. Por sua vez, o estudo de caso sobre páginasWeb explora um cenário no qual relações geram um impacto não negligível na rede e aplicações. A análise deste cenário mostra que, mesmo com a sobrecarga adicional gerada pelas relações, o mecanismo pode reduzir, em média, o tempo de download dos clientes em 28% e o tráfego de rede em 34%. / Information-Centric Networking (ICN) is a communication paradigm created to align the network infrastructures to the needs of content distribution systems. ICN employs routing and caching mechanisms tailored to fulfill requests for uniquely identified data objects not associated to a fixed locator. So far, research about ICN focused primarily on evaluating architectural aspects, such as the performance of di erent routing and caching schemes. However, the method applied to distribute data using the concept of objects can also impact communications in an ICN. In this thesis, we explore a model that enables the distribution of contents as multiple data objects. We employ the concept of relations, defined as links between two objects indicating that the data from one complements in some way the data from the other. Our model based on relations enables clients to identify and retrieve the data pieces required to reconstruct a content. It is application agnostic, supports di erent relation structures, and is backward-compatible with current ICN specifications. We also discuss the main design aspects related to the implementation of the model in the Named Data Networking (NDN) architecture. To evaluate how relations impact network and application performance, we perform a series of experiments with two case studies based on relevant scenarios from the current Internet, namely: multimedia content and Web pages. The multimedia case study explores a favorable scenario in which relations present a negligible overhead in contrast to the high volume of content data. Results from this case study show that, compared to the standard NDN implementation, relations can reduce download times by 34% and network tra c by 43%. In turn, the Web pages case study explores a scenario in which relations generate a non-negligible impact on the network and applications. The analysis of this scenario shows that, even with the additional overhead incurred by relations, the mechanism can reduce on average 28% client download time, and 34%, global network tra c.

Este trabalho propõe uma análise de seis livros de contos do autor moçambicano Mia Couto, publicados no período de 1987 a 2004. Fazem parte do corpus as seguintes obras contísticas: Vozes Anoitecidas (1987), Cada Homem é Uma Raça (1990), Estórias Abensonhadas (1994), Contos do Nascer da Terra (1997), Na Berma de Nenhuma Estrada e outros contos (2001) e O Fio das Missangas (2004), ampliando a proposta também para três romances: Vinte e Zinco (1999), A Confissão da Leoa (2012) e Mulheres de Cinzas (2015). A seguinte premissa norteou o trabalho: a escrita como tema na obra do autor pode ser considerada como a porta de entrada para a palavra interdita? Optou-se por ter, como objeto de estudo, a interdição da voz, ou seja, desenvolver um enfoque a partir das personagens que utilizam a escrita para comunicação. O foco foi dado a partir do gênero epistolar (bilhetes, cartas e diários), mas abrindo para outros silenciamentos, como o caso das exiladas da razão. As cartas são objeto de argumentação; exposição da intimidade e documento de foro íntimo. Verificaram-se similitudes e diferenças entre a carta real e a ficcional; elas podem assumir múltiplas características, a saber: conciliadora dos laços familiares; diálogo, monólogo ou solilóquio; preenchimento da solidão; confissão do inconfessável, espaço de contestação, revelação de sentimentos e emoções. Podem ser cartas falsas, de apresentação, de elemento de primeiro contato verbal. Escrevem tanto os alfabetizados como os analfabetos, esses com ajuda de terceiros. As missivas podem ter um destinatário imediato ou direto ou mediato ou indireto; elas conjecturam um diálogo que supõe um remetente, a subjetividade direta (o eu que fala) e um destinatário – a marca de uma alteridade. Nas obras do autor moçambicano, a palavra escrita presentifica-se e é representada por aquele que escreve – o que domina a escrita, a letra. Porém, dominando-a, ela pode também ser questionada, subvertida. Evidenciou-se, neste contexto, por intermédio das obras expostas o silenciamento da voz feminina pela repressão suscitada por meio da instituição patriarcal, social e política. Dialogou-se com críticos literários e estudiosos da literatura africana de língua portuguesa, dentre os quais destacamos: Ana Mafalda Leite, Inocência Mata, Maria Fernanda Afonso, José Pires Laranjeira, Laura Cavalcante Padilha, entre outros. Também houve interlocução com intelectuais africanos como Chinua Achebe, Anthony Kwame Appiah, Nkolo Foé e Achille Mbembe e Franz Fanon, da Martinica. Para dar conta da análise das missivas empregamos Andrée Crabbé Rocha; Michel Foucault; Philippe Lejeune, Phillip Rothwell e Leonor Arfuch. Abordou-se a palavra escrita, porque é por intermédio dela que as personagens subvertem o silenciamento de suas vozes. / This work proposes an analysis of six short story books by the Mozambican author Mia Couto, published between 1987 to 2004. The following works are part of the corpus: Vozes Anoitecidas (1987), Cada Homem é Uma Raça (1990), Estórias Abensonhadas (1994), Contos do Nascer da Terra (1997), Na Berma de Nenhuma Estrada e outros contos (2001) e O Fio das Missangas (2004), extending the proposal also to three novels, namely Vinte e Zinco (1999), A Confissão da Leoa (2012) and Mulheres de Cinzas (2015). The following premise guided the work: can written word as a theme in the author's work be considered as the door to the word interdict? I choose as object of study, the interdiction of the voice, that is, to develop a focus from the characters that use the writing for communication. The focus was given from the epistolary genre (notes, letters and diaries), but increased to other silencers, such as the case of reason exiles. The letters are subject to argument; intimacy exhibition and intimate forum document. There were similarities and differences between real and fictional letters; they can assume multiple characteristics: reconciling family ties; dialogue, monologue or soliloquy; filling the loneliness; confession of the unconfessable, space of contestation, revelation of feelings and emotions. They may be false letters, of presentation, of first element of verbal contact. Both the literate and the illiterate write, this with the help of others. The missives may have an immediate or direct receiver either mediate or indirect receiver, they conjecture a dialogue that supposes a sender, direct subjectivity (the speaking self) and a receivers – the mark of an otherness. In the work of the Mozambican author, the written word presents itself and is represented by the one who writes – which dominates the writing, the letters. But by dominating it, it can also be questioned, subverted. In this context, through the works on display, the silence of the female voice was repressed through the patriarchal, social and political institution. Dialogue with literary critics and Luso-African Literature scholars, among wich we name: Ana Mafalda Leite, Inocência Mata, Maria Fernanda Afonso, José Pires Laranjeira, Laura Cavalcante Padilha, among others. There were also interlocution with African intellectuals such as Chinua Achebe, Anthony Kwame Appiah, Nkolo Foé, Achille Mbembe and Franz Fanon from Martinica. For the analyses of missives, are employed theories by Andrée Crabbé Rocha; Michel Foucault; Philippe Lejeune, Phillip Rothwell and Leonor Arfuch. The written word was approached, because it is through it that the characters subvert the silencing of their voices.

The evolution of mobile-phone technologies such as Smartphones Applications and Services enabled the emergence of digital and smart economies, governments and nations. Many developed and developing countries, like Oman, have considerably invested in the area of Smart Technologies, and initiated countless number of projects such as Smart Governments, also known as Mobile or M-Government, to provide timely, secure, satisfactory and high quality of services for the citizens, businesses and other governmental agencies. Although many scholars have investigated this area of interest with huge amount of efforts, the adoption and actual use of M-Government applications and services, remain problematic and face many challenges. In this area of interest, two major themes of research were reported in the literature: User-centred (i.e., Human-Computer Interaction perspective) and System-centred (i.e., Software Engineering perspective). The first theme remains a hot area of interest mainly due to the importance of the role of end-users in the adoption and success of the new technologies like M-Government. Therefore, this study attempted to develop and empirically validate a novel Mobile Government Adoption Model (titled: MGAM) within the culture of Oman. The MGAM model integrates a well-known theory in this domain, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), with other theories including Psychometric Paradigm Theory (PPT), Customer Culture Theory (CCT) and Personality Trait Theory (PTT) to identify key factors related to the end-users or citizens; those included their Perception of Risk, Culture and Personality Trait. The study adopted quantitative research with Survey method as a research strategy for data collection and quantitative methodology for data analysis. A new data collection instrument was developed for the purpose of this study and distributed through online facilities to collect data about the variables of the MGAM Model from Users in Oman using the M-Government applications and services. Around 450 samples (302 males and 148 females) were collected and considered for the purpose of data analysis in this study. Several statistical tools and means have been used to analyse the data and valuate the MGAM model including Descriptive and Inferential Statistic, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), Comparative Fit Index Analysis, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with Statistical Software Applications, SPSS and AMOS Applications. The study revealed that most of the users in Oman using M-Government applications and services were very positive about the Perceived Ease of Use and the Perceived Usefulness of the technology with very positive Attitude and Behavioural Intention towards this technology. The findings also showed that the research participants have a slightly negative Perception of Risk when using the M-Government applications and services in Oman, and positive perception of Culture in this domain. With reference to the MGAM Model, the model was tested and validated, and the findings indicated that the Personality Trait moderator can strengthen the link between Behavioural Intention and Actual Use of the technology. Based on the findings, the study provided key recommendations for the governmental personnel dealing with the development of M-Government applications and services in Oman, and for public users in Oman. Among those, the study recommends for considering this initiative in Oman as a real and strategic shift in public administration, and to make easy, flexible and dynamic M-Government applications and services through taking into account cultural issues and user-related preferences. The study also recommended offering more than a service in one visit by the users, providing information prior to services and training governmental employees on this technology. The main contribution of this work is the development and validation of a new adoption model in the area of M-Government, the MGAM model. Theoretically, the MGAM Model extends the TAM Model through the integration process with with other theories including PPT, CCT and PTT to identify new key factors with impact on the adoption of M-Government infrastructure. This work also makes a novel contribution in terms of research methodology by developing and applying a new data collection tool, i.e., Mobile Government Adoption Questionnaire. This tool can be used by other researchers to collect data on the same research problem from contexts similar to the Omani one. Practically, this work attempted to identify the key prerequisites for the adoption and actual use of technology in the area of public services administration, and then making contribution towards the success of M-Government initiatives. The use of different tests and methods to statistically understand how the Omani end-users make decisions on the use of M-Government is also a novel practical contribution of this work.