A Resource Based View of the Information Systems Sourcing Mode

This paper studies the relationships between the choice of a sourcing mode for information systems, the value of the resources used in systems development activities and the presence of those resources at sufficient level within the firm. The objective is to better understand the factors underlying the decision to keep the development of an information system inside the firm or to entrust it to an outside partner. A sourcing model is proposed using the resource-based theory. Two case studies drawn from a larger study are used to illustrate the concepts used in the research model. Data from these two projects illustrate how the model could be used to predict the sourcing mode retained by the managers for each project, given the availability of the necessary resources and the strategic value of the future system. Cette recherche tente de mesurer le lien entre le mode de gestion d'une activité (gestion interne ou impartition) et la valeur de l'activité d'une part, et la présence des ressources requises dans l'entreprise d'autre part. L'objectif est de mieux comprendre les facteurs sous-jacents à une décision d'internalisation ou d'impartition d'une activité. Deux cas sont présentés. Ces cas traitent de développement de systèmes informatiques. Ils permettent d'illustrer le pouvoir explicatif du modèle. Les données illustrent bien comment le modèle proposé peut être utilisé pour prédire le mode de gestion approprié d'une activité de développement de systèmes informatique.Resource-based theory, software development, outsourcing, management of software development projects, Théorie fondée sur les compétences, développement de logiciels, impartition, gestion de projets de développement de systèmes

A Resource-Based Analysis of Outsourcing: Evidence from Case Studies

The central role that information technology plays in the management of companies, the massive investments that are required, and a preoccupation for rationalization explain in good part the renewed interest in the strategies used for information systems sourcing. In-house provision is often seen as the best way to provide an organization with IT services that are well adapted to support its business activities while preserving its trademark processes and know-how. On the other hand, critics argue that a better solution is to outsource those IT activities to specialists, thus permitting the company to focus on its core business. The choice of a sourcing mode has an impact on the ability of the firm to implement its systems and ultimately to compete in its field of business. In order to better understand under what conditions a firm should choose one sourcing mode over another, we argue that it is necessary to analyze the interactions between a firm's competencies and the strategic value of those competencies. This is investigated using evidence from 21 information system projects. The0501n findings were that the best predictor of success and failure, by far, is the fit between the governance mode and the position of the project in the value/availability matrix. Another interesting finding is that no sourcing mode per se seems to lead to successful outcomes. It is always a matter of selecting the appropriate mode for each situation. De plus en plus, les technologies de l'information sont au centre des préoccupations des gestionnaires. Elles commandent des investissements massifs et peuvent être gérées de diverses manières. Traditionnellement, une gestion interne était favorisée pour fournir à l'organisation des services sur mesure et pour protéger des pratiques uniques, permettant à l'organisation de se différencier. Les détracteurs de cette approche soutiennent que l'impartition est un meilleur choix. L'impartition permet à la firme de se concentrer sur ses compétences de bases tout en lui donnant accès à des spécialistes de pointe. Pour mieux comprendre le lien entre les compétences de la firme et l'impartition, 21 projets sont étudiés. Les résultats indiquent que le meilleur prédicteur de succès est l'adéquation entre le mode de gestion et le profil de compétences de la firme.Outsourcing of IT, resource-based theory, IT resources, Impartition, approche centrée sur les resources, étude de cas

A Resource-Based Analysis of IT Oursourcing

This paper studies the relationships between the choice of a sourcing mode for information systems, the value of the resources used in systems development activities and the presence of those resources at sufficient level within the firm. The objective is to better understand the factors underlying the decision to keep the development of an information system inside the firm or to entrust it to an outside partner. A sourcing model is proposed using the resource-based theory. A case study is used to illustrate the concepts used in the research model. Data from this case illustrate how the model could be used to predict the appropriate sourcing mode, given the availability of the necessary resources and their strategic value. Ce document étudie les liens entre le choix d'un mode de gestion (interne ou impartition) et la valeur stratégique des ressources utilisées pour la conduite de l'activité évaluée. Les éléments de base de l'approche des ressources sont présentés et un modèle d'approvisionnement est dérivé de cette approche. Un cas est utilisé pour illustrer les concepts.Resource-based theory, software development, outsourcing, management of software development projects, Théorie fondée sur les compétences, développement de logiciels, impartition, gestion de projets de développement de systèmes

The bryoflora of Fernando de Noronha, Brasil

Twenty-two species of bryophytes are reported from Fernando de Noronha. One of these, Fissidens veracruzensis Pursell, has not been reported previously from Brasil

Biodiversidade de espécies arbóreas do sub-bosque de reflorestamentos no Brasil

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar diversidade de espécies arbustivo-arbóreas que ocorrem no sub-bosque de plantios comerciais de Eucalyptus spp e Pinus spp no Brasil por meio da revisão de 40 trabalhos científicos. Ao todo foram identificadas 79 famílias, 294 gêneros e 761 espécies nativas. As cinco espécies de maior ocorrência foram: Casearia sylvestris (Sw.); Copaifera langsdorffii (Desf.); Zanthoxylum rhoifolium (Lam.); Siparuna guianensis (Aubl.); Piptadenia gonoacantha (Mart.) Macbr. De todas as espécies relacionadas somente 20% são pioneiras. Das espécies encontradas nesse ambiente, 233 ocorrem somente no bioma mata atlântica e 108 somente em fisionomias do bioma cerrado. As demais espécies ocorrem em ambos os biomas. A forma de dispersão de sementes predominante é a zoocoria, onde 62% das espécies apresentam essa característica. Das espécies arbóreas encontradas nos sub-bosque de Eucalyptus cerca de 130 espécies não foram encontrados em outros dois estudos que revisaram centenas de trabalhos de espécies arbóreas com ocorrência em mata ciliar e vegetação de cerrado em grande parte do Brasil. Desenvolvendo-se sob a copa do plantio de Eucalyptus spp foram encontradas 38 espécies com algum grau de ameaça de extinção. Apesar da carência de trabalhos e do pequeno tamanho dos fragmentos estudados, a biodiversidade de espécies nativas arbóreas e arbustivas encontradas é relevante e qualifica esse tipo de fragmento florestal como útil para o surgimento, desenvolvimento e manutenção de espécies florestais nativas

Selective loss of myelin-associated glycoprotein from myelin correlates with anti-MAG antibody titre in demyelinating paraproteinaemic polyneuropathy

Summary The IgM monoclonal autoantibodies of patients with demyelinating paraproteinaemic polyneuropathy recognize a carbohydrate structure present on both myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and protein zero (Po). These autoantibodies are sufficient to cause the disease but the mechanism of demyelination remains unclear. We have analysed nerve biopsies from eight patients with polyneuropathy and anti-MAG antibodies by quantitative immunohistochemistry and find a concordant pattern of reduced expression of myelin markers with the loss of myelinated fibres. We report here novel features of this disease, in particular a selective lack of detectable MAG in a large proportion of myelinated fibres containing Po, myelin basic protein (MBP) and periaxin. There is also an inverse correlation of the distribution of MAG in peripheral never myelin with the serum anti-MAG antibody titres but no correlation of these titres with the loss of myelinated fibres. Double immunofluorescence staining of paraproteinaemic polyneuropathy (PPN) nerves shows anti-MAG IgM deposited on the periphery of myelinated fibres associated with or lacking MAG staining. These data suggest that the binding of anti-MAG antibodies to MAG and/or other myelin component(s) results in MAG downregulation and may have an essential role in the molecular mechanisms leading to demyelination and partial regeneration in this diseas

Proteopathogen, a protein database to study host-pathogen interaction

Comunicaciones a congreso

Transpiration in mango using Granier method

Objetivou-se, com esse trabalho avaliar o método Granier (sonda de dissipação térmica) para a cultura da manga quanto à viabilidade de uso em condições de campo e ajustar a equação de determinação do fluxo de seiva com base em medidas lisimétricas, iniciando-se com três mudas da variedade Tommy Atkins, plantadas em vasos que, colocados sobre plataforma de pesagem, funcionaram como lisímetros. A área condutora do caule (AS) foi determinada por meio da aplicação de corantes. Medidas de transpiração por lisimetria nas plantas foram realizadas em vaso e estimativas do fluxo de seiva com sonda de dissipação térmica (SDT). Em um ramo de planta adulta foram instaladas uma sonda de dissipação térmica e um sensor de balanço de calor caulinar. Os resultados demonstraram que, usando os coeficientes originais da equação de Granier, o método subestima em 31% o fluxo de seiva (FS) diário em relação à transpiração medida pelos lisímetros; modificando os parâmetros empíricos da equação FS = 0,00017k1,231AS o desvio médio apresentado foi de -1,4%, com boa precisão (R² = 0,89). O método da SDT e balanço de calor caulinar apresentaram boa concordância entre os valores.The purpose of this study was to evaluate Granier's method (heat dissipation probe) for mango crop and to determine the viability of its use under field conditions and to adjust the equation of sap flow (SF) on the basis of lysimeter measurements. The work started with three seedlings of the variety Tommy Atkins cultivated in recipients that were placed on a weighing platforms which functioned as lysimeters. The sapwood area (SA) was determined through pigment application. Transpiration measurement by lysimeter were conducted in recipients and sap flow estimates with heat dissipation probe (HDP). This probe and a stem heat balance sensor were installed in one branch of the adult plant. The results showed that, using original coefficients of Granier's equation, the method underestimated sap flow by 31% daily in relation to the transpiration. Modifying empirical parameters of equation FS = 0,00017k1,231AS, the mean error was of -1.4% with good precision (R² = 0.89). HDP and stem heat balance method showed good agreement

Uveíte, Sífilis e SIDA

Os autores apresentam o caso clínico de um homem de 55 anos com antecedentes de sífilis primária na juventude e quatro reinfecções posteriores, a última das quais há dois anos, adequadamente tratada e com remissão do quadro. Observado em consulta externa de Oftalmologia, por olho vermelho, foi-lhe diagnosticada pan-uveíte, com íris de características sifilíticas (roséola sifilítica). Na sua avaliação laboratorial salientaram-se: Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) positivo, Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorbed Test (FTA-ABS) positivo, Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH-1) positivo. Internado no Serviço de Medicina, foi submetido a punção lombar, tendo a análise do liquor revelado pleocitose, proteinorraquia aumentada, VDRL negativo, Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay (TPHA) positivo e FTA/ABS positivo, aspectos estes compatíveis com envolvimento sifilítico do SNC. O diagnóstico de neurosífilis assintomática nos doentes duplamente infectados é difícil e complexo, pois fundamenta-se em testes serológicos que não obedecem ao padrão habitual. A terapêutica é controversa, devido à recorrência dos quadros neurológicos após terapêuticas consideradas adequadas, sendo recomendada vigilância apertada destes doentes