In early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenic mutations have been found in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene and in the presenilin (PS)-1 and PS-2 genes. We screened for mutations in these genes in 20 patients with familial AD from the Finnish population. In addition, we sampled 41 sporadic AD patients and 59 controls to test for mutations identified in our familial AD cases. We detected an A-to-G transition in the PS-1 gene, resulting in a glutamic acid (Glu)-to-glycine (Gly) substitution at codon 318 in 2 familial and 2 sporadic AD patients. The Glu318Gly mutation has previously been reported to cause AD. We also found the Glu318Gly mutation in 4 healthy aged controls (range, 74-87 years). We thus conclude that the mutation is most likely a rare polymorphism not related to AD.

We argue that the currently dominant methods in Information Systems are not satisfactory for emancipatory research and development whose starting point is work. Activity theory was proposed as such an emancipatory research-cumdevelopment approach in IS a decade ago. However, the potential identified in the theory has not fully materialized. As our own contribution toward making activity theory more operational in IS, we present an elaborated framework, ActAD, and review our experience in applying it to descriptive research, practical analysis, and constructive research. We claim that in order to fully unleash the potential of activity theory, activity-based methods should be developed further for IS requirements analysis projects and IS implementation projects, as well as for facilitating software development. The most appropriate way of developing such applied methods is through collaborative action Ever since the Manchester conference on Information Systems research methods in 1984, the international research community has recognized that a diversity of research approaches or philosophies exists within IS. According to Orlikowski and Baroudi (1991), three broad categories are commonly identified: positivist, interpretive, and critical. In this paper, we take the last mentioned, emancipatory or developmental standpoint (i.e., we are not only interested in understanding information systems within organizations, but also in developing "better" information systems). What, then, does better mean? What criteria should good information systems meet?Different theorists in different times have named different factors as the most important, distinctive aspects of information systems. The very term information system implies that information is what it all comes down to. Those who share this view delve into information flows and entity-relationship models, regardless of the technology and purpose of information processing. Others underline technology, usually equating it with computers, and particularly equating information systems with software systems. Those with cybernetic backgrounds emphasize the term system, searching only for systemic entities and ignoring how bits and pieces of information and communication technology (ICT) are used in organizations. Researchers applying Habermas stress the communication aspects of information systems, viewing them as language games. In the very title of IFIP WG 8.2, social and organizational aspects of information systems are emphasized, with the view that the term information system refers to the organizational processes and resources of information management. Finally, the human or individual actors of information systems are pointed out as the starting point much too seldom.In our mind, all these aspects-information, technology, system, communication, organization and the individual-are important factors, but still only elements. None of these viewpoints sufficiently explains the purpose for which information systems exist.Our starting point is that purposeful work is the pro...

The Service Engineering (SE) is understood as a framework to create innovative services in application development of information technology approach to Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Implementing SOA is required methodology to identify services that can be used again in the application and organization of a company. in this research, software development model used is object-oriented methodologies, SOA itself is a collection consisting of tools, technologies, frameworks, and best practices that facilitate the implementation of a service quickly. in a study this uses the tools of Business Process Management System (BPMS) to support the implementation of service-oriented software. the purpose of this study is to produce a model of activities and artifacts of the application software development models of the SE with a case study Rate Loans. Validation to the design of the model is done through testing of the software produced. The results showed that the application of the SE in the development of service-oriented software can use the object-oriented methodology by providing additional value-added analysis and redesign of business processes to be implemented on a BPMS. BPMS usage of the application of the SE on the SOA has the advantage of visualization in the management of business processes. Abstrak. Service Engineering (SE) dipahami sebagai framework untuk menciptakan inovasi service dalam pengembangan aplikasi Teknologi Informasi melalui pendekatan Service Oriented Architecture (SOA). Dalam mengimplementasi SOA diperlukan metodologi untuk mengidentifikasi service yang dapat dipergunakan kembali dalam aplikasi dan organisasi suatu perusahaan. Pada penelitian ini model pengembangan perangkat lunak yang digunakan adalah metodologi berorientasi objek. SOA sendiri merupakan sebuah kumpulan yang terdiri atas tools, teknologi, framework, dan best practice yang memudahkan implementasi sebuah service secara cepat. Dalam penelitian ini, digunakan alat bantu Business Process Management System (BPMS) untuk menunjang implementasi perangkat lunak berorientasi service. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menghasilkan model aktifitas dan artifak dari penerapan model pengembangan perangkat lunak dari SE dengan studi kasus Penilaian Pinjaman. Validasi terhadap rancangan model dilakukan melalui pengujian terhadap perangkat lunak yang dihasilkan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan SE dalam pengembangan perangkat lunak berorientasi service dapat menggunakan metodologi berorientasi objek dengan melakukan penambahan analisis value added dan perancangan ulang proses bisnis untuk dapat diimplementasikan pada BPMS. Penggunaan BPMS dari penerapan SE pada SOA memiliki keunggulan dalam visualisasi dalam pengelolaan proses bisnis. Kata kunci: SE, SOA, BPMS

IT service providers need a systematic problem management model to handle problems in IT services effectively. However, many IT organizations have difficulties in establishing a problem management model that is suitable for a service-oriented business. This is due to complex IT service management standards that include a large number of new concepts, which partly overlap whith those of traditional software engineering. In this paper, we propose a conceptual model which clarifies the concepts within IT service problem management, and connects these concepts to traditional software engineering tasks, such as testing and defect management. A design pattern is used to document our model. This study has been carried out in co-operation with IT companies and their customers in the electricity domain in Finland.

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