  We consider graded representations of the algebra NC of noncommutative
symmetric functions on the Z-linear span of a graded poset P. The matrix
coefficients of such a representation give a Hopf morphism from a Hopf algebra
HP generated by the intervals of P to the Hopf algebra of quasi-symmetric
functions. This provides a unified construction of quasi-symmetric generating
functions from different branches of algebraic combinatorics, and this
construction is useful for transferring techniques and ideas between these
branches. In particular we show that the (Hopf) algebra of Billera and Liu
related to Eulerian posets is dual to the peak (Hopf) algebra of Stembridge
related to enriched P-partitions, and connect this to the combinatorics of the
Schubert calculus for isotropic flag manifolds.
