XML Matchers: approaches and challenges

Schema Matching, i.e. the process of discovering semantic correspondences between concepts adopted in different data source schemas, has been a key topic in Database and Artificial Intelligence research areas for many years. In the past, it was largely investigated especially for classical database models (e.g., E/R schemas, relational databases, etc.). However, in the latest years, the widespread adoption of XML in the most disparate application fields pushed a growing number of researchers to design XML-specific Schema Matching approaches, called XML Matchers, aiming at finding semantic matchings between concepts defined in DTDs and XSDs. XML Matchers do not just take well-known techniques originally designed for other data models and apply them on DTDs/XSDs, but they exploit specific XML features (e.g., the hierarchical structure of a DTD/XSD) to improve the performance of the Schema Matching process. The design of XML Matchers is currently a well-established research area. The main goal of this paper is to provide a detailed description and classification of XML Matchers. We first describe to what extent the specificities of DTDs/XSDs impact on the Schema Matching task. Then we introduce a template, called XML Matcher Template, that describes the main components of an XML Matcher, their role and behavior. We illustrate how each of these components has been implemented in some popular XML Matchers. We consider our XML Matcher Template as the baseline for objectively comparing approaches that, at first glance, might appear as unrelated. The introduction of this template can be useful in the design of future XML Matchers. Finally, we analyze commercial tools implementing XML Matchers and introduce two challenging issues strictly related to this topic, namely XML source clustering and uncertainty management in XML Matchers.Comment: 34 pages, 8 tables, 7 figure

Histomorfometric study of the spleen of healthy and diabetic Wistar rats supplemented or not with vitamin C

O objetivo deste trabalho foi de analisar morfometricamente fragmentos histológicos do baço de animais normais e diabéticos, comparando os resultados encontrados e relacionando-os ao sexo e a suplementação da vitamina C. Foram utilizados 32 ratos Wistar, os quais foram analisados número de vasos, o número de folículos germinativos (polpa branca) e o diâmetro dos vasos de cada animal. As análises histológicas e morfometricas foram feitas em amostras de 5µm de espessura demonstrando que: na quantidade de folículos germinativos, observamos resultados comparando, independente do sexo, animais controles suplementados com vitamina C e controles não suplementados (p≤0,05; F=0,1452); na quantidade de vasos, observamos resultados comparando, fêmeas diabéticas suplementadas pela vitamina C e fêmeas diabéticas não suplementadas (pd"0,05; F=6.8893); e no diâmetro dos vasos, observamos resultados comparando fêmeas, tanto no grupo controle quanto ao grupo diabético, suplementadas pela vitamina C quando comparadas às fêmeas não suplementadas pela vitamina C (p<0,05; U=121.50; Z(U)=2.1234) e (p<0,05; F=4.8134). De um modo geral, a indução de diabetess modifica o diâmetro vascular nas fêmeas e que a administração de vitamina C interfere nos dados métricos relativos ao diâmetro vascular somente nas fêmeas.The objective of this study was to analyze morphometric histological shatters of the spleen of normal and diabetic animals, comparing the joined results and relating them in the sex and the suplementation of vitamin C. Had been used 32 Wistar rats, which had been analyzed: number of vases; the number of germinative folicules (white pulp); and the diameter of the vases of each animal. Histological and morphometric analyses were applied on 5µm thick samples and showed that: in the amount of germinative folicules, we observe resulted comparing, independent of the sex, animals controls supplemented with vitamin C and controls not supplemented (p≤0.05; F=0.1452); in the amount of vases, we observe resulted comparing, of diabetic females supplemented by vitamin C when compared with not supplemented (pd"0.05; F=6.8893); and in the diameter of the vases, we observe resulted comparing females, as much in the group has controlled how much to the diabetic group, supplemented with vitamin C when compared with the females not supplemented with vitamin C (p<0.05; U=121.50; Z(U)=2.1234) and (p<0,05; F=4.8134). In a general way, the induction of diabetes modifies the vascular diameter in the females and that the vitamin C administration only intervenes with relative metric data to the vascular diameter in the females

An Algorithm for payoff space in C1 parametric games

We present a novel algorithm to determine the payoff-space of certain normal-form C1 parametric games, and - more generally - of continuous families of normal-form C1 games. The algorithm has been implemented by using MATLAB, and it has been applied to several examples. The implementation of the algorithm gives the parametric expressions of the critical zone of any game in the family under consideration both in the bistrategy space and in the payoff space and the graphical representations of the disjoint union (with respect to the parameter set of the parametric game) of the family of all payoff spaces. We have so the parametric representation of the union of all the critical zones. One of the main motivations of our paper is that, in the applications, many normal-form games appear naturally in a parametric fashion; moreover, some efficient models of coopetition are parametric games of the considered type. Specifically, we have realized an algorithm that provides the parametric and graphical representation of the payoff space and of the critical zone of a parametric game in normal-form, supported by a finite family of compact intervals of the real line. Our final goal is to provide a valuable tool to study simply (but completely) normal-form C1-parametric games in two dimensions

An Algorithm for payoff space in C1 parametric games

We present a novel algorithm to determine the payoff-space of certain normal-form C1 parametric games, and - more generally - of continuous families of normal-form C1 games. The algorithm has been implemented by using MATLAB, and it has been applied to several examples. The implementation of the algorithm gives the parametric expressions of the critical zone of any game in the family under consideration both in the bistrategy space and in the payoff space and the graphical representations of the disjoint union (with respect to the parameter set of the parametric game) of the family of all payoff spaces. We have so the parametric representation of the union of all the critical zones. One of the main motivations of our paper is that, in the applications, many normal-form games appear naturally in a parametric fashion; moreover, some efficient models of coopetition are parametric games of the considered type. Specifically, we have realized an algorithm that provides the parametric and graphical representation of the payoff space and of the critical zone of a parametric game in normal-form, supported by a finite family of compact intervals of the real line. Our final goal is to provide a valuable tool to study simply (but completely) normal-form C1-parametric games in two dimensions

Arterial vascularization of the sinoatrial node in swine hearts: origin, distribution and quantification

O nó sinoatrial, por se encontrar topograficamente instalado como componente inicial do sistema de condução, é responsável pela geração dos impulsos nervosos determinantes da contração cardíaca. Estudos relacionados à morfologia do nó, visando conhecer a origem, trajeto e distribuição dos vasos neste tecido são conhecidos, contudo, no que diz respeito a estes aspectos e aos dados quantitativos da irrigação nodal, no que se refere ao comportamento vascular arterial e a densidade vascular arterial desta região, a literatura é escassa. Com este objetivo foram utilizados 30 corações de suínos SRD, sendo 27 injetados com resina vinílica corada, para análise da origem e trajeto da ANSA (artéria do nó sinoatrial) e 3 corações injetados com solução aquosa de carvão coloidal (tinta nanquim) para proceder à análise estereológica. As artérias atriais originaram-se tanto da artéria coronária direita quanto da esquerda, com predominância da primeira (66,66% e 33,33%, respectivamente). Quando originada da coronária direita, a irrigação ocorreu pelo ramo AADAM (artéria atrial direita cranial medial) em 14 casos e pelos ramos AADAI (artéria atrial direita cranial medial) em 2 casos e AADAL (artéria atrial direita cranial lateral) em 2 casos. Em 9 casos (33,33%) originou-se pela artéria coronária esquerda: quatro pelo ramo AASPL (artéria atrial esquerda caudal lateral), dois pelo ramo AASAI (artéria atrial esquerda cranial intermédia) e três pelo ramo AASAM (artéria atrial esquerda cranial medial). Anastomoses interarteriais, com participação dos vasos responsáveis pela irrigação do território do nó sinoatrial foram observadas na maioria dos casos (25 corações). O Volume do órgão ou Volume Referência (V(ref)) foi de 35,32x'10 POT. 4''mü''m POT. 3'. Para as variáveis estereológicas analisadas, a estimação da densidade de comprimento do vaso (Lv) foi de 766; o comprimento do vaso (L) - mm - foi de 27,06x'10 POT. 5''mü'm; ) a densidade de superfície de área (Sv) foi de 182 e a superfície de área (S) - 'mm POT. 2' - foi de 64,3x'10 POT. 6''mü''m POT. 2'. A estimação da densidade numérica vascular (Nv(vasc)), quantidade de vasos por unidade de volume ('cm POT. 3'), foi de 2,19 '10 POT. -5' e o número total de vasos no órgão (N(vasc)), estimado pelo método dissector físico em combinação com a estimativa do número de Euler (Xv), foi de 773,6832 x'10 POT. -2'. A elevada densidade vascular e do número total de vasos na região do nó sinoatrial de suínos sugere a existência de uma complexa e densa rede vascular perinodal, ratificando a importância deste marca-passo pelo seu suprimento sangüíneoThe sinoatrial node, for being topographically installed as the initial component of the conduction system, is responsible for the production of the nervous impulses, which determines the cardiac contraction. There have been made studies related to the node's morphology in order to know the origin, distribution and quantification of the vases in this tissue, however, in spite of the results and quantitative data of the nodal irrigation - arterial vascular conduct and arterial vascular density, at the nodal level - the literature is scarce. With this objective 27 SRD swine hearts, injected with colored resin for macroscopic analysis of the origin and distribution of ANSA (sinoatrial node artery), 3 others injected with watery solution of colloidal coal (dyed nanquim) were used, to mark the route of the vases on the node level for stereological analysis. The atrial arteries originated as well from the right coronary artery as from the left one, with predominance of the first (66.66% and 33.33%, respectively). When originated from the right coronary artery, there existed the following branches: AADAM (right cranial medial atrial artery) in 14 cases, AADAI (right cranial intermedial atrial artery) in 2 cases, and AADAL (right cranial lateral atrial artery) in 2 cases. In 9 cases (33.33%) the following branches originated from the left coronary artery: 4 through branch AASPL (left caudal lateral atrial artery), 2 through branch AASAI (left cranial intermedial atrial artery) and 3 through branch AASAM (left cranial medial atrial artery). Interarterial anastomoses with vessels responsible for irrigation of the sinoatrial node area were observed in most of the cases (25 hearts). The Volume or Reference Volume (V(ref)) of the hearts were 35.32x'10 POT. 4''mü''m POT. 3'. For the stereological variables analyzed, the estimate density of the vessel length (Lv) was 766; the vessel length (L) - mm - was 27.06x'10 POT. 5''mü'm; the area's surface density (Sv) was 182 and the area's surface (S) - 'mm POT. 2' - was 64.3x'10 POT. 6''mü''m POT. 2'. The estimate of the vascular numeric density (Nv(vasc)) - total of vessels per unit of volume ('cm POT. 3') was 2.19 '10 POT. -5', and the total number of vessels in the organ (N(vasc)), estimated by the physical dissector method in combination with the estimate of the number of Euler (Xv), was 773.6832 x'10 POT. -2'. The raised vascular density and total number of vases in the swine's sinoatrial node area suggests the existence of a vascular perinodal network complex and dense, ratifying the importance of this mark-pass for its blood suppl

Comparative study of equine mesenchymal stem cells from healthy and injured synovial tissues: an in vitro assessment

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Bone marrow and adipose tissues are known sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in horses; however, synovial tissues might be a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate phenotypic characteristics and differentiation potential of equine MSCs from synovial fluid (SF) and synovial membrane (SM) of healthy joints (SF-H and SM-H), joints with osteoarthritis (SF-OA and SM-OA) and joints with osteochondritis dissecans (SF-OCD and SM-OCD) to determine the most suitable synovial source for an allogeneic therapy cell bank.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Expression of the markers CD90, CD105, CD44, and CD34 in SF-H, SM-H, SF-OA, SM-OA, SF-OCD and SM-OCD was verified by flow cytometry, and expression of cytokeratin, vimentin, PGP 9.5, PCNA, lysozyme, nanog, and Oct4 was verified by immunocytochemistry. MSCs were cultured and evaluated for their chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential. Final quantification of extracellular matrix and mineralized matrix was determined using AxioVision software. A tumorigenicity test was conducted in Balb-Cnu/nu mice to verify the safety of the MSCs from these sources.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Cultured cells from SF and SM exhibited fibroblastoid morphology and the ability to adhere to plastic. The time elapsed between primary culture and the third passage was approximately 73 days for SF-H, 89 days for SF-OCD, 60 days for SF-OA, 68 days for SM-H, 57 days for SM-OCD and 54 days for SM-OA. The doubling time for SF-OCD was higher than that for other cells at the first passage (P < 0.05). MSCs from synovial tissues showed positive expression of the markers CD90, CD44, lysozyme, PGP 9.5, PCNA and vimentin and were able to differentiate into chondrogenic (21 days) and osteogenic (21 days) lineages, and, although poorly, into adipogenic lineages (14 days). The areas staining positive for extracellular matrix in the SF-H and SM-H groups were larger than those in the SF-OA and SM-OA groups (P < 0.05). The positive mineralized matrix area in the SF-H group was larger than those in all the other groups (P < 0.05). The studied cells exhibited no tumorigenic effects.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud SF and SM are viable sources of equine MSCs. All sources studied provide suitable MSCs for an allogeneic therapy cell bank; nevertheless, MSCs from healthy joints may be preferable for cell banking purposes because they exhibit better chondrogenic differentiation capacity.This research was supported by Fundação Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento\ud de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Brasília, SP, Brazil, and by Fundação de\ud Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.\ud These sponsors did not have any influence on the study design, on the\ud collection, analysis and interpretation of data, or on the writing of the\ud manuscript and decision to submit for publication

Morphometric aspects of the thymus in domestic cats (Felis domesticus)

O timo é um órgão linfático primário que desenvolve sua atividade em organismos jovens. Apesar de sua função ser responsável por mecanismos fundamentais na aquisição das defesas e conseqüentes respostas orgânicas, ela ainda não está totalmente esclarecida, nem tampouco as bases morfológicas que respondem por tais funções, como o processo de desenvolvimento e involução do órgão. Objetivou-se analisar e caracterizar os aspectos morfológicos do timo, tais como seu tamanho e volume, e aspectos histológicos do timo em gatos, correlacionando o sexo e o desenvolvimento etário. Doze timos provenientes de fetos de gatos domésticos (Felis domesticus) sem raça definida (SRD), machos e fêmeas, separados em três grupos etários. O timo apresentou-se com uma coloração rosa-pálida e com duas porções, a torácica e a cervical, sendo que cada uma delas possuía um lobo direito e um lobo esquerdo em sua maioria. A porção torácica localizava-se em região de mediastino cranial, entre os pulmões e à base do coração. E a porção cervical estendia-se além das costelas em sentido cranial, estando localizada ventralmente à traqueia. A estrutura celular do timo demonstrou-se organizada com a presença de agregados concêntricos, os chamados corpúsculos tímicos, formados por células epiteliais, sustentada por uma cápsula de tecido conjuntivo de onde partiam septos que ao penetrar no órgão dividia-o em lóbulos. Ocorreram variações significativas quanto à lobação e as dimensões do timo entre indivíduos da mesma faixa etária, e entre sexos diferentes. Os valores relativos ao comprimento, espessura e largura, de maneira geral, apresentaram aumento, em conformidade ao desenvolvimento dos animais, mas com diferenças entre os sexos

Avaliação dos neurônios NADPH-diaforase reativos do jejuno de ratos diabéticos suplementados com ácido ascórbico

A relação entre hiperglicemia e neuropatia diabética foi demonstrada em várias pesquisas. Entre as teorias propostas para sua etiologia destaca-se o estresse oxidativo. O papel do óxido nítrico como elo entre os fatores neuropatogênicos metabólico e vascular que ativam a neuropatia diabética tem sido ressaltado. Este estudo objetivou avaliar a quantificação e a morfometria da área do perfil do corpo celular (CBPA) de neurônios mioentéricos NADPH-diaforase reativos (NADPH-dp) do jejuno de ratos diabéticos e suplementados com Ácido Ascórbico (AA), uma vez que alterações nos neurônios mioentéricos parecem estar relacionadas aos distúrbios gastrointestinais observados no diabetes mellitus (DM). Vinte ratos machos da linhagem Wistar (Rattus norvergicus) foram distribuídos em 4 grupos (n=5): controle (C), controle suplementado (CS), diabético (D) e diabético suplementado (DS). O DM foi induzido através de injeção de estreptozootocina (50mg/kg de peso corporal). Uma semana depois da indução e confirmação do DM (glicemia), animais dos grupos CS e DS receberam, via gavagem, 50mg de AA três vezes por semana. Após 90 dias de período experimental, os animais foram anestesiados com dose letal de thiopental intravenosa (40mg/kg) e o jejuno foi retirado e processado para a técnica histoquímica da NADPH-diaforase. Preparados de membrana foram obtidos para análises quantitativa e morfométrica dos neurônios mioentéricos. A quantidade de neurônios do jejuno do Grupo D (96'+ OU -'7,5) não diferiu (P>0,05) dos Grupos DS (116'+ OU -'8,08), C (92'+ OU -'9,7) e CS (81'+ OU -'5,4), mas no Grupo DS o número de neurônios foi superior (P<0,05) aos Grupos C e CS. A CBPA de neurônios do Grupo D (189,50'+ OU -'2,68'mü''m POT. 2') e DS (195,92'+ OU -'3,75'mü''m POT. 2') foi menor (P<0,05) do que a dos Grupos C (225,13'+4,37'mü''m POT. 2') e CS (210,23'+ OU -'3,15'mü''m POT. 2'). O DM induzido porestreptozootocina não alterou a área do ) jejuno-íleo, a organização espacial do plexo mioentérico e a densidade de neurônios de NADPH-dp do jejuno. A suplementação de 50mg de AA, três vezes por semana, durante 90 dias, não diminuiu a hiperglicemia, porém teve efeito neuroprotetor nos neurônios mioentéricos, minimizando o aumento na CBPA dos neurônios NADPH-dp e aumentando a quantidade de neurônios reativos a NADPD-diaforaseThe relation between hyperglycemia and diabetic neuropathy has already been demonstrated in some studies. Among the theories proposed for its etiology the oxidative stress stands out. The performance of nitric oxide as a link between the metabolic and vascular neuropathogenic factors that triggers the diabetic neuropathy has already been put forward. This study aimed to assess the quantification and measurements of the cell body profile area (CBPA) of NADPH-diaphorase reactive (NADPH-dp) myenteric neurons of the jejunum of diabetic rats (induced by streptozotocin) supplemented with Ascorbic Acid (AA). These changes in the myenteric neurons seem to be related to the gastrointestinal disturbances observed in diabetes mellitus (DM). Twenty male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were distributed in 4 groups (n=5): controls (C), control supplemented (CS), diabetic (D), and diabetic suplemented (DS). DM was induced by estreptozotocin (50mg/kg body wt). One week after the induction and confirmation of the DM (glycemia exam), animals of the groups CS and DS received 50mg of AA three times a week by gavage. After 90 days of experiment, the animals were anesthetized with lethal thiopental dose (40mg/kg) and the collected jejunum processed for the histochemistry NADPH-diaphorase technique. Whole-mount preparations were obtained for quantitative and morphometric analysis of the myenteric neurons. A quantity of jejunum neurons in the Group D (96'+ OU -'7.5) was not different (P>0.05) from Group DS (116'+ OU -'8.08), C (92'+ OU -'9.7), and CS (81'+ OU -'5.4), but in Group DS the quantity was higher (P<0.05) than in Group C and CS. The CBPA of neurons from Group D (189.50'+ OU -'2.68'mü''m POT. 2') and DS (195.92'+ OU -'3.75'mü''m POT. 2') were lower (P<0.05) than from Group C (225.13'+ OU -'4.37'mü''m POT. 2') and CS (210.23'+ OU -'3.15'mü''m POT. 2'). The streptozotocin-induced DM did not change the jejunum-ileum area, the jejunum myenteric plexus space organization and the density of NADPH-dp neurons. The 50g AA-supplementation, three times a week, during 90 days, did not decrease hyperglycemia; however, it had a neuroprotective effect on the myenteric neurons, minimizing the increase on the CBPA of NADPH-dp neurons and increasing the amount of NADPD-dp neuron