Deconstructing Reo

AbstractCoordination in Reo emerges from the composition of the behavioural constraints of the primitives, such as channels, in a component connector. Understanding and implementing Reo, however, has been challenging due to interaction of the channel metaphor, which is an inherently local notion, and the non-local nature of constraint propagation imposed by composition. In this paper, the channel metaphor takes a back seat, and we focus on the behavioural constraints imposed by the composition of primitives, and phrase the semantics of Reo as a constraint satisfaction problem. Not only does this provide a clear intensional description of the behaviour of Reo connectors in terms of synchronisation and data flow constraints, it also paves the way for new implementation techniques based on constraint propagation and satisfaction. In fact, decomposing Reo into constraints provides a new computational model for connectors, which we extend to model interaction with an unknown external world beyond what is currently possible in Reo

Maize microarray annotation database

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Microarray technology has matured over the past fifteen years into a cost-effective solution with established data analysis protocols for global gene expression profiling. The Agilent-016047 maize 44 K microarray was custom-designed from EST sequences, but only reporter sequences with EST accession numbers are publicly available. The following information is lacking: (a) reporter - gene model match, (b) number of reporters per gene model, (c) potential for cross hybridization, (d) sense/antisense orientation of reporters, (e) position of reporter on B73 genome sequence (for eQTL studies), and (f) functional annotations of genes represented by reporters. To address this, we developed a strategy to annotate the Agilent-016047 maize microarray, and built a publicly accessible annotation database.</p> <p>Description</p> <p>Genomic annotation of the 42,034 reporters on the Agilent-016047 maize microarray was based on BLASTN results of the 60-mer reporter sequences and their corresponding ESTs against the maize B73 RefGen v2 "Working Gene Set" (WGS) predicted transcripts and the genome sequence. The agreement between the EST, WGS transcript and gDNA BLASTN results were used to assign the reporters into six genomic annotation groups. These annotation groups were: (i) "annotation by sense gene model" (23,668 reporters), (ii) "annotation by antisense gene model" (4,330); (iii) "annotation by gDNA" without a WGS transcript hit (1,549); (iv) "annotation by EST", in which case the EST from which the reporter was designed, but not the reporter itself, has a WGS transcript hit (3,390); (v) "ambiguous annotation" (2,608); and (vi) "inconclusive annotation" (6,489). Functional annotations of reporters were obtained by BLASTX and Blast2GO analysis of corresponding WGS transcripts against GenBank.</p> <p>The annotations are available in the Maize Microarray Annotation Database <url>http://MaizeArrayAnnot.bi.up.ac.za/</url>, as well as through a GBrowse annotation file that can be uploaded to the MaizeGDB genome browser as a custom track.</p> <p>The database was used to re-annotate lists of differentially expressed genes reported in case studies of published work using the Agilent-016047 maize microarray. Up to 85% of reporters in each list could be annotated with confidence by a single gene model, however up to 10% of reporters had ambiguous annotations. Overall, more than 57% of reporters gave a measurable signal in tissues as diverse as anthers and leaves.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Maize Microarray Annotation Database will assist users of the Agilent-016047 maize microarray in (i) refining gene lists for global expression analysis, and (ii) confirming the annotation of candidate genes before functional studies.</p

Tricuspidisation of the aortic valve with creation of a crown-like annulus is able to restore a normal valve function in bicuspid aortic valves

Objective: To evaluate the early results of a new method to repair malfunctioning bicuspid aortic valves by creating a tricuspid valve with a crown-like (i.e. anatomic) annulus. Material and methods: Twelve patients (ages from 10 to 27 years) with chronic regurgitation (and flow-dependent stenosis) of a bicuspid aortic valve underwent repair with the principle of creating a tricuspid valve and a crown-like annulus. The fused leaflets were trimmed and reinserted underneath the existing aortic annulus to create one new native cusp. The third leaflet was fashioned out of a xenopericard patch and was inserted underneath the existing annulus as well to restore the crown-like anatomy of a normal aortic annulus. A tricuspid aortic valve with a morphologically normal annulus was thus created, which resulted in improved coaptation of the leaflets. The repair was immediately assessed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with the heart loaded at 50%. In two patients, a second run helped fine-tune the repair. Median cross-clamping time was 82 min. Follow-up ranged from 3 to 46 months (median 13 months). Results: No significant complication occurred. The function of the aortic valve was excellent with trivial or mild regurgitation in 11 patients and moderate regurgitation in 1 patient. There was no stenosis across the valve. The repair remained stable over time. Remodelling of the left ventricle occurred as expected. Conclusions: Aortic valve repair is feasible in some dysfunctioning bicuspid aortic valves. Tricuspidisation of the valve can result in excellent systolic and diastolic functions. The creation of a crown-like annulus results in improved coaptation of the cusps and could lead to more reliable outcome. Although long-term results are needed, this anatomic correction seems to be a good alternative to valvular replacement in certain sub-groups of patient

Introducción al Estudio del Derecho

Author of the book: Dr. Óscar Lorenzo Guido CastilloEdition: D.R Universidad de Ixtlahuaca CUI, MéxicoNumber of pages: 271Year: 2019 Law is a purely social element that the human being created from the moment he organized himself in communities or societies, that is, it dates back to ancient times. The relevance of their study is highly important, for which reason it is not enough just to read plain and simple laws and regulations that regulate human behavior, but rather, their study must be more intimate and concrete in order to achieve vast and sufficient knowledge about the wide scope of competence of the Law. In this work the author divides in an orderly and systematized way the elements necessary to reach a general understanding of the Law based on historical antecedents, conceptions, functions, ends, structure, currents, doctrine and hierarchy of the norm, so that the understanding of this science It must be studied carefully and in a language that is extremely understandable, as the editor of this work has done.Autor del Libro: Dr. Óscar Lorenzo Guido CastilloEdición: D.R Universidad de Ixtlahuaca CUI, MéxicoNúmero de Páginas: 271Año: 2019 &nbsp; El Derecho es un elemento puramente social que el ser humano creó desde el mismo momento en que se organizó en comunidades o sociedades, es decir, se remonta desde épocas antiguas. La relevancia de su estudio resulta altamente importante, por lo que no basta solo con la lectura simple y llana de leyes y normas que regulan las conductas humanas, sino que, su estudio debe ser más íntimo y concreto para alcanzar los conocimientos bastos y suficientes sobre el amplio ámbito de competencia del Derecho. En esta obra el autor divide de forma ordenada y sistematizada elementos necesarios para alcanzar un entendimiento general del Derecho partiendo de antecedentes históricos, concepciones, funciones, fines, estructura, corrientes, doctrina y jerarquía de la norma, por lo que la comprensión de esta ciencia debe ser estudiada con detenimiento y en un lenguaje sumamente comprensible como el redactor de esta obra lo ha hecho

Left heart atrial and ventricular epicardial pacing through a left lateral thoracotomy in children: a safe approach with excellent functional and cosmetic results

Objective: Left heart atrial and ventricular epicardial pacing through a left lateral thoracotomy is an alternative approach for lead insertion in children, avoiding venous access complications and right ventricular stimulation, without compromising sporting or musical activities. We analyzed the survival and performance of left atrial and left ventricular epicardial pacing leads, and present mid-term follow-up data. Methods: Seventy-five bipolar steroid eluting pacing leads (Medtronic CapSure Epi 4968) were implanted in 41 children, aged 8.6+5.1 years. Pacing systems included 34 DDDR and 7 VVIR. Pacing leads were inserted through a muscle-sparing left lateral thoracotomy, and sutured to the left atrial appendage or atrium, and to the left ventricle. The generators were buried behind the abdominal muscles or between the thoracic muscle layers. Congenital heart disease with previous cardiac surgery was present in 25 children. Indications for pacing were post-operative heart block (n=14), sinus node disease (n=13), congenital heart block (n=9), and various (n=5). Threshold values and measured data were obtained at 6-month intervals. The mean follow-up was 3.8+2.9 years. Results: There was no mortality or major morbidity, with excellent functional and cosmetic results. Lead survival was 94 and 86% for atrial leads, and 97 and 86% for ventricular leads, at 1 and 5 years, respectively. There were five reoperations for lead fracture (n=2), insulation break (n=1), oversensing (n=1), and infection (n=1). Device reprogramming was required in three instances. In the absence of acute lead failure, mid-term follow-up shows very satisfactory and stable lead performance. Conclusions: Left heart atrial and ventricular epicardial pacing leads inserted through a left lateral thoracotomy demonstrate a high probability of survival, with favorable pacing characteristics, and optimal sensing thresholds at mid-term follow-up. Epicardial left heart pacing is reliable, and easy access can be achieved through a cosmetic and functional muscle-sparing left lateral thoracotom

Second Harmonic Generation Enabled by Longitudinal Electric Field Components in Photonic Wire Waveguides

We investigate type I second harmonic generation in III-V semiconductor wire waveguides aligned with a crystallographic axis. In this direction, because of the single nonzero tensor element of III-V semiconductors, only frequency conversion by mixing with the longitudinal components of the optical fields is allowed. We experimentally study the impact of the propagation direction on the conversion efficiency and confirm the role played by the longitudinal components through the excitation of an antisymmetric second harmonic higher order mode

Mid-IR Spectroscopy of High-z SMGs: First Results

We present mid-infrared spectra of 5 submmillimeter galaxies at redshifts z = 0.65 − 2.38 taken with the Infrared Spectrograph aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. Four of these sources have strong PAH features and the strength of these features are consistent with these galaxies being dominated by star formation. The other source displays a Mrk 231-type broad emission feature at restframe ~8 μm that does not conform to the typical 7.7/8.6 μm PAH complex in starburst galaxies, suggesting a more substantial AGN contribution