Traceability for Model Driven, Software Product Line Engineering

Traceability is an important challenge for software organizations. This is true for traditional software development and even more so in new approaches that introduce more variety of artefacts such as Model Driven development or Software Product Lines. In this paper we look at some aspect of the interaction of Traceability, Model Driven development and Software Product Line

SinR is a mutational target for fine-tuning biofilm formation in laboratory-evolved strains of Bacillus subtilis

Background: Bacteria often form multicellular, organized communities known as biofilms, which protect cells from a variety of environmental stresses. During biofilm formation, bacteria secrete a species-specific matrix; in Bacillus subtilis biofilms, the matrix consists of protein polymers and exopolysaccharide. Many domesticated strains of B. subtilis have a reduced ability to form biofilms, and we conducted a two-month evolution experiment to test whether laboratory culturing provides selective pressure against biofilm formation in B. subtilis. Results: Bacteria grown in two-month-long batch culture rapidly diversified their biofilm-forming characteristics, exhibiting highly diverse colony morphologies on LB plates in the initial ten days of culture. Generally, this diversity decreased over time; however, multiple types of colony morphology remained in our final two-month-old populations, both under shaking and static conditions. Notably, while our final populations featured cells that produce less biofilm matrix than did the ancestor, cells overproducing biofilm matrix were present as well. We took a candidate-gene approach to identify mutations in the strains that overproduced matrix and found point mutations in the biofilm-regulatory gene sinR. Introducing these mutations into the ancestral strain phenocopied or partially phenocopied the evolved biofilm phenotypes. Conclusions: Our data suggest that standard laboratory culturing conditions do not rapidly select against biofilm formation. Although biofilm matrix production is often reduced in domesticated bacterial strains, we found that matrix production may still have a fitness benefit in the laboratory. We suggest that adaptive specialization of biofilm-forming species can occur through mutations that modulate biofilm formation as in B. subtilis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-014-0301-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Sistema multiobjetivo de soporte a decisiones para planificación de programación de operaciones

This research shows the design and construction of a multi objective optimization support system for decision making, DSS-SCHEDULER, in order to effectively perform naval shipbuilding operations, by managing to have a rational usage, under a limited capacity, of the installed capacity. The system creates the operational plan for the scheduling of operations as well as the allocation of all the resources related to the processes carried out at the plant, and, taking into account all the restrictions this type of service entails, generate a set of optimal solutions in order to comply with the objective functions as planned, such as costs and the promise for delivery dates to support the decision making process in scheduling Cotecmar’s industrial operations.La presente investigación muestra el diseño y construcción de un sistema de optimización Multiobjetivo de soporte a toma de decisiones, DSS-SCHEDULER, para realizar de manera efectiva la actividad de programación de operaciones en planta de astilleros navales, logrando una utilización racional, bajo capacidad finita, de la capacidad instalada, el cual realiza la creación de la planificación operativa de programación de operaciones y la asignación de todos los recursos asociados a los procesos que se realizan en la planta, y teniendo en cuenta todas las restricciones que conlleva estos servicios, generar un conjunto de soluciones óptimas cumpliendo con las funciones objetivo propuestas, como costos y promesa de fechas de entrega para apoyar la toma de decisiones de la programación de las operaciones industriales de Cotecmar

Modificaciones fenotípicas por efecto de selección masal estratificada en dos poblaciones braquiticas de maíz

En el Centro Nacional de Investigaciòn Palmira, Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario, se determinó, semestre tras semestre, el avance de la selecciòn masal estratificada por prolificidad y rendimiento en dos poblaciones promisorias de maìz convertidas a braquìticas. Se observò en qué forma ha variado la arquitectura de la planta braquìtica en relación con la variedad original y los diferentes ciclos de selección. La evaluaciòn se hizo durante 1.977-B y 1.978-A con Los materiales básicos MB. 22 (amarillo), MB. 23 (blanco) y nueve ciclos de selección en cada uno de aquellos. Se tomaron datos sobre los siguientes aspectos: rendimiento, prolificidad, floraciOn femenina, estatura de la planta, altura de la mazorca superior, largo de los entrenudos hasta la mazorca superior, dìas hasta la floración y largo por ancho de La hoja de La mazorca superior (indicativo para el àrea foliar). Los resultados mostraron que la selección en las poblaciones convertidas a braquìticas ha sido eficaz para obtener ganancias en rendimiento y prolificidad. En MB. 22 la ganancia fue de 4,3917,, y 3,89%en rendimiento y prolificidad por ciclo de selección (tasas altamente significativas). En MB. 23 la ganancia por ciclo de selección en rendimiento fue de 0,27% (no significativa) y para prolificidad de 2,78% (altamente significativa). Además, se han modificado la estatura de la planta y la altura de la mazorca superior por incrementos debidos al alargamiento y al mayor nùmero de entrenudos por debajo de la mazorca. Los entrenudos son más cortos cerca de la superficie del suelo y su longitud va aumentando a medida que se aproximan a la mazorca superior. El entrenudo de ésta es generalmente el más largo. El rendimiento aumentó aI incrementarse la estatura de la planta y la altura de La mazorca superior. 19 En una de las poblaciones (MB. 22) los dìas hasta la floración femenina y el indicativo del àrea foliar permanecieron constantes mientras que en la otra poblaciòn (MB. 23) se encontraron incrementos bajos aunque estadìsticamente significativos; no obstante, parece que los incrementos de estos caracteres no aportaron a la ganancia en rendimiento.A stratified mass selection procedure was performed in two basic populations of brachytic-2 maize, MB. 22 (yellow) and MB. 23 (white). The selection plots and the test sites were located at the Palmira Experimental Station of [CA (Colombian Agricultural Institute). The two populations and nine cicles of mass selection by prolificacy and yield (MPR) in each were tested during 1.977-13 and 1.978-A cropping seasons. Significant gains per cycle of 4,94% and 4,39% in yield and prolificacy, respectively, were obtained in MB. 22; in MB. 23 the gains were 0,27%and 2,781/o**, respectively. The number of the internodes below the upper ear increased 1 ,24** and 1,33 per cicle of selection MPR in MB. 22 and MB. 23, respectively. The internode length also increased, more in the internodes close to the upper ear (1,72% ** and 1,09% ** in the sixth in MB. 22 and MB. 23 respectively) than in the first one, close to the soil surface. Plant height increased at a rate of 1,70% ** and 1,27% ** per cicle of selection MPR in MB. 22 and MB. 23, respectively. Ear height also increased at 2,44% ** and 2,46% ** in those populations. Other estimates of gain per cycle were, in MB. 22 and MB. 23: Days to flower 0,02% and 0,17%*; I.eaf area 0,05%and 0,5717o *; Ear length 0,20%and -0,22%; Ear diameter 0,15%and -0,6117h The traits most influenced by the prevalent environmental conditions, according to the high expectation of their Cycle x Season mean square in the combined analysis of variance, were days to flower and ear diameter in MB. 22. In MB. 23: yield, ear length, ear diameter and leaf area. All other traits in the cycled generations in both populations were not influenced by those same environmental conditions during the tests.Maíz-Zea may

Mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C inhibit cell proliferation by impairing the entry into S phase

Abstract\ud \ud CDKN1C (also known as P57\ud \ud kip2\ud ) is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor that functions as a negative regulator of cell proliferation through G1 phase cell cycle arrest. Recently, our group described gain-of-function mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C that result in an undergrowth syndrome called IMAGe Syndrome (Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Metaphyseal dysplasia, Adrenal hypoplasia, and Genital anomalies), with life-threatening consequences. Loss-of-function mutations in CDKN1C have been identified in 5-10% of individuals with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), an overgrowth disorder with features that are the opposite of IMAGe syndrome. Here, we investigate the effects of IMAGe-associated mutations on protein stability, cell cycle progression and cell proliferation. Mutations in the PCNA-binding site of CDKN1C significantly increase CDKN1C protein stability and prevent cell cycle progression into the S phase. Overexpression of either wild-type or BWS-mutant CDKN1C inhibited cell proliferation. However, the IMAGe-mutant CDKN1C protein decreased cell growth significantly more than both the wild-type or BWS protein. These findings bring new insights into the molecular events underlying IMAGe syndrome.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP process number 2012/09391-0

Zebrafish macroH2A variants have distinct embryo localization and function

Mouse and cell-based studies have shown that macroH2A histone variants predominantly associate with heterochromatin. Functional studies found that macroH2As are involved in gene repression, inhibiting the acquisition of pluripotency and preserving cell differentiation. However, only a few studies have analysed the role of macroH2A during early embryo development. We report the development of transgenic zebrafish lines expressing macroH2A isoforms (mH2A1 and mH2A2) fusion proteins (with GFP) under identified endogenous promoters. We found that mH2A1 and mH2A2 have different spatial and temporal expression patterns during embryonic development. mH2A1 is expressed mostly in the extraembryonic Yolk Syncytial Layer (YSL) starting before shield stage and decreasing once morphogenesis is completed. mH2A2 expression lags behind mH2A1, becoming evident at 24 hpf, within the whole body of the embryo proper. Our ChIP-seq analysis showed that mH2A1 and mH2A2 bind to different DNA regions, changing dramatically after gastrulation. We further analysed RNA-seq data and showed that there is not a general/unspecific repressing function of mH2A1 or mH2A2 associated with heterochromatin but a fine regulation depending on cell types and stage of development. mH2A1 downregulates DNA expression in specific cells and embryo stages and its effect is independent of heterochromatin formation but it is correlated with nucleus quiescence instead. Whereas mH2A2 DNA association correlates with upregulation of differentially expressed genes between 75% epiboly and 24 hpf stages. Our data provide information for underlying molecules that participate in crucial early developmental events, and open new venues to explore mH2A related mechanisms that involve cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and metabolism

Symptoms associated with victimization in patients with schizophrenia and related disorders

Background: Patients with psychoses have an increased risk of becoming victims of violence. Previous studies have suggested that higher symptom levels are associated with a raised risk of becoming a victim of physical violence. There has been, however, no evidence on the type of symptoms that are linked with an increased risk of recent victimization. Methods: Data was taken from two studies on involuntarily admitted patients, one national study in England and an international one in six other European countries. In the week following admission, trained interviewers asked patients whether they had been victims of physical violence in the year prior to admission, and assessed symptoms on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Only patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or related disorders (ICD-10 F20–29) were included in the analysis which was conducted separately for the two samples. Symptom levels assessed on the BPRS subscales were tested as predictors of victimization. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted odds ratios. Results: Data from 383 patients in the English sample and 543 patients in the European sample was analysed. Rates of victimization were 37.8% and 28.0% respectively. In multivariable models, the BPRS manic subscale was significantly associated with victimization in both samples. Conclusions: Higher levels of manic symptoms indicate a raised risk of being a victim of violence in involuntary patients with schizophrenia and related disorders. This might be explained by higher activity levels, impaired judgement or poorer self-control in patients with manic symptoms. Such symptoms should be specifically considered in risk assessments

Ausencia de síndrome de burnout en un grupo de docentes de educación primaria y secundaria de Cali, Colombia

Objective: To determine the prevalence of Burnout syndrome in primary and secondary school teachers from a public institution in Cali, Colombia. Methodology: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was then carried out. Results: Sociodemographic and labor data were collected and the CESQT-EP instrument was used to determine the prevalence of Burnout. According to the results obtained, the prevalence of Burnout syndrome in the group of teachers evaluated was zero; although, at the individual level, the most affected dimensions was that of mental exhaustion (75%). Conclusion: It is stated that the absence of burnout in this group is due to the presence of various protective factors, including: age, work experience and having children.Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia del síndrome de Burnout en docentes de primaria y secundaria de una institución pública de Cali, Colombia. Metodología: Se realizó entonces un estudio de tipo descriptivo y transversal. Resultados: Se recolectaron datos tanto sociodemográficos como laborales y se utilizó el instrumento CESQT–EP para la determinación de la prevalencia de Burnout. Según los resultados obtenidos, a prevalencia del síndrome de Burnout en el grupo de docentes evaluados fue de cero; aunque, a nivel individual, la dimensiones más afectada fue la de desgaste psíquico (75%). Conclusión: Se plantea que la ausencia de Burnout en este grupo se debe a la presencia de varios factores protectores, entre ellos: la edad, la experiencia laboral y tener hijos