Composing JSON-based Web APIs

International audienceThe development of Web APIs has become a discipline that companies have to master to succeed in the Web. The so-called API economy is pushing companies to provide access to their data by means of Web APIs, thus requiring web developers to study and integrate such APIs into their applications. The exchange of data with these APIs is usually performed by using JSON, a schemaless data format easy for computers to parse and use. While JSON data is easy to read, its structure is implicit, thus entailing serious problems when integrating APIs coming from di erent vendors. Web developers have therefore to understand the domain behind each API and study how they can be composed. We tackle this issue by presenting an approach able to both discover the domain of JSON-based Web APIs, and identify composition links among them. Our approach allows developers to easily visualize what is behind APIs and how they can be composed to be used in their applications

Engaging End-Users in the Collaborative Development of Domain-Speci c Modelling Languages

International audienceDomain-Speci c Modelling Languages (DSMLs) are high-level languages specially designed to perform tasks in a particular domain. When developing DSMLs, the participation of end-users is normally limited to providing domain knowledge and testing the resulting language prototypes. Language developers, which are perhaps not domain experts, are therefore in control of the language development and evolution. This may cause misinterpretations which hamper the development process and the quality of the DSML. Thus, it would be bene cial to promote a more active participation of end-users in the development process of DSMLs. While current DSML workbenches are mono-user and designed for technical experts, we present a process and tool support for the example-driven, collaborative construction of DSMLs in order to engage end-users in the creation of their own languages

IBPOWER Project, Intermediate band materials and solar cells for photovoltaics with high efficiency and reduced cost

IBPOWER is a Project awarded under the 7th European Framework Programme that aims to advance research on intermediate band solar cells (IBSCs). These are solar cells conceived to absorb below bandgap energy photons by means of an electronic energy band that is located within the semiconductor bandgap, whilst producing photocurrent with output voltage still limited by the total semiconductor bandgap. IBPOWER employs two basic strategies for implementing the IBSC concept. The first is based on the use of quantum dots, the IB arising from the confined energy levels of the electrons in the dots. Quantum dots have led to devices that demonstrate the physical operation principles of the IB concept and have allowed identification of the problems to be solved to achieve actual high efficiencies. The second approach is based on the creation of bulk intermediate band materials by the insertion of an appropriate impurity into a bulk semiconductor. Under this approach it is expected that, when inserted at high densities, these impurities will find it difficult to capture electrons by producing a breathing mode and will cease behaving as non-radiative recombination centres. Towards this end the following systems are being investigated: a) Mn: In1-xGax N; b) transition metals in GaAs and c) thin films

Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Gaia early data release 3: summary of the contents and survey properties (Corrigendum)

ERRATUMThis article is an erratum for:[https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202039657]​​​​​​​Instrumentatio

Experiencia inicial en el abordaje laparoscópico de la obstrucción intestinal

Antecedentes: El abordaje laparoscópico de la obstrucción intestinal continúa siendo controvertido. Objetivo: Evaluar nuestros resultados iniciales en el tratamiento laparoscópico de la obstrucción intestinal. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados de oclusión intestinal, e intervenidos mediante laparoscopia, desde enero de 2008 hasta el 30 de junio de 2012. Las variables empleadas fueron: edad, sexo, etiología de la oclusión, cirugías previas, evolución clínica, realización del neumoperitoneo, uso de incisión de asistencia, tiempo anestésico, tasa de conversión, días de estancia postoperatoria, tiempo hasta la tolerancia a líquidos, complicaciones. Resultados: 26 pacientes, 18 mujeres (69.2%) y 8 varones (30.8%), edad media de 64,35 años (21-92 años). La etiología más frecuente de la oclusión fue secundaria a bridas, con 12 casos. En 9 pacientes (34.6%) el abordaje fue totalmente laparoscópico. En otros 9 pacientes (34.6%) se complementó con una incisión de asistencia. Así, el abordaje laparoscópico constituyó un éxito en 18 casos (69.2%). En 8 pacientes (30.8%) se convirtió a cirugía abierta. La mediana del tiempo anestésico fue de 95 min (55-165 min) de la estancia postoperatoria de 6 días (3-72 días) y de la tolerancia de líquidos de 3 días (1-10 días). Los pacientes en los que se efectuó un abordaje totalmente laparoscópico presentaron una menor estancia hospitalaria, una ingesta de líquidos más precoz y un menor número de complicaciones postoperatorias; solo esta última variable fue estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones: Los resultados iniciales de nuestra experiencia son buenos, aunque se precisan más pacientes para poder estandarizar y extender el uso de esta técnica

Implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme: A vehicle to help development graduate workplace competencies

This research was part of a large intervention study implementing the European Sports Leadership Programme (ESLP). This paper reports the outcomes of the qualitative study that employed focus groups to assess the students’ perceptions of the 15 competencies determined according to the Framework for qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, before and after the ESLP. Focus groups were carried out at each of the five universities. The ESLP involved university students working as a sports leader for 24 months with the aim to engage more students in university sport, whilst they took part in a graduate employability programme. Each university recruited five sports leaders in their second year at university, to deliver 10 new sport and recreational activities targeting the wider inactive or semi-active student population. Findings highlighted that Organization and planning, Oral and written communication, Development of planning and decision making, and Teamworking, followed closely by Emotional control and Adapting to new situations, were the most commonly reported competencies. They affirmed that this programme had helped to develop these competencies. Use of information, communication and technology, Communication in a foreign language, Research and Emotional control were the most common competencies that students stated they needed to improve further. This research found that implementing the ESLP helped to develop students’ perceptions of their workplace and career competencies. The ESLP is therefore, recommended as one approach to helping universities to develop student's workplace and career competencies. © 2020. All rights reserved