Multilevel Contracts for Trusted Components

This article contributes to the design and the verification of trusted components and services. The contracts are declined at several levels to cover then different facets, such as component consistency, compatibility or correctness. The article introduces multilevel contracts and a design+verification process for handling and analysing these contracts in component models. The approach is implemented with the COSTO platform that supports the Kmelia component model. A case study illustrates the overall approach.Comment: In Proceedings WCSI 2010, arXiv:1010.233

До 85-річчя Ісаака Бенціоновича Клеймана

У 2006 р. виповнилося 85 років одному з найшановніших археологів Одеси, відомому досліднику стародавньої Тіри Ісааку Бенціоновичу Клейману

0304: How long should we keep a temporary pace maker after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)

A temporary pace-maker (TPM) is often used after TAVR due to the risk of atrioventricular block (AVB) in the following days, related to progressive conduction system injuries. However guidelines are unclear as when to safely remove it. Between 2013 and 2014, 195 patients without previous permanent pacemaker, were prospectively followed after TAVR (69 Edwards Sapiens (ES) and 126 CoreValve (CV)). 47 had preoperative bundle branch block, 23 left (LBBB), 24 right sided (RBBB). Peri-operative high degree AVB was noted in 37 patients (20%). 24 were transient, less than 10mn and; 13 persisted at the end of the procedure and were implanted with a permanent pace-maker. New LBBB was observed in 55 patients (28%). In the post-operative period, 23 patients (13%) developped AVB (20 patients within 5 days, and 3 patients after 7 days) (4 ES and 19 CV). No new AV block had occurred at one month in the remaining population. Risk factors for late AVB were peri-operative transient AVB (40%), post-operative RBBB (30%), or LBBB (20%); preexistent RBBB and Corevalve model. Conversely 41 of the 42 patients without AVB or bundle branch block did not need temporary pacing in the post operative time. The only patient without any perioperative event who developed a late AV block at day 7 had a CV inserted in an old surgical valve. However, sinus dysfunction occurred in 2 patients treated with amiodarone for atrial fibrillation in the post operative period, needing temporary pacing. Conclusion: The use of TPM after TAVR is common for the management of delayed high degree AVB. The main risk factors are peri-operative AVB and post-operative BBB. Most of delayed AVB occur within 5 days. Later AVB preceded by prolonged PR interval and BBB should increase the length of TPM. However, in the absence of these factors TPM could be shortened.Abstract 0304 – Figure: Time occurence of AVB (CV=Corevalve, ES=Sapien

La maîtrise des invasions biologiques : un modèle bio-économigue appliqué à la jussie

Diffusion du document : INRA Station d'Economie et Sociologie rurales 65 rue de Saint-Brieuc 35042 Rennes Cedex (FRA)La prolifération d'espèces invasives non indigènes soulève des problèmes écologiques et économiques très importants, dans la plupart des continents et pays du monde. Il peut s'agir d'espèces animales ou végétales,terrestres ou aquatiques. Les invasions biologiques sont à l'origine de la dégradation des écosystèmes et des fluxde services écologiques : modification de la biodiversité et des habitats en liaison avec la compétition entreespèces, altération de la qualité de l'eau et modification du régime des eaux, dans le cas d'espèces aquatiques,etc.. A ces altérations des écosystèmes correspondent des dommages économiques imposés aux activitéshumaines ayant pour support les actifs naturels subissant ces perturbations

Chronic Eczematous Eruptions of the Elderly Are Associated with Chronic Exposure to Calcium Channel Blockers: Results from a Case–Control Study

It has been suggested that chronic eczematous eruptions of the elderly could be associated with chronic drug exposure. To determine the drugs associated with these eruptions, we conducted a case–control study on 102 cases and 204 controls. Cases were consecutive patients older than 60 years presenting with an eczematous eruption that had evolved continuously or recurrently for more than 3 months without a reliable cause. Two controls were matched to each case on age, sex, in/outpatient origin, and center. Information about drug exposure was obtained from patients and their pharmacists. Drug use for more than 3 months within the year preceding the eruption was compared between cases and controls. An association was found between calcium channel blockers (CCB) and eczema, with a matched OR (odds ratio) of 2.5 (95% CI (confidence interval): 1.3–4.6). To ascertain the course of patients after CCB withdrawal, two ancillary studies were performed on 74 patients with eczematous eruptions from our department before the case–control study period, and on 101 patients registered in the French “Pharmacovigilance” database. Healing of these eruptions after CCB withdrawal occurred in 83 and 68% of these cases, respectively. The long-term use of CCB is a risk factor for chronic eczematous eruptions of the elderly

Measuring stellar granulation during planet transits

Context. Stellar activity and convection-related surface structures might cause bias in planet detection and characterization that use these transits. Surface convection simulations help to quantify the granulation signal. Aims. We used realistic three-dimensional (3D) radiative hydrodynamical (RHD) simulations from the Stagger grid and synthetic images computed with the radiative transfer code Optim3D to model the transits of three prototype planets: a hot Jupiter, a hot Neptune, and a terrestrial planet. Methods. We computed intensity maps from RHD simulations of the Sun and a K-dwarf star at different wavelength bands from optical to far-infrared that cover the range of several ground-and space-based telescopes which observe exoplanet transits. We modeled the transit using synthetic stellar-disk images obtained with a spherical-tile imaging method and emulated the temporal variation of the granulation intensity generating random images covering a granulation time-series of 13.3 h. We measured the contribution of the stellar granulation on the light curves during the planet transit. Results. We identified two types of granulation noise that act simultaneously during the planet transit: (i) the intrinsic change in the granulation pattern with timescale (e.g., 10 min for solar-type stars assumed in this work) is smaller than the usual planet transit (~hours as in our prototype cases); and (ii) the fact that the transiting planet occults isolated regions of the photosphere that differ in local surface brightness as a result of convective-related surface structures. First, we showed that our modeling approach returns granulation timescale fluctuations that are comparable with what has been observed for the Sun. Then, our statistical approach shows that the granulation pattern of solar and K-dwarf-type stars have a non-negligible effect of the light curve depth during the transit, and, consequentially on the determination of the planet transit parameters such as the planet radius (up to 0.90% and ~0.47% for terrestrial and gaseous planets, respectively). We also showed that larger (or smaller) orbital inclination angles with respect to values corresponding to transit at the stellar center display a shallower transit depth and longer ingress and egress times, but also granulation fluctuations that are correlated to the center-to-limb variation: they increase (or decrease) the value of the inclination, which amplifies the fluctuations. The granulation noise appears to be correlated among the different wavelength ranges either in the visible or in the infrared regions. Conclusions. The prospects for planet detection and characterization with transiting methods are excellent with access to large amounts of data for stars. The granulation has to be considered as an intrinsic uncertainty (as a result of stellar variability) on the precise measurements of exoplanet transits of planets. The full characterization of the granulation is essential for determining the degree of uncertainty on the planet parameters. In this context, the use of 3D RHD simulations is important to measure the convection-related fluctuations. This can be achieved by performing precise and continuous observations of stellar photometry and radial velocity, as we explained with RHD simulations, before, after, and during the transit period

060 Plasma aldosterone levels predict long-term clinical outcome after percutaneous coronary revascularization

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is a major therapeutic target in coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent data suggest that plasma aldosterone has a high prognostic value in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We tested whether plasma aldosterone could predict clinical outcome in patients undergoing scheduled percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCR).MethodsFrom June 2001 to September 2002, we included all consecutive patients referred to Lille's University Hospital for scheduled PCR. Blood samples were taken during the PCR. The primary endpoint was cardiac death throughout at least 12 months of follow-up.Results807 patients were included, with a mean age of 61 years. Most were men (78%), smokers (71%). 32% were diabetics, mean LVEF was 58±15% and 93% received stents. 50% had stable angina. The mean plasma aldosterone level was 25(13-45)pg/mL. BMI (p=0.003), NYHA class>1 (p=0.0001) and elevated baseline troponine (p=0.01) were associated with increased aldosterone level. Old age (p=0.0001), normal GFR (p=0.01) and betablockers (p=0.01) were associated with decreased aldosterone level. The mean follow-up was 14.9 months and there were 40 cardiac deaths during this period. In multivariate analysis, old age (HR=1.42, p=0.04), low LVEF (HR=1.58, p=0.001), diabetes mellitus (HR=2.2, p=0.04), a recent history of ACS (HR=3.23, p=0.02), high usCRP (HR=2.59, p=0.004) and high plasma aldosterone (HR=3.48, p=0.004) were independent predictors of cardiac mortality.ConclusionPlasma aldosterone level seems to have an independent prognostic value in patients referred for PCR and could be useful in determining the individual cardiovascular risk. Whether this is the result of direct deleterious effects (promotion of endothelial dysfunction, pro-fibrotic, pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic effects) or the marker of a global activation of the neuroendocrine system remains to be determined. However plasma aldosterone appears to be an attractive risk marker in CAD

WNT11, a new gene associated with early-onset osteoporosis, is required for osteoblastogenesis.

Monogenic early-onset osteoporosis (EOOP) is a rare disease defined by low bone mineral density (BMD) that results in increased risk of fracture in children and young adults. Although several causative genes have been identified, some of the EOOP causation remains unresolved. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a de novo heterozygous loss-of-function mutation in WNT11 (NM_004626.2:c.677_678dup p.Leu227Glyfs*22) in a 4-year-old boy with low BMD and fractures. We identified two heterozygous WNT11 missense variants (NM_004626.2:c.217G > A p.Ala73Thr) and (NM_004626.2:c.865G > A p.Val289Met) in a 51-year-old woman and in a 61-year-old woman respectively, both with bone fragility. U2OS cells with heterozygous WNT11 mutation (NM_004626.2:c.690_721delfs*40) generated by CRISPR-Cas9 showed reduced cell proliferation (30%) and osteoblast differentiation (80%) as compared with wild-type U2OS cells. The expression of genes in the Wnt canonical and non-canonical pathways was inhibited in these mutant cells, but recombinant WNT11 treatment rescued the expression of Wnt pathway target genes. Furthermore, the expression of RSPO2, a WNT11 target involved in bone cell differentiation, and its receptor LGR5, was decreased in WNT11 mutant cells. Treatment with WNT5A and WNT11 recombinant proteins reversed LGR5 expression, but WNT3A recombinant protein treatment had no effect on LGR5 expression in mutant cells. Moreover, treatment with recombinant RSPO2 but not WNT11 or WNT3A activated the canonical pathway in mutant cells. In conclusion, we have identified WNT11 as a new gene responsible for EOOP, with loss-of-function variant inhibiting bone formation via Wnt canonical and non-canonical pathways. WNT11 may activate Wnt signaling by inducing the RSPO2-LGR5 complex via the non-canonical Wnt pathway

A conformação dos ecomuseus: elementos para compreensão e análise

Apresenta uma história dos ecomuseus enraizado nos movimentos de folclore e etnografia regional, do final do século XIX até os dias de hoje, examinando o caso francês. Explora aspectos em geral menos enfatizados neste campo, tal como a natureza e o papel atribuído aos acervos e ao patrimônio cultural e padrões museográticos