A DevOps approach to integration of software components in an EU research project

We present a description of the development and deployment infrastructure being created to support the integration effort of HARNESS, an EU FP7 project. HARNESS is a multi-partner research project intended to bring the power of heterogeneous resources to the cloud. It consists of a number of different services and technologies that interact with the OpenStack cloud computing platform at various levels. Many of these components are being developed independently by different teams at different locations across Europe, and keeping the work fully integrated is a challenge. We use a combination of Vagrant based virtual machines, Docker containers, and Ansible playbooks to provide a consistent and up-to-date environment to each developer. The same playbooks used to configure local virtual machines are also used to manage a static testbed with heterogeneous compute and storage devices, and to automate ephemeral larger-scale deployments to Grid5000. Access to internal projects is managed by GitLab, and automated testing of services within Docker-based environments and integrated deployments within virtual-machines is provided by Buildbot

Cultural Heritage analysis using Synchrotron Radiaon: case studies in Ceramics, Glasses, and Lithologic Materials

ABSTRACT: Synchrotron radiaton is a powerful tool for non‐destructve analysis of materials in cultural heritage research. It has revolutonized our ability to understand the compositon, structure, and history of cultural heritage objects, leading to significant advances in fields such as archaeology, art conservation, and materials science. Dedicated beamlines for cultural heritage research are available at synchrotron facilites around the world, such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), SOLEIL synchrotron, and ALBA synchrotron, providing specialized support and instrumentation for high‐resolution analysis of cultural heritage objects using various techniques, such as X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray imaging.N/

Qual o Papel dos Bloqueadores-Beta numa Coorte de Tratamento Contemporânea de Doentes com Síndrome Coronária Aguda? Análise de Emparelhamento de Score de Propensão

INTRODUCTION: The evidence for beta-blocker use in patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), particularly in those with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, dates from the late 1990s. We aimed to assess the role of beta-blockers in a contemporary population of patients with ACS. METHODS: Propensity-score matching (1:2) was performed for the use of beta-blockers in a population of consecutive patients admitted to our department with ACS. After matching, 1520 patients were analyzed. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of beta-blocker use on the primary outcome (one-year all-cause mortality). RESULTS: Patients who did not receive beta-blockers were less aggressively treated with other pharmacological and invasive interventions and had higher one-year mortality (20.3% vs. 7.5%). Beta-blocker use was an independent predictor of mortality, with a significant relative risk reduction of 56%. The other independent predictors were age, diabetes, LV dysfunction, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and creatinine on admission. The impact of beta-blockers was significant for all classes of LV function, including patients with normal or mildly reduced ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: In a contemporary ACS population, we confirmed the benefits of beta-blocker use after ACS, including in patients with normal or mildly to moderately impaired LV function.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Testing the feasibility of titanium dioxide sol-gel coatings on portuguese glazed tiles to prevent biological colonization

Historical glazed wall tiles are a unique vehicle of artistic expression that can be found outdoors, integrating the buildings of many countries, therefore they are often subjected to biodeterioration. In this work, the applicability of protective coatings on glazed tiles to prevent biological colonization was evaluated. Thin films of titanium dioxide (TiO2) obtained by sol-gel were applied on glazed tiles to appraise its anti-biofouling properties and to evaluate their suitability for cultural heritage application. The TiO2 coating was tested on four different Portuguese glazed tiles and a modern tile. The chemical and mineralogical characterization of the glaze and ceramic body of the tiles was examined by wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (WDXRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The produced TiO2 coating was chemically and morphologically characterized by micro Raman spectroscopy (µ-Raman) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The anti-biofouling properties of the TiO2 treatment were evaluated by inoculating the fungus Cladosporium sp. on the glazed tiles. Potential chromatic and mineralogical alterations induced by the treatment were assessed by color measurements and XRD. The TiO2 coating did not prevent fungal growth and caused aesthetical alterations on the glazed tiles. A critical analysis evidenced that the tested coating was not suitable for cultural heritage application and highlighted the challenges of developing protective coatings for glazed tiles

Characterization and Evaluation of Layered Bi2WO6 Nanosheets as a New Antibacterial Agent

Background: Pathogenic microorganisms are causing increasing cases of mortality and morbidity, along with alarming rates of ineffectiveness as a result of acquired antimicrobial resistance. Bi2WO6 showed good potential to be used as an antibacterial substance when exposed to visible light. This study demonstrates for the first time the dimension-dependent antibacterial activity of layered Bi2WO6 nanosheets. Materials and methods: The synthesized layered Bi2WO6 nanosheets were prepared by the hydrothermal method and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Antibacterial and antibiotic-modulation activities were performed in triplicate by the microdilution method associated with visible light irradiation (LEDs). Results: Bi2WO6 nanosheets were effective against all types of bacteria tested, with MIC values of 256 µg/mL against Escherichia coli standard and resistant strains, and 256 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus standard and resistant strains, respectively. Two-dimensional (2D) Bi2WO6 nanosheets showed antibacterial efficiency against both strains studied without the presence of light. Conclusions: Layered Bi2WO6 nanosheets revealed dimension-dependent antibacterial activity of the Bi2WO6 system.The authors thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico— CNPq, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES, and Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—FUNCAP (Proc. BP4-00172-00232.01.00/20 and Proc. PR2-0101-00006.01.00/15) for the financial support. The authors would also like to thank the educational institutions UFCA, URCA, and UNILEÃO for their support during the experiments

A simple method for estimating relative risk using logistic regression

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Odds ratios (OR) significantly overestimate associations between risk factors and common outcomes. The estimation of relative risks (RR) or prevalence ratios (PR) has represented a statistical challenge in multivariate analysis and, furthermore, some researchers do not have access to the available methods. Objective: To propose and evaluate a new method for estimating RR and PR by logistic regression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A provisional database was designed in which events were duplicated but identified as non-events. After, a logistic regression was performed and effect measures were calculated, which were considered RR estimations. This method was compared with binomial regression, Cox regression with robust variance and ordinary logistic regression in analyses with three outcomes of different frequencies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ORs estimated by ordinary logistic regression progressively overestimated RRs as the outcome frequency increased. RRs estimated by Cox regression and the method proposed in this article were similar to those estimated by binomial regression for every outcome. However, confidence intervals were wider with the proposed method.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This simple tool could be useful for calculating the effect of risk factors and the impact of health interventions in developing countries when other statistical strategies are not available.</p

Characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles in langmuir-blodgett films

In this work we have synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles, using either a sol–gel base catalysed process in the interior of CTAB reversed micelles (TiO2 CTAB sol), or the neutralization of a TiO2/H2SO4 solution in the interior of AOT reversed micelles. From the absorption and emission data of the TiO2 nanoparticles it is possible to conclude that in the sol–gel route there remains alkoxide groups in the structure, originating transitions lower than the energy gap of TiO2 semiconductor. These transitions disappear in the neutralization procedure, where the alkoxide groups are absent in the structure. We have assigned the observed indirect and direct optical transitions according to the anatase band structure. TiO2 Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films were prepared either by direct deposition of titanium isopropoxide or by deposition of the TiO2 CTAB sol. These films showed photoluminescence, which was attributed to band-gap emission and to surface recombination of defect states