Proof Tactics for Theorem Proving Graph Grammars through Rodin

Graph grammar is a formal language suitable for the specification of distributed and concurrent systems. Theorem proving is a technique that allows the verification of systems with huge (and infinite) state space. One of the disadvantages of theorem proving graph grammars (and theorem proving in general) is the specific mathematical knowledge required from the user for concluding the proofs. Previous works have proposed proof strategies to help the developer in the verification process when adopting such approach, firstly establishing proof tactics for some properties and after proposing a visual representation for them. This paper extends the set of proposed tactics, with the aim of expanding the available strategies and encouraging the use of such a technique

A Graph Grammar to Transform a Dataflow Graph into a Multithread Graph and its Application in Task Scheduling

The scheduling of tasks in a parallel program is an NP-complete problem, where scheduling tasks over multiple processing units requires an effective strategy to maximize the exploitation of the parallel hardware. Several studies focus on the scheduling of parallel programs described into DAGs (Directed Acyclic Graphs). However, this representation does not describe a multithreaded program suitably. This paper shows the structure and semantics of a DCG, an abstraction which describes a multithreaded program, and proposes standards to map structures found in DAGs into segments of a DCG. A graph grammar has been developed to perform the proposed transformation and case studies using DAGs found in the literature validate the transformation process. Besides the automatic translation and precise definition of the mapping, the use of a formal language also allowed the verification of the existence and uniqueness of the out coming model.

Business process modelling and visualisation to support e-government decision making: Business/IS alignment

© 2017 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57487-5_4.Alignment between business and information systems plays a vital role in the formation of dependent relationships between different departments in a government organization and the process of alignment can be improved by developing an information system (IS) according to the stakeholders’ expectations. However, establishing strong alignment in the context of the eGovernment environment can be difficult. It is widely accepted that business processes in the government environment plays a pivotal role in capturing the details of IS requirements. This paper presents a method of business process modelling through UML which can help to visualise and capture the IS requirements for the system development. A series of UML models have been developed and discussed. A case study on patient visits to a healthcare clinic in the context of eGovernment has been used to validate the models

From UML to SIMULINK CAAM: Formal Specification and Transformation Analysis

UML and Simulink are attractive languages for embedded systems design and modeling. An automatic mapping from UML models to Simulink would be an interesting resource in a seamless design flow, allowing designers to use UML asmodeling language for the whole system and at same time to use facilities for code generation based on Simulink. In a previous work, the UML to Simulink translation was prototyped using a Java implementation. In this paper, we present the formal definition of this translation using graph grammars, as well as its automation, which is supported by the AGG system. With the formalization of the metamodels and translation rules, we can guarantee the correctness of the translation. We also illustrate theeffectiveness of our methodology by means of a case study

Adaptação cultural e validação do Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life (NeuroQol) para a língua portuguesa do Brasil - Fase 1

This methodological study aimed to adapt the Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life instrument - NeuroQol to Brazilian Portuguese and to analyze its psychometric properties. Participants were 50 people with peripheral diabetic neuropathy and foot ulcers. The floor and ceiling effects, the convergent and discriminant validity and the reliability were analyzed. The Cronbachs alpha coefficient was used to test the reliability and the Pearsons correlation coefficient to estimate the convergent validity, the Students t test was used to evaluate the discriminant validity in the comparison of the NeuroQol scores between participants with and without ulcers. Floor and ceiling effects were found in some domains of the NeuroQol. The reliability was satisfactory. The correlations between the domains of the NeuroQol and the SF-36 were negative, significant and of moderate to strong magnitude. The findings show that the Brazilian version of the NeuroQol is reliable and valid and may be employed as a useful tool for improving nursing care for people with DM.Estudio metodológico que tuvo como objetivos adaptar el Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life - NeuroQol para el idioma portugués de Brasil y analizar sus propiedades psicométricas. Participaron 50 personas con neuropatía diabética periférica y úlceras en los pies. Fueron analizados los efectos floor y ceiling, la validez convergente, la discriminante y la confiabilidad. Fue utilizado el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para comprobar la confiabilidad y la correlación de Pearson para estimar la validez convergente; el test t-Student fue empleado para evaluar la validez discriminante en la comparación de los puntajes del NeuroQol entre los participantes con y sin úlceras. Se constataron efectos floor y ceiling en algunos dominios del NeuroQol. La confiabilidad fue satisfactoria. Las correlaciones entre los dominios del NeuroQol y SF-36 fueron negativas, significativas, de moderada a fuerte magnitud. Los hallazgos evidencian que la versión brasileña del NeuroQol es confiable y válida y podrá ser utilizado como una herramienta útil para la mejoría de la asistencia de enfermería para las personas con DM.Trata-se de estudo metodológico que teve como objetivos adaptar o Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life - NeuroQol para a língua portuguesa do Brasil, e analisar suas propriedades psicométricas. Participaram 50 pessoas com neuropatia diabética periférica e úlceras nos pés. Foram analisados os efeitos floor e ceiling, a validade convergente, a discriminante e a confiabilidade. Foi utilizado o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para testar a confiabilidade e o de correlação de Pearson para estimar a validade convergente; o teste t-Student foi empregado para avaliar a validade discriminante, na comparação dos escores do NeuroQol entre os participantes com e sem úlceras. Constataram-se efeitos floor e ceiling em alguns domínios do NeuroQol. A confiabilidade foi satisfatória. As correlações entre os domínios do NeuroQol e SF-36 foram negativas, significativas, de moderada a forte magnitude. Os achados evidenciam que a versão brasileira do NeuroQol é confiável e válida, e que ele poderá ser utilizado como ferramenta útil para melhoria da assistência de enfermagem para as pessoas com DM

The relationship between cadence, pedalling technique and gross efficiency in cycling

Technique and energy saving are two variables often considered as important for performance in cycling and related to each other. Theoretically, excellent pedalling technique should give high gross efficiency (GE). The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between pedalling technique and GE. 10 well-trained cyclists were measured for GE, force effectiveness (FE) and dead centre size (DC) at a work rate corresponding to ~75% of VO2max during level and inclined cycling, seat adjusted forward and backward, at three different cadences around their own freely chosen cadence (FCC) on an ergometer. Within subjects, FE, DC and GE decreased as cadence increased (p < 0.001). A strong relationship between FE and GE was found, which was to great extent explained by FCC. The relationship between cadence and both FE and GE, within and between subjects, was very similar, irrespective of FCC. There was no difference between level and inclined cycling position. The seat adjustments did not affect FE, DC and GE or the relationship between them. Energy expenditure is strongly coupled to cadence, but force effectiveness, as a measure for pedalling technique, is not likely the cause of this relationship. FE, DC and GE are not affected by body orientation or seat adjustments, indicating that these parameters and the relationship between them are robust to coordinative challenges within a range of cadence, body orientation and seat position that is used in regular cycling

Identifying common and specific microRNAs expressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cell of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud Regardless the regulatory function of microRNAs (miRNA), their differential expression pattern has been used to define miRNA signatures and to disclose disease biomarkers. To address the question of whether patients presenting the different types of diabetes mellitus could be distinguished on the basis of their miRNA and mRNA expression profiling, we obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) RNAs from 7 type 1 (T1D), 7 type 2 (T2D), and 6 gestational diabetes (GDM) patients, which were hybridized to Agilent miRNA and mRNA microarrays. Data quantification and quality control were obtained using the Feature Extraction software, and data distribution was normalized using quantile function implemented in the Aroma light package. Differentially expressed miRNAs/mRNAs were identified using Rank products, comparing T1DxGDM, T2DxGDM and T1DxT2D. Hierarchical clustering was performed using the average linkage criterion with Pearson uncentered distance as metrics.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud The use of the same microarrays platform permitted the identification of sets of shared or specific miRNAs/mRNA interaction for each type of diabetes. Nine miRNAs (hsa-miR-126, hsa-miR-1307, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-142-5p, hsa-miR-144, hsa-miR-199a-5p, hsa-miR-27a, hsa-miR-29b, and hsa-miR-342-3p) were shared among T1D, T2D and GDM, and additional specific miRNAs were identified for T1D (20 miRNAs), T2D (14) and GDM (19) patients. ROC curves allowed the identification of specific and relevant (greater AUC values) miRNAs for each type of diabetes, including: i) hsa-miR-1274a, hsa-miR-1274b and hsa-let-7f for T1D; ii) hsa-miR-222, hsa-miR-30e and hsa-miR-140-3p for T2D, and iii) hsa-miR-181a and hsa-miR-1268 for GDM. Many of these miRNAs targeted mRNAs associated with diabetes pathogenesis.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud These results indicate that PBMC can be used as reporter cells to characterize the miRNA expression profiling disclosed by the different diabetes mellitus manifestations. Shared miRNAs may characterize diabetes as a metabolic and inflammatory disorder, whereas specific miRNAs may represent biological markers for each type of diabetes, deserving further attention.This study was funded by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP - (FAPESP #2008/56594-8, FAPESP #2010/05622-1, FAPESP #210/00932-2, FAPESP #2010/12069-7), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq # 563731/2010-9), and NAP-DIN (Núcleo de Apoio à Pesquisa em Doenças Inflamatórias)

Comparison of venous plasma glycemia and capillary glycemia for the screening of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Japanese-Brazilian community of Mombuca (Guatapará-SP)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify the most appropriate cut-off points of fasting glycemia for the screening of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) with the comparison of the properties of capillary glycemia (CG) and venous blood plasma glycemia (PG) in a population of Japanese origin from the community of Mombuca, Guatapará - SP, Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a population-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 131 individuals of both genders aged 20 years or more (66.8% of the target population). CG was measured with a glucometer in a blood sample obtained from the fingertip and PG was determined by an enzymatic method (hexokinase) in venous blood plasma, after a 10-14 hour fast in both cases. Data were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in order to identify the best cut-off point for fasting glycemia (CG and PG) for the diagnosis of DM, using the 2-hour plasma glycemia > 200 mg/dl as gold - standard.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ROC curve revealed that the best cut-off point for the screening of DM was 110 mg/dl for CG and 105 mg/dl for PG, values that would optimize the relation between individuals with positive and false-positive results. The area under the ROC curve was 0.814 for CG (p < 0.01) and 0.836 for PG (p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The cut-off points of 105 mg/dl(5.8 mmol/l) for PG and of 110 mg/dl(6.1 mmol/l) for CG appear to be the most appropriate for the screening of DM2 in the population under study, with emphasis on the fact that the value recommended for CG is 5 mg/dl higher than that for PG, in contrast to WHO recommendations.</p

Detection of regulator genes and eQTLs in gene networks

Genetic differences between individuals associated to quantitative phenotypic traits, including disease states, are usually found in non-coding genomic regions. These genetic variants are often also associated to differences in expression levels of nearby genes (they are "expression quantitative trait loci" or eQTLs for short) and presumably play a gene regulatory role, affecting the status of molecular networks of interacting genes, proteins and metabolites. Computational systems biology approaches to reconstruct causal gene networks from large-scale omics data have therefore become essential to understand the structure of networks controlled by eQTLs together with other regulatory genes, and to generate detailed hypotheses about the molecular mechanisms that lead from genotype to phenotype. Here we review the main analytical methods and softwares to identify eQTLs and their associated genes, to reconstruct co-expression networks and modules, to reconstruct causal Bayesian gene and module networks, and to validate predicted networks in silico.Comment: minor revision with typos corrected; review article; 24 pages, 2 figure