Conformance Checking with Constraint Logic Programming: The Case of Feature Models

Developing high quality systems depends on developing high quality models. An important facet of model quality is their consistency with respect to their meta-model. We call the verification of this quality the conformance checking process. We are interested in the conformance checking of Product Line Models (PLMs). The problem in the context of product lines is that product models are not created by instantiating a meta-model: they are derived from PLMs. Therefore it is usually at the level of PLMs that conformance checking is applied. On the semantic level, a PLM is defined as the collection of all the product models that can be derived from it. Therefore checking the conformance of the PLM is equivalent to checking the conformance of all the product models. However, we would like to avoid this naïve approach because it is not scalable due to the high number of models. In fact, it is even sometimes infeasible to calculate the number of product models of a PLM. Despite the importance of PLM conformance checking, very few research works have been published and tools do not adequately support it. In this paper, we present an approach that employs Constraint Logic Programming as a technology on which to build a PLM conformance checking solution. The paper demonstrates the approach with feature models, the de facto standard for modeling software product lines. Based on an extensive literature review and an empirical study, we identified a set of 9 conformance checking rules and implemented them on the GNU Prolog constraints solver. We evaluated our approach by applying our rules to 50 feature models of sizes up to 10000 features. The evaluation showed that our approach is effective and scalable to industry size models

Modelos discretos de transmisión de COVID-19 y publicaciones preeliminares en la ciencia: una búsqueda sistematizada

In the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of 2019, a new respiratory disease known as COVID-19 emerged, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This disease spreads rapidly worldwide and presents numerous infections and deaths; therefore, the World Health Organization upgraded its category from epidemic to pandemic because of alarming levels of spread, severity, and inaction. Given this situation, different areas of science have approached the study of this disease, among them is mathematical epidemiology through the modeling of the phenomenon; therefore, in this document, we performed a systematic review related to transmission models of COVID-19, specifically discrete models because of the daily report of infection cases around the world. We identified different important disease features implemented in the models, e.g., metapopulations, migration, quarantine, inclusion of latency, and incubation periods, among others. Also, we identified its basic structure, and we found that many papers directly used SIR and SEIR models with no modification, being an excessive simplification of the COVID-19 transmission phenomenon. Likewise, some authors highlighted an important problem during the application of mathematical models: the quality or absence of the daily case data in some affected countries. Finally, the mathematical models should be constantly updated together with the publication of research related to virology and epidemiology of the disease.A finales del año 2019, en la ciudad china de Wuhan, emergió una nueva enfermedad respiratoria conocida como COVID-19 que es producida por el virus SARS-CoV-2, similar al virus causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV). Actualmente, esta enfermedad se esparció rápidamente a nivel mundial y ha presentado una gran cantidad de afectados en diferentes regiones del mundo; por lo tanto, la Organización Mundial de la Salud elevó su categoría de epidemia a pandemia debido a los niveles alarmantes de propagación, gravedad e inacción. Dada esta situación, diferentes áreas de la ciencia han abordado su estudio, entre ellas esta la epidemiología matemática a través del modelado del fenómeno; por lo tanto en el presente documento se realizó una revisión sistematizada de literatura relacionada a modelos de transmisión del COVID-19, específicamente modelos discretos debido a la naturaleza de reporte diaria de casos de la enfermedad en diferentes localidades del mundo. Se lograron identificar diferentes características importantes de la enfermedad que son implementadas en los modelos matemáticos: división por grupos etarios, metapoblaciones, migración, cuarentena, inclusión de periodos de latencia e incubación, entre otros. Aun así, se encontró una gran cantidad de artículos que utilizaban directamente modelos SIR y SEIR sin ningún tipo de modificación, haciendo una simplificación desmedida del fenómeno de transmisión del COVID-19. Asimismo, se identificaron algunas problemáticas a la hora de implementar los modelos matemáticos: la presencia y calidad de los datos de casos diarios en algunos países afectados. Finalmente, se sugiere que los modelos matemáticos estén en constante actualización junto a la publicación de las investigaciones relacionadas con virología y epidemiología de la enfermedad

Fitodepuración con cuatro especies de macrófitas flotantes mediante el sistema de aireación a escala piloto de la laguna “mansión” de la Universidad Peruana Unión

Se realizó un estudio acerca de la fitodepuración de cuatro especies de macrófitas flotantes mediante un sistema de aireación a escala piloto. cómo objetivo es, evaluar la eficiencia en la fitodepuración con cuatro especies de macrófitas flotantes mediante un sistema de aireación a escala piloto de la laguna artificial de la Universidad Peruana Unión. La problemática es que el afluente de la laguna de la mansión arrastra consigo aguas residuales de origen doméstico clandestino con restos fecales, trozos de comida, residuos sólidos urbanos, además de la presencia de metales pesados., ya que su uso del agua es para riego en espacios verdes, y esto puede ser un riesgo para la salud del personal de la universidad. El desarrollo de la presente investigación permitirá proyectar viables y permanentes mecanismos que ayuden a evitar, de forma directa, el impacto ambiental negativo que se viene ejerciendo sobre la laguna de la mansión y la vida silvestre presente en su entorno. La metodología aplicada en esta, es tratar el agua de la laguna a través de la fitodepuración, utilizando cuatro especies de macrófitas. los parámetros físicos-químicos (DBO5, DQO, nitrógeno total, oxígeno disuelto, pH, SST y turbidez) y microbiológicos (coliformes fecales). en el (PT01, PT02, PT03, PT04, PT05 y PT06); se obtuvo una eficiencia de los parámetros físicos-químicos con promedio respectivamente (83.7%, 84.9%, 81.4%, 83.3%, 86.5% y 81.2%) y microbiológicos con promedio (99.9%, 97.5%, 99.9%, 99.9%, 99.9% y 99.9%).LIMAEscuela Profesional de Ingeniería AmbientalSaneamiento Ambiental y Tratamientos de agua

Effect of Chia Seed on Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Common Carp Restructured as Functional Food

Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of restructured meat of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fortified with 0-8 g/100 g of chia seed flour (CSF) was evaluated. It had a higher nutritional value (higher fibre content and protein retention] (p < 0.05) and better cooking characteristics (higher cooking yield and moisture retention) (p < 0.05) than the control. The colour (a*, b*) increased; lightness and whiteness index decrease (p < 0.05). Hardness increase (p < 0.05) occurred because of CSF addition. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that fibre fortification did not interfere with the thermal transitions of the restructured meat. No significant differences were detected with the preference test scores of 4% or 8% CSF compared with the control. Restructured (4%-8% CSF) had a higher content of fibre and fat, which could be linoleic and linolenic acid, and an increase in the content of protein compared with those of commercial products, among had 1.62 and 2.25 mg AGE/g. Therefore, the restructured properties of common carp were governed by CSF addition

Late myocardial reperfusion in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the most severe clinical form of acute myocardial infarction, for which the current treatment consists of effective and timely myocardial reperfusion (within 12 hours of symptom onset). However, between 10% and 15% of patients with STEMI arrive at hospital facilities 12 hours after the onset of symptoms (late presentation). Therefore, the objective of the present study will be to determine if late revascularisation (12-72 hours after the onset of symptoms) affects the indicators of cardiovascular mortality, reinfarction, recurrent infarction, hospitalisation for heart failure and post infarction angina compared with no late revascularisation in patients with STEMI. Methods and analysis A systematic literature search of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Scopus and Global Health will be conducted. Publications in English, Portuguese or Spanish that report the clinical results of primary percutaneous revascularisation (primary PCI) in adult patients with STEMI 12-72 hours after the onset of symptoms will be included. Studies with participants with a diagnosis other than STEMI or patients with STEMI of >12 hours complicated by heart failure, cardiogenic shock or ventricular arrhythmias, and studies of combined interventions (pharmacoinvasive strategy) were excluded. Two independent authors will identify the relevant publications, and discrepancies will be adjudicated by a third author. Data extraction will be performed by two independent authors and verified by a third author. Risk of bias of studies will be assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias' tool (RoB 2) or Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies - of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. If appropriate, a meta-analysis will be performed in order to examine the effect of late revascularisation in clinical outcomes of interest. Ethics and discussion This study will use published data only, thus, ethical approval will not be required. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations. PROSPERO registration number CRD42021283429.Revisión por pare

Efeito radioprotetor do piruvato de etila, sozinho ou como um coadjuvante de amifostina

Entre los radioprotectores con uso clínico se destaca la amifostina (WR- 2721), eficaz pero con efectos secundarios que impiden su uso repetitivo. Es interés de los autores desarrollar radioprotectores menos tóxicos, por sí mismos o como coadyuvantes de amifostina. Ratas machos o hembras se expusieron a una dosis de rayos X de 2 Gy. Se ensayó el piruvato de etilo, solo o conjuntamente con amifostina. Cuarenta y ocho horas después de la exposición a la radiación, se realizó el recuento de eritrocitos, de leucocitos y la fórmula leucocitaria. Los efectos genotóxicos se evaluaron en leucocitos de sangre mediante el ensayo Cometa. Se realizaron también estudios de supervivencia a 60 días post-irradiación. En los animales irradiados disminuyeron los eritrocitos, y el recuento de leucocitos se redujo drásticamente respecto al control, presentando además una fórmula alterada. El tratamiento con piruvato de etilo resultó en una protección de los eritrocitos en ambos sexos. El daño genético disminuyó significativamente por el tratamiento con piruvato de etilo solo o combinado con amifostina, y en hembras se observó una mayor supervivencia solo con el tratamiento combinado. El piruvato de etilo mostró una acción radioprotectora significativa, que podría mejorarse aumentando la dosis o el tiempo de tratamiento, ya que tiene muy baja toxicidad.Among the currently available radioprotectors, only amifostine (WR-2721) has shown in clinical trials to reduce radiation-induced toxicity. This compound is an efficient radioprotector but it exhibits some undesirable side effects which prevent its repetitive use. Efforts are directed to develop radioprotective agents with lower toxicity, with their own protective potential or suitable as coadyuvants of amifostine. The present study describes the results obtained by repetitive oral administration of ethyl pyruvate. Male or female rats were exposed to an X-ray dose of 2 Gy. Forty-eight hours after exposure to radiation, erythrocyte count, leukocyte and differential count were performed. Genotoxic effects were assessed in blood leukocytes by the Comet assay. Survival studies were also performed at 60 days post-irradiation. Eritrocyte and leukocyte were reduced in animals exposed to radiation compared to the control, also presenting an altered formula. Treatment with ethyl pyruvate resulted in a protection on erythrocytes of both sexes. Genetic damage was significantly decreased by ethyl pyruvate alone or combined with amifostine, and in females, higher survival was observed only with combined administration. Ethyl pyruvate showed a significant radioprotective action, which could be improved by increasing the dose or time of treatment because it has low toxicity.Entre os radioprotetores com uso clínico destaca-se a amifostina (WR-2721) eficaz mas com efeitos secundários que impedem seu uso repetitivo. O interesse dos autores é desenvolver radioprotetores menos tóxicos, por si mesmos ou como coadjuvantes de amistofina. Ratos machos ou fêmeas foram expostos a doses de raios X de 2Gy. Ensaiou-se o piruvato de etila, só ou junto com amifostina. Quarenta e oito horas após a exposição à radiação foi realizada a contagem de eritrócitos, de leucócitos e da fórmula leucocitária. Efeitos genotóxicos foram avaliados em leucócitos do sangue pelo Ensaio Cometa. Estudos de sobrevivência foram também realizados a 60 dias pós-irradiação. Nos animais irradiados diminuíram os eritrócitos, e a contagem de leucócitos se reduziu drasticamente em comparação com o controle, apresentando também uma fórmula alterada. O tratamento com piruvato de etila resultou numa proteção dos eritrócitos em ambos os sexos. O dano genético diminuiu significativamente pelo tratamento com piruvato de etila sozinho ou combinado com amifostina, e nas fêmeas se observou maior sobrevivência só com o tratamento combinado. O piruvato de etila mostrou uma ação radioprotetora significativa, que poderia ser melhorada pelo aumento da dose ou do tempo de tratamento, visto que tem baixa toxicidade.Fil: Maciel, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Quintans, Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Diaz Gomez, Maria Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Costantini, Martin Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Formosa Lemoine, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Montalto, Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Gabriel Diego. Ministerio de Defensa. Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Jose Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Gerardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa. Ministerio de Defensa. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo Estratégico para la Defensa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental; Argentin

In vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and energy utilization of three Mexican tree fodder species during the rainy and dry period

A factorial experimental design (3×2×3) was used to evaluate the effect of season of harvest and type of ruminal inoculums on in vitro ruminal fermentation kinetics and energy utilization of three browse tree foliages (Lysiloma acapulcencis, Quercus laeta and Pithecellobium dulce). Browse species were harvested during the dry season (DS) and rainy season (RS) and incubated with three different ruminal inoculums: cow, goats previously adapted (AG) or not adapted (UG) to browse species fed in their daily diet. Chemical composition, total condensed tannin (TCT), free-condensed tannin (free-CT), protein-bound condensed tannin (PCT), fiber-bound condensed tannin (FCT) as well as in vitro assaying of ruminal gas production kinetics was determined, while the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated. Crude protein (CP) was considerably higher (season×browse; P<0.001) during RS. P. dulce had the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDFom) and acid detergent fiber (ADFom) in both seasons, while L. acapulcencis had the highest values and Q. laeta values were intermediate, with an overall increase in fiber fractions in DS browse foliages (season×browse; P<0.001). TCT content in tree species revealed differences (P<0.01). FCT and PCT were lower in Q. laeta and P. dulce during the RS than in DS, lower (P<0.01) Free-CT fractions were observed in L. acapulcencis and Q. Laeta than in P. dulce, during both seasons. in vitro gas production parameters was increased (P<0.05) in DS than in RS in browses with low and medium tannins contents (i.e., P. dulce and Q. laeta); consequently, browses energy utilization (i.e., SCFA and ME) and organic matter degradability (OMD) as well as fermentation efficiency (i.e., partition factor; PF) were improved (P<0.05). Generally, P. dulce had the highest (P<0.001) ruminal fermentation parameters and energy utilization values (more in DS than RS), while lowest values were founded in L. acapulcencis. Ruminal fluid ofADandUGhad higher (P<0.001) browse ruminal fermentation kinetics, efficiency and energy utilization than cow’s rumen fluid. The browse fermentation and energy utilization was improved in DS versus in RS and the browse fermentation and utilization were highest (P<0.05) in AG ruminal fluid than the others. Our results suggested a better nutritive value of P. dulce and Q. laeta with low and medium tannins contents and high CP concentration in cows and goats during the DS. Goats previously fed browse species in diets had a better ability to degrade and ferment the browse species than other animals

Selecting salt-tolerant clones and evaluating genetic variability to obtain parents of new diploid and tetraploid germplasm in rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana K.)

We evaluated survival percentage under salt stress in 46 diploid and tetraploid clones of rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana K.) with the aim of obtaining salt tolerant clones. Fifteen clones were selected at 600 mM NaCl under hydroponic conditions. Survival percentage of the selected clones ranged between 50–100% and 50–75% for diploid and tetraploid clones, respectively. Genetic diversity among the 15 salt-tolerant clones was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). All tetraploid clones showed genetic diversity, whereas the diploid group included some genetically related clones. Clones tolerant at 600 mM NaCl and showed genetic diversity are proposed as parents for new synthetic varieties of each rhodesgrass ploidy.Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos VegetalesFil: Ribotta, Andrea Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Griffa, Sabrina Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Daniel Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Genética; ArgentinaFil: Carloni, Edgardo José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Lopez Colomba, Eliana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Tommasino, Exequiel Arturo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Mariana Paola. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Celina Mercedes. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; ArgentinaFil: Grunberg, Karina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales; Argentin