Method of Estimating Costs of a Software Web Product

The costing of a product is a key factor in the marketing process. Its proper calculation can attract customers, which will ensure a company’s life and its business expansion. These considerations have driven the Centre for the Study of software Engineering at Universidad de la Frontera (CEIS-UFRO) to develop a method to define the cost of a web software product, based on use cases and productivity. This method is adaptable to the particular characteristics of any development process, any development team, any product and any company.This article describes the method and performs an initial validation by describing a quasi-experiment designed for Web applications developed by groups of three to five people. We have proved that: a. the method may be reproduced,b. effort estimation is sensitive to the definition of productivity, c. the subjectivity introduced by the estimators does not invalidate the method. For a complete validation of this method, different web products and a larger number of estimatorswith different levels of experience should be incorporated in a future replication.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Method of Estimating Costs of a Software Web Product

The costing of a product is a key factor in the marketing process. Its proper calculation can attract customers, which will ensure a company’s life and its business expansion. These considerations have driven the Centre for the Study of software Engineering at Universidad de la Frontera (CEIS-UFRO) to develop a method to define the cost of a web software product, based on use cases and productivity. This method is adaptable to the particular characteristics of any development process, any development team, any product and any company.This article describes the method and performs an initial validation by describing a quasi-experiment designed for Web applications developed by groups of three to five people. We have proved that: a. the method may be reproduced,b. effort estimation is sensitive to the definition of productivity, c. the subjectivity introduced by the estimators does not invalidate the method. For a complete validation of this method, different web products and a larger number of estimatorswith different levels of experience should be incorporated in a future replication.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Método de estimación de costos de un producto de software web

La determinación de costos de un producto es un aspecto clave en todo proceso de comercialización. Un cálculo adecuado permite ganar clientes asegurando la vida y expansión de las empresas. Estos aspectos han motivado al Centro de Estudios de Ingeniería de Software de la Universidad de la Frontera (CEIS-UFRO) a desarrollar un método que partiendo de una especificación de requerimientos basada en casos de uso y la productividad, llega a definir el costo de un producto de software transaccional Web. Es un método que es adapta-ble a las características particulares del proceso de desarrollo, del grupo de desarrollo, del producto y de la empresa. El presente artículo describe en forma completa el método y realiza una validación inicial por medio de un cuasiexperimento, desarrollado para aplicaciones Web y grupos de desarrollo de 3 a 5 personas. Se concluye: a.es posible reproducir el método, b. la estimación de esfuerzo es sensible a la definición de un valor de productividad, c. la subjetividad introducida por los estimadores no invalida el método, d. es necesario para obtener una validación completa del método incorporar en futuras replicar productos web diferentes y una mayor cantidad de estimadores con diferentes niveles de experiencia.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Método de estimación de costos de un producto de software web

La determinación de costos de un producto es un aspecto clave en todo proceso de comercialización. Un cálculo adecuado permite ganar clientes asegurando la vida y expansión de las empresas. Estos aspectos han motivado al Centro de Estudios de Ingeniería de Software de la Universidad de la Frontera (CEIS-UFRO) a desarrollar un método que partiendo de una especificación de requerimientos basada en casos de uso y la productividad, llega a definir el costo de un producto de software transaccional Web. Es un método que es adapta-ble a las características particulares del proceso de desarrollo, del grupo de desarrollo, del producto y de la empresa. El presente artículo describe en forma completa el método y realiza una validación inicial por medio de un cuasiexperimento, desarrollado para aplicaciones Web y grupos de desarrollo de 3 a 5 personas. Se concluye: a.es posible reproducir el método, b. la estimación de esfuerzo es sensible a la definición de un valor de productividad, c. la subjetividad introducida por los estimadores no invalida el método, d. es necesario para obtener una validación completa del método incorporar en futuras replicar productos web diferentes y una mayor cantidad de estimadores con diferentes niveles de experiencia.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Método de estimación de costos de un producto de software web

La determinación de costos de un producto es un aspecto clave en todo proceso de comercialización. Un cálculo adecuado permite ganar clientes asegurando la vida y expansión de las empresas. Estos aspectos han motivado al Centro de Estudios de Ingeniería de Software de la Universidad de la Frontera (CEIS-UFRO) a desarrollar un método que partiendo de una especificación de requerimientos basada en casos de uso y la productividad, llega a definir el costo de un producto de software transaccional Web. Es un método que es adapta-ble a las características particulares del proceso de desarrollo, del grupo de desarrollo, del producto y de la empresa. El presente artículo describe en forma completa el método y realiza una validación inicial por medio de un cuasiexperimento, desarrollado para aplicaciones Web y grupos de desarrollo de 3 a 5 personas. Se concluye: a.es posible reproducir el método, b. la estimación de esfuerzo es sensible a la definición de un valor de productividad, c. la subjetividad introducida por los estimadores no invalida el método, d. es necesario para obtener una validación completa del método incorporar en futuras replicar productos web diferentes y una mayor cantidad de estimadores con diferentes niveles de experiencia.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Intravitreal bevacizumab in diabetic retinopathy. Recommendations from the Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group (PACORES): The 2016 knobloch lecture

The advent of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medications has revolutionized the treatment of diabetic eye diseases. Herein, we report the outcomes of clinical studies carried out by the Pan-American Collaborative Retina Study Group (PACORES), with a specific focus on the efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in the management of diabetic macular edema and proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We will also discuss the use of intravitreal bevaci-zumab as a preoperative, adjuvant therapy before vitrectomy for prolif-erative diabetic retinopathy. Copyright © 2017 by Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Serum levels of adiponectin and leptin as biomarkers of proteinuria in lupus nephritis

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>There are controversial results about the role of serum leptin and adiponectin levels as biomarkers of the severity of proteinuria in lupus nephritis.</p><p>Objective</p><p>The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin levels with severity of proteinuria secondary to lupus nephritis (LN).</p><p>Methods</p><p>In a cross-sectional study, 103 women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated for kidney involvement. We compared 30 SLE patients with LN, all of them with proteinuria, versus 73 SLE patients without renal involvement (no LN). A comprehensive set of clinical and laboratory variables was assessed, including serum levels of leptin and adiponectin by ELISA. Multivariate analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders associated with proteinuria in LN.</p><p>Results</p><p>We found higher adiponectin levels in the LN group compared with the no LN group (20.4 ± 10.3 vs 15.6 ± 7.8 μg/mL; p = 0.02), whereas no differences were observed in leptin levels (33.3 ± 31.4 vs 22.5 ± 25.5 ng/mL; p = 0.07). Severity of proteinuria correlated with an increase in adiponectin levels (r = 0.31; p = 0.001), but no correlation was observed with leptin. Adiponectin levels were not related to anti-dsDNA or anti-nucleosome antibodies. In the logistic regression, adiponectin levels were associated with a high risk of proteinuria in SLE (OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.01–1.12; p = 0.02). Instead, leptin was not associated with LN.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>These findings indicate that adiponectin levels are useful markers associated with proteinuria in LN. Further longitudinal studies are required to identify if these levels are predictive of renal relapse.</p></div