An approach for mapping the aspect state models to aspect-oriented code

Model-driven code generation allows rapid generation of precise code thus reducing the development effort and the delivery time. Consequently, model-driven code generation has been a topic of interest in varying perspectives. While model-driven code generation has been explored well in many domains, its full potential has not been exploited in the context of aspect-oriented software development. The existing approaches have mainly focused on code generation from class diagrams only. Code generation from class diagrams is straightforward as majority of the constructs involved in these diagrams are directly mapped to those in programming languages. However, code generated using class diagrams is limited to skeletons of classes and methods only and does not contain behavior. In this study, we use the state diagrams and propose a mapping of its constructs to AspectJ language. We use the Reusable Aspect Models notation for this purpose. The approach addresses the mapping of both structure and behavior, however, owing to their strength with respect to modeling the system behavior, it essentially focuses on the state diagrams encapsulated in these models. A detailed mapping of different features of the state diagrams is proposed. The approach is illustrated by means of aspect models and corresponding mapped code from an aspect-oriented implementation of a Remote Service Caller example. The implementation shows that the approach can effectively be applied to obtain code for complete structure and behavior modeled using Reusable Aspect Models

The case for launch of an international DNA-based birth cohort study

The global health agenda beyond 2015 will inevitably need to broaden its focus from mortality reduction to the social determinants of deaths, growing inequities among children and mothers, and ensuring the sustainability of the progress made against the infectious diseases. New research tools, including technologies that enable high-throughput genetic and ‘-omics’ research, could be deployed for better understanding of the aetiology of maternal and child health problems. The research needed to address those challenges will require conceptually different studies than those used in the past. It should be guided by stringent ethical frameworks related to the emerging collections of biological specimens and other health related information. We will aim to establish an international birth cohort which should assist low- and middle-income countries to use emerging genomic research technologies to address the main problems in maternal and child health, which are still major contributors to the burden of disease globally

Detection of Equine Herpesvirus Infection : Conventional Versus Molecular Approaches

Equine herpesvirus (EHV) are the highly contagious pathogens that infect both domestic and wild equine populations causing a major impact on equine industry worldwide. The methods for diagnosis of EHV have shown a vast improvement in the last decade. Although some conventional techniques are still applicable in certain cases, most of the clinical testing now focusing on rapid diagnosis by using the nucleic acid amplification-based techniques as major advances for the detection of EHV. The diagnosis of EHV does not only depend on clinical situation alone, but the suitability of diagnostic test is also vital for equine clinicians to make a decision regarding the specific treatments and control measures to be taken. Therefore, crucial understanding of the strengths and limitations of each assay are needed in order to interpret the results. Realizing the issue, this review intends to outline the clinical application of conventional approaches and the progress of the new molecular approaches. Relative advantages and limitations of each method have also been discussed

In Vivo Imaging of Tau Pathology Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Textural Analysis

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive characterization of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) could enhance patient management and the development of therapeutic strategies. Magnetic resonance imaging texture analysis (MRTA) has been used previously to extract texture descriptors from structural clinical scans in AD to determine cerebral tissue heterogeneity. In this study, we examined the potential of MRTA to specifically identify tau pathology in an AD mouse model and compared the MRTA metrics to histological measures of tau burden. METHODS: MRTA was applied to T2 weighted high-resolution MR images of nine 8.5-month-old rTg4510 tau pathology (TG) mice and 16 litter matched wild-type (WT) mice. MRTA comprised of the filtration-histogram technique, where the filtration step extracted and enhanced features of different sizes (fine, medium, and coarse texture scales), followed by quantification of texture using histogram analysis (mean gray level intensity, mean intensity, entropy, uniformity, skewness, standard-deviation, and kurtosis). MRTA was applied to manually segmented regions of interest (ROI) drawn within the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus regions and the level of tau burden was assessed in equivalent regions using histology. RESULTS: Texture parameters were markedly different between WT and TG in the cortex (E, p < 0.01, K, p < 0.01), the hippocampus (K, p < 0.05) and in the thalamus (K, p < 0.01). In addition, we observed significant correlations between histological measurements of tau burden and kurtosis in the cortex, hippocampus and thalamus. CONCLUSIONS: MRTA successfully differentiated WT and TG in brain regions with varying degrees of tau pathology (cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus) based on T2 weighted MR images. Furthermore, the kurtosis measurement correlated with histological measures of tau burden. This initial study indicates that MRTA may have a role in the early diagnosis of AD and the assessment of tau pathology using routinely acquired structural MR images

Common variation in the miR-659 binding-site of GRN is a major risk factor for TDP43-positive frontotemporal dementia

Loss-of-function mutations in progranulin (GRN) cause ubiquitin- and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43)-positive frontotemporal dementia (FTLD-U), a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting ∼10% of early-onset dementia patients. Here we expand the role of GRN in FTLD-U and demonstrate that a common genetic variant (rs5848), located in the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of GRN in a binding-site for miR-659, is a major susceptibility factor for FTLD-U. In a series of pathologically confirmed FTLD-U patients without GRN mutations, we show that carriers homozygous for the T-allele of rs5848 have a 3.2-fold increased risk to develop FTLD-U compared with homozygous C-allele carriers (95% CI: 1.50–6.73). We further demonstrate that miR-659 can regulate GRN expression in vitro, with miR-659 binding more efficiently to the high risk T-allele of rs5848 resulting in augmented translational inhibition of GRN. A significant reduction in GRN protein was observed in homozygous T-allele carriers in vivo, through biochemical and immunohistochemical methods, mimicking the effect of heterozygous loss-of-function GRN mutations. In support of these findings, the neuropathology of homozygous rs5848 T-allele carriers frequently resembled the pathological FTLD-U subtype of GRN mutation carriers. We suggest that the expression of GRN is regulated by miRNAs and that common genetic variability in a miRNA binding-site can significantly increase the risk for FTLD-U. Translational regulation by miRNAs may represent a common mechanism underlying complex neurodegenerative disorders

Comparative evaluation of semantic web service composition approaches

As web services are gaining more popularity over the web, there are multiple web services available for different tasks. At run time, the composition of these services based on the requester's functional and non-functional requirements is a difficult task due to the heterogeneous nature of results of the services. This paper introduced some requirements that when fulfilled, a successful composition process can be achieved. In order to find the best approach, various composition approaches on these requirements were evaluated. Suggestions were provided on what approach can be used in which scenario in order to gain the best results

Service discovery framework for distributed embedded real-time systems

Embedded systems are supporting the trend of moving away from centralised, high-cost products towards low-cost and high-volume products; yet, the non-functional constraints and the device heterogeneity can lead to system complexity. In this regard, Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is the best methodology for developing a loosely coupled, dynamic, flexible, distributed, and cost-effective application. SOA relies heavily on services, and the Semantic Web, as the advanced form of the Web, handles the application complexity and heterogeneity with the help of ontology. With an ever-increasing number of similar Web services in UDDI, a functional description of Web services is not sufficient for the discovery process. It is also difficult to rank the similar services based on their functionality. Therefore, the Quality of Service (QoS) description of Web services plays an important role in ranking services within many similar functional services. Context-awareness has been widely studied in embedded and real-time systems and can also play an important role in service ranking as an additional set of criteria. In addition, it can enhance human-computer interaction with the help of ontologies in distributed and heterogeneous environments. In order to address the issues involved in ranking similar services based on the QoS and context-awareness, the authors propose a service discovery framework for distributed embedded real-time systems in this chapter. The proposed framework considers user priorities, QoS, and the context-awareness to enable the user to select the best service among many functional similar services

Tensile properties of all-polymeric syntactic foam composites: Experimental characterization and mathematical modelling

All-polymer syntactic foams are studied under large strain cyclic and monotonic tensile loading in order to reveal their tensile stress-strain behaviour, recoverability, tensile strength, and elongation at break. The syntactic foam under study here consists of hollow thermoplastic microspheres (HTMs) of two distinct grades (551 and 920), with distributions of mean-wall thicknesses and diameters, embedded inside a polyurethane matrix in various volume fractions. Cyclic loading-unloading curves are recorded, revealing the level of viscoelasticity exhibited by the materials (which becomes a stronger effect with increasing volume fractions of HTMs) and indicating the level of repeatability of loading under large strain. Samples are also subjected to monotonic tensile loading in order to study their elongation at break. Higher volume fractions of HTMs increase the stiffness of the material and whilst it is observed that the materials are highly elastic over a wide range of tensile strains, damage arises at lower levels of strain for more highly filled materials. The HTM syntactic foams thus exhibit lower breaking strains compared to the neat matrix, which is attributed to matrix-microsphere interfacial debonding. Furthermore, by employing optimization techniques, linear elastic properties of the microspheres and an average shell thickness of the 551 grade are inferred by comparing experimental results to predictions from the Generalized Self-Consistent Method, incorporating polydispersity data on the size distribution of the microspheres. These results complement previous work which involved direct experimental measurements of the 920 grade shell thickness. Results also indicate that the characterization of microsphere properties is not critically dependent on access to high resolution microsphere diameter distribution data, provided that an accurate representative mean diameter is known.Comment: 31 pages, 14 figure

Pillar Stability Analysis at Missouri S&T Dolomitic Limestone Experimental Mine

The Missouri S&T Experimental Mine supports teaching and research initiatives in mining and geological engineering; is used by the U.S. Army and by the Department of Homeland Security for tests and research and; hosts more than 6,000 visitors each year for educational and public awareness purposes. The Experimental mine employs the room and pillar underground mining method to extract dolomitic limestone of Jefferson City formation. In room and pillar mines, pillars play a significant role to providing support of the overlying strata. Pillar stability analysis has previously never been conducted at this mine to date. Pillar stability analysis is critical for safety of miners and safe working conditions. This fundamental research seeks to employ the Fast Lagrangian Analysis of Continua in three dimensions (FLAC3D) to determine modulus of deformability affect pillar strength. The numerical model was calibrated with Obert and Duvall empirical pillar strength equation. A multi-variant regression has been used to established relationship between the modulus of deformation of the rock mass and the pillar strength for various pillar shapes and sizes. It can be concluded that the pillar cases at Missouri S&T Experimental Mine are stable irrespective of the modulus of deformability. This is partly because the overburden loads imposed on the pillars are low