Using Lightweight Activity Diagrams for Modeling and Generation of Web Information Systems

The development process of web information systems nowadays improved a lot regarding effectiveness and tool support, but still contains many redundant steps for similar tasks. In order to overcome this, we use a model-driven approach to specify a web information system in an agile way and generate a full- edged and runnable application from a set of models. The covered aspects of the system comprise data structure, page structure including view on data, page- and workflow within the system as well as overall application structure and user rights management. Appropriate tooling allows transforming these models to complete systems and thus gives us opportunity for a lightweight development process based on models. In this paper, we describe how we approach the page- and workflow aspect by using activity diagrams as part of the agile modeling approach MontiWIS. We give an overview of the defined syntax, describe the supported forms of action contents and finally explain how the behavior is realized in the generated application.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

Evaluating the potential for the environmentally sustainable control of foot and mouth disease in Sub-Saharan Africa

Strategies to control transboundary diseases have in the past generated unintended negative consequences for both the environment and local human populations. Integrating perspectives from across disciplines, including livestock, veterinary and conservation sectors, is necessary for identifying disease control strategies that optimise environmental goods and services at the wildlife-livestock interface. Prompted by the recent development of a global strategy for the control and elimination of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), this paper seeks insight into the consequences of, and rational options for potential FMD control measures in relation to environmental, conservation and human poverty considerations in Africa. We suggest a more environmentally nuanced process of FMD control that safe-guards the integrity of wild populations and the ecosystem dynamics on which human livelihoods depend while simultaneously improving socio-economic conditions of rural people. In particular, we outline five major issues that need to be considered: 1) improved understanding of the different FMD viral strains and how they circulate between domestic and wildlife populations; 2) an appreciation for the economic value of wildlife for many African countries whose presence might preclude the country from ever achieving an FMD-free status; 3) exploring ways in which livestock production can be improved without compromising wildlife such as implementing commodity-based trading schemes; 4) introducing a participatory approach involving local farmers and the national veterinary services in the control of FMD; and 5) finally the possibility that transfrontier conservation might offer new hope of integrating decision-making at the wildlife-livestock interface

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Persists in the Light Zone of Germinal Centres

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is one of the most contagious viruses of animals and is recognised as the most important constraint to international trade in animals and animal products. Two fundamental problems remain to be understood before more effective control measures can be put in place. These problems are the FMDV “carrier state” and the short duration of immunity after vaccination which contrasts with prolonged immunity after natural infection. Here we show by laser capture microdissection in combination with quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical analysis and corroborate by in situ hybridization that FMDV locates rapidly to, and is maintained in, the light zone of germinal centres following primary infection of naïve cattle. We propose that maintenance of non-replicating FMDV in these sites represents a source of persisting infectious virus and also contributes to the generation of long-lasting antibody responses against neutralising epitopes of the virus

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Statistical Determination of Insulator Performance at Koeberg Pollution Test Station

Please help us populate SUNScholar with the post print version of this article. It can be e-mailed to: [email protected] En Elektroniese Ingeni

Genetic characterisation of African swine fever viruses from outbreaks in southern Africa (1973–1999)

African swine fever (ASF) is a highly lethal and economically significant disease of domestic pigs in the southern African sub-region, where outbreaks regularly occur. There is anecdotal evidence suggesting that trans-boundary movement of infected animals may have played a role in precipitating widespread outbreaks in the past, however, since the 1970s outbreaks have generally been more localised, particularly in those countries where control of animal movement is strictly regulated. The origin and relatedness of regional ASF outbreaks was investigated here by means of a two-step genetic characterisation approach whereby p72 gene sequencing was used to delineate genotypes, prior to intra-genotypic resolution of viral relationships by central variable region (CVR) characterisation of the 9RL ORF. In this manner, regional virus heterogeneity and epidemiological links between outbreaks could be assessed for the first time through phylogenetic analysis of the C-terminal end of the p72 gene of viruses recovered from domestic pig outbreaks in southern Africa between 1973 and 1999. The phylogeny revealed the presence of 14 distinct p72 genotypes of which 6 (genotypes XVII–XXII) were considered novel. Eight of these were country-specific with the remaining six having a trans-boundary distribution. CVR products were heterogeneous in size ranging from 377 bp to 533 bp across the 14 southern African genotypes. Within-genotype CVR comparisons revealed the presence of a genotype XIX virus with an extended field presence in South Africa (1985–1996) and permitted discrimination between three genotype VII viruses that were identical across the p72 gene.We wish to thank the World Reference Laboratory, Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright (United Kingdom) for providing some viruses used in this study and Dr. O.C. Phiri (OVI-EDD) for providing information from his isolation records. We are grateful to the Red Meat Research and Development Trust of South Africa for funding and to Drs. M.-L. Penrith and G.R. Thomson for valuable comments and review of the manuscript

An evaluation of the lamb and mutton carcase grading system in the Republic of South Africa. 4. The influence of age, carcase mass and fatness on meat quality characteristics

No Abstrac

Towards a better understanding of alkene metathesis: elucidating the properties of the major metal carbene catalyst types

The difference in activity of metal carbene catalysts has a major influence on the efficiency and application of these metal carbenes as metathesis catalysts. The focus of this research is to examine the properties of the major metal carbene catalyst types to understand the general activity trend. A comparative investigation of the foremost Fischer-, Tebbe-, Grubbs-, and Schrock-type metal carbenes was done using a qualitative structure–activity type computational method via principal component analysis. The effect of the change in metal atom as well as the change in ligands was specifically considered. Four Fischer-, a Tebbe-, five Grubbs-, and a Schrock-type carbene were investigated in this regard. Geometry optimizations of all species were done at the GGA/PBE/ DNP level with Materials Studio DMol3 and subsequent single-point energy calculations were done with Gaussian at the PBEPBE level with the cc-pVQZ-type basis sets. Results showed that the descriptors extracted by the principal component analyses could successfully reproduce or match the generalized trend for metathesis activity, highlighting the importance of the frontier orbitals in the metathesis reactionNorth-West University for its financial support of our Laboratory for Applied Molecular Modelling (LAMM), the Centre for High Performing Computing (CHPC) and the South African Department of Science and Technology-National Research Foundation’s Centre of Excellence in Catalysi