BPMN4V pour la modélisation de versions de processus intra- et inter-organisationnels

Nos travaux de recherche abordent la problématique de la modélisation des processus intra- et inter-organisationnels flexibles à l’aide des versions. En effet, le concept de version est un concept approprié pour prendre en compte les changements que peuvent subir les schémas de processus. On peut ainsi définir une nouvelle version de processus lorsque des modifications significatives doivent être apportées à son schéma. Différentes contributions de l’état de l’art ont abordé le versionnement des processus. Chacune de ces contributions a constitué une avancée pour le versionnement des processus. Mais elles ont en commun de principalement considérer le versionnement de la perspective comportementale des processus, sans étudier les impacts du versionnement sur les perspectives organisationnelles et informationnelles, qui sont pourtant fondamentales dans la définition des processus. De plus, il est également nécessaire lorsqu’on aborde la problématique du versionnement des processus de considérer une autre perspective, la perspective contextuelle, qui permet de modéliser les situations d’utilisation des versions. En outre, ces contributions ne s’appuient pas sur les standards existants et notamment sur BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) qui est reconnu comme le standard pour la modélisation de schémas de processus. Enfin, ces contributions abordent uniquement la flexibilité des processus intra-organisationnels. Cette thèse a pour objectif de pallier ces deux faiblesses. Plus précisément, elle propose BPMN4V une extension du standard BPMN pour la modélisation de versions de processus tout en considérant les perspectives de modélisation des processus. Ainsi les contributions proposées sont les suivantes. En ce qui concerne la modélisation des versions des processus intra-organisationnels, nous avons introduit BPMN4V-PP (BPMN for Versions of Private Processes), qui est une extension de BPMN pour la modélisation de versions de processus intra-organisationnels, représentées en BPMN par des processus privés. Les aspects statiques et dynamiques du versionnement sont abordés. Puis nous avons étendu BPMN4V-PP pour modéliser le contexte d’utilisation des processus. Cette notion de contexte est importante pour aider le concepteur (i) à définir pourquoi une version de processus a été modélisée et (ii) à sélectionner la version qui convient à une situation particulière. En ce qui concerne la modélisation des versions de processus inter-organisationnels, modélisées comme des collaborations ou des chorégraphies en BPMN, nous avons défini BPMN4V-CC (BPMN for Versions of Collaborations and Choreographies) qui étend BPMN pour la modélisation et la manipulation des versions de collaborations et de chorégraphies. Nous avons aussi défini six patrons d’adaptation qui sont des opérations de haut niveau facilitant la modification des schémas des versions de collaborations. Nous avons également proposé une démarche pour la génération automatique d’une version de chorégraphie à partir d’une version de collaboration. Nous avons finalement implanté ces propositions dans un plug-in Eclipse, appelé BPMN4V-Modeler, permettant d’assister les concepteurs lors de la modélisation des versions de processus selon les méta-modèles BPMN4V-PP et BPMN4VCC. Nous avons évalué nos contributions en mesurant notamment les performances de l’outil BPMN4V-Modeler.Our research deals with modeling flexible intra and inter-organizational processes using versions. Indeed, the notion of version has been recognized as a key notion to keep track of changes on process schemas. Thus it is possible to define a new process version for each significant modification of its schema. Several contributions addressing process flexibility using versions have been proposed in the literature. Each of these contributions provides solutions for process versioning. However, they mainly focus on the behavioral perspective of processes neglecting the informational and organizational perspectives, which are nevertheless important to have a comprehensive view of processes. Furthermore, the contextual perspective of processes must also be considered to characterize the situations in which versions of processes have to be used. Moreover, the proposed solutions are specific and have no chance to be used by process designers since they do not support standards for process modeling such as BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation). Finally, these contributions focus only on intra- organizational processes. This thesis aims at overcoming these two weaknesses, introducing BPMN4V, an extension of BPMN with versions to address intra and inter-organizational process flexibility. More precisely, the contributions of this thesis are the following. Regarding flexibility of intra-organizational processes, we have introduced BPMN4V-PP (BPMN for Versions of Private Processes) which is an extension of BPMN for modeling versions of intra-organizational processes, modeled in BPMN as private processes, considering both static and dynamic aspects of process versions. BPMN4V takes into account the three main perspectives of business processes, i.e., the behavioral perspective, the informational perspective and the organizational perspective. In order to consider the contextual perspective, we have also proposed another extension to BPMN allowing the definition of versions context. This perspective is fundamental to help process designers in featuring why a process version is defined and in selecting a particular process version according to a concrete situation. Regarding flexibility of inter-organizational processes, modeled as collaborations and choreographies in BPMN, this thesis has recommended BPMN4V-CC (BPMN for Versions of Collaborations and Choreographies) for modeling and handling versions of collaboration. Secondly, it has introduced six new adaptation patterns, which are high-level operations for collaborative process schema update. Then, it has defined a mapping approach for deducing version of choreography from version of collaboration. Finally, we have implemented our contributions in the BPMN4V-Modeler plug-in, which assists process designer in modeling versions of processes according to BPMN4V-PP and BPMN4V-CC. We have evaluated our contributions mainly measuring BPMN4V-Modeler performances

BPMN4V pour la modélisation de versions de processus intra- et inter-organisationnels

Nos travaux de recherche abordent la problématique de la modélisation des processus intra- et inter-organisationnels flexibles à l’aide des versions. En effet, le concept de version est un concept approprié pour prendre en compte les changements que peuvent subir les schémas de processus. On peut ainsi définir une nouvelle version de processus lorsque des modifications significatives doivent être apportées à son schéma. Différentes contributions de l’état de l’art ont abordé le versionnement des processus. Chacune de ces contributions a constitué une avancée pour le versionnement des processus. Mais elles ont en commun de principalement considérer le versionnement de la perspective comportementale des processus, sans étudier les impacts du versionnement sur les perspectives organisationnelles et informationnelles, qui sont pourtant fondamentales dans la définition des processus. De plus, il est également nécessaire lorsqu’on aborde la problématique du versionnement des processus de considérer une autre perspective, la perspective contextuelle, qui permet de modéliser les situations d’utilisation des versions. En outre, ces contributions ne s’appuient pas sur les standards existants et notamment sur BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation) qui est reconnu comme le standard pour la modélisation de schémas de processus. Enfin, ces contributions abordent uniquement la flexibilité des processus intra-organisationnels. Cette thèse a pour objectif de pallier ces deux faiblesses. Plus précisément, elle propose BPMN4V une extension du standard BPMN pour la modélisation de versions de processus tout en considérant les perspectives de modélisation des processus. Ainsi les contributions proposées sont les suivantes. En ce qui concerne la modélisation des versions des processus intra-organisationnels, nous avons introduit BPMN4V-PP (BPMN for Versions of Private Processes), qui est une extension de BPMN pour la modélisation de versions de processus intra-organisationnels, représentées en BPMN par des processus privés. Les aspects statiques et dynamiques du versionnement sont abordés. Puis nous avons étendu BPMN4V-PP pour modéliser le contexte d’utilisation des processus. Cette notion de contexte est importante pour aider le concepteur (i) à définir pourquoi une version de processus a été modélisée et (ii) à sélectionner la version qui convient à une situation particulière. En ce qui concerne la modélisation des versions de processus inter-organisationnels, modélisées comme des collaborations ou des chorégraphies en BPMN, nous avons défini BPMN4V-CC (BPMN for Versions of Collaborations and Choreographies) qui étend BPMN pour la modélisation et la manipulation des versions de collaborations et de chorégraphies. Nous avons aussi défini six patrons d’adaptation qui sont des opérations de haut niveau facilitant la modification des schémas des versions de collaborations. Nous avons également proposé une démarche pour la génération automatique d’une version de chorégraphie à partir d’une version de collaboration. Nous avons finalement implanté ces propositions dans un plug-in Eclipse, appelé BPMN4V-Modeler, permettant d’assister les concepteurs lors de la modélisation des versions de processus selon les méta-modèles BPMN4V-PP et BPMN4VCC. Nous avons évalué nos contributions en mesurant notamment les performances de l’outil BPMN4V-Modeler.Our research deals with modeling flexible intra and inter-organizational processes using versions. Indeed, the notion of version has been recognized as a key notion to keep track of changes on process schemas. Thus it is possible to define a new process version for each significant modification of its schema. Several contributions addressing process flexibility using versions have been proposed in the literature. Each of these contributions provides solutions for process versioning. However, they mainly focus on the behavioral perspective of processes neglecting the informational and organizational perspectives, which are nevertheless important to have a comprehensive view of processes. Furthermore, the contextual perspective of processes must also be considered to characterize the situations in which versions of processes have to be used. Moreover, the proposed solutions are specific and have no chance to be used by process designers since they do not support standards for process modeling such as BPMN (Business Process Model and Notation). Finally, these contributions focus only on intra- organizational processes. This thesis aims at overcoming these two weaknesses, introducing BPMN4V, an extension of BPMN with versions to address intra and inter-organizational process flexibility. More precisely, the contributions of this thesis are the following. Regarding flexibility of intra-organizational processes, we have introduced BPMN4V-PP (BPMN for Versions of Private Processes) which is an extension of BPMN for modeling versions of intra-organizational processes, modeled in BPMN as private processes, considering both static and dynamic aspects of process versions. BPMN4V takes into account the three main perspectives of business processes, i.e., the behavioral perspective, the informational perspective and the organizational perspective. In order to consider the contextual perspective, we have also proposed another extension to BPMN allowing the definition of versions context. This perspective is fundamental to help process designers in featuring why a process version is defined and in selecting a particular process version according to a concrete situation. Regarding flexibility of inter-organizational processes, modeled as collaborations and choreographies in BPMN, this thesis has recommended BPMN4V-CC (BPMN for Versions of Collaborations and Choreographies) for modeling and handling versions of collaboration. Secondly, it has introduced six new adaptation patterns, which are high-level operations for collaborative process schema update. Then, it has defined a mapping approach for deducing version of choreography from version of collaboration. Finally, we have implemented our contributions in the BPMN4V-Modeler plug-in, which assists process designer in modeling versions of processes according to BPMN4V-PP and BPMN4V-CC. We have evaluated our contributions mainly measuring BPMN4V-Modeler performances

Perception of mental health and professional quality of life in Tunisian doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Introduction: few research studies about mental health problems in medical staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported. The Aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of anxiety and insomnia, affecting the professional quality of life of physicians during COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: doctors answered an online questionnaire regarding their perception of insomnia, anxiety and professional quality of life during COVID-19 pandemic with psychological parameters including the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Professional quality of life version 5 (ProQOL5). Results: anxiety was found in 64.8% of the participants. This disorder was respectively moderate and severe in 12.4% and 6.7% of cases. Insomnia was found in 51.4% of respondents, 29.5% of whom worked in the COVID circuit (p=0.17). Insomnia was assessed as mild, moderate and severe in respectively 38.1%, 11.4% and 1.9% of cases. Compassion satisfaction was moderate in 72.4 of cases and high in 24.8% of cases. The entire population with low CS belonged to the 20-29 age group (p=0.019). Compassion satisfaction was statistically higher in married people (32.7%) (p=0.004). This entity varied significantly with occupational grade (p=0.003), seniority in grade (p=0.011) and working in the private health sector (p=0.046). Burnout was moderate in 73.3% and low in 26.7% of cases. Burnout was significantly higher among single people (p=0.03) and statistically altered in the staff working in the COVID unit (p=0.028). Secondary traumatic disorder was above moderate in 69.6%. Conclusion: a high prevalence of psychological symptoms was found among doctors during COVID-19. Medical health workers are in need of health protection and adequate working conditions

A Version-based Approach to Address Flexibility of BPMN Collaborations and Choreographies

Process flexibility is an important issue in the business process management area: it has mainly been investigated in the context of intra-organisational processes but it received little attention in the context of processes crossing the boundaries of companies. This paper addresses the issue of BPMN collaborations and choreographies flexibility, advocating a version-based approach. Indeed versions, which have been recognised as a powerful mechanism to face flexibility of internal processes of companies, are used to address flexibility of processes crossing the boundaries of companies, modelled as collaborations or choreographies in BPMN. Thus this paper extends BPMN collaborations using versions. It also introduces algorithms supporting the mapping from versions of collaborations into versions of choreographies. This paper mainly focuses on static aspects of collaboration and choreography versioning

Structure-Property Relationships in Benzofurazan Derivatives: A Combined Experimental and DFT/TD-DFT Investigation

In this work we seek to understand and to quantify the reactivity of benzofurazan derivatives toward secondary cyclic amines, like pyrrolidine, piperidine and morpholine, acting as nucleophile groups in SNAr reactions. For this aim, physico-chemical and structural descriptors were determined experimentally and theoretically using the DFT/B3LYP/6-31+ g (d,p) methodology. Thus, different 4-X-7-nitrobenzofurazans (X = OCH3, OC6H5 and Cl) and products corresponding to the electrophilic aromatic substitution by pyrrolidine, piperidine and morpholine, were investigated. Particularly, the HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the studied compounds, determined by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and DFT calculations, were used to evaluate the electrophilicity index (ω). The latter was exploited, according to Parr’s approach, to develop a relationship which rationalizes the kinetic data previously reported for the reactions of the 4-X-7-nitrobenzofurazans with nucleophiles cited above. Moreover, the Parr’s electrophilicity index (ω) of these benzofurazans determined in this work were combined with their electrophilicity parameters (E), reported in preceding papers, was found to predict the unknown electrophilicity parameters E of 4-piperidino, 4-morpholino and 4-pyrrolidino-7-nitrobenzofurazan. In addition, the relationship between the Parr’s electrophilicity index (ω) and Hammett constants σ, has been used as a good model to predict the electronic effect of the nucleophile groups. Finally, we will subsequently compare the electrophilicity index (ω) and the electrophilicity parameters (E) of these series of 7-X-4-nitrobenzofurazans with the calculated dipole moment (μ) in order to elucidate general relationships between E, ω and μ

Species distribution, antibiotic resistance and virulence traits in canine and feline enterococci in Tunisia

In order to investigate the possible role of dogs and cats in the carriage and potential dissemination of resistant enterococci, seventy faecal samples from dogs and cats were tested for enterococci. Fifty-eight enterococci were recovered. Isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecium (n = 31) and E. faecalis (n = 14) E. durans (n = 6), E. casseliflavus (n = 2), E. hirae and E. gallinarum (2 isolates each). Enterococcal isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin (n = 35), erythromycin (n = 31), tetracycline (n = 25), kanamycin (n = 15), streptomycin (n = 13), pristinamycin (n = 11), gentamicin (n = 10), chloramphenicol (n = 8), and linezolid (n = 6). The gene erm(B) was detected in 22 out of 31 erythromycin-resistant enterococci. All tetracycline-resistant enterococci carried tet(M) and/or tet(L) genes. The gene aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia was identified in five of high-level gentamicin-resistant isolates, the genes aph(3′)-IIIa and/or aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia in eleven high-level kanamycin-resistant isolates and the gene ant(6)-Ia in eleven high-level streptomycin-resistant isolates. Only one strain harboured cat(A) gene, and five strains contained vat(E) or vat(D) genes. Virulence genes gel(E) (21 strains), esp (11 strains) and cylA/cylB (5 strains) were detected. High genetic diversity was demonstrated among E. faecium isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Dogs and cats can be carriers of antibiotic-resistant enterococci in their faeces that could shed into the household environment

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat