Critical analysis of vendor lock-in and its impact on cloud computing migration: a business perspective

Vendor lock-in is a major barrier to the adoption of cloud computing, due to the lack of standardization. Current solutions and efforts tackling the vendor lock-in problem are predominantly technology-oriented. Limited studies exist to analyse and highlight the complexity of vendor lock-in problem in the cloud environment. Consequently, most customers are unaware of proprietary standards which inhibit interoperability and portability of applications when taking services from vendors. This paper provides a critical analysis of the vendor lock-in problem, from a business perspective. A survey based on qualitative and quantitative approaches conducted in this study has identified the main risk factors that give rise to lock-in situations. The analysis of our survey of 114 participants shows that, as computing resources migrate from on-premise to the cloud, the vendor lock-in problem is exacerbated. Furthermore, the findings exemplify the importance of interoperability, portability and standards in cloud computing. A number of strategies are proposed on how to avoid and mitigate lock-in risks when migrating to cloud computing. The strategies relate to contracts, selection of vendors that support standardised formats and protocols regarding standard data structures and APIs, developing awareness of commonalities and dependencies among cloud-based solutions. We strongly believe that the implementation of these strategies has a great potential to reduce the risks of vendor lock-in

Murder in Jerba : honour, shame and hospitality among Maltese in Ottoman Tunisia

Little is known about the sizeable Maltese communities developing along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean in the mid-nineteenth century and the extent to which the migrants reproduced Maltese cultural traditions and practices overseas. This article considers this question through a microhistorical analysis of events culminating in the murder of a Maltese woman in the Ottoman Regency of Tunis in 1866. A close reading of transcripts from the interrogation of witnesses and the accused, all members of a Maltese community in Jerba reveals their shared cultural practices and beliefs surrounding the provision of hospitality, honour and shame. Viewed from this perspective, the curious responses of the witnesses to the murder of their compatriot become meaningful, and the crime is reframed as an honour killing.peer-reviewe

Catalyzing Transcriptomics Research in Cardiovascular Disease : The CardioRNA COST Action CA17129

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide and, despite continuous advances, better diagnostic and prognostic tools, as well as therapy, are needed. The human transcriptome, which is the set of all RNA produced in a cell, is much more complex than previously thought and the lack of dialogue between researchers and industrials and consensus on guidelines to generate data make it harder to compare and reproduce results. This European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action aims to accelerate the understanding of transcriptomics in CVD and further the translation of experimental data into usable applications to improve personalized medicine in this field by creating an interdisciplinary network. It aims to provide opportunities for collaboration between stakeholders from complementary backgrounds, allowing the functions of different RNAs and their interactions to be more rapidly deciphered in the cardiovascular context for translation into the clinic, thus fostering personalized medicine and meeting a current public health challenge. Thus, this Action will advance studies on cardiovascular transcriptomics, generate innovative projects, and consolidate the leadership of European research groups in the field.COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organization for research and innovation networks (www.cost.eu)

Differential Gene Expression Changes in Children with Severe Dengue Virus Infections

Dengue virus infection is an impressively emerging disease that can be fatal in severe cases. It is not precisely clear why some patients progress to severe disease whereas most patients only suffer from a mild infection. In severe disease, a “cytokine storm” is induced, which indicates the release of a great number of inflammatory mediators (“cytokines”). Evidence suggested that a balance could be involved between protective and pathologic cytokine release patterns. We studied this concept in a cohort of Indonesian children with severe dengue disease using a gene expression profiling method

The impact of passive and active smoking on inflammation, lipid profile and the risk of myocardial infarction

Objective To investigate the effect of passive smoking, active smoking and smoking cessation on inflammation, lipid profile and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI)Methods A total of 423 cases with a first MI and 465 population controls from the Maltese Acute Myocardial Infarction (MAMI) Study were analysed. Data were collected through an interviewer-led questionnaire, and morning fasting blood samples were obtained. ORs adjusted for the conventional risk factors of MI (aORs) were calculated as an estimate of the relative risk of MI. The influence of smoking on biochemical parameters was determined among controls.Results Current smokers had a 2.7-fold (95%CI 1.7 to 4.2) and ex-smokers a 1.6-fold (95%CI 1.0 to 2.4) increased risk of MI. Risk increased with increasing pack-years and was accompanied by an increase in highsensitivity C reactive protein levels and an abnormal lipid profile. Smoking cessation was associated with lower triglyceride levels. Exposure to passive smoking increased the risk of MI (aOR 3.2 (95% CI 1.7 to 6.3)), with the OR being higher for individuals exposed to passive smoking in a home rather than in a public setting (aOR 2.0 (95% CI 0.7 to 5.6) vs aOR 1.2 (95% CI 0.7 to 2.0)). Passive smoke exposure was associated with higher levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio compared with individuals not exposed to passive smoking.Conclusions Both active and passive smoking are strong risk factors for MI. This risk increased with increasing pack-years and decreased with smoking cessation. Such effects may be partly mediated through the influence of smoking on inflammation and lipid metabolism.peer-reviewe

Waist-hip-ratio a better indicator of risk of myocardial infarction than BMI in a Mediterranean Southern European population

Aims: To analyse measures of adiposity and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in a Mediterranean European Population. Methods: A total of 308 MI cases and 437 controls from the Maltese Acute Myocardial Infarction (MAMI) study had hip and waist circumferences measured per WHO guidelines. BMI and Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) were analysed using WHO cutoffs. Odds ratios adjusted for common risk factors (adjOR) were calculated. Differences between groups were evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: A similar median BMI between male cases and controls (29.2, 28.7, p =0.05) and a similar prevalence of obesity (41.4%, 38.2%) resulted in an AdjOR of 1.2 (95%CI 0.6-2.4). AdjOR was similar in females despite a higher prevalence of obesity in cases (52.9%, N=37) than in controls (32.8%, N=45). Waist circumference (0.94, 1.00, p<0.001) and WHR (1.00, 0.95, p<0.001) were higher in male cases than controls giving an adjOR of 2.6 (95% CI 1.7-4.1) and 6.4 (95% CI, 3.0-14.0) respectively. 95.6% (N=237) of cases had a high Waist-Hip Ratio compared to 73.5% (n=228) of controls. Females showed similar results. Amongst all controls, 23.5% (N=20) of normal BMI controls and 59% (N=111) of overweight controls had a high WHR. Conversely, 21.3% (N=35) of obese individuals had a normal WHR. A stratified analysis of WHR and BMI shows elevated AdjOR only in groups with high WHR. Conclusion: BMI had no predictive value while WHR had a high predictive value for MI in the Maltese Population. BMI miscategorises high WHR individuals as being normal or overweight underestimating their risk

Controlled versus uncontrolled diabetes and the risk of myocardial infarction

Objectives: To investigate the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) attributed to diabetes. Methods: Questionnaire data and samples from 429 cases with MI and 434 controls from the Maltese Acute Myocardial Infarction (MAMI) Study were analysed. HbA1c estimation was performed on EDTA plasma using ion-exchange HPLC (Bio-Rad Variant II Analyzer). For cases this was assayed at time of MI. Uncontrolled diabetes was deemed present in self-reported diabetics who had HbA1c levels higher than 6.5% and controlled diabetes in self-reported diabetics who had normal HbA1c levels (≤6.5%). Undiagnosed diabetics were subjects with elevated HbA1c levels who did not report being diabetic. Odds ratios (AdjOR) were adjusted for age, gender, smoking, drinking alcohol, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and BMI. Results: Diabetes was reported in 13.7% of controls out of which 9.2% were uncontrolled. An additional 2.5% of controls have previously undiagnosed diabetes. The risk of MI was higher in undiagnosed [AdjOR 3.5(95%CI 1.6-7.8)] and in uncontrolled diabetics [AdjOR 2.7(95%CI 1.6-4.5)] when compared to non-diabetics. Controlled diabetics showed no increased risk of MI [AdjOR 0.9(95%CI 0.4-2.1)]. An elevated HbA1c level was associated with a 3-fold increased risk of MI [AdjOR 3.0(95%CI 1.9-4.7)]. Self-reported diabetes was associated with a 2-fold risk [AdjOR 2.1(95%CI 1.4-3.2)]. The median duration of diabetes in women with MI was longer than in controls (15 years versus 8 years, p<0.05). The risk associated with elevated HbA1c appeared to be higher in women [AdjOR 6.8(95%CI 2.4-19.1)] than men [AdjOR 2.5(95%CI 1.5-4.1)]. This risk difference persisted even after adjustment for duration of diabetes. Conclusion: An elevated HbA1c level is a better indicator of the risk of MI than self-reported diabetes with the risk being particularly high in women. Undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetes are strong risk factors for MI. Efforts at controlling diabetes are warranted since controlled diabetics showed no increased risk of MI