Moving toward a framework to compose intelligent web services

A framework for contract-based support to establish virtual collaboration is proposed using loosely coupled and heterogeneous intelligent Web services. A business process redesign scenario is also discussed for integrating shared business process between a PC manufacturer and a semiconductor manufacturer. Contracts encapsulate the control information for intelligent Web services (IWS) engaged in e-business transactions. IWS show promise as a means of supporting cross-organizational business transactions

Quadratic Chabauty for modular curves: algorithms and examples

We describe how the quadratic Chabauty method may be applied to determine the set of rational points on modular curves of genus g whose Jacobians have Mordell–Weil rank g. This extends our previous work on the split Cartan curve of level 13 and allows us to consider modular curves that may have few known rational points or nontrivial local height contributions away from our working prime. We illustrate our algorithms with a number of examples where we determine the set of rational points on several modular curves of genus 2 and 3: this includes Atkin–Lehner quotients X^+_0 (N) of prime level N, the curve X_S4 (13), as well as a few other curves relevant to Mazur’s Program B.https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.01862First author draf

Pulmonary endarterectomy normalizes interventricular dyssynchrony and right ventricular systolic wall stress

Background: Interventricular mechanical dyssynchrony is a characteristic of pulmonary hypertension. We studied the role of right ventricular (RV) wall stress in the recovery of interventricular dyssynchrony, after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Methods: In 13 consecutive patients with CTEPH, before and 6 months after pulmonary endarterectomy, cardiovascular magnetic resonance myocardial tagging was applied. For the left ventricular (LV) and RV free walls, the time to peak (Tpeak) of circumferential shortening (strain) was calculated. Pulmonary Artery Pressure (PAP) was measured by right heart catheterization within 48 hours of PEA. Then the RV free wall systolic wall stress was calculated by the Laplace law. Results: After PEA, the left to right free wall delay (L-R delay) in Tpeak strain decreased from 97 +/- 49 ms to -4 +/- 51 ms (P <0.001), which was not different from normal reference values of -35 +/- 10 ms (P = 0.18). The RV wall stress decreased significantly from 15.2 +/- 6.4 kPa to 5.7 +/- 3.4 kPa (P <0.001), which was not different from normal reference values of 5.3 +/- 1.39 kPa (P = 0.78). The reduction of L-R delay in Tpeak was more strongly associated with the reduction in RV wall stress (r = 0.69, P = 0.007) than with the reduction in systolic PAP (r = 0.53, P = 0.07). The reduction of L-R delay in Tpeak was not associated with estimates of the reduction in RV radius (r = 0.37, P = 0.21) or increase in RV systolic wall thickness (r = 0.19, P = 0.53). Conclusion: After PEA for CTEPH, the RV and LV peak strains are resynchronized. The reduction in systolic RV wall stress plays a key role in this resynchronizatio

Objective allergy markers and risk of cancer mortality and hospitalization in a large population-based cohort

PURPOSE: There are indications that a history of allergy may offer some protection against cancer. We studied the relation of three objectively determined allergy markers with cancer mortality and hospitalization risk. METHODS: Associations between three allergy markers (number of peripheral blood eosinophil counts, skin test positivity, and serum total IgE) with mortality and hospitalization from any type and four common types of cancer (lung, colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer) were assessed in the Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort (1965-1990), with follow-up of mortality until 31 December 2008. Hospitalization data were available since 1 January 1995. RESULTS: There were no significant associations between objective allergy markers and cancer mortality or hospitalization. We found several associations in specific subgroups. A higher number of eosinophils was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer mortality in ever smokers HR (95 % CI) = 0.61 (0.45-0.83) and in males 0.59 (0.42-0.83); however, no overall association was observed 0.84 (0.64-1.09). Skin test positivity was associated with a decreased risk of any cancer mortality only among females 0.59 (0.38-0.91) and showed no overall association 0.83 (0.67-1.04). Serum total IgE levels were associated with an increased risk of lung cancer mortality among females 4.64 (1.04-20.70), but with a decreased risk of cancer hospitalization in ever smokers 0.77 (0.61-0.97) and males 0.72 (0.55-0.93); however, no overall associations were observed [mortality 0.99 (0.79-1.25), and hospitalization 0.86 (0.71-1.04)]. CONCLUSIONS: We found no associations between objective allergy markers and cancer in the total population. However, skin test positivity and a high number of eosinophils were associated with a reduced risk to die of cancer in specific subgroups. Hence, it seems important to study specific subgroups defined by gender and smoking habits in order to identify allergy markers of predictive value for cancer mortality

Two recent p-adic approaches towards the (effective) Mordell conjecture

https://arxiv.org/pdf/1910.12755.pdfFirst author draf

Management strategy after diagnosis of Abernethy malformation: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The Abernethy malformation is a rare anomaly with a widely variable clinical presentation. Many diagnostic dilemmas have been reported. Nowadays, with the evolution of medical imaging, diagnosis can be made more easily, but management of patients with an Abernethy malformation is still open for discussion.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this case study, we describe a 34-year-old Caucasian man who presented with a large hepatocellular carcinoma in the presence of an Abernethy malformation, which was complicated by the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case underlines the importance of regular examination of patients with an Abernethy malformation, even in older patients, to prevent complications and to detect liver lesions at an early stage.</p