Pattern Reification as the Basis for Description-Driven Systems

One of the main factors driving object-oriented software development for information systems is the requirement for systems to be tolerant to change. To address this issue in designing systems, this paper proposes a pattern-based, object-oriented, description-driven system (DDS) architecture as an extension to the standard UML four-layer meta-model. A DDS architecture is proposed in which aspects of both static and dynamic systems behavior can be captured via descriptive models and meta-models. The proposed architecture embodies four main elements - firstly, the adoption of a multi-layered meta-modeling architecture and reflective meta-level architecture, secondly the identification of four data modeling relationships that can be made explicit such that they can be modified dynamically, thirdly the identification of five design patterns which have emerged from practice and have proved essential in providing reusable building blocks for data management, and fourthly the encoding of the structural properties of the five design patterns by means of one fundamental pattern, the Graph pattern. A practical example of this philosophy, the CRISTAL project, is used to demonstrate the use of description-driven data objects to handle system evolution.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figure

Bulk and surface sensitivity of a resonant waveguide grating imager

We report the assessment of the sensitivity of a microplate-compatible resonant waveguide grating imager. The sensitivity to bulk refractive index changes was determined using a serial dilution of glycerol solution with the help of a refractometer. The surface sensitivity was examined using layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte films in conjunction with optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy and characterized by the binding of acetazolamide to immobilized carbonic anhydrase under microfluidics. The results suggest that the imager has a limit of detection down to 2.2 × 10−6 for refractive index change and 0.078 ng/cm2 for the adsorbed mass. © 2014 AIP Publishing LL

Environmental properties of cells improve machine learning-based phenotype recognition accuracy

To answer major questions of cell biology, it is often essential to understand the complex phenotypic composition of cellular systems precisely. Modern automated microscopes produce vast amounts of images routinely, making manual analysis nearly impossible. Due to their efficiency, machine learningbased analysis software have become essential tools to perform single-cell-level phenotypic analysis of large imaging datasets. However, an important limitation of such methods is that they do not use the information gained from the cellular micro-and macroenvironment: the algorithmic decision is based solely on the local properties of the cell of interest. Here, we present how various features from the surrounding environment contribute to identifying a cell and how such additional information can improve single-cell-level phenotypic image analysis. The proposed methodology was tested for different sizes of Euclidean and nearest neighbour-based cellular environments both on tissue sections and cell cultures. Our experimental data verify that the surrounding area of a cell largely determines its entity. This effect was found to be especially strong for established tissues, while it was somewhat weaker in the case of cell cultures. Our analysis shows that combining local cellular features with the properties of the cell's neighbourhood significantly improves the accuracy of machine learning-based phenotyping.Peer reviewe

Системы подготовки топлива на угольных ТЭС

РЕФЕРАТ Выпускная квалификационная работа 65 с., 12 рис., 16 табл., ____20______источников, 2 прил. Ключевые слова:ШБМ, ТОПЛИВО,УГОЛЬ,ПЫЛЕПРИГОТОВЛЕНИЕ . Объектом исследования является (ются): СИСТЕМЫ ПОДГОТОВКИ ТОПЛИВА НА УГОЛЬНЫХ ТЭС Цель работы – исследовать систему топливоприготовления на пылеугольной ТЭЦ В процессе исследования проводились Системный анализ топливного хозяйства и функциональный анализ В результате расчетов пришли к выводу, что топливоприготовление на буром угле значительно больше отбирает собственных нужд чем на каменном Основные конструктивные, технологические и технико-эксплуатационные характеристики: За основу реальные данный Бийской ТЭЦ Степень внедрения: исследование Область применения: Из-за устаревшего оборудования и износа теплосетей, главная задача проекта улуABSTRACT Final qualifying work 65 p., 12 fig., 16 tab., 20 ____ ______ sources, 2 adj. Keywords: SHBM, fuel, coal, coal pulverization. The object of this study is (are): SYSTEM OF PREPARATION OF FUEL IN COAL TPP Purpose - to investigate toplivoprigotovleniya system for pulverized coal thermal power station The study conduct a systematic analysis of the fuel economy and functional analysis The calculations concluded that toplivoprigotovlenie lignite significantly more seeds of their own needs than stone main constructive, technological and technical and operational characteristics: the basis of the actual active Biysk CHP implementation degree: research applications: due to outdated equipment and depreciation of heating systems, the main objective of the project to improve the quality of heat supply and electrification, instead of obsolete equipment Cost-effectiveness / relevance The study of the efficiency of the work planned for the future reconstruction of Biysk TPP is pulverizing syste

Vaspin inhibits kallikrein 7 by serpin mechanism

The molecular target of the adipokine vaspin (visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin; serpinA12) and its mode of action are unknown. Here, we provide the vaspin crystal structure and identify human kallikrein 7 (hK7) as a first protease target of vaspin inhibited by classical serpin mechanism with high specificity in vitro. We detect vaspin–hK7 complexes in human plasma and find co-expression of both proteins in murine pancreatic β-cells. We further demonstrate that hK7 cleaves human insulin in the A- and B-chain. Vaspin treatment of isolated pancreatic islets leads to increased insulin concentration in the media upon glucose stimulation without influencing insulin secretion. By application of vaspin and generated inactive mutants, we find the significantly improved glucose tolerance in C57BL/6NTac and db/db mice treated with recombinant vaspin fully dependent on the vaspin serpin activity and not related to vaspin-mediated changes in insulin sensitivity as determined by euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp studies. Improved glucose metabolism could be mediated by increased insulin plasma concentrations 150 min after a glucose challenge in db/db mice, supporting the hypothesis that vaspin may inhibit insulin degradation by hK7 in the circulation. In conclusion, we demonstrate the inhibitory serpin nature and the first protease target of the adipose tissue-derived serpin vaspin, and our findings suggest hK7 inhibition by vaspin as an underlying physiological mechanism for its compensatory actions on obesity-induced insulin resistance. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00018-013-1258-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Real life experience with the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in an international multicenter Registry

Patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) may benefit from wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCD) by avoiding immediate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Different factors play an important role including patient selection, compliance and optimal drug treatment. We aimed to present real world data from 4 centers from Germany and Switzerland. Between 04/2012 and 03/2019, 708 patients were included in this registry. Patients were followed up over a mean time of 28 ± 35.5 months. Outcome data including gender differences and different etiologies of cardiomyopathy were analyzed. Out of 708 patients (81.8% males, mean age 61.0 ± 14.6), 44.6% of patients had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, 39.8% ischemic cardiomyopathy, 7.9% myocarditis, 5.4% prior need for ICD explantation and 2.1% channelopathy. The mean wear time of WCD was 21.2 ± 4.3 h per day. In 46% of patients, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was > 35% during follow-up. The younger the patient was, the higher the LVEF and the lower the wear hours per day were. The total shock rate during follow-up was 2.7%. Whereas an appropriate WCD shock was documented in 16 patients (2.2%), 3 patients received an inappropriate ICD shock (0.5%). During follow-up, implantation of a cardiac implantable electronic device was carried out in 34.5% of patients. When comparing German patients (n = 516) to Swiss patients (n = 192), Swiss patients presented with longer wear days (70.72 ± 49.47 days versus 58.06 ± 40.45 days; p = 0.001) and a higher ICD implantation rate compared to German patients (48.4% versus 29.3%; p = 0.001), although LVEF at follow-up was similar between both groups. Young age is a negative independent predictor for the compliance in this large registry. The most common indication for WCD was non-ischemic cardiomyopathy followed by ischemic cardiomyopathy. The compliance rate was generally high with a decrease of wear hours per day at younger age. Slight differences were found between Swiss and German patients, which might be related to differences in mentality for ICD implantation

Comparing national policies and programmes for education and training in diabetes management

The 2012 situational policy desk research proved useful for identifying national public policies responsive to diabetes education and training, but these did not align with survey participation rates for diabetes education and training as reported by PWD, FMs and HCPs. ● In the 2012 situational analysis of national policies, it was found that making education accessible, reimbursed and part of mandatory treatment or care did not result in higher diabetes education participation rates for PWD, FMs and HCPs. Further research on policies and diabetes education programmes is needed to understand why participation rates are low. ● Policies are needed to support education for PWD as it has been shown in other studies that PWD who participated in diabetes education reported fewer psychological problems and enhanced self-management compared with those who had not participated in any educational programme.5 ● As part of a global call to action, each country has a responsibility to make improvements in diabetes education and training access, standards or certification, and reimbursement, all of which promote active stakeholder participation and improved diabetes care and outcomes

Comparing national policy and programme strategies for managing the psychosocial aspects of diabetes

The DAWN2 findings emphasise the importance of having national person-centred diabetes care policies supporting clinical guidelines or standards of care that include regular psychosocial assessments, and reimbursement of psychological care as part of routine diabetes care. ● The responses of HCPs and PWD across the 17 countries confirm the need for policies, diabetes care standards and reimbursement for psychological aspects of diabetes

Effects of dimethyl fumarate on neuroprotection and immunomodulation

BACKGROUND: Neuronal degeneration in multiple sclerosis has been linked to oxidative stress. Dimethyl fumarate is a promising novel oral therapeutic option shown to reduce disease activity and progression in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. These effects are presumed to originate from a combination of immunomodulatory and neuroprotective mechanisms. We aimed to clarify whether neuroprotective concentrations of dimethyl fumarate have immunomodulatory effects. FINDINGS: We determined time- and concentration-dependent effects of dimethyl fumarate and its metabolite monomethyl fumarate on viability in a model of endogenous neuronal oxidative stress and clarified the mechanism of action by quantitating cellular glutathione content and recycling, nuclear translocation of transcription factors, and the expression of antioxidant genes. We compared this with changes in the cytokine profiles released by stimulated splenocytes measured by ELISPOT technology and analyzed the interactions between neuronal and immune cells and neuronal function and viability in cell death assays and multi-electrode arrays. Our observations show that dimethyl fumarate causes short-lived oxidative stress, which leads to increased levels and nuclear localization of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and a subsequent increase in glutathione synthesis and recycling in neuronal cells. Concentrations that were cytoprotective in neuronal cells had no negative effects on viability of splenocytes but suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines in cultures from C57BL/6 and SJL mice and had no effects on neuronal activity in multi-electrode arrays. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that immunomodulatory concentrations of dimethyl fumarate can reduce oxidative stress without altering neuronal network activity