Costs and benefits of multiple levels of models in MDA development

In Model-Driven Architecture (MDA) development, models of a distributed application are carefully defined so as to remain stable in face of changes in technology platforms. As we have argued previously in [1, 3], models in MDA can be organized into different levels of platformindependence. In this paper, we analyze the costs and benefits of maintaining separate levels of models with transformations between these levels. We argue that the number of levels of models and the degree of automation of transformations between these levels depend on a number of design goals to be balanced, including those of maximizing the efficiency of the design process and maximizing the reusability of models and transformations

Abstract Platform and Transformations for Model-Driven Service-Oriented Development

In this paper, we discuss the use of abstract platforms and transformation for designing applications according to the principles of the service-oriented architecture. We illustrate our approach by discussing the use of the service discovery pattern at a platform-independent design level. We show how a trader service can be specified at a high-level of abstraction and incorporated in an abstract platform for service-oriented development. Designers can then build platform-independent models of applications by composing application parts with this abstract platform. Application parts can use the trader service to publish and discover service offers. We discuss how the abstract platform can be realized into two target platforms, namely Web Services (with UDDI) and CORBA (with the OMG trader)

The role of the service concept in model-driven applications development

This paper identifies two paradigms that have influenced the design of distributed applications: the middleware-centred and the protocol-centred paradigm, and proposes a combined use of these two paradigms. This combined use incorporates major benefits from both paradigms: the ability to reuse middleware infrastructures and the ability to treat distributed coordination aspects as a separate object of design through the use of the service concept. A careful consideration of the service concept, and its recursive application, allows us to define an appropriate and precise notion of platform-independence that suits the needs of model-driven middleware application development

The role of the RM-ODP computational viewpoint concepts in the MDA approach

An MDA design approach should be able to accommodate designs at different levels of platform-independence. We have proposed a design approach previously (in [2]), which allows these levels to be identified. An important feature of this approach is the notion of abstract platform. An abstract platform is determined by the platform characteristics that are relevant for applications at a certain level of platform-independence, and must be established by considering various design goals. In this paper, we define a framework that makes it possible to use RM-ODP concepts in our MDA design approach. This framework allows a recursive application of the computational viewpoint at different levels of platform-independence. This is obtained by equating the RM-ODP notion of infrastructure to our notion of abstract platform

The Social and Economic Impact of Covid-19 on Family Functioning and Well-Being: Where do we go from here?

A growing body of research demonstrates that COVID-19 has had a profound impact on family functioning and well-being in a range of countries. The fear and uncertainty of the health risks, in addition to the stress from ensuing restrictions and constraints on everyday life caused major disruptions, impacting the financial, emotional, and physical well-being of adults and children alike. In this report, we summarize the current literature on the impact of COVID-19 disruption to family functioning and economic well-being as a context for this special issue. Our findings indicate that while the pandemic may have caused a reallocation of intra-familial tasks, a large gender disparity remains regarding the proportion of domestic work and childcare. The pandemic disproportionally impacted lower-income families, families from ethnic minority and vulnerable groups, and women. Finally, the financial impacts of the emergence in Spring of 2020 have strained family relationships, although the effects depend to a large extent on quality of the relationships and family well-being before COVID-19. To address the long-term bidirectional effects of the pandemic on family well-being and the well-being of the global economy calls for research that crosses disciplinary divides. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Persistence with statins in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: findings from a cohort of spanish workers

Introduction and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess patterns of treatment persistence in a cohort of male Spanish workers receiving statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted within the framework of the prospective longitudinal Aragon Workers’ Health Study (N = 5400). Incident male statin users were identified based on data collected from the regional government's medication consumption information system. Patterns of treatment persistence with statins prescribed for primary cardiovascular disease prevention were assessed and the relevance of potential predictors explored. Results: Among the 725 new statin users, less than one third remained persistent during the 1 year of follow-up. About 15% of nonpersistent users discontinued statin therapy after dispensation of the first prescription; of these, 42.1% did not recommence treatment within the following year. Factors reducing the likelihood of treatment discontinuation were older age (HR, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.39-0.77) and cotreatment with antihypertensive drugs (HR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.56-0.82). No association was observed between treatment persistence and cotreatment with antidiabetic or antithrombotic drugs, baseline low-density lipoprotein levels, or total cholesterol levels. However, persistence was influenced by the type of statin first prescribed. Conclusions: Our analysis of a cohort of healthy male workers revealed poor statin persistence. These findings underscore the need for a better understanding of patterns of statin use, especially in apparently healthy individuals, and for the incorporation of patient behavior into prescribing decisions. Abstract Introduction and objectives The aim of this study was to assess patterns of treatment persistence in a cohort of male Spanish workers receiving statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Methods This descriptive study was conducted within the framework of the prospective longitudinal Aragon Workers’ Health Study (N = 5400). Incident male statin users were identified based on data collected from the regional government's medication consumption information system. Patterns of treatment persistence with statins prescribed for primary cardiovascular disease prevention were assessed and the relevance of potential predictors explored. Results Among the 725 new statin users, less than one third remained persistent during the 1 year of follow-up. About 15% of nonpersistent users discontinued statin therapy after dispensation of the first prescription; of these, 42.1% did not recommence treatment within the following year. Factors reducing the likelihood of treatment discontinuation were older age (HR, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.39-0.77) and cotreatment with antihypertensive drugs (HR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.56-0.82). No association was observed between treatment persistence and cotreatment with antidiabetic or antithrombotic drugs, baseline low-density lipoprotein levels, or total cholesterol levels. However, persistence was influenced by the type of statin first prescribed. Conclusions Our analysis of a cohort of healthy male workers revealed poor statin persistence. These findings underscore the need for a better understanding of patterns of statin use, especially in apparently healthy individuals, and for the incorporation of patient behavior into prescribing decisions. Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el patrón de persistencia con estatinas en prevención primaria de enfermedad cardiovascular en una cohorte de trabajadores españoles. Métodos: Este estudio descriptivo se llevó a cabo en el marco del estudio prospectivo longitudinal Aragon Workers’ Health Study (n = 5.400). Se identificó a los nuevos usuarios de estatinas varones a partir de datos recogidos en el sistema de información de consumo farmacéutico de Aragón. Se analizaron los patrones de persistencia con estatinas prescritas en prevención primaria cardiovascular, así como los potenciales predictores. Resultados: De los 725 nuevos usuarios de estatinas, menos de un tercio habían persistido durante el año de seguimiento. Alrededor de un 15% de los usuarios no persistentes interrumpieron la terapia con estatinas tras la dispensación de la primera receta y, el 42,1% de ellos no reiniciaron el tratamiento durante el resto del año. La mayor edad (HR = 0,55; IC95%, 0,39-0,77) y el cotratamiento con fármacos antihipertensivos (HR = 0,68; IC95%, 0,56-0,82) redujeron la probabilidad de que se interrumpiera el tratamiento. No se observó asociación entre la persistencia con el tratamiento y la toma concomitante de fármacos antidiabéticos o antitrombóticos, las concentraciones basales de lipoproteínas de baja densidad o las de colesterol total. Sin embargo, la persistencia sí estuvo influida por el tipo de la primera estatina prescrita. Conclusiones: Nuestro análisis en una cohorte de trabajadores varones sanos muestra una baja persistencia con estatinas. Estos resultados reflejan la necesidad de comprender mejor los patrones de utilización de estatinas, especialmente por individuos aparentemente sanos, y de incorporar la conducta del paciente a las decisiones de prescripción. Introducción y objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el patrón de persistencia con estatinas en prevención primaria de enfermedad cardiovascular en una cohorte de trabajadores españoles. Métodos: Este estudio descriptivo se llevó a cabo en el marco del estudio prospectivo longitudinal Aragon Workers’ Health Study (n = 5.400). Se identificó a los nuevos usuarios de estatinas varones a partir de datos recogidos en el sistema de información de consumo farmacéutico de Aragón. Se analizaron los patrones de persistencia con estatinas prescritas en prevención primaria cardiovascular, así como los potenciales predictores. Resultados: De los 725 nuevos usuarios de estatinas, menos de un tercio habían persistido durante el año de seguimiento. Alrededor de un 15% de los usuarios no persistentes interrumpieron la terapia con estatinas tras la dispensación de la primera receta y, el 42, 1% de ellos no reiniciaron el tratamiento durante el resto del año. La mayor edad (HR = 0, 55; IC95%, 0, 39-0, 77) y el cotratamiento con fármacos antihipertensivos (HR = 0, 68; IC95%, 0, 56-0, 82) redujeron la probabilidad de que se interrumpiera el tratamiento. No se observó asociación entre la persistencia con el tratamiento y la toma concomitante de fármacos antidiabéticos o antitrombóticos, las concentraciones basales de lipoproteínas de baja densidad o las de colesterol total. Sin embargo, la persistencia sí estuvo influida por el tipo de la primera estatina prescrita. Conclusiones: Nuestro análisis en una cohorte de trabajadores varones sanos muestra una baja persistencia con estatinas. Estos resultados reflejan la necesidad de comprender mejor los patrones de utilización de estatinas, especialmente por individuos aparentemente sanos, y de incorporar la conducta del paciente a las decisiones de prescripción. Introduction and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess patterns of treatment persistence in a cohort of male Spanish workers receiving statin therapy for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Methods: This descriptive study was conducted within the framework of the prospective longitudinal Aragon Workers' Health Study (N = 5400). Incident male statin users were identified based on data collected from the regional government's medication consumption information system. Patterns of treatment persistence with statins prescribed for primary cardiovascular disease prevention were assessed and, the relevance of potential predictors explored. Results: Among the 725 new statin users, less than one third remained persistent during the 1 year of follow-up. About 15% of nonpersistent users discontinued statin therapy after dispensation of the first prescription; of these, 42.1% did not recommence treatment within the following year. Factors reducing the likelihood of treatment discontinuation were older age (HR, 0.55; 95%CI, 039-0.77) and cotreatment with antihypertensive drugs (HR, 0.68; 95%CI, 0.56-0.82). No association was observed between treatment persistence and cotreatment with antidiabetic or antithrombotic drugs, baseline low-density lipoprotein levels, or total cholesterol levels. However, persistence was influenced by the type of statin first prescribed. Conclusions: Our analysis of a cohort of healthy male workers revealed poor statin persistence. These findings underscore the need for a better understanding of patterns of statin use, especially in apparently healthy individuals, and for the incorporation of patient behavior into prescribing decisions

Radiation recoil from highly distorted black holes

We present results from numerical evolutions of single black holes distorted by axisymmetric, but equatorially asymmetric, gravitational (Brill) waves. Net radiated energies, apparent horizon embeddings, and recoil velocities are shown for a range of Brill wave parameters, including both even and odd parity distortions of Schwarzschild black holes. We find that a wave packet initially concentrated on the black hole throat, a likely model also for highly asymmetric stellar collapse and late stage binary mergers, can generate a maximum recoil velocity of about 150 (23) km/sec for even (odd) parity perturbations, significantly less than that required to eject black holes from galactic cores.Comment: 15 pages, 8 figure

Antagonic effect of the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide on the mortality of mice acutely infected with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis

Sepsis, the leading cause of death in intensive care units, is associated with overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) due to inducible NO synthase (iNOS), responsible for some of the pathologic changes. Aminoguanidine (AG) is a selective iNOS inhibitor with reported inconsistent actions in sepsis. To investigate the influence of iNOS, we studied models of acute bacterial sepsis using acute challenges with aerobic (Escherichia coli) and anaerobic (Bacteroides fragilis) bacteria in the presence of AG. Six-week-old, 23 g, male and female BALB/c and C57Bl/6j mice, in equal proportions, were inoculated (ip) with bacteria in groups of 4 animals for each dose and each experiment in the absence or presence of AG (50 mg/kg, ip, starting 24 h before challenge and daily until day 6) and serum nitrate was measured by chemiluminescence. Both types of bacteria were lethal to mice, with an LD50 of 6 nephelometric units (U) for E. coli and 8 U for B. fragilis. Nitrate production peaked on the second day after E. coli inoculation with 8 and 6 U (P < 0.05), but was absent after non-lethal lower doses. After challenge with B. fragilis this early peak occurred at all tested doses after 24 h, including non-lethal ones (P < 0.05). AG-treated mice challenged with E. coli presented higher survival (P < 0.05) and increased LD50. AG-treated mice challenged with B. fragilis had lower LD50 and higher mortality. Control AG-treated animals presented no toxic effects. The opposite effect of iNOS blockade by AG in these models could be explained by restriction of oxygen for immune cells or an efficient action of NO in anaerobic localized infections. The antagonic role of NO production observed in our bacterial models could explain the reported discrepancy of NO action in sepsis

Numerical Simulation of Pollutant Transport in a Shallow-Water System on the Cell Heterogeneous Processor

[Abstract] This paper presents an implementation, optimized for the Cell processor, of a finite volume numerical scheme for 2D shallow-water systems with pollutant transport. A description of the special architecture and programming required by the Cell processor motivates the methodology to develop optimized implementations for this platform. This process involves parallelization, data structure reorganization, explicit transfers of data and computation vectorization. Our implementation, tested using a realistic problem, achieves very good speedups with respect to the sequential execution on a standard CPU.This work was partially supported by the Science and Innovation Ministry of Spain (Projects TIN2010-16735, MTM2010-21135-C02-01 and MTM2009-11923), Xunta de Galicia CN2012/211 (partially supported by FEDER funds), and the FPU program of the Spanish Government (ref AP2009-4752)Xunta de Galicia; CN 2012/21

Selection of strawberry cultivars with tolerance to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and high yield under different managements.

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is considered the main pest of strawberry. Several factors can favor its development, among them the genotype susceptibility and cropping system. The aims of this study were to evaluate the agronomic performance of strawberry cultivars under different managements and to identify strawberry cultivars that meet tolerance to T. urticae and high fruit yield. Thirteen cultivars of strawberry ('Albion', 'Aleluia', 'Aromas', 'Camarosa', 'Camino Real', 'Campinas', 'Diamante', 'Dover', 'Festival', 'Seascape', 'Toyonoka', 'Tudla', and 'Ventana') under three managements (open field, low tunnel, and high tunnel) were evaluated. The T. urticae attack to different cultivars was influenced by managements, being low tunnel the one that provided higher infestations in the most evaluated cultivars. 'Camarosa' was the cultivar with the lower incidence of pest and 'Dover' had the higher infestation. The genotype most suitable for growing under different managements is the 'Festival' genotype, since it meets tolerance to T. urticae, high fruit yield, and phenotypic stability