CMMI Adoption and Retention Factors: A Systematic Literature Review

CMMI has increased the productivity and reduced the cost of software development in the software industry. However, there are factors that influence the adoption and retention of CMMI in software organizations, and that need to be studied over time. This article aims to identify factors that influence the adoption and retention of CMMI in the software development organizations. A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed for this study. In the first stage, 2507 articles were obtained from 6 relevant databases and after the SLR process, 40 studies on factors and their possible influence were selected. These factor studies were classified according to a taxonomy based on: organization, people, processes and product. The most studied factors are related to people and organizations, in the CMMI adoption and retention processes, which is consistent with the fact that it is the "people" of the software development "organizations" who manage to carry out the software projects. Studies related to retention factors are still scarce, representing only 10% of the total identified. In addition, the use of alternate terms of factors and the use of "critical success factors" and "success factors" are observed without a clear distinction

Inflammaging as a prodrome to Alzheimer's disease

Recently, the term "inflammaging" was coined by Franceshci and colleagues to characterize a widely accepted paradigm that ageing is accompanied by a low-grade chronic up-regulation of certain pro-inflammatory responses. Inflammaging differs significantly from the traditional five cardinal features of acute inflammation in that it is characterized by a relative decline in adaptive immunity and T-helper 2 responses and is associated with increased innate immunity by cells of the mononuclear phagocyte lineage. While the over-active innate immunity characteristic of inflammaging may remain subclinical in many elderly individuals, a portion of individuals (postulated to have a "high responder inflammatory genotype") may shift from a state of "normal" or "subclinical" inflammaging to one or more of a number of age-associated diseases. We and others have found that IFN-γ and other pro-inflammatory cytokines interact with processing and production of Aβ peptide, the pathological hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD), suggesting that inflammaging may be a "prodrome" to AD. Although conditions of enhanced innate immune response with overproduction of pro-inflammatory proteins are associated with both healthy aging and AD, it is suggested that those who age "well" demonstrate anti-inflammaging mechanisms and biomarkers that likely counteract the adverse immune response of inflammaging. Thus, opposing the features of inflammaging may prevent or treat the symptoms of AD. In this review, we fully characterize the aging immune system. In addition, we explain how three novel treatments, (1) human umbilical cord blood cells (HUCBC), (2) flavanoids, and (3) Aβ vaccination oppose the forces of inflammaging and AD-like pathology in various mouse models

La reproducción asistida post mortem y sus futuras implicancias en la sucesión del padre fallecido en el Perú

El presente trabajo de investigación titulado “La reproducción asistida post mortem y sus futuras implicancias en la sucesión del padre fallecido en el Perú”, tuvo como objetivo general el “Determinar si es que existe una necesidad verdadera para la creación de una regulación jurídico legal para el tratamiento de la sucesión de los hijos nacidos debido a la reproducción asistida post mortem” La presente investigación se realizó con el enfoque cualitativo, de tipo básico y se utilizó el diseño interpretativo, bibliográfico y documental, además se utilizó como instrumento la Guía de Entrevista y el Análisis Documental. Se llegó a la conclusión que existe una necesidad verdadera para la creación de una regulación jurídico legal para el tratamiento de la sucesión de los hijos nacidos debido a la reproducción asistida post mortem, ya que permitirá el resolver controversias relacionadas a la temática vista, devenida de la ambigüedad de la norma actual que trata las técnicas de reproducción asistida en el país, que fije los alcances y límites de la práctica y fijando los derechos sucesorios, para evitar la desprotección económico-financiera del menor por nacer

Recent advances on visual cycle protein research and progress on clinical translation

Since the publication of our previous paper, Visual cycle proteins: Structure, function, and roles in human retinal disease (Tsin, et.al, JBC 293:13016, 2018) there has been significant progress on multiple topics discussed in this paper. In the present communication, we further explore research advances on two visual cycle proteins: DES1 and IRBP. In addition, we emphasize the progress of clinical translation of other visual cycle protein research, including the breakthrough of FDA-approved gene therapy for Leber’s congenital amaurosis, and additional gene therapies at different stages of clinical trials for various retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and Stargardt’s disease

Flipping the switches: CD40 and CD45 modulation of microglial activation states in HIV associated dementia (HAD)

Microglial dysfunction is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of a number of neurodegenerative disorders including HIV associated dementia (HAD). HIV promotion of an M1 antigen presenting cell (APC) - like microglial phenotype, through the promotion of CD40 activity, may impair endogenous mechanisms important for amyloid- beta (Aβ) protein clearance. Further, a chronic pro-inflammatory cycle is established in this manner. CD45 is a protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor which negatively regulates CD40L-CD40-induced microglial M1 activation; an effect leading to the promotion of an M2 phenotype better suited to phagocytose and clear Aβ. Moreover, this CD45 mediated activation state appears to dampen harmful cytokine production. As such, this property of microglial CD45 as a regulatory "off switch" for a CD40-promoted M1, APC-type microglia activation phenotype may represent a critical therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of neurodegeneration, as well as microglial dysfunction, found in patients with HAD

Evaluation of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus DNA in Tissue Samples from italian Patients With Diagnosis of MCC

Because the incidence of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) has increased significantly during the last 10 years and it is recognized that Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation represent two different etiological inputs sharing clinical, histopathological, and prognostic similar features, although with different prognosis, this study investigated the detection of MCPyV in skin and lymph nodes with histological diagnosis of MCC. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE) were retrieved from archived specimens and MCPyV non-coding control region (NCCR) and viral capsid protein 1 (VP1) sequences were amplified and sequenced. Results provide an interesting observation concerning the discrepancy between the MCPyV DNA status in primary and metastatic sites: in fact, in all cases in which primary and metastatic lesions were investigated, MCPyV DNA was detected only in the primary lesions. Our data further support the “hit-and-run” theory, also proposed by other authors, and may lead to speculation that in some MCCs the virus is only necessary for the process of tumor initiation and that further mutations may render the tumor independent from the virus. Few point mutations were detected in the NCCR and only silent mutations were observed in the VP1 sequence compared to the MCPyV MCC350 isolate. To unequivocally establish a role of MCPyV in malignancies, additional well-controlled investigations are required, and larger cohorts should be examined

Antiretroviral medications disrupt microglial phagocytosis of β-amyloid and increase its production by neurons: Implications for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

Up to 50% of long-term HIV infected patients, including those with systemically well-controlled infection, commonly experience memory problems and slowness, difficulties in concentration, planning, and multitasking. Deposition of Aβ plaques is also a common pathological feature of HIV infection. However, it is not clear whether this accumulation is due to AD-like processes, HIV-associated immunosuppression, Tat protein-induced Aβ elevations, and/or the effects of single highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here we evaluated the effects of several ART medications (Zidovudine, Lamivudine, Indinavir, and Abacavir) alone and in combination on: 1) Aβ1-40, 42 generation in murine N2a cells transfected with the human "Swedish" mutant form of APP; 2) microglial phagocytosis of FITC-Aβ1-42 peptides in cultured murine N9 microglia. We report for the first time that these antiretroviral compounds (10 μM) generally increase Aβ generation (~50-200%) in SweAPP N2a cells and markedly inhibit microglial phagocytosis of FITC-Aβ1-42 peptides in murine microglia. The most significant amyloidogenic effects were observed with combined ART (p < 0.05); suggesting certain ART medications may have additive amyloidogenic effects when combined. As these antiretroviral compounds are capable of penetrating the blood brain barrier and reaching the concentrations employed in the in vitro studies, these findings raise the possibility that ART may play a casual role in the elevated Aβ found in the brains of those infected with HIV. Therefore these compounds may consequently contribute to cognitive decline observed in HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND)

Stimulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB(2)) suppresses microglial activation

BACKGROUND: Activated microglial cells have been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and HIV dementia. It is well known that inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, and chemokines play an important role in microglial cell-associated neuron cell damage. Our previous studies have shown that CD40 signaling is involved in pathological activation of microglial cells. Many data reveal that cannabinoids mediate suppression of inflammation in vitro and in vivo through stimulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB(2)). METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effects of a cannabinoid agonist on CD40 expression and function by cultured microglial cells activated by IFN-γ using RT-PCR, Western immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and anti-CB(2 )small interfering RNA (siRNA) analyses. Furthermore, we examined if the stimulation of CB(2 )could modulate the capacity of microglial cells to phagocytise Aβ(1–42 )peptide using a phagocytosis assay. RESULTS: We found that the selective stimulation of cannabinoid receptor CB(2 )by JWH-015 suppressed IFN-γ-induced CD40 expression. In addition, this CB(2 )agonist markedly inhibited IFN-γ-induced phosphorylation of JAK/STAT1. Further, this stimulation was also able to suppress microglial TNF-α and nitric oxide production induced either by IFN-γ or Aβ peptide challenge in the presence of CD40 ligation. Finally, we showed that CB(2 )activation by JWH-015 markedly attenuated CD40-mediated inhibition of microglial phagocytosis of Aβ(1–42 )peptide. Taken together, these results provide mechanistic insight into beneficial effects provided by cannabinoid receptor CB(2 )modulation in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly AD

Identification of a panel of serum protein markers in early stage of sepsis and its validation in a cohort of patients

Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening illness with a challenging diagnosis. Current serum biomarkers are not sensitive enough for diagnosis. With the aim of finding proteins associated with sepsis, serum protein profile was compared between patients and healthy donors and serum classical inflammatory proteins were analyzed in both groups. Methods: Serum protein profiles were characterized by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). Identification of the proteins was carried out by mass spectrophotometry and their validation was performed by Enzyme-Linked-lmmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) in a cohort of 85 patients and 67 healthy donors. Seven classical inflammatory proteins were analyzed in the same cohort by ELISA: interleukin-2 receptor alpha-chain (sCD25), scavenger receptor cysteine

Estudio comparativo de las especies de lagartos de las rocas del noreste del Chubut

Este trabajo pretende comparar las relaciones taxonómicas entre tres de las seis especies propuestas para el clado Phymaturus calcogaster: P. calcogaster, P. patagonicus y P. yachanana, junto a una población vecina de Phymaturus sp. y proponer diferencias taxonómicas. Se realizó un estudio sobre caracteres merísticos y morfológicos de uso Standard en Iguánidos y en particular los sugeridos por varios autores para las especies del género. Mediante el análisis discriminante se analizaron 21 variables morfométricas y merísticas que revelaron diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) entre los taxones. Un total del 100% de los casos fueron clasificados correctamente.This work aims to compare the taxonomic relations between three of the six species proposed for the clade Phymaturus calcogaster: P. calcogaster, P. patagonicus and P. yachanana, together a neighboring population of Phymaturus sp. and propose taxonomic differences. A study was made on the meristic and morphometric characters of Standard use in Iguanids and in particular those suggested by several authors for the species of the genus. By means of discriminant analysis, 21 morphometric and meristic variables were analyzed, which revealed significant (p <0.05) differences between the taxa. A total of 100% of de cases were correctly classified.Fil: Obregon Streitenberger, Rosa Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; ArgentinaFil: Klagges, María Rosa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; ArgentinaFil: Escobar, Juan Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; ArgentinaFil: Scolaro, José Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Diversidad y Evolución Austral; Argentin