Linking data and BPMN processes to achieve executable models

We describe a formally well founded approach to link data and processes conceptually, based on adopting UML class diagrams to represent data, and BPMN to represent the process. The UML class diagram together with a set of additional process variables, called Artifact, form the information model of the process. All activities of the BPMN process refer to such an information model by means of OCL operation contracts. We show that the resulting semantics while abstract is fully executable. We also provide an implementation of the executor.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Factores influyentes en la calidad del concreto: una encuesta a los actores relevantes de la industria del hormigón

Concrete is the most used building material worldwide, involving thousands of field, academic and laboratory professionals in its production, transportation and its application, which creates a great margin of possible error that may yield in a poor quality concrete. Each professional takes care of the concrete quality according to his/her experience or academic knowledge/expertise. In order to analyze the factors that concrete workers in Barranquilla (Colombia) perceive as the most important for achieving a high-quality concrete, a survey was made to both academic and field experts with different years of experience and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was applied to weigh the perception of each factor in the concrete quality. Results have shown that for the survey respondents one of the most important factors is the environment; this may be associated with geographic location of the city, which is in a coastal region.  El concreto es el material de construcción más utilizado en el mundo, involucrando en su uso a miles de profesionales de campo, académicos y de laboratorio en su producción, transporte o aplicación, lo cual genera un gran margen de error que puede tener como consecuencia un concreto de baja calidad. Cada profesional controla la calidad del concreto de acuerdo con su experiencia o su conocimiento académico. Con el fin de analizar los factores que los actores relevantes del concreto perciben como los más importantes para obtener una alta calidad del mismo, se realizó una encuesta en Barranquilla (Colombia) a académicos y expertos de campo con diferentes años de experiencia y se aplicó el método de análisis jerárquico para determinar la ponderación de cada factor en la calidad del concreto. Los resultados muestran que el factor más importante para los encuestados es en el entorno ambiental; la metodología utilizada y los resultados obtenidos pueden ser extrapolables a otras realidades

Caracterización energética de la unión de 1,3,6- naftalén trisulfonato al factor de crecimiento para fibroblastos ácido humano: implicaciones para su uso como agente anti-angiogénico

The equilibrium interaction of anti-cancer agent 1,3,6-naphatalene trisulfonate with human acidic fi broblast growthfactor has been studied by calorimetry. The affi nity decreases with increasing ionic strength. At pH 7.0 and 0.15 MNaCl concentration, a binding constant of the protein with the ligand was estimated in the 102 – 103 M-1 range, anaffi nity two orders of magnitude lower than that of aFGF with heparin. The interaction is enthalpically driven, andthe entropy change is unfavorable. A small heat capacity change with an unusual positive value of 90 cal K-1mol-1 wasdetermined from the temperature dependence of the enthalpies. Changes in accessible apolar and polar surface areasin the interaction were calculated from the thermodynamic data obtained and parametric equations in the literature.The results were compared with those measured from NMR data. The study includes structural bioenergetic considerationsabout the possible use of 1,3,6-naphatalene trisulfonate as an anti-angiogenic agent itself, or as a lead for thedevelopment of anti-angiogenic drugs.Se ha estudiado, mediante calorimetría isotérmica de reacción, la interacción del agente anticancerígeno 1,3,6-naftaléntrisulfonato con el factor de crecimiento para fi broblastos ácido humano. La afi nidad decrece con el aumento de lafuerza iónica. A pH 7,0 y NaCl 0,15 M, la constante de unión de la proteína con el ligando se encuentra en el rango102 – 103 M-1, una afi nidad dos órdenes de magnitud menor que la del FGFa por heparina. El cambio de entalpíafavorece la interacción, siendo el cambio de entropía desfavorable. De la dependencia del cambio de entalpía con latemperatura se calculó un pequeño cambio en la capacidad calorífi ca del proceso, con un valor excepcionalmentepositivo de 90 cal K-1mol-1. A partir de los datos termodinámicos medidos y de ecuaciones paramétricas establecidasen la literatura, se calcularon cambios en la superfi cie accesible al disolvente, tanto polar como apolar, que acompañana la interacción. Los resultados se compararon con los medidos mediante resonancia magnética nuclear. Elestudio incluye consideraciones de bioenergética estructural sobre el posible uso de 1,3,6-naftalén trisulfonato comoagente antiangiogénico o como molécula líder para el desarrollo de fármacos anti-angiogénicos

FABIOLA: Defining the Components for Constraint Optimization Problems in Big Data Environment

The optimization problems can be found in several examples within companies, such as the minimization of the production costs, the faults produced, or the maximization of customer loyalty. The resolution of them is a challenge that entails an extra effort. In addition, many of today’s enterprises are encountering the Big Data problems added to these optimization problems. Unfortunately, to tackle this challenge by medium and small companies is extremely difficult or even impossible. In this paper, we propose a framework that isolates companies from how the optimization problems are solved. More specifically, we solve optimization problems where the data is heterogeneous, distributed and of a huge volume. FABIOLA (FAst BIg cOstraint LAb) framework enables to describe the distributed and structured data used in optimization problems that can be parallelized (the variables are not shared between the various optimization problems), and obtains a solution using Constraint Programming Techniques

No evidence for an association between <i>Clock</i> gene allelic variation and migration timing in a long-distance migratory shorebird (<i>Limosa lapponica baueri</i>)

The gene Clock is a key part of the Core Circadian Oscillator, and the length of the polyglutamine (poly-Q) repeat sequence in Clock (ClkpolyQcds) has been proposed to be associated with the timing of annual cycle events in birds. We tested whether variation in ClkpolyQcds corresponds to variation in migration timing in the bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica baueri), a species in which individuals show strong annual consistency in their migration timing despite the New Zealand population migrating across a 5-week period. We describe allelic variation of the ClkpolyQcds in 135 godwits over-wintering in New Zealand (N.Z.) and investigate whether polymorphism in this region is associated with northward migration timing (chronophenotype) from N.Z. or (for 32 birds tracked by geolocator) after the primary stopover in Asia. Six Clock alleles were detected (Q(7)-Q(12)) and there was substantial variation between individuals (heterozygosity of 0.79). There was no association between ClkpolyQcds polymorphism and migration timing from N.Z. The length of the shorter Clock allele was related to migration timing from Asia, though this relationship arose largely from just a few northern-breeding birds with longer alleles. Other studies show no consistent associations between ClkpolyQcds and migration timing in birds, although Clock may be associated with breeding latitude in some species (as an adaptation to photoperiodic regime). Apparent relationships with migration timing could reflect latitude-related variation in migration timing, rather than Clock directly affecting migration timing. On current evidence, ClkpolyQcds is not a strong candidate for driving migration timing in migratory birds generally

Differentiation syndrome in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia treated with all- trans retinoic acid and anthracycline chemotherapy: Characteristics, outcome, and prognostic factors

Differentiation syndrome (DS) can be a life-threatening complication in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) undergoing induction therapy with all- trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Detailed knowl- edge about DS has remained limited. We present an analysis of the incidence, char- acteristics, prognostic factors, and out- come of 739 APL patients treated with ATRA plus idarubicin in 2 consecutive trials (Programa Espanol de Tratamientos en Hematologíc [PETHEMA] LPA96 and LPA99). Overall, 183 patients (24.8%) ex- perienced DS, 93 with a severe form (12.6%) and 90 with a moderate form (12.2%). Severe but not moderate DS was associated with an increase in mortality. A bimodal incidence of DS was observed, with peaks occurring in the first and third weeks after the start of ATRA therapy. A multivariate analysis indicated that a WBC count greater than 5 x 109/L and an abnor- mal serum creatinine level correlated with an increased risk of developing severe DS. Patients receiving systematic pred- nisone prophylaxis (LPA99 trial) in con- trast to those receiving selective prophy- laxis with dexamethasone (LPA96 trial) had a lower incidence of severe DS. Pa- tients developing severe DS showed a reduced 7-year relapse-free survival in the LPA96 trial (60% vs 85%, P = .003), but this difference was not apparent in the LPA99 trial

An Architecture for Querying Business Process, Business Process Instances, and Business Data Models

Business data are usually managed by means of business processes during process instances. These viewpoints (business, instances and data) are strongly related because the life-cycle of business data objects need to be aligned with the business process and process instance models. However, current approaches do not provide a mechanism to integrate these three viewpoints nor to query them all together while maintaining the information in the distributed, heterogeneous systems where they have been created. In this paper, we propose the integration of the business process, business process instance, and business data models by using their metamodels and also an architecture to support this integration. The goal of this integration is to make the most of the three models and the technologies that support them in an isolated way. In our approach, it is not necessary to change the source data formats nor transforming them into a common one. Furthermore, the proposed architecture allows us to query the three models even though they come from three di�erent technologies

Extended Thromboprophylaxis with Betrixaban in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Background Patients with acute medical illnesses are at prolonged risk for venous thrombosis. However, the appropriate duration of thromboprophylaxis remains unknown. Methods Patients who were hospitalized for acute medical illnesses were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous enoxaparin (at a dose of 40 mg once daily) for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban placebo for 35 to 42 days or subcutaneous enoxaparin placebo for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban (at a dose of 80 mg once daily) for 35 to 42 days. We performed sequential analyses in three prespecified, progressively inclusive cohorts: patients with an elevated d-dimer level (cohort 1), patients with an elevated d-dimer level or an age of at least 75 years (cohort 2), and all the enrolled patients (overall population cohort). The statistical analysis plan specified that if the between-group difference in any analysis in this sequence was not significant, the other analyses would be considered exploratory. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of asymptomatic proximal deep-vein thrombosis and symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The principal safety outcome was major bleeding. Results A total of 7513 patients underwent randomization. In cohort 1, the primary efficacy outcome occurred in 6.9% of patients receiving betrixaban and 8.5% receiving enoxaparin (relative risk in the betrixaban group, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 1.00; P=0.054). The rates were 5.6% and 7.1%, respectively (relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.98; P=0.03) in cohort 2 and 5.3% and 7.0% (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.92; P=0.006) in the overall population. (The last two analyses were considered to be exploratory owing to the result in cohort 1.) In the overall population, major bleeding occurred in 0.7% of the betrixaban group and 0.6% of the enoxaparin group (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.12; P=0.55). Conclusions Among acutely ill medical patients with an elevated d-dimer level, there was no significant difference between extended-duration betrixaban and a standard regimen of enoxaparin in the prespecified primary efficacy outcome. However, prespecified exploratory analyses provided evidence suggesting a benefit for betrixaban in the two larger cohorts. (Funded by Portola Pharmaceuticals; APEX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01583218. opens in new tab.

In-situ measurements of thermal-mechanical wear in blade-abradable liner contacts

The abradable coating on the casing of a jet engine minimises any air gaps by allowing blades to cut a path into the abradable, reducing efficiency losses. Unfortunately, abradable cutting performance varies significantly with rub conditions and abradable type, leading to poor cutting performance and potentially damaging the blades. This study further develops the abradable testing capabilities of a 200ms−1 spindle test rig by applying previously researched stroboscopic imagining techniques to record the front of the blade alongside thermal imaging of the blade and the abradable. The front camera makes it possible to see how adhesions are forming along the width of the blade, and how the adhesion growth differs between materials. The thermal camera can then be used to identify hot spots on both the blade and the abradable, providing an insight into how hot spots relate to adhesions both spatially and temporally. These tools have been proven with testing of Metco 601 at a range of incursion rates. At the incursion rate of 0.2μm/pass the tools were able to provide conclusive results, with video footage of the front, side, blade temperature and abradable temperatures being aligned temporally and spatially. Numerical data could then be extracted to produce rub maps of adhesion height, blade temperature, and abradable temperature on separate plots which is a powerful tool when looking for relationships between the data sets, and for identifying time-based patterns. Further benefits of this tool set were shown when focusing on individual adhesions events within a rub, allowing for the delays between abradable heating, adhesions forming, and blade heating to be observed and quantified. When applied to multiple materials and at different test conditions this tool will provide further insight into how adhesion formation differs, and potentially into why adhesions form

Generación de energía solar fotovoltaica en grandes superficies cubiertas de la ciudad de Paraná, Entre Ríos

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la generación de energía eléctrica a través de plantas solares fotovoltaicas diseñadas sobre superficies cubiertas del parque industrial de la ciudad de Paraná. A partir de un relevamiento y selección de industrias con superficie cubierta mayor a 500 m2 se identifican diferentes escenarios según la forma, inclinación y orientación de las cubiertas. A través del modelado de los escenarios con el software PVSyst se obtuvieron resultados de la productividad final (YF) e influencia de la radiación sobre cada situación. Sobre un total de 113.142 m2 se obtiene una generación de 22.014 MWh al año, con pérdidas del 10,7% en comparación con un diseño óptimo. Se concluye que en el área de estudio se debe comenzar a diseñar edificios con orientación y geometría óptima para incorporar sistemas fotovoltaicos y maximizar la producción de energía limpia y reducir el impacto ambiental