Code Generation based on IFML for the User Interfaces of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA)

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project is responsible for developing the SKA Observatory, the world’s largest radiotelescope ever built. In this context, a number of Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) have to be designed and built to be used for monitoring and control, testing, simulation, integration, commissioning and maintenance. The Tango framework and its UI tools, selected for SKA in 2015, support the types of basic control interfaces currently used at both radio telescopes and within high energy physics experiments. This paper reports on the development of a Qt/Taurus code generator prototype based on the IFML (Interaction Flow Modeling Language) standard and respective modeling tools, that are extended for supporting the platform-specific code generation. The purpose of this work is to enable the use of low-code development in SKA GUI design, thus enabling increased efficiency, reliability and coherency of the produced UI. We present a simple GUI use case as complete example of software development cycle starting from requirements and including IFML modelling, Qt/Taurus automatic coding, interface evaluation and validation

Characterization of Particles in Protein Solutions: Reaching the Limits of Current Technologies

Recent publications have emphasized the lack of characterization methods available for protein particles in a size range comprised between 0.1 and 10 μm and the potential risk of immunogenicity associated with such particles. In the present paper, we have investigated the performance of light obscuration, flow microscopy, and Coulter counter instruments for particle counting and sizing in protein formulations. We focused on particles 2–10 μm in diameter and studied the effect of silicon oil droplets originating from the barrel of pre-filled syringes, as well as the effect of high protein concentrations (up to 150 mg/ml) on the accuracy of particle characterization. Silicon oil was demonstrated to contribute significantly to the particle counts observed in pre-filled syringes. Inconsistent results were observed between different protein concentrations in the range 7.5–150 mg/ml for particles <10 μm studied by optical techniques (light obscuration and flow microscopy). However, the Coulter counter measurements were consistent across the same studied concentration range but required sufficient solution conductivity from the formulation buffer or excipients. Our results show that currently available technologies, while allowing comparisons between samples of a given protein at a fixed concentration, may be unable to measure particle numbers accurately in a variety of protein formulations, e.g., at high concentration in sugar-based formulations

Haemato-oncology and burnout: an Italian survey

This cross-sectional survey aimed to evaluate the prevalence of burnout and estimated psychiatric disorders among haemato-oncology healthcare professionals in Italy. The aspects of work that respondents perceive as stressful and satisfying have also been examined. The assessments were made using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), General Health Questionnaire and a study-specific questionnaire. Logistic regression models were applied to show associations between different sources of work-related stress and burnout. Three hundred and eighty-seven out of 440 (87.95%) returned their questionnaires. The scores on MBI subscales indicate a high level of emotional exhaustion in 32.2% of the physicians and 31.9% of the nurses; a high level of Depersonalisation in 29.8 and 23.6%, respectively; and a low level of personal accomplishment in 12.4 and 15.3% respectively. The estimated prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 36.4% in physicians and 28.8% in nurses. Statistical analysis confirmed age, sex, personal dissatisfaction, physical tiredness and working with demanding patients to be associated with burnout. In conclusion, haemato-oncology healthcare professionals report a level of burnout and estimated psychiatric morbidity comparable to other oncological areas. Knowledge of the mechanisms of burnout and preventing and dealing with them is therefore a fundamental requirement for the improvement of quality in health services and job satisfaction

The contribution of online reviews for quality evaluation of cultural tourism offers: The experience of italian museums

In the cultural tourism field, there has been an increasing interest in adopting data-driven approaches that are aimed at measuring the service quality dimensions through online reviews. To date, studies measuring quality dimensions in cultural tourism settings through content analysis of online user-generated reviews are mainly based on manual approaches. When the content analysis is automated, these studies do not compare different analytical approaches. Our paper enters this field by comparing two different automated content analysis approaches to evaluate which of the two is more adequate for assessing the quality dimensions through user-generated reviews in an empirical setting of 100 Italian museums. Specifically, we compare a ‘top-down’ content analysis approach that is based on a supervised classification built on policy makers’ guidelines and a ‘bottom-up’ approach that is based on an unsupervised topic model of the online words of reviewers. The resulting museum quality dimensions are compared, showing that the ‘bottom-up’ approach reveals additional quality dimensions compared with those obtained through the ‘top-down’ approach. The misalignment of the results of the ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ approaches to quality evaluation for museums enhances the critical discussion on the contribution that data analytics can offer to support decision making in cultural tourism

Moderni strumenti gestionali di dati floristici e vegetazionali: un esempio di geodatabase relazionale per la citt\ue0 di Trieste

I recenti sviluppi nel campo dell\u2019informatizzazione e conservazione della biodiversit\ue0 stanno portando allo sviluppo di nuovi sistemi informatici, che rendono possibile una efficiente raccolta, modifica, analisi e condivisione di dati e metadati. In quest\u2019ottica \ue8 stato sviluppato un geodatabase che organizza dati di flora e vegetazione dell\u2019area di Trieste, provenienti da diversi dataset e raccolti nell\u2019ambito di vari progetti del Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita dell\u2019Universit\ue0 di Trieste. A questi sono stati aggiunti i dati sul verde pubblico e sulle specie arboree ottenuti dal Comune di Trieste. I dataset sono stati standardizzati per sistema di riferimento e tassonomia, e successivamente integrati in un database PostgreSQL, abbinato all\u2019estensione spaziale PostGIS. Il geodatabase, interfacciato con un sistema GIS, \ue8 risultato un indispensabile strumento per la visualizzazione dei dati e per la loro analisi spaziale testo

Effect of nanoparticle encapsulation on the photostability of the sunscreen agent, 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of nanoparticle-based systems on the light-induced decomposition of the sunscreen agent, trans -2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate (trans-EHMC). Ethylcellulose (EC) and poly-D,L-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) were used as biocompatible polymers for the preparation of the particulate systems. The ‘‘salting out’’ method was used for nanoparticle preparation and several variables were evaluated in order to optimize product characteristics. The photodegradation of the sunscreen agent in emulsion vehicles was reduced by encapsulation into the PLGA nanoparticles (the extent of degradation was 35.3% for the sunscreen-loaded nanoparticles compared to 52.3% for free trans-EHMC) whereas the EC nanoparticle system had no significant effect. Therefore, PLGA nanoparticles loaded with trans-EHMC improve the photostability of the sunscreen agent