A model-driven privacy compliance decision support for medical data sharing in Europe

Objectives: Clinical practitioners and medical researchers often have to share health data with other colleagues across Europe. Privacy compliance in this context is very important but challenging. Automated privacy guidelines are a practical way of increasing users' awareness of privacy obligations and help eliminating unintentional breaches of privacy. In this paper we present an ontology-plus-rules based approach to privacy decision support for the sharing of patient data across European platforms. Methods: We use ontologies to model the required domain and context information about data sharing and privacy requirements. In addition, we use a set of Semantic Web Rule Language rules to reason about legal privacy requirements that are applicable to a specific context of data disclosure. We make the complete set invocable through the use of a semantic web application acting as an interactive privacy guideline system can then invoke the full model in order to provide decision support. Results: When asked, the system will generate privacy reports applicable to a specific case of data disclosure described by the user. Also reports showing guidelines per Member State may be obtained. Conclusion: The advantage of this approach lies in the expressiveness and extensibility of the modelling and inference languages adopted and the ability they confer to reason with complex requirements interpreted from high level regulations. However, the system cannot at this stage fully simulate the role of an ethics committee or review board. © Schattauer 2011

Les Algues Indicatrices De L'eutrophisation Et De La Contamination De La Lagune De Korba (Cap Bon Tunisie)

The concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb and Mn) were determined in two green algae (Enteromorpha intestinalis and Chaetomorpha Linium) collected from April 2012 to February 2013 in nine stations characterized by the abundance of these algae throughout the year. Determination of Pb, Mn and Zn was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer while Fe by flame atomic absorption spectrometer (using the Thermo Scientific ICE 3300 AA Spectrometer). An evaluation of the degree of eutrophication is made through the physicochemical study of 31 samples in the surface water. The results underline that Korba is an eutrophic lagoon. The heavy metal concentrations in the water samples decreased in the sequence of Fe >Zn > Mn > Pb, while in Chaetomorpha Linium, Enteromorpha intestinalis and sediment exhibited the same pattern across the sites: Fe >Mn> Zn >Pb. The results show that metal accumulation capacity in both macro-algae varies according to the season and depends on the species. By comparison with other studies in the world, the levels found in the algae of Korba lagoon are relatively high except Mn. Chaetomorpha Linium could be used as an excellent indicator for heavy metals accumulation in Korba lagoon

Defect Pool Numerical Model in Amorphous Semiconductor Device Modeling Program

Програма моделювання аморфних напівпровідникових приладів (ASDMP), розроблена професором P. Chatterjee і широко підтверджена експериментальними результатами, є детальною програмою, де рівняння Пуассона і рівняння безперервності електронів і дірок розв’язуються одночасно без жодного спрощення. Вона враховує кінетику захоплення і рекомбінації через стани у забороненій зоні. У цій програмі щільність станів моделюється за допомогою стандартної моделі (SM). Така модель описує дефекти двома гаусіанами поблизу центра забороненої зони та двома хвостами, експоненціально розподіленими за енергією, і припускає, що щільність станів однорідна у просторі. Defect pool model (DPM) є вдосконаленою моделлю формування дефектів у гідрогенізованому аморфному кремнії на основі ідеї, що сітка невпорядкованих атомів a-Si:H має великий спектр локальних середовищ, в яких може бути сформований дефект. Таким чином, ці дефекти вибирають місця, де їх енергія утворення мінімальна, і це стає можливим з рухом водню.Використовуючи підхід до опису дефектів, ми розробили чисельну DPM і застосували її у ASDMP при термодинамічній рівновазі. Ми використали ASDMP, щоб отримати щільність станів у кожній позиції сонячного елемента на основі стандартної структури p-i-n. Показано вплив допінгу на концентрацію дефектів та досліджено вплив положення рівня Фермі на розподіл щільності станів. Ми визнали використання ASDMP ключовим результатом того, що негативно заряджені дефекти в матеріалі n-типу розташовані нижче за енергією, ніж позитивно заряджені дефекти в матеріалі p-типу, навіть якщо енергія кореляції позитивна.Ми розрахували електричне поле і діаграми смуг при термодинамічній рівновазі як з DPM, так і з SM. Ми показали, що електричне поле, отримане від DPM, сильніше поблизу інтерфейсів і нижче в об'ємі, де діаграми смуг більш плоскі. Така поведінка електричного поля, розрахованого за даною моделлю, підкреслюється зі збільшенням нахилу хвостів валентної зони.Amorphous Semiconductor Device Modeling Program (ASDMP), developed by Professor P. Chatterjee and widely validated by experimental results, is a detailed program where the Poisson’s equation and the electron and hole continuity equations are simultaneously solved without any simplifying assumption. It takes into account the trapping and recombination kinetic through the gap states. In this program, the density of states is modeled using the standard model (SM). Such a model describes the defects by two Gaussians near the center of the gap and two tails exponentially distributed in energy, and assumes the density of states homogenous in space. The defect pool model (DPM) is an improved model for defect formation in hydrogenated amorphous silicon based on the idea that the a-Si:H network has a large spectrum of local environments at which a defect could be formed. So, these defects choose the sits where their formation energy is minimal and this becomes possible with hydrogen motion. Using the defect pool approach, we have developed a numerical DPM and inserted it in ASDMP at thermodynamic equilibrium. We have used ASDMP to get the density of states in each position of a solar cell based on a standard p-i-n structure. We have shown the effect of doping on defect concentration and studied the impact of the position of Fermi level on the distribution of the density of states. We recognized using ASDMP the key result that negatively charged defects in n-type material are situated lower in energy than positively charged defects in p-type material even when the correlation energy is positive. We calculated the electric field and the band diagrams at thermodynamic equilibrium both with the DPM and the SM. We showed that the electric field obtained from the DPM is stronger near the interfaces and lower in the bulk where the band diagrams are flatter. This behavior of the electric field calculated with this model is accentuated with the increase of the slope of the valence band tails

Changes in the electrical transport of ZnO under visible light

Complex impedance spectroscopy data in the frequency range 16Hz < f < 3 MHz at room temperature were acquired on pure ZnO single crystal and thin film. The measured impedance of the ZnO samples shows large changes with time after exposure to or covering them from visible light. At fixed times Cole-Cole-diagrams indicate the presence of a single relaxation process. A simple analysis of the impedance data allows us to obtain two main relaxation times. The behavior for both, ZnO crystal and thin film, is similar but the thin film shows shorter relaxation times. The analysis indicates the existence of two different photo-active defects with activation energies between ~0.8 eV and ~1.1 eV.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures. Solid state communications, in pres

Productivity, heritability and stability analysis of a Moroccan sugar beet germplasm

Received: January 19th, 2021 ; Accepted: March 27th, 2021 ; Published: April 6th 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] testing is the second part of maternal recurrent selection scheme adopted by INRA-Morocco for the national sugar beet breeding programme. The objective of this study is sugar beet germplasm productivity, heritability and stability analysis. The studied material concern 18 half-sib families (HSF) preselected initially for their seed production potential. Trials were conducted using randomised complete blocks designs during, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2017/18 campaigns in two experimental fields of INRA-Morocco; Sidi Allal Tazi (34° 30' N, 6° 19' W) and Larache (35° 11’ N, 6° 09’ W). Evaluated parameters concern the vigour, root weight (RW), leaf biomass yield (LBY), and sugar content (Sc). Data analysis by comparative procedures explores different accordance degrees of HSF versus controls. Good vegetative growth was observed, 85.6% closer to the maximal indicated scale level. The RW was significantly influenced by the genotype and reached a maximum of 1.06 kg versus 1.08 kg average recorded by controls. Sugar content recorded mean was 20.97% in HSF versus 21.39% in the controls. Most of HSF revealed mean values close to Z-type variety. Estimated heritability was 0.5 for RW, 0.2 for the LBY, and 0.02 for Sc. Sugar content was influenced by the environment and explained by the AMMI model (73.6%) versus 53.9% and 44.4% for root weight and leaf biomass yield respectively. The AMMI stability values showed F11, F12, F16, and F17 families as the most performing and stable HSF. Results demonstrate the relevance of the maternal recurrent selection scheme of the on-going national breeding programme

4-Chloro­anilinium hydrogen oxalate hemihydrate

In the title hydrated mol­ecular salt, C6H7ClN+·C2HO4 −·0.5H2O, the water O atom lies on a crystallographic twofold axis. In the crystal, the anions are linked by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along the b axis. These chains are inter­connected through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds from the water mol­ecules and N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds from the cations, building layers parallel to the ab plane

Toxicity and neurophysiological impacts of three plant-derived essential oils against the vineyard mealybug Planococcus ficus

Many natural products are able to control pests and can be used as alternatives for chemical treatments. Plant essential oils (EOs) have been found to exhibit some biological activity against many insects including mealybugs. This study aimed at studying the insecticidal activity and behavioral and neurophysiological impacts of three plant essential oils against the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus. The topical and fumigant toxicity of Cymbopogon citratus, Mentha piperita, and Pelargonium graveolens essential oils was evaluated against P. ficus adults. The chemical composition analysis of EOs by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) revealed citronellal (31.69 %), menthol (73.78 %), and geraniol (39.6%), as major components, respectively. Bioassays of EOs against vine mealybug adults through fumigation toxicity method revealed lethal concentrations LC50 values of 17.01, 26.27 and 24.52 µL·L-1 air for C. citratus, M. piperita, and P. graveolens, respectively. In both topical and fumigant bioassays, essential oil from C. citratus was the most active altering the behavioral response of treated mealybugs which becomes hyperactive and disoriented. EOs induced general stress in P. ficus adults, as evidenced by oxidative stress biomarker analyses. Biochemical analyses showed that the EOs exposure reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase and significantly induced the glutathione S-transferases and Malondialdehydes accumulation in the vine mealybug tissues. Mortality caused by lemongrass EO positively correlated with the significant decrease in the AChE activity indicating lethal neurological effects. These toxicity bioassays and neurological impact findings provide new informations for formulating effective essential oil based-insecticides to control P. ficus in the framework of integrated pest management programs

4-Meth­oxy­anilinium nitrate

The title compound, C7H10NO+·NO3 −, crystallized with two p-ansidinium cations and two nitrate anions in the asymmetric unit. As well as Columbic and van der Waals forces, moleucles inter­act via multiple bifurcated N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds that help consolidate the crystal packing, resulting in a three-dimensional network

Cervix carcinoma is associated with an up-regulation and nuclear localization of the dual-specificity protein phosphatase VHR

BACKGROUND: The 21-kDa Vaccinia virus VH1-related (VHR) dual-specific protein phosphatase (encoded by the DUSP3 gene) plays a critical role in cell cycle progression and is itself regulated during the cell cycle. We have previously demonstrated using RNA interference that cells lacking VHR arrest in the G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle and show signs of beginning of cell senescence. METHODS: In this report, we evaluated successfully the expression levels of VHR protein in 62 hysterectomy or conization specimens showing the various (pre) neoplastic cervical epithelial lesions and 35 additional cases of hysterectomy performed for non-cervical pathologies, from patients under 50 years of age. We used a tissue microarray and IHC technique to evaluate the expression of the VHR phosphatase. Immunofluorescence staining under confocal microscopy, Western blotting and RT-PCR methods were used to investigate the localization and expression levels of VHR. RESULTS: We report that VHR is upregulated in (pre) neoplastic lesions (squamous intraepithelial lesions; SILs) of the uterine cervix mainly in high grade SIL (H-SIL) compared to normal exocervix. In the invasive cancer, VHR is also highly expressed with nuclear localization in the majority of cells compared to normal tissue where VHR is always in the cytoplasm. We also report that this phosphatase is highly expressed in several cervix cancer cell lines such as HeLa, SiHa, CaSki, C33 and HT3 compared to primary keratinocytes. The immunofluorescence technique under confocal microscopy shows that VHR has a cytoplasmic localization in primary keratinocytes, while it localizes in both cytoplasm and nucleus of the cancer cell lines investigated. We report that the up-regulation of this phosphatase is mainly due to its post-translational stabilization in the cancer cell lines compared to primary keratinocytes rather than increases in the transcription of DUSP3 locus. CONCLUSION: These results together suggest that VHR can be considered as a new marker for cancer progression in cervix carcinoma and potential new target for anticancer therapy

Identification of tissue-specific and common methylation quantitative trait loci in healthy individuals using MAGAR

Background Understanding the influence of genetic variants on DNA methylation is fundamental for the interpretation of epigenomic data in the context of disease. There is a need for systematic approaches not only for determining methylation quantitative trait loci (methQTL), but also for discriminating general from cell type-specific effects. Results Here, we present a two-step computational framework MAGAR (https://bioconductor.org/packages/MAGAR), which fully supports the identification of methQTLs from matched genotyping and DNA methylation data, and additionally allows for illuminating cell type-specific methQTL effects. In a pilot analysis, we apply MAGAR on data in four tissues (ileum, rectum, T cells, B cells) from healthy individuals and demonstrate the discrimination of common from cell type-specific methQTLs. We experimentally validate both types of methQTLs in an independent data set comprising additional cell types and tissues. Finally, we validate selected methQTLs located in the PON1, ZNF155, and NRG2 genes by ultra-deep local sequencing. In line with previous reports, we find cell type-specific methQTLs to be preferentially located in enhancer elements. Conclusions Our analysis demonstrates that a systematic analysis of methQTLs provides important new insights on the influences of genetic variants to cell type-specific epigenomic variation