Toward a Configurable Thing Composition Language for the SIoT

With the advent of the Social Internet-of-Things (SIoT), which builds upon the success of IoT, different IoT devices engage in relationships to achieve common goals calling for a composition language that would dictate who will do what, when, and where.Since the number of service interactions may become overwhelming the composition plan may have many alternatives. For that reason, variability is an important concern for IoT and SIoT. A configurable composition model could provide a consolidated view of multiple variants of composition plans. It promotes the reuse of proven practices by providing analysts with a generic modeling approach from which to derive individual composition plan models. Unfortunately, the scope of existing notations for configurable composition modeling is restricted or even non-existent in the IoT domain.In this paper, we propose a variability awareness IoT service Composition Framework. The new Framework handles both configurable and classical IoT service composition. We represent the new primitives, the configurable composition language, and algorithms of customization. Finally we demonstrate the features of the framework through a proof of concept application

Characterization of Halorubrum sfaxense sp. nov., a New Halophilic Archaeon Isolated from the Solar Saltern of Sfax in Tunisia

An extremely halophilic archaeon, strain ETD6, was isolated from a marine solar saltern in Sfax, Tunisia. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate was phylogenetically related to species of the genus Halorubrum among the family Halobacteriaceae, with a close relationship to Hrr. xinjiangense (99.77% of identity). However, value for DNA-DNA hybridization between strain ETD6 and Hrr.xinjiangense were about 24.5%. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.1 mol% (T(m)). Strain ETD6 grew in 15–35% (w/v) NaCl. The temperature and pH ranges for growth were 20–55°C and 6–9, respectively. Optimal growth occurred at 25% NaCl, 37°C, and pH 7.4. The results of the DNA hybridization against Hrr. xinjiangense and physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain ETD6 from other Hrr. species. Therefore, strain ETD6 represents a novel species of the genus Halorubrum, for which the name Hrr. sfaxense sp. nov. is proposed. The Genbank EMBL-EBI accession number is GU724599

Smoke Priming, a Potent Protective Agent Against Salinity: Effect on Proline Accumulation, Elemental Uptake, Pigmental Attributes and Protein Banding Patterns of Rice (Oryza Sativa)

The exogenous application of plant derived smoke solution through seed pre treatment is consider to create tolerance in the plant against salinity, for this purpose different dilution of plant derived smoke solution as 1:5000 Buhania, 1:1000 Buhania, 1:1000 Cymbopogon, 1:500 Cymbopogon were used against 0 mM, 50, 100 and 150mM NaCl solution in the medium. The effect was observed on total proline accumulation, heavy metals uptake, photosynthetic pigments and protein polypeptide bands intensity in two rice varieties as Basmati 385 (B-385) and Shaheen Basmati (S. Basmati). Proline concentration increases while chlorophyll “a” chlorophyll “b” and carotene level decreases with increasing salinity. On other hand zinc concentration increases while cadmium and lead concentration decrease in the crop under saline conditions. Intensity of protein polypeptides bands decreases gradually with increasing salinity level but plants from the seeds soaked with smoke solution alleviate the drastic affect of salinity, and intensity of bands is quite good by comparing with non primed seeds. It is concluded that seed priming with plant derived smoke solution show beneficial effect on crop to protect them from salinity

Exploring the functional properties of sodium phytate doped polyaniline nanofibers modified fto electrodes for high-performance binder free symmetric supercapacitors

The performance of high-rate supercapacitors requires fine morphological and electrical properties of the electrode. Polyaniline (PANI), as one of the most promising materials for energy storage, shows different behaviour on different substrates. The present study reports on the surface modification of fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) with the sodium phytate doped PANI without any binder and its utilization as a novel current collector in symmetric supercapacitor devices. The electrochemical behaviour of the sodium phytate doped PANI thin film with and without a binder on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) as current collector was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The electrode without a binder showed higher electrocatalytic efficiency. A symmetrical cell configuration was therefore constructed with the binder-free electrodes. The device showed excellent electrochemical performance with high specific capacities of 550 Fg$^{-1}$ at 1 Ag$^{-1}$ and 355 Fg$^{-1}$ at 40 Ag$^{-1}$ calculated from galvanostatic discharge curves. The low charge transfer and solution resistances (RCT and RS) of 7.86 Ωcm² and 3.58 × 10−1 Ωcm², respectively, and superior rate capability of 66.9% over a wide current density range of 1 Ag$^{-1}$ to 40 Ag$^{-1}$ and excellent cycling stability with 90% of the original capacity over 1000 charge/discharge cycles at 40 Ag$^{-1}$, indicated it to be an efficient energy storage device. Moreover, the gravimetric energy and power density of the supercapacitor was remarkably high, providing 73.8 Whkg$^{-1}$ at 500 Wkg$^{-1}$, respectively. The gravimetric energy density remained stable as the power density increased. It even reached up to 49.4 Whkg$^{-1}$ at a power density of up to 20 Wkg$^{-1}$

Characterization of heterotrophic prokaryote subgroups in the Sfax coastal solar salterns by combining flow cytometry cell sorting and phylogenetic analysis

Here, we combined flow cytometry (FCM) and phylogenetic analyses after cell sorting to characterize the dominant groups of the prokaryotic assemblages inhabiting two ponds of increasing salinity: a crystallizer pond (TS) with a salinity of 390 g/L, and the non-crystallizer pond (M1) with a salinity of 200 g/L retrieved from the solar saltern of Sfax in Tunisia. As expected, FCM analysis enabled the resolution of high nucleic acid content (HNA) and low nucleic acid content (LNA) prokaryotes. Next, we performed a taxonomic analysis of the bacterial and archaeal communities comprising the two most populated clusters by phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene clone library. We show for the first time that the presence of HNA and LNA content cells could also be extended to the archaeal populations. Archaea were detected in all M1 and TS samples, whereas representatives of Bacteria were detected only in LNA for M1 and HNA for TS. Although most of the archaeal sequences remained undetermined, other clones were most frequently affiliated to Haloquadratum and Halorubrum. In contrast, most bacterial clones belonged to the Alphaproteobacteria class (Phyllobacterium genus) in M1 samples and to the Bacteroidetes phylum (Sphingobacteria and Salinibacter genus) in TS samples

Les abcès orbitaires: à propos de 7 cas

L’abcès orbitaire correspond à une infection collectée bien limitée située dans l’orbite, généralement due  à une cellulite orbitaire. Nous rapportons notre expérience à propos de 7 cas d’abcès orbitaires opérés  dans le service d’ORL est de chirurgie cervico-faciale de l’hôpital 20 aout de Casablanca entre juin 2007 et juin 2008. L’âge moyen est de 11 ans avec des extrêmes de 5 et 22 ans. On note une prédominance  masculine avec un sex-ratio de 3. On retrouve une exophtalmie inflammatoire, avec tuméfaction  palpébrale et une porte d’entrée sinusienne chez tous nos patients. L’ophtalmoplégie est notée dans 5  cas, la baisse de l’acuité visuelle dans 4 cas, et la cécité dans 2 cas. La tomodensitométrie a été réalisée chez tous nos patients. Elle a permit de confirmer l’abcès et sa localisation : interne (4 cas), supéro- interne (2 cas), et inférieure (1 cas). L’imagerie par résonnance magnétique a été faite dans 3 cas, et a permis de préciser les limites de l’infection. Le traitement médical a été instauré d’emblée, associant  une triple antibiothérapie par voie parentérale. Le traitement chirurgical a été réalisé chez 5 patients  devant la non amélioration clinique. Un drainage externe a été pratiqué et la cure de la sinusite était différée. On note une évolution défavorable dans 3 cas: cécité par névrite optique (2 cas) et  ophtalmoplégie (1 cas). Elle a été favorable dans les autres cas. En conclusion, l’abcès orbitaire est une affection rare et grave du sujet jeune, engageant le pronostic visuel voire même le pronostic vital, et  constitue de ce fait une urgence ophtalmologique et ORL. Le traitement se base sur une  poly-antibiothérapie avec des drainages de la collection le plus rapidement possible. La prévention passe par un diagnostic et un traitement appropriés des sinusites.Key words: Abcès orbitaire, diagnostic, traitement

COMPARISON OF IRON STORES IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND PATIENTS WITH ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE

ABSTRACT Excess body iron has been linked to atherosclerosis owing to its pro-oxidative properties. However, inconsistent results have emerged from the epidemiological studies linking iron status and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objective of the present study is to compare iron stores of healthy individuals and patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). A total of 137 subjects were included in the study, 90 patients of IHD and 47 healthy subjects with no history of IHD as controls. We compared body iron stores of patients and controls. Serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and sTfR/ferritin ratio were used as measures of body iron stores. Our results revealed that mean serum ferritin concentration of cases was significantly higher than controls. Moreover, mean sTfR and sTfR/ferritin ratio of controls was significantly higher than the patients. We conclude from our results that IHD patients have higher iron stores than healthy subjects suggesting a possible association between high iron stores and the risk of IHD

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the time to delivery of adjuvant therapy: the iBRA-2 study

Background: Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is routinely offered to improve quality-of-life for women requiring mastectomy, but there are concerns that more complex surgery may delay adjuvant oncological treatments and compromise long-term outcomes. High-quality evidence is lacking. The iBRA-2 study aimed to investigate the impact of IBR on time to adjuvant therapy. Methods: Consecutive women undergoing mastectomy ± IBR for breast cancer July–December, 2016 were included. Patient demographics, operative, oncological and complication data were collected. Time from last definitive cancer surgery to first adjuvant treatment for patients undergoing mastectomy ± IBR were compared and risk factors associated with delays explored. Results: A total of 2540 patients were recruited from 76 centres; 1008 (39.7%) underwent IBR (implant-only [n = 675, 26.6%]; pedicled flaps [n = 105,4.1%] and free-flaps [n = 228, 8.9%]). Complications requiring re-admission or re-operation were significantly more common in patients undergoing IBR than those receiving mastectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was required by 1235 (48.6%) patients. No clinically significant differences were seen in time to adjuvant therapy between patient groups but major complications irrespective of surgery received were significantly associated with treatment delays. Conclusions: IBR does not result in clinically significant delays to adjuvant therapy, but post-operative complications are associated with treatment delays. Strategies to minimise complications, including careful patient selection, are required to improve outcomes for patients

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe