A Context-Oriented Extension of F#

Context-Oriented programming languages provide us with primitive constructs to adapt program behaviour depending on the evolution of their operational environment, namely the context. In previous work we proposed ML_CoDa, a context-oriented language with two-components: a declarative constituent for programming the context and a functional one for computing. This paper describes the implementation of ML_CoDa as an extension of F#.Comment: In Proceedings FOCLASA 2015, arXiv:1512.0694

Extending Cairo with color space support

Cairo is a 2D vector graphics library which can draw on multiple output targets, including PDF, PostScript, SVG, Xlib, Quartz and GDI. Cairo provides an interface which exposes PDF-like operations, hence it can draw complex shapes and fill them with a colored pattern, but it lacks color management. The purpose of this work is to design and implement an extension of the Cairo library which augments it with color management support, in accordance with the ICC and PDF standard specifications. This extension makes it possible to move the color handling from applications to the graphic library and provides a flexible and efficient drawing model

Modelling the behaviour of management operations in cloud-based applications

How to flexibly manage complex applications over heterogeneous clouds is one of the emerging problems in the cloud era. The OASIS Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications (TOSCA) aims at solving this problem by providing a language to describe and manage complex cloud applications in a portable, vendoragnostic way. TOSCA permits to define an application as an orchestration of nodes, whose types can specify states, requirements, capabilities and management operations — but not how they interact each another. In this paper we first propose how to extend TOSCA to specify the behaviour of management operations and their relations with states, requirements, and capabilities. We then illustrate how such behaviour can be naturally modelled, in a compositional way, by means of open Petri nets. The proposed modelling permits to automate different analyses, such as determining whether a deployment plan is valid, which are its effects, or which plans allow to reach certain system configurations

Auditable data structures: theory and applications

Every digital process needs to consume some data in order to work properly. It is very common for applications to use some external data in their processes, getting them by sources such as external APIs. Therefore, trusting the received data becomes crucial in such scenarios, considering that if the data are not self-produced by the consumer, the trust in the external data source, or in the data that the source produces, can not always be taken for granted. The most used approach to generate trust in the external source is based on authenticated data structures, that are able to authenticate the source when queried through the generation of proofs. Such proofs are useful to assess authenticity or integrity, however, an external user could also be interested in verifying the data history and its consistency. This problem seems to be unaddressed by current literature, which proposes some approaches aimed at executing audits by internal actors with prior knowledge about the data structures. In this paper, we address the scenario of an external auditor with no data knowledge that wants to verify the data history consistency. We analyze the terminology and the current state of the art of the auditable data structures, then we will propose a general framework to support external audits from both internal and external users

Water-Resistant Photo-Crosslinked PEO/PEGDA Electrospun Nanofibers for Application in Catalysis

Catalysts are used for producing the vast majority of chemical products. Usually, catalytic membranes are inorganic. However, when dealing with reactions conducted at low temperatures, such as in the production of fine chemicals, polymeric catalytic membranes are preferred due to a more competitive cost and easier tunability compared to inorganic ones. In the present work, nanofibrous mats made of poly(ethylene oxide), PEO, and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, PEGDA, blends with the Au/Pd catalyst are proposed as catalytic membranes for water phase and low-temperature reactions. While PEO is a water-soluble polymer, its blending with PEGDA can be exploited to make the overall PEO/PEGDA blend nanofibers water-resistant upon photo-crosslinking. Thus, after the optimization of the blend solution (PEO molecular weight, PEO/PEGDA ratio, photoinitiator amount), electrospinning process, and UV irradiation time, the resulting nanofibrous mat is able to maintain the nanostructure in water. The addition of the Au-6/Pd-1 catalyst (supported on TiO2) in the PEO/PEGDA blend allows the production of a catalytic nanofibrous membrane. The reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), taken as a water phase model reaction, demonstrates the potential usage of PEO-based membranes in catalysis

Clinical, histological, immunohistochemical and biomolecular analysis of hyaluronic acid in early wound healing of human gingival tissues: a randomized, split‐mouth trial

Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA) exerts a fundamental role in tissue repair. In vitro and animal studies demonstrated its ability to enhance wound healing. Nevertheless, in vivo human studies evaluating mechanisms involved in oral soft tissue repair are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effect of HA on early wound healing of human gingival tissues (G). Methods: In the present randomized, split-mouth, double-blind, clinical trial, G biopsies were obtained in eight patients 24 hours after surgery after HA application (treatment group-HA) and compared with those obtained from the same patients without HA application (no treatment group-NT). Clinical response was evaluated through Early Wound Healing Score (EHS). Microvascular density (MVD), collagen content and cellular proliferation were evaluated through Sirius red, Masson trichrome staining and Ki67 immunohistochemistry, respectively. To assess collagen turnover, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, TGF-β1 protein levels and LOX, MMP-1, TIMP-1, TGF-β1 gene expression were analysed by Western Blot and Real Time PCR. Results: Twenty-four hours after surgery, EHS was significantly higher in HA group. MVD, collagen content and cell proliferation were not affected. LOX mRNA, MMP-1 protein and TIMP-1 gene expression were significantly up-regulated in HA compared to NT group. Conclusions: The additional use of 0.8% HA gel does not modify the new blood vessels growth in the early phase of gingival wound healing. Concerning the secondary outcomes, HA seems to enhance extracellular matrix remodelling and collagen maturation, that could drive the early wound healing of gingival tissues to improve clinical parameters. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Polyblend Nanofibers to Regenerate Gingival Tissue: A Preliminary In Vitro Study

Aim: The regeneration of small periodontal defects has been considered an important divide and challenging issue for dental practitioners. The aim of this preliminary in vitro study was to analyze the effects of polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E vs. nude nanofibers on gingival fibroblasts activity, an innovative graft for periodontal soft tissue regeneration purposes. Methods: Nanofibers were produced in PCL (NF) or PCL enriched with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E (NFE) by electrospinning technique. NF and NFE were stereologically and morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and composition was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Human fibroblasts were obtained from one gingival tissue fragment (HGF) and then seeded on NF, NFE, and plastic (CT). Cell adhesion and morphology were evaluated using SEM at 24 h and cell viability after 24, 48, and 72 h by alamarBlue® assay. Gene expression for COL-I, LH2b, TIMP-1, PAX, and VNC was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR in samples run in triplicate and GAPDH was used as housekeeping gene. Slot blot analysis was performed and immunoreactive bands were revealed for MMP-1 and COL-I. YAP and p-YAP were analyzed by Western blot and membranes were reprobed by α-tubulin. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: IR spectrum revealed the presence of PCL in NF and PCL and vitamin E and hyaluronic acid in NFE. At 24 h, HGF adhered on NF and NFE conserving fibroblast like morphology. At 72 h from seeding, statistically significant differences were found in proliferation of HGF cultured on NF compared to NFE. Expression of genes (LH2b, TIMP-1, and MMP-1) and proteins (COL-I) related to collagen turnover revealed a reduction of COL-1 secretion in cells cultured on NF and NFE compared to CT; however, NFE stimulated cross-linked collagen deposition. Mechanosensor genes (PAX, VNC, and YAP) were upregulated in HGF on NF while they were decreased in cells grown on NFE. Conclusion: Preliminary data suggest that PCL-enriched nanofibers could represent a support to induce HGF proliferation, adhesion, collagen cross-linking, and to reduce collagen degradation, therefore favoring collagen deposition in gingival connective tissue

Histomorphometrical evaluation of cells and tissues in contact with a new anti-wear dental implant surface: Bioloy® coating

Dental implants rehabilitation of edentulous patients is the current accepted treatment to increase prosthetic stabilization. Various implant surface modifications have been tried to enhance osseointegration and to reduce the spread of detrimental metallic ions toward host tissues [1]. The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate in vitro the viability, proliferation and adhesion of a Bioloy® (B®) coating compared to machined and sandblasted surfaces and to assess histologically in vivo the bone response to customized mini-implants coated with B® () placed in the mandible of patients. B® is a titanium niobium nitride coating applied on surface by physical vapor deposition (Permedica Spa). It is a thin ceramic monolayer, extremely hard and with high resistance against wear, scratches and corrosion [2] Viability and adhesion was tested at 24, 48 and 72 hours after seeding of SAOS-2 on customised scaffold. Cell viability (2x104 cells) was evaluated by AlamarBlue® assay [3] and it resulted statistically higher on B® than in the other 2 groups (48 and 72 hours, p-valu

Miradas desde la historia social y la historia intelectual: América Latina en sus culturas: de los procesos independistas a la globalización

Fil: Benito Moya, Silvano G. A. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades; Argentina.Fil: Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Filosofía y Humanidades; Argentina