xDEVS: A toolkit for interoperable modeling and simulation of formal discrete event systems

Employing Modeling and Simulation (M&S) extensively to analyze and develop complex systems is the norm today. The use of robust M&S formalisms and rigorous methodologies is essential to deal with complexity. Among them, the Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) provides a solid framework for modeling structural, behavior and information aspects of any complex system. This gives several advantages to analyze and design complex systems: completeness, verifiability, extensibility, and maintainability. DEVS formalism has been implemented in many programming languages and executable on multiple platforms. In this paper, we describe the features of an M&S framework called xDEVS that builds upon the prevalent DEVS Application Programming Interface (API) for both modeling and simulation layers, promoting interoperability between the existing platform-specific (C++, Java, Python) DEVS implementations. Additionally, the framework can simulate the same model using sequential, parallel, or distributed architectures. The M&S engine has been reinforced with several strategies to improve performance, as well as tools to perform model analysis and verification. Finally, xDEVS also facilitates systems engineers to apply the vision of model-based systems engineering (MBSE), model-driven engineering (MDE), and model-driven systems engineering (MDSE) paradigms. We highlight the features of the proposed xDEVS framework with multiple examples and case studies illustrating the rigor and diversity of application domains it can support

Genome-wide association studies for methane production in dairy cattle

© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Genomic selection has been proposed for the mitigation of methane (CH4) emissions by cattle because there is considerable variability in CH4 emissions between individuals fed on the same diet. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) represents an important tool for the detection of candidate genes, haplotypes or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers related to characteristics of economic interest. The present study included information for 280 cows in three dairy production systems in Mexico: 1) Dual Purpose (n = 100), 2) Specialized Tropical Dairy (n = 76), 3) Familiar Production System (n = 104). Concentrations of CH4 in a breath of individual cows at the time of milking (MEIm) were estimated through a system of infrared sensors. After quality control analyses, 21,958 SNPs were included. Associations of markers were made using a linear regression model, corrected with principal component analyses. In total, 46 SNPs were identified as significant for CH4 production. Several SNPs associated with CH4 production were found at regions previously described for quantitative trait loci of composition characteristics of meat, milk fatty acids and characteristics related to feed intake. It was concluded that the SNPs identified could be used in genomic selection programs in developing countries and combined with other datasets for global selection

The ALICE experiment at the CERN LHC

ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is a general-purpose, heavy-ion detector at the CERN LHC which focuses on QCD, the strong-interaction sector of the Standard Model. It is designed to address the physics of strongly interacting matter and the quark-gluon plasma at extreme values of energy density and temperature in nucleus-nucleus collisions. Besides running with Pb ions, the physics programme includes collisions with lighter ions, lower energy running and dedicated proton-nucleus runs. ALICE will also take data with proton beams at the top LHC energy to collect reference data for the heavy-ion programme and to address several QCD topics for which ALICE is complementary to the other LHC detectors. The ALICE detector has been built by a collaboration including currently over 1000 physicists and engineers from 105 Institutes in 30 countries. Its overall dimensions are 161626 m3 with a total weight of approximately 10 000 t. The experiment consists of 18 different detector systems each with its own specific technology choice and design constraints, driven both by the physics requirements and the experimental conditions expected at LHC. The most stringent design constraint is to cope with the extreme particle multiplicity anticipated in central Pb-Pb collisions. The different subsystems were optimized to provide high-momentum resolution as well as excellent Particle Identification (PID) over a broad range in momentum, up to the highest multiplicities predicted for LHC. This will allow for comprehensive studies of hadrons, electrons, muons, and photons produced in the collision of heavy nuclei. Most detector systems are scheduled to be installed and ready for data taking by mid-2008 when the LHC is scheduled to start operation, with the exception of parts of the Photon Spectrometer (PHOS), Transition Radiation Detector (TRD) and Electro Magnetic Calorimeter (EMCal). These detectors will be completed for the high-luminosity ion run expected in 2010. This paper describes in detail the detector components as installed for the first data taking in the summer of 2008

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Método General para la Detección de Imágenes Alteradas Utilizando Técnicas de Compresión.

Currently, with the excessive increase in the amount of digital information, whether text, audio, video or images and the acceleration of technology, it is very easy to make some alterations in this type of data that can be visible or not. These alterations may have different objectives, such as introducing a watermark to protect the copyright, or to enter a hidden message to be sent in secret, also alterations to add or remove any information for alter the original information for any purpose, whether good or bad. Faced with all these different possibilities of alterations that often cannot be detected by a simple visual examination; that is why it is necessary to develop and implement automated methods that allow us to identify when a data is altered. In this paper we focus only on the detection of altered or manipulated images.En la actualidad, con el incremento desmedido de la cantidad de información digital, ya sea texto, audio, video o imágenes y el avance acelerado de la tecnología; es muy fácil poder realizar algunas alteraciones en este tipo de datos, alteraciones que pueden ser o no visibles. Estas alteraciones puede tener diferentes objetivos, como por ejemplo el de introducir una marca de agua para proteger los derechos de autor, o para introducir un mensaje oculto que se desea enviar en secreto, también están las alteraciones en adicionar o remover algún tipo de información para alterar la información original con algún propósito ya sea bueno o malo. Frente a todas estas diversas posibilidades de alteración que muchas veces no pueden ser detectadas a simple vista; pues se hace necesario el desarrollo e implementación de métodos automáticos que nos permitan identificar si un dato fue alterado o no. En el presente trabajo nos enfocaremos netamente en la detección de imágenes alteradas o manipuladas

Aplicación de diferentes dosis de fertilizante foliar Kaliumax en el cultivo de frijol castilla (Vigna unguiculata L.) para mejorar su rendimiento

The present investigation used Kaliumax foliar fertilizer in the cultivation of castilla beans, experimental tests were carried out in an agricultural soil of the city of Barranca, and aimed to determine which dose of Kaliumax achieves greater yield. In the experimental practice the treatments were fixed according to the practical information used by the farmers, these were T1 = 00, T2 = 0,5, T3 = 1,0, T4 = 1,5 l. Kaliumax / 200 l, the application to the crop was made at 37, 51 and 65 days. The statistical model that was used was the Completely Random Block Design with four treatments and four blocks and the data was processed with Duncan Analysis of Variance and Test. Once the results were obtained, it was determined that T3 stood out in flower / plant count with 28,41 flowers; pod count with physiological maturity 18,07 pods; average pods / plant with 44,31 pods; pod weight / plant 112,45 g; commercial yield with 2,79 tn / ha. In the laboratory, T4 stood out with foliar analysis of 3,50 g / 100 g dry matter, as for T3 it stood out in length of sheath with 16,15 cm and weight of 100 grains per sample with 22,10 g. Regarding the economic aspect, the highest cost / benefit was achieved in Q3 with S/ 0,52La presente investigación utilizó el fertilizante foliar Kaliumax en el cultivo de frijol castilla, las pruebas experimentales se realizaron en un suelo agrícola de la ciudad de Barranca, y tuvo como objetivo determinar que dosis de Kaliumax logra mayor rendimiento. En la práctica experimental se fijó los tratamientos de acuerdo a la información práctica que emplean los agricultores, estos fueron T1 = 00, T2 = 0,5, T3 = 1,0, T4 = 1,5 Kaliumax /200 l, la aplicación al cultivo se hizo a los 37, 51 y 65 días. El modelo estadístico que se empleó fue el Diseño de Bloque Completamente alAzar con cuatro tratamientos y cuatro bloques y se procesaron los datos con Análisis deVarianza y Prueba de Duncan. Obtenidos los resultados se determinó que elT3 resaltó en conteo de flores/ planta con 28,41 flores; conteo de vainas con madurez fisiológica 18,07 vainas; promedio de vainas/ planta con 44,31 vainas; peso de vainas/ planta 112,45 g ; rendimiento comercial con 2,79 tn/ha. En laboratorio resaltó el T4 con análisis foliar de 3,50 g/100 g materia seca, en cuanto al T3 destacó en longitud de vaina con 16,15 cmy peso de 100 granos por muestra con 22,10 g. Respecto al aspecto económico el mayor costo/beneficio se logró en el T3 con S/ 0,5

Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes of Few Walls Using Aliphatic Alcohols as a Carbon Source

Carbon nanotubes with single and few walls are highly appreciated for their technological applications, regardless of the limited availability due to their high production cost. In this paper we present an alternative process that can lead to lowering the manufacturing cost of CNTs of only few walls by means of the use of the spray pyrolysis technique. For this purpose, ferrocene is utilized as a catalyst and aliphatic alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol or butanol) as the carbon source. The characterization of CNTs was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The study of the synthesized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show important differences in the number of layers that constitute the nanotubes, the diameter length, the quantity and the quality as a function of the number of carbons employed in the alcohol. The main interest of this study is to give the basis of an efficient synthesis process to produce CNTs of few walls for applications where small diameter is required

Severe flares are associated with a poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE: data from the Almenara Lupus Cohort

Background Flares in patients with SLE, regardless of their severity, have been associated with damage accrual. However, their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been fully evaluated. In fact, disease activity is only minimally associated with HRQoL.Objective To determine the association between flares and HRQoL.Methods Patients from the Almenara Lupus Cohort were included. Visits occurring between December 2015 and February 2020 were evaluated. Flares were defined as an increase on the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) of at least 4 points; severe flares were those with a final SLEDAI-2K ≥12 and mild-moderate flares all the others. HRQoL was measured using the LupusQoL. Univariable and multivariable generalised estimating regression equations were performed, adjusting for possible confounders. Confounders were determined at one visit, whereas the outcome was determined on the subsequent visit; flares were determined based on the variation of the SLEDAI-2K between these visits.Results Two hundred and seventy-seven patients were included; 256 (92.4%) were female, mean age at diagnosis was 36.0 (SD: 13.3) years and mean disease duration at baseline was 9.1 (SD: 7.1) years. Patients had mean of 4.8 (SD: 1.9) visits and a mean follow-up of 2.7 (1.1) years. Out of 1098 visits, 115 (10.5%) flares were defined, 17 were severe and 98 mild-moderate. After adjustment for possible confounders, only severe flares were associated with a poorer HRQoL in planning, pain, emotional health and fatigue.Conclusions Severe flares, but not mild-moderate, flares are associated with poorer HRQoL

A better self-efficacy is predictive of better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: data from the Almenara Lupus Cohort

Objective To determine the possible predictive value of self-efficacy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with SLE.Methods Patients with SLE from the Almenara Lupus Cohort were included. Self-efficacy was ascertained with the six domains from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) self-efficacy for managing chronic conditions. For PROMIS domains, a score of 50 is the average for a clinical population (people with a chronic condition), a higher score indicates that the respondent has greater self-efficacy. HRQoL was ascertained with the physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS) measures of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Generalised estimating equations were performed, using as outcome the PCS or MCS in the subsequent visit, and the self-efficacy domain in the previous visit; multivariable models were adjusted for possible confounders. The confounders were measured in the same visit as the self-efficacy domain.Results Two-hundred and nine patients for a total of 564 visits were included; 194 (92.8%) patients were women and mean age at diagnosis was 36.4 (14.0) years. In the multivariable models, a better PCS was predicted by a better self-efficacy for managing symptoms, managing medications and treatments and managing social interactions and general self-efficacy; a better MCS was predicted by a better self-efficacy for managing daily activities, managing symptoms, managing medications and treatments and managing social interactions.Conclusion A better self-efficacy is predictive of subsequent better HRQoL, even after adjustment for possible confounders. These results should encourage clinicians to develop strategies to improve self-efficacy in patients with SLE