On Implementing Autonomic Systems with a Serverless Computing Approach: The Case of Self-Partitioning Cloud Caches

The research community has made significant advances towards realizing self-tuning cloud caches; notwithstanding, existing products still require manual expert tuning to maximize performance. Cloud (software) caches are built to swiftly serve requests; thus, avoiding costly functionality additions not directly related to the request-serving control path is critical. We show that serverless computing cloud services can be leveraged to solve the complex optimization problems that arise during self-tuning loops and can be used to optimize cloud caches for free. To illustrate that our approach is feasible and useful, we implement SPREDS (Self-Partitioning REDiS), a modified version of Redis that optimizes memory management in the multi-instance Redis scenario. A cost analysis shows that the serverless computing approach can lead to significant cost savings: The cost of running the controller as a serverless microservice is 0.85% of the cost of the always-on alternative. Through this case study, we make a strong case for implementing the controller of autonomic systems using a serverless computing approach

El uso de aplicaciones Web para la Gestión de clínicas veterinarias y su incidencia en la mejora de procesos administrativos

Currently in Ecuador, the problem that exists in the field of veterinary medicine is that in most clinics they do not have technological tools to carry out a centralized and digitized management of the information, being that they still do it manually what It leads to the organization of the stored files being difficult and, in many cases, causing the loss or duplication of information. This work aims to show a web application through the use of free software for the management of information in veterinary clinics that contributes to the improvement of administrative processes and facilitates the work of employees. Regarding the methodology used for the development of this application, it was an iterative and incremental process model, which allowed to achieve the proposed objectives and deliver a quality product that solves the existing problems in veterinary medicine. Therefore, the result of this web application generated the following benefits: reducing the time of attention to pets, accessing information in an agile way, making information management more efficient, improving the search for records, as well such as the management of clinical records and contribute to caring for the environment by reducing the generation of waste. Finally, this web application is proposed as a solution to improve the processes managed in the veterinary clinic, all in order to incorporate new technologies in this area to achieve its maximum development and profitability.  Actualmente en Ecuador, el problema que existe en el ámbito de la medicina veterinaria, es que en la mayoría de las clínicas no cuentan con herramientas tecnológicas para llevar una gestión centralizada y digitalizada de la información, siendo que aún lo realizan de forma manual lo que conlleva a que la organización de los expedientes almacenados se dificulte y en muchos casos ocasione la pérdida o la duplicidad de información. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo mostrar una aplicación web mediante el uso de software libre para la administración de información en clínicas veterinarias que contribuya al mejoramiento de los procesos administrativos y facilite el trabajo a los empleados. En cuanto a la metodología utilizada para el desarrollo de esta aplicación, fue un modelo de proceso iterativo e incremental, el cual permitió lograr los objetivos propuestos y entregar un producto de calidad que resuelva la problemática existente en las veterinarias. Por lo tanto, el resultado de esta aplicación web generó los siguientes beneficios: reducir el tiempo de atención a las mascotas, acceder a la información de manera ágil, lograr que el manejo de la información sea más eficiente, mejorar la búsqueda de registros, así como la gestión de expedientes clínicos y aportar con el cuidado del medio ambiente al reducir la generación de desperdicios. Finalmente, se propone esta aplicación web como una solución para mejorar los procesos manejados en la clínica veterinaria, todo con el fin de incorporar nuevas tecnologías en esta área para alcanzar su máximo desarrollo y rentabilidad. &nbsp

A collaboratively derived environmental research agenda for Galapagos

Galápagos is one of the most pristine archipelagos in the world and its conservation relies upon research and sensible management. In recent decades both the interest in, and the needs of, the islands have increased, yet the funds and capacity for necessary research have remained limited. It has become, therefore, increasingly important to identify areas of priority research to assist decision-making in Galápagos conservation. This study identified 50 questions considered priorities for future research and management. The exercise involved the collaboration of policy makers, practitioners and researchers from more than 30 different organisations. Initially, 360 people were consulted to generate 781 questions. An established process of preworkshop voting and three rounds to reduce and reword the questions, followed by a two-day workshop, was used to produce the final 50 questions. The most common issues raised by this list of questions were human population growth, climate change and the impact of invasive alien species. These results have already been used by a range of organisations and politicians and are expected to provide the basis for future research on the islands so that its sustainability may be enhanced. </jats:p

On Implementing Autonomic Systems with a Serverless Computing Approach: The Case of Self-Partitioning Cloud Caches

The research community has made significant advances towards realizing self-tuning cloud caches; notwithstanding, existing products still require manual expert tuning to maximize performance. Cloud (software) caches are built to swiftly serve requests; thus, avoiding costly functionality additions not directly related to the request-serving control path is critical. We show that serverless computing cloud services can be leveraged to solve the complex optimization problems that arise during self-tuning loops and can be used to optimize cloud caches for free. To illustrate that our approach is feasible and useful, we implement SPREDS (Self-Partitioning REDiS), a modified version of Redis that optimizes memory management in the multi-instance Redis scenario. A cost analysis shows that the serverless computing approach can lead to significant cost savings: The cost of running the controller as a serverless microservice is 0.85% of the cost of the always-on alternative. Through this case study, we make a strong case for implementing the controller of autonomic systems using a serverless computing approach

Confinamiento, estrés y actitudes en tiempo de pandemia

A review of the emotional aspects that occur during the COVID-19 pandemic is presented. Relevant results are presented showing that stress has been an essential element in all scenarios in times of confinement. However, in periods and schedules where there is no confinement, stress is also present in people. Despite this common feature, there are small groups that do not show stress in the face of confinement and, on the contrary, have managed to cope effectively with this situation, carrying out undertakings or activities for personal improvement. Among the most relevant conclusions is that attitude is fundamental for adaptation to change and improvements in quality of life. Keywords: Confinement, attitude, stress.Se presenta una revisión sobre los aspectos emocionales que transcurren durante la pandemia por COVID-19. Se exponen resultados relevantes que muestran que el estrés ha sido un elemento esencial en todos los escenarios en tiempos de confinamiento. Sin embargo en los períodos y horarios donde no hay confinamiento también existe un estrés presente en las personas. A pesar de este común, se observan pequeños grupos que no manifiestan estrés ante el confinamiento y que por el contrario han logrado sobrellevar de forma efectiva esta situación, haciendo emprendimientos o actividades de mejoramiento personal. Entre las conclusiones más relevantes está que la actitud es fundamental para la adaptación al cambio y las mejoras en la calidad de vida. Palabras Clave: Confinamiento, actitud, estrés

Variants in the CYP7B1 gene region do not affect natural resistance to HIV-1 infection

Ajuts: Estrategia de Sostenibilidad 2014-2015 de la Universidad de Antioquia, NIH‑NIDCR R01 DE018925‑04, HIVACAT program i CUTHIVAC 241904Abstract.BACKGROUND: The genetic bases of natural resistance to HIV-1 infection remain largely unknown. Recently, two genome-wide association studies suggested a role for variants within or in the vicinity of the CYP7B1 gene in modulating HIV susceptibility. CYP7B1 is an appealing candidate for this due to its contribution to antiviral immune responses. We analyzed the frequency of two previously described CYP7B1 variants (rs6996198 and rs10808739) in three independent cohorts of HIV-1 infected subjects and HIV-1 exposed seronegative individuals (HESN). FINDINGS:rs6996198 and rs10808739 were genotyped in three case/control cohorts of sexually-exposed HESN and HIV-1-infected individuals from Italy, Peru and Colombia. Comparison of the allele and genotype frequencies of the two SNPs under different models showed that the only significant difference was seen for rs6996198 in the Peruvian sample (nominal p = 0.048, dominant model). For this variant, a random-effect meta-analysis yielded non-significant results (dominant model, p = 0.78) and revealed substantial heterogeneity among cohorts. No significant effect of the rs10808739 allelic status on HIV-1 infection susceptibility (additive model, p = 0.30) emerged from the meta-analysis.CONCLUSIONS: Although our study had limited power to detect association due to the small sample size, comparisons among the three cohorts revealed very similar allelic and genotypic frequencies in HESN and HIV-1 positive subjects. Overall, these data indicate that the two GWAS-defined variants in the CYP7B1 region do not strongly influence HIV-1 infection susceptibility

Variants in the CYP7B1 gene region do not affect natural resistance to HIV-1 infection

Background: The genetic bases of natural resistance to HIV-1 infection remain largely unknown. Recently, two genome-wide association studies suggested a role for variants within or in the vicinity of the CYP7B1 gene in modulating HIV susceptibility. CYP7B1 is an appealing candidate for this due to its contribution to antiviral immune responses. We analyzed the frequency of two previously described CYP7B1 variants (rs6996198 and rs10808739) in three independent cohorts of HIV-1 infected subjects and HIV-1 exposed seronegative individuals (HESN). Findings: rs6996198 and rs10808739 were genotyped in three case/control cohorts of sexually-exposed HESN and HIV-1-infected individuals from Italy, Peru and Colombia. Comparison of the allele and genotype frequencies of the two SNPs under different models showed that the only significant difference was seen for rs6996198 in the Peruvian sample (nominal p = 0.048, dominant model). For this variant, a random-effect meta-analysis yielded non-significant results (dominant model, p = 0.78) and revealed substantial heterogeneity among cohorts. No significant effect of the rs10808739 allelic status on HIV-1 infection susceptibility (additive model, p = 0.30) emerged from the meta-analysis. Conclusions: Although our study had limited power to detect association due to the small sample size, comparisons among the three cohorts revealed very similar allelic and genotypic frequencies in HESN and HIV-1 positive subjects. Overall, these data indicate that the two GWAS-defined variants in the CYP7B1 region do not strongly influence HIV-1 infection susceptibility