A survey of approaches to Virtual Enterprise Architecture: modeling languages, reference models, and architecture frameworks

As the theory and practice of enterprise architecture became mature, researchers and practitioners have started applying similar concepts and approaches to virtual enterprises. The virtual enterprise is a temporary coalition of enterprises joining hands to exploit a particular opportunity. Virtual Enterprise Architecture addresses a Virtual Enterprise holistically at a strategic level. This article provides a definition of Enterprise Architecture, Virtual Enterprise, and Virtual Enterprise Architecture and presents results from a study of six approaches to virtual enterprise architecture for virtual enterprises (NEML, CAML, AVERM, VERAM, BM VEARM, and ARCON)

DIVERSIDAD METABÓLICA FUNCIONAL DE COMUNIDADES MICROBIANAS ASOCIADAS A SUELO RIZOSFÉRICO DE MAÍZ (Zea mays L.) RAZAS AMARILLO-ZAMORANO Y JALA

Information about functional diversity (metabolic potential) is essential to understand the role of microbial communities in different environments. The Biolog System® methodology was introduced into ecological studies to estimate the metabolic potential of microbial communities, which can be determined through the estimation of an index of functional diversity, allowing to establish comparisons between different communities and following the evolution of a specific community when facing the variations of environmental conditions. In this study, samples from the soil of maize (Zea mays L.) rhizosphere cultivars Amarillo-Zamorano and Jala were analyzed, in different cultivation stages. The functional characterizationwas founded on determining the physiological profile of the microbial community, in which its metabolic behavior is determined against a set of substrates and carbon sources with the aim of establishinga characteristic response pattern in vitro and physiological profile at the level of community that offer the advantage of not requiring the isolation of axenic crops. The analyses of functional metabolic diversitythrough estimation of the AWCD and the Shannon-Weaver Index, served as useful indicators that evidenced that there are changes in the functional diversity of microbial communities, both in the different stages of the cultivation and in the different cultivars of maize evaluated.La información sobre la diversidad funcional (potencial metabólico) es esencial para la comprensión del papel de las comunidades microbianas en diferentes entornos. La metodología de Biolog System® se introdujo en los estudios ecológicos para estimar el potencial metabólico de las comunidades microbianas, la cual se pueden determinar mediante la estimación de un índice de diversidad funcional, que permite establecer comparaciones entre comunidades distintas y seguir la evolución de una comunidad en específico frente a las variaciones de las condiciones ambientales. En el presente este estudio, se analizaron muestras de suelo de la rizósfera de maíz (Zea mays L.) razas amarillo-zamorano y Jala, en diferentes etapas de cultivo. La caracterización funcional se fundamentó en la determinación del perfil fisiológico de la comunidad microbiana, en la cual se determina su comportamiento metabólico contra un conjunto de sustratos y fuentes de carbono con el fin de establecer un patrón característico de respuesta in vitro y perfil fisiológico a nivel de comunidad que ofrece la ventaja de que no requiere el aislamiento de cultivos axénicos. Los análisisde la diversidad metabólica funcional mediante la estimación del AWCD y el índice de Shannon-Weaver como indicadores útiles que evidenciaron que existen cambios en la diversidad funcional de las comunidades microbianas tanto en las diferentes etapas del cultivo como en las diferentes razas de maíz evaluadas

EVI1 as a Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

The transcription factor EVI1 plays an oncogenic role in several types of neoplasms by promoting aggressive cancer features. EVI1 contributes to epigenetic regulation and transcriptional control, and its overexpression has been associated with enhanced PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling in some settings. These observations raise the possibility that EVI1 influences the prognosis and everolimus-based therapy outcome of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Here, gene expression and protein immunohistochemical studies of ccRCC show that EVI1 overexpression is associated with advanced disease features and with poorer outcome-particularly in the CC-e.3 subtype defined by The Cancer Genome Atlas. Overexpression of an oncogenic EVI1 isoform in RCC cell lines confers substantial resistance to everolimus. The EVI1 rs1344555 genetic variant is associated with poorer survival and greater progression of metastatic ccRCC patients treated with everolimus. This study leads us to propose that evaluation of EVI1 protein or gene expression, and of EVI1 genetic variants may help improve estimates of prognosis and the benefit of everolimus-based therapy in ccRCC

Síntesis de soportes cerámicos basados en HA+In2TiO5 para crecimiento acelerado de Mycobacterium smegmatis

Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms), with its short generation time and low biosafety requirements, serves as an appropriate model to study Mycobacteria in general and is useful for assays of anti-tuberculosis agents. Recently, ceramic materials have been used in biomedical applications as a substrate. The aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of growth by Ms over supports prepared with a ceramic mixture. The supports were synthetized from hydroxyapatite (HA) and In2TiO5. SEM, EDS and XRD were used for analyze its final chemical composition. The increase of the oxygen concentration it is attributed to photocatalytic effect promoted by the sunlight exposure of supports immersed on MDB 7H9. The ceramic mixture, was responsible of the oxygen increase and, consequently, of the increase of eight times on the minimal inhibitory concentration in rezasurine assays on microplate. The use of the ceramic support showed the Ms growth 24 h before respect to the control without support.  Los materiales cerámicos han sido recientemente utilizados como sustratos en aplicaciones biomédicas. El objetivo de este trabajo, fue el de sintetizar soportes prepa­rados a partir de hidroxiapatita (HA) y titanato de indio (In­2TiO5) para su aplicación en el crecimiento de Mycobacterium smegmatis (Ms). In2TiO5, es un óxido ternario con estructura cristalina abierta que ha sido ampliamente estudiado princi­palmente por su resistencia al ambiente y tiene aplicaciones como refractario y fotocatalizador. Por otra parte, debido a su corto tiempo de generación y bajos requerimentos de bioseguridad, Ms, se considera un modelo apropiado para el estudio de Mycobacteria en general, y es útil para ensayos con agentes anti-tuberculosis. Los soportes cerámicos, se caracterizaron estructuralmente mediante MEB, EDX y DRX de polvos. El medio de cultivo MDB 7H9 conteniendo a los soportes, incrementó su concentración de oxígeno, lo que se atribuyó a la fotocátalisis promovida por In2TiO5 tras la exposición a la luz solar. Así mismo, el uso de los soportes cerámicos incrementó ocho veces la concentración mínima inhibitoria en los ensayos de rezasurina en microplaca. Adi­cionalmente, se encontró crecimiento de Ms 24 horas antes con respecto al control sin soporte, lo cual mejora el tiempo de obtención del diagnóstico

Composite biomaterials as long-lasting scaffolds for 3D bioprinting of highly aligned muscle tissue

New biocompatible materials have enabled the direct 3D printing of complex functional living tissues, such as skeletal and cardiac muscle. Gelatinmethacryloyl (GelMA) is a photopolymerizable hydrogel composed of natural gelatin functionalized with methacrylic anhydride. However, it is difficult to obtain a single hydrogel that meets all the desirable properties for tissue engineering. In particular, GelMA hydrogels lack versatility in their mechanical properties and lasting 3D structures. In this work, a library of composite biomaterials to obtain versatile, lasting, and mechanically tunable scaffolds are presented. Two polysaccharides, alginate and carboxymethyl cellulose chemically functionalized with methacrylic anhydride, and a synthetic material, such as poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate are combined with GelMA to obtain photopolymerizable hydrogel blends. Physical properties of the obtained composite hydrogels are screened and optimized for the growth and development of skeletal muscle fibers from C2C12 murine cells, and compared with pristine GelMA. All these composites show high resistance to degradation maintaining the 3D structure with high fidelity over several weeks. Altogether, in this study a library of biocompatible novel and totally versatile composite biomaterials are developed and characterized, with tunable mechanical properties that give structure and support myotube formation and alignment

Six Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Grand Challenges

Widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is substantially affecting the human condition in ways that are not yet well understood. Negative unintended consequences abound including the perpetuation and exacerbation of societal inequalities and divisions via algorithmic decision making. We present six grand challenges for the scientific community to create AI technologies that are human-centered, that is, ethical, fair, and enhance the human condition. These grand challenges are the result of an international collaboration across academia, industry and government and represent the consensus views of a group of 26 experts in the field of human-centered artificial intelligence (HCAI). In essence, these challenges advocate for a human-centered approach to AI that (1) is centered in human well-being, (2) is designed responsibly, (3) respects privacy, (4) follows human-centered design principles, (5) is subject to appropriate governance and oversight, and (6) interacts with individuals while respecting human’s cognitive capacities. We hope that these challenges and their associated research directions serve as a call for action to conduct research and development in AI that serves as a force multiplier towards more fair, equitable and sustainable societies

Evaluation of microbiological safety in bioinputs produced in Mexico

Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety of bioinputs produced in Mexico. The main reason for this evaluation is that bioinputs are products made from the region's manures, plant residues and raw materials. The transformation of these raw materials is carried out by microorganisms present. The process goes through three stages: initial, thermophilic and final. The thermophilic stage is critical because weeds and microorganisms with pathogenic potential disappear in processes under optimal conditions. Methodology: 1345 bioinputs samples were received from different states of Mexico. The samples were evaluated for the presence of total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli under the provisions of the Official Mexican STANDARDS, NOM-210-SSA1-2014 and NOM-114-SSA1-1994. Results: It was possible to identify 79% of the samples with Most Probable Number values <3 of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli, the minimum permissible by the Official Mexican STANDARD NOM-210-SSA1-2014, also identified 99% of samples free of Salmonella. Conclusions: The results obtained allow us to conclude that the bioinputs produced in Mexico are free of pathogens for humans, which can also be represented as innocuous bioinputs.  Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the microbiological safety of bioinputs produced in Mexico. The main reason for this evaluation is that bioinputs are products made from the region's manures, plant residues and raw materials. The transformation of these raw materials is carried out by microorganisms present. The process goes through three stages: initial, thermophilic and final. The thermophilic stage is critical because weeds and microorganisms with pathogenic potential disappear in processes under optimal conditions. Methodology: 1345 bioinputs samples were received from different states of Mexico. The samples were evaluated for the presence of total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli under the provisions of the Official Mexican STANDARDS, NOM-210-SSA1-2014 and NOM-114-SSA1-1994. Results: It was possible to identify 79% of the samples with Most Probable Number values <3 of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli, the minimum permissible by the Official Mexican STANDARD NOM-210-SSA1-2014, also identified 99% of samples free of Salmonella. Conclusions: The results obtained allow us to conclude that the bioinputs produced in Mexico are free of pathogens for humans, which can also be represented as innocuous bioinputs

Assessing Associations between the AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 Functional Module and Breast Cancer Risk in BRCA1/2 Mutation Carriers

While interplay between BRCA1 and AURKA-RHAMM-TPX2-TUBG1 regulates mammary epithelial polarization, common genetic variation in HMMR (gene product RHAMM) may be associated with risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 mutation carriers. Following on these observations, we further assessed the link between the AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 functional module and risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Forty-one single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in 15,252 BRCA1 and 8,211 BRCA2 mutation carriers and subsequently analyzed using a retrospective likelihood approach. The association of HMMR rs299290 with breast cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers was confirmed: per-allele hazard ratio (HR) = 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04-1.15, p = 1.9 x 10(-4) (false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p = 0.043). Variation in CSTF1, located next to AURKA, was also found to be associated with breast cancer risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers: rs2426618 per-allele HR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.16, p = 0.005 (FDR-adjusted p = 0.045). Assessment of pairwise interactions provided suggestions (FDR-adjusted pinteraction values > 0.05) for deviations from the multiplicative model for rs299290 and CSTF1 rs6064391, and rs299290 and TUBG1 rs11649877 in both BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Following these suggestions, the expression of HMMR and AURKA or TUBG1 in sporadic breast tumors was found to potentially interact, influencing patients' survival. Together, the results of this study support the hypothesis of a causative link between altered function of AURKA-HMMR-TPX2-TUBG1 and breast carcinogenesis in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers