Integration of different aspects of multi-tenancy in an open source enterprise service bus

The EU project 4CaaSt aims to create an advance PaaS Cloud platform which supports the optimized and elastic hosting of composite Internet-scale multi-tier applications. Cloud computing is essentially changing the way services are built, provided and consumed. Nowadays applications are composed out of multiple reusable services consisting of newly developed services as well as legacy applications made available as services. These services do not necessarily use the same protocols for communication. So a component for the mediation between various protocols, dynamic service selection and routing based on non-functional requirements is needed. Nowadays an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is used in Service-Oriented Architectures (SOAs) to serve precisely these objectives. One important aspect of bringing an ESB as building block into the Cloud is to enable multi-tenancy. This includes multi-tenant aware management and administration of the ESB as well as multi-tenant aware messaging. In this student thesis we design and implement the extensions of the ESB and the components needed for the integration and evaluation of two approaches to extend an open source ESB for multi-tenancy support: the first covers the multi-tenant aware administration and management and the second covers the multi-tenant aware messaging. Both approaches require the extension of the ESB, which implements the Java Business Integration (JBI). As a result, we provide an integrated prototype based on a scenario emerged from the EU project 4CaaSt and a performance's evaluation of the extended JBI Components in the ESB

Extending an open source enterprise service bus for cloud data access support

In the last years Cloud computing has become popular among IT organizations aiming to reduce its operational costs. Applications can be designed to be run on the Cloud, and utilize its technologies, or can be partially or totally migrated to the Cloud. The application's architecture contains three layers: presentation, business logic, and data layer. The presentation layer provides a user friendly interface, and acts as intermediary between the user and the application logic. The business logic separates the business logic from the underlaying layers of the application. The Data Layer (DL) abstracts the underlaying database storage system from the business layer. It is responsible for storing the application's data. The DL is divided into two sublayers: Data Access Layer (DAL), and Database Layer (DBL). The former provides the abstraction to the business layer of the database operations, while the latter is responsible for the data persistency, and manipulation. When migrating an application to the Cloud, it can be fully or partially migrated. Each application layer can be hosted using different Cloud deployment models. Possible Cloud deployment models are: Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Community Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud. In this diploma thesis we focus on the database layer, which is one of the most expensive layers to build and maintain in an IT infrastructure. Application data is typically moved to the Cloud because of , e. g. Cloud bursting, data analysis, or backup and archiving. Currently, there is little support and guidance how to enable appropriate data access to the Cloud. In this diploma thesis the we extend an Open Source Enterprise Service Bus to provide support for enabling transparent data access in the Cloud. After a research in the different protocols used by the Cloud providers to manage and store data, we design and implement the needed components in the Enterprise Service Bus to provide the user transparent access to his data previously migrated to the Cloud

Sperm Adhesion Molecule 1 (SPAM1) Distribution in Selected Human Sperm by Hyaluronic Acid Test

The failures of binding to the oocyte zona pellucida are commonly attributed to defects in the sperm recognition, adhesion, and fusion molecules. SPAM1 (sperm adhesion molecule 1) is a hyaluronidase implicated in the dispersion of the cumulus-oocyte matrix. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the SPAM1 distribution in the different physiological conditions of human sperm. Specifically, we evaluated the location of the SPAM1 protein in human sperm before capacitation, at one and four hours of capacitation and after hyaluronic acid (HA) selection test by fluorescence microscopy. Sperm bound to HA were considered mature and those that crossed it immature. Our results detected three SPAM1 fluorescent patterns: label throughout the head (P1), equatorial segment with acrosomal faith label (P2), and postacrosomal label (P3). The data obtained after recovering the mature sperm by the HA selection significantly (p < 0.05) highlighted the P1 in both capacitation times, being 79.74 and 81.48% after one hour and four hours, respectively. Thus, the HA test identified that human sperm require the presence of SPAM1 throughout the sperm head (P1) to properly contact the cumulus-oocyte matrix. Overall, our results provide novel insights into the physiological basis of sperm capacitation and could contribute to the improvement of selection techniques.This research was funded by the Cátedra Human Fertility, Departamento de Biotecnología of the Universidad de Alicante (VIGROB-186) and «Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento» within the framework of the State Program to Promote Scientific-Technical Research and its Transfer, of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2017–2020 (PGC2018-094781-B-I00)

Feocromocitoma bilateral: presentación de un paciente

Pheochromocytomas are sympathetic nervous system tumors that develop from the chromaffin cells and which are characterized by excessive production of catecholamines. In 85% of cases, they are found in the adrenal medulla and the remaining 15% are extraadrenal. The case of a young black man is reported. He had a history of severe bronchial asthma, high levels of blood pressure, refractory to treatment, and intense abdominal pain. Tumor masses similar to bilateral adrenal pheochromocytoma were shown by ultrasound and computed tomography. The Pathology Department confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral benign pheochromocytoma. The patient underwent surgery and had a successful progress.Los feocromocitomas son tumores del sistema nervioso simpático que se desarrollan a partir de las células cromafines y que se caracterizan por la producción excesiva de catecolaminas; en el 85% de los casos se localizan en la médula suprarrenal y el 15% restante son extrasuprarrenales. Se presenta el caso de un hombre joven de la raza negra con antecedentes de asma bronquial severa, cifras elevadas de tensión arterial, refractarias al tratamiento, y dolor intenso abdominal. Se demostraron por ultrasonido y tomografía axial computadorizada masas tumorales suprarrenales bilaterales compatibles con feocromocitoma; se comprobó por el Departamento de Anatomía Patológica el diagnóstico de feocromocitoma benigno bilateral. El paciente fue intervenido quirúrgicamente y evolucinó satisfactoriamente

DREIMT: a drug repositioning database and prioritization tool for immunomodulation

Motivation Drug immunomodulation modifies the response of the immune system and can be therapeutically exploited in pathologies such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. Results DREIMT is a new hypothesis-generation web tool, which performs drug prioritization analysis for immunomodulation. DREIMT provides significant immunomodulatory drugs targeting up to 70 immune cells subtypes through a curated database that integrates 4960 drug profiles and ∼2600 immune gene expression signatures. The tool also suggests potential immunomodulatory drugs targeting user-supplied gene expression signatures. Final output includes drug–signature association scores, FDRs and downloadable plots and results tables. Availabilityand implementation http://www.dreimt.org. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. RTI2018-097596-B-I00Instituto de Salud Carlos IIIComunidad de Madrid | Ref. PEJD-2019-PRE/BMD-15732Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C2018/55-GRCJunta de Andalucía | Ref. PI-0173-201

Mountain strongholds for woody angiosperms during the Late Pleistocene in SE Iberia

Mediterranean mountains played an essential role during glacial periods as vegetation refugia. The SE Iberia Late Pleistocene woody angiosperm fossil and floristic evidences are reviewed in the context of phylogeographical studies aiming to identify (i) spatial patterns related to woody angiosperms glacial survival, (ii) structural and functional characteristics of montane refugia, and (iii) gaps in knowledge on the woody angiosperm patterns of survival in Mediterranean mountains. The distribution of palaeobotanical data for SE Iberia refugia has been found to be taphonomically biased due to the scarcity of available and/or studied high-altitude Late Pleistocene sites. However, Siles Lake data together with floristic inference provide evidences for woody angiosperms’ survival in a high-altitude Mediterranean area. The main features boosting survival at montane contexts are physiographic complexity and water availability. Phylogeography studies have mainly been conducted at a continental scale. Although they cohere with palaeobotanical data to a broad scale, a general lack of sampling of SE Iberian range-edge populations, as well as misconceptions about the origin of the populations sampled, impede to infer the proper location of woody angiosperms’ mountain refugia and their importance in the post-glacial European colonisation. We conclude that floristic, geobotanical, palaeobotanical, ethnographical and genetic evidence should be merged to gain a deeper understanding on the role played by Mediterranean mountains as glacial refugia in order to explain the current distribution of many plants and the large biodiversity levels encountered in Mediterranean mountain areas. This is hallmark for effective and efficient conservation and management

Steppes, savannahs, forests and phytodiversity reservoirs during the Pleistocene in the Iberian Peninsula

A palaeobotanical analysis of the Pleistocene floras and vegetation in the Iberian Peninsula shows the existence of patched landscapes with Pinus woodlands, deciduous and mixed forests, parklands (savannah-like), shrublands, steppes and grasslands. Extinctions of Arctotertiary woody taxa are recorded during the Early and Middle Pleistocene, but glacial refugia facilitated the survival of a number of temperate, Mediterranean and Ibero-North African woody angiosperms. The responses of Iberian vegetation to climatic changes during the Pleistocene have been spatially and temporarily complex, including rapid changes of vegetation in parallel to orbital and suborbital variability, and situations of multi-centennial resilience or accommodation to climatic changes. Regional characteristics emerged as soon as for the Middle Pleistocene, if not earlier: Ericaceae in the Atlantic coast indicating wetter climate, thermo-mediterranean elements in the south as currently, and broad-leaf trees in the northeastern. Overall, steppe landscapes and open Pinus woodlands prevailed over many continental regions during the cold spells of the Late Pleistocene. The maintenance of a high phytodiversity during the glacials was linked to several refuge zones in the coastal shelves of the Mediterranean and intramountainous valleys. Northern Iberia, especially on coastal areas, was also patched with populations of tree species, and this is not only documented by palaeobotanical data (pollen, charcoal) but also postulated by phylogeographical models

Impact of Arterial Stiffness on All-Cause Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in Spain

Older age and cardiovascular comorbidities are well-known risk factors for all-cause mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hypertension and age are the 2 principal determinants of arterial stiffness (AS). This study aimed to estimate AS in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization and analyze its association with all-cause in-hospital mortality. This observational, retrospective, multicenter cohort study analyzed 12 170 patients admitted to 150 Spanish centers included in the SEMI-COVID-19 Network. We compared AS, defined as pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg, and clinical characteristics between survivors and nonsurvivors. Mean age was 67.5 (±16.1) years and 42.5% were women. Overall, 2606 (21.4%) subjects died. Admission systolic blood pressure (BP) <120 and ≥140 mm Hg was a predictor of higher all-cause mortality (23.5% and 22.8%, respectively, P<0.001), compared with systolic BP between 120 and 140 mm Hg (18.6%). The 4379 patients with AS (36.0%) were older and had higher systolic and lower diastolic BP. Multivariate analysis showed that AS and systolic BP <120 mm Hg significantly and independently predicted all-cause in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj]: 1.27, P=0.0001; ORadj: 1.48, P=0.0001, respectively) after adjusting for sex (males, ORadj: 1.6, P=0.0001), age tertiles (second and third tertiles, ORadj: 2.0 and 4.7, P=0.0001), Charlson Comorbidity Index (second and third tertiles, ORadj: 4.8 and 8.6, P=0.0001), heart failure, and previous and in-hospital antihypertensive treatment. Our data show that AS and admission systolic BP <120 mm Hg had independent prognostic value for all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring hospitalization

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality