A goal-oriented requirements modelling language for enterprise architecture

Methods for enterprise architecture, such as TOGAF, acknowledge the importance of requirements engineering in the development of enterprise architectures. Modelling support is needed to specify, document, communicate and reason about goals and requirements. Current modelling techniques for enterprise architecture focus on the products, services, processes and applications of an enterprise. In addition, techniques may be provided to describe structured requirements lists and use cases. Little support is available however for modelling the underlying motivation of enterprise architectures in terms of stakeholder concerns and the high-level goals that address these concerns. This paper describes a language that supports the modelling of this motivation. The definition of the language is based on existing work on high-level goal and requirements modelling and is aligned with an existing standard for enterprise modelling: the ArchiMate language. Furthermore, the paper illustrates how enterprise architecture can benefit from analysis techniques in the requirements domain

Новий словник епітетів української мови

У статті йдеться про засади створення «Нового словника епітетів української мови» (автори С. П. Бибик, С. Я. Єрмоленко, В. І. Єрмоленко). Словник значно доповнено за рахунок нових заголовкових слів та збільшення кількості узгоджених означень до всіх заголовкових слів. Розширено сполучуваність заголовкових іменників із прикметниковими словам. Нова структура словникової статті виокремлює епітети, що вживаються в структурі порівняння, а також епітети у структурі метафори

Model-Driven Development of Context-Aware Services

Abstract. In this paper, we define a model-driven design trajectory for contextaware services consisting of three levels of models with different degrees of abstraction and platform independence. The models at the highest level of platform independence describe the behaviour of a context-aware service and its environment from an integrated perspective. The models at the intermediate level describe abstract components, which realize the context-aware service in terms of a service-oriented abstract platform. At the lowest level, the realization of a context-aware service is described in terms of specific target technologies, such as Web Services, BPEL and Parlay technologies. Our approach allows service designers to concentrate their efforts on the services they intend to create and offer, by facilitating the handling of context information and automating design steps through model transformation. In addition, our approach enables the reuse of platform-independent models for different target platforms

Selective accumulation of differentiated CD8+ T cells specific for respiratory viruses in the human lung

The lungs are frequently challenged by viruses, and resident CD8+ T cells likely contribute to the surveillance of these pathogens. To obtain insight into local T cell immunity to respiratory viruses in humans, we determined the specificity, phenotype, and function of lung-residing CD8+ T cells and peripheral blood CD8+ T cells in a paired analysis. The lung contained markedly higher frequencies of influenza (FLU)-specific and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-specific CD8+ T cells when compared with the circulation. This contrasted with an equal distribution of cytomegalovirus- and Epstein-Bar virus–specific CD8+ T cells. Noticeably, a substantial fraction of the lung-residing FLU- and RSV-specific CD8+ T cells had progressed to a relatively late differentiation phenotype, reflected by low expression of CD28 and CD27. Lung-derived FLU-specific CD8+ T cells had low activation requirements, as expansion of these cells could be initiated by cognate peptide in the absence of helper cell–derived signals. Thus, the human lung contains high numbers of differentiated FLU- and RSV-specific memory CD8+ T cells that can readily expand upon reexposure to virus. Resident lung T cells may provide immediate immunological protection against pulmonary virus infections

Architecture Analysis

This chapter also explains what the added value of enterprise architecture analysis techniques is in addition to existing, more detailed, and domain-specific ones for business processes or software, for example. Analogous to the idea of using the ArchiMate enterprise modelling language to integrate detailed design models, the chapter demonstrates that analysis, when considered at a global architectural level, can play a role in the integration of existing detailed techniques or of their results

Volume Fraction, Thickness, and Permeability of the Sealing Layer in Microbial Self-Healing Concrete Containing Biogranules

Autonomous repair systems in construction materials have become a promising alternative to current unsustainable and labor-intensive maintenance methods. Biomineralization is a popular route that has been applied to enhance the self-healing capacity of concrete. Various axenic microbial cultures were coupled with protective carriers, and their combination appears to be useful for the development of healing agents for realizing self-healing concrete. The advantageous traits of non-axenic cultures, such as economic feasibility, self-protection, and high specific activity have been neglected so far, and thus the number of studies investigating their performance as healing agents is scarce. Here we present the self-healing performance of a mortar containing a healing agent consisting of non-axenic biogranules with a denitrifying core. Mortar specimens with a defined crack width of 400 μm were used in the experiments and treated with tap water for 28 days. Self-healing was quantified in terms of the crack volume reduction, the thickness of the sealing layer along the crack depth and water permeability under 0.1 bar pressure. Complete visual crack closure was achieved in the bio-based specimens in 28 days, the thickness of the calcite layer was recorded as 10 mm and the healed crack volume was detected as 6%. Upon self-sealing of the specimens, the water permeability decreased by 83%. Overall, non-axenic biogranules with a denitrifying core shows great potential for development of self-healing bioconcrete

Validity of the Patient Experiences and Satisfaction with Medications (PESaM) Questionnaire

Background: This study assessed the validity and reliability of the generic module of the recently developed Patient Experiences and Satisfaction with Medications (PESaM) questionnaire in a sample of patients in the Netherlands. Methods: The generic module of the PESaM questionnaire consists of 18 items related to the domains effectiveness, side effects and ease of use of medications. It assesses patients’ experiences regarding the impact of the medication on daily life, health and satisfaction. In 2017, the PESaM questionnaire was sent out to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients using pirfenidone or nintedanib, atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome patients receiving eculizumab and patients using tacrolimus after kidney transplantation. Mean scores for each domain were calculated applying a scoring algorithm. Construct validity and reliability were assessed using recommended methods. Results: 188 participants completed the generic module, of whom 48% used pirfenidone, 36% nintedanib, 11% tacrolimus and 5% eculizumab. The generic module has good structural properties. Internal consistency values of the domains were satisfactory (i.e. Cronbach’s coefficient alpha above 0.7). Confirmatory factor analysis provided further evidence for construct validity, with good convergent and discriminant validity. The PESaM questionnaire also showed different scores for patients using different medications, in line with expectations, and was therefore able to differentiate between patient groups. Test–retest reliability of the items and domains were rated as moderate to fair (i.e. intraclass coefficients ranged between 0.18 and 0.76). Conclusions: The PESaM questionnaire is a unique patient-reported outcome measure evaluating patient experiences and satisfaction with medications. It has been developed in conjunction with patients, ensuring coverage of domains and issues relevant from the patient’s perspective. This study has shown promising validity of the generic module of the PESaM questionnaire. Further research is recommended to assess reliability in greater detail as well as the responsiveness of the measure. Trial registration: The study