Defining a baseline complexity model for ERP systems over SaaS

Our research investigates applying the Software as a Service (SaaS) model for hosted applications to more complex business systems such as an Enterprise Resource Management System (ERP). This application of the service model is still in its infancy and we present some challenges to the technology. We will initially be defining a measure of complexity for business systems and applying this as a baseline to complex business systems within a pure SaaS model on the cloud, considering the elements making up SaaS and inter-relating these with this definition of business complexity. In this research we will be applying elements of Complex Systems Theory, Network Complexity Theory and Programmatic Complexity Models, in extending these for our own application to this service model within this complex business context

Grasping the Links in the Chain: Understanding the Unintended Consequences of International Counter-Narcotics Measures for the EU

No abstract available

Integrating transcriptomic datasets across neurological disease identifies unique myeloid subpopulations driving disease-specific signatures.

Microglia and bone marrow-derived monocytes are key elements of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, both capable of enhancing and dampening immune-mediated pathology. However, the study-specific focus on individual cell types, disease models or experimental approaches has limited our ability to infer common and disease-specific responses. This meta-analysis integrates bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets of microglia and monocytes from disease models of autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, sterile injury, and infection to build a comprehensive resource connecting myeloid responses across CNS disease. We demonstrate that the bulk microglial and monocyte program is highly contingent on the disease environment, challenging the notion of a universal microglial disease signature. Integration of six single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets revealed that these disease-specific signatures are likely driven by differing proportions of unique myeloid subpopulations that were individually expanded in different disease settings. These subsets were functionally-defined as neurodegeneration-associated, inflammatory, interferon-responsive, phagocytic, antigen-presenting, and lipopolysaccharide-responsive cellular states, revealing a core set of myeloid responses at the single-cell level that are conserved across CNS pathology. Showcasing the predictive and practical value of this resource, we performed differential expression analysis on microglia and monocytes across disease and identified Cd81 as a new neuroinflammatory-stable gene that accurately identified microglia and distinguished them from monocyte-derived cells across all experimental models at both the bulk and single-cell level. Together, this resource dissects the influence of disease environment on shared immune response programmes to build a unified perspective of myeloid behavior across CNS pathology

Vision screening in children:a retrospective study of social and demographic factors with regard to visual outcomes

BACKGROUND: Amblyopia and its risk factors have been demonstrated to be more common among children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. We sought to investigate this association in a region with orthoptic-delivered screening and whole population coverage, and to also examine the association of the Health Plan Indicator (HPI) with screening outcome. METHODS: Screening examination outcomes, postcodes and HPIs were extracted from the community child health database for every child who underwent preschool vision screening between March 2010 and February 2011 Tayside. We obtained the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation score for every child as a measure of area-based deprivation. We assessed the vulnerability/needs of the individual family through the HPI—‘Core’ (children and families receiving universal health visiting service), ‘Additional’ (receiving additional health/social support) and ‘Intensive’ (receiving high levels of support). The outcomes from follow-up examinations for those who failed screening were extracted from the orthoptic department database. RESULTS: 4365 children were screened during the year 2010–2011 of whom 523 (11.9%) failed. The odds of children from the least deprived socioeconomic group passing the visual screening test was 1.4 times higher than those from the most deprived socioeconomic group (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.89, p=0.01). The odds of a child from a family assigned as ‘Intensive’ failing the preschool visual screening test was three times greater than the odds of a child from a family assigned as ‘Core’ (OR 3.59, 95% CI 1.6 to 7.8, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that children from the most deprived backgrounds and those from unstable homes were more likely to fail preschool vision screening

Salt forms of sulfadiazine with alkali metal and organic cations

The structures of four salt forms of sulfadiazine (SDH) with alkali metal cations are presented. Three contain the deprotonated SD anion. These are the discrete complex [Li(SD)(OH2)2], (I), and the coordination polymers [Na(SD)]n, (II), and [K(SD)(OH2)2]n, (III). The Na complex (II) is a three-dimensional coordination polymer whilst the K complex (III) has two crystallographically independent [K(SD)(OH2)2] units per asymmetric unit, Z′ = 2, and gives a two dimensional coordination polymer whose layers propagate parallel to the crystallographic ab plane. The different bonding modes of the SD anion in these three complexes is discussed. Structure (IV) contains protonated SDH2 cations and the Orange G (OG), C16H10N2O7S2, dianion in a structure with formula [SDH2]2[Na(OG)(OH2)4]2·3H2O. The [Na(OG)(OH2)4]2 dimers have antiparallel naphthol ring structures joined through two Na centres that bond to the hydrazone anions through the O atoms of the ketone and sulfonate substituents. The structures of the salts formed on reaction of SDH with 2-aminopyridine and ethanolamine are also presented as [C5H7N2][SD], (V), and [HOCH2CH2NH3][SD]·H2O, (VI), respectively. Structure (V) features a heterodimeric R2 2(8) hydrogen bond motif between the cation and the anion whilst structure (VI) has a tetrameric core of two cations linked by a central R2 2(10) hydrogen bonded motif which supports two anions linked to this core by R3 3(8) motifs

Segmental musculoskeletal examinations using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA): Positioning and analysis considerations

Musculoskeletal examinations provide informative and valuable quantitative insight into muscle and bone health. DXA is one mainstream tool used to accurately and reliably determine body composition components and bone mass characteristics in-vivo. Presently, whole body scan models separate the body into axial and appendicular regions, however there is a need for localised appendicular segmentation models to further examine regions of interest within the upper and lower extremities. Similarly, in-consistencies pertaining to patient positioning exist in the litera-ture which influence measurement precision and analysis out-comes highlighting a need for standardised procedure. This paper provides standardised and reproducible: 1) positioning and analysis procedures using DXA and 2) reliable segmental exam-inations through descriptive appendicular boundaries. Whole-body scans were performed on forty-six (n = 46) football ath-letes (age: 22.9 ± 4.3 yrs; height: 1.85 ± 0.07 cm; weight: 87.4 ± 10.3 kg; body fat: 11.4 ± 4.5 %) using DXA. All segments across all scans were analysed three times by the main investiga-tor on three separate days, and by three independent investiga-tors a week following the original analysis. To examine intra-rater and inter-rater, between day and researcher reliability, coefficients of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coeffi-cients (ICC) were determined. Positioning and segmental analy-sis procedures presented in this study produced very high, nearly perfect intra-tester (CV ≤ 2.0%; ICC ≥ 0.988) and inter-tester (CV ≤ 2.4%; ICC ≥ 0.980) reliability, demonstrating excellent reproducibility within and between practitioners. Standardised examinations of axial and appendicular segments are necessary. Future studies aiming to quantify and report segmental analyses of the upper- and lower-body musculoskeletal properties using whole-body DXA scans are encouraged to use the patient posi-tioning and image analysis procedures outlined in this paper

Microglia and monocytes in inflammatory CNS disease: integrating phenotype and function.

In neurological diseases, the actions of microglia, the resident myeloid cells of the CNS parenchyma, may diverge from, or intersect with, those of recruited monocytes to drive immune-mediated pathology. However, defining the precise roles of each cell type has historically been impeded by the lack of discriminating markers and experimental systems capable of accurately identifying them. Our ability to distinguish microglia from monocytes in neuroinflammation has advanced with single-cell technologies, new markers and drugs that identify and deplete them, respectively. Nevertheless, the focus of individual studies on particular cell types, diseases or experimental approaches has limited our ability to connect phenotype and function more widely and across diverse CNS pathologies. Here, we critically review, tabulate and integrate the disease-specific functions and immune profiles of microglia and monocytes to provide a comprehensive atlas of myeloid responses in viral encephalitis, demyelination, neurodegeneration and ischemic injury. In emphasizing the differential roles of microglia and monocytes in the severe neuroinflammatory disease of viral encephalitis, we connect inflammatory pathways common to equally incapacitating diseases with less severe inflammation. We examine these findings in the context of human studies and highlight the benefits and inherent limitations of animal models that may impede or facilitate clinical translation. This enables us to highlight common and contrasting, non-redundant and often opposing roles of microglia and monocytes in disease that could be targeted therapeutically

What do older people learn from young people? : Intergenerational learning in ‘day centre’ community settings in Malta

This study analyses what motivates older people to attend ‘day centres’ in Malta and what they believe that they derive from young people who carry out their placements at these day ‘centres’ These young people, who are aged 16–17, attend a vocational college in Malta and are studying health and social care. The study is based on a qualitative approach and employs the usage of focus groups. The main findings are that the elderly see the students as helping them on an emotional level by giving them encouragement, and on a practical level, by offering them insights that help them in modern-day life