UML 1.4 versus UML 2.0 as Languages to Describe Software Architectures.

ML 1.4 is widely accepted as the standard for representing the various software artifacts generated by a development process. For this reason, there have been attempts to use this language to represent the software architec- ture of systems as well. Unfortunately, these attempts have ended in representa- tions (boxes and lines) already criticized by the software architecture commu- nity. Recently, OMG has published a draft that will constitute the future UML 2.0 specification. In this paper we compare the capacities of UML 1.4 and UML 2.0 to describe software architectures. In particular, we study extensions of both UML versions to describe the static view of the C3 architectural style (a simplification of the C2 style). One of the results of this study is the difficulties found when using the UML 2.0 metamodel to describe the concept of connector in a software architecture

Advoy.com™ ajuda a melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes portadores de transtornos de imunodeficiência primária?

Lifelong immunoglobulin therapy for patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases are more often provided at home. We explored the impact of living with a chronic disease, the life situation as well as using Advoy, a new web-based patient diary with messaging function. Twelve adults from Sweden wrote an essay each about their disease and how it is to be an Advoy user. The text was analyzed with directed qualitative content analysis. The respondents stated that they were living on a border; hence their lives were much better after starting their home therapy. Using Advoy made them feel more confident, since the overview and history of their treatment gave them information and understanding about their problems. It was hard to navigate on the Advoy site, and this made some of the respondents frustrated, so they used it only for plain treatment documentation. Improvements are needed in Advoy, in order to enhance self care activities.A terapia vitalícia com imunoglobulina para pacientes portadores de transtorno de imunodeficiência primária é, freqüentemente, realizada em casa. Investigamos o impacto de viver com uma doença crônica, as condições vida e também a utilização de Advoy, um diário do paciente com base na rede mundial de computadores, com funções de envio de mensagem. Doze suecos adultos escreveram, cada um, um ensaio sobre sua doença e sobre como se sentiam sendo usuários de Advoy. O texto foi examinado utilizando análise de conteúdo qualitativa direcionada. Os entrevistados declararam que estavam vivendo no limite; portanto, suas vidas melhoraram muito depois que iniciaram a terapia domiciliar. O uso de Advoy proporcionou-lhes muito mais confiança, pois a visão geral e o histórico de seus tratamentos forneceram informação e entendimento sobre seus problemas. Foi difícil navegar no site de Advoy, o que frustrou alguns dos entrevistados; eles o utilizaram, então, para simplesmente documentar o tratamento. Advoy precisa sofrer alterações para melhorar as atividades com os cuidados pessoais

Architectural Description of Dependable Software Systems

Architectural description languages (ADLs) are used within the software engineering community to support the description of high-level structure, or architecture, of software systems. A major advantage of this is the ability to analyze and evaluate trade-off among alternative solutions. This chapter will discuss the role of ADLs for representing and analyzing the architecture of software systems. Since ADLs vary considerably on the modeling aspects that they cover, we will focus our discussions on how ADLs support structuring dependability issues

Childhood allergy is preceded by an absence of gut lactobacilli species and higher levels of atopy‐related plasma chemokines

Alterations in the composition and reduced diversity of the infant microbiome are associated with allergic disease in children. Further, an altered microbiota is linked to immune dysregulation, including skewing of different T helper (Th) subsets, which is also seen in atopic individuals. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between gut lactobacilli and Th-related plasma factors in allergy development during childhood. A total of 194 children with known allergy status at 1 year of age were followed to 10 years of age. We used real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to investigate the presence of three lactobacilli species (Lactobacillus casei,L. paracasei,L. rhamnosus) in infant fecal samples (collected between 1 week and 2 months of age) from a subgroup of children. Plasma chemokines and cytokines were quantified at 6 months and at 1, 2, 5 and 10 years of age with Luminex or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fractional exhaled nitrogen oxide (FeNO) was measured and spirometry performed at 10 years of age. The data were analysed by non-parametric testing and a logistic regression model adjusted for parental allergy. An absence of these lactobacilli and higher levels of the chemokines BCA-1/CXCL13, CCL17/TARC, MIP-3 alpha/CCL20 and MDC/CCL22 in plasma at 6 months of age preceded allergy development. The presence of lactobacilli associated with lower levels of atopy-related chemokines during infancy, together with higher levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and lower FeNO during later childhood. The results indicate that the presence of certain lactobacilli species in the infant gut may influence allergy-related parameters in the peripheral immune system, and thereby contribute to allergy protection.Funding Agencies|Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research Council [2016-01715_3]; Cancer and Allergy Foundation; Swedish Asthma and Allergy Associations Research Foundation; Mjolkdroppen Foundation; Hesselman Foundation; Golden Jubilee Memorial Foundation; Crownprincess Lovisa/Axel Tielman Foundations; Engkvist Foundations; Swedish Heart-Lung FoundationSwedish Heart-Lung Foundation; Frimurare Barnhuset Foundation (Freemasons of Sweden)</p