Integrating formal methods into medical software development : the ASM approach

Medical devices are safety-critical systems since their malfunctions can seriously compromise human safety. Correct operation of a medical device depends upon the controlling software, whose development should adhere to certification standards. However, these standards provide general descriptions of common software engineering activities without any indication regarding particular methods and techniques to assure safety and reliability. This paper discusses how to integrate the use of a formal approach into the current normative for the medical software development. The rigorous process is based on the Abstract State Machine (ASM) formal method, its refinement principle, and model analysis approaches the method supports. The hemodialysis machine case study is used to show how the ASM-based design process covers most of the engineering activities required by the related standards, and provides rigorous approaches for medical software validation and verification

Ceftaroline Fosamil for Treatment of Pediatric Complicated Skin and Soft Tissue Infections and Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP)/community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and complicated skin and soft tissue infection (cSSTI)/acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI) represent major causes of morbidity and mortality in children. β-Lactams are the cornerstone of antibiotic treatment for many serious bacterial infections in children; however, most of these agents have no activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Ceftaroline fosamil, a β-lactam with broad-spectrum in vitro activity against Gram-positive pathogens (including MRSA and multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae) and common Gram-negative organisms, is approved in the European Union and the United States for children with CAP/CABP or cSSTI/ABSSSI. Ceftaroline fosamil has completed a pediatric investigation plan including safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetic evaluations in patients with ages ranging from birth to 17 years. It has demonstrated similar clinical and microbiological efficacy to best available existing treatments in phase III–IV trials in patients aged ≥ 2 months to < 18 years with CABP or ABSSSI, with a safety profile consistent with the cephalosporin class. It is also approved in the European Union for neonates with CAP or cSSTI, and in the US for neonates with ABSSSI. Ceftaroline fosamil dosing for children (including renal function adjustments) is supported by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling and simulations in appropriate age groups, and includes the option of 5- to 60-min intravenous infusions for standard doses, and a high dose for cSSTI patients with MRSA isolates, with a ceftaroline minimum inhibitory concentration of 2–4 mg/L. Considered together, these data suggest ceftaroline fosamil may be beneficial in the management of CAP/CABP and cSSTI/ABSSSI in children

Composición de semillas de girasol cultivadas en Argentina

Constituents seed oil content, physic structure, oil seed quality and wax content are evaluated. The relations of these characters and its agroclimatic interactions facilitate the introduction of this cultivar into food and/or industrial market improving its utility and profit. Correlations coefficients on the analyzed characters are presented. Causality hypothesis on the newer tendency behaviour of this cultivar are planned. The hull content influence on oil content and like principal wax container is detached.Se evaluaron contenidos de aceite de los constituyentes de la semilla, estructura física, calidad del aceite de semilla y contenido de ceras. El conocimiento del comportamiento de estos caracteres, las relaciones entre ellos y su interacción con el medio agroclimático, facilita la introducción de este cultivo en el mercado alimenticio y/o industrial optimizando su rendimiento y aprovechamiento. Se presentan los valores de las correlaciones obtenidas entre los caracteres analizados. Se plantean hipótesis de causalidad sobre las nuevas tendencias de comportamiento de este cultivo. Se destaca la influencia del contenido de cascara tanto sobre el rendimiento del contenido de aceite como sobre la cantidad de ceras de la semilla, de las cuales se considera principal portadora

Estudio proteico de híbridos de girasol cultivados en Argentina

Protein content of residual meals of two sunflower cultivar during two harvest are evaluated. The relation between this component and the oil content of hull, achene and seed are showed. Negative tendency of correlation are observed between hull oil content and hull protein content, on achene oil content and achene protein content and on seed oil content and seed protein content along the harvest studied. Although the protein content for second harvest studied was lower, the apparent competitive behaviour between oil-protein was ratified.Se analizaron los contenidos proteicos de las harinas seminales residuales de extracción, correspondientes a cultivos de girasol (durante dos cosechas), con el fin de estudiar el comportamiento de esta variable en relación con los contenidos de aceite de los constituyentes de la semilla. Se realizaron correlaciones entre los contenidos proteicos de la cáscara, la pipa y la semilla, y la cantidad de aceite que éstos aportan, obteniendo tendencias de correlación negativas entre los mismos. A pesar que los contenidos proteicos obtenidos para la segunda cosecha fueron menores respecto de la primera, el comportamiento aparentemente competitivo entre aceite-proteína se ratificó con similar relevancia

Acoustic positioning system for KM3NeT

[EN] KM3NeT is the next generation neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean Sea employing the technique of Cherenkov photon detection. The Acoustic Positioning System (APS) is a mandatory sub-system of KM3NeT that must provide the position of the telescope¿s mechanical structures, in a geo-referenced coordinate system. The APS is important for a safe and accurate deployment of the mechanical structures and, for the sake of science, for precise reconstruction of neutrinoinduced events. The KM3NeT APS is composed of three main sub-systems: 1) an array of acoustic receivers rigidly connected to the telescope mechanical structures; 2) a Long Base-Line (LBL) of acoustic transmitters (beacons) and receivers, anchored on the seabed at known positions; 3) a farm of PCs for the acoustic data analysis, on-shore. On shore, the positions of the acoustic receivers are calculated by measuring the ToF (Time Of Flight) of the LBL beacons¿ signals on the acoustic receivers, thus determining, via multi-lateration, the position of the acoustic receivers with respect to the geo-referenced LBL. The synchronized and syntonized electronics and the data transmission/acquisition allows for calculating the latencies of the whole data acquisition chain with an accuracy of better than 100 ns. The APS, in combination with compass and tilt, pressure, current and sound velocity data, is expected to measure the positions of the digital optical modules in the deep sea with an accuracy of about 10 cm. Since data are continuously transmitted to shore and distributed to the local data acquisition network at the shore station, acoustic data are available also for Earth and Sea science users. The KM3NeT APS is also an excellent tool to study the feasibility of an acoustic neutrino detector and a possible correlation between acoustic and optical signals.S18116

Short Term and Long Term Bioacoustic Monitoring of the Marine Environment. Results from NEMO ONDE Experiment and Way Ahead.

The INFN NEMO-OνDE (Ocean Noise Detection Experiment) station, deployed on the seafloor at 2000 m depth 25 km offshore Catania (Sicily, Italy) in year 2005, was designed to continuously transmit broad-band acoustic data through optical cables to the INFN lab located in the port of Catania. It was operational until November 2006, when it was replaced by other experimental equipment. During the operational period, 5 minutes of recording (4 hydrophones, 45 kHz bandwidth, 96 kHz sampling rate at 24 bits resolution) were taken every hour. The experiment provided long-term data on the underwater noise and an unique opportunity to study the acoustic emissions of marine mammals living in, or transiting through the area east of Sicily. The recordings revealed a more frequent and consistent presence of sperm whales than previously believed