A Framework for Dynamic Web Services Composition

Dynamic composition of web services is a promising approach and at the same time a challenging research area for the dissemination of service-oriented applications. It is widely recognised that service semantics is a key element for the dynamic composition of Web services, since it allows the unambiguous descriptions of a service's capabilities and parameters. This paper introduces a framework for performing dynamic service composition by exploiting the semantic matchmaking between service parameters (i.e., outputs and inputs) to enable their interconnection and interaction. The basic assumption of the framework is that matchmaking enables finding semantic compatibilities among independently defined service descriptions. We also developed a composition algorithm that follows a semantic graph-based approach, in which a graph represents service compositions and the nodes of this graph represent semantic connections between services. Moreover, functional and non-functional properties of services are considered, to enable the computation of relevant and most suitable service compositions for some service request. The suggested end-to-end functional level service composition framework is illustrated with a realistic application scenario from the IST SPICE project

An Algorithm for Automatic Service Composition

Telecommunication companies are struggling to provide their users with value-added services. These services are expected to be context-aware, attentive and personalized. Since it is not economically feasible to build services separately by hand for each individual user, service providers are searching for alternatives to automate service creation. The IST-SPICE project aims at developing a platform for the development and deployment of innovative value-added services. In this paper we introduce our algorithm to cope with the task of automatic composition of services. The algorithm considers that every available service is semantically annotated. Based on a user/developer service request a matching service is composed in terms of component services. The composition follows a semantic graph-based approach, on which atomic services are iteratively composed based on services' functional and non-functional properties

Dual enzymatic activity of the pathogenesisrelated protein TcPR-4 from Theobroma cacao: ribonuclease and Ca+2 and Mg+2 dependent deoxyribonuclease activities

The class 4 pathogenesis-related proteins (PR4) are classified as chitinases and contain a conserved Barwin domain. The TcPR-4b cDNA identified from a library of Theobroma cacao L. pod (genotype TSH1188) infected by Moniliophthora perniciosa also presents the Barwin domain with six conserved cysteine residues, but lacks the chitin-binding site and for this reason was classified as class II PR4. The TcPR-4b gene was cloned into pET28a and the resulting in frame fusion plasmid was used to transform Escherichia coli Roseta (DE3) for protein expression. The expression of the TcPR-4b recombinant protein was induced by 0.4 mM isopropyl-?-D-thio-galactoside and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography with TALON® Metal Affinity Resin. To determine the DNase activity of the purified recombinant TcPR-4b protein, 1 ?g of purified pGEM-T® Easy Vector DNA was incubated with different protein amounts (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 ?g) in the presence or absence of 10 mM of MgCl2 or 1 mM of CaCl2 overnight at room temperature. RNase activity of recombinant TcPR-4b was performed using different protein amounts (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 ?g) incubated for 30 min with 5 ?g of RNA extracted from Solanum lycopersicum leaves. The reaction products were analyzed in 1.5% agarose electrophoresis gel. The TcPR-4b protein recombinant showed both DNase and RNase activity. DNase activity was observed only in the presence of Mg+2 and Ca+2 ions. The results of this study suggest that TcPR-4b may act as nuclease during the infection of cacao plants with M. perniciosa. Financial Support: CNPq, BNB, FINEP/RENORBIO, CAPES. (Résumé d'auteur

Particle size distribution and mineralogy of Brazilian Ferralsols: Significance for the structure and hydraulic properties.

The Cerrados Biome is one of the major regions of Brazil with 24% of the Brazilian territory (204.106 ha). It is mainly located in the center of Brazil and corresponds to the whole Central Plateau. About 49% of the soils are Ferralsols and approximately 79.106 ha of these soils are dedicated to agriculture. The main characteristics of Ferralsols are a poor horizonation, a weak development of the macrostructure, and a strong submillimetric granular microstructure

Evaluation of the AR4 CMIP3 and the AR5 CMIP5 model and projections for precipitation in northeast Brazil

This article compares the sensitivity of IPCC CMIP3-AR4 and CMIP5-AR5 models used on the latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in representing the annual average variations (austral summer and autumn) on three regions in Northeastern Brazil (NNEB) for the periods 1979–2000 using the CMAP (Climatology Merged Analysis of Precipitation) data as reference. The three areas of NNEB chosen for this analysis were the semiarid, eastern, and southern regions. The EOF analysis was performed to investigate how the coupled models resolve the temporal variability of the spatial modes in the Tropical Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature (SST), which drives the interannual variations of the rainfall in the Northeastern Brazil. CMIP3-AR4 and CMIP5-AR5 models presented a good representation of the annual cycle of precipitation. Results from correlation and mean absolute error analysis indicate that both CMIP3 and CMIP5 models produce large errors and barely capture the interannual rainfall variance during austral summer and autumn in Northeast Brazil, this features is closely related to the poor representation of the modes of SST variability in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean. For the summer and autumn rainfall projections (2040–2070) in the semiarid region, there was no convergence between the CMIP3 and CMIP5 models. During the summer and autumn in the eastern sector, both the CMIP3 and CMIP5 models projected rainfall above the mean for the 2040–2070 period

Induction of a gloverin-like antimicrobial polypeptide in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis challenged by septic injury

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an important pest for Brazilian sugarcane. In the present study, we detected two distinct spots in hemolymph from septic injured larvae (HDs1 and HDs2), which are separated by 2DE gel electrophoresis. Both spots were subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis, which revealed the sequence VFGTLGSDDSGLFGK present in both HDs1 and HDs2. This sequence had homology and 80% identity with specific Lepidoptera antimicrobial peptides called gloverins. Analyses using the ImageMaster 2D software showed pI 8.94 of the HDs1 spot, which is similar to that described to Hyalophora gloveri gloverin (pI 8.5). Moreover, the 14-kDa molecular mass of the spot HDs1 is compatible to that of gloverins isolated from the hemolymph of Trichoplusia ni, Helicoverpa armigera and H. gloveri. Antimicrobial assays with partially purified fractions containing the HDs1 and HDs2 polypeptides demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli. This is the first report of antimicrobial polypeptides in D. saccharalis, and the identification of these peptides may help in the generation of new strategies to control this pest

Analysis of access to hypertensive and diabetic drugs in the Family Health Strategy, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the access to drugs for hypertension and diabetes and the direct cost of buying them among users of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: Population-based, cross-sectional study of a systematic random sample of 785 patients with hypertension and 823 patients with diabetes mellitus who were registered in 208 randomly selected FHS teams in 35 municipalities of the state of Pernambuco. The selected municipalities were classified into three levels with probability proportional to municipality size (LS, large-sized; MS, medium-sized; SS, small-sized). To verify differences between the cities, we used the χ2 test. RESULTS: Pharmacological treatment was used by 91.2% patients with hypertension whereas 85.6% patients with diabetes mellitus used oral antidiabetic drugs (OADs), and 15.4% used insulin. The FHS team itself provided antihypertensive medications to 69.0% patients with hypertension, OADs to 75.0% patients with diabetes mellitus, and insulin treatment to 65.4%. The 36.9% patients with hypertension and 29.8% with diabetes mellitus that had to buy all or part of their medications reported median monthly cost of R$18.30, R$ 14.00, and R$ 27.61 for antihypertensive drugs, OADs, and insulin, respectively

A folding ADC based on switched capacitor circuits in 350 nm CMOS

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