Interaction protocols play a fundamental role in multi-agent systems. In this work, after analysing the trends that are emerging not only from research on multi-agent interaction protocols but also from neighbouring fields, like research on workflows and business processes, we propose a novel definition of commitment-based interaction protocols, that is characterized by the decoupling of the co...

Measles cases are increasing in Ireland, with 320 cases notified since August 2009. Nearly two-thirds of these cases (n=206) were unvaccinated. In the early stages of the outbreak a substantial number of cases were linked to the Traveller community with some cases also reported among the Roma community, other citizens from eastern Europe and children whose parents objected to vaccination. By Fe...

In a web service composition, an electronic contract (e-contract) regulates how the services participating in the composition should behave, including the restrictions that these services must fulfill, such as real-time constraints. In this work we present a visual model that allows us to specify e-contracts in a user friendly way, including conditional behavior and realtime constraints. A case...

Dear Sir: We read with great interest the article on pneumococcal serotyping in Laos by Moore and others 1 and the accompanying editorial by Mehta 2 in the September 2010 issue of The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. We commend Moore on describing the pneumococcal serotype distribution in this country in Asia, a region with relatively few data on pneumococcal serotypes causing...

History: Tissues submitted were from multiple individuals that were among 12 captive Australian finches in the same exhibit that presented with feather loss, dehydration, weight loss, lethargy, and/or respiratory distress. Most birds died or were euthanized shortly after presentation (1-2 days). On physical exam, these birds were very thin and dehydrated, and had feather loss on their heads and...