Taxonomy for the Network and Service Management Research Field

Network and service management has established itself as a research field in the general area of computer networks. However, up to now, no appropriate organization of the field has been carried out in terms of a comprehensive list of terms and topics. In this paper, we introduce a taxonomy for network and service management. With such a taxonomy, it is possible to better understand the landscape of research as well as to reason about possible future challenges and opportunities. As such, in addition to the taxonomy itself, we also present an initial analysis of the field’s past, present, and future, based on the records of papers submitted and accepted in major conferences in the area, as well as a site survey performed through a questionnaire answered by experts from both industry and academia.     

Discovery of an Allosteric Ligand Binding Site in SMYD3 Lysine Methyltransferase

SMYD3 is a multifunctional epigenetic enzyme with lysine methyltransferase activity and various interaction partners. It is implicated in the pathophysiology of cancers but with an unclear mechanism. To discover tool compounds for clarifying its biochemistry and potential as a therapeutic target, a set of drug-like compounds was screened in a biosensor-based competition assay. Diperodon was identified as an allosteric ligand; its R and S enantiomers were isolated, and their affinities to SMYD3 were determined (K_D=42 and 84 μM, respectively). Co-crystallization revealed that both enantiomers bind to a previously unidentified allosteric site in the C-terminal protein binding domain, consistent with its weak inhibitory effect. No competition between diperodon and HSP90 (a known SMYD3 interaction partner) was observed although SMYD3–HSP90 binding was confirmed (K_D=13 μM). Diperodon clearly represents a novel starting point for the design of tool compounds interacting with a druggable allosteric site, suitable for the exploration of noncatalytic SMYD3 functions and therapeutics with new mechanisms of action.     

Degradation behaviors of GaN light-emitting diodes under high-temperature and high-current stressing

A number of commercially available multiple-quantum well (MQW) InGaN/GaN blue LEDs with wavelengths of about 460 nm and a power of 1 mW were stressed at temperatures ranging from 25 to 120 °C at several accelerated DC currents. Both the forward and reverse current voltage characteristics as well as the electroluminescent spectra of the LEDs were monitored. These effects also resulted in the pronounced degradation of light efficiency and device operation lifetime. We found that the degradation of photonic characteristics, correlated very well with the generation-recombination current which is governed by the defect density. The device degradation is much faster at high temperatures. At nominal operation current and at room temperature, the light intensity degradation reaches a saturation level before the light dyes out. These results shed new lights upon the design and lifetime specifications for the emerging commercial solid-state lighting devices.     

“Do You See What I Hear?”: Designing for Collocated Patient–Practitioner Collaboration in Audiological Consultations

Patient-centered care encourages active involvement of patients in their own treatment and a collaborative perspective on the relationship between patient and practitioner. However, to achieve constructive patient–practitioner collaboration in medical consultations the partakers need to successfully interact across conceptual boundaries that can impede intersubjectivity, i.e., the construction of shared meanings and understandings in communicative activities. We present a synthesis of a user-centered approach to designing interactive technology supporting collaboration in face-to-face consultations related to audiological (hearing) rehabilitation. Specifically, we focus on the case of hearing aid tuning, and on the design and utility assessment of a prototype sound environment simulator intended to support the process by helping the patient and the practitioner build a joint understanding of the individual patient’s hearing problem and perceived effects of treatment actions. We describe an empirical and qualitative investigation that calls specific attention to the multi-dimensional boundaries involved in collocated patient–practitioner interactions, and to the explorative and situated nature of the consultation as a collaborative problem-solving process. Here, various micro-practices play a key role in gradually forming a better understanding of the problem at hand and in identifying appropriate treatment steps. Our findings suggest that patient–practitioner collaboration can benefit from interactive technology, which is sufficiently flexible or open-ended in terms of use to accommodate, or be appropriated, to the immediate needs of the situation. We argue that designing technology with the aim of enhancing existing practices of intersubjectivity, rather than doing away with them, improves the chances of enriching collocated patient–practitioner interaction and reduces risk of obstructing it. The main research contribution is an increased understanding of the medical consultation as an instance of collocated collaborative work and learning, and the challenges and opportunities that lie in co-designing interactive solutions that can help the patient take an active and contributing part in the situation.     

Structure–property relationship of sodium deoxycholate based poly(ester ether)urethane ionomers for biomedical applications

New sodium deoxycholate based poly(ester ether)urethane ionomers were prepared for the development of biomedical materials. A structure–property relationship in the tested biomaterials was established by cross‐examination of the dynamic mechanical and dielectric properties, attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared investigation, thermogravimetric analysis, and surface morphology characterization. A stronger ionic interaction and solvation capacity of the ions and a higher ionic conductivity were manifested in the case of poly(ethylene oxide)‐rich segments than for poly(propylene oxide)‐rich segments in these polyurethane ionomers. The molecular and ionic interactions of the bile‐salt moiety with different polyether cosoft segments influenced chain packing and conformation, supramolecular organization, and the resulting surface morphological microstructures of the polyurethane biomembranes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42921.     

Enhanced O2 Flux of CaTi0.85Fe0.15O3−δ Based Membranes by Mn Doping

Dense symmetric membranes of CaTi_0.85?xFe_0.15Mn_xO_3?δ (x = 0.1, 0.15, 0.25, 0.4) are investigated in order to determine the optimal Mn dopant content with respect to highest O₂ flux. O₂ permeation measurements are performed as function of temperature between 700°C–1000°C and as function of the feed side ranging between 0.01 and 1 bar. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy is utilized to elucidate the charge state of Mn, and synchrotron radiation X‐ray powder diffraction (SR‐XPD) is employed to investigate the structure symmetry and cell volume of the perovskite phase at temperatures up to 800°C. The highest O₂ permeability is found for x = 0.25 over the whole temperature and ranges, followed by x = 0.4 above 850°C. The O₂ permeability for x = 0.25 reaches 0.01 mL(STP) min^?1 cm^?1 at 925°C with 0.21 bar feed side and Ar sweep gas. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the charge state of Mn changes from approx. +3 to +4 when x > 0.1, which implies that Mn mainly improves electronic conductivity for x > 0.1. The cell volume is found to decrease linearly with Mn content, which coincides with an increase in the activation energy of O₂ permeability. These results are consistent with the interpretation of the temperature and dependency of O₂ permeation. The sintering behavior and thermal expansion properties are investigated by dilatometry, which show improved sinterability with increasing Mn content and that the thermal expansion coefficient decreases from 12.4 to 11.9 × 10^?6 K^?1 for x = 0 and x = 0.25, respectively.