Policies for allocating performance impairment budgets among multiple IP providers

An important technical aspect of achieving end-to-end quality of service (QoS) in next generation networks refers to allocation of the total performance impairment budget (delay, jitter, packet loss) among multiple providers. In this article, we first propose a generic policy for allocating per-domain impairment budgets, relying on the set of performance metrics from service request and the rules for their composition on the multi-domain path. The objective is to provide end-to-end QoS through the set of heterogeneous domains, with different QoS models and definitions of service classes. The allocation of impairment budgets among multiple domains is then closely related to mapping of service classes between providers and selection of the most appropriate class for particular service in each domain. Based on the generic policy, we further derive examples of specific policies and evaluate them with respect to fulfillment of QoS objectives, fairness, adaptability and scalability. Evaluation tool implements a policy-based conformance matching scheme, which enforces selection of the domain class that most tightly matches with the required QoS.     

A Fungal N‐Dimethylallyltryptophan Metabolite from Fusarium fujikuroi

The range of secondary metabolites (SMs) produced by the rice pathogen Fusarium fujikuroi is quite broad. Several polyketides, nonribosomal peptides and terpenes have been identified. However, no products of dimethylallyltryptophan synthases (DMATSs) have been elucidated, although two putative DMATS genes are present in the F. fujikuroi genome. In this study, the in vivo product derived from one of the DMATSs (DMATS1, FFUJ_09179) was identified with the help of the software MZmine 2. Detailed structure elucidation showed that this metabolite is a reversely N‐prenylated tryptophan with a rare form of prenylation. Further identified products probably resulted from side reactions of DMATS1. The genes adjacent to DMATS1 were analyzed; this showed no influence on the biosynthesis of the product.     

Mapping Application Requirements to Virtualization-Enabled Software Defined WSN

With the emergence of resource powerful sensor nodes, the concept of WSN virtualization is gaining increasing attention from the research community and the industry. One approach to achieve WSN virtualization is to exploit the capabilities of individual sensor nodes to execute tasks of multiple applications concurrently. In this paper, we consider the problem of task allocation in software-defined WSNs (SD-WSNs), which are distinguished by centralized control plane and programmable data plane. We extend our previous work on this topic, where we proposed the control algorithm which determines suitability of a sensor node for task allocation based on the active routing paths and residual energy in the network. Availability of such information can be easily justified in SD-WSNs. Through extensive simulations, the performance of this strategy has been evaluated and compared with two conventional task allocation approaches, which assume traditional minimum-hop routing. In addition, we analysed performance of more simple software defined networking-based approach, which performs resource allocation by considering only residual energy in the network. The obtained results demonstrate benefits of SD-WSN architecture when it comes to virtualization efficiency, and clarify improvements achieved by mutual correlation of routing and task allocation decisions.     

Some aspects of the use of solar energy in Serbia

This article presents the aspects of solar radiation and the use of solar energy in Serbia. It also considers why Serbia does not use thermal conversion of solar radiation in spite of much greater potential comparing to the countries of the Western and Central Europe, which are leading in the use of solar energy. The low standard of living, low electricity prices, the low level of energy efficiency in all areas of energy use, lack of knowledge, and political decisions are the main causes of insufficient use of renewable energy sources in Serbia.     

Dielectric and optical properties of a poly(ethylene terephthalate) membrane in the temperature interval 150–400 K

In this study, the dielectric and optical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) membranes were examined. The dielectric measurements were carried out in the temperature interval 150–400 K and in the frequency range 20 Hz–60 kHz. We analyzed in detail the temperature dependences of the dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss (tan δ) at various test frequencies. The relaxation tan δ peak, which appeared in the temperature range 150–300 K, was identified as the secondary β relaxation. The increase in tan δ at temperatures higher than 300 K could be explained as approaching the α relaxation. Optical measurements were performed in the UV–visible region from 200 to 400 nm at various temperatures between 150 and 400 K. The values of the direct and indirect band gaps were calculated at various temperatures. These values were lower for higher temperatures. An absorption peak was observed at a wavelength around of 285 nm at temperatures lower than 300 K. Such insight into the dielectric and optical responses of PET track membranes in a wide temperature range is particularly important when this material is used as a matrix for the semiconductor structure in the development of optoelectronic or microfluid devices. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42834.     

Verification of the Explosive Quality of TH‐5

This paper reports the characteristics of the explosive TH‐5, recycled (recovered) trinitrotoluene (TNT) with max. 5 wt‐% of hexogen (RDX). The explosive TH‐5 was obtained by delaboration of warheads and melting of explosive charges based on TNT and RDX and by separation (extraction) of high explosive components. The thermal characteristics of pure (virgin) TNT and RDX, and recycled explosive TH‐5 are determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The possibility of processing TH‐5 by pressing and casting is also examined. The comparative analysis of sensitivity of TH‐5 and TNT to friction is determined, as well as compressibility of explosives, and the detonation velocity of pressed and cast charges. Based on the analysis of experimental results, the defense standard requirements for the quality of TH‐5 are defined and possibility of practical application of explosive TH‐5 was estimated.     

Translocator Protein Modulation by 4′-Chlorodiazepam and NO Synthase Inhibition Affect Cardiac Oxidative Stress,Cardiometabolic and Inflammatory Markers in Isoprenaline-Induced Rat Myocardial Infarction

The possible cardioprotective effects of translocator protein (TSPO) modulation with its ligand 4′-Chlorodiazepam (4′-ClDzp) in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced rat myocardial infarction (MI) were evaluated, alone or in the presence of L-NAME. Wistar albino male rats (b.w. 200–250 g, age 6–8 weeks) were divided into 4 groups (10 per group, total number N = 40), and certain substances were applied: 1. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice), 2. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w., 3. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w., 4. ISO 85 mg/kg b.w. (twice) + 4′-ClDzp 0.5 mg/kg b.w. + L-NAME 50 mg/kg b.w. Blood and cardiac tissue were sampled for myocardial injury and other biochemical markers, cardiac oxidative stress, and for histopathological evaluation. The reduction of serum levels of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T hs cTnT and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), then significantly decreased levels of serum homocysteine Hcy, urea, and creatinine, and decreased levels of myocardial injury enzymes activities superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as lower grades of cardiac ischemic changes were demonstrated in ISO-induced MI treated with 4′-ClDzp. It has been detected that co-treatment with 4′-ClDzp + L-NAME changed the number of registered parameters in comparison to 4′-ClDzp group, indicating that NO (nitric oxide) should be important in the effects of 4′-ClDzp.     

Spreading of Isolated Ptch Mutant Basal Cell Carcinoma Precursors Is Physiologically Suppressed and Counteracts Tumor Formation in Mice

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) originate from Hedgehog/Patched signaling-activated epidermal stem cells. However, the chemically induced tumorigenesis of mice with a CD4Cre-mediated biallelic loss of the Hedgehog signaling repressor Patched also induces BCC formation. Here, we identified the cellular origin of CD4Cre-targeted BCC progenitors as rare Keratin 5⁺ epidermal cells and show that wildtype Patched offspring of these cells spread over the hair follicle/skin complex with increasing mouse age. Intriguingly, Patched mutant counterparts are undetectable in age-matched untreated skin but are getting traceable upon applying the chemical tumorigenesis protocol. Together, our data show that biallelic Patched depletion in rare Keratin 5⁺ epidermal cells is not sufficient to drive BCC development, because the spread of these cells is physiologically suppressed. However, bypassing the repression of Patched mutant cells, e.g., by exogenous stimuli, leads to an accumulation of BCC precursor cells and, finally, to tumor development.     

Integrating the Roles for Cytokinin and Auxin in De Novo Shoot Organogenesis: From Hormone Uptake to Signaling Outputs

De novo shoot organogenesis (DNSO) is a procedure commonly used for the in vitro regeneration of shoots from a variety of plant tissues. Shoot regeneration occurs on nutrient media supplemented with the plant hormones cytokinin (CK) and auxin, which play essential roles in this process, and genes involved in their signaling cascades act as master regulators of the different phases of shoot regeneration. In the last 20 years, the genetic regulation of DNSO has been characterized in detail. However, as of today, the CK and auxin signaling events associated with shoot regeneration are often interpreted as a consequence of these hormones simply being present in the regeneration media, whereas the roles for their prior uptake and transport into the cultivated plant tissues are generally overlooked. Additionally, sucrose, commonly added to the regeneration media as a carbon source, plays a signaling role and has been recently shown to interact with CK and auxin and to affect the efficiency of shoot regeneration. In this review, we provide an integrative interpretation of the roles for CK and auxin in the process of DNSO, adding emphasis on their uptake from the regeneration media and their interaction with sucrose present in the media to their complex signaling outputs that mediate shoot regeneration.     

Predictive value of serum myeloperoxidase activity for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistulas

Myeloperoxidase is a proinflammatory protein that appears as a result of increased oxidative stress. It plays an important role in the promotion and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine the importance of MPO as a predictive parameter for thrombosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). The study involved monitoring patients with AVFs for hemodialysis over a period of 2 years. There were 41 patients, 19 (46%) men and 22 (54%) women, with mean age of 65 ± 12.7 years. Routine laboratory analyses were carried out in all respondents, including determination of MPO concentration. Gender, demographic and anthropometrical characteristics, smoking, alcohol consumption, as well as the presence of diabetic nephropathy, as an etiological factor of kidney disease, were recorded. The group of patients who developed initial thrombosis of the AVFs had significantly different values for leukocytes (8.5 ± 3.8 vs. 7.3 ± 2.1, P = 0.024), erythrocytes (2.8 ± 0.27 vs. 3.2 ± 0.65; P = 0.019), hemoglobin (88.5 ± 81 vs. 99.1 ± 6.02; P = 0.041), and myeloperoxidase (19.3 ± 4.67 vs. 11.1 ± 4.43; P = 0.007) when compared with the group without fistula thrombosis. Diabetic nephropathy (P = 0.02) characterized the group of patients with thrombosis of the fistula. Diabetic nephropathy (B = 2.53, P = 0.049) and MPO (B = 0.03, P = 0.029) were statistically significant predictors of fistula thrombosis. In our study, MPO and diabetic nephropathy were predictors of thrombosis of the AVF.