A Survey on the Use of P2P Technology for Network Management

Network management has steadily evolved over recent years. Along with the growing need for advanced features in network management solutions, several distribution models were investigated, varying from centralized to fully distributed models. Despite the common agreement that some sort of distribution is really needed to execute management tasks, there seems to exist a permanent quest for the next distributed network management model. Among the distributed models, an interesting and emerging possibility is the use of P2P technology in network management, also known as P2P-Based Network Management (P2PBNM). Several investigations have shown that P2PBNM can be seen as an enabler for advanced network management features. However, due to the dispersion concerning the concepts and features related to these investigations, it is difficult to draw a comprehensive picture of the P2PBNM area. The purpose of this article is to look at literature on P2PBNM and to highlight initiatives regarding the use of P2P technology in network management. Furthermore, such initiatives are classified in respect to proposed review questions. Finally, future trends are discussed in order to predict what the future holds for P2PBNM.     

Assessing the Effects of Substrate Disintegration on Methane Yield

Data obtained from seven lab-scale experiments were used to compare different methods for describing effects of substrate disintegration on methane yield. Statistical evaluation underlines the importance of careful design and precise conduction of experiments. Within continuous experiments conducted as duplicates, an effect 5.65 times (triplicates: 3.07 times) the standard deviation between identically operated digesters can be considered significant. Some tests show significant impacts; however, the results between different test approaches, namely, batch, continuous digestion (measured), and continuous digestion (modeled from batch tests), are inconsistent. This inconsistency hints at a limited transferability from batch results to continuous operation in general and for the effect of disintegration in particular.     

Crosslinkable coupling agents: Synthesis and use for modification of interfaces in polymer blends

A novel coupling agent containing 2-oxazoline and 2-oxazinone as well as hydrosilane moieties has been prepared by hydrosilylation of the corresponding allyl ether containing precursor with a methylhydrosiloxane-dimethylsiloxane copolymer. This hydrosiloxane containing coupling agent, termed as SCA, was characterized by ¹H NMR and its crosslinkability was proven by DSC. SCA was used for the modification of the interfaces in heterogeneous polymer blends. In a model blend system based on mono-carboxylic acid terminated polystyrene (PS-COOH) and mono-amino terminated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-NH₂) the 2-oxazoline and 2-oxazinone units of SCA can selectively react with the carboxylic groups or amino groups, respectively. The remaining hydrosilane units partially crosslink under the used mixing conditions.The morphology of the three-component blends prepared by melt mixing was evaluated. SCA is immiscible with the polymers and forms its own phase. The expected location of the SCA at the interface between the polymers was proven only in an annealed, strongly phase separated blend. Overall the effect of the compatibilizer on the morphology is very small. Neither the domain size nor the composition for phase inversion are significantly affected in this blend system by the presence of SCA.     

Stochastic molecular descriptors for polymers. 2. Spherical truncation of electrostatic interactions on entropy based polymers 3D-QSAR

The spherical truncation of electrostatic field with different functions break down long-range interactions at a given cutoff distance (r_off) resulting in short-range ones. Consequently, a Markov Chain model may approach to the entropies of spatial distribution of charges within the polymer backbone. These entropies can be used to predict polymers properties [González-Díaz H, Molina RR, Uriarte E. Polymer 2004; 45: 3845 [53]]. Herein, we explore the effect of abrupt, shifting, force shifting, and switching truncation functions on QSAR models classifying 26 proteins with different function: lysozymes, dihydrofolate reductases, and alcohol dehydrogenases. Almost all methods have shown overall accuracies higher than 85% instead of 80.8% for models based on physicochemical parameters. The present result points to a acceptable robustness of the Markov model for different truncation schemes and r_off values. The results of best accuracy 92.3% with abrupt truncation coincides with our recent communication [Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2004; 14: 4691-4695]. Nonetheless, the simpler model with three variables and high accuracy (88%) was derived with a shifting function and r_off=10 Å.     

Molecular dynamics in semifluorinated side-chain polyesters as studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy

The molecular dynamics in a variety of poly(ethylene isophthalate)s (PEIs) is studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). The materials comprise non-substituted main chain polyesters and polyesters with semifluorinated (oxydecylperfluorodecyl) side chains. Combining temperature-dependent small angle X-ray scattering (T-SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and BDS it can be shown that the microphase separated semifluorinated polymers exhibit independent dynamic glass transition relaxations taking place in the separate microphases. Additionally in the glassy state, the non-substituted polymers show an Arrhenius-type relaxation whose activation energy decreases gradually from 52 to 40 kJ/mol with increasing main chain flexibility. The semifluorinated polymers exhibit a relaxation assigned to fluctuations of the perpendicular component of the fluoroalkyl end group with activation energies between 38 and 40 kJ/mol. With increasing flexibility of the main chain, the dynamics of the backbone becomes faster for the non-substituted polymers while an opposite trend is observed in the oxydecylperfluorodecyl substituted side-chain materials. A detailed explanation of the molecular origin of the relaxations is provided.     

Preparation and Characterization of the Novels Terpolymers of Poly-{trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4]-styrene-divinylbenzene} and Styrene-divinylbenzene-vinylpiridine impregnated with Silver Nanoparticles

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of poly-{trans-[RuCl₂(vpy)₄-styrene-divinylbenzene} and styrene-divinylbenzene-vinylpiridine filled with nanosilver. Theses materials were synthesized by non aqueous polymerization through a chemical reaction using benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The nanosilver was obtained from chemical reduction using NaBH₄ as reducing agent and sodium citrate as stabilizer. The nanometric dimension of nanosilver was monitored by UV-visible and confirmed through TEM. The morphology was characterized by SEM and the thermal properties were done by TGA and DSC. The antimicrobial action of the polymers impregnated with nanosilver was evaluated using both microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antimicrobial activity of the poly-{trans-[RuCl₂(vpy)₄]-styrene-divinylbenzene} filled with nanosilver was confirmed by the presence of an inhibition halo of the bacterial growth in seeded culture media, but was not confirmed to the styrene-divinylbenzene-vinylpiridine. The present work suggest that trans - [RuCl₂(vpy)₄] complex facilitate the release of silver ion from the media.     

Phosphorus‐Containing Polymer Flame Retardants for Aliphatic Polyesters

Polyesters with 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxy‐10‐phosphaphenanthrene‐10‐oxide‐containing comonomers are synthesized aiming to improve the flame retardancy of aliphatic polyesters such as poly(butylene succinate) and poly(butylene sebacate). The influence of the chemical structure on the thermal decomposition and pyrolysis is examined using a combination of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), TGA‐Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and microscale combustion flow calorimetry. Thermal decomposition pathways are derived and used to select suitable candidates as flame retardants for PBS. The fire behavior of the selected polymers is evaluated by forced‐flaming combustion in a cone calorimeter. The materials show two modes of action for flame retardancy: strong flame inhibition due to the release of a variety of molecules combined with charring in the solid state.     

Ferri-liposomes as an MRI-visible drug-delivery system for targeting tumours and their microenvironment

The tumour microenvironment regulates tumour progression and the spread of cancer in the body. Targeting the stromal cells that surround cancer cells could, therefore, improve the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments. Here, we show that magnetic nanoparticle clusters encapsulated inside a liposome can, under the influence of an external magnet, target both the tumour and its microenvironment. We use the outstanding T2 contrast properties (r2=573-1,286 s(-1) mM(-1)) of these ferri-liposomes, which are ～95 nm in diameter, to non-invasively monitor drug delivery in vivo. We also visualize the targeting of the tumour microenvironment by the drug-loaded ferri-liposomes and the uptake of a model probe by cells. Furthermore, we used the ferri-liposomes to deliver a cathepsin protease inhibitor to a mammary tumour and its microenvironment in a mouse, which substantially reduced the size of the tumour compared with systemic delivery of the same drug.     

Toward plasmonic polymers

We establish the concept of a plasmonic polymer, whose collective optical properties depend on the repeat unit. Experimental and theoretical analyses of the super- and sub- radiant plasmon response of plasmonic polymers comprising repeat units of single nanoparticles or dimers of gold nanoparticles show that (1) the redshift of the lowest energy coupled mode becomes minimal as the chain approaches the infinite chain limit at a length of ～10 particles, (2) the presence and energy of the modes are sensitive to the geometries of the constituents, that is, repeat unit, but (3) spatial disorder and nanoparticle heterogeneity have only small effects on the super-radiant mode.     

Fault management tools for a cooperative and decentralized networkoperations environment

Some institutions do not have centralized computer network operations. In the case of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, some domains have their own group of people in charge of such a task locally and other domains do not. The paper describes the university's network approach, as well as the fault management tools to support such an approach. One of them, the CINEMA Alert System, analyzes the network after polling entities and generates alerts when required. Another, the CINEMA trouble ticket system, helps the decentralized operations staff in cooperating during network failure recovery processes. The main features of the tools and software modules' organization to achieve a cooperative integrated network management environment are presented