Re-designing Dynamic Content Delivery in the Light of a Virtualized Infrastructure

We explore the opportunities and design options enabled by novel SDN and NFV technologies, by re-designing a dynamic Content Delivery Network (CDN) service. Our system, named MOSTO, provides performance levels comparable to that of a regular CDN, but does not require the deployment of a large distributed infrastructure. In the process of designing the system, we identify relevant functions that could be integrated in the future Internet infrastructure. Such functions greatly simplify the design and effectiveness of services such as MOSTO. We demonstrate our system using a mixture of simulation, emulation, testbed experiments and by realizing a proof-of-concept deployment in a planet-wide commercial cloud system.Comment: Extended version of the paper accepted for publication in JSAC special issue on Emerging Technologies in Software-Driven Communication - November 201

Resíduos de carbossulfan e de seus metabólitos carbofuran e 3-hidroxi-carbofuran em laranja

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the residues of the insecticide carbosulfan and its carbofuran metabolites and 3-hydroxy-carbofuran in orange compartments (whole fruit, bagasse and juice) and comparison between the residual levels found in fruits with the maximum residue level and the safety interval established by the Brazilian legislation. Two field experiments were carried out, both with the following treatments: a-check; b-one application of 10 g of carbosulfan . 100 L-1 of water; c-one application with twice the rate applied in treatment b; d-four applications with the same rate applied in treatment b. Samples were taken at (-1), zero, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the last or unique application. The quantitative determinations were done by gas chromatography technique, using a nitrogen-phosphorus detector. The carbosulfan metabolism to its carbofuran metabolite was rapid (3 days), being both analytes concentrated in the bagasse (peel + flavedo + albedo). However, the metabolism of carbofuran to 3-hydroxy-carbofuran was of low intensity or this metabolite was quickly dissipated. Carbosulfan residues and its metabolites did not penetrate into the fruit, thus not contaminating the juice. The use of the pesticide was adequate, with respect to fruit consumption, in relation to the Brazilian legislation.Os objetivos do estudo foram avaliar os resíduos do inseticida carbossulfan e de seus metabólitos carbofuran e 3-hidroxi-carbofuran em compartimentos (frutos inteiros, bagaço e suco) e a comparação entre os níveis residuais encontrados nos frutos com o limite máximo de resíduo e o intervalo de segurança estabelecidos pela legislação brasileira. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos de campo, ambos com os seguintes tratamentos: a - testemunha; b - uma aplicação de 10 g de carbossulfan. 100 L-1 de água; c - uma aplicação com o dobro da dosagem do tratamento b; d - quatro aplicações na dosagem do tratamento b. As amostras foram colhidas a: (-1); zero; 1; 3; 7; 14; 21 e 28 dias após a última ou única aplicação. As determinações quantitativas foram feitas por técnica de cromatografia em fase gasosa, usando detector de nitrogênio-fósforo. O metabolismo de carbossulfan a seu metabólito carbofuran foi rápido (3 dias), sendo ambos os analitos concentrados no bagaço (casca+flavedo+albedo). Entretanto, o metabolismo de carbofuran a 3-hidroxi-carbofuran foi de baixa intensidade ou este metabólito foi rapidamente dissipado. Resíduos de carbossulfan e de seus metabólitos não penetraram no interior do fruto, não contaminando, assim, o suco. O uso do agrotóxico mostrou-se adequado, com respeito ao consumo da fruta, em relação à legislação brasileira.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade de São Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura Luis de Queirós Departamento de Produção VegetalUniversidade de São Paulo Escola Superior de Agricultura Luis de Queirós Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia AgrícolaUNIFESP FEIS Departamento de Fitossanidade, Engenharia Rural e SolosUNIFESP, FEIS Depto. de Fitossanidade, Engenharia Rural e SolosSciEL

Determinação dos extrativos totais e teor de celulose da madeira de Ipê submetida ao processo de modificação térmica

The demand for products from wood has been expanding, because of this, there is a need for studies related to the quality and application of these materials. Thus, the present research aimed to evaluate the extractive and cellulose content of Ipê wood submitted to the thermal modification process. To carry out the study, four individuals of Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos, 11 years old, were slaughtered. Subsequently, samples measuring 2.5 x 2.5 x 41 cm were prepared and placed in an oven with forced air circulation, at temperatures of 120, 150, 180 and 210 ºC, for a period of 4 h. Then, random portions of the specimens were sectioned and ground in a knife mill, and then, sieved in the 40/60 mesh fraction, to carry out the chemical tests of total extractives and cellulose content. The data were processed and submitted to the Tukey average test, using the R software. The results of the chemical properties studied indicated variations according to the temperatures, not showing a stabilization trend between the treatments applied. A relationship between the behavior of these properties and the other technological characteristics of the works available in the literature was observed. In general, further studies are recommended on the chemical properties of wood of this species associated with the application of high temperatures.A demanda de produtos oriundos da madeira vem se expandindo, por conta disso, há a necessidade de estudos relacionados à qualidade e aplicação desses materiais. Com isso, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o teor de extrativos e de celulose da madeira de Ipê submetida ao processo de modificação térmica. Para realização do estudo foram abatidos quatro indivíduos de Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos, com 11 anos de idade. Posteriormente, confeccionaram-se amostras de 2,5 x 2,5 x 41 cm, as quais foram acondicionadas em estufa com circulação de ar forçada, nas temperaturas de 120, 150, 180 e 210 ºC, por um período de 4 h. Em seguida, porções aleatórias dos corpos de prova foram seccionadas e trituradas em moinho de facas, e então, peneiradas na fração de 40/60 mesh, para a realização dos ensaios químicos de teor de extrativos totais e teor de celulose. Os dados foram processados e submetidos ao teste de médias de Tukey, utilizando o software R. Os resultados das propriedades químicas estudadas indicaram variações de acordo com as temperaturas, não apresentando uma tendência de estabilização entre os tratamentos aplicados. Uma relação entre o comportamento dessas propriedades com as demais características tecnológicas dos trabalhos disponíveis na literatura foi observada. De modo geral, são recomendados mais estudos acerca das propriedades químicas da madeira dessa espécie associados a aplicação de altas temperaturas

The Mediterranean Diet in the Prevention of Degenerative Chronic Diseases

Degenerative chronic diseases are a problem related to the aging phenomenon of industrialized countries due to the increase of risk factors and related comorbidity such as overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia with a consequent increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Moreover, the significant reduction of physical activity in daily life and the huge growth in food availability have considerably increased the risk of such diseases. Particular attention should be paid to primary prevention by means of health strategies based on improvement in lifestyle intervention such as implementation of Mediterranean diet and promotion of physical activity programs. In this chapter, the protective effect of Mediterranean diet and the role of certain foods and/or their constituents are analyzed; the possible mechanisms by which Mediterranean diet is effective in the prevention of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases are presented, in particular the effects exerted by antioxidants, polyphenols, fibers, unsaturated fatty acids, and alcohol. The genetic revolution in the past decades has produced new fields of study where the interaction between foods, nutrients, and our genetic makeup is investigated. The relationship between nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics and the Mediterranean diet are the future area that research should discover

Impact of substitution among generic drugs on persistence and adherence: A retrospective claims data study from 2 Local Healthcare Units in the Lombardy Region of Italy

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Presepsin levels and COVID-19 severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Plasmatic presepsin (PSP) is a novel biomarker reported to be useful for sepsis diagnosis and prognosis. During the pandemic, only few studies highlighted a possible correlation between PSP and COVID-19 severity, but results remain inconsistent. The present study aims to establish the correlation between PSP and COVID-19 severity. English-language papers assessing a correlation between COVID-19 and PSP from MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, MeSH, LitCovid NLM, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus and the World Health Organization (WHO) website, published from January 2020 were considered with no publication date limitations. Two independent reviewers performed data abstraction and quality assessment, and one reviewer resolved inconsistencies. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022325971).Fifteen articles met our eligibility criteria. The aggregate study population included 1373 COVID-19 patients who had undergone a PSP assessment. The random-effect meta-analysis was performed in 7 out of 15 selected studies, considering only those reporting the mean PSP levels in low- and high-severity cases (n = 707).The results showed that the pooled mean difference of PSP levels between high- and low-severity COVID-19 patients was 441.70 pg/ml (95%CI: 150.40-732.99 pg/ml).Our data show that presepsin is a promising biomarker that can express COVID-19 severity

Effect of Trandolapril on Regression of Retinopathy in Hypertensive Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Prespecified Analysis of the Benedict Trial

Background. The effect of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) on regression of retinopathy in type 2 diabetics is still ill defined. Methods. We compared the incidence of retinopathy regression in 90 hypertensive type 2 diabetics randomized to at least 3-year blinded ACEi with trandolapril (2 mg/day) or non-ACEi therapy who had preproliferative or proliferative retinopathy at baseline. Results. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up period of 35.8 (12.4–60.7) months, retinopathy regressed in 27 patients (30.0%). Regression occurred in 18 of 42 patients (42.9%) on ACEi and in 9 of 48 (18.8%) on non-ACEi therapy (adjusted for predefined baseline covariates HR (95% CI): 2.75 (1.18–6.42), P = .0193). Concomitant treatment with or without Non-Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers (ndCCBs) did not appreciably affect the incidence of retinopathy regression. Conclusions. Unlike ndCCB, ACEi therapy may have an additional effect to that of intensified BP and metabolic control in promoting regression of diabetic retinopathy

Algumas considerações com referência às formas de representação da Terra através de coordenadas UTM

The elaboration of maps is such an old activity that made a mistakes with the humanity's own history. This shows the importance that the map allways had for the man. lt was objectified to present in summarized form some considerations concerning as form of representation of the curved surface of the Earth on a plan. This article made a larger detail of the Universal Transverse of Mercator - UTM projection. Projection this, recommended, in 1951, for the International Geodesic Association for use in the whole world as a form for the international cartographic standard, in big scale. In Brazil, the UTM system became adopted in 1955, for the Management of Geographical Service of the Army (DSG)A elaboração de mapas é uma atividade tão antiga que se confunde com a própria história da humanidade. Isso mostra a importância que o mapa sempre teve para o homem. Objetivou-se apresentar de forma sucinta algumas considerações acerca da Projeção Universal de Mercator como forma de representação da superfície curva da Terra sobre um plano. Neste artigo fez-se um maior detalhamento da projeção Universal Transversa de Mercator – UTM, projeção esta recomendada, em 1951, pela Associação Geodésica Internacional para o uso no mundo inteiro como uma forma para a uniformização cartográfica internacional. No Brasil, o sistema UTM passou a ser adotado em 1958, pela Diretoria de Serviço Geográfico do Exército (DSG)

Insulin resistance, diabetic kidney disease, and all-cause mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes. a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether insulin resistance (IR) contributes to excess mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes independent of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which is strongly associated with IR and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the main cause of death in these individuals. We tested this hypothesis in patients with type 2 diabetes from the Renal Insufficiency And Cardiovascular Events Italian Multicentre Study.METHODS: This observational, prospective, cohort study enrolled 15,773 patients with type 2 diabetes attending 19 Italian Diabetes Clinics in 2006-2008. Insulin sensitivity was assessed as estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), which was validated against the euglycaemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Vital status on October 31, 2015, was retrieved for 15,656 patients (99.3%). Participants were stratified by eGDR tertiles from T1 (≥ 5.35mg/kg/min) to T3 (≤ 4.14mg/kg/min, highest IR).RESULTS: CVD risk profile was worse in T2 and T3 vs T1. eGDR tertiles were independently associated with micro- and macroalbuminuria and the albuminuric DKD phenotypes (albuminuria with preserved or reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]) as well as with eGFR categories or the nonalbuminuric DKD phenotype. Over a 7.4-year follow-up, unadjusted death rates and mortality risks increased progressively across eGDR tertiles, but remained significantly elevated after adjustment only in T3 vs T1 (age- and gender- adjusted death rate, 22.35 vs 16.74 per 1000 person-years, p<0.0001, and hazard ratio [HR] adjusted for multiple confounders including DKD, 1.140 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.049-1.238], p=0.002). However, eGDR was independently associated with mortality in participants with no DKD (adjusted HR, 1.214 [95% CI, 1.072-1.375], p=0.002) and in those with nonalbuminuric DKD (1.276 [1.034-1.575], p=0.023), but not in those with the albuminuric DKD phenotypes. Moreover, the association was stronger in males and in younger individuals and was observed in those without but not with prior CVD, though interaction was significant only for age.CONCLUSIONS: The proxy of insulin sensitivity eGDR predicts all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes, independent of confounders including DKD. However, the impact of IR in individuals with albuminuric DKD may be mediated by its relationship with albuminuria.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT00715481, retrospectively registered 15 July 2008