Minimum-Cost Virtual Network Function Resilience

International audienceIn the future 5G networks, a wide range of new services with strong requirements will be delivered in the form of chains of service functions on independent virtual networks. These virtual networks will be deployed on demand, each one adapted to the specific service requirements. For infrastructure providers a real challenge consists in providing and setting up the required virtual networks (network slices) while guaranteeing strict Service Level Agreements. One of the major stakes is to be able to provide failure protection for the service function chains at minimal cost. In this work, we consider a set of deployed service chains, and we study the best strategy to protect them at minimal cost. We propose mathematical formulations that provide optimal backup functions placement over a network, and the associated backup paths for each VNF of all the chains. We develop an efficient ILP-based heuristic relying on a separation of the problem into smaller ones to solve large scale instances. We show that our heuristic is competitive, both regarding the solution quality and the solving time

Management practices in creative tourism: narratives by managers from international institutions to a more sustainable form of tourism

This article analyses the managerial practices implemented by international organisations that provide platforms for promoting and carrying out creative tourism activities and workshops. The methodology of this research was conducted in four phases. The first phase consisted of Internet-based research to identify organisations involved in creative tourism and 24 institutions were found. In the second phase, we analysed the information provided on the institutions’ websites. In the third phase, we prepared an interview script and sent it to those institutions. We received 12 positive replies and held a semi-structured interview with those managers. In the last phase, the narratives of the interviews were subjected to content analysis. The 12 managers interviewed, between the ages of 35 and 56, belong to public and private entities and lead technical teams. The studied institutions displayed good practices for creative tourism and strategic lines to consolidate this tourist product in the future. This study is pertinent and original because no international study has analysed in detail the management practices implemented by creative tourism platforms and a consistent characterisation of the profile of the creative tourist is yet to be outlined. It can also help institutions involved in creative tourism to better understand the international state of the field in this tourism segment.This research was conducted within the project "CREATOUR -Creative Tourism Destination Development in Small Cities and Rural Areas" Project, funded by European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) through the Operational Programme of Competitiveness and Internationalisation -COMPETE 2020 and by National Funds through FCT -Foundation for Science and Technology under the project POCI-0145-FEDER-016437

Profile of patients diagnosed with AIDS at age 60 and above in Brazil, from 1980 until June 2009, compared to those diagnosed at age 18 to 59.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to learn more about people diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) at age 60 and above in Brazil, and to compare them with people diagnosed at a younger age. METHODS: This study was based on the analysis of secondary data from the Brazilian AIDS Program. The study population consisted of people diagnosed with AIDS at age 60 and above. The comparison group was comprised of a 20% random sample of people diagnosed at age 18 to 59, frequency-matched by year of diagnosis. RESULTS: 544,846 cases of AIDS were reported in Brazil from 1980 until June 2009. Over 90% of cases were diagnosed between 18 and 59 years of age, and 13,657 (2.5%) at age 60 and above. The first case of AIDS among the elderly was reported in 1984. The comparison group consisted of 101,528 patients. Gender proportion was similar for both groups, and the proportion of people identified with AIDS after death in the Brazilian Mortality Information System (SIM) was 4% higher among the elderly. Both groups were also similar regarding the region of residence; a markedly higher proportion lived in Southeastern Brazil. Older people were more likely to have lower education and to have contracted AIDS by heterosexual contact, and less likely to be intravenous drug users. Male to female ratio among those diagnosed with AIDS at or above age 60 decreased over the years, in the same way as observed for the whole cohort. Mortality was higher among men in both groups. CD4 category (taken closest to the date of AIDS diagnosis) was very similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of the epidemic among the elderly show similarities to the younger group considering gender distribution and CD4 category, but differ regarding educational level and exposure category. Also, the elderly were more likely not to have their AIDS condition promptly diagnosed

Educação da infância: o lugar da participação da família na instituição educativa

O artigo, que aborda a participação familiar como dimensão da gestão democrática na educação infantil, vincula-se à pesquisa Políticas públicas e educação da infância em Goiás: história, concepções, projetos e práticas. Com base no materialismo histórico-dialético, analisa a Educação Infantil como política pública e identifica contradições e desafios da participação da família nessa etapa educacional. Conclui que a democratização da gestão requer superar a participação restrita e operacional, construindo amplo envolvimento familiar nas decisões e ações políticas e pedagógicas da instituição de educação infantil

Are cognitive interventions for multiple sclerosis effective and feasible?

Purpose: Fifty percent of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are estimated to have cognitive impairments leading to considerable decline in productivity and quality of life. Cognitive intervention has been considered to complement pharmacological treatments. However, a lack of agreement concerning the efficacy of cognitive interventions in MS still exists. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of cognitive interventions in MS. Methods: To overcome limitations of previous meta-analyses, several databases were searched only for Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) with low risk of bias. Results: Five studies (total of 139 participants) met our eligibility criteria. Although good completion and adherence rates were evident, we found no evidence of intervention effects on cognition or mood in post-intervention or follow-up assessments. Conclusions: This is the first meta-analysis assessing the effects of cognitive intervention in MS including only RCTs with comparable conditions. Research regarding efficacy, cost-effectiveness and feasibility is still in its infancy. Caution is advised when interpreting these results due to the small number of RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria. Considering the costs of disease, good completion and adherence rates of this approach, further research is warranted. Recommendations concerning improved research practices in the field are presented as well.R.M. and J.A. are supported by doctoral Grants from Fundac¸ao para a Ci ˜ encia e Tecnologia (FCT) ˆ (SFRH/BD/65213/2009, SFRH/BD/64457/2009 and co-funded by FSE/POPH). A.S. is funded for the project PIC/IC/83290/2007, supported by FEDER (POFC–COMPETE) and FCT to develop and assess the effectiveness of a cognitive stimulation tool for Portuguese clinicians

Profiling the participants in creative tourism activities: case studies from small and medium sized cities and rural areas from Continental Portugal

Although cultural tourists increasingly seek to experience cultural events actively and to directly engage in creative activities, empirical knowledge about the creative tourist remains limited. This study aims to characterize the motivations and profile of creative tourists. The data was collected through a survey of participants in creative tourism activities in Portugal developed by 40 pilot institutions of the CREATOUR project during 2017 and 2018, with 814 usable questionnaires collected and validated. The questionnaire had 30 questions and marked the first time this kind of research was conducted in Portugal. The questionnaire included questions on: the composition of their travel companions, their previous participation in a creative tourism experience, reasons for visiting the destination, their characterization of the creative tourism experience, an evaluation of their creative tourism experience, and their socio-demographic profile. Using a cluster analysis to analyse the data, three clusters were found: Novelty-Seekers, Knowledge and Skills Learners, and Leisure Creative-Seekers.FCT/MEC: 16437info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Piafiando: a performance de "Je ne regrette rien" em algumas versões nômades pela voz de cantores brasileiros

À luz da semiótica proposta por A. J. Greimas (1983), o presente trabalho busca analisar como se deu a construção de sentido da canção “Je ne regrette rien” (Charles Dumont/ Michel Vaucaire) - último sucesso de Édith Piaf, bem como entender a compatibilidade entre texto e melodia proposto por Luiz Tatit (1996). Uma vez analisada a canção e, sendo tomadas como ponto de partida a prosódia, a persona vocal e a performance de Piaf, pretendemos estabelecer um estudo comparativo entre o modelo de canto da cantora e as versões nômades trazidas por cinco intérpretes brasileiros. Assim, valendo-nos de conceitos-chave introduzidos por Paul Zumthor, tais como os de performance, nomadismo, movência, fixação e memória (Zumthor, 1997), buscamos entender como essa canção continua ressoando na memória do público brasileiro, em diferentes gravações, adaptações e desdobramentos na paisagem sonora do país (Schafer, 2001). Apesar do silêncio em que se encontra a canção francesa no Brasil e das idiossincrasias entre as duas culturas, conclui-se que estas versões têm contribuído efetivamente para a fixação da memória da cultura musical francesa no país.Based on the Semiotics proposed by A. J. Greimas (1983), the present work seeks to analyse how the meaning of the song Je ne regrette rien (Charles Dumont / Michel Vocaire) – Édith Piaf’s last success – took place, as well as to understand the compatibility between text and melody proposed by Luiz Tatit (1996). Once the song was analysed and, taking Piaf's prosody, vocal persona and performance as a starting point, we intend to establish a comparative study between the singer's model and the nomadic versions brought by five Brazilian singers. Thus, using key concepts brought by Paul Zumthor, such as those of performance, nomadism, mouvance, fixation and memory (Zumthor, 1997), we seek to understand how this song continues to resonate in the memory of the Brazilian public, in different recordings, adaptations and developments in the country's soundscape (Schafer, 2001). Despite the silence in which the French song is found in Brazil and idiosyncrasies between both cultures, it is concluded that these versions have strongly contributed to the fixation of the memory of French musical culture in this country

Un Método para Evaluar Medidas de Control de Peligros en el Proceso de Frutillas Congeladas

Para garantizar la inocuidad alimentaria en el procesamiento de alimentos se puede utilizar la Norma ISO 22000. En este trabajo se presenta la aplicación de la metodología del Análisis de Peligros y Puntos Críticos de Control en el procesode frutillas congeladas. Para determinar si un peligro es significativo se usó el riesgo como la probabilidad de ocurrencia por la severidad. Se diseñó un método para evaluar las medidas de control para los peligros significativos en base a las 7 preguntas del requisito 7.4.4 de la Norma. Se identificaron 2 Puntos Críticos de Control y 3 Programas de Prerrequisitos Operativos con sus correspondientes monitoreos. Como conclusión se ha logrado definir los Programas de Puntos Críticos de Control y Prerrequisitos Operativos que le permitirá prevenir los peligros en el proceso de congelado de frutillas

FUNGITOXITY OF Mentha spicata OIL ON THE GROWTH OF FUNGI OF THE GENERA Colletotrichum AND Fusarium

Increasingly, the population has been concerned that the production of these foods is free of pesticide residues, so it is necessary to search for viable and effective alternatives to control pests and diseases. Thus, the use of essential oil from plants with insecticidal and fungicidal potential has been successfully studied. The study aimed to demonstrate the effect of Mentha spicata essential oil on the control of Fusarium and Colletotrichum fungi in vitro. The essential oil of M. spicata used was purchased from the chemical industry Ferquima, being diluted in a 2% Tween 20 solution (being 98 mL of distilled water + 2 mL of Tween 20), which was added in 60 mL of a PDA culture medium, resulting in final essential oil concentrations: 0 ppm; 0.83 ppm; 1.67 ppm; 8.33 ppm, and 16.67 ppm and poured into 90 mm diameter Petri dishes. The evaluations took place periodically every 48 hours for eight days, performing measurements of the diameters of the colonies. The results evidenced that the analyzed fungi, when submitted to treatments of different doses, suffered fungistatic action according to the gradual increase of the doses. Thus, it is possible to conclude that M. spicata oil provided the in vitro growth control of Fusarium sp. and Colletorichum sp.Cada vez mais, a população tem se preocupado que a produção desses alimentos seja livre de resíduos de agrotóxicos, portanto se faz necessário a busca por alternativas viáveis e eficazes para controle de pragas e doenças. Desta forma, a utilização de óleo essencial de plantas com potencial inseticida e fungicida vem sendo estudada com sucesso. O objetivo deste trabalho foi demonstrar o efeito do óleo essencial de Mentha spicata no controle dos fungos dos gêneros Fusarium e Colletotrichum in vitro. O óleo de essencial de M. spicata utilizado, foi adquirido da indústria química Ferquima, sendo diluído em uma solução Tween 20 a 2% (sendo 98 mL de água destilada + 2 mL de Tween 20), que foram adicionados em 60 mL de meio de cultura BDA, resultando nas concentrações finais de óleo essencial: 0 ppm; 0,83 ppm; 1,67 ppm; 8,33 ppm e 16,67 ppm e vertidos em placas de Petri de 90 mm de diâmetro. As avaliações ocorreram periodicamente a cada 48 horas, por 8 dias, realizando medições dos diâmetros das colônias. Os resultados apresentados mostraram que os fungos analisados quando submetidos a tratamentos de diferentes doses, sofreram ação fungistática, de acordo com o aumento gradativo das doses. Assim, é possível concluir que o óleo de M. spicata proporcionou o controle do crescimento in vitro dos fungos Fusarium sp. e Colletorichum sp

Ensino de cuidados básicos sobre saúde animal em escolas municipais de Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brasil

In 2022, the animal population in Brazil was approximately 167 million animals. The study aimed to provide information and report on how students understand basic care for small animals, addressing topics such as hygiene, nutrition, dental health, and dermatological care for pets. The methodology was divided into two stages: the first consisted of a bibliographic study and preparation of didactic material, while the second involved lectures and workshops in schools, followed by the application of questionnaires to assess students' knowledge before and after the educational activities (Chaer et al., 2012). The results showed a significant increase in students' knowledge retention after the lectures, demonstrating the effectiveness of the educational interventions. The study concluded that education in animal health is essential to promote animal welfare and raise awareness among the population from childhood about the importance of basic pet care.A população de animais no Brasil em 2022 representou aproximadamente 167 milhões de animais. O objetivo do estudo foi fornecer informações e relatar como os estudantes compreendem os cuidados básicos com pequenos animais, abordando temas como higiene, alimentação, saúde bucal e dermatológica dos pets. A metodologia foi dividida em duas etapas: a primeira consistiu em um estudo bibliográfico e preparação de material didático, enquanto a segunda envolveu palestras e oficinas nas escolas, seguidas pela aplicação de questionários para avaliar o conhecimento dos estudantes antes e depois das atividades educativas (Chaer et al., 2012). Os resultados mostraram um aumento significativo na retenção de conhecimento pelos alunos após as palestras, evidenciando a eficácia das intervenções educativas. O estudo concluiu que a educação em saúde animal é fundamental para promover o bem-estar dos animais e sensibilizar a população desde a infância sobre a importância dos cuidados básicos com os pets