WDM Network Design with Node Protection : An approach based on MOACO

This work studies the survivable optical network design prob- lem subject to simple node failure where disruption by network recon g- uration degrades the Quality of Service. The impact of the number of recon gurations when a node fails over other objective functions is crit- ical. Therefore, a Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization (MOACO) Algorithm is proposed, which tries to nd the best network design as well as the primary and back-up multicast trees considering a multicast re- quest set. The MOACO algorithm simultaneously minimizes the network design cost, the maximum end-to-end optical delay, the total number of recon gurations and the maximum number of recon gurations. The ex- perimental results over di erent instances show the bene ts of the pro- posed approach front to two state-of-the-art protection approaches based on total or partial recon guration.IX Workshop de Arquitecturas, Redes y Sistemas OperativosRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

WDM Network Design with Node Protection : An approach based on MOACO

This work studies the survivable optical network design prob- lem subject to simple node failure where disruption by network recon g- uration degrades the Quality of Service. The impact of the number of recon gurations when a node fails over other objective functions is crit- ical. Therefore, a Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization (MOACO) Algorithm is proposed, which tries to nd the best network design as well as the primary and back-up multicast trees considering a multicast re- quest set. The MOACO algorithm simultaneously minimizes the network design cost, the maximum end-to-end optical delay, the total number of recon gurations and the maximum number of recon gurations. The ex- perimental results over di erent instances show the bene ts of the pro- posed approach front to two state-of-the-art protection approaches based on total or partial recon guration.IX Workshop de Arquitecturas, Redes y Sistemas OperativosRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

Smoking Habit Prevention in Schools: Report of a Pediatric Educational Intervention Held in Pisa

Introduction: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the world and the detrimental effects of tobacco on health have been described across the full life span. There is no safe level of tobacco exposure and childhood is the more vulnerable period of life. Current estimates show that 10% of children aged 13-15 years are active smokers and most of them started smoking at ≥11 years of age, due to peer and/or family influence. Moreover, recently, e-cigarette use has spread, particularly among youth. Many school-based smoking prevention interventions have been carried out around the world, the efficacy of which has yet to be established. Materials and methods: In February 2018 we planned an educational program on smoking habit within the Italian Society of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases (SIMRI) (“Dai un calcio al fumo” program). In May 2018 we held 8 interventions at the Fibonacci School (Pisa, Italy), meeting 365 children aged 9 to 13 years and involving a pediatrician and a pediatric resident in a 2-hour lesson focusing on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and smoking habit effects. The children were invited to ask questions and talk about their experiences, with a subsequent 30-minutes collegial discussion. The most frequent questions were collected, as well as students’, physicians’ and teachers’ opinions on each meeting. Results: During our educational interventions the most frequently asked questions were about the discrepancy related to the fact that a dangerous product is legally sold and the potential harmful effects of e-cigarettes. All the children stated that they knew that combustible cigarette smoking was dangerous. Most of them admitted that they feel that smoking habits start from emulating friends and relatives. Almost 70% of the children reported to have at least one smoker relative. Teachers, physicians and students proposed to replicate the meetings the following year. Conclusions: The considerable interest shown by the students, together with the low cost and potential effectiveness of school-based educational measures, suggest that in our country a national educational program should be introduced in schools. Too many children are still exposed to tobacco smoke in the household environment

The first case of IgG4-related disease in Italy

Background: Recently, Mikulicz’s disease has been defined as an IgG-4 related disease, a systemic condition, where the hallmark pathology findings are lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates, immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-positive plasma cells, modest tissue eosinophilia, and intense fibrosis. Case: We present a case of 63-year-old man who showed epigastralgia and elevated serum lipase levels. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a bulky mass of the pancreas, so he underwent bilious-digestive anastomosis, and biopsy of the pancreas revealed massive infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells. The patient was therefore diagnosed with sclerosing chronic pancreatitis (Kuttner’s tumour). After one year, the patient began to exhibit signs of "sicca syndrome", and at the same time, he demonstrated progressive renal failure. Immunological tests showed hypocomplementemia, and the renal biopsy specimen demonstrated interstitial inflammation, in which infiltrate was composed of lymphocytes, while infiltrating plasma cells showed immunoreactivity to IgG4. Sialography revealed severe involvement of the salivary glands, and Schirmer’s test resulted positive. Conclusions: Here, we report successful treatment of the first case in Italy of a patient with hypocomplementemic tubulointerstitial nephritis in IgG4-related disease

Mesoporous thin film structures as metal nanoparticle reactors for electronic circuits: Effects of matrix crystallinity and nanoparticle functionalization

There is an increasing interest in versatile nanoelectronic structures based on stable, accessible and spatially located arrays of metal nanoparticles. In this study, the influences of mesoporous titania thin film crystallinity and pore features over electrical conductivity of embedded Ag-nanoparticles were analyzed. Although matrices treated at lower temperatures have shown less pore connectivity, less extensive anatase fraction and lower silver content, they revealed higher electrical conductivity than matrices treated at higher temperatures. This was interpreted as better connectivity among particles from plasmon behavior. The stability of this system was significantly enhanced through upon chemisorption of 1-octanethiol self-assemble monolayers over Ag-nanoparticles. The maximum plasmon absorbance remained practically unaltered after storage for at least 15 days and the current remains stable up to 20 voltage cycles. This demonstrates that a stable and accessible conductive nanocomposite circuit consisting of alkanethiol-functionalized metal nanoparticles embedded in a mesoporous oxide thin film matrix can be produced.Fil: Delgado González, Diana Catherine. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Investigación y Aplicaciones no Nucleares. Gerencia de Desarrollo Tecnológico y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Micro y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pérez Gagni, Diego Eugenio. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Investigación y Aplicaciones no Nucleares. Gerencia de Desarrollo Tecnológico y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Micro y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Catalano, Paolo Nicolás. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Investigación y Aplicaciones no Nucleares. Gerencia de Desarrollo Tecnológico y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Micro y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bellino, Martin Gonzalo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia de Área de Investigación y Aplicaciones no Nucleares. Gerencia de Desarrollo Tecnológico y Proyectos Especiales. Departamento de Micro y Nanotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Acute dacryocystitis with giant lacrimal abscess: a case report

We report a case of a 4-year-old girl with acute dacryocystitis complicated with giant lacrimal abscess who underwent open dacryocystectomy as resolutive surgery