Practical Algorithms for Multicast Support in Input Queues Switches

Abstract — This paper deals with multicast flow support in N × N Input Queued switch architectures. A practical approach to support multicast traffic is presented, assuming that O(N) queues are available at each input port. The focus is on dynamic queueing policies, where, at each input port, multicast flows are assigned to one among the available queues when flows become active: flows are assigned to queues according to switch queue status and, possibly, to flow information. We discuss queueing assignments, scheduling algorithms and flow activity definition models. We explain why dynamic queueing disciplines may outperform static policies, and we show that, even in the most favorable conditions for static policies, they provide comparable performance. I

Involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in the pathogenesis of Dupuytren's contracture: a novel target for a possible future therapeutic strategy?

Dupuytren's contracture (DC) is a benign fibro-proliferative disease of the hand causing fibrotic nodules and fascial cords which determine debilitating contracture and deformities of fingers and hands. The present study was designed to characterize pro-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors involved in the pathogenesis, progression and recurrence of this disease, in order to find novel targets for alternative therapies and strategies in controlling DC. The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and of growth factors was detected by immunohistochemistry in fibrotic nodules and normal palmar fascia resected respectively from patients affected by DC and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS; as negative controls). Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis and immunofluorescence were performed to quantify the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-1β and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by primary cultures of myofibroblasts and fibroblasts isolated from Dupuytren's nodules. Histological analysis showed high cellularity and high proliferation rate in Dupuytren's tissue, together with the presence of myofibroblastic isotypes; immunohistochemical staining for macrophages was completely negative. In addition, a strong expression of TGF-β1, IL-1β and VEGF was evident in the extracellular matrix and in the cytoplasm of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts in Dupuytren's nodular tissues, as compared with control tissues. These results were confirmed by RT-PCR and by immunofluorescence in pathological and normal primary cell cultures. These preliminary observations suggest that TGF-β1, IL-1β and VEGF may be considered potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of Dupuytren's disease (DD)

Morphometry of the Campi Flegrei caldera (Southern Italy)

A high-resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM) of Campi Flegrei caldera, obtained from an airborne LiDAR mission, has been analyzed in order to produce a 1:20,000-scale morphometric map of this volcanic area. The map consists of different thematic layers, which include: profile curvature, terrain ruggedness index, elevation range, as well as an up-to-date structural map and building distribution in the densely populated area. Results evidence that most of the relief is related to the occurrence of tuff-cones, tuff-ring, and the outer flanks of the caldera. Higher values of elevation characterize the upper portions of cones, while higher terrain ruggedness index values concentrate on the inner flanks of cones and in areas affected by gravity and erosional processes. The map also evidences the topographic expression of crater rims and of the major morphological scarps, which reflect ancient and uplifted shorelines and present-day cliffs

Somatotopic organization of STN and DBS implications in Parkinson's disease - A case report of a woman "halved" by DBS stimulation.

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Analytical studies on commercial artists’ colour charts from Das Deutsche Farbenbuch (1925)—identification of synthetic and natural organic colourants by Raman microscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and metal underlayer ATR-FTIR spectroscopy

Historical colour charts provide a rich and often well-dated reference materials source for studying the chemical composition of all kinds of commercial brands of artists' paints. This article presents the results of an extensive analytical study of more than 80 paint hues from 11 colour charts that are included in the German standard book Das Deutsche Farbenbuch by H. Trillich (1925, Part II). Our research focused on the identification of synthetic organic pigments, whose quickly increasing significance for artists' paints in the early twentieth century is impossible to evaluate by documentary source research alone. A stepwise procedure combining different non- or minimally invasive vibrational spectroscopy techniques-Normal Raman and Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy as well as Metal Underlayer Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy-allowed the identification of 18 different organic colourants in artists' watercolours, tempera and oil colours from six German manufacturers. In addition, micro-X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to determine the elemental pattern of substrates, fillers, and admixed inorganic pigments. In addition to a few traditional natural organic colourants (dark and rose madder lake, cochineal lake), most of the identified compounds comprised synthetic organic pigments or synthetic dyes from various chemical classes (indigo, anthraquinone, monoazo, ss-naphthol, xanthene, triarylcarbonium, nitroso, and azine compounds). Some of these have not or only rarely been reported in artists' paints so far. Since the identified organic colourants have mainly poor to fair (only sometimes good) fastness to light according to modern standards and partially also to solvents typically used in conservation treatments, it is evident that works of art from this period should be treated keeping in mind the possible presence of such colourants, when planning both interventive treatments and preventive measures

A randomized double-blind trial to compare the clinical efficacy of granisetron with metoclopramide, both combined with dexamethasone in the prophylaxis of chemotherapy-induced delayed emesis

Background: The prophylactic use of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (setrons), after the first 24 h (acute phase) of exposure to emetic chemotherapy, to decrease the incidence of ‘delayed phase' emesis increases costs. We designed a study to evaluate the efficacy of a setron (granisetron) in the delayed phase, compared with metoclopramide, each combined with a corticosteroid. Patients and methods: Patients on their first course of single-day emetic chemotherapy (cisplatin, carboplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide and others) received granisetron 2 mg p.o. and dexamethasone 8 mg p.o. on day 1, followed for 5 days by dexamethasone 4 mg p.o. od combined with either metoclopramide 20 mg p.o. tds or granisetron 1 mg bd in a double-blinded double-dummy protocol. Patients evaluated the results using a diary card. Randomization was stratified by institution, sex, emetic chemotherapy naïve versus previous, alcohol consumption and platinum versus non-platinum regimen. Results: 131 evaluable patients received granisetron in the delayed phase, and 127 received metoclopramide. Control of acute emesis in both arms was similar (86% granisetron; 85% metoclopramide). The 35 patients experiencing acute emesis had poor control in the delayed phase, with only four granisetron and three metoclopramide patients having no or mild nausea and no vomiting. Conclusions: In daily practice, a combination of oral dexamethasone and oral granisetron achieves an extremely high control of acute emesis (86% protection). Our data suggest that routine prescription of setrons for delayed phase control is not advisable as it increases costs without any benefit for the majority of patients. Delayed emesis in the rare patients with acute phase emesis remains an unsolved proble

Localization of hepatocyte growth factor and Its receptor met in endocrine cells and related tumors of the gut and pancreas: an immunohistochemical study

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a stimulator of angiogenesis and cell migration, regulates the growth of a wide variety of cells by binding to its high-affinity receptor met and is involved in the growth and aggressiveness of several tumors. In this study we investigated the expression of HGF and met in normal endocrine cells and related neoplasms of the gut and pancreas to verify their possible role in tumor pathogenesis, growth, and aggressiveness. Normal tissues and 60 different endocrine tumors were immunostained using specific antibodies directed against HGF, met, and various hormones. HGF immunoreactivity (IR) was found in antroduodenal G cells, rectal enterochromaffin (EC) cells, and pancreatic A and B cells, whereas met IR was detected in antral EC and C cells, and in pancreatic B cells; 46 of 60 tumors examined were positive for HGF, and they were mainly represented by ECL-, EC-, and L-cell neoplasms. met IR was identified in 50/60 tumors of various phenotypes. HGF and met coexpression was found in 42/60 cases, most of which were represented by EC-cell tumors. HGF/met coexpression was significantly more frequent in ileocolonic EC-cell tumors, which in the majority of cases were malignant, than in appendiceal EC-cell tumors, which were all benign. Our results demonstrated, for the first time, that HGF and met are specifically distributed in normal gut and pancreatic endocrine cells and, in addition, suggest that HGF and met may be implicated as autocrine/paracrine factors regulating the growth of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors, mainly of ileocolonic EC-cell carcinoid