High Performance AWGR PONs in Data Centre Networks

The unprecedented advances in Passive Optical Networks (PONs) and their proven performance in access networks have encouraged researcher to investigate the use of passive optics to address the limitations of conventional data centre architectures. In this paper, we present a scalable, high capacity and energy efficient arrayed wave guide grating router (AWGR) PON based data centre architecture to facilitate inter and intra racks communication within data centres. The proposed architecture can be scaled up efficiently to hundreds of thousands of servers and has shown energy savings of 45% and 80% compared to the Fat-Tree and BCube architectures, respectively

Valorization of Forest Waste for the Production of Bio-oils for Biofuel and Biodiesel

Biomass is a renewable energy source to generate heat and electricity through the enhancement of various organic materials. Cistus slow pyrolysis of seeds and shells was carried out in a fixed bed reactor to determine the effect of pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and particle size on the performance of pyrolysis. Therefore, pyrolysis experiments were performed at different temperatures, ranging from 300 to 500°C, with heating rates varying from 10 to 70°C.min−1 for shells and 7 to 28°C.min−1 for seeds. The particle sizes of samples range from 0.3 to 3.5 mm for shells and 0.075 to 1.2 mm for seeds. The highest yield of liquid products (53.31% for shells; 52.24% for seeds) was obtained at a pyrolysis temperature of 450°C and a heating rate of 40°C.min−1 for shells and 21°C.min−1 for seeds. The functional groups and chemical compounds present in the bio-oil obtained under optimal conditions were identified by FTIR. The calorific value of the bio-oil was equal to 37.05 and 37.93 MJ.kg−1 for shells and seeds, respectively. The obtained results show that the bio-oil from the pyrolysis of Cistus shells and seeds could be used as a renewable fuel or a source of pharmaceutical and chemical raw material

Recent Advances in the Surface Functionalization of PLGA-Based Nanomedicines

Therapeutics are habitually characterized by short plasma half-lives and little affinity for targeted cells. To overcome these challenges, nanoparticulate systems have entered into the disease arena. Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) is one of the most relevant biocompatible materials to construct drug nanocarriers. Understanding the physical chemistry of this copolymer and current knowledge of its biological fate will help in engineering efficient PLGA-based nanomedicines. Surface modification of the nanoparticle structure has been proposed as a required functionalization to optimize the performance in biological systems and to localize the PLGA colloid into the site of action. In this review, a background is provided on the properties and biodegradation of the copolymer. Methods to formulate PLGA nanoparticles, as well as their in vitro performance and in vivo fate, are briefly discussed. In addition, a special focus is placed on the analysis of current research in the use of surface modification strategies to engineer PLGA nanoparticles, i.e., PEGylation and the use of PEG alternatives, surfactants and lipids to improve in vitro and in vivo stability and to create hydrophilic shells or stealth protection for the nanoparticle. Finally, an update on the use of ligands to decorate the surface of PLGA nanomedicines is included in the review

PON Data Centre Design with AWGR and Server Based Routing

Passive Optical Networks (PONs) with their proven performance in access networks can provide solutions to the challenges facing modern data centres. In this paper, we study a PON architecture where Arrayed Waveguide Grating Routers (AWGRs) and servers are used to route traffic. We optimize the wavelength routing and assignment in the design and show through a benchmark study that the PON data centre architecture reduces the power consumption by 83% compared to the Fat-Tree architecture and 93% compared to the BCube architecture

Server-Centric PON Data Center Architecture

Over the last decade, the evolution of data center architecture designs has been mainly driven by the ever increasing bandwidth demands, high power consumption and cost. With all these in mind, a significant potential to improve bandwidth capacity and reduce power consumption and cost can be achieved by introducing PONs in the design of the networking fabric infrastructure in data centers. This work presents a novel server-centric PON design for future cloud data center architecture. We avoided the use of power hungry devices such as switches and tuneable lasers and encouraged the use of low power passive optical backplanes and PONs to facilitate intra and inter rack communication. We also tackle the problem of resource provisioning optimization and present our MILP model results for energy efficient routing and resource provisioning within the PON cell. We optimized the selection of hosting servers, routing paths and relay servers to achieve efficient resource utilization reaching 95% and optimum saving in energy consumption reaching 59%

PON Data Centre Design with AWGR and Server Based Routing

Passive Optical Networks (PONs) with their proven performance in access networks can provide solutions to the challenges facing modern data centres. In this paper, we study a PON architecture where Arrayed Waveguide Grating Routers (AWGRs) and servers are used to route traffic. We optimize the wavelength routing and assignment in the design and show through a benchmark study that the PON data centre architecture reduces the power consumption by 83% compared to the Fat-Tree architecture and 93% compared to the BCube architecture

Modified Chitosan Immobilized on Modified Sand for Industrial Wastewater Treatment in Multicomponent Sorption: Shrimp Biowaste Processing

In this paper, modified chitosan immobilized on modified sand (MCs/MS) was synthesized and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA). MCs/MS composite was used to remove Reactive Red 23 (RR23), Reactive Blue 19 (RB19) and Iron III (Fe3+) in three single-component and three binary, RR23+RB19, RR23+Fe3+ and RB19+Fe3+. Batch experiments were carried out for adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics. Operational parameters studied were pH, contact time, temperature, adsorbate and adsorbent concentrations. Adsorption kinetics in single and binary systems of components followed pseudo- second-order kinetics model. The isotherm data in single and binary systems followed Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters have disclosed that the adsorption is exothermic and not spontaneous with a physical adsorption for both single and binary systems. The results showed that MCs/MS composite was an effective adsorbent to remove hazardous pollutants with a removal rate between 80% and 99.6%, the optimal contact time was between 120 and 180 min for all components in single and multicomponent system. Keywords : Modified chitosan immobilized on modified sand, Multicomponent system, Reactive Red 23, Reactive Blue 19, Iron III, Hydrothermo-Chemical method

pH-dependent, extended release and enhanced in vitro efficiency against colon cancer of Tegafur formulated using chitosan-coated poly (ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles

Tegafur is used to treat various malignant lesions, including advanced gastric and colorectal cancers. However, its efficacy is limited by its low oral bioavailability, short half-life and serious toxicity. To address these drawbacks, a nanoformulation of poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles coated with chitosan was developed for the delivery of Tegafur. Poly(ε-caprolactone) particles were prepared by an interfacial polymer disposition method, while surface functionalization with chitosan followed a coacervation procedure. Transmission electron microscopy and elemental analyses, and electrokinetics of the particles demonstrated that such core/shell nanostructure was obtained. Compared to unmodified particles, chitosan-coated nanoparticles demonstrated a substantially increased stability at both 4 and 25 ◦C over 30 days. Particles showed an encapsulation efficiency of ≈64% and a pH-dependent behavior in which complete Tegafur release was extended over 168, 48 or 24 h at pH 7.4 (blood), 6.5 (extracellular microenvironment of tumors) or 5.5 (endosomes/lysosomes of tumor cells), respectively. Based on hemocompatibility and cell viability tests, chitosan-coated nanoparticles exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and safety for drug delivery. Furthermore, Tegafur-loaded chitosan-decorated particles demonstrated enhanced anticancer efficiency, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values in HT- 29 and T-84 cells of ≈ 4-fold and ≈3.5-fold less than that of the free drug and drug-loaded unmodified nanoparticles, respectively. In vivo studies are needed to fully assess their efficacy and safetyFEDER/Junta de Andalucía – Consejería de Transformaci´on Econ´omica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades, Spain (Grant P20_00346)

Ruling on Zakat on Digital Currencies Rooted in the Noble Qur'an and the Prophet's Sunnah

Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, who guided us and brought us out of darkness into light, and prayers and peace be upon the messenger as a mercy to the worlds, who delivered the message and advised the nation, and all his family and companions. Digital currencies are one of the modern calamities that many people wonder about, some are confused about, and many wonder how to deal with them. Is it an illusion or reality? Most of the dealers of digital currencies wonder about its legal ruling and whether the provisions that apply to money issued by official state banks also apply to it. Therefore, the research aims to clarify the ruling on zakat on digital currencies from the perspective of the Noble Qur'an and the purified Sunnah of the Prophet. Keywords: digital currencies, zakat

Removal of RR-23 dye from industrial textile wastewater by adsorption on cistus ladaniferus seeds and their biochar

The use of low-cost, easily obtained and eco-friendly adsorbents has been employed as an ideal alternative for the methods of removing dyes from wastewater. Cistus ladaniferus seeds (CLS) and their biochar (BCCLS) are the biomaterials used as a bio-adsorbent for removing of Reactive red 23 (RR-23). The bio-char of cistus seed is prepared by a thermo-chemical route known as pyrolysis under optimum conditions, temperature equal to 450 °C, heating rate 21 °C.min-1 and particle sizes of 0.3 to 0.6 mm after the BCCLS is grinded with a ceramic grinder until the particle size is between 0.1 and 0.2 mm. The kinetics adsorption of dye by CLS and BCCLS are correctly described by the pseudo-2nd-order model with a correlation factor (R2 = 0.997) and (R2 = 0.998) respectively. As for the modeling of the adsorption isotherm, among the four models tested, Lungmuir type II and type I is most appropriate with a correlation factor equal to 0.999 and 0.98 for the BCCLS and the CLS respectively. On the other hand, the ability to remove the dye by the BCCLS is advantageous and the elimination efficiency reaches a maximum value of 99.237% for the BCCLS and 82% for the CLS. Keywords: Biochar, Isotherm, Adsorption, Cistus Seed, pyrolysis, Technical analysis