Impact of the Net Neutrality Repeal on Communication Networks

Network neutrality is the principle of treating equally all Internet traffic regardless of its source, destination, content, application or other related distinguishing metrics. Under net neutrality, Internet service providers (ISPs) are compelled to charge all content providers (CPs) the same per Gbps rate despite the growing profit achieved by CPs. In this paper, we study the impact of the repeal of net neutrality on communication networks by developing a techno-economic Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to maximize the potential profit ISPs can achieve by offering their services to CPs. We consider an ISP that offers CPs different classes of service representing typical video content qualities. The MILP model maximizes the ISP profit by optimizing the prices of the different classes according to the users’ demand sensitivity to the change in price, referred to as Price Elasticity of Demand (PED). We analyze how PED impacts the profit in different CP delivery scenarios in cloud-fog architectures. The results show that the repeal of net neutrality can potentially increase ISPs profit by a factor of 8 with a pricing scheme that discriminates against data intensive content. Also, the repeal of net neutrality positively impacts the network energy efficiency by reducing the core network power consumption by 55% as a result of suppressing data intensive content compared to the net neutrality scenario

Green Saudi National Fibre Network (SNFN)

In 2015, there were more than 21 Million active users of the Internet in Saudi Arabia. In the present paper, we consider minimizing the power consumption of the Saudi National Fibre Network (SNFN) by formulating the problem as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model. Firstly, we optimize the location of single or multiple data centres in the SNFN under a traffic profile based on a gravity model where the production rate and attractiveness of each node is proportional to the population of that node. We evaluate the network power consumption considering three scenarios of data centre locations. The MILP model results show that identifying the optimum data centre locations can save up to 53% of the network power consumption compared to the random data centre locations. Secondly, we optimize the SNFN physical topology considering different data centers locations. Moreover, the model results show that optimizing the network physical topology can save up to 76% of the total power consumption compared to the current topology

Energy Efficient Virtual Machines Placement Over Cloud-Fog Network Architecture

Fog computing is an emerging paradigm that aims to improve the efficiency and QoS of cloud computing by extending the cloud to the edge of the network. This paper develops a comprehensive energy efficiency analysis framework based on mathematical modeling and heuristics to study the offloading of virtual machine (VM) services from the cloud to the fog. The analysis addresses the impact of different factors including the traffic between the VM and its users, the VM workload, the workload versus number of users profile and the proximity of fog nodes to users. Overall, the power consumption can be reduced if the VM users’ traffic is high and/or the VMs have a linear power profile. In such a linear profile case, the creation of multiple VM replicas does not increase the computing power consumption significantly (there may be a slight increase due to idle / baseline power consumption) if the number of users remains constant, however the VM replicas can be brought closer to the end users, thus reducing the transport network power consumption. In our scenario, the optimum placement of VMs over a cloud-fog architecture significantly decreased the total power consumption by 56% and 64% under high user data rates compared to optimized distributed clouds placement and placement in the existing AT&T network cloud locations, respectively

Energy Efficient Virtual Machines Placement in IP over WDM Networks

Virtual machines (VMs) offer an economic and scalable solution to efficiently utilize the physical resources. In this paper, we investigate the optimization of VM placement in IP over WDM core networks considering a VM workload that varies with the number of users served by the VM. Our results show that the optimal VM placement in distributed clouds yields up to 23% total power saving compared to a single cloud

The Impact of Inter-Virtual Machine Traffic on Energy Efficient Virtual Machines Placement

In this work, we investigate the energy efficiency of placing virtual machines (VMs) in geo-distributed data centers taking into account inter-VM traffic in addition to users traffic. The problem of VMs placement is formularized as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model with an objective to minimize the network and cloud power consumption taking into consideration cooperation traffic between different VMs and synchronization traffic between replicas of the same VM in addition to the download traffic from VMs to users. The model results show that the number of VMs replicas across geo-distributed clouds is limited by the existence of inter-VM traffic in the core network. The total power consumption can potentially increase by a factor of 39 if inter-VM traffic is not taken into consideration when optimizing the placement of VMs

Real-Time Emissions of Telecom Core Networks

This paper focuses on investigating the direct and life cycle assessment (LCA) emissions in core networks, considering British telecom (BT) core network as a case study. We found that on 1st December 2016, the total BT core network emissions were around 22 tCO ₂ e and 25 tCO ₂ e of direct and LCA emissions, respectively

Cetuximab Conjugated with Octreotide and Entrapped Calcium Alginate-beads for Targeting Somatostatin Receptors.

There is a need to formulate oral cetuximab (CTX) for targeting colorectal cancer, which is reported to express somatostatin receptors (SSTRs). Therefore, coating CTX with a somatostatin analogue such as octreotide (OCT) is beneficial. Alginate was used to coat CTX to facilitate delivery to the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). This study aimed to deliver CTX conjugated with OCT in the form of microparticles as a GIT-targeted SSTR therapy. Both CTX and OCT were conjugated using a solvent evaporation method and the conjugated CTX-OCT was then loaded onto Ca-alginate-beads (CTX-OCT-Alg), which were characterized for drug interactions using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). Moreover, the morphology of formulated beads was examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The drug content and release profile were studied using UV spectroscopy. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity of all compounds was evaluated. The results showed homogenous conjugated CTX-OCT with a diameter of 0.4 mm. DSC showed a delay in the OCT peak that appeared after 200 °C due to small polymer interaction that shifted the OCT peak. Moreover, FTIR showed no prominent interaction. SEM showed clear empty cavities in the plain Ca-alginate-beads, while CTX-OCT-Alg showed occupied beads without cavities. CTX-OCT-Alg had a negligible release in 0.1 N HCl, while the CTX-OCT was completely released after 300 min in phosphate buffer pH 7.4. All formulations showed good antiproliferative activity compared with free drugs. The formulated CTX-OCT-Alg are a promising platform for targeting colorectal cancer through GIT

Molecular identification of adenoviruses associated with respiratory infection in Egypt from 2003 to 2010.

BACKGROUND: Human adenoviruses of species B, C, and E (HAdV-B, -C, -E) are frequent causative agents of acute respiratory infections worldwide. As part of a surveillance program aimed at identifying the etiology of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Egypt, we characterized 105 adenovirus isolates from clinical samples collected between 2003 and 2010. METHODS: Identification of the isolates as HAdV was accomplished by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and confirmed by a set of species and type specific polymerase chain reactions (PCR). RESULTS: Of the 105 isolates, 42% were identified as belonging to HAdV-B, 60% as HAdV-C, and 1% as HAdV-E. We identified a total of six co-infections by PCR, of which five were HAdV-B/HAdV-C co-infections, and one was a co-infection of two HAdV-C types: HAdV-5/HAdV-6. Molecular typing by PCR enabled the identification of eight genotypes of human adenoviruses; HAdV-3 (n = 22), HAdV-7 (n = 14), HAdV-11 (n = 8), HAdV-1 (n = 22), HAdV-2 (20), HAdV-5 (n = 15), HAdV-6 (n = 3) and HAdV-4 (n = 1). The most abundant species in the characterized collection of isolates was HAdV-C, which is concordant with existing data for worldwide epidemiology of HAdV respiratory infections. CONCLUSIONS: We identified three species, HAdV-B, -C and -E, among patients with ILI over the course of 7 years in Egypt, with at least eight diverse types circulating

Designing an artefact for sharing and reusing teaching practices in Higher Education institutions : an exploratory study

Knowledge management (KM) is considered as a significant source of success in many organisations, specifically higher education institutions. Instructors generate a considerable amount of valuable teaching-related knowledge that should be identified and shared among communities of instructors to enhance informal learning and deliver better quality teaching. However, many universities are facing difficulties in documenting, sharing and applying the teaching experiences gained by instructors. In the field of KM, a vast amount of research exists focusing on the activities of sharing knowledge, disregarding the importance of knowledge application and reuse. This research aims to close this gap by designing a system enabling instructors to share and apply teaching experiences. Therefore, we have followed a design research approach to explore meta-requirements by conducting an investigative study with instructors who work in Saudi universities. Through our exploratory study, we identified three challenges that might prevent instructors from sharing and reusing knowledge using the current communication channels: lack of access to experts and expertise, lack of structured knowledge, and lack of motivation. To overcome these challenges, a new artefact will be designed based on the resulting meta-requirements to ensure effective sharing and reuse of teaching experiences