Accurate OD Traffic Matrix Estimation Based on Resampling of Observed Flow Data

It is important to observe the statistical characteristics of global flows, which are defined as series of packets between networks, for the management and operation of the Internet. However, because the Internet is a diverse and large-scale system organized by multiple distributed authorities, it is not practical (sometimes impossible) to directly measure the precise statistical characteristics of global flows. In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the traffic rate of every unobservable global flow between corresponding origin-destination (OD) pair (hereafter referred to as “individual-flows”) based on the measured data of aggregated traffic rates of individual flows (hereafter referred to as “aggregated-flows”), which can be easily measured at certain links (e.g., router interfaces) in a network. In order to solve the OD traffic matrix estimation problem, the prior method uses an inverse function mapping from the probability distributions of the traffic rate of aggregated-flows to those of individual-flows. However, because this inverse function method is executed recursively, the accuracy of estimation is heavily affected by the initial values of recursion and variation of the measurement data. In order to solve this issue and improve estimation accuracy, we propose a method based on a resampling of measurement data to obtain a set of solution candidates for OD traffic matrix estimation. The results of performance evaluations using a real traffic trace demonstrate that the proposed method achieves better estimation accuracy than the prior method.Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference 2018 (APSIPA ASC 2018), 12-15 November 2018, Honolulu, Hawaii, US

Microplastics in Mediterranean coastal area: toxicity and impact for the environment and human health

The so-called marine litter, and in particular microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), are ubiquitously distributed and recognised as an emerging risk for the environment and human health. It is known that marine environments are one of the most impacted areas and among them; coastal zones are the most contaminated ones. They are subjected to population pressure, tourism, harbours, desalination plants, marine traffic and fish farms. This review is focused on the Mediterranean Sea, currently considered one hot spot of microplastics pollution in the world, as a consequence of the high number of plastic marine litter generating activities and its characteristic morphology of semi-enclosed sea. MPs and NPs have been detected not only in surface water and water columns but also in sediments, deep seafloor, and biota including fish and seafood for human consumption. Because of this, different European legislation initiatives have been launched during the last years in order to prevent MPs and NPs contamination and to face derived problems. Finally, this review summarises the main problems and shortcomings associated to MPs and NPs analyses such as their identification and quantification or the necessity of standardised protocols.Postprin

2015 update of the evidence base:World Allergy Organization anaphylaxis guidelines

The World Allergy Organization (WAO) Guidelines for the assessment and management of anaphylaxis provide a unique global perspective on this increasingly common, potentially life-threatening disease. Recommendations made in the original WAO Anaphylaxis Guidelines remain clinically valid and relevant, and are a widely accessed and frequently cited resource. In this 2015 update of the evidence supporting recommendations in the Guidelines, new information based on anaphylaxis publications from January 2014 through mid- 2015 is summarized. Advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, and management in healthcare and community settings are highlighted. Additionally, new information about patient factors that increase the risk of severe and/or fatal anaphylaxis and patient co-factors that amplify anaphylactic episodes is presented and new information about anaphylaxis triggers and confirmation of triggers to facilitate specific trigger avoidance and immunomodulation is reviewed. The update includes tables summarizing important advances in anaphylaxis research. Keywords: Anaphylaxis, Epinephrine, Auto-injector, Food allergy, Stinging insect venom allergy, Drug allergy, Latex allergy, Exercise-induced anaphylaxis, Systemic allergic reaction, Adrenalin

Indicators for measuring the contributions of individual knowledge brokers

An increasing number of knowledge brokers work at the interface between research, policy and practice. Their function is to facilitate processes to foster mutual learning among research, policy and practice. For some knowledge brokers, practical methodologies to assess the quality of their work is an important concern. While frameworks exist for assessing research impact at the level of a project or program, few are available for assessing contributions of individual knowledge brokers. In response to this, we have compiled a set of indicators to measure the quantity and quality of the contributions of individual knowledge brokers to projects, programs or platforms at the interface between research, policy and practice. The set is based on a review of the literature and the experience of a group of knowledge brokers active in water research and management in Switzerland, including the co-authors of this article. The set can be used by knowledge brokers to identify ways to improve the effectiveness of their practices and to demonstrate the benefit of their work to their employers and other stakeholders. Our approach is flexible enough that it can be applied where there are limited resources available for assessment

Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Budaya Suku Atoin Meto Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan

Riset ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pelaksanaan pendidikan karakter berbasis kearifan budaya atoin meto di Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan. metode yang dipakai dalam riset ini adalah metode penelitian kuantitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Subjek penelitian terdiri dari tokoh masyarakat, kepala sekolah, guru, dan siswa. Maka hasil penelitian yang diperolah saat melakukan penelitian yakni: 1).Pendidikan karakter meliputi penerapan delapan belas nilai-nilai pendidikan karakter di sekolah dan disinkronkan dengan nilai-nilai budaya lokal sebagai tindakan untuk melestarikan budaya agar generasi penerus dapat melestarikan sehingga jangan punah karena penyalahgunaan teknologi, 2). Kearifan budaya atoin meto di Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan meliputi suku mollo, suku amanatun, suku amanuban serta sarang budaya. Dari ketiga suku memiliki banyak kearifan, nilai-nilai luhur yang mempunyai makna yang kha

Accurate OD Traffic Matrix Estimation Based on Resampling of Observed Flow Data

It is important to observe the statistical characteristics of global flows, which are defined as series of packets between networks, for the management and operation of the Internet. However, because the Internet is a diverse and large-scale system organized by multiple distributed authorities, it is not practical (sometimes impossible) to directly measure the precise statistical characteristics of global flows. In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the traffic rate of every unobservable global flow between corresponding origin-destination (OD) pair (hereafter referred to as “individual-flows”) based on the measured data of aggregated traffic rates of individual flows (hereafter referred to as “aggregated-flows”), which can be easily measured at certain links (e.g., router interfaces) in a network. In order to solve the OD traffic matrix estimation problem, the prior method uses an inverse function mapping from the probability distributions of the traffic rate of aggregated-flows to those of individual-flows. However, because this inverse function method is executed recursively, the accuracy of estimation is heavily affected by the initial values of recursion and variation of the measurement data. In order to solve this issue and improve estimation accuracy, we propose a method based on a resampling of measurement data to obtain a set of solution candidates for OD traffic matrix estimation. The results of performance evaluations using a real traffic trace demonstrate that the proposed method achieves better estimation accuracy than the prior method.Asia-Pacific Signal and Information Processing Association Annual Summit and Conference 2018 (APSIPA ASC 2018), 12-15 November 2018, Honolulu, Hawaii, US

Monitoring estrogenic activities of waste and surface waters using an in vivo zebrafish embryonic assay: comparison with in vitro cell-based assays and determination of effect-based trigger

Monitoring of environmental estrogens has become a major concern to assess the quality of water bodies. In that respect, the use of in vitro reporter gene assays to monitor estrogenic activity has proven relevant as it enables an integrative and quantitative assessment of ER-active contaminants. However, in vitro cell assays may not necessarily reflect the estrogenic activity observed in vivo in fish, raising the question of the relevance of in vitro measurement of estrogenic activity to predict risk for aquatic species and ecosystems.In this context, our objective was to determine 1) whether estrogenic activity measured in vitro led to an in vivo response in a fish biological model, and 2) on the basis of such an in vitro / in vivo comparison, whether there exists an in vitro threshold value above which an in vivo effect is detected/evidenced. This study reports the use of the zebrafish-based EASZY assay to assess in vivo estrogenic activity of 33 surface (SW) and waste water (WW) samples collected across Europe and that were previously well-characterized for estrogen hormones and in vitro estrogenic activity (Könemann et al., 2018). We showed that 18 out of the 33 SW and WW samples induced estrogenic responses in transgenic zebrafish embryos leading to significant and concentration-dependant dependent up-regulation of the ER-regulated cyp19a1b gene expression in the developing brain. The in vivo 17?-estradiol-equivalents (EEQs) were highly correlated with both the chemical analytical risk quotient (RQ) based on steroidal estrogen concentrations and EEQs reported from 5 different in vitro assays. Based on in vitro vs. in vivo comparison, regression analyses allowed to determine for each in vitro assay an optimal cut-off value which was defined as an effect-based trigger values (EBTs) above which in vivo responses were observed. The definition of these in vitro assay-specific EBTs values allowed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the individual in vitro assays for predicting a risk associated with substances acting through the same mode of action within environmental mixtures. Altogether, this study provides experimental demonstration of the toxicological relevance of in vitro-based assessment of estrogenic activity and recommends the use of such in vitro/in vivo comparative approach to refine and validate EBTs for mechanism-based bioassays

Monitoring estrogenic activities of waste and surface waters using an in vivo zebrafish embryonic assay: comparison with in vitro cell-based assays and determination of effect-based trigger

Monitoring of environmental estrogens has become a major concern to assess the quality of water bodies. In that respect, the use of in vitro reporter gene assays to monitor estrogenic activity has proven relevant as it enables an integrative and quantitative assessment of ER-active contaminants. However, in vitro cell assays may not necessarily reflect the estrogenic activity observed in vivo in fish, raising the question of the relevance of in vitro measurement of estrogenic activity to predict risk for aquatic species and ecosystems.In this context, our objective was to determine 1) whether estrogenic activity measured in vitro led to an in vivo response in a fish biological model, and 2) on the basis of such an in vitro / in vivo comparison, whether there exists an in vitro threshold value above which an in vivo effect is detected/evidenced. This study reports the use of the zebrafish-based EASZY assay to assess in vivo estrogenic activity of 33 surface (SW) and waste water (WW) samples collected across Europe and that were previously well-characterized for estrogen hormones and in vitro estrogenic activity (Könemann et al., 2018). We showed that 18 out of the 33 SW and WW samples induced estrogenic responses in transgenic zebrafish embryos leading to significant and concentration-dependant dependent up-regulation of the ER-regulated cyp19a1b gene expression in the developing brain. The in vivo 17?-estradiol-equivalents (EEQs) were highly correlated with both the chemical analytical risk quotient (RQ) based on steroidal estrogen concentrations and EEQs reported from 5 different in vitro assays. Based on in vitro vs. in vivo comparison, regression analyses allowed to determine for each in vitro assay an optimal cut-off value which was defined as an effect-based trigger values (EBTs) above which in vivo responses were observed. The definition of these in vitro assay-specific EBTs values allowed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the individual in vitro assays for predicting a risk associated with substances acting through the same mode of action within environmental mixtures. Altogether, this study provides experimental demonstration of the toxicological relevance of in vitro-based assessment of estrogenic activity and recommends the use of such in vitro/in vivo comparative approach to refine and validate EBTs for mechanism-based bioassays