Introducing Network-Aware Scheduling Capabilities in OpenStack

This paper motivates and describes the introduction of network-aware scheduling capabilities in OpenStack, the open-source reference framework for creating public and private clouds. This feature represents the key for properly supporting the Network Function Virtualization paradigm, particularly when the physical infrastructure features servers distributed across a geographical region. This paper also describes the modifications required to the compute and network components, Nova and Neutron, and the integration of a network controller into the cloud infrastructure, which is in charge of feeding the network-aware scheduler with the actual network topology

Degradation of Aflatoxin B1 by a Sustainable Enzymatic Extract from Spent Mushroom Substrate of Pleurotus eryngii

Ligninolytic enzymes from white-rot fungi, such as laccase (Lac) and Mn-peroxidase (MnP), are able to degrade aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the most harmful among the known mycotoxins. The high cost of purification of these enzymes has limited their implementation into practical technologies. Every year, tons of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) are produced as a by-product of edible mushroom cultivation, such as Pleurotus spp., and disposed at a cost for farmers. SMS may still bea source of ligninolytic enzymes useful for AFB1 degradation. The in vitro AFB1-degradative activity of an SMS crude extract (SMSE) was investigated. Results show that: (1) in SMSE, high Lac activity (4 U g−1 dry matter) and low MnP activity (0.4 U g−1 dry matter) were present; (2) after 1 d of incubation at 25 °C, the SMSE was able to degrade more than 50% of AFB1, whereas after 3 and 7 d of incubation, the percentage of degradation reached the values of 75% and 90%, respectively; (3) with increasing pH values, the degradation percentage increased, reaching 90% after 3 d at pH 8. Based on these results, SMS proved to be a suitable source of AFB1 degrading enzymes and the use of SMSE to detoxify AFB1 contaminated commodities appears conceivable

On the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896) in southern European coastal waters: Time to turn a threat into a resource?

[EN] The blue crab Callinectes sapidus is native to the coastal waters of the western Atlantic Ocean, and along the US coasts the species supports an important fishery. The crab was introduced to Europe at the beginning of the 20th century. To date, the species is considered invasive and it has been extensively recorded in southern European waters (SEW), where it is starting to penetrate the shellfish market. Here, an integrated management strategy is proposed for the blue crab in SEW, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea and the eastern Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula. Taking as introductory examples two case studies represented by the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus and the green crab Carcinus maenas, a framework of key issues is reviewed, considering the double nature of the species as invaders and shellfish products. A SWOT analysis is eventually presented for C. sapidus, in order to perform a state-of-the-art synthesis of the proposed scenario, highlighting the potential opportunities as well as the weaknesses related with the limited knowledge of the ecological and economic impact of the species in invaded habitats. The review is concluded by an appraisal of the current trends in global and European crustacean fisheries. The ongoing expansion of C. sapidus might represent a useful management case study, where the need to control an invasive species and mitigate its ecological impact can be harmonized with the opportunity to value it as a fishery resource.Funding from FUR 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 to G. M. is acknowledged. The European Fisheries Fund (FEP) Puglia Region (Italy) supported L. C. (CIP 04/OPI/010). The Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) supported F. R. (SFRH/BPD/46761/2008). F. R. and P. C. were also supported by the strategic MARE plan Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (UID/MAR/04292/2013). Constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers on an earlier version of the paper are gratefully acknowledged. This paper is dedicated to Sofia Mancinelli, thy eternal summer shall not fade.Mancinelli, G.; Chainho, P.; Cilenti, L.; Falco, S.; Kapiris, K.; Katselis, G.; Ribeiro, F. (2017). On the Atlantic blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun 1896) in southern European coastal waters: Time to turn a threat into a resource?. Fisheries Research. 194:1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2017.05.002S1819

Doubling the Mechanical Properties of Spider Silk by C60 Supersonic Molecular Beam Epitaxy

Spider silk is one of the most fascinating natural materials, owing to its outstanding mechanical properties. In fact, it is able to combine usually self-excluding properties, like strength and toughness that synthetic fibers fail to replicate. Here, we report a method to further enhance the already excellent mechanical properties of spider's silk, producing nanocomposite fibers where the matrix of spider silk is reinforced with C60 molecules. These are deposited by Supersonic Molecular Beam Epitaxy (SuMBE) and are able to efficiently interact with silk, as evidenced by XPS analysis. As a consequence, upon proper adjustment of the fullerene kinetic energy, the treated fibers show improved strength, Young's modulus and toughness

Use of administrative health databases to estimate incidence and prevalence of acromegaly in Piedmont Region, Italy

Recent studies from national registries have described changing patterns in epidemiology of acromegaly. Our retrospective study used administrative databases to estimate prevalence and incidence of acromegaly in the Piedmont Region, Italy

Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XXII. Achilles tendon involvement in spondyloarthritis. A multi-centre study using high frequency volumetric probe

Three-dimensional (3D) US is a new sonographic modality which represents a promising tool in the assessment of joint and periarticular tissues abnormalities in rheumatic diseases. The available literature has recently underlined its advantages mainly related to the virtual operator independence due to image acquisition of infinite 3D data sets obtained by transducer automated sweeping. Shortening of the US examination time represents another notable advantage over conventional two-dimensional (2D) US. The aim of the present study was to investigate the validity of 3D US in assessing Achilles tendon enthesitis by comparing it with 2D US. US examinations were performed by using a Logiq 9 (General Electrics Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) equipment with a high-frequency (8-15 MHz) volumetric probe. One hundred and eighty-six Achilles tendon enthesis of 93 SpA patients were examined. The analysis of each basic US finding demonstrated from good to excellent agreement rates between 3D and 2D US, both in dichotomous assessment of sonographic lesions and in the use of semi-quantitative grading. Excellent agreement between the two modalities was demonstrated in the assessment of both inflammatory changes and structural lesions. Our study for the first time demonstrated that 3D US is a valid imaging modality for the assessment of Achilles tendon enthesitis

Automated End to End Carrier Ethernet Provisioning over a Disaggregated WDM Metro Network with a Hierarchical SDN Control and Monitoring Platform

This demo shows how a hierarchical control plane of ONOS SDN controllers orchestrates the dynamic provisioning of end-to-end Carrier Ethernet circuits on a composite network, programming the whole data path from the CPE to the core optical equipment

Serum Oxytocin, Cortisol and Social Behavior in Calves: A Study in the Impossible Task Paradigm

In this study, we explored the correlations between circulating levels of oxytocin, cortisol, and different social behaviors toward humans in 26 Italian Red Pied calves (all females, with an average age of 174 ± 24 days) using the impossible task paradigm. This paradigm has proved fruitful in highlighting the effect of socialization on the willingness to interact with humans in several domesticated species. The test consists of the violation of an expectation (recovering food from an experimental apparatus) while a caregiver and a stranger are present. Immediately after the end of the test (less than one minute), blood was collected from the coccygeal vein. Statistics were performed by the Spearman’s rank correlation; significant differences were adjusted according to Bonferroni’s correction. Cortisol correlates positively (ρ = 0.565; p < 0.05) with the latency of behaviors directed at the caregiver, and the duration of behaviors directed at the apparatus correlates negatively with both the caregiver (ρ = −0.654; p < 0.05) and a stranger (ρ = −0.644; p < 0.05). Contrary to what is reported in the literature on cows, no correlations were found between oxytocin levels and direct behaviors toward the caregiver. This highlights a different behavioral strategy between calves and cows when placed in front of an impossible task