Control Plane Compression

We develop an algorithm capable of compressing large networks into a smaller ones with similar control plane behavior: For every stable routing solution in the large, original network, there exists a corresponding solution in the compressed network, and vice versa. Our compression algorithm preserves a wide variety of network properties including reachability, loop freedom, and path length. Consequently, operators may speed up network analysis, based on simulation, emulation, or verification, by analyzing only the compressed network. Our approach is based on a new theory of control plane equivalence. We implement these ideas in a tool called Bonsai and apply it to real and synthetic networks. Bonsai can shrink real networks by over a factor of 5 and speed up analysis by several orders of magnitude.Comment: Extended version of the paper appearing in ACM SIGCOMM 201

Antigestagens Mediate the Expression of Decidualization Markers, Extracellular Matrix Factors and Connexin 43 in Decidualized Dog Uterine Stromal (DUS) Cells

Feto-maternal communication in the dog involves the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells. As the only placental cells expressing the nuclear progesterone (P4) receptor (PGR), decidual cells play crucial roles in the maintenance and termination of pregnancy. Accordingly, to investigate possible PGR-mediated mechanisms in canine decidual cells, in vitro decidualized dog uterine stromal (DUS) cells were treated with functional PGR-blockers, mifepristone and aglepristone. Effects on decidualization markers, epithelial and mesenchymal factors, and markers of cellular viability were assessed. Decidualization increased the expression of PTGES, PGR, IGF1, and PRLR, along with ECM1, COL4 and CX43, but downregulated IGF2. DUS cells retained their mesenchymal character, and the expression of COL4 indicated the mesenchymal-epithelial transformation. Antigestagen treatment decreased the availability of PTGES, PRLR, IGF1 and PGR. Furthermore, antigestagens decreased the mRNA and protein expression of CX43, and transcriptional levels of ECM1 and COL4. Additionally, antigestagens increased levels of activated-CASP3 (a proapoptotic factor), associated with lowered levels of PCNA (a proliferation marker). These data reveal important aspects of the functional involvement of PGR in canine decidual cells, regarding the expression of decidualization markers and acquisition of epithelial-like characteristics. Some of these mechanisms may be crucial for the maintenance and/or termination of canine pregnancy

Transcriptomic profiling of canine decidualization and effects of antigestagens on decidualized dog uterine stromal cells

Maternal-stroma derived decidual cells, the only cell population in the canine placenta expressing the nuclear progesterone (P4) receptor (PGR), are crucial for the maintenance of canine pregnancy. Decreased circulating progesterone (P4) levels, or blockage of PGR function with antigestagens, terminate canine pregnancy. As an in vitro model for canine decidualization, dog uterine stromal (DUS) cells can be decidualized in vitro with cAMP. The antigestagens aglepristone and mifepristone ablate the expression of decidualization markers in DUS cells (e.g., PGR, PRLR, IGF1 or PTGES). Here, the transcriptome profile of DUS cells was investigated to acquire deeper insights into decidualization-associated changes. Additionally, effects mediated by antigestagens (competitive PGR blockers) in decidualized cells were assessed. Decidualization led to the upregulation of 1841 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, P and FDR < 0.01) involved in cellular proliferation and adhesion, mesenchymal-epithelial transition, extracellular matrix organization, and vaso- and immunomodulation. The 1475 DEGs downregulated after decidualization were mostly associated with apoptosis and cell migration. In decidualized DUS cells, aglepristone modulated 1400 DEGs and mifepristone 1558 DEGs. Interestingly, around half of the identified DEGs were modulated by only one of the antigestagens. In all cases, however, PGR-blockage was mainly associated with an inversion of several decidualization-induced effects. Comparison between antigestagen-mediated effects and transcriptional changes in the canine placenta at term allowed the identification of 191 DEGs associated with diminished cell proliferation and adhesion, and vascular and immune modulation. This study emphasizes the importance of P4/PGR signaling for decidual cell function, providing new insights into the maintenance of canine pregnancy

CherryPick: Tracing Packet Trajectory in Software-defined Datacenter Networks

SDN-enabled datacenter network management and debugging can benefit by the ability to trace packet trajectories. For ex-ample, such a functionality allows measuring traffic matrix, de-tecting traffic anomalies, localizing network faults, etc. Exist-ing techniques for tracing packet trajectories require either large data collection overhead or large amount of data plane resources such as switch flow rules and packet header space. We present CherryPick, a scalable, yet simple technique for tracing packet trajectories. The core idea of our technique is to cherry-pick the links that are key to representing an end-to-end path of a packet, and to embed them into its header on its way to destination. Pre-liminary evaluation on a fat-tree topology shows that CherryPick requires minimal switch flow rules, while using header space close to state-of-the-art techniques

Delayed Effect of Dendritic Cells Vaccination on Survival in Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background: Dendritic cell vaccination (DCV) strategies, thanks to a complex immune response, may flare tumor regression and improve patients’ long‐term survival. This meta‐analysis aims to assess the efficacy of DCV for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in clinical trials. Meth-ods: The study databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane, were searched by two blinded investigators considering eligible studies based on the following keywords: “glioblastoma multiforme”, “dendritic cell”, “vaccination”, “immunother-apy”, “immune system”, “immune response”, “chemotherapy”, “recurrence”, and “te-mozolomide”. Among the 157 screened, only 15 articles were eligible for the final analysis. Results: Regimens including DCV showed no effect on 6‐month progression‐free survival (PFS, HR = 1.385, 95% CI: 0.822–2.335, p = 0.673) or on 6‐month overall survival (OS, HR = 1.408, 95% CI: 0.882–2.248, p = 0.754). In contrast, DCV led to significantly longer 1‐year OS (HR = 1.936, 95% CI: 1.396–2.85, p = 0.001) and longer 2‐year OS (HR = 3.670, 95% CI: 2.291–5.879, p = 0.001) versus control groups. Hence, introducing DCV could lead to increased 1 and 2‐year survival of patients by 1.9 and 3.6 times, respectively. Conclusion: Antitumor regimens including DCV can effectively improve mid-term survival in patients suffering glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but its impact emerges only after one year from vaccination. These data indicate the need for more time to achieve an anti‐GBM immune response and suggest additional therapeutics, such as checkpoint inhibitors, to empower an earlier DCV action in patients affected by a very poor prognosis

Long-term organic carbon preservation enhanced by iron and manganese.

The balance between degradation and preservation of sedimentary organic carbon (OC) is important for global carbon and oxygen cycles1. The relative importance of different mechanisms and environmental conditions contributing to marine sedimentary OC preservation, however, remains unclear2-8. Simple organic molecules can be geopolymerized into recalcitrant forms by means of the Maillard reaction5, although reaction kinetics at marine sedimentary temperatures are thought to be slow9,10. More recent work in terrestrial systems suggests that the reaction can be catalysed by manganese minerals11-13, but the potential for the promotion of geopolymerized OC formation at marine sedimentary temperatures is uncertain. Here we present incubation experiments and find that iron and manganese ions and minerals abiotically catalyse the Maillard reaction by up to two orders of magnitude at temperatures relevant to continental margins where most preservation occurs4. Furthermore, the chemical signature of the reaction products closely resembles dissolved and total OC found in continental margin sediments globally. With the aid of a pore-water model14, we estimate that iron- and manganese-catalysed transformation of simple organic molecules into complex macromolecules might generate on the order of approximately 4.1 Tg C yr-1 for preservation in marine sediments. In the context of perhaps only about 63 Tg C yr-1 variation in sedimentary organic preservation over the past 300 million years6, we propose that variable iron and manganese inputs to the ocean could exert a substantial but hitherto unexplored impact on global OC preservation over geological time

Analysis of Association between IL-17 gene rs2275913 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B disease is one of the main causes of inflammation and liver damage that can lead to chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Single nucleotide polymorphism in the cytokines gene can affect the host immune response. Interleukin 17 produced by Thelper17 cells has been shown to play a role in immune function in infectious and inflammatory diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the association between polymorphism in IL-17 gene (rs2275913) and chronic hepatitis B infection. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 130 chronic patients as a case group and 130 healthy individuals as control. Patients with positive result of ELISA test for HBsAg and Anti-HBc Ab and control subjects with negative result of this test were enrolled. PCR-RFLP was used to genotype extracted DNA from blood samples. FINDINGS: The genotype frequencies of rs2275913 did not show significant difference between patients and control groups. Distribution of genotypes inpatients were, 40.8% GG, 41.5% AG, 17.7% AA and in control group were, 42.3% GG, 45.4% AG, 12.3% GG (p=0.469). CONCLUSION: The results of study showed no relation between IL-17 gene polymorphism rs2275913 and chronic HBV