An efficient innovative method to decrease routing table size in packet switched networks

Appropriate routing for supporting the requirements of various high quality applications emerged in current communication networks is a challenging problem that can lead to improved routing algorithms. Taking into consideration the highly distributed character of networks, numerous multi-agent based algorithms, and particularly ant colony based algorithms, have been proposed in recent years. However, considering the need for decreasing overhead and increasing the scalability of these algorithms remains an elusive challenge. Our goal here is to reduce the overhead and the process complexity in nodes by decreasing the size of routing tables of network nodes in an innovative manner. More specifically, data routing tables which are established in the AntNet algorithm and keep the information of all destination nodes in network convert to tables that only keep the information of popular destinations of network. The resulting algorithm, the ‘‘D-T-SAntNet,’’ is then simulated via Omnet++ onUUNET network topology. The network performance is evaluated under various node-failure and node added conditions. Statistical analysis of results confirms that the new method can significantly reduce the average packet delivery time and rate of convergence to the optimal route when compared with standard AntNet

Environmental CSR, Customer Equity Drivers, and Travelers’ Critical Outcomes: A Stimulus–Organism–Response Framework

While environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained increased attention in sustainable tourism research, little is known about its impacts on customers in the context of the airlines. This study investigates the impact of environmental CSR on two critical customer outcomes, namely, purchase intention (PI) and switching behavior (SB). In light of the stimulus–organism–response (S-O-R) framework, this study further examines the joint mediating impact of customer equity drivers (CEDs) in the previously mentioned relationships. With a sample of Iranian air travelers, the results of the structural equation model revealed that environmental CSR significantly affects CEDs. While CEDs predict PI, they failed to reduce SB. Hence, CEDs jointly mediate the impact of environmental CSR on PI only. The results of the current study reveal nuances in the service marketing research by extending the impact of environmental CSR on travelers’ PI and SB via CEDs. Theoretical and practical implications are provided

Preclinical models of myocardial infarction: from mechanism to translation

Approximately 7 million people are affected by acute myocardial infarction (MI) each year, and despite significant therapeutic and diagnostic advancements, MI remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Pre-clinical animal models have significantly advanced our understanding of MI and enable the development of therapeutic strategies to combat this debilitating disease. Notably, some drugs currently used to treat MI and heart failure (HF) in patients had initially been studied in pre-clinical animal models. Despite this, pre-clinical models are limited in their ability to fully recapitulate the complexity of MI in humans. The pre-clinical model must be carefully selected to maximise the translational potential of experimental findings. This review describes current experimental models of MI and considers how they have been used to understand drug mechanisms of action (MOA) and support translational medicine development

Investigating the effect of cathepsin K inhibition on cardiac function following cardiac ischaemia-reperfusion injury

Abstract not currently available

Determining the source and mechanism of river salinity: An integrated regional study

Study region: Zohreh River Basin, Southwest Iran Study focus: The salinity of Zohreh River sharply increases in three salinity zones (SZs) along the river named SZ1, SZ2 (the focus of this study), and SZ3. Determining the salinity sources and salinization mechanism using an integrated approach including geological, hydrochemical, isotopic, geophysical, river sinuosity and hydrocarbon analysis are the main objectives of this study. The study focuses on the combination of evidence of regional-scale (i.e., river sinuosity and seismic data) and small-scale (i.e., drilling core analysis). New hydrologic insights for the region: Among several known sources of river salinity, it was found that the water quality of the Zohreh River is mainly threatened by the salt-bearing Gachsaran Formation and oil-field brine. It is concluded that halite brine and oil-field brine simultaneously cause the salinization in SZ2, and their contributions were delineated to be 95% and 5%, respectively. The lack of reliable geological evidence to support halite dissolution in surficial layers by circulating waters suggests the possibility of a deep source of halite brine in SZ2. The results revealed that deep halite brine of the salt layers of Gachsaran Formation is mainly responsible for the salinization of SZ2. The mechanism of deep brine penetration to the river through the hidden fault failures detected by the combination of river sinuosity analysis and geophysical data for the first time

Design of QFT controller for a bench-top helicopter

Abstract: Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) technique is a robust control design based on frequency domain methodology. It is useful for practical design of feedback system in ensuring plant's stability by reducing the sensitivity to parameter variation and attenuate the effect of disturbances. Parameter variation or physical changes to the plant is taken into account in the QFT controller's design. This paper will discuss on QFT control design methodology and will work on a case study; laboratory scale plant of a bench-top helicopter. The bench-top helicopter is very difficult to control due to its non-linear behavior and subject to parameter variation. By using QFT controller, a full operational envelop design is achieved according to pre-defined specifications. The proposed method is compared with the conventional PI controller. The obtained simulation results show QFT controller is more efficient and robust than the PI controller

Signalling pathways linking cysteine cathepsins to adverse cardiac remodelling

Adverse cardiac remodelling clinically manifests as deleterious changes to heart architecture (size, mass and geometry) and function. These changes, which include alterations to ventricular wall thickness, chamber dilation and poor contractility, are important because they progressively drive patients with cardiac disease towards heart failure and are associated with poor prognosis. Cysteine cathepsins contribute to key signalling pathways involved in adverse cardiac remodelling including synthesis and degradation of the cardiac extracellular matrix (ECM), cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, impaired cardiomyocyte contractility and apoptosis. In this review, we highlight the role of cathepsins in these signalling pathways as well as their translational potential as therapeutic targets in cardiac disease

Design of QFT controller for a bench-top helicopter system model

Quantitative Feedback Theory (QFT) technique is a robust control design based on frequency domain methodology. It is useful for practical design of feedback system in ensuring plant’s stability by reducing the sensitivity to parameter variation and attenuate the effect of disturbances. Parameter variation or physical changes to the plant is taken into account in the QFT controller’s design. This paper will discuss on QFT control design methodology and will work on a case study; laboratory scale plant of a bench-top helicopter. The bench-top helicopter is very difficult to control due to its non-linear behavior and subject to parameter variation. By using QFT controller, a full operational envelop design is achieved according to pre-defined specifications. The proposed method is compared with the conventional PI controller. The obtained simulation results show QFT controller is more efficient and robust than the PI controller

The Protective Effects of Sesamin against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity through Modulation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory-Cytokines and Apoptosis in Rats

Cyclophosphamide is an anticancer drug with a wide spectrum of clinical uses, but its typical side effects are multiple complications, including nephron toxicity. The possible molecular mechanism of the nephroprotective action of sesamin (SM) against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced renal toxicity was investigated in rats by understanding oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines. In this study, rats were arbitrarily grouped into the following four groups: a normal control group (CNT); a CP-induced toxicity group; a treatment group with two doses of sesamin SM10 and SM20; a group with sesamin (SM20) alone. A single dose of CP (150 mg/kg body, i.p.) was administered on day 4 of the experiments, while treatment with SM was given orally for seven days from day 1. The group treated with SM showed a significant protective effect against CP-induced renal damage in rats. Treatment with SM significantly increased the antioxidant enzymes (GSH, CAT, and SOD) and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Thus, SM significantly overcame the elevated kidney function markers (creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and uric acid) by attenuating oxidative stress. The SM also significantly reduced the elevated cytokines (IL-1β and TNFα) and caspase-3 in the treated group. Histopathological studies confirmed the protective effect of sesamin (SM) on CP-induced nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, the current findings support the nephroprotective effect of sesamin against CP-induced renal injury

Inhibition of myocardial cathepsin-L release during reperfusion following myocardial infarction improves cardiac function and reduces infarct size

Aims: Identifying novel mediators of lethal myocardial reperfusion injury that can be targeted during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is key to limiting the progression of patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) to heart failure. Here we show through parallel clinical and integrative preclinical studies the significance of the protease cathepsin-L on cardiac function during reperfusion injury. Methods and Results: We found that direct cardiac release of cathepsin-L in STEMI patients (n = 76) immediately post-PPCI leads to elevated serum cathepsin-L levels and that serum levels of cathepsin-L in the first 24 hour post-reperfusion are associated with reduced cardiac contractile function and increased infarct size. Preclinical studies, demonstrate that inhibition of cathepsin-L release following reperfusion injury with CAA0225 reduces infarct size and improves cardiac contractile function by limiting abnormal cardiomyocyte calcium handling and apoptosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that cathepsin-L is a novel therapeutic target that could be exploited clinically to counteract the deleterious effects of acute reperfusion injury after an acute STEMI. Translational perspective: New therapeutic targets are urgently required to limit myocardial damage after reperfusion injury. We identified cardiac release of the protease cathepsin-L among patients following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Elevated serum levels of cathepsin-L were associated with reduced contractile function and increased infarct size at 24 hour and 6 months post-PPCI. Work conducted using animal models indicated that cardiac release of cathepsin-L mediated cardiac dysfunction following reperfusion injury. Specific inhibition of cathepsin-L prevented abnormal calcium handling, reduced infarct size and improved contractile function. These novel findings offer the prospect of targeting cathepsin-L-mediated cardiac dysfunction after PPCI