Engineering a QoS Provider Mechanism for Edge Computing with Deep Reinforcement Learning

With the development of new system solutions that integrate traditional cloud computing with the edge/fog computing paradigm, dynamic optimization of service execution has become a challenge due to the edge computing resources being more distributed and dynamic. How to optimize the execution to provide Quality of Service (QoS) in edge computing depends on both the system architecture and the resource allocation algorithms in place. We design and develop a QoS provider mechanism, as an integral component of a fog-to-cloud system, to work in dynamic scenarios by using deep reinforcement learning. We choose reinforcement learning since it is particularly well suited for solving problems in dynamic and adaptive environments where the decision process needs to be frequently updated. We specifically use a Deep Q-learning algorithm that optimizes QoS by identifying and blocking devices that potentially cause service disruption due to dynamicity. We compare the reinforcement learning based solution with state-of-the-art heuristics that use telemetry data, and analyze pros and cons

IIRSA en UNASUR: su impacto en Bolivia y el NOA

El presente Proyecto de investigación surge a partir de cuatro ejes temáticos de análisis: los Recursos Naturales – agua en particular-, la región geográfica comprendida entre el NOA y el Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia, el contexto de integración MERCOSUR y la Iniciativa para la Integración en Infraestructura Regional Sudamericana en el marco de la UNASUR. Así, se pretende comprender los impactos que conlleva la consolidación de UNASUR, particularmente en torno a la utilización de sus recursos naturales estratégicos.A partir del análisis y balance efectuado en una primera etapa del presente Proyecto de Investigación, nos propusimos vincular la situación de los recursos naturales y los proyectos políticos derivados durante el período previo a la aparición de la UNASUR y el IIRSA (Iniciativa para la Integración de la Infraestructura Regional Suramericana) tanto en el NOA (con eje en la Provincia de Tucumán) como en Bolivia.De esta manera, buscamos analizar la evolución de los proyectos integración física, económica e institucional previstos para el NOA-Tucumán y Bolivia y el impacto del desarrollo de la UNASUR, que incorpora a IIRSA inserto en COSIPLAN-UNASUR como herramienta posible de transformación socioeconómica y comercial.Los recursos naturales, la integración, la cooperación y el conflicto, analizados en perspectiva histórica y como un proceso de construcción-deconstrucción y síntesis, nos permiten comprender el devenir de la organización de estructuras comunes y unificadas de decisión en la región, como opciones concretas para avanzar en el progreso social y desarrollo de las sociedades latinoamericanas.Debemos remarcar que la región sudamericana ha mostrado tener una historia de construcción desde 1960 de diversos caminos de integración a partir de coyunturas particulares en cada caso. Desde los 90’ estas iniciativas han estado enmarcadas por los desafíos y las oportunidades surgidas dentro de la lógica de globalización, predominio del mercado y el Banco Mundial, como elementos financiadores del desarrollo económico y social. Por último, las claves para comprender los comienzos del tercer milenio son los vínculos y los dilemas entre los procesos OMC/BM, ALCA y MERCOSUR.This research project arises from four thematic areas of analysis: Natural Resources - water in particular, the geographical region between the NOA and the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the context of integration MERCOSUR and the Initiative for Integration South American Regional Infrastructurein the framework of the UNASUR. It seeks to understand the impacts of consolidatingUNASUR particularly around the use of its strategic natural resources.Using as a starting point the analysis completed in the first stage of this Project, we´ve decidedto connect the status of the natural resources and the by-products of political projects that wereinitiated before the creation of UNASUR and IIRSA (Initiative for the Integration of the SouthamericanRegional Infraestructure, according to its Spanish abbreviation) as in the North- WesternArgentinean Region (NOA; concentrating in the province of Tucumán) as in BoliviaIn this way, we seek to analyze the evolution of the physical, economic and institutional integrationplanned for the NOA-Tucumán and Bolivia and the impact of the development of UNASURintroducing IIRSA inserted in COSIPLAN-UNASUR as a potential marketing tool for socio-economictransformation and projects.Natural resources, integration, cooperation and conflict, analyzed in historical perspective andas a process of construction-deconstruction and synthesis, it helps us understand the evolution ofthe organization of joint decision-making structures and unified in the region as concrete optionsadvance social progress and development of Latin American societies.We would like to put an emphasis on the fact that the south-american region since 1960´s isknown to have a history of construction of different paths for integration, originating in the particularcircumstances of each case. Since the 90´s this initiatives have been framed by the challengesand opportunities that have materialized with globalization, the predominance of market and theWorld Bank as financial elements of economic and social development. Before finishing, the keysto understand the beginnings of the third millennia are the relations and the dilemmas between theprocess of WTO/WB, FTAA and MERCOSUR

Towards a Cognitive Compute Continuum: An Architecture for Ad-Hoc Self-Managed Swarms

In this paper we introduce our vision of a Cognitive Computing Continuum to address the changing IT service provisioning towards a distributed, opportunistic, self-managed collaboration between heterogeneous devices outside the traditional data center boundaries. The focal point of this continuum are cognitive devices, which have to make decisions autonomously using their on-board computation and storage capacity based on information sensed from their environment. Such devices are moving and cannot rely on fixed infrastructure elements, but instead realise on-the-fly networking and thus frequently join and leave temporal swarms. All this creates novel demands for the underlying architecture and resource management, which must bridge the gap from edge to cloud environments, while keeping the QoS parameters within required boundaries. The paper presents an initial architecture and a resource management framework for the implementation of this type of IT service provisioning.Comment: 8 pages, CCGrid 2021 Cloud2Things Worksho

Implant treatment in patients with osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is very common, particularly in post-menopausal women and is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and strength. Osteoporosis also affects the jawbone and it is considered a potential contraindication to placement of dental implants. The present paper reviews the literature regarding the effect of osteoporosis on osseointegration of implants. Experimental models have shown that osteoporosis affects the process of osseointegration, which can be reversed by treatment. However, studies in subjects with osteoporosis have shown no differences in survival of the implants compared to healthy individuals. Therefore, osteoporosis cannot be considered a contraindication for implant placement. Oral bisphosphonates are the most commonly used pharmacological agents in the treatment of osteoporosis. Although there have been cases of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients treated with bisphosphonates, they are very rare and it is more usually associated with intravenous bisphosphonates in patients with neoplasms or other serious diseases. Nevertheless, patients treated with bisphosphonates must be informed in writing about the possibility of this complication and must give informed consent. Ceasing to use bisphosphonates before implant placement does not seem to be necessary

TANGO: Transparent heterogeneous hardware Architecture deployment for eNergy Gain in Operation

The paper is concerned with the issue of how software systems actually use Heterogeneous Parallel Architectures (HPAs), with the goal of optimizing power consumption on these resources. It argues the need for novel methods and tools to support software developers aiming to optimise power consumption resulting from designing, developing, deploying and running software on HPAs, while maintaining other quality aspects of software to adequate and agreed levels. To do so, a reference architecture to support energy efficiency at application construction, deployment, and operation is discussed, as well as its implementation and evaluation plans.Comment: Part of the Program Transformation for Programmability in Heterogeneous Architectures (PROHA) workshop, Barcelona, Spain, 12th March 2016, 7 pages, LaTeX, 3 PNG figure

Parental Socialization, School Adjustment and Cyber-Aggression among Adolescents

The objective of the present study is to analyse the relationships between parental socialization styles—indulgent, authoritarian, authoritative and negligent, school adjustment (social integration, academic competence and family involvement) and cyber-aggression (direct and indirect) in adolescents. Participating in this study were 1304 Spanish students of both sexes (53.1% girls), aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 13.87, SD = 1.33). Multivariate analyses of variance were performed. The results showed significant relationships between parental socialization styles, school adjustment and cyber-aggression. It was observed that adolescents from indulgent and authoritative families showed greater academic competence and greater family involvement. Additionally, the children from authoritarian families displayed greater involvement in direct and indirect cyber-aggression behaviours. The results obtained and their implications are discussed in the final section

Proyectos IIRSA COSIPLAN vigentes, la interconexión de cuencas y la realidad de las cuencas transfronterizas sudamericanas

From the previous project “IIRSA in UNASUR: its impact in Bolivia and NOA”, it was observed how the IIRSA (South American Infrastructure Initiative) / COSIPLAN (UNASUR Infrastructure and Planning Commission) proposed to vertebrate the region. Hence we observed the interaction implications that arise from these institutional structures parallel to the orientation of the main river courses in the area, particularly the Del Plata Basin and tributaries of the Amazon, consolidating the interest in one of the greatest natural wealth in South America, the water in its rivers and aquifers, particularly in its shared dimension which generates international interaction. The current project, always in a systemic international context of crisis, analyzes these results raised by a prolonged financial mismatch, natural disasters resulting from the abusive use of resources, and a serious energy crisis implicit in the current productive and extractive model. From this critical context, the new dynamic factors such as the growing role of IIRSA-COSIPLAN and the intensification of Chinese investments must be observed from the strategic axes selected: Water Resources; Watersheds and Projects; Energy and Climate Change. The objective was to understand and relay data on water as a natural resource and South American perceptions regarding its use and exploitation, determining the plans, challenges and opportunities arising from the MERCOSUR - UNASUR - IIRSA / COSIPLAN link and The impact of Chinese investments in the South American Transboundary Basins, analyzing the Brazilian Case (participation in Amazonas, del Plata, Madeira and Guaraní Aquifer), and the Andean and Orinoco Regions As a step forward, we can highlight the impact of the soya in the flow of Amazonian rivers and the installation of agro-industries in the Pantanal (Matto Grosso Del Sur) areas; The opportunities of the MERCOSUR-UNASUR link, through the vision of commercial Logistics for the Forestry activity in the Trinational Basin Acre Alto; The Brazil-Peru Interoceanic Route and the start-up of the construction of a waterway in the framework of the Binational Development Plan for the Border Region of the Napo River basin As for the theoretical foundations, as we have already pointed out, we are operating from what we call “realism of the margin of maneuver” or “situated realism” by which is ascribed to the theory of knowledge that values both the phenomenological and the place in which knowledge is produced, in addition to the universal contents of it. Thus, the methods for recording and processing tasks are descriptive-explanatory phenomenology and related theoretical construction.A partir del proyecto anterior “IIRSA en UNASUR: su impacto en Bolivia y el NOA”, pudo observarse como IIRSA (Iniciativa de Infraestructura Sudamericana)/COSIPLAN (Comisión de Infraestructura y Planificación de la UNASUR) se propuso vertebrar la región. Así, observamos las implicancias de la interacción de estas estructuras institucionales en paralelo a la orientación de los principales cursos fluviales del área, particularmente la Cuenca del Plata y los tributarios del Amazonas. Se encuentra consolidado el interés por una de las mayores riquezas naturales sudamericanas: el agua en sus ríos y acuíferos, particularmente desde las interacciones internacionales que se generan. El proyecto actual, siempre en un contexto internacional sistémico de crisis, analiza estos resultados planteados por un prolongado desajuste financiero, desastres naturales consecuentes al uso abusivo de los recursos, y una seria crisis energética implícita en el modelo productivo y extractivo vigente. A partir de este contexto crítico, los nuevos factores dinámicos como el creciente rol del IIRSA- COSIPLAN y el de la intensificación de las inversiones chinas deben ser observados desde los ejes estratégicos seleccionados: Recurso Agua; Cuencas y Proyectos; Energía y Cambio Climático. A partir de ello se propuso como objetivo comprender y relevar los datos respecto al agua como recurso natural y las percepciones sudamericanas en relación a su uso y explotación, determinando los planes, desafíos y oportunidades que surgen del vínculo MERCOSUR – UNASUR – IIRSA/ COSIPLAN y el impacto de las inversiones Chinas en las Cuencas Transfronterizas Sudamericanas analizando el caso Brasil (participación en Amazonas, del Plata, Madeira y Acuífero Guaraní), y las Regiones Andinas y del Orinoco. Como avances, podemos resaltar el impacto sojero en el caudal de los ríos del amazonas y la instalación de agroindustrias en las áreas del pantanal (Matto Grosso Del Sur); las oportunidades del vínculo MERCOSUR-UNASUR, mediante la visión de Logística comercial por la actividad Forestal en Cuenca Trinacional Acre Alto; la Ruta Interoceánica Brasil-Perú y la puesta en marcha de la construcción de una hidrovía en el marco del Plan Binacional de Desarrollo de la Región Fronteriza de la cuenca del Río Napo. En cuanto a los fundamentos teóricos, estamos operando desde lo que llamamos “realismo del margen de maniobra” o “realismo situado”, por el cual se adscribe a la teoría del conocimiento que valoriza tanto lo fenomenológico cuanto el lugar en que se produce el conocimiento, además de su contenidos universales. Así, los métodos para el registro y procesamiento de las tareas son la fenomenología descriptivo-explicativa y la construcción teórica vinculada

Effects of diabetes on the osseointegration of dental implants

The increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus has become a public health problem. Hyperglycaemia entails a rise in the morbidity and mortality of these patients. Although a direct relationship with periodontal disease has already been shown, little is known about the results of dental implants in diabetics. The present paper reviews the bibliography linking the effect of diabetes on the osseointegration of implants and the healing of soft tissue. In experimental models of diabetes, a reduced level of bone-implant contact has been shown, and this can be reversed by means of treatment with insulin. Compared with the general population, a higher failure rate is seen in diabetic patients. Most of these occur during the first year of functional loading, seemingly pointing to the microvascular complications of this condition as a possible causal factor. These complications also compromise the healing of soft tissues. It is necessary to take certain special considerations into account for the placement of implants in diabetic patient. A good control of plasma glycaemia, together with other measures, has been shown to improve the percentages of implant survival in these patients

Antioxidant and anticancer effects and bioavailability studies of the flavonoid baicalin and its oxidovanadium(IV) complex

Based on the known antioxidant effect of flavonoids, baicalin (baic) found in roots of Scutellaria has been selected. Its coordination complex with the oxidovanadium(IV) cation, Na4[VO(baic)2].6H2O (VIVO(baic)), was synthesized at pH 9 in ethanol and characterized by physicochemical methods. Spectrophotometric studies at pH 9 showed a ligand: metal stoichiometry of 2:1. By vibrational spectroscopy a coordination mode through the cis 5-OH and 6-OH deprotonated groups is inferred. EPR spectroscopy shows an environment of four aryloxide (ArO−) groups in the equatorial plane of the V=O moiety, both in solution and in the solid complex. The antioxidant capacity against superoxide and peroxyl radicals of VIVO(baic) resulted greater than for baicalin and correlated with previous results obtained for other VOflavonoid complexes. The coordination mode produces delocalization of the electron density and the stabilization of the radical formed by interaction with external radicals. The complex and the ligand displayed no toxic (Artemia salina test) and no mutagenic (Ames test) effects. The complex improved the ability of the ligand to reduce cell viability of human lung cancer cell lines (A549) generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells, being this effect reversed by pre-incubation of the cells with antioxidants such as vitamins C and E. The addition of NAC (N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a sequestering agent of free radicals) suppresses the anticancer effect, confirming the oxidative stress mechanism. The complex interacted with bovine serum albumin (BSA) with stronger binding than baicalin and the mechanisms involved H bonding and van der Waals interactions.Centro de Química Inorgánic