Cross-layer Scheduling with Feedback for QoS Support

AbstractNext-Generation Networks (NGNs) will support Quality of Service (QoS) over a mixed wired and wireless IP-based infrastructure. A relative model of service differentiation in Differentiated Services architecture is a scalable solution for delivering multimedia traffic. However, considering the dynamic nature of radio channels typically, it is difficult to achieve a given service provisioning working at the IP and lower layers separately as in the classical approach, without a run-time adaptation of the system towards the target quality. This work describes an IP cross-layer scheduler able to support a Proportional Differentiation Model (PDM) for delay guarantees with content-awareness, also over wireless. The key idea is to leverage feedbacks from the lower layers about the actual delays experienced by packets in order to tune at run-time the priority of the IP service classes in a closed-loop control with the objective of supporting a PDM at the network node on the whole, considering the cumulative latency in crossing the first three layers of the protocol stack, as relevant for the end-user. A simulation analysis demonstrates the prominent improvements in reliability and robustness of the proposal in the case of time-variant performance of the MAC and PHY layers with respect to the classical non-cross-layer approach and the open- loop control. Furthermore, considerations on the required functionality and likely deployment scenarios highlight the scalability and backward compatibility of the designed solution in supporting the concept of network transparency for the delivering of critical applications, as of the e-health domain

svr 24 achievement two weeks after a tripled dose of daclatasvir in an hcv genotype 3 patient

Abstract Directly-acting antivirals (DAA) have changed the chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection therapeutic scenario allowing virus eradication in more than 95% of patients, independently from the genotype, with 12 to 24-week treatment regimens. We describe a 51-year-old Pakistani man with a chronic HCV-genotype 3 (GT3a) infection with moderate liver fibrosis, who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) 24 after a tripled dose of Daclatasvir (DCV) taken erroneously associated to Sofosbuvir (SOF). The patient had a concomitant intestinal TB infection whose treatment had been delayed in order to firstly eradicate HCV to reduce the liver toxicity of anti-mycobacterial drugs. Thanks to the cultural mediator support, we explained to the patient the correct posology of each drug to take during the day consisting of 12 week SOF (400 mg daily) plus DCV (60 mg daily) regimen. He returned 13 days after for a programmed visit and we were surprised to learn that he had taken 3 pills of DCV (180 mg/daily) instead of one, thus ending DCV assumption after only 9 days while SOF was taken correctly. He complained no symptoms. We immediately performed blood test that showed alteration of lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and creatin kinase MB activity. At day 15 we stopped SOF closely monitoring the patient. Blood test alterations returned normal after one week of treatment suspension, HCV viremia remained suppressed after 4, 12 and 24 weeks proving HCV eradication. If confirmed, these data could suggest that higher doses of DCV, if tolerated, might be employed in short-time HCV-GT3 treatment

Ontologies, rules and linked data to support Crisis Managers Training

In a catastrophic event, human behaviour determines the efficacy of crisis management. Timeliness of reactions and exactness of decisions are the most relevant factors. In this context, training plays an important role to prepare Crisis Managers. To re-create crisis scenarios, PANDORA employs a Crisis Planner based on Timeline-based Planning and Scheduling technologies. This Planner creates training storyboards of "events" for the trainees (e.g. news videos, phone calls or e-mails) and "reacts" to trainees\u27 strategic decisions, triggering consequent events to continue the training session. To simulate the scenario, a great effort is required to understand the problem specificity and to model the relevant aspects. Within the PANDORA project, we are building the Crisis Knowledge Base (CKB) collecting and maintaining the "knowledge" about crisis scenarios and training sessions

The Impact of Tuberculosis among Immigrants: Epidemiology and Strategies of Control in High-Income Countries—Current Data and Literature Review

A significant reappearance of tuberculosis (TB) was observed in industrialized countries during the last two decades. This is due to the spread of HIV infection itself and to today\u27s migratory phenomenon as a consequence of wealth disparity, poverty, wars and political persecutions. This proportion is expected to increase and represents an important cause of the overall resurgence of the TB epidemic and drug‐resistant TB in Western Europe and the USA. TB is currently one of the leading causes of death worldwide and a health problem in high‐income countries. Although WHO global TB report 2015 with its “STOP TB” strategy has the goal to eliminate TB as a public health problem by 2050, TB shows no signs of disappearing despite some decline in high‐income countries. In order to intensify the fights against this deadly disease, further efforts should be aimed to improve examination/detection processes to accurately determine all kinds of TB, and how best to enhance TB control through a coordinated medical screening program of migrants for active TB. Migration in itself is not a definitive risk for TB. Stressful living condition, social isolation, poverty, political fear/persecution, and difficulties to access to health care can expose these individuals to the risk of TB infection during and after the migration process. This chapter aims to discuss and highlight all these issues

TeraHz tuning of whispering gallery modes in a PDMS, stand-alone, stretchable microsphere

We report on tuning the optical whispering gallery modes in a poly dimethyl siloxane-based (PDMS) microsphere resonator by more than a THz. The PDMS microsphere system consists of a solid spherical resonator directly formed with double stems on either side. The stems act like tie-rods for simple mechanical stretching of the microresonator over tens of microns, resulting in tuning of the whispering gallery modes by one free spectral range. Further investigations demonstrate that the whispering gallery mode shift has a higher sensitivity (0.13 nm/{\mu}N) to an applied force when the resonator is in its maximally stretched state compared to its relaxed state.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Optics Letter

Nuclear Factor \u3baB-Dependent Neurite Remodeling Is Mediated by Notch Pathway

In this study, we evaluated whether a cross talk between nuclear factor \u3baB (NF-\u3baB) and Notch may take place and contribute to regulate cell morphology and/or neuronal network in primary cortical neurons. We found that lack of p50, either induced acutely by inhibiting p50 nuclear translocation or genetically in p50(-/-) mice, results in cortical neurons characterized by reduced neurite branching, loss of varicosities, and Notch1 signaling hyperactivation. The neuronal morphological effects found in p50(-/-) cortical cells were reversed after treatment with the \u3b3-secretase inhibitor DAPT (N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-1-alanyl 1]-S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester) or Notch RNA interference. Together, these data suggested that morphological abnormalities in p50(-/-) cortical neurons were dependent on Notch pathway hyperactivation, with Notch ligand Jagged1 being a major player in mediating such effect. In this line, we demonstrated that the p50 subunit acts as transcriptional repressor of Jagged1. We also found altered distribution of Notch1 and Jagged1 immunoreactivity in the cortex of p50(-/-) mice compared with wild-type littermates at postnatal day 1. These data suggest the relevance of future studies on the role of Notch/NF-\u3baB cross talk in regulating cortex structural plasticity in physiological and pathological conditions

Cortical Structure Alterations and Social Behavior Impairment in p50-Deficient Mice

Alterations in genes that regulate neurodevelopment can lead to cortical malformations, resulting in malfunction during postnatal life. The NF-κB pathway has a key role during neurodevelopment by regulating the maintenance of the neural progenitor cell pool and inhibiting neuronal differentiation. In this study, we evaluated whether mice lacking the NF-κB p50 subunit (KO) present alterations in cortical structure and associated behavioral impairment. We found that, compared with wild type (WT), KO mice at postnatal day 2 present an increase in radial glial cells, an increase in Reelin protein expression levels, in addition to an increase of specific layer thickness. Moreover, adult KO mice display abnormal columnar organization in the somatosensory cortex, a specific decrease in somatostatin- and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons, altered neurite orientation, and a decrease in Synapsin I protein levels. Concerning behavior, KO mice, in addition to an increase in locomotor and exploratory activity, display impairment in social behaviors, with a reduction in social interaction. Finally, we found that risperidone treatment decreased hyperactivity of KO mice, but had no effect on defective social interaction. Altogether, these data add complexity to a growing body of data, suggesting a link between dysregulation of the NF-κB pathway and neurodevelopmental disorders pathogenesis

Hydroxytyrosol Reduces Foam Cell Formation and Endothelial Inflammation Regulating the PPARγ/LXRα/ABCA1 Pathway.

Cholesterol accumulation in macrophages leads to the formation of foam cells and increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. We have verified whether hydroxytyrosol (HT), a phenolic compound with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can reduce the cholesterol build up in THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells. We have also investigated the potential mechanisms. Oil Red O staining and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assays were utilized to detect cellular lipid accumulation and cholesterol content, respectively, in THP-1 macrophages foam cells treated with HT. The impact of HT on cholesterol metabolism-related molecules (SR-A1, CD36, LOX-1, ABCA1, ABCG1, PPARγ and LRX-α) in foam cells was assessed using real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analyses. Finally, the effect of HT on the adhesion of THP-1 monocytes to human vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was analyzed to study endothelial activation. We found that HT activates the PPARγ/LXRα pathway to upregulate ABCA1 expression, reducing cholesterol accumulation in foam cells. Moreover, HT significantly inhibited monocyte adhesion and reduced the levels of adhesion factors (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) in LPS-induced endothelial cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that HT, with its ability to interfere with the import and export of cholesterol, could represent a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of atherosclerotic disease

Identification and characterization of the kynurenine pathway in the pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis

Dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) is implicated in many human diseases and disorders, from immunological, metabolic, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric conditions to cancer, and represents an appealing target for new therapeutic approaches. In this intricate scenario, invertebrates, like Lymnaea stagnalis (LS), provide a flexible tool to unravel the complexity of the KP. Starting from the available LS genome and transcriptome, we identified putative transcripts of all KP enzymes containing an ORF; each predicted protein possessed a high degree of sequence conservation to known orthologues of other invertebrate and vertebrate model organisms. Sequences were confirmed by qualitative PCR and sequencing. At the same time, the qRT-PCR analysis revealed that Lym IDO-like, Lym TDO-like, Lym AFMID-like, Lym KMO-like, Lym AADAT-like, Lym KYAT I/III-like, Lym KYNU-like, Lym HAAO-like, and Lym ACMSD-like showed widespread tissue expression. Then, tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, 3-hydroxy-kynurenine, xanthurenic acid, picolinic acid, and quinolinic acid were identified in the hemolymph of LS by UHPLC-Q exactive mass spectrometer. Our study provides the most thorough characterization to date of the KP in an invertebrate model, supporting the value of LS for future functional studies of this pathway at the cellular, synaptic, and behavioral levels