A theoretical framework for network monitoring exploiting segment routing counters

Self-driving networks represent the next step of network management techniques in the close future. A fundamental point for such an evolution is the use of Machine Learning based solutions to extract information from data coming from network devices during their activity. In this work we focus on a new type of data, available thanks to the definition of the novel SRv6 paradigm, referred to as SRv6 Traffic Counters (SRTCs). SRTCs provide aggregated measurements related to forwarding operations performed by SRv6 routers. In this work a detailed description of different SRTCs types (SR.INT, PISD, PSID.TM and POL) is provided and their relationships is formalized. The theoretical framework deployed is used to identify, on the basis of network configuration parameters of both SRv6 and IGP protocols, the minimum set of independent SRTCs to characterize the Network Status: we show that about the 80% of counters can be neglected with no information loss. We also apply our framework to two use cases: i) Traffic Matrix (TM) Assessment and ii) Traffic Anomaly Detection. For the TM assessment, we show that in a partially deployed SRv6 scenario a specific type of SRTCs, i.e., PSID, is more reliable than other ones; on the contrary, in a fully deployed scenario POL and PSID.TM counters provide the full TM knowledge. For the Traffic Anomaly Detection case, we show that known solutions based on link load measurements can be improved when integrating SRTCs information

Insight on collagen self-assembly mechanisms by coupling molecular dynamics and UV spectroscopy techniques

Self-assembly of rat tail collagen type I was investigated by means of turbidity measurements and molecular dynamics simulations. Turbidity curves collected at different pH values show that the rate of aggregation was not linear in dependence from pH, with the fastest kinetics at pH 5.0 and the lowest at neutral pH. MD simulations were carried out on two regions with different hydropathicity, monitoring the aggregation of up to four staggered tropocollagen fragments at different ionic strength. At physiological conditions, association of lowly charged regions occurs more easily than for highly charged ones, the latter seeming to aggregate in a sequential way. The first contacts indicate for both regions that the driving force is hydrophobic, the electrostatic contribution becoming relevant at short distance. The direct inter-tropocollagen H-bonds confirm that fibrillogenesis is driven by loss of surface water from the monomers and involves in large percentage hydroxyproline residues. Low ionic strength dynamics leads to the formation of incorrect assemblies, driven by not shielded pairwise charge interactions

Joint energy efficiency and load balancing optimization in hybrid IP/SDN networks

Software-defined networking (SDN) is a paradigm that provides flexibility and programmability to computer networks. By introducing SDN nodes in a legacy IP network topology, network operators can benefit on higher control over the infrastructure. However, this migration is not a fast or straightforward process. Furthermore, to provide an adequate quality of service in hybrid IP/SDN networks, the coordination of both IP and SDN paradigm is fundamental. In this paper, this coordination is used to solve two optimization problems that are typically solved separately: (i) traffic load balancing and (ii) power consumption minimization. Each of these problems has opposing objectives, and thus, their joint consideration implies striking a balance between them. Therefore, this paper proposes the Hybrid Spreading Load Algorithm (HSLA) heuristic that jointly faces the problems of balancing traffic by minimizing link utilization and network's power consumption in a hybrid IP/SDN network. HSLA is evaluated over differently sized topologies using different methods to select which nodes are migrated from IP to SDN. These evaluations reveal that alternative approaches that only address one of the objectives are outperformed by HSLA

Dynamic in-network classification for service function chaining ready SDN networks

Service Function Chaining (SFC) paradigm consists in steering traffic flows through an ordered set of Service Functions (SFs) so that to realize complex end to end services. SFC architecture introduces all the logical functions that need to be developed in order to provide the required service. The SFC overlay infrastructure can be built on top of many different underlay network technologies. The high flexibility and centrally controlled feature of Software Defined Networking (SDN), make SDN networks to be a perfect underlay to build the SFC architecture. Due to Ternary Content Address Memory (TCAM) limited size, SDN switches have a limitation in the number of flow rules that can be hosted. This constraint is particularly penalizing in case of the SFC classifier function, since it requires to manage a high number of different flows. The limitation imposed by the TCAM size on the SFC classifier can be a bottleneck for the number of SFC requests that the SDN-based SFC architecture can handle. In this paper we define the Dynamic Chain Request Classification Offloading (D-CRCO) problem, as the one of maximizing the number of accepted SFC requests, having the possibility of: i) implement the SFC classifier also in a node that is internal to the SDN-based SFC domain, and ii) install classification rules in a reactive fashion. Furthermore, we propose the Dynamic Nearest Node (DNN) heuristic to solve the D-CRCO problem. Performance evaluation shows that by using DNN heuristic it is possible to triple the number of accepted requests, with respect to existing solutions

Amino Acid Deprivation Promotes Tumor Angiogenesis through the GCN2/ATF4 Pathway

AbstractAs tumors continue to grow and exceed their blood supply, nutrients become limited leading to deficiencies in amino acids (AAD), glucose (GD), and oxygen (hypoxia). These alterations result in significant changes in gene expression. While tumors have been shown to overcome the stress associated with GD or hypoxia by stimulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis, the role of AAD in tumor angiogenesis remains to be elucidated. We found that in human tumors, the expression of the general control non-derepressible 2 (GCN2, an AAD sensor) kinase is elevated at both protein and mRNA levels. In vitro studies revealed that VEGF expression is universally induced by AAD treatment in all five cell lines tested (five of five). This is in contrast to two other angiogenesis mediators interleukin-6 (two of five) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (two of five) that have a more restricted expression. Suppressing GCN2 expression significantly decreased AAD-induced VEGF expression. Silencing activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a downstream transcription factor of the GCN2 signaling pathway, is also associated with strong inhibition of AAD-induced VEGF expression. PKR-like kinase, the key player in GD-induced unfolded protein response is not involved in this process. In vivo xenograft tumor studies in nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient mice confirmed that knockdown of GCN2 in tumor cells retards tumor growth and decreases tumor blood vessel density. Our results reveal that the GCN2/ATF4 pathway promotes tumor growth and angiogenesis through AAD-mediated VEGF expression and, thus, is a potential target in cancer therapy

Restauração passiva da floresta ombrófila densa sob plantios de Eucalyptus no Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar.

Os reflorestamentos de espécies exóticas com finalidade industrial são um dos principais agentes modificadores da paisagem em território brasileiro. Portanto, é de suma importância compreender como essas áreas influenciam as formações nativas. O objetivo do estudo é descrever a vegetação de trecho secundário de Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana, em especial como se dá a regeneração natural passiva sob plantios de Eucalyptus situados no interior do Núcleo Santa Virgínia - Parque Estadual Serra do Mar. Para tanto foram instalados quatro blocos amostrais, cada um contendo dez parcelas de 15 x 7,5 m, em talhões de Eucalyptus spp. com cerca de 500 ha, implantados entre 1960 e 1963, cortados entre 1970 e 1972 e posteriormente abandonados. Em cada parcela foram amostrados todos os indivíduos com CAP ? 10 cm. A floresta em regeneração apresentou área basal total de 21,4 m².ha-1 e densidade de 3.193 ind.ha-1, dos quais 11% foram indivíduos mortos em pé (378 ind.ha-1). Dentre os 1.434 indivíduos registrados foram listadas 147 espécies, distribuídas em 74 gêneros e 41 famílias (H?= 3,8 e J= 0,76), com as nativas Tibouchina mutabilis, Tetrorchidium parvulum e Clethra scabra entre as de maior valor de importância. Embora ainda existam eucaliptos no dossel, a presença destes parece não ter afetado a restauração da composição e diversidade de espécies presentes nesta floresta; contudo, alguns parâmetros estruturais estão abaixo do esperado quando comparados a ecossistemas de referência

Role of C‐X‐C chemokines as regulators of angiogenesis in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of malignancy‐related mortality in the U.S. and is predicted to increase over the remainder of this decade. Despite attempts to advance early diagnosis and use combination therapies, the clinical response of this cancer yields an overall 5‐year survival rate of less than 15%. Clearly, new strategies for therapy are indicated. Although carcinogenesis is complex, tumor growth beyond 1–2 mm3 is dependent on angiogenesis. One of the potential mechanisms that allows for tumorigenesis is dysregulation of the balance of angiogenic and angiostatic factors that favors net neovascularization within the primary tumor. Numerous studies have investigated the role of a variety of molecules in the regulation of angiogenesis. Recently, interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), a member of the C‐X‐C chemokine family, has been found to be an angiogenic factor. In contrast, platelet factor 4 (PF4), another C‐X‐C chemokine, has been shown to have angiostatic properties. It is interesting that the major structural difference between IL‐8 and PF4 is the presence of the NH2‐terminal ELR (Glu‐Leu‐Arg) motif that precedes the first cysteine amino acid residue of IL‐8 and is important in ligand/receptor interactions. We hypothesize that angiogenesis associated with tumorigenesis is dependent on members of the C‐X‐C chemokine family acting as either angiogenic or angiostatic factors. This paradigm predicts that the biological balance in the expression of these C‐X‐C chemokines dictates whether the neoplasm grows and develops metastatic potential or regresses. In this review we discuss our recent laboratory findings that support this contention and suggest that further elucidation of the biology of C‐X‐C chemokines in the context of neovascularization of nonsmall cell lung cancer will permit novel targeted therapy aimed specifically at attenuating tumor growth and metastasis. J. Leukoc. Biol. 57: 752–762; 1995.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141888/1/jlb0752.pd

Effect of lipopolysaccharides on vascular endothelial growth factor expression in mouse pulp cells and macrophages

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71399/1/j.1600-0722.2003.00041.x.pd