ITSM Adoption in European SMEs: Transition versus Developed Economies

The goal of this paper is to investigate and better understand the differences in Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) adoption by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) between transition and developed economies in Europe. This study draws from research conducted among companies from six countries from Central and Eastern Europe within INNOTRAIN IT project financed by European Regional Development Found. The conducted analysis focuses on the comparison of ITSM-related issues between transition and developed countries. The particular issues investigated concentrate on the level of information technology (IT) adoption, strategic role of IT, and awareness and adoption of ITSM concept. The main findings suggest that, regardless of the national economy type, ITSM concepts are to a limited extent known and adopted by SMEs. At the same time, the results illustrate that transition economies lag behind developed economies in all investigated ITSM-related areas

Cryptographic techniques used to provide integrity of digital content in long-term storage

The main objective of the project was to obtain advanced mathematical methods to guarantee the verification that a required level of data integrity is maintained in long-term storage. The secondary objective was to provide methods for the evaluation of data loss and recovery. Additionally, we have provided the following initial constraints for the problem: a limitation of additional storage space, a minimal threshold for desired level of data integrity and a defined probability of a single-bit corruption. With regard to the main objective, the study group focused on the exploration methods based on hash values. It has been indicated that in the case of tight constraints, suggested by PWPW, it is not possible to provide any method based only on the hash values. This observation stems from the fact that the high probability of bit corruption leads to unacceptably large number of broken hashes, which in turn stands in contradiction with the limitation for additional storage space. However, having loosened the initial constraints to some extent, the study group has proposed two methods that use only the hash values. The first method, based on a simple scheme of data subdivision in disjoint subsets, has been provided as a benchmark for other methods discussed in this report. The second method ("hypercube" method), introduced as a type of the wider class of clever-subdivision methods, is built on the concept of rewriting data-stream into a n-dimensional hypercube and calculating hash values for some particular (overlapping) sections of the cube. We have obtained interesting results by combining hash value methods with error-correction techniques. The proposed framework, based on the BCH codes, appears to have promising properties, hence further research in this field is strongly recommended. As a part of the report we have also presented features of secret sharing methods for the benefit of novel distributed data-storage scenarios. We have provided an overview of some interesting aspects of secret sharing techniques and several examples of possible applications

The role of NF-κB transcription factor in cellular response to ionizing radiation

The NF-κB transcription factor is involved in different aspects of the cellular response to stress, including atypical NF-κB pathway activated by damage induced by ionizing radiation. Moreover, NF-κB could be involved in the regulation of genes activated by other stress-responsive factors. Here we aimed to perform the integrative genomics screening to compare subsets of NF-κB-dependent genes induced by a pro-inflammatory stimulus and a high dose of ionizing radiation and also to identify new genes potentially co-regulated by NF-κB and p53 transcription factors in irradiated cells. Methods. The RelA-containing NF-κB dimers were activated by TNFα cytokine (classical proinflammatory pathway) and a single 4 or 10 Gy dose (atypical radiation-induced pathway) in human osteosarcoma cells. NF-κB-dependent and p53-dependent genes were identified using the gene expression profiling (by RNA-Seq) in cells with downregulated RELA or TP53 combined with the global profiling of RelA and p53 binding sites (by ChIP-Seq). Candidate genes were subsequently validated by quantitative PCR. Results: There were 37 NF-κB-dependent protein-coding genes identified: in all cases RelA bound in their regulatory regions upon activation while downregulation of RELA suppressed their stimulus-induced upregulation, which apparently indicated the positive regulation mode (this set of genes included a few “novel” NF-κB-dependent species). The kinetics of the NF-κB activation was slower in cells exposed to radiation than in cytokine-stimulated ones. However, subsets of NF-κB-dependent genes upregulated by both types of stimuli were essentially the same. Moreover, we identified a subset of radiation-modulated genes whose expression was affected by silencing of both TP53 and RELA, and a subset of radiation-upregulated genes where radiation stimulated binding of both p53 and RelA. For three genes an antagonistic effect of both transcription factors was observed: IL4I1 was activated by NF-κB and inhibited by p53, while CDKN1A and SERPINE1 were activated by p53 and inhibited by NF-κB. Moreover, RRAD was putatively co-activated by both factors. Conclusions: One could expect that similar cellular processes resulting from activation of the NF-κB pathway could be induced in cells responding to pro-inflammatory cytokines and in cells where so-called “sterile inflammation” response was initiated by radiation-induced damage. Moreover, certain stress-responsive genes induced by ionizing radiation could be co-regulated by NF-κB and p53.publishedVersio

Scanning probe microscopy studies on the adsorption of selected molecular dyes on titania

Titanium dioxide, or titania, sensitized with organic dyes is a very attractive platform for photovoltaic applications. In this context, the knowledge of properties of the titania–sensitizer junction is essential for designing efficient devices. Consequently, studies on the adsorption of organic dyes on titania surfaces and on the influence of the adsorption geometry on the energy level alignment between the substrate and an organic adsorbate are necessary. The method of choice for investigating the local environment of a single dye molecule is high-resolution scanning probe microscopy. Microscopic results combined with the outcome of common spectroscopic methods provide a better understanding of the mechanism taking place at the titania–sensitizer interface. In the following paper, we review the recent scanning probe microscopic research of a certain group of molecular assemblies on rutile titania surfaces as it pertains to dye-sensitized solar cell applications. We focus on experiments on adsorption of three types of prototypical dye molecules, i.e., perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA), phtalocyanines and porphyrins. Two interesting heteromolecular systems comprising molecules that are aligned with the given review are discussed as well

The chemical composition of traditional european sausages

Central-Eastern Europe is famous of sausages production such delighted as: kranjska klobasa, csabai kolbász, mangalica kolbász, slavonski kulen, kulenova seka, češnjovka, domaća kobasica, zlatiborski kulen, levačka kobasica, sremska kobasica, hauswurst. The aim of work was the assessment of chemical composition of traditional European sausages (produced in Poland, Czech Republik, Slovakia, Serbia, Austria and Italy) obtained from meat of autochthonous pigs bred in a traditional way. The analysed sausages differed in chemical composition and it was caused by different recipes and differences in raw meat chemical composition originating from native pigs breeds. The highest differences were present in the fat content in sausages. All analysed sausages fulfilled the new requirements of the European Union concerning maximum PAH levels in the selected foodstuffs as considered in the Commission Regulation (EC) no 835/2011

RECENT RESEARCH IN VLSI, MEMS AND POWER DEVICES WITH PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO THE ITER AND DREAM PROJECTS

Several MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) devices have been analysed and simulated. The new proposed model of SiC MPS (Merged PIN-Schottky) diodes is in full agreement with the real MPS devices. The real size DLL (Dynamic Lattice Liquid) simulator as well as the research on modelling and simulation of modern VLSI devices with practical applications have been presented. In the basis of experience in the field of ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) based systems a proof-of-concept DAQ (data acquisition) system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) have been proposed

Inhibition of protein disulfide isomerase induces differentiation of acute myeloid leukemia cells

Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disease of immature myeloid cells. Despite significant therapeutic effects of differentiation-inducing agents in some acute myeloid leukemia subtypes, the disease remains incurable in a large fraction of patients. Here we show that SK053, a thioredoxin inhibitor, induces differentiation and cell death of acute myeloid leukemia cells. Considering that thioredoxin knock-down with short hairpin RNA failed to exert antiproliferative effects in one of the acute myeloid leukemia cell lines, we used a biotin affinity probe-labeling approach to identify potential molecular targets for the effects of SK053. Mass spectrometry of proteins precipitated from acute myeloid leukemia cells incubated with biotinylated SK053 used as a bait revealed protein disulfide isomerase as a potential binding partner for the compound. Biochemical, enzymatic and functional assays using fluorescence lifetime imaging confirmed that SK053 binds to and inhibits the activity of protein disulfide isomerase. Protein disulfide isomerase knockdown with short hairpin RNA was associated with inhibition of cell growth, increased CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α levels, and induction of differentiation of HL-60 cells. Molecular dynamics simulation followed by the covalent docking indicated that SK053 binds to the fourth thioredoxin-like domain of protein disulfide isomerase. Differentiation of myeloid precursor cells requires the activity of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α, the function of which is impaired in acute myeloid leukemia cells through various mechanisms, including translational block by protein disulfide isomerase. SK053 increased the levels of CCAAT enhancer-binding protein α and upregulated mRNA levels for differentiation-associated genes. Finally, SK053 decreased the survival of blasts and increased the percentage of cells expressing the maturation-associated CD11b marker in primary cells isolated from bone marrow or peripheral blood of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Collectively, these results provide a proof-of-concept that protein disulfide isomerase inhibition has potential as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia and for the development of small-molecule inhibitors of protein disulfide isomerase

Fault tolerance through self-configuration in the future nanoscale multiprocessors

This thesis is a contribution at the architectural level to the improvement of fault-tolerance in massively defective multi-core chips fabricated using nanometer transistors. The main idea of this work is that a chip should be organized in a replicated architecture and become as autonomous as possible to increase its resilience against both permanent defects and transient faults occurring at runtime. Therefore, we introduce a new chip self-configuration methodology, which allows detecting and isolating the defective cores, deactivating the isolated cores, configuring the communications and managing the allocation and execution of tasks. The efficiency of the methods is studied as a function of the fraction of defective cores, of defective interconnects and soft error rate.Cette thèse est une contribution au niveau architectural à l'amélioration de la tolérance aux fautes dans les puces multi-coeurs massivement défectueuses fabriquées à partir de transistors nanométriques. L'idée principale de ce travail est qu'une puce devrait être organisée en une architecture réplicative et devenir aussi autonome que possible pour augmenter sa résilience contre les défauts permanents et les erreurs transitoires apparaissant en opération. C'est pourquoi nous introduisons une nouvelle méthodologie d'autoconfiguration de la puce qui permet de détecter et isoler les coeurs défectueux, de désactiver les coeurs isolés, de configurer les communications et de diriger l'allocation et l'exécution des tâches. L'efficacité des méthodes est étudiée en fonction de la fraction de coeurs ou d'interconnections défectueux et du taux d'erreurs transitoires

Tolérance aux fautes par auto-configuration dans les futurs processeurs multi-cœurs

Cette thèse est une contribution au niveau architectural à l amélioration de la tolérance aux fautes dans les puces multi-cœurs massivement défectueuses fabriquées à partir de transistors nanométriques. L idée principale de ce travail est qu une puce devrait être organisée en une architecture réplicative et devenir aussi autonome que possible pour augmenter sa résilience contre les défauts permanents et les erreurs transitoires apparaissant en opération. C est pourquoi nous introduisons une nouvelle méthodologie d autoconfiguration de la puce qui permet de détecter et isoler les coeurs défectueux, de désactiver les coeurs isolés, de configurer les communications et de diriger l allocation et l exécution des tâches. L efficacité des méthodes est étudiée en fonction de la fraction de coeurs ou d interconnections défectueux et du taux d erreurs transitoiresThis thesis is a contribution at the architectural level to the improvement of fault-tolerance in massively defective multi-core chips fabricated using nanometer transistors. The main idea of this work is that a chip should be organized in a replicated architecture and become as autonomous as possible to increase its resilience against both permanent defects and transient faults occurring at runtime. Therefore, we introduce a new chip self-configuration methodology, which allows detecting and isolating the defective cores, deactivating the isolated cores, configuring the communications and managing the allocation and execution of tasks. The efficiency of the methods is studied as a function of the fraction of defective cores, of defective interconnects and soft error rateINIST-CNRS (INIST), under shelf-number: RP 17272 / SudocSudocFranceF