Survivable Logical Topology Mapping under Multiple Constraints in IP-over-WDM Networks

The survivable logical topology mapping problem in an IP-over-WDM network deals with the cascading effect of link failures from the bottom (physical) layer to the upper (logical) layer. Multiple logical links may get disconnected due to a single physical link failure, which may cause the disconnection of the logical network. Here we study survivability issues in IP-over-WDM networks with respect to various criteria.We first give an overview of the two major lines of pioneering works for the survivable design problem. Though theoretically elegant, the first approach which uses Integer Linear Programming (ILP) formulations suffers from the drawback of scalability. The second approach, the structural approach, utilizes the concept of duality between circuits and cutsets in a graph and is based on an algorithmic framework called Survivable Mapping Algorithm by Ring Trimming (SMART). Several SMART-based algorithms have been proposed in the literature.In order to generate the survivable routing, the SMART-based algorithms require the existence of disjoint lightpaths for certain groups of logical links in the physical topology, which might not always exist. Therefore, we propose in Chapter 4 an approach to augment the logical topology with new logical links to guarantee survivability. We first identify a logical topology that admits a survivable mapping against one physical link failure. We then generalize these results to achieve augmentation of a given logical topology to survive multiple physical link failures.We propose in Chapter 5 a generalized version of SMART-based algorithms and introduce the concept of robustness of an algorithm which captures the ability of the algorithm to provide survivability against multiple physical link failures. We demonstrate that even when a SMART-based algorithm cannot be guaranteed to provide survivability against multiple physical link failures, its robustness could be very high.Most previous works on the survivable logical topology design problem in IP-over-WDM networks did not consider physical capacities and logical demands. In Chapter 6, we study this problem taking into account logical link demands and physical link capacities. We define weak survivability and strong survivability in capacitated IP-over-WDM networks. Two-stage Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) formulations and heuristics to solve the survivable design problems are proposed. Based on the 2-stage MILP framework, we also propose several extensions to the weakly survivable design problem, considering several performance criteria. Noting that for some logical networks a survivable mapping may not exist, which prohibits us from applying the 2-stage MILP approach, our first extension is to augment the logical network using an MILP formulation to guarantee the existence of a survivable routing. We then propose approaches to balance the logical demands satisfying absolute or ratio-weighted fairness. Finally we show how to formulate the survivable logical topology design problem as an MILP for the multiple failure case.We conclude with an outline of two promising new directions of research

Mitochondrial redox signaling by p66Shc is involved in regulating androgenic growth stimulation of human prostate cancer cells.

p66Shc is shown to negatively regulate the life span in mice through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Recent reports, however, revealed that p66Shc protein level is significantly elevated in several human cancer tissues and growth-stimulated carcinoma cells, suggesting a mitogenic and carcinogenic role for p66Shc. In this communication, we demonstrate for the first time that p66Shc mediates androgenic growth signals in androgen-sensitive human prostate cancer cells through mitochondrial ROS production. Growth stimulation of prostate cancer cells with 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is accompanied by increased p66Shc level and ROS production, which is abolished by antioxidant treatments. However, antioxidant treatments do not affect the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor (AR) as observed by its inability to block DHT-induced prostate-specific antigen expression, an AR-dependent correlate of prostate cancer progression. Elevated expression of p66Shc by cDNA transfection increases the basal cell proliferation and, thus, reduces additional DHT-induced cell proliferation. Furthermore, DHT increases the translocation of p66Shc into mitochondria and its interaction with cytochrome c. Conversely, both redox-negative p66Shc mutant (W134F), which is deficient in cytochrome c interaction, and p66Shc small interfering RNA decrease DHT-induced cell proliferation. These results collectively reveal a novel role for p66Shc-ROS pathway in androgen-induced prostate cancer cell proliferation and, thus, may play a role in early prostate carcinogenesis

ACUTE EFFECT OF VIBRATORY STIMULATION ON ELBOW JOINT FLEXOR PERFORMANCE

A novel design of vibratory stimulation training system was developed in this study. Each participant took a pre-test, before receiving treatment with 20 seconds of vibratory stimulation (VS) at a specific frequency and amplitude. The participants then took a post-test. Percentage improvement was then calculated by comparing the pre- and post-test values for each index. The experimental data were analyzed through a two-way repeated-measures ANOVA analysis, with the independent variables being vibratory frequency and amplitude and the dependent variables being EMG root mean square, maximal force, rate of force development, and average force. The optimal vibratory stimulation pattern was found from this study that being a 60% maximal force loading combined with VS at 2.5 Hz and 1 N amplitude sustained over 20 s

THE NOVEL BIOMECHANICAL MEASUREMENT AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR TUG-OF-WAR

Tug of war (TOW) is a kind of sport that has been accepted as one of the formal items in the Olympic game. Because of having well defined rule, the TOW has high potential to be extended to all over the world in the near future. To increase the possibility of success in the competition, athletes of the TOW should be subjected to a series of training courses. After experiencing certain training course, an athlete of TOW required to carry out pulling force test to evaluate his performance and consequently verify the effectiveness of the training course. In this study, a multi-purposes biomechanical measurement and analysis system is proposed in which various evaluations of the athlete performance. The idea of the proposed system is discussed and the associated theoretical methods are derived

Complete genomic sequence of the temperate bacteriophage ΦAT3 isolated from Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393

AbstractThe complete genomic sequence of a temperate bacteriophage ΦAT3 isolated from Lactobacillus (Lb.) casei ATCC 393 is reported. The phage consists of a linear DNA genome of 39,166 bp, an isometric head of 53 nm in diameter, and a flexible, noncontractile tail of approximately 200 nm in length. The number of potential open reading frames on the phage genome is 53. There are 15 unpaired nucleotides at both 5′ ends of the ΦAT3 genome, indicating that the phage uses a cos-site for DNA packaging. The ΦAT3 genome was grouped into five distinct functional clusters: DNA packaging, morphogenesis, lysis, lysogenic/lytic switch, and replication. The amino acid sequences at the NH2-termini of some major proteins were determined. An in vivo integration assay for the ΦAT3 integrase (Int) protein in several lactobacilli was conducted by constructing an integration vector including ΦAT3 int and the attP (int-attP) region. It was found that ΦAT3 integrated at the tRNAArg gene locus of Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN 001, similar to that observed in its native host, Lb. casei ATCC 393

Construction and verification of digital electronics contestants' indicators for vocational education in Taiwan

No AbstractKeywords: competency indicator, digital electronics, important-performance analysis, skill competitio

Glutamatergic Dysfunction and Glutamatergic Compounds for Major Psychiatric Disorders: Evidence From Clinical Neuroimaging Studies

Excessive glutamate release has been linked to stress and many neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence indicates abnormalities of glutamatergic neurotransmission or glutamatergic dysfunction as playing an important role in the development of many major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder). Recently, ketamine, an N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist, has been demonstrated to have promisingly rapid antidepressant efficacy for treatment-resistant depression. Many compounds that target the glutamate system have also become available that possess potential in the treatment of major psychiatric disorders. In this review, we update evidence from recent human studies that directly or indirectly measured glutamatergic neurotransmission and function in major psychiatric disorders using modalities such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy, positron emission tomography/single-photon emission computed tomography, and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. The newer generation of antidepressants that target the glutamatergic system developed in human clinical studies is also reviewed

Excoecarianin, Isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea, Inhibits Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection through Inactivation of Viral Particles

Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea (Euphorbiaceae) is one of the traditional medicinal plants widely used by oriental people to treat various diseases. We have previously demonstrated that the acetone extract of P. urinaria inhibits herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) but not HSV-1 infection. In a continuing effort to clarify the antiviral mechanisms of P. urinaria, we isolated the pure compound excoecarianin from the whole plant of P. urinaria through acetone extraction, and investigated its anti-HSV-1 and HSV-2 activities. Our results indicated that excoecarianin protected Vero cells from HSV-2 but not HSV-1 infection, and its 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 1.4 ± 0.1 μM. The antiviral effective concentration of excoecarianin did not affect the viability or the morphology of Vero cells. Although excoecarianin inhibited HSV-2 infection, the inhibitory effect, however, was most prominent when excoecarianin was concurrently added with the virus. Pretreatment of Vero cells with excoecarianin with removal of the drug prior to infection did not yield any antiviral effects, and the same observation was made for post viral entry treatment. Subsequent studies revealed that excoecarianin inactivated HSV-2 virus particles to prevent viral infection. A synergistic antiviral effect against HSV-2 was also observed when Vero cells were treated with a combination of acyclovir (ACV) and excoecarianin. These results suggested that excoecarianin merits to be further explored as an entry inhibitor against HSV-2 and could potentially be investigated for combinatorial drug treatment with nucleoside analogues such as ACV in therapeutic management of HSV-2 infection

A Review Of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Cold Atmospheric Plasma For Surface Sterilization And Decontamination

Numerous investigations have shown that non-equilibrium discharges at atmospheric pressure, also known as cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) are efficient to remove biological contaminants from surfaces of a variety of materials. Recently, CAP has quickly advanced as a technique for microbial cleaning, wound healing, and cancer therapy due to the chemical and biologically active radicals it produces, known collectively as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). This article reviews studies pertaining to one of the atmospheric plasma sources known as Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) which has been widely used to treat materials with microbes for sterilization, disinfection, and decontamination purposes. To advance research in cold atmospheric plasma applications, this review discusses various types and configurations of barrier discharge, the role played by reactive species and other DBD-CAP agents leading to its antimicrobial efficacy, a few collection of DBD-CAP past studies specifically on surface, and emerging applications of DBD-CAP technology. Our review showed that non-thermal/equilibrium plasma generated from DBD could sterilize or disinfect surface of materials without causing any thermal damage or environmental contamination

ESL Club & Women Speak: Our Second Home in America

SWOSU ESL Club Newsletter: Fall 2017 is the third issue of the newsletter for the English as a Second Language Club (ESL).https://dc.swosu.edu/esl/1002/thumbnail.jp