Hybrid and optical packet switching supporting different service classes in data center network

Photonic Network Communications - Optical packet switching is a prominent technology proposing not only a reduction in the energy consumption by the elimination of numerous...     

Milk from cows fed a diet with a high forage:concentrate ratio improves inflammatory state,oxidative stress,and mitochondrial function in rats

Excessive energy intake may evoke complex biochemical processes characterized by inflammation, oxidative stress, and impairment of mitochondrial function that represent the main factors underlying noncommunicable diseases. Because cow milk is widely used for human nutrition and in food industry processing, the nutritional quality of milk is of special interest with respect to human health. In our study, we analyzed milk produced by dairy cows fed a diet characterized by a high forage:concentrate ratio (high forage milk, HFM). In view of the low n-6:n-3 ratio and high content of conjugated linoleic acid of HFM, we studied the effects of this milk on lipid metabolism, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in a rat model. To this end, we supplemented for 4 wk the diet of male Wistar rats with HFM and with an isocaloric amount (82 kJ, 22 mL/d) of milk obtained from cows fed a diet with low forage:concentrate ratio, and analyzed the metabolic parameters of the animals. Our results indicate that HFM may positively affect lipid metabolism, leptin:adiponectin ratio, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress, providing the first evidence of the beneficial effects of HFM on rat metabolism.     

Passive target detection and tracking from electromagnetic field measurements

This paper presents a novel approach to the localization of moving targets in a complex environment based on the measurement of the perturbations induced by the target presence on an independently‐generated time‐varying electromagnetic field. Field perturbations are measured via a set of sensors deployed over the domain of interest and used to detect and track a possible target by resorting to a particle Bernoulli filter (PBF). To comply with real‐time operation, the PBF works along with an artificial neural network (ANN) model of the environment trained offline via finite elements (FEs). The performance of the proposed algorithm is assessed via simulation experiments.     

A new microcalorimeter for measurements in 3.5-mm coaxial line

A new microcalorimeter has been realized for implementing the national power standard up to 26.5 GHz in a 3.5-mm coaxial line at the Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale (IEN) Galileo Ferraris, Turin, Italy. The system is based on a dry thermostatic cell controlled by Peltier elements. The thermal load consists of a twin sensor system that is alternately supplied with high frequency test power and low frequency or direct current (DC) reference power through adiabatic coaxial lines. This microcalorimeter was originally designed for calibrating bolometric mounts. Recently, it has been modified for thermocouple power sensors, which can operate from DC to 26.5 GHz in a 3.5-mm coaxial line.     

Computation of mutual entropy in quantum markov chains

There are several damping phenomena in quantum optics. Such phenomena have been usually explained by open systems. In statistical physics, open system dynamics have been used to study the irreversibility and the approach to equilibrium. In this paper, the dynamical change of the mutual entropy for an open system, frequently studied in the quantum optics literature, is rigorously computed through a model of quantum Markov chain. In particular, the concrete formula of Stinespring expression for such a model is obtained and applied to the derivation of the mutual entropy, and some computational results are presented.     

Biodegradable hollow microfibres to produce bioactive scaffolds

Biodegradable hollow microfibres containing particles loaded with specific active agents can be potentially employed to produce a special kind of substrate for tissue engineering, able to function as a scaffold and at the same time to act as a drug‐releasing system. Biodegradable hollow microfibres based on poly(lactic acid) were produced by a dry–wet spinning procedure. Drug‐loaded microparticles were prepared by a simple oil‐in‐water emulsion and entrapped inside the fibres. The morphology of both fibres and particles was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical and thermal properties of the fibres were investigated by tensile tests and differential scanning calorimetry. In vitro tests were performed to evaluate the release of the drug from the fibres loaded with the particles Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

DILIGENT: integrating digital library and Grid technologies for a new Earth observation research infrastructure

This paper introduces DILIGENT, a digital library infrastructure built by integrating digital library and Grid technologies and resources. This infrastructure allows different communities to dynamically build specialised digital libraries capable to support the entire e-Science knowledge production and consumption life-cycle by using shared computing, storage, content, and application resources. The paper presents some of the main software services that implement the DILIGENT system. Moreover, it exemplifies the provided features by presenting how the DILIGENT infrastructure is being exploited in supporting the activity of user communities working in the Earth Science Environmental sector. This work is partially funded by the European Commission in the context of the DILIGENT project, under the 2nd call of FP6 IST priority.     

Neuramide stimulates adrenocorticotropin but not prolactin release from rat pituitary

Neuramide (NMD), a substance found in crude preparations of porcine stomach extract, is a viral inhibitor that also has putative immunostimulatory effects. The effects of NMD on stress-hormone (ACTH and prolactin-PRL) release were assessed in in vivo and in vitro studies. In the former, blood levels of corticosterone and PRL were measured in NMD-treated male rats. In vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of NMD and three of its fractions (obtained with high performance liquid chromatography) on ACTH and PRL release from perfused rat pituitary slices. NMD increased plasma corticosterone levels in vivo and produced dose-dependent increases in in vitro pituitary release of ACTH. No effects on PRL secretion were observed in vivo or in vitro. The stimulatory effects on ACTH release were caused by the NMD fraction with a molecular weight of > 5000 < 10000 Da.