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This paper reports on the architectural, protocol, physical layer, and integrated testbed demonstrations carried out by the DISCUS FP7 consortium in the area of access?metro network convergence. Our architecture modeling results show the vast potential for cost and power savings that node consolidation can bring. The architecture, however, also recognizes the limits of long-reach transmission for low-latency 5G services and proposes ways to address such shortcomings in future projects. The testbed results, which have been conducted end-toend, across access?metro and core, and have targeted all the layers of the network from the application down to the physical layer, show the practical feasibility of the concepts proposed in the project. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The rise of new types of business models with service providers, content providers, and virtual network operators entering in competition with traditional telco operators is reducing revenue margins, making cost-effective provisioning mechanism a necessity. Costly massive overprovisioning needs thus to be replaced by more intelligent dynamic resource allocation. In addition, it is increasingly recognized that many upcoming 5G applications and services will require assured end-to-end quality of service. Operators have thus started to look at network function virtualization and software-defined networks (SDNs) as means to address the challenges of cost-effective and highly dynamic end-to-end provisioning. In this paper we present a test case of an SDN-driven end-to-end service orchestration using a transport API called the control orchestration protocol. Our testbed, interconnecting a core network (within the Telefonica premises in Madrid) and an access network (within the Trinity College of Dublin facilities), demonstrates the possibility to operate sub-second endto- end capacity reservation, showcasing SDN provisioning across multi-domain networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper is concerned with long-term (20+ years) forecasting of broadband traffic in next-generation networks. Such long-term approach requires going beyond extrapolations of past traffic data while facing high uncertainty in predicting the future developments and facing the fact that, in 20 years, the current network technologies and architectures will be obsolete. Thus, 'order of magnitude' upper bounds of upstream and downstream traffic are deemed to be good enough to facilitate such long-term forecasting. These bounds can be obtained by evaluating the limits of human sighting and assuming that these limits will be achieved by future services or, alternatively, by considering the contents transferred by bandwidth-demanding applications such as those using embedded interactive 3D video streaming. The traffic upper bounds are a good indication of the peak values and, subsequently, also of the future network capacity demands. Furthermore, the main drivers of traffic growth including multimedia as well as non-multimedia applications are identified. New disruptive applications and services are explored that can make good use of the large bandwidth provided by next-generation networks. The results can be used to identify monetization opportunities of future services and to map potential revenues for network operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to contribute to understanding the role of changes in proportions related to variation in size in freshwater fish, particularlyRutilus rubilio,Squalius lucumonisandTelestes muticellus, from central Italy. The ontogenetic shape variation was described by a multivariate regression where the independent and dependent variables were size and a set of shape variables (the latter obtained from geometric morphometric analysis of 16 anatomical landmarks), respectively. Our analyses indicated: (1) proportional ontogenetic changes in several morphometric characters in all populations of the three species; (2) no geographical shape variation for each species; (3) interspecific differences. The main shape changes joining all the populations are the ocular area contraction, the tail peduncle enlargement, and the main changes involving the median body region. The shape variations showed similar modification patterns betweenR. rubilioandS. lucumonis(the silhouette passed from a streamlined to a more oval and higher shape for both species) and some differences betweenR. rubilioandS. lucumonisvs.T. muticellus(the latter approaching a more spindle-shaped body). The expression of these allometric trajectories may be associated with age-specific shifts in the ecological niche, optimizing some features such as foraging efficiency and movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gel including aescin, essential phospholipids (EPL), and heparin (EG) has been used for many years for local treatment of venous, microcirculatory alterations (varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency). Bruises, swelling, thrombophlebitis, and contusions are effectively treated with this compound. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the efficacy of the effects of an AEPL (aescin+EPL) gel on the microcirculation in subjects with chronic venous insufficiency, venous hypertension (CVH), and venous microangiopathy. Transcutaneous PO2 was measured at the perimalleolar region. After 2 weeks of treatment, all individual values (100%) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In all patients, PO2 increased, indicating a decrease in level of venous microangiopathy. Considering transcutaneous skin PO2, treatment with AEPL in areas of venous microangiopathy is beneficial in the prevention of ulceration and improves skin healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevention of recurrent deep vein thrombosis (RDVT) with an oral antithrombotic agent (sulodexide) in moderate to high-risk subjects. A group of 405 patients was included into the multicenter registry. Both compression and an exercise program were used as well as a risk-factors control plan. After diagnosis of DVT, patients were treated with oral anticoagulants for 6 months. At the end of this period a coagulation study was made and patients started treatment with oral sulodexide capsules for a period of 24 months. The femoral, popliteal, tibial, and superficial veins were scanned with high-resolution ultrasound at inclusion; scans were repeated at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Of the 405 subjects included into the registry 178 in the control group (mean age 52.2; SD 11; M:F = 90:88) and 189 in the treatment group (mean age 53.2; SD 10.3; M:F = 93:96) completed the analysis period of 24 months. At 6 and 12 months the incidence of R-DVT was lower (p < 0.05) in the treatment group. At 24 months the global incidence of R-DVT was 17.9% in the control group and 7.4% in the sulodexide group (p < 0.05), 2.42 times lower than in controls. The 2 groups were comparable for age and sex distribution and for the localization of the thrombi at inclusion. Also the 2 groups of dropouts were comparable. In the control group there were 32 recurrent DVTs and 24 subjects lost to follow-up (total of 56) of 202 included subjects (27.7%) in comparison with 28 failures (14 recurrent DVTs and 14 lost subjects) of 203 subjects (13.8%) in the treatment group. This difference was statistically significant. In this analysis the incidence of DVT in controls was 2.07 times higher than in the treatment group subjects. In conclusion sulodexide was effective in reducing recurrent thrombotic events in high-risk subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum zinc and copper levels and serum interleukin 1β (IL1β) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) levels were evaluated in 57 female patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to investigate a possible role of IL1β and TNFα on zinc and copper homeostasis in RA. Serum zinc levels were significantly lower and serum copper levels significantly higher in RA patients when compared with osteoarthritis or asymmetrical psoriatic oligoarthritis patients and with normal controls. No differences were observed in serum IgM rheumatoid factor positive and serum IgM rheumatoid factor negative patients as regards serum zinc and copper concentration. In RA patients the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and acute-phase proteins correlated negatively with serum zinc and positively with serum copper. IL1β and TNFα were found to correlate negatively with zinc and positively with copper in RA patients. Lower levels of zinc may be due to an accumulation of zinc-containing proteins in the liver and in the inflamed joints in RA. Elevated serum copper levels seem to be linked to the increased synthesis of ceruloplasmin by the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mass deployment of fiber access networks is probably the most important network upgrade strategy for operators over the coming decade. Next-generation networks, and in particular the long-reach passive optical network (LR-PON) solution, aim to increase the long-term economic viability and sustainability of fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) deployment. The LR-PON solution achieves this by minimizing the number of nodes and the amount of electronic equipment required within the network. Since an LR-PON replaces the metro backhaul network, which is usually a protected part of the network, protecting the long-reach part of an LR-PON against failure becomes a critical issue that needs to be taken into account. In this paper, we introduce a novel protection mechanism which, by spreading the load generated by a node failure over the network, can significantly reduce the overall protection capacity required. We then present a practical FTTP deployment scenario based on our protected LR-PON architecture for a European country. The problem is modeled using integer linear programming, and the optimization results, obtained using a real dataset provided by a national operator, show that a small number of metro/core nodes can provide protected connection to FTTP users. By applying a detailed cost model to the outcome of the optimization, we are able to show that our LR-PON deployment strategy, which minimizes the overall protection capacity, rather than just minimizing fiber distances in the LR-PON, can significantly reduce costs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A gel including aescin, essential phospholipids (EPL), and heparin (EG) has been used for many years for local treatment of venous, microcirculatory alterations (varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency). Bruises, swelling, thrombophlebitis, and contusions are effectively treated with this compound. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the efficacy of the effects of an AEPL (aescin+EPL) gel on the microcirculation in subjects with chronic venous insufficiency, venous hypertension (CVH), and venous microangiopathy. Transcutaneous PO2 was measured at the perimalleolar region. After 2 weeks of treatment, all individual values (100%) were significantly increased (p<0.05). In all patients, PO2 increased, indicating a decrease in level of venous microangiopathy. Considering transcutaneous skin PO2, treatment with AEPL in areas of venous microangiopathy is beneficial in the prevention of ulceration and improves skin healing. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A gel including aescin, essential phospholipids (EPL), and heparin (EG) has been used for many years for local treatment of venous, microcirculatory alterations (varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency). Bruises, swelling, thrombophlebitis, and contusions are effectively treated with this compound. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the efficacy of the effects of an AEPL (aescin+EPL) gel on the microcirculation in subjects with chronic venous insufficiency, venous hypertension (CVH), and venous microangiopathy. Transcutaneous PO(2) was measured at the perimalleolar region. After 2 weeks of treatment, all individual values (100%) were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In all patients, PO(2) increased, indicating a decrease in level of venous microangiopathy. Considering transcutaneous skin PO(2), treatment with AEPL in areas of venous microangiopathy is beneficial in the prevention of ulceration and improves skin healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]