Physiological and bifidogenic effects of prebiotic supplements in infant formulae

This randomized controlled trial involving 110 healthy neonates studied physiological and bifidogenic effects of galactooligosaccharides (GOS), oligofructose and long-chain inulin (FOS) in formula. Subjects were randomized to Orafti Synergy1 (50 oligofructose: 50 FOS) 0.4g/dl or 0.8g/dl, GOS:FOS (90:10) 0.8g/dl or a standard formula according to Good Clinical Practise (GCP) guidelines. A breast-fed group was included for comparison. Outcome parameters were weight, length, intake, stool characteristics, crying, regurgitation, vomiting, adverse events and fecal bacterial population counts. Statistical analyses used non-parametric tests. During the first month of life weight, length, intake and crying increased significantly in all groups. Regurgitation and vomiting scores were low and similar. Stool frequency decreased significantly and similarly in all formula groups but was lower than in the breast-fed. All prebiotic groups maintained soft stools, only slightly harder than those of breast-fed infants. The standard group had significantly harder stools at wks 2 and 4 compared to 1 (P<0.001 & P=0.0279). The total number of fecal bacteria increased in all prebiotic groups (9.82, 9.73 and 9.91 to 10.34, 10.38 and 10.37, respectively, log10 cells/g feces, P=0.2298) and resembled more the breast-fed pattern. Numbers of lactic acid bacteria, bacteroides and clostridia were comparable. In the SYN1 0.8 g/dl and GOS:FOS groups Bifidobacterium counts were significantly higher at D14 & 28 compared to D3 and comparable to the breast-fed group. Tolerance and growth were normal. In conclusion, stool consistency and bacterial composition of infants taking SYN1 0.8 g/dl or GOS:FOS supplemented formula was closer to the breast-fed pattern. There was no risk for dehydration.

LTE and LTE-A interworking and interoperability with 3GPP and non-3GPP wireless networks

This paper provides a high-level overview of E-UTRAN interworking and interoperability with existing Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and non-3GPP wireless networks. E-UTRAN access networks (LTE and LTE-A) are currently the latest technologies for 3GPP evolution specified in Release 8, 9 and beyond. These technologies promise higher throughputs and lower latency while also reducing the cost of delivering the services to fit with subscriber demands. 3GPP offers a direct transition path from the current 3GPP UTRAN/GERAN networks to LTE including seamless handover. E-UTRAN and other wireless networks interworking is an option that allows operators to maximize the life of their existing network components before a complete transition to truly 4G networks. Network convergence, backward compatibility and interpretability are regarded as the next major challenge in the evolution and the integration of mobile wireless communications. In this paper, interworking and interoperability between the E-UTRAN Evolved Packet Core (EPC) architecture and 3GPP, 3GPP2 and IEEE based networks are clearly explained. How the EPC is designed to deliver multimedia and facilitate interworking is also explained. Moreover, the seamless handover needed to perform this interworking efficiently is described briefly. This study showed that interoperability and interworking between existing networks and E-UTRAN are highly recommended as an interim solution before the transition to full 4G. Furthermore, wireless operators have to consider a clear interoperability and interworking plan for their existing networks before making a decision to migrate completely to LTE. Interworking provides not only communication between different wireless networks; in many scenarios it contributes to add technical enhancements to one or both environments.

Acceleration and visualization of Dynamic Network Optimization

With the emerging prevalence of smart phones and 4G LTE networks, the demand for faster-better-cheaper mobile services anytime and anywhere is ever growing. The Dynamic Network Optimization (DNO) concept emerged as a solution that optimally and continuously tunes the network settings, in response to varying network conditions and subscriber needs. Yet, the DNO realization is still at infancy, largely hindered by the bottleneck of the lengthy optimization runtime. This paper presents the design and prototype of a novel cloud based parallel solution that further enhances the scalability of our prior work on various parallel solutions that accelerate network optimization algorithms. The solution aims to satisfy the high performance required by DNO, preliminarily on a sub-hourly basis. The paper subsequently visualizes a design and a full cycle of a DNO system. A set of potential solutions to large network and real-time DNO are also proposed. Overall, this work creates a breakthrough towards the realization of DNO.

Holocene Climatic Optimum centennial-scale paleoceanography in the NE Aegean (Mediterranean sea)

Combined micropaleontological and geochemical analyses of the high-sedimentation gravity core M-4G provided new centennial-scale paleoceanographic data for sapropel S1 deposition in the NE Aegean Sea during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. Sapropel layer S1a (10.2–8.0 ka) was deposited in dysoxic to oxic bottom waters characterized by a high abundance of benthic foraminiferal species tolerating surface sediment and/or pore water oxygen depletion (e.g., Chilostomella mediterranensis, Globobulimina affinis), and the presence of Uvigerina mediterranea, which thrives in oxic mesotrophic-eutrophic environments. Preservation of organic matter (OM) is inferred based on high organic carbon as well as loliolide and isololiolide contents, while the biomarker record and the abundances of eutrophic planktonic foraminifera document enhanced productivity. High inputs of terrigenous OM are attributed to north Aegean borderland riverine inputs. Both alkenone-based sea surface temperatures (SSTs) and δO18G. bulloides records indicate cooling at 8.2 ka (S1a) and ~7.8 ka (S1 interruption). Sapropelic layer S1b (7.7–6.4 ka) is characterized by rather oxic conditions; abundances of foraminiferal species tolerant to oxygen depletion are very low compared with the U. mediterranea rise. Strongly fluctuating SSTs demonstrate repeated cooling and associated dense water formation, with a major event at 7.4 ka followed by cold spells at 7.0, 6.8, and 6.5 ka. The prominent rise of the carbon preference index within the S1b layer indicates the delivery of less degraded terrestrial OM. The increase of algal biomarkers, labile OM-feeding foraminifera and eutrophic planktonic species pinpoints an enhanced in situ marine productivity, promoted by more efficient vertical convection due to repeated cold events. The associated contributions of labile marine OM along with fresher terrestrial OM inputs after ~7.7 ka imply sources alternative/additional to the north Aegean riverine borderland sources for the influx of organic matter in the south Limnos Basin, plausibly related to the inflow of highly productive Marmara/Black Sea waters.