An Analytical Model of IaaS Architecture for Determining Resource Utilization.

Cloud computing has become a major component of the modern IT ecosystem. A key contributor to this has been the development of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) architecture, in which users' virtual machines (VMs) are run on the service provider's physical infrastructure, making it possible to become independent of the need to purchase one's own physical machines (PMs). One of the main aspects to consider when designing such systems is achieving the optimal utilization of individual resources, such as processor, RAM, disk, and available bandwidth.

Cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) placement is delayed by wearing antichemical protective gear.

Background: Airway management, the first step in resuscitation, may entail special difficulties in mass casualty situations, even in experienced hands. Of the available airway devices, the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) appears the easiest one to insert, allowing a hands-free anaesthesiologist. A study was undertaken to evaluate the success of airway control with COPA when anaesthetists wore either surgical attire or antichemical protective gear.

Intravenous fluids warming by mattress is simple and efficient during pediatric surgery.

Background/aim: Temperature control is essential during pediatric surgery. The effectiveness of two methods of warming intravenous (i.v.

Isolation of solasodine and other steroidal alkaloids and sapogenins by direct hydrolysis-extraction of Solanum plants or glycosides therefrom.

Concomitant extraction and hydrolysis of Solanum steroidal glycoalkaloids in a two-phase system containing an aqueous mineral acid and an organic water immiscible solvent, and having a boiling point under 100(o)C, is described. It is essentially a "one-pot" process, combining direct acid hydrolysis of the glycosides in the plant material and in situ extraction of the released aglycones after alkali treatment, in a single step, the various ingredients being added simultaneously or sequentially, as required. Application of the process to fruits, leaves, and tissue cultures of Solanum khasianum Clarke plants, either fresh or in dried, finely ground form, using a two-phase aqueous hydrochloric acid-toluene system, proved to be very suitable for continuous production of pure solasodine which is a valuable raw steroid for the preparation of steroidal drugs.

Membrane disruption and enzyme inhibition by naturally-occurring and modified chacotriose-containing Solanum steroidal glycoalkaloids.

Naturally-occurring 3beta-O-chacotriosides of solasodine (solamargine), of its 22S, 25S isomer tomatidenol (beta-solamarine), and of solanidine (chaconine), as well as ring E- and F-modified derivatives of solamargine were prepared and assayed in order to assess the relevance of aglycone structural features to membrane-disruption and enzyme-inhibitory activities of the related glycoalkaloids. A ring E-opened dihydro-derivative of solasodine (the chacotrioside of dihydrosolasodine A) did not bind to cholesterol, stigmasterol or ergosterol in vitro, disrupt PC/cholesterol liposomes or mammalian erythrocytes. or inhibit acetylcholinesterase in vitro.

Developmental toxicology of solamargine and solasonine glycoalkaloids in frog embryos.

As part of an effort to improve the safety of plant foods, a need exists to define the relative toxicities of structurally different glycoalkaloids and metabolites which may be present in Solanum plant species such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants. The objectives of this study were to determine the relative toxicities and the modes of action of the eggplant (Solanum melongena) glycoalkaloids solamargine and solasonine in Xenopus laevis frog embryos, using membrane potential and embryo growth and teratogenicity assays. In the cell membrane assays, adverse effects on embryos were evaluated by measuring membrane potentials using an electrochromic dye, di-4-ANEPPS, as a fluorescence probe for the integrity of the membranes.

The effect of some Solanum steroidal alkaloids and glycoalkaloids on larvae of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of a series of secondary plant compounds including steroidal alkaloids and glycoalkaloids on larvae of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, was investigated. Larval growth was inhibited on artificial diets containing 1 mumol g-1 diet of the glycoalkaloids solamargine, solasonine and tomatine, whereas the corresponding aglycones solasodine and tomatidine, and also tomatidenol, were inactive. The inhibitory effect of solamargine and tomatine, but not of solasonine, was completely abolished by addition of 1 mumol g-1 diet cholesterol and/or sitosterol.

Isocratic non-aqueous reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of capsanthin and capsorubin in red peppers (Capsicum annuum L.), paprika and oleoresin.

A simple, rapid high-performance liquid chromatography method has been devised in order to separate and quantify the xanthophylls capsorubin and capasanthin present in red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits and preparations made from them (paprika and oleoresin). A reversed-phase isocratic non-aqueous system allows the separation of xanthophylls within a few minutes, with detection at 450 nm, using methyl red as internal standard to locate the various carotenoids and xanthophylls found in plant extracts.

Interactions between the glycoalkaloids solasonine and solamargine in relation to inhibition of fungal growth.

Inhibition of mycelium development in Phoma medicaginis and Rhizoctonia solani by solamargine and solasonine generally increased with increasing pH. P. medicaginis was the more susceptible species and solamargine the more potent compound.

The Effect of Water Stress on Growth and Solasodine Content in Solanum khasianum.

The effect of water stress on growth and development of SOLANUM KHASIANUM (Clarke) and on the solasodine content of its fruits, was studied under mild (field experiment) and severe (pot experiment) conditions. Under field conditions, vegetative development was inhibited but fruit production or yield were not affected and fruit maturity was enhanced considerably. Solasodine content was not affected and yield per plant remained the same with and without irrigation.