An energy-efficient off-loading scheme for low latency in collaborative edge computing

Mobile terminal users applications, such as smartphones or laptops, have frequent computational task demanding but limited battery power. Edge computing is introduced to offload terminals' tasks to meet the quality of service requirements such as low delay and energy consumption. By offloading computation tasks, edge servers can enable terminals to collaboratively run the highly demanding applications in acceptable delay requirements. However, existing schemes barely consider the characteristics of the edge server, which leads to random assignment of tasks among servers and big tasks with high computational intensity (named as “big task”) may be assigned to servers with low ability. In this paper, a task is divided into several subtasks and subtasks are offloaded according to characteristics of edge servers, such as transmission distance and central processing unit (CPU) capacity. With this multi-subtasks-to-multi-servers model, an adaptive offloading scheme based on Hungarian algorithm is proposed with low complexity. Extensive simulations are conducted to show the efficiency of the scheme on reducing the offloading latency with low energy consumption

Analysis of the dose-sparing effect of adjuvanted Sabin-inactivated poliovirus vaccine (sIPV)

Sabin-based inactivated poliovirus vaccine(sIPV) is gradually replacing live-attenuated oral polio vaccine(OPV). Sabin-inactivated poliovirus vaccine(sIPV) has played a vital role in reducing economic burden of poliomyelitis and maintaining appropriate antibody levels in the population. However, due to its high cost and limited manufacturing capacity, sIPV cannot reach its full potential for global poliovirus eradication in developing countries. Therefore, to address this situation, we designed this study to evaluate the dose-sparing effects of AS03, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODN) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (PolyI:C) admixed with sIPV in rats. Our results showed that a combination of 1/4-dose sIPV adjuvanted with AS03 or AS03 with BW006 provides a seroconversion rate similar to that of full-dose sIPV without adjuvant and that, this rate is 5-fold higher than that of 1/4-dose sIPV without adjuvant after the first immunization. The combination of AS03 or AS03 with BW006 as an adjuvant effectively reduced sIPV dose by at least 4-fold and induced both humoral and cellular immune responses. Therefore, our study revealed that the combination of AS03 or AS03 with BW006 is a promising adjuvant for sIPV development

[Maxilla reconstruction with the free iliac osteomuscular flap and simultaneous osseointegrated implant embeding].

To evaluate the clinical outcome of reconstruction of maxillary defects with vascularized iliac crest flap and simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding. During September to October 2003, two patients with maxillary defects from tumor resection underwent microsurgical reconstruction. The free iliac osteomuscular flap transferring and simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding were performed to repair the defects. Three months after the reconstructive surgery, an abutment operation was preformed and denture was applied in both cases. The flaps survived well. Postoperative follow-up for 8 to 9 months showed that the patients obtained good zygomaxillary appearance, normal occlusion, and satisfactory pronunciation, without oronasal fistula or other serious complications. The free iliac crest osteomuscular flap with simultaneous osseointegrated implant embedding is an ideal, effective and cosmetically acceptable method for maxilla reconstruction.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

A probability preferred priori offloading mechanism in mobile edge computing

Mobile edge computing (MEC) can provide computation and storage capabilities via edge servers which are closer to user devices (UDs). The MEC offloading system can be viewed as a system where each UD is covered by single or multiple edge servers. Existing works prefer a posterior design when task offloads, which can lead to increased workloads. To investigate the task offloading of edge computing in multi-coverage scenario and to reduce the workload during task offloading, a probability preferred priori offloading mechanism with joint optimization of offloading proportion and transmission power is presented in this paper. We first set up an expectation value which is determined by the offloading probability of heterogeneous edge servers, and then we form a utility function to balance the delay performance and energy consumption. Next, a distributed PRiori Offloading Mechanism with joint Offloading proportion and Transmission (PROMOT) power algorithm based on Genetic Algorithm (GA) is proposed to maximize the utility of UD. Finally, simulation results verify the superiority of our proposed scheme as compared with other popular methods

Mandible reconstruction assisted by preoperative virtual surgical simulation

Objective. In this study, we evaluated the clinical efficacy of mandible reconstruction with preoperative virtual planning, which focused on esthetics and occlusion. Study Design. A series of 9 patients were enrolled prospectively to undergo mandibulectomy and simultaneous reconstruction. Preoperative spiral CT scans of the maxillofacial region and the fibula region were performed. Virtual surgery of tumor resection and fibula reconstruction was performed in the Mimics platform. The reconstructed mandible models were fabricated with CAD/CAM technique. The reconstruction plate and the positioning template were accommodated to the stereolithographic model as the surgical template. Results. Surgery was performed accurately according to the templates. All the fibula flaps survived. The appearance and occlusion of the patients were satisfactory. Conclusions. With preoperative virtual planning, the spatial relationship of the mandible and the fibula graft can be planned individually, which helps achieve optimum appearance and occlusion relationship. © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Preparation and evaluation of a novel, live, attenuated influenza H1N1 vaccine strain produced by a modified classical reassortment method

Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV)-based Vero cells could provide a better choice to control and prevent influenza virus infections. This study used the human influenza virus A/Yunnan/1/2005Vca(H3N2) (YN/05Vca) as a donor strain. YN/05Vca has a double phenotype of cold adaption (ca) and Vero cell adaption (va). The parental virus strain used was the wild-type A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1) (SI/06wt). The study employed the modified classical reassortment method to generate a new virus strain. After co-infection of Vero cells, some different sub-types of the reassorted viruses were generated randomly. Then, the specific anti-serum (anti-YN/05Vca) could combine with and neutralize the donor virus, and the original parental virus could not grow in Vero cells at a low temperature until it was re-structured with the meaningful gene fragment from the donor virus in Vero cells. According to the plaques and RT-PCR results, a new monoclonal strain of Vero cell cold adaption virus was screened: SI/06Vca. After immunological and biological identification, this new strain virus could be used as a seed bank for LAIV, which has maintained surface antigenicity with SI/06wt. Consequently, this new Vero cell cold adaption virus SI/06Vca could be used for large-scale vaccine production with sufficient safety and efficacy, as confirmed by animal experiments with mice and ferrets

Development and identification of a new Vero cell-based live attenuated influenza B vaccine by a modified classical reassortment method

Background: It was to generate a new Vero and cold-adapted live attenuated influenza B vaccine with enough safety and immunogenicity. Methods: According to modified classical reassortment method, the donor strain was B/Yunnan/2/2005Vca(B), and the parental virus strain was B/Brisbane/60/2008wt. After co-infection in Vero cells, the prepared antibody serum inhibited the donor strain growth, and screening conditions inhibited the parental virus growth, which induced the growth of the new reassortant virus B/Brisbane/60/2008Vca(B) grow. Through intraperitoneal injection (i.j.) and intranasal injection (n.j.) we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. Results: A high-yield of the reassortant virus was produced in Vero cells at 25°C, similar to the donor strains. After sequencing, it was found that B/Brisbane/60/2008Vca(B) Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) gene fragments were from B/Brisbane/60/2008wt, while the other 6 gene fragments were from B/Yunnan/2/2005Vca(B). The n.j. immune pathway experiments showed no significant differences between the treatment and the PBS control group with respect to weight changes (P > 0.5). Furthermore, the new strain had a sufficient geometric mean titter (GMT) against B/Brisbane/60/2008wt. Conclusion: The new reassortant live attenuated influenza B vaccine was safe and having enough immune stimulating ability