Green-Aware Virtual Machine Migration Strategy in Sustainable Cloud Computing Environments

As cloud computing develops rapidly, the energy consumption of large-scale datacenters becomes unneglectable, and thus renewable energy is considered as the extra supply for building sustainable cloud infrastructures. In this chapter, we present a green-aware virtual machine (VM) migration strategy in such datacenters powered by sustainable energy sources, considering the power consumption of both IT functional devices and cooling devices. We define an overall optimization problem from an energy-aware point of view and try to solve it using statistical searching approaches. The purpose is to utilize green energy sufficiently while guaranteeing the performance of applications hosted by the datacenter. Evaluation experiments are conducted under realistic workload traces and solar energy generation data in order to validate the feasibility. Results show that the green energy utilization increases remarkably, and more overall revenues could be achieved

How Does Targeted Poverty Alleviation Policy Influence Residents' Perceptions of Rural Living Conditions? A Study of 16 Villages in Gansu Province, Northwest China

Rural living conditions (RLCs) in China are influential on the overall development and stability of regions, particularly for populations in distant poverty-stricken villages. This paper takes 16 villages of Chedao town in Gansu province, Northwest China (NWC) as our case study. Using data from the Poverty Alleviation and Assistance (PAA) project launched by Lanzhou University in June 2017, and the perceptions of residents of Chedao, we pinpoint RLC changes in the targeted poverty alleviation (TPA) process. The three main results show that: (1) From the residents' perceptions, the impact of alleviation measures on RLC is mainly reflected in improved housing conditions, infrastructure, and public services. We find no significant effect on cultural conditions. However, eco-environmental conditions have obviously weakened. (2) Housing size, accessibility, distance to shops, and safe drinking water are the most significant factors in housing conditions, infrastructure, public services, and eco-environmental conditions, respectively. (3) Out of the different levels of rural poverty households (RPHs), severe rurality villages are more strongly aware of the positive changes in RLC than residents of mild rurality villages. Moreover, in residents' view, housing conditions are most improved in severe rurality villages, infrastructure is most improved in moderate rurality villages, and public services are most improved in mild rurality villages. Eco-environmental conditions worsen across all levels. Our findings shed light on the perceptions of residents on changes occurring in rural living conditions, and provide a basis for subsequent studies of RLC in Northwest China

Research on the Relationship between Urban Development Intensity and Eco-Environmental Stresses in Bohai Rim Coastal Area, China

To realize sustainable urban development that minimizes environmental impacts, the relationship between urban development intensity and eco-environmental stresses should be clearly revealed. This paper focused on the Bohai Rim coastal area, where cities have experienced significant development in the last decade. An index system was developed to quantify the comprehensive urban development intensity (CDI) and comprehensive eco-environment stresses (CES). Remote sensing imagery and statistical data were used to provide indices for CDI and CES. Spatiotemporal analysis was carried out on the correlation between the two indices. The coupling between the CDI and CES was then investigated to explore the urban development characteristics of each city in the study area, its development level, and the trend of urban development. Results showed that human activities surrounding urban development were partly dependent on the use of ecological resources to a certain degree, and that the degree of dependence increased with year. To promote a sustainable level of urban development, the government should focus on not only the high development intensity, but also the high quality of the eco-environment. Dalian was a good model of how to achieve a balance between the two

Antecedents and outcomes of cyberbullying among Chinese university students: verification of a behavioral pathway model

IntroductionCyberbullying is a commonly-seen and hotly-debated social topic around the globe. This negative behavior is the source of many disastrous events, and so leading government bodies, organizations, schools and social communities attach great importance to addressing this topic. However, there is still much work to do in order to be clear about the causes of cyberbullying.MethodsThe previous research cases were mostly viewed from the victims’ perspectives; however, there is no comprehensive understanding of the perpetrators’ viewpoints. Therefore, based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) and analysis of discussion in the literature, the following six variables were chosen as the focus of this study: overconfidence, excessive moral sense, cyberbullying, perceived value, happiness, and continued cyberbullying intention. This study established a research model of continued cyberbullying intention, which was verified by Structural Equation Modeling. In order to achieve the aims of the study, Chinese university students with an average age of 20.29 (SD = 1.43) were recruited as participants, from whom 1,048 valid questionnaires were collected.ResultsThe research results are as follows: 1. Overconfidence and excessive moral sense positively predicted cyberbullying behaviors; 2. Overconfidence positively predicted excessive moral sense; 3. Cyberbullying positively predicted perceived value and sense of happiness; and 4. Perceived value and sense of happiness positively predicted continued cyberbullying intentions.ConclusionStudents’ biased self-perception significantly predicts their cyberbullying behaviors and continued cyberbullying intention. What is more, it is interesting to learn that perpetrators will continue to exhibit cyberbullying behaviors when they believe that what they do (cyberbullying) is valuable or allows them to experience positive feelings; this requires our attention

How does the coupling coordination between high-quality development and eco-environmental carrying capacity in the Yellow river basin over time?

Introduction: The Yellow River Basin is an important national energy base and ecological protection area, and it is of great significance to promote the coordinated development of high-quality development and eco-environmental carrying capacity in the region.Methods: Taking the 73 prefecture-level cities along the Yellow River as the study unit, this paper measures the changes of high-quality development level and eco-environmental carrying capacity of municipalities from 2005 to 2020, using the coupling coordination degree model and fuzzy logic algorithm.Results and discussion: 1) The capital city and its surrounding cities have a high level of high-quality development, with the lower and middle reaches of the Yellow River having higher levels than the upper reaches. From 2005 to 2020, the level of high-quality development showed an upward trend. 2) The eco-environmental carrying capacity of cities in the lower reaches is higher than that in the upper reaches. From 2005 to 2020, the eco-environmental carrying capacity of cities in the lower reaches of the Yellow River increased first and then decreased. 3) The provincial capital cities have a high degree of coupling coordination, with cities in the lower reaches having a higher level than those in the middle and upper reaches. A high degree of coupling coordination reduces spatial differences, but dominated by primary coordination. 4) From 2005 to 2020, the eco-environmental carrying capacity tended to be coordinated with the high-quality development, close to a high level and system optimization. In the end, we conclude with policy recommendations to promote high-quality urban development and harmony between people and nature in the region

Cannabinoid Receptor Subtype 2 (Cb2R) Agonist Gw405833 Reduces Agonist-Induced Ca2+ Oscillations In Mouse Pancreatic Acinar Cells

Emerging evidence demonstrates that the blockade of intracellular Ca 2+ signals may protect pancreatic acinar cells against Ca 2+ overload, intracellular protease activation, and necrosis. The activation of cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB 2 R) prevents acinar cell pathogenesis in animal models of acute pancreatitis. However, whether CB 2 Rs modulate intracellular Ca 2+ signals in pancreatic acinar cells is largely unknown. We evaluated the roles of CB 2 R agonist, GW405833 (GW) in agonist-induced Ca 2+ oscillations in pancreatic acinar cells using multiple experimental approaches with acute dissociated pancreatic acinar cells prepared from wild type, CB 1 R-knockout (KO), and CB 2 R-KO mice. Immunohistochemical labeling revealed that CB 2 R protein was expressed in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Electrophysiological experiments showed that activation of CB 2 Rs by GW reduced acetylcholine (ACh)-, but not cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced Ca 2+ oscillations in a concentration-dependent manner; this inhibition was prevented by a selective CB 2 R antagonist, AM630, or was absent in CB 2 R-KO but not CB 1 R-KO mice. In addition, GW eliminated L-arginine-induced enhancement of Ca 2+ oscillations, pancreatic amylase, and pulmonary myeloperoxidase. Collectively, we provide novel evidence that activation of CB 2 Rs eliminates ACh-induced Ca 2+ oscillations and L-arginine-induced enhancement of Ca 2+ signaling in mouse pancreatic acinar cells, which suggests a potential cellular mechanism of CB 2 R-mediated protection in acute pancreatitis

Cumulative exposure to remnant cholesterol and the risk of fragility fractures: a longitudinal cohort study

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between cumulative remnant cholesterol (cumRC) and the risk of new-onset fragility fractures.MethodsThis study included individuals who participated in the 2006, 2008, and 2010 Kailuan health examinations. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups according to cumRC quartiles. The incidence density was calculated, and the log-rank test was used to compare the cumulative incidence. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), and restricted cubic spline was used to examine the possibly non-linear relation between cumRC and the risk of fragility fractures. Additional analyses were performed with stratification by age (≥ or <65 years).ResultsA total of 43,839 individuals were included in this study. During the median follow-up period of 10.97 years, a total of 489 fragility fractures occurred. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model 3 showed that the Q1 and Q4 groups versus the Q2 group were associated with a higher HR of fragility fracture (HR 1.61, 95% CI: 1.23–2.11; HR 1.38, 95% CI: 1.06–1.81), and restricted cubic spline regression analysis showed a non-linear relationship between cumRC level and the risk of fragility fractures (POverall association < 0.001, PNon-linear association = 0.001). The association was significant in the age group <65 years but not in the age group ≥65 years. The sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results.ConclusionsBoth too high and too low cumRC levels were associated with a greater risk of fragility fractures, and this association was more significant in young and middle-aged people

Activation of GABA type A receptor is involved in the anti-insomnia effect of Huanglian Wendan Decoction

Huanglian Wendan Decoction (HWD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescribed to patients diagnosed with insomnia, which can achieve excellent therapeutic outcomes. As positively modulating the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptors (GABAARs) is the most effective strategy to manage insomnia, this study aimed to investigate whether the activation of GABAARs is involved in the anti-insomnia effect of HWD. We assessed the metabolites of HWD using LC/MS and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and tested the pharmacological activity in vitro and in vivo using whole-cell patch clamp and insomnia zebrafish model. In HEK293 cells expressing α1β3γ2L GABAARs, HWD effectively increased the GABA-induced currents and could induce GABAAR-mediated currents independent of the application of GABA. In the LC-MS (QToF) assay, 31 metabolites were discovered in negative ion modes and 37 metabolites were found in positive ion modes, but neither three selected active metabolites, Danshensu, Coptisine, or Dihydromyricetin, showed potentiating effects on GABA currents. 62 active metabolites of the seven botanical drugs were collected based on the TCMSP database and 19 of them were selected for patch-clamp verification according to the virtual docking simulations and other parameters. At a concentration of 100 μM, GABA-induced currents were increased by (+)-Cuparene (278.80% ± 19.13%), Ethyl glucoside (225.40% ± 21.77%), and β-Caryophyllene (290.11% ± 17.71%). In addition, (+)-Cuparene, Ethyl glucoside, and β-Caryophyllene could also serve as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and shifted the GABA dose-response curve (DRC) leftward significantly. In the PCPA-induced zebrafish model, Ethyl glucoside showed anti-insomnia effects at concentrations of 100 μM. In this research, we demonstrated that the activation of GABAARs was involved in the anti-insomnia effect of HWD, and Ethyl glucoside might be a key metabolite in treating insomnia