Efficient Container Image Updating in Low-bandwidth Networks with Delta Encoding

2023 IEEE International Conference on Cloud Engineering (IC2E), 25-29 Sept. 2023Containers are the technology for Linux to isolate execution environments. By distributing a container image, which is a collection of files contained in the container, users can use an execution environment that includes the necessary files and libraries. However, container images are tens to hundreds of megabytes in size and require many network resources to be transferred. Especially in low-bandwidth network environments like edge computing, frequent image updating can be difficult and affect other services’ communication. In this paper, we propose a method to reduce the data size required for image updates using delta encoding. We use delta encoding to reduce data size and finish updating quickly, but generating and applying deltas is a time-consuming operation. Our method proposes DeltaMerging which enables faster delta generation by merging existing deltas, and Di3FS which applies deltas lazily. The proposed method reduces the data size required to update container images from 5 to 40% of that of existing methods. Also, the time required to generate and apply deltas is greatly reduced with DeltaMerging and Di3FS. Furthermore, the performance degradation of the application in the container was almost negligible

The effects of interval length between sessions in a hypercholesterolemia education class.

This study focused on the effects of different intervals between sessions of a hypercholesterolemia education class on post-intervention outcomes. The same comprehensive group-programme contents on hypercholesterolemia were delivered either monthly (for 6 months) or twice-monthly (for 3 months) by the same teaching professionals in a community setting. The twice-monthly programme included 46 participants (male/female = 7/39, average age: 65.8 years)and the monthly programme consisted of 48(male/female = 9/39, age: 66.4). At the beginning of the study, all subjects belonged to the 'contemplation' stage of diet and exercise habits within the Transtheoretical Model of Change. The stage-matched intervention helped many participants move to the 'action ' stage by 6 months after the last session, especially in the twice-monthly group. The change rate of exercise from the 'contemplation' stage to the 'action' stage was significantly higher in the twice-monthly group (76.1 percent) than in the monthly (54.2 percent ). In both monthly and twice-monthly formats, participants' satisfaction and understanding levels at the end of the programme were high, but were significantly higher in the twice-monthly group. Through favorable lifestyles and higher levels of satisfaction and learning, the twice-monthly format may produce more positive results in cholesterol management than the monthly format, as the shorter period of time makes the programme more intensive.</p

Advances and technical challenges in development of CMC

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Dietary Intake of Vitamin D Is Related to Blood Levels of Advanced Glycation End Products during a Weight Loss Program in Obese Women

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute to the pathophysiology of lifestyle-related diseases. To identify nutrients associated with AGEs, this study explored the factors by investigating the relationship between nutrients changes and changes of blood AGEs during a weight loss program in obese women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Twenty-five obese women (age: 50 ± 8 years, body mass index: 28.7 ± 3.4 kg/m2 ) underwent a weight loss program with energy-restricted meal replacement for 2 months. Three-day weighted dietary records and blood tests including blood AGEs were performed at the baseline and after the 2-month intervention. Their correlation was examined during the intervention period. RESULTS: The changes in AGEs were significantly and negatively correlated with those of intake levels of vitamin D (r = -0.54; P \u3c 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D might be a useful nutrient to reduce AGEs in obese women

Infection of human CD4+ rabbit cells with HIV-1 the possibility of the rabbit as a model for HIV-1 infection

Although human T cell surface glycoprotein CD4 is the cellular receptor for human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), the introduction of the human CD4 gene into murine cells does not render them susceptible to HIV-1 infection. Here we have established rabbit transfectant cell lines expressing human CD4 on the cell surface and demonstrated that the CD4+ rabbit transfectants could be readily infected by HIV-1 by co-cultivating with a HIV-1-infected human MOLT-4 T cell line (MOLT-4/HIV). Avid syncytia formation was observed upon co-cultivation and the syncytia abundantly produced HIV-1 mature particles, as revealed by electron microscopy. A significant increase of HIV-1 p24 antigen was also detected in the culture supernatant. The syncytia formation was blocked by pretreating the transfectant with anti-human CD4 or by pretreating the MOLT-4/HIV with anti-HIV-1 serum obtained from an infected individual, indicating that the syncytia formed as a result of the interaction of human CD4 on the rabbit transfectant with the HIV-1 envelope protein expressed on MOLT-4/HIV. In contrast, only a very small proportion of the rabbit transfectants expressed HIV-1-specific antigens upon infection with an HIV-1 stock. This may indicate that, although rabbit cells have partially acquired susceptibility to HIV-1 by transfection of human CD4 gene, rabbit cells may further require such a molecule as might be provided by MOLT-4 to become fully susceptible to HIV-1 infection. The possibility of the rabbit as a model for HIV-1 infection is also discusse

Dietary salt reduction in rural patients with albuminurea using family and community support: the Mima study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Residents of rural communities are often more socially connected compared to urban dwellers. Using family and community support to motivate health behavior change may be useful in rural settings. The objective of this study was to pilot a salt reduction (SR) intervention for rural albuminuria patients using support from family and neighborhood residents compared to a usual care condition. The primary outcome was change in urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All consecutive outpatients with an ACR >= 30 mg/gCr were recruited from the Koyadaira Clinic. Patients self-selected their participation in the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG) because the rural population expressed concern about not being treated at the same time. In the IG, patients and their families were educated in SR for 30 minutes in their home by experienced dieticians. In addition, patients, families and neighborhood residents were also educated in SR for 2 hours at a public town meeting hall, with educational content encouraging reduction in salt intake through interactive activity. The CG received conventional treatment, and ACR and blood pressure (BP) were measured after 3 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 37 subjects recruited (20 male, 16 female, mean age; 72.8 ± 9.2 years), 36 completed the 3-month follow up and were analyzed. In the IG, ACR decreased significantly from baseline (706 ± 1,081 to 440 ± 656; t = 2.28, p = 0.04) and was reduced compared to the CG (213 ± 323 to 164 ± 162; F = 3.50, p = 0.07), a treatment effect approaching significance. Systolic BP in the IG (145 ± 14 to 131 ± 13 mmHg; t = 3.83, p = 0.002) also decreased significantly compared to the CG (135 ± 13 to 131 ± 14; F = 4.40, p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Simultaneous education of patients, their families and neighborhood residents may be important in rural areas for treatments and interventions requiring health behavior change.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>UMIN000001972</p