2,148 research outputs found
Proof-of-Stake Consensus Mechanisms for Future Blockchain Networks: Fundamentals, Applications and Opportunities
© 2013 IEEE. The rapid development of blockchain technology and their numerous emerging applications has received huge attention in recent years. The distributed consensus mechanism is the backbone of a blockchain network. It plays a key role in ensuring the network's security, integrity, and performance. Most current blockchain networks have been deploying the proof-of-work consensus mechanisms, in which the consensus is reached through intensive mining processes. However, this mechanism has several limitations, e.g., energy inefficiency, delay, and vulnerable to security threats. To overcome these problems, a new consensus mechanism has been developed recently, namely proof of stake, which enables to achieve the consensus via proving the stake ownership. This mechanism is expected to become a cutting-edge technology for future blockchain networks. This paper is dedicated to investigating proof-of-stake mechanisms, from fundamental knowledge to advanced proof-of-stake-based protocols along with performance analysis, e.g., energy consumption, delay, and security, as well as their promising applications, particularly in the field of Internet of Vehicles. The formation of stake pools and their effects on the network stake distribution are also analyzed and simulated. The results show that the ratio between the block reward and the total network stake has a significant impact on the decentralization of the network. Technical challenges and potential solutions are also discussed
A Clinical and Epidemiological Investigation of the First Reported Human Infection With the Zoonotic Parasite Trypanosoma evansi in Southeast Asia
Background. Trypanosoma is a genus of unicellular parasitic flagellate protozoa. Trypanosoma brucei species and Trypanosoma cruzi are the major agents of human trypanosomiasis; other Trypanosoma species can cause human disease, but are rare. In March 2015, a 38-year-old woman presented to a healthcare facility in southern Vietnam with fever, headache, and arthralgia. Microscopic examination of blood revealed infection with Trypanosoma. Methods. Microscopic observation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of blood samples, and serological testing were performed to identify the infecting species. The patient's blood was screened for the trypanocidal protein apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), and a field investigation was performed to identify the zoonotic source. Results. PCR amplification and serological testing identified the infecting species as Trypanosoma evansi. Despite relapsing 6 weeks after completing amphotericin B therapy, the patient made a complete recovery after 5 weeks of suramin. The patient was found to have 2 wild-type APOL1 alleles and a normal serum APOL1 concentration. After responsive animal sampling in the presumed location of exposure, cattle and/or buffalo were determined to be the most likely source of the infection, with 14 of 30 (47%) animal blood samples testing PCR positive for T. evansi. Conclusions. We report the first laboratory-confirmed case of T. evansi in a previously healthy individual without APOL1 deficiency, potentially contracted via a wound while butchering raw beef, and successfully treated with suramin. A linked epidemiological investigation revealed widespread and previously unidentified burden of T. evansi in local cattle, highlighting the need for surveillance of this infection in animals and the possibility of further human cases
An exochitinase with N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity from shrimp heads conversion by Streptomyces speibonae and its application in hydrolyzing β-chitin powder to produce N-acetyl-d-glucosamine
[[abstract]]Marine chitinous byproducts possess significant applications in many fields. In this research, different kinds of fishery chitin-containing byproducts from shrimp (shrimp head powder (SHP) and demineralized shrimp shell powder), crab (demineralized crab shell powder), as well as squid (squid pen powder) were used to provide both carbon and nitrogen (C/N) nutrients for the production of an exochitinase via Streptomyces speibonae TKU048, a chitinolytic bacterium isolated from Taiwanese soils. S. speibonae TKU048 expressed the highest exochitinase productivity (45.668 U/mL) on 1.5% SHP-containing medium at 37 °C for 2 days. Molecular weight determination analysis basing on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the mass of TKU048 exochitinase was approximately 21 kDa. The characterized exochitinase expressed some interesting properties, for example acidic pH optima (pH 3 and pH 5–7) and a higher temperature optimum (60 °C). Furthermore, the main hydrolysis mechanism of TKU048 exochitinase was N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase-like activity; its most suitable substrate was β-chitin powder. The hydrolysis experiment revealed that TKU048 exochitinase was efficient in the cleavage of β-chitin powder, thereby releasing N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc, monomer unit of chitin structure) as the major product with 0.335 mg/mL of GlcNAc concentration and a yield of 73.64% after 96 h of incubation time. Thus, TKU048 exochitinase may have potential in GlcNAc production due to its N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase-like activity.[[sponsorship]]科技部[[notice]]補æ£å®Œ
Conversion of shrimp head waste for production of a thermotolerant, detergent-stable, alkaline protease by Paenibacillus sp.
[[abstract]]Fishery processing by-products have been of great interest to researchers due to
their beneficial applications in many fields. In this study, five types of marine by-products,
including demineralized crab shell, demineralized shrimp shell, shrimp head, shrimp shell, and squid
pen, provided sources of carbon and nitrogen nutrition by producing a protease from Paenibacillus sp.
TKU047. Strain TKU047 demonstrated the highest protease productivity (2.98 U/mL) when cultured
for two days on a medium containing 0.5% of shrimp head powder (SHP). The mass of TKU047
protease was determined to be 32 kDa (approximately). TKU047 protease displayed optimal activity
at 70–80 °C and pH 9, with a pH range of stability from 6 to 11. TKU047 protease also showed stability
in solutions containing surfactants and detergents. Based on its excellent properties, Paenibacillus sp.
TKU047 protease may be a feasible candidate for inclusion in laundry detergents.[[sponsorship]]MOST[[notice]]補æ£å®Œ
Blockchain-based Secure Platform for Coalition Loyalty Program Management
In this paper, we propose a novel blockchain-based platform for the coalition loyalty program management. The platform allows the customers to freely exchange loyalty points from different existing blockchain-based loyalty programs by utilizing the sidechain technology. Moreover, by adopting the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, we can further increase customer engagement by allowing the customers to participate in the consensus process to earn additional tokens. However, this might lead to situations where the customers centralize all tokens to a single chain/loyalty program if the chain offers more rewards for consensus participation. Through security and performance analyses, we show that such centralization of stakes poses a threat to the security and performance of the platform. Therefore, we develop a non-cooperative game model to analyze the rational behavior of the users. We reveal that the consensus participation rewards govern the user behavior and the decentralization of the system. Numerical experiments confirm our analytical results and show that the ratios between the consensus rewards have a significant impact on the system’s security and performance
Gender differences in climate change perception and adaptation strategies: A case study on three provinces in Vietnam’s Mekong River Delta
This brief summarizes the findings of a project output for the Policy Information and Response Platform on Climate Change and Rice in ASEAN and its Member Countries (PIRCCA), being implemented by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The report focuses on the results of the survey conducted in the first half of 2015 on climate change perception and adaptation strategies of male and female farmers in three selected provinces across the Mekong River Delta (MRD) region in Vietnam: An Giang, Bac Lieu, and Tra Vihn. The survey gathered information on current climate change perceptions and adaptation strategies and gaps between the identified male and female respondents
Comparison on Energy Economy and Vibration Characteristics of Electric and Hydraulic in-Wheel Drive Vehicles
This paper compares the energy economy and vertical vibration characteristics of in-wheel drive electric vehicles (IEVs), in-wheel drive electric hydraulic hybrid vehicles (IHVs) and centralized drive electric vehicles (CEVs). The dynamic programming (DP) algorithm is used to explore the optimal energy consumption of each vehicle. The energy economy analysis shows that the IEV consumes more energy than the CEV due to its relatively lower electric motor efficiency, even with fewer driveline components. The IHV consumes much more energy than the IEV and CEV because of the energy loss in the hydraulic driveline. The vertical vibration analysis demonstrates that both IEV and IHV degrade the vehicle driving comfort due to increased unsprung mass. Taking the advantage of high power density of the hydraulic motor, IHV have less unsprung mass when compared with the IEV, which helps to mitigate the vibration problems caused by increased unsprung mas
Phytophthora antagonism of endophytic bacteria isolated from roots of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.).
[[abstract]]Abstract: In this study, 90 root samples were collected from 30 black pepper farms in three provinces in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. A total of 352 endophytic bacteria were isolated and their morphology described. An in vitro assay on the ntifungal activity of these isolates was then conducted and 47 isolates were found to have antagonistic activity on Phytophthora fungi. The antifungal activity of the 47 isolates was evaluated in vivo by shoot assay. Among these 47 isolates, 6 were selected for further investigation. The six isolates were classified and
identified by sequencing the 16S RNA gene and phylogeny. The results showed that all six endophytic bacteria belong to the following species of Bacillus genus: B. siamensis, B. amyloliquefaciens, B. velezenis, and B. methylotrophiycus. Enzymatic activity related to the antifungal activity of the six potent isolates was determined; it showed that they possessed high chitinase and protease activities. These isolates were
applied for black pepper seedlings in greenhouse. The results showed three promising isolates: B. siamensis EB.CP6, B. velezensis EB.KN12, and B. methylotrophycus EB.KN13. Black pepper seedlings
treated with the promising bacteria had the lowest rate of root disease (8.45–11.21%) and lower fatal rate (11.11–15.55%) compared to the control group (24.81% and 24.44%). In addition, the three
promising isolates strongly affected the growth of the black pepper seedlings in greenhouse. The plant height, length of roots, and fresh biomass of the seedlings in the treated plots were higher than
those in the control plots. Thus, the endophytic bacterial isolates have the potential to act as biocontrol agent for the sustainable production of black pepper.[[sponsorship]]科技部[[notice]]補æ£å®Œ
Electromagnetic form factor of pion from N_f=2+1 dynamical flavor QCD
We present a calculation of the electromagnetic form factor of the pion in
flavor lattice QCD. Calculations are made on the PACS-CS gauge field
configurations generated using Iwasaki gauge action and Wilson-clover quark
action on a lattice volume with the lattice spacing estimated as
fm at the physical point. Measurements of the form factor are
made using the technique of partially twisted boundary condition to reach small
momentum transfer as well as periodic boundary condition with integer momenta.
Additional improvements including random wall source techniques and a judicious
choice of momenta carried by the incoming and outgoing quarks are employed for
error reduction. Analyzing the form factor data for the pion mass at MeV and 296 MeV, we find that the NNLO SU(2) chiral perturbation
theory fit yields for the pion charge radius
at the physical pion mass. Albeit the error is quite large, this is consistent
with the experimental value of . Below MeV, we find that statistical fluctuations in the pion two- and
three-point functions become too large to extract statistically meaningful
averages on a spatial volume. We carry out a sample calculation on a
lattice with the quark masses close to the physical point, which
suggests that form factor calculations at the physical point become feasible by
enlarging lattice sizes to .Comment: 28 pages, 14 figure
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