Opportunistic Access Point Selection for Mobile Edge Computing Networks

In this paper, we investigate a mobile edge computing (MEC) network with two computational access points (CAPs), where the source is equipped with multiple antennas and it has some computational tasks to be accomplished by the CAPs through Nakagami-m distributed wireless links. Since the MEC network involves both communication and computation, we first define the outage probability by taking into account the joint impact of latency and energy consumption. From this new definition, we then employ receiver antenna selection (RAS) or maximal ratio combining (MRC) at the receiver, and apply selection combining (SC) or switch-and-stay combining (SSC) protocol to choose a CAP to accomplish the computational task from the source. For both protocols along with the RAS and MRC, we further analyze the network performance by deriving new and easy-to-use analytical expressions for the outage probability over Nakagami-m fading channels, and study the impact of the network parameters on the outage performance. Furthermore, we provide the asymptotic outage probability in the low regime of noise power, from which we obtain some important insights on the system design. Finally, simulations and numerical results are demonstrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. It is shown that the number of transmit antenna and Nakagami parameter can help reduce the latency and energy consumption effectively, and the SSC protocol can achieve the same performance as the SC protocol with proper switching thresholds of latency and energy consumption

Structure and Transport in Coatings from Multiscale Computed Tomography of Coatings-New Perspectives for Eelectrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy Modeling?

Computed Tomography (CT) is an approach that has been extensively applied in many areas of science from understanding structures in living organisms to materials science. In materials science, the study of structures within coatings presents challenges on at least two different levels. First, the structure of the coatings needs to be understood from the atomic scale, where dissolution reactions begin, up to length scales which cover the aggregation of inhibitors and other additives, which take place at ∼10−5 m, i.e. 4 to 5 orders of magnitude. CT is a favourable imaging technique since it allows multiscale information to be obtained non-destructively down to tens of nanometres. In this study X-ray absorption contrast imaging has been used to examine structures created using strontium chromate (SrCrO4) particles embedded in an epoxy film. It has been found that SrCrO4 particles can form clusters that extend a few hundred microns in the plane of the film, span the thickness of the film and have fractal characteristics. There are also volumes of low density epoxy of similar sizes and characteristics to the SrCrO4 clusters. The SrCrO4 clusters have a strong influence on the leaching behaviour since the release changes with time. Initially, leaching is controlled by direct dissolution but, as the clusters dissolve, the release is dominated by the fractal dimension of the cluster. The dissolved clusters leave behind voids filled with electrolyte that provide alternative transport pathways for corrosive ions through the polymer. In this paper, the nature of these clusters will be reviewed and the implication for transport properties and electrochemical assessment will be explored

Effect of lifestyle factors on risk of mortality associated with influenza in elderly people

published_or_final_versio

Effect modifications of smoking on risk of mortality associated with influenza

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Influenza is well known to cause heavy disease burden in both temperate and tropical/subtropical regions. Although smoking has been found to increase susceptibility to influenza infection, its role in modifying the mortality risk associated with influenza remains unexplored. This study examined the effect modifications of cigarette smoking on influenza-associated mortality in a cohort of older …postprin

Effect of influenza on cardiorespiratory and all-cause mortality in Hong Kong, Singapore and Guangzhou.

1. Using a common modelling approach, mortality attributable to influenza was higher in the two subtropical cities Guangzhou and Hong Kong than in the tropical city Singapore. 2. The virus activity appeared more synchronised in subtropical cities, whereas seasonality of influenza tended to be less marked in the tropical city. 3. High temperature was associated with increased mortality after influenza infection in Hong Kong, whereas relative humidity was an effect modifier for influenza in Guangzhou. No effect modification was found for Singapore. 4. Seasonal and environmental factors probably play a more important role than socioeconomic factors in regulating seasonality and disease burden of influenza. Further studies are needed in identifying the mechanism behind the regulatory role of environmental factors.published_or_final_versio

Genetic Diversity of the ORF5 Gene of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Isolates in Southwest China from 2007 to 2009

To gain insight into the molecular epidemiology and possible mechanisms of genetic variation of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) in Yunnan Province of China, the ORF5 gene of 32 PRRSV isolates from clinical samples collected from 2007 to 2009 were sequenced and analyzed. Nucleotide and amino acid analyses were carried out on 32 isolates and representative strains of the North American genotype, European genotype and two representative Chinese isolates. Results revealed that these isolates share 86.9–99.0% nucleotide and 87.5–98.0% amino acid identity with VR-2332 the prototypical North American PRRSV, 61.7–62.9% and 54.3–57.8% with Lelystad virus (LV) the representative strain of European genotype, 91.2–95.4% and 90.0–94.5% with CH-1a that was isolated in mainland China in 1996, 88.1–99.3% and 85.5–99.0% with JX-A1 the representative strain of High pathogenic PRRSV in China, and 86.2–99.8% and 85.5–100.0% between isolated strains of different years, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all 32 PRRSV isolates belonged to the North American genotype and were further divided into two different subgenotypes. Subgenotype 1 comprised twenty two Yunnan isolates which divided into two branches. Subgenotype 2 comprised ten isolates which closely related to the RespPRRS vaccine and its parent strain VR-2332. The functional domains of GP5 such as the signal peptide, ectodomain, transmembrane regions and endodomain were identified and some motifs in GP5 with known functions, such as primary neutralizing epitope (PNE) and decoy epitope were also further analyzed. Our study shown the great genetic diversity of PRRSV in southwest China, rendering the guide for control and prevention of this disease

Public Health and Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA): A Multicity Study of Short-Term Effects of Air Pollution on Mortality

Background and Objectives: Although the deleterious effects of air pollution from fossil fuel combustion have been demonstrated in many Western nations, fewer studies have been conducted in Asia. The Public Health and Air Pollution in Asia (PAPA) project assessed the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution on daily mortality in Bangkok, Thailand, and in three cities in China: Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Wuhan. Methods: Poisson regression models incorporating natural spline smoothing functions were used to adjust for seasonality and other time-varying covariates that might confound the association between air pollution and mortality. Effect estimates were determined for each city and then for the cities combined using a random effects method. Results: In individual cities, associations were detected between most of the pollutants [nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter ≤ 10 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM 10), and ozone] and most health outcomes under study (i.e., all natural-cause, cardiovascular, and respiratory mortality). The city-combined effects of the four pollutants tended to be equal or greater than those identified in studies conducted in Western industrial nations. In addition, residents of Asian cities are likely to have higher exposures to air pollution than those in Western industrial nations because they spend more time outdoors and less time in air conditioning. Conclusions: Although the social and environmental conditions may be quite different, it is reasonable apply estimates derived from previous health effect of air pollution studies in the West to Asia.published_or_final_versio

Epidemiology, Quality and Reporting Characteristics of Systematic Reviews of Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions Published in Chinese Journals

Systematic reviews (SRs) of TCM have become increasingly popular in China and have been published in large numbers. This review provides the first examination of epidemiological characteristics of these SRs as well as compliance with the PRISMA and AMSTAR guidelines.To examine epidemiological and reporting characteristics as well as methodological quality of SRs of TCM published in Chinese journals.Four Chinese databases were searched (CBM, CSJD, CJFD and Wanfang Database) for SRs of TCM, from inception through Dec 2009. Data were extracted into Excel spreadsheets. The PRISMA and AMSTAR checklists were used to assess reporting characteristics and methodological quality, respectively.A total of 369 SRs were identified, most (97.6%) of which used the terms systematic review or meta-analysis in the title. None of the reviews had been updated. Half (49.8%) were written by clinicians and nearly half (47.7%) were reported in specialty journals. The impact factors of 45.8% of the journals published in were zero. The most commonly treated conditions were diseases of the circulatory and digestive disease. Funding sources were not reported for any reviews. Most (68.8%) reported information about quality assessment, while less than half (43.6%) reported assessing for publication bias. Statistical mistakes appeared in one-third (29.3%) of reviews and most (91.9%) did not report on conflict of interest.While many SRs of TCM interventions have been published in Chinese journals, the quality of these reviews is troubling. As a potential key source of information for clinicians and researchers, not only were many of these reviews incomplete, some contained mistakes or were misleading. Focusing on improving the quality of SRs of TCM, rather than continuing to publish them in great quantity, is urgently needed in order to increase the value of these studies

CTGF is a central mediator of tissue remodeling and fibrosis and its inhibition can reverse the process of fibrosis

CTGF is a secreted matricellular protein with very complex biology. It has been shown to modulate many signaling pathways leading to cell adhesion and migration, angiogenesis, myofibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling, which together lead to tissue remodeling and fibrosis. It has been reported in the literature that inhibition of CTGF expression by siRNA prevents CCl4-induced liver fibrosis and can reverse fibrosis when administered after significant collagen deposition is observed. A monoclonal antibody to CTGF that is currently in clinical development (FG-3019) has demonstrated the ability to reverse vascular stiffening and improve cardiac function in a rat model of diabetic complications. FG-3019 has also exhibited activity in a murine radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis model. When FG-3019 was administered to mice after a significant radiation-induced increase in lung density could be observed by CT imaging, the density of the lungs was observed to decrease over the period during which the antibody was administered and to remain stable after therapy had ceased. When considered together, these data indicate that inhibition of CTGF can prevent and reverse the process of fibrosis