A Multidomain Survivable Virtual Network Mapping Algorithm

Although the existing networks are more often deployed in the multidomain environment, most of existing researches focus on single-domain networks and there are no appropriate solutions for the multidomain virtual network mapping problem. In fact, most studies assume that the underlying network can operate without any interruption. However, physical networks cannot ensure the normal provision of network services for external reasons and traditional single-domain networks have difficulties to meet user needs, especially for the high security requirements of the network transmission. In order to solve the above problems, this paper proposes a survivable virtual network mapping algorithm (IntD-GRC-SVNE) that implements multidomain mapping in network virtualization. IntD-GRC-SVNE maps the virtual communication networks onto different domain networks and provides backup resources for virtual links which improve the survivability of the special networks. Simulation results show that IntD-GRC-SVNE can not only improve the survivability of multidomain communications network but also render the network load more balanced and greatly improve the network acceptance rate due to employment of GRC (global resource capacity)

Prevalence and factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant threats to both the physical and psychological health of healthcare workers working in the front-line combating COVID-19. However, studies regarding the medium to long term impact of COVID-19 on mental health among healthcare workers are limited. Therefore, we conducted this cross-sectional survey to investigate the prevalence, factors and impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 8 months after the end of the outbreak in Wuhan, China.MethodsA web-based questionnaire was delivered as a link via the communication application WeChat to those healthcare workers who worked at several COVID-19 units during the outbreak (from December 2019 to April 2020) in Wuhan, China. The questionnaire included questions on social-demographic data, the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5 (PCL-5), the family care index questionnaire (Adaptation, Partnership, Growth, Affection and Resolve, APGAR), and the quality-of-life scale (QOL). The prevalence, risk and protective factors, and impact of PTSD on healthcare workers were subsequently analyzed.ResultsAmong the 659 participants, 90 healthcare workers were still suffering from PTSD 8 months after the end of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, in which avoidance and negative impact were the most affected dimensions. Suffering from chronic disease, experiencing social isolation, and job dissatisfaction came up as independent risk factors for PTSD, while obtaining COVID-19 related information at an appropriate frequency, good family function, and working in well-prepared mobile cabin hospitals served as protective factors. The impact of PTSD on COVID-19 exposed healthcare workers was apparent by shortened sleeping time, feeling of loneliness, poorer quality of life and intention to resign.ConclusionsEight months after the end of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, the level of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 was still high. Apart from the commonly recognized risk factors, comorbid chronic disease was identified as a new independent risk factor for developing PTSD. For countries where the pandemic is still ongoing or in case of future outbreaks of new communicable diseases, this study may contribute to preventing cases of PTSD in healthcare workers exposed to infectious diseases under such circumstances

Shewanella irciniae sp nov., a novel member of the family Shewanellaceae, isolated from the marine sponge Ircinia dendroides in the Bay of Villefranche, Mediterranean Sea

Strain UST040317-058(T), comprising non-pigmented, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative cells that are motile by means of single polar flagella, was isolated from the surface of a marine sponge (Ircinia dendroides) collected from the Mediterranean Sea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis placed the strain in a separate cluster with the recognized bacterium Shewanella algae IAM 14159(T), with which it showed a sequence similarity of 95.0 %. The sequence similarity between strain UST040317-058(T) and its other (six) closest relatives ranged from 91.6 to 93.8 %. Strain UST040317-058(T) showed oxidase, catalase and gelatinase activities. The typical respiratory quinones for shewanellas, menaquinone MK-7 and ubiquinones Q-7 and Q-8, were also detected. The predominant fatty acids in strain UST040317-058(T) were i15 : 0, 16 : 0, 17 : 1omega8c and summed feature 3 (comprising i15 : 0 2-OH and/or 16 : 1omega7c), altogether representing 56.9 % of the total. The DNA G+C content was 39.9 mol%. The strain could be differentiated from other Shewanella species by its inability to reduce nitrate or produce H(2)S and by 10-22 additional phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of the phylogenetic and phenotypic data presented in this study, strain UST040317-058(T) represents a novel species in the genus Shewanella, for which the name Shewanella irciniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is UST040317-058(T) (=JCM 13528(T)=NRRL B-41466(T))

Diversity and Functional Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Lepidopteran Insects

Lepidopteran insects are one of the most widespread and speciose lineages on Earth, with many common pests and beneficial insect species. The evolutionary success of their diversification depends on the essential functions of gut microorganisms. This diverse gut microbiota of lepidopteran insects provides benefits in nutrition and reproductive regulation and plays an important role in the defence against pathogens, enhancing host immune homeostasis. In addition, gut symbionts have shown promising applications in the development of novel tools for biological control, biodegradation of waste, and blocking the transmission of insect-borne diseases. Even though most microbial symbionts are unculturable, the rapidly expanding catalogue of microbial genomes and the application of modern genetic techniques offer a viable alternative for studying these microbes. Here, we discuss the gut structure and microbial diversity of lepidopteran insects, as well as advances in the understanding of symbiotic relationships and interactions between hosts and symbionts. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the function of the gut microbiota, including in host nutrition and metabolism, immune defence, and potential mechanisms of detoxification. Due to the relevance of lepidopteran pests in agricultural production, it can be expected that the research on the interactions between lepidopteran insects and their gut microbiota will be used for biological pest control and protection of beneficial insects in the future

A dynamic and resource sharing virtual network mapping algorithm

Network virtualization can effectively establish dedicated virtual networks to implement various network functions. However, the existing research works have some shortcomings, for example, although computing resource properties of individual nodes are considered, node storage properties and the network topology properties are usually ignored in Virtual Network (VN) modelling, which leads to the inaccurate measurement of node availability and priority. In addition, most static virtual network mapping methods allocate fixed resources to users during the entire life cycle, and the users’ actual resource requirements vary with the workload, which results in resource allocation redundancy. Based on the above analysis, in this paper, we propose a dynamic resource sharing virtual network mapping algorithm named NMA-PRS-VNE, first, we construct a new, more realistic network framework in which the properties of nodes include computing resources, storage resources and topology properties. In the node mapping process, three properties of the node are used to measure its mapping ability. Second, we consider the resources of adjacent nodes and links instead of the traditional method of measuring the availability and priority of nodes by considering only the resource properties, so as to more accurately select the physical mapping nodes that meet the constraints and conditions and improve the success rate of subsequent link mapping. Finally, we divide the resource requirements of Virtual Network Requests (VNRs) into basic sub-requirements and variable sub-variable requirements to complete dynamic resource allocation. The former represents monopolizing resource requirements by the VNRs, while the latter represents shared resources by many VNRs with the probability of occupying resources, where we keep a balance between resource sharing and collision among users by calculating the collision probability. Simulation results show that the proposed NMA-PRS-VNE can increase the average acceptance rate and network revenue by 15% and 38%, and reduce the network cost and link pressure by 25% and 17%

Passively Mode-Locked Solid-State Laser with Absorption Tunable Graphene Saturable Absorber Mirror

| openaire: EC/H2020/820423/EU//S2QUIPTwo-dimensional layered materials have attracted huge interest in the generation of ultrafast laser for their excellent saturable absorption properties. However, it is still challenging to precisely control their saturable absorption properties. Here, by alternatively changing the electric field intensity on the surface of high-reflection mirror, we successfully control the nonlinear absorption properties (e.g., saturable fluence, modulation depth) of graphene-based saturable absorber mirrors (GSAM) at the optical telecommunication wavelength of 1.3 mu m and their applications in solid-state lasers for the first time. Modulation depth of 1.2% is obtained from a GSAM with deposition of a lambda/8 ( = 1.3 mu m) thick SiO2 layer between the monolayer graphene and a high-reflection mirror, while modulation depth is increased to 4.3% with a lambda/4 thick SiO2 layer insertion in another GSAM. Pulses with the duration of 20 ps (lambda/8 thick SiO2 insertion) and 7.4 ps (lambda/4 thick SiO2 insertion) are achieved, respectively, based on the two mirrors. Our results indicate that this method is easy and reliable to versatility modulate the saturable absorption properties of other two-dimensional layered materials beyond graphene for the generation of ultrafast solid-state lasers.Peer reviewe

Unusual selective reactivity of the rare-earth metal complexes bearing a ligand with multiple functionalities

International audienceLigands play a key role in controlling activity of organometallic complexes so that development of new ligands to overcome the challenge is the main topic of modern chemistry. The first example of 1,1-hydride migratory insertion and intramolecular redox reaction has been realized in this work by applying a new ligand in rare-earth metal chemistry. The novel rare-earth metal complexes LMesRECH2TMS(THF) (RE = Y (1a), Dy (1b), Er (1c), Yb (1d), LMes = 1-(3-(2,6-iPr2C6H3N=CH)C8H4N)-CH2CH2-3-(2-CH2—4,6-Me2C6H2)-(N(CH)2NC), THF = tetrahydrofuran) bearing a ligand with imino, indolyl, NHC (N-heterocyclic carbene) multiple functionalities were synthesized and characterized. Treatment of complexes 1 with silanes (PhSiH3 or PhSiH2Me or PhSiD3) selectively produced the unprecedented 1,1-hydride (or deuterated H) migratory insertion of the indolyl moiety of the novel unsymmetrical dinuclear rare-earth metal complexes 2. The complex 2a reacts with Ph2C-O to give the selective C-O double bond insertion to the RE-Co-methylene-Mes bond product 3a which further reacts with another Ph2C-O (or DMAP, 4-N, N-dimethylaminopyridine) affording the novel μ-η2:η3-dianionic 3-iminoindolyl dinuclear rare-earth metal complex 4a. The latter is formed through an unusual intramolecular redox reaction (through electron migration from the 2-carbanion of the indolyl ring to the imino motif) resulting in the re-aromatization of the indolyl ring

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Cascade Reaction to Carbazoles and Naphthalenes via Dehydrative [3 + 3]-Annulation

A novel Lewis acid catalyzed dehydrative [3 + 3]-annulation of readily available benzylic alcohols and propargylic alcohols was developed to give polysubstituted carbazoles and naphthalenes in moderate to good yields with water as the only byproduct. The reaction was presumed to proceed via a cascade process involving Friedel–Crafts-type allenylation, 1,5-hydride shift, 6π-eletrocyclization, and Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement