Edge and Central Cloud Computing: A Perfect Pairing for High Energy Efficiency and Low-latency

In this paper, we study the coexistence and synergy between edge and central cloud computing in a heterogeneous cellular network (HetNet), which contains a multi-antenna macro base station (MBS), multiple multi-antenna small base stations (SBSs) and multiple single-antenna user equipment (UEs). The SBSs are empowered by edge clouds offering limited computing services for UEs, whereas the MBS provides high-performance central cloud computing services to UEs via a restricted multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) backhaul to their associated SBSs. With processing latency constraints at the central and edge networks, we aim to minimize the system energy consumption used for task offloading and computation. The problem is formulated by jointly optimizing the cloud selection, the UEs' transmit powers, the SBSs' receive beamformers, and the SBSs' transmit covariance matrices, which is {a mixed-integer and non-convex optimization problem}. Based on methods such as decomposition approach and successive pseudoconvex approach, a tractable solution is proposed via an iterative algorithm. The simulation results show that our proposed solution can achieve great performance gain over conventional schemes using edge or central cloud alone. Also, with large-scale antennas at the MBS, the massive MIMO backhaul can significantly reduce the complexity of the proposed algorithm and obtain even better performance.Comment: Accepted in IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communication

Functional miR-142a-3p induces apoptosis and macrophage polarization by targeting tnfaip2 and glut3 in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

In the process of microbial invasion, the inflammation reaction is induced to eliminate the pathogen. However, un-controlled or un-resolved inflammation can lead to tissue damage and death of the host. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are the signaling regulators that prevent the uncontrolled progress of an inflammatory response. Our previous work strongly indicated that miR-142a-3p is related to the immune regulation in grass carp. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-142a-3p was down-regulated after infection by Aeromonas hydrophila. tnfaip2 and glut3 were confirmed as be the target genes of miR-142a-3p, which were confirmed by expression correlation analysis, gene overexpression, and dual luciferase reporter assay. The miR-142a-3p can reduce cell viability and stimulate cell apoptosis by targeting tnfaip2 and glut3. In addition, miR-142a-3p also regulates macrophage polarization induced by A. hydrophila. Our results suggest that miR-142a-3p has multiple functions in host antibacterial immune response. Our research provides further understanding of the molecular mechanisms between miRNAs and their target genes, and provides a new insights for the development of pro-resolution strategies for the treatment of complex inflammatory diseases in fish.31802285, CARROS-45-03info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is the status of gold threatened by Bitcoin?

This paper evinces the ability of gold to avoid risks during periods with great fluctuations in the Bitcoin market. We apply bootstrap full- and subsample rolling-window Granger causality tests to explore the causal relationship between Bitcoin price (BCP) and gold price (GP). The empirical results show that an increase in BCP can cause GP to decrease, indicating that the prosperity of the Bitcoin market undermines the hedging ability of gold. However, a decrease in BCP causes GP to increase, and it also emphasizes that the ability of gold to avoid risks persists. Hence, the status of gold will not be completely threatened by Bitcoin, and they are complementary to each other instead of in competition. In turn, both positive and negative influences of GP on BCP suggest that fluctuations in BCP can be predicted through the gold market. In situations of severe global uncertainty and complicated investment environments, investors can benefit from complementary markets to optimize their asset allocation. Additionally, countries can grasp the trends in Bitcoin and gold prices to prevent large fluctuations in both markets and to reduce the uncertainty of the financial system

Curcumin ameliorates renal impairment in a diabetic rat model

Purpose: To investigate the molecular mechanisms of action of curcumin in regulating kidney injury in diabetic rats.Methods: Diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (STZ). The rats were divided into four groups, labelled as follows: blank control, positive control of curcumin-untreated STZ-rats, curcumin-treated STZ-rats (20 mg/kg), and curcumin-treated STZ-rats (50 mg/kg). After 24 weeks, blood glucose, HbA1c, mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rates, and body weights were measured. Fasting blood samples were also collected for albumin, lipocalin-2, osteopontin, and kidney-injury-molecule 1 (KIM1) The samples were also evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rat kidneys were isolated for assessment of renal impairment by haematoxylin and eosin staining (H&E), TUNEL assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and western blotting.Results: Compared with STZ group, STZ + Cur (50 mg/kg) group significantly decreased blood glucose (284.57 ± 4.28 mg/dL, p < 0.01 vs. STZ), HbA1c (5.22 ± 0.33 %, p < 0.01 vs. STZ), and MAP (76 ± 2 mmHg, p < 0.05 vs. STZ), heart rate (300 ± 6 bpm, p < 0.05 vs. STZ), and body weight (356 ± 6 g, p < 0.01 vs. STZ) were significantly increased. Kidney protein index was significantly increased, indicating improvement of renal pathological damage. The inflammatory and apoptotic cells were less than that of the STZ group in the renal tissues. The mRNA abundance and relative protein expression levels of Wnt 5a and β-catenin were also enhanced. Curcumin regulation of the Wnt signal pathway was inhibited by protease inhibitor, XAV-939.Conclusion: These results demonstrated that curcumin treatment in diabetic rats alleviates renal damage by regulating Wnt signal pathway.Keywords: Curcumin, Renal impairment, Diabetes, Wnt signal pathwa

Deep Learning-Enabled Semantic Communication Systems with Task-Unaware Transmitter and Dynamic Data

Existing deep learning-enabled semantic communication systems often rely on shared background knowledge between the transmitter and receiver that includes empirical data and their associated semantic information. In practice, the semantic information is defined by the pragmatic task of the receiver and cannot be known to the transmitter. The actual observable data at the transmitter can also have non-identical distribution with the empirical data in the shared background knowledge library. To address these practical issues, this paper proposes a new neural network-based semantic communication system for image transmission, where the task is unaware at the transmitter and the data environment is dynamic. The system consists of two main parts, namely the semantic coding (SC) network and the data adaptation (DA) network. The SC network learns how to extract and transmit the semantic information using a receiver-leading training process. By using the domain adaptation technique from transfer learning, the DA network learns how to convert the data observed into a similar form of the empirical data that the SC network can process without retraining. Numerical experiments show that the proposed method can be adaptive to observable datasets while keeping high performance in terms of both data recovery and task execution

An interferon regulatory factor-like binding element restricts Xmyf-5 expression in the posterior somites during Xenopus myogenesis

AbstractThe expression of myf-5, a key component of myogenic regulatory genes, declines progressively in mature somitic cells during vertebrate myogenesis. Little is known about how this down-regulation takes place. Here we provide evidence that an interferon regulatory factor binding element (IRF element) within the Xenopus myf-5 promoter is responsible for the elimination of myf-5 transcription in mature somitic mesoderm of Xenopus embryos. We show that this IRF element mediates the down-regulation of Xmyf-5 transcription in gastrula embryos, and can specifically interact with nuclear proteins of early neurula. Moreover, deletion of this IRF element results in the anterior expansion of reporter gene transcripts within somitic mesoderm in transgenic embryos. Our results, therefore, provide insight into how the negative control of Xmyf-5 expression takes place

Future climate change significantly alters interannual wheat yield variability over half of harvested areas

Climate change affects the spatial and temporal distribution of crop yields, which can critically impair food security across scales. A number of previous studies have assessed the impact of climate change on mean crop yield and future food availability, but much less is known about potential future changes in interannual yield variability. Here, we evaluate future changes in relative interannual global wheat yield variability (the coefficient of variation (CV)) at 0.25° spatial resolution for two representative concentration pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). A multi-model ensemble of crop model emulators based on global process-based models is used to evaluate responses to changes in temperature, precipitation, and CO2. The results indicate that over 60% of harvested areas could experience significant changes in interannual yield variability under a high-emission scenario by the end of the 21st century (2066–2095). About 31% and 44% of harvested areas are projected to undergo significant reductions of relative yield variability under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. In turn, wheat yield is projected to become more unstable across 23% (RCP4.5) and 18% (RCP8.5) of global harvested areas—mostly in hot or low fertilizer input regions, including some of the major breadbasket countries. The major driver of increasing yield CV change is the increase in yield standard deviation, whereas declining yield CV is mostly caused by stronger increases in mean yield than in the standard deviation. Changes in temperature are the dominant cause of change in wheat yield CVs, having a greater influence than changes in precipitation in 53% and 72% of global harvested areas by the end of the century under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, respectively. This research highlights the potential challenges posed by increased yield variability and the need for tailored regional adaptation strategies

Epidemiologic Features of Human Rabies in China from 2015-2021

This study aimed to enhance the current understanding of the epidemiologic characteristics, laboratory diagnostic levels, and changes in pathogenic populations of rabies in China by studying the status of the human rabies epidemic in China from 2015-2021 and provide useful information for guiding rabies disease prevention and control strategies. We analyzed the incidence, distribution, and laboratory testing of human rabies in mainland China using statutory surveillance data from 2015-2021. Based on a literature review, the study summarizes the recent updates of the rabies virus population in each province based on previous monitoring. A total of 3032 rabies cases were reported in China from 2015-2021, with a year-after-year decrease in the total number of cases. Most of the cases (75.19%) were distributed in Hunan, Henan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Yunnan, Jiangsu, Anhui, Guangdong, and Sichuan, with 13 counties (districts) reporting > 50 cases in 7 years. The number of reported counties (districts) decreased from 512 in 2015 to 116 in 2021. Farmers accounted for most of the cases (73%), and the highest proportion of cases (54.62%) occurred in individuals 50-75 years of age. No changes in endemic populations were detected in China. The laboratory diagnosis rate of cases increased from 4.74% in 2015 to 22.93% in 2021. The rabies epidemic in China decreased steadily from 2015-2021, with a marked contraction in the geographic scope. In the future it will be necessary to continue to carry out large-scale dog immunization and strengthen the surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of rabies