UAV Swarm-Enabled Aerial CoMP: A Physical Layer Security Perspective

Unlike aerial base station enabled by a single unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), aerial coordinated multiple points (CoMP) can be enabled by a UAV swarm. In this case, the management of multiple UAVs is important. This paper considers the power allocation strategy for a UAV swarm-enabled aerial network to enhance the physical layer security of the downlink transmission, where an eavesdropper moves following the trajectory of the swarm for better eavesdropping. Unlike existing works, we use only the large-scale channel state information (CSI) and maximize the secrecy throughput in a whole-trajectory-oriented manner. The overall transmission energy constraint on each UAV and the total transmission duration for all the legitimate users are considered. The non-convexity of the formulated problem is solved by using max-min optimization with iteration. Both the transmission power of desired signals and artificial noise (AN) are derived iteratively. Simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness of our proposed power allocation algorithm and to show the advantage of aerial CoMP by using only the large-scale CSI

The relationship between future self-continuity and intention to use Internet wealth management: The mediating role of tolerance of uncertainty and trait anxiety

This study aimed to analyze the mediating effect of tolerance of uncertainty (TU) and trait anxiety (TA) on future self-continuity (FSC) and intention to use Internet wealth management (IUIWM) systems. A questionnaire survey was distributed online and a total of 388 participants completed questionnaire, The questionnaire included the following scales: Chinese version of the FSC, Intention to Use the Internet Wealth Management, TU, and TA. Pearson correlation was used to investigate the correlation coefficient between variables while the sequential regression method was used to analyze relationship between variables. To analyze the collected data, the SPSS 26.0 was used. A two-step procedure was applied to analyze the mediation effect. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the measurement model. Afterward, the Maximum Likelihood method was used for path analysis, and the Bias-corrected Bootstrap method was used to investigate determine the estimated value and confidence interval of the mediating effect

Increased CD14+HLA-DR−/low Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Correlate With Disease Severity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients in an iNOS-Dependent Manner

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) comprise of a population of cells, which suppress the innate and adaptive immune system via different mechanisms. MDSCs are accumulated under pathological conditions. The present study aimed to clarify the pathological role of MDSCs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Consequently, the level of circulating M-MDSCs was significantly increased in newly diagnosed SLE patients as compared to healthy controls. An elevated level of M-MDSCs was positively correlated with the disease severity in SLE patients and an immunosuppressive role was exerted in an iNOS-dependent manner. The decrease in the number of M-MDSCs after therapy rendered them as an indicator for the efficacy of treatment. These results demonstrated that M-MDSCs participated in the pathological progress in SLE patients. Thus, MDSCs are attractive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for SLE patients

Synthesis of sago starch laurate in densified carbon dioxide

Fatty acid starch esters are potential candidates for novel biodegradable plastics. This work describes a systematic study on the synthesis of starch laurate using sago starch and vinyl laurate (VL) in densified CO2 as a green solvent. The phase behavior of the CO2-VL system was investigated in a high pressure view cell and the critical point of the CO2-VL mixtures was shown to increase with temperature. Within the experimental window, sago starch laurate with a maximum degree of substitution (DS) of 0.97 is obtained. To the best of our knowledge, such high DS values have never been reported before for reactions in densified CO2. Moreover, the presence of laurate chains in the starch backbone has a profound influence on the degree of crystallinity, the melt and crystallization temperature, and the degradation temperature of the final products. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:291-299, 2018. (c) 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers</p

Effect of Salvianolic Acid b and Paeonol on Blood Lipid Metabolism and Hemorrheology in Myocardial Ischemia Rabbits Induced by Pituitruin

The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of salvianolic acid b and paeonol on coronary disease. The ischemia myocardial animal model is induced by administering pituitrin (20 μg·kg−1) intravenously via the abdominal vein. A combination of salvianolic acid b and paeonol (CSAP) (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg BW) was administrated to experimental rabbits. Biochemical indices were evaluated during six weeks of intervention. We found that the compound of salvianolic acid b and paeonol (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg BW) can markedly and dose-dependently reduce fibrinogen and malonaldehyde levels, increase the HDL level, improve blood viscosity and plasma viscosity in rabbits. In addition, the medicine can still reduce the ratio of NO/ET and the contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) in a dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that compound of salvianolic acid b and paeonol (5, 10 and 15 mg/kg BW) can improve the blood hemorrheology, decrease oxidative injury and repair the function of blood vessel endothelium, and subsequently prevent the development of Coronary disease

Gastric Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Contributes to Inhibition of Ghrelin Expression Induced by Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass

Background/Aims: Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, RYGB, is the most effective strategy to control body weight in morbid obesity. RYGB leads to rapid improvement of glycemic status and weight loss, which are largely attributed to the alteration of gastrointestinal hormones including ghrelin. The current study examined potential mechanisms of altered ghrelin synthesis after RYGB. Methods: Gastric mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, ghrelin synthesis and secretion were determined in lean or obese male mice with or without RYGB operation, as well as in obese patients pre- and post-RYGB surgery. Ghrelin expression and mTOR signaling were investigated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Ghrelin mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Plasma ghrelin was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Results: mTOR activity in the gastric fundus was significantly lower than in the forestomachs. Both of them were decreased after 24h fasting. A significant negative correlation was found between gastric levels of phospho-S6 (phospho-S6 ribosomal protein) and proghrelin during changes of energy status. mTOR activity was activated, whereas ghrelin expression was inhibited by Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass in both rodents and human beings. Increment of ghrelin synthesis and decline of mTOR signaling induced by rapamycin were significantly reversed by RYGB in both lean and obese mice. Administration of Ad-S6K1 (adenovirus-mediated p70 ribosomal protein subunit 6 kinase 1) from tail vein suppressed the expression of ghrelin in RYGB-operated mice relative to control animals. Conclusion: mTOR is therefore a gastric fuel sensor whose activity is linked to the regulation of ghrelin after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

Stabilization mechanism of water-in-oil emulsions by medium- and long-chain diacylglycerol: post-crystallization vs. pre-crystallization

The restriction of using trans-fatty acid is driving the food industries to develop natural, healthy and efficient emulsifiers for the fabrication of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. In this work, medium- and long-chain diacylglycerol (MLCD) with high nutritional features and surface activities was used for the preparation of emulsion. The influence of crystallization procedures (pre- or post-crystallization) on the emulsions’ stability was examined in terms of the change in droplet size distribution (DSD), sedimentation, microstructure and thermal properties. The sedimentation and coalescence of emulsions were reduced when higher amount (8%, w/w) of MLCD was used. The post-crystallized emulsions showed narrower DSD and less sedimentation compared to the pre-crystallized emulsions. Pre-crystallized emulsion prepared using shear speed of 10,000 rpm showed improved stability due to the reduction of crystal size. MLCD was able to form typical interfacial crystal shells in post-crystallized emulsions whereas only large crystals were formed in the continuous phase in the pre-crystallizations. Therefore, the post-crystallized emulsions had higher thickness and sedimentation was effectively reduced. The findings in this work could be the basis for the future application of MLCD and provide insights on how the physical stabilities of emulsions can be affected when different crystallization processes are employed