Security and blockchain convergence with internet of multimedia things : current trends, research challenges and future directions

The Internet of Multimedia Things (IoMT) orchestration enables the integration of systems, software, cloud, and smart sensors into a single platform. The IoMT deals with scalar as well as multimedia data. In these networks, sensor-embedded devices and their data face numerous challenges when it comes to security. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the existing literature for IoMT is presented in the context of security and blockchain. The latest literature on all three aspects of security, i.e., authentication, privacy, and trust is provided to explore the challenges experienced by multimedia data. The convergence of blockchain and IoMT along with multimedia-enabled blockchain platforms are discussed for emerging applications. To highlight the significance of this survey, large-scale commercial projects focused on security and blockchain for multimedia applications are reviewed. The shortcomings of these projects are explored and suggestions for further improvement are provided. Based on the aforementioned discussion, we present our own case study for healthcare industry: a theoretical framework having security and blockchain as key enablers. The case study reflects the importance of security and blockchain in multimedia applications of healthcare sector. Finally, we discuss the convergence of emerging technologies with security, blockchain and IoMT to visualize the future of tomorrow's applications. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

The mouse and ferret models for studying the novel avian-origin human influenza A (H7N9) virus.

BackgroundThe current study was conducted to establish animal models (including mouse and ferret) for the novel avian-origin H7N9 influenza virus.FindingsA/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) virus was administered by intranasal instillation to groups of mice and ferrets, and animals developed typical clinical signs including body weight loss (mice and ferrets), ruffled fur (mice), sneezing (ferrets), and death (mice). Peak virus shedding from respiratory tract was observed on 2 days post inoculation (d.p.i.) for mice and 3-5 d.p.i. for ferrets. Virus could also be detected in brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and intestine from inoculated mice, and in heart, liver, and olfactory bulb from inoculated ferrets. The inoculation of H7N9 could elicit seroconversion titers up to 1280 in ferrets and 160 in mice. Leukopenia, significantly reduced lymphocytes but increased neutrophils were also observed in mouse and ferret models.ConclusionsThe mouse and ferret model enables detailed studies of the pathogenesis of this illness and lay the foundation for drug or vaccine evaluation

Anti-Cocaine Compositions and Treatment

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally relate to anti-cocaine therapeutics. Specifically, some embodiments of the invention relate to highly efficient, thermostable, and long-lasting cocaine esterase (CocE) mutants that can protect against the toxic and reinforcing effects of cocaine in subjects. Provided herein are mutant CocE polypeptides displaying thermostable esterase activity. Also provided are methods of treating cocaine-induced conditions in a subject in need via administration of mutant CocE as well as methods for high-throughput screening of candidate esterase polypeptides

On the Road to 6G: Visions, Requirements, Key Technologies and Testbeds

Fifth generation (5G) mobile communication systems have entered the stage of commercial development, providing users with new services and improved user experiences as well as offering a host of novel opportunities to various industries. However, 5G still faces many challenges. To address these challenges, international industrial, academic, and standards organizations have commenced research on sixth generation (6G) wireless communication systems. A series of white papers and survey papers have been published, which aim to define 6G in terms of requirements, application scenarios, key technologies, etc. Although ITU-R has been working on the 6G vision and it is expected to reach a consensus on what 6G will be by mid-2023, the related global discussions are still wide open and the existing literature has identified numerous open issues. This paper first provides a comprehensive portrayal of the 6G vision, technical requirements, and application scenarios, covering the current common understanding of 6G. Then, a critical appraisal of the 6G network architecture and key technologies is presented. Furthermore, existing testbeds and advanced 6G verification platforms are detailed for the first time. In addition, future research directions and open challenges are identified for stimulating the on-going global debate. Finally, lessons learned to date concerning 6G networks are discussed

Laser Direct Writing of Visible Spin Defects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride for Applications in Spin-Based Technologies

Optically addressable spins in two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) attract widespread attention for their potential advantage in on-chip quantum devices, such as quantum sensors and quantum network. A variety of spin defects have been found in hBN, but no convenient and deterministic generation methods have been reported for other defects except negatively charged boron vacancy ($V_B^-$). Here we report that by using femtosecond laser direct writing technology, we can deterministically create spin defect ensembles with spectra range from 550 nm to 800 nm on nanoscale hBN flakes. Positive single-peak optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) signals are detected in the presence of magnetic field perpendicular to the substrate, and the contrast can reach 0.8%. With the appropriate thickness of hBN flakes, substrate and femtosecond laser pulse energy, we can deterministically and efficiently generate bright spin defect array. Our results provide a convenient deterministic method to create spin defects in hBN, which will motivate more endeavors for future researches and applications of spin-based technologies such as quantum magnetometer array

Conditionally Immortalized Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts Retain Proliferative Activity without Compromising Multipotent Differentiation Potential

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells which reside in many tissues and can give rise to multiple lineages including bone, cartilage and adipose. Although MSCs have attracted significant attention for basic and translational research, primary MSCs have limited life span in culture which hampers MSCs' broader applications. Here, we investigate if mouse mesenchymal progenitors can be conditionally immortalized with SV40 large T antigen and maintain long-term cell proliferation without compromising their multipotency. Using the system which expresses SV40 large T antigen flanked with Cre/loxP sites, we demonstrate that mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) can be efficiently immortalized by SV40 large T antigen. The conditionally immortalized MEFs (iMEFs) exhibit an enhanced proliferative activity and maintain long-term cell proliferation, which can be reversed by Cre recombinase. The iMEFs express most MSC markers and retain multipotency as they can differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages under appropriate differentiation conditions in vitro and in vivo. The removal of SV40 large T reduces the differentiation potential of iMEFs possibly due to the decreased progenitor expansion. Furthermore, the iMEFs are apparently not tumorigenic when they are subcutaneously injected into athymic nude mice. Thus, the conditionally immortalized iMEFs not only maintain long-term cell proliferation but also retain the ability to differentiate into multiple lineages. Our results suggest that the reversible immortalization strategy using SV40 large T antigen may be an efficient and safe approach to establishing long-term cell culture of primary mesenchymal progenitors for basic and translational research, as well as for potential clinical applications

<i>Trans</i>-vaccenic acid reprograms CD8⁺ T cells and anti-tumour immunity

Diet-derived nutrients are inextricably linked to human physiology by providing energy and biosynthetic building blocks and by functioning as regulatory molecules. However, the mechanisms by which circulating nutrients in the human body influence specific physiological processes remain largely unknown. Here we use a blood nutrient compound library-based screening approach to demonstrate that dietary trans-vaccenic acid (TVA) directly promotes effector CD8+ T cell function and anti-tumour immunity in vivo. TVA is the predominant form of trans-fatty acids enriched in human milk, but the human body cannot produce TVA endogenously. Circulating TVA in humans is mainly from ruminant-derived foods including beef, lamb and dairy products such as milk and butter, but only around 19% or 12% of dietary TVA is converted to rumenic acid by humans or mice, respectively. Mechanistically, TVA inactivates the cell-surface receptor GPR43, an immunomodulatory G protein-coupled receptor activated by its short-chain fatty acid ligands. TVA thus antagonizes the short-chain fatty acid agonists of GPR43, leading to activation of the cAMP–PKA–CREB axis for enhanced CD8+ T cell function. These findings reveal that diet-derived TVA represents a mechanism for host-extrinsic reprogramming of CD8+ T cells as opposed to the intrahost gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids. TVA thus has translational potential for the treatment of tumours

Genome-wide screening reveals the genetic basis of mammalian embryonic eye development.

BACKGROUND: Microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (MAC) spectrum disease encompasses a group of eye malformations which play a role in childhood visual impairment. Although the predominant cause of eye malformations is known to be heritable in nature, with 80% of cases displaying loss-of-function mutations in the ocular developmental genes OTX2 or SOX2, the genetic abnormalities underlying the remaining cases of MAC are incompletely understood. This study intended to identify the novel genes and pathways required for early eye development. Additionally, pathways involved in eye formation during embryogenesis are also incompletely understood. This study aims to identify the novel genes and pathways required for early eye development through systematic forward screening of the mammalian genome. RESULTS: Query of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) database (data release 17.0, August 01, 2022) identified 74 unique knockout lines (genes) with genetically associated eye defects in mouse embryos. The vast majority of eye abnormalities were small or absent eyes, findings most relevant to MAC spectrum disease in humans. A literature search showed that 27 of the 74 lines had previously published knockout mouse models, of which only 15 had ocular defects identified in the original publications. These 12 previously published gene knockouts with no reported ocular abnormalities and the 47 unpublished knockouts with ocular abnormalities identified by the IMPC represent 59 genes not previously associated with early eye development in mice. Of these 59, we identified 19 genes with a reported human eye phenotype. Overall, mining of the IMPC data yielded 40 previously unimplicated genes linked to mammalian eye development. Bioinformatic analysis showed that several of the IMPC genes colocalized to several protein anabolic and pluripotency pathways in early eye development. Of note, our analysis suggests that the serine-glycine pathway producing glycine, a mitochondrial one-carbon donator to folate one-carbon metabolism (FOCM), is essential for eye formation. CONCLUSIONS: Using genome-wide phenotype screening of single-gene knockout mouse lines, STRING analysis, and bioinformatic methods, this study identified genes heretofore unassociated with MAC phenotypes providing models to research novel molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in eye development. These findings have the potential to hasten the diagnosis and treatment of this congenital blinding disease