20 research outputs found
Model-as-a-Service (MaaS): A Survey
Due to the increased number of parameters and data in the pre-trained model
exceeding a certain level, a foundation model (e.g., a large language model)
can significantly improve downstream task performance and emerge with some
novel special abilities (e.g., deep learning, complex reasoning, and human
alignment) that were not present before. Foundation models are a form of
generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), and Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) has
emerged as a groundbreaking paradigm that revolutionizes the deployment and
utilization of GenAI models. MaaS represents a paradigm shift in how we use AI
technologies and provides a scalable and accessible solution for developers and
users to leverage pre-trained AI models without the need for extensive
infrastructure or expertise in model training. In this paper, the introduction
aims to provide a comprehensive overview of MaaS, its significance, and its
implications for various industries. We provide a brief review of the
development history of "X-as-a-Service" based on cloud computing and present
the key technologies involved in MaaS. The development of GenAI models will
become more democratized and flourish. We also review recent application
studies of MaaS. Finally, we highlight several challenges and future issues in
this promising area. MaaS is a new deployment and service paradigm for
different AI-based models. We hope this review will inspire future research in
the field of MaaS.Comment: Preprint. 3 figures, 1 table
Web 3.0: The Future of Internet
With the rapid growth of the Internet, human daily life has become deeply
bound to the Internet. To take advantage of massive amounts of data and
information on the internet, the Web architecture is continuously being
reinvented and upgraded. From the static informative characteristics of Web 1.0
to the dynamic interactive features of Web 2.0, scholars and engineers have
worked hard to make the internet world more open, inclusive, and equal. Indeed,
the next generation of Web evolution (i.e., Web 3.0) is already coming and
shaping our lives. Web 3.0 is a decentralized Web architecture that is more
intelligent and safer than before. The risks and ruin posed by monopolists or
criminals will be greatly reduced by a complete reconstruction of the Internet
and IT infrastructure. In a word, Web 3.0 is capable of addressing web data
ownership according to distributed technology. It will optimize the internet
world from the perspectives of economy, culture, and technology. Then it
promotes novel content production methods, organizational structures, and
economic forms. However, Web 3.0 is not mature and is now being disputed.
Herein, this paper presents a comprehensive survey of Web 3.0, with a focus on
current technologies, challenges, opportunities, and outlook. This article
first introduces a brief overview of the history of World Wide Web as well as
several differences among Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0, and Web3. Then, some
technical implementations of Web 3.0 are illustrated in detail. We discuss the
revolution and benefits that Web 3.0 brings. Finally, we explore several
challenges and issues in this promising area.Comment: ACM Web Conference 202
AI-Generated Content (AIGC): A Survey
To address the challenges of digital intelligence in the digital economy,
artificial intelligence-generated content (AIGC) has emerged. AIGC uses
artificial intelligence to assist or replace manual content generation by
generating content based on user-inputted keywords or requirements. The
development of large model algorithms has significantly strengthened the
capabilities of AIGC, which makes AIGC products a promising generative tool and
adds convenience to our lives. As an upstream technology, AIGC has unlimited
potential to support different downstream applications. It is important to
analyze AIGC's current capabilities and shortcomings to understand how it can
be best utilized in future applications. Therefore, this paper provides an
extensive overview of AIGC, covering its definition, essential conditions,
cutting-edge capabilities, and advanced features. Moreover, it discusses the
benefits of large-scale pre-trained models and the industrial chain of AIGC.
Furthermore, the article explores the distinctions between auxiliary generation
and automatic generation within AIGC, providing examples of text generation.
The paper also examines the potential integration of AIGC with the Metaverse.
Lastly, the article highlights existing issues and suggests some future
directions for application.Comment: Preprint. 14 figures, 4 table
Web3: The Next Internet Revolution
Since the first appearance of the World Wide Web, people more rely on the Web
for their cyber social activities. The second phase of World Wide Web, named
Web 2.0, has been extensively attracting worldwide people that participate in
building and enjoying the virtual world. Nowadays, the next internet
revolution: Web3 is going to open new opportunities for traditional social
models. The decentralization property of Web3 is capable of breaking the
monopoly of the internet companies. Moreover, Web3 will lead a paradigm shift
from the Web as a publishing medium to a medium of interaction and
participation. This change will deeply transform the relations among users and
platforms, forces and relations of production, and the global economy.
Therefore, it is necessary that we technically, practically, and more broadly
take an overview of Web3. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of
Web3, with a focus on current technologies, challenges, opportunities, and
outlook. This article first introduces several major technologies of Web3.
Then, we illustrate the type of Web3 applications in detail. Blockchain and
smart contracts ensure that decentralized organizations will be less trusted
and more truthful than that centralized organizations. Decentralized finance
will be global, and open with financial inclusiveness for unbanked people. This
paper also discusses the relationship between the Metaverse and Web3, as well
as the differences and similarities between Web 3.0 and Web3. Inspired by the
Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, we further conduct a novel hierarchy of
needs theory within Web3. Finally, several worthwhile future research
directions of Web3 are discussed.Comment: Preprint. 5 figures, 2 table
Metaverse in Education: Vision, Opportunities, and Challenges
Traditional education has been updated with the development of information
technology in human history. Within big data and cyber-physical systems, the
Metaverse has generated strong interest in various applications (e.g.,
entertainment, business, and cultural travel) over the last decade. As a novel
social work idea, the Metaverse consists of many kinds of technologies, e.g.,
big data, interaction, artificial intelligence, game design, Internet
computing, Internet of Things, and blockchain. It is foreseeable that the usage
of Metaverse will contribute to educational development. However, the
architectures of the Metaverse in education are not yet mature enough. There
are many questions we should address for the Metaverse in education. To this
end, this paper aims to provide a systematic literature review of Metaverse in
education. This paper is a comprehensive survey of the Metaverse in education,
with a focus on current technologies, challenges, opportunities, and future
directions. First, we present a brief overview of the Metaverse in education,
as well as the motivation behind its integration. Then, we survey some
important characteristics for the Metaverse in education, including the
personal teaching environment and the personal learning environment. Next, we
envisage what variations of this combination will bring to education in the
future and discuss their strengths and weaknesses. We also review the
state-of-the-art case studies (including technical companies and educational
institutions) for Metaverse in education. Finally, we point out several
challenges and issues in this promising area.Comment: IEEE BigData 2022. 10 pages, 5 figures, 3 table
Tailored design of graphitic biochar for high-efficiency and chemical-free microwave-assisted removal of refractory organic contaminants
Energy-saving, chemical-free, and high-efficiency microwave (MW)-assisted water treatment can be greatly facilitated via tailored design of an economical, sustainable, and āgreenā carbonaceous catalyst. In this study, various biochars (BC) were pyrolyzed from two lignocellulosic waste biomasses, oak (O) and apple tree (A), at a high temperature (900 Ā°C) and under different gases (N2 and CO2). The holistic characterization by advanced spectroscopic techniques demonstrated that CO2 pyrolysis of feedstock with more lignin (i.e., oak), produced biochar with increased aromaticity and degree of carbonization. CO2 modification created a hierarchical porous structure, improved surface hydrophilicity, polarity, and acidity, and provided higher densities of near-surface functionalities of the biochar. Without MW irradiation, ABC-900C (1 g Lā1) provided the highest adsorption (52.6%, 1 min) of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) ascribed to large specific surface area, high micropore content, appropriate pore size, and abundant active groups. OBC-900C (1 g Lā1) enabled significantly increased 2,4-D removal (81.6%, 1 min) under MW irradiation (90 Ā°C) in contrast with an oil bath (55.7%, 90 Ā°C, 1 min) and room temperature (33.9%, 1 min) conditions, due to its highest graphitization degree and medium-developed microporous structure. The MW-induced thermal effect formed āhot spotsā on the biochar surface as evidenced by elevated temperature of the bulk solution and lowered energy consumption of the MW reactor in the presence of OBC-900C, compared to those of the other biochars. The scavenging tests suggested that the generation of highly oxidative hydroxyl (ā¢OH), anionic superoxide (O2 ā¢ā), and singlet oxygen (1O2) radicals contributed to the removal of 2,4-D. This study has demonstrated that biochar with customized structure and high organic adsorption capacity can act as an effective MW absorber suitable for rapid and improved removal of toxic organics
Effects of Acute Exercise and Chronic Exercise on the Liver Leptin-AMPK-ACC Signaling Pathway in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes
Aim. To investigate the effects of acute and chronic exercise on glucose and lipid metabolism in liver of rats with type 2 diabetes caused by a high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin (STZ). Methods. Animals were classified into control (CON), diabetes (DC), diabetic chronic exercise (DCE), and diabetic acute exercise (DAE) groups. Results. Compared to CON, the leptin levels in serum and liver and ACC phosphorylation were significantly higher in DC, but the levels of liver leptin receptor, AMPKĪ±1/2, AMPKĪ±1, and ACC proteins expression and phosphorylation were significantly lower in DC. In addition, the levels of liver glycogen reduced significantly, and the levels of TG and FFA increased significantly in DC compared to CON. Compared to DC, the levels of liver AMPKĪ±1/2, AMPKĪ±2, AMPKĪ±1, and ACC phosphorylation significantly increased in DCE and DAE. However, significant increase of the level of liver leptin receptor and glycogen as well as significant decrease of the level of TG and FFA were observed only in DEC. Conclusion. Our study demonstrated that both acute and chronic exercise indirectly activated the leptin-AMPK-ACC signaling pathway and increased insulin sensitivity in the liver of type 2 diabetic rats. However, only chronic and long-term exercise improved glucose and lipid metabolism of the liver