Search

Over the past few years, there has been a consistent increase in the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices utilizing Cloud services. However, this growth has brought about new challenges, particularly in terms of latency. To tackle this issue, fog computing has emerged as a promising trend. By incorporating additional resources at the edge of the Cloud architecture, the fog–cloud architecture aims to reduce latency by bringing processing closer to end-users. This trend has significant implications for enhancing the overall performance and user experience of IoT systems. One major challenge in achieving this is minimizing latency without increasing total energy consumption. To address this challenge, it is crucial to employ a powerful scheduling solution. Unfortunately, this scheduling problem is generally known as NP-hard, implying that no optimal solution that can be obtained in a reasonable time has been discovered to date. In this paper, we focus on the problem of task scheduling in a fog–cloud based environment. Therefore, we propose a novel genetic-based algorithm called GAMMR that aims to achieve an optimal balance between total consumed energy and total response time. We evaluate the proposed algorithm using simulations on 8 datasets of varying sizes. The results demonstrate that our proposed GAMMR algorithm outperforms the standard genetic algorithm in all tested cases, with an average improvement of 3.4% in the normalized function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hyper activation of the JAK-STAT signaling underlies the pathophysiology of many human immune–mediated diseases. Herein, the study of 2 adult patients with SOCS1 haploinsufficiency illustrates the severe and pleomorphic consequences of its impaired regulation in the intestinal tract. Methods: Two unrelated adult patients presented with gastrointestinal manifestations, one with Crohn's disease-like ileo-colic inflammation refractory to anti-TNF and the other with lymphocytic leiomyositis causing severe chronic intestinal pseudo-occlusion. Next-generation sequencing was used to identify the underlying monogenic defect. One patient received anti-IL-12/IL-23 treatment while the other received the JAK1 inhibitor, ruxolitinib. Peripheral blood, intestinal tissues, and serum samples were analyzed before-and-after JAK1 inhibitor therapy using mass cytometry, histology, transcriptomic, and Olink assay. Results: Novel germline loss-of-function variants in SOCS1 were identified in both patients. The patient with Crohn-like disease achieved clinical remission with anti-IL-12/IL-23 treatment. In the second patient with lymphocytic leiomyositis, ruxolitinib induced rapid resolution of the obstructive symptoms, significant decrease of the CD8+ T lymphocyte muscular infiltrate, and normalization of serum and intestinal cytokines. Decreased frequencies of circulating Treg cells, MAIT cells, and NK cells, with altered CD56bright:CD16lo:CD16hi NK subtype ratios were not modified by ruxolitinib. Conclusion: SOCS1 haploinsufficiency can result in a broad spectrum of intestinal manifestations and need to be considered as differential diagnosis in cases of severe treatment-refractory enteropathies, including the rare condition of lymphocytic leiomyositis. This provides the rationale for genetic screening and considering JAK inhibitors in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today with the technology development, the learning activity takes some different methods and approaches. Among these approaches, we can talk about virtual learning using the learning management systems and the flipped classroom concept. Moodle platform represents one of these systems. The limitation of this Platform is the lack of an integrated adaptive mechanism to manage the students' learning process. In this paper, we present a model that can be combined with the Moodle platform to provide students with an adapted content according to their knowledge level and skills. Also, offer the instructors the ability to manage the learning mechanism of their students in the context of flipped learning. The model was validated by the implementation of the Smart Adaptive Management for Flipped Learning (SAM-FL) plugin. The proposed model is based on several hierarchical agents allowing modularity in the development of course content and tests' thresholds. The evaluation of the model was carried out objectively by comparing learner output levels against entry levels, and subjectively by performing a quality of experience with the learners. The obtained results showed the model effectiveness in terms of learners' improvement levels and acceptance of our solution towards them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the use of a new specialized E-Meeting for Complex Cases in Oncofertility by fertility preservation specialists (FPSs) Material and methods: We present 3 years of activity of the E-Meeting for Complex Cases in Oncofertility, a new tool created in September 2016 which allows national oncofertility experts to share viewpoints about challenging cases for which they do not have experience or sufficient data in order to provide them an emergency advice within 48 h. Second, a survey was conducted to evaluate the use of this e-meeting for participating FPSs. Results: One hundred and four experts have joined the e-meeting since its set-up, and 109 challenging cases have been submitted. The mean age of the patients was 22.4 ± 8.9 years, and 87.0% were female. Each submitted case received on average of 1.8 ± 1.1 different strategies for FP and the opinions of 7.1 ± 3.4 experts. Among the FPSs who submitted cases, seeking opinions from other FPSs allowed them to confirm their care plan (N = 49, 84.4%), to offer different options to their patients (N = 34, 58.6%), and to compare their practices with those of other specialists (N = 23, 39.6%). All respondents reported a self-perceived improvement in their practice of oncologic FP (n = 80, 100.0%). Conclusion: Specific attention should be paid to challenging cases for which the experiences of only a few individuals exist. Enhancing communication between FPSs through oncofertility networks, pooling experiences, and collecting the most complex cases is required to improve the management of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each day, companies and organizations are facing new challenges. The customer requirements are increasing and global competition is leading to important changes in the industrial world. Against this background, the fourth industrial revolution aims to deal with these challenges. Besides the lack of comparable studies covering the new concepts in logistics, this study intends to study, and clarify diverse approaches in smart logistics frameworks in order to produce a new picture of the state of smart logistics research. The main objective of this paper is to present a coherent and comprehensive vision of current efforts in smart logistics. In particular, we begin by presenting the methodology followed and the bibliometric analysis. We also propose a classification of existing works in the literature dealing with intelligent logistics. Also, we provide an overview of smart logistics technologies and applications presented in the recent literature and provide a summary of related research work. Finally, we identify possible future areas of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combating pathological conditions related to hyperactivity of enzymes remains a formidable challenge for health. Small molecules therapy constitutes one of the means to circumvent the medical disorders resulting from enzyme hyperactivity. In this regard, we have synthesized structurally diverse amino acid hybrid Schiff bases (5a–5l and 10a–10k) and evaluated them for carbonic anhydrase II, α-glucosidase, and urease inhibitory potential. These new chemical scaffolds showed variable efficacies against the selected enzymes. The results indicated that compounds 5b (11.8 ± 1.33 µM), 10i (83.3 ± 1.13 µM), and 10f (88.2 ± 2.27 µM) are the most active scaffolds against carbonic anhydrase II, α-glucosidase, and urease, respectively. A structure–activity relationship revealed the most structural features contributing to the overall activities. Molecular docking suggested that these compounds possess excellent binding interactions with the active site residues of the targets by interacting through hydrogen bonding, π–π, and π–cation interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Virtual Private Network (VPN) service offered by the Multi-Protocol Label Switching Protocol (MPLS) is more and more solicited by clients thanks to its various advantages that it can offer especially concerning the security, the quality of service, and the flexibility. MPLS VPN relies on multiple protocols to function correctly and can be represented according to different architectures, each of which requires its own configuration. Besides, this technology is often used to interconnect a high number of sites which makes it challenging to deploy, manage, and supervise. Software Defined Network (SDN) is a paradigm, which, thanks to a centralized point (controller) can manage the MPLS VPN tunnels in an automatic, dynamic, and on-demand way between all the clients' equipment. To manage the equipment by an SDN controller, they must be of the new generation supporting the OpenFlow protocol. The hybrid SDN paradigm allows Legacy equipment to be included in the orchestration as well, reducing OPEX and CAPEX costs. By the present work, we propose a new approach (SH-SDN) SDN Hybrid for the management of different architectures MPLS VPN based on a new graphical interface. The proposed approach allows not only to manage the MPLS VPN tunnels but also to ensure a reasonable quality of service level by performing an adaptive and an optimal load balancing across the multiple paths. The approach has been implemented and tested in a virtual test network consisting of different manufacturers (Cisco, Juniper, and HP). The results show that the SH-SDN approach offers a remarkable reduction in the MPLS VPN tunnel establishment time in a large network and a reasonable quality of service level of the transported applications through the multipath routing improved process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) was established to be linked to the risk factors of coronary artery disease such as metabolic syndrome, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, obesity and dyslipidemia. Objective: To study the influence of smoking and obesity on penile hemodynamics in patients with erectile dysfunction. Patients and methods: This prospective study was carried out on 130 patients above 40 years and suffering from ED for more than 6 months. Selected patients were divided into four groups: group 1 (nonsmokers/non-obese) N = 36, group 2 (nonsmokers/obese) N = 30, group 3 (smokers/non-obese) N = 34, group 4 (smokers and obese) N = 30. Other risk factors for ED were excluded except dyslipidemia. All patients were subjected to personal history, sexual history, history of medical disorders or operations, evaluation of erectile function using an abridged IIEF-5. Measuring of BMI, fasting lipid profile, blood sugar, TT, prolactin, and PSA was performed. Penile hemodynamics was evaluated using intracavernosal injection of 1 cc Bimix (papaverin + phentolamine) and penile duplex ultrasound measuring the peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive index (RI), and cavernosal artery diameter before and after injection. Results: The mean ages of group 1, group 2, group 3 and group 4 were 50.92 ± 6.52, 55.20 ± 7.18, 50.88 ± 7.66 and 52.30 ± 7.61, respectively, with no statistically significant (p = 0.341). A statistically significant difference observed between mean value of PSV between group 1 and all other groups on both sides and between group 3 and 4. Also, our results recorded a statistically significant difference between mean value of EDV and RI between group 1 and all other groups on both sides. Concerning the change in the cavernosal artery diameter after ICI, there was a significant difference was seen between the following groups 1 and 4, 3 and 4 on both sides and between groups 1 and 2 at right side only. There was a statistically significant difference between the study groups concerning patient's response to ICI (p value 0.000). A significant negative correlation between BMI and total testosterone was recorded (p = 0.001). Regarding the mean value of testosterone, a significant difference was observed between the different four groups (p = 0.002). And a statistically significant difference was reported between group 1 and group 2 (p = 0.004) and group 2 and group 3 (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Both smoking and BMI are strong risk factors for ED and affect response to ICI and penile duplex parameters (PSV, EDV, RI). Smoking and BMI together cause more deterioration of penile duplex parameters and response to ICI. The effect of smoking on EDV and RI was more than BMI. The effect of BMI on PSV, response to ICI and testosterone levels was more than smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexity of network technologies and the variety of their equipment and settings make them difficult to evaluate, to simulate, and to deploy. IPv4 to IPv6 transition mechanisms are one of the modern issues recently exposed with the emergence of technologies such as Internet of Things, which have practically consumed the existing IPv4 address pools and therefore require a transition to new IPv6 protocol to meet the need. Simulation plays an important role in the modeling, optimization, and evaluation of IPv4–IPv6 transition mechanisms. Through simulation several factors can be studied before the deployment on real environment, such as the transition mechanism, the number of users, the routing protocols, and the transported applications. This paper describes how state-of-the-art network automation can contribute to the development of a new approach for automating the simulation of IPv4 to IPv6 transition techniques based on an interactive graphical platform. The proposed approach can be interfaced with a variety of scientific research simulators guaranteeing the users a reduction in project implementation delay and error rate, the approach can also ensure a simplification of simulator use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain function relies on circuits of spiking neurons with synapses playing the key role of merging transmission with memory storage and processing. Electronics has made important advances to emulate neurons and synapses and brain-computer interfacing concepts that interlink brain and brain-inspired devices are beginning to materialise. We report on memristive links between brain and silicon spiking neurons that emulate transmission and plasticity properties of real synapses. A memristor paired with a metal-thin film titanium oxide microelectrode connects a silicon neuron to a neuron of the rat hippocampus. Memristive plasticity accounts for modulation of connection strength, while transmission is mediated by weighted stimuli through the thin film oxide leading to responses that resemble excitatory postsynaptic potentials. The reverse brain-to-silicon link is established through a microelectrode-memristor pair. On these bases, we demonstrate a three-neuron brain-silicon network where memristive synapses undergo long-term potentiation or depression driven by neuronal firing rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of memristor technologies brings new prospects for modern electronics via enabling novel in-memory computing solutions and energy-efficient and scalable reconfigurable hardware implementations. Several competing memristor technologies have been presented with each bearing distinct performance metrics across multi-bit memory capacity, low-power operation, endurance, retention and stability. Application needs however are constantly driving the push towards higher performance, which necessitates the introduction of a standard benchmarking procedure for fair evaluation across distinct key metrics. Here we present an electrical characterisation methodology that amalgamates several testing protocols in an appropriate sequence adapted for memristors benchmarking needs, in a technology-agnostic manner. Our approach is designed to extract information on all aspects of device behaviour, ranging from deciphering underlying physical mechanisms to assessing different aspects of electrical performance and even generating data-driven device-specific models. Importantly, it relies solely on standard electrical characterisation instrumentation that is accessible in most electronics laboratories and can thus serve as an independent tool for understanding and designing new memristive device technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world enters the age of ubiquitous computing, the need for reconfigurable hardware operating close to the fundamental limits of energy consumption becomes increasingly pressing. Simultaneously, scaling-driven performance improvements within the framework of traditional analogue and digital design become progressively more restricted by fundamental physical constraints. Emerging nanoelectronics technologies bring forth new prospects yet a significant rethink of electronics design is required for realising their full potential. Here we lay the foundations of a design approach that fuses analogue and digital thinking by combining digital electronics with analogue memristive devices for achieving charge-based computation; information processing where every dissipated charge counts. This is realised by introducing memristive devices into standard logic gates, thus rendering them reconfigurable and capable of performing analogue computation at a power cost close to digital. The versatility and benefits of our approach are experimentally showcased through a hardware data clusterer and an analogue NAND gate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we experimentally demonstrated the correlated resistive/capacitive switching and state variability in practical TiO based memory devices. Based on filamentary functional mechanism, we argue that the impedance state variability stems from the randomly distributed defects inside the oxide bulk. Finally, our assumption was verified via a current percolation circuit model, by taking into account of random defects distribution and coexistence of memristor and memcapacitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose was to evaluate the ability of three magnetic resonance (MR) techniques to detect liver steatosis and to determine which noninvasive technique (MR, bioassays) or combination of techniques is optimal for the quantification of hepatic fat using histopathology as a reference. Twenty patients with histopathologically proven steatosis and 24 control subjects underwent single-voxel proton MR spectroscopy (MRS; 3 voxels), dual-echo in phase/out of phase MR imaging (DEI) and diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) examinations of the liver. Blood or urine bioassays were also performed for steatosis patients. Both MRS and DEI data allowed to detect steatosis with a high sensitivity (0.95 for MRS; 1 for DEI) and specificity (1 for MRS; 0.875 for DEI) but not DWI. Strong correlations were found between fat fraction (FF) measured by MRS, DEI and histopathology segmentation as well as with low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol concentrations. A Bland-Altman analysis showed a good agreement between the FF measured by MRS and DEI. Partial correlation analyses failed to improve the correlation with segmentation FF when MRS or DEI data were combined with bioassay results. Therefore, FF from MRS or DEI appear to be the best parameters to both detect steatosis and accurately quantify fat liver noninvasively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we show that identical TiO-based memristive devices that possess the same initial resistive states are only phenomenologically similar as their internal structures may vary significantly, which could render quite dissimilar switching dynamics. We experimentally demonstrated that the resistive switching of practical devices with similar initial states could occur at different programming stimuli cycles. We argue that similar memory states can be transcribed via numerous distinct active core states through the dissimilar reduced TiO filamentary distributions. Our hypothesis was finally verified via simulated results of the memory state evolution, by taking into account dissimilar initial filamentary distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work exploits the coexistence of both resistance and capacitance memory effects in TiO-based two-terminal cells. Our Pt/TiO/TiO/Pt devices exhibit an interesting combination of hysteresis and non-zero crossing in their current-voltage ( I- V) characteristic that indicates the presence of capacitive states. Our experimental results demonstrate that both resistance and capacitance states can be simultaneously set via either voltage cycling and/or voltage pulses. We argue that these state modulations occur due to bias-induced reduction of the TiO active layer via the displacement of ionic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large attention has recently been given to a novel technology named memristor, for having the potential of becoming the new electronic device standard. Yet, its manifestation as the fourth missing element is rather controversial among scientists. Here we demonstrate that TiO2-based metal-insulator-metal devices are more than just a memory-resistor. They possess resistive, capacitive and inductive components that can concurrently be programmed; essentially exhibiting a convolution of memristive, memcapacitive and meminductive effects. We show how non-zero crossing current-voltage hysteresis loops can appear and we experimentally demonstrate their frequency response as memcapacitive and meminductive effects become dominant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a rigorous path integral treatment of a dynamical system in the axially symmetric potential $V(r,\theta ) = V(r) + \tfrac{1} {{r^2 }}V(\theta ) $ . It is shown that the Green's function can be calculated in spherical coordinate system for $V(\theta ) = \frac{{\hbar ^2 }} {{2\mu }}\frac{{\gamma + \beta \sin ^2 \theta + \alpha \sin ^4 \theta }} {{\sin ^2 \theta \cos ^2 \theta }} $ . As an illustration, we have chosen the example of a spherical harmonic oscillator and also the Coulomb potential for the radial dependence of this noncentral potential. The ring-shaped oscillator and the Hartmann ring-shaped potential are considered as particular cases. When α = β = γ = 0, the discrete energy spectrum, the normalized wave function of the spherical oscillator and the Coulomb potential of a hydrogen-like ion, for a state of orbital quantum number l ≥ 0, are recovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to understand bullying as a process in a polytechnic in Singapore. Bullying begins in the presence of the various contexts for it to take place. These contexts serve as the basis for the reasons and actions behind the bullying process. These contexts may be related to race, nationality, gender, academic ability, age, physical appearance and mannerism. With these contexts in place, the aims of the bullying process are articulated. The aims of bullying include manipulation, entertainment, reprisal and exclusion. Anchoring on the aims of bullying, a typology of bullies is suggested (Manipulating, Entertaining, Reprising and Excluding). The difference in the intentions of the bullying dictates the types of bullying tactics used by the bullies on their victims. These bullying tactics include discriminatory body language; mimicking; discriminatory joking; mocking; intentional isolation; and rumour mongering. Typologies of tutor bystanders (Apathetic, Focussed and Intervening) and student bystanders (Reassured, Guilty, Collaborating and Hindering) are formed in this study. Eventually the consequences of the bullying would determine the type of responses elicited from the victims. In turn, the types of responses by the victims would create a typology of victims in a bullying episode (Indifferent, Resigned and Proactive). Overall, a process of bullying in the context of the case polytechnic is described in this paper and it has implications for the development of theory, practice and future research in the area of bullying in the context of tertiary level education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research was to understand the various aspects of the action research initiative in the Department of Mathematics and Science, Singapore Polytechnic. A total of 55 lecturers took part in this study and data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, informal conversations with the lecturers, observations of their behaviours in action research processes and evaluation of their action research reports. Statistical methods and grounded theory were used in the analysis. Statistical analysis showed that the lecturers generally perceive that action research is useful in teaching and learning. The core category of 'Taking personal and professional ownership in action research' was formed through grounded theory analysis. Through addressing the various sub-categories in the core category of 'Taking personal and professional ownership in action research', a number of recommendations to improve the current situation of action research implementation in the department were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. To assess the value of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) parameters to monitor residual tumor following non-invasive MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRIgFUS) of breast tumors.Methods. DCE-MRI data were acquired before and after the MRIgFUS treatment of small breast tumors (d < 3.5 cm) for 17 patients. The lesion was surgically resected and the presence of residual tumor was determined by histopathological analysis. The percentage of residual tumor was correlated with three DCE-MRI parameters measured at the maximally enhancing site of each tumor: increase in signal intensity (ISI), maximum difference function (MDF) and positive enhancement integral (PEI).Results. A good correlation was found between the ISI (r = 0.897), MDF (r = 0.789) and PEI (r = 0.859) parameters and the percentage of residual viable tumor determined by histopathology. A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis yielded a cutoff value for ISI at 20% with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 100%.Conclusion. These results suggest that parameters from DCE-MRI data could provide a reliable non-invasive method for assessing residual tumor following MRIgFUS treatment of breast tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistive random access memories (RRAMs) can be programmed to discrete resistive levels on demand via voltage pulses with appropriate amplitude and widths. This tuneability enables the design of various emerging concepts, to name a few: neuromorphic applications and reconfigurable circuits. Despite the wide interest in RRAM technologies there is still room for improvement and the key lies with understanding better the underpinning mechanism responsible for resistive switching. This work presents a methodology that aids such efforts, by revealing the nature of the resistive switching through assessing the transport properties in the non-switching operation regimes, before and after switching occurs. Variation in the transport properties obtained by analysing the current-voltage characteristics at distinct temperatures provides experimental evidence for understanding the nature of the responsible mechanism. This study is performed on prototyped device stacks that possess common Au bottom electrodes, identical TiO2 active layers while employing three different top electrodes, Au, Ni and Pt. Our results support in all cases an interface controlled transport due to Schottky emission and suggest that the acquired gradual switching originates by the bias induced modification of the interfacial barrier. Throughout this study, the top electrode material was found to play a role in determining the electroforming requirements and thus indirectly the devices' memristive characteristics whilst both the top and bottom metal/oxide interfaces are found to be modified as result of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristive devices have elicited intense research in the past decade thanks to their inherent low voltage operation, multi-bit storage and cost-effective manufacturability. Nonetheless, several outstanding performance and manufacturability challenges have prevented the widespread industry adoption of redox-based memristive matrices. Here, we discuss these challenges in terms of key metrics and propose a roadmap towards realizing competitive memristive-based neuromorphic processing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]