5G Network Slices Embedding with Sharable Virtual Network Functions

Chengli Mei,Jiayi Liu,Jinyan Li,Lei Zhang,Menghan Shao 한국통신학회 2020 Journal of communications and networks Vol.22 No.5

Network slicing (NS) is recognized as a key technology for the 5G mobile network in enabling the network to support multiple diversified vertical markets over a shared physicalinfrastructure with efficiency and flexibility. A 5G NS instance iscomposed of a set of virtual network function (VNF) instances toform the end-to-end (E2E) virtual network for the slice to operateindependently. The deployment of a NS is a typical virtual network embedding (VNE) problem. We consider a scenario in whichVNF instances can be shared across multiple slices to further enhance the utilization ratio of the underlying physical resources. ForNSs with sharable VNF instances, the deployment of the slice instances is essentially the embedding of multiple virtual networkscoupled by the VNFs shared among slices. Hence, we formulatethis sharable-VNFs-based multiple coupled VNE problem (SVMVNE) through an integer linear program (ILP) formulation, anddesign a back-tracking coordinated virtual network mapping algorithm. Simulation results demonstrate that VNF-sharing can enhance the slice acceptance ratio with the same physical network,which represents higher physical resource utilization. Moreover,our approach achieves higher acceptance ratio by comparing to abaseline algorithm.

Forecasting the effects of vaccination on the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia using SEIRV compartmental models

Mei Cheng Lim(Mei Cheng Lim),Sarbhan Singh(Sarbhan Singh ),Chee Herng Lai(Chee Herng Lai ),Balvinder Singh Gill(Balvinder Singh Gill ),Mohd Kamarulariffin Kamarudin(Mohd Kamarulariffin Kamarudin ),Ahm 한국역학회 2023 Epidemiology and Health Vol.45 No.-

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered-vaccinated (SEIRV) models to examine the effects of vaccination on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case trends in Malaysia during Phase 3 of the National COVID-19 Immunization Program amidst the Delta outbreak. METHODS: SEIRV models were developed and validated using COVID-19 case and vaccination data from the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, from June 21, 2021 to July 21, 2021 to generate forecasts of COVID-19 cases from July 22, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Three scenarios were examined to measure the effects of vaccination on COVID-19 case trends. Scenarios 1 and 2 represented the trends taking into account the earliest and latest possible times of achieving full vaccination for 80% of the adult population by October 31, 2021 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Scenario 3 described a scenario without vaccination for comparison. RESULTS: In scenario 1, forecasted cases peaked on August 28, 2021, which was close to the peak of observed cases on August 26, 2021. The observed peak was 20.27% higher than in scenario 1 and 10.37% lower than in scenario 2. The cumulative observed cases from July 22, 2021 to December 31, 2021 were 13.29% higher than in scenario 1 and 55.19% lower than in scenario 2. The daily COVID-19 case trends closely mirrored the forecast of COVID-19 cases in scenario 1 (best-case scenario). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that COVID-19 vaccination reduced COVID-19 case trends during the Delta outbreak. The compartmental models developed assisted in the management and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.

The Presence of Open Dentinal Tubules Affects the Biological Properties of Dental Pulp Cells Ex Vivo

Mei-Ying Shao,Zhong-Sen Fu,Ran Cheng,Hui Yang,Li Cheng,Feng-Ming Wang,Tao Hu 한국분자세포생물학회 2011 Molecules and cells Vol.31 No.1

To investigate the effects of open dentinal tubules on the morphological and functional characteristics of dental pulp cells. Morphological changes in human dental pulp cells that were seeded onto dentin discs with open den-tinal tubules were investigated on days 1, 2, 4, and 10 of culture using scanning electron microscopy and fluores-cence microscopy. Samples collected on days 1, 3, 6, 8, and 10 of culture were evaluated for cell proliferation rate and alkaline phosphatase activity. Cultured human dental pulp cells developed a columnar or polygonal morphology and monopolar cytoplasmic processes that extended into the dentinal tubules. The cells formed a multilayer and secreted an extracellular matrix onto the cell surface. Scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy revealed polarized organization of odontoblasts. Cells seeded onto dentin discs prolifer-ated minimally but showed high levels of ALP activity. Dental pulp cells seeded onto treated dentin discs develop an odontoblast-like phenotype, which may be a potential alternative for use in experimental research on dentinogenesis.

Dietary exposure and human risk assessment of phthalate esters based on total diet study in Cambodia

Cheng, Zhang,Li, Han-Han,Wang, Hong-sheng,Zhu, Xue-Mei,Sthiannopkao, Suthipong,Kim, Kyoung-Woong,Yasin, Mohamed Salleh Mohamed,Hashim, Jamal Hisham,Wong, Ming-Hung Elsevier 2016 Environmental research Vol.150 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Phthalate esters are used in a wide variety of consumer products, and human exposure to this class of compounds is widespread. Nevertheless, studies on dietary exposure of human to phthalates are limited. In this study, to assess the daily intakes of phthalate esters and the possible adverse health impacts, different food samples were collected from three areas of Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in the world. The ∑phthalate ester concentrations in Kampong Cham, Kratie and Kandal provinces ranged from 0.05 to 2.34 (median 0.88) μgg<SUP>−1</SUP>, 0.19–1.65 (median 0.86) μgg<SUP>−1</SUP> and 0.24–3.05 (median 0.59) μgg<SUP>−1</SUP> wet weight (ww), respectively. Di-2-Ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) were the predominant compounds among all foodstuffs. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of phthalate esters for the general population in Kampong Cham, Kratie and Kandal was 34.3, 35.6 and 35.8μgkg<SUP>−1</SUP> bw d<SUP>−1</SUP>, respectively. The dietary daily intake of DEHP, benzylbutyl phthalate (BBP) and di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) in Kampong Cham, Kratie and Kandal were below the tolerable daily intakes (TDI) imposed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and reference doses (RfD) imposed by The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Rice contributed the greatest quantity of DEHP to the daily intake in Cambodia so may deserve further exploration. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the occurrence and the daily intakes of phthalate esters in Cambodia.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Phthalate esters concentration in daily foodstuffs collected from Cambodia. </LI> <LI> Investigate the bioaccessbility of phthalate esters via the foodstuffs consumption. </LI> <LI> Health risk evaluation of dietary exposure to phthalate esters. </LI> </UL> </P>

Joint module angle error analysis and modelling of self-driven articulated arm coordinate measuring machine

Mei Shen,Hongtao Yang,Jingjing Cheng,Mengyao Zhang,Tingting Hu,Yi Hu 대한기계학회 2022 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.36 No.12

The self-driven articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (self-driven AACMM) is a new type of flexible coordinate measuring equipment. The integrated joint module is introduced to the AACMM joint for self-driven control and automatic measurement, resulting in the joint angle error of self-driven AACMM. In this study, an ideal measurement model of the self-driven AACMM have been established. The sources of angle error of joint module is analysed, and single and comprehensive models of the joint module‘s angle error are established. Numerical simulation of the angle error model of the single joint module is conducted by MATLAB. An angle error calibration experiment of the joint module is carried out with the photoelectric autocollimator and the metal 36-sided prism. Results show that each joint module produces different torsional deformation due to load. The angle error of joint module 1, 6 are most and least affected by the load torque, the actual average errors of the two are 37.64 arcsec and -0.9632 arcsec, respectively. The simulated and calibrated single-joint module angle error trends are cyclical, and the calibrated angle error range is [-100.4 arcsec, 205.2 arcsec]. The harmonic error component in the harmonic reducer and the magnetic encoder is an important factor of the angle error of joint module. The eatablished angle error model of single joint module can be effiectively applied to comprehensive error compensation for high measurement accuracy of self-driven AACMM.

Suture Repair in Endoscopic Surgery for Craniovertebral Junction

Mei-Yin Yeh,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu,Chao-Hung Kuo,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Peng-Yuan Chang,Yu-Shu Yen,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.2

Objective: Endoscopic approaches to the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) have been established as viable and effective surgical treatments in the past decade. One of the major complications is leakage of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of suture closure at the nasopharyngeal mucosa upon durotomy. Methods: A series of consecutive patients who underwent different endoscopic approaches to the CVJ were retrospectively reviewed. The pathologies, surgical corridors, neurological and functional outcomes, radiological evaluations, and complications were analyzed. Different strategies of repair for the intraoperative CSF leakage were described and compared. Results: A total of 22 patients covering 13 years were analyzed. There were 12, 2, and 8 patients who underwent transnasal, transoral, and combined approaches, respectively. There were 8 patients (36.4%) who experienced intraoperative CSF leakage, and were grouped into 2: 4 in the nonsuture (NS) group and 4 in the suture-repaired (SR) group. The NS group had 3 (75%) persistent CSF leakages postoperation that caused 1 mortality, whereas patients of the SR group had only 1 minor CSF rhinorrhea that healed spontaneously within days. Conclusion: In this series of 22 patients who required anterior endoscopic resection of pathologies at the CVJ, there was 1 (4.5%) serious complication related to CSF leakage. For patients who had no durotomy, the mucosal incision at the nasopharynx usually healed rapidly and there were few procedure-related complications. For patients with intraoperative CSF leakage, suture closure was technically challenging but could significantly lower the risks of postoperative complications.

Design A High Efficiency Auxiliary Power Supply with Wide Input Voltage Range for PV-PCS

Cheng-hao Jin,Shan-mei Li,Jin-tae Kim 전력전자학회 2012 전력전자학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.7

Traditional medicine in Taiwan: current status and future prospects

Cheng, Hon Mei Kyung Hee Oriental Medicine Research Center 2005 Oriental pharmacy and experimental medicine Vol.5 No.3

Oriental medicine is one of the main branches of traditional medicine left in the world. It includes acupuncture, acupressure, moxibustion, herbology, and qigong, all of which are still commonly used and officially recognized in some Asian countries, including Taiwan. In this article, the current educational, health insurance, and research and development status of traditional medicine in Taiwan will be introduced. The specific focus of the article is on efforts to integrate these ancient medical practices into modern medical science in our country.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

Mei-dong Jing,Ling Huang,Yi-cheng Wang,Yi Zou,Xiao-min Sun,Jie Gong 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.1

Podicipediformes comprises one family (Podicipedidae) including 6 genera, 22 species, and the phylogenetic placement of this order was still in debate. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) in Podicipediformes, and explored the phylogenetic position of this order with mitogenome sequences of 21 species from ten families in seven orders. The genome was 16,688 bp in length, and contained 37 genes typical to avian mitogenomes and one control region. The gene organization and characters were similar with other two mitogenomes available in Podicipediformes to date. Phylogenetic tree was constructed with Bayesian method based on mitogenome sequences excluding the control regions. The results supported the closest relationship between Podicipediformes and Phoenicopteriformes, and the topology of our tree was generally similar with the conclusions of previous molecular systematic investigations. Our results furtherly proved the validity of mitogenome data in taxonomic and phylogenetic studies.

Antioxidant Peptide Purified from Enzymatic Hydrolysates of Isochrysis Zhanjiangensis and Its Protective Effect against Ethanol Induced Oxidative Stress of HepG2 Cells

Mei-Fang Chen,Yuan Yuan Zhang,Mei Di He,Cheng Yong Li,Chun Xia Zhou,Peng Zhi Hong,Zhong-Ji Qian 한국생물공학회 2019 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.24 No.2

Marine microalgae have been widely applied in cosmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and functional foods. In the present study, we first investigated the hepatoprotective effects of peptide purified from microalgae, Isochrysis zhanjiangensis on HepG2 cells alcoholic injury. I. zhanjiangensis was hydrolyzed utilizing chymotrypsin, trypsin, pepsin, and by vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Among hydrolysates, the gastrointestinal hydrolysate showed relatively high free radical scavenging ability preliminarily and was purified with following sequential chromatography methods. The amino acid sequence and molecular mass of the purified peptide from I. zhanjiangensis (PIZ) was identified as Asn-Asp-Ala-Glu-Tyr-Gly-Ile-Cys-Gly-Phe (NDAEYGICGF; MW, 1088.16 Da) via Q-TOF ESI/MS. Additionally, PIZ attenuated ethanol-induced cytotoxicity and inhibited the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species by DCFH-DA assay. Western blot results showed that superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels up-regulated with PIZ treatment before alcohol exposure while gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) protein expression down-regulated. These results provide an opportunity to discover new highly active peptide against alcohol toxicity in HepG2 cells.